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Match Threads Spurs vs Norwich - Match Thread (FA Cup)

Match Prediction

  • Spurs Win in Normal Time

    Votes: 99 66.4%
  • Spurs Win in Extra Time and Penalties

    Votes: 21 14.1%
  • Norwich Win in Normal Time

    Votes: 17 11.4%
  • Norwich Win in Extra Time and Penalties

    Votes: 12 8.1%

  • Total voters
    149
  • Poll closed .

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
Just back from the game and clearly seems like I missed the best action and I was in that part of the ground.

Anyway the opening twenty minutes or more were promising. GLC was excellent, Skip sharp and we looked dangerous with a mix of teamwork, flair and speed. Once we scored though we seemed to stop playing and go back to The trademark JM anti-football mode. It was only when they, inevitably, scored that we played again. GLC had been anonymous for a while but suddenly came to life with others as we actually attached. We really should have scored then and closed the game out.

i Thought the defence was good with Dier and Verts playing very well. Both were cool heads I a team that sometimes looks in a permanent state of panic. Verts was great as an attacking threat all game. So good to see these two performing well. Our failure was further up the pitch in not scoring; in not keeping up the early front foot play. After some of the matches I have watched recently it was nice to see us play some football, we have some very good players in our team.
 
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WiganSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
15,974
32,682
Just back from the game and clearly seems like a missed the best action and I was in that part of the ground.

Anyway the opening twenty minutes or more were promising. GLC was excellent, Skip sharp and we looked dangerous with a mix of teamwork, flair and speed. Once we scored though we seemed to stop playing and go back to The trademark JM anti-football mode. It was only when they, inevitably, scored that we played again. GLC had been anonymous for a while but suddenly came to life with others as we actually attached. We really should have scored then and closed the game out.

i Thought the defence was good with Dier and Verts playing very well. Both were cool heads I a team that sometimes looks in a permanent state of panic. Verts was great as an attacking threat all game. So good to see these two performing well. Our failure was further up the pitch in not scoring; in not keeping up the early front foot play. After some of the matches I have watched recently it was nice to see us play some football, we have some very good players in our team.
Jose is very strategic. We were clearly picking moments to attack and up our intensity. He probably took on the gamble to sit on it and try to conserve some energy with the hope we could nick one on the counter to kill it off. Unfortunately Vorm throwing one into his own net meant he lost the gamble.

The reason for this is that he was trying to look at the bigger picture with the Burnley and Leipzig games to come imo.
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
41,883
71,188
After a bit of mulling, i think we are witnessing yet another bottom. Losing at home in a cup on penalties with a dreadful performance, crowd trouble, the manager pretty much saying we cant do 2 games in a week seriously, more injuries. Our squad is getting to the point where we cant field a serious xi. It’s ridiculous we are at this point. But we are. An already paper thin squad thanks to the chairman gets ran into the ground and then some. Crowd is beginning to turn toxic because there is little to enjoy on the pitch and are taking it out on players whose legs have been shot for years. It’s not fair on them. All falls on Levy. We need a takeover.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I don't understand the lack of patience really. What are people expecting with our two best attacking players out injured? I'm bored of saying it but there are a lot of mitigating factors. Let's just see where we are this time next season before we start throwing toys out the pram.

But as I've said over a few posts now, focus on the players that are left... Whatever is the ideal way that Mourinho wants to play, as it stands this group just isn't suited to sitting back and soaking up pressure. To play his football/his teams have always had very good pure defenders. Defensive minded, positionally sound, usually ultra experienced, low error count, a rock solid platform made up of the back four and cm2,then add a couple of reliable sacrificial 'defensive' wide men who can track back and make your two banks of four. Then with the ball it is all about rapid transitions and interchanges to blitz the opposition. But:

Aurier - First second and 700th instinct is to bomb forward, positioning and concentration suspect at the best of times. Likes to charge out and engage the opposition.

Sanchez - Getting there, but still not quite the finished article. Probably the best pure defender we have at this point, another whose inclination is to get tight and step out and engage the opposition.

Alderweireld - Is physically declining and this is being shown up more and more with ultra tentative defending. Can still do the job on a good day, but this really isn't a given anymore.

Vertonghen - Even more on the decline and getting shown up.

Dier - Cant do the job in midfield anymore. Currently remembering how to play centre back.

Tanganga - Rookie. Another who likes to step out and engage the opposition.

Foyth - Still a rookie. Ball playing defender bought in for high possession team playing high up the pitch. Yet another who likes to charge out and get stuck into his man.

Davies - Ok but not top class defender. Can do a job though.

Sessegnon - At left back and attack minded option. A rookie who is learning the defensive aspects of the game.

Winks - Neat and tidy ball player. Weak at sitting and screening. Can press and is quite tenacious and mobile though.

Skipp - Rookie. Basically a bit more of a tenacious version of Winks.

Sissoko - Cant be trusted to sit and screen, doesn't have the nous or game intelligence or positional ability, best deployed running about all over the place / Good player for transitions when we get the ball.

Lo Celso - More advanced ball player. Tenacious and will scrap, not a sitter / With ball likes it to feet and lot of touches, can pick a pass.

Ndombele - Clearly not someone who can sit and screen the defence at this point / Likes ball to feet and lots of touches and give and go's

Gedson - Versatile, will run lots, but a rookie attack minded midfielder. Unsure what type of player he really is currently.

Lamela - Charges around giving 200%, presses and hassles well, cant be trusted to defend a flank though / Likes ball to feet, lots of touches, lots of passes etc.

Moura - Tries his heart out when the ball is in his immediate vicinity, but not a great defensive player and cant be trusted to defend a flank consistently / With ball likes it to feet, and considering his skillset isn't actually great in transitions and exploiting quick counter attacks.

Bergwijn - Not lazy, but doesn't look that diligent either in his defensive duties / With ball seems to like it to feet also, not rapid and not brilliant in transitions

Alli - Will do a job whether he is stationed but not the most tenacious presser / Likes the ball to feet, lots of touches, at his own pace, best work done picking his moments to get into the penalty area and sniffing opportunities. Not great at rapid transitions.



That is just not a squad that to me screams being able to sit back, and be able to soak up pressure to varying degrees almost every week, nor carry out rapid counter attacks. With Kane and especially Son back the attacking plans might be better but defensively there will still be massive issues. Without them it just seems totally foolhardy.

With those available at the moment and what their skills/qualities are it would seem best, unsurprisingly given most of the squad were bought for a manager trying to play this football, to get up the pitch, press high, commit players forward and try to dominate the ball and out football teams and just generally have a go. That wont solve all the issues and indeed might not work, as we saw at the weekend when losing an open game, it might even still be a crap watch, but I think there is more chance of that working and individual players shining than us trying to sit and soak and be solid and counter.

In future, with considerable overhaul and those two key injuries back, Mourinho might get a team that can play in his image and carry out this type of football. But at the moment lets be honest he is shoehorning his ideals on a bunch of players patently unsuited to do this. And I think is the big reason why we often look clueless and we're hearing fans cry we have no identity. He is within his rights to just say we're continuing to do this for the rest of the season despite this, but it will continue to fail more often than not and he has to take the responsibility for choosing to do that.
 
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Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
Jose is very strategic. We were clearly picking moments to attack and up our intensity. He probably took on the gamble to sit on it and try to conserve some energy with the hope we could nick one on the counter to kill it off. Unfortunately Vorm throwing one into his own net meant he lost the gamble.

The reason for this is that he was trying to look at the bigger picture with the Burnley and Leipzig games to come imo.
Jose is very strategic. Shame it doesn’t work as proven in game after game. We invited Norwich to attack us and a goal was coming all second half. Please ditch this JM love in. His way of playing sucks
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,732
14,443
I don't think their is a lack of patience. I think it's extreme frustration. It's a difficult pill to swallow. Going from just over a year ago being spoken about as a title contender to this shit show, that gets dominated at home by the likes of Soton, Norwich, etc. A team that is so lackadaisical and unmotivated. A team that looks completely lost.

Yes, Sonny and Harry are missing. And yes, that makes a HUGE difference. But, you'd like to think the team could still play with a bit more vim and vigor. A bit more fire in their belly. And with tactics that don't rely on getting a team that can't defend to defend. I'm fairly confident you could lose Mane, Salah and Firmino from the Liverpool first 11, and they'd still play in a similar fashion. We can't just say the absence of the aforementioned are the reason we have devolved into this mess of a team. Even when they were playing, we weren't doing all that well.

It's baby and bathwater time at the club. Need a refresh, top to bottom. Everyone's positions (on and off the field) should be on the table right now.

I just can't believe that we might not see Jose even make it to the next season at this rate. If we continue to spiral, I'm not sure what hope he has of getting the players and supporters back in his corner. It would require a massive squad overhaul... which he's already said isn't going to happen.

Can't remember the last time i felt this down about the club and our future.
 

RikkiRocket

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2015
1,605
3,277
We were clearly picking moments to attack and up our intensity. He probably took on the gamble to sit on it and try to conserve some energy with the hope we could nick one on the counter to kill it off. Unfortunately Vorm throwing one into his own net meant he lost the gamble.

The reason for this is that he was trying to look at the bigger picture with the Burnley and Leipzig games to come imo.

Strategically shit. And I’m bored about hearing how great he was. That was then. He’s fucking ruining us. When the most passion you’ve seen all year from a player is him jumping into the stands to lump someone (and that passion isn’t on the pitch( then you know you are in deep ?
 

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
Just saw a stat that said Jose has lost all seven penalty shootouts his teams have been in
 

Bulletspur

The Reasonable Advocate
Match Thread Admin
Oct 17, 2006
10,690
25,246
People are going on about signings. Do you really think things will be any different if we sign new toys? This squad is a good squad, but the problem is Jose's tactics, lack of ideas and team selection with regards to the opposition ash been found wanting. I honestly believe a more competent manager would get a lot of this squad as it is. Not saying that we do not need new players, but that is far from being the only reason for our current state of play.
 
Aug 9, 2008
4,910
8,415
People are going on about signings. Do you really think things will be any different if we sign new toys? This squad is a good squad, but the problem is Jose's tactics, lack of ideas and team selection with regards to the opposition ash been found wanting. I honestly believe a more competent manager would get a lot of this squad as it is. Not saying that we do not need new players, but that is far from being the only reason for our current state of play.

This and the bits in bold double THIS!!!!!
 
Aug 9, 2008
4,910
8,415
Just saw a stat that said Jose has lost all seven penalty shootouts his teams have been in

I dont that has a bearing on this game, JM is showing he was a great manager in the 00' (noughties) he is not a modern day manager judging by his tactics, decisions and selections so far,.... has someone switched his notes with that of Tony Pulis ??
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Just back from the game and clearly seems like I missed the best action and I was in that part of the ground.

Anyway the opening twenty minutes or more were promising. GLC was excellent, Skip sharp and we looked dangerous with a mix of teamwork, flair and speed. Once we scored though we seemed to stop playing and go back to The trademark JM anti-football mode. It was only when they, inevitably, scored that we played again. GLC had been anonymous for a while but suddenly came to life with others as we actually attached. We really should have scored then and closed the game out.

i Thought the defence was good with Dier and Verts playing very well. Both were cool heads I a team that sometimes looks in a permanent state of panic. Verts was great as an attacking threat all game. So good to see these two performing well. Our failure was further up the pitch in not scoring; in not keeping up the early front foot play. After some of the matches I have watched recently it was nice to see us play some football, we have some very good players in our team.
After the first 20 minutes that was us done Norwich fully deserved their win not sure I have anything left to say about our club other than we have hit rock bottom.
Burnley on the weekend then Leipzig where is the next result coming from confidence is shot and the team is shit our record in the new stadium is also shit where do we go from here.
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
The formation at the start of the season which even had Sisokko gassed after 30 mins is coming back to bite us now. The players are over trained and broken. A long rest to recuperate is required. In patches we can still dominate but the players just can’t sustain that level.

The season is a write off. It’s not Jose fault, it’s been poor squad management by the previous regime. We just need to give it time.

Positives were Lo Celso who was great, Skipp who looked energetic and composed, Parrott who was willing to run once he got on the pitch.
 
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