Images c/o 3Max Live
I’m just starting to wade through the data from yesterday’s game, and it is evident that the Spurs weren’t really at the races, but more of that later. Just looking at the goal we conceded, and feel that not one Spurs player was particularly animated as Sevilla closed in our penalty area.
Whilst I appreciate that there may be training drills in place to alert players about the threat of deflected goals, there is also a case against doing nothing. Surely, Japhet would have been able to put his body into the path of the ball, it was close enough to him as it passed him by? Eric Dier already began twisting away from the ball as Ratikič was winding up for the strike.
Pre season friendlies are about player fitness and potential changes to game plans. Putting into practice training ground routines like free kicks and corners, both attacking and defending.
Player form isn’t even in the mindset of the manager and his staff. That comes once the season starts.
Nice one Eddie.
Although I quite like it!
I watched the second half , in a desultory and detached manner. These pre-season tours are just about making money and getting the players fit. You seldom see anything of interest in the games which makes you sit up and take real note. If I was the CEO, I’d be happy to play the likes of Southend and give the fans nearer to home something to watch. My probably pointless takeaways of the game are that Dier should stop pirouetting like a ballerina when an opposing player gets in the box. You would think that one of the myriad of coaches that assist Conte might have coached him out of this. For the record, I like Gil who has the infectious enthusiasm of three month old puppy. I think there is a player in there, despite his lack of physicality, but I wonder if the club has the patience. Early days for Richarlison, but true to form, he spent a not inconsiderable time on his backside. At the expense of repeating myself, my abiding fear is the lack of creativity in midfield. I think it was the right decision not to resign Eriksen, but we are woefully short of imagination, creativity and goals from midfield. I see that we have been linked with Paqueta. The only reason that I give this any credence is that he is at Lyon and perhaps we could persuade them to take N’Dombele off our hands in P/E as we bought him from them. Unfortunately, the Lyon chairman , Jean-Michel Aulas, is not a fan of Levy, hardly an exclusive club, which dates back from the signing of Lloris, but it is midfield which we need to reinforce. We have four DMs, in fact five, if you include Winks, on the books, and not one attacking midfielder. Perhaps that says something about Conte’s mindset.
The shot is very well hit to be fair. It never gets more than a yard off the floor. Quality goal.
My view is that there was no pressure on the ball. The goal scorer was in no danger of expecting an attempted block or tackle to be made. he was unmarked in acres of space.
I am not offering it as an excuse but if you look at the footage, just as the player shoots, the referee is very close to him and his kit is virtually identical to the Spurs players at first glance.
I wonder if this led some Spurs players to not see the danger?
It is absolutely ridiculous that this colour clash was allowed to happen.
Ideal then for floundering around in the penalty area.
Goodness me, that kit really does look like a swimsuit!!