It's because we don't create anything from the midfield any more. Dembele and Eriksen declined then left and the supply dried up. Mourinho started with a 4-2-3-1 with Dier as a holding player, Son and Moura genuinely wide and Kane and Alli in the middle. It worked well for him and he went on a good run, but we were too vulnerable at the back because Dier can't play that role any more and Aurier is Aurier. Then he shifted Alli around, moved him wider or deeper and the goals and assists stopped. Now we're trying to play on the counter, he's way too deep and Kane's completely isolated.
We haven't not created for three years though and that's been the length of time Dele's form has dropped/ been inconsistent. He played wide on occasions under Pochettino a fair bit during the seasons he was at his best and impressed. At that time he just had an unpredictable spark about him. There seems nothing left these days, an occasional flick or trick is about it. His off the ball movement is also nowhere near as impressive for me.
It's been two years, in my opinion. He got 10 assists in the league and 9 goals in the 17/18 season, plus another six goals in the cups. The whole side has dropped off in that time. We didn't maintain the squad properly and it's affected everyone.
I think that I would have started a different team and made different subs but in the real world we have to be motivated everyday to do hard jobs. I ain't gonna mention the money they earn but I will moan about the lack of respect such a turgid performance shows to us as fans. I went to work this morning with a bastard of a headache which I've had for 2 days. The kids and staff team still got my best efforts all day. The idea that I need my manager to motivate me is weird imho. The kids deserve the best I can offer. I may not always be able to be first class every day but I can (and always do) give my best effort no matter what as I have respect for the kids and myself as a professional. The same can not be said about the performances of the players yesterday imho. And for me, that is their responsibility rather than the manager's.
I hear what you are saying but I think there is a difference between the kind of complex interaction job you have and the more simple task of playing a game that you have a great ability for. In order to get the last possible % out of an elite player he has to be motivated. You have only to look at the case of first halves and second halves, often the performance is quite different and this can be a number of factors but one of them has to be the manager. If it's not and it's only about team selection and tactics then I think we would see a very different set of top managers. Different individuals respond in different ways and a good manager has to respond to this. In fact thinking about it the managers job is probably more like yours, with no single answer and constantly different depending on who you are dealing with. Spurs looked tired, now it could be something else like a rabbit in the headlights inability to react because of pressure or it could be sheer physical lack for whatever reason. It could be trying to play as the manager wanted and in effect trying too hard and losing your natural flair. It could of course be that Everton were the better team and they prevented us from playing well. Whatever it was we have to hope it's a blip but the Manager has the job of sorting it and IMO he failed in that game whatever it was.
I don't disagree with a lot of this but where I do is based around the effort put in. I am not a fan of Jose but his view of the "lazy closing down" was pretty accurate. A lack of confidence should not stop a player from trying to close players down. I get they may make easier passes or may not show for the ball or will not take players on due to a lack of confidence but a lack of effort in unforgivable imho, and that's what I witnessed yesterday and after the end of last season I was genuinely shocked by that.
I made similar points a few posts ago comparing pretty much exactly that eleven with the buys we've made since. We have spent nearly 300m and have currently not managed to buy a single player who would get into that team at its best. I think we've currently got 6 players playing at top 4 standard: Lloris, Davies, Lo Celso, Dele, Son and Kane. There is some prospect of Dier and Winks getting back to that level and some prospect of Sessegnon, Doherty, Hojbjerg, Hart, Sanchez, Ndombele, Gedson and Bergwijn reaching it this season. If all that happens and we bring in two good players we will be fine.
https://www.not606.com/threads/tottenham-hotspur-v-everton.386399/page-8#post-14120019 "Make a ****ing effort, eh?" - Mourinho from the sideline.
I agree that our recruitment and management of the team has been poor the last few years, that's where I've held gripes for some time because we've either not strengthened where necessary or not spent wisely enough when spending, whilst also allowing too many to overstay their welcome. I have different opinions to the level/ ratings of players though. Top four standard: Kane, Son, Lloris. Top six: Lo Celso (likely top four soon), Doherty Potentially top four/ six: Sessegnon, Tanganga, Sanchez, Ndombele, Skipp, Bergwijn, Parrott Squad options: Gazzaniga, Davies, Aurier, Lucas - just TBC: Hart, Hojbjerg, Cirkin, White Should be up for sale and use funds to reinvest: Toby, Dier, Sissoko, Winks, Dele, Lamela, Gedson (cancel loan, can't see him getting a look-in), I'd also happily accept an offer for Lucas too
Tbh I am only looking at our games since lockdown and felt there was sbig improvement after the Bournemouth snd Sheffield United games. I think that's why I sm so shocked st thd stste of yesterday's game , particularly the second half.
people will overlook what this actually says about the state of our players There was also a ‘lets go’ in there too
Watching us play over the last few months reminds me of our league cup performances when Poch was in charge. We’d make tonnes of wholsesale changes and there’d be no cohesion. But this is now what it’s like to watch our starting XI on a regular basis. Frightening that this is now the first XI, rather than those on the periphery.
Agree with that but putting square pegs in round holes also doesn't help. At least we can rest kane for the plodvid game now we have a new striker,oh wait a minute we haven't got one
Or AVB's second season where the starting xi consistently changed yet always played the same tactics anyway
