General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

bucketybuck wrote: »

I must be the only one that thought that the Spurs Liverpool match was a cagey interesting affair that could have went either way and was very enjoyable because of it. In here all I see is the usual anti Mourinho and anti-football guff.

Spurs had their gameplan and I can't see how it was the wrong gameplan, it was pretty damn close to being successful. A big deflection for Salahs goal, Bergwijn's chance going just the wrong side of the post, Harry Kane missing a free header in front of goal. Conceding a last minute header. Thats how it goes sometimes but I can't agree with the people using the end result to decide that everything that came before was wrong, because that exact same game could easily have played out to a Spurs victory.

Jose's play a very limiting style of football. He has had a focus from the 00's that having the ball can be a weakness in these games, letting the opponent have the ball leaves them open to the counter attack, letting them have the ball allows his side to focus on containment and stopping the opponent play in the way they want to. It can be effective ploy. See the game v Man City.

Versus Chelsea it saw a 0-0 and against Liverpool they came out the wrong side of the result. So three games, all three outcomes experienced. Across three games Spurs managed 5 shots on the goal. Had little of the ball and v Chelsea they were particularly toothless as Chelsea are looser in possession and let them have a bit more of the ball than City or Liverpool.

While allowing the opponent focus on having the ball and containment is his choice it is also the case that since his very effective system of the 00's right through to Inter Milan, that the style favoured by he and Benitez has inspired managers to find ways to counter that ploy and be more incisive. I don't think he was wrong in any game but it does leave the team in a position where they have limited scope to go and win the game.

Liverpool are a quality side, if you concede the ball to them it can be no surprise at the end to find that letting them have three quarters of the ball resulted in them scoring two goals. Liverpool had over 800 passes. Spurs just over 250 and as low as 61% success in passes.