- Aug 31, 2012
- 6,688
- 8,762
Hard to choose but I picked Sandro as I thought he looked so much better than I expected. But well done all
BC, are you high? I refuse to believe that a positive ratings post written by you can be realWell well well my lovely Tottenhamistas, that was a thoroughly enjoyable romp. Two games running we've not had to engage our sphincters.
Twice in week we get to wheel out the "you can only outclass and stuff what's put in front of you" cliche.
The stiffs put on a really good show. First time this season we've seen the PochPress put into plan with any kind of collective cohesion and it really paid dividends, and more importantly, gave me a warm feeling down below.
One of those performances that, despite the quality of opposition, was pretty faultless. We pressed superbly and maintained that for about an hour. Our passing and movement was really good. We were good as a team and good individually.
No-one was bad, everyone was good but who shone the brightest ?
Kane was excellent in many ways, his movement was very good, some of his hold up play superb, he took his goal with composure, he still still needs too many great chances to score and despite generally being technically very competent he still occasionally gets in a bit of a muddle on the ball.
Sandro was Sandro, his pressing and biting a shining example to everyone else. What he does with the ball is still a bit limited but what he does without it is still outstanding. His flame died a little after the 60 min mark but was all action during that time. Vintage Sandro. Proved he can still an important on the right day.
Chiriches was superb, defensively not exactly overly tested, but showed his ability to read and press, snap into a tackle and strip the ball, and his ability to go forward was demonstrated several times and eventually set up a goal. My original concern with him was not his ability in the air, the game is changing and in he high line we bought him for (and are still going to play) I think his reading, tenacity and ability on the ball is far more valuable than aerial ability, but his penchant for over playing at the back and taking risks. I think he showed improvement throughout last season and as long as he can manage this aspect I think he's a great squad option to have. Really hope he stays because I think he's got good qualities that could suit todays football.
Some promising stuff.
Individual musings:
Lloris - Not much to do but was smart when called on.
Naughton - Decent game, won the pen with a good forward run.
Kaboul - Good game.
Chiriches - Very good game, good reading, snappy in the tackle, good on the ball striding into their half and eventually into their box to set up a goal.
Davies - Very competent.
Sandro - Vintage Sandro performance. Aggressively hunting his foe before pouncing. Infectious.
Dembele - Very good game.
Townsend - A very typical Townsend performance. Lots of effort, lots of involvement, some decent touches, some erratic stuff, some letting a touch get too far away, some wildly poor shooting. The boys a trier, but mostly of my patience. He didn't have a bad game, didn't have a great one, more an involving one.
Paulinho - Decent game. Set up Kane well for the first, took his gaol well, did some perfunctory stuff well enough.
Lennon - Decent game. Good energy, some decent contributions.
Kane - Very good game. He's not perfect, but has plenty to offer. Technically competent, good movement, decent hold up and has a knack of getting into good positions, and although he doesn't always make the most of all them he is at least starting to get in the habit of converting something regularly. Not a bad habit.
Subs - All decent.
Well that was a in depth view, thanksI don't get to many matches, but I did this one, so I wonder if the fact that I saw it so different to some is down to that?
The main thing to say is the comments I and others (season ticket holders) made during the match was we were disappointed by the lack of press. Indeed we lacked any urgency at all. We seemed very lakadaisacal all around, very AVB. I just put it down to being an easy match, against nothing opponents, and so hard to get any fire in the belly, so I'm genuinely surprised to see people waxing lyrical.
My rating is a nothing performance, workmanlike, but got the job done.
Fair points, but given that this was the 2nd unit out there, I saw a lot of positive developments. I don't think we are constantly pressing, but I think we are effective at spots - both goals were created off off turnovers caused by pressing. I saw a lot of passes forward looking for fast breaks. So, I think, in that regard, it was very anti-avb. I think some of the disjointedness came from being the 2nd unit, none of our normal creative midfielders to link with Kane, and guys doing a little too much at times trying to impress individually.I don't get to many matches, but I did this one, so I wonder if the fact that I saw it so different to some is down to that?
The main thing to say is the comments I and others (season ticket holders) made during the match was we were disappointed by the lack of press. Indeed we lacked any urgency at all. We seemed very lakadaisacal all around, very AVB. I just put it down to being an easy match, against nothing opponents, and so hard to get any fire in the belly, so I'm genuinely surprised to see people waxing lyrical.
My rating is a nothing performance, workmanlike, but got the job done.
I really did not see Townsend trying to win the game on his own. As I recall he had three shots on goal, all from reasonable positions, and one required a good save. In the opening exchanges in particular his passing showed good vision. He was up against a particularly fast fullback, and was often double teamed, but when he made a run he was always aiming to get into a crossing position. He took a well struck penalty.
He was really no better or worse than anyone else today, but the SC hivemind has made up its mind about him and nothing as inconsequential as his actual performance is going to change it.
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To nitpick, Sandro was strong but lacked mobility,
Kane and Paulinho were mutual man of the match for me, but I gave to it to Paulinho in this case as he converted better plus had the assist.
I thought those two were easily our most threatening players on attack. Nearly every single threatening chance we had came off of one of them. While Lennon and Townsend were AWOL for different reasons. Lennon rarely received the ball and Townsend wasted the ball almost every time he had it. His first 20 minutes seemed good as he was willing to play to his teammates and then the same old Townsend came out where he took 5 dumb shots for every good shot, all of them being from distance, and proceeded to dribble himself into two defenders in the corner losing possession every time. I feel really bad for our other attackers as they must know the second Townsend gets the ball they'll never receive it back and it will be under the oppositions possession sooner than later.
Sandro played well, but I think some here are suffering from a little confirmation bias. He's a fan favourite player, so I think every tackle he made had everyone going "SANDRO'S BACK". Whereas I don't think he played at all any better than we've seen Capoue play so far and I actually felt like Dembele was the better of the pairing. Dembele seemed to make just as good challenges and was better going forward. Sandro also looked incredibly tired for much of the second half and wasn't chasing down players as well as he should have been. This could be down to a lack of match fitness, but it's a little worrying as it has been a very, very long time since we've seen a fit Sandro.
Very solid team performance with noone putting in a bad performance.
To nitpick, Sandro was strong but lacked mobility, Paulinho had plenty of mobility but is suffering from a heavy touch when hes around the box with his back to goal, and Townsend is trying hard but not succeeding.
I was actually impressed by Davies as this was the first time Id seen him play and he was getting some stick on here but hes strong and linked up well going forward. Rose has done nothing wrong but if he gets injured or his form drops off Davies is more than good enough to replace him, so no more Fryers or Naughton on the left.
Kane is really starting to impose himself on games and my only issue is that he should have scored more.
I thought Lennon played well, excellent pressing, rarely gave the ball away, but is just lacking a little bit of magic.
This is the first time I have properly seen the high pressing style and it was the difference between a comfortable night and a difficult night.
AEK didnt look capable of posing too many problems but we never allowed them to in the first place.
We must have one of the best second strings in the league.
His role may not be a creative one, but he's still required to get the ball forward in some capacity, which he failed to do. Also even in a defensive only role he still wasn't all that above average. He wasn't strong enough in some challenges and also lost the ball on a few occasions as well. I can put some of that up to fitness though, but I think calling him man of the match requires making a whole lot of excuses and exceptions for him.Or maybe people actually enjoyed Sandro's performances and understood his main role is not a creative one, so they aren't judging him based on his offensive passes or lack of them (even if he indeed started some nice plays).
I really did not see Townsend trying to win the game on his own. As I recall he had three shots on goal, all from reasonable positions, and one required a good save. In the opening exchanges in particular his passing showed good vision. He was up against a particularly fast fullback, and was often double teamed, but when he made a run he was always aiming to get into a crossing position. He took a well struck penalty.
He was really no better or worse than anyone else today, but the SC hivemind has made up its mind about him and nothing as inconsequential as his actual performance is going to change it.