Tottenham Vs Crystal Palace: Match Thread

[Monkey boy]

At the risk of being really unpopular, I thought we were our ususl dull, unimaginative selves and if the game had finished nil nil it would have been a fair result. I was at the game so may have missed something?

 

[walworthyid]

Over the entire ninety minutes Palace can feel a little unlucky hitting the woodwork twice and two fine saves from Lloris. Our domination of possession means nowt if we don't score and again today we were almost shafted because of that.

All in all though the team is starting to take shape and play with purpose, with Alli, Son and Eriksen showing great poise and promise for the future. Our center backs had their best game so far as well. The next two games will prove to be a great test of character for the youngsters but if we show the same desire and ambition then i feel we can get two good results come next Sunday.

It was a strange game in the sense that we totally dominated a very strong team for long periods yet they could have won it!

I think it's just football but we really did look good at times today!

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Thought we were great today and should have won it by a distance. We're getting there.

Alli, Lamela and Dier were all class, and no one was worse than good.

 

[Joeyboey]

He creates more chances, and has more assists...don't thinks its a wild statement mate.

Starting to think that Lamela has you on some sort of retainer

Yes, Lamela was good today, much improved and it was nice to see. However Son played just his 2nd EPL game and Alli his 4th EPL game. Today was Lamela's 46th.

Lamela was certainly decent but in real terms it was still very much a 7/10 performance.

I'll believe the hype when he's consistently playing 8s and 9s.

Today was Alli, Son, Lloris and Dier's day.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Not saying that, but I think completely overblown praise is just as damaging to fan expectations as relentless criticism.

We're a work in progress right now, and today was a very positive step in the right direction. However there are still problems with the team that need to be addressed, and our next two games will really put those weaknesses to the test.

There's a difference between being happy and being delusional.

I think it's more to do with fans perspectives at the start of the season.

Most believed we fluked fifth last year, bought average players in the transfer window, and were heading for a mid-table finish this year with no hope unless Kane could do it all on his own again.
The last week has shown we can compete and win games without Kane performing as well as having bought players who can improve the starting eleven straight away.

As a result those fans who thought we were doomed probably see this game as some sort of phoenix rising from the ashes.
I don't think the attitude is necessarily delusional, just a re-alignment from a particularly pessimistic one.

It doesn't mean we are going to now beat City and cement ourselves in the top four but at least we look like we could 'challenge' for 4th again whilst failing bravely and getting a justified 5th/6th finish.

 

[Mr Pink]

Starting to think that Lamela has you on some sort of retainer

Yes, Lamela was good today, much improved and it was nice to see. However Son played just his 2nd EPL game and Alli his 4th EPL game. Today was Lamela's 46th.

Lamela was certainly decent but in real terms it was still very much a 7/10 performance.

I'll believe the hype when he's consistently playing 8s and 9s.

Today was Alli, Son, Lloris and Dier's day.

I just think he'll prove his worth if given a run in the ten position mate, and we'll be better as a team for it.

If he gets a run and isn't i'll be the first to say so.

 

[adamsky]

I thought it was amazing to see the difference a player like Son made to our team today. We have desperately lacked a player who can receive the ball on the turn and attack with pace and can shoot. I think he will make all the players around him look better as we seem so much more threatening with him.

 

[markiespurs]

At the risk of being really unpopular, I thought we were our ususl dull, unimaginative selves and if the game had finished nil nil it would have been a fair result. I was at the game so may have missed something?

sounds like you missed the first 90 minutes

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I was at the game so may have missed something?

Opening your eyes springs to mind

But no, seriously, i'm surprised you think that. I thought that there were a lot of encouraging & positive things to take out of the game. I think Son and Alli will improve as they go and some of the things they did today they'll improve on as they get used to each other/their new team mates/playing in the EPL…... Lamela impressed in patches (and lets not forget that he's still only 23), I think today whilst not a polished performance, showed that we're on the right lines. Today was far from dull IMO.

 

[ButchCassidy]

He doesn't play for Liverpool, Arsenal, City or Yanited.

Neither does Ryan Mason but he got one after playing for a couple months. If Dier remains first choice he'll get there.

 

[falzo]

2nd best defensive record in the league so far. Early days so far I know, but nothing like a settled defensive unit to build from and slowly but surely Pochettino is shaping our side nicely. How he has transformed a centre back in Dier to a defensive midfielder has been a masterstroke!! COYS

 

[arunspurs]

This was probably our first PL game in a long long time where not one player had a bad game. Everyone did their job. If there has to be some nitpicking, Chadli has to do better when he gets into good positions.

 

[guy]

Our best performance of the season. Quick incisive passing, good pressing on the whole, and we started the game with energy and purpose.

Finishing wasn't the best, and we made it difficult for ourselves sitting deep at the end but overall I'm happy.

Don't think anyone played badly really.

COYS

 

[guy]

Oh and Eriksen looked like the time out did him good, first time in a long time he impressed me

 

[Sweetsman]

Was the thread shut off for comments during the match?

 

[Spurger King]

I think it's more to do with fans perspectives at the start of the season.

Most believed we fluked fifth last year, bought average players in the transfer window, and were heading for a mid-table finish this year with no hope unless Kane could do it all on his own again.
The last week has shown we can compete and win games without Kane performing as well as having bought players who can improve the starting eleven straight away.

As a result those fans who thought we were doomed probably see this game as some sort of phoenix rising from the ashes.
I don't think the attitude is necessarily delusional, just a re-alignment from a particularly pessimistic one.

It doesn't mean we are going to now beat City and cement ourselves in the top four but at least we look like we could 'challenge' for 4th again whilst failing bravely and getting a justified 5th/6th finish.

I wasn't really talking about the turned around pessimists. I was referring to the 'smile at all costs' faction that use the occasional good performance in 5 to slag off any anti-Pochettino utterings ,as if a knife-edge win against a mid-table club means we're suddenly world-beaters.

It was a good win, if not a convincing one. It had signs of progress - it didn't rubber stamp Pochettino's supposed brilliance.

As I said, I think the happy clappers are as annoying as the eternally gloomy posters.

 

[sundanceyid10]

We have a really young side so a bit of time is needed, but I think we are showing signs of improvement. With time and playing together these young players are only going to get better and better.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I think this song sums up my thoughts after the game

 

[chinaman]

I want the strongest possible line-up for this one as we're unlikely to get anything against Shitty.

 

[arunspurs]

Dier has done so well that he is nailed on starter for us in all main games. Its a toss between Mason, Alli & Bentaleb for 2nd CM. While Mason has had a great few games at CM, Alli is making it all the more difficult for him. At this rate, Bentaleb will be a forgotten entity by Christmas.

Competition is good, hopefully these 4 can carry us through the season without any injuries.