Leicester vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[JayB]

But how often do we attribute this saying "One of those nights" it happens a little bit too often to be that mate.

It's a case-by-case thing IMO. I don't go around saying "one of those nights" every time we drop points, for instance against West Brom I didn't feel the result was unfair as we were absolutely awful in that match.

Last night, on the other hand, we had four gilt-edged chances that we failed to score from. Four! Not to mention a decent penalty shout that was turned down. If we convert even one of those chances we get something from the match. The mentality in the first half was awful but on the whole we dominated the match, carved out the chances we needed to get a draw or win, and just failed to convert them.

 

[Ionman34]

The other aspect is our lack of urgency. You and A&C are right about missed chances and misplaced scapegoating. But Poch is also on the money about the lack of urgency we're showing for long stretches of games. We seem so aimless at times and ultra safe in possession. Our attitude and tempo on and off the ball need to ramp up, and that's a collective issue (especially on the ball IMO). At the end of last season, we were barely conceding and winning by big margins because we went into every game trying to score as often as possible. It seems like a few successes in 'game management' have led to a collective backing off for periods of games now and we're being punished for it at the back and being wasteful in front of goal ourselves. Watford looks daunting now and we need to move on from the points gap with City now and just get back to a more aggressive and purposeful team ethic.

Very true, the “urgency,” for want of a better word, was definitely missing though the majority of the game, but we still racked up a hatful of very good chances.

Our intensity (there’s that better word) has definitely dropped of over recent weeks, why I don’t know, but whilst it has, that wasn’t the difference last night, it was piss poor finishing that cost us and nothing else really. If everyone had their shooting boots on we score 4 or 5.

 

[Ionman34]

But how often do we attribute this saying "One of those nights" it happens a little bit too often to be that mate.

That’s simply not true though, the evidence is in the points accumulation over the past 2 seasons and the fact that, until recently, we were up in the top 3.

It doesn’t happen that often at all.

 

[shelfboy68]

That’s simply not true though, the evidence is in the points accumulation over the past 2 seasons and the fact that, until recently, we were up in the top 3.

It doesn’t happen that often at all.

We have had a good points accumulation for the last two year's that I don't deny but in that period look at how many draws we got both season's way too many, so those nights when we couldn't finish teams off happened way more often than it should.
Those draws possibly cost us the league take last year beginning of October to end of November before we won a game 6/7 weeks of draws just not good enough.

 

[zoneD]

...maybe Eriksen and Alli looked so poor because Leicester packed the middle and gave them no space to operate...nobody is afraid of any of our 4 wingbacks at this point - Poch needs to go back to the 4-2-3-1...

COYS

 

[Ionman34]

We have had a good points accumulation for the last two year's that I don't deny but in that period look at how many draws we got both season's way too many, so those nights when we couldn't finish teams off happened way more often than it should.
Those draws possibly cost us the league take last year beginning of October to end of November before we won a game 6/7 weeks of draws just not good enough.

It was 4 draws, one of them away to the goons.

I do take your point, but you forget that last season we accumulated enough points to have won the league something like 8 out of the last 10 seasons.

We had 8 draws in total last season, with City and Liverpool being 2 of them. So out of 8 draws, 3 were against our major rivals for top honours with 2 of them away. I’ll give you the Sunderland draw, but that was the exception rather than the rule. That leaves 4 others, which is far from unreasonable. It’s also worth noting that we only lost 4 games in the league all that season.

Like I said, it’s not really the norm, not for the past 2.5 seasons anyway.

 

[shelfboy68]

It was 4 draws, one of them away to the goons.

I do take your point, but you forget that last season we accumulated enough points to have won the league something like 8 out of the last 10 seasons.

We had 8 draws in total last season, with City and Liverpool being 2 of them. So out of 8 draws, 3 were against our major rivals for top honours with 2 of them away. I’ll give you the Sunderland draw, but that was the exception rather than the rule. That leaves 4 others, which is far from unreasonable. It’s also worth noting that we only lost 4 games in the league all that season.

Like I said, it’s not really the norm, not for the past 2.5 seasons anyway.

Yes the team didn't lose the 4th game until early May when we lost to west ham as usual whereas this time we have lost 4 already.
Assuming this blip may yet continue we could be looking at 9/10 defeats this time certainly not what was on the agenda.
I don't know what poch must be thinking this year as a couple of days ago he said we were out of the race so did he actually think we had a chance, because looking at him he looks a bit deflated himself.
Surely he knows that the recruitment was again not right and we didn't deliver what we really needed, so I wonder what his long and short term goals are.

 

[StevePil]

I was at King power last night and sorry but we lost it due to the players attitude in the first 45 mins, we were absolutely shocking.
Yes we had chances but we didn't take them and we have been here before.
We have had a real rough few weeks but the players heads are down and I fear for us. I said after Sat and got a lot of disagreeing comments when I said we have tough away games and I don't fancy us. I had tickets for Tues and sung my heart out but the lads were shocking

Only positive was seeing Lamela back.

The only way we get top 4 this year is with investment in Jan and how likely is that seriously???! we have probably missed the boat on Barkley now too with Koeman going.

I actually rather us finish outside Europe completely if we don't get CL as it will give Levy the kick but once again we have to start all over again as 100% players will go in the summer (Toby, Dele, Rose and poss Eriksen) we get close every few years and need that investment and he bottles it and we drop off and then start all over again, we are on the downward spiral now and in a few years we will be back again, the shame for me is we are not winning anything when we are on the up.

For those who don't want investment - oil money anything - your crazy... its the only way to survive now and actually win things it seems. Arsenal getting top 4 this year will be so depressing after our fans last year with the mind the gap comments and power shift etc.... we never learn

Anyway rant over, I was there last night - it was shit, yes missed chances but we should be use to that by now

Oh and Llorente should never wear a spurs shirt again, absolute twat - missing 2 great chances, not applauding the fans and then laughing with Leicester players - he can fuck off!

 

[Ionman34]

Yes the team didn't lose the 4th game until early May when we lost to west ham as usual whereas this time we have lost 4 already.
Assuming this blip may yet continue we could be looking at 9/10 defeats this time certainly not what was on the agenda.
I don't know what poch must be thinking this year as a couple of days ago he said we were out of the race so did he actually think we had a chance, because looking at him he looks a bit deflated himself.
Surely he knows that the recruitment was again not right and we didn't deliver what we really needed, so I wonder what his long and short term goals are.

To be fair, it’s pretty unrealistic to expect any team to maintain the top level of performance over the course of 3 seasons, even Utd in their pomp couldn’t do that, and they weren’t up against the same sort of financial firepower we are. City are resurgent, after a poor season previously, Chelsea have dropped off again, Utd have only just started looking a force again, it’s our turn this season for a drop off in performance. We also have to remember that these drops in form and injuries have occurred with our spine. Toby out, Wanyama out, Eriksen and Alli bang off form, Dembele our for a while, Kane injured and now below par. That’s a major blow. Chelsea suffered with the loss of just Hazard and Kante, we’ve been down around 6 key players this season, even City would be struggling with that kind of attrition.

It sucks big time, but it’s not unexpected, if we’re honest with ourselves.

Having said that, we’ve had drops in form before and come back strong. The next half dozen games will be huge in dictating whether that occurs or not.

 

[SpursDave88]

I was at King power last night and sorry but we lost it due to the players attitude in the first 45 mins, we were absolutely shocking.
Yes we had chances but we didn't take them and we have been here before.
We have had a real rough few weeks but the players heads are down and I fear for us. I said after Sat and got a lot of disagreeing comments when I said we have tough away games and I don't fancy us. I had tickets for Tues and sung my heart out but the lads were shocking

Only positive was seeing Lamela back.

The only way we get top 4 this year is with investment in Jan and how likely is that seriously???! we have probably missed the boat on Barkley now too with Koeman going.

I actually rather us finish outside Europe completely if we don't get CL as it will give Levy the kick but once again we have to start all over again as 100% players will go in the summer (Toby, Dele, Rose and poss Eriksen) we get close every few years and need that investment and he bottles it and we drop off and then start all over again, we are on the downward spiral now and in a few years we will be back again, the shame for me is we are not winning anything when we are on the up.

For those who don't want investment - oil money anything - your crazy... its the only way to survive now and actually win things it seems. Arsenal getting top 4 this year will be so depressing after our fans last year with the mind the gap comments and power shift etc.... we never learn

Anyway rant over, I was there last night - it was shit, yes missed chances but we should be use to that by now

Oh and Llorente should never wear a spurs shirt again, absolute twat - missing 2 great chances, not applauding the fans and then laughing with Leicester players - he can fuck off!

Word for word agree.

 

[spursfan77]

Yes the team didn't lose the 4th game until early May when we lost to west ham as usual whereas this time we have lost 4 already.
Assuming this blip may yet continue we could be looking at 9/10 defeats this time certainly not what was on the agenda.
I don't know what poch must be thinking this year as a couple of days ago he said we were out of the race so did he actually think we had a chance, because looking at him he looks a bit deflated himself.
Surely he knows that the recruitment was again not right and we didn't deliver what we really needed, so I wonder what his long and short term goals are.

Poch has made more excuses this season than normal. In fact he seems to be blaming everyone bar the officials!

 

[sunnydelight786]

24 hours on from last night and I’m still fuming at that first half display. At half time I turned to my mate & said ‘surely he’s got to make a change, Son for Sissoko, at HT & go for it. Jose/Pep/Conte wouldn’t stand for that bollocks we served up’.... To my shock & horror he persisted with the same team & only decided to change it after Sissoko put a routine ‘down the line’ ball out of play

We got exactly what we deserved last night & it wasn’t a pleasant walk back to our car with their fans goading us more. We’ve got our Tottenham back alright as they so delightfully sang

 

[mattie g]

No, last year we were inexperienced in Europe. And, as I said post WBA, teams won't sit back aagaint us in Europe. In the Prem, they have discovered the golden method. We like to dominate possession - fine, let us have it, they sit back and hit us. Soak up the pressure - like we did against Real and Borussia.
Sadly we find ourselves on the receiving end this time in the Prem.
Why don't we turn the tables and sit back ourselves. When our opposition realise we will not play into their tactics they will have to open up and then BAM, we're in... Simple

Which is it? Do we like to dominate possession or do we feel comfortable giving up possession and hit teams who expose themselves? Because we seem to have done pretty well at the latter while also being a damn sight successful doing the former over the last couple years.

 

[slartibartfast]

My God there is some serious kneejerk utter bollocks on this thread.
We lost yes but seriously can anyone say we didnt deserve to win?
We created 4 absolute sitters, 1 one on one with keeper and a possible penalty? Oh and we did score 1. I dont know what anyone can do if you've created 4 absolute sitters and every fkin player misses them all in the same game.
Vardy wouldn't score that again if he had another 100 attempts. Thats not the defence being shit, Poch getting it wrong or lack of urgency.
I understand people being pissed off, I am, but lets keep our heads just a little bit 'eh?
Yes we've dropped to 7th but if you have a few bad results in a table thats as tight as a ducks arse you're going to see a lot of movement.
Sound like bloody Gooners some of the bitches on here.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

- Sissoko 1-on-1
- Dele 1-on-1
- Llorente open goal
- Eriksen open goal

Put me firmly in the camp of "they took their chances, we didn't." No existential crisis.

This is a too simple way of looking at it. First 45 minutes were really, really bad. Poor passing, poor work rate, poor organisation. It was the worst 45 minutes of football this season. Do you deserve anything from playing crap for a whole first half? No, you don't. You deserve what's coming. It's easy to say "look at all the good stuff". Well, one thing leads to another. Playing poorly lead to Leicester gaining a solid lead, lead to them slowing down a little bit lead to us being able to perform better. But we had already played so poorly, that we got nothing other than what we deserved. A sour loss from lack of effort and willingness from the start.