IMHO Graham Le Saux got it spot-on in commentary during the 2-1 period. He basically said the players could not decide whether to "stick or twist." The MF pressing game stopped (even though Pochettino was shouting the orders to do so) , but I am unclear as to whether the threats of two yellows etc in MF due to the Chelsky vermin fest scared them off. Similarly Spurs do not know how to defend such leads. It is the not style in which the squad play. Nor are there "old hands" there who could do such a job.
It's irrelevant who the captain in is my opinion, natural leaders will take a game by the scruff of the neck regardless of whether they're wearing an armband or not. The captaincy is useful in lifting a player who might not otherwise be a leader, into a leadership role - such as Hugo. But what our team needs is more leaders on the whole. It's disappointing that our established older players like Jan and Moussa haven't grown into the role yet, and in fact, have a habit of acting like the biggest children on the pitch. It might be Toby as he establishes himself in the team, and hopefully it will happen to players like Dier and Kane as they mature.
Just as the ref is expected to set the tone for the game, so the captain is for a team. Danny, Perryman, Mabbutt. Everything that epitomises Spurs and the manner in which they and their teams played/ behaved is conveyed merely by the mention of their names.
I have to be completely honest in saying that I think Nabil has it in him to be a superior player to Mason in every department. I think his problem this season has probably been frustration at a series of injuries - his mistake has been allowing that frustration to affect his attitude. If he can get that straight over the summer, he has years and years ahead of him to grow into a top drawer player...time being a commodity that Mason has far less of. I would rather keep Bentaleb and see Tom and Ryan move on tbh.
Also I don't think the language/tone from Pochettino towards Bentaleb in public has been anywhere near what Townsend got. So if there is an attitude problem, he doesn't appear to have burnt his bridges (yet) .
I've seen one blog come up with some conspiracy theory saying Nabil's been match fit all season, but Poch has frozen him out. There's a slight problem with this theory, though: Poch never claimed the members of the Kaboul Cabal were injured as a reason they weren't featured in matchday squads, he simply didn't talk about them. On the other hand, he has spoken of Bentaleb's fitness in recent weeks - and, more obviously, Bentaleb's actually featured in our squads in recent weeks prior to his injury.
I think I saw a quote from Pochettino on the squad for the last game, saying that Bentaleb was the only definite out but that he is progressing well on the injury front. Some may feel free to do what I call the 'zeroth law of conspiracy theory' , on those remarks.
Strange days. I actually like a quote from John Terry Chelsea captain John Terry, though, said he hoped no action would be taken. "Players are fighting for league titles, it's emotions," said the 35-year-old former England defender. "It boiled over, let's not get silly and start banning people. It's a London derby and the fans want to see it." Feel dirty now.
Was anyone else's initial thought that Hiddink told him to say that, and if he behaved he might consider giving him a new contract?
Not just that it's in Spurs' interest to not see bans? I suspect you'd have thought differently if it was our players eye gauging and kicking lumps....
well qpr have always been close with the spurs,and so im sad that you didnt turn them over 6-0 this year its great to see leicester a minnow winning the title but next season i expect to the spurs take the prem and i think if you hadnt sold andros townsend you could have done it this season but in fairness you were not playing him anyway andros was trully brilliant for qpr in fact we tried to buy him but anyway next season i expect you guys to do the double
Players got signed to new contracts last time Hiddink was your interim boss, were they not? Similar can be said for when Dim Sherwood was our glorified caretaker. Oopsie!
I can assure you, Hiddink does not give out the contracts at Chelsea and didn't first time around either. Good point though....
What you clearly can't assure me or anyone else of is the fact that having an interim manager means no new contracts are ever signed, which is the point I was quite clearly making. Good attempt at deflecting though...
I think the feeling is that because of the vast amount of cash Sky invest in the coverage, then they are entitled to dictate the fixture list. It's a poor way for the PL to treat the fans, but I think they are like Sky and don't really give a toss for the fans.
Might be of academic interest to check past fixture lists to see how many times a team chasing the PL leader had to play in the run-in 4 or more times in succession after the leader. Leicester are not to blame for having the lead, and there are potential UEFA commitments (for Spurs and others) that have to be factored in, but you cannot say it was even-handed regardless.
There is also the factor that BT apparently ballsed up on their TV scheduling. In thinking Leicester wouldn't last the pace, they used up all their first choices of matches to broadcast, so giving Sky a free choice for the last 6 weeks of the season.
