I could watch Bale's goal all day, sheer class from him. Love Jan's celebration as well! Just thinking about the game a bit more and how much better we might all be feeling if Bale had scored that last chance when he hit the post. The feeling would be somewhat unjustified as well tbh as it would have probably flattered us a bit. Ah well
I disagree, Friedel's probably the best backup we could have and Lloris' style only works when you're a very good 'keeper and I can't see us getting a very good 'keeper to sit on the bench.
That's a really good point YV - to have someone as good as Brad at this stage of his career is a real binus
I have just read through the last few pages since the match finished and was disappointed that a reply I posted did not appear. Anyway, It was to thank INDA, PNP and Relayer for their speedy help to a damsel in distress. The winner was Relayer whose thread was perfect and the prize is: WINS for SPURS in their next 6 matches...... Also thanks to Tolea for his helpful tips but I'm afraid you lost me with the follow up post. Anything technical on the PC defeats me! Once again, belated thanks to you all, COYS!
This idea of the centre half going forward where possible I think is an AVB innovation. It helps to have the players to do it! Clearly Verts is good at this, and when he plays Gallas has done too. The good thing is that Kaboom I think will also be good at it. And it's a good tactic because the opposition often don't know how to mark a centre half going forward when it's not a set piece.
The MF gets bypassed by the likes of Daws, there again if you're a defender and the nearest 2 mids are Moussa who's marked, who you got left...Parker, you know you're going to get it straight back! so you go long. Hurry up Sandro.
That makes the return of Kaboul even more enticing. Looks like we are actually thinking about set plays these days instead of wasting all of them.
We still look very shaky when trying to defend them, though. Friedel's save from Swansea's quickly taken one on the edge of our box was an excellent exception.
I think I'd like to put that little North Korean asshole over my knee and smack the crap out of him!!!!! COYS!
We actually look like we don't do defensive drills at all. It should be second nature. Then again a settled back four helps.
I don't know why you've such a downer on Parker, me lady. He made the PFA team last year and was the PFA player of the year before that. His fellow pros obviously rate him. What's lacking in the Spurs' midfield is someone to put their foot on the ball, control the tempo and play accurate passes short and long. Like Modric. But you can't have everything.
For me, teams play straight through us without Parker or Sandro. He may be limited, but what Parker does, he mostly does well. Maybe if others tried harder to lose their marker and make themselves available, instead of just watching Parker win the ball back (which begs the question who lost it in the first place) we might keep the ball more. A number of our players still amble back after losing the ball, instead of getting possession back quickly; a notable exception being Lennon.
Vimhawk watching Verts do that shows what a great bit of business he was. The commentator remarked that it shows how he's come through the Ajax academy, and that he scored 10 goals last season. Think he's up to 6 now ,got a bit of the nastys in him too!
I agree with this, I think some have forgotten what we were like before he joined. It's not a glamour job but it's an essential one, He's not on top form but we would miss him if he wasn't there.
I believe we were talking about how/why our mf was ineffective creatively, which is the poorest part of Parkers game, I didn't say he was rubbish, the stopping side of his game is unchanged, and yes, we would miss that aspect, but he doesn't turn defence into attack quick enough. Oh, and Luke, thanks for unnecessarily reminding me of his awards 2 yrs ago, what kind of yardstick is that for players over 30??...not come across this one before!
For me, Parker is an out & out destroyer - which he's still pretty good at. Breaking up opposition play, etc. the problem seems to come once he's won the ball and tries to do something creative. If he has a far more creative player, like Modric available to just play it short and simple to, he's still effective at what he does.
Just watched the highlights of yesterday. Thought we were a little fortunate to get all 3 points. Is it possible that Bale can get any better?? Where would we be without him? Absolutely brilliant!..
