Match Threads Spurs vs West Ham - Day 15

[SPURSLIFE]

The thing that has stood out for me throughout this dreadful run is how badly we are missing Maddison. He knits everything together for us and has also been very consistent.

watching the game last night I said the same thing that Maddison is the key to this side and it has been so obvious in recent games. His skill and enthusiasm was what made the team tick in the early matches. Maybe I missed it but does anybody know how long he's out for?

 

[Donki]

yes we're playing better than last year but like Ange said, he's here to win and that we need to stop saying that. we are not wining games and thats what ultimately matters.

Agreed, but the progress in 5 months is outstanding, I’m expecting nothing this year other than enjoying the football. Next year will be the test competitively. Again everyone has their own opinion.

 

[RuskyM]

West Ham fans are not happy on BBC match reaction. They know they were lucky and played negatively to ground us out. They were just happy to take the win. They know they got schooled technical wise and took the freebie goals

It's why this is worth believing in despite the current issues. Football like Moyes sometimes punches above its weight but we saw with Conte/Mourinho, you might as well just watch the scoreboard for 90 minutes and decide if you're happy at the end.

Put it this way, I'm much more engaged emotionally with Spurs now than I was a year ago, even when we had the best striker in the world.

 

[jpascavitz]

Was at the match last night and very easy to be negative with the run. But in reality West Ham weren't ever a real threat going forward. Loved Ange's comments post match, yes we kept a lot of the ball but we didn't really create anything at all after the goal.

I personally (my opinion means f all) thought we should have kept the same starting line up as City (with Romero back in). I almost prefer we set up more/too attacking esp against sides we should beat on paper. We always can have a PEH/Bissouma on the bench to come on and shore up/settle things down if we need. Not anything against either player I just think if we want to be beating teams 2 or 3-0 by half time as Ange says then we come out with the foot on the gas then adjust as needed.

 

[Japhet]

Was at the match last night and very easy to be negative with the run. But in reality West Ham weren't ever a real threat going forward. Loved Ange's comments post match, yes we kept a lot of the ball but we didn't really create anything at all after the goal.

I personally (my opinion means f all) thought we should have kept the same starting line up as City (with Romero back in). I almost prefer we set up more/too attacking esp against sides we should beat on paper. We always can have a PEH/Bissouma on the bench to come on and shore up/settle things down if we need. Not anything against either player I just think if we want to be beating teams 2 or 3-0 by half time as Ange says then we come out with the foot on the gas then adjust as needed.

Imo, it was the front line that failed us last night. No directness and everything got bogged down with countless cut backs and passing up opportunities to get the ball in the box. We seemed to want to pass it into the net. WHU worked out that they didn't need to defend the wide areas because there was little threat there and so they bunged up the middle which left us passing side to side with no way through. Only when Porro started firing crosses in did we look at all threatening, but it was too little, too late.

 

[PLTuck]

Really frustrating game. West Ham lucky as fuck for both goals and we weren't good enough up top after our goal.

I love Kulu but bloody hell he is so predictable on the right.

 

[neogenisis]

Incredibly frustrating game and at no point could I see them scoring past luck or mistake. My gag reaction is still active whenever someone mentions West Ham, but I am already sick of the naysayers. 14 games in, new manager, new system, new way of doing everything, 11 players out injured and absolute knobheads are dishing out negativity. If you are expecting magic wand type of stuff then Football is not for you. I am more pissed off with some of our fanbase than I am with last night. Get a grip some of you.

 

[HodisGawd]

Just. Enjoy. The. Football.

This season isn't going to catapult us into football nirvana, that will happen next season .

Until then, enjoy the ride. We are fun to watch. Despite the misery of losing last night, I'm already looking forward to the Newcastle match. That wasn't the case under Conte.

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

Got to say, the commentary was bizarre last night from both the pundits.......and Shearer really pissed me off. Listening to his commentary you'd think west ham played us off the park for the final 45 minutes.

Whilst west ham did improve in the second half, at no point were they "good" or "impressive". They sat with 10 men behind the ball, were totally outplayed for the entire match, and got incredibly fortunate for both goals.
I will, however, accept that whilst we totally outplayed them we created very little other than an obscenely wasteful missed header from Richarlison.

 

[Nebby]

Exactly, that's what he was signed for and he doesn't do the business

What concerns me most about Richarlison, is that when he misses a chance he disappears for the rest of the game.

 

[jpascavitz]

Imo, it was the front line that failed us last night. No directness and everything got bogged down with countless cut backs and passing up opportunities to get the ball in the box. We seemed to want to pass it into the net. WHU worked out that they didn't need to defend the wide areas because there was little threat there and so they bunged up the middle which left us passing side to side with no way through. Only when Porro started firing crosses in did we look at all threatening, but it was too little, too late.

Definitely a good point. There are times are wingers get the ball and it's a 1 v 1. We're begging for a player that wants to beat his man.. if we get one that can do it consistently it will pull the defense apart and create further openings.

 

[Japhet]

Definitely a good point. There are times are wingers get the ball and it's a 1 v 1. We're begging for a player that wants to beat his man.. if we get one that can do it consistently it will pull the defense apart and create further openings.

When we're getting the same result time after time with wide players unable to get the ball in the box, I really don't see what the problem is with swapping sides so Johnson can have a crack on the right. Porro immediately started causing problems once Kulu had been moved infield.

 

[stoddle]

Got to say, the commentary was bizarre last night from both the pundits.......and Shearer really pissed me off. Listening to his commentary you'd think west ham played us off the park for the final 45 minutes.

Whilst west ham did improve in the second half, at no point were they "good" or "impressive". They sat with 10 men behind the ball, were totally outplayed for the entire match, and got incredibly fortunate for both goals.
I will, however, accept that whilst we totally outplayed them we created very little other than an obscenely wasteful missed header from Richarlison.

I've given up listening to all commentators and pundits. I watch with the sound off and turn it up if we score. But then I am 51.

 

[Fredo]

Who of the requisite quality is available in January?

Vlahovic

 

[DarwinSpur]

That's just taking it to extremes, just like every time someone criticises what's going on Conte ball is thrown up as the only alternative.

Fact is there are players available if the asking price is met, and you damn well know it. Now the question is how far are we prepared to push things financially. I'm certainly not advocating paying stupid money because that'll cost us come the Summer, but I do believe a calculated risk should be taken in January because that CL spot and the money that goes with it is certainly there if we are brave enough to go after it.

A quality CB is a must and I'm starting to think a forward is also. I know it's a lot but a 70-80mil outlay on two players(that we will need regardless come the Summer) could pretty much pay for themselves by securing CL football.

My question was "who is available of the requisite quality". The reply I got was standard boiler plate "jUsT SpennnD cAsh, leVy".

My question remains "who is available of the requisite quality?". Its a genuine question.

 

[DarwinSpur]

Vlahovic

Good call but does Ange use a striker in the Vlahovic mould?

It's a "yes" from me though.

Edit: I'd add that my "yes" is based upon hype before Vlahovic's move to Juve. He's since been a bit of a flop and would cost a mint. So... that's a worry surely. Where are the Van Den Ven's (or Doku's) that are available out there?

 

[coysjod]

No I'm obviously talking about the second half. Jeeeze

Yes and I was saying that we didn't lose the game because of fatigue (in the second half). We lost because of lacking sharpness and decision making in the first half since we should have broken them down leading 3-0 already.

 

[DenverSpur]

Still can't get over that Richarlison header. Shocking miss

Give him a break. He’d only been in the field a few minutes and then he only missed by inches.

 

[Japhet]

Really hope the Vlahovic link today has some truth to it.

Especially if they really want Richy.

 

[Toast]

Give him a break. He’d only been in the field a few minutes and then he only missed by inches.

Sandra would've buried it