Lockdown helped us more than any other team as we were on a one-way ticket to oblivion prior to it happening. Jose said "he wished the season would end" and he got his wish granted for him.
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Very good piece from Pitt-Brook. As always though when Teflon Jose speaks to sift the blame away from him and onto the players his disciples come out in their droves and do his dirty work in forums around the World. For those blaming our players, saying that they aren't "good enough" what do they think of Fulham's, Wolves, Leicesters, Palace's, West Ham's, Newcastle's and Everton's players?
Mourinho must share blame with Spurs players for blowing leads
There was no question who Jose Mourinho blamed for Tottenham throwing away their fifth lead of their season, dropping their ninth and tenth points from games in which they were ahead with 20 minutes left.
“This is the same story, basically, from the beginning of the season,” sighed Mourinho on his Zoom press conference, embodying the exasperation of Spurs fans everywhere.
“We can speak about not killing the game, yes, we can speak about that. Today was a clear situation we could and we should kill the game in the first half. But then you go back to the goals we concede, and it is not easy to assimilate that.”
Mourinho often likes to say that defending is a collective endeavour, but not this time. “There are things that have to be with the characteristics of the players,” he said. “There are things that are difficult, some things they have to do with the organisation of the team. But other things they have to do with individual skills, with individual ability. And it is as simple as that.”
And maybe it is. Davinson Sanchez was torn to pieces by Ademola Lookman in his cameo that changed the game, including a brilliant stabbed cross to set up the equaliser. Eric Dier, playing through a first-half injury, was beaten in the air by Ivan Cavaleiro. Neither of those defenders is perfect, and nor is Toby Alderweireld, a great player in his day but approaching his 32nd birthday and not as sharp as he was.
Mourinho says that he struggles to “assimilate” some of the goals his team have conceded recently and you can see why. Bad marking cost Spurs when Wolves’ Romain Saiss headed in Pedro Neto’s corner. Roberto Firmino’s headed winner for Liverpool at Anfield last month was no better. Leicester City’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat before Christmas was a defensive disaster. Jeffrey Schlupp bundled in a free-kick for Crystal Palace after Spurs failed to deal with it. The last nine minutes of the West Ham game still gives people nightmares.
And maybe if Mourinho could only click his fingers and replace Dier, Sanchez and Alderweireld with three fully-fit Virgil van Dijks then Spurs would not concede those goals or those leads and would currently be sat on top.
But is it really that simple? That the lack of “individual ability” of these defenders is what is keeping Tottenham off top? Those same defenders could point to the fact that they have still only conceded 16 goals in 17 league games so far this season, the joint second-best record in the league. Their record is not bad, and is comfortably better than Liverpool (21 in 17) or Manchester United (24 in 17).
Those defenders might also argue that they have a difficult job, put under more direct pressure than their counterparts at other teams. Tottenham are forced back so often that these guys spend long afternoons doing nothing but the dirty work of the job: heading, tackling, blocking, throwing themselves in front of every shot and cross. Eventually they are going to slip up.
Those same defenders might also deflect blame to the team’s attacking players. Because Tottenham missed chances on Wednesday night, enough chances to “kill the game”, as Mourinho put it afterwards. Harry Kane headed a Serge Aurier cross over the bar in the first half, an easier header than the one he scored. Son Heung-min hit the post in the second half. Finally, Son drifted offside, disallowing the “winner” he made for Sergio Reguilon at the end.
If Kane and Son had scored all of their chances then Tottenham would indeed have won. It is a logical-sounding argument — of course strikers should score all of their chances — but it is also a ludicrous fantasy. Kane and Son have been Spurs’ best players this season, and if your analysis is that their mistakes are holding Tottenham back then you have the question entirely inside-out.
Because the reality of this Spurs team is that it has been the brilliance of Kane and Son that has kept them going all season. The two men have 23 of their 30 league goals (76 per cent) and 16 of their 25 assists (64 per cent). They have been playing like gods, and for as long as they do that, Spurs will always have a chance.
Kane and Son might well wonder when anyone else will chip in with a few goals or even assists. One story of Spurs’ season has been how unbalanced their attack has been. In the league so far, Lucas Moura, Gareth Bale, Steven Bergwijn, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso have 19 league starts but three goals between them. Tanguy Ndombele, their third-top scorer at the season’s half-way point, has two.
So do you blame Bergwijn, Bale and Lucas for not being as good as Kane and Son? That feels unfair; it is not their fault that they are not as good as the two most in-form attacking players in the country right now. Do you blame the creative players — Ndombele and Lo Celso — for not creating enough chances? Again, that looks like missing the point by miles, when the team as a whole does not see too much of the ball, and Ndombele makes magic happen every time he touches it. (In the first half against Fulham he looked like he was playing a different game from everyone else, producing half a dozen gaspingly good moments, each one its own unique story.)
Ultimately, if you want to get to the bottom of why it is still “the same story” for Spurs, after their sixth league draw of the season, and you can’t choose between blaming the defence, the attack or the midfield, maybe you should take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Do you blame the defenders for their individual imperfections, or the system that forces them to defend so much until one of them eventually slips? Do you blame Kane and Son for not converting every single chance, or an approach to attacking that sees two individuals shoulder the burden of the whole team. Do you blame the midfield for not creating chances, or the fact they have to give up possession of the ball?
Ever since Mourinho arrived there has been plenty of talk about how he was a “proven winner” who would be able to bestow his “winning mentality” upon the players. This was meant to be his secret ingredient, the one advantage he had over Spurs teams of the recent past. And if Tottenham do beat Manchester City in the League Cup final, or win the FA Cup or Europa League, or even the Premier League, then that will be taken as proof of Mourinho instilling that magical spirit into his team.
But right now this team is turning wins into draws, and heading for a 67-point season. You would struggle to argue that this team has more of a “winning mentality” than the team that won 26 out of 38 league games in 2016-17. That approach required to grind out results in marginal games does not look any nearer now than it did before.
We are 14 months into the Mourinho era at Tottenham now. This is his team, with his signings, his strategy and his tactics. Their best days this year — Southampton, Manchester United, Manchester City, Woolwich and Leeds — have exemplified Mourinho’s strengths. But their worst days — all these costly avoidable draws — are down to his weaknesses. It is, as Mourinho might say, “as simple as that”.
Mourinho must share blame with Spurs players for blowing leads
There was no question who Jose Mourinho blamed for Tottenham throwing away their fifth lead of their season, dropping their ninth and tenth points from games in which they were ahead with 20 minutes left.
“This is the same story, basically, from the beginning of the season,” sighed Mourinho on his Zoom press conference, embodying the exasperation of Spurs fans everywhere.
“We can speak about not killing the game, yes, we can speak about that. Today was a clear situation we could and we should kill the game in the first half. But then you go back to the goals we concede, and it is not easy to assimilate that.”
Mourinho often likes to say that defending is a collective endeavour, but not this time. “There are things that have to be with the characteristics of the players,” he said. “There are things that are difficult, some things they have to do with the organisation of the team. But other things they have to do with individual skills, with individual ability. And it is as simple as that.”
And maybe it is. Davinson Sanchez was torn to pieces by Ademola Lookman in his cameo that changed the game, including a brilliant stabbed cross to set up the equaliser. Eric Dier, playing through a first-half injury, was beaten in the air by Ivan Cavaleiro. Neither of those defenders is perfect, and nor is Toby Alderweireld, a great player in his day but approaching his 32nd birthday and not as sharp as he was.
Mourinho says that he struggles to “assimilate” some of the goals his team have conceded recently and you can see why. Bad marking cost Spurs when Wolves’ Romain Saiss headed in Pedro Neto’s corner. Roberto Firmino’s headed winner for Liverpool at Anfield last month was no better. Leicester City’s second goal in the 2-0 defeat before Christmas was a defensive disaster. Jeffrey Schlupp bundled in a free-kick for Crystal Palace after Spurs failed to deal with it. The last nine minutes of the West Ham game still gives people nightmares.
And maybe if Mourinho could only click his fingers and replace Dier, Sanchez and Alderweireld with three fully-fit Virgil van Dijks then Spurs would not concede those goals or those leads and would currently be sat on top.
But is it really that simple? That the lack of “individual ability” of these defenders is what is keeping Tottenham off top? Those same defenders could point to the fact that they have still only conceded 16 goals in 17 league games so far this season, the joint second-best record in the league. Their record is not bad, and is comfortably better than Liverpool (21 in 17) or Manchester United (24 in 17).
Those defenders might also argue that they have a difficult job, put under more direct pressure than their counterparts at other teams. Tottenham are forced back so often that these guys spend long afternoons doing nothing but the dirty work of the job: heading, tackling, blocking, throwing themselves in front of every shot and cross. Eventually they are going to slip up.
Those same defenders might also deflect blame to the team’s attacking players. Because Tottenham missed chances on Wednesday night, enough chances to “kill the game”, as Mourinho put it afterwards. Harry Kane headed a Serge Aurier cross over the bar in the first half, an easier header than the one he scored. Son Heung-min hit the post in the second half. Finally, Son drifted offside, disallowing the “winner” he made for Sergio Reguilon at the end.
If Kane and Son had scored all of their chances then Tottenham would indeed have won. It is a logical-sounding argument — of course strikers should score all of their chances — but it is also a ludicrous fantasy. Kane and Son have been Spurs’ best players this season, and if your analysis is that their mistakes are holding Tottenham back then you have the question entirely inside-out.
Because the reality of this Spurs team is that it has been the brilliance of Kane and Son that has kept them going all season. The two men have 23 of their 30 league goals (76 per cent) and 16 of their 25 assists (64 per cent). They have been playing like gods, and for as long as they do that, Spurs will always have a chance.
Kane and Son might well wonder when anyone else will chip in with a few goals or even assists. One story of Spurs’ season has been how unbalanced their attack has been. In the league so far, Lucas Moura, Gareth Bale, Steven Bergwijn, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso have 19 league starts but three goals between them. Tanguy Ndombele, their third-top scorer at the season’s half-way point, has two.
So do you blame Bergwijn, Bale and Lucas for not being as good as Kane and Son? That feels unfair; it is not their fault that they are not as good as the two most in-form attacking players in the country right now. Do you blame the creative players — Ndombele and Lo Celso — for not creating enough chances? Again, that looks like missing the point by miles, when the team as a whole does not see too much of the ball, and Ndombele makes magic happen every time he touches it. (In the first half against Fulham he looked like he was playing a different game from everyone else, producing half a dozen gaspingly good moments, each one its own unique story.)
Ultimately, if you want to get to the bottom of why it is still “the same story” for Spurs, after their sixth league draw of the season, and you can’t choose between blaming the defence, the attack or the midfield, maybe you should take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Do you blame the defenders for their individual imperfections, or the system that forces them to defend so much until one of them eventually slips? Do you blame Kane and Son for not converting every single chance, or an approach to attacking that sees two individuals shoulder the burden of the whole team. Do you blame the midfield for not creating chances, or the fact they have to give up possession of the ball?
Ever since Mourinho arrived there has been plenty of talk about how he was a “proven winner” who would be able to bestow his “winning mentality” upon the players. This was meant to be his secret ingredient, the one advantage he had over Spurs teams of the recent past. And if Tottenham do beat Manchester City in the League Cup final, or win the FA Cup or Europa League, or even the Premier League, then that will be taken as proof of Mourinho instilling that magical spirit into his team.
But right now this team is turning wins into draws, and heading for a 67-point season. You would struggle to argue that this team has more of a “winning mentality” than the team that won 26 out of 38 league games in 2016-17. That approach required to grind out results in marginal games does not look any nearer now than it did before.
We are 14 months into the Mourinho era at Tottenham now. This is his team, with his signings, his strategy and his tactics. Their best days this year — Southampton, Manchester United, Manchester City, Woolwich and Leeds — have exemplified Mourinho’s strengths. But their worst days — all these costly avoidable draws — are down to his weaknesses. It is, as Mourinho might say, “as simple as that”.
We don’t have good depth. That’s a complete myth that I also used to believe. Winks, Bale, Lucas, Davinson, Dele, they are not good enough to help the team win matches in the league. They are good enough to help us beat Europa League farmers and that’s it. At least this is what Mourinho’s selections imply.
Of course his safety first football is a massive issue and his mentality has drained some of the attacking intent out of the team, but our players are really not that good.
I think the players are invested in what Mourinho is trying to do and they are much more organised than last season. He's even managed to improve Aurier which I didn't think was possible. We need to quit sitting back every game. But this is a work in progress, I have no desire at all for yet another managerial change.
If I could give any advice, it would be to stop thinking we have a chance of winning the title. You will be a lot happier.
It was me and I've been saying it for months even in his second spell at Chelsea it had started to falter. If your bored go and look at the attacking players in the squads he was gubbing in that first spell. Its certainly higher standard now.. The TV has leveled the playing field too much for this.Now go down the league and look at a forwards that you are allowing teams to have 70% of the ball. Watkins, Vardy, Ings, Aubameyang, Jiminez, Bamford, Grealish Richarlison. I've avoided the top four sides. But you take my point .
I dont think so. Levy said ( i think in the amazon doc) that last season was extraordinary and expected more next season. For a chairman that has sacked managers after finishing top 4 it would be absurd to give Mourinho an 18 month pass. Levy knows he has a stadium to fill next season and 6th place with this football won't do that. Mourinho needs champions league to keep his job. Personally i'd part ways end of the season regardless.
You say work in progress but thats not how Mourinho works. He isn't a project style manager that builds a philosophy over 3 or 4 years, its instant results. Everywhere he has been the 2nd season has been the best, he has only ever done 3 seasons once, at Real Madrid. Its why we gave him some season long loans, 29 yr old Doherty and 33 yr old Hart. Its short term fixes for short term results. If he doesnt suceed this season then he won't with us.
No mate. The reason other teams laugh at us is because deluded pricks like you prefered to back a CEO who prioritises profit than a football manager who'd taken us to heights not seen for 40 years with his hands tied up.
Everyone in football could see what was happening apart from our own fans
I can’t see him staying beyond the summer. He either wins us a cup and leaves having done his job or (more likely) we end up winning nothing and scrape into Europe again.
Unless our performances in the league change in between now and the end of the season would there be any justification in keeping him any longer?
Unless our performances in the league change in between now and the end of the season would there be any justification in keeping him any longer?
Just as night turns to day, mate
Gotta love Jose - “give me attackers who never miss a chance, and defenders who never make a mistake no matter how under pressure we are and we’ll win”.
£15m.
Said last night on the match thread, I felt angry after Palace, Leicester and Wolves, this time I just feel sad. It was all so inevitable in the 2nd half.
I so wanted to be wrong about Jose. I’ve despised this guy and his antiquated football for years but I so wanted him to prove me wrong and come back with a renewed tactical philosophy. Alas he’s a stubborn old goat and will never change.
We are not far off the public maulings of players, the cryptic press conference responses, the angry outbursts referencing past achievements IMO.
It’s Jose 101 and it’s all so predictable.
I so wanted to be wrong about Jose. I’ve despised this guy and his antiquated football for years but I so wanted him to prove me wrong and come back with a renewed tactical philosophy. Alas he’s a stubborn old goat and will never change.
We are not far off the public maulings of players, the cryptic press conference responses, the angry outbursts referencing past achievements IMO.
It’s Jose 101 and it’s all so predictable.
Whatever happened to the "Who should be our next manager" thread?
Surely there's a debate to be had after yet another shitshow like last night
Admin
?
Surely there's a debate to be had after yet another shitshow like last night
Admin
?
Over the past 15 seasons since Everton finished 4th in 2004/05, 59 of the 60 Top 4 slots have been claimed by the so called Big 6, the only outlier Leicester in 2015/16 who actually went and scooped the full jackpot. Over those 15 seasons, we’ve had 6 Top 4 finishes, we’ve finished 5th on 5 occasions and 6th twice.
Over the course of a 38 game season, money ultimately talks, surprise packets that do well over early part and even first three quarters of a season falter as they don’t have the squad to sustain it. Leicester last season a case in point yet again, picking up 17 points in last 17 games after averaging just over 2 a game for first 21.
In real terms we’re most likely vying with the Chavs and Woolwich to finish 4th this season. It’s a pretty sobering thought that despite the fact that both have been utterly dogshit this season, both will be just 4 points behind us if Woolwich win at home to Crystal Palace tonight.
Over the course of a 38 game season, money ultimately talks, surprise packets that do well over early part and even first three quarters of a season falter as they don’t have the squad to sustain it. Leicester last season a case in point yet again, picking up 17 points in last 17 games after averaging just over 2 a game for first 21.
In real terms we’re most likely vying with the Chavs and Woolwich to finish 4th this season. It’s a pretty sobering thought that despite the fact that both have been utterly dogshit this season, both will be just 4 points behind us if Woolwich win at home to Crystal Palace tonight.