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Manager Igor Tudor

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True. If we play like we did last night then I'd fancy us to win. But unfortunately its not a gimme. Forst are a very good side and have better players than us in multiple positions. Big test for Sarr and Gray up against Anderson, Sangaire and MGW.
Yeah, if you totally discount the League table they definitely are. Then again, if you're in the habit of totally discounting the League table then you could also say the same about us...

I certainly don't think we should make the mistake of taking the game, and them, lightly, but at the same time we really shouldn't be going into the game massively overrating and being fearful of them.

The players more importantly than the fans should be going into this confident, but taking care not to stray into being arrogant.
 
True. If we play like we did last night then I'd fancy us to win. But unfortunately its not a gimme. Forst are a very good side and have better players than us in multiple positions. Big test for Sarr and Gray up against Anderson, Sangaire and MGW.
Yeah the midfield battle is huge, Anderson is obviously the best out there but hopefully we can hold our own there. They really struggle to score goals though which will help us. Its a big test and both sides will be bang up for it, but we also have an extra days rest, plus they are away tonight so a lot working in our favour.

If we play like last night and the crowd is behind us again I think well win. If we do, (barring any injuries) I genuinely thing well go on a run then and finish the season mid table.

Things are looking up, I think bentacur and kudus might be back for Sunderland so thats another big lift, bar the two long term outs in madison and kulu we are pretty much at full strength then.
 
Yeah, if you totally discount the League table they definitely are. Then again, if you're in the habit of totally discounting the League table then you could also say the same about us...

I certainly don't think we should make the mistake of taking the game, and them, lightly, but at the same time we really shouldn't be going into the game massively overrating and being fearful of them.

The players more importantly than the fans should be going into this confident, but taking care not to stray into being arrogant.
Yeah I agree and tbh I think we've no choice but to play arrogant. Richarlison and Simons both have to start and Simons is clearly at his best in that 10 role, so it'll be an attacking team. We'll be playing to win for sure and that'll be the target. Anything less will be disappointing. But a draw isn't a bad result either because the damage a loss would do would be frightening!
 
I might be outdated but I feel when in a relegation battle just keep it simple & put in 110%. If you are a team with our group of players then that should be more than enough. I think we are about 8th on paper in this league.
 
I’ll be honest, this 4-4-2 thing is bending my brain a bit. Porro and Tel started as Right and Left mids but Tel was much more advanced because VDV was a sitting LB behind him?

Xavi was basically a second striker with the free role to turn up anywhere and regularly rotated positions with Tel?

It looked to me like we moved between a 4-4-2 and a 3-4-1-2 in possession a fair amount but mostly that was 4-4-2?

Problem is TV cameras just focus on the ball and what’s happening around it. So you tend to just see what’s happening in reaction to the ball on TV.

Unless you’re at the game following all the players out of possession and pretty much ignoring the ball you’re never really going to know.
But it was pretty clear Dragusin and Spence were playing in quite traditional FB roles at points yesterday.

I’ve been most pleased to see Simons more central. Tel and Spence teaming up on the left wing and at times yesterday a clear attacking shape of 3-1 with tel, Simons and Porro being the 3. (Muani the 1 of course)

Porros chance (great save) was a perfect example of Simons having that freedom in the middle with tel and Porro providing options.
Great movement from Muani and then Porro and Simon’s are 2v1 against their centre back. Beautiful.

Would that all change if Solanke and Richarlison are both fit and he goes to a more traditional 4-4-2?? Who knows.

I’m just strapping in for the ride now. Hopefully a good result on Sunday and Tudor can go into the international break a happy man.
 
Problem is TV cameras just focus on the ball and what’s happening around it. So you tend to just see what’s happening in reaction to the ball on TV.

Unless you’re at the game following all the players out of possession and pretty much ignoring the ball you’re never really going to know.
But it was pretty clear Dragusin and Spence were playing in quite traditional FB roles at points yesterday.

I’ve been most pleased to see Simons more central. Tel and Spence teaming up on the left wing and at times yesterday a clear attacking shape of 3-1 with tel, Simons and Porro being the 3. (Muani the 1 of course)

Porros chance (great save) was a perfect example of Simons having that freedom in the middle with tel and Porro providing options.
Great movement from Muani and then Porro and Simon’s are 2v1 against their centre back. Beautiful.

Would that all change if Solanke and Richarlison are both fit and he goes to a more traditional 4-4-2?? Who knows.

I’m just strapping in for the ride now. Hopefully a good result on Sunday and Tudor can go into the international break a happy man.

It’s a strange one because really the way the players rotated positions moved off each other was like a team that’s played together under coach running a sophisticated system but Tudor told us he wasn’t installing a system and really just wanted them to run more and play for each other like a team.

Maybe it looks like a sophisticated system but it’s more that the players are figuring each other out in pairs and 3’s all over the pitch.

One thing I was told about Tudor is that his football knowledge is legitimately elite … so who fucking knows?

Like you said, strap in and enjoy the ride
 
It’s a strange one because really the way the players rotated positions moved off each other was like a team that’s played together under coach running a sophisticated system but Tudor told us he wasn’t installing a system and really just wanted them to run more and play for each other like a team.

Maybe it looks like a sophisticated system but it’s more that the players are figuring each other out in pairs and 3’s all over the pitch.

One thing I was told about Tudor is that his football knowledge is legitimately elite … so who fucking knows?

Like you said, strap in and enjoy the ride

Yeah was chatting to a friend this morning about that.
Maybe it is just giving more freedom to pass, move and cover each other?

Look at Simons first goal.

He’s essentially our CF when gray wins the ball. Spence and Tel are playing the typical FB/ LW roles on the wing forcing their player to play a hospital ball inside.

Archie anticipates and wins the ball breaks the lines and it’s then a great finish from Simons.

I just don’t see any of that would have happened under Frank. Tel would be on the bench. Simons wandering around lost on the left. Gray on the bench or at LB! Maybe Spence would have been LB still.

It’s been a great week so far.
Sunday needs to be the cherry on the cake.
 
Problem is TV cameras just focus on the ball and what’s happening around it. So you tend to just see what’s happening in reaction to the ball on TV.

Unless you’re at the game following all the players out of possession and pretty much ignoring the ball you’re never really going to know.
But it was pretty clear Dragusin and Spence were playing in quite traditional FB roles at points yesterday.

I’ve been most pleased to see Simons more central. Tel and Spence teaming up on the left wing and at times yesterday a clear attacking shape of 3-1 with tel, Simons and Porro being the 3. (Muani the 1 of course)

Porros chance (great save) was a perfect example of Simons having that freedom in the middle with tel and Porro providing options.
Great movement from Muani and then Porro and Simon’s are 2v1 against their centre back. Beautiful.

Would that all change if Solanke and Richarlison are both fit and he goes to a more traditional 4-4-2?? Who knows.

I’m just strapping in for the ride now. Hopefully a good result on Sunday and Tudor can go into the international break a happy man.
Yea, there are some veyr interesting tactical decisions to make at the weekend, You cannot really drop Simons after that game and with Solanke and Richie back, who do you play with Simons in the striker position? Simons can also drop into forming a 3 man midfield which helps defensively.
 
I have no problem with Tudor walking straight down the tunnel. In fact I like it.

Frank kept doing it after every dismal performance and result and I always thought it was weird.

I think all that waving to the fans is performative nonsense anyway. Sure do it after a great win, but we still lost the tie and got knocked out of the tournament and our league form has been dreadful.

No doubt Tudor will be waving to the fans once we've achieved something tangible.
 
I have no problem with Tudor walking straight down the tunnel. In fact I like it.

Frank kept doing it after every dismal performance and result and I always thought it was weird.

I think all that waving to the fans is performative nonsense anyway. Sure do it after a great win, but we still lost the tie and got knocked out of the tournament and our league form has been dreadful.

No doubt Tudor will be waving to the fans once we've achieved something tangible.
Yeah. Agree. Part of our cultural reset is just being more businesslike and results-focussed. Bin that instatart who jump scares the players everywhere they go at the training ground ffs
 
I have no problem with Tudor walking straight down the tunnel. In fact I like it.

Frank kept doing it after every dismal performance and result and I always thought it was weird.

I think all that waving to the fans is performative nonsense anyway. Sure do it after a great win, but we still lost the tie and got knocked out of the tournament and our league form has been dreadful.

No doubt Tudor will be waving to the fans once we've achieved something tangible.
Yeah I got the sense Frank lacked a bit of emotional intelligence and awareness. Or better put, street smarts. You might be able to get away with that at a club like Brentford where you're merely the figurehead of a wider coaching team, but when you're the guy at a big club you've gotta be shit hot at reading people, judging the mood in a room, rousing a group.

Frank always felt a bit too rational and one-note to me. And ironically I think this is why a lot of journalists and media folk like him - cos he's a bit of an unassuming nice guy. He's relatable and nerdy like them. A manager you can imagine sitting down and doing a podcast rather than a leader of men.

The 'we walk over and clap the fans after every game' thing is a manifestation of that. At Brentford that's a nice gesture cos there's no pressure or scrutiny, but having a blanket rule like that at Spurs where the fans are raging and the media are watching every moment is just setting yourself up for failure. Especially if you're not a Klopp-like figure who can back it up with sheer charisma and/or results on the pitch.

I don't like what they did but VdV and Spence ignoring Frank was clearly borne of some deep disconnect with the manager - you don't do that, or believe you can get away with it, if the manager is someone you respect. I think they felt he was embarrassing them both on and off the pitch and it was a canary in the coal-mine. Our results fell off pretty much from that moment onwards.
 
Don't really wanna jinx it but if we can't secure our main managerial targets this summer (that is Poch or Iraola imo), I would give Tudor another season to try and stabilize us back into top half of the table. That is if the signs continue to be good and if he pulls the miracle and saves us from relegation.
No doubt the clowns in charge will consider this if we stay up. No - his entire career suggests players get tired of him quickly. A nice golden handshake and get Poch post-WC.
 
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So after 2 pretty good performances we've hit the 'could do worse than give it to him permanently stage'. As well as we simply cant sell Romero/Tel/Spence/Sarr/etc wherever you look.

Reckon we're 1 good result away from you know what Lange has done an ok job. 2 from perhaps Vinai is alright really.

I like Tudor, he feels like an adult that knows pro footballers unlike the last 2 amateurs and i dont think the problems were his fault at all but this club needs root and branch change and a coach that needs to be here 3 or 4 seasons for some sort of long term planning, that clearly isnt Tudor.
 
their PL position is courtesy of Saint Ange of Clownsville.

Last few away results:

Fenerbahce - W 3-0
Leeds - L 1-3
City - D 2-2
Brighton L 1-2
Schitts Creek Comedy GIF by CBC
 
So after 2 pretty good performances we've hit the 'could do worse than give it to him permanently stage'. As well as we simply cant sell Romero/Tel/Spence/Sarr/etc wherever you look.

Reckon we're 1 good result away from you know what Lange has done an ok job. 2 from perhaps Vinai is alright really.

I like Tudor, he feels like an adult that knows pro footballers unlike the last 2 amateurs and i dont think the problems were his fault at all but this club needs root and branch change and a coach that needs to be here 3 or 4 seasons for some sort of long term planning, that clearly isnt Tudor.
Yeah, he's doing exactly what we needed him to do right now. If he gets us out of this pickle, he'll be the go-to man for this situation across Europe. It'll help his reputation no end and he'll have a sort of micro-legend status as the Red Adair of football. Then job done in May and we bring in a long-term manager and a bunch of new players so this travesty never happens again.
 
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