Match Threads Spurs v Barcelona - Match Thread

[ebzrascal]

Aside from two catastrophic mistakes from Lloris we were beaten by a far superior team, simple as. The gulf in class is so obvious and we will never compete with these teams unless the bigger picture changes at the club. That’ll never change so therefore champions league adventures are always going to be just that - adventures.

They controlled the game but we played really well for the last 20 of the 90 and were undone at full steam by Hugo’s decision to play sideways and Trippier’s decision to not lump it upfield.

That’s a positive. We need to channel this second half performance and transfer it into something we might be able to win, namely the cups.

That said with City, Liverpool and Chelsea looking so much stronger than us if we can get back to last season’s form we can still go for top 4. But we need to perform better than we have so far this season because the last two wins are only papering over some significant cracks.

Poch messed up again tonight but with a limited choice of players - but the players showed they have desire against a far superior team and that was great to see. They want to win stuff, but he needs to be better to allow them to do that.

I kinda disagree Barca were far superior tonight. But I think Poch needs to change his philosophy if we are to move to the next level and be successful. We don't have players who are technically good enough to play out from the back against teams that press. What is wrong with playing a long ball up to Kane or Llorente or to a wider area to Lucas or Son? Just suicidal football.. Also we need to play quicker this slow side to side nonsense does not work. Personally I think we need 2 or 3 players who are technically better and quicker than what we have. I don't believe they are that hard to find. La Liga is full of them.

 

[DiscoD1882]

It’s really starting to feel like we’ve come as far as we can go in this era. Something needs to change before we lose our best players, at which point it’s game over.

The manager? Maybe.

The chairman? More likely.

I would say. No Dembele. No Eriksen. No Delle. No Vertonghen. What do you expect. Do you think any team can lose their entire spine. And best the worlds best team. Come on!! You have to admire Barca. They know where every players is without them even looking. We could have got a draw. But for some woeful Lloris brain farts. It was good to measure ourselves. But but we didn’t have our first team out and we paid the price. Sorry. Cussing that loss in fucking stupid.

 

[Spursh]

I’m proud of the lads. Without four first teamers, we stayed in the game until we gifted them another goal in the last minute. Plus we were up against a superhuman.

Poch set us up to bypass their midfield by pushing 4/5 men up top, relying on Alderweireld, Trippier, Davies & Winks to ping balls down the channels. However, we would have been more effective at holding onto possession to find these passes if we had three at the back. And Sanchez on the left was a disaster; he was a lot more comfortable when he switched to the right.

Winks was superb, as was Lamela. Vertonghen and Dembele, let alone Eriksen and Alli, would have made a hell of a difference.

Barca are the best attacking side I’ve ever seen, but they won’t win the CL this year because they’re fallible at the back. Their new CM Arthur is a player btw.

 

[Phomesy]

Last goal was a bit of a deflated but up to that point this was a thoroughly enjoyable game. Undermanned and lacking quality in places we had spells where Barca were under real pressure. Great game to watch

 

[riggi]

Spurs vs spurs in the stands and me and my brother rowing over levy. We've got our Tottenham back ?

 

[Yid121]

Was Lamela's effort going wide so it'd be an OG or was it on target pre deflection?

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

All of their goals come down our right side, I don’t think that is coincidence. Trippier is good against weak teams when we are on the front foot and he is an auxiliary winger but not only does he lack the necessary pace defensively but he is really poor positionally. A real shame that Aurier was injured and that Poch isn’t brave enough to trust KWP. As I said earlier in the match thread I think the choice of FBs tonight was perplexing.

Still a number of positives in players coming back to form in Lamela, Kane and Winks.

Got to give a mention to Arthur, a very special player.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

When you play possibly (probably, in my opinion) the best team in the world with half your first choice players missing, and the real difference between us and them comes down to the best player in the world, (of all time, in my opinion again) I honestly don't feel it necessary to go home feeling depressed.

In fact, I feel proud and optimistic, helped by knowing what good players we have to come back to reinforce the better half of the team we put out tonight.

 

[kaz Hirai]

The crispness and accuracy of barcas shooting and passing was next level.
Was a pleasure to watch Tottenham make a team wity oneof the greatest talents of all time sweat for a bit at the end.
Glenn hoddle as manager and relying on the likes of a past it Jamie Redknapp is still fresh in my mind

Savoured all 90 minutes, and only thing I'm disappointed by really is Lloris as a really good keeper is ridiculously hard to find if he truly is losing it

 

[JCRD]

So anyone think we are already out of the CL? Inters results today and our defeat against us i think killed our chances.

Also seems like the win against us has instigated their fucking winning run arghhhhhhh if in a bad streak call Lossbusters

 

[guy]

What do we need to do to get 2nd? It's done on head to head right? So beat Inter at home by more than 1 goal, and match their other results? We can easily still do that.

 

[muppetman]

Home at last - fuck Wembley.

Amazing night though - shame it couldn't have been at the new ground.

 

[SpursD22]

I'm not gonna knee jerk over Lloris but I do hope the club is looking more long term when it comes to the number 1 spot. We should have our eyes on the next Lloris.

Alban Lafont (Fiorentina)
For years I’ve been saying he should be our future keeper

 

[spursfan77]

I would say. No Dembele. No Eriksen. No Delle. No Vertonghen. What do you expect. Do you think any team can lose their entire spine. And best the worlds best team. Come on!! You have to admire Barca. They know where every players is without them even looking. We could have got a draw. But for some woeful Lloris brain farts. It was good to measure ourselves. But but we didn’t have our first team out and we paid the price. Sorry. Cussing that loss in fucking stupid.

Just on the train home now after a few a beers following the final whistle and I agree. Somehow on another day we could have drawn 3 all tonight.

 

[Jonesey]

How did Poch mess up? From what I've read, Messi put on a masterclass. We didn't have our best players out there, which didn't help. The lack of trust between defence and goalkeeper is another issue. The problem for Poch is he has had to nurse players into fitness and protect shattered minds. I suspect that Sissoko and Llorente were sent on to protect other players.
I think we have to have perspective as fans. Our team fought back well, which is important. We gifted two goals to them, too.

Not sure I said too much differently - but starting Lloris with Gazzaniga on form and having Winks in there from the start against a great - if previously under par - Barcelona side was a mistake.

 

[Matrix]

Was at the game tonight. The second half is the Spurs I know and love under Poch. Pressing, pressuring the opposition, Kane worrying the defense, Lamela running at the back four! I know we lost but I was proud of the second half performance. If Mouras effort goes in we hold on for a draw. 2-4 it may be but we held our own. I didn’t walk out fuming, I walked out proud of our players and the difference was arguably the best player in the world.

 

[Matrix]

Just on the train home now after a few a beers following the final whistle and I agree. Somehow on another day we could have drawn 3 all tonight.

So close too as well.

 

[spursfan77]

I’m regularly annoyed by our fans but those leaving when we were 2 3 down with minutes left really pissed me off tonight. How many times do we get the chance to play in these games against Barcelona. Not many is the answer. Why leave early wherever you live?

 

[Primativ]

First of all let me say it was great to be there tonight. Privilege to see Messi in the flesh. What a player.

Another thing. Barcelona players are technically on another level to our players. There was a huge gulf in class.

However, now that is done. What the fuck is going on at Spurs? Barcelona weren't even in form and hardly brought their A game. They were there for the taking against a half decent side with some organisation. Our defence has fallen to pieces this season. We play at such a slow tempo. We are making defensive mistakes all over the place.

Tonight was the same below par performance we have seen all season. The difference tonight was that we played a side who punished our mistakes and general defensive malaise. We were just as crap at the back v Fulham, United, Newcastle, Huddersfield etc

I am 100% of the opinion now that we have peaked and are going backwards. Our performances this season have dropped by miles. A proper team gives Barcelona a game tonight. We didn't. The two goals make a it look more of a contest than it was. It could have been 6 - 1 and it would have been a fair result.

I don't like what I'm seeing from Poch or the players this season and I really don't like what I'm seeing from Levy last summer. We've gone backwards.

 

[Phomesy]

I know it's Barca but this game just shows how far we have slipped since last year when we qualified from the group stage with ease despite being the number 3 seeds.

The 2 goals tonight are just papering over the cracks. And those cracks are getting larger.

Can't see Eriksen signing a new deal.

Missed a massive chance to progress this summer but messed it up.

But at least we'll have the best cheese room in the country. Isn't that what every supporter wants?!?

It’s this kind of Blitz spirit commitment and faith that makes Spurs fans famous throughout the land