Spurs 2023/24

[Zapp Brannigan]

Tonight - Man Utd vs Sheff Utd, Newcastle @ Crystal Palace.

Saturday - Man Utd vs Burnley, Newcastle vs Sheff Utd.

Not inconceivable that they could both be only 4 points behind by the time we play on Sunday, albeit having played 2 games more each.

Villa at home vs Chelsea on Saturday. Not worried about Chelsea, so a favour from them would be good - we're going to be 9 points or fewer back from Villa with 3 games in hand, but games in hand are worth nothing if we lose them vs the big boys.

Huge, huge game in the NLD on Sunday; both for our own needs and to stop them from winning the title. They're going to finish ahead of us anyway, but that will be mathematically confirmed if we don't win.

No Udogie, out for the remainder of the season. A month or 2 back that would have been a disaster, but he's looked below par recently so less of a blow. Ben Davies to play against Saka, should be interesting.

 

[Cerberus]

Well didn’t Chelsea roll over (as expected) for their mates?

I have to go back a while since I was so pessimistic about a NLD. I can’t help thinking they will demolish Spurs - it could get very ugly! Ange won’t change a thing in our approach, so we will concede - how many is the question?!?

Lady Luck going Arsenal’s way - all the way to the title I suspect.

A piss poor Man U just 7 points off us now - demonstrates just how Spurs have faltered over these last few months.

Can’t wait for the season to end tbh - although, I see the club are flying to Australia at the end of May for an end of season tour/‘brand’ expansion - don’t want to hear any moans about tired players thus or next season

 

[Pickman's model]

Well didn’t Chelsea roll over (as expected) for their mates?

that's conspiraloonery far above and beyond what might reasonably be expected

 

[Cerberus]

that's conspiraloonery far above and beyond what might reasonably be expected

Tongue firmly in cheek.

Though I might add that the fixture lacks the intensity of either’s games v Tottenham. The ‘we hate Tottenham’ derby

 

[Pickman's model]

Tongue firmly in cheek.

Though I might add that the fixture lacks the intensity of either’s games v Tottenham. The ‘we hate Tottenham’ derby

for me a 5-0 defeat of chelsea is only a start in resetting the world - it's partial payback for 22/3/14

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Well didn’t Chelsea roll over (as expected) for their mates?

I have to go back a while since I was so pessimistic about a NLD. I can’t help thinking they will demolish Spurs - it could get very ugly! Ange won’t change a thing in our approach, so we will concede - how many is the question?!?

Lady Luck going Arsenal’s way - all the way to the title I suspect.

Much like us, Arsenal rely on imposing their style of play on a game; just occasionally, it doesn't work (in the way that Newcastle did to us, and Villa did to them).

They're obviously that bit better than us this season, but the difference is relatively fine margins - nowhere near as pronounced as Everton v Liverpool for example, and look what happened last night.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

A favour from Burnley!

Or more accurately, a favour from the absolute clown who won an Andre Onana lookalike competition and has been faking it as a premier league goalkeeper all season. 6 points up on Man Utd, 7 up on Newcastle; 2 games in hand on both.

Time to be Chelsea fans for the evening, although a consolation would be if they lose we're 2 points away from mathematically finishing above them.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Entertaining. I was enjoying Chelsea being beaten, I enjoyed thinking Chelsea had won it, and a draw is points dropped for both. Not too shabby.

Bring on tomorrow.

 

[planetgeli]

Spurs v Arsenal

Spurs v Man City

Quite funny you have destiny in your hands. Even funnier it's Arsenal's.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

By Ange's standards, a pragmatic lineup for the NLD. Kulusevski's workrate and ball-carrying ability preferred to Johnson's pace and directness; Hojbjerg as a defensive anchor instead of Bissouma's "attacking holding midfielder" (copyright me, 2024) and Bentancur's neat and tidy ball-retention instead of Sarr haring up and down the pitch all day long. Unsurprisingly, steady Ben Davies gets the nod at LB.

Vicario
Porro - Romero MvdV - Davies
Hojbjerg
Bentancur - Maddison
Kulu --------- Son --------- Werner

Subs: Austin, Royal, Dragusin, Sarr, Bissouma, Lo Celso, Gil, Richarlison, Johnson

COME ON YOU SPURS!​

 

[Cerberus]

Baffling team selection.
Men against boys at set pieces.
Caught on the break again.
Son can’t continue at #9
Maddison an empty shirt
And yet…almost salvaged a point.
Can’t go 0-3 down to title contenders and expect to emerge with points.

Naive tactics, defending and attitude.

Poor

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Defending set pieces has become a real problem, there has to be more we can do. Kane always used to be really good at blocking off the near post and heading clear, which brings me to...

We need a centre forward. Someone to compete in the air at the sharp end, offer a focal point, and yes be another body defending corners.

There's a good case for signing Werner permanently, but as an alternative to Son rather than partner. All those chances where Werner is coming in at the back post; the times we build up play on the right then spring Werner through 1 on 1 with the last man; now imagine it's Son coming from the left instead. Werner should be coming on against tired legs to be a menace with his pace, to save a few minutes off Son's season.

Mentality wise, I thought the reaction to going 1-0 down was excellent; 2 good chances for Romero, and the incredibly harsh decision to rule out the equaliser. The reaction in the 2nd half too was excellent, no heads down and we put them under real pressure with no little quality.

But that was all ruined by the weak period from 25-45 minutes. It was all a bit headless chicken, there has to be a time for taking the sting out of the game to regroup before going blood and thunder again otherwise good sides can and will take the game away on the break.

Things to work on - set pieces, set pieces, set pieces. Sign a centre forward and work on keeping Richarlison fit. Sign a no.6, a proper defensive anchor first and foremost - it's a bonus if he can take the ball and turn under pressure like Bissouma. That's such an important position, especially given the way we play; if Rodri were playing for us, guaranteed we'd have conceded fewer and scored just as many if not more. Bruno Guimares and Isak from Newcastle would be the perfect summer signings but aren't going to happen, so Ivan Toney and Joao Palhinha would do very nicely.

 

[marshall]

I understand from Expressions’ latest vlog (‘I am SEETHING’), that Ryan Mason is responsible for your set pieces.

Rather than a specialist.

 

[Jimmy Don't]

For transparency, I'm a Gooner. I was blocked on Twitter by a Spurs fan I quite got on with, as his son is an excellent referee who sometimes officiates for my foorball club. My crime was to suggest that you were expectedly well beaten at half-time and did well to almost recover to cause an upset, with a draw being a fair result, if you'd scraped it. The noise about reffing decisions is ridiciulous, and it's the same from every losing club after every game. That includes our supporters too. Let refs ref and accept that they'll be wrong sometimes, even with VAR. It's a relatively small input to whether you win or lose - you have 90+ minutes to win.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Pretty much every game is now followed by a complete deconstruction of every decision, ref or VAR inspired. Ref-watch has become an industry in itself.

I completely agree with the sentence "let refs ref". To my eye, it does seem that some refs will not give a foul/penalty/card/goal/whatever (when not making a decision is a decision in itself) with the expectation that VAR will jump in; but then VAR aren't looking at it afresh, they're looking at it from the "clear and obvious error" perspective of whether to overturn a definitive decision of no foul/penalty etc.

Refs should ref, and should be able to ask for assistance. To use an example from the weekend - the ref would say on his mike "no penalty, Kulusevski clipped his own heels together - any comment?" and the reply would come "there is a first contact before, a nudge on his back leg, I think you should have a look at it." VAR as a tool in the ref's armoury, with him/her retaining authority over the final verdict.

To be clear, I'm bitter about the result because losing to Arsenal is never much fun; not because "wah the refs were against us, fuck VAR". That's why my first comments after the match were about our own team problems that the club has control over and that they can address; albeit with a caveat that a penalty for 1-1 is wildly different to 2-0 down 15 seconds later.

 

[Cerberus]

I’ve been speaking with people who watched the game on TV (I was in the ground). The disconnect between the two groups (live v TV) is growing bigger every season (in the Prem anyway).

VAR is a broadcaster’s wet dream. They lobbied for it and now they have it. Super slowed down analysis, hours and days after games generating click bait on TV/Radio/Internet.

As many of you know, the spectator is short changed here. Replays of contentious decisions are never shown and often the whole crowd are sitting/standing around for minutes during a VAR check with no real idea of what’s gone on?

I don’t really celebrate goals anymore because you just know that VAR will find a reason to chalk it off.

On Sunday - the Van Der Ven ‘goal’ - I checked the ref, he was pointing towards the centre circle. I looked at the Arsenal players, none were arguing or appealing. Then I saw Oliver with his hand to his ear. If refs and linos were ‘allowed’ to get on with reffing the game, then it would’ve stood.

The Davies kick up the arse was a blatant pen (unsure what Oliver was looking at 4 yards away).

The rest of it? Meh? Marginal calls from in the stands. Seems like the internet goes wild during and after games with these incidents, assisted by Sky and their hyperbole.

I was (probably too) critical of Spurs just after the game on Sunday - emotions running high. A strange team selection and schoolboy defending again. Thought Arsenal didn’t have to do too much to be 3 up. Thought Spurs didn’t have to do too much to be on the cusp of a draw. Strange game really. I wasn’t really aware of the XG and /or possession stats live (not that I care about such things too much) and hadn’t realised Spurs were that dominant bc I was more focussed on the gifting of goals.

 

[Cerberus]

Oh and tonight….Chelsea win by a couple of goals.

 

[Silas Loom]

Oh and tonight….Chelsea win by a couple of goals.

Can’t disagree.

Ange is quoted in the Times this morning saying that only squares and spods practice set pieces. Which is a trifle disheartening.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Can’t disagree.

Ange is quoted in the Times this morning saying that only squares and spods practice set pieces. Which is a trifle disheartening.

I don't like this bit. It's become a really obvious achilles heel since the Man City FA Cup game (which feels like ages ago) and it's a part of the game that requires discipline and endless practice.

As for Chelsea, they've shown signs of big improvement recently but they're still more up and down than us. No Thiago Silva, Colwill, Disasi at the back, so 2 attacking full backs and 2 relatively poor centre backs (Chalobah and Badiashille); we've got Son back in his more natural habitat on the left, Richarlison to keep their 2 entertained, and Kulu showed signs of his old excellent self last time out. Left back a problem though, it's either MvdV out of position or Emerson on his wrong side.

For extra motivation, we can mathematically qualify for Europe tonight with 4 games to spare - how's that for improvement on last season?

 

[Silas Loom]

Maddison dropped. Good. Biss, Sarr and Kulu is the best three we can do currently.

 

[The39thStep]

I’m not as optimistic about Chelsea as some Spurs fans on here are lol.Loads of injuries , the back four is a hotchpotch and our subs bench ages range between 17 and 21 . Could be a high scoring game ?

 

[Silas Loom]

I’m not as optimistic about Chelsea as some Spurs fans on here are lol.Loads of injuries , the back four is a hotchpotch and our subs bench ages range between 17 and 21 . Could be a high scoring game ?

Maybe both sides should agree a draw and just knock off early to the pub.

 

[The39thStep]

Maybe both sides should agree a draw and just knock off early to the pub.

I’ve settled down in a cafe with a bottle of Sagres for the first half .

 

[tommers]

This VAR stuff is ridiculous.

 

[Cerberus]

We don’t need a set piece coach - mate

 

[Silas Loom]

The problem with moving Son to the left is that then Son is your left winger: not very effective even against a toddler.

 

[Lotte]

Oh and tonight….Chelsea win by a couple of goals.

And one of them was scored by Jackson, noch.

 

[Silas Loom]

The problem with moving Son to the left is that then Son is your left winger: not very effective even against a toddler.

Not that it makes any difference moving him back to the middle. I despair. Just hope that we play exactly like this against Citeh.

 

[Cerberus]

Poch - 6 pts v Spurs this season
Nicholas Jackson - 4 goals v Spurs this season

 

[Cerberus]

Season end can’t come quickly enough for Spurs.

Besides, they have an important game in Melbourne v Newcastle two days after the end of the season to prepare for.