It’s been another of those weeks for Tottenham Hotspur fans. Just as things began looking rosy under manager Antonio Conte and we were seriously looking like we’d establish ourselves as top four contenders for 2021/22 – the wheels inevitably fell off as we made the trip to Brentford last weekend and again failed to register a single shot on target.
Everyone knew Brentford would be a tough cookie to crack and although victory wasn’t guaranteed, we knew if we clicked up front again we should have more than enough for their defence – and that simply makes not testing their goalkeeper even once all the more frustrating, particularly as, although we had the possession, they were far more dangerous on the ball and did more with it.
Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers might be having a tough time of things at the moment, but with them up next at White Hart Lane, again, it’s not going to be another easy day for us, but if we hope to chase Arsenal down now with their advantage, it has to be a win.
Conte will be demanding that – can the players deliver?
Cheers Danny.
Exciting, ain’t it?
As I suggested on the last thread …. isn’t Conte lever to wait for the Arsenal game to clinch fourth.
Geof, if true its a masterstroke lol! COYS
We have heard many times this season…. players and conte are determined to do better yet they are still losing games we need to win… This is a 50/50 situation IMO.. conte needs a plan B or C when opposition block our players from running into space and passing, and players to try different ways to play this bus parking and counters. Man City / pool do it why can’t spurs ??
Leicester will have vardy back so I expect their fast moving counter attack game
Oh.. what happened to my post on here this morning ??
Probably gone “walkabout” keeping in line with our Spurs team at the mo. lol! COYS
Danny thanks for the thread.
Hi Block trust you’re keeping well.
That’s been my issue the last couple of games.
In short IMO, we have a few problems.
But it breaks down to, not having the players on the bench or in the squad to change it up.
We havnt got a different CF from Kane to let him drop back and play through to with Sonny, or the big awkward Crouchy type to lump it up to.
Similarly, all of our Midfield are very, very, similar players which narrows our options there
Where’s the play maker or and free kick taker for the wonder goals like W/Prowse for S’oton.
We Dont have it
Again we (mostly ) play one way with wing backs, but I feel our current crop (out side of Doh) aren’t up to it,
Which then nullifys our attack somewhat.
I was pondering, if we could/should use Bergs in that Left wing back position, he’s strong skillful and can probably put a better cross in than either, Sess or Regs.
Lastly, which really gets my goat, Lloris, every fekin time holds on to the ball too long, gives it short and we (again) don’t have the players with the skill to take it forward and we end up sidey sidey backwards.
Just my tuppence worth m8.
Niall D – You are right about the crucial role of the wing backs and our limited midfield options. it does raise a number of points. Firstly everybody knows how Conte plays and some of them are tactically aware enough to close the wide men down. As Mourinho has said if something isn’t working you have to change it, the change might not work but you have to try. Conte seems very reluctant to do that. OK he hasn’t got an attacking midfield player but he could try Moura or Kulusevski as a 10, try something. Secondly part of our problem is down to changing managers. Emerson and Reguilon were bought as full backs and looked pretty good in that formation. New manager, new formation. If we keep changing managers we will always have the wrong players left over from the previous manager. Lastly if Conte is staying then sorting out the wing backs can be added to a left sided defender as priorities in the transfer market. The thing with an attacking midfield player is you can’t play him in Conte’s system and so far Conte hasn’t shown he’s prepared to change the system, even if its not working. So I’m not sure its worth even looking for one.
Geof, beating the Arse may not get us fourth place if we don’t get some shots of goal in the other matches.
Something I thought I’d never say
Agree with a lot of what you’re saying Jod. (get me a 1/2 un)😉
However re the attacking midfielder fitting his system, then surely Ericksen is by trade an attacking midfielder who fitted his system in Italy, so there must be room somewhere.
Hows about this line up to feck opposition managers up…
Lloris
Romero…Dier…Rodon…Davies
Hoj (Skippy when fit)
Kulu…Bentacure…Lucas or Bergs
Kane…Son.
4-1-3-2
Just a thought COYS
Worth a shout PomeyYid, especially coupling Romero’s aggressive and attacking tendencies to free up Kulu in front of him on the right. In essence creating a wingback out of Romero. Maybe ?
I hope that Conte sees the need to shore up the middle. Heck pack the middle with 4-5-1, and lump it up to Harry. A la Clive Allen up top and Paul Allen/Chris Waddle on the wings.
Fur our information will we out Fox the Foxes?
Will it be all Cockadoodledoo occasion afterwards? COYS
Cockadoodledoo !!! Only three points will do !!! LOL 🙂 COYS!
TK,
with regards to Xenophanes, we are in agreement about the gods then. 🙂
Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Leicester City!
I see that Conte has called the rumour of him going to PSG as bullshit, well not in those words, but you get my drift.
Have a listen to his presser, pretty good honest stuff. COYS
jod, “If we keep changing managers we will always have the wrong players left over from the previous manager.” words of wisdom these.
PY trust all is OK with you and yours
I hope your post re Conte not leaving is true.
Re Sunday let’s just win it.
I do hope we get Somewhere near HT’s predicted result, currently I’ll take 1-0
With a few shots on target.
In reality I just want to get thru this season in a decent position.
Then in the Summer start only start the build for top 3 and a trophy.
Any team who gets 4th this year, it is hardly a boast, in reality, its only because other teams, we’re as bad or had other competitions to focus on.
With that said, I’ll take 4th place on my knees.
Hey Niall we are doing fine thanks and a ditto to you and yours.
I hope the same that Conte is not leaving, but though he said what he said regards PSG, he really didn’t rule out leaving us in the summer, so fingers crossed.
As for tomorrow, as normal am going for a win for us, and hopefully as HT predicted, thus having our scoring boots on, shots on target etc. COYS
Niall
Tend to agree with you ref league position which i don’t mind where we finish as long as we get minimum Europa league place . I feel that 4th is too soon but with a decent final few game we might be surprised however at present Arsenal look the more threatening side .
Conte is quite explicit , for to build playing success , by investing in the playing side of the club will help keep him at least for next season .
His meeting with Levy at the end of the season will determine what Conte will do .
Morning Allan
100% if we do get top 4🙏
Then it’s a case of getting the “right” not the most expensive or the youngest prospect, the right players in, for example I’d argue that, tho they didn’t cost the earth, Kjulu, Bente, Hoj (and Possibly), Doh are the right players for Conte,
unlike others, I feel that given time he may even make, a silk purse out of Sess, who hasn’t impressed just yet.
But there will be “Deals” out there over the Summer
Again it will almost be as much about who leaves as who stays, or comes in.
For me at least 8/10 players including loanees need to go, to bring 7 in.
This will let Conte put his stamp on the team.
Next season will be the season to judge how good Conte is.
But I do believe he is very good.
I feel re tomorrow that Rodgers, will totally focus on playing in Roma for another Trophy, top 4 for Leicester is more or less gone, so the kuedos for Brendan will be winning a trophy and may not risk his best team tomorrow.
But regardless of who he puts out, we can and will beat em.
We don’t need favours.
COYS.
I think that whatever happens Conte has decided to leave. He doesn’t want to wait until the end of the transfer window to realise that he won’t get the backing he needs. And let’s face it the backing needs to be immense. He loves to play with top quality wing backs. We have pretty well the worst in the league in that position. We have no creativity in midfield. In fact we only create chances when our best striker drops deep and plays in midfield. He has to be totally on his game as well which he has not been too often this season. I suspect Kane will want out again in the summer.
Bentancour and Kulu are decent signings – good rather than great players and Romero can be a great defender if he cuts the rashness from his game and learns how to defend set pieces.
Conte wants to win titles – he knows Spurs are a million miles away from that. He will be gone soon after the season ends.
As for tomorrow we are up against a team who can keep the ball (unlike us they are able to pass to each other) so it will be a difficult game.
Conte should know he isn’t going to challenge for titles, he’s goal and objective is to get club back into the top4.
Doncaster I can understand your pessimism ref Levy creating enough funds for transfers to keep Conte happy and prevent him walking away at the end of the season but he is on record as saying that he has a mission with our club .
However will he be given the resourses s to make us into a crediable team for next season ?
Time will tell but I am optimistic that surely Levy has the chance to create a team worthy of our stadium and invest .
HI DH
Disagree to a degree, whilst I don’t think that Spurs are a million miles away, I do think they are a thousand😉, we are a few signings from being a decent, competitive, reliable (now there’s a word)
Winning team.
I feel we are 1/2 a step away from top 4 if Conte is given his head.
I do think that will happen next season, as I feel Levey has finally accepted his “weakness” in football, as in he can’t pick players.
He should stick to making money, which he is quite good at.
Re the players you mentioned, not being great, how many of Liverpools players are “great”??
Yet there they are competing, I’d argue that there are very few stand out players currently anywhere.
A handful at most, the rest fall into “fit for purpose” ‘suitable for current shape or tactic”.
Liverpool just beat N/Castle today, yes they were better but in the long run got a Refs decision to win the game, in short they have become reliable, much like ManC.
Chelsea for all their millions and stars actually aren’t reliable.
Don’t know if I’ve put my point across right.
But in short we ain’t there yet, but (for me) ain’t as far as you think. 😉
An oft wrote sentiment on VS is that DL has the sole objective to sell the club as a huge real estate deal–stadium fit for world events, world class training grounds–and he cares to do it at bargain basement cost so winning isn’t important. but surely DL knows that the monetary value of the club would shoot much higher following a PL title or a CL win. The fact that he has cows hooves in place of hands with fingers–so money can’t be grasped and taken out of the pocket–shouldn’t stop him from grasping that more money follows winning than just muddling along.