One thing I feel that needs to be discussed that got missed due to the elation of the win, is Lloris. Yet again another mistake for a goal, I highlighted earlier in the season that last season he was joint second for most mistakes leading to goals by a keeper and I think he's made 3 (maybe more?) this season now. It's getting to a stage where I feel he's no longer the asset he once was. For me, Hugo has been the best keeper Spurs have had in the Premier League era and one of the best we've had full stop, but time goes on and a player can't live on past glories as a means to justify their current place in the side, it's hardly if he's not drawn negative attention off the pitch as well what with the drink driving fiasco. When I brought up this point earlier in the season, some coutnered by saying "class is permanent" and it was a valid point but I'm starting to think that maybe in Hugo's case, class isn't permanent. Personally, I'm not really sure how much longer we can leave Gazza out of the side, despite the fact he finally lost his first two games in quick succession, I don't really think any of the goals were preventable (some say Kante's could've been but it went through two player's legs, Gazza's sight of the ball couldn't have been great), plus his distribution has massively helped us in some of our attacks.
I thought he was allowing the petty stuff to slide, Watford could've also had a number of freekicks but he seemed to allow play to go on if the team was in possession and I much prefer that to be honest. When a game is constantly stop and started it loses its momentum and even if there are times where I may shout "****ing hell ref!" when I look back on some incidents I do see that perhaps it was the better option not to blow. All in all, despite the penalty claim on Moura, I'm pretty happy with the ref's performance. I'd much rather a ref like that than one who wants to blow up for every little foul. It's a contact sport at the end of the day, a few digs and kicks are to be expected both for and against your team.
I have no issue with that...but the apply equally. The advantage one I highlighted was a joke but like I said both Moura and Rose were being kicked stupid yet he refused to book them...do they just continued.
I don't think there were any nasty or cynical fouls to be honest, that's what I like to see booked, yet the ones on Rose and Moura, despite somewhat annoying at times, were more down to late challenges than anything too bad in my opinion.
You probably know my thoughts on this. Lloris has been a fine servant for us and don’t get me wrong, I think he’s still a very, very good keeper but Gazza can match his level in my opinion and all things told if we sold him in the summer I wouldn’t be massively upset. The feeling of security we once felt as fans with Hugo at the back is, for me, fading, and he’s never managed to iron out his weaknesses over the years. At 32 now would be the time to cash in for one last move for Hugo and Gazza at 27 could be our first choice for the next 5 years.
How did Lingard get a pen for that but Moura didn't tonight? I know the answer but still I had to ask the question
It looked like both were taken off the ball at least once and were both deliberate and dangerous and imho deserved cards. Maybe tv replays prove me wrong
Because Lingard has ‘bantz’ with Pogba, a cheeky grin and wears a United shirt. Moura wears a Spurs shirt and looks like a despondent Brazilian father trying to keep his kids out of the cartels.
Completely agree. I hate criticising a long term servant to the club and someone who for the most part has been absolutely superb but similarly with Dembele, a player reaches a point where they’re no longer the player they once were and I’m someone who’s always said you can’t allow sentiment to cloud your judgement of a player, my heart would say give Hugo a ten year deal but head says his time maybe up. It’s unfair to keep Gazza confined to the bench as well, the bloke has been nothing short of brilliant inbetween the sticks when he’s played.
Just back from the game. That was fun! I stood behind the goal for the first time in a while. I discovered that I can make out **** all when the ball's up the far end. However, there were so few of us there that we needed to huddle together for warmth in that first half. However, the second half was a cracker. It may have been less than 30,000 (I said as much....) but it was like the good old, bad old days. If you were there, well done, for... "...gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks That sang 'Foster, Foster - You're a ****' upon Fernando's Day." P.s. To all those who said that we should just accept another season at Wembley, tonight's attendance is why I kept arguing against it. The place is **** and I want out of there, now, if not sooner...see you there on Saturday?
Absolutely. And the pundits will continue to maintain (if they mention it at all) that penalties do not favour particular teams (both given and non-given), and worst of all sometimes trot out the awful "it all balances out over the course of a season" crap. And absolutely Liverpool should have had a penalty against Leicester. But that's one they didn't get compared to how many given because Salah tripped over a feather etc, or scything down Moura in the area which doesn't count. Try to mention this too much and you get accused of sour grapes. It's not sour grapes, it's affecting the destiny of the title! Well it seems that Lingard went down under the slightest of touches (I wish defenders wouldn't give them the excuse mind you), so everyone thinks it's a penalty because when you're certain teams you're "entitled" to go down if you get touched. But recently Llorente also had an arm on the shoulder in the box and went down, but it wasn't given because "it wasn't enough contact for him to go down". Inconsistency doesn't really state this situation powerfully enough. I really believe that refs have a major effect on the course of the league and may even decide it on occasion. They certainly will have if Pool win it this season because without their help Pool might not even make the top four! Of course refs make mistakes and that would be fine if the "mistakes" are evenly distributed. But they are not, they are vastly skewed. And I can't also help wondering if it's part of this decision, deliberately or otherwise, that it's going to be a certain teams season. As others have argued this thought then takes on a life of it's own and starts becoming self-fulfilling. Don't expect anyone in authority, or the media, to discuss this at all of course.
I grumble/have grumbled at Levy but no way are we at such a stage where banners need to be going up. In an ideal world it's Levy who leads us to the promised land....he deserves that chance...he just pisses me off now n again.
No where to be seen...me and the teen beast went to have a look ... not that I planned to take the piss or anything
Don't hold your breath on that buddy..... MOTD didn't even discuss the 'pen' - although probably would have done AND accused Lucas of diving - had we got it.
Well now, is that the win to set us going again and is that the goal which makes Llorente come of age in a Spurs shirt?
