Match Threads Spurs vs Watford - Match Thread - Day 3 - KO 2:00 pm

[Gassin's finest]

I’m enjoying being top. But I’m being fair, I’d be killing Jose if he was in charge of that. I even missed the goal because I went for a piss. Abysmal performance against a terrible team.

Bollocks. We were comfortable if a little flat. Dele and Kane convert their sitters and its a score line more reflective of the match.

 

[hughy]

I was at a festival thingy watching on my phone, only saw about two thirds of the game but we seemed comfortable.

Seriously seemed to lack creativity though. That would be my priority for the last 2 days of the window if I was Fab P.

 

[Serpico]

I’m enjoying being top. But I’m being fair, I’d be killing Jose if he was in charge of that. I even missed the goal because I went for a piss. Abysmal performance against a terrible team.

Go and watch Utd challenge for the league , after today’s performance against Wolves , were the better side.

 

[punky]

This picture gives me all the feels

 

[SPURSLIFE]

I’m enjoying being top. But I’m being fair, I’d be killing Jose if he was in charge of that. I even missed the goal because I went for a piss. Abysmal performance against a terrible team.

I thought there were some moments of promise and at times the football was good. It certainly wasn't "abysmal" as you called it. Sure we need to improve to achieve anything this season but the season is only 3 games in and once our new additions settle in I'm sure we will get a lot better. Our defence has improved 100% to last season and whilst we aren't scoring a lot we are difficult to score against. Lets see how we fare against Chelsea and Arsenal which I believe are our next 2 games and then judge. It sounds like you're anti Nuno like many were but now he's here most are prepared to give him a chance for the sake of the club. What was your reaction after the City game?

 

[Hugh DeMann]

Fully understand people not wanting to get carried away but come on we need some perspective here.

If you had offered this start to Nuno before the season started, with all the Kane shit going on, he would of bitten your hand off.

Everybody outside of Tottenham were hoping we were going to fail and that we were treating Kane atrociously (on the whole).

3 wins with no goals conceded against the champions, his old team, and a newly promoted team is bloody good.

We need to wait and see if the possession/attacking threat improves but its a great foundation. Nuno sounds like he is a better coach than Jose and prioritises fitness. Let that approach bed in and enjoy the ride!

 

[H-SF]

Have to say I thought Tanganga was poor. He reminds me of Wan Bissaka, brilliant defending 1v1 but a deer in the headlights on the ball and going forward. He really looked like what he is, a CB at RB. I'd really prioritise getting Aurier out the door and bringing in Emerson, forget Doherty.
Dele wasn't great either, he's not a natural passer which is a problem when he shoulders the creative burden in midfield. If he's going to succeed for us in this midfield 3, one of his partners needs to be a passer more comfortable receiving on the half turn and between the lines.
Hojbjerg and Davinson - outstanding.

As for the team performance, we pressed fairly well in the first half. The full backs were not as aggressive as I'd like but it was still promising signs. Second half, not so much. We were more comfortable sitting off in a mid block. Watford did not pose much threat but we need to do better to control the game through pressing in the future. I saw some bright sparks offensively, but the personnel was not ideal (see above Tanganga and Dele). We can be really good this season if we finish the window how we should and implement a consistent and quality press.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Sorry fellas, but if that was Jose I’d be kicking the shit out of him. Absolutely abysmal against relegation fodder.

Now I would class myself amongst the pessimistic spurs fans. But even I will say that you are being a little harsh.

We had a number of chances to make the score line better which will have gone in another day. That is not the main thing I would take issue with about your comments though. It’s the fact that with generally the same group of players we have had for a long time, we are at least looking more organised.

When you have been playing the way we have been playing for such a long time, revolutionary change overnight is very difficult. Our biggest weakness last season was holding onto leads. This season we have held onto 3 1-0 leads consecutively. That’s a marked improvement if you ask me.

Yes, we are not anywhere near where we would like to be, however a solid platform is essential for us to start to grow from. We are showing spells of good break building, spells of faster, higher tempo passing and spells of resolute defending. The more time Nuno has to work with the players, the more his ideology will come into the play and the better we will become.

Whilst we lack the creativity in midfield, we are looking a lot stronger in front of the back four. We are also looking to transition the ball forward earlier more often whether that be through the middle via Skipp and Hojbjerg or dare I say it raking precision passes from Sanchez (something I never ever thought I would see). These are all staples to build from, and with any potential additions to the squad or the gentle introduction of players such as Gil, I can only see this improving.

So whilst I have not been blown away, and have kept my healthy post match skepticism when talking it through with my Dad ad I always do on the way home, I think we are far from abysmal and can see marked changes from last season.

Im all for a sprinkling of pessimism, but stop looking at things through those Jose tinted glasses!

 

[Serpico]

I’m enjoying being top. But I’m being fair, I’d be killing Jose if he was in charge of that. I even missed the goal because I went for a piss. Abysmal performance against a terrible team.

You must accept we are far more attacking as a team. The funny thing we’re looking better defensively.

 

[fortworthspur]

only the 7th time we've started with three wins.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Now I would class myself amongst the pessimistic spurs fans. But even I will say that you are being a little harsh.

We had a number of chances to make the score line better which will have gone in another day. That is not the main thing I would take issue with about your comments though. It’s the fact that with generally the same group of players we have had for a long time, we are at least looking more organised.

When you have been playing the way we have been playing for such a long time, revolutionary change overnight is very difficult. Our biggest weakness last season was holding onto leads. This season we have held onto 3 1-0 leads consecutively. That’s a marked improvement if you ask me.

Yes, we are not anywhere near where we would like to be, however a solid platform is essential for us to start to grow from. We are showing spells of good break building, spells of faster, higher tempo passing and spells of resolute defending. The more time Nuno has to work with the players, the more his ideology will come into the play and the better we will become.

Whilst we lack the creativity in midfield, we are looking a lot stronger in front of the back four. We are also looking to transition the ball forward earlier more often whether that be through the middle via Skipp and Hojbjerg or dare I say it raking precision passes from Sanchez (something I never ever thought I would see). These are all staples to build from, and with any potential additions to the squad or the gentle introduction of players such as Gil, I can only see this improving.

So whilst I have not been blown away, and have kept my healthy post match skepticism when talking it through with my Dad ad I always do on the way home, I think we are far from abysmal and can see marked changes from last season.

Im all for a sprinkling of pessimism, but stop looking at things through those Jose tinted glasses!

Just being realistic. This is just Jose under a different name. I hated everything Jose stood for and I’d be a hypocrite if I started waxing lyrical about that performance against effectively a championship side.

Apologies, just how I see it currently.

 

[worcestersauce]

The lack of creativity was also some titanic defence by Watford. Sure I'd like another creative player but strictly speaking today didn't make the case. I still think we have more to come from this existing squad.

 

[PCozzie]

We controlled the game reasonably well, but moved the ball far too slowly for my liking. Plenty of occasions where if the ball had been released quicker, or passed on quicker, we could have opened Watford up a bit more, and too many times the player on the ball either didn't see the next pass to create the opening, or dithered and the opportunity was snuffed out.

Watching from home it looked like the pitch was really sticky. The ball just didn't seem to zip. Was the pitch watered much before the match/at half time?

 

[WhiteStripe]

Just being realistic. This is just Jose under a different name. I hated everything Jose stood for and I’d be a hypocrite if I started waxing lyrical about that performance against effectively a championship side.

Apologies, just how I see it currently.

But it’s not. Just because Nuno likes to build from a solid foundation doesn’t make him Jose. We press further up the pitch than we ever did under Jose, we hit far less long balls, we transition the ball quicker, we pass the ball and move off the ball quicker. Watford defended very deep and regained their position incredibly quickly today every time they lost the ball. That’s very difficult to play against and very difficult to break down. Our biggest weakness today was the final ball. The likes of Bergwijn and Tanganga took too long to make decisions at times, but that will come.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

But it’s not. Just because Nuno likes to build from a solid foundation doesn’t make him Jose. We press further up the pitch than we ever did under Jose, we hit far less long balls, we transition the ball quicker, we pass the ball and move off the ball quicker. Watford defended very deep and regained their position incredibly quickly today every time they lost the ball. That’s very difficult to play against and very difficult to break down. Our biggest weakness today was the final ball. The likes of Bergwijn and Tanganga took too long to make decisions at times, but that will come.

Fair play mate, I don’t disagree with all of it just feel it’s taking too much from what was in front of us. I thought our pressing today for example, was awful. They are an awful team with one good player at RWF.

 

[Gilzeanking]

but with Kane back so our emphasis changed. He was now the focal point and the press to counter was not so good until Lucas came on.
The dynamics of the team still need to be worked on, and we miss the ability to hit creative passes when forward runs are made. Today we still missed that midfielder who can run with a ball and slip a pass - which should be where GLC comes in.
Against teams like Watford, and not looking to deride them, but should we need to play both Skipp and PEH? Swapping one adds thar creativity, its not that GLC doesnt get stuck in
Still very much a work in progress but at least this season you can see progress.

Someone else was mentioning the effect of Kane on our press . I agree press intensity seems reduced with him these days .

 

[WhiteStripe]

Fair play mate, I don’t disagree with all of it just feel it’s taking too much from what was in front of us. I thought our pressing today for example, was awful. They are an awful team with one good player at RWF.

Haha. Now that’s at least something we can agree on!!

 

[SpursSince1980]

Defense was solid again. Midfield was also well organized and kept the Wolves midfield mostly quiet. However, they didn’t offer that much going forward. Dele tried, but it was tough going.

Yes, Son hit the winning goal, but we won the game cos of our defensive setup.

Unlike the previous two PL games our attacking forwards didn’t press as hard or play like a cohesive unit. Which does not surprise me. Harry looked cumbersome and apathetic at times. I personally thought it was a mistake starting him over Lucas. To me, it sent the wrong message to the team. The same eleven players worked their socks off as a team against City and Wolves. Lucas in particular has run his nuts off. Yet, he’s the one who gets dropped from a winning team. And oddly enough Sonny looked out of sorts… which is not like him at all.

Have loved everything Nuno has done so far, but i didn’t understand this decision. To me, it really sent the wrong signal to the other players: “You may work your arse off and win. But, Harry comes first, no matter what”. Maybe it would look better if Harry played a blinder but he didn’t. In fact, does anyone remember him joining the group all celebrating with Son right after he scored? If he did, didn’t see him.

Nuno now has to work on improving our attacking style of play. As we haven’t looked all that dangerous in the past two games. And we all know, you can’t rely on 1-0 wins. Need much more from our attack If we want to actually make a run at the top 4.

 

[punkisback]

Yeah shame except I supported him throughout his whole spurs stint and was happy to give him a little clap today.

Standing ovation for an oppo player yet quiet for our own. Odd bunch we have at spurs now.

Agree. We seem to like “top lads” and don’t give our flair players much love. Where is our Tottenham!?

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Our midfield is operating a lot like Liverpools with the RCM and LCM protecting the full backs allowing the front 3 to stay high and narrow.