Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v APOEL Nicosia

3-0 FT. I'd have taken that all day at the start of the day, but the performance was poor.
We won't get away with playing like that against Real or Dortmund.
Need to get through the game against Huddersfield and use the international break for recovery.
Time to pull some players out of squads, I'm afraid, Mr Pochettino.

 

Good news for Foyth, he'll get a run of starts while Toby fills in as DMF...

 

We can't really deal with his absence. Would be a massive loss. Sissoko or Aurier, maybe?

 

That's what I thought because I was not allowed a lighter. Apparently they come before the game and plant them.

 

Foyth can play in midfield, apparently. Forgot about him!

 

Maybe they just lob them over the wall!

 

If they have Olympic standard throwers

 

Southampton played Toby as a DMF, and we've had good luck moving centre backs up the pitch before...

 

Well now look what we have. We have Madrid beating Apoel by the same score as us and we have Madrid beating Dortmund by the same score as us. Interesting, is there a pattern emerging here? I'm going for a result against Madrid if we can score first.

 

Liverpool held to another draw.

Welcome to the big top boys.

 

That'll do

 

I think we have a new club motto...

 

Us making the most difficult draw look alright, them making the easiest draw look amazing. What a **** team they are.

 

That's based on the old Shearer joke for Geordies, except it ended "I'd put a blanket over him so he didn't get cold".

 

Harry's a Spurs legend already. I thought that after he scored his 100th goal they would flow and I said I can't see them stopping anytime soon, I still say it.

 

I do like Winks. Seems intelligent and makes finding players and getting free of opponents look easy sometimes. Quality player and got the Scott Parker spin down to a tee. Really hope he gets more chances in the cups etc. He could, like Tom Carroll did once or twice, absolutely run a game against lesser opponents.

And just some context on that Kane stat (6 hat-tricks in 2017). that's 18 goals. Most strikers would be very happy with that in a calendar year full stop. Only that's what Harry Kane's got in hat-tricks alone. And it's September.

Also on Trippier - any top-level footballer being that one-footed is criminal (who ever thought he could play on the left? Where did this idea come from?!). But even if you *are* that one-footed you still have to go down the line on your weak foot now and again even if it just results in spooning a cross against a defender's shin. The defender has to feel like it's a possibility that you might try to go down the outside.

Anyway - I don't feel too pissy and moany about that game. It was always going to be a tricky night away from home against a team who are used to winning and with all the absentees we had. Didn't play great - the formation was a bit all over the place but we took some chances and should have been in a few more times had our players got their head up once or twice in the first half.

Certainly wouldn't read too much into the disjointed nature of the performance. It's fine. And...is Sissoko gaining some confidence? That shot he had from the edge of the box would indicate that it's a possibility. Still don't want to see him in the team against anyone decent, mind!

 

Is a positive result possible? Yes, but not likely, whether or not we get the first goal. Madrid are pretty much superior in most departments and thats before allowing for them getting every ****ing decision at the Bernebau!!

 

Maybe but we're matching their scores aren't we?

I still say going ahead's crucial. I'd play two strikers because Harry will be marked very tightly leaving space for the second striker, Llorente.

 

Dier seems to be ok. He is being interviewed by the reporter on BT, If he was injured he would be getting treatment right now.

 

Can't help thinking of Shearer.
Powerful shot, clinical, creates a lot of his own goals.
No great pace, no sublime skill, just ruthlessly efficient and consistent.