The three aspects in your first sentence are spot on - abysmal all round on and off the pitch before and during the game.
Your second sentence is a bit lightweight - the whole fcking team needs addressing.
That was embarrassing. No question about the quality they have, but there can also be no question about the quality we lack right throughout the side.
Zero points was the expectation by most to be fair, but where was the team that played so well at Leicester?
We didn't play Leicester last night. Spurs are streets ahead of them.
It has often been said on here that the Prem consists of 3 separate mini leagues and we are in the bottom pack of 6 or 7.
The top 7 are miles ahead of us from top to bottom hence the poor results against them. They have the resources to ensure that situation remains other than the occasional blip such as Leicester.
I would have liked to have seen more energy from us but, as against the Mancs, the early goal seemed to drain whatever energy existed.
I agree the second half was like a training session for them but as they have bigger games coming up, Chelski in the Carabao and Man U in the league that was almost inevitable once they got 3 up.
However, I was mystified by the selection of Reid in the centre of our front 3. Their cb's swatted him off like an annoying midge. He is so obviously out of his depth.
Paterson was played wide right to target Rose on high balls and track him back when he overlapped. The latter worked okay and he beat him most of the time but we rarely picked up his flick ons.
It was on their right we had the bigger problem with Murphy not getting back quickly enough and Cunningham not knowing whether to stick or twist. I assume Murphy got pulled for not following instructions to track back as, at least, he posed some threat on our left. We seemed a bit more solid with Hoilett but apart from the header he made over Trippier he made no threat to their back line. Lloris also had an easy time.
Their cb's had their easiest game ever. NML cannot be fully fit as I can see no good reason why we would not start with him on the right. With him there then at least Paterson would have made them earn their money.
The bottom line is they are a much better side with every player totally comfortable on the ball and able to use it. Contrast that with our back four including full backs who get nose bleed whenever they cross the half way line. Trippier and Rose frequently set up as wingers and had no problem pushing forward when they had the ball.
There was no point in us trying to kick them off the park (as one clown a few rows behind me frequently tells our players to do). It was tough enough playing them with 11 let alone 10 or even 9.
If we can learn anything from them it is their movement and the ability of all their team to operate in different positions. This will need a higher level of skill and fitness in our squad. Hopefully we can get some of that with whatever signings we make this month.
As with most on here I agree we desperately need a new rb (Clyne would be good) so Manga can go to cb and give Morro and Bamba serious competition, a defensive mf and, please please please, a striker who knows where the goal is.