Sometimes players come back and just don't look anywhere near fit, though. Kane last season, for example. Wanyama, Sissoko and Winks all looked in decent nick, even if they didn't play particularly well for most of the match.
I thought Sissoko looked decent. Got up and down well and was linking pretty nicely with Aurier, few heavy touches but that's to expected from him as he's never been technically gifted. Could've had an assist had Alli struck that volley better.
I think he is a different player to when he joined us. MP has turned him into decent defensive mid. Still often displays a poor first touch but always works hard.
Poch is wrong.How can you keep tinkering with a team just to give players a game? If they are second best,keep 'em on the bench until they are needed. (I think!)
Thought Lamela and Sissoko played quite well. Gazza couldn't be faulted for the second goal but two penalty saves is remarkable. But Poch needs to work on the formation a bit more.
The Geordies always complained about his lack of effort, which I could understand having watched him playing for them. I don't think that's ever been a complaint leveled at him since he joined us, though there have been plenty of others.
Vorm's been a great pro for the club and an excellent backup but Gazzaniga surely has to be the closest competition to Hugo now. Plus, I'm always of the opinion good form should be rewarded, if Gazza keeps it up, the number one spot should be his to lose. Won't happen as Hugo will get it back once fit but I really think Gazza has done himself proud with his performances and it'd be extremely harsh to drop him at the moment.
I was at that game re Anderlecht. It was a real thriller from manilla as we equalized minutes from fulltime. I think we had our No. 2 goalie on and he played a blinder saving two pens. I don't remember many details, just sheer excitement for me and my son & daughter. We watched this game from the old Spurs press box, the one under the cockeral as the new one had recently been opened on the other side. I especially remember that after the players left the pitch Steve Archibald came back out & waved to all sides off the ground & we wondered if he'd played his last game. Turned out he had sadly. It was also Keith Burkinshaws last game. What a way to go! Leaving on a high, winning the UAFA Cup in a thrilling match at dear old WHL.
Morning all I didn't see the game last night but reading between the lines we played crap and got away with it .it's not all bad we actually won on penalties ffs.I feel sorry for winks he really seems to have taken over from sissoko as the main pantomime villain. ..it's not so long ago he played a blinder in the champions league and got high praise.give winks a break I say it's not just him the team as a whole haven't performed nowhere near the levels of last season things can only get better .Coys
When the stakes are high for the club (as is now the case) , then the demands on players is much higher, and the time for sympathy lessens. Winks has not cost Spurs (financially, lost games etc) , but we know he is capable of much more. We also know that Pochettino is quite ruthless when he believes players are no longer up to it, even if they are "one of our own" (Mason etc) . Games such as the League Cup are where current fringe players really have to front up to make their case.