Analysis of the goal conceded against Wolves
This won’t take long.
In what I would call comfortably our worst performance of the season, we gave away a terrible goal. The commentators tried to make out that it was an excellent, flowing move by Wolves, but they ain’t fooling me.
Jones’ goal.
Highlights (or should that be “highlights”?).
Karl Henry picks up the ball. Spurs are defensively well set, and Wolves players are attempting to make triangles.
Henry feeds the ball into Jones, who turns 360 degrees in an effort to lose Jenas. Doyle sees that he has a chance to play a one-two, and drops off Bassong.
Bassong doesn’t read the situation, and nor does Jenas, who ball-watches and let’s Jones run off him.
Jones now has much time and space as he wants to pick out Matt Jarvis, who himself is in space.
Just look at how much space Bentley, and particularly Kaboul, have left him in. Dawson is now recovering his position having come out to Jones, and Jenas too is now in a good position to watch play unfold.
But that’s all he does. Look at the picture above, and now look at the picture below. That will tell you all you need to know about Jermaine Jenas‘ performance yesterday. Utterly unacceptable ball-watching has left Jones free to run in behind him. Jarvis spots the run, and picks him out well.
Jones sweeps first time – he doesn’t strike the ball hard, or particularly into the corner, but I think Gomes is taken by surprise.
Make up your own mind on whether Gomes could have done better.
An absolutely horrendous performance from Spurs – right through the team. Jenas had a shocker, and was rightly taken off at half-time, but he wasn’t the only bad one – Huddlestone, Defoe, and Gudjohnsen (clearly half-fit) were particularly poor IMO.
It’ll be very interesting to see what Redknapp does against Bolton.
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This is a simple tactic that has proven to work against us. That and just soak up any attack in the last third, ten-men behind the ball.
'Arry has to figure this out because this will be used again by the other teams we play against. I see Bolton trying this tactic on Saturday.
"Someone could get third spot. Manchester City could. We could. Liverpool could. Anyone is capable with a run. Arsenal are not 100% sure to be there if they get beaten by Chelsea and other teams pick up good results.
Arsenal are favourites but it is not impossible for anyone to catch them, there could be a five or six-point turnaround. We thought that Chelsea were running away with it, but now look at it. Wide open again.''
Anyway the single goal is not the issue, the Long balls and playing everything wide is our problem, Crouch cannot start, sorry he just is not good enough, we need another goal scoring striker, Pav would be perfect but if he doesn't put the effort in what can you say?
Certainly cannot expect to be picked above the rest, what message does that send?!
We miss Lennon far more than I was expecting, we need another player with pace, like Bale, would like to see him in Midfield but then where do you put Luka?
Another issue I think everyone is avoiding is Luka, am I the only one who thinks he has played far from his potential for his entire Spurs career?
Don't get me wrong he is one of best players from time to time but he goals to games ratio is poor, his assist ratio not great either!
Honestly I think Bale at LM would bring us more than Luka, so why not play Luka behind Defoe? Drop Crouch, BAE left back.
You criticise Crouch and Luka, but they didn't start yesterday: Gudjohnsen and Krancjar did... and we lost 1-0!
Agree about Jenas, though.
If I was in Harry's position;
1. I wud maintain Corluka at LB (and only sub him with Kyle in 2nd half, if necessary...).
2. Play Modric instead of JJ (and wud have "donated" JJ to MK Dons in Jan).
3. Pav to start upfront with JD and sub Guddie for any of this two in the 2nd half (if needed to..)
4. Will not play Crouchie at all until end of season or bench him, and make him work his way back to the team.
Birmingham at home you will see at 1-0 up we bought Jenas on and he failed to close down the winger that put the cross in for the equaliser. Jenas plays we lose he is a lightweight fairy who can't pass.
Thought Kaboul did quite well at right back. Prefer him to Bassong at CB.
Agree Bale at LM when Akotto back.
Agree Modrich should be CM.
OTHER POINTS.
1. Team being changed by too many players, too often and has lost its style.
Against Villa and Wolves, the opponents RUSHED from defence to attack with long-ish passes and we copied instead of playing our own way!
2. Less long ball to Crouch but wide players keep missing out other, nearer players in the box and cross to Crouch every time.