Only 3 with any reason to do anything but hang their heads in shame... Eriksen and Vertonghen were very good. Dele started well. The rest were crap.
Sorry I thought the ref had a good game the cynicism of Valencia and Herndousez aside. Sanchez MOM is a joke he dived more in that game than Dele has in the last 6 and gets rewarded. Second half was a big disappointment with United controlling the game. Can't blame the ref though.
Poch's stubbornness is becoming a major issue and maybe we can see why he's never managed to win a pot: Kane looks a long way off being fit. Son should have started upfront Alderweireld is still being paid by Spurs so play him. Don't wait until it's too late to make substitutions
We must find a way past parked bus We move quicker or even get professional with longer passing Angled movement off the ball also a bit sluggish today
No but he let Herrera get away with so much. What Pogba did to Dembele was the same as Dembélé did to Sanchez. So much inconsistency just as we have seen all season. Valencia’s foul on Vertonghen should have received a second yellow. The game may have turned out differently if he applied the laws consistently
The obvious issue is that, with Toby's benching/banishment we lost the one player who was able to quickly transition from one phase to another by chipping a ball out of defence to the feet of a forward 40-60 yards up the pitch - and the only other player capable of doing so, Dier, has mainly played in central midfield for the past couple of seasons. That's one thing that does need looking at: Vertonghen, Sanchez and Foyth are all capable of bringing the ball 20-30 yards up the pitch, but usually it's followed by a two yard sideways pass to Dembele/Dier/Wanyama/Winks rather than a through ball that could open things up.
Like the CL, refs don't want to send players off. It 'spoils the game', so you can commit niggly fouls all you like. It's stuff like that we need to bloody learn about and do to others. Juve kicked us off the park and we let them. Today was less obvious but we still don't learn to get in there and exploit a lead by breaking up the opposition's rhythm. We're just too bloody soft and it's holding us back massively.
It doesn’t help when the manager states to the media that the FA cup really doesn’t matter that much, indicating it’s all about the CL Try talking to the fans Poch. It does to us, as we know there’s no chance of winning the league or the CL. If CL qualification is so important, why have we not at least seen some fight on Tuesday night that proves that? Tuesday’s game was so poor, it seemed like the players had today’s game in mind, but then we go and play today like we did on Tuesday. Makes no sense, and has caused a nervy end to our CL qualification, and put us out the cup. Baffling.
SPOLIER ALERT - BIG RANT COMING !! YET AGAIN when it really matters in the big games (im not talking real madrid in the group stage or one off premie league games) Spurs come up short. Brilliant in the first 20 then as usual we concede and instead of taking it on the chin like United do we just wilt. I wrote an article recently about our defence, we always concede against top opposition and its often 2 goals or more. As others have rightly said Kane has been awful since his return, credit to the united defenders but this is not the real Harry Kane. Son spent most of the time on the deck, constantly outmuscled, Dele great goal but again he insists on those flicks time nd time again, often surrendering posession. Dembele great for the first 20 minutes but then poor, Dier not mobile enough or creative enough in CM. Its all well and good our players demanding huge money or perhaps moves away but are they really deserving of it? Our last 3 performances bar the opening spell today have been shocking, right at the business end of the season, again when it really matters. Chelsea breathing down our backs after halving a 10 point gap behind us, Spurs need to get their act together and win our remaining 4 games. Finally onto Pochetinno, love him but his record in cup competitions is awful. Champions league football is all well and good and great for the clubs coffers but we need to bloody win something. In the summer we need to sign experience and winners, we cant keep on buying potential all of the time , even if we sign a player or two who are coming to the end of the careers. 28 years since we last won the FA cup, shame on you Spurs, shame on you.
Not the issue. The issue is that the performances by the players AND manager this week has now put immense pressure on the CL slot. 8 pts from 12 needed as of today.
I am no way surprised by this result and indeed made a few quid out of backing United. I thought Poch made a few mistakes and we ran out of ideas, but it`s easy for the game plan to go out of the window when you have the referee giving your opponents the benefit of doubt all afternoon, it changes the dynamic of a game. Taylor had a poor game, he let two United players off red cards, allowed United to time waste, and bought most of the United players` falling over and feigning of injury theatrics. Very Maureenesque tactics and it worked a treat for United, they had three chances and took two of them, them managed the game with the help of the referee. Spurs need to get more street wise in these big games and get in the referees face more, Valencia should have had a blatant second yellow and yet none of our players barely complained.
Moot point. Their deluded egos absolve themselves of all responsibility or blame (see under Modric 2011/2012) .
Next two PL games look massive now. Watford at home. West Brom away. Both potential banana skins that we could easily mess up. Poch has got a job to do now. He better do it.
