We were fine a month ago...we were coping without Wanyama...we miss Toby definitely. I just think we have a poor mentality when it comes to digging in this season. If it doesn't start well for us we are ****ed
It's probably time to stop playing the three at the back, in my opinion. It's not working since Alderweireld got injured. Switch back to the four and use Dier as a proper holding player, rather than this mixed role he's currently starting games in. The players need a kick up the arse too, as their application's simply not good enough. They come into games in first gear.
I see Dier is getting a lot of stick too on various social media outlets. Justified? Sissoko is genuinely poor and expected more from WC winner Llorente. Lamela was bright but it will take a month or two until he is back to full sharpness. I think we need Kyle Walker Peters
Dele or Eriksen need dropping...both have been beyond poor in our league games this month. We are missing Toby and Wanyama and seem to have no answer to their absences in premier league matches. Llorente seems to be mimicking Soldado and Janssen while Dier and Rose are not a shadow of their previous selves. Dembele seems off the pace. All this means that we are a shadow of the side we were in the premier league last season. The good news is we have enough games to turn around our league form to stay in a fight for a top four place and can concentrate on the fa cup. The bad news is that this run could well continue for another few weeks until the problems are ironed out
We were coping without Wanyama as we had cover. Our cover for him is also our cover for Alderweireld, though. The games have piled up and we're not coping with it at all. Rose and Aurier have to play more often and they look off the pace, our shape's not working and there's no crispness to our play.
For the past few seasons, Danish fans would always mention how Eriksen was so much better for Spurs than for Denmark. Now the roles appear to be the exact opposite. Since we need someone who can multitask, should we put in a bid for the Everton fan who can lamp a Lyon player while carrying their child?
The ref waited until almostthe last minute to caution he keeper for time wasting. Ridiculous! He was at itfrom the the tenth minute
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, speaking to Match of the Day: "We did not play in the way we normally play. The first half was a poor performance and it was difficult after that to get back into the game. "We feel very disappointed in our performance. We started the game not in the right way and we conceded the opportunity to them to score. At 2-0 down it is difficult. We need to improve the way we start. It happened against West Brom and Borussia Dortmund." On late penalty appeal: "I don't know. I said last week I don't want to speak anymore about the decision of the referee." On Erik Lamela's return: "His quality will be important for us in the future. I am happy for him to play 15 minutes."
Missed the second half. Went out for a takeaway and a beer instead. My growing concern about the disparity between CL and PL performances is that the former is a focused 'shop window' exercise by a number of our players, most notably Eriksen, Dier and Alli. The one comforting thought I have is that at the very least if we lose them we will have more than enough money to rebuild. The trick is finding players who don't need an entire season to 'settle in'. Those three in particular look totally disinterested now that the PL is out of reach. They'd fetch well over £200m on the market. Throw Toby in and you're looking at £250m. That's enough for 25 George-Kevin N'Koudous. Until the new stadium starts to deliver financially, we face a sell to buy reality. But last summer showed us what you can do when the players you're selling go for upwards of £50m. Sold Walker and bought ledley's son.
The champions of the last two seasons were playing the same team most weeks. Chelsea did rotate some players, but 10 started 28 or more PL games. Neither had CL games to play either. It's different this season, but the top two have massive squads. The much derided Young and Lingard made the difference for Utd, but neither are regular starters. It's the conundrum all the big teams face - two games per week most weeks, travelling, international call ups etc. It's takes its toll in the modern game where all teams are capable of competing physically for 90 minutes. The answer? Either a massive squad or don't compete on all fronts and get lucky with injuries.
