Rate The Players - Spurs V Twente

[sloth]

6 for all of them. I thought the whole team looked a bit leggy tbh, they were ok when they got their dander up, but there wasn't enough effort to make options for the possessor of the ball and too many fantasy flicks and attempted passes when, a harder working, more patient approach was probably required.

Not sure why Lennon was rested and not Bale, especially as Kranjcar could have slotted much better into the left-hand than the right-hand side.

Also not registering Sandro for CL's looking a bit perverse now, when a dearth of CMs means we have to rush a half-fit JJ back only for him to get injured.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lennons ability to pick a through pass has been underrated for years, he's been doing it since his first season and not getting any credit for it. I remember a goal away in Europe, Braga I think, where he cut in from the left and played a beautiful chipped through ball perfectly into Keanes path to volley home. I've often thought, and obviously the presence of Bale on the left and VDV in the middle makes this unlikely, that he'd be great in the hole because he's got the vision for it.

 

[brett.spurs]

I still think he'd make an excellent forward - as Martin Jol said a few years back. I'd like to see it tried out against Charlton/Luton in the Cup or something but with 4 strikers and VDV on our books the chances of it happening is minimal.

 

[chrissivad]

Harry has said the same. It was when all our strikers were dropping like flies and Harry said he might have to play Lennon up top

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I understand and agree that we as team need to press well, be more tenacious and graft hard off the ball to complement the talents we have on the ball but I think you've multiplied a problem in your head a thousand times over - and have created one that is far bigger than what we see on the pitch. Not denying that we could be better, not at all, but as I have said a hundred times over, you don't finish 4th, or top of your Champs League group for that matter without doing most things well. It's almost like you paint the picture that we are great on the ball but when we lose it we do fuck all, which isn't the case - it's just sometimes we switch off and forget what we should be doing which is probably the difference between us being the title winning team we could be, and the team we are which is very close to being top drawer.

You seem to think it's Redknapp's coaching, I'm not so sure, I think it's more a mentality issue, that we can switch off and be too lethargic (understandable for a youngish side) and that's why I'm fucking chuffed with bringing Gallas too the club because he's a winner, he's always talking to the players, motivating them and hopefully telling them to switch on when we haven't got the ball. Redknapp can coach a pressing game all he wants, but it's up to the players to go out and do it, and do it for 90 minutes like we need to. I honestly don't think Harry doesn't know what he's doing when it comes to that, and I wouldn't listen to fuck all of what he says when Sky shove a microphone in his face, as I'm sure his jokey comments to interviewers are replaced with harsh words in the dressing room.

So yeah, lighten up you old bugger, even you are permitted a little smile when Spurs are top of our hard CL group first time of asking, and still well in the title race. :up:

Let me try and elaborate. I've seen us win trophies. FA Cups, League cups, even european trophies. Been there, revelled in their fleetingly glorious, orgasmic, jubilant occasions. I've watched Spurs in some great venues, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Munich, Even served a couple nights in an amsterdam nick for cause, If it's a choice of them or nothing...it's them every single, spunktatsically good moment. I'll take em. No problem.

But what I have never seen, is us be a consistent, title challenging, top 3 side. A side that other teams have 10 year runs of never beating, a side that Sky Sports News have on their opening titles. A side that that every week I know we are going to win.

I think this squad - coupled with what's going on elsewhere - is good coaching away from being that side. You say it's mentality, and rightly point to Gallas as a shining example. But the teams mentality is massively influenced by what they are coached to do and think. Redknapp himself last August paid lip service to Barca's ability to wortk off the ball and press the ball. Look at the difference that people like Coyle, Holloway or Moyes make to the mentality of a bunch of ho hum footballers.

I do appreciate what we have now, this is the best squad that I can remember. Better, squad wise, than the early eighties or even 87. That's why I don't want it to just be another early eighties or 87.

At the moment it has all the makings of being typical of those era's. Those teams should have started dynasty's, instead they were fleeting revivals of a great football team.

 

[StockSpur]

thought palacios had a good game, got down and dirty as he needed to or they wouldve won 6-3

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I know what you mean in terms of maintaining our CL status via the league being the most important thing for long term success and money etc (two seasons of CL group stage money is worth more to us than one extended run)

Having a second spell in the CL next year coupled with our high profile exploits this season would no doubt give us a great chance of signing some top notch players for next season too (also the budget to sign and pay their wages with the safety of CL money again)

BUT and this is a big but....

We have been striving and dreaming for soooo long of making the CL and showcasing ourselves on the biggest stage and after so many years of looking on enviously as other teams take on the elite of Europe we are finally in the position to do so ourselves. How can we be satisfied with going out with our heads held high when we have an excellent oppportunity to progress and have more nights like the one that saw Inter crumble at the Lane?

You have to be in it to win it, yea we all know we have little to no chance of actually winning the CL what with the likes of BArca and Real in our way but that doesn't mean we shouldn't want to.

The fact is we have a pretty big and well covered squad and frankly I am not so sure how much being in the CL has effected our league form thus far (injuries have had a bigger impact, has the extra CL games been the source of these injuires? I'd say not)

The confidence from progressing in the CL may even help us in our league campaign.

Thus far in the league we have only had a handful of truly poor results, Wigan at home, West Ham away and Bolton Away are the only games I can really single out as been poor results in terms of the effort we saw on the pitch and to be honest we saw as many if not more such performances last season when we were not even in Europe so I don't think the CL can be totally blamed for this.

PRogress in the CL does not have to hamper our league campaign and no spurs fan should be quite happy to see us go out because this is where we have always wanted to be and no we are there we should want to go as far as we can.

I refer to the above post, but just to add, when was the last time you heard Mourinho, Wenger or Ferguson saying "nahh...it's OK it's only a handful of results we've fucked up, it's no biggy"

 

[ravo]

Gomes 6.5 - Couple of good saves today but looked shaky. Can someone please teach him how to kick (and I'm not talking about the 'bobble' clearance).

BAE 6 - Can't be blamed for the pen. Should have tracked their fullback better for their 'only' goal.

Gallas 7 - Looked strong.

Bassong 6.5 - Couple of dodgy moments, but did well otherwise. Also could have done better for their goal.

Corluka 6.5 - Bit rusty, which is understandable. He is farkin slow though (lucky he is a quality defender). Can we not clone a Hutluka or Cortton ???

Bale 7 - Good as usual, even if he wasn't as busy.

Jenas 6 - Unfortunate, as he was doing a good job.

Palacios 6.5 - Up and down game for Wilson. Looked knackered by the end. Had to do a lot of covering for Niko.

Kranjcar 6.5 - Played out of position twice in the game. Looks good with the ball at his feet, made a couple of good tackles, but doesn't cover enough ground for a CM. He is more of an attacking midfielder, with two behind him.

Defoe 7.5 - Looks sharp, good finishes. MOM (just)

Pav 6 - Some nice involvement, but average work rate as usual.

Lennon 7 - Played well. Needs more ball as he is so dangerous. AWESOME little ball for the first Defoe goal.

Keane 5 - Got about and kept/distributed the ball well. Still think he links up well with Defoe.

Crouch n/a.

 

[gibbs131]

I think ratings are unfair due to the ref.

Spurs 7 out of 10
20 7 out of 10

They were a great team, great fans, strange game.

Palacios MOTM as his overall game (pass/tackle attack/headers) was well rounded.

 

[AngerManagement]

I refer to the above post, but just to add, when was the last time you heard Mourinho, Wenger or Ferguson saying "nahh...it's OK it's only a handful of results we've fucked up, it's no biggy"

I think I misrepresented myself somewhat if you got from my post I was suggesting a few messed up results and performances were no biggy.

The point I was trying to make was that the games we have messed up in this season were similar to the types of games we have always done so, with or without CL football.

We has a squad have or had not developed the mental consistancy to go a full season without such results. I think factors such as key injuries and lack of real quality upfront have more of an impact on our ability to continue to produce week in week out than our CL campaign has this season.

Infact I actually think that results such as Inter at home spurred us on to have the mental belief in ourselves to snatch late victories against the likes of Liverpool (I think the Inter away almost come back gave us a good never say die spirit and belief)

What I am saying is this, I don't think we would have been any better off in the league this season had we not had CL football as I don't believe the extra games it requires has negatively effected our league performances (thus far anyway)

I totally agree with you that the league is our main priority and getting back in the CL is the key to our future progression but I also don't believe a squad with our depth is incapable of competing strongly on both fronts.

Bolton and Wigan results I believe did come on the back of big Euro games, but I am hopeful that this type of mental fragility (taking your eye of the ball in the league after a big CL night) was the result of inexperience on the CL stage and that we have that out of our system now....they were the very types of games we always struggle in and this season the entire league has been full of slip ups from top teams.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Let me try and elaborate. I've seen us win trophies. FA Cups, League cups, even european trophies. Been there, revelled in their fleetingly glorious, orgasmic, jubilant occasions. I've watched Spurs in some great venues, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Munich, Even served a couple nights in an amsterdam nick for cause, If it's a choice of them or nothing...it's them every single, spunktatsically good moment. I'll take em. No problem.

But what I have never seen, is us be a consistent, title challenging, top 3 side. A side that other teams have 10 year runs of never beating, a side that Sky Sports News have on their opening titles. A side that that every week I know we are going to win.

I think this squad - coupled with what's going on elsewhere - is good coaching away from being that side. You say it's mentality, and rightly point to Gallas as a shining example. But the teams mentality is massively influenced by what they are coached to do and think. Redknapp himself last August paid lip service to Barca's ability to wortk off the ball and press the ball. Look at the difference that people like Coyle, Holloway or Moyes make to the mentality of a bunch of ho hum footballers.

I do appreciate what we have now, this is the best squad that I can remember. Better, squad wise, than the early eighties or even 87. That's why I don't want it to just be another early eighties or 87.

At the moment it has all the makings of being typical of those era's. Those teams should have started dynasty's, instead they were fleeting revivals of a great football team.

Interesting post.

I get what you're saying, I do, we have all the makings of being that team you talk about, the team that wins titles and creates a legacy and not just the occasional glorious but brief trophy wins, I just guess I think we're nearer to having a chance of being that team than you think. I know it's a big statement, but I do think we are very near to winning that much craved title and then possibly, hopefully, even more.

I want to see us press teams better, for 90 minutes long, I want to see that tenacity that wins games when you're under the cosh, and the fight that keeps us in games we shouldn't be in but I have seen vast improvements in that since Harry has taken over, but we are a young side on the whole, and that will take time, even if the coaching is right.

I'm not so certain that it entirely lies with Redknapp, because I've seen us play some great high pressing football under him, probably the best game I can remember was the Man City home game last season, but there is room for improvement for sure. But with a young squad, and the fantastic team spirit we've got going at the moment comes a willingness to learn, although we will have to accept that we will be naive, switch off on occasions and stop doing the hard stuff and grafting like fuckers for 90 minutes at a time. As I said, Gallas is a top signing, as is VDV who has impressed me with his attitude and application and the Bale's/Lennon's/Hudds/Daws/Bassong/Kabouls of this world will learn from them. It will take time, I'm sure, but I can't help believe we are getting there.

But you know, as a relative youngster at 23, I haven't been quite as worn down by Spurs as others have so the current Spurs is as good as it's got for me, so I'm enjoying every last minute of it while it lasts. I'm enjoying being entertained, enjoying watching one of the best young players in Europe Gareth Bale, enjoying listening to Real Madrid fans talking Spurs up, enjoying watching the world class Luka Modric, enjoying the fact that we are 'giving it a right go' and not waiting for the others to die of boredom.

We can do better, go on to bigger things and win titles and god knows I hope we do, but I for one am loving every minute of the journey.

 

[BPR_U16]

Defoe 7.5 - Looks sharp, good finishes. MOM (just)

Pav 6 - Some nice involvement, but average work rate as usual.

Defoe took two goals well, and had one other effort - otherwise was anonymous. You are having a laugh when say MoM. A below par performance by Bale still contributed more than Defoe.

In comparison, Pav's work rate was far better than Defoe's and again had couple decent efforts but alas no goals.

For involvement and end product, via assists, MoM had to be Lennon

 

[steve]

The only good thing palacios did was play a major part in Defoe's second goal, his passing was awful as usual and his touch at times was just as bad. Although i don't think it was a free kick he was part of a four man wall that he decided to break from and if you look at that goal again it the ball went past the end of the wall he really should have been stood.

Niko was probably the best player overall.

The ONLY good thing? Really? I suggest you watch the game again....

For someone who accuses BC of being myopic in his views you're displaying a similar condition yourself....

You almost sound like you WANT Palacios to be shit....I'm sure that isn't true...

 

[stemark44]

I think this squad - coupled with what's going on elsewhere - is good coaching away from being that side. You say it's mentality, and rightly point to Gallas as a shining example. But the teams mentality is massively influenced by what they are coached to do and think. Redknapp himself last August paid lip service to Barca's ability to wortk off the ball and press the ball. Look at the difference that people like Coyle, Holloway or Moyes make to the mentality of a bunch of ho hum footballers.

Thats bollocks,Harry has told the players umpteen times to press,press,press and then press again.
It ain't coaching,its young players taking the easy way out.
Thats precisely why we need a bit more experience both in midfield and up front.

 

[Damian99]

The ONLY good thing? Really? I suggest you watch the game again....

For someone who accuses BC of being myopic in his views you're displaying a similar condition yourself....

You almost sound like you WANT Palacios to be shit....I'm sure that isn't true...

What should i look out for?? Just incase i miss it, whatever it was you feel ive missed. He also broke off the wall when, if he had done what he was in the wall for and stayed where he was, i doubt the ball would have travelled much further than the wall itself.

Good hassling for the Defoe goal not renowned for his finishing and should possibly have played Defoe in before he took the shot on himself but Defoe reacted quickest and we scored from that anyway.

His touch was poor at times and some of his passing(again) was pretty dire.

He certainly played better than he has done for a while but it still wasn't a MOM performance as some have said but if that's how they saw it, fair enough.


Worth about a 6 out of 10 at best but thats just my opinion, one of which i am entitled too.

 

[Bulletspur]

The only good thing palacios did was play a major part in Defoe's second goal, his passing was awful as usual and his touch at times was just as bad. Although i don't think it was a free kick he was part of a four man wall that he decided to break from and if you look at that goal again it the ball went past the end of the wall he really should have been stood.

Niko was probably the best player overall.

The court of public opinion on this forum who voted him mom like myself disagree with your assessment of Wilson. You may not like the guy but with Jenas off, Bale off key, Wilson was the difference of us not getting beat, where as usual he was doing the unappreciated dirty work. The fact that you are blaming him for a goal where the ball went over the wall says alot about your feelings towards Mr Palacios.

 

[Damian99]

The fact that you are blaming him for a goal where the ball went over the wall says alot about your feelings towards Mr Palacios.

Well we differ on that one, watch it again, its a four man wall(i think) the ball went roughly where Wilson was stood before he decided to break off from the end of the wall imo had he done his job and stayed in the wall he could probably have got his head on it.

 

[Bulletspur]

6 for all of them. I thought the whole team looked a bit leggy tbh, they were ok when they got their dander up, but there wasn't enough effort to make options for the possessor of the ball and too many fantasy flicks and attempted passes when, a harder working, more patient approach was probably required.

Not sure why Lennon was rested and not Bale, especially as Kranjcar could have slotted much better into the left-hand than the right-hand side.

Also not registering Sandro for CL's looking a bit perverse now, when a dearth of CMs means we have to rush a half-fit JJ back only for him to get injured.

I agree, very good points.

Harry has said the same. It was when all our strikers were dropping like flies and Harry said he might have to play Lennon up top

Interesting, but I dont see that working with Lennon somehow.

 

[steve]

What should i look out for?? Just incase i miss it, whatever it was you feel ive missed. He also broke off the wall when, if he had done what he was in the wall for and stayed where he was, i doubt the ball would have travelled much further than the wall itself.

If you come in your pants over a performance like that, maybe you should raise your expectations or i have to lower mine. :shrug:



Worth about a 6 out of 10 at best but thats just my opinion, one of which i am entitled too.

Damo you go from one extreme to the other. I'm not coming in my pants over Palacios (or anyone else male). But you said the ONLY thing - now that patently isn't true. I SAW him make some excellent tackles, break up play and make some good passes - so did others judging by the poll. It's not a balanced opinion and it comes across more like a reaction to the previous Hudd/Jenas/Palacios debates on here. You chose to highlight his negatives and ignore his positives on the night - your first post pretty much summed this up.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course - it doesn't mean everyone's opinions are particularly valid mind....

 

[Dinpomp]

Kranjcar - 6.25 I didnt see the great passing others saw - maybe its there in the stats, but played out of position

According to telegraph his passing was 46/49 = 94%.