Great post Lenny completely agree with all that you have said. Especially the last bit. I can't remember ever looking at a Spurs squad without thinking there were at least 3 players id like us to get rid of. Looking at our squad now (taking the players on loan out of the equation) there really is no one I would happily see the back of. I am so happy to be a Spurs fan right now. There are a lot of hard fixtures left but it is possible we could win this. Man city and Arsenal have if anything harder fixtures than we do. It will be interesting to see if Leicester can pick themselves up after today. They have no worries on fixture congestion though. They have been proving people wrong all season, I just hope the wheels do finally fall off this time!
Awesome - and we still have a better positive goal difference than Villa have negative. That really is something!
What a great result, we were not at our best today in terms of passing and creating chances, but we showed a huge amount of commitment and heart and those are characteristics that we have not always shown in these types of matches. A fantastic winning goal from Eriksen and a great a pass from Lamela, and in this season where Kane, Alli, Dembele and Dier have won many plaudits just a quick word for Toby Alderweireld, what a signing maybe he was the final piece in the jigsaw if he is not in the PFA team of season then I will be amazed probably the most consistent performer in this brilliantly consistent team.
Some great posts on here and I have to agree with the general sentiment that players we considered also rans a few season ago have suddenly become vital parts of our squad and team set up. I think it comes down to one vital ingredient Spurs have lacked for years now... leadership. We have a cracking leader off the pitch in Poch who is moulding this team into a solid, defiant unit that has self-believe and confidence and will fight for everything. That comes right from the top. All the players have bought into his philosophy and you can see, there mentality is completely different from anything we've seen for 20+ years. But he's also developed leaders on the pitch. Lloris, Toby, Dier, Kane... who are all part of the spine of the side. Then there's players who have just gone up so many levels. Rose just runs and runs and works his socks off. Dier is like a rock in midfield. Dembélé who used to frustrate us has been a revelation in the centre. Lamela who we used to all rant over (me included) has grown into the team's assist machine, Eriksen who works harder than I've ever seen him and of course the added quality of Alli. All vital parts of a formula he's created that has gelled way faster than I could have imagine. Hats off to Poch. What a job he's done in such a short space of time.
Players and Pochettino celebrating with the fans at the end: There's that mantra that he's beaten into the side after every win: And we go again. No dwelling on results, whether good or bad. No resting on laurels or sitting back and admiring a good job. Who's up next? We go again.
And you know what is most telling about that footage, Poch makes sure he congratulates each and every player. No one is left out. He ensures everyone in that squad feels equal appreciation.
"From my point of view, I did not see the penalty incident. Sometimes in football it happens, it goes for you and against you in the season." An extract from M.P's post match interview. He's been taking lessons from Whinger!
Not to toot my own horn... I think bIgsmithy wanted Lamela to start as well. Brilliant win, though not at all the way I thought we might win. City came out cagily, and either that or our caution took us out of our normal style. Tbf, City with Silva and Aguero are a a very dangerous team. I honestly don’t get the controversy over the pen. The game before last, the ref flat out favored us IMO, no doubt, and I would never argue otherwise. In this case, Stirling stuck his arm out at a 90 degree angle to his body, making himself bigger, and the ball struck his elbow. Rose had about the same call go against him, as I recall. That’s the end of it. If the arm is within about a thirty degree angle of the body, maybe all the way up to 45 degrees, and it strikes the upper arm, it’s not a pen. In this case, it was about 90 degrees. Whether it hit the elbow first doesn’t matter. Whether he turned his back doesn’t matter. If I spread my arms and turn my back to block a shot, it’s still a penalty if it hits my arm. On the other hand, I felt the refs stepped in and gave the game to Arsenal. On second viewing, I think at the least, Simpson acted stupidly. But there’s no way in a million years Arsenal gets a player sent off for two similar fouls.Also, the way Arsenal spends entire games whining sickens me. Giroud at one point whined mightily over a save the keeper made. My God. Leicester dive too much, but they don’t whine absolutely non-stop. A ref with any balls at all would give a yellow at the first whine and nobody would have to see more.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! ****ING YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES! Bloody hell this squad and manager just continue to keep the smile on face beaming much pretty week after week. What an incredible performance today, while we didn't create an abundance of clear cut chances we just went to one of the best sides in world football and put on a performance that any team on the planet would've been proud. To think our side are the youngest in the Prem, the maturity they have in their performances is just something to marvel. We're so cool and composed at the back and so hard working and driven from the midfield and attackers it's just an absolute joy to watch. In my 26 years on this planet I don't think I've ever been more proud of a team than this one and the most beautiful part about it is that I actually feel part of this great club, it's not fans and players and staff it's just Tottenham Hotspur, going forward as one unit. The video PNP just posted where the players are celebrating with the fans and then Poch congratulating every single player including those who didn't play and finally getting a roar from the crowd just shows the sheer togetherness of this football club and it's amazing to be a part of. Rose ran himself into the ground in the first half and I'm sure he'll wake up tomorrow with a few bruises after throwing his body on the line for the team, Dembele yet again bossed that midfield, Dier shut down City impressively and also acted well as that 3rd CB when needed, Wimmer again looked very good, today was his toughest test as a defender to date coming up against one of the best strikers on the planet and he passed with flying colours, Toby was just magnificent again but we've come to expect that, Hugo saved us at the death, I didn't even notice the touch he got until the replays showed it and that may well have been the difference from us leaving with the 3 instead of possibly only just 1 because Otamendi would've surely hit the target at the very least, just again shows why he's the best damn keeper in this league and one of the best on the planet. Everyone else just completely mucked in and helped get the job done against a top, top side. Great penalty from Kane but what a superb, cool and calm finish from Eriksen (Happy Birthday lad!) after quality work from Lamela. Seriously the smile on my face after the game lasted for about 30 minutes, come to think of it I'm still bloody smiling now Amazing result, COYS!
I was gonna mention the same thing. I'm gonna well up. Bloody dynamite team spirit by the looks of things. See how much of a hug Tom Carrol gave him? And he only got 20 mins as a sub! Yet I think he understands that he's still 100% part of this winning formula. Bloody brilliant.
“I want them to play like lions, this is what all managers want and expect from their players.” M. Pochettino said.
The wife just walked past and asked why: a) I have been staring at the league table for the last 25 minutes b) There is a tub of vaseline next to the laptop
Pool fan just having a flick thru the thread and this post struck a chord with me. I think it is noticeable that the top 2 right now are the 2 best Teams , in its fullest sense . in the PL this year and i like that as it might remind some people that it isn't just about splashing cash its about building a unit with planning discipline and most importantly playing for each other. probably shouldn't bring up history with Hiag around but in the 70s 80s we regularly had average (at best) players in our team but they played for the team and that can be enough. anyway i'm off so i'll let you lot enjoy yourselves.
