Hi guys,
There has been a lot of talk and speculation as to whether I juries have played a significant part in our downfall this season.
I've been going through the line ups of the games we won and lost prior to Romero and Mickey both getting injured and before the main crisis begun. Radu played in a couple of those games. Losing one defender is not a crisis considered normal.
These are the results and the line up for each. As is clearly evident even with a first choice defence we are losing regularly. Not conceding as many but still losing to the like of palace and Ipswich, two teams without a win at that stage...
Leicester 1-1 Draw
1 G. Vicario
13 D. Udogie
23 P.Porro
37 M. van de Ven
17 C. Romero
30 R. Bentancur
22 B. Johnson
7 H. Son (C)
10 J. Maddison
29 P. Sarr
19 D. Solanke
Newcastle 2-1 Defeat
G. Vicario
7
13 D. Udogie
17 C. Romero
CO R. Dragusin
23 P. Porro
8 Y. Bissouma
10 J. Maddison
29 P. Sarr 7
H. Son (C)
21 D. Kulusevski
28 W. Odobert
Arsenal 0-1 Defeat
1
G. Vicario
37 M.van de Ven
13 D. Udogie
23 P. Porro
17 C. Romero
21 D. Kulusevski
30 R. Bentancur
10 J. Maddison
7 H. Son (C)
22B. Johnson
19 D. Solanke
Brighton 3-2 Defeat
G. Vicario
13 D. Udogie
17 C. Romero (C)
23 P. Porro
37 M. van de Ven
30 R. Bentancur
22 B. Johnson
21 D. Kulusevski
10 J. Maddison
16 T. Werner
19 D. Solanke
Ipswich 2-1 Defeat
G. Vicario
6 R. Dragusin
23 P. Porro
13 D. Udogie
17 C. Romero
30 R. Bentancur
21 D. Kulusevski
29 P. Sarr
22 B. Johnson
19 D. Solanke
7 H. Son (C)
Crystal palace 0-1 Defeat
G. Vicario
37 M. van de Ven
23 P. Porro
13 D. Udogie 17
C. Romero (C)
21 D. Kulusevski
8 Y. Bissouma
10 J. Maddison
22 B. Johnson
19 D. Solanke
47 M. Moore
What do we think ? Is Ange leaning too heavily into the injury crisis ? Goals conceded have certainly gone up, but the poor results for were very much present prior to this.
Form of offensive players such as solanke and kulu has significantly improved, so maybe with this defenders back things wouldn't be quite so bad
But in my opinion the lack of change to accommodate the players available, the poor in game management even when options were available on the bench and the failure to address some glaring areas of concern are enough to question Ange as much as I like him.
Injuries to blame - Fact Vs Fiction
posted on 24/12/24
comment by burghandy (U10383)
posted 4 hours, 11 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 1 hour ago
There some really basic system errors in there, end of. I thought his tactics yesterday were embarrassing tbh, as a manager he did nothing that I could see to change the games direction.
Spurs are quite awful in transition. Yesterday when they lost possession it looked like he was attempting a box midfield but the discipline of it was shocking, it just melted and provided zero protection as a result.
Tucking in the fullbacks is suicide as a result too, and it was pretty easy to create over loads.
On top of that, the height of the line meant literally one ball took out about 8 players.
The third goal is a great example of all of those things coming together and simply conceding.
I can’t see Ange’s point about philosophy, and with the ball Spurs can hurt anyone, but without it, Spurs are terrible tbh, they don’t look like they know their jobs.
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Well just watching the liverpool game you would think that, but then like Ange has said we were missing our keeper and 3 of our back four.
Liverpool had an extra days rest than spurs and changed 7 players in their midweek match as opposed to spurs keep playing the same players for the last few weeks due to injuries and lack of squad depth.
That was the first match this season where we have lost by more than 1 goal so although the media and plenty of other spurs fans say that Ange is out of his depth has no plan B etc etc it is strange that we haven't been battered more times this season.
Not forgetting that in his first season we finished 5th despite losing Kane and I think many predicted we would finish mid table. Merson said we would fight relegation after losing Kane.
This season, ok, mid table at the moment is not good but there are loads of games to play and we are not a million miles from the European spots and we are still in all cup competitions.
Everyone is obviously entitled to an opinion but I do find it a real shame that so many of my fellow Spurs fans want him out.
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Kneejerk stuff from the usual suspects. Anyone with half a brain knows that the injuries are severely hampering Ange. He simply cannot rotate, and is having to play the same XI Thursday/Sunday for weeks on end.
posted on 24/12/24
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
comment by burghandy (U10383)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
comment by burghandy (U10383)
posted 53 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 1 hour ago
There some really basic system errors in there, end of. I thought his tactics yesterday were embarrassing tbh, as a manager he did nothing that I could see to change the games direction.
Spurs are quite awful in transition. Yesterday when they lost possession it looked like he was attempting a box midfield but the discipline of it was shocking, it just melted and provided zero protection as a result.
Tucking in the fullbacks is suicide as a result too, and it was pretty easy to create over loads.
On top of that, the height of the line meant literally one ball took out about 8 players.
The third goal is a great example of all of those things coming together and simply conceding.
I can’t see Ange’s point about philosophy, and with the ball Spurs can hurt anyone, but without it, Spurs are terrible tbh, they don’t look like they know their jobs.
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Well just watching the liverpool game you would think that, but then like Ange has said we were missing our keeper and 3 of our back four.
Liverpool had an extra days rest than spurs and changed 7 players in their midweek match as opposed to spurs keep playing the same players for the last few weeks due to injuries and lack of squad depth.
That was the first match this season where we have lost by more than 1 goal so although the media and plenty of other spurs fans say that Ange is out of his depth has no plan B etc etc it is strange that we haven't been battered more times this season.
Not forgetting that in his first season we finished 5th despite losing Kane and I think many predicted we would finish mid table. Merson said we would fight relegation after losing Kane.
This season, ok, mid table at the moment is not good but there are loads of games to play and we are not a million miles from the European spots and we are still in all cup competitions.
Everyone is obviously entitled to an opinion but I do find it a real shame that so many of my fellow Spurs fans want him out.
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I can accept that Spurs were missing their cbs and keeper, but the point was about how he sets up the midfield when out of possession having been caught in transition.
It’s just not set up well, at all, which means we could isolate and overload your reserve players in defence and knock in six goals.
Szoboslai was given the freedom of the pitch, no-one tracked his runs. Son and Kulu are seemingly given no instructions to track back whatsoever. I actually thought Spence had a decent game, despite Salah scoring two, because he was given zero help.
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That’s the way we play, it’s risk and reward. If we concentrate on defending as a team we ain’t scoring 3 goals.
Like Ange says the Liverpool game was a bridge too far, we lacked energy in the game and Liverpool exploited it.
As I said if his tactics are so flawed how comes no other team has beaten us by more than one goal?
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His tactics are flawed because we conceded six at home. That alone is enough to support the counter argument.
This whole risk vs reward mantra is just nonsense. If you accept that his tactics come with risk, do you not think that's at the very heart of why we're so inconsistent? How fans can't see the problem is completely beyond me.
Sometimes I think Ange has a cult like following and the problem with cults is that those indoctrinated can't think rationally because they're so spellbound by their leader.
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Oh so conceeding 6 at home to probably the best team in Europe with a scratch defence is a stick to beat Spurs with. Up until the weekend, only 3/4 teams had conceded fewer than Spurs.
It's a nonsense to just pick one game, and say Spurs have an awful defence. You may as well say because Spurs are the Prem top goalscorers, they must have the best attack in the league. And they probably haven't.
posted on 24/12/24
comment by GinolaSpurs82 (U10359)
posted 4 hours, 14 minutes ago
comment by Striketeam7 - staying humble (U18109)
posted 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
comment by Grinch (U23226)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 30 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 7 hours, 5 minutes ago
Ange is arrogant and naive..... He's miles out of his depth..... Spurs have some good plyers. A manager would a bit of tactical nouse would get far more out of them than Ange is. The guy is a fraud
Potter is a cheap option, the guy at Bournemouth is very impressive... would happily have either
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Another couple of kneejerk flavour of the month managers. Just changing managers after 18 months won't suddenly bring back Vicario, Romero, Micky, Udogie, Richarlison, Odebert etc from injury.
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True... But they couldn't do any worse at keeping the ball out of our net and making us too easy to play through. This isn't a personnel issue.. Its a tactics problem. Spurs were giving away soft goals and throwing away leads with all of the above in the team... We have been crap for over a year !
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Tactically would not make any difference.The current Spurs defence could not go over the halfway line and would still lose by three or four goals to Liverpool. They just had a better 1st XI on the pitch than Spurs. And that`s a fact.
Other teams that also lost by three or more goals at home at the weekend. But you don`t hear their fans constantly grissling.
Palace v Arsenal 1-5
Ipswich v Newcastle 0-4
Leicester v Wolves 0-3
Man United v Bournemouth 0-3
Southampton were gubbed at home by Spurs 5-0, but they came our in the next match and drew at Fulham,, despite only having 10 men.
That`s the nature of football now. No such thing as just sitting back, and all will be well.
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So when the players were fit earlier in the season you wanted Ange sacked, now the injuries have hit and you want to keep him. It’s blatantly obvious that you just go against the popular opinion and have this pathetic need to be argumentative and a massive hypocrite.
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Yep - If Ange somehow turned it around and we won the League cup, FA cup and Europa this season whilst finishing 11th - there would be an article in June from him about how Ange has to go for failing in the league.
I disagree with quite a few posters, but they at least remain consistent - Shandy can’t do that, ever, he just says whatever gets him the most attention
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Sandy = Talksport
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Talksport yeh that would be most of the bedwetters on here. I haven't listened to that nonsense for the best part of a decade. It's for 12 year olds.
posted on 24/12/24
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by burghandy (U10383)
posted 4 hours, 11 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 1 hour ago
There some really basic system errors in there, end of. I thought his tactics yesterday were embarrassing tbh, as a manager he did nothing that I could see to change the games direction.
Spurs are quite awful in transition. Yesterday when they lost possession it looked like he was attempting a box midfield but the discipline of it was shocking, it just melted and provided zero protection as a result.
Tucking in the fullbacks is suicide as a result too, and it was pretty easy to create over loads.
On top of that, the height of the line meant literally one ball took out about 8 players.
The third goal is a great example of all of those things coming together and simply conceding.
I can’t see Ange’s point about philosophy, and with the ball Spurs can hurt anyone, but without it, Spurs are terrible tbh, they don’t look like they know their jobs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well just watching the liverpool game you would think that, but then like Ange has said we were missing our keeper and 3 of our back four.
Liverpool had an extra days rest than spurs and changed 7 players in their midweek match as opposed to spurs keep playing the same players for the last few weeks due to injuries and lack of squad depth.
That was the first match this season where we have lost by more than 1 goal so although the media and plenty of other spurs fans say that Ange is out of his depth has no plan B etc etc it is strange that we haven't been battered more times this season.
Not forgetting that in his first season we finished 5th despite losing Kane and I think many predicted we would finish mid table. Merson said we would fight relegation after losing Kane.
This season, ok, mid table at the moment is not good but there are loads of games to play and we are not a million miles from the European spots and we are still in all cup competitions.
Everyone is obviously entitled to an opinion but I do find it a real shame that so many of my fellow Spurs fans want him out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kneejerk stuff from the usual suspects. Anyone with half a brain
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Well that rules Sandy out
posted on 24/12/24
This is the point i have made time and time again it is a myth the injury crisis has us in 11th place.
Ange is so protected at points it is crazy.
Palace, Wolves and Ipswich did not get slapped by 6 goals against Liverpool.
6 goals at home, i do not care how well Liverpool are playing to lose 6 at home is 90s football Aussie Ardilles again.
posted on 24/12/24
Who's saying the injury crisis has us in 11th place? No one that I can see, even the people who want Ange out, aren't saying he's said that. So is it pundits? Because mostly what I see there is how Ange is too stubborn etc.
posted on 24/12/24
Personally, I'm sick and tired of telling people that Daniel Levy putting in all his own money to pay for transfers is a myth and they should wise up
posted on 24/12/24
I watched the post Liverpool press interview.
I will agree with these things that have been said on here.......
1. Ange is out of his depth
2. He is not going to change his game plan, the only one he has.
3. He thinks he has had bad luck with injuries.
4. He thinks his ideas will result in a winning team eventually.
Now I will add some notes of my own.......
1. I think he is beginning to doubt his ability to succeed here at Tottenham, ...just a little.
2. But he does not yet admit that that is his fault.
3. Yes he has had bad luck with injuries, and he's putting a lot of his doubts on that as the cause.
4. Could he succeed here to build a winning team, yes I think he has about a 25% chance of doing so.
5. Are the players still with him? Some are certainly, but all of them, I wonder?
What is Levy going to do? Early New year will tell us that, maybe nothing, maybe something!
Merry XMAS one and all!
posted on 25/12/24
I will add that I myself feel sorry for Aussieglue.
If he would stop thinking that changing tactics is an admission of failure, and he could sometimes defend a little, I'd be with him all that way.
Lets hope he gets the full squad back soon, Romero, Miky VDV, Richarilison, Bentancur....
posted on 25/12/24
Looking at those losing line ups… seems to happen when we play Johnson & Porro, together on the right… I’m pretty sure that teams target that… as both are poor defensively!