Good morning.
Lilywhite shirts blazing under the lights, a lady for an ‘otdog, God is in his heaven and all is right with the world. Well, you know, if you turn a blind eye to refereeing that would be more at home at the centre of a match fixing scandal and a deaf ear to the monkey noises from the Lazio fans.
I’m not spearheading some crackpot conspiracy theory here, but it was curious that the game was officiated pretty impeccably everywhere other than our attempts to get the flippin’ ball over the line.
Caulker’s header was never up for debate. The ‘man’ in front of him crumbled and should’ve been booked once the goal awarded.
The game was enthralling. Having enjoyed watching Real Madrid the other night it was pleasing to see so many similarities in our play. Ball on the floor, players brains working over-time to find a way, make the break.
What I was watching was an AVB masterclass. Tactically we were thoughtful and committed. The only absent element were the goals to win the game and I wonder if one of our lot had launched one into the Lazio net from 35 yards the referee would have found some infraction to deny it.
One thing that drives me out of mind is watching footballers repeat the same mistakes. 5 games in I might be delusional, but I think I’m seeing fine tuning taking place with a number of players.
The monkey noises need to be investigated and this is as complex as asking ITV for a copy of the tape and hitting the play button. This is a club with a checkered past and without passing comments such as ‘Paulo Di Canio always looks very smart in a black shirt’ Lazio need to be heavily fined to ensure that they genuinely tackle the matter internally.
Now he didn’t have to do much but what did he did do and the body language were all positive.
A few excellent balls forward, notably to Azza. Sadly matched by a few sloppy losses of possession that he’s fortunate we weren’t punished for.
Mustard.
Much improved from the Reading game. Fine tuning or coincidence? Either way, more please.
I really want to see more of this guy. On last night’s showing he’s a perfect fit for the boss’ template.
Now that’s what I call solidification. He bossed and bustled. A proper menace.
Did nothing extraordinary but everything he did was integral to what we achieved as a unit. A quality footballer.
Captain my captain. He obviously felt more responsible about things, but his performance in the opposition’s 18 yard box was Arsenalesque. Shoot!
Hmmm. I don’t think we’re getting value for money from him in this central role at all at the moment. Not at all.
The offside decision was farcical. On an upbeat note he looks sharp and every inch a professional I’m convinced he’ll notch ’em up this season.
He played as well as he did against Reading, just didn’t get the breaks. Thought he was more involved again, more of a team player. Keep it up.
QPR await and if he can summon up immense human dimensions from our lot on a par with those he summoned up last night we will be in business.
That was an interesting night of football. Newcastle and Liverpool played ‘Redknapp’ sides. The Newcastle game was appalling. Unwatchable.The Liverpool game was surreal. A cross between the old Monty Python ‘100 meters for people for no sense of direction’ and err… a football match.
Rodgers and Villas-Boas both want to play football a little differently to way their new clubs are used to. The difference appears – at this stage- that one of them took into consideration the existing personnel before agreeing to take over… and one of them didn’t. If you’ve any loose change floating around the house, stick it on a Manchester United win this weekend.
Funny breed are our home fans. Turned out in decent number to watch some truly mediocre fayre in this competition last time round yet there were about 10,000 spare seats last night for what will be remembered as a truly memorable game. Oh well.
Really enjoyed the game last night. We’re starting to look like a team that’s gelling well and I was (and still am) actually prepared to give it more time than some of the idiots, so onwards and upwards. Deeply concerned about Bale. Although, in keeping with trying to remain positive, do you think he’s starting to play more and more towards the left again – I thought he made a few more runs down the wing (i.e. more than one) than he has in months? I’m hoping that (a) AVB has told him to do this more which is why he is, and (b) his arrogant, I’ll play anywhere attitude is just a hangover from that imbecile telling him you’re brilliant, I’ve no idea so do what you want?
I thought I saw a bit of that too. They had him double marked but he tried to outmuscle them half a dozen times.
Seconded. Sick off muppet fans (I have had the mispleasure of far too many on here recently) claiming (or arguing with passion)…….:
GB is young;
GB is misunderstood;
GB has been unlucky;
GB was abducted by Aliens;
I want to insert my fluffy lolley into GB’s chocolate starfish;
Get of GB’s back, you’re being a meany…..
The fact of the matter is he is isn’t a ACM (proved over 2 years on and off). Play him as a LM (not ALM or LF) or don’t play him. AVB’s system (now won me over massively) HAS TO COME FIRST!
As far as I’m concerned you fit in or gotta get out!
Love all the AVB convertor comments! Credit to you Brissie, for giving the new boss time.
Stick with it son, there will be a few games where it does not go to plan, but they were lovely to watch last night.
both my daughters are now called AVB AVB AVB. :wub:
Why are you all blaming Bale? Surely he plays where the manager tells him to?
I thought their right back was very good and had good assistance from their RM – they had a plan for Bale and it worked. Bale became more effective when Dempsey occupied the space on the left leaving Bale a bit more free to roam. That said I just feel he’s a bit unwilling to gamble at the moment.
However he’s got a young (right footed) lad behind him starting his 3rd/4th game for Spurs rather than the rock solid BAE so maybe his lack of gambling was down to that.
Also loved how AVB went across to him in the first half to tell him what he should be trying to do rather than just leaving him to his own devices.
Lovely ball from the right for the disallowed goal (rather than his usual shot) and thought his corners and crosses from set pieces were intelligent and high quality. (Shame about the two freekicks into the wall)
A number of plus points to take from last night – Dembele can be a hell of a player for us in the future – and technically a very good game but not sure where the goals are going to come from this season…the crowd was down this time round because a number of fans would rather watch the PL ‘thrills and spills’ than a chess match. Their choice.
We’ll triple our goals if we have a holding forward hoping he can bring Siggy/ Demps and Bale in. I’d at least like to see that for half a dozen games with a fully fit forward.
I also wanna see one game with Dempsey playing in Spurs’ position.
*Lennon’s position I mean :P
i’d have played Dempsey in Defoe’s position last night (keep JD safe for QPR at the weekend) as he has more physical presance and can play with his back to goal and then be able to bring in the 3 behind him… shame Ade is unfit, he’d have 100% played last night and been just what we needed to help break down such a tight nit unit.
That’s quite a valid point Tom. Makes total sense too. Maybe he wante dto save Siggy more then Defoe for the weekend :P Heard Ade might get a late fitness test.
spot on HH, 2 perfectly good goals, what was the b*stard in red thinking of? Lazio fans were a disgrace, but how come so many empty seats? We should have drowned out the w*ps. Sorry, Italians. But don’t know how UEFA can ignore it given that Platini was sitting next to Levy (who looked distinctly uncomfortable with the company). And Lloris gets my vote over the old ‘un, safe hands.
Nipper, I thought that too…he was so far over from Platini….maybe the french man stunk of garlic?
We also kept our first clean sheet last night which should give AVB a nice problem…Lloris and Caulker for Friedel and Gallas anyone?
That Caulker looks the business! Mature! Can position himself well on corners and he’s HUGE!
and scores goals…..when not being officiated by a health and safety concious Rumanian… :angry:
or Romanian even
COuld be a ruminating Romanian. Beeb known to happen.
Yes I agree with that one. Gallas has been playing ok but lacks height and speed. Lloris is a better keeper than Friedle. One thing I would do tho is trust AVB to time the changeover right.
I don’t know, not disputing that Caulker looks great, but as HH said on the podcast, Gallas is unflappable (is that a word) and provides so much composure to that back four.
It looks Dawsons number is up as Eunice and Stevo are now in front of him. A real shame as I like him a lot, but footy is cut throat as we well know.
Mich as I’d love Hugo to start from now on, I think Brad will continue until he makes a mistake. Likewise for Caulker starting ahead of Gallas, until Gallas picks up an injury, I think he’ll carry on starting
Kicked out or docked points. Can’t understand how a travelling fan base think they can go away from home and do such a thing. Hate to say it but I’d love to hear they got a kicking outside the stadium! The return leg will be rife with racist chants if this is not sorted. I wonder how he black lazio players feel about the whole thing. It’s disgusting.
On a brighter note I thought we were brilliant last night. We moved the ball extremely well at times and controlled nearly the full 90 mins. Bale does look like he is strangely off his game so far this season. We desperately need to play to his strengths and maybe with a few tweaks AVB can get the best out of him. I thought defoe did ok but evidence last night of how a really solid defence can nullify him with some tight physical marking. We need Ade fit and firing ASAP. We’re not opening teams up at the moment but I guess if dempseys goal had gone in it could have been oh so different.