The season has opened with a comprehensive 4-1 victory against Southampton, and a few things came to mind during our dismantling of a side that caused us plenty of bother last season.
Firstly, I’d like to start on that note. Yes, Southampton were poor, and have been for a while, but the same side ran us ragged 6 months ago in the corresponding fixture where we looked like conceding every time they got past the halfway line. This time, every time Saints got the ball, we were all over them and before you knew it, we’d bear in on their goal. The intensity we saw shades of in pre-season was evident, and it’s great to see. This disposal of a team we couldn’t beat last season was a really encouraging sign of our progression and the players’ improved internalisation of Conte’s methods.
Additionally, Conte’s faith in the starting XI that secured 4th last season was also reassuring. It shows our newfound depth – although I still think we could do with about two more bodies – and how the players are responding to the challenge of having their starting places threatened by new arrivals. On a day where we scored 4 without Kane and Son netting, everyone stepped up, especially Sessegnon, who displayed signs of aggression that I thought were lacking in his game.
Of course, it’s early days, and against naive opponents it’s morally wrong to jump to any sort of conclusions, but this was the perfect start to a tricky run of games.
It was shocking! What is wrong with Conte? Why did he make such a blunder in his team selection. You simply do not play your main goal scorers in the backline!
Amazingly, the title is now ours to lose. If we win all of our remaining games we cannot be caught …. based on a mathematically correct formula. Is it too early to commence celebrating?
We could still be beaten on goal difference Geof. 🙂
You party pooper, TQ!
Not if we win every game lol!
Hahahahaha! very good Geof. COYS
Its always important to get that first win on the board, we didn’t waste any time doing it. It’s difficult to make much sense of last season, for Spurs or a few other teams. The team that played Southampton and the team that beat Arsenal later in the season looked like two different starting elevens. We’ve continued from where we finished the season and its looking good. Sessegnon has the potential to be something special as a wing back, maybe this is the season he starts to deliver. On the other side of the pitch you’ve got to give Emerson some credit for playing well out of position, but we’ll be stronger once Doherty is fully fit.
Not sure about “although I still think we could do with about two more bodies”. I know for some fans buying players is seen as an end in itself but who exactly would you want to buy ? what positions ? As far as I can see we are strong pretty much everywhere in a Conte system of play and no one who is any good is going to come to sit on the bench and play the odd game if Conte feels the need to change formation (if he ever does).
100% with you there jod! COYS
Agree on last season’s summary there Jod, too strange of a season to draw a general conclusion from the whole package as it was like three different seasons to a degree – part one being the Nuno shambles, part two being the initial phase of adaptation to Conte and the teething problems emerging from the players trying to adapt to his system, and ultimately, part three being the strong finish from around March onwards once Kulusevski and Bentancur had bedded in and a first choice XI was settled, the win-lose run was interrupted and we developed a more consistent identity. As you say, yesterday seemed to be a continuation of the manner we finished the season, but there seemed to be even more intensity in our play off the ball: every time we lost it, we were all over Saints like a flash. There was more conciseness and zip with the ball, one touch passing was a frequent feature of our play from about 25 minutes onwards and we were relentless. Not getting carried away given how below-par Saints were, but encouraging signs.
Spot on regarding the wing-backs too, I’ve never really rated Emerson but he’s been proving me wrong most weeks and I’ve got the utmost admiration for him regardless, the man keeps going and going and he’s still learning a position he’s not familiar with. Great performance from him, and great performance from Sessegnon too.
And yes, I do think we could do with at least two more bodies if we’re serious about challenging Liverpool and City – most people will laugh at the audacity to think we could displace them, but what’s the point in playing if you’re not looking to progress? We probably won’t win the league this season but we’ve got to aim big and if not this season, lay the foundations for next. As is stands, as much as our squad has improved and the players that finished last season have stepped up, there’s still room for upgrading some of our ranks. It’s such a long season, and with the CL coming up, we’ll need squad depth that I still don’t think we’ve quite got. I’m willing to take some flak for this as I know not everyone will agree, especially after yesterday, but we’re still not there. I look at centre-back particularly – Rodon gone, probably Tanganga too, and although I love Sanchez’s commitment, I think he’s still a weak link that needs upgrading. The intensity of this season and the World Cup (if selected) may very well take its toll on Dier and Romero, who have yet to prove their capacity for maintaining full fitness over a season. In a system that plays 3 centre-backs, this leaves us quite light at the back. I still think we need another attacker too, someone who knows they won’t start every week but that’s what competition for places is all about isn’t it?
Omar …. I agree with all of that. One thing I thought as the game progressed was that we seemed to have the potential for goals all over the park. When it all comes together it could be very good.
Precisely Geoff, I think that’s the most encouraging thing to take from yesterday…we looked dangerous from other sources beyond Kane and Son (who still contributed immeasurably yesterday, but that’s besides the point you’re making), and it’s still yet to all click…it still feels a bit like pre-season given the lack of matches we’ve had over the past month so the fact that we looked so good without hitting our stride is really uplifting indeed mate.
Simple. Despite the improvmeent in the squad, we are still lacking a creative midfielder and quality at the CB position. Both could yet be improved.
If no player was ever willing to join a club unless he was guarnateed a start, I don’t think Man City could line up the way they do each week, with world class players on their bench.
The signed Mahrez, PFA player of the year, to be a squad player.
Simple. Despite the improvmeent in the squad, we are still lacking a creative midfielder and quality at the CB position. Both could yet be improved.
If we win all our games we cant be caught on points. So goal difference wont to come into play
123 …. I think TQ and I both knew that, mate …. but why let a fact destroy some harmless silliness.
There’s this attitude at Spurs that anyone who plays for us isn’t as good as anyone who doesn’t. Sanchez proved himself at the end of last season when Romero was injured. But he’s a “weak link” apparently and of course there’s all these men with no names out there who are so much better and all available. Its funny how they never seem to have names. We have Dier, Romero, Davies, Sanchez and Lenglet. Unless there is someone out there who has actually got a name and is a genuine upgrade on what we already have (and is available) then what is the point in spending money just to spend money ? Much better to wait until next summer when we can maybe get one of the players we couldn’t get this time. Take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book with Van Dyke and wait until the right player is available.
There probably is an attitude like that at Spurs jod, yes, just as there’s an attitude like that at every club as it’s human nature to covet the food that’s being served at the table next to yours, “the grass is always greener” etc. That said, the notion that we still have a few players that require upgrading if we’re serious about harbouring any semblance of title-challenging ambitions is a different ball game, and if we are serious about this, then we’ve got to look for ways to improve our personnel, whether that’s through upgrading with purchases (an approach that’s been misguided over the past few years, yes) or through investment into the players we’ve got now, as we’re doing with our partnerships with Science In Sport and hiring a new sports psychologist, stuff we should have done an eternity ago but here we are. Someone like Sanchez can benefit from the latter particularly, or through doing more video analysis work with the analysis team or something like that. Although he’s improved tremendously under Conte he still leaves a lot to be desired at times, he’s clearly got ability but would you rely on him as the middle man in our back three in Dier’s absence? Completely different role to the one he had deputising for Romero last year (a role which he filled in admirably towards the end of last season, as you say), but would you want him there every week or in the middle where you have to organise the men around you? With all due respect, I don’t. But I don’t see anyone coming to the table for him due to his wages and the fact that we’ll still request a large fee for him as he’s still yet to hit his peak, so to speak, so if we’re to persist with him, as is the case with a few others, then we’ve got to help him out.
I’m no scout but I’m sure Paratici and our scouting department could draw up a list longer the Old Testament if it’s “names” you’re after jod. Dier and Romero – wonderful, but what if they pick up an injury and are ruled out for 4ish months between them like they were last season? That’s a lot of disruption to a supposedly “settled” backline. Such a scenario leaves us with two left-sided CBs in Lenglet and Davies (both of whom are weak aerially), and Sanchez. None of them are ready to be the man in the middle of the three, maybe Lenglet will in time but he needs time to adjust. For all I say Romero and Dier could remain fit for the rest of their careers and my argument becomes about as relevant to this conversation as Clifford the Big Red Dog, but with so much football to be played and both of their injury problems in the past, it’s possible.
As you say though, and I wholeheartedly agree with this, it is definitely much better to wait until the right one is available, a-la Liverpool. Klopp was just speaking to the media yesterday following Thiago’s injury that they won’t sign a midfielder just because they’ve lost a man to injury. They’ll sign one if, and only if, they fit the club’s profile and team’s requirements. As you say jod, that’s the right way to go about things, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start looking now. I don’t know if it was Confucius or Keith Lemon that said it, but if you don’t ask questions, you don’t get answers. The answers to improving the squad, whether today, tomorrow, or next year, won’t arrive unless we ask questions.
Sanchez porived himself for 6 games. Does that erase 2 mediocre years before that? By now what know what Davinson is and isn’t. A couple of good games don’t change much. He is and remains a liability and I don’t think it’s wrong to point that out.
Man U 1 Brighton 2. Fantastic result for the Seagulls against all odds.
Weaker squad, Old Trafford noise, referee and fergie time. Normally you need to be four in front to stand a chance.
But Brighton (despite losing Bissouma and Cucurella) were by far the best team and played some great passing football. Man u only scored with the worst, scrappiest, debatable own goal of the season.
Brighton fans singing “You’ll be sacked in the morning!”
My second favourite team as I now live near Brighton. Coventry are my third. Great times ahead. COYS
Next week agaisnt a team we always seem to beat, they must hate playing us. Let’s keep this record going.
Emerson Royal is playing at a position he’s never played before, so give the lad a bit of time to improve, to get the hang of the hive. Indeed, he seems to be getting the hang of it as time goes by. The man didn’t pick up the nick name Royal Jelly for nothing. It’s the food fit for the Queen. Queen Bee, that is. She needs the sweetest food to sustain being the only sexual female in the hive. Energy draining, I imagine.
Give him a chance and he might sweeten up the whole hive.
Anyway, Royal the Emerson Man seems to bee getting sweeter as he learns the new position, Time will tell. Maybe we’ll see Emerson on a Royal Jelly Roll.
Kooloo was MOtM for me.
I’m hopeful that Sess will win us over. He’s looking much more comfortable in his wing back position.
Richarlison might win the WC playing regularly for the Seleção do Brasil and still be a floater on the front line at THFC. Kane, Son, and Kooloo, with Richarlison subbing into all three front line positions? Now here’s a set of riches that will take some time to get used to.
What’s Skipp going to do if he ever gets healthy? Especially if we sign a creative midfielder? We might soon have two players or more for every position. Don’t get injured if you want to keep your place on our pitch.
wworth,
I real pleasure to see Manure lose today. And a real pleasure to see the new head Manure man and CR7 falling out. There is no team that would give me greater pleasure to see in a state of collapse, excepting, perhaps, the arse wholes. Both proved to have the world’s worst and most obnoxious supporters when they were flying high. Unfortunately Arse seems to have strengthened themselves and might give us a run for the money before the season is out.
But Manure seems in a state of internal unhappiness and had an early and unexpected loss. Thanks and praises to the Bright-tonne. They lived up to their name today and Brightened the world a tonne. Gave tears to the world’s most entitled supporters–except, of course, the idiots at Real Madrid. Well done, brightened our day.
Still top of the table !!! COYS 🙂
Takeaways:
1.It was a come from behind win. The takeaway is that the players’ mental toughness, confidence, attitude, self belief etc etc is improving. No doubt under girded by Conte’s demand for hardwork and the yards put in.
2.Neither of our top scorers had to score to win big. The takeaway here is that Conte’s wingback system is working. You cannot get away by just marking out Kane and Son anymore.
3.The Saints were poor. The takeaway here is lets make all of the rest of them poor too. Especially the next lot we have to play.
Amen to that mate
I really believe that we stand a proper chance this coming Sunday.
Arky,
the implication of your comment seems quite right to me. Soton was poor in large measure because of the play of our team. They may be a weak lot to begin with, but the play of our side brought the worst out of them.
Let’s see our lads do the same with the oligarch-abandoned Chelsea next Sunday. Let’s have them chasing themselves about the pitch.
Seems a few of the Chelsea players want to leave their club. Let’s see our lads encourage them to keep thinking that.
Like rats off a sinking ship ? Now Amen to that TK.
omarhussein – So you “know” there are better available players out there. Except of course you don’t, since you have no idea who they are. It’s the same as religious types who confuse knowing there’s a God with believing there’s a God. You believe there’s better players available out there even though you’ve no idea who they are. But you know nothing. Of course the great thing is since they are men with no names it doesn’t matter who we recruit, you can just keep writing the same stuff about how we need to upgrade. If we had the best 22 players in the world you could just keep writing how we need to upgrade to some of these nameless men.
jod …. I think you need to take a deep breath, mate.
Why do you insist on believing that supporters should not suggest we should look for something we are missing in the squad …. without providing names? All through history people have been aware that something is missing or something needs changing without knowing exactly how to rectify it.
Supporters can identify what they consider the team lacks, it’s what supporters do, and then it is up to Konte and his team to provide the solution or not. Because it is what supporters do, why not accept it and try to post less repetitive comments when it happens. It might reduce your stress level.
Agreed Geoff, I see the nobility in jod’s argument though, no matter who’s in the squad we need to support them and get behind them, and of course buying for the sake of buying isn’t the answer to improving the team, at least that’s what I seem to be getting from the argument.
I’m not a scout, like the vast majority of our fanbase, so the provision of names jod’s may be best pressed to Paratici and his merry men, but as you quite rightly say, identifying areas that can be improved is just what supporters do, the rest is up to the relevant authorities to decide.
So you’re saying Sanchez is the best centre-back out there then mate yeah? Shall we just shut down the scouting department entirely since there’s no chance at all of upgrading the squad or no point of looking for upgrades? Why hire Paratici if that’s the case?
It’s also incredibly stupid to dismiss the need for improvement when the current incumbents have won absolutely nothing.
It has 0% to do with some sort of insatiable thirst for new signing, and 100% to do with the fact that the proof is in the pudding. If our squad was good enough and deep enough, we’d have won something by now.
It doesn’t suit your flawed narrative but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
What ARE we going to do with the unwanted? It seems as though there are no takers…not even loan deals.
Their value has dropped through the floor but not their wages.
What will they do this season? Retire on full wages?
We need to get rid now.
Nothing has changed over here then! 🙂
Yet another takeaway then, pretty keen of you, lol.
Hahaha, understatement at its best. COYS
How was that not a pen for Brighton. Total barge the back. And where was VAR
Some good argument
Need to ask Jod, do you now, accept that whilst Kulu and Bentacur, in your words may not be next level
Would you accept that, as I alluded to, as part of the team they’ve helped to take us to the next level.
Given they were easily the best two players on the pitch.
Omar …. Any chance of posting a match thread two or three days before the game and then leaving it as the main thread until two or three days after the game. As found in the past, this generates more discussion.
Again, when it comes to generating a dsiscussion, I’m sure you know that it helps if the thread asks a direct question …. ie ‘What are supporting expectations for 2022/23?’ …. ‘Are supporters satisfied with the TW so far?’ …. ‘Has Levy turned a corner in terms of backing his manager?’ …. ‘Why is jod obsessed with names?’ etc. Oops, the last one slipped in before I could stop it! (lol).
Just a thought, mate.
Great suggestions Geoff, noted 🙂
As in previous seasons spurs have not beaten top six rivals enough times, so should we beat chelsea (spurs lost 3 times last year) will show we are on the way up at last. COYS
Very true there block, so am up for a 1-2 win at the Bridge. COYS
Good point Geoff
With that said chum, you get that on the forum, the talking points evolve and you can like /dislike others comments without writing several sentences, you can quote without having to re write the passage..
Climd aboard m8.
Tappin up again.