I've been saying to my mates over the last couple of weeks that the way we were playing is unsustainable over the course of a Premier League season. For example, in our first eight or nine games, Kane and Son's shot to goal conversion rate was crazy, they were scoring about one in every two shots. This ridiculously clinical finishing enabled us a couple of thrashings and good wins against the likes of City and Arsenal, but the law of averages was never going to allow that to continue long term.
Mourinho has said a few times that he's not telling our players to park the bus, and I do actually believe him. However, for one reason or another, we are parking the bus when going 1-0 up. I believe some of this is subconscious, whatever Mourinho is drilling into them in training, team-talks, tactical analysis is making them play this way. Also, it's been well documented that we've done a lot of damage and won results on the counter attack this season, so maybe the players don't feel like they need to go 'gung ho' for the second goal.
Either way, the buck falls with the Manager, I blame him completely and it's for him to sort out. I simply do not believe we would be playing this way if we had somebody like Hasenhuttl (off the top of my head) managing this group of players, the vast majority of which range from 'good' to 'World Class'.
A couple more points:
1) Can we really expect Ndombele to build his fitness properly if Mourinho never gives him ninety minutes? He was by far our best player yesterday.
2) Kane and Son need to play a lot closer together than they did yesterday, and both look like they're playing with severe arthritis.
3) WTF did he take Reguilon and not Davies off yesterday?
4) Winks is not good enough and if he's not happy being a bit part player, needs to be sold.
5) Even if we win the FA Cup or Europa League this season, I don't think I can stomach playing like this longer term, even if it means the odd trophy. This style of play has really made me realise that Football is so much more than winning, enjoying watching your team play is huge.
Unsustainable
posted on 28/12/20
I don't enjoy supporting this club. The football is turgid, we have failure engrained into the club and we predictably fall short when things really matter.
How could any young lads looking for a team to support look at Spurs and think we would be the club for them?
I'm embarrased by the club at the moment.
posted on 28/12/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/12/20
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 5 minutes ago
This whole "controlling the game" thing is the issue with Jose and spurs at the moment. I'm not sure what Jose thinks controlling the game means.
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Control the game defensively by being outplayed
posted on 28/12/20
A couple more points:
1) Can we really expect Ndombele to build his fitness properly if Mourinho never gives him ninety minutes? He was by far our best player yesterday.
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just made a whole article on this haha.
Mourinho is really coming across as a clueless dinosaur at the moment.
posted on 28/12/20
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 7 minutes ago
This whole "controlling the game" thing is the issue with Jose and spurs at the moment. I'm not sure what Jose thinks controlling the game means.
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If controlling the game means having everyone behind the ball and letting the opposition dominate possession I can’t watch much more of this. It’s awful just seeing the opponent have the ball and every Spurs player behind it. I want to see our attacking players in full swing and us having a go at teams.
Think I’ve lost count of the number of defensive headers Kane has made this season.
posted on 28/12/20
our game plan gives Kane and Son barely any ball all game. how does that make sense? which manager sits there and thinks 'lets employ a system that gives our best players no ball, and puts our weakest players under the most pressure' ?!
posted on 28/12/20
If you look at Kane's shot accuracy too. He has the third worst stat from the top 20 goal scorers in the PL. That's got to be down largely to a lack of being in the right places to score goals anymore and getting rustier and rustier around the box cause he no longer is in the box most of the time.
posted on 28/12/20
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you look at Kane's shot accuracy too. He has the third worst stat from the top 20 goal scorers in the PL. That's got to be down largely to a lack of being in the right places to score goals anymore and getting rustier and rustier around the box cause he no longer is in the box most of the time.
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Check out hafurtle
posted on 28/12/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 8 minutes ago
If you look at Kane's shot accuracy too. He has the third worst stat from the top 20 goal scorers in the PL. That's got to be down largely to a lack of being in the right places to score goals anymore and getting rustier and rustier around the box cause he no longer is in the box most of the time.
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Check out hafurtle
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I can assure you I'm not an android, it's just something I notice when I check out the BBC top scorers page for the PL sometimes.
posted on 28/12/20
I watch/ listen to Spurs matches almost out of a sense of duty this season. I have defended Mourinho a lot but this style of football relies so heavily on getting results. I enjoyed the City and Arsenal matches but when we don't get a good result there is no redeeming feature to these tactics.
I'm reasonably confident we will win the League Cup this season but I think if we do win it, that will be all we win. I'm desperate to see Spurs win a trophy and if Mourinho does this then hats off to him. This has only ever been a short term appointment though and I just hope we aren't in freefall when he inevitably leaves.