Just back in the car. Thoughts...Walking to the ground I had a fear we would be rolled over and be 3-0 down at half time. I was worried about the full backs and Hourihane. I also had echos of some absolute abject surrenders here.First half surprised me, pleasantly. We competed. That's what is key for me, collectively, we competed. We were compact, had good shape and caused problems on the break. Scored a good goal, could have scored a couple more and grew in confidence.Second half they upped the tempo and this caused us to contract and stretch the space up to Wesley and increase the distance the midfield needed to break out.We didn't retain territory, the ball came back quicker and we had to work harder in defence. They forced errors. Grealish for one and they got a little bit of luck with the bounce of the ball, but the goals were coming. We couldn't find an answer and realistically, who expected us to?It's not excusing or triumphing defeat. But since 2010 we've gone one way and they've gone the other. They're a very good side, brought a £60m player in and brought Eriksson off the bench. We on the other hand have a number of players to blend in. Taylor, Elmo and Hourihane wont finish the season there for example. We'll get wiser and smarter.Ground was good. Feels oddly compact. Absolute silence though. The old Lane used to be a bit noisy, but this one is a morgue.
I’m not sure if one game is the best way to judge a player, any of them
Jota potential flat track bully? Can see him having better games where we are attacking and getting more of the ball.
Quote from: phantom limb on August 10, 2019, 08:22:15 PMI’m not sure if one game is the best way to judge a player, any of themNo but you can judge their performance today and one or two were poor.
Quote from: themossman on August 10, 2019, 08:20:16 PMJota potential flat track bully? Can see him having better games where we are attacking and getting more of the ball. It's tough coming on with 30 minutes left. Spurs were pretty much completely dominating at that point. I thought it would be a decent sub and give us more of the ball but we were basically sitting on our 18 box at that point.From what I've seen in pre season Jota can be more than useful player in home games against opposition that come to defend. Will have to see how he fits into the strategy away from home.
Quote from: hilts_coolerking on August 10, 2019, 08:25:43 PMQuote from: phantom limb on August 10, 2019, 08:22:15 PMI’m not sure if one game is the best way to judge a player, any of themNo but you can judge their performance today and one or two were poor.We’ve been here before though haven’t we? Someone has a bad game and it for some it means that it’s the end of their career, and they’re always going to be a poor player who will never make it.
And a word for Heaton. The save just before they scored was just outrageous.