Last night's game was symptomatic of what I've been seeing for sometime now, namely a toothlessness upfront when our previously imperious trio are playing. This may stem from many reasons but this is what I see: Kane Harry has become progressively worse after each injury. Even his World Cup golden boot can't disguise this. I imagine that in the back of his mind he knows the ankle could go again anytime and so plays within himself. He could become another Ledley King, in that respect. As soon as Kane declares himself fully fit Pochettino brings him back into the team. We all know it takes a few games to get match fit so starting from from the bench makes far more sense. Any striker thinking of joining the team will note Point 2 and rightly turn us down meaning that Harry and Poch could actually be halting our progression as a team Alli After a couple of great seasons with us where Alli rightly earned copious plaudits his development seems to have gone into reverse. This is a player that many of us thought could be a future England captain in the mould of a Bryan Robson. It now seems that all the plaudits have gone to his head. He now thinks he can just turn up do a few flicks, take his money and go home to play Fortnite or put his name to another piece of clothing. Eriksen This player is truly baffling. He has never been a player that turns up every match and takes control of a game but has done more than enough every season in terms of mileage, goals and assists to warrant his inclusion in the team. However, lately his heart just hasn't been in it and i don't see that changing. I imagine he's thinking that without quality additions to the team we'll always be bridesmaids and he's at an age now where he wants to get some winners medals somewhere. Summary We, as a club have been witness to a wonderful few seasons where we've progressed from Europa League regulars to consistently qualifying for the CL. As great as these players have been for us is it now time to cash in on them whilst we can actually get some decent money for them? Could the influx of funds help us build a more dynamic squad that doesn't centre around a single attacker (when fit), allowing us to better pick a match day team/squad?
I don’t 100% agree with what you say but some good points above. I think we suffer from trying to shoehorn too many attacking players into the team at times, partly just because we have a lot who would expect to start (the DESK plus Moura last night, for example), but also because particularly this season we had lacked creativity from other areas in the team, particularly down the right side (though both FB positions have been an issue this season, albeit Rose has improved markedly again as the season has gone on) so the likes of Eriksen and Alli have been pressed into service in roles that are perhaps a bit unfamiliar to them. I think it’s also the case that familiarity has bred some complacency and predictability. Teams know what to expect from us and we struggle to break that mould as there hasn’t been investment in the team since Moura. This comes from the midfield as well where we’re basically trying to play the same way without the player who made it all work - Dembele. Sissoko has stepped up magnificently at times but it’s not the same. TLDR: Kane needs to be managed better. Alli needs to take a long hard look at himself and step back up next season. Eriksen will probably be sold and as long as we recoup a big fee and invest in key areas of the team I’ll be sad but not devastated. The issues our forwards, and the team as a whole face, are bigger than the players mentioned above and stem from a lack of investment in the team over the last two windows and the injury/decline/sale of key players and the stagnation of the team as a result.
Kane is the victim of being criminally overused. Pochettino never gives Kane a rest, and if part of that is because Kane is saying “no I should play, I’m fine” then Poch needs to grow some balls. We’ve seen how effective Llorente can be in Kane’s absence and so we should (or should have) utilise(d) him more often. He’s still the best striker in world football in my opinion but he must be managed better, whether he likes it or not. Eriksen for me is our most crucial player, when he’s not on form Spurs generally aren’t on form. This is why I’ve said time and time again we could do with a creative CM do relieve the pressure on Eriksen to be the one to make everything happen. Though with all that said, that was likely his last game for us last night. Dele... He needs a rocket up his arse. I don’t know what’s happened to him this season. I think he may have been affected with off field problems that have resulted to problems on the field. He’s focused a lot of attention on building his brand to the point where maybe he’s lost focus on his football whilst he’s had relationship problems with his now ex, which may have ****ed with his head. Summary for me: Manage Kane better. If Eriksen goes, we’ll feel it big time unless we sign some top players. Dele needs to get back to football. Otherwise, if he doesn’t buck up his game by next summer, I’d have no issue with the club cashing in on him.
Agree with everything @The Huddlefro and @Dier Hard have said. I also don’t think we can underestimate how the World Cup has played a huge part in the form of some of our players this season. Nearly all of our issues stem from 4 main problems though. 1. Never replacing Walker. As has been said, we’ve had little to no threat or quality down the right hand side. 2. The loss of Dembele. He was declining for a substantial period of time, and we’ve tried to play the same way, but without the personnel to do it. 3. Kane being over used and rushed back too quickly. 4. Having pretty much the same squad/best starting 11 for about 4 years, and not enough quality in depth in certain areas. As a result, we’ve been too predictable, which, in turn, has also meant Kane’s potency has been gradually nullified over time.
Interesting thread and one that dovetails with a lot of our collective thoughts about how our general quality of attacking play had declined over the past year or two, yet miraculously, we still made a Champions League final. Still rubbing my head at that one.... Kane Has never looked that great since the end of last season just before he went to the World Cup. I hope I'm wrong but a part of me thinks his best days might be behind him. I know I'm going to get a lot of stick for this but I really don't think we'll get the same Kane we had from 2-3 seasons ago unless he gets rested and managed far better going into next season. That's down to Poch getting the right kind of backup striker and growing a pair to tell Kane, enough is enough when it's time to sit games out. We also could really do without these stupid meaningless international summer tournaments. I'd like to see Kane omitted from that squad as he needs proper rest but knowing how Harry is (and Southgate), he wants to play every game, to his own detriment and most likely will. That means yet another season where he's not had a full summers' rest. Alli He needs to grow up. I hear all this talk of him still being very young (23) which in fairness is true but he seems to have his head elsewhere these days and needs to take a long hard look at himself. Either his brand, his women or his own ego seem to be his focus lately. He has the potential to be a great footballer but this season he has regressed without doubt. Constantly dwelling on the ball, losing possession and just generally drifting through games. Only time will tell but next season could be a crossroads for him. He's lost that fire in his belly, which was always his driving force. Needs to get that back again. Eriksen He causes me the greatest frustration of all. Man for man, he's the most gifted player we have in our squad yet disappears consistently during big fixtures. His scoring record against the top 6 is woeful and his free kicks only until a goal recently has driven us all mad. I honestly think the best thing for us and him is if he moves on. We get a fat fee to bring in new blood. He goes to a club challenging for honours. Win win. Poch I think we need to add Poch into the discussion because he should be praised for what he has achieved with this squad but in the same token, be asked if this team can go any further and where it's headed. For me, we are entering the next phase with this squad. If Poch stays, he MUST be backed. No more excuses,. No brinkmanship in the transfer market. We either build or regress. If the club neither wants to invest, or cannot invest for whatever reason (stadium loan etc), then we have to let Poch fulfil his ambitions elsewhere. It would break my heart to see him go but he has earned the right to be backed and given the resources he needs to take us to the next level. This team has peaked and is showing clear signs of decline. There's no way this group of players will get top four next season without fresh talent and investment in the squad. For me, we need 4-5 new players, of which 3 would be automatic starters - top class talent. Hard to find and hard to acquire. Danial Levy has his work cut out.
Good points about Poch. It's been said on here that aside from merely being backed in the market by Levy, he also needs to show that he can motivate the squad now they're not just young players gunning for a breakthrough to the big time, and he also needs to tactically get the team back on the front foot because we have been too passive for a lot of this season. All of that is worth reiterating. Part of this is the players he has available, sure, but its also down to how he sets the team up and instructs them to play, and the atmosphere fostered in the dressing room - we need leaders who are unafraid to challenge their colleagues and who can take charge when things need changing on the pitch, not just a set of players who, however competent, always look to their coach for the answers. Phase 1 of the 'project' has gone better than expected, phase 2 needs to begin with a refresh of the squad (just as happened at the start of Poch's tenure) and a realisation that this is where things get serious and players need to knuckle down and discover within themselves whether they have what it takes to not just be very good footballers, but exceptional ones.
Playing Kane from beginning was an error and it seems Poch will always pick him whether he is fully match fit or not - I bet Kane ain’t right for England game against Netherlands next week
I had no issue with Kane starting to be honest, I actually thought he was the best of our attackers last night (although all were gash). But over the course of this season and others, Poch has continued to use him or keep him on the pitch when he could’ve been rested or rotated.
So would I but for Winks, not Kane. Winksy clearly wasn’t fit enough hence his sub in the 65th. Eriksen has played CM in a lot of the games Winks has missed so would’ve been the natural choice for me, Lucas on the right, Son left and Dele in behind Kane. Winks could then have been brought on with 30 or so to go if needed to help retain the ball.
Or Moura could have started instead of Son, as the Korean has been off the boil for some time now. But it’s easy to say that with hindsight, I was happy with the starting lineup last night although it was very very harsh for Lucas not to start the game.
I weren’t mate. Felt we played a weaker side than what we could’ve done. Lucas should’ve been the first attacking player on the team sheet in my opinion, not just because of Amsterdam, but because all of the others have been poor in the last 6-7 games whilst he’s put in respectable displays (along with the heroics).
Maybe I should have qualified that - if we were going to start Kane, I was happy with it. Could have dropped Winks, had Eriksen in midfield like you say, and had Moura in the team as well of course. But Winks had a decent game so it’s hard to criticise his inclusion too much. I wanted Moura to start, maybe Llorente too, and for us to bring on Kane to chase the game on 55/60 mins.
Winks was ok, I don’t think he was better or worse than anyone else. But he clearly wasn’t fit enough for the whole game hence his sub, for me that’s poor management because Poch is essentially pre-deciding a sub before a game has started, and with situations like injuries (Sissoko for instance), it can leave us short of making actual necessary or in-game tactical decisions. Just wanna point out, my beef isn’t with Winks on this, I know I’m not his biggest fan but I actually feel for him because he was thrown into the biggest game in the club’s history at about 60% fit and it showed in that second half. It wasn’t fair on him.
- Kane : no. His standards are consistently high. A good pre-season (eff off Southgate) will restore him to the beast he is. We also need confirmation that Pochettino is doing "me boss, you not" and not overriding the judgement of the Spurs physios, when Kane returns from injury but wants to play. - Alli : no. Nothing an ice water enema will not solve to refocus him on his day job (which is what pays his bills) , and get a bit of the sh*t-house on-pitch mindset that he possesses. - Eriksen : yes. We are not gonna get Hazard type "grab the game by the scruff of the neck" performances from him when the team overall is playing meh (or worse) . IMHO we need this from our MF playmakers if we are to make the final steps.
I have to blame Poch He's not strong enough to manage anything resembling an ego. There was no selection headache for yesterday...their was only a sentimental headache in Poch's mind. He resulted in showing Moura that no matter what he does he will always be a bit part player and that Kane can have 3 months off and he can walk into the final Then again let's be honest a lot of the fans can't see our team behind Kane either because he is untouchable. People will say Kane wasn't the only poor player...NO...but Kane is the only player everyone would shift mountains for to get into the team regardless of what he is offering. He only started straight line running 4 weeks ago....match fit to take on the Defender of the year my arse. Moura showed more intensity in 15 minutes than all of them put together. I'd sell Alli...he carries the tag of a main player for us but like a few...he flatters to deceive. I always say it but our standards are way too low that players can achieve a little and make it look like alot
Moura pissed on his intensity within 15 minutes. He had the right hunger...funny how he is the same man who single handedly won us the final spot. For me Poch ****ed up and it deserves to be highlighted...personally I'm sick of Poch's romantic notion...you need someone like Pep to put Kane in his place or anyone with balls tbh.
Low standards mean some of these players think it's ok to reach a final job done. That's all I was hearing...how it's been amazing but I wasn't hearing enough of 'job not done'...'nothing achieved yet' Standards
- Kane: Yes. We have without question seen the very best of him and I cannot see him improving significantly in the coming years. Due to ridiculously hard work and consistency for both club and country Kane peaked younger than most players in his position. But, like other elite players, that level is without question the best we can hope for as there are perhaps 2 or 3 strikers in the world who are 'better' than him and all of them are well beyond our financial means. - Eriksen Definitely yes. Been at the club for 6 years now and still hasn't quite cracked 'that' level we hoped he'd be able to. I've long said when we're on top and dominating play he's the best in the business but when a game is running away from us and you just need someone to put their foot on the ball and take command of the tempo in the way Modric would do, Eriksen sadly hasn't fronted up. Unlike the situation with Kane, I think there are quite a number of alternatives out there many of whom appear to be within our means (Lo Celso for example). - Alli: Yes again. This one is really starting to worry me. After an explosive first 2 seasons he appears to be regressing. We have certainly seen his best but nowhere near as consistently as required and so my question is: what needs to be to be done coax that out of him? Alli enjoys an almost telepathic link with Kane but has historically struggled to link up with our other attackers. This problem has become even more pronounced this season with a general lack of creativity and Kane picking up 2 lengthy injuries. The SF against Ajax was the first time in a long time that Alli linked up really well with another attacker. Whether it is down to attitude or lack of application, to my mind Alli is currently our Coutinho - and if a ridiculous bid came in for him next week, I would roll the dice and take it. He is one of the few players we have who I no longer see as indispensable who could nonetheless command a fee that would allow us to rebuild. Jury is out as far as i'm concerned. I think beyond all of that there is a general realisation amongst Spurs fans that we have now seen the vast, vast majority of our squad 'at their best'. Which outfield players aside from Foyth and Dave are we genuinely excited to see develop? Painful reality check: apart from those two, no one in the first team squad is going to improve significantly in the years to come. No one. And this realisation fuels a secondary realisation which is that this current crop by extension will never quite be good enough to bring home trophies. 4 years ago we watched this group chase down leicester and we wondered 'what if'. Now we know. Close but no cigar. Over and again. And so it is time to hit reset, to make brave decisions. To remind ourselves that Alderweireld was amazing but not amazing enough. Likewise Eriksen. Likewise others. And to move on beyond them and the superb but limited memories they gave us.
