I thought I saw him too, but then I couldn't pick him out when I went back. Might've just been Veliz. Not sure. They're not that similar, though.
This could actually be a big test for us. We’ve had 2 very intense matches in a row, and will need to get ourselves up for this one with a squad that is struggling a bit with injuries. I was thinking yesterday that we have lucked out a bit (or maybe good judgement, who knows) with the core of the squad given where the ‘meta’ is going right now at the elite end of football. We went from the Barca-esque possession style in the 2010s, to the high press, to the dominant defensive, counterattacking football that Leicester and Conte’s Chelsea won the league with, to City’s blend of possession and press that has proved the winning combination in recent years. When you look at City now, and at an upwardly mobile team like Brighton, the press is important out of possession yes but it’s also about shape and blocking lanes. Those teams, and Arsenal, and Spurs, all press well but it’s far more situational than peak Poch or Klopp. And then in possession it’s about having very strong ball carriers in midfield, CBs who are comfortable under pressure, and being able to bait the opposition press and carry the ball into space that way. In that sense having a team with midfielders like Bissouma, Sarr, Bentancur, Maddison, and a manager like Ange is a timely thing to have at the same time. Where we struggle is breaking down low blocks who won’t press, that’s where the individual quality of City’s players comes in, both in terms of their ability to pull something out of the hat, and their coachability to pull those teams apart. I think we can beat those teams too, when they sit in, but we can’t afford to drop the intensity and lose any nerve like we did at times against Liverpool after their red cards. The OG came because we finally got players together down the flank and one of them got into a good crossing situation - the kind Ange likes to create, low and fast into the dangerous lane in the 6 yard box. We need to be brave enough to keep doing that even if there is a threat on the counter. Luton don’t have a 1v1 threat like Salah but even if they leave one or two up when defending we have to keep pushing on or we’ll struggle to break down their defence. Big game tomorrow for the lads to keep up the momentum of this season going into the international break. We need to capitalise on this run of form while we can because the squad is thin and I’m concerned if we keep getting injuries that we will peter out a bit.
They've also got insane depth and an old-school predatory striker. They beat Leipzig in the week by bringing on Doku and Alvarez, who both scored. We've got a decent amount of forwards in the squad, but injuries have decimated us. The low block is a real issue for us, but so is our tendency to start slowly. We can't keep relying on late, late goals and wearing teams down with our fitness. The early start probably makes a quick opening even less likely though, unfortunately.
Ange Postecoglou on whether James Maddison is being wrapped in cotton wool at the moment: "No cotton wool here, just barbed wire mate. Madders is fine, he's trained in every session this week." - Ali Gold. He's definitely got a way with words, doesn't he?
Postecoglou on our injuries: TL, DR: Solomon injury confirmed. Johnson should return after the international break. Sessegnon and Bentancur still not close, but Lo Celso and Gil should be available.
Yesterday Bryan was so far away. Here comes the Son and now Bryan says I feel fine. I want to hold your hand but Something in the way you walk. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da it's been a Long and winding road, and you have been Here there and Everywhere, So Bryan Help we need somebody, not just anybody let this not be Hello Goodbye. Come together and Let it be. Don't let me down!
Son is the one proven first rate goal scorer Spurs have. And he's a pacy player who has turned 30. I think announcing Son isn't fit for Luton would be very smart. Then he could miss the international matches and his chances of lasting the season go up. Because if he plays, he'll play for Korea, and they'll just run him into the ground...except as luck would have it, they're managed by an ex-Spur. Granted, a front line of Kulusevski, Veliz and Richarlison is scary. But Spurs will probably struggle for goals even with Son playing.
Living nearer to Luton than Tottenham I have over the years been to Kenilworth rd a few times a couple of woeful nil nil games send a shiver down my spine ,the tin shed stands, plastic pitch , plastic cards for ground admission and the toilets that would not look out of place in a third world transit camp but my main memory is the delight of returning to my car and not finding it on bricks and all windows intact Come on spurs let's do this and have a comfortable international break
Going to Bournemouth to see my youngest who ain't in a good headspace...Mrs rcl working away ... Still recovering from covid...so far I've been on 3 trains and am now in Southampton waiting for bus replacement service.. .hope the sodding result of our game is better than this!!
The bench is Forster, Royal, Davies, Dier, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Gil, Lo Celso and Veliz. Let's hope that we can get the job done without them.
And you need to do the return journey! Hope your youngest is okay after seeing her dad. Good on you for travelling down to see her.
Yup, Son and Madders to get the job done before they inevitably get subbed, and then see what Lo Celso and Veliz can do.
Almost missed this (assumed tis at least a 3PM KO - the folly of using the "season compass" and not the "match thread" article) .
