ARGH! I am so frustrated at the narrative being spun by prominent fans (YouTubers) and the media about how Ange made a huge mistake against Fulham. He did not. He did what he did and got the result he needed. Averyone must know by now he does nothing by half and does not compromise. If he felt he needed to field 9 changes, that is what needed to happen....
For TOO LONG our managers have tried to wring out some quality from players who just aren't up to it. For TOO LONG, our truly elite players propped up our poorer ones. The game last night throws into stark relief just what a mountain we have to climb to bring the 2nd place players up to scratch. Each of those players should be knocking on the door of the 1st place players. Yet they proved they're nowhere near.
You can see where the weak links were. Passing accuracy among our midfield, fullbacks, and wingers was atrocious. Skipp in particular had an abysmal 72% (compare to Sarr's 89% against Bournemouth). Elite players should be pushing for 90%.
Average positions are remarkably similar to Bournemouth. We just weren't anywhere near as good. It simply looked like we forgot how to play. An essential demonstration of how Ange needs the right personnel.
This was frustrating. With no European football this season, this was a good chance for a cup run. It was a realistic chance for silverware and it wasn't taken seriously. This was either naivete or, dare I say, some arrogance.
Making 9 changes like that might have worked against Championship opposition or lower, but against another Premier League team you're rolling the dice and loading it in their favor.
I’d probably call the color “US Army pink”, after the drab trousers worn as part of the service dress uniform in the 1940s. There was a faint pinkish hue in the khaki. The army informally called the uniform “pinks and greens”.
Anyway, that kit is awful, and I hope I never see it again.
Game on! 1-1, arguably against the run of play. It was a great header by #Richarlison though. Hoping this gives him a little confidence boost; he sure needs it.
Not out of it yet, then. But still need to get things together.
Not really many positives from a Tottenham perspective to take away from this game at half time, other than maybe we're lucky we're only 1-0 down and still theoretically in this. The entire team just isn't cohesive and looks like a bunch of strangers playing together. Not that surprising given the 9 changes from the previous EPL game.
Probably going to have to use those subs at the half if we want to stay in the Carabao Cup.
This is what I think we all feared our initial Premier League games under Ange would be like. A squad not clicking, looking lost and and toothless. That the first team are looking so solid already is testament to how good they can become.
This lot are desperately ineffective, though. Wonder what changes Ange will make at half time.
@spurs A fascinating lineup for #FULTOT. This is what I meant when I said Ange might experiment with 2 up top. Didn't think it would be Solomon, though! Forshadowing Brennan, maybe?