Match Threads Antwerp vs Spurs - Match Thread - Europa League - Game 2

[Jamturk]

They had 45 minutes to find their rhythm! How much time do they need?

You're an idiot

 

[mattstev2000]

Jose did what needed doing at halftime (outside of replacing Winks) - that first half performance necessitated as many changes as possible. Not his fault that the chumps he bought on were equally useless.

 

[wirE]

Ok bad day at the office. Let’s move onward to Brighton on Sunday. COYS

 

[Beni]

We were shit. That was their cup final. They’re unbeaten at home for months. Our season doesn’t end because of tonight and doesn’t make me think any less that we wont do well this season.

 

[EaMidSpurs]

Reminded me of the old days..Port Vale, Grimsby, Notts County...

 

[bigfrooj]

Terrible Spurs performance, very good opponents on the night. Every usual scapegoat player was awful and players that should have broken their necks to have staked their claim in the first team didn't. One to forget for the fans, a kick up the arse for the players and manager.

 

[JayB]

All I could see was how important NDombele has become to us!

I think we need one more player like him and Lo Celso. Ndombele can’t play every game and Lo Celso has really struggled with injuries and tonight was clearly not at his sharpest, which is understandable for someone who has barely played for a month.

It just feels that we always need one of those creative dynamos playing well in any given match in order to be as threatening as we know we are capable of being. As much as I love Lamela’s fighting spirit and hope he is able to lift a trophy with us this season, I can’t help but feel he’s a player we should be looking to upgrade this summer in order to provide that added bit of depth that is currently lacking at the playmaker position.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

What were those 4 subs about?

Not even allowing players a chance to find their rythmn.

Really was a bad decision I think and I said that at the time. Give them 10-15 mins in the second half to redeem themselves after giving them your message at half time.

Also why take off Vinicius for Son? Only to move Son to the left 15 mins later.

No issues with the starting lineup, but not Jose's finest tactical subs today.

 

[TonyK]

I think it’s time for Sanchez, Dele and Winks to be sold in Jan. To be fair, there were plenty of passengers out there tonight (Bale, Bergwijn etc etc) but the first three I mentioned have stank the place out for a long time now!!

Now time to watch the mighty Dundalk save our blushes!

 

[Hazelton]

Sanchez, Winks, Dele, Bergwijn will all be lucky to get any Prem minutes for the near future.

If this season has proven anything so far, it's that Winks is guaranteed games no matter how poor he is.

 

[WiganSpur]

It does seem that his development has stalled. Has all the physical skills but positioning and concentration still not up to standard.

He seems to be going backwards for me after having a really good 17/18 season

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I think subbing Gio before he had a chance to play with the players that came on in front of him was a poor move. He wasn't great first half but he was at least trying to look forward. Keeping Winks on was a really bad choice.

 

[Phomesy]

Shocking performance set up by an appalling first half.....

From what I saw we were better in the first half - although I did miss the first 15 minutes of the second...

 

[shelfmonkey]

We have no attacking structure or plan.Mourinho likes to try and hit on the counter, and relies on Kane and Son being world class. No ideas of what to do if that isn’t possible

its crap.

Couldn't have put it better myself???

 

[Colston]

I don't have any words to describe what a huge fucking waste of time that was.

Not going to single out any individuals after todays performance as I thought they were all equally worthless.

 

[rossdapep]

One of those games in which you start by making the wrong choice and it just gets worse.

I think Jose should have started with Bale, Kane and Son with Lo Celso and Sissoko in midfield. Maybe Toby or Dier too.

Too many changes, and new players, can have an adverse effect on performance because players haven't built up understanding and trust. Not a time to experiment with especially when the team you play are very well organised and up for it.

I can see why Jose did it, Vinicus was lively last week and Alli had a decent cameo but LASK were a soft touch which meant it was easier for those players to find good moments in the game.

Antwerp were very well drilled and energetic which meant our players needed to be sharper and quicker to pick each other out. But because they haven't had enough minutes to understand each other and some are looking for fitness (Bale, Lo Celso, Bergwijn) it was always going to be much much tougher and that's when you need character. Harder to have that when you don't know your teammates behaviour on the pitch all that well.

Just going to put this one down to lack of understanding and Jose probably changing too much.

P.S - We were utterly toothless last time we were in Belgium (Gent) yet were at peak Poch so I'm not going to over react.....as long as we beat Brighton.

 

[shelfboy68]

I think we will have to get used to teams defending like this against us, like Monday we wasn't quick enough in possession.

 

[carpediem991]

FWIW I would not have taken Gio and Vinicius off at half time. At least give them 60.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

If this season has proven anything so far, it's that Winks is guaranteed games no matter how poor he is.

It's crazy, I actually don't understand how he keeps getting picked. Actually offers nothing in either direction.

 

[Wizzy77]

We were so poor and it could have been 3-0 if they took their chances. I couldnt even remember a decent chance. Infuriating..