Leicester H [PL] 15:00 Sat 29th Oct 2016

[J.spurs]

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he declined to call Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri at the end of last season and congratulate him on the Foxes’ Premier League title triumph, because he felt it would have been disingenuous and “fake”.
Leicester and Spurs – who go head to head at White Hart Lane tomorrow - were battling for the crown before the Lilywhites’ 2-2 draw at Chelsea on May 2 handed the trophy to their rivals with two games to spare.

Asked if he opted to congratulate Ranieri personally, Pochettino said: “No, I never phoned him. I relayed my message in the press conference after the Chelsea game. It was the first thing I said - it was to congratulate him and send a message through the TV.

“I am not fake, I wasn’t happy that day. It’s like when we are fighting on the bench with another bench - an opponent - and the culture here is to share a glass of wine in the manager’s room. Why?

“In front of the TV and all the people I go ‘I am very brave and fight with all’. Then it’s ‘sorry, sorry, all the best, cheers’ and share some red wine? Very fake, I am not fake. I congratulate him and all the fans of Leicester, and the coaching staff and players, but I wasn’t happy.

“I wasn’t angry but disappointed because always being close to touching glory, that is always sad.

“In football, in the end you take what you deserve and there’s nothing to complain about with Leicester. They deserved to lift the trophy and win the league. For us it was our mistake, we didn’t take that [opportunity].

“I think it’s a chapter that is closed. It was good when, all together, we had meetings with people after the Euros and after the holidays.

“We met again and that was good. It was open that chapter, and it was good to close it - to pull out the feeling from us, the players, the staff and everyone. That is the thing that we need to improve and learn, not about if you lose a game - that is more important.

“How to create good emotions, good ideas, good feelings again - that is the most difficult thing, not only in football but in every sport, in life, my family, my house.”

Leicester won the title with a counter-attacking approach, having averaged just 43 per cent of the possession in their top-flight fixtures.

Pochettino favours a very different philosophy, preferring his teams to have much more of the ball. However, he has no issues with the style in which the Foxes achieved their success, having cheered his national team to World Cup glory on two occasions as a youngster, while observing contrasting styles.

“For me, because of my culture and how I grew up in football in Argentina, I grew up under two different styles and I was happy, in the same way,” he said.

“We won in the World Cup in Argentina in 1978 with Cesar Luis Menotti, [when] we cared more about the aesthetic side. It was very important not only to win the games, but how you won the games.

“Then in 1986 in Mexico with [Carlos Salvador] Bilardo, it was the opposite side and we won the World Cup too and I enjoyed it a lot. They were two different completely styles and ideas and both times we were world champions, and that is football.

“Football is not one truth, it’s a thousand truths or millions of truths and we need to be very respectful with the people that don’t share your ideas and don’t see football how you see football.

“That doesn’t mean it’s not football, if Leicester play in a different way. They try to win and the aim is to win games and score more goals than your opponent, and for that I am very respectful with the people that don’t share my ideas.”

I'm very comfortable in saying that I'm in love with this man.

 

[boo]

not looking good for links gentlemen

[link1] EDIT: this link is currently running very clean so here's hoping!

[link2]

expect a ropey viewing >.<

 

[skiathospurs]

http://www.feed4u.net/watch/1755375/7/Tottenham-Hotspur-vs-Leicester-City.html
plenty of links here,may not be @boo `s HD though

 

[conor1]

May as well be richard madeley refereeing this game ffs.

 

[boo]

this is fine, and in HD

[link]

 

[skiathospurs]

May as well be richard madeley refereeing this game ffs.

Retweeted Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker
Appalling penalty decision gives Tottenham the lead.

@skiathospurs 1m1 minute ago
They`re coming for you
they`re coming for you
Bristol rovers,they`re coming for you

 

[boo]

we've got to find a way through all these buses! it's getting ridiculous now.

having said that, there wasn't half some laboured football from spurs during that game.

double having said that, on another day, we win that game four one.

 

[J.spurs]

we've got to find a way through all these buses! it's getting ridiculous now.

having said that, there wasn't half some laboured football from spurs during that game.

double having said that, on another day, we win that game four one.

Frustrating how few options on the bench we had to change the game, so many out. That said, we are so difficult to score against. Finally give one up in open play and the boy nearly got snapped in two scoring it.

As for us, I'm not having a go at Wanyama, who was good today other than the mistake back header, but I still think our best lineup has Dier/Dembele in the midfield. And Leicester are fast becoming the new Stoke in my book, the grabbing and holding away from the ball is unbelievable, and we couldn't find a way through. Still think Janssen's going to be a very good premier league striker

 

[Don Diaz]

Just back from the game, frustrating that we couldn't convert the possession and chances into goals again. Think we need something a bit quicker and cleverer in the final third to get behind defences rather than playing in front of them? GKN did that when he came on late and did that a few times. Seems also that whilst Janssen did little wrong he doesn't affect the game the way Harry does by drifting wide, creating space for himself and pulling the opposition defence around. A decent performance but not an electric one and a game we should have won but didn't.

Bit of a dry spell this, after the City win, great that we're not losing games but need a few goals and a bit of momentum to get back pushing at the very top of the league. Some good performances again from some but the crowd was a bit flat as well.

On the plus side the new stadium is going to be truly magnificent. You actually walk through it to access seats in the North and East stands from WHL station.

 

[Yid]

For the added quality we got over the summer it's obvious that were not strong enough in key positions when a few players get a knock.... namely the attacking 3rd.

What I saw was us not having enough to unpick the locks that keep getting pit up in front of us... we have a lot of possession but dot effect the game enough to justify it being a useful state. Teams and I mean all teams will come to the Kane with the mentality of shutting us out first and foremost and trying to nick one on the break just like these cunts did.

I don't think we played at the right intensity and it seems after doing exactly that against Citeh and playing them off the fucking park we have not quite got up for games against supposed lesser teams.

They were there for the taking today imo, and we didn't do enough through our workrate and not being effective enough on the ball.

Still unbeaten, and still very strong in attack and nice to see Vincent notch in the league which I am sure will be the catalyst for Arry arse twitching a bit and our form starting to pick up.

 

[boo]

Frustrating how few options on the bench we had to change the game, so many out. That said, we are so difficult to score against. Finally give one up in open play and the boy nearly got snapped in two scoring it.

As for us, I'm not having a go at Wanyama, who was good today other than the mistake back header, but I still think our best lineup has Dier/Dembele in the midfield. And Leicester are fast becoming the new Stoke in my book, the grabbing and holding away from the ball is unbelievable, and we couldn't find a way through. Still think Janssen's going to be a very good premier league striker

Lamela, Kane and Alderweireld were all missing today. Sissoko too but he wasn't the main stay last season like those others.

Leicester are everything bad aboot English football. There are a few teams now that just play behind the ball and cling on for a point.

I can't say as I like the sidewards passing and felt agreement with some of the fans groans today from the stands as we moved the ball backwards, sidewards and just seemed soo laboured on the ball. Nigh on walking pace at times.

I thought Janssen had won it in the second half with that shot (again, being man-handled by the blooming thug). Would have lifted him up and pushed him on for the coming games. Still, he has now scored in every competition that he has played in (except CL >.<) albeit from the spot every time.

Here's hoping he can take something positive from his recent run of games and elevate himself.

 

[skiathospurs]

Yes its not perfect,another draw,but I seen elsewhere a big turn on poch,the team,certain players and eventually someone in spursworld I guess had to say,"why the fuck did we sell chadli"
3 draws away from home&a draw at home,disappointing,but nothing that wont be turned around over the season.
Leics were pure alladyce bolton anti football,we hit the bar twice and one daft header backwards cost us,you would think we just got rumped by qpr or something and fighting relegation,not 4th,probable CL progression and key players due back from injurys anyday.
The players are good and the manager too smart to not work this out,maybe some got the arsenal fans we won the league in sept syndrome?Yes not winning is a bummer,but it will come.

 

[LakewoodSpur]

Dele was unlucky to have his first half strike hit the crossbar. But what got me up off the couch were the three shots in the last 20 minutes that had Schmeichel looking the spectator: the free kick from Janssen just missing the upper corner; Janssen's brilliant back-to-goal turn and left-footed shot; Vertonghen's header off the crossbar. In each instance KS was left high and dry. Really, really unlucky that we didn't come away with the three points today. I've got this feeling that some opponent is going to be this season's Wigan for us: here's hoping it's a big 9 goals against the Arse.

 

[Liam]

I only saw highlights on MOTD last night so didn't really get to experience the pedestrian likepace I'm hearing we played at but from what I did see we created chances Alli and Vertonghen hit the bar Jansen had a close free kick and a shot that went just wide. We clearly aren't getting the results we want right now but also aren't losing. It's a strange situation as want to be winning all the time but I feel we aren't that far from really clicking and going on a winning run. I think given time Jansen will be a good striker but getting Kane back is gonna be massive for us, his movement out wide pulls defences all over the shop allowing the likes of Alli and Son to run into the space and have a pop at goal and plus Kane worries defenders a lot more than Jansen does and will score goals galore. Hope he's back in time for Leverkusen and the goons.

 

[Dorset]

we've got to find a way through all these buses! it's getting ridiculous now.

having said that, there wasn't half some laboured football from spurs during that game.

double having said that, on another day, we win that game four one.

Yep, on another day that could have been a good win.

The numpties seem to have forgotten that Leicester are actually the champions, all they can see is that they have lost their previous 4 away games and jump to the conclusion that they are shite! The last 3 away games for Leicester were Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, not Sunderland, Swansea and 'Boro! They are cunts to play against and with the cuntishness of the cunt ref letting them get away with their game spoiling nonsense, a win is always going to be a tough ask.

This so-called 'crisis' is not even remotely a crisis. We won four on the bounce in the PL, now we have drawn 3, so fucking what? I have read moaning about our corners leading to nothing - if only we had a player like that Belgian bloke who could score from them or a goal scorer like that bloke who scored the most in the PL last season!

We are doing better than we were this time last season and we ended up with our best ever PL position. Only a couple of weeks ago it was all good and we were title contenders - we still are.

 

[Liam]

Yep, on another day that could have been a good win.

The numpties seem to have forgotten that Leicester are actually the champions, all they can see is that they have lost their previous 4 away games and jump to the conclusion that they are shite! The last 3 away games for Leicester were Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, not Sunderland, Swansea and 'Boro! They are cunts to play against and with the cuntishness of the cunt ref letting them get away with their game spoiling nonsense, a win is always going to be a tough ask.

This so-called 'crisis' is not even remotely a crisis. We won four on the bounce in the PL, now we have drawn 3, so fucking what? I have read moaning about our corners leading to nothing - if only we had a player like that Belgian bloke who could score from them or a goal scorer like that bloke who scored the most in the PL last season!

We are doing better than we were this time last season and we ended up with our best ever PL position. Only a couple of weeks ago it was all good and we were title contenders - we still are.

Nothing is won or lost in October mate and all team go through a dry patch whic usually results in a loss against a Bournmouth/Leicester/WBA but we are still very hard to beat even when struggling to score from open play. I think a goal off the backside of someone could open the floodgates right up. Not sure it'll happena gainst the goons as I got a feeling we'll draw again but I think West Ham could be in for another drubbing like last season...

 

[ParkLaneMal]

Got to say it was 'pedestrian' at the Lane yesterday. And bloody frustrating. Although in fairness their bar had more saves than Hugo. What is it about this slow, slow build up play from the back, time and time again. We even had a free kick well within the foxes half and the ball was past all the way back to the last line of defence. Get the ball in the box ffs.
Again we waited until we were desperate for a goal with only minutes to go before we started to move the ball around with any speed going FORWARD and Jan almost scored a cracker.
Very disappointed playing a team who from the start were wasting time playing out for a draw. You would have thought they had won the league when the final whistle went and they had mustered a draw at the Lane.

 

[conor1]

It was frustrating, no doubt. But I must admit I'm not overly concerned with where we are at and the way in which we got there. We're 10 games in, unbeaten, a rock solid defence and Kane, Toby and Lamela to come back in. Next 10 games? Honestly, I'd take the same.
One other thing tho, we were playing the champions, the best side in England last season, representing English football in Europe as the champions..........and as Mal has said they celebrated like they'd won the fucking thing again. They are a small club with a small club mentality. They are my new Liverpool.

 

[Yid]

Got to say it was 'pedestrian' at the Lane yesterday. And bloody frustrating. Although in fairness their bar had more saves than Hugo. What is it about this slow, slow build up play from the back, time and time again. We even had a free kick well within the foxes half and the ball was past all the way back to the last line of defence. Get the ball in the box ffs.
Again we waited until we were desperate for a goal with only minutes to go before we started to move the ball around with any speed going FORWARD and Jan almost scored a cracker.
Very disappointed playing a team who from the start were wasting time playing out for a draw. You would have thought they had won the league when the final whistle went and they had mustered a draw at the Lane.

What happened to the high tempo pressing game that nearly brought us glory last season.

We did it against Citeh a few weeks ago and kicked them off the park...

Is it down to the personnel that are missing? Tactical to keep greater freshness in the players legs for longevity of the season?

I'd like us to up our tempo and go back to hitting team high up the pitch and turn them round asap.

Coys.

 

[Liam]

What happened to the high tempo pressing game that nearly brought us glory last season.

We did it against Citeh a few weeks ago and kicked them off the park...

Is it down to the personnel that are missing? Tactical to keep greater freshness in the players legs for longevity of the season?

I'd like us to up our tempo and go back to hitting team high up the pitch and turn them round asap.

Coys.

You can't play a high pressing game if the opposition don't really have the ball and sit deep, defend in numbers, and push and pull your players all over the place. When the opposition do that you need to play a the game of patience and break them down. I don't think it was a lack of fire power that meant we didn't win the game but more so conceding in a game the opposition where hardly involved in.

 

[J.spurs]

You can't play a high pressing game if the opposition don't really have the ball and sit deep, defend in numbers, and push and pull your players all over the place. When the opposition do that you need to play a the game of patience and break them down. I don't think it was a lack of fire power that meant we didn't win the game but more so conceding in a game the opposition where hardly involved in.

Yeah in fact you open yourself up to the counter far more, and with less to gain--there's a lot less advantage to winning the ball deep in their third if you're surrounded by four players as soon as you win it. We're not suddenly going to start conceding a lot of goals, I'm not worried at all by the last few games, as we're about to get last season's golden boot winner back, we've taken points from every game (except the league cup) and are sitting in a good position in both the league and our CL group.

 

[deejbah]

I don't think there's anyone playing, coaching or supporting Spurs that hasn't been frustrated by the last few games and I can understand people being disappointed with the lack of goals and the lack of tempo to some of our play. Having said that some people seem to have completely lost their mind. A lot of people seem to forget that hitting the bar isn't classified as a shot on target and the ones we had and the free kick that Janssen (maybe also his turn and shot) took were all better efforts than a tame shot hit straight at the keeper. So I find comments that we're not creating any good chances to be utter tripe.

As for comments saying that if we had signed Goetze that we would be scoring more goals. He has been pants playing for BvB. He did nothing of great note against Schalke. I watched the first half on my phone with no sound on and I wasn't sure if he was even playing. Bentaleb, especially since a couple of shockers early on has had a far better season than he has had so far and I still don't think he would be what we need, though he is playing very well at the moment.

 

[deejbah]

Yeah in fact you open yourself up to the counter far more, and with less to gain--there's a lot less advantage to winning the ball deep in their third if you're surrounded by four players as soon as you win it. We're not suddenly going to start conceding a lot of goals, I'm not worried at all by the last few games, as we're about to get last season's golden boot winner back, we've taken points from every game (except the league cup) and are sitting in a good position in both the league and our CL group.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that this was a major part of the very controlled way we built up play. You really want to limit the chances for them to play the ball to Vardy, Musa or Mahrez in an unstructured situation where you have half of the field for them to find space in. Unfortunately we ourselves gifted them that opportunity and they took full advantage of it.

What was pretty unbelievable was that none of Drinkwater, Huth or Morgan even got a card, which is frankly utterly ridiculous considering how many fouls they committed without even counting the ones that could and should have been called.

 

[skiathospurs]

Teams are playing narrow at the back against us,and Kane or Janssen are taking on 3 people just to get a shot away from edge of the box.Really Son&Alli are often breaking into the box and must convert just a few chances more.Are we sacrificing creativity for defensive solidness?with dier,wanyama playing probably yes,even with Dier in the back 4,we lose toby`s crossfield long balls that turn a defence around at times,and wanyama has been mostly breaking up play and giving than creating.A fit again dembele will def help as although not often assisting a goal or chance,he can take two players out in an instant leaving Alli,eriksen,lamela with maybe a single player to do something against,seems allover the final 3rd with teams playing bus,all our players are double teamed.
The time to start screaming is when we lose the defensive advantage we have now and dont have the creativity.With kane,toby,dembele (truly fit again) all back, eriksen and lamela,alli who have been a tad disappointing will get good areas to make stuff happen again.We are just being stiffled a bit by opponents who are really giving up their chance to win a game,to try and not be beaten.

 

[Flump]

It wasn't the worst performance by any means. It does worry me slightly that we are struggling to score from open play, I don't think we are creating enough clear cut chances and certainly not opening teams up on the break. This park the bus mentality from most teams that come to the lane has been for a number of seasons now and I would like to think we would have worked something out by now but clearly not.
It's rather ironic that we have had to suffer some of the most atrocious defences in the premier league whilst revelling in some excellent attacking play, and now we have one of the best defences in world football and an attacking 4 that are firing blanks. Very Spursy.

I'm sure once we get into our stride everything will be fine. COYS

 

[Don Diaz]

It wasn't the worst performance by any means. It does worry me slightly that we are struggling to score from open play, I don't think we are creating enough clear cut chances and certainly not opening teams up on the break. This park the bus mentality from most teams that come to the lane has been for a number of seasons now and I would like to think we would have worked something out by now but clearly not.
It's rather ironic that we have had to suffer some of the most atrocious defences in the premier league whilst revelling in some excellent attacking play, and now we have one of the best defences in world football and an attacking 4 that are firing blanks. Very Spursy.

I'm sure once we get into our stride everything will be fine. COYS

good post, I agree - it sometimes seems like we're playing with a bit of a hangover...at around 85% if you like, almost like we're a bit tired, which I'm sure isn't the case, because of the way we played against City. Perhaps we're missing the 'blend' in attack that Harry provides and some of the space he creates for others with his movement, I don't know. We're not playing badly just not converting chances and a bit pedestrian in the final third.

 

[Dorset]

It wasn't the worst performance by any means. It does worry me slightly that we are struggling to score from open play, I don't think we are creating enough clear cut chances and certainly not opening teams up on the break. This park the bus mentality from most teams that come to the lane has been for a number of seasons now and I would like to think we would have worked something out by now but clearly not.
It's rather ironic that we have had to suffer some of the most atrocious defences in the premier league whilst revelling in some excellent attacking play, and now we have one of the best defences in world football and an attacking 4 that are firing blanks. Very Spursy.

I'm sure once we get into our stride everything will be fine. COYS

Football is like golf. How so? Well, matey peeps blokes I shall tell you presently. When I used to play golf, before my doctor told me to stop because the red mist rages that saw me smash my clubs against tress, throw them into the lake so they could join all the balls I had sent to a watery grave and the fights I used to get in with inconsiderate golfers who would drive up to within a few yards of Mrs D and her mate, raised my blood pressure to bursting levels. It was quite amusing when tough macho blokes thought it was funny to harass two lady golfers for not playing quickly enough seeing two 20 stone lunatics coming form another fairway to do bad things to them - me and my golfing mate were fucking huge in those days, 5 days a week at the gym and massive calorie intake = scary fucking monsters! That was 25 years ago and the warning signs were there - so twonkbrains, heed the fucking warnings!!!!! I am rambling again....... what was the point of this? Oh yes....

When I used to play that pox-awful game, if my putting was on form, my driving would be shite, if I could send the ball hundreds of yards straight down the middle I couldn't sink a one foot putt to save my life, if my putting was top notch I couldn't use a wedge from 70 yards to land on the green( which I could do easily if I was putting like a cunt). Getting the balance right is what we need and it will come because unlike me our blokes are professional athletes with a pucker coach. I don't really care what the numpties say about having waited too long or us having too many transitional periods and wanting success now, we ARE in the early stages of team building under the mighty Poch, it will come, maybe not this season, but when it does if the foundations have been built properly then we will be at the top table for years, not be a one season wonder like Leicester.

So, the present 'problems' which I personally don't give a fuck about, might be seen as being 'Spursy', but I reckon they are just signs of an empire being built. personally I don't see how being just 1 result off the top after 10 games could be seen as a problem, we have the opportunity of four 6 pointers now - exciting!