Match Threads Chelsea vs Spurs - Match Thread - Day 10

[deka_spur]

I’d rather just sign a RB that doesn’t need a baby sitter and play a real central midfielder mate, I’m not gonna lie ? Do you see Reguillon being baby sitted all game? No, because he’s top class. Aurier has been decent but he’s covered (very well I will admit) by Sissoko all game and we then lose control of the midfield. We play Sissoko, we give up midfield control against the top sides. I just don’t want to see that. He’s a poor central midfielder, it’s as simple as that. He defends well because he’s physical but he’s in the bottom 1% in the league in every other aspect of the game

Yes actually, when Reguillon gets foward and is out of position, Dier moves across to cover and so does Rodon with Sissoko filling the Gap... It happens all the time.

 

[Reece_Spurs]

I think, at least on here, a lot of people do really understand what Sissoko contributes off the ball. The argument is more one of fundamental philosophy. Do we set up to play our best football? Or do we set up to prevent the opposition playing their best football? Picking Sissoko is a clear vote for the latter because he's great off the ball and poor on it, and plays in a position where you really need someone to be good at both.

That's a good point.

I'd like to say most Spurs fan would love to see the Hojberg - N'Dombele - Lo Celso midfield at some point and I would love that to, on paper its the most aesthetically pleasing midfield 3. But the common consensus is that we play that midfield against the "weaker" teams. Whereas I think a player like Sissoko is almost like a chess piece, I think he's more important sometimes against the harder working teams in the bottom half. He always plays on the right of the defensive midfield side, usually more when the opposition have decent left backs or left forwards, he more or less doubles up as a second right back, and it really bloody works well. But sometimes I do feel he should be sacrificed for a technically better player we we are struggling to create.

We have to remember our extremely brilliant analysis as fans is just watching the games. The manager sees much much more than we do on and off the pitch and in training. The fact we are top of the league with the best defensive record literally proves that. If people want to argue about Sissoko being in the team week in week out despite all of this then it clearly shows they're fucking idiots.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think Sissoko is an automatic pick for Jose in any of the big games and rightly so.

He's critical to all that hard work, covering and positional sense off the ball...and allows us that platform to counter so effectively.

I could see GLC coming into the mix when teams sit off us more.

 

[idontgetit]

That's a good point.

I'd like to say most Spurs fan would love to see the Hojberg - N'Dombele - Lo Celso midfield at some point and I would love that to, on paper its the most aesthetically pleasing midfield 3. But the common consensus is that we play that midfield against the "weaker" teams. Whereas I think a player like Sissoko is almost like a chess piece, I think he's more important sometimes against the harder working teams in the bottom half. He always plays on the right of the defensive midfield side, usually more when the opposition have decent left backs or left forwards, he more or less doubles up as a second right back, and it really bloody works well. But sometimes I do feel he should be sacrificed for a technically better player we we are struggling to create.

We have to remember our extremely brilliant analysis as fans is just watching the games. The manager sees much much more than we do on and off the pitch and in training. The fact we are top of the league with the best defensive record literally proves that. If people want to argue about Sissoko being in the team week in week out despite all of this then it clearly shows they're fucking idiots.

The thing is though, they could be right. The counter-factual does not exist, Mourinho has not given them a run in the side together. One day he might and Spurs could suddenly step up another gear and I think it's entirely plausible. I remember the great team under Poch when Walker and Rose were on fire as wing backs. The best way to defend against us wasn't to sit off us, the best way to defend against us was to get solid attacks in on our wingback positions and scare those two into staying deep. A few early attacks in and our whole attacking shape would go to pieces for half the half. Attacking can be a form of defence. Having multiple players in the middle of a park who can can turn and put Son in on goal in the blink of an eye is going to cause teams to pause before committing attackers.

So look if posters are just slagging of Sissoko then I'm not defending them. What I am defending is the assertion that we could play 4-3-3 with both Lo Celso and Tanguy and be a much better side for it. It theoretically makes a hell of a lot of sense, even if you understand that Sissoko is doing a very important job.

Like I said above, it's not really Sissoko versus Lo Celso. It's attacking football versus defensive football. I personally feel attacking football would be playing to our strengths. In fact I said this was the problem Poch had, he'd built his success on the foundation of a world class back four and keeper but hadn't accepted that it didn't exist anymore. We needed to play to our strengths and accept that we had attacking talent but not defensive talent and we might as well try and play to our strengths.
Mou has come in and instead fixed our weakness. Fair enough but there is a sacrifice being made.

To dare is to do. The game is about glory. I'm happy to accept that there's no glory in empty trophy cabinets but it would be bloody nice just to see Mou try out what a lot of fans feel is our best side. It feels like owning a Ferrari but never taking it over 30mph.

 

[Reece_Spurs]

The thing is though, they could be right. The counter-factual does not exist, Mourinho has not given them a run in the side together. One day he might and Spurs could suddenly step up another gear and I think it's entirely plausible. I remember the great team under Poch when Walker and Rose were on fire as wing backs. The best way to defend against us wasn't to sit off us, the best way to defend against us was to get solid attacks in on our wingback positions and scare those two into staying deep. A few early attacks in and our whole attacking shape would go to pieces for half the half. Attacking can be a form of defence. Having multiple players in the middle of a park who can can turn and put Son in on goal in the blink of an eye is going to cause teams to pause before committing attackers.

So look if posters are just slagging of Sissoko then I'm not defending them. What I am defending is the assertion that we could play 4-3-3 with both Lo Celso and Tanguy and be a much better side for it. It theoretically makes a hell of a lot of sense, even if you understand that Sissoko is doing a very important job.

Like I said above, it's not really Sissoko versus Lo Celso. It's attacking football versus defensive football. I personally feel attacking football would be playing to our strengths. In fact I said this was the problem Poch had, he'd built his success on the foundation of a world class back four and keeper but hadn't accepted that it didn't exist anymore. We needed to play to our strengths and accept that we had attacking talent but not defensive talent and we might as well try and play to our strengths.
Mou has come in and instead fixed our weakness. Fair enough but there is a sacrifice being made.

To dare is to do. The game is about glory. I'm happy to accept that there's no glory in empty trophy cabinets but it would be bloody nice just to see Mou try out what a lot of fans feel is our best side. It feels like owning a Ferrari but never taking it over 30mph.

Completely agree with you.

I'm looking forward to see that midfield in action, I think it would potentially be devastating.

All im saying is right now that right now the current midfield Jose is picking had got us 1st in the league.

In my head though hojberg, lo celso and n'dombele as a 3 is a wet dream waiting to happen.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

The thing is though, they could be right. The counter-factual does not exist, Mourinho has not given them a run in the side together. One day he might and Spurs could suddenly step up another gear and I think it's entirely plausible. I remember the great team under Poch when Walker and Rose were on fire as wing backs. The best way to defend against us wasn't to sit off us, the best way to defend against us was to get solid attacks in on our wingback positions and scare those two into staying deep. A few early attacks in and our whole attacking shape would go to pieces for half the half. Attacking can be a form of defence. Having multiple players in the middle of a park who can can turn and put Son in on goal in the blink of an eye is going to cause teams to pause before committing attackers.

So look if posters are just slagging of Sissoko then I'm not defending them. What I am defending is the assertion that we could play 4-3-3 with both Lo Celso and Tanguy and be a much better side for it. It theoretically makes a hell of a lot of sense, even if you understand that Sissoko is doing a very important job.

Like I said above, it's not really Sissoko versus Lo Celso. It's attacking football versus defensive football. I personally feel attacking football would be playing to our strengths. In fact I said this was the problem Poch had, he'd built his success on the foundation of a world class back four and keeper but hadn't accepted that it didn't exist anymore. We needed to play to our strengths and accept that we had attacking talent but not defensive talent and we might as well try and play to our strengths.
Mou has come in and instead fixed our weakness. Fair enough but there is a sacrifice being made.

To dare is to do. The game is about glory. I'm happy to accept that there's no glory in empty trophy cabinets but it would be bloody nice just to see Mou try out what a lot of fans feel is our best side. It feels like owning a Ferrari but never taking it over 30mph.

Supporters always want some sort of Shangri La its almost better to want something that's never happened than to face the reality. Playing to our strengths ? We are set up to counter attack change that and you lose something. Neither Lo Celso or N'dombele have anything like the assist record that Kane has so the notion of them continually slipping balls through to Son at the moment is something people have in their minds rather than something based on reality. Playing the pair of them changes Kane's role in the team he suddenly doesn't have the space to drop into a congested midfield - would they be more effective? It is not as simple as swop one player for another and suddenly you instantly become an easy eye all attacking side you lose things elsewhere and that's the balance. At the moment that balance is pretty good

Defensive football there is nothing wrong with it defences win things . The game is about glory maybe but its more about winning things because that's the real glory. If you had said Audere est Facere then maybe there is an argument