The boys need a HT slap for sloppiness in defending the left flank, but otherwise I can live with the first 45.
1-0 HT. Mixed half, for me. Cagey early on, despite having decent possession. Thought that they rattled us with some dubious tactics before we scored. They created far more chances than we did, though it wasn't that many either. I'd consider taking Alli off during the break. They seem to be trying to get him sent off and he's probably not far away from it. Maybe stick Onomah on, though it'd be quite an ask for the youngster.
Good performance in the first half. Great pen from Chadli too, he was 4/1 to score anytime and 100/1 to score first with it finishing 2-1 to us so I could be in the money here Stupidity from Alli nearly threw the game away though. Hope Pochettino takes him off at half-time. Get Dier on and push Carroll forward, we've got the away goal so we just need to sit back and hit them on the counter.
Don't get me wrong I think Alli is an amazing young player, but he really needs to cut out late challenges his been doing lately, sooner or later the ref will see it when he leaves one on an opponent and he will get sent off, I remember him doing something similar against Palace.
I must say I've been very pleasantly surprised. Given the number of changes and lack of a DM, we've controlled possession and pressed very effectively. We're suffering from 'Chadli syndrome' down the left - Davies is getting zero help down there. I'd also take Alli off. His little kick was very cynical and not what I want to see from a Spurs player. They are now pulling every trick in the book to get him sent off. I'd replace him with Dembele and shift Mason or Carroll further forward.
"Don't get me wrong I think Alli is an amazing young player, but he really needs to cut out late challenges his been doing lately, sooner or later the ref will see it when he leaves one on an opponent and he will get sent off" Yep. Actually snidey little digs at players was what Beckham was doing all season in 1997-98 (and we know where that ended up) . The manager needs to tell him to show restraint.
Chadli appealing about being pushed on the free-kick. You're a big bloke, Nacer. Push the ****er back.
That's horribly cynical by Astori. How the **** is he still on the pitch? The ref has absolutely bottled that and the defender was expecting to go off.
