There is one obvious suggestion as to why we're not as compact a unit as we were a couple of seasons ago Pitch at WHL: 100m x 67m Pitch at Wembley: 105m x 69m While blaming Wembley for every single one of our woes is illogical, it certainly does affect our pressing game by having so much more pitch to cover - especially when we have spent chunks of the season making do with midfielders having to muck in with the defensive work due to injuries elsewhere, as they're not as disciplined in the role as someone like Parker was
Possibly part of the reason, agreed. However, I think it’s more that teams have learnt how to deal with our pressing game - which is part of the reason we find it hard to break sides down.
105 x 68, which is the minimum as stipulated by Premier League rules for new stadiums For comparison's sake, that's the same size as the pitch at the Emiroids and Old Trafford, larger than the ones at Goodison Park or Selhurst Park (as the wording of the rule gives them loopholes due to having older stadiums, just as it gave us) but considerably smaller than the one at the "Etihad" or St James Park (both of which are 115x74)
I'm not sure we play the pressing game, yeah sure we close a player down, every team does but as for the pressing game...I don't think that's us anymore...the intensity level of our game shows that. We seem a different team in the CL. I'm wondering wether it's because they don't have the pressure they have in the league... the squad has huffed and puffed for 4 years for the title...it's inevitable they will eventually burn out mentally
Thanks LDL, but it shouldn't take a fan of another team to say it! If it was as bad as claimed we wouldn't be anywhere near the position we are in now. Or are you all saying that our league position and quarter final CL are lucky? That's surely what fans of other clubs would say about us isn't it? Nobody is saying we don't have bad performances, but all teams do. And there are reasons for that too. There seems to be a call for perfection that just isn't going to be possible with our finances compared to those that don't need to run on any recognised (and fair) financial model - or those where the narrative is that they should get "more than their fair share" of refereeing decisions. Given the circumstances we've not only done as well as can be expected, but far better.
We need someone with Sissoko’s energy and commitment (now!) but with more skill and understanding. I have no suggestions to put forward, but agree that Lloris is the wrong choice, and that Jan is the best fit among the present squad.
I think that it suits Vertonghen down to the ground, but I suspect that any change of captaincy would end up gifting it to Kane. I don't think that would be the best decision, for a variety of reasons.
I think that Pochettino should be looking at himself for this, to be honest. He's done a fantastic job and we shouldn't be able to challenge for a Champions League spot with our finances, so I'm not knocking him a lot. He's made big mistakes at crucial times though, which has cost us shots at trophies. I'm not suggesting getting rid of him or that he's done a bad job, by any means, but he needs to learn from his mistakes. Lunacy, like playing Son as a wing-back for the first time in a massive game, has to stop. Reintroducing rusty players into starting XIs when we don't need them is another repeat performer. We also need to help him out by bringing in the right players and working on our academy sides. There's very little in the way of a bridge from our U23s to our first team. You work your way up and then you're given a shot and you either become a regular or drop back down completely. There's no fluidity there and we have squad players sitting around for weeks at a time with no games.
I think you're doing as well as can be expected especially given the financial demands of the new stadium. I understand that the long term plan to make the club more competitive financially has meant that spending funds on the stadium has made less funds available for transfers and wages. However, I still think it's risky not to spend on players, gambling on the manager achieving the main goal of top 4 with the players available to him. If not replacing Dembele costs you a top four place, then it looks a shortsighted decision financially (irrespective of the disappointment of fans and the knock-on effect of then making it harder to recruit the right players and be competitive next season because the club doesn't have the same appeal outside the CL). I think there is a balance to be struck, which recent results suggest isn't being struck.
Earlier in the week Pep was asked if its true he might join Juve at the end of the season. he categorically denied any such outcome and planted his flag firmly in the City camp I prefer that approach and i bet the players do too
Pep needs an open cheque book for his "magic" to work. I doubt Juve can keep their current spending at the level it is. Wage bill is almost twice the size of the next team (AC Milan) and Ronaldo's individual annual wages are more than half of the the teams in Serie A spend on their entire squad. My feeling this summer is that having repeatedly just missed out on the CL they went all in on a gamble to win the big tin. But if they fail it will probably backfire spectacularly. There simply isn't enough money in the Italian league...unless they're mobbed up...again.
I'm afraid I just can't take you seriously as your comments on multiple threads (this one being a prime example) indicate that you're either blind or in the employ of Messrs Levy and Pochettino. Almost everyone can see that we have regressed but you still peddle your mantra that we're improving. It's like watching Theresa May wheeling out her withdrawal agreement over and over again.
I'm sure I'm guilty of over stating my case but the overwhelming negativity on here really gets to me. We are in the CL quarter finals for only the third time in our history, are third in the PL and if we stay there that will be the first time ever we've been in the top 3 four years in a row, and we lost a semi final on penalties. This despite having all our best players in the World Cup later stages so having no rest and playing all our home matches at Wembley. And according to some of the posters on here this has been done with a Chairman who knows nothing about football, a manager who doesn't learn from his mistakes and is tactically inept and with half the squad being of Championship quality. The people who I've had near me at Wembley spend the whole match saying the same sort of thing rather than encouraging the team.
I'm sure we all agree that we should encourage the team; that goes without saying. Also, we have come a long way since Levy became chairman and further since Poch became manager; i'm not going to dispute that. However, Poch has made the same mistakes multiple times and the team has regressed from our best season when we came 2nd with the most goals scored and the least conceded. Some of our players are not what they were (this started last season tbh), whether because of age, tiredness, injuries or maybe a realisation that this team will not fulfil the potential that so many have talked about. An injection of new blood is now needed. Sir Alex created 4 distinct teams in his time at Old Trafford, clearing the old guard at the right time. A similar approach is now needed at Spurs. And, btw, if everyone around you at Wembley is saying the same thing then clearly they are all seeing the same thing and maybe you need to adjust your thinking.
