Only now he's not getting shots in. No combination of our "wide" midfielders has looked very threatening this season. If they had Townsend wouldn't be starting!
After today, here's the list of possible scenarios, listed from best to worst... * The team rebounds from the disappointment to go on a run of form that sees us scrape a Top 4 spot at the end of the season * The team continues performing as they are, and finish Top 6 this season * The team loses form based on losing back-to-back cup matches for a few games, before finding their form too late to do anything * The team loses form for the rest of the season, yet just about manage stay ahead of the pack to cement a Europa place next season * The Tories get re-elected in May
I'm not blaming the ref for our defeat but he was so inconsistent throughout the game. Costa puts his hand in Bentaleb's face but no card. Willian should have already have had a yellow for persistent fouling by the time he booked him for the blatant trip on Rose. Dier, however, got a yellow for a nothing foul which was his first of the game. He was obviously scared of being the subject of Mourinho's normal cryptic comments after the game.
"Finals are not for playing they are for winning." We can complain about Chelsea and Mourinho all we like but that statement right there is why we had 63% possession and nothing to show for it.
I suppose one hit crossbar in the first couple of minutes by us and two in offs by them really says a lot about both teams seasons. Chelsea's game set up not to lose and ours to win brought the obvious result. By the way,what time do they put Costa back in his cage?
That depends on whether it's football you like or winning. I like the game of football and when I watch I want to see a good game. I do not subscribe to the win at all costs idea, it destroys the game.
I like both But sometimes, in a final especially, it might be better to setup to win ugly and save the entertainment for another day?
In an ideal world, you may think that works once in a while but to win multiple league titles and cups, you'd have to adopt that style of football far more often than just a one off. It would have to be coached into the team over a lengthy period and become "the norm" so you can't just suddenly ask the team to park the bus for a one off match. If that's what you want, I think you're sadly supporting the wrong team.
I think we have to realize that Spurs have made such progress in recent weeks that Mourinho feels the need to set up in a defensive fashion. All that money on players and they are frightened to play an attacking game. How sad is that. They played us as if they were a team from the bottom half of the league!
Not at all, but those tactics do sometimes have merit - when the team is struggling or are fatigued for example. Regardless - we lack the ability defensively to play like that. There are lots of positives in our team this season but also there are more than a few passengers.
Thought we played well but we're not dangerous enough in their box. Fine margins decided this final and that's something we can learn from ... experience got them over the line. They created more chances but had a bit of luck . We should take great heart from that. None of the starting 11 played badly I'm but none of our subs played well enough to change things. Poch knows who he wants gone this summer and building on this season will, depend on whether he gets the plays he wants.
Give Poch some time Morpheus, he's not even a year into the job and already, most of us can see where he's taking this team. There's a huge difference in fitness, aptitude and attitude these past few months. Let him build a team of his choosing for a few years, then see where we are.
One more time, it's the team that won't let themselves succeed. Tbf, Pochettino has gotten them back to where they were the year before last: a team always capable of getting themselves to the brink of success, then always bottling it. Last year they were just mediocre. The crucial game this year was Liverpool, I think. A team with an average psychology would have been full of confidence, won, and kicked on. Spurs never looked capable for a single moment of letting themselves take the lead. I actually thought we played decently: maybe a few too many long shots and not enough crosses. I am disappointed about the game today, but am still happy with the team overall this year. We've gone from dull under AVB and strange under Sherwood to fun to watch and exciting, for the most part this year. Chelsea did avoid playing football with us, in a case of once burned, twice shy, which is something. I also would like to see us play a Plan B up to 25% of the time--just to keep the other team from getting too comfortable.
I really think we have to remember that this is a young team. They have done really well already in my opinion, I was very impressed with the way Bentleleb & Mason were so strong in midfield fantastic effort IMO. I see more potential in this team than any Spurs team for some years and I become more and more convinced that given time Poch can become a great manager for us. it strikes me he is learning very fast. Only a couple of months ago I thought he was the wrong man; I've changed my mind.
It s still very much a work in progress. As good as it is to see Kane, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Mason doing well, our defence still has serious problems.
Just back from Wembley and have to say, I don't feel anything like as grizzly after a defeat as I usually do. I actually feel quite proud of our performance today. A decent effort by the lads backed by a very vocal Spurs support. The timing of their first goal was crucial in my opinion because it was clear whoever scored first would probably be the winners. The officials did us no favours which is a shame as we were the only side looking to play football. Let's hope we don't let the rest of the season just fade away.
While I agree, I think we still have a significant problem with team psychology. Somehow, some way somebody has to inject real self-belief into this group. It's not impossible. It's a team that did get a CL place not too long ago. But right now they just don't seem to believe they can clear the biggest hurdles. A series of near misses usually isn't the result of luck. It's the result of most games being decided before the opening kickoff, due to one team believing in itself completely and the other having its doubts.
Unlucky lads, it was our day today as you had no fire power to bother us. Unfortunately possession figures don't win games if you do nothing with them.
Cheers. It was always going to be about that first goal - you got it - lucky, but you got it. After the second, the shop basically got closed. Your defence is very effective in those circumstances, if not always legal.
