Poch developing Spurs into RM's image...

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Mauricio Pochettino is developing 'mind-blowing' Tottenham in Real Madrid's image - Garth Crooks

Tom Doyle
ES Sport


Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side are beginning to look like Real Madrid in terms of style, according to Garth Crooks.

Tottenham have endured a tough start to their year-long residency at Wembley, but their away form in the Premier League has been sensational with three wins on the road in September.

Spurs capped a fine month with an impressive 4-0 victory at Huddersfield on Saturday, with Harry Kane (two), Ben Davies and Moussa Sissoko all scoring.

Davies also added an assist to his goal, with fellow wing-back Kieran Trippier setting up both of Kane's early efforts to cap a fine day for Pochettino's wing-backs.

Neither full-back would necessarily have been expected to be a starter going into the 2017-18 season this season, but Kyle Walker's exit to Manchester City, coupled with Danny Rose's continued knee problems, have opened up opportunities on both flanks.

Former Spurs forward Crooks, who chose both defenders in his BBC Sport Premier League team of the week, wrote: "If Guardiola is trying to get Manchester City to play in the style of Barcelona then you could be forgiven for thinking that Mauricio Pochettino looks like he is developing a team in the image of the current Real Madrid side.

"The one-touch football played by Spurs against Huddersfield was, at times, mind-blowing. The goal which involved practically every member of the Tottenham team, resulting in a memorable finish by Ben Davies, was just pure quality from start to finish."

Crooks was similarly effusive of Trippier's display, writing: "I noticed Kieran Trippier when he played for Burnley against Spurs at White Hart Lane, and he stood out then.

"That seems a long time ago, but if you had asked me then was this lad capable of playing Champions League football, I would have told you he had an awful lot of work to do.
In Pictures | Huddersfield vs Tottenham | 30/09/2017

"But that is precisely the point. Trippier came to Spurs with serious competition for his place in the starting line-up. But the young full-back seems to have done it. He's been a consistent member of the first-team squad for some time and is playing with bags of confidence in a Spurs set-up bristling with confidence.

"Huddersfield Town never laid a glove on Spurs all afternoon in Yorkshire. As for Trippier's performance, it was of the highest order. Everything he seemed to do was done with such finesse and quality. It was a Trippier header that set up Harry Kane's first goal, and it was nothing short of genius."

But while Spurs head into the international break full of confidence, Crooks has warned them that no less than a trophy will do - even if their football is scintillating to watch.

"While I get the feeling Spurs fans could watch this style of football forever, regardless of the outcome, it would be a crime if the team couldn't crown these sorts of displays with a trophy at the end of the season," he added.

"There is only Manchester City who can live with the football Spurs are producing at the moment, and if they could transfer that into silverware then never mind Harry Kane being the best Tottenham striker that ever lived, this could be the best Spurs team.?"
 
A man with huge experience who knows how to read and summarise a game.

Now we have to win something and continue our remorseless upwards progression.
 
Very different styles,not just in formation.

We don't have the same direct approach they do, and they are built on sheer speed on the wings (Ronaldo/Bale) while we emphasize more ball movement.

If we had those 2 speedy wing players, or just one if we consider Son an option, we actually could emulate their 4-4-3. Dele is not fast enough to play in the front 3 of that formation. Martial really would have been perfect here.

Our version of Modric/Kroos in the middle 3 would be Eriksen/Winks, which while not as good would be extremely exciting and entertaining to watch.

--------------Lloris-------------
Aurier--Toby--Verts--Rose
---Winks---Dier---Eriksen---
----Son----Kane----???
 
Pollo - 4/10/2017 12:34

Very different styles,not just in formation.

We don't have the same direct approach they do, and they are built on sheer speed on the wings (Ronaldo/Bale) while we emphasize more ball movement.

If we had those 2 speedy wing players, or just one if we consider Son an option, we actually could emulate their 4-4-3. Dele is not fast enough to play in the front 3 of that formation. Martial really would have been perfect here.

Our version of Modric/Kroos in the middle 3 would be Eriksen/Winks, which while not as good would be extremely exciting and entertaining to watch.

--------------Lloris-------------
Aurier--Toby--Verts--Rose
---Winks---Dier---Eriksen---
----Son----Kane----???
Click to expand...

Funnily enough listening to Ginola, he reckons we only 'need' two players: Modric and Bale and we'd be a world class trophy winning team,.he too can see the difference in our play this season and said the comparisons with RM's playing method are there for all to see!!

Slight catch, we'd only need around #350 mill to secure their services.. :10:
 
Don't want Bale, but I'd kill for Modders.

Modric-Eriksen in the middle would tear up the PL.
 
Spursex - 3/10/2017 13:26

A man with huge experience who knows how to read and summarise a game.
Click to expand...

that's the nicest thing I've heard anyone say about Garth Crooks punditry. He's usually full of bollocks. If a defender plays a mare but scores a header from a corner he's in his team of the week every time.
 
As I've said, very different styles and approach IMO, while our middle 2 are all about defending, their middle 3 are all about controlling the tempo and pushing forward. This is only one (albeit really central) difference.

As I've said I really believe it's a totally different style - they counter while we try to control, they attack from the flanks and have a dud for a CF while we run everything through Kane.
 
freundorfoe - 4/10/2017 12:43

Spursex - 3/10/2017 13:26

A man with huge experience who knows how to read and summarise a game.
Click to expand...

that's the nicest thing I've heard anyone say about Garth Crooks punditry. He's usually full of bollocks. If a defender plays a mare but scores a header from a corner he's in his team of the week every time.
Click to expand...

He's a god awful pundit. I don't want to speculate on his knowledge or reading of the game, but 99% of the time it doesn't translate into something sensible.
 
freundorfoe - 4/10/2017 12:43

Spursex - 3/10/2017 13:26

A man with huge experience who knows how to read and summarise a game.
Click to expand...

that's the nicest thing I've heard anyone say about Garth Crooks punditry. He's usually full of bollocks. If a defender plays a mare but scores a header from a corner he's in his team of the week every time.
Click to expand...

I've always like him, but in fairness he does make a few rickets when he's sitting there - I think he has food coma's now... :10:
 
ahx00 - 4/10/2017 12:51

freundorfoe - 4/10/2017 12:43

Spursex - 3/10/2017 13:26

A man with huge experience who knows how to read and summarise a game.
Click to expand...

that's the nicest thing I've heard anyone say about Garth Crooks punditry. He's usually full of bollocks. If a defender plays a mare but scores a header from a corner he's in his team of the week every time.
Click to expand...

He's a god awful pundit. I don't want to speculate on his knowledge or reading of the game, but 99% of the time it doesn't translate into something sensible.
Click to expand...

That's the general consensus from most I've heard speak about him. The biggest problem with his BBC stuff is his constant need to compare people to people of the past as he doesn't have anything particularly insightful to say, so he ends up reaching.

Aguero and Gabriel Jesus are the new Yorke and Cole being one of his latest.
 
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