Match Threads Spurs vs Antwerp - Match Thread - Europa Cup Rd 6

[Mate]

Bergwijn on for Reggie

 

[chrissivad]

Yeah Bergwijn on for Reguilon

 

[Monkey boy]

The player who fouled Reguilon at the end should have been sent off. He already had a yellow and that was 100% a yellow-card barge.

That said, I think we need to accept that Antwerp aren't leading this group by chance. They have an excellent midfield and a good defence, with a slight flaky 'keeper behind them and a lack of a really good striker up front. In the away match, we were just dreadful, especially in the first half. This time, we've been OK-ish, but Antwerp have comfortably matched us.

For the first 20+ minutes, it was same as last time: we couldn't keep the ball in midfield. But we've started to get a better grip in the latter parts of the half, without really taking the match to the opposition.

Lucas has been excellent, the key link through which everything is going. Lo Celso is full of running, but nothing has quite come off yet. Winks has been holding the fort since we got a foothold in the match, but he was lost for the first 20 minutes. Hart hasn't been tested and he's fine when he doesn't need to be 10 years younger. All three central defenders look comfortable. Vinicius has his timing off again - it's an issue with him. Bale has been largely unexceptional, sometimes invisible. Doherty, despite playing as a wing-back, looks just as uninspired as usual. I'm just starting to think he isn't actually all that good...?

One of the problems is that we have no creativity and energy coming up our right flank, because Doherty and Bale are half-asleep.

I think that was the reason that the ref didn’t give the free kick as he would have had to then send him off.

 

[Mr Pink]

Switch in formation ?

 

[dondo]

Huge waste of money so far, hopefully we'll send him back to Madrid end of the season if he carries on like this.

I’m still confident Bale will play his part between now and the end of the season but I think we have to lower our expectations with him because he is clearly not the same player that he was a few years ago

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Yup I believe he is, no one can deny he’s been a disappointment. I’d love for him to prove me wrong but I can’t see it.

He’ll come good. Plenty of season left. I’m not worried.

 

[spurs mental]

Jose isn't starting Bale in the league until he shows more. He doesn't care about superstars or big salaries, you have to earn your place in the league 11. I'm not Bergwijn's biggest fan but in terms of what he does for the team, on current form, he's shitting all over Bale.

I totally agree, but I wouldnt be surprised to see him start. Just to mix it up.

Anyway, Bale still looks happy to be playing the part he is right now, I'm not too concerned that he hasn't set the world alight just yet

 

[Dannyspur]

Yawn!

 

[chrissivad]

Switch in formation ?

I hope so. Not sure how Bergwijn is as a lwb.

 

[morris25]

Did Bale come here to play or holiday

 

[Erm33]

Sergio off

Hopefully the 4 at the back experiment is done with and we see Bale play centrally

 

[thecook]

Hopefully a formation change rather than injury

 

[ikky]

Bale as we all know has tremendous talent but beginning to wonder if his legs have gone. Like walking football at times, hard to see him being more than just an impact sub in the league

He’s never gonna have the legs to be a Jose player, doing all the running in attack and defense. At best he’ll be an impact sub in the PL if we’re losing.

 

[SpursD22]

Bergwijn comes on in the second half. Just compare him to Bale in the second half and you will see Bergwijn is so much better than him at everything

 

[TheChosenOne]

Huge waste of money so far, hopefully we'll send him back to Madrid end of the season if he carries on like this.

There's a saying - "You should never go back with an ex that cheated on you" I made that mistake once.

 

[muppetman]

Thats exactly what we should expect from Bale.

The Bale of 2010-14 used to have defenders on toast and always be looking to get past them.

Post 2014 Bale is all about incredible 'moments' in the game. He's never been a player who is always involved and on the ball, he often plays on the periphery but what does set him apart is those moments of pure brilliance that decide games.

Seeing as we are not a possession based team, this shouldn't be a major problem as he can come alive at the right moment rather than be on the ball every five seconds.

Maybe, but I think he needs to show something sooner or later or Jose will stop picking him. Jose is at heart a pragmatist and so will do whatever he thinks is most likely to get a result and I'm not convinced he will wait forever hoping for one of these "moments".

 

[dagraham]

Yeah Bergwijn on for Reguilon

Hope that’s tactical and not an injury.

 

[spurs mental]

a draw is same as a loss here (apart from 1 uefa coefficient point), so it will be very annoying if we don't go all out for a win. I don't mind losing if we get caught on the break, but if we continue to be cautious and Antwerp have more possession than us again second half (46% - 54% first half possession stats) it will be very disappointing and a little embarrassing

That's the spirit

 

[JimmyG2]

Could do with some more footballers on.
Dele for a start.
Why does it take Hart so long before he whacks it downfield?
Poor half.

 

[paulcumpstone]

Lucas twice in the first minute of the half his first touch is that bad his 2nd is to run after it ?