Spurs (a) - Instant Reaction

Inverted crosses are much harder to defend

I literally just said that on the podcast 👍🏾

I think yesterday cemented why inverted wingers are ideal in today’s game. Yes, Saka and even Willian were getting in half-spaces, but once they were there the angle was such that they couldn’t do anything but cross. I really want to see Nelson in LW because he links play better than I think Saka does. Clive, would love to get your thoughts on this.

There were too many stock fallings to fit them all in

what a depressing situation. play the kids, Saka, Tierney, ESR, AMN, Reiss.

I have a concern about Partay that I'd love Clive's thoughts on, perhaps during a rewatch? If you could get this message to him would be appreciated. During the first half I watched Partay very closely and what I saw was when our defenders had the ball, he moved into position where he wasn't available to receive the ball. He doesn't seem overly keen to be involved in the build up play. He excels when the ball has just turned over (both ways infact). Sticking with our offence, he likes to play the ball forward, and quickly just after a turnover and he is very good at it. If it is the case that he is another player that doesn't want to take responsibility for our link up play, then our midfield may be in an even worse place than we already think it is! We are putting all our midfield hopes on Partey right now.. Do you have any thoughts on this

There was no summer break. I think the older players are suffering from this

We played with fear. I hope Elliot and Clive do a re watch. Midfielders were hiding. A big percentage of possession seemed to be with centre halves and Xhaka and Ceballos kept pointing getting centre halves to recycle possession. Partey was always looking to pass it forwards. Get AMN in and start pass it forwards!

We are poo.

Eric Burkley

Any evidence of arteta building an identity at the end of last season seems to have disappeared this season (United game aside)... the organization in defence, the energy levels from even the likes of xhaka and the ceballos, and even the organisation in our press have all seem to have gone out the window... really worrying given that the lack of identity was clear for all to see in a large part of emery’s reign. Back 3 until we have the ‘right’ players or 4/5 better players at least surely? Get the best out of the current players before it’s too late

This was very cathartic 👍 can’t believe Bellerin wasn’t a stock falling though! He keeps costing us goals by just completely ignoring the opposition’s left winger (City and Wolves most noticeably before today) and for Son’s goal I can’t even explain what he’s trying to do....just nowhere near anyone. And the throw in thing is beyond a joke at this point - it’s like 5 in the PL this season now 🙄

Tom Laverick

I just saw too many people being static when we had the ball in the final third. No movement trying to create space or move the other team around. Way too easy to defend.

Arteta insisting on the crosses to 1 or 2 tiny, weak, bad headers in the box is a sackable offence. The constant playing of Willian and other shit players, sackable offence. The total ignorance of what Mourinho would do among other stupid tactics, sackable. We should never have hired a glorified kit man to take his first job fixing one of the biggest messes in the country.

Bellerin skates away from stock falling again..

The Auba argument is skewed by the fact we’re not just average to poor creating chances we’re literally the worst team in the league.