One of the big frustrations i have had with Spurs over the last 6 months or so (and in general under Poch) is that we rarely start games fast and really go at the opposition.
Spurs have more of an even paced game, look to dominate the ball and are patient. This often sees us frustrated but saved by late goals as the opposition tire and we get more adventurous.
I believe that this approach is somewhat flawed, because it is now so predictable. It is also undermined by our defence which has become a bit more leaky! NUFC is the perfect example - a committed opponent who defended well on the day in numbers with only 20% possession. 1 goal from a mistake from Sanchez and they had something to hang on to which they did with great determination. But in that game the first 20-25 minutes was awful. Slow, pedestrian build up, a defensive-minded midfield against an a team who limited attacks to counters. Patience and no urgency or intensity.
Some stats from last season.
We scored inside 10 minutes on 6 occasions.
NUFC (a), 8 mins. 2-1 win
Cardiff (h), 8 mins. 1-0 win
Chelsea (h), 8 mins. 3-1 win
Southampton (h) 9 mins, 3-1 win
Cardiff (a), 3 mins. 3-0 win
Everton (h), 3 mins. 2-2 draw
So, W5 D1 from the 6 games we took an early lead in.
We took a lead in to half time on 19 of 38 games. 50%. Of those games we W15 D1 L3 (46 points). Applied to a whole season = 92 points.
Of the other 19, we were losing in 8 and 0-0 in 11 games at half time.
Of the 11 x 0-0 HT scores (there we no HT score draws), we W6 L5
Of the 8 games we were losing at HT, we W2 L5 D1
Last season we scored 67 goals. Only 27 in the first half and 40 in the second half. . This compares to LFC 39/50 and City 48/47
Only 18 goals were scored in the first 30 minutes. Compare this to Liverpool who scored 27 goals & City 31 in the first 30 mins.
The most productive 10 minutes was 80-90 minutes (13 goals) and the last 15 minutes of the game saw us score 45% of our goals (30).
Now getting late goals is something worth having in the locker. Many teams score late goals, Liverpool getting 24 in the last 15 minutes for example, but we put ourselves under unnecessary pressure with those late goals often being essential for the points, and not just the icing on the cake of a comfortable win.
This is something we need to reverse IMO. Early goals give a team so much besides a lead. It messes up the opponents tactics, it inevitably leads to more domination and chances, and allows for even greater opportunities in the latter stages. In addition, it allows much better management of the squad, being able to withdraw the likes of Kane in the last 10-15 mins of a comfortable win rather than relying on him to get us back in a game. Plus it might give the chance to blood new players, get fitness for some or generally rotate.
Last season after a comfortable 3-0 win at Cardiff (where we scored on 3, 12 & 26 mins) we went on our dreadful run of 7 wins in 17. It was noticeable that in those 17 games we scored only 5 in the first half.
This pattern has continued with late goals vs Villa and none vs Newcastle.
Early Goals
posted on 27/8/19
honestly there is so much wrong with spurs at the moment.
lack of quality from wide arears
narrow, predictable play
lack of intensity
lack of creativity
lack of quality
lack of desire
lack of concentration
lack of team shape
lack of philosophy
posted on 27/8/19
Worrying that we’re giving away cheap goals as well
posted on 27/8/19
I am so pleased that finally Spurs are waking up to how bad Spurs have become over the past six months. When you really start to delve below the surface, then Spurs are one of the worse teams in the Prem on form since February.
Unbelievable how Spurs are still 4/9 to finish Top Four.
posted on 27/8/19
Spurs fans are waking up
posted on 27/8/19
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 47 minutes ago
honestly there is so much wrong with spurs at the moment.
lack of quality from wide arears
narrow, predictable play
lack of intensity
lack of creativity
lack of quality
lack of desire
lack of concentration
lack of team shape
lack of philosophy
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So there is all those things wrong, yet you still are saying the manager has credit in the bank. His credit won`t last that long with so many things currently not right.
posted on 27/8/19
no one here is saying poch isnt to blame for anything in fact people are being rightly critical of him however the nonsense of him needing to go is laughable. wait till he does go and see the shower we become then.
posted on 27/8/19
comment by Phe'ndombele (U20037)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
is tedious isnt it. first halves have been horrendous for over a year
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First half's against Ajax in the CL - both Away and Home come to mind. Only the game against City did we really come alive, and yeah it was an exilerating thrill watching us beat Ajax spurred on by the previous night's comeback from Liverpool at Anfield. Moura literally scored his hat trick 3rd winning goal on the exact second of the last of extra time. This instance in time should have been the defining moment for the future of our club.
Yet in Spursy fashion we always capitulate when titles and trophies are there for the taking... the beginning of our downfall, February 23rd was it? We were actually within a win of going top of the Premiere League if I remember correctly only to see us lose the first game of many to come.
posted on 27/8/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 59 minutes ago
I am so pleased that finally Spurs are waking up to how bad Spurs have become over the past six months. When you really start to delve below the surface, then Spurs are one of the worse teams in the Prem on form since February.
Unbelievable how Spurs are still 4/9 to finish Top Four.
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And only us do we lose - at Home! - against bottom of the league teams. Saw it happen far too often a few seasons ago. Even last season.
posted on 27/8/19
We are very easy to play against
Crowd Kane, force us wide - nobody can cross.
Lump it over the top. You’ll get 2 clear chances - if you take one you’ll probably get a result
posted on 27/8/19
We used to aggressively press the opposition all over the pitch, that has been missing for some time now, instead we have error prone lazy players strolling around like they think they are the second best team in Europe (they obviously are not).
Add to that full backs that have zero end product, for eg. the amount of times Rose gets into a good position, only to then put in a horrendous cross or pass, I can not remember him ever creating a goal, he fluffs his lines every time.
Then a midfield of Winks and Sissoko simply does not work, they do not move the ball quick enough and always look for the safe pass which is usually sideways or backwards.
Son and Lucas are nullified when there is no space and Kane gets frustrated with a lack of service and ends up coming deep looking for the ball..