I assume that Spurcat did not see the game due to going comatose with apoplectic rage at : 1. The state of the Wycombe manager 2. The green boots that Pochettino was wearing <Spurcat>
Not seen the entire game just highlights, but from what I have read it seems that there were some serious flaws. Too many changes for one,and as RDBD said they must have trained that formation during the week. Some of them must have looked at the tables and seen - only league 2 a doddle - so went out there with that mindset, bet they didn't see the interview with Akenfenwa it would have changed some views. I heard someone quote that the FA Cup takes away the league structure so everyone is in it to win regardless of league placing. A bullet dodged, might not be so lucky in the next round.
Sorry CK but your view of Trippier is harsh beyond belief imo especially when compared to your view of GNK who was piss poor today and against Liverpool in the league cup (his 2 starts). He showed promise as a sub once or twice but that is not enough imho. Trippier puts in great crosses regularly and if we'd had a striker on in the first half he'd have got 2 assists from 2 brilliant crosses which went right across the 6 yard box. His defending is not as good as walkers but it is not as bad as suggested imo Vorm was to blame for 1 goal today but he had no faith in the defence...from the 1st minute he was going nuts at the piss poor defending in front of him. When he came in during the Everton match and for the Palace game was excellent so I think you are way too harsh on him. Wimmer has been awful this season and that is all that matters when judging if they can be trusted...last season he was great but not this one. Janssen is a mystery to me...how Pochettino thought it was best to not start him was a mistake (and not just with hindsight) but I think he is not reliable so no argument there ... josh needs to go out on loan and hardern up mentally and physically in my opinion...and my views on Sissoko are pretty obvious
Trippier has a fantastic delivery, that is true. This season Walker has added that particular skill to his repertoire (he has more assists than any other defender this season) and as such, the gulf between the two has widened to even greater distances than last season. In footballing terms, Trippier isn't fit to lace Kyle's boots. Nowhere near as good defensively and now doesn't have an edge offensively either. I was against signing him in the first place as I failed to see what he would bring, and I'm yet to be convinced away from that position. Davies is a far better player defensively and also contributes a surprising amount going forward (although his delivery is awful in comparison). I don't expect us to be chasing Klyne or Coleman as competition for Kyle, but we could do a heck of a lot better than Kieran. Harsh? Yes. Beyond belief?I don't think so.
The reason it is beyond belief (for me) is that you are prepared to be far less hard on the performances of GNK and Wimmer this season. Neither of those have put in anything resembling a good performance yet you are rating wimmer as reliable (purely based on last season when he's been poor this season) and GNK as promising. Trippier is clearly not as good as Walker (and nothing in my post suggested I thought otherwise or was comparing them) but has put in 6-7 out of 10 performances when called upon imo which (again imo) can not be said of Wimmer (this season) or GNK. Maybe you not wanting him in the first place is maki g it difficult to judge him fairly...I don't mean that rudely but I do not think I could ever give an unbiased view on Sissoko... God knows what level of performance Sissoko would have to put in for me to see him as anything other than a complete waste of time and money as I was and still am mystified why we bought him, let alone paid £30m for him.
You make some good points rcl. 'Confirmation bias' is probably applicable to the both of us. I think we saw the 'real' Wimmer last season tbh and I'm hoping he'll reappear over the next 5-6 weeks with Jan out. There is no question that playing alongside Toby will help him immensely. GKN is an absolute mystery and was that from the first minute we were linked to him. We wasted 2 months chasing a player who is literally N'jie's long lost twin in footballing terms. Linked by that common apostrophe I guess. The reason I don't get so worked up about the likes of GKN or Onomah is that both are (relatively speaking) dispensable. Especially with our new system that only utilises 2 attacking midfielders, both have fallen way down the pecking order as cover for Alli/Eriksen is first and foremost provided by Lamela and Son, then there's a pool of players who could all leave the club tomorrow and I don't know if anyone would notice or care: Sissoko, GKN and Onomah. Edwards remains a bright prospect but the bottom line is that we have two very capable deputies there who can be relied upon when needed. Trippier's role in the squad is ten times more crucial. He is essentially our only back-up at RB. The other side, we have Davies and Jan who can both do excellent jobs when called upon. If Kyle picks up an injury, I'm just not comfortable with the idea of Kieran filling in there for anything more than 1-2 games. I'd say exactly the same thing about GKN filling in for Alli but I know that it ain't going to happen because we'll first turn to Lamela or Son. I still feel that we can't really do much better than Davies as back up for Danny, but can do much better on the other flank. Maybe I'm wrong but I won't be losing any sleep if Trips leaves in the summer in search of first team football.
Can't really disagree with most of that tbh as you also make a lot of good points...I guess the only difference is that I rate Trippier a little more than you do...but like you, I would not like him to be first choice at right back. The GNK -N'JIE swap was and is and ever shall be a bloody mystery to me...up there with who the **** was jack the ripper with behind the grassy knole...or something like that
GKN was removed at half time through sustaining an injury, believed to be to the knee. Might explain why he wasn't great yesterday.
Appreciate you were there RCL and u get a wider perspective etc but didn't think GKN was anything like the worst of the bunch. He was trying (perhaps too hard at times) but wasn't hiding and pretty sure that if he had stayed on then would have got increasing joy against a tiring WW defence. As for others.....
Don't rate Onomah, never have. Janssen is also looking increasingly like he's not going to cut it at this level too. Need another striker asap. If Harry gets crocked again, we're ****ed...
GKN doesn't have the brains to play 90 minutes. Can see it a mile off. Give the man a start and he thinks he has made it. Weird how so many players with pace are a bit short upstairs. Hence why he gets the last 10 minutes and rightly so.
The weird thing about GKN for me is that, when he comes on as a sub, he plays exactly like we need him to - getting forward, getting some good deliveries into the box, and contributing to The Press, yet when he starts he is the exact opposite, misplacing passes and getting the ball stuck under his feet.
