What we needed today was a dash of blood and thunder, but we were far too pragmatic There's times when pragmatism would work, for example when we beat The Sheikh Mansour team earlier this season, or in the ubermensch's case when he was manoeuvring Los Ladrones around Barca, but there's also times where it absolutely does not work and today was one of those games where you do not approach a game like that - yet we did Having several players who have been run into the ground, notably Son and Hojbjerg, absolutely does play a factor in it - and, let's be honest, there's certainly been games where Bergwijn or Winks could have had a comfortable 20-30 minutes in their place this season yet haven't - but the issue with being pragmatic is it requires a lot more energy from players, and energy is something Son and Hojbjerg absolutely do not have right now
I've been miserable after plenty of NLD's before because of the result. It must've been pre-Jol the last time I was actually that miserable just watching us play an NLD. We were actually up against the worst Arsenal team of my lifetime, their one star player was benched and we didn't just get beat, we got beat with barely a squeek out of us. One shot in 70-odd minutes. Pathetic.
Words fail me but Ireland won the rugby so I'm relatively happy. Lamela's goal must be contender for Goal of the Season.
Lacazette just admitted he was "lucky" to have received a penalty. I think you'll find Michael Oliver makes his own luck mate.
Despite being on the wrong side of a penalty decision I think Sanchez was our best player. The performance was awful we opened without energy and verve, looking fearful of the opposition. Is Jose going to put that at the feet of the players? I don't believe it.
The level of incompetence in that game is truly frightening. If we were going to try and hold them in the first half, why the **** did the defence contain Doherty and Sanchez? Neither of them are good enough defensively. Sanchez looks ok when we play a higher line and he can use his pace to rescue his terrible decision making and lack of awareness. Doherty can force things going forward but he simply has no idea how to play deep. Why play only 2 in midfield? Today was THE day to put Sissoko in for an hour and make us difficult to break down. Instead, we play a bolloxed Hojbjerg and Ndombele. I don't understand it. We just couldn't keep the ball and were played through for nearly the whole match. We played a front 4 and hardly got a shot on target for 90 minutes. There's nothing here that's any good but Levy's letting him get away with murder. He'd better get lucky in the EL or we could be the first club to win the EL 2 against Dynamo Traktor next season.
**** Michael Oliver, but his mistake should've been corrected. We had Kieran Tierney's dad on VAR, though. Fat chance.
I think you're a bit harsh on Sanchez. He was the best of a bad bunch at the back. Reguilon was surprisingly subdued. Doherty as you say was totally unsuited to our game plan...and football in general for that matter. Toby had an absolute stinker. Lost count of the number of times he was a yard or two behind the defensive line.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to Sky Sports: "No post-match interviews for referees? That is a pity. "We played really bad in the first half. The 1-1 was not a fair reflection of the first-half. We were poor. Defending bad. No intensity or pressing. Some important players hiding. Really bad. In the second half we only had space to improve which we did and then it is a question - but an impossible one as they don't speak - for the referee Michael Oliver to answer. Probably Paul Tierney too as he was the VAR. According to Kevin Friend, the referee told him he had a clear decision and the VAR does not want to go against. "The game was under control in the second half so we recovered. We made changes to try and win and then it is a penalty and after that a second yellow for Lamela. It mean the last 20 minutes 11 v 10 the team try to get the result. "What I see from the bench is just a feeling at first. I am 40-50 Metres away. I saw it on the iPad. Referees have a difficult job sometimes. I did not complain but when I watch back on the iPad it is what it is. If somebody has a different opinion it has to be one of the big Arsenal fans with a season ticket. It is the only one I accept as it is the passion speaking. Other than that I don't accept a different view as it is obvious. "If the players don't do better it is because they can't do better. I belong to the team so I am as guilty for the first half as the players but the best thing is we improve in the second half. Players get tired, coaches get tired, maybe referees get tired too. My record with Michael Oliver on penalties with Chelsea, United and Tottenham is unlucky." Think he'll be getting a ban for that, but I can't actually disagree with any of it. If what's he says about Friend's comment is true, then that's scandalous.
He's had worse games but he dives in and gives away too many free kicks and the odd penalty., makes challenges when he's no need to, second guesses himself and I just don't trust him. If I was holding a deep line, his best place is on the bench.
We failed on both accounts and failed spectacularly. He and his team showed no tactical, nous, no winning mentality, no heart and no pride. That is why Sherwood, AVB, Ramos and Hoddle were sacked...JM should be gone tonight. This is the latest in a VERY long line of appalling performances. Man Utd away 2019/20 Chelsea home and away 2019/20 Southampton away 2019/20 Norwich away 2019/20 Norwich home fa cup 2019/20 Red Bull Liepzig CL away 2019/20 Wolves home 2019/20 Burnley away 2019/20 Watford away 2019/20 Everton home 2019/20 Bournemouth away 2019/20 Sheffield United away 2019/20 Palace away 2019/20 Everton home 2020/21 Locomotive plofdiv 2020/21 Southampton away first half 2020/21 West Ham home 2020/21 Antwerp EL away 2020/21 Palace away second half 2020/21 Leicester home 2020/21 Wolves away second half 2020/21 Fulham home second half 2020/21 Liverpool home 2020/21 Chelsea home 2020/21 Brighton away 2020/21 Man City away 2020/21 West Ham away until last 20mins 20/21 Fulham home second half 2020/21 Arsenal away 2020/21 29 matches. Surely that's enough to show he's a dinosaur.
I'm pleased he isn't hiding from the performance but "If the players don't do better it is because they can't do better"...eh? What's that all about? Also Oliver...Tierney...Friend. It's literally the 3 stooges.
Sorry, PNP, but he cannot get a free pass for that dire performance. No, maybe he didn't get the cover, but his individual positioning and general game was beyond poor.
He is paid to prepare properly and change what ain't working...he cost us a win today...we are lucky it was only 2-1. He is very lucky that his words will distract from the worst NLD performance by a spurs side in over a decade. If he had any pride he'd resign. If Levy had any sense he'd sack him. We are beyond bad.
It was the half-assed, couldn't give a **** attitude that got me. Only Lucas can hold his head up after that dismal effort. (I'd have included Lamela to a point) If you can't raise your game for an NLD then I don't want you in my Spurs team.
I don’t really know where to start with that match this afternoon. Firstly and most importantly this was the North London Derby on Arsenal territory, and even when we were losing virtually every time we played them would start the match with great intensity and let them know that today they were in a match, more often or not the superior quality that they used to possess would eventually overcome us but at least the fans saw the team go for it. To start the NLD with such a low key passive approach in my opinion is totally unforgivable, maybe today more than normal we needed the fans to remind the players what this means. There were a couple of positives, I really am beginning see glimpses that Ledley is having a positive impact on Sanchez who is now head and shoulders our best centre back and I never thought I would say that. Also Lucas was the one player who gave his all for 90 minutes and those 2 didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side. We also saw the 2 sides of the Lamela coin brilliant goal and great commitment but the sending off looked inevitable from the moment that he reacted to Xhakas kick in the first half. I won't mention the negatives as this is a long post already, but we all know what they are. I hate losing but when the opposition don’t even have to play that well in a NLD to beat us that is so disappointing, but I am a Spurs fan so I am used to being disappointed. To make matters worse I am now at work until 0600 so I can’t even have a drink to numb the pain!
Eh, I think it was a pen as the ball ended up so close to him. If it had gone in to the stands, as it would've if Lacazette got a decent contact on it, then it's not a pen but I think we got some bad luck and they got some good luck out of a weird circumstance.
I'm having surgery on my elbow tomorrow morning, so at least that'll be a few hours when I can't remember or think about that pile of crap we dished up tonight. The aftermath will probably be less painful, too!
