I dont understand why some people think saints are good enough for this league. How many times do we have to lose at home (and away) before we realise this is not our level with this squad. Where lies the blame?
I didn't think we were too bad up until the Bale goal but from then on until half time, I thought we were dreadful. We held our own for the start of the second half and as soon as Mayuka came on we looked really good. Obviously Tottenham sat back and gave us time on the ball but we still created quite a few chances. Well done on Rodriguez for getting his first PL goal, and well done to Adkins for getting Lambert to play the full 90! Mayuka has to start against West Brom, he looks like a real threat to defenders and tracks back well too.
Downthe36 why would I be interested in PFC? you have made yourself look like a bit of a twat. Just concerned about the state of OUR club as it stands.
Fair enough Joe, Just bored of losing games of football that cost me loads of money to watch. Hey Ho.
Sorry, to be fair I shouldn't have said that. It's just week after week people are saying the same things. The reality is we have just come up 2 leagues very fast, and we are struggling to adapt. I think the team showed in the 2nd half today that we are good enough to be in this league, we just need the performance to be there from whistle to whistle.
What you don't realise is that we are very Charitable, just letting others win a few before we start to rock and roll our way up the table, tell me at the end of the Season if I have got that wrong.
Hello. I would like to begin, and finish, after visiting Mary's for today's game, with a sentiment of cautious optimism about our chances (of survival) this season. I feel that Nigel has done well with the injuries and poor (by Premier League standards) defensive options he has in terms of personnel. His change in tactics in the second half today shows to me he knows how to affect a game with formations and personnel, albeit today the changes necessary were reasonably obvious - we were being completely overrun in midfield whilst using 442, and Tottenham had far too much possession and control over the game. Nigel is a top bloke, has dragged us up through the leagues, is young, has obvious managerial talent, and is learning - and adapting his team well as he learns more. Keep him. I thought Jay Rodriguez was effective today - has real pace and energy and I can see him improving quite a lot throughout the season. Lambert wasn't too good, if I'm brutally honest. His touch was a bit off, as was his positioning. He looked slightly lethargic - perhaps due to not playing as much as he did last season. Lallana was quite good at times, at others poor - I'd like to highlight his tendency to "over-do" his skills and drag-backs. He sometimes has ample opportunity to cross the ball or pull it back for a player, but instead cuts back with a few skills and gets pressured by the opposition players, forcing him to pass the ball back to the defence and in doing so stagnating our play. Boruc didn't do too much wrong - barring this kerfuffle I heard another fan talking about on the way home. His kicking was different, shall we say. He kicks it very accurately, and uniquely low, often straight to the player's feet. This is quite a useful little trait in starting attacks. He wasn't tested too much in the way of saves, despite Spurs' first half dominance. Reeves was good in the little appearance he had. Great feet and technical ability, good engine on him, too. Mayuka made a big impression on me today, too. Very, very fast. Good technically and caused them big problems. Looks a good buy. All in all, reasonably content despite the loss to a team in the top four.
Thank **** for a sensible analysis. I also don't think Nigel can take much blame for our poor start, and hopefully Cortese knows enough about football to realise that. On the subject of Lambert, I thought he was best today when he started drifting wide in the second half. We couldn't get the ball to him in the first half, which I think is a credit to Spurs' defending. We were very good all over the pitch when Adkins changed the shape.
Worth noting that next ten games include West Brom in 8th, Newcastle in 10th (three days after they play a Europa fixture), Fulham in 7th, and seven teams in the bottom ten. I am sure we will get some good results.
Agree with this, to be honest Reeves looked better than Fox. Surely Mayuka has to start the next game, but I've been banging this drum since Villa.
He did indeed look better than Fox. Far more comfortable on the ball, willing to receive it in tight situations, and importantly good enough to receive it in tight situations and get out with the ball still at his feet. On Mayuka - I'm not sure if he'd be less effective as a starter than as a player coming on against tired legs. Nevertheless, he looks a top player. Cannot wait to see more of him.
Cant possible win games if we play like we did in the first half. We were so poor and it makes it almost impossible to get anything out of a game when 2-0 down at half time. Second half we were miles better but it was far too late by then.Spurs were slower and tried from europa league and therefore took it easier, Bale was almost non-existent in the 2nd half!. Mayuka was brilliant though and deserves to start the next game. Clyne must take some responsibility for Bales first goal he didnt seem to make any effort to stop the header. Boruc should also feel bad as he let in a header from the corner of the penalty area! Jason Puncheon, like Defoe, is also a member of hit the big screen club. Defoe's effort was pretty impressive really as he hit it that high from inside the penalty area quite a tricky angle!
Reeves must be in line for a run out at Leeds so we can see some more of him. When Richardson went off early v Fulham Nigel must have been tempted to put him on but didn't want to risk him getting slaughtered for almost the full game. Whether Mayuka starts or not is one for the coaching team but he is another arrow in the quiver (as Nigel would say).
