Vital Spurs Debate Section

Match Thread – Mourinho Will Be Planning To Boing The Baggies

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With Tottenham Hotspur getting themselves back to winning ways in the Europa League in midweek, this weekend was all about Slaven Bilic and West Bromwich Albion.

Having finally regained their place in the Premier League after a few years in the second tier, their readjustment to the top flight hasn’t been great. Seven games in, a total of three points and a minus 10 goal difference already.

Basically, given the form Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min are in, our 27-year-old England man will be confident of further chipping away at the remaining 66 goals that legend Jimmy Greaves now holds on him.

For us, three points on Sunday would be a nice boost with us sitting in fourth place ahead of Saturday’s fixtures and if we could reach 17 points, the top of the table could be interesting depending on what happens elsewhere.

As ever though, we have to focus on ourselves – we all know we are still capable of putting in a performance that makes everyone cringe and we have to ensure that doesn’t happen.

WBA...

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  • Stan Rosenthal says:

    Factors that the knockers here have not taken into account is that WBA played their best game of the season so far (as most lowly sides do when the play against us) and this game came just a couple of days or so after the trip to Bulgaria. The MOTD pundits, who are no friends of ours, remarked on how ridiculous a 12 o’clock start was in these circumstances. It’s not surprising that one or two of our players had on off day. These schedules catch up with you in the end.

  • DoncasterHotspur says:

    A few people have said that it was difficult because we were up against teams who tried to stop us from playing. How unfair of the,, fancy trying to stop the opposition playing. In all honesty I didn’t see that, both Brighton and West Brom took the game to us and Burnley had more attempts on goal than we did. It is Jose that spoils the game with his ultra cautious tactics. West Brom played their best game of the season because we let them.

  • Niall D says:

    Just noted that
    Klopp, pep and several other prem managers were complaining about the schedule and the muscle strains and injuries which come from playing so many matches on top of each other.
    Wasn’t that exactly what some of us were saying earlier.
    Seems the pile up of games does have an adverse effect.
    According to some here it doesn’t.
    Many managers are calling for 5 subs again. I would now argue for this, I thought earlier that it disenfranchised the lesser teams who may not have a strong bench, however they are able to play a better rested team as they wouldn’t have had any midweek competitions.
    This season and these threads in particular tell me that very many people see games in different ways.
    However what can’t be denied is that we are in 2nd place in the league nothing false or fake about it.
    Harry Kane has either scored or supplied 26 goals this season.
    We’re doin OK.

  • 123spurs says:

    If we play like we did in the last few games, better teams will punish us, we are giving less teams bus parkers l, such as Burnley yet they have more attacking stats, they say in the bottom they are fightening for their lives, are we not frightening for something, if you are in the bottom 5, you are their for a reason

  • Marky says:

    My point is if you are happy with the performance that’s fine if you are not that is also fine, we all see things the way we do, but to argue over it is pointless its not gonna change the way you saw the game.

  • Niall D says:

    Marky
    My point is, and I’ve said this before, whilst I agree you are entitled to your opinion.
    And BTW I ain’t referring to you here.
    If a poster only posts on negative parts of the game or, when we do score 3+goals say nowt.
    Then for me they are coming across as a whinge and only focusing on the negative aspects of our play.
    What would they be like if we actually lose a game ffs.
    Then their at this time bona-fide comments become a misalany of further needless whinging.
    I’m not, not saying we have been great but we’re doing OK thanks.
    And for our supporters to actually support our team would be nice.

  • Geofspurs says:

    ND …. You might be interested in the next thread.

  • BelgianSpur says:

    Obviously, this season is special because of the Covid context. It can’t be compared to any other season, because that would be comparing apples and oranges.

    In a normal year, there is enough spacing between games for teams to be able to manage multiple competitions successfully. European games are played every other week, for example. Same for Carabao Cup rounds.

    This year, all of the games are crammed into a much smaller period than usual, midweek games every week, so it’s bound to have a negative effect. It’s probably why the smaller teams like Southampton are doing so well, and all of the bigger teams seem to drop points they wouldn’t otherwise have.

    However, I also think that making blanket statements about Europe v. no Europe, in a season like this, is not looking at the big picture. This season is an exception rather than the rule.

    As far as Jose’s cautious style, I firmly believe that the foundation of a winning team is being tight at the back. Last year, we couldn’t buy a clean sheet. At the risk of over compensating a little, I understand why Jose wants to make us hard to beat first and foremost, before building upon that at a later stage.

    The downside of that approach is that games against smaller teams are perhaps tighter than they should be. The upside is that we’ve only lost 1 PL game so far this season, against Everton in the first game. We haven’t lost to smaller teams like we tended to do far too often under MP.

    I also think that how we play against the Burnleys of this world is no indication of how we’ll play against the Liverpools of this world. It would be severely underestimating Jose’s tactical acumen. He’s never going to approach a game where we are afforded space the same way as a game where the other team parks the bus.

    I’ve never bought into the “if we play this team the way we played against that team, we’ll lose” argument. That’s assuming we have a “one size fits all” approach to games, which couldn’t be more incorrect ever since Jose took over.

    We’ve already beaten Man U and Chelsea this year, which should somewhat dispel the notion that we are bound to get exposed against better opposition. We have some challenges ahead, and we’ll lose more games this season. But I back Jose to spring a few more surprises this season too.

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    Lots of gossip this morning about Eriksen being offered on loan to us and other PL clubs in January, what do you lot think about the prospect and where do you think he would fit in the line-up if it were a possibility?

  • PompeyYid says:

    Good morning TQ, hope all is well with you and your family.

    In answer to your question regards CE, my answer is a big NO THANKS! he wanted to leave, fair enough his choice, the grass was greener, but we have signed two players in N’Dombele and LoCelso who in my opinion when fully fit will fill his boots/place, plus a little bit more. COYS

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    It could’ve been worse for Spurs versus the Baggies…

    Chelsea were 3-0 down at half-time, away to them, just a few weeks ago. However, It ended 3-3, with the Blues scoring a last ditch, 93rd minute equaliser.

    Imagine the commotion on here at half time, if Spurs had been 3-0 down to them… And still 3-2 down after 90 + mins?

    • TQ2Spurs says:

      I seem to remember a team leading comfortably at 3-0 with 10 or so minutes to go and ending up drawing 3-3, I’m not sure which side of the argument this falls in though! 🙂

      • Hot Tottingham says:

        It falls on to the same side of the argument that I have been making on this thread, TQ.

        That is, that any PL team can trouble an other PL team at any time. But, not necessarily beat them. (Even the likes of WHU)! 😉

        I’ve watched WBA and Brighton play some good football this season. (I can’t really say the same for Burnley). But what both teams lack is the firepower that Spurs and the other top teams have… Which is perfectly understandable. And their defenders will also not be top notch. But they are PL teams after all. Which means they are more than capable of the odd upset or two…

        Luckily, they didn’t upset Spurs enough not to lose to us… But, we may well still thrash them on another day anyway… 🙂

  • BelgianSpur says:

    Point well made, HT!

  • BelgianSpur says:

    I for one have always been a big Eriksen admirer.

    Did he burn bridges on his way out? Possibly. However, Eriksen is human, and humans make mistakes. I believe in giving someone like Eriksen a second chance, if he wanted to come back. We know the player he can be when his motivation is right, and his many good years for the club should buy him some leeway.

    I still don’t see this happening, because Eriksen would have to put his ego aside, admit he made a mistake, and be willing to take his losses barely a year after making a move – which I just don’t see happening. But if he said the right things, apologised, and came back rejuvenated, why not?

    I don’t think you can ever have too many players like Eriksen. With the exception of Lo Celso, no Spurs midfielder has Christian’s range of passing.

    If he’s willing to come back and play hard, I’d welcome him back tomorrow.

    At this stage, I’d argue that a fit and in form Eriksen would be far more useful to the squad than Dele Alli, who doesn’t really fit in Jose’s 433.

    • PompeyYid says:

      BS, hope all is well your end, any roads my earlier post said “NO THANKS” regards CE, but having read your post I think I could just changed my mind, thanks. COYS

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    AND…

    Brighton were 2-2 at home to Man U, when scoring a 95th minute equaliser… But, MU just about won it with a 100th minute Fernandes penalty! Yes, in 90 + ten!

    So, it’s not only Spurs that these lowly PL teams can trouble… Of course it isn’t!

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    Eriksen!?

    We have Vinicius as a possible CF cover for Kane. Christian could come back as a ‘playmaker’ cover for? …… Kane!

    Then, if we can get in a defender as cover for Harry K (The Defender), then we’ll be fully covered from front to back!

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    Every time that we were connected to a Bale return. (Which was speculated on in almost every TW until it actually happened). I said thanks but no thanks. When it became clear that Gareth was to return, I got quite excited.

    So, rather than saying a no-nonsense, no. Maybe I should’ve been saying “never say never”…

    I wouldn’t say no now to Christian returning because I never wanted him to go. But, I wasn’t at all put out when he did leave. I accepted that it was time for him to seek pastures new. And, that his time at Spurs was up.

    But… Never say never!

    But then again, I can’t see Jose using or, even wanting him. And, just a year or so after CE left us…

  • Niall D says:

    Not sure re-Ericsson.
    He did sort of burn his bridges with us before leaving.
    Putting in average to poor performances before he left, as if his candle had gone out for us.
    He hasn’t exactly shone in Italy either.
    But he did speak well about us to Hoj and initially gave us a ggod few years service.
    But perhaps both he and us have moved on and not enough time has elapsed since his leaving to make him perhaps a fond memory, instead (for me) he did very little at the end of last season and was one of the malcontents tho not as vocal it showed in his performance.
    But in his day he was fantastic.

  • DoncasterHotspur says:

    I do sometimes think we miss some control and passing ability in midfield and Eriksen would be perfect for that role. However, we hasn’t really shown any form for the best part of two season now so it would be a high risk move.

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    Some interesting views on CE, he must clearly be upset at not getting game time at Inter and if the prospects of winning titles or silverware even from the bench aren’t good then the move has all been in vain for him.

    I personally think that we are just a top class CB and a skillful playmaker away from being title contenders. We are all aware of Eriksens quality in making assists but I’m not sure his overall workrate would fit in with Jose’s expectations. Lo Celso is proving to be a real workhorse in the centre of the park but doesn’t yet offer the same vision in passing that Eriksen has.

    I don’t think there is currently space in the squad for a return anyway, the only way we could maybe make that space would be by moving Dele on as BS suggests.

  • Geofspurs says:

    For Eriksen to return to Spurs would be a backward step for him and Spurs in my opinion. Has everyone forgotten his inability to take a corner, and his inability to lift the ball over the first defender when taking free kicks. Or his inability to perform consistently as a creative midfielder, particularly in the bigger games. Or the ease with which defenders could push him off the ball. He scored a few brilliant goals from free kicks early on …. but early on was a very long time ago. For a player who has a reputation as a creative player, I rarely saw enough creativity to match the reputation. Sorry guys, just my opinion.

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