I've not seen this team give the ball away so much full stop Alfie, our passing in the other direction was terrible too. Considering virtually the same Fulham side played Thursday, I was amazed at their 2nd half energy levels and our apparent lack of it.
I think that will tail off a bit as the season progresses and teams realise they might get relegated!
Good stats Pat so in fact we've scored more in the second half, when we're supposed to 'tire' than in the first half which we tend to dominate. The fact is we're liable to score at any time because we field attacking teams that are full of goals. In VDV, Ade, Bale, Lennon and JD, we have players that are likely to score or make a goal every time they start a match, or even as sub as in JD's case. ATM, teams in the Prem aren't taking the lead against us, but if and when it happens, we're more than capable of striking back.
It was also pretty much the same team that tonked us 5-0 in the cup last year. I'd give man of the match on Sunday to Hutton or Dawson for not turning up and ruining the whole game for us in the first 5 minutes.
I think as Spurs fans Schteff, we're just not used to playing bad and still winning...its definitely a new one on me!
I don't think we played badly, we scored three quality goals, they got a lucky goal from a set piece. Sidwell elbowed our key 'defensive mid' and reduced his effectiveness. At times in the game we played badly, but overall it was a decent performance, and a fantastic result against a team that beat us 4-0 last time out at the Cottage, and have generally given us trouble at their ground this century. I remember them roughing us up in the days of Barry Hayles, almost always they put up a spirited, fighting performance against us at the Cottage. It's a massive major plus, that we now have the defensive strength and cutting edge to overcome them. I remember we cut them to pieces in a 3-3 a few years back, we performed brilliantly, went 3-1 up (Jol was manager IIRC), played practically all the football, then they fluked one in and it ended up 3-3. Did people concentrate on our sensational performance, no. It was mainly about us dropping two points.
Resolute defending is all I thought it was GH, and 2 of our goals were 'Rick O'Shea's' , good moves I agree, but lucky with the finishes you could say. Our attempts to go forward were anything but sensational this time, a ground out result for me, nothing wrong with that either. My use of the word bad, is only in comparison to some of the Rolls Royce football we've seen this season.
Fair comments NSS However, i honestly feel a lot of our fans are too hard on us though, but each to their own etc. The 'ricochets' were helpful, but the shots were goalbound, hence neither are 'O'Gees' Whereas their goal came when one of our own players headed it against another of our players, under pressure granted, and a deserved goal for Fulham. But nevertheless their goal didn't have the quality any of our goals had. In our last 3 Prem games the only goal conced has been a set piece, from a high ball/fight ball. Nothing wrong in scoring from those plays, but we're not being beaten or even conceding to quality football, the type you rightly say we have been playing (at least for considerable periods) this season. The way we set up, means we are liable to be outfought and outmuscled and be liable to set piece concessions, but it also means we have players who can produce quality goals. It's a balance, so far the balance has turned out to be brilliantly correct for 8 prem games running. I still want Sandro in the team, but while we keep winning it's hard to justify dropping Lennon or any other player, so no complaints from me if it's same XI v Villa.
I've watched the game 3 times now and although we were not great and our passing wasn't good,we really weren't as bad as i first thought.Of course when we actually watch the game live it is difficult to be objective,but after the game we tend to over analyze. My impression from the players and after watching the game 3 times is that we always thought we would win which is a great sign of our confidence and self belief something we don't normally associate with Spurs.So for me although Fulham deserved something they lost cos of their finnishing.Where as ours was 1st class and we also defended almost 40 crosses conceding only 1 goal.Alround a good hard fought WIN.
