Match Threads Pacos de Ferreira vs Spurs - Match Thread - ECL 1st leg - KO 7:30 pm

[PLTuck]

Was at the game. Got distracted for a fraction of a second, don't see them winning the ball and suddenly they are 3v3 on the counter. Somehow I just knew it had been Winks....

On the game: New formation (probably <3 days training) with a mix of players that aren't used to play with each other. Team had no processes in the attack. It caught me by surprise that we were playing with a back three. It is what it is.

I've heard this a lot about Winks and the goal. I'm not going to say he played well because he didn't but that goal wasn't solely down to him. Romero and CCV played their part too. It's not like his fuck up made it 3v1.

Just a poor team performance imo, which was to be expected with so many kids and newbies playing together for the first time.

 

[whitesocks]

In the absence of a motm thread, I'll nominate Gil here.
Thought he was energetic right to the end.
Plus he has a large nose. That can't be bad.
4 out of 10.

 

[Armstrong_11]

disappointed with the performance overall...

but to be frank.

Job done. i think our 2nd string side did us proud. looking at the team, it felt like a pre-season friendly. a mix of young players, new signings, and the ones who got in late from international duties.

now it awaits to be seen the side that will be put out in the return leg next week, but with home support, i am sure this team can get us the win we need to make it to the group stage.

COYS!

 

[Serpico]

disappointed with the performance overall...

but to be frank.

Job done. i think our 2nd string side did us proud. looking at the team, it felt like a pre-season friendly. a mix of young players, new signings, and the ones who got in late from international duties.

now it awaits to be seen the side that will be put out in the return leg next week, but with home support, i am sure this team can get us the win we need to make it to the group stage.

COYS!

We were poor, they were just as poor for me. What little advantage they had saw them get the result. Agree , Home advantage should see us through next week. .They have nothing to trouble us.

 

[Armstrong_11]

We were poor, they were just as poor for me. What little advantage they had saw them get the result. Agree , Home advantage should see us through next week. .They have nothing to trouble us.

they look like a side who hasn't played together, which is correct.

i was hopeful that they would gel and we will somehow find a way to win.

but yes, at times the play was awful. and there was a total lack of leadership.

but i think we did see glimpses of what they can offer. Romero strong in defense, Gil good on the ball, Sess finally taking players on. there are sparks here and there.

 

[shelfboy68]

After a great result the weekend it was followed up by this last night so typically spurs.
So many poor performances all round lo celso wtf was he and all that about the ball was never his friend very bad.
An embarrassing night but not an usual one when you support this club, so many players need to go with a few that need to come in, but with very little time left to ring the changes so same as every year left short but we tried.

 

[Serpico]

they look like a side who hasn't played together, which is correct.

i was hopeful that they would gel and we will somehow find a way to win.

but yes, at times the play was awful. and there was a total lack of leadership.

but i think we did see glimpses of what they can offer. Romero strong in defense, Gil good on the ball, Sess finally taking players on. there are sparks here and there.

We lacked composure as a team. Individually too many mistakes were happening and that was detrimental to the connectivity of the players as a team. Its not a big deal just a little disappointing. Not to have shot on target is inexcusable at any level. Its got to get better because these same players will be involved in the group games.

 

[worcestersauce]

Still not fussed about last night's result, still not fussed about the competition, it's the Papa John's trophy of European football and I seriously think it will be detrimental to play our premier League side in it. The one benefit of not having European football is the luxury of a full week between league games and this competition isn't worth giving away that advantage.

 

[davros]

It's very clear that Nuno didn't want to risk any of the team that started on Sunday. That's his most trusted first 11, and he obviously wants to keep them fresh for the Wolves game. But it was also obvious that a team made of young players, new players, and second-string players would really struggle.
The best we could have realistically hoped for was for a handful of good performances to earn us a narrow victory. Nuno's gamble was really that his cobbled together team wouldn't lose too badly allowing the first eleven to get three points at Wolves on Sunday. I'm sure he expected some first teamers to feature at home next Thursday. Then we have another home game against Watford, from which we should take three points.

The performance yesterday was predictably sloppy. I'm most disappointed at the lack of leadership. But young players got useful minutes, and they'll perform better in a stronger team. Our new players got some time on the field together, and match fitness is important. On Thursday, a stronger team will have to overcome a narrow 1-0 deficit at home.

I think might feel Nuno's gamble was worth it if:
1) we beat Wolves
2) we win the second leg and qualify
3) we beat Watford despite some first teamers playing on Thursday.

 

[markt]

Not sure comparing us to typical spurs after the city win is that worthwhile. A lot of these players have only just arrived, had very little pre season or are playing for the first tean for the first time. With Sess and CCV on loan they also have had no time to gel with the team.

Then on the pitch we saw as much. A bunch of players who haven't played together. The way I see it is we are still in the tie, got some important match fitness for some of our 2nd and 3rd string, rested our first team for the Wolves game and hopefully it justifies the sale of 1 or 2 squad members who we all know are consistently not good enough.

 

[markt]

Not sure comparing us to typical spurs after the city win is that worthwhile. A lot of these players have only just arrived, had very little pre season or are playing for the first tean for the first time. With Sess and CCV on loan they also have had no time to gel with the team.

Then on the pitch we saw as much. A bunch of players who haven't played together. The way I see it is we are still in the tie, got some important match fitness for some of our 2nd and 3rd string, rested our first team for the Wolves game and hopefully it justifies the sale of 1 or 2 squad members who we all know are consistently not good enough.

I should add, it is vital we beat Wolves now.

 

[CowInAComa]

It's very clear that Nuno didn't want to risk any of the team that started on Sunday. That's his most trusted first 11, and he obviously wants to keep them fresh for the Wolves game. But it was also obvious that a team made of young players, new players, and second-string players would really struggle.
The best we could have realistically hoped for was for a handful of good performances to earn us a narrow victory. Nuno's gamble was really that his cobbled together team wouldn't lose too badly allowing the first eleven to get three points at Wolves on Sunday. I'm sure he expected some first teamers to feature at home next Thursday. Then we have another home game against Watford, from which we should take three points.

The performance yesterday was predictably sloppy. I'm most disappointed at the lack of leadership. But young players got useful minutes, and they'll perform better in a stronger team. Our new players got some time on the field together, and match fitness is important. On Thursday, a stronger team will have to overcome a narrow 1-0 deficit at home.

I think might feel Nuno's gamble was worth it if:
1) we beat Wolves
2) we win the second leg and qualify
3) we beat Watford despite some first teamers playing on Thursday.

I think all of those things will come to pass and people will soon forget tonight.

 

[Shadydan]

I should add, it is vital we beat Wolves now.

Not really

 

[Yid-ol]

I should add, it is vital we beat Wolves now.

It's vital the players rested put in the same level of performance vs City.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Last night was hugely disappointing. Nobody played well. However, you can at least see that there were qualities in a few of the players that, if playing in a settled group with the first team lot, they’d perform far better.

Gil had some good dribbles and a couple of lovely crosses, and great pace to get to loose balls. Give him Reggy Dele Son Kane Lucas etc to dovetail off and he’ll be great.

Lo Celso was actually trying to drive us forward but had absolutely nobody aside from Gil ever giving him an option, while his midfield partner was non existent. He played badly but you could see what he was trying to do.

Sessegnon I thought really grew into the game and looked far more assertive going forward. First half was disappointing but by the end I thought he looked good.

Romero was very rusty and at least partly at fault for the goal, but was better second half and will fair better with PL refs who don’t see every fart as a foul. Impressed with his pace on the recovery.

Gollini was fine, no fault in the goal.

Doherty, CCV, Davies, Winks, we know what they are and what their limitations are (maybe harsh on gentle Ben), while Scarlett and John are clearly not going to be anywhere but the periphery at this point. If we take it that the xi involved v City, fancy them or not, are all here for the season, then we have work to do but not a horrendous amount.

Remember that in any match which really matters we’re not going to see last nights collection of players all on the same pitch at the same time

 

[Spurs 1961]

I guess this match, and others in the future we hope, gives us what we need as an opportunity for young / fringe players to get competitive game time. So that's a positive.

 

[barry]

Would have been nice if they’d had a go at least. I was so bored I fell asleep in my dream.

Inception

 

[neogenisis]

It wasnt a good performance in any way shape or form. I am ambivalent about this competition so if we stay in great, if we go out meh.
We will smash em at home so in context it really means very little.

 

[Japhet]

Apparently a poor match (I didn't watch it), but that's not a bad result. If our performance was disjointed I can't say I'm surprised. A team that's never played together against what I presume was a much more established Pacos team. A bunch of first team debuts, new players, new language barriers (maybe), a load of rust and we lost by 1 goal. Not bad under the circumstances.

Our main players are all fresh for the weekend and those that played have some minutes on the clock. If we can't turn it around next week I'll be surprised and disappointed in equal measure.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

disappointed with the performance overall...

but to be frank.

Job done. i think our 2nd string side did us proud. looking at the team, it felt like a pre-season friendly. a mix of young players, new signings, and the ones who got in late from international duties.

now it awaits to be seen the side that will be put out in the return leg next week, but with home support, i am sure this team can get us the win we need to make it to the group stage.

COYS!

I think this is maybe a little too positive, but I also think some of the negative stuff is over the top. We were beaten by a more experienced, streetwise set of players on their home turf. Not the end of the world - I'm pretty confident we can turn that round.

Ultimately our midfield never got a grip on the game, but I think part of that was how bad the pitch was - I thought that made any sort of crisp passing quite tricky, and certainly they were more accustomed to it.

- The young players will learn from it
- The manager will have learned from it: It's clear we need to beef up the squad and that certain players aren't good enough
- The first team wannabes will have had a kick up the ass
- We'll probably still go through

Worst case scenario, we fall out of a third tier cup. Embarrassing, yes, but no need to sh*t the bed