Football is a simple game and sometimes the solution to poor performance is simple too. In this case it is. Just SPEED it up! Why is this so difficult to understand. I have never seen so many sideways and backward passes since AVB and now Pochettino have been coaching the Spurs teams. People are blaming the players, I blame the coaches. Not only is it more fun to watch it is far more effective as well if you play the game at a high tempo. I repeat what is the point in spending millions of pounds on 'talent' and then have them plod around the pitch as if it is WALK Football. If they are going to play at such a pace then bring back Greaves because he could keep up with this lot at his age and he knows where the goal is.
One genuine positive thing to come out of today, is the great relationship between the fans and Harry Kane. It is not easy for a home grown player to break through and Kane has advanced enormously over the past few months. I loved his confidence today, particularly over the free kick which led to his goal and I enjoyed watching the scenes at the end when he went over to our terrific away support.
Cant speak about the first 4 as they quit by time I was 7...that was 40 yrs ago....clough never had tv pressure like this as he quit over 20 yrs ago. Robson was well respected but at one stage 88-90 was constantly ridiculed for his stuttering interviews and comments...he was mocked for getting players names wrong etc. Personally, I dont care how they look or sound...I care about how well we play. Surely getting rid of our 4th manager in a year will be a bloody stupid decision.
Sorry spurf but do you really think the coaches are telling the players to play slow predictable football? Last Sunday v Newcastle we were playing crisp fast football in the first half but were **** slow and pondering in the 2nd half. we played fast attacking football against a poor qpr, but were slow and boringly predictable v west brom. We were positive and played with a high tempo v sunderland and really pressed well v Arsenal for most of the game. I could go on...our problem is we are inconsistent and have players who are not doing as they are told. We appear to have a collection of egos rather than a team of players. Until a manager is given time to get his own squad together (not players chosen by a DoF) then we will continue this farce of a journey, spitting out managers and players as we go.
I'd like to know when we are going to start playing with confidence rather than luck. I can't see the Stoke match as being season changing and I really don't know what has to be done to improve matters with the present set up. Who on this board actually feels confident?
Nothing breeds confidence more than winning football matches. Despite playing crap today, the confidence will have been boosted by the result. Witness the scenes at the end which confirm this. Never underestimate the importance of confidence in sport.
We wont keep regular clean sheets with rose, naughton, kaboul and vertongen at the back and we wont score goals with adebayor and soldado...so as these are 1st choice in the prem I have no confidence of any success in thecprem. But as we play others in the cups I am more confident with those.
The squad that plays the cup games have got confidence after winning 5-1 and 2-0 but how many of them go on to start in the PL? It's those players who are coming on as subs and changing the game. Townsend and Kane in particular-add to them Mason who wants to get forward and Dier and what have they all got in common?.............
The coaches are paid huge sums of money because they are 'experts' at managing football teams. Pochettino apparently did a great job at Southampton which is why we poached him for Spurs. OK then in that case if he sends out a team week after week that are playing too slowly then yes I blame him. He is paid to produce a winning team and if he thinks that playing like that will produce the goods, then I beg to differ. If he doesn't think that then why has he not picked a team who will produce commitment and speed from the large squad at his disposal. It is beginning to remind me of the days of Ramos when in the end the team were demotivated and a mess.
Performances are rarely remembered - but results always are. I don't think Spurs looked too bad in possession - although it obviously became easier when Villa had ten men. What would concern me is there seemed little protection for the defence when Villa had the ball. It was noticeable in the first half how the midfield retreated giving space and time to the Villa players on the edge of the penalty area. Strange Sandro goes to QPR with Capoue being the holding midfielder (in front of Kaboul ).
Dawson, Sandro, Holtby, Huddlestone, 4 players who showed commitment and passion in a Spurs shirt. They have gone. So are what we have better? Maybe they will be but I don't see it atm.
Anyone watching MOTD2 - interesting that they highlighted our lack of width in MF. I didn't realise our midfield were staying quite so close to each other! Poch needs to work on that - short, intricate passes are all well and good if you're Barcelona but pace and width, 9 times out of 10, will make the difference.
I'd like to say I agree with Spurff.Speed it up!I also hate tippy,tappy,sideways,backwards football.Who started that rubbish anyway. I like the defenders to find their wingers,when we play them,let the wingers run it nearly to the other goal and the rest SHOULD be easy.Alternate this with a ball carrying midfielder/s who want to go forward,and will.That's all I want to see and this should bring a lot of confidence back to the players. I would also like to see our Hugo sit down with the defence and give them some of his advice.He's seen a lot in his career and I'd like him to share his experience.Just imagine,Spurs with a cast iron defence!Not that Hugo would produce that for us,mores the pity! Yes,I know.I didn't mention our present "goal scorers".I'm lost there......
