Carroll coming on for Lamela. The Argentinian had a good one today, though he's still frustrating as hell at times. Put in a shift and had some good moments.
Lamela's put in a good shift, credit to him. I've finally clocked what's so frustrating about him: He does all the hard stuff well then messes up the easy, routine moves.
Difficult to see who can deputise for Eriksen as far as the kids go. I was hoping Pritchard would be the one, but he has featured little to date.
Yeah, probably a bit much. We can't get out. Really odd, as we've been finding it easy all game. Psychological, I think.
1-0 FT. Deserved. Youngest side of the season and we outplayed a very dangerous Palace side throughout. A very good overall performance with some excellent, mature individual ones in it. Alli MOTM?
Can we just get it out of the way and hand Alli the Young Player of the Season award now? Also, should an attacking trio of Eriksen-Son-Lamela be known as Erik ErikSon?
Good win and some real plusses. Defence looked really strong, hard work from virtually all (apart from Chadli!) a really promising start from Son - and Eriksen back! But best bit for me was another really strong performance from Eric Dier: nothing complicated, just does the basics really well, covers the ground well and has great positional sense - seems to be in the right place at the right time. May have saved us a good few £m....... Palace weren't at their best and even their support seemed a bit less intense today - but still a really good result.
Still seem to be too reliant on Eriksen to make the fast incisive attack. The good thing is that Son is now PL up and running. It also takes the pressure off Kane (who can find his form) .
Alli's a very good call for MOTM and would probably get my vote. But Son looked threatening throughout (great feet, pacey, eye for goal, works hard, you can trust him with the ball in tight spots - loving the look of him), Dier was again very busy and efficient in the middle, both the CBs had good games, especially Verts (and I liked the way he was often bringing the ball forward too (another advantage of having Dier in the team) and of course Lloris made one outstanding save and generally commanded his box well. Oh and Eriksen looked different class when he came on. I even had my Lamela glasses on today! Or maybe he's like one of those 90s Magic Eye posters. Hang on - I've got it, Ive got it. I see it! Maybe. No. Bollocks. Hang on, I think I can...wait...er, Yes! I think. I could easily say how we really looked like we were going to have trouble breaking them down and how when Eriksen isn't playing and Kane is off form where are the goals going to come from? Answer: Son. (With a bit of help from Eriksen). But really we did look a bit more dangerous overall today. But the main cause of my optimism is that we genuinely look like we're recovering from the Baldini/AVB hiccup. Our recruitment really is looking up. In Dier, Alli and Son we look to have made 3 very, very good signings in just over a year - that's pretty impressive (and we wait to see with N'Jie but even then the very early signs are promising - i.e. he's quick and runs around a lot). And even the players I'm less thrilled with (Lamela, say), well they look like at least Poch has something that he wants and you can't question that Lamela puts the work in, tries to play for the team etc. And I've got gripes with Poch but if he does get the players he wants - if the energy and youth and system can work, then I can see a clearly brighter future. We also look to have a settled CB pairing and of course Lloris is excellent. But here's the thing. Isn't it a shame that Dier's name does not rhyme with "team"? Cos we need to revive and adapt the "Team of Robbie Keanes" song. Seriously - I'm struggling to think why a team of Eric Diers would not get top 7. Maybe a goalie and possibly a LW and at a push number 10. But other than that the other 8 Eric Diers would do you a job. Strength, pace and composure at the back, full backs getting up and down, wingers pinging in lovely crosses from all over the pitch (maybe not so much from the left where this other non-Dier chancer is playing), with a goalscorer and real threat from set pieces marauding up front.
