A SOUND PUMMELING of L**ds and then... 1/27 Leeds (A) 9:00 AM ET FAC1/30 Norwich (A) 2:45 PM ET Prem2/3 West Brom (A) 8:30 AM ET Prem ...6 points?
not having the team set up for this, is all AVB. not picking up a striker is on Levy. pathetic, yet again.
I was wondering where you'd gone. Kinda missed all of the negativity. Glad to have you back. Please enlighten me, what team would you have picked?
Too many missed chances, which has been a story for most of the season even when Defoe/Ade have been available. Some of the fringe players like Sigurdsson and Huddlestone showed why they need to be upgraded on as well.
Let's be honest, that was effing awful. The heart was missing for most of the players. Leeds was up for it and we were not. At least the schedule is cleared for making sure we finish 3rd in the Premier League and to go forward in Europa.
Caulker uncharacteristically poor. A bit of miscommunication across the back, really, but I found Caulker's performance the most surprising and disappointing. Dirty effing Leeds.
What a stinker. It seemed like a strong lineup, but that was shockingly bad. AVB took the right players off, I will say that. What happened to Defoe?
I watched the game live - and then parts of it on-demand in replay. Here's what I thought. Friedel - I know you have the give Lloris a break. Even as a keeper who, at times, sees very little action, it's important to rest your key players. The problem I had with Friedel in this match is that he looked, at times, like the "old man" that he is. His reflexes looked slower, he looked hesitant against the break, and he looked out of form at times (though well in form at others). The Back Line - Obviously, Friedel's lack of form (from getting very few caps lately) wouldn't have been as big of an issue if the back line would have given their all. Caulker played like shyte and the back line was caught out of position and off-guard on both Leeds goals. The Attack - What attack? Not have any real strikers in the match (I fault Levy) really hurt our creativity up front. Both Sig and Bale can do well slotting behind the attack but on the attack themselves, it just wasn't to PL-level standards. Speaking of strikers, Obika had a few flashes of brilliance, but he just isn't ready to make any real impact at that level. Any true striker (Defoe, Adebayor, etc.) would have slotted home the equalizer on that late through-lob to Obika. He was one-on-one with the keeper, touched it too far, and let the defender clear. It should have been a goal or, at the very least, he should-have side-dribbled the ball and picked up a penalty on the defenders sliding tackle. Instead - wasted possession. Finally, the midfield - For all intents and purposes, I'll include Bale, et al. in this category. Bale is inarguably the best player Tottenham has. And he and Lennon are the spark plugs for the attack, but it just wasn't there at all. When the clock struck 80', I was certain that Bale and Lennon would turn on their creativity, shake of the lazy, and take over the game - grasping an equalizer and, possibly, the winner. Instead, the entire midfield seemed fine with bringing the ball into the last third and volleying into the middle of the attack - a completely ineffective methodology. Against United, the attack was relentless and finally paid off. Against Leeds, it was lackluster and fruitless. The difference I've noticed between having true attackers and fill-ins, especially against top teams is that guys like RVP and Michu and Ba are patient, exacting, and creative. If they need that final goal, they are willing to pass, and pass, and pass, and pass, and pass until they see daylight and create a chance. Our lads haven't done much of that and it's why we have trouble closing out tight games. Hopefully after seeing this abysmal effort, Levy will finally cough up some cash for a true striker to reinforce the front-line. Otherwise, it's on Defoe and Ade to take us to CL football and if one them goes down, we're f@cked.
for whatever it's worth, there was a handful of ITK (on SC) around tuesday or wednesday saying that defoe was injured. none of them said what it was, but one or two said that it was definite. pure speculation on my part, but if he got hurt in training, you could see where we'd want to keep it quiet, as that would be a card in the sellers hand for any deal that we're trying to do for another one in. and according to other ITK, we are defenitely working on bringing another striker in. so who knows? maybe there's something in it, though it's always wise to take any ITK with a grain of salt.
I thought BAE had a very good game, except the one time he slipped and Friedal baled him out. At times he was our most threatening player going forward, and the pass to Obika at the end was fantastic. Great to have him back.
i don't do the pick team stuff, nice try. but i hope you agree that that turd of a game attitude and effort is all on avb. and the window closes soon. how he can't see that lazy Ade is not getting it done is beyond me. he should be screaming up and down the halls of the lane for Levy to get him ****** forward that can hold the ball and pass. when Arse jumps us in 3 weeks, i'll come back. cheers.
We do need a striker desperately. I think Holtby could play upfront, but it isn't really his position at all he is more of a left winger or a player that plays just off the striker like 3 other players on the team can so he might be put to some use as a makeshift striker.
anybody knows where the tonight game will be shown (in us)? i wasn't able to find it so far... anyway, we need to beat the sh!t out of norwich and get the 3 efing points! COYS!