Southampton Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Good Doctor M]

Lamela back and I think we'll start clicking. We've badly missed him but can't argue with a 4-1 away to Southampton. Win against watford and I think we can scalp Chelsea.

 

[Hawk_Spur]

"for all his failings"? What are you on about?

He has been better over the last couple of weeks but this season he has been below his output from last season.

His first touch and passing is far from elite. He also loves a trick/nutmeg a little too much at times.

Don't get me wrong, still happy that he is playing for Spurs.

 

[tototoner]

Harry Kane ✔@HKane
If there's any @NFL teams looking for a kicker in the future, have a look at my game tonight! #SOUTOT

 

[nightgoat]

Who was then?

Well Van Dijk won their player of the season award. Others would argue Mané was.

 

[bubble07]

Looks like media are going hard on the vertonghen incident

If they wrongly deem it as an eye gauge then he will get the same punishment as dembele did

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Looks like media are going hard on the vertonghen incident

If they wrongly deem it as an eye gauge then he will get the same punishment as dembele did

It was nothing like Dembele's incident

 

[fortworthspur]

Jamie Redknapp doesn't think it's a penalty, but he's an idiot. He just said that Redmond was pulling, but that it is a contact sport. Only in the version of football invented by Webb Ellis is it legal, Jamie.
The BBC has pulled out the rule book and proved Dean was right.

was it a pen? the contact and tug were outside the box. Harry missed the pen anyway so it doesnt matter. The red card was probably legit though a little harsh IMO.

 

[Flashspur]

...laughable comments in the last 2 pages on Dele. The kids way ahead on stats when compared to Lumpard, He is a unique talent and he is in a different class for his age and yet we have the naysayers on here. Sad.

 

[Gbspurs]

I think that was a tough game for 20 minutes, Southampton were doing all the right things, were tactically set up with good balance to them, got the early gift, and looked to have our measure, the 433 with two lively wide attackers working up and down and their full backs giving ours a torrid time, especially Bertrand, things weren't looking too promising. Then Eriksen started dropping, getting on the ball, he was everywhere that first half, and this got us a foothold (this is his first 45 touch map


View attachment 27672

This was a player playing as an ACM.

I know this will just pile petrol on the "Eriksen can do no wrong in BC's eyes" fire, but IMO he was the player that got us, first a foothold and then provided the initiative spark, in getting us back on top of this game. I just do not get people watching him first half and moaning about him. I thought, stupid back flick to Kane that wasted a good situation aside, he was outstanding. He somehow manages to see as much ball as our CM's whilst still providing the creative spark, often playing that pass before the pass, making the right decision when and where to move it, where others bumble and dither, turn the wrong way, choose the wrong ball that slows everything or moves us backwards, as well as seeing shitloads of the ball, he set up goals, nearly scored and generally provided the rudder off which all things hubbed.

I also don't really get how Wanyama was getting shit on the match thread either. He seemed to be doing the deeper role, stepping back, splitting CB's, letting Dembele get forward, but also getting forward when possible and pivoting well.

I thought a couple of really sloppy passes aside, Dembele was pretty decent as well, played a good ball for Sissoko in the build up to the equaliser, but I still would have rather we started Winks, either as well asin a 433, or instead of Dembele.

Rose's assist aside, I didn't think either of our full backs were good tonight, with Puel's set up of 433 with Boufal and Redmond ahead of the excellent Soares and Bertrand they weren't allowed to be and both were rattled, especially Walker who had a poor game with and without the ball.

But they weren't the worst offenders. Alli was at least back to his fumbling productiveness of last season, Kane was really bad. A shadow of the player he can be. This was like watching Defoe in a Teutonic body. He was as insipid and uninvolved as I've ever seen him. And worryingly he's been a shadow of the best Kane for a while now.

Despite the rather fortuitous assist via Redmond's arse, I thought Sissoko was pretty poor first half, but I do think he was much better second half, and I just did not understand subbing him off and leaving Alli and Kane out there. I then didn't understand when we are trying to close a game out, taking Dembele off for Winks, why not take one of the forward players off and sure things up ? There was a really horrible spell where, despite having the extra man we seemed to be losing control. But in the end I guess Poch will see the changes as vindicated as Alli and Son score and we end up comfortable winners.

It was pleasing the way we turned an early set back around, but there were worrying phases in this game, and Poch's post match suggested he felt the same. Personally I think his decisions contributed to that.

Individual

Lloris - Really poor, lucky he didn't cost us a couple of goals tonight.

Walker - Tough night against a very lively left side, not good.

Dier - Pretty decent I thought.

Vertonghen - Stupid booking, apart from that pretty good, showing a nasty streak at times as well. Nice.

Rose - Couple of great moments but some poor stuff too.

Wanyama - I thought he had a good game.

Dembele - He had some ropey moments but was generally good.

Sissoko - Generally poor first half, I thought he had his best 45 minutes in a Spurs shirt second half and shouldn't have been hooked ahead of others as he was carrying a threat.

Eriksen - Comfortably MOTM. Got hold of this game and got us back ticking. Saw shitloads of ball, two assists, should have had another for Rose, unlucky not to score and hit a beautiful pass, cleverly making use of Romeu's head to guide it into the path of Rose (at least I think that what @guiltyparty told me). Was the metronomic heart of ur performance tonight.

Alli - Took his goals really well, not so great the rest of the time.

Kane - Really, really poor.

How can you call a striker who scored one of the only chances that was created for him "really, really poor"?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

How can you call a striker who scored one of the only chances that was created for him "really, really poor"?

His all round play. I don't mind if a striker doesn't score, especially when he's not getting many chances, but I thought Kane was insipid tonight, and that's not often a word I'd use about him. He didn't contribute enough and the fleeting moments he saw any of the ball he was careless or flakey with it. Just downright poor all night except that header from the corner.

 

[UpTownSpur]

Lamela back and I think we'll start clicking. We've badly missed him but can't argue with a 4-1 away to Southampton. Win against watford and I think we can scalp Chelsea.

He's behind Son and Sissoko now and will face an almighty battle to get in the starting 11. He'll have to perform when he comes on as a sub as he won't go straight back in to the team.

 

[thinktank]

He's behind Son and Sissoko now and will face an almighty battle to get in the starting 11. He'll have to perform when he comes on as a sub as he won't go straight back in to the team.

Poch will make him a starter asap.

 

[Sweetsman]

was it a pen? the contact and tug were outside the box. Harry missed the pen anyway so it doesnt matter. The red card was probably legit though a little harsh IMO.

The first pawing was outside the box, but he carried it on to paw at him just inside: penalty; straight red.

 

[UpTownSpur]

The first pawing was outside the box, but he carried it on to paw at him just inside: penalty; straight red.

Graham Poll has called it right.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...ul-Dele-Alli-Mike-Dean-man-big-decisions.html

I think the new law has given refs the opportunity to bottle big decisions and people have become used it to it and now act with outrage when a ref doesn't bottle it.

 

[yusrisafri]

take the night off. We won away 4-1, missed a penalty and hit the bar against a top half team with a solid home record.

I really dont understand people who think the team are beyond criticism after we have won. How do you improve if you dont look at the negatives on top of the positives? And if you look at my post, it was hardly negative. Stop trying to be chivalrous, dude.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

@guiltyparty and @cheeseman and @heelspurs

Try these:

There is no way that ball is going 5 yards behind - or even behind - Son. Just do the trigonometry. And even if it lands at Son's feet, the RB isn't anywhere near him.

 

[thinktank]

I'm sorry, but I do not agree, that ball is hit with zip and was going to land straight at Son's feet, not 5 yards behind him.

BC....

 

[UpTownSpur]

@guiltyparty and @cheeseman and @heelspurs

Try these:

View attachment 27675

View attachment 27676


There is no way that ball is going 5 yards behind - or even behind - Son. Just do the trigonometry. And even if it lands at Son's feet, the RB isn't anywhere near him.

But the deflection turned it from an outswinger to an inswinger. No way would be have had a clear run on goal without the deflection. He'd have needed to pass it with his left foot to put him through on goal.

 

[guiltyparty]

@guiltyparty and @cheeseman and @heelspurs

Try these:

View attachment 27675

View attachment 27676


There is no way that ball is going 5 yards behind - or even behind - Son. Just do the trigonometry. And even if it lands at Son's feet, the RB isn't anywhere near him.

If son doesn't move, sure. But he was running at full pelt. So it would have indeed gone behind him - they're not stationary, and that ball is swinging away from him, not into his path. And if he'd had to stop and get it, the centre back would have got across

Fact is he hit it straight at the defender as he does so many of his corners, but this defender nodded it into son's path

I like Eriksen, I agree he did a lot of good and of all people, I want him to try the sublime - his flick to rose earlier was ace. But my issue is people digging out sissoko's cross as being deflected and not this, when it was just as fortuitous

.

 

[Nerine]

Enjoyed Sissoko tonight. Kept egging him on when he had the ball.

Eriksens assist was due to the deflection of Romeu. It was going behind Son.

The three people who I was watching the game with all agreed that it would have gone behind him. Sky's replay concurs IMO.

Sissoko looks hard as nails.

Good win.

Southampton aren't pushovers.

Thought we played badly overall to be fair. Yes we won, but fuck it was soooo casual at times. I just know we're capable of much better and so the sloppiness really grates on me.

Fucking about at the back is suicidal.

I have a theory as to why we consistently play out from the back.
And I think it's because it stretches the opposition and leaves a bit more space when they try to press etc.
In any case, it moves them further into our half, allowing space, rather than them sitting in two compact banks in their own half. Which we struggle to break down.

Sometimes I don't know whether Poch is a genius or blind.

Didn't want Sissoko to be subbed. Deserved to stay on.

Alli frustrates, but he does score goals.

Can't wait for Lamela to be back.

Jan was a bitch. Rodriguez actually was classy as fuck when Jan hand his hand on his face. He could have made an absolute meal of that. But didn't.

Kane's penalty miss was unfortunate. Would have gone in otherwise.

Good finishing tonight.

Eriksen unlucky not to be on the score sheet. His corners were atrocious at times.

We seem to be composed enough to keep possession. Our after game stats were frightening in terms of amount of passes and completion percentage.

Good win. Result flattered us slightly IMO. But fuck it.

COYS.