Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United

I was sat at home feeling very, very sorry for you lot in the stands.

The weather reflects my mood about Spurs at the moment. Bleak and with little sign of things clearing.

I am continuing to bite my tongue until the close of the Jan transfer window though.

One small positive today was that Poch didn't use any of the 3 wantaways for the first time in the league this season. The Blades are in a superb vein of form and are probably the best-drilled side in the league. This team of strangers had enough in the locker to get past Red Star; today was always going to stretch the credulity of their ability to play together as a unit. Regardless of who is in the dug out, 4-5 players now need to integrate into the first team, and need time to do so.

Hoping and praying Tanguy isn't out for a length of time again. Our luck with injuries is ****.

 

We'll probably sign 2-3 players in January but barely see them until the 19/20 season so won't make a difference.

Think Lucas is still being bedded-in as it happens.

 

Our players looked leggy after just 2 days recovery from a tough away game in far flung Europe, Kane for example was blowing second half, it`s a shame we don`t have a like for like replacement for him. Others were noticeably similarly fatigued, Ndombele, Dele, Dier and Sanchez all looked a yard short.

Our back 4 today were not good enough on the ball or at passing out from the back under the press. time and again they gave the ball away when trying to play it forward, which invited the Blades onto us. Sanchez is still error prone, Davies still bang average, Aurier will always be a loose cannon and Dier looked rusty.

We can`t use it as an excuse, but just 2 days recovery time from playing in Belgrade had a noticeable affect on our legs, Sheffield United had a week to rest and prepare, and it showed on the pitch. If we played in a red shirt, we would have been playing this game on Sunday.

VAR once again a talking point, they had a big toe offside and a disallowed goal, we know how they feel after Leicester. I also thought Son was impeded when about to pull the trigger, maybe could of had a penalty but far from clear and obvious.

 

Very hard to know what to say tbh.

1. United deserved to win

2. Dier continued to misplace passes putting us under needless pressure.

3. They were brave (in football terms) by being to psss and move forward at speed playing one touch football...made possible by the movement.

4. Only Dele, Son, Ndombele and Lo Celso played with freedom and took risks.

5. Kane wanted two too many touches.

6. Aurier was as poor as Dier.

7. Thought Winks did well and actually pushed us forward.

8. The fans slating players during the game are helping no one.

9. VAR was a disgrace... over 3 minutes not to give a goal...all cos they made a moronic decision with Man City v West Ham and Leicester v Spurs they sre having to make the same moronic decisons no matter how long it takes.

10. I think we are improving ... patience is needed.
Yep it is small steps but we will get there. Ditching Pochettino is a mistake imho.

11. We were held in a queue in torrential rain outside Northumberland Park St. for 30 mins after the game.

12. I have come off those horse tranquilisers for my back but fell cos of my back and have been in pain since 12pm but ...
a. My 6th form kid looked after me
b. Met my childhood hero Steve Perryman
c. My uni kid is up for the weekend so we is off for dinner so all in all a good day

 

Just looked at the table

How **** have we become in such a short space of time is so ****ing Spursy

 

Today we pretty much got the sort of line up that many fans have been craving. - none of the “wantaways”, and Lo Celso starting again.
Granted, subs could have been made sooner. - Lucas in particular. But Poch has fulfilled many requests from fans today. - keeping a very similar team from Weds for a bit of consistency, too.

But this is the sort of team that we should have been using some time ago. If this is the personnel we plan to use moving forward, it’s going to take time for it to come together. Unfortunately we’re 12 games in with some crappy results on the board. But we can’t get on his case now he’s actually doing it!

As others have said, this stems from the monumental transfer window **** ups. We moaned about it over the last 2 years, but it’s actually come to fruition even more now. Only a clear out and new blood is going to change this.

I agree with CK, it’s all about January.

 

The obvious issue today was that Sheffield United knew we were going to try and pass out from the back, so sat in a position to pick those balls off and snuff out our forward momentum - so in one way Aurier was the right call at RB as he'd at least offer an out ball for the CBs and run with the ball. The issue is that any advantage this would bring is swiftly extinguished by Aurier's brain switching off once he passes the halfway line, and it's not like it was an inconvenience to their defence to mop up

Also got a laugh out of the Twitter/Reddit crowd complaining about Poch not making subs until the 84th minute, even though Winks came on at half time and Foyth in the 72nd minute, because why wait for Sky to create a Narrative when our own fans can make their own?

 

I think it’s more a case of Poch giving in to fans by not playing the players who want away but having none good enough to replace them. He’s damned either way.

The players simply aren’t working hard enough at the basics. Our passing was dreadful today, and we were out-fought in nearly every area. Skill counts for nothing if you don’t work hard.

 

Agreed. This was the first PL that this group has played together as a team. Against an in-form, settled side in Sheff Utd., that team was always going to struggle. But it honestly wasn't any worse than the performances we've seen when the wantaways have been on the pitch.

I'd like to see Sess start at LB in the Wet Spam cup final. I couldn't wait to see Davies step in for Rose but tbh both today and last week at Everton he was woefully bad, continuing his poor, injury-ridden form from last season despite undergoing surgery in the summer. I feel that even after Tanguy and Gio are fully-integrated into the side, we will still inevitably be abysmal at FB. The sheer degree at which we've regressed there since 16/17 is frankly staggering, with neither flank a reliable supply of anything: pressing, crossing, assists, goals, defending. None of them can do it to the requisite standard. And I doubt Foyth is the answer to that either (Poch appears to agree; I think he sees Foyth as a deputy at RB, certainly not first choice there). Give Sess a chance in that position and maybe just maybe we'll start to see some overlapping runs and someone giving the opposition what to think about before they commit men forward.

January will reveal not just Poch's but ENIC's intent. Let it pass us by and he is done as a manager while most fans will be done with them as owners.

 

You really think Poch will last until January?

 

January is only important to me if we’ve got a new gaffer by then. Gives them the chance to bring in one or two players to start implementing their stamp on the team.

There’s no excuse for the dour **** show of football we’re watching most weeks. Doesn’t matter the calibre of players you have, there should still be an identity to our play.

We should’ve lost 2-1 today, VAR ****ed Sheffield over. We were bailed out against a side who’s just been promoted.

 

Tell them to go out, run around a bit and enjoy themselves, that should be enough.

 

Oh, and it's another goal scored thanks to an unforced error by the opposition. That brings the tally to 4 of our last 5 PL goals.

 

Oh ****, it appears that DGC has infiltrated Cartilage Free Captain...
https://www.sbnation.com/users/TrailerParkMafia

 

I’d happily take Harry Redknapp as manager until the end of the season.

 

When you grumpy mofos apologise for your impatience when we end up having a very good season I will will be very humble and won't say I told you so...





























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Did I mention I met Steve Perryman?

 

You lied about coming off those horse tranquillisers, they’re still giving you hope of a good season!

 

We actually played pool as I’m not the greatest at snooker. It’s a really nice club though, only opened about 5 months back so everything is brand new and drinks are pretty cheap.

I took a 7-1 lead but then went Spursy and ended up drawing 7-7, we didn’t get time for a decider either as we realised it was 14:30 and it’s about a 20 minute walk to the ground. Looking back, I wish I stayed in there now

 

Me too. I never had much patience with Pochettino from day one. The guy has always been mutton dressed as lamb imo. His attitude has always reeked of arrogance and when he returned in July after his summer break, his attitude and demeanour stank the place out. It’s no wonder senior players have responded the way they have.
I just wish I was back in Madrid, sweating my tits off in the Spanish heatwave and actually believing we would win the CL final. Pochettino, you blew it that night and I have never forgiven you, the sooner Levy gets rid of you, the better this club will be. Failure to beat Sheffield United shows just how far we have fallen since last season. For goodness sake Levy, just pull the trigger on this berk.