Is everyone ready for the new season. I for one cannot wait the summer is so boring when the seaon is over.
Pre-season seems to have gone ok as far as I can see. Lots of new faces in the squad which always fills me with hope and excitement. Hope they all get opportunities to play and make a decent contribution over the season.
I did mange to watch the Roma game on Sat which was pretty much a drab affair. Both sets of players looked shattered because of the humitidiy.
The thing I took from it it was we are now quite a big/tall side now and we still seem so weak as a defensive unit in the air. I do seem to recall Kane used make some great headed clearances in seaons gone by but that seems to have gone. The CB's need to be so much better at crosses and set peices. We seem to mark the space rather than attack the ball not sure if its a full on zonal system but a very odd way to defend.
I think again our biggest problem and we have had it for some a long long time we cannot beak down teams who defend deep and are organised. We hardly had a sniff. I know yeah a friendly but the same issues persist.....and Plan B does not seem to exist.
I know we have been linked with Maddison and Zaniolo and if true its farcical that we did not just sign Erikson for free (he wanted to by all accounts and we did not want him). The former two will come in wanting to play every game no dobut.... if we sign either.
Nevertherless looking forward to it as we do have a stronger overall squad and the bench should be stong every game with 5 subs....
COYS
Are we ready
posted on 1/8/22
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by JimmyGreaves (U21183)
posted 8 minutes ago
I just read that........After scoring with his very first direct free-kick attempt in November 2014, @HKane has failed to score with any of his last 53 such shots in the top-flight. Since 2003-04.....
If true and factual that is staggering.... our coaches and management past and preseent need a good kick up the harris.... sort it out Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If true (and it sounds legit) then it's interesting that neither BT or Sky have given us that fact in their commentary.
Let's face it these days a football match commentary is generally 90 mins plus of mainly throw away stats so why hasn't this come up?
Makes me wonder if they've been protecting the England captains image.
Be great to see a reporter quiz Kane on it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a shame more commentators can't or won't pick up on it when he's lining up to take one. He'll just hit his free kick into a wall and nothing's said and the game goes on. I want people like Neville and Carragher to mention it cause the more it's talked about the more chance Kane/Conte get to hear about it. I even had to hear that moron Andy Townsend say once when he missed one "You expect better from Kane".
No, no you don't.
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Yes exactly.
I'm always moaning about stats overkill during commentaries yet typically when you need one bringing up nothing is forthcoming.
posted on 1/8/22
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by JimmyGreaves (U21183)
posted 8 minutes ago
I just read that........After scoring with his very first direct free-kick attempt in November 2014, @HKane has failed to score with any of his last 53 such shots in the top-flight. Since 2003-04.....
If true and factual that is staggering.... our coaches and management past and preseent need a good kick up the harris.... sort it out Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If true (and it sounds legit) then it's interesting that neither BT or Sky have given us that fact in their commentary.
Let's face it these days a football match commentary is generally 90 mins plus of mainly throw away stats so why hasn't this come up?
Makes me wonder if they've been protecting the England captains image.
Be great to see a reporter quiz Kane on it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a shame more commentators can't or won't pick up on it when he's lining up to take one. He'll just hit his free kick into a wall and nothing's said and the game goes on. I want people like Neville and Carragher to mention it cause the more it's talked about the more chance Kane/Conte get to hear about it. I even had to hear that moron Andy Townsend say once when he missed one "You expect better from Kane".
No, no you don't.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes exactly.
I'm always moaning about stats overkill during commentaries yet typically when you need one bringing up nothing is forthcoming.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He is definitely let off the hook somewhat due to the quality of player he is overall. Unlike Ronaldo we won't see hissy fits from him, but we have seen examples of a player having a bit too much power because of who he is, hence being able to take free kicks when he likes and nobody contesting it.
posted on 1/8/22
Certain starters on Saturday:
Lloris
Romero Dier LCB?
RWB Holbjerg CM? Perisic
Kulusevski Kane Son
posted on 1/8/22
We’ve definitely strengthened the squad… but have we strengthened the first choice starting 11???
RWB & LCB still weak in my estimation
posted on 1/8/22
comment by Conn & Duncan..Scottish Legends (U15636)
posted 6 minutes ago
We’ve definitely strengthened the squad… but have we strengthened the first choice starting 11???
RWB & LCB still weak in my estimation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Potentially yes. I mean Perisic should be recognised as being ahead of Sess or Reguilon (especially after last season), and Spence has a chance to hold down a RWB position, although Doherty finished off strongly last season. Bissouma you can argue gets into the 1st team.
Our 1st team since January under Conte was actually pretty good but for a few weaker areas. Remember how we got more points with it than any team other than City or Liverpool, I think? So the 1st team we had in the short-lived Nuno era is already improved upon and would do better over a full season.
posted on 1/8/22
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 2 hours ago
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by JimmyGreaves (U21183)
posted 8 minutes ago
I just read that........After scoring with his very first direct free-kick attempt in November 2014, @HKane has failed to score with any of his last 53 such shots in the top-flight. Since 2003-04.....
If true and factual that is staggering.... our coaches and management past and preseent need a good kick up the harris.... sort it out Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If true (and it sounds legit) then it's interesting that neither BT or Sky have given us that fact in their commentary.
Let's face it these days a football match commentary is generally 90 mins plus of mainly throw away stats so why hasn't this come up?
Makes me wonder if they've been protecting the England captains image.
Be great to see a reporter quiz Kane on it!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a shame more commentators can't or won't pick up on it when he's lining up to take one. He'll just hit his free kick into a wall and nothing's said and the game goes on. I want people like Neville and Carragher to mention it cause the more it's talked about the more chance Kane/Conte get to hear about it. I even had to hear that moron Andy Townsend say once when he missed one "You expect better from Kane".
No, no you don't.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Townsend had some cracking lines:
“That hit him in the belly of the thigh”
“If anything, he hit that too well”
posted on 1/8/22
comment by Conn & Duncan..Scottish Legends (U15636)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
We’ve definitely strengthened the squad… but have we strengthened the first choice starting 11???
RWB & LCB still weak in my estimation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Conte seemed happy with Lenglet and Bissouma definitely upgrades the first choice midfield - so I would say yes we have
posted on 1/8/22
Levy and ENIC have not really changed, it has been fun to watch how easily Levy has pulled the wool over a lot of fans eyes, but the fact is we are starting another season with a short squad and weaknesses in key areas.
Levy plays a lot of fans like a fiddle, he knew he had to get supporters back on side, and what better way to do that than to drop news of a £150m cash injection (on top of sales and the existing budget). The fans immediately went giddy with excitement, expecting top level signings and a large net spend, but Levy never had any intention of spending that amount. We desperately need a top CB, but where is he, why not go out and make an offer they can`t refuse for your #1 target, that`s what the clubs that win the trophies do.
posted on 2/8/22
It has been a better transfer window on paper than those recently but at the same time our competitors have improved themselves arguably more so. We are still spending less than the likes of Nottingham Forest.
Title is out of the picture. Top four will be a long battle unless we manage to get rid of players like Ndombele/ Lo Celso who are out of favour and buy better.
Another CB is a must.
Another CM and LW would be great.
posted on 2/8/22
I am astonished Spurs didn't go for Eriksen. He only ended up at United, because Spurs didn't come in for him.