Looking forward to it but with some termination. Just hope City give them a game and they don’t capitulate like they did versus the two Manchester teams. I’ll accept a defeat if it’s like the Arsenal game but be disappointed if City cannot build on 2 excellent away performances.
Does Colin go for his home game plan or his away game plan? No doubt spurs will be a handful, but we need to focus on us not them. I'm expecting a loss but would be delighted with a point.
OK - here's the bookie's thinking on today's clash......................... please log in to view this image
Had a look - exact same (boring?) choice again this week - going for an £50 repeat combo of the Leicester game, so............. £20 on a City win or draw double chance @ 9/5 to return £56 (or nothing) £10 on a City win @ 15/2 to return £85 (or nothing) £10 on Camarasa to score any time @ 6/1 to return £70 (or nothing) £5 on Morrison to score any time @ 12/1 to return £65 (or nothing) £5 on Bamba to score any time @ 12/1 to return £65 (or nothing) That's another 50 quid on - let's see what comes back (if anything). EDIT - odds on result went out a little just before I hit the button.......
Looks like Aurier is the only injured player they expect back and Lamela is nowhere near fit. Their attacking options were very thin off the bench v Wolves and the first choice 11 looked tired. They will give us chances (as they did with both Everton and Bournemouth) so if we can take a couple and keep it tight at the back we are in with a shout.
Let's be honest, would any of our team get in the Spurs 25 man squad ? We know that we will struggle against the top 6. We must forget that an concentrate on the bottom 6.
Paid a visit to the the bookie who always rubs his hands and laughs when I turn up. Well he's not laughing now! £2 on a Spurs 3-0 win with Kane to score first. Returns me £30. About time too.
He's laughing even more now. 14/1 for a 3-0 scorecast? You've been buggered badly without a single drop of lube in sight.
The three aspects in your first sentence are spot on - abysmal all round on and off the pitch before and during the game. Your second sentence is a bit lightweight - the whole fcking team needs addressing. That was embarrassing. No question about the quality they have, but there can also be no question about the quality we lack right throughout the side. Zero points was the expectation by most to be fair, but where was the team that played so well at Leicester?
Our performances against the top 6 sides is embarrassing. I am dreading going to the Chelsea & Liverpool fixtures. The gulf in class is phenomenal which is expected but for crying out loud surely 11 professionals can make a game of it. The team formation didn’t help with some players defensive qualities laid bare. Why was Paterson on the right wing? What was the point of playing Reid up top on his own? Ok I’m delighted we’ve got 4 points out of 12 which is 4 more than I expected but to be so abjectly outplayed yesterday was disappointing and depressing.
We didn't play Leicester last night. Spurs are streets ahead of them. It has often been said on here that the Prem consists of 3 separate mini leagues and we are in the bottom pack of 6 or 7. The top 7 are miles ahead of us from top to bottom hence the poor results against them. They have the resources to ensure that situation remains other than the occasional blip such as Leicester. I would have liked to have seen more energy from us but, as against the Mancs, the early goal seemed to drain whatever energy existed. I agree the second half was like a training session for them but as they have bigger games coming up, Chelski in the Carabao and Man U in the league that was almost inevitable once they got 3 up. However, I was mystified by the selection of Reid in the centre of our front 3. Their cb's swatted him off like an annoying midge. He is so obviously out of his depth. Paterson was played wide right to target Rose on high balls and track him back when he overlapped. The latter worked okay and he beat him most of the time but we rarely picked up his flick ons. It was on their right we had the bigger problem with Murphy not getting back quickly enough and Cunningham not knowing whether to stick or twist. I assume Murphy got pulled for not following instructions to track back as, at least, he posed some threat on our left. We seemed a bit more solid with Hoilett but apart from the header he made over Trippier he made no threat to their back line. Lloris also had an easy time. Their cb's had their easiest game ever. NML cannot be fully fit as I can see no good reason why we would not start with him on the right. With him there then at least Paterson would have made them earn their money. The bottom line is they are a much better side with every player totally comfortable on the ball and able to use it. Contrast that with our back four including full backs who get nose bleed whenever they cross the half way line. Trippier and Rose frequently set up as wingers and had no problem pushing forward when they had the ball. There was no point in us trying to kick them off the park (as one clown a few rows behind me frequently tells our players to do). It was tough enough playing them with 11 let alone 10 or even 9. If we can learn anything from them it is their movement and the ability of all their team to operate in different positions. This will need a higher level of skill and fitness in our squad. Hopefully we can get some of that with whatever signings we make this month. As with most on here I agree we desperately need a new rb (Clyne would be good) so Manga can go to cb and give Morro and Bamba serious competition, a defensive mf and, please please please, a striker who knows where the goal is.
