Insania
They say the definition of madness is repeating the same behaviour pattern but expecting a different result. If so, Pochettino will soon have developed a full Inspector Dreyfus tick.
If you just want to bask in the afterglow of a much needed win, then please look away now.
I've read Poch's post match platitudes; "good spirit" blah blah. I don't believe spirit has ever been an issue. If he thinks that's been the problem, then I'm am really starting to worry. The problem with this game was Pochettino picking the same pair of midfield plodders that he's been picking all season, with the same, inevitable outcome. No tempo or vision in possession and then no control when the opposition decide to have a little hurrah.
This game pretty much followed the season blue print so far, when the opposition are passive, we are laborious, when they become aggressive, we are like headless fucking chickens. Up against another opposition of this type, deep block team that happily cede possession we plodded around midfield predictably. A to B to C to D, joining the nearest dot to dots.
So many times players like Kane, Eriksen, Moura, Trippier, Rose and Son made runs - every single time Dembele and Dier either didn't see them or saw them and just deemed the pass " way too adventurous" to attempt. As a result, every time the AM's/FB's got on the ball, which they did, it was Invariably when Brighton were set, and consequently we created absolutely nothing of any quality in the first 70 minutes.
Luckily we were handed (bum bum) a gift by their stupid defender who completely needlessly elbowed away a free kick, Kane duly dispatching the resultant penalty with aplomb.
Then in the second half, when Brighton decided to press us a bit higher and actually make a game of it, as with the Newcastle, ManU, Liverpool and Fulham games, our midfield just completely lost control of the game, and during this spell we were incredibly lucky not to concede, Brighton were gaining momentum, forcing several corners, one which Gazzaniga got away with a complete fuck up, and then created probably the best chance of the game when Knockaert made idiots of both Trippier and Alderweireld then inexplicably wanked his shot straight at our keeper.
The game had become yet another chaotic farce.
Then, out of the blue, we put together a very slick counter attack. Trippier hemmed in, cleverly manages to spoil Dier's attempt to hide by nut-megging the ball to him, Dier then feeds Lamela in midfield, he feeds Moura and continues his run into the box, meanwhile Moura taps it on to Rose, who incredibly, managed to do something composed and finds Lamela with a sweet first time ball which Lamela, having bust his bollocks to get there, then dispatches with finesse.
At this point it was Brighton's turn to turn to pish. They now had no option but to chuck themselves forward in numbers, we then had more chances on the counter, all of them pissed away with carelessness or poor finishing.
Eventually Rose managed to undo his good offensive contribution with an absolutely comical bit of defending. Faced with a very left biased player running in from the right, he decides to show him onto his stronger left foot, then proceeds to have a sit down.
Luckily time round out.
On the plus side, I'm pleased Poch ditched the wanky 442 diamond, Moura so much better being able to run at more isolated full backs than the blind alleys of congested central areas, but that's pretty much where the tactical good news ends. Against a bus park team, why not play one 6 type and have two more pro-active 8's hubbing off him either side, being more ambitious and incisive with their passing, and being able to bomb on and support the attack from deeper, hard to pick up areas?
They don't bring anything incisive, don't bring any tempo, and they when games get busy, they don't even help us retain control, so why persist with the fucking trundle brothers.
I thought the Son/Lamela sub was logical. Son was bumbling around like a fart in a trance, as is his way often, but the next change was daft. Moura is our freshest and quickest player, we were now playing on the counter. Why not just take Kane off, chuck Alli up top as a false 9, and have Lamela and Moura breaking. off him.
Also not sure how Poch can watch Dier chug around like an intoxicated hippo doing a mating dance, whilst all around him turns to chaos, and leave him out there. What the fuck is a sub for?
Poch has rotated the FB's, fucked about with the AM's, tired making Moura a striker, surely, sooner or later the penny is going to drop, the one thing he hasn't changed is the thing that is causing the most endemic problems?
Individual
Gazzaniga - One horrendous moment where he came and completely missed a corner, they scored, but luckily they were offside, apart from that he his handling was good and he looked OK.
Trippier - Definitely not one of his better games. Mugged off too easily a couple of times.
Alderweireld - Some OK stuff, some less than OK stuff.
Vertonghen - OK.
Rose - Mixed bag. Lots of energy, not a lot of composure until that great ball for the goal. Then defended like a fucking schoolboy to let Knockaert score.
Dier/Dembele - refused to play anything remotely incisive when we are in possession. Unable to stem the chaos when were are not.
Son - Bumbled about.
Eriksen - Was very involved, as ever, played one lovely little through ball late on, but still not seeing peak Eriksen.
Moura - Lively as ever.
Kane - Back with the CF area to himself, this was probably the closest to "normal" silverback Kane we've seen this season. Loads more touches, loads more passes and nearly doubled his shot total for the season in one game. Wasted a glorious chance, but just nice to see him with a "glorious chance". Still don't understand why he can't ever be subbed.
Lamela - Don't usually include subs, as Poch rarely makes them in any time worth rating, but he had a definite positive impact today.
They say the definition of madness is repeating the same behaviour pattern but expecting a different result. If so, Pochettino will soon have developed a full Inspector Dreyfus tick.
If you just want to bask in the afterglow of a much needed win, then please look away now.
I've read Poch's post match platitudes; "good spirit" blah blah. I don't believe spirit has ever been an issue. If he thinks that's been the problem, then I'm am really starting to worry. The problem with this game was Pochettino picking the same pair of midfield plodders that he's been picking all season, with the same, inevitable outcome. No tempo or vision in possession and then no control when the opposition decide to have a little hurrah.
This game pretty much followed the season blue print so far, when the opposition are passive, we are laborious, when they become aggressive, we are like headless fucking chickens. Up against another opposition of this type, deep block team that happily cede possession we plodded around midfield predictably. A to B to C to D, joining the nearest dot to dots.
So many times players like Kane, Eriksen, Moura, Trippier, Rose and Son made runs - every single time Dembele and Dier either didn't see them or saw them and just deemed the pass " way too adventurous" to attempt. As a result, every time the AM's/FB's got on the ball, which they did, it was Invariably when Brighton were set, and consequently we created absolutely nothing of any quality in the first 70 minutes.
Luckily we were handed (bum bum) a gift by their stupid defender who completely needlessly elbowed away a free kick, Kane duly dispatching the resultant penalty with aplomb.
Then in the second half, when Brighton decided to press us a bit higher and actually make a game of it, as with the Newcastle, ManU, Liverpool and Fulham games, our midfield just completely lost control of the game, and during this spell we were incredibly lucky not to concede, Brighton were gaining momentum, forcing several corners, one which Gazzaniga got away with a complete fuck up, and then created probably the best chance of the game when Knockaert made idiots of both Trippier and Alderweireld then inexplicably wanked his shot straight at our keeper.
The game had become yet another chaotic farce.
Then, out of the blue, we put together a very slick counter attack. Trippier hemmed in, cleverly manages to spoil Dier's attempt to hide by nut-megging the ball to him, Dier then feeds Lamela in midfield, he feeds Moura and continues his run into the box, meanwhile Moura taps it on to Rose, who incredibly, managed to do something composed and finds Lamela with a sweet first time ball which Lamela, having bust his bollocks to get there, then dispatches with finesse.
At this point it was Brighton's turn to turn to pish. They now had no option but to chuck themselves forward in numbers, we then had more chances on the counter, all of them pissed away with carelessness or poor finishing.
Eventually Rose managed to undo his good offensive contribution with an absolutely comical bit of defending. Faced with a very left biased player running in from the right, he decides to show him onto his stronger left foot, then proceeds to have a sit down.
Luckily time round out.
On the plus side, I'm pleased Poch ditched the wanky 442 diamond, Moura so much better being able to run at more isolated full backs than the blind alleys of congested central areas, but that's pretty much where the tactical good news ends. Against a bus park team, why not play one 6 type and have two more pro-active 8's hubbing off him either side, being more ambitious and incisive with their passing, and being able to bomb on and support the attack from deeper, hard to pick up areas?
They don't bring anything incisive, don't bring any tempo, and they when games get busy, they don't even help us retain control, so why persist with the fucking trundle brothers.
I thought the Son/Lamela sub was logical. Son was bumbling around like a fart in a trance, as is his way often, but the next change was daft. Moura is our freshest and quickest player, we were now playing on the counter. Why not just take Kane off, chuck Alli up top as a false 9, and have Lamela and Moura breaking. off him.
Also not sure how Poch can watch Dier chug around like an intoxicated hippo doing a mating dance, whilst all around him turns to chaos, and leave him out there. What the fuck is a sub for?
Poch has rotated the FB's, fucked about with the AM's, tired making Moura a striker, surely, sooner or later the penny is going to drop, the one thing he hasn't changed is the thing that is causing the most endemic problems?
Individual
Gazzaniga - One horrendous moment where he came and completely missed a corner, they scored, but luckily they were offside, apart from that he his handling was good and he looked OK.
Trippier - Definitely not one of his better games. Mugged off too easily a couple of times.
Alderweireld - Some OK stuff, some less than OK stuff.
Vertonghen - OK.
Rose - Mixed bag. Lots of energy, not a lot of composure until that great ball for the goal. Then defended like a fucking schoolboy to let Knockaert score.
Dier/Dembele - refused to play anything remotely incisive when we are in possession. Unable to stem the chaos when were are not.
Son - Bumbled about.
Eriksen - Was very involved, as ever, played one lovely little through ball late on, but still not seeing peak Eriksen.
Moura - Lively as ever.
Kane - Back with the CF area to himself, this was probably the closest to "normal" silverback Kane we've seen this season. Loads more touches, loads more passes and nearly doubled his shot total for the season in one game. Wasted a glorious chance, but just nice to see him with a "glorious chance". Still don't understand why he can't ever be subbed.
Lamela - Don't usually include subs, as Poch rarely makes them in any time worth rating, but he had a definite positive impact today.
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