Spurs v Liverpool Match Thread

[redlancer]

We didn't have a midfield today to supply Stevie and Torres, so often we relied on the high ball and Torres to try and get the ball.
How many times was Steive, who I didn't think was 100%, chasing the game back into an area he shouldn't of been in.
This could be down to Spurs playing well or us missing that player in the middle to pull the strings or thread that pass through.
For the time being Steive MUST play in the center and put Yossi or Kuyt in his position.
Babel didn't platy well but like the rest had poor service and was marked by 3 players.
No clever passing from the middle made Spurs job an easy one to block the outlet of the wings.

Thought Glen had a good game and shows a lot for the comming months.
But we must be more attack minded in the center of the park.

[Bender]

At Anfield and against Stoke we will see a much different game. I think our team is set up better this year to win that type of game.

hope so

[Hustler]

We controlled the game when Gerrard moved back but this was because Spurs dropped back. Had nothing to do with Gerrard

[Darkon]

What, based on one match FFS.

Jesus christ give him so slack mate and give him a chance. It was a wank result and not the best of starts. Yossi was quality when he came on, really positive with his play, very relaxed and showed some good play. Reina was good too, could do nothing about them goals mind cracking goals and credit to Tottenham too, they played us at our own game.

I'm a bit worried about the fitness of the players. Torres looked zonked as did most of the team which isn't good. In pre-season he hardly played and hardly any of the first 11 played during the bulk of pre-season bar the last few games. They should have been playing from the start regardless of whether they've been in the Confederations Cup or whatever.

Not going to jump on the babdwagon just yet but I can't help but feel that this may be a hard season. We missed the boat last season and totally ****ed it up. Last season was our chance and it's gone.

We really need some big money in the club so that Rafa can get in all the playes that he needs.

**** **** ****

Basically it could be based on most of his time with us and even parts of the preseason. He might change it but for now he doesn't look like a player that can distribute the ball at a high enough level to compensate for the loss of Alonso. We have seen him play for a long time with us now, and he is not really the playmaker type that he had to take over today.

As long as Aquilani is out I would like to see Gerrard be put back in a deeper role as his passing and game intelligence is much better. Then get Yossi in highter up, or push babbel central and Riera on the wing.

[DannyMan2006]

We controlled the game when Gerrard moved back but this was because Spurs dropped back. Had nothing to do with Gerrard

Or Yossi, or Voronin. Both did well but they were allowed to do so.

[Craig_H]

Well, here's my take.

Number one - we played far too deep today. Our backline and CMs were about 10 yards further back than they should've been. It left Gerrard and Torres isolated. Gerrard started coming deeper to try and get into the game, which left Torres being outnumbered and outmuscled, and nobody there to help him or pick up the pieces.

Number two - they were in our faces all day long, never gave us time to settle on the ball. Consequently, we were overly rushed when playing the ball and giving it away. They showed real desire for it. We didnt.

Number three - Redknapp out-thought Rafa today, for me. He used our paranoia of Defoe's pace to push us back and this left the defensive 6 (back four, Lucas and Mascher) completely detatched from Gerrard. The wide players were detatched and isolated, leaving Torres and Gerrard with no support. We were left to play hopeful punts to Torres, which he struggled to deal with (with his back to goal) and didnt have Gerrard running off him to pick up 2nd balls.

The gaps between defence & midfield, and then midfield & attack were massive. This, combined with the fact that we were given no time on the ball to play the ball out of defence, meant we were totally disjointed. Three different segments rather than one team.

Number four - Babel was dreadful, ineffective and offered us virtually nothing. We improved infinitely when Yossi came on, and he needs to be 1st choice for me.

Number five - Johnson did exactly what i thought he'd do. Offered excellent thrust and width going forward (brilliant for the penalty). And caught out a few times defensively in terms of positioning. Insua was a useful outlet down the left too. Lucas was very good, showed decent aggression and certainly didnt look out of place. Voronin did offer us something when he came on.

Number six - if the ref hadnt already given us a peno, we would've had one for the foul on Voronin. It was a gutless decision not to give it.

A few players did themselves justice. Reina, Johnson (going forward), Insua, Lucas and Yossi were good.

One positive angle is that if we beat Stoke on Wednesday night, we'll be 2 points up on last season's equivalent games. Having said that, it also puts pressure on us to repeat those wins at Chelsea and United - which is far from a given. Had we won today's game, we could've said "thats 3 points we never got last year, so it takes a little pressure off from NEEDING to go and win at Chelsea and United, in order to maintain last season's consistency". But there we go.

I dont know who Chelsea and United have in their next two games, but if we win back to back against Stoke and Villa at Anfield, hopefully the mancs and/or chelsea might drop something in the next two games and minimise the gap.

It might sound stupid to talk about point gaps at this stage of the season, but a big gap can open up very easily. Last season, we went into the final 10 games needing to practically win them all to stand a realistic chance, and that's far from ideal.

My biggest disappointment from today is that, based on this afternoon's evidence, nothing's changed from last season, in terms of mentality.

I said before that if we go into the season and KEEP the mentality of the last 10 games of last season (and Torres & Gerrard stay fit), then we'd win the title. But from what i saw today, the mentality has reverted to type.

We only actively seem keen to go 'at' the opposition, when we go behind. Until then, it seemed to be same old same old. Keep it controlled, and wait for something to happen, rather than being proactive in our attacking play and MAKING it happen.

Perhaps it was naive to expect Rafa to change his playing mentality, which obviously goes very deep. You cant change what you are unfortunately. Maybe on a temporary basis you can alter your footballing mindset, but ultimately, you are what you are and that's that.

[kris90210]

Ive been a big critic of Lucas' in the past but I thought he did well today. Nothing spectacular but pretty solid all in all. Hopefully once he builds his confidence a bit we'll start seeing a bit more adventure in his play. Also, loved the way he stuck up for Torres against Huddlestone. Didnt even think twice about it.

Next match, I hope we play with the same line up but play Benayoun instead of Babel on the left.

[cream]

Ive been a big critic of Lucas' in the past but I thought he did well today. Nothing spectacular but pretty solid all in all. Hopefully once he builds his confidence a bit we'll start seeing a bit more adventure in his play. Also, loved the way he stuck up for Torres against Huddlestone. Didnt even think twice about it.

Next match, I hope we play with the same line up but play Benayoun instead of Babel on the left.

I just don't see the point of Lucas to be honest.

[DannyMan2006]

Don't agree with it all Craig but that was a decent take on the game. I'm not so sure about the mentality of the team just yet though. You need to control the game to create chances, which we did not do.

As for the points gap, if you let it build up early then you pay later on for it. We were four points of last year and we're now three behind already. I don't think the gap really matters until after Xmas, though it would be curtains if we let it get to big early on. It would be folly to expect us to go on another long winning run.

[DannyMan2006]

Ive been a big critic of Lucas' in the past but I thought he did well today. Nothing spectacular but pretty solid all in all. Hopefully once he builds his confidence a bit we'll start seeing a bit more adventure in his play. Also, loved the way he stuck up for Torres against Huddlestone. Didnt even think twice about it.

Next match, I hope we play with the same line up but play Benayoun instead of Babel on the left.

I just don't see the point of Lucas to be honest.

I've defended him in the past, and no doubt will in future. But today he and Mascherano were bossed by Huddlestone and Palacious.

[Craig_H]

Don't agree with it all Craig but that was a decent take on the game. I'm not so sure about the mentality of the team just yet though. You need to control the game to create chances, which we did not do.

As for the points gap, if you let it build up early then you pay later on for it. We were four points of last year and we're now three behind already. I don't think the gap really matters until after Xmas, though it would be curtains if we let it get to big early on. It would be folly to expect us to go on another long winning run.

The mentality point was referring to our tempo. We were pedestrian and slow (same old). But again, as per usual, we only up it when we lose a goal.

Why, i have no idea. We slope around calmly and casually, waiting and hoping something will happen. As opposed to playing with a high tempo, trying to attack & commit players, and actually MAKING it happen.

It's Rafa's footballing mindset unfortunately. If we find ourselves 12 points behind come February/March, THEN we might change the mindset.
When it's too late and there's too much of a gap to claw back.

[Roboklopp]

Extremely depressing. To be honest, I've been dreading that game all weekend. I'm really not very confident this season to be honest.

Still, at least it wont be as bad as the season after the last time we finished second,

[el matador]

Ive been a big critic of Lucas' in the past but I thought he did well today. Nothing spectacular but pretty solid all in all. Hopefully once he builds his confidence a bit we'll start seeing a bit more adventure in his play. Also, loved the way he stuck up for Torres against Huddlestone. Didnt even think twice about it.

Next match, I hope we play with the same line up but play Benayoun instead of Babel on the left.

therein lies the problem with lucas in that he a neat and tidy player but not a starter and certainly not the person to fill in that role alongside masher.

neat and tidy isnt good enough at the highest level and he shouldnt have started today. Whoever said that gerrard didnt make us play better when he moved back was probably watching a different game because he showed a lot of urgency and we looked more dangerous when he moved back.

on the plus side i thought yossi for his 25 plus minutes was our best player but it looks like we've carried our pre-season form into the start of the season. Additionally, losing today didnt do rafa any harm in his petition for further signings.

we can leave things as they are and keep gerrard behind torres but if our two best players are not in the game and cant get hold of the ball in the right kind of areas in the right kind of time they might as well not be playing.

Gerrard needs to move back into the middle of the pitch - for now until aquilani finds his fitness.

[kris90210]

I've defended him in the past, and no doubt will in future. But today he and Mascherano were bossed by Huddlestone and Palacious.

Lucas did no worse than Mascherano, Gerrard or Torres today. He kept things fairly simple sure, but personally I saw signs of improvment

[Craig_H]

therein lies the problem with lucas in that he a neat and tidy player but not a starter and certainly not the person to fill in that role alongside masher.

neat and tidy isnt good enough at the highest level and he shouldnt have started today. Whoever said that gerrard didnt make us play better when he moved back was probably watching a different game because he showed a lot of urgency and we looked more dangerous when he moved back.

on the plus side i thought yossi for his 25 plus minutes was our best player but it looks like we've carried our pre-season form into the start of the season. Additionally, losing today didnt do rafa any harm in his petition for further signings.

we can leave things as they are and keep gerrard behind torres but if our two best players are not in the game and cant get hold of the ball in the right kind of areas in the right kind of time they might as well not be playing.

Gerrard needs to move back into the middle of the pitch - for now until aquilani finds his fitness.

Who would you have started then, Spearing?

Or Gerrard at CM and Torres up front with Voronin?

You said Lucas being neat and tidy isnt good enough at this level. Is Voronin good enough at this level then?