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Match Threads Spurs vs Manchester United - FA Cup Semi final Match Thread

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Maybe if he'd seen red for the early one, but the one near the end wouldn't have made a difference imo
It doesn't matter now it's over time to secure top four I just hope we don't go off the rails after a pretty good season playing 38 games away from home.
 

Trees

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,534
4,203
It doesn't matter now it's over time to secure top four I just hope we don't go off the rails after a pretty good season playing 38 games away from home.
To put in to context - we have had 38 games away. To get top 4 will be a good achievement.
 

bsinghd

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
647
1,035
I just get the feeling that the problem
with Kane is he is demanding to play and Poch is reluctant to upset the guy and put him on the bench....case of tail wagging dog I reckon.

Agree, Harry hasn’t looked sharp or dangerous since coming back. In the last four games (Stoke, City, Brighton, and Utd) he’s been poor and so has our football. We seemed to be a much more fluid team without him and scored more goals; everyone seemed worried when he went off against Bournemouth but with the front three of Alli, Lamela, and Son we were opening teams up as they didn’t know who to pick up.

A fully fit Kane would be running into channels, dropping deep and fully pressing defences. In The last few games he hasn’t been anywhere close to his best and it’s impacted the team.

As a team we’re guilty of not scoring enough headed goals and that’s because our fullbacks seem hestitant to cross the ball, Trippier had so many chances to put in a cross yesterday but chose to pass back or into the middle where it was congested.

Some of the players seem intent on doing the hard things when there is no need, i.e. Dembele when he effectively gave Pogba the ball to cross for their equaliser.

Man City might have spent a lot of money on good players, but Guardiola has them doing the simple things well (give and go passing), I lost count of the number of times our players were left behind because of a simple one-two between the City players.

The difference between us and the top teams is the ability to do the things that are required at the right time, and having leaders on the pitch. When Dembele gave the ball away not a single player gave him a bollocking, we need someone who will rip into players when they start pissing about and to gee them up when they need it.
 

phaser

Member
Apr 16, 2018
67
74
Very very disappointing... What a waste and another great opportunity missed again... Hopefully this pattern does not continue.

So many things could be said, but the biggest of all in my opinion is simply in regards to Son and Lamela.

Son is fantastic, but he's at his best when he's direct and running at defenders. Man Utd sorted this out in the first 20 minutes of the game, space was taken away from him and his danger gets limited. Pochettino did nothing.

Lamela, on the other hand, is sort of opposite to Son in this respect. Lamela is fantastic in tight spaces, constantly on the move and moving between the lines. Once Son became more and more ineffective, Lamela would've been a good alternative. Pochenttino, however, brings on Moura, who hasn't been playing much or that well, left Son on, and decided it was best to only give Lamela 5 minutes. That is horrible decision making.

Lamela, on the other hand, would have brought nothing new to the table that we didn’t have at a higher quality on the pitch already. Bringing his averageness to proceedings & wanting to play through the centre of the pitch, when the space was out wide is not what was needed. He’s been here 5 years of mostly littering our team with his mediocrity, he isn’t good enough and needs to be moved on.
 

Dzejkob

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2012
785
3,215
It hurts but everybody knew after second goal for United that we won't score. Including the players. They were passing the ball and saying "Here you are, do something", but no one had courage to do. There were no leaders. I think Vertonghen was fantastic again but he is defender and we need leader higher on the pitch, like Sanchez for United. I honestly belive that Alli or Kane have right mentality for this role but they are just too young for now.

I'm very curious (and worried) what is the team spirit now. Do they want to fight again next season or maybe few of them started to think if it's time to move on. IMHO new stadium is great impuls for them and we will keep our core players. But for now it looks like next season will be the most important for this team. If we won't make that last step then, I guess we never will (with this team of course).
 

ljinko888

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2016
2,080
5,376
It hurts but everybody knew after second goal for United that we won't score. Including the players. They were passing the ball and saying "Here you are, do something", but no one had courage to do. There were no leaders. I think Vertonghen was fantastic again but he is defender and we need leader higher on the pitch, like Sanchez for United. I honestly belive that Alli or Kane have right mentality for this role but they are just too young for now.

I'm very curious (and worried) what is the team spirit now. Do they want to fight again next season or maybe few of them started to think if it's time to move on. IMHO new stadium is great impuls for them and we will keep our core players. But for now it looks like next season will be the most important for this team. If we won't make that last step then, I guess we never will (with this team of course).

Spot on. I think this team goes with the wind in big games. We had more urgency pushing for a second goal for a 2-0 lead than chasing a second goal for 2-2.
 

guiltyparty

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2005
9,023
13,524
Fine margins indeed.

People won't want to read or hear it right now, and after yesterdays result fair play - but as a Club the next step is winning things bottom line. That's how far we have come under Poch. IMO of course.

Worth pointing out that of the 8 we’ve lost, 6 have been to Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea - the three who have got to more than us, all of who were above us in the league and with much more resources at the time.

Stats are great but you can make them say anything
 

jamesinashby

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2017
465
985
This is as good as it gets with the team...we flatter to deceive...either we invest and evolve or we slip back to mid table mediocrity. I don't think anyone is truly surprised at this result but we need to use it as a wake up call.....or die.

I owe you an apology. You were right
I just get the feeling that the problem
with Kane is he is demanding to play and Poch is reluctant to upset the guy and put him on the bench....case of tail wagging dog I reckon.

Additionally, I wn
That's commercial success...I want the kind that keeps you warm inside whenever you think of it....I want to look at a trophy...not a spreadsheet.

In addition to the truism you write above, when Poch suggests not winning a cup it won't change anything, I fear he has overlooked the fact that retaining such as Erikson Harry and Toby simply for the privilege of playing in a wonderful stadium for a wage well below that which they could get is going to take a lot of persuading now. Both the Dane and Harry have stated this year that winning trophies is important to them and Toby understandably wants a wage reflecting his skill and worth to the club. It won't have gone unnoticed to them that Walker has doubled his wages plus already and now has 2 medals.

I'm not even good enough to play park football. However, if I had the talent those 3 have, I would certainly want the rewards they deserve and would go for them. That is not being selfish or greedy in my book.

COYS
 

steve

Well-Known Member
Oct 21, 2003
3,503
1,767
Should Valencia have got a 2nd yellow? Not seen it on tv and we were a long way away at Wembley but we all thought it was a booking at the time...
 

WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
Spot on. I think this team goes with the wind in big games. We had more urgency pushing for a second goal for a 2-0 lead than chasing a second goal for 2-2.
I knew we'd lost it when that second goal went in. And even before that it was almost like we were waiting for a United goal to wake us up.

That second half was quite weird.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
It hurts but everybody knew after second goal for United that we won't score. Including the players. They were passing the ball and saying "Here you are, do something", but no one had courage to do. There were no leaders. I think Vertonghen was fantastic again but he is defender and we need leader higher on the pitch, like Sanchez for United. I honestly belive that Alli or Kane have right mentality for this role but they are just too young for now.

I'm very curious (and worried) what is the team spirit now. Do they want to fight again next season or maybe few of them started to think if it's time to move on. IMHO new stadium is great impuls for them and we will keep our core players. But for now it looks like next season will be the most important for this team. If we won't make that last step then, I guess we never will (with this team of course).

It did seem like that and I was watching the team at certain points when we were 2-1 down and there was so little movement from the forward players. You look at that and then City in that situation, you'd have Silva desperate to get on the ball and try something, De Bruyne desperate to get on the ball and do something, Aguero running around the front line trying to find an opening, Sterling buzzing around looking for space and Sane hugging the touchline, staying as wide as possible as an outlet. Just a lot more activity that I think they show.

I don't think there'll be any sort of mass exodus though, but I do think the players will want to see big investment in the summer. The players who have been here a few years already will not want to face heartbreak again next season with no real standout investment being made in the team to really try and prevent that. I guess there's only so many times when you can face repeatedly being 2nd,3rd or 4th best without winning anything knowing that you can go somewhere with more a chance of wining trophies and probably double the wages.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
I knew we'd lost it when that second goal went in. And even before that it was almost like we were waiting for a United goal to wake us up.

That second half was quite weird.
I thought we were just starting to dominate again when they scored their second.
 

lis spur

Well-Known Member
Dec 7, 2006
2,571
5,946
Finally picked up the courage to watch it ; Dembele needs to have a good look at himself(more interested in playing 5 a side football at times) for that first and Vorm was piss poor ,other than that ,the better team lost.
Also Poch needs to lay off the depressing post match interview nonsense, 4 games to gain some semblance of a season
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
We need a nasty-bastard captain.
This is where we really do fall short imo and its damaging.
Theres no one to get everyone to step up, no one to point out repeated mistakes for example full back going central leaving wingers in acres or not crossing the ball in when the opportunity is there. Been missing that for an absolute age. Parker is probably the last proper captain we had.
 

spursbhoy67

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2006
1,316
1,475
Eden Hazard on the BBC just now:
“No we want to finish in the top four and win the FA Cup that’s the target.”

Winners want to win. Winners win. Top four and an FA Cup/League Cup should have been our minimum goal.

I can rattle off names from our teams that have won the FA Cup - Tait-01, Dimmock-21, Smith-61, Greaves-62, Robertson-67, Villa-81, Roberts-82 and Stewart-91. Same with the League Cup, UEFA, ECWC, 51 and 61 teams title teams, even the promotion winning team. Sad I know. Point being, I want to be able to recall players who have won things for Tottenham Hotspur and not just good players who wore the Lilywhite shirt.
 

Krule

Carpe Diem
Jun 4, 2017
4,534
8,686
I said this last year and took some panning over it but I still maintain you cannot truly 'captain' a team when you are stuck right at the back between the sticks.....Need to be amongst the play...encouraging and bollocking where necessary....(y)
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
I said this last year and took some panning over it but I still maintain you cannot truly 'captain' a team when you are stuck right at the back between the sticks.....Need to be amongst the play...encouraging and bollocking where necessary....(y)
Or as yesterday, sat on the fkin bench.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Eden Hazard on the BBC just now:
“No we want to finish in the top four and win the FA Cup that’s the target.”

Winners want to win. Winners win. Top four and an FA Cup/League Cup should have been our minimum goal.

I can rattle off names from our teams that have won the FA Cup - Tait-01, Dimmock-21, Smith-61, Greaves-62, Robertson-67, Villa-81, Roberts-82 and Stewart-91. Same with the League Cup, UEFA, ECWC, 51 and 61 teams title teams, even the promotion winning team. Sad I know. Point being, I want to be able to recall players who have won things for Tottenham Hotspur and not just good players who wore the Lilywhite shirt.
Both Utd and Chelsea are winners and prove it on a consistent basis we on the other hand are not, Chelsea could well end up finishing 5th but winning a trophy while we come 4th but will never have anything to show on the role of honour.
 
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