I really didn't like that. It's all well and good saying he had the balls to do it but given the way the game was going he should've looked to close the game out and we weren't far off paying the price for not doing it. Maybe it's because I still have the image in my head of the ball being cleared toward Soldado and Adebayor, who were both wandering back from offside positions, which really annoyed me. There's a reason that no other team in the league would do that in the last 10 minutes, it's not a lack of balls, it's because if you concede there's no time to react. You don't get extra points for beating a team by 2 goals but you can drop points if you're not careful. Personally I put it down to Sherwood wanting to impress, knowing a 4-2 win looks more impressive to Levy than a scraped 3-2, seeing out the game defensively. I really, hope that was the reason infact as otherwise I think it's scarily bad management, when you consider the situation. This just highlights the problem with our management situation though, I don't want a temporary manager going kamikaze and risking points in order gather a slighlty more impressive result. Levy needs to work out what he's doing fast, if he wants to wait until the end of the season, that's fine(well I'd accept it, at least) but he needs to make it clear to whoever takes charge in the meantime that they'd have to do something special to change his mind about getting a more experienced man in the summer. Maybe Sherwood would give more of a **** about those 2 points we could've dropped if he thinks he has to get top 4.
When I read this, I was nodding my head in agreement. At the time I was pleased to see him trying to move us forward for another goal, but now I recall Adebayor getting the ball near the corner flag and instead of winding down the clock, he put in a poor cross and we lost possession. As for my reference to Dherwood taking a gamble, I was referring to him chucking Bentaleb on.
I have to come out on the side of Sherwood on this one. We were on top, just like the we were against West Ham, when Sherwood changed things and they went tits up. Today nothing was broke so he didn't need to fix anything. Bringing on Defoe was perfect, it kept the pressure on Southampton. Sometimes attack is the best form of defense. Probably why I'm not a manager.
Saints fan here. We gave you an early Christmas present today. Our defending was shocking. Hooiveld is the worst defender I've ever seen and Fox isn't far behind.
Ah right, yeah that was great to see. Says a lot for the young lad's temprament that he came on and did so well, it's one thing doing it in a dead rubber game like Fredericks did recently but this was a huge game for him to come into, particularly as our most defensive midfielder. As much as it's been great to see Townsend and others come through the ranks recently, he and others have spend more time on loan than in our academy and it's good to see more of our recent successful development squad getting a taste in the first team. Whilst I've got your ear, my Brentford supporting friends tell me Button's doing really well there. Saved a penalty yesterday too, the Bees never seem short of a good 'keeper for long.
As good as it was seeing Bentaleb coming on, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth for Capoue wasn't it?
I think we played average today overall - no more no less. We actually restricted them up front fairly well but, when the defence was called upon, they had no answer and the 2 goals we conceded were so poor. Up front there was still a lack of cutting edge and creativity in terms of chances created. But, for the negatives I've highlighted, the players put in far more of a shift than I've seen in recent months so at least they've tried to answer the critics. I still really don't want Sherwood to be made Manager/Head Coach - I fear with him leading and with people like Les in the background, it'll become very lad-y in terms of the leadership style. I don't view Sherwood as an authority figure - he doesn't come across as one. I also think Sherwood will try too hard to get us playing 'the Spurs way' - which, as I recall from his time, was try to outscore the opposition and put little to no effort on defending. If Sherwood had played that team last week against Liverpool, we'd have scored a few but probably conceded 10. I don't see Sherwood as having the tactical know-how to know when to say 'you know what, this team are gonna attack well so I'll set the team up to stop them'.
Agree Morph. A lot of the time it was cringewothy stuff, I score you score etc. But having said that the players seemed to be thinking should I be doing this and being too tentative and sloppy in possession. Much has been said about Lloris being low on confidence and it really shows, perhaps as some have said he should have some time on the bench and some extra training on when is the right to come charging out of your goal! Spurcat?
Today's game showed that we can score but defensively, our discipline is pretty lacking. A few weeks ago, it was the total opposite. Hopefully we can find the right balance pretty quickly, especially with United and the Goons coming up in the new year.
Restricted them well? Southampton had the better of our CB's for most of the game. They were playing clever triangles which eventually ended up in a central position for the likes of Lambert etc to take a shot. - nearly every time, that central player managed to the better of our defence by turning us and was able to face goal and shoot. it didn't help that we didn't have a natural DM, but seeing chiriches and Dawson getting get owned was like watching a Sunday league team. Some bad decision making and positioning, IMO. - However, this could be the knock on affect of Lloris and his obvious lack of confidence. IMO, the reason there might have been the lack of creativity was due to eriksen playing deeper because he had to. If he hadn't have dropped deeper and helped out, Dembele would have been on his own against a 4231 (a formation which will generally dominate possession anyway), and worse, the young Bentaleb could have been left right in the lurch, had he not have produced such a good performance! It might not have been a glamourous performance from any of midfielders yesterday in terms of attacking flair, but my god did they do a good job considering the formation and lack of a natural DM.
I meant more in terms of clear cut 'oh my days, they're going to score here' chances of which I don't think there were too many. Obviously, the lack of a DM playing conceded a lot of control to Saints going forward though.
That's why I don't like 442 - it forces your most creative players too deep. It was fun to watch though and it should be good enough to beat WBA and Stoke. The tests will be Man U and Arsenal
Bit of an amusing read from teamsheet time! Have to say didn't see it coming, but its massive food for thought, some comments back in the thread resulting in some u-turns! The first 20min...what did you expect, first time for that 11 on the pitch in that shape, but it was pleasing we grew into the game, it could so easily have gone horribly wrong going behind early too. I haven't seem much comment about our very good reaction to conceding the 2 goals in this game, I have no doubt if avb was in the dugout, we woud have gone on to lose after the first went in. Most things are already covered here, but not much on Chiriches. He's made an impact on everyone with his composure, but there is a little naivety in his play. It was put to me recently about his positioning, and today there 3 classic examples where he got caught. Looking at them again, his initial position is made worse by his next decision, I've noticed he likes to try and be a step ahead and intercept the pass to his forward, rather than just waiting and engaging the forward when he's just in receipt of the ball, interceptions are pleasing on the eye, and make the forward look a bit of a mug (likes doing that, a little reverse lob springs to mind in an early game of his), but the defender is a bigger mug if he gets it wrong, and Vlad did today. Keep it simple please Vlad. Lloris isn't much better than Gomes of late, his errors are now costing goals....empty net for Lambert??? why can't he let defenders try and do their job before stepping in...then ****ing it all up! he's turning fairly benign situations into goals for the opposition lately.....I blame the scouting!! As others have said, we were far more entertaining today, but raises questions about where all the similar types we have now are going to all fit. Don't think we'll be seeing 2 DM's on the pitch at the same time again and one of Sandro, Capoue and Paulinho are not going to get much football. The most sensible thing Sherwood said is that this group needs a leader and some direction pretty quick...over to you Levy.
that's how i felt though everytime saints got a shot away from a central position. Defenders should be forcing the striker to play the ball backwards when it comes to his feet. not letting him get the ball out of his feet, turn and shoot. I had my head in my hands for much of the game yesterday everyime saints attacked and got into that position!..... ....It felt good knowing the old Tottenham were back!
This Watching the second goal again and again, Lloris' decision making reminded me of when i play fifa with my mates and we do 2v2. There's always one dickhead who holds down the "triangle" button and brings the keeper out at such an unnecessary time.
Plenty to pick at, from a post mortem of that game. The important thing was getting the 3 pts when individual/team confidence/morale is obviously at rock bottom. All season we have seen signs of what could be, from GK to strikers. But never all together in a coherent manner for long enough in any given game. Whoever the next manager is til end of season, that is their longer-term challenge. Before then, getting another 6 pts before January while the current walking wounded get a chance to get fit again, is all we can ask of the Academy caretakers.
I prefer goalies who take risks. Lloris closed down three through balls yesterday. One led to a goal. Who is to say that all three of them would not have been goals if he had stayed on his line? It's impossible to get all the decisions right. Needs to catch rather than punch though The Guardian has him as the 64th best player in the world today. Paulinho 59, Vertonghen 57 - both above Modric! Nos. 1-40 still to come.....
"The Guardian has him as the 64th best player in the world today. Paulinho 59, Vertonghen 57 - both above Modric! Nos. 1-40 still to come" What is the method they are using to rank players ... ??
