The Selections
I have no problem with Kane being rested at all, I think it should happen more often for his sake, and us as a team keeping him fresher, and we always seem to play OK when he is, I don’t think it hurts us to change the dynamics occasionally and give the opposition a different set of problems than one they’ve been expecting all week. My only question would be that it would have made more sense to try to not rest Kane and Eriksen (our two most productive players) at the same time, and maybe Kane could have been rested for the Southampton game?
The Structure
We started with the 4312 Diamond, with Dier at the base, and Alli at the tip. The pundits at half time seemed to suggest we switched to a 433 at some point in the first half, if so, I didn’t figure it, I know there was fluidity there, as always, and they all (Son, Moura, Alli) all popped up in each other’s spaces at various times, but it always seemed to default back to that 4312 diamond to me? Until the subs anyway…
The Game
This was a really strange game. I quite like Puel, think he got a raw deal at Southampton, and has had to cope with a Leicester in transition, losing some good players etc, and whenever I’ve seen them lately, they seem to be playing OK, but I have no idea what he was trying to do tonight, it was just really limp and we really didn’t have to be anywhere close to our best to win this. And it’s fair to say we weren’t.
We weren’t bad either, we went through much of the right motions, and it was nice to breeze into a two goal lead without really breaking a sweat, and defensively we were pretty solid, but if there’s a concern it’s that we actually created so little of tangible quality chances against such a feeble resistance. In the end we’ve scored with our only two shots on target, one of those was probably offside, and Alli, who had a very good game generally, was possibly guilty of Levying about a couple of times instead of just getting a shot off, if Sissoko didn’t have the technique of a baby elephant we might have been clean through a couple of times, and generally if people had made better decisions we might have created a little more. Neither full back really contributed enough either.
Sissoko, had a pretty poor game, against such a passive opposition he saw very little of the ball (completed a pitiful 23 passes from 35 attempted, giving the ball away 35% and it’s not like he was on it much or attempting anything clever) in this CM3 system he’s got to provide some thrust in transition as well as some ballast. It’s not like this was Cheslea and we were defensively under the cosh for most of this game.
Got to say, I was a little disappointed by Winks too if I’m honest. He was metronomic, neat and tidy and did see a lot more of the ball than Sissoko (67/74 90%) and he did get about, but, again, against such little resistance, in this CM3 system I would like to see him providing a little more ambition and incision with his passing.
Alli had a decent knock, providing the fulcrum that his remit required and most good things hubbed through him. Needs to be a little more clinical in the box sometimes and Levy around a little less though. Son was close to his effervescent liveliest, and scored an absolute beauty, then created the second for Alli.
As is often the case, Poch’s subs utterly baffled me. They baffled me because it seems counter intuitive to rest two important players and then risk them getting injured in a game that’s effectively over, it baffled me because the game just didn’t need Eriksen playing as a LM at that stage, if you are going to put him on, just swap out Alli, and why a CF who’s slower on the counter than Moura and Son, and at that point stifling and countering was what we were doing, which you would think would suit at least one of Son and Moura.
I would have been tempted to swap Alli for Skip, go 433, push Sissoko up into the front three to charge at tired legs and have Skipp sitting to the right of Dier helping him mop up and counter. As it was, Poch’s subs changed us to a 4411 and it was our worst phase of the game.
In the end this was a pretty facile win, about as facile as the PL gets to be honest, but it’s a little concerning that a couple of years ago we’d have smashed such a weak opponent. Tonight we scored with our only two shots on target, one a worldy, one offside.
Individual
Lloris – not loads to do, but did it fine.
Aurier – They got behind him a couple of times early on, and he didn’t contribute enough offensively. Meh.
TA – Decent game.
Vertonghen – Decent game
Davies – OK.
Dier – Solid enough game, if he’s got to play in midfield then this simplified central holding role is a more bearable one, plays to his limitations, he just has to sit, mop up, water carry, and allow the two either side to play football and provide the thrust. Unfortunately the two today didn’t really do it enough.
Sissoko – Apart from a couple of good covering tackles early on, this was a pretty tepid performance and didn’t contribute enough against such an insipid opponent. 23/35 passes and 12 of them were backwards.
Winks – Did get through plenty of the ball, was metronomic enough, but I’d like a little more creative input from him. Got to be a little bit stronger without the ball too at times.
Alli – Good game, most things hubbed through him, but didn’t actually create much in terms of real quality chances. There were a couple of times when a killer pass was on (one of the few times Winks had made a run and got into the box) and he didn’t play it. Took his goal well, but was offside.
Son – Such an enigmatic player, almost like he has a twin, one of them capable of scintilating things and the other of infuriating bumbling. Tonight we got the good twin. Good game, also worked harder without the ball.
Moura – Pffftt…OK, I still am a bit confused as to why he played the ball to Son for that second goal, it was a nice pass, but surely if he carries it two yards and then releases Alli, he’s clean through? He flitted about as ever, couple of decent moments, but not enough of real substance really.
*think*
Did you really think Leicester City were tricky?
We have some good players, and some who are good on a selection of days. But the core of this team is 3years old and in this game that’s not good esp factor in players starting to wane or contracts expire. Resting players/squad rotation is part of the job, weeks with 3 big games is what happens for the big sides. 3 points great, players a bit of a rest fantastic, performance was okay against a side who are where they should be is like doing the minimum needed rather than the drubbing it maybe should have been
A popular unpredictable controversial supremely gifted talented non establishment mercurial genius crowd puller who one minute loves the sport, the next minute wants to walk away from snooker falling out with all and sundry!
Ha! Yes
Thank of all the money!
and yet never blessed with pace he was Swanseas top scorer prior to his departure!
Winks and Dier were both sitting deep in the first 30min or so, playing as if it were a 4-2-3-1; with Son, Moura, Dele playing as if it were a 442 diamond with Dele in the 10. Kind of a baffling formation. Seeing the team sheet, I thought it would be a diamond or std 433, in practice I have no idea what the formation was supposed to be.
Aurier again looked like a weak link, Davies must have had instructions to not get caught upfield and be prepared for their counters, and Winks was easily bullied. KWP isn’t the answer, he looked like a child among men. We desperately need to upgrade at least two fullbacks, a reserve striker, and a DM. Dier supposedly had good pace at one time, I haven’t seen it in a couple of years, he’s a plodder and him trying to get back to defend when he’s ventured up field is like watching an oil tanker trying to turn around. Have to give them credit for grinding out the wins, we’ve been winning ugly all season and have an impressive points tally for this point of the season, I just hope we actually hit stride and start playing some attractive and incisive football, have only seen that for about 90min in total this season.
You have to hand it to Poch really – suddenly we look like a proper squad where we can go away and win a fairly tricky away tie whilst resting key players. Far from perfect but another 3 points and sitting in a decent position – a loss yesterday would have really hurt any ambition to finishing in a decent league place. It’s testament to how good this Spurs side now are that people are moaning after a 2-0 away win against tricky opposition.
The hype has been ramped up on him to justify no quality signings. Its not fair on the boy really. Lucky the Prem is so diabolical cos I’ve no idea how we win so many matches with Sissoko, Dier and winks as our midfield.
C’mon the rocket
So write this year off after last year written off and not start transition until next year, perpetual rolling plan never to quite get there
Llorente is there so the Dumb Dumbs can say
“See we tried signing players it doesn’t work”
If Poch is prized away in the summer (unlikely) then surely we will be linked with the likes of Chrissy Hughton, Eddie Howe and Tony Pulis respectively?
As I pointed out on an earlier blog,Emery made two changes at halftime yesterday and got a result albeit late on.He knows how to affect the dynamics of the game and at least shows passion on the touchline.
Poch on the other hand stays slumped in his seat just waiting for the 70th.minute to make a change or two that make no difference to the outcome of the game generally.
True he is hampered by the quality on the bench and that’s not his fault.If Utd.were to prise him away in the summer I would go for Benitez.He’s a good tactician and has worked for the only other chairman in the Premier league who releases less money than Levy.
I have the Snooker Table Mark Allen used from 1998-2006, only worth around £600-£700 really but if he can win today that value would double, if he could win the World Championship it would fetch around £6k. Sadly I feel he has as much chance of beating Ronnie today as Spurs have of beating Barcelona on Tuesday evening.
Could not agree more about winks. He saw loads of the ball in acres of space but looked devoid of vision and imagination against average opposition. Much more needed to justify the hype.
Seriously? What is Llorente for? Even when Kanes rested he doesn’t play. Must be the single worst Levynomic waste of funds in ENICs sorry history. How does he feel? Rich? Yes….I bet he does…
Again with the 70min strange subs…I agree, we struggled to keep momentum when the changes were made.
It’s a strange season this one, we haven’t hit any type of consistency and our football in most parts has been lethargic.
We all know Levy works at a slower than slow pace with anything to do with football matters, however this season the World Cup, pre season tour and late Stadium has taken its toll…you could almost right this year off which isn’t great as we may end up losing a few key players so the “transition” period starts over again…
We really need Levy to start selling off players, and quick, even at a loss so we can then get 2 or 3 good replacements in and pay Toby, Eriksen and Jan what they are worth….
Good win 3 points in the bag and a great goal from our son.
Liorente gone this jan so rather than bringing in another striker and watch him rust get a fat wage playing 2nd fiddle to kane, give that young fella troy parrot a shirt number, he won’t hurt us wage wise will he.
we bought liorente as a striker and he’s certainly fulfilled he’s potential, he’s scored loads busting the net…….net wage.
*think*
Thank of all the money!
So write this year off after last year written off and not start transition until next year, perpetual rolling plan never to quite get there
We have some good players, and some who are good on a selection of days. But the core of this team is 3years old and in this game that’s not good esp factor in players starting to wane or contracts expire. Resting players/squad rotation is part of the job, weeks with 3 big games is what happens for the big sides. 3 points great, players a bit of a rest fantastic, performance was okay against a side who are where they should be is like doing the minimum needed rather than the drubbing it maybe should have been
Did you really think Leicester City were tricky?
A popular unpredictable controversial supremely gifted talented non establishment mercurial genius crowd puller who one minute loves the sport, the next minute wants to walk away from snooker falling out with all and sundry!
C’mon the rocket
You have to hand it to Poch really – suddenly we look like a proper squad where we can go away and win a fairly tricky away tie whilst resting key players. Far from perfect but another 3 points and sitting in a decent position – a loss yesterday would have really hurt any ambition to finishing in a decent league place. It’s testament to how good this Spurs side now are that people are moaning after a 2-0 away win against tricky opposition.
Winks and Dier were both sitting deep in the first 30min or so, playing as if it were a 4-2-3-1; with Son, Moura, Dele playing as if it were a 442 diamond with Dele in the 10. Kind of a baffling formation. Seeing the team sheet, I thought it would be a diamond or std 433, in practice I have no idea what the formation was supposed to be.
Aurier again looked like a weak link, Davies must have had instructions to not get caught upfield and be prepared for their counters, and Winks was easily bullied. KWP isn’t the answer, he looked like a child among men. We desperately need to upgrade at least two fullbacks, a reserve striker, and a DM. Dier supposedly had good pace at one time, I haven’t seen it in a couple of years, he’s a plodder and him trying to get back to defend when he’s ventured up field is like watching an oil tanker trying to turn around. Have to give them credit for grinding out the wins, we’ve been winning ugly all season and have an impressive points tally for this point of the season, I just hope we actually hit stride and start playing some attractive and incisive football, have only seen that for about 90min in total this season.
and yet never blessed with pace he was Swanseas top scorer prior to his departure!
If Poch is prized away in the summer (unlikely) then surely we will be linked with the likes of Chrissy Hughton, Eddie Howe and Tony Pulis respectively?
As I pointed out on an earlier blog,Emery made two changes at halftime yesterday and got a result albeit late on.He knows how to affect the dynamics of the game and at least shows passion on the touchline.
Poch on the other hand stays slumped in his seat just waiting for the 70th.minute to make a change or two that make no difference to the outcome of the game generally.
True he is hampered by the quality on the bench and that’s not his fault.If Utd.were to prise him away in the summer I would go for Benitez.He’s a good tactician and has worked for the only other chairman in the Premier league who releases less money than Levy.
I have the Snooker Table Mark Allen used from 1998-2006, only worth around £600-£700 really but if he can win today that value would double, if he could win the World Championship it would fetch around £6k. Sadly I feel he has as much chance of beating Ronnie today as Spurs have of beating Barcelona on Tuesday evening.
Ha! Yes
The hype has been ramped up on him to justify no quality signings. Its not fair on the boy really. Lucky the Prem is so diabolical cos I’ve no idea how we win so many matches with Sissoko, Dier and winks as our midfield.
Again with the 70min strange subs…I agree, we struggled to keep momentum when the changes were made.
It’s a strange season this one, we haven’t hit any type of consistency and our football in most parts has been lethargic.
We all know Levy works at a slower than slow pace with anything to do with football matters, however this season the World Cup, pre season tour and late Stadium has taken its toll…you could almost right this year off which isn’t great as we may end up losing a few key players so the “transition” period starts over again…
We really need Levy to start selling off players, and quick, even at a loss so we can then get 2 or 3 good replacements in and pay Toby, Eriksen and Jan what they are worth….
Llorente is there so the Dumb Dumbs can say
“See we tried signing players it doesn’t work”
Good win 3 points in the bag and a great goal from our son.
Liorente gone this jan so rather than bringing in another striker and watch him rust get a fat wage playing 2nd fiddle to kane, give that young fella troy parrot a shirt number, he won’t hurt us wage wise will he.
we bought liorente as a striker and he’s certainly fulfilled he’s potential, he’s scored loads busting the net…….net wage.
Could not agree more about winks. He saw loads of the ball in acres of space but looked devoid of vision and imagination against average opposition. Much more needed to justify the hype.
Seriously? What is Llorente for? Even when Kanes rested he doesn’t play. Must be the single worst Levynomic waste of funds in ENICs sorry history. How does he feel? Rich? Yes….I bet he does…