Match Ratings Ratings vs Everton

[coys200]

People seriously making judgements on a pretty meaningless game 3 days after we’ve just qualified for a CL final. Where players are knackered or making sure they don’t get injured. Yeah I’m slightly pissed we didn’t get 3rd but in a week nobody will even remember if we came 3rd or 4th outside Tottenham. All that mattered once our brief title chase was Over was securing CL for next season. It’s been a messy end to the league season but we all know the trade of was worth it. Saying that it’s still the first time since 1959-63 we’ve secured top 4 in 4 seasons running.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Really pissed we didn’t put in the extra effort to secure 3rd place. Once again, as for most of the last 3 months, Poch has sat on the sidelines watching as we have put in a lackluster performance and done nothing to improve things. We may be in the CL Final but for the last 3 months or so in the league he has been unable to motivate the players which is worrying. We can’t put all the the blame on fatigue other teams(Liverpool, City) have played as many games.

Neither of those teams have suffered the injury nightmare that we have this season across the whole squad; our CM woes have been almost laughable! They have better squads than we do!

Both those teams have spent a fortune fortifying their squads, and we weren't helped by our heavy involvement in the last WC. We're as knackered as fuck! And our performances in the last 3 months in the PL, although not purely down to fatigue, are largely due to related factors; squad depth and quality being most critical.

 

[dtxspurs]

People seriously making judgements on a pretty meaningless game 3 days after we’ve just qualified for a CL final. Where players are knackered or making sure they don’t get injured. Yeah I’m slightly pissed we didn’t get 3rd but in a week nobody will even remember if we came 3rd or 4th outside Tottenham. All that mattered once our brief title chase was Over was securing CL for next season. It’s been a messy end to the league season but we all know the trade of was worth it. Saying that it’s still the first time since 1959-63 we’ve secured top 4 in 4 seasons running.

You would have been spouting all over twitter about finishing over Chelsea and Arsenal all summer.

 

[ohtottenham!]

You would have been spouting all over twitter about finishing over Chelsea and Arsenal all summer.

Well, he can still do the Arsenal spout!

 

[dtxspurs]

I guess on the bright side Gomes looked good when he came on

 

[jonnyp]

Our defending this season is a right shambles. So much to work on for the final and next season.

 

[kremlyn]

Will SOMEONE please write a review of the game and individual performances?

Please?

Not that I'm not loving the bedwetting, mind ?

 

[mckenz]

We started well, but fell off against a good side in the second half

probably lucky to get a draw but we were playing Janssen in the second half which defines how much we were looking after a tired and depleted squad

we didn't let in 5 goals so we finished 4th.


I'm glad the league is over

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Shit performance. Can't believe we played so shit in second half. Started well but then shocking the way we didn't show up until they went 2-1 up. We just don't play for more than 30 minutes at the moment.

This is why we picked up 10pts from last 36pts. We have not been blown away by anyone. This is what pisses me off about our league form.

So why do you think that might be the case? Do you want to analyse it or just to complain about it? I'd direct the same question to three quarters of the thread.

Let's break it down. A season of fifty-seven matches with an injury list usually between five and ten means reduced rotation and more load on the same small group of players. The majority of our starting-11 group, which actually comprises about 16 players, spent the summer at the World Cup and nine of them played all the way through to the semi-final. Our second-best goalscorer played in three international competitions this season, as well as having to play long sequences of games without a break when our best goalscorer was injured twice. Our first-choice creative midfielder played nearly everyone of those 57 games, for want of an alternative, because the alternative spent most of the season injured. Our right back had a disappointing season and came in for a lot of stick, but no one here ever commented on the fact that he never got through a single game for the past 3 months (at least) without grabbing at his right groin at least once - Trippier has been carrying a minor injury all season.

They're exhausted. Knackered. Playing on fumes. It just fucks me off that everyone moans on and on about them "not showing up" and "not trying". WALOB.

The second half today was dreadful because we gave the ball away to the opposition at least 40 times under minimal pressure. That's a clear sign of mental and physical exhaustion. If we hadn't kept losing the ball, there might have been some continuity to our play and some of our promising attacks might have ended in a shot instead of just dribbling away into nothing.

Let's hope the players can get some mojo back during the next three weeks. But this season's long injury list and late-season slump were so obviously a product of overwork, wear and tear and lack of pre-season rest that it's just bloody ridiculous to read people blaming lack of effort and desire.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Our defending this season is a right shambles. So much to work on for the final and next season.

Goals conceded per match (all competitions):

2014/15: 1.23
2015/16: 0.94
2016/17: 0.83
2017/18: 0.95
2018/19: 1.09

Seems pretty consistent to me.

 

[Mr Pink]

So why do you think that might be the case? Do you want to analyse it or just to complain about it? I'd direct the same question to three quarters of the thread.

Let's break it down. A season of fifty-seven matches with an injury list usually between five and ten means reduced rotation and more load on the same small group of players. The majority of our starting-11 group, which actually comprises about 16 players, spent the summer at the World Cup and nine of them played all the way through to the semi-final. Our second-best goalscorer played in three international competitions this season, as well as having to play long sequences of games without a break when our best goalscorer was injured twice. Our first-choice creative midfielder played nearly everyone of those 57 games, for want of an alternative, because the alternative spent most of the season injured. Our right back had a disappointing season and came in for a lot of stick, but no one here ever commented on the fact that he never got through a single game for the past 3 months (at least) without grabbing at his right groin at least once - Trippier has been carrying a minor injury all season.

They're exhausted. Knackered. Playing on fumes. It just fucks me off that everyone moans on and on about them "not showing up" and "not trying". WALOB.

The second half today was dreadful because we gave the ball away to the opposition at least 40 times under minimal pressure. That's a clear sign of mental and physical exhaustion. If we hadn't kept losing the ball, there might have been some continuity to our play and some of our promising attacks might have ended in a shot instead of just dribbling away into nothing.

Let's hope the players can get some mojo back during the next three weeks. But this season's long injury list and late-season slump were so obviously a product of overwork, wear and tear and lack of pre-season rest that it's just bloody ridiculous to read people blaming lack of effort and desire.

Great post David. The squad has been pushed and stretched to the limit.

I was pleased we got the point today, after our exertions mid week and all the cumulative fatigue that has come to the fore in the last two months or so.

 

[ohtottenham!]

So why do you think that might be the case? Do you want to analyse it or just to complain about it? I'd direct the same question to three quarters of the thread.

Let's break it down. A season of fifty-seven matches with an injury list usually between five and ten means reduced rotation and more load on the same small group of players. The majority of our starting-11 group, which actually comprises about 16 players, spent the summer at the World Cup and nine of them played all the way through to the semi-final. Our second-best goalscorer played in three international competitions this season, as well as having to play long sequences of games without a break when our best goalscorer was injured twice. Our first-choice creative midfielder played nearly everyone of those 57 games, for want of an alternative, because the alternative spent most of the season injured. Our right back had a disappointing season and came in for a lot of stick, but no one here ever commented on the fact that he never got through a single game for the past 3 months (at least) without grabbing at his right groin at least once - Trippier has been carrying a minor injury all season.

They're exhausted. Knackered. Playing on fumes. It just fucks me off that everyone moans on and on about them "not showing up" and "not trying". WALOB.

The second half today was dreadful because we gave the ball away to the opposition at least 40 times under minimal pressure. That's a clear sign of mental and physical exhaustion. If we hadn't kept losing the ball, there might have been some continuity to our play and some of our promising attacks might have ended in a shot instead of just dribbling away into nothing.

Let's hope the players can get some mojo back during the next three weeks. But this season's long injury list and late-season slump were so obviously a product of overwork, wear and tear and lack of pre-season rest that it's just bloody ridiculous to read people blaming lack of effort and desire.

100%! It's so fucking obvious, though! Our players have run themselves into the ground. I don't think some even realize how important these 3 weeks before June 1 are for us in terms of recovery and regrouping, let alone getting over injuries!

 

[ravo]

2nd 3rd 4th doesn’t fucking matter making sure we were in the top 4 was all that counts today. We need to improve over the summer big style. This was never gonna be a classic sadly.

I thought there was a difference between 3rd and 4th (there used to be). Fourth meant that we had to start the season with an extra qualifying round to get into the CL group stages. Is that not still the case?

 

[JimmyG2]

Game of two halves innit.
Good 1st half but we didn't CAPITALISE after the early goal.
Pretty tepid stuff-
They came on for the second half
and only when we went 2-1 down did we shake ourselves.
Lloris 7.......One smart save. Rest routine.
KWP.......7......Did well in the main. Needs to sharpen up his passing when he has the ball. Dwelt a bit
Toby.......6+....Misplaced passes. Played as if it was the last league game of the season.
Dier........6.......Prefer him in the back four. Scored and ran about a bit.
Davies....5......Clumsy and slow.
Sissoko...7......Usual Super hero stuff. Tackling, laying off, crashing forward. Probably MOM
Eriksen....6+....Patchy wasted a lot of the ball but great goal.
Lamela....6......Energy but did not cement a starting place in the final
Dele.........6......Saving himself for something.
Mora.......5.......Came on to cheers but did very little. Still got onstantly cheered though.
Llorente..5.......Looked very cumbersome. Not cut out for the full press. Big games only player.

Janssen.......Striker but still hasn't scored in two seasons. Needs to amend his job description.
Wanyama.. Not convinced he is fit or able enough for us now.Blundered about.
Skipp...........Impressed with his industry and positive passing. (My secret MOM but I can't handle the ensuing hassle if I say so)

We could have won that at any time but after Wednesday we just couldn't be arsed.
Premier League? Who needs it?

 

[davidmatzdorf]

I thought there was a difference between 3rd and 4th (there used to be). Fourth meant that we had to start the season with an extra qualifying round to get into the CL group stages. Is that not still the case?

It is not still the case. All of the EPL top 4 go straight into the group stages.

 

[ravo]

So why do you think that might be the case? Do you want to analyse it or just to complain about it? I'd direct the same question to three quarters of the thread.

Let's break it down. A season of fifty-seven matches with an injury list usually between five and ten means reduced rotation and more load on the same small group of players. The majority of our starting-11 group, which actually comprises about 16 players, spent the summer at the World Cup and nine of them played all the way through to the semi-final. Our second-best goalscorer played in three international competitions this season, as well as having to play long sequences of games without a break when our best goalscorer was injured twice. Our first-choice creative midfielder played nearly everyone of those 57 games, for want of an alternative, because the alternative spent most of the season injured. Our right back had a disappointing season and came in for a lot of stick, but no one here ever commented on the fact that he never got through a single game for the past 3 months (at least) without grabbing at his right groin at least once - Trippier has been carrying a minor injury all season.

They're exhausted. Knackered. Playing on fumes. It just fucks me off that everyone moans on and on about them "not showing up" and "not trying". WALOB.

The second half today was dreadful because we gave the ball away to the opposition at least 40 times under minimal pressure. That's a clear sign of mental and physical exhaustion. If we hadn't kept losing the ball, there might have been some continuity to our play and some of our promising attacks might have ended in a shot instead of just dribbling away into nothing.

Let's hope the players can get some mojo back during the next three weeks. But this season's long injury list and late-season slump were so obviously a product of overwork, wear and tear and lack of pre-season rest that it's just bloody ridiculous to read people blaming lack of effort and desire.

Great post. 57 games is an absolute shedload. Securing CL for next season and getting to the final, coupled with the above-mentioned WC and no player investment in the last two windows is a bloody great season all up.

 

[ravo]

It is not still the case. All of the EPL top 4 go straight into the group stages.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

I thought there was a difference between 3rd and 4th (there used to be). Fourth meant that we had to start the season with an extra qualifying round to get into the CL group stages. Is that not still the case?

Apparently straight through to. The groups now.

 

[JimmyG2]

We have come 4th.
and qualify for next years CL.
If we win the CL this year
do we qualify for the year after next's CL?

Asking for a friend.

 

[Primativ]

I know it's all rosy as we are in the CL final, but one has to worry about momentum going into next season. Our league performances are shite, and have been for a while, and now our results have taken a downturn too. It's tempting to say, well if we win the CL, who cares, but if we separate the CL run to our league form, it's concerning. Many teams continue end of season form into their new season, Leicester famously did it and went on to win the title the following year. I just find we are on a downward spiral, and our new stadium seems anything like a fortress.

The caveat to this all is our injuries, and fatigue. So let's hope thats the case, and we start next season brightly. I want us to be fighting for the title from the first game, it may be asking too much without Levy opening the wallet, but that is the bar we should be setting ourselves.