The league thinks this is funny rather than against the rules, so we should just incrementally escalate next time to see where the line is. Untie his shoes. Pull his shirt over his head. Shove him over. Let’s see where the refs land on this.
Great piece on S. Korean Spurs fans. Turns out if you actually ask S. Korean Spurs fans how they came to support Spurs, instead of judging them by what they look like in the stadium, you get actual answers:
“That’s what we came here for!”
If you can’t watch Son play live, a bar in South Korea is the next best thing, especially when Spurs win & he scores ⚽️
Love the fact he has his own personal scoreboard on the 📺
🙏 to the 🇰🇷 Spurs fans who joined me…
Only Spurs player today deserving of praise is Davinson Sanchez. After the treatment he got last time he’s been actually tidy on the ball in some relatively tough situations.
A lot of Spurs fans out here clearly don’t watch any Serie A. Kulusevski is a huge signing, not just a squad player. 21, runs his ass off, makes a huge impact on games even with limited starts lately for Juve
#THFC
#COYS
A lot of you have been trying to argue that what Buonanotte does here is and should be perfectly legal. I think actually you can't do that to the keeper.
Wilson is down but rolls the ball away after Romero has started to challenge, then Romero slips on his back foot and comes in late, falling backward. It’s a foul & a yellow, but not reckless or malicious. Want to review Joelinton’s challenge on Porro that nearly broke his neck?
I’m sorry but if you pull out a yellow card for the Udogie shove but nothing on these Forest late tackles it undermines the whole point of the 5 card suspension rule.
1) Here are some key statistical observations about yesterday's NLD. They corroborate what I said yesterday: that Spurs dominated the match, defended well with the high line, but were poor in set-piece defending and unfortunate with bad ref decisions. ...
If you were up in your feelings over Dele opening up about mental health and addiction, saying you’d have judged him differently had you known, and you’re now sharing photos of Ndombele to make fun of his apparent weight, maybe step back and reconsider.
I'm telling you, last season there was no sympathy for Spurs playing 2x / week with CL football and riddled with major injuries all season, and when we have success this year but other mid-sized squads Newcastle, Villa, Brighton, Arsenal, etc. fall off, the excuses will flow.
My explanation: Spurs are the aspirational team for every Newcastle, Brighton, Villa, etc. Spurs are the one of the rest that actually became a consistent threat to the big legacy clubs. So the legacy clubs mock us as small while the mid-table thinks we're the evil empire.
Mad how supporters of other clubs always seem to use Spurs as some type of benchmark even though they claim we don't matter, we're not a big club and we never win trophies. Yet we're always looking down to see who is humping our leg like a dog on heat.
@Gunnersc0m
@martinkeown5
@talkSPORT
It’s funny but it’s true, they would be happy finishing 5th if we finished 6th, but wouldn’t be happy with it if we finish above them. We have always been their unattainable benchmark.
This is a bad-faith reading of the situation. It’s not UCL / top 4 he’s angry about, it’s the mentality of putting a rival’s prospects over your own club’s to such an extent that you’re not supporting your own club in a tough home battle against premier competition.
Personally if I said “i don’t care about top 4 mate” every week and then the fanbase stopped caring about top 4 for one match to ensure our rivals don’t win the league, I wouldn’t be terribly shocked
Not a single Spurs player had a bad game today. We were off by narrow margins more than a few times, and that’s it. No need to go searching for a scapegoat.
I haven’t forgotten that video of Mikhail Antonio and Callum Wilson talking shit on Richarlison, in light of Richarlison going through home and mental health difficulties. Dickheads.
@_ThatStat
Too far. Everyone who says the keeper shouldn’t just be stronger, ask what happens if Vicario puts Harrison or Tarkowski on his ass and the player makes a meal of it. If Vicario interferes with a player the way the league is allowing interference with him, it’s a pen.
Son is consistently near the top of the league in big chances created (currently 3rd), currently highest throughball completion in all European leagues this season, has 5 assists, and leads the league in sprints.
Last season Spurs played in the UCL, with injuries to Son, Kulusevski, Romero, Richarlison, Bissouma, Bentancur throughout the season, and we didn't finish 3rd or 4th in our group, we won our group.
I don't wanna go into history because handball rules and interpretations haven't been constant, but this for me--which cost us terribly--was at least as bad as the no-call on Mitoma. We were battling for 3rd, yet it wasn't a media-wide talking point.
While it’s true that cards are a qualitative judgment, the quantity of unpunished fouls committed against the quantity of fouls (Spurs are the most fouled side in the league) merits a closer look.
🚨 | Tottenham Hotspur are currently ranked the dirtiest team in the Premier League sitting bottom of the FA Fair Play table.
Is this concerning?
#COYS
|
#THFC
Postecoglou’s press conference today was a masterclass. His answer to
@AlasdairGold
’s question about why he was so exercised in the postgame was the best bit of managerial communication I’ve ever seen, full stop. Sincere, logical, vulnerable, articulate.
Son has 16 goal contributions in 19 games, plus ranks third in the Prem in big chances created (even with Saka on 10, below Salah on 14 and Trent on 12). He's captaining a squad that are more together than we've seen in years. The facts are unimpeachable.
Only six players have scored 10+ goals and provided 10+ assists in 3+ Premier League seasons:
◎ Eric Cantona
◎ Wayne Rooney
◎ Frank Lampard
◎ Didier Drogba
◎ Mohamed Salah
◉ Son Heung-min
Sonny joins a list of legends. 🫡
1) OK, here's an armchair Spurs diagnostic thread about what went wrong at Old Trafford. Starting with the widespread charge that Conte's setup is too defensive. I think that charge is actually wrong! ...
@Number8Role
Spurs fans are not at all happy with a draw. We’re just responding to unfounded predictions that we’d get battered. But I’m disappointed, should’ve had 3 points.
@N3EK_
@Spooky23
The problem is that the stakes are significantly higher for Vicario (or any Spurs defender) here than for the attacker. If he cross a line or the attacker makes a meal of it (as they absolutely will), you're risking giving away a pen.
No, I think describing Sarr playing in AFCON as ‘drinking cow’s blood’ with his ‘tribe’ is pretty squarely racist, whether or not it’s a joke, and it has nothing to do with being ‘woke’ or ‘politically correct.’
If you hate Korean fans so much that you'd rather Spurs lose their captain, leading goalscorer, leading assist generator, leading big chance creator, 5th all-time goalscorer, leading all-time assist generator, etc. etc. than have Korean fans supporting Spurs, we have a problem.
We’re also seeing as starkly as possible why Son must not be played deep and back to goal. It will be another mistake to write him off for age or ‘form’ instead of recognizing he’s been playing out of position the whole season.
Indeed. I was also at this match and sat next to a Korean guy. The two of us sang and shouted throughout the match, put our hands on our heads when we narrowly missed a chance, etc. Yet some people would look at him (and not me) and call him a ‘Son fan’ just bc of his race.
@harrifungi
@Beanso_
I was at Spurs v Brentford, still a large Korean contingency in the crowd with Son not even on the same continent! I agree he’s the reason for lots of Korean fans, but once they’re fans, they’re fans for life
The media narrative that Arsenal dominated the match started before it was played and will dominate after, but the game was won and lost on a gifted goal. How often are Arsenal out-shot and out-possessed?
Maybe people don't grasp it, maybe because he's played alongside Kane for so long, but Son Heung-min is not just a Spurs legend, he's a Premier League great, and arguably the best finisher in world football over the past decade.
I live most of the year in the United States and have no trouble getting tickets when I want them, because I plan ahead. There's no conspiracy, I'm just more organized than most people. But for soooooooooome reason I'm not the sort you're mad at, right?
Been a spurs fan my whole life. My first game I went to was 2006 (I was 4) and yet I can hardly get tickets yet you see thousands of tourist Koreans getting them every single game. How does it work
If you’re in football media and your approach to Spurs is banter and vibes FC, you’re perplexed by an angry reaction from a manager who takes winning seriously and wants better for his club than to worry about the prospects of rivals over those of the club itself. Simple, really.
Today is a case in: people just follow narratives instead of analyzing games. Spurs defended well on transitions today and the high line wasn’t a problem, yet that’s all people are reaching for. Saka goal was off a penalty not given. Arsenal had .55 open play xG.
@TheAnfieldTalk
Could have something to do with Mason’s career ending in his 20s because of nearly fatal head injury. I’d want those red cards handed out if I were him.
When this happened the match commentator said the shot was ‘straight at him’ and he botched it and got lucky. Just watch this and tell me if you see a shot ‘straight at’ the keeper:
Could you imagine selling the world’s best striker (Kane), right back (Walker), winger (Bale), midfielder (Modric) and still having people call you part of a cartel that’s buying up all the good players?
This summer Everton will probably sell Branthwaite, Brentford will probably sell Toney, Newcastle will probably sell Guimaraes, Villa will probably sell Watkins, Brighton will probably sell some random Paraguayan, Forest will sell Mangala and might have to sell another, Palace
Can you start a game without VAR being fully functional? 🤔
Dermot Gallagher discusses VAR not being available for the first 10 mins of Tottenham's game with Aston Villa ⚽
Son is the third highest goalscorer in the Prem and 6th in big chances created, both of which he’s also 1st for Spurs. Learn something before you insult our players.
@lucam____
No need for the racismo but the sonny fan club is fucking jarring. Everyone should do everything for him. The guy doesn’t affect the game anymore unless he scores which is fine when he does but when he doesn’t… might aswell play with 10
100%. When the dust settles, it will be clear that Postecoglou got it right tactically and the players outplayed their opponents, but the non-call for Kulusevski did direct damage and our set piece defending is shambolic.
If you're framing this defeat as a lack of guts, energy, motivation, tactical nous... well, I staunchly believe you're wrong. A really rough non-penalty decision on Kulusevski that was instantly punished, and Spurs being Spurs on set pieces. So much to enjoy about Ange's Spurs.
As an American it's my duty to warn my fellow Spurs supporters that we absolutely do not have to go for McKennie, Adams, or Aaronson now that Leeds have been relegated. Under no circumstances should we want any of these players.
Manchester City, who have not one but two squads who could challenge for the title, lost 3 matches when they lost Rodri to suspension. Any talk about Spurs without 5-6 of the starting 11 + 5 squad players losing 3 (after going up 1-0 in all 3) should take this into account.
I think it’s a good sign that Spurs bring out the shithouses and dickheads in our opponents. They want and need to stop the flow of the game because Ange has made us relentless and terrifying. Our next step is to learn how to keep our heads and overcome such tactics.
As usual Conte is correct. He's referring here to the expectation of *immediate* results despite his consistent comments from day 1 that the club are a ways off being serious challengers for major accolades, and it will be a process to get there, and he wants to get there.
Brennan Johnson hasn’t been poor in his execution, he’s been hesitant. He needs to find the confidence to be more direct and decisive and I believe he will.
For me, one of the worst things that could happen to Spurs--and sadly it would have some real impact on my quality of life--would be if we became a sportswashing project under some kind of state ownership. I don't even wanna think about it.
If you're capable of convincing yourself that winning a couple of trophies for one of 4 legacy clubs that win over 90% of all trophies is a greater legacy than being all-time club, Premier League, and England national goalscorer, your brain is broken and you need to fix it.
We actually did take points off City this year. Took points off you as well. In fact my guess is if you add up all the points at the end of the season that everyone took off everyone else you did not win the title.
We needed one team to take points off City. No one ever stepped up, Villa played their second team, Spurs sacrificed their CL hopes. North London will always remember.
Postecoglou is seriously intelligent and a brilliant communicator and these are not superficial traits, they’re essential traits. He’s going to succeed because he sees all the angles and can get his players to see them too. His pressers get better and better at revealing this.
I don't see the case for 'Ange out' at all. It's already a huge lift to get a squad used to ceding possession to play this style of football. It's irrational to expect they'd both adapt to the style and perfect it in one season and one cycle of transfer windows.
It’s a manager’s duty to look after the well-being of the players. I get where conflicts could arise, but up 5-0 in a friendly is not one of those situations. You protect your player, get him off the pitch, or you failed in your job.
1) Put some respect on Son Heung-min's name. He's 2nd only to De Bruyne (and above Messi) in over-performing his xG, a good measure of who's a clinical finisher relative to how many chances they get and the quality of their chances. ...
I don't think I mind too much whether we're in UCL or Europa next season; I think both would be good for the squad and for recruitment. The reason I want Spurs to win today has nothing to do with those outcomes. I want us to win because I support Spurs. That's really it.
7) Of course the only stat that matters in the end is the scoreline, and of course I'd rather have had the win and the 3 points. But if you're interested in football (as opposed to just inane online banter) ...
I genuinely believe that anyone that thinks Kulusevski is good for us is either autistic or doesn't watch football. People say he is good because they see him with the ball a lot of times and ignore the fact that it always ends with a goal kick or he gives it to the opponent.
Can’t believe I’m seeing Ali Gold slander on here. He has a real journalism background (ie not just sports commentary), is as scrupulous as they come, and always indicates when he’s opining vs reporting.
The match commentators hinted at the PR out for Arsenal: they were just poor, this match wasn’t the level of Arsenal v. City, etc. The reality is Spurs are better than most are ready to believe and forced Arsenal away from their style of playing.
Son has scored goals this season against Newcastle, City, Liverpool, and a brace at Arsenal, which we drew 2-2. It’s just not true that Son goes missing in big games, yet people keep claiming this.
1) I've defended Conte a lot and still do, so in fairness here are things I'd criticize him for:
(a) Misuse of Son. Son still has lethal pace, ball-carrying, and shooting and we see these in flashes, but he's not effective when dropping deep to defend and to play back to goal...
3) I include that for context, because for me the biggest takeaway from the match was that Arsenal thrive on controlling virtually every game they play, and they couldn't control the game against Spurs; Spurs controlled from start to finish, despite the improbable goals. ...
1) In this thread I offer my best explanation for why Spurs start slowly, concede first, and play terrible first halves and then come roaring back with strong second half performances. …
5) Likewise people will tell you Spurs were too open defensively. But Spurs held Arsenal to their lowest xG of any Premier League match this season, just 1.1 (split roughly in half btw open play and set piece xG). ...
Look into Bentancur's path in professional football. Pressure cooker at Boca Juniors, pressure cooker at Juve. And I'll never forget his bearing when he took the pitch for Spurs for the first time. If anyone can fight back and recover and come back stronger, it's him. Bet on it.
It's one thing to criticize a player's performance, to say they had a poor game, they don't have the attributes to play in our system, etc. But it's pointless to slag off our players, call them shit, 'get rid!!,' etc. if you're not attempting any analysis or giving any context.