Why do super-fit Spurs concede more of their goals late on?
- Thread starter Allygold
- Start date
spursgirls
SC Supporter
- Aug 13, 2008
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I agree with @Lilbaz nerves play a huge part. When they crumbled at the end of the season, you could see the fear in their eyes.
I also wonder if the subs are clear as to who they are marking, as, for instance at a corner, the opposition often seem to have a clear header and several of our players are left looking at each other.
I also wonder if the subs are clear as to who they are marking, as, for instance at a corner, the opposition often seem to have a clear header and several of our players are left looking at each other.
Lighty64
I believe
- Aug 24, 2010
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quite easy really, our hardest worker was usually our 1st sub around the 70th minute, and our bench was never that frightening to close games out.
Mason was coming on for either Dembele or Lamela, and perhaps our pressing did drop off a fraction towards the end of the season, both Kane and Dier had very lengthy seasons. after we went out of the Europa there was very little rotation, during the season Eriksen had a bit of bench time, as did Lamela, but not many had a break for the rest of the season.
Mason was coming on for either Dembele or Lamela, and perhaps our pressing did drop off a fraction towards the end of the season, both Kane and Dier had very lengthy seasons. after we went out of the Europa there was very little rotation, during the season Eriksen had a bit of bench time, as did Lamela, but not many had a break for the rest of the season.
DogsOfWar
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- Jan 12, 2005
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For me it's due to the pressing game which relies on subs who can come on to continue at the same level both physically and technically.
None of our subs were able to do this.
Opposition teams could sit back defensively against us and then bring on extra legs to take advantage of this and gain the initiative late on.
Now we have Wanyama, Janssen, and hopefully Nkoudou we should be able to bring on three sets of legs that will see the energy levels go up whilst the performance level stays the same.
None of our subs were able to do this.
Opposition teams could sit back defensively against us and then bring on extra legs to take advantage of this and gain the initiative late on.
Now we have Wanyama, Janssen, and hopefully Nkoudou we should be able to bring on three sets of legs that will see the energy levels go up whilst the performance level stays the same.
I would be interested to see how many of those goals conceded are from crosses. We are prone to weakness on crosses as far as I can tell. We allow very few shots against us, but we seem very weak from crosses, especially when Verts and Jan are defending.
http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2014/2/12/5404348/english-premier-league-shot-statistics
http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2014/2/12/5404348/english-premier-league-shot-statistics
worcestersauce
"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
- Jan 23, 2006
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Perhaps having no alternative to Harry Kane up front means by minute 80 Kane is weary or sub'd and we have no out ball and lacked the ability to hit on the break allowing the opposition to play in our half.
stevenurse
Palacios' neck fat
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barry
Bring me Messi
- May 22, 2005
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He really has ungodly amounts of stamina and determination. True leader on the pitch.
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
- Jun 13, 2008
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It's been discussed at various times this season by myself and others such as BC, I think a big problem is that the team isn't really that comfortable with retaining the ball when the opposition is actually coming out and has to show some urgency. How many times in the last couple of years have you seen us have all the ball, eventually make a breakthrough, but then surrender the initiative (and the ball), drop deeper and the opposition all of a sudden have their moments in the game? I rarely recall us just being able to keep the ball and easily run down the clock.
I think some of this surrender of the initiative is down to instruction, I don't know whether Poch thinks we should sit deep and then try to hit teams on the counter, but I'm unconvinced by it and I think our performance in the closing stages of games are often messy. A large part of it though is that the opposition going behind are forced to come out and press and without the armchair ride some of our players get shown up for their fallabilities... Hugo's kicking is very hit and miss, Walker will often do something daft or make a silly choice, ditto Rose. Dier is slowly improving in aspects of receiving and moving the ball but there were countless games last season where under any pressure he didn't want the ball and just went out of the game, and he also tires. Dembele often tires and loses impact later in games. Alli/Lamela/Son/Kane are either a bit dithery or aren't the surest with their first touch. Etc. Etc.
As I said I think it is partly tactical, but my instinct is after watching countless games is that after taking a lead there is kind of a sense that 'we can relax now' when at that point you may have to work even harder. You have to work harder to find space, passes have to be quicker, crisper and more efficient. The job isn't done because you're 1 or 2-0 up with 20 mins to go. I do think we have to aspire to improve that part of our game management.
I think some of this surrender of the initiative is down to instruction, I don't know whether Poch thinks we should sit deep and then try to hit teams on the counter, but I'm unconvinced by it and I think our performance in the closing stages of games are often messy. A large part of it though is that the opposition going behind are forced to come out and press and without the armchair ride some of our players get shown up for their fallabilities... Hugo's kicking is very hit and miss, Walker will often do something daft or make a silly choice, ditto Rose. Dier is slowly improving in aspects of receiving and moving the ball but there were countless games last season where under any pressure he didn't want the ball and just went out of the game, and he also tires. Dembele often tires and loses impact later in games. Alli/Lamela/Son/Kane are either a bit dithery or aren't the surest with their first touch. Etc. Etc.
As I said I think it is partly tactical, but my instinct is after watching countless games is that after taking a lead there is kind of a sense that 'we can relax now' when at that point you may have to work even harder. You have to work harder to find space, passes have to be quicker, crisper and more efficient. The job isn't done because you're 1 or 2-0 up with 20 mins to go. I do think we have to aspire to improve that part of our game management.
Bus-Conductor
SC Supporter
- Oct 19, 2004
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Completely agree with @mpickard2087 above, and he has mentioned many of the things I and others have throughout the season, like Dier shrinking back into the back line and stopping looking for the ball when we are under the cosh as teams chase us late in games, thus surrendering the initiative instead of trying to starve the opposition of oxygen.
I personally I think Pochettino's in game management leaves a lot to be desired and is the weakest part of his management. I think this was the biggest factor in, not only, Spurs being the team that conceded the most points from winning positions but also his Southampton team doing the same in 13-14. His substitutions often seemed counter-intuitive.
I remember we suffered from a similar problem in the early part of AVB's first season, he came out and said (post the Everton away game I think) that we were going to work on this and put it right, and I think we barely gave a lead for the rest of a season. Mourinho is known to work on "scenario game management" rigorously with his teams (i.e. what his team should do - tactically - in various given game scenarios).
Very few coaches/managers excel in all facets, especially at such an early stage in their career as Pochettino is still at. We can only hope he realises that this is becoming an endemic problem for his sides and figures out a solution and works it out on the training pitch, but also makes better in game management decisions that aid it.
yusrisafri
Well-Known Member
- Jun 27, 2004
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Well at least you can be 100% assured that Verts and Jan wont collide into each other when defending.
Always Offside
Ardent Aussie
- Oct 31, 2013
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Disappointed that the term "Spursy" made it to publication. Other than that Ally, nice article
Lighty64
I believe
- Aug 24, 2010
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Unfortunately on 2 of those at least (both v the scum) 1 more foul and we most probably wouldn't of had the option to replace, and would of been a man down
Lighty64
I believe
- Aug 24, 2010
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I do believe last season we were both top for winning and losing points from the team leading in a match
michaelden
Knight of the Fat Fanny
- Aug 13, 2004
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I think it's down to Lamela being subbed around 70 minutes and our defense from the front (the high press) stops working. In the Lamela thread & the match day threads you can see loads of times when Lamela gets subbed the posts start talking about how we have lost our rhythm and why we are playing deeper.
Have you looked at how our stats compare with other teams? It could, for example, be the case that all teams concede more often towards the end of games. That wouldn't be particularly surprising, as this would be the time when the opposition are pushing for a winner/equalizer.
