When we play well (7)
Everton 4 nil
Man Utd 3 nil
Brentford 3 - 1
West Ham 4 - 1
Man City 4 nil
Villa 4 - 1
Saints 5 nil
27 goals for. 3 against.
When we don't play well (9):
Leicester 1 - 1
NUFC 2 - 1
Arsenal 1 nil
BHA 3 - 2
Palace 1 nil
Ipswich 2 - 1
Fulham 1 - 1
Chelsea 4 - 3
Bournemouth 1 nil
16 goals against 10 for, with 7 losses.
SO far we have played well less often than we have played poorly. That said not all of the bad results have been awful performances.
Certainly since the 2nd half of BHA, our bad results have been some really poor shows - 5 and a half games. The early season dropped points were decent enough performances lacking cutting edge or typified by individual defensive errors, but within a better level of performance.
From my point of view when it is good, it is very good and that's what gives some hope. We definitely needs some more bodies in the squad, CB and CM quite immediately and a bit more physicality. I feel the balance is too much towards technical, gifted players and we need some force in there! We can be a soft touch. Our energetic style also demands a lot from us and the drop off from being on it and slightly below par seems too dramatic.
Seems crazy that we have an identical defensive record to Chelsea, the third best in the league. 2nd highest scorers (36), 1 behind Chelsea, comfortably out scoring Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Villa and yet we are so far from being in contention.
What do we need to smooth out our consistency. Is it the tactics? because they seem to work very well sometimes. Is it the squad depth or the quality on the pitch? Do we have flaky players, or is it something else?
note: please don't use this as a chance to attack the club hierarchy. The squad is not complete, we know that, but what we have is under performing and that is on the coaching staff and the players.
Bipolar Spurs
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 16 minutes ago
It's only recently that we've been hit by defensive injuries but for a lot longer we've been gifting opportunities to the opposition. The problem isn't just about getting players fit. The truest measure of progress is in the performances. Yes, we score a lot of goals but in order to become as potent as we are, we've neglected protection.
I kind of long for a day where we win a game against a side (not Southampton who are truly woeful) without giving the opposition a sniff. As much as the last ditch tackle or the acrobatic saves reflect well on an individual's ability to get us out of a hole, it covers over the cracks of a seemingly easy team to cut through. I want us to dominate, I want us to play attractive football but I also want us to win and win ruthlessly with a robust defence. As it stands, it's either the overly attacking set up or lack of defensive ability from Porro or Udogie that's the problem. The "you score 3, we'll score 4" policy is the very reason why we're inconsistent. It's just not sustainable if the objective is success.
I'd prefer my full backs to first and foremost be driven by clean sheets but I get the impression that for Porro in particular, he's more interested in the numbers further up the pitch. It's just the wrong way around.
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Spurs still create more chances than they concede. And they still have one of the best defensive records in the division. So your argument doesn't stack up Fridge. The defeats have mostly been by one goal this season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the games Sandy. I don't care how many we concede. I care more about opposition chances because over the course of the season, that's the best barometer to determine how good we are defensively. Eventually the defenders will stop getting lucky or the last ditch tackles dry up. You'd have a point if our opponents weren't cutting us open with ease. You don't need to be a statistician to see that.
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
I don't care about Levy, he don't care about me. All I care about is Kulusevski
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 13 minutes ago
I don't care about Levy, he don't care about me. All I care about is Kulusevski
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amen.
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 16 minutes ago
It's only recently that we've been hit by defensive injuries but for a lot longer we've been gifting opportunities to the opposition. The problem isn't just about getting players fit. The truest measure of progress is in the performances. Yes, we score a lot of goals but in order to become as potent as we are, we've neglected protection.
I kind of long for a day where we win a game against a side (not Southampton who are truly woeful) without giving the opposition a sniff. As much as the last ditch tackle or the acrobatic saves reflect well on an individual's ability to get us out of a hole, it covers over the cracks of a seemingly easy team to cut through. I want us to dominate, I want us to play attractive football but I also want us to win and win ruthlessly with a robust defence. As it stands, it's either the overly attacking set up or lack of defensive ability from Porro or Udogie that's the problem. The "you score 3, we'll score 4" policy is the very reason why we're inconsistent. It's just not sustainable if the objective is success.
I'd prefer my full backs to first and foremost be driven by clean sheets but I get the impression that for Porro in particular, he's more interested in the numbers further up the pitch. It's just the wrong way around.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs still create more chances than they concede. And they still have one of the best defensive records in the division. So your argument doesn't stack up Fridge. The defeats have mostly been by one goal this season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the games Sandy. I don't care how many we concede. I care more about opposition chances because over the course of the season, that's the best barometer to determine how good we are defensively. Eventually the defenders will stop getting lucky or the last ditch tackles dry up. You'd have a point if our opponents weren't cutting us open with ease. You don't need to be a statistician to see that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The point I am making is that that is not just down to attacking full backs.
A high press demands a high line and more often than not, 1 or 2 full backs are in advanced positions.
The ability to defend these positions comes from speed and organisation and the ability to counter press the ball. Stopping the opposition advancing it up the pitch, buying that split second of time and then being quickly organised positionally. Chelsea managed it while also having the likes of Cucurella well advanced, centrally a lot of the time.
Where I might be critical is whether we have the players to do this efficiently and often enough. Our balance through the midfield is often very attacking. Even Bissouma is more of a baller than a destroyer.
If you compare to someone like Chelsea, who attack in much the same way as us, they have 2 of Caicedo, Enzo, Lavia. Very much defence minded players, reading play, stepping in, physical. Ahead of them Palmer Sancho Neto Jackson, so also plenty of attacking flair on the pitch, joined by the likes of Cucurella getting very advanced.
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Exactly where we lack ….dier use to cover the full backs when they bombed on ….we don’t have a midfielder doing that anymore …bissouma is too thick to recognise where he needs to cover
Gray is that player …very intelligent…..just hope he gets the chance to play there when we have a defence fit
Having that midfield screen is our main big problem …get that and Ange may finally be onto something
posted 55 minutes ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 5 minutes ago
Exactly where we lack ….dier use to cover the full backs when they bombed on ….we don’t have a midfielder doing that anymore …bissouma is too thick to recognise where he needs to cover
Gray is that player …very intelligent…..just hope he gets the chance to play there when we have a defence fit
Having that midfield screen is our main big problem …get that and Ange may finally be onto something
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted 48 minutes ago
thought Spence's recovery pace was really good yesterday.
The issue is demonstrated by how we have gone from playing Deki & Madders and then dropping Madders and having 2 of Sarr/Bents/Biss.
at United those 2 AMs could not be contained. We played through and around their midfield with ease because they are of such quality, they can do that.
at City we dropped BJ and added another CM with Madders at 10.
For me that seems like the best balance, especially in BJs current form where he is good at getting on to the end of stuff but poor at creating stuff, attacking space, breaking lines. Deki is way more willing to run at a FB and commit defenders than BJ is.
That is what i would go with from now on, in the tougher matches. Bench BJ, Deki drifting from the right. Madders @ 10 and 2 CM behind.
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 16 minutes ago
It's only recently that we've been hit by defensive injuries but for a lot longer we've been gifting opportunities to the opposition. The problem isn't just about getting players fit. The truest measure of progress is in the performances. Yes, we score a lot of goals but in order to become as potent as we are, we've neglected protection.
I kind of long for a day where we win a game against a side (not Southampton who are truly woeful) without giving the opposition a sniff. As much as the last ditch tackle or the acrobatic saves reflect well on an individual's ability to get us out of a hole, it covers over the cracks of a seemingly easy team to cut through. I want us to dominate, I want us to play attractive football but I also want us to win and win ruthlessly with a robust defence. As it stands, it's either the overly attacking set up or lack of defensive ability from Porro or Udogie that's the problem. The "you score 3, we'll score 4" policy is the very reason why we're inconsistent. It's just not sustainable if the objective is success.
I'd prefer my full backs to first and foremost be driven by clean sheets but I get the impression that for Porro in particular, he's more interested in the numbers further up the pitch. It's just the wrong way around.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs still create more chances than they concede. And they still have one of the best defensive records in the division. So your argument doesn't stack up Fridge. The defeats have mostly been by one goal this season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the games Sandy. I don't care how many we concede. I care more about opposition chances because over the course of the season, that's the best barometer to determine how good we are defensively. Eventually the defenders will stop getting lucky or the last ditch tackles dry up. You'd have a point if our opponents weren't cutting us open with ease. You don't need to be a statistician to see that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Your not listening Frudge. Spurs create more chances than the opposition in most games. So I don't get get your point. Are you saying it is only the opposition that are going to score. The stats in Spurs favour far outweigh any chances the opposition get.
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
I don't care about Levy, he don't care about me. All I care about is Kulusevski
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I am sure Levy is worried, when he sells out WHL every match.
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 16 minutes ago
It's only recently that we've been hit by defensive injuries but for a lot longer we've been gifting opportunities to the opposition. The problem isn't just about getting players fit. The truest measure of progress is in the performances. Yes, we score a lot of goals but in order to become as potent as we are, we've neglected protection.
I kind of long for a day where we win a game against a side (not Southampton who are truly woeful) without giving the opposition a sniff. As much as the last ditch tackle or the acrobatic saves reflect well on an individual's ability to get us out of a hole, it covers over the cracks of a seemingly easy team to cut through. I want us to dominate, I want us to play attractive football but I also want us to win and win ruthlessly with a robust defence. As it stands, it's either the overly attacking set up or lack of defensive ability from Porro or Udogie that's the problem. The "you score 3, we'll score 4" policy is the very reason why we're inconsistent. It's just not sustainable if the objective is success.
I'd prefer my full backs to first and foremost be driven by clean sheets but I get the impression that for Porro in particular, he's more interested in the numbers further up the pitch. It's just the wrong way around.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Spurs still create more chances than they concede. And they still have one of the best defensive records in the division. So your argument doesn't stack up Fridge. The defeats have mostly been by one goal this season
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the games Sandy. I don't care how many we concede. I care more about opposition chances because over the course of the season, that's the best barometer to determine how good we are defensively. Eventually the defenders will stop getting lucky or the last ditch tackles dry up. You'd have a point if our opponents weren't cutting us open with ease. You don't need to be a statistician to see that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The point I am making is that that is not just down to attacking full backs.
A high press demands a high line and more often than not, 1 or 2 full backs are in advanced positions.
The ability to defend these positions comes from speed and organisation and the ability to counter press the ball. Stopping the opposition advancing it up the pitch, buying that split second of time and then being quickly organised positionally. Chelsea managed it while also having the likes of Cucurella well advanced, centrally a lot of the time.
Where I might be critical is whether we have the players to do this efficiently and often enough. Our balance through the midfield is often very attacking. Even Bissouma is more of a baller than a destroyer.
If you compare to someone like Chelsea, who attack in much the same way as us, they have 2 of Caicedo, Enzo, Lavia. Very much defence minded players, reading play, stepping in, physical. Ahead of them Palmer Sancho Neto Jackson, so also plenty of attacking flair on the pitch, joined by the likes of Cucurella getting very advanced.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They looked as bad as us in defence