Toronto FC 2-3 Spurs - Mauricio's verdict

[mawspurs]

Mauricio Pochettino was pleased to secure a first win on Tour against Toronto FC on Wednesday night.

Read the full article at Official Site



Match report here

 

[18Klinsmann]

You shouldn't read too much into these games, but it was good to see some free flowing passing in the first half, and sweet to finally see Lamela provide some decent finishes to attacking moves. Soldado, Eriksen, Lennon and Lamela looked great together, and if we can add,some steel to that frontline (Bony, Lukaku?) we're looking very good going forward. Defensively Poch has some work to do, possibly in the market too.

 

[avonspurs]

Like this: "...found Andros Townsend, who fired into the top corner from the edge of the box for a fine winner". Makes a change from "...found Andros Townsend, who fired into the top row of the stand for the tenth time"

 

[dominguezmonkey]

Quote of the night from the US commentator:

"When players like Holtby and Townsend go on the counterattack, you KNOW nine times out of ten the ball is going in the back of the net."

He may have confused "back of the net" with "into Row Z"...

 

[De-BearYid]

You shouldn't read too much into these games, but it was good to see some free flowing passing in the first half, and sweet to finally see Lamela provide some decent finishes to attacking moves. Soldado, Eriksen, Lennon and Lamela looked great together, and if we can add,some steel to that frontline (Bony, Lukaku?) we're looking very good going forward. Defensively Poch has some work to do, possibly in the market too.

I agree with most of that.. Except wanting bony and cbs.
think Jan and chirches aren't back yet ... My back
Four would be
Walker Kaboul Jan Davies.

And reserve back 4 so far seems to be like this.
Naughton Chiriches Velk fryers

Or maybe even swap naughton for Fredericks depending how well he does this off season ..

Now that reserve back 4 may get some stick but I think velk has looked better than daws in pre season * I know these two matches almost mean nothing but still *
And sell rose whilst his value is still pretty high maybe 5-7 m mark.. As fryers seems fairly competent there * just not so much at CB *

 

[18Klinsmann]

It's true we're still waiting for Jan and Vlad, but with all the games we'll be playing this season I still feel we need to add another quality centre back unless Kaboul can avoid his Kingesque injury spells.

 

[De-BearYid]

You shouldn't read too much into these games, but it was good to see some free flowing passing in the first half, and sweet to finally see Lamela provide some decent finishes to attacking moves. Soldado, Eriksen, Lennon and Lamela looked great together, and if we can add,some steel to that frontline (Bony, Lukaku?) we're looking very good going forward. Defensively Poch has some work to do, possibly in the market too.

Did you mean to do this ?
2 times ?

 

[leneker]

I thought Kaboul was out of contract? Did he extend or am I wrong?

 

[ginola007]

The best players on show were Kaboul, Capoule and Lamela. In the first half, Toronto hardly ventured into our half.
There is such a gap of talent between our players in the first half (first team members with the exception of Mason and Veljovic) and those of the second (reserves). The pairing of Fryers and Dawson were awful and resulted in two easy goals for Toronto. Caballos shone in the second half, while kane looked cumbersome.

 

[peteblue]

I thought Lamela was fantastic, he played 45 mniutes and looked on fire and scored two goals both taken very well. Hope he can bring this sort of form in to the Premier League campaign.

 

[DreadySpur]

pleased I struggled to stay awake for the match. Lamela looks hungry for the ball and totally up for it.....not just the finishes, but the movement for his second (can't comment on the build up to the 1st goal due to my broadband provider ) and desire to have the ball all over the pitch

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

It's very early days yet, but for all our possession, and build up play the end product was woeful. Soldado again did little though he did provide Lamela with his second goal. As i said early days, and we still have players to return from WC duty that should improve the system.

 

[ebzrascal]

I agree with most of that.. Except wanting bony and cbs.
think Jan and chirches aren't back yet ... My back
Four would be
Walker Kaboul Jan Davies.

And reserve back 4 so far seems to be like this.
Naughton Chiriches Velk fryers

Or maybe even swap naughton for Fredericks depending how well he does this off season ..

Now that reserve back 4 may get some stick but I think velk has looked better than daws in pre season * I know these two matches almost mean nothing but still *
And sell rose whilst his value is still pretty high maybe 5-7 m mark.. As fryers seems fairly competent there * just not so much at CB *

Agreed Velk and Kaboul looked much better than Dawson and Fryers however definitely think we should let Dawson go and bring in an experienced strong quick solid defender who can organize the back line..

 

[ebzrascal]

It's very early days yet, but for all our possession, and build up play the end product was woeful. Soldado again did little though he did provide Lamela with his second goal. As i said early days, and we still have players to return from WC duty that should improve the system.

We cannot depend on Soldado for goals this season unless we are going to create clear chances for him. He does not offer enough by running into good positions. As he lacks power, pace or trickery he cannot afford to have poor movement. I see him on the bench to be honest unless Poch can improve him. Because he is under performing we do need another option up front as Ade cannot do it all alone and Kane is still not top quality yet

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

We cannot depend on Soldado for goals this season unless we are going to create clear chances for him. He does not offer enough by running into good positions. As he lacks power, pace or trickery he cannot afford to have poor movement. I see him on the bench to be honest unless Poch can improve him. Because he is under performing we do need another option up front as Ade cannot do it all alone and Kane is still not top quality yet

In fairness to him, he's come to a new County played football under three different managers using three different systems.

I watched the entire ninety minutes last night and could not remember a single cross coming into the box from either byline (please correct me if i am wrong). I did not see a single pacey run down either sideline either?

I did see Poch shouting his head off though for Lennon and Townsend to do as much. Early days i know but i did feel that everything went very narrow, and through the middle last night. This does not bode well for either Soldado, Kane or Ade but could just be a system that Poch wanted to try as a one off?

 

[ebzrascal]

The best players on show were Kaboul, Capoule and Lamela. In the first half, Toronto hardly ventured into our half.
There is such a gap of talent between our players in the first half (first team members with the exception of Mason and Veljovic) and those of the second (reserves). The pairing of Fryers and Dawson were awful and resulted in two easy goals for Toronto. Caballos shone in the second half, while kane looked cumbersome.

Soldado and Kane look subs or playing in a two up top for next season I think.... We need another striker 100% someone in the Lukaku mould.

 

[ebzrascal]

In fairness to him, he's come to a new County played football under three different managers using three different systems.

I watched the entire ninety minutes last night and could not remember a single cross coming into the box from either byline (please correct me if i am wrong). I did not see a single pacey run down either sideline either?

I did see Poch shouting his head off though for Lennon and Townsend to do as much. Early days i know but i did feel that everything went very narrow, and through the middle last night. This does not bode well for either Soldado, Kane or Ade but could just be a system that Poch wanted to try as a one off?

I agree with that we need to have someone who can cross the ball to get the best out of Soldado.. But he does need to develop as a player and start to make better runs and demand the ball. I see he make a run not get the ball and then throw his hand up in frustration. They need to work this out or sell him. I think he won`t get goals as a lone striker

 

[De-BearYid]

Agreed Velk and Kaboul looked much better than Dawson and Fryers however definitely think we should let Dawson go and bring in an experienced strong quick solid defender who can organize the back line..

Whilst I do agree that bringing in an experienced CB would and could probably help a whole heck of a bunch if we get rid of daws...
I can't think of any that would be readily available without splurging on a CB and I don't think we "Need" to do that.. If Jan comes back with a clear head. And Kaboul doesn't break * please don't kaboom I have defended you so much I would look like a jackass if you just broke again *
And chirches as a solid CB
And velk whilst still almost an unknown in terms of how he would fair is decent enough as a 4th over daws. As shown by these last two games.. And daws is prem quality probably around mid table. So I think we have a very good player coming up in velk he looked crazy solid next to Kaboul...
The question is do we need a 5th ? Or as you put a more experienced 4th as fighting on all fronts we may need to use the 4th quite a bit. Honestly I am torn
I would love to give it to velk and say we are done. But the other part agrees thinking we will need backup

 

[Chris_D]

I agree with that we need to have someone who can cross the ball to get the best out of Soldado.. But he does need to develop as a player and start to make better runs and demand the ball. I see he make a run not get the ball and then throw his hand up in frustration. They need to work this out or sell him. I think he won`t get goals as a lone striker

With Ade alongside I think we'll be OK. With Harry, I'm not sure anyone pushes far enough up the pitch. If it's just Soldado then we lack a threat in the air.

 

[MiamiYiddo]

holtby and lamela were excellent...still concerned with bob ..doesnt get involved enough ..class when he does though