Tottenham (H) post match Relief thread

[danperkins]

Nigey is right though. The perceived weakness is us slipping into a lower tempo game when we play at the sort of speed we did yesterday most teams will struggle to cope the issue is being able to do that game after game.

Certain teams definitely have a plan and a way to play against us, open up and we'll destroy you, sit tight, be compact and we struggle. Lot's of crosses and high balls to get at our backline too. I think we've seen evidence of that.

Obviously everyone fully fit and firing is always nice but Mane is our most important player & IMO as he gives you something totally different to what's in the squad... and that's a genuine attacking threat from the wide areas. We need to look for different ideas vs the lesser sides. I noticed Henderson trying to play long diagonals and balls over the top at lot more in recent games ... maybe that's something Klopp has tried to add to change it up.

[RichC]

Watch the speed of play from us this is the biggest factor as to why our results have been as they are we've not played to the same pace or intensity of earlier in the season apart from yesterday, that coupled with lacking genuine pace in the side (more needed in the Summer) and IMO too many players that don't have quite the right mentality has caused our issues. If we'd come at teams like Hull as we did vs Spurs we'd have blown them away, we didn't and got what we deserved.

[danperkins]

Watch the speed of play from us this is the biggest factor as to why our results have been as they are we've not played to the same pace or intensity of earlier in the season apart from yesterday, that coupled with lacking genuine pace in the side (more needed in the Summer) and IMO too many players that don't have quite the right mentality has caused our issues. If we'd come at teams like Hull as we did vs Spurs we'd have blown them away, we didn't and got what we deserved.

It's easy to play speedy, attacking football if you have the space but if teams sit deep and are compact it negates our quick counters, that's exactly why they do it against us IMO. Let us have the ball, condense the middle and push us wide where we don't have much width. It means that likes of Milner & Clyne have to push up to give us that width & when it breaks down that's exactly when we get done on the counter and fullbacks get caught up the park. The lack of an out and out DM to sit and cover when the fullbacks push on has been pretty glaring in certain games IMO.

Spurs really and truly played into our hands. I thought before the game Potch might change it up but they really don't have pace to get us on the counter & play expansive footie anyways which seems to suit us when we play them. Leicester let teams have the ball, sit and break... well that's the way they played when they won the league. Hopefully their star players don't suddenly decide to turn up this season. The only difference is that they have so much pace in attack and that could be tricky for us to defend. It genuienly wouldn't surprise me if we get caught on teh counter a few times against them.

Great to have our full quota back though. Lallana is so much better deeper & Mane has been a revelation.

[RichC]

We noticeably stopped moving and working as we had in previous games a lot of this I think is down to mentality when our usual go to players aren't doing it too many of them go into their shells and look for the easy pass and wait for others to take the game on, another reason why I think a decent number will be shipped out again this Summer.

If you dictate the pace of the game and shift their players around as we were doing early in the season you create space, we stopped doing it hence when we previously were tearing teams apart with much the same % of the ball and them adopting similar tactics it wasn't a problem.

A side like Spurs was never going to do what you suggest like most of the top sides they come to play and dictate the game we didn't allow them and controlled the match.

[RichC]

Oh and the DM comments. A DM wouldn't help us break sides down it would also give us less attacking options against the sides that stick 11 men behind the ball.

If we play as we can and shoukd it won't be an issues

[red g]

I agree with what you have to say Rich but then cant see a decent number of first squad being shipped out, bar the usual suspects....suppose it does depend on getting CL and first choice targets.

[RichC]

Should qualify that I mean more the squad players but also inc Sturridge, Can & Lovren and maybe a keeper as well . As you say depends on where we finish as to changes made for next season.

More pace a la Mane would be nice to see

[red g]

Should qualify that I mean more the squad players but also inc Sturridge, Can & Lovren and maybe a keeper as well . As you say depends on where we finish as to changes made for next season.

More pace a la Mane would be nice to see

Think if we get CL we have to go and try for Douglas Costa think he would be my top maybe-attainable pick.

I wouldnt be surprised to see all the above gone. Wouldnt be surprised to see Milner gone as well if we bring in a quality LB.

[baitman]

Oh and the DM comments. A DM wouldn't help us break sides down it would also give us less attacking options against the sides that stick 11 men behind the ball.

If we play as we can and shoukd it won't be an issues

the dm wont help break teams down but as we press forward and our full backs are so far up the pitch then having a dm will help prevent us being caught on the break as we have been so often...

some lads are breaking out and making unchallenged 40 yard runs.
the last one was a long ball that beat lucas for pace and wrongfooted matip. we were suckers as we played the two centre backs side by side so with the right length and bounce on the ball they were both cut out but if they had been staggered then one was more likely than the other to be in a better position.

had we had a DM sitting 10 yards in front of them then it would mean a player breaking with the ball has to then go around the dm, and then the lose ball is more easily picked up by the centre back.

many teams have shown that if you are not conceding sloppy goals you can easily win a match by only scoring one goal. if we continue to give away two late goals then we will be very unlikely to win games against teams who play well drilled defensive counter attacking [****house] tactics.

[RichC]

If we've got a team that pinned in there's no way we'll just have a player being waste sat in front of the defence, it's not Klopps style and I don't think we'll see this change.

Your use of the word sloppy is the issue we give far too many poor goals away. Why we will need a good summer with the right type of players coming in as the depth isn't there and players like Mignolet and Lovren keep making too many individual errors

[RichC]

Think if we get CL we have to go and try for Douglas Costa think he would be my top maybe-attainable pick.

I wouldnt be surprised to see all the above gone. Wouldnt be surprised to see Milner gone as well if we bring in a quality LB.

Someone like Costa would be interesting, you wonder who'd miss out in our front 3 if we get someone like him in.

A LB for next season is required oh and Mad Alby will be on his way as well I'd think

[McDermotX]

the dm wont help break teams down but as we press forward and our full backs are so far up the pitch then having a dm will help prevent us being caught on the break as we have been so often...

some lads are breaking out and making unchallenged 40 yard runs.
the last one was a long ball that beat lucas for pace and wrongfooted matip. we were suckers as we played the two centre backs side by side so with the right length and bounce on the ball they were both cut out but if they had been staggered then one was more likely than the other to be in a better position.

had we had a DM sitting 10 yards in front of them then it would mean a player breaking with the ball has to then go around the dm, and then the lose ball is more easily picked up by the centre back.

many teams have shown that if you are not conceding sloppy goals you can easily win a match by only scoring one goal. if we continue to give away two late goals then we will be very unlikely to win games against teams who play well drilled defensive counter attacking [****house] tactics.

As an aside re: the **** sides
Wouldn't mind us being a bit smarter in winning FKs in dangerous positions around the box in order to better utilize the likes of Coutinho, Milner etc
Don't seem to win any of the amount our possession and touches outside the box would suggest we should - probably because of our play constantly breaking down in the same manner with poor final balls.
More ball at the feet, direct surges and 'smart' forward play might increase our opportunities in that regard.

[danperkins]

We noticeably stopped moving and working as we had in previous games a lot of this I think is down to mentality when our usual go to players aren't doing it too many of them go into their shells and look for the easy pass and wait for others to take the game on, another reason why I think a decent number will be shipped out again this Summer.

If you dictate the pace of the game and shift their players around as we were doing early in the season you create space, we stopped doing it hence when we previously were tearing teams apart with much the same % of the ball and them adopting similar tactics it wasn't a problem.

A side like Spurs was never going to do what you suggest like most of the top sides they come to play and dictate the game we didn't allow them and controlled the match.

I don't think our drop had anything whatssoever got to do with mentality, I'm not denying we have a weak mentality but personally I think the players were just absolutely knackered from the high tempo style we play under Klopp. No team can go that pace without feeling the effects & I think Klopp may have under estimated the rigours of the prem in that respect. I love the style but it's bound to take its toll.

I said 'certain' games as regards a DM. Most teams apart from the top 5 will sit deep against us so a quality DM would be a fantastic addition to the squad. But sure Chelsea didn't come to play, nor did United, they played cautiously and adopted the long ball which is a weakness of ours IMO. Teams are wary of us so they have a tendency to sit deep. It's a bad idea to come and go all out against us. Great to have that cover in front of our powder puff defence.

[danperkins]

the dm wont help break teams down but as we press forward and our full backs are so far up the pitch then having a dm will help prevent us being caught on the break as we have been so often...

some lads are breaking out and making unchallenged 40 yard runs.
the last one was a long ball that beat lucas for pace and wrongfooted matip. we were suckers as we played the two centre backs side by side so with the right length and bounce on the ball they were both cut out but if they had been staggered then one was more likely than the other to be in a better position.

had we had a DM sitting 10 yards in front of them then it would mean a player breaking with the ball has to then go around the dm, and then the lose ball is more easily picked up by the centre back.

many teams have shown that if you are not conceding sloppy goals you can easily win a match by only scoring one goal. if we continue to give away two late goals then we will be very unlikely to win games against teams who play well drilled defensive counter attacking [****house] tactics.

yeah this is spot on mate.

[Shaggy]

How good is Gini in these big games? He's better and better suited to us than Can.