Just on my way home from the game, and thought id get this over with asap. Today reminded me of our last time at the top table of English football - no desire, no effort, no ability, and no team spirit.
I cant work out why today was so different from last week, albeit the same end result - No points.
From the very first minute Spurs were better than us and wanted it more. Every 50/50 challenge they won, and they were cleverer than us with and without the ball. Frustration grew in the stands as the game went on. I am sitting here in disbelief at our poor performance, it really was a disgrace.
We sat off them the whole game, and never looked up for it. How on earth can our supposed new recruits who are the 'right sort' put in such a lack of effort!!!!
Our only chance of note in open play came at 1-0 we had a chance to level the score, but Phillips wasted a superb chance. A few chances came from corners which were wasted as usual. And whilst we are talking about corners - my god! We still cant defend them. Last season we were joint top for conceding the most, and now have 2 in 2 games this season!
Playing 3-5-2 you have to work hard otherwise you get punished, and today we didnt work hard enough as a team.
THE RATINGS
Green - 5 - distribution was ok, although a number went to Isla who was too short to win the headers. Perhaps should have done better with a couple of the goals.
DUNNE - 3 - time and time again he was caught in posession and made a number off poor and clumsy clearances. Awful.
FERDINAND - 5 - let down by those around him tbh. Had no protection. Had a half decent game.
CAULKER - 3 - at fault for the 2nd goal making a crazy run away from their attacker. Missed 2 good corner chances and was generally poor. Not solid at all.
TRAORE - 3.5 - awful. Defensively he was shocking, and attacking wise made little attempt to run at the defence. Crosses poor and passing worse.
ISLA - 5 - had a half decent game. Looked comfortable on the ball but had little passing options. Some decent crosses but nobody in the box.
BARTON - 5 - only player who clearly gave his all imo. He tried but had little support and often found himself closed down quickly. Corners much better, but Caulker wasted them.
FER - 3 - awful debut. Clumsy in posession, lazy without it. Lost many tackles and didnt know where to be at times. Didnt close down at all.
MUTCH - 3 - did we spent 5m on him? Really poor, lazy and off the pace. Didnt close down at all.
PHILLIPS - 2 - meant to be playing alongside Remy but he was so bad he may as well not have been there. Wasted a perfect chance and was the laziest player on the pitch. I have said in the past I havent been impressed, and today he proved it again. So poor on and off the ball.
REMY - 4 - had the ball a few times but had so little support all he could do was win corners or throw ins. So isolated at times it was worrying.
SUBS:
ONUOHA - 5 - came on at half time for Duune and we switched to a 4-5-1. We looked a little better and Onuoha did all he could. Won his battles.
FAURLIN - 6.5 - came on for Fer and instantly we had a little more intelligence in our play. Was a calming influence and ran into spaces.
ZAMORA - 5 - again, came on and gavd Remy a little more support. Someone to win the ball and hold it up. We created a few chances, one which Zamora wasted.
So there you have it, we were that bad. Whether it was a collective team issue or individuals bringing the rest down its hard to judge. But our fans were not happy for sure, and many went at 4-0. As i said, we switched to 4-5-1 at half time, and whilst we were SLIGHTLY better, thr damage was done. I see Harry is refusing to blame the system - but the players. To an extent I agree, but we were so easy to play through I wonder if 3-5-2 is wise away to the better sides.
To add to our superb day out Harry decided to show us a conplete lack of respect. Not once, but twice responding to Spurs fans "harry give us a wave". At 2-0 and 4-0 down. Now it might seem petty to you, but for me, at 4-0 down esoecially that is a disgrace. And our fans (not me I must add) duly let him know our feelings to that with a chorus of boos.
Seriously cant believe we were that bad today..
I could probably say much more, but I will stop now to save it ruining my evening!
I cant work out why today was so different from last week, albeit the same end result - No points.
From the very first minute Spurs were better than us and wanted it more. Every 50/50 challenge they won, and they were cleverer than us with and without the ball. Frustration grew in the stands as the game went on. I am sitting here in disbelief at our poor performance, it really was a disgrace.
We sat off them the whole game, and never looked up for it. How on earth can our supposed new recruits who are the 'right sort' put in such a lack of effort!!!!
Our only chance of note in open play came at 1-0 we had a chance to level the score, but Phillips wasted a superb chance. A few chances came from corners which were wasted as usual. And whilst we are talking about corners - my god! We still cant defend them. Last season we were joint top for conceding the most, and now have 2 in 2 games this season!
Playing 3-5-2 you have to work hard otherwise you get punished, and today we didnt work hard enough as a team.
THE RATINGS
Green - 5 - distribution was ok, although a number went to Isla who was too short to win the headers. Perhaps should have done better with a couple of the goals.
DUNNE - 3 - time and time again he was caught in posession and made a number off poor and clumsy clearances. Awful.
FERDINAND - 5 - let down by those around him tbh. Had no protection. Had a half decent game.
CAULKER - 3 - at fault for the 2nd goal making a crazy run away from their attacker. Missed 2 good corner chances and was generally poor. Not solid at all.
TRAORE - 3.5 - awful. Defensively he was shocking, and attacking wise made little attempt to run at the defence. Crosses poor and passing worse.
ISLA - 5 - had a half decent game. Looked comfortable on the ball but had little passing options. Some decent crosses but nobody in the box.
BARTON - 5 - only player who clearly gave his all imo. He tried but had little support and often found himself closed down quickly. Corners much better, but Caulker wasted them.
FER - 3 - awful debut. Clumsy in posession, lazy without it. Lost many tackles and didnt know where to be at times. Didnt close down at all.
MUTCH - 3 - did we spent 5m on him? Really poor, lazy and off the pace. Didnt close down at all.
PHILLIPS - 2 - meant to be playing alongside Remy but he was so bad he may as well not have been there. Wasted a perfect chance and was the laziest player on the pitch. I have said in the past I havent been impressed, and today he proved it again. So poor on and off the ball.
REMY - 4 - had the ball a few times but had so little support all he could do was win corners or throw ins. So isolated at times it was worrying.
SUBS:
ONUOHA - 5 - came on at half time for Duune and we switched to a 4-5-1. We looked a little better and Onuoha did all he could. Won his battles.
FAURLIN - 6.5 - came on for Fer and instantly we had a little more intelligence in our play. Was a calming influence and ran into spaces.
ZAMORA - 5 - again, came on and gavd Remy a little more support. Someone to win the ball and hold it up. We created a few chances, one which Zamora wasted.
So there you have it, we were that bad. Whether it was a collective team issue or individuals bringing the rest down its hard to judge. But our fans were not happy for sure, and many went at 4-0. As i said, we switched to 4-5-1 at half time, and whilst we were SLIGHTLY better, thr damage was done. I see Harry is refusing to blame the system - but the players. To an extent I agree, but we were so easy to play through I wonder if 3-5-2 is wise away to the better sides.
To add to our superb day out Harry decided to show us a conplete lack of respect. Not once, but twice responding to Spurs fans "harry give us a wave". At 2-0 and 4-0 down. Now it might seem petty to you, but for me, at 4-0 down esoecially that is a disgrace. And our fans (not me I must add) duly let him know our feelings to that with a chorus of boos.
Seriously cant believe we were that bad today..
I could probably say much more, but I will stop now to save it ruining my evening!