MATCH THREAD v Palace 2nd March …………3 pm home

[Love totty]

So two differing perspectives; the first that it is hard to score against any defensive minded team and we did well to wear them done. The second, that we lack threat and it becomes a lottery whether we score more than we concede. As ever the truth is somewhere in the middle. Generating one attempt on goal in 45 minutes from 80+% possession is pathetic, but had that chance been taken, a more open game would undoubtedly have ensued. We now have a squad that can dominate possession but not yet one to guarantee us the early goal that is so important against inferior teams who defend resolutely. Why? Because our midfield is shot-shy. We need to attempt more attempts to create the unpredictable rebounds and errors that our forwards can compete for. Bents used to carry that threat and Hoj, to his credit would at least try, but only Pedro now seems confident to have a pop from outside the box.

 

[muttley]

So two differing perspectives; the first that it is hard to score against any defensive minded team and we did well to wear them done. The second, that we lack threat and it becomes a lottery whether we score more than we concede. As ever the truth is somewhere in the middle. Generating one attempt on goal in 45 minutes from 80+% possession is pathetic, but had that chance been taken, a more open game would undoubtedly have ensued. We now have a squad that can dominate possession but not yet one to guarantee us the early goal that is so important against inferior teams who defend resolutely. Why? Because our midfield is shot-shy. We need to attempt more attempts to create the unpredictable rebounds and errors that our forwards can compete for. Bents used to carry that threat and Hoj, to his credit would at least try, but only Pedro now seems confident to have a pop from outside the box.

Great perceptions. There is one other thing I've noticed for a while. Do you remember the ball that Madds played from between LCB and LB that nearly got Werner clean through? As it happened, Timo was marginally offside but you could just feel the shock in the Palace setup that Spurs actually played a mid-range pass. It wasn't even a raking long pass. It was an angled ball based on a great run and a player that was capable of executing the pass.

It's also the type of pass that unlocks our defence a lot of the time. Even we get something on it, our opposition are on the second ball.

That got me thinking about 5 key players ability to play these passes - Romero, VDV, Udogie, Biss and Bents. Why should Madds have to come back and play these passes? They all have ability in them to pick a pass, but spend too much time playing 5-a-side on the pitch. Is it that Ange discouraging the risk of losing possession? Seems daft on oppositions that revert to low block and defensive-mindedness.

If those players can't play the mid-range passes then we need to find ourselves a Carrick.

 

[vinniecopenhagen]

Me and Vinnie are on the way up !!! We told you so .

We just gave the others a head start Walt mate.

 

[TQ2Spurs]

So two differing perspectives; the first that it is hard to score against any defensive minded team and we did well to wear them done. The second, that we lack threat and it becomes a lottery whether we score more than we concede. As ever the truth is somewhere in the middle. Generating one attempt on goal in 45 minutes from 80+% possession is pathetic, but had that chance been taken, a more open game would undoubtedly have ensued. We now have a squad that can dominate possession but not yet one to guarantee us the early goal that is so important against inferior teams who defend resolutely. Why? Because our midfield is shot-shy. We need to attempt more attempts to create the unpredictable rebounds and errors that our forwards can compete for. Bents used to carry that threat and Hoj, to his credit would at least try, but only Pedro now seems confident to have a pop from outside the box.

Great post LT!

 

[Spursex]