First of all, I have to start by saying that I do not expect much more from my team than I saw yesterday, in terms of effort, heart, commitment and battle.
With what we had available to us I think that we could not have done much better than we did although we could have been well beaten in the first half.
In that first half i thought it was a mistake to start Gil on the left. He was never ever going to get anything out of Walker. He doesn't have the pace or the strength.
That is not to say that he should not have started at all, but if we had gone with Johnson on that side and Gil on the right vs Gvardiol, then he may have had a bit more joy. For our equaliser, Johnson stood up Walker and then with a bit of acceleration earned a yard to cross for Deki. So he was perhaps better suited vs Walker and should have started there.
If Ange wants to stick with his attacking principles then you will not find me complaining. But that selection and positioning made no sense.
The fact he changed it up at half time was encouraging. He is not so single minded as to refuse to take a more pragmatic option and although PEH didnt do a great deal, we were far more solid, far less open.
It was great to shove it down the throats of Neville and Carragher who were using some of their bestest adjectives to criticise our approach. I think what they and some fans seem to forget is that this is Ange's first season, that we are ingraining a way of playing and there is no point in abandoning that process to park the bus. It is a mental thing as much as it is a style of play. We will play out, we will attack, we will try to be front foot, we will go for it. That attitude is perhaps what sees us hang in there in games, and get results in the end. We have the best last 10 minute record in the league (or did do last time I looked), which is evidence of this attitude.
It is not always going to work when we do not have the depth of quality to make the number of changes made necessary by injuries at the moment. But Ange needs to adapt ever so slightly to make sure the match up on the pitch works, without abandoning his principles. I think he got that wrong with the starting XI.
Criticism of Ange
posted on 4/12/23
I’m fine with PEH sticking around if he’s content play a part - being coming on with 15 to go to see out a game.
I’ve seen some ridiculous criticism on this board of Deki and Brennan. Both excellent players who are very young. Flawless? No. But I’d rather build around them than just cast them off. They really are not the problem.
And congrats to GLC. I was chuffed when we purchased him. Fair to say it hasn’t worked out at Spurs to date, but if he carries on as he has this season he’ll be going some way to making up for lost time.
A point away at City - no one has beaten them for over a year at home. Done with a depleted squad playing attacking football.
Honestly, just enjoy it.
posted on 4/12/23
comment by Phenomenonecoglou (U20037)
posted 5 hours, 18 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
Notable that even in this crisis PEH doesnt start, Dier not even in the squad. 2 areas where upgrades are very much needed.
It would be nice if we could pull off a Bentancur type signing in January - a somewhat unknown player, less than £20m but real quality
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Dier was injured and Bissouma started and seems he doesnt play PEH and Bissouma together
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Diet wouldn’t have played though - Ange even said so on friday
posted on 4/12/23
It would appear that the Dust has finally settled, hopefully
posted on 4/12/23
In that first half i thought it was a mistake to start Gil on the left. He was never ever going to get anything out of Walker. He doesn't have the pace or the strength.
That is not to say that he should not have started at all, but if we had gone with Johnson on that side and Gil on the right vs Gvardiol, then he may have had a bit more joy. For our equaliser, Johnson stood up Walker and then with a bit of acceleration earned a yard to cross for Deki. So he was perhaps better suited vs Walker and should have started there
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I saw only the second half. But suspect your comments on Gil are correct.
Johnson is turning out very well. He should start.
BTW, what about Solomon, is he injured?
I did not understand Aussieglue's substituting Lo Celso immediately after he had scored? And for Skip who really was not effective in midfield. Why?
Romero back will be great! Must say Davies deserves , he played well yesteday!
posted on 4/12/23
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 30 minutes ago
In that first half i thought it was a mistake to start Gil on the left. He was never ever going to get anything out of Walker. He doesn't have the pace or the strength.
That is not to say that he should not have started at all, but if we had gone with Johnson on that side and Gil on the right vs Gvardiol, then he may have had a bit more joy. For our equaliser, Johnson stood up Walker and then with a bit of acceleration earned a yard to cross for Deki. So he was perhaps better suited vs Walker and should have started there
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I saw only the second half. But suspect your comments on Gil are correct.
Johnson is turning out very well. He should start.
BTW, what about Solomon, is he injured?
I did not understand Aussieglue's substituting Lo Celso immediately after he had scored? And for Skip who really was not effective in midfield. Why?
Romero back will be great! Must say Davies deserves, he played well yesteday!
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Yes Solomon is very injured.
Lo Celso played for about another ten minutes after his goal then Skipp came on. Skipp also did brilliantly in the buildup to our third goal.
posted on 4/12/23
comment by PhilspursFGR (U3278)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 30 minutes ago
In that first half i thought it was a mistake to start Gil on the left. He was never ever going to get anything out of Walker. He doesn't have the pace or the strength.
That is not to say that he should not have started at all, but if we had gone with Johnson on that side and Gil on the right vs Gvardiol, then he may have had a bit more joy. For our equaliser, Johnson stood up Walker and then with a bit of acceleration earned a yard to cross for Deki. So he was perhaps better suited vs Walker and should have started there
***************************
I saw only the second half. But suspect your comments on Gil are correct.
Johnson is turning out very well. He should start.
BTW, what about Solomon, is he injured?
I did not understand Aussieglue's substituting Lo Celso immediately after he had scored? And for Skip who really was not effective in midfield. Why?
Romero back will be great! Must say Davies deserves, he played well yesteday!
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Yes Solomon is very injured.
Lo Celso played for about another ten minutes after his goal then Skipp came on. Skipp also did brilliantly in the buildup to our third goal.
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Seemed to me Lo Celso came off sooner than that. And I was not as impressed with Skipp as you are.
Why the swap puzzled me. Could not have been defensive according to Ange's tactics?
posted on 5/12/23
comment by Del Big Ange Postecoglou (U22000)
posted 5 hours, 46 minutes ago
Have to be beating West Ham, Newcastle would take a draw but can see a loss.
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The subs were fresh legs to see out the game and, at 2-2, holding what we have, to a degree.
posted on 8/12/23
so it happened again, a loss to newcastle and its 1 point from a possible 18.
Is pressure mounting on ange?
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 16 minutes ago
so it happened again, a loss to newcastle and its 1 point from a possible 18.
Is pressure mounting on ange?
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Not at all because it is clear to see that a lot of these issues come from a deficient squad and key injuries.
I'd wager if we'd spent £1bn on his squad he would be doing even better
posted on 8/12/23
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 56 minutes ago
so it happened again, a loss to newcastle and its 1 point from a possible 18.
Is pressure mounting on ange?
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More pressure on Fat Poch 🐀 by a clear mile.