Ok positive comments only so here we go...
We are still in the early phase of this long term project. The football is brilliant, but we are too open and the results are very inconsistent given the high variance game we play. We've shown some glimpses of just how good we can be, but we lack consistency. We are almost doing the hard part (dominating good teams and creating chances), but not doing the easy part (keeping a defensive shape, defending set pieces, playing into trouble). We also lack leaders, we dismantled the full leadership group (Lloris, Kane, Dier, Hojbjerg), and our current leaders (Son, Romero, Maddison) haven't stepped up tbh and aren't proper leaders. So we either go and buy experienced players (quick fixes) to give us that instant improvement and experience, or we continue on this bumpy journey until this young exciting team develops into an experienced team ready to win (could take 2 or 3 years). I'm hoping guys like VDV, Kulusevski and Solanke step up and become the new leaders!
We aren't as far away as people think. All we need is a bit of consistency and for certain players to step up and become leaders. I saw a clip yesterday of Rodri going crazy in the dressing room at the whole team after a defeat! Thats the type of characters we need but don't currently have. This is not an Ange problem. He can't coach that. He either buys them characters or allows players to develop into them leaders. And thats the difference between winning and losing these close games that we keep losing. All our wins have been emphatic and all our defeats have been close games where we were outfought.
Ange is in control of our play style which has given us some of the best Spurs performances I've seen, but in them tight games where its not going our way, you need players to step up and get you over the line. All them times City grind out ugly 1 goal wins - you think that was a Pep masterclass? No chance, Pep never plans on winning like that but his game plan obviously didn't go according to plan! But players like Dias and Rodri fight like their lives are on the line, and dig out a 1-0 win. Thats the piece we are missing. When for whatever reason the game isn't going your way (Fatigue, injuries, referee not letting game flow or just a poor performance), you need leaders who can just get you over the line! The winning ugly part is on the players not the manager and thats what we are missing.
We are still in the early phase of this long term project. The football is brilliant, but we are too open and the results are very inconsistent given the high variance game we play. We've shown some glimpses of just how good we can be, but we lack consistency. We are almost doing the hard part (dominating good teams and creating chances), but not doing the easy part (keeping a defensive shape, defending set pieces, playing into trouble). We also lack leaders, we dismantled the full leadership group (Lloris, Kane, Dier, Hojbjerg), and our current leaders (Son, Romero, Maddison) haven't stepped up tbh and aren't proper leaders. So we either go and buy experienced players (quick fixes) to give us that instant improvement and experience, or we continue on this bumpy journey until this young exciting team develops into an experienced team ready to win (could take 2 or 3 years). I'm hoping guys like VDV, Kulusevski and Solanke step up and become the new leaders!
We aren't as far away as people think. All we need is a bit of consistency and for certain players to step up and become leaders. I saw a clip yesterday of Rodri going crazy in the dressing room at the whole team after a defeat! Thats the type of characters we need but don't currently have. This is not an Ange problem. He can't coach that. He either buys them characters or allows players to develop into them leaders. And thats the difference between winning and losing these close games that we keep losing. All our wins have been emphatic and all our defeats have been close games where we were outfought.
Ange is in control of our play style which has given us some of the best Spurs performances I've seen, but in them tight games where its not going our way, you need players to step up and get you over the line. All them times City grind out ugly 1 goal wins - you think that was a Pep masterclass? No chance, Pep never plans on winning like that but his game plan obviously didn't go according to plan! But players like Dias and Rodri fight like their lives are on the line, and dig out a 1-0 win. Thats the piece we are missing. When for whatever reason the game isn't going your way (Fatigue, injuries, referee not letting game flow or just a poor performance), you need leaders who can just get you over the line! The winning ugly part is on the players not the manager and thats what we are missing.
sanctuary is well and truly up and running on this site.
