First half our build up was good and had the best chances, Spurs didn't worry Schwarzer too much. In the second we were slowly going along building up momentum again and Schwarzer let's one in. Changed the game completely. Tottenham gained confidence and we lost that momentum. Sidwell was my MOTM, but his miss on goal in the second half, should have at least hit the target. Thank goodness Hangeland should be back next game, because Senderos just does not give me confidence at the moment playing alongside Hughes. Losing Riether started a problem as he'd couped well with Bale. Petric did well in harrowing the Spurs defense, unlucky with a few strikes on goal, but he and Berbatov are not on the same wavelength. Was disappointed in Berbatov, played OK but can do a lot better. Thought Dempsey had a hit and miss game, nothing special, but it was a good pass for the Defoe goal, but other than that a few wayward shots on goal, Dembele didn't have a great influence on the game, thought Sidwelll did well against him. Disappointed there wasn't any fight back after the first goal went in.
Just watched the replay. Nil - three sounds like a hiding, but the replay showed Schwartzer and Senderos were responsible for all the goals. You'd think an ex-Arsenal player like Senderos would be up for a Spurs game, but he was beyond poor. Berbatov and Petric were good, I thought, but Lloris was excellent in goal.
Maybe Captain will finally realise he is absolute dogshit, even if Hangeland stays, we need a new CB in January.
The good news is that his injury is not as bad as at first expected AND he will be okay for the Newcastle game. Whew !!!!
Graciously and eloquently put as ever, Bandit. It sounds as if he was at fault for two of the goal from what I've heard. I don't get to see the team live anything like as much as I'd like to and on the occasions I've seen him play he's been okay. My main complaint about how people criticise him has been that when other players make the same mistakes, they get glossed over but he gets slaughtered not just for actual mistakes (like yesterday), but the prospect of mistakes. Even when he plays well (like the Chelsea game judging from everyone's comments on this board) it makes no difference. I wouldn't argue with us signing a new centre back though, or giving Chris Baird a chance there. I'd given up on commenting on the rabid Senderos hatred, by the way. I only offered the above as Bandit specifically directed it at me.
Hello one and all, Went to the game yesterday,first of the season, frustrating game. We contained Spurs for 65 mins but when they scored we allowed our heads to drop. They are a very good team and they are going to be a force to reckon with this season. Seeing us live made me see how desperate we are for some creative quality in the centre of the park. We are very functional in the kiddle of the park but Petric and Berba need some quality service. On those 2 I felt that both were playing the no 10 role and neither were playing high enough up the pitch. Senderos needs to be moved on and some young centre backs brought in. Frei was a huge dissappointment adding nothing at all to the game. Demps was too good for us to handle and great to hear Dembele reception.
I've always been a believer of the 'you're only as good as your last game' theory. Plenty of us were happy for Senderos to come in for the suspended Hangeland, due to his strength and height advantage over Baird, he didn't play well against Stoke (not challenging Crouch for the headed assist) but had a very good game against Chelsea, so everyone was in favour of him playing against Spurs. This isn't hating him for the sake of it, when or if he plays well, we are happy to see him start matches, but those seem to be few and far between. He has been at fault for three of our last four goals conceded. For me Captain, there's no defending that. I'm interested to know just what Senderos needs to do to be seen unfavourably in your eyes?
Why is this getting personal, Bandit? I said, in the quote that you included in your previous comment, that it sounded like he was at fault against Spurs. I also said that I don't get to as many games as I'd like to, and that in the games I've seen Senderos has been okay. What does it take for him to be seen unfavourably in my eyes? Performing unfavourably, as I agreed that he did against Spurs. What am I doing that's pulling your chain on this?
Don't agree about Petric, DR. He was slow, both in feet and mind, and drifted too deep. Also I can't remember him once challenging a Spurs player. Thought he was pretty anonymous to be honest; apart from his one effort which Lloris did well to stop (although Petric should have buried it in the first place). I'm with Jol when he said, "In the hole, we've got Ruiz. Of course we could do with maybe another creative player in that position, then I could leave Berbatov up front all the time.”
Cottager58 ... from what I saw, at least in the first half, Petric looked dangerous, unlucky really, not to have scored on a couple of chances. But I agree 100% with your assessment about the creativity problem. Ruiz is good, but we need more. I offered in another post that losing Dembele, Murphy and Dempsey has been catastrophic in our ability to dictate and control the game. Dembele and Murphy were as good a midfield pair as anyone in the EPL, and Dempsey's runs kept defenders honest. Without them, it appears defenders have no fear of coming forward and burying us in our own half, as seen in the Everton and Sunderland games.
Wasn't meant to be personal, I'm directing my comments at you as you are most likely the only poster left who rates Senderos. Although I'm glad to see you are seeing things more realistically now.
Bandy I still think he is not as bad as people make of him. Hughes is not great either just plays better off Hangeland. Generally we need to sort it out... Glad that Brede is back. Also maybe we need to offer him the contract he wants!!!
Think it's all about partnerships, Hangeland and Hughes seem to have a better understanding, than any other combination. I sometimes wonder how it would have worked out if Smalling had stayed. May be that's why there are rumors of Hangeland to Man Utd.
