Here's the reality, as seen by me:
Before the game I was quite sure it would end with a Liverpool win. It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone considering the facts:
- Spurs had huge problems against teams that plays a fast attacking game.
- The back four is pretty much the same as last season.
- We still play with a rather high line.
- Our new pressing strategy hasn't been established yet, it's too soon, and a direct team like Liverpool gives you little time to press.
- Our players failed to show up for big games last season.
The QPR game gave a lot of supporters false hope. After that glorious win, everyone had suddenly forgotten that we were being pissed on by Wet Spam 11v11, that we were down 1-0 against Limasol untill the 75th minute, and that our first eleven has barely changed since last season.
A new manager needs time to get his ideas through, and to transfer them from ideas to actions on the pitch. Yes, we saw some of the new stuff against QPR, but we can't expect it to be consistent yet, and we have to expect some disapointing games and results.
Like last season, our hopes for this game was really crushed by a lot of the same factors that made bad performances turn to disgraceful results last season:
- Players make individual tactical and technical mistakes that they rarely make against lesser opposition.
- We seem to be a lot more careful going forwards and in our pressing game against big teams. This is a bad strategy, as it leaves us on the back foot, having to defend more (which we suck at) instead of exploiting their bad defence.
- The refs keeps gifting the game to the opponents. Twice last season we were given red cards in big games that were later retracted. Today Allen should've been sent off, but instead got a penalty.
Performance review of the players involved:
- Lloris 2/10
Maybe the biggest let down. I'm a huge fan of him and his playstyle, and think of him as our next captain. But what he showed today was in no way captain material. He didn't really do anything right, and gifted the ball to Liverpool in dangerous positions on multiple occasions. Shockingly bad performance from one of our key and most experienced players.
- Dier 3/10
Often seemed stressed on the ball. His crosses were about as bad as they always are from our full backs. Way out of position when Balotelli got the crosses for the huge chances at 2 mins. Ball watching and losing Sterling on the first goal. Showed that he's still got a lot to learn.
- Kaboul 1/10
Might be one of the worst performances I've seen from a Spurs player in a league game. Gifting the ball to Liverpool several times, not on his man on crosses, dribbled easily often, terrible tactical decision not to close down Moreno on the third goal. It feels bad to say it, as I always believed he was a huge CD talent, but his career in Spurs should be over after yet another terrible game.
- Vertonghen 6/10
One of the uplifting performances on the day. He did in no way excell in his defensive work, but unlike last season it looked like he tried. He seemed to keep focus and put in a fight even at 0-3. Working hard to become the next captain?
- Rose 6/10
Was involved in the first goal, by going for the same ball as Chadli and losing it. Had less problems than the others in defence, and did fairly well on the ball. Didn't give up. We have a new Rose, but he still has stuff to work on. Decent performance today though.
- Capoue 7/10
Looked a bit slow and sluggish at times, but was good on the ball and intercepted, tackled and duelled well from his DM spot. One of our best performers on the day.
- Bentaleb 5/10
Is supposed to be our ball playing deep midfielder, but hasn't really been top notch at it so far. Losing the ball a bit too easily at times, creating very little. Not very visible defensively either.
- Eriksen 4/10
The dane had a pretty bad game. He's been struggling both in pre-season and so far in the league to have the same impact as he had under Sherwood. He needs to find out how to use space, to come into positions where he can perform his magic. And he needs someone to move in the box to aim his crosses at.
- Lamela 7/10
Lamela is a changed person. Last season he seemed to hide on the pitch, with no confidence at all. Now he wants the ball, he tries to do something, all the time. Even at 0-3, even when everyone else had stopped playing, Lamela wanted the ball and tried to create. Being the only one trying makes it hard though, which made him struggle towards the end of the game.
- Chadli 6/10
A bit more anonymous than Lamela, but just as the argentine, Chadli seems changed. When he had the ball he was often sharp, trying to run forwards and create. Could've scored at 0-1, which could've changed the game. Should've.
- Adebayor 3/10
Really bad game. Hasn't been on form so far this season. He works hard, gets himself involved. But when he's not on form he loses the ball way too easily. Had several excellent opportunities to get huge chances, but screwed up ball control and unfit legs made him piss them all away.
- Dembele 4/10
Seems a bit out of form. Slow, missing a few passes. Needs more playing time.
- Townsend 1/10
Started in the worst possible way, with a technically and tactically horrible attempt to dribble. Gave away 0-3. Seemed to be affected for the rest of the game, and everything he did made him look like a sunday league player more than a premier league one.
- Davies 5/10
Didn't do much, seemed ok.
I think that our failures in big game is mainly a mental issue. In other sports, especially individual sports, athletes are using mental coaches to help them perform at their best when it matters the most. We are at our worst when it matters the most. Mental state is underrated in football. It's the difference between a fantastic player and a terrible one (Soldado pre Spurs and Soldado last season is a good example), between a terrible team and a great team (United under Ferguson vs under Moyes).
It should be quite obvious to anyone that players are affected by lack of confidence, by confusion or morale issues, but I think maybe body language from the players affects the refs. There must be a reason why we keep getting these terrible decisions against us in every important game.
One of the most important things we can do to improve our game is to get the heads right. We need to come out on the Lane, expecting to dominate even the big teams, expecting to beat them, being on the front foot. If you come out scared it's over before it's begun. A sports psychologist should be hired to work with the players and the manager full time.
Before the game I was quite sure it would end with a Liverpool win. It shouldn't come as a shock to anyone considering the facts:
- Spurs had huge problems against teams that plays a fast attacking game.
- The back four is pretty much the same as last season.
- We still play with a rather high line.
- Our new pressing strategy hasn't been established yet, it's too soon, and a direct team like Liverpool gives you little time to press.
- Our players failed to show up for big games last season.
The QPR game gave a lot of supporters false hope. After that glorious win, everyone had suddenly forgotten that we were being pissed on by Wet Spam 11v11, that we were down 1-0 against Limasol untill the 75th minute, and that our first eleven has barely changed since last season.
A new manager needs time to get his ideas through, and to transfer them from ideas to actions on the pitch. Yes, we saw some of the new stuff against QPR, but we can't expect it to be consistent yet, and we have to expect some disapointing games and results.
Like last season, our hopes for this game was really crushed by a lot of the same factors that made bad performances turn to disgraceful results last season:
- Players make individual tactical and technical mistakes that they rarely make against lesser opposition.
- We seem to be a lot more careful going forwards and in our pressing game against big teams. This is a bad strategy, as it leaves us on the back foot, having to defend more (which we suck at) instead of exploiting their bad defence.
- The refs keeps gifting the game to the opponents. Twice last season we were given red cards in big games that were later retracted. Today Allen should've been sent off, but instead got a penalty.
Performance review of the players involved:
- Lloris 2/10
Maybe the biggest let down. I'm a huge fan of him and his playstyle, and think of him as our next captain. But what he showed today was in no way captain material. He didn't really do anything right, and gifted the ball to Liverpool in dangerous positions on multiple occasions. Shockingly bad performance from one of our key and most experienced players.
- Dier 3/10
Often seemed stressed on the ball. His crosses were about as bad as they always are from our full backs. Way out of position when Balotelli got the crosses for the huge chances at 2 mins. Ball watching and losing Sterling on the first goal. Showed that he's still got a lot to learn.
- Kaboul 1/10
Might be one of the worst performances I've seen from a Spurs player in a league game. Gifting the ball to Liverpool several times, not on his man on crosses, dribbled easily often, terrible tactical decision not to close down Moreno on the third goal. It feels bad to say it, as I always believed he was a huge CD talent, but his career in Spurs should be over after yet another terrible game.
- Vertonghen 6/10
One of the uplifting performances on the day. He did in no way excell in his defensive work, but unlike last season it looked like he tried. He seemed to keep focus and put in a fight even at 0-3. Working hard to become the next captain?
- Rose 6/10
Was involved in the first goal, by going for the same ball as Chadli and losing it. Had less problems than the others in defence, and did fairly well on the ball. Didn't give up. We have a new Rose, but he still has stuff to work on. Decent performance today though.
- Capoue 7/10
Looked a bit slow and sluggish at times, but was good on the ball and intercepted, tackled and duelled well from his DM spot. One of our best performers on the day.
- Bentaleb 5/10
Is supposed to be our ball playing deep midfielder, but hasn't really been top notch at it so far. Losing the ball a bit too easily at times, creating very little. Not very visible defensively either.
- Eriksen 4/10
The dane had a pretty bad game. He's been struggling both in pre-season and so far in the league to have the same impact as he had under Sherwood. He needs to find out how to use space, to come into positions where he can perform his magic. And he needs someone to move in the box to aim his crosses at.
- Lamela 7/10
Lamela is a changed person. Last season he seemed to hide on the pitch, with no confidence at all. Now he wants the ball, he tries to do something, all the time. Even at 0-3, even when everyone else had stopped playing, Lamela wanted the ball and tried to create. Being the only one trying makes it hard though, which made him struggle towards the end of the game.
- Chadli 6/10
A bit more anonymous than Lamela, but just as the argentine, Chadli seems changed. When he had the ball he was often sharp, trying to run forwards and create. Could've scored at 0-1, which could've changed the game. Should've.
- Adebayor 3/10
Really bad game. Hasn't been on form so far this season. He works hard, gets himself involved. But when he's not on form he loses the ball way too easily. Had several excellent opportunities to get huge chances, but screwed up ball control and unfit legs made him piss them all away.
- Dembele 4/10
Seems a bit out of form. Slow, missing a few passes. Needs more playing time.
- Townsend 1/10
Started in the worst possible way, with a technically and tactically horrible attempt to dribble. Gave away 0-3. Seemed to be affected for the rest of the game, and everything he did made him look like a sunday league player more than a premier league one.
- Davies 5/10
Didn't do much, seemed ok.
I think that our failures in big game is mainly a mental issue. In other sports, especially individual sports, athletes are using mental coaches to help them perform at their best when it matters the most. We are at our worst when it matters the most. Mental state is underrated in football. It's the difference between a fantastic player and a terrible one (Soldado pre Spurs and Soldado last season is a good example), between a terrible team and a great team (United under Ferguson vs under Moyes).
It should be quite obvious to anyone that players are affected by lack of confidence, by confusion or morale issues, but I think maybe body language from the players affects the refs. There must be a reason why we keep getting these terrible decisions against us in every important game.
One of the most important things we can do to improve our game is to get the heads right. We need to come out on the Lane, expecting to dominate even the big teams, expecting to beat them, being on the front foot. If you come out scared it's over before it's begun. A sports psychologist should be hired to work with the players and the manager full time.
aulinholol:
:vert:
