Writer: El Jefe
I don’t think it’s just the fact we’re missing HK10 and Sonny’s goals, we are missing their creativity and also the ability to have rotation up front, culminating in Bergs and Moura coming off early knackered and only having Lamela as an alternative winger/forward on the bench (how fit is he?!) and Fernandes (again how fit is he?!) having to cover as such as well meaning less cover for centre mid and Skipp having to play the whole game at such a tender age (no Sissoko, Dier at CB, Fernandes on the wing etc).
Skipp was another who looked knackered after putting in a decent shift, Winks withdrawn before game end, Dele withdrawn just after extra-time started (how we miss Sissoko also – especially driving the ball forwards with lung busting runs from deep/centre mid). The players looked fatigued most of the 2nd half but came on strong for the final 10 minutes once changes had been made, indeed the introduction of Lamela, N’Dombele and Fernandes explains for me the surge in the last 10 minutes and the fact Norwich wained after owning most of the 2nd half from the 45th minute to about the 80th minute by dominating in centre mid especially – suddenly we had fresh quality legs and it showed.
We are not just missing HK10, Sonny, Sissoko and Lloris now we have also missed Davies and Lloris for big periods and N’Dombele and Sessegnon also. The injuries are ridiculous, the fatigue is an obvious consequence of such and Jose Mourinho is suffering heavily because of it and his tactics resemble this – let’s not forget we have Burnley on Saturday evening and Leipzig Tuesday night and technically there’s still everything to play for in the CL and Prem for us. Then there’s the small matter of Man U visiting us on Sunday the 15th. Massive rotation is needed to stay competitive in all competitions that we are still in. Up front we don’t even have that option meaning our attacking players have to play every game, full 90 minutes or best part of and to take them off other parts have to suffer such as centre mid (Fernandes playing on the wing for example).
I’m not happy with results or performances but am more than willing to give JM a pre-season and a full season to see what can achieve. He needs to be backed, we need some defenders (minimum a RB to challenge Aurier and a LCB to take over from Vert’s) and also at a minimum a back-up striker to challenge HK10.
On Wednesday night’s performance, I would give Vert’s another 12 month contract – he can cover at LCB and LB and that is crucial with us having so many youngster’s in defence like Sanchez, Sessegnon, Foyth and Tanganga. Bring in the RB, LCB and STR and get everyone fit and firing for next season and I think we’ll be right back up there but it is crucial to get the 3 signings in and also to get everyone fit and gelled.
On Vorm, JM was probably right to play him – save Gazza for Burnley and Leipzig as Lloris is currently out and what happens if Gazza plays and gets injured – we have to go with Vorm most probably against better opponents in Burnley away, Leipzig away and even Utd at home quite possibly depending on when Lloris comes back, if he does in this small time-frame.
JM is doing the best he can IMHO with what he has available in terms of injury/form and what he is facing in terms of fixture pile-up, with us challenging on 3 fronts still – ridiculous circumstances – cannot be emphasized enough especially by us fans. It would have been hard, even near impossible to have to play these fixtures with a fully fit squad but to have to do it depleted is RIDICULOUS and our performance’s and result’s are clearly demonstrating this – my sympathies JM sincerely!
I might add as a share-holder I’m grateful for small mercies such as JM coming in and DOING enough to save us from a relegation battle, which we may well have dropped into and not gotten out of! I didn’t think we would be relegated or be around there for long, to be honest, but then again who knows – fact is he came in and we are now on the magic 40 points and only 2 points technically off CL if 5th is good enough, which it should be as City should and I expect will be punished for what they’ve got up to.
If HK10, Sonny, Lloris and Sissoko had not gotten injured as seriously as they did, and Davies also, I reckon we would have probably been able to force a CL spot again this season under JM but as it is I’m expecting us to go out of the CL next week and probably miss out on Europe for next season by finishing lower down in the Prem.
Sometimes you just have to be a realist or even a pessimist to get through. Optimism was last season, this season realism at best.
Does Mourinho Deserve Some Patience Here?
He's Been Dealt A Bad Hand So Yes
Some Patience, But Not Endless
No chance, Too Many Of His Own Errors
Previous Article:
“Not What We Need” – Mourinho’s Recent Words Will Disappoint Plenty Of Spurs Fans
Reasons to be grateful…..? Erm lets see here! Getting rid of best manager in decades – X , Replacing him with established but perhaps now fading star (who cost twice as much in wages) – X, watching nye on largely painfully boring and dull football week in week out for best part of year now – X, Failing to understand transfer policy under Dan levy that is clearly undermining Club’s position and stature, Fabulous brand new stadium✓ Inabilty to dominate opposition in Fabulous Brand new stadium – X, Watching us crash and burn out of top four with increasing certainty – X, Expecting little if any change to Tottenham’s fortunes in the forseeible future -X. Sorry all out of optimism and joy for clubs present predicament, feel that we are gradully squandering hard earned development with shortsighted penny pinching strategies that are sending Spurs backwards as a football club, and the truly sad part is that it doesn’t have to be this way THFC PL
Reasons to be grateful…..? Erm lets see here! Getting rid of best manager in decades – X , Replacing him with established but perhaps now fading star (who cost twice as much in wages) – X, watching nye on largely painfully boring and dull football week in week out for best part of year now – X, Failing to understand transfer policy under Dan levy that is clearly undermining Club’s position and stature, Fabulous brand new stadium✓ Inabilty to dominate opposition in Fabulous Brand new stadium – X, Watching us crash and burn out of top four with increasing certainty – X, Expecting little if any change to Tottenham’s fortunes in the forseeible future -X. Sorry all out of optimism and joy for clubs present predicament, feel that we are gradully squandering hard earned development with shortsighted penny pinching strategies that are sending Spurs backwards as a football club, and the truly sad part is that it doesn’t have to be this way THFC PLEASE SACK DAN LEVY!!!✓
We are lumbered with an anti football manager who has ruined many players during his negative career.
I was lucky in that I managed to sell my season ticket as soon as I realised the style of play became so tedious.
I will not pay any more money to endure this boredem. That would be the definition of insanity.
If we get a new manager in the future who sets the team up to entertain, then I will reconsider spending again to buy tickets for games. Up until then I will use my money for more worthwhile and enjoyable activities.