Match Threads Spurs vs Galatasaray

[EastUpperDK82]

Or it’s people realising that with
injuries all over the field, our squad being knackered and 3 teenagers playing away at 1 of the toughest atmospheres in Europe, being the second best team on the day isn’t the end of the world, it happens.

We’ve won 3 out of 4 in Europe, QF in a cup and a win on Sunday puts us in a good position in the league.

Totally agree... but we have to win on sunday... especially after the game tonight.

 

[Yiddo100]

Totally agree... but we have to win on sunday... especially after the game tonight.

Very much so.

 

[jpascavitz]

Felt like one of those games where injuries and lack of adequate depth in certain areas just took its toll. Certainly an element of youth being understandably over awed by the occasion mixed in as well.

Yes there were some poor performances but I also think it will have been a valuable experience. On another night I’m fairly sure we could have smashed them. Still I shan’t be loosing any sleep over it nor do i feel the need to be too critical of Ange or the team as a whole.

All of what you said plus Gala were completely up for it tonight. I guarantee you don't see 30+ year olds Icardi/Mertens and co. press like that throughout the season. They knew they had a big club coming in and wanted to put on a show and they did well so credit there where due

 

[idontgetit]

There is no way in hell we don't finish top 8. So player game time management re minutes, rest, potential injuries, and giving young payers experience is required. And we have a fair few injuries already.

I'm sure Kulu and everyone is feeling very rested after that.

 

[SA_Spurs]

The makeshift defence away from home in an inferno like that, against a side in red hot form, were always going to be under pressure. Even if they played well.

The way we as team in this system relieve pressure is by playing on the turn in the middle of the pitch and stinging the other side. When we do that it gives us confidence on the ball and breaks the confidence of the opposition press. Bergval was off the pace, in the wrong place and couldn't link things up. He's not enough of a presence to make up for it off the ball in the way some others can. It was evident very early on it wasn't the game for him and we needed Bentacur on the pitch.

We always looked, despite being a mess at the back, like we could blast 3-4 goals past them. All we needed to do was get our foot on the ball in the middle, then turn that into a few stinging attacks to take the pressure off. We'd then have the opportunity to blow them away as we got more of a grip on it. Instead we took off the players who provide the sting.

So we get the right players on, but the wrong players off. I'm completely lost as to how this one is even controversial. It was bad decision making at the start of the game, compounded in the game.

It's too easy to say it was bad decision making. Imagine he played the 'right players' from the start & then we had a game like chelsea where 1 or more of our key players gets injured. Then what? bring on youngsters. It's a tough gig being a coach - Ange has got to show confidence in the squad so he selected a team, sent them out to play & it didn't work out. This game was always a free hit for us in that we could afford to lose & not compromise our chances of qualifying for next round.

I'm not disputing your points which are all valid - just highlighting that there many many factors at play when selecting a team, especially when we're playing twice a week with a young squad & experienced players who are getting frequent injuries (Son, Ricky, etc).

 

[Albertbarich]

To be fair, the club promised him he'd be a part of the squad.

And it's also only once the player is at the club and playign you see how far off it they are.

To his defence, I don't think he had the right blend and stability around him tonight.

I think he is amazing I just think he needs first team football every week.

 

[Yiddo100]

There’s still too many players especially with our rotated squad who are not comfortable enough on the ball for how Postecoglou wants to play.

 

[yiddopaul]

In the end - all things considered, a respectable scoreline.

 

[rossdapep]

Just looking at Lazio, Ajax, Frankfurt and Galatsaray's fixtures and they still have some real tough games. If we beat Roma we can put ourselves right back in the ascendancy.

 

[SA_Spurs]

All of what you said plus Gala were completely up for it tonight. I guarantee you don't see 30+ year olds Icardi/Mertens and co. press like that throughout the season. They knew they had a big club coming in and wanted to put on a show and they did well so credit there where due

exactly! they respected us by playing at full tilt! they are also unbeaten & clearly a side that plays with a lot of confidence! It was always going to be a tough game - even with our full strength team! We can't dismiss teams cos we think their leagues are crap - ppl do the same with Ange's past ...irrespective of what you or I may say, these guys can only beat who's put out there against them! Fair dues to them & honestly, it's a lesson our team can learn, even in defeat!

 

[adamsky]

I can accept losing, we had weekend team and is a tough fixture. Don’t even mind being overrun at time with the makeshift defence we had.
However, find it very difficult to accept the sloppiness in possession and the terrible decision making, especially by the experienced players. We turned what should be promising situations into chances for them.

I also think Ange did no favours to Gray by playing him left back, it could possibly dent his confidence.

 

[Mr Pink]

Felt like one of those games where injuries and lack of adequate depth in certain areas just took its toll. Certainly an element of youth being understandably over awed by the occasion mixed in as well.

Yes there were some poor performances but I also think it will have been a valuable experience. On another night I’m fairly sure we could have smashed them. Still I shan’t be loosing any sleep over it nor do i feel the need to be too critical of Ange or the team as a whole.

Exactly my thoughts mate

 

[tommo84]

Just looking at Lazio, Ajax, Frankfurt and Galatsaray's fixtures and they still have some real tough games. If we beat Roma we can put ourselves right back in the ascendancy.

Honestly, all I’m bothered about is finishing top 8. To do that we will need another 7 points I reckon. 6 might be enough. I know in theory the higher you finish the easier your draw but I think there will be so much rotation from teams in the last game week (when some teams already know their fate) that the teams who finish 5th or 6th could end up with much easier last 16 opponents than the teams who finish 1st or 2nd. And once you’re into the last 8 it will all be very tight anyway.

 

[idontgetit]

But what do you want Ange to do?

We have players dropping down like flies and if Ange selects Bentancur or Sarr, then there's a chance they get injured.

Udogie is our only proper LB option and has played so many minutes.

Bergvall is young and learning but also needs exposure. If you don;t play him now, when do you?

Don't play both Maddison and Bergvall in the middle together for that game, rest Maddison or play him on the left. We have Sarr, Bentacur, Bissouma, Kulu and Madders to rotate through the midfield 3 positions.

If you do play them and it's looking like a disaster, change it. Just don't take the wrong players off, which he very much did. Neither Johnson or Son would have been exhausted playing another 20-25 mins after a break at half time. Or at least leave one of them on so we have some pace and width on a wide open pitch against a team that looks like conceding every time we miraculously go forward.

At the back we didn't have much choice. Just don't put them under unnecessary pressure with a flimsy spine to the team.

I love Ange but again I really don't see why this stuff is controversial.

It's too easy to say it was bad decision making. Imagine he played the 'right players' from the start & then we had a game like chelsea where 1 or more of our key players gets injured. Then what? bring on youngsters. It's a tough gig being a coach - Ange has got to show confidence in the squad so he selected a team, sent them out to play & it didn't work out. This game was always a free hit for us in that we could afford to lose & not compromise our chances of qualifying for next round.

I'm not disputing your points which are all valid - just highlighting that there many many factors at play when selecting a team, especially when we're playing twice a week with a young squad & experienced players who are getting frequent injuries (Son, Ricky, etc).

He played most of our best players anyway and we ended up with an unnecessarily exhausting match. It's not like Bentacur, Kulu and Solanke were chilling out in a Turkish all inclusive for the trip.

 

[parj]

How we ain’t 7 down is beyond me . Bergvil is not good enough yet to play in these games

Bergvall and Gray need these games. These are games they will learn from.

No way Bergvall has experienced anything like Gala. Remember back in the 90s and early 2000s Gala was a team you didn't want in your UCL group because of the trip to Istanbul. They are back to those levels.

 

[Albertbarich]

One positive I did take was how good bissouma looked as an 8. I thought he started awfully but once Bentancour was on he was really good.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

right, what's bollocks is you confusing tactics with performance.

That’s what you are doing.

 

[Dannyspur]

But for a few understandably tired passes in promising positions near the end we might have stolen a point.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

One of the toughest away games in Europe against what is really a CL level opponent.

Lankshear did well with his goal but struggled with hold up play which made it tough for us to get out.

Added to that the likes of Forster, Davies and worst of all Dragusin made it almost impossible to play out from the back because of their technical limitations. Moreover we also had Bergvall and Gray who unsurprisingly struggled with the physicality.

Son and Maddison didn’t help matters at all, both were really poor and didn’t help us at all.

Those above factors led to the problems we had for 60 mins or so (we were actually good for the first 5 mins).

Credit to Benny, Sarr, Deki and Solanke who really stepped up and made a big difference for us. Bissouma also stepped up big time when we went down to 10 men.

We did really well to come back in to the match.

 

[parj]

One important thing to remember is this was one heck of a performance from Gala. Despite how crap we were, they created some proper chances, if they scored 6 or 7, it wouldn't have been against the run of play.