Match Threads Southampton vs Spurs - Match Thread - Day 2

[Shadydan]

I wonder whether we might be better to play Tanganga that side for his defensive solidity and let Reguilon bomb forward

Has to be better than our current crop at the moment.

 

[SonicSarr]

I thought N'Dombele was quite good today but the whole dynamic changed when he went off. The early goal helped but still hoping it was always the plan to give Gio and Tanguy a half each. I think the biggest difference was seen when Moura was subbed, so more food for thought.

Davies is a good pro and a good defender but I could see today how slow he is getting out to close down the winger when play is switched. Reguilon looks a great addition in that respect but Davies is great cover for LB and LCB.

 

[Sweech]

Still worried about our defensive organization. We don't try to play offsides whatsoever - we're essentially ignoring that the rule exists at all.

We simply move the defensive line to match whoever the furthest forward opposition player is, regardless of where the ball is. I think this is going to hurt us massively in the future because it starts creating huge gaps between the lines in transitions and sometimes in buildup as well.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Well at least VAR will get rid of blatant imbalance in decisions eh

Fucking joke, same shit different season, jammiest side out there.

 

[oohaahedgar]

With all due respect, but no. I want Ndom out of the club and he shouldn't even be in the match day squad with his application to his talent. More than a year at the club and we're still speaking about him just needing to return to fitness or this and that. The excuses are plenty. Everyone can see that he has an eye for a pass but he is currently way more of a liability than anything with his nonchalant passing and complete lack of movement off the ball and pressing.
For me one of, if not the most important trait, to have as a professional athlete is a good mentality and Ndombele obviously doesn't have it just like Adebayor or Quaresma for example. Plenty of talent but lacking the mentality and the personality to make the most out of it.

1. You’re right, N’Dombele is one of the poorest players off the ball ive seen in elite football. It’s not fitness either, he jogs back and is a liability. I’d love to be proved wrong but I’m sure he’ll never make it at Spurs. Lo Celso is different class.

 

[SonicSarr]

Well done to Jose & the team for getting the win.
Really fuming with the piss poor ref & VAR (luckily it didn't ruin the game for us).
Loads of yellow cards & picky decisions for free kicks & the penalty decision well words fail me.

All the decisions were correct. It is the rules that need changing.

 

[rez9000]

I thought N'Dombele was quite good today but the whole dynamic changed when he went off. The early goal helped but still hoping it was always the plan to give Gio and Tanguy a half each. I think the biggest difference was seen when Moura was subbed, so more food for thought.

Davies is a good pro and a good defender but I could see today how slow he is getting out to close down the winger when play is switched. Reguilon looks a great addition in that respect but Davies is great cover for LB and LCB.

The whole central defence needs a little injection of pace. Toby's lost maybe half a yard in the last couple of seasons, Dier's never been the fastest of players anyway, and Davies (if he's in the middle) is, as you say, not the quickest. Sanchez has a bit of pace about him, but he can't be the only one we have.

 

[riggi]

 

[spursfan77]

Mou is getting it wrong, playing someone like Winks who is suited to possession football when we need someone to take control of the game. It's been obvious two games in a row now and Mou is going to get a massive pass based on something that his system had very little to do with.

Against a better side we won't get away with this and Kane and Son will get as isolated as they were in the first half.

We can't start like that from the outset again.

We need another new central midfielder in there yet there’s no links to say we are looking at one. I’d go as far as to say it’s the most important transfer we could make now.

 

[rez9000]

All the decisions were correct. It is the rules that need changing.

Absolutely. The rule, as it's currently drafted, is 100% bonkers. IFAB have dropped the almightiest bollock with the handball rules and it needs changing.

 

[easley91]

If it wasn't for Ndombele that first goal doesn't happen..

 

[wrd]

Our central defenders are a problem. If we're talking about the 3 senior centrebacks then there's not a combination of the 3 I like at all. Alderweireld is understandable he's in the twilight of his career but the other two. Sanchez who I defended because he was young and will learn has not improved over the course of being apart of our team. Dier I don't know what vindicates this idea he's going to be our answer to central defence. I gave him praise for the two performances vs Norwich and United but he is not doing anything to justify why it is that the club seem to think he's going to be our central stalwart. For all the aggression he has he never shows it in the right way on the pitch with his defending.

In my opinion the only positive solution I see to our defence is if we somehow land a Ruben Dias/Skriniar level defender and Tanganga can step up and make the spot his and can inject pace into the backline.

 

[brj88]

Didn’t Holtby assist Defoe four times once?

 

[chrissivad]

Didn’t Holtby assist Defoe four times once?

In the PL?

 

[Russ1201]

You were saying?

I thought tanguy played well i would of rather winks went off for lo celso.

 

[brj88]

In the PL?

Ah, could have been a cup game

 

[Nebby]

This will be controversial but I mean it with all due respect. I think your point is bullshit.

Kane and Son turned that game. Bringing on Lo Celso wasn't some game changing master stroke. He's a player who everyone on this forum would have as a nailed on starter. Southampton got tired, got sloppy and our two world class forwards ripped them to pieces for it.

Now Lo Celso may have been a giant part of that but the fact is we already tore them open before with the service coming from N'dombele in the middle of the park.

Winks was shite all game again and I'm not sure why he stayed on.

I’m amazed that some are questioning taking off Ndombele and keeping Winks on. Winks has limitations but you cannot fault the discipline he showed in the second half.

 

[Roy's Racers]

In the 1st half and on occasions in the 2nd, Southampton were able to play through our midfield into their front and wide men, leading to their increased possesion, shots and confidence. This has been the case for two seasons since Dembele, Wanyama stopped being regulars and the demise of Dier as a DM. The lack of pressure on the ball from our CMs is so bad.

 

[Shadydan]

The reaction to subbing off Ndombele was funny but it was clear that the midfield was struggling with him in it, despite his quality on the ball and him making our first goal he is a liability in defence and a big reason why we struggled containing Southampton's attacks.

 

[SonicSarr]

In the 1st half and on occasions in the 2nd, Southampton were able to play through our midfield into their front and wide men, leading to their increased possesion, shots and confidence. This has been the case for two seasons since Dembele, Wanyama stopped being regulars and the demise of Dier as a DM. The lack of pressure on the ball from our CMs is so bad.

I think this is our biggest problem and possibly the last piece of the puzzle. We need a Kante.