I’m beginning to think Tottenham Hotspur fixtures in the 2020/21 campaign are largely like buses…you wait ages for one, and then about 16 turn up in the space of two minutes. Taking victory over Chelsea in the EFL Cup via the penalty route only 30 seconds ago, it’s almost time for Thursday evening’s Europa League Qualifying Play-Offs clash with Maccabi Haifa.
We can expect changes again and manager Jose Mourinho certainly wouldn’t have wanted to introduce Harry Kane, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Lucas Moura in the last one as he would’ve wanted a full 90 minutes off for proper rotation – but needs must and at least we have three days between our next two clashes and then an international break where, and I say this politely, Gareth Southgate and other international managers can … I’m sure you can imagine.
Maccabi Haifa...
Win
Draw
Lose
Despite the taxing schedule, we simply cannot blow it now or take our foot off the pedal in the way we did first half against Chelsea as all this effort will have been for nought and at least October is far more sensible on a calendar front.
Make it count, enjoy the break, develop short term injuries and we’ll be ready to again.
Geofspurs – You still seem to be missing the point. If everybody is playing three games then it cancels itself out. But that’s not what has happened to us, our opponents have been consistently getting more recovery time than we have, so we are perfectly entitled to complain.
jod … You’re right, you’re not getting my point. Jose said it’s inhuman to play 180 minutes in 3 days. He’s inferring that it’s not possible. But it is possible (although not recommended). It can’t be inhuman if they used to play 270 minutes in four days. My point was the physical aspect. Just that! I have no idea what your spin means in relation to this.
Hi Geoff/Jod
Some good points from both of you here.
Agreed we should all be playing the same amount of games in a week.
And squads should be of the same size, but that ain’t going to happen.
Look at Leicester success last season without having to play in Europe and similarly the way Wolves fell away when playing too many games with a limited squad caught up with them.
It was an advantage initially for them but took its toll at the end.
I would argue that today’s game is a totally different beast in tactics, fitness, speed.
There is more science involved now in the game.
I distinctly remember two points from “older” players.
Alann Brazil stated that he remembers getting steroid injections into an injured knee to enable him to play on a Saturday, where today he would’ve been rested. He said this did shorten his career and that many of his peers are left in pain even now by playing through injury.
I also remember one of the older Arsenal players saying how Venger changed British football by his application and methods. He said that AV easily extended the playing times /careers of certain players.
He changed what they ate, how quickly they ate etc, how they trained and in particular how they warmed down after games.
It is a different game now and the days of a game then a quick fag and 3 or 4 pints with a curry are over.
ND …. I totally agree with you. I was just pointing out that players had to play 3 games in 4 days twice a season. I wasn’t saying it’s a good idea. A player playing even twice a week is not going to be able to keep it up for a season. It didn’t seem to bother Spurs much despite all the cup runs we were involved in. But you do have to wonder how they managed it without even having subs to call on. At the time I used to be exhausted just going to all the games over the festive periods …. and I never even gave a thought to how the players coped.
ND, you make some very good points there.
IMO, There is no real comparison to be made between 1960’s football (and beyond) with todays game. The demands on the modern player are so much more. And therefore their fitness levels are way beyond those of the days of Mackay, Blanchflower and Greaves etc… Transport those guys at their fitness levels back then, into todays game and they’d probably be dropping like flies, into their beers and pies!
Most of our players at Spurs are Internationals and the International matches they can potentially play in over the course of a season, are many more than the old times. With many more friendlies and tons of Euro and WC qualifiers to compete in. As well as more matches to play in those two competitions proper. Also, club competitions in Europe have teams playing many more matches, if a team goes far into the competition.
‘Though, one thing our club and players can be grateful for this season, is that there have only been single ties to ply in the EL and Carabao cup. Also no extra-time vs Chelsea…
From the kick off match of this season vs Everton to the match yesterday. Tottenhams season has seen just 19 days. But in that time, Harry Kane (for example) has already played (for England and Spurs), a total of 9 matches. (Not every single minute of those games, but a lot of minutes, nonetheless.
This is obviously NOT inhuman (even though Harry is Superman-like), but it is a bloody tough run. Tougher than normal for sure… But they are all still standing and are doing well.
The squad is now definitely stronger/deeper. And of course rotation has been, and will be key as to how we continue through this season and how well we can cope. Hopefully Son and Bale will soon be ready and others can come through the international break, unscathed.
After listening to the match on the radio last night, I did manage to watch the match in full this morning. (on that link I provided)
Our play at times throughout was so loose, untidy and sloppy. And yet we slaughtered them. It’s ironic that the team is currently playing in a fashion that seems to be the opposite of a regular Jose team. Poor and unorganised defensively but lethal in attack…
It’s not so much that individuals have played that badly. But that as a team we are so sloppy. Now if Jose can do what Jose is known for with the defensive side of our game, and our attack can carry on as they have been in the past few games, then we will be supreme… The Big IF!
Up the Spurs!
Thanks for the link HT, like you I had to listen to the radio commentary last night so it was good to watch the match this morning. As you say some of the play was a bit sloppy but there were lots of positives to take from the game as well.
I have to give a bit of a shout out to Bergwijn, I was fairly critical of his apparent fitness levels earlier in the week but he certainly proved me wrong last night putting in a superb performance. I though Davies had one of his best games for ages also, perhaps down to the new competition for his place?
I agree with you TQ on both Davies and Bergwijn.
I think Davies does respond very well to competition. (He showed this by eventually. getting ahead of Rose as 1st choice). I think he has played well so far this season and is looking strong and up for it.
Reguilon has started well (thrown into the deep end vs Chelsea) and I think he has fantastic potential. He could well become the player that many thought Sessegnon would be. But who both you and myself couldn’t quite see he was ready to be. Reguilon is young but quite well experienced already. And with both him and Davies to rotate, I think we are now strong again in that area.
I think that Doherty also has settled quite well but still needs some time to improve and settle. For me, I can see Aurier has responded quite well himself to having some competition and I hope that we hold on to him. (I think he will play vs United).
The general sloppy-ness in the team is understandable at the moment I think. Sp many matches played already and with a lot of necessary rotation . On top of Jose having to integrate a few new players too and with some of them not yet quite up to full fitness.
It’s where I think our crazy/busy opening schedule may well be seen as a blessing in disguise. Whereby as long as we can continue to progess in the competitions as we have done, then the stuff that needs ironing out (sloppy play etc). gets done quicker than usual… No room for messing about when they just have to get on with it…. Character building, if you like. Which should help the team to gel much sooner than later…..
HT….should have given a shout out to Hojbjerg as well, he looked a bit nervy in his first few games but looked back to his best last night commanding the area in front of the centre backs.
Geoff/HT
Excellent points here.
For me as you say it is not inhuman to play 3 games in 5 days or 4 games in 7.
I suppose it can be done. But to have given us a fairer crack of the whip would it have been too much to either move the EFL game to next week or the ManU game to Monday night.
As I remember HK10 was involved at some stage in every game.
That means staying fit to come on and maybe more importantly mentally alert for the game.
Also take in the travel aspect which takes its toll. No matter how comfortable the seating.
As we have seen we got away with just Sonny injured. Imagine if both he and HK10 were injured again.
Also it’s not really now that is the issue, it’s when we come to the pointy end of the season as we saw last season.
But as you said HT we now have a stronger deeper squad.
Hopefully onwards and upwards.
Spurs EL group:
Ludogorets (Bulgaria)
LASK (Austria)
Royal Antwerp (Belgium)
2 easy rounds in cup competitions. Our luck season…2021. Number 1 at the end.
HT….thanks for that, I have been a busy bee so forgot about the EL draw, great draw for us eh!, as WW said 2 easy rounds in cup competitions, is our luck changing and will the 1 in 2021 be to our benefit and tradition, I certainly hope so. COYS COYS.
It sure looks like a dream run to the knockout rounds. But it is football.
easy group for sure, we have great competition for sure now, last night team was strong, with dele, son, bale, vinny
still to feature
But, if we do get past Stoke and through the EL group, it will only get tougher.
The Carabao cup isn’t so bad because of so few matches needed to play, to get to this years final.
But there’s still a lot of EL matches to play to progress to that final… And, CL teams will also drop into it at some stage… But, I’m hopeful.
We could really do with a win vs United though to keep in touch with the top of the PL…. Then there’s always the FA cup to keep us busy!
Thanks HT
Like PY I forgot about the EL draw.
Looks a decent draw for us and we should progress through OK. Fingers crossed
Like wise the Stoke draw should be in our favour.
A wee result against ManU on Sunday will be the icing on the cake for this week.
Dare to dream.
ND, glad you have a sweet tooth, loads of icing to eat Sunday evening. COYS
Some good points in posts on here. As to the group stage draw.. I would say there is no easy game or we will win. Just take it one game at a time as jose has said which is the sensible thing to do.
Last night I saw the documentary jose & pep, a review of their rivalry, was good to see Bobby Robson training these two young guys at Barca.
Geofspurs – I think you are misinterpreting Jose. Mourinho is not just looking to play at whatever level the players can manage, he’s looking to win. For him winning is what its about, not playing. Its the difficulties on winning when the opponents who are in much better physical shape that he’s talking about.
jod …. I agree that Jose just wants win. That’s the same for every manager and every player. But I don’t think I misinterpreted him at all. I was refuting his opinion that the demand on his players was humanly impossible which, as I pointed out, is not correct as history has shown. The effect it might have on results is another thing.