Match Threads Spurs vs Wolves

[Spursberg]

Just watched his presser and i am absolutely shocked he deflects the obvious flaws. Saying Maddison is fit and 100% when you can clearly see his in nowhere near how he was 3 months ago. How slow and reactive the team is.

Bisouma, sarr and Maddison did not come first to one ball after the first press today, after Richi starts running, the ball goes out to the back, the son reacts, when son is almost at the playher, they pass in the middle, the bisouma reacts. Noone presses together.
When we have been found out like this Spurs are the easiest team to defend agaisnt, just stay close in the middle, because everything will be passed through there, then counter, cous the whole team will be ball watching and not follow a single wolves player.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

We will add 5-6 this summer I think and then we will really need Europe to keep them all happy and give everyone rhythm.

Do you know something we don't know? 5-6 players in the summer!! The club aren't going to spend that kind of money 2 probably and then we will have to sell, although that hasn't gone to well lately. We just seem to be only able to do loans as nobody want's to buy.

 

[Tezza1978]

Some of the hyperbole in this thread is absolutely ridiculous.

And if anyone remembers I was originally really unhappy and very sceptical about the Ange appointment at the time it happened (!!)

Udogie and Porro being absent was huge for us today, as was the lack of match fitness for Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison.

Back the manager he has done a superb job. The failings we are seeing are down to rustiness, players being overplayed due to mid season tournaments/injuries and a few out of form too. This bollocks about Ange's tactics being "found out" and now ....according to those people we are going to be "struggling every game" is so much tripe.

I'm unhappy about today and don't want to watch any "highlights" this evening....but am looking forward to being at the match in 2 weeks time. Feel we will really turn a corner against Palace at home.

 

[Hoddlegenius]

Went today - we were so pedestrian in our build up play and seem to have fallen back into showing a lack of urgency until we go a goal down. It reminded me a bit (& I really hate to say it) of the ‘Conte ball’ era. Credit to Wolves, they stuck to their game plan and could easily have scored a couple more but for a couple of decent saves from Vic and some poor finishing. We don’t seem to have a plan B and too many of our players look off it compared with their early season form. I know injuries and international tournaments have taken their toll but I don’t know what’s happened to the high energy, quick transition football that we were playing previously. I want it back ASAP!! Came away feeling pretty down about it, we just can’t seem to keep a good thing going. I accept expectations have been raised higher than they should be this early in Ange’s tenure but we were so flat today, we never really looked like getting anything from the game.

 

[DenverSpur]

Well first off, with the squad we have, we should be beating Wolves. We completely lost our way today. And it's not that the expectation is high, we simply should be winning these games or at best, compete in them. We have good players, we have really good players and we also have some exceptional players. All those adjectives are based on what type of player shows up on Arsenal aeach day. Ange has to take responsibility for today at least in part. And to reiterate, if we don't believe we can beat Wolves at home with the squad we have, then it's lights out.

That’s a bit of a lazy argument; that we should be beating Wolves. On paper , yes, we probably have a better team but that means nothing once the game kicks off because once that happens lots of factors enter the equation: work rate, desire, luck, individual players form, etc. No team has a divine right to beat another team. They have to earn it over the 90 minutes. ManC are expected to beat the likes of Brentford and Crystal Palace, for example, but both those teams have beaten them home and away I believe. It happens. If it didn’t the PL etc would be boring.

 

[spurs-r-us]

On paper , yes, we probably have a better team

There’s no probably about it.

 

[FuturistiC123]

In my earlier post before KO I said Biss should not be in the team ahead of Bentancur. Bissouma is a ball watcher. Decent player in certain circumstances, but nowhere near benta in terms of creativity, or goal scoring potential. Before injury last term Benta had a bout 6 goals and as many assists. He is better in the air, more mobile, and reads the game well. He may not be fully fit, but he wont get fit on the bench. Has Biss got a single assist or goal since he joined?
Don't say that's not his role, because if breaking up play is his strength he ain't doing it very well. Very poor control.

Loads of people having a go at Kulu, but he scored and created a great chance for Davies. what exactly did Sonny or Madders produce?

Also calls for Son to play centrally. It might work if we play counter attacking football, with the ball over the top, not gonna work against teams that sit in, as he can't hold the ball up with his back to goal. We miss Perisic and the quality he provided from the left. Like Deki Ivan was not quick, but he has quality. We produced one good cross, and inevitably it came from Kulu.

 

[spurs mental]

We don’t seem to have a plan B

This has been done to death already, but the whole plan B thing needs to stop.

Klopp and Guardiola, the two most successful managers in the PL of the last decade, don't have a plan B, they stick to their principles. It took them a couple of years of coaching for it to bear fruit. They make small tweaks to their plan A and their system's but the overall game plan never changes significantly to be called a plan B. And guess what, they still lose matches too. With significantly more investment tha Ange has had, in a lot more time too.

 

[Mr Pink]

Some of the hyperbole in this thread is absolutely ridiculous.

And if anyone remembers I was originally really unhappy and very sceptical about the Ange appointment at the time it happened (!!)

Udogie and Porro being absent was huge for us today, as was the lack of match fitness for Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison.

Back the manager he has done a superb job. The failings we are seeing are down to rustiness, players being overplayed due to mid season tournaments/injuries and a few out of form too. This bollocks about Ange's tactics being "found out" and now ....according to those people we are going to be "struggling every game" is so much tripe.

I'm unhappy about today and don't want to watch any "highlights" this evening....but am looking forward to being at the match in 2 weeks time. Feel we will really turn a corner against Palace at home.

Yeah good post.

I think the first thing Agne will do is address the sluggish starts, but they havent been helped with the reasons you mention.

Two week break, to regroup.

Wouldnt surprise me if we come flying out of the traps and batter Palace.

 

[spurmin]

Yeah good post.

I think the first thing Agne will do is address the sluggish starts, but they havent been helped with the reasons you mention.

Two week break, to regroup.

Wouldnt surprise me if we come flying out of the traps and batter Palace.

Unless they get the new manager bounce!

 

[Mr Pink]

Unless they get the new manager bounce!

Well they might have one but if our mindset/determination levels are right, it shouldnt matter.

 

[Hoddlegenius]

This has been done to death already, but the whole plan B thing needs to stop.

Klopp and Guardiola, the two most successful managers in the PL of the last decade, don't have a plan B, they stick to their principles. It took them a couple of years of coaching for it to bear fruit. They make small tweaks to their plan A and their system's but the overall game plan never changes significantly to be called a plan B. And guess what, they still lose matches too. With significantly more investment tha Ange has had, in a lot more time too.

I don’t disagree but it was glaringly obvious that what we were doing was being nullified and we were being opened up way too easily. You mention ‘small tweaks’ but we didn’t even do that.
it’s an old quotation but yesterdays match in isolation really felt like the definition of Insanity (doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results).
I love Ange and I know it’s early days and hopefully next game we fire and this is a distant memory but I do feel we could do better at making ‘small tweaks’ to change the pattern of a game even at this stage in his tenure. Every one around me could see where the issues were and every one of us came away startled that we didn’t particularly change things.
I’ve been very much enjoying a lot of our play this season like everyone else - I guess yesterday brought back some memories of a turgid recent past and I didn’t like it!
COYS!

 

[Jamturk]

Bissouma was really poor for the 2nd goal, loses the ball initially then sprints all the way back marking air while his man puts the ball into the net.

We are far too easy to penetrate, defend well against us and you will probably get a result.

Big Ange needs to adapt or he will fail.

 

[spurs mental]

I don’t disagree but it was glaringly obvious that what we were doing was being nullified and we were being opened up way too easily. You mention ‘small tweaks’ but we didn’t even do that.
it’s an old quotation but yesterdays match in isolation really felt like the definition of Insanity (doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results).
I love Ange and I know it’s early days and hopefully next game we fire and this is a distant memory but I do feel we could do better at making ‘small tweaks’ to change the pattern of a game even at this stage in his tenure. Every one around me could see where the issues were and every one of us came away startled that we didn’t particularly change things.
I’ve been very much enjoying a lot of our play this season like everyone else - I guess yesterday brought back some memories of a turgid recent past and I didn’t like it!
COYS!

I still think, although we've made some good additions under him to the squad, the squad isn't where it needs to be. The drop off in quality at full back yesterday was clear for all to see.

The drop off in quality when we had a mountain of injuries/suspensions/players at tournaments in January was clear to see too.

There is a lack of fitness, and at times recently, a lack of spark. We have players who aren't as sharp or playing as well as they can. I don't think that's down the system. But that's still our first defeat since we lost to Brighton. One defeat in 7. Its not the end of the world the way some are making out.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

This is Ange's style of football mate, it will get better as we become more accustomed to it, but it's always going to be a bit key stone cops at the back, and we are always going to give up chances.

You are unfortunately going to have to accept it will be this way for the foreseeable.

What I accept or don't is not much of an issue here. I imagine that the players get a similar buzz to us fans when we win by the odd goal in 5 in the 96th minute, but I also suspect that they feel it even harder when we lose. VdV's youth and enthusiasm may well keep him smiling as he uses every bit of his recovery pace every few minutes to rescue us, but that won't last forever.

it's bad enough watching the team when the players look like they don't know what they are doing. Must be unbearable for the players if they actually don't know what they are doing. If Ange's only plan B is do plan A better, then plan A needs to start working again, soon.

 

[RosieFTL]

Some of the hyperbole in this thread is absolutely ridiculous.

And if anyone remembers I was originally really unhappy and very sceptical about the Ange appointment at the time it happened (!!)

Udogie and Porro being absent was huge for us today, as was the lack of match fitness for Bentancur, Bissouma and Maddison.

Back the manager he has done a superb job. The failings we are seeing are down to rustiness, players being overplayed due to mid season tournaments/injuries and a few out of form too. This bollocks about Ange's tactics being "found out" and now ....according to those people we are going to be "struggling every game" is so much tripe.

I'm unhappy about today and don't want to watch any "highlights" this evening....but am looking forward to being at the match in 2 weeks time. Feel we will really turn a corner against Palace at home.

We've played 28 games this season and I've only really enjoyed around half a dozen performances. For me it's clear that the early form was just the honeymoon period. I think he has been found out in terms of his plan A and he's got a lot to work on in terms of alternative styles in this 2 week break.

 

[spurs mental]

We've played 28 games this season and I've only really enjoyed around half a dozen performances. For me it's clear that the early form was just the honeymoon period. I think he has been found out in terms of his plan A and he's got a lot to work on in terms of alternative styles in this 2 week break.

You really need to go back and look at Klopp and Guardiola's first seasons, and a bit more, or even read reports of their games. They had games exactly like yesterday, and actually still do.

If you're going to be say things like "I think he's found out" you need to back it up with something more than a fleeting statement about a honeymoon period.

If you've only enjoyed 6 games/performances this season I feel sorry for you. There's at least 15 I can think of off the top of my head and that includes a defeat to Chelsea.

 

[Styopa]

You really need to go back and look at Klopp and Guardiola's first seasons, and a bit more, or even read reports of their games. They had games exactly like yesterday, and actually still do.

If you're going to be say things like "I think he's found out" you need to back it up with something more than a fleeting statement about a honeymoon period.

If you've only enjoyed 6 games/performances this season I feel sorry for you. There's at least 15 I can think of off the top of my head and that includes a defeat to Chelsea.

I think most people don’t watch other teams play regularly, they just see the results or highlights or watch the occasional big game. And even then, they’re not emotionally invested. So they tend to think all these other teams are smashing it whilst we are the only ones ever struggling.

Look, for example, at Man C yesterday, just about salvaging a draw late in the match. They also drew 2-2 at home with Palace in December. They also lost to Wolves earlier in the season. Even with their huge resources and the official GOAT manager they’re dropping points against mid table fodder.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Lots of high intensity practice matches and suitable fitness in the next few weeks. Lack of games doesn't help the sides sharpness.

I'd bet Ange is really frustrated at the constant chopping and changes and lack of a settled side. Team can't find it's rhythm.

That aside, some of the players need to rewatch that game.... Our cm failing to track their player from the cross was (Davies header aside) was the single.most infuriating aspect of that match for me.

 

[Dazzazzad]

We've played 28 games this season and I've only really enjoyed around half a dozen performances. For me it's clear that the early form was just the honeymoon period. I think he has been found out in terms of his plan A and he's got a lot to work on in terms of alternative styles in this 2 week break.

Your subjective feelings are what they are but for me it's relative - the bad performances this season are, in terms of enjoyment and reasons to be optimistic, probably up there with the lesser "good" performances last season.

Last season if we had 3 people in the opponents box (and it wasn't near final whistle with us losing) it was a miracle. This season we have among the most touches in the opponents box. We're not clinical enough but the intent is miles better than recent seasons.

That's enough for me for now.