Bale has so much bollocks it’s incredible. He’s been taking on the biggest club in the world for a couple of years now and never backed down, scoring champions league winning goals at the sane time. Incredible player and mindset
I talk about what I call the ‘one-step finish’ all the time and how its the most important finish to perfect. I find it scary how you never see this being talked about or worked on.
First pro Ive seen discuss it here. No surprise it’s Harry Kane
(Vid credit -
@Billywingrove
)
Creativity for me is not creating chances. Creativity is the ingenuity, instinct to do something different no one expects.
This is creativity and there needs to be more acceptance of it in football because modern day coaching has killed so much of this for the last 15 years.
There is a very valid argument to say Son is a top 5 finisher of all time. In terms of quality, variety, consistency.
He is a complete cheat code, Spurs need to do everything they can to make sure he’s having 5+ shots a game.
Look at Klopp, Pep, Arteta etc start in England.
It was far from plain sailing at the start.
Things take time.
Again, genuinely asking. What were you expecting so far?
Sanchos decision to leave England is a damming indictment for England player development. Sancho has had plenty under par performances for Dortmund but you wouldn’t know. If he was in England, they’d kill him before he started. Any form of drop off in form over here, chastised
Chelsea are not that far away from being a team that can really challenge.
People are far too reactionary. There’s so much to the makeup of the squad to really like.
They probably just lack a couple of ‘cheat codes’ that can secure the results in both boxes.
Spurs leave their defenders isolated. It’s the risk they take, and by and large they can cope with it.
They would find it easier if the ball was able to remain in the final 3rd.
But Werner, Son, Richy etc can’t play pass and move football.
So in turn, what happens 1/
Excellent box defending from Tah. Antonio does everything he can to get the physical advantage, but Tah completely stands his ground and dominates the situation without overstepping the limit.
Want to know why I keep praising Hojbjerg even if it isnt fashionable? He has standards and will demand the best of himself and others, even if there are errors, it won’t be through poor attitude.
People want to know why games are going flat, not enough players with that mindset
There’s no such thing as a one man team, but my word, the amount of responsibility Lo Celso is taking on, in his first year in the league in an absolutely broken, physically, mentally fatigued side is incredible
Antonio Nusa is the player I’ve been pitching Spurs to sign for a short while. He’s got all the makings to be the ‘aura forward’ Spurs need. His ability to carry the ball at any speed, with complete comfort and control, change lines, superb balance, shift of weight. A star.
There’s not a single angle or position that Gusto can’t move into or from when he receives wide on both sides. He can twist and turn with a full radius, off both feet. So important as it makes it very difficult to lock him into an area to press. Brilliant ball mastery.
Look how many efforts are outside the box.
It’s so tough to find gaps against organised blocks with so many behind the ball. And this is City struggling…
So why do people think Ange Spurs wont struggle when they dont have all the profiles of players and it’s his 1st season?
Spurs will get there under Ange im convinced, but it shows why the attack needs so much work. It just can’t sustain attacks or periods of possession in the final 3rd for any prolonged periods of time whilst still being a threat.
It’s why Nusa AND an Olise profile have to come in
If both these teams play to how they want, it’s a riskless low scoring affair.
It’s two managers who want complete control of affairs and reduce as many things leading to chance as possible.
Just because they’re two excellent teams, doesn’t mean it’ll be an excellent spectacle
If you’re someone who genuinely doesn’t rate Gallagher, no problem.
But. How many players can run 13km+ in a game, to then have the quality to arrive in the box and finish like that in 90+ mins?
That, on top of the superb finish he already scored, and everything else he does…
Case number 100283 as to why xG without context is as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Spurs had numerous opportunities edge of the box where there was actually uncharacteristically poor final pass/decision that prevented a great opening.
What does xG say about that? 🤦🏻♂️
Graphs tell you Kane doesn’t get into the box to finish chances for Spurs. Eyes tell you he does for England. Brain should tell you the national team has wide players and playmakers who will deliver him the ball and Spurs don’t 👍
Start of the season, Spurs were using Bissouma so much in first phase of build up. Even if he had one or two players hounding down on him, Spurs trusted him, and vitally, he trusted himself to receive it, turn, and get forward. That isn’t there anymore and it needs to be
Since his operation, Richarlison overall game has gotten so much better.
He’s more mobile now, his touch is better, even his ball striking is better.
He still lacks elite level composure, but he’s been superb since his operation and deserves tonnes of credit
Most goals scored by Brazilians in Europe’s top five leagues this season:
◉ 8 - Richarlison
◎ 7 - Rodrygo
◎ 7 - João Pedro
◎ 6 - Vinícius Júnior
◎ 6 - Willian José
◎ 6 - Matheus Cunha
◎ 6 - Douglas Luiz
Brazil’s number 9 for a reason. 🇧🇷
Spurs can win the Premier League next season. They are short in a couple of areas, but it’s horribly short which makes it look worse. 80% of the squad is phenomenal and a world class manager. RB, DM, FWD, Spurs can win the league
Brennan Johnson has completely changed this game. Why? His 1st thought the entire time has been - “what’s the most I can make from this situation?”. First instinct, positive. On and off the ball.
Surprise surprise, 3-1 Spurs. Maddison does it all the time, but it cant just be him
No. There is not a single way of playing that is impenetrable.
It’s literally year one and he doesn’t have the profiles of players yet.
What are people realistically wanting?
This could just be for fun, so context needed, but 99% of finishing practices I see are borderline pointless.
He’s received it central, just outside the box, taken a touch, then a backwards step before finishing.
When is that goal happening in a real game?
The culture is what stops England from winning the major trophies. When it comes to the crunch. The best teams in the big games, Englands nature is to hold back. Be reserved. When actually, in those moments, you need to let the talent grab the game. They won’t allow that
Yep. I still maintain he’s the best academy player I’ve ever seen. And he can still get to the very top.
Hes exactly what they need.
You can see exactly what he is and can be now he’s finally being given the run of games.
If you don’t sign him now, he will be worth 70m+ soon
The coaching from Ange and his staff is exceptional.
They miss key profiles of players. Eg, the quick combination play on the edge of the box, Spurs probably don’t have a single forward out of Son, Kulu, Johnson (he’s the best), Werner, Richy who excel at that.
Looks like work on pressing triggers from the front? Kane flanked by two wide forwards. Kane forces the play to a side, where a wide forward can press, Kane drops to fill in
Kellerher, Bradley, Quansah, Gomez, Endo, Elliott
All top players but all players but lots managers wouldnt trust to be anything more than squad players.
Klopp starting all of them and is still brave to go toe to toe with City.
The environment Klopp has created is magical
Don’t want to keep saying about Brighton’s issues because I’m repeating myself, but the risk vs reward of what they do is as uneven as it gets. They commit so many men to build out in the first phase, that even if they do get out, they don’t have enough bodies further ahead 1/
It’s an English mindset. As long as you run, tackle, ‘show heart’ (whatever that means), then you’re excused of all ill’s. But if you make mistakes from showing creativity, risk, personality, the English mindset will rip you to shreds. I hate it.
Why does Ancleotti stand the test of time?
He knows footballers as people and players better than anyone and doesn’t over complicate the game for elite level players, which is exactly what 99% of these guys want.
⚪️ Ancelotti: "I asked Carvajal if he'd like to be a right or left centerback. He said he doesn't care".
"Tchouameni felt more comfortable on the right, that's why I put him on the left".
"He looked like he played 400 matches there!".
Such a brilliantly well rounded footballer.
99.99% of managers in world football at the highest levels would make Gallagher a vital part of their squad at the bare minimum.
Someone who has the energy, quality and discipline to carry out instructions and do multiple jobs.
45 passes completed in the opposition half...21 into the final third...whilst also putting up wonderful dribbling numbers and ball recoveries....he’s the best signing since Modric
Billy Gilmour best player on the pitch.
He is completely killing any form of Spurs pressure with his amazing first time passes, first touch to move the ball, disguise etc.
Amazing footballer.
When people say “Ange has to adapt or else he will fail”, what do they mean by adapting? Because all the top teams look to play on the front foot and not change for the oppo. Everyone adapts, just like Ange does, but what are people wanting to see? Genuinely asking
Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Awoniyi
I’m not saying it is, but for me, there’s a strong argument to say that’s a top 6 level front four.
Imagine defending that…
People need to stop misrepresenting Ange quotes. 4th isn’t success for him. 1st is. It’s that simple. Getting 4th doesn’t automatically equate to you being in a better position to challenge. It can help, but it’s not automatic. That is literally all he’s saying.
The most encouraging 10 mins of Johnson’s career at spurs so far. He’s got amazing attributes. Very smooth and clean technically, very quick sprinter. But he so often plays within himself, afraid to lose it or take risks. Not so far. Needs to keep it up
Chilwell is a disruptor. Playing against teams that are difficult to pull apart, you need players like Chilwell who sense when to make off the ball runs, what type of off the ball runs, and keep on doing it. Look at where that goal came from and where Chilwell passed it from
Brennan Johnson mom.
That’s what you call momentum shifting.
Provided the positivity and risk taking that wasn’t there in the first half.
Football becomes a lot better if your first instinct is “be as effective as I can be in every moment” then let the rest take care of itself
Ange: “We’re not a team thats got individuals in it that can win games of football on their own, we don't have those players”
Its what Ive said all along. SPURS NEED A PRESENCE FORWARD.
Its not just a 1 v 1 player. Its someone who can win games and have attacks run through them
A good indicator for a top level player is someone who can play at their own pace. Always appears to have more time and space than others.
Olise is a top level player, and is surely the one highest on Spurs radar.
He could play for Madrid (they don’t need him but he could)
If people wonder why there are less thinkers today, heres a huge reason why. Youngsters just want to consume everything immediately. Highlight reels. 6 second clips. Breeds laziness, lack of thinking about the game. A great shame. Zombies just regurgitating whats thrown at them
🇪🇸📺 Gerard Piqué: "Football competes with Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, TikTok. Everyone has limited time. Football for 90 minutes is not as exciting."
"Do I watch matches for 90 minutes? Not really. I watch some Barça, but not 90 minutes. Maybe 30 or 40 minutes."
"The other day…
The main issue Spurs are conceding goals, and late ones, is once again the final 3rd. Kulu the only one comfortable staying on the ball for a period of time in final 3rd, but he struggles being direct. Maddison can but he’s often deeper. Means that if an attack doesn’t end in a..
I’ve been banging the drum for what feels like my entire life that players are not positions…
Spreadsheet football isn’t real football.
It’s as simple as: “Who are you as a player, how can my instructions get the best out of you, within our teams framework?”
Postecoglou on whether he sees Bentancur as a number six or eight with the return of Bissouma: "I see him as a midfielder who can play for us and hopefully we're getting away from sixes and eights."
Chelsea need to get money in and players off the books.
Spurs need a 1 v 1 presence forward who can retain the ball in the final 3rd and also produce end product solo.
Raheem Sterling is there…
Essien.
What position was he?
Doesnt fucking matter, hes a footballer.
Could play behind and ahead of the ball, and well, plays football.
A pure footballer who recognises what the situation needs and has the capabilities to do it.
How many make this run nowadays? Not enough
It’s not good from Van De Ven. But the amount of times he has to defend huge amounts of space 1 v 1, moments like that are going to happen.
Isak and Gordon are immense ball carriers and both were running direct at him INSIDE the box with all the space in the world.
Goodness me, Kulu knows how to give quotes to get the fans salivating 😂
He’s always come across as a really mature, intelligent person who’s a deep thinker.
Amazing interview
Sometimes Spurs just need to shoot the fucking ball, or get on the half turn and run at them with momentum. You don’t have to excel at 1 v 1s to run at players with momentum and look to cause chaos. They’re trying to only score by creating a perfectly clear opening.
Porro has been great defending 1 v 1 this season. A weakness of his was defending the back post and positioning/awareness with regards to that but hes made massive improvements there.
“Not a good enough defender” - what does that even mean? There’s countless aspects to defending
🎙️| Former
#Spurs
manager Tim Sherwood has doubled down on his criticism of Pedro Porro:
“I was very critical early doors of Pedro Porro and I still am. I think he’s not a good defender. When he is asked to defend, he will let you down.”
Any youth coaches out there, please consider this when you’re forcing your 12 year olds to pass out from the back in your designed patterns of play, or you restrict them to certain zones etc.
Let them play and learn the game THEIR way.
Alfie Devine is comfortably above League One level.
Hes one of the best U21 talents in the country the next loan has to be braver.
He could play Eredevisie or Ligue 1 now. It’s likely to be championship, but it must be well thought out.
Poor defending but it comes from Son really poor combination play edge of the box once again.
I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face. Lack of 1 v 1 profile is not the biggest issue, its players who can’t combine edge of the box to retain final 3rd possession and open teams up
Other than Kulu, Spurs recent forwards have two forms
- hit space quickly
- if space isn’t there, play stop-ball
Both things are set up for organised low blocks to be successful against.
Until profiles of forward change/adapt their games, yesterdays performances will be common
The work we did with Bergwijn shows you can always do more...and that’s why he’s at the top. A top person as well. Extremely humble, driven to win and will work his balls off to make sure he does.
Brilliant Brennan Johnson.
Being proactive, first instinct is to go at them, take a risk.
So what happens? You make things happen, leads to an own goal.
All this stop ball that they were playing, hoping something happens, passive nonsense.
Fucking go at teams!
Maddison excels at pass and move. He really draws opponents in to get tight to him, before he pops it off around them and then moves to receive again. So important to open up stubborn and compact units. You have to be brave enough to draw them out and shift the ball past them
🖊️ We can confirm that Renaldo Torraj, an Albanian U16 international who has already been at the club for seven years, is the latest Spurs youth player to sign a two year scholarship.
👍 Huge congratulations, Renaldo!
#THFC
#COYS
Camavinga is about as ideal a signing for Spurs as you can get. That one signing knits everything together and gives Spurs incredible options. Him, an RB and LB is enough for Spurs this summer. CB too if possible
This has happened a few times to players I know personally, so God knows how many players elsewhere it’s happened to.
But if you are a coach, who tries to limit what a player can achieve, especially an impressionable young one, you’re a prick who has no business coaching.
William Troost-Ekong was told by a Spurs academy coach that he wouldn't make it as a footballer...
Not only has he captained his nation to the AFCON final, the centre-back has also scored the opening goal to put Nigeria 1-0 up 🇳🇬
𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 💫
I think it shows the influence Jurgen Klopp can have when even someone like me, who has no tangible connection to him or Liverpool, can be upset by this.
One of footballs greats. As a manager and person.
I hope he recharges and still has the drive to manage.
The absolute best case scenario for Spurs if you’re dreaming is Rodrygo.
That won’t happen, he’d be crucial for every team in world football.
But that’s the kind of forward Spurs need.
Someone who excels at:
- 1 v 1
- close combination play
Look at the movement of Hudson-Odoi before he receives. He’s so good at this, I literally called it ‘The Hudson-Odoi Move’ when working on it with players. Open the body to 45degrees as you get the separation. This angle gives him countless options, facing opponent up immediately
Often, the best judge of players, is players themselves.
If you speak to anyone who has played with, or against Connor Gallagher, Im very confident they will tell you how good and effective he is and how important he is for their team.
He covers team mates and makes them better
Spurs have a major issue against organised blocks. But I don’t think it’s a coaching issue, I believe it’s a mindset thing. As my thread showed, so many players first instinct is to be secure and safe first, rather than positive. So tough to open blocks like that
Spurs need to do all they can to get Bissouma confidence and form back to what it was. It helps open teams up so much because when he’s at his best, he’s so creative in how he evades pressure, it can bypass several opposition players at once in one piece of play.
This is beautiful. Theres a consensus amongst many fans that footballers don’t give a shit about anything other than their pay packet, or that they’re not allowed to be human due to their wealth.
I can assure you, 99.99% of footballers care deeply about the game and what they do
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz getting genuinely emotional after being surprised with the Premier League Player of the Month Award for March is genuinely wholesome content. ❤️
🇦🇷🗣️ Lionel Scaloni: "We are losing the essence of football. Not only at a professional level, but also with kids."
"My children play in Spain and are overwhelmed with information. They receive the ball, and they're already being told what to do."
"There are fewer dribblers…
I know someone who worked at Chelsea. He said that Mourinho vehemently coaches attack and is the best coach he’s ever seen in terms of on pitch work. Make of that what you will
Real Madrid are more than happy to have Rudiger deal with Haaland on his own at times.
Shows how Rudiger is still the best duel CB in the world and the best dealing with open space, transitions and defensive under loads.
And shows Madrid don’t fear Haaland being one dimensional
Look at the makeup of their squad. Nkunku, Palmer, Colwill, Fernandez, Caicedo, James, Sterling, Gallagher, Gusto, I could go on. And some great youngsters.
So much of it is a managers dream.
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Valverde, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vini Jnr; Mbappe
Endrick to get tangible minutes until he can rightfully claim to be a regular starter. Arda Guler as well who can become a huge star at Madrid too.
Good God…
This is the very last thing I’ll say for the time being. Working full time in football is a dream. Seeing players Ive worked with since they were young lads go on to have amazing achievements in the Champions League, international, professional stage etc, theres no better feeling
EXCLUSIVE: Blue cards to be introduced for football sin-bins, with players removed from field for 10 minutes for cynical fouls or dissent
✍️
@ben_rumsby
#TelegraphFootball
If someone sent me a scout report and told me “hes best as an 8” id tell them that means nothing, and doesn’t tell me a thing about that player. Forget what ‘position’ you think they are, tell me what characteristics they have as a player. Thats it. ‘Positions’ are irrelevant
Kulisevski edge of the box - passive
Result - 1-0 to Luton town.
Being passive in attack doesn’t just hinder your chances of scoring goals, it also makes you weaker defensively.
This isn’t new, he’s never been able to. His combination play has always been below par and he’s never been able to change pace of attacks.
But it wasn’t a huge issue before because attacks rarely went through him, he was on the end of them.
Now, far too many go through him
Godfrey flat drive to switch play, Aarons stands his man up, hits Lewis back post who rifles it in. Three excellent, young, British players combining and three Spurs should seriously consider looking at
The worst half of football I’ve ever seen from any professional football side who are competing in the same league. By far.
It is an utter disgrace in every conceivable way.
Is personal pride going to kick in at any stage?
The increasing influence of data on player analysis in football is both a positive, and necessary. But is it heading towards a stage where it’s being used incorrectly and can have devastating effects? My piece on the subject
Yes. English culture is a losers mentality. Theyre the first to bring people down at any sign of success, the first to ridicule ambition because they themselves couldnt do it, the first to hate personality and the first to accept failure as long as they ‘gave blood, sweat, tears’
@hbrooks_coach
Do you think that there is an attitude in English football to focus on the negatives of players and what they lack rather than their strengths and what they bring and work with that?
One thing Thomas Tuchel has shown he excels at is understanding the opposition and figuring out ways to counter them in one off games. That can work in cup comps, but very unlikely in a league format at the best, where the best want to make the oppo adapt to them moreso
That was an excellent second half from Spurs.
In approach. It was positive, risk taking, going for the throats of the opposition individually and collectively.
Exactly as it should be.
The Werner one on one was in the first half…
If your metric says a player is only like to score that goal, less than two times out of every 10 attempts, then your metric is bullshit.
#thfc
registed 82% possession in the first-half against Crystal Palace, but with just 0.14 expected goals. Crystal Palace had a higher expected goals (0.20) with 18% possession. [Optus Sport]
Personal news, got a role at a semi-pro club. Wasn’t something I was actively looking for but will be a good experience and further my learning and who knows, maybe a strong avenue for the future. Will only further encourage me to get my UEFAs which I want to do in time as well
Amazing performance. A lot of what Winks did so well was where he didn’t even touch the ball but defended superbly ie, forcing City to play early crosses, shepherding players away etc. Things that have been a huge weakness for him as a DM before
That’s incredible from Lo Celso. Now imagine he does that as one of the midfield three, then you gave Ndombele as the other....I wonder if Ndombele/Lo Celso/ Winks has enough defensive cover in it