Still in shock over that inept display. But, hopefully a few lessons can be learned from the shambles.
1) Defoe should never start in an important game unless Soldado and Ade are injured. He's proven over the years he's not top 4 quality and however many goals he gets against Eastern European pub sides isn't going to change that.
2) AVB needs to end his beef with Ade and BAE. We certainly could have used these two today.
3) It's time to start Lamela. Townsend and Siggy have done well this season, but neither of them are in Lamela's class. I know he's not settled completely, but he will be an excellent player. He's now been here long enough to justify starting.
4) The Europa league needs to take a back seat. Our kids/second string are good enough to qualify from this position. Evidently the trip to Anzi impacted the squad.
Where do we go from here?
posted on 6/10/13
I don't know whether to blame Europa or not.
Does the travel explain the poor tactics and lack of confidence?
Defoe got his wish today. I am not saying he shouldn't start again but he can hardly complain when Soldado starts next time.
Townsend and Siggy have been two or our best players. I am not sure what AVB's strategy on Lamela is? Warm him up in the cup games before suddenly giving him a first team place in the league side? Perhaps AVB doesn't know yet.
We have a truly fantastic squad and I believe this game will be seen as a blip.
posted on 6/10/13
LAS
posted on 6/10/13
From what I've seen of Lamela so far, he's going to be a great player but he's not ready yet. Townsend was the only one who actually looked threatening today and I was surprised how decent his right-footed crosses were in the first half. I don't get people saying he should be dropped
posted on 6/10/13
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posted on 6/10/13
If you're not going to start your second string players like Walker and Defoe against teams like West Ham, then when are they going to get games?
posted on 6/10/13
Loads of 'surprised, shocked' spurs fans on here tonight, not sure why. We do it every season, plenty of optimism at the start of the season and end up with results like today. Shouldn't be a shocker to anyone. Agree with Chronic and the Europa debacle to a degree, but that shouldn't be an excuse for today's display. Other teams cope in the Champions league alright. Same old spurs unfortunately, pains me to say it.
Why people are still banging on about Lamela I never know. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong but you get an instinct for a player and I had my doubts from the very off against Arsenal. He has done absolutely nothing to warrant a starting place from what I've seen so far...30m? Paulinho's another one, unpopular view I know, but I think I've seen enough.
posted on 6/10/13
Smithy, you've seen enough?
Its only October 6th .
posted on 6/10/13
As I said, I hope I'm proved wrong, I'm only offering an opinion. But, from what I've seen so far, Paulinho might grab you a couple, but he is nowhere gonna be the 'complete' midfield player that some fans thinks he is.
posted on 6/10/13
I'm surprised by some of the reaction by many Spurs fans after todays defeat. I still very much believe Spurs will be up there challenging. You are only 3 points off the top remember. So far 4 of the top 6 have had unexpected home defeats against sides you would have expected them to have beaten. So let's all hope Chelsea and Man City will lose a home game or 2 against lesser sides.