Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v LASK

A solid, rather than devastating performance, sees us back to winning ways. Really pleased to see the squad players stepping up - Davies out of position as captain was strong, Winks showed that this is far more his level than the intensity of PL football, and Lamela was, well, Lamela.

Really pleased for Vinny though, probably MOTM just ahead of Højbjerg, although the Dane was excellent in his time on the pitch. Vinny looks like he’ll be a solid pivot for us up top and I hope we get to see him soon with a more creative midfield behind him so we can get a better sense of his finishing.

Valuable minutes for Bale as well, who showed flashes. I can’t be the only person really warming to Joe Hart as well. He just seems a great character to have around the place.

 

Ben Davies is our best CB. Just putting that out there.

 

He's also loud. Very, very loud.

 

Antwerp won in Bulgaria? Came from behind, too.
Might need to be sharper in Belgium next week.

 

A win and some good points, especially Vinnie, who looks a great catch.
But to say the performance was 'uninspired' would be being generous.
Winks was unfortunately his usual limited self, Doherty is not a shadow of the player he was at Wolves, GB hopefully just rusty and needing a few games. But as for Dele... From £100m to £100k in 2 years!

LASK are a very average outfit, but I was concerned they would get back into the game.

 

What a great squad we have, we are now fully equipped to be able to cope with Uefa demands. When was the last time we could say that?

 

Good periods of passing the ball smartly - still some sloppiness from some.

A good performance all around - and it's obvious that the team looks promising going forward. Our defence wasn't stretched today so don't read too much into the clean sheet!

I thought Lamela played okay - I could see whenever he got the ball, he was crowded out and thus lost possession a few times but he's like a dog with a bone and it's obvious he was missed against West Ham!

 

Yeah I agree but I don’t think they were up to much...our Central defence though seems very static...make me nervous

 

And you obviously know about dogs

 

I thought he played well. Should’ve had an assist for Vinicius and it was his cross into Vinicius that set up the third goal, was also his cross that reached Clarke. Linked up nicely with Bale too.

 

We need that though, on the pitch and in the dressing room. We seem so quiet in the Amazon doc. A few characters like Hart, even when he’s not playing, will lift the group. Højbjerg seems similar. Both have come in and instantly shown their leadership credentials. Honesty, though Bale is Bale, and Regulion looks absolutely top class, those two are possibly my favourite signings of the summer so far.

 

Doherty is the one summer signing I’m slightly concerned about. I don’t know why, just a feeling. He’s raised Aurier’s game though so even if we doesn’t establish himself as first choice he’s still improved the starting XI and the squad

 

Foyth made a strong case for himself tonight

 

I just think he needs a run of games. Hojbjerg was pretty **** in his first two or so games but has since grown massively. Doherty and Aurier have rotated a bit too much to allow him a proper run. Aurier was back to his usual thick self against West Ham and I hope Doherty keeps his place for Burnley now and builds on a decent performance. He’s been used to playing as a RWB at Wolves, RB has a bit more onus on defending and that’s something he’ll need time to work on.

 

Spurs managed to cope in getting to the CL Final

But I appreciate we seem to have greater depth to the squad now

 

All true. Like I said I just have a feeling. He needs time though and he’ll get plenty of games to show his worth.



Clean sheet as well tonight, much needed even against this calibre of opposition.

 

Spurs have scored 31 goals in all competitions this season, five more than any other Premier League side.

 

1984?

 

Good interview with Bale, admits he’s not up speed yet and that these minutes are basically his pre-season so far but hopefully won’t take him long to get back to his best.

I thought he showed some nice touches today and obviously he caused the own goal with that dangerous cross. Can definitely tell he’s rusty but I think we all knew that’d be the case.

 

Steve Archibald
Ossie Ardiles
Mark Bowen
Robbie Brace
Alan Brazil
Garry Brooke
Ray Clemence
Allan Cockram
Richard Cooke
Ian Crook
Garth Crooks
Ian Culverhouse
Ally Dick
Mark Falco
Tony Galvin
Micky Hazard
Glenn Hoddle
Chris Hughton
Gary Mabbutt
Paul Miller
Gary O'Reilly
Tony Parks -
Steve Perryman
Paul Price
Graham Roberts
Gary Stevens
Danny Thomas
Simon Webster

Good squad Maggie our current squad could emulate them.