Official Tottenham Hotspur Thread

[SunKing]

My post was more a sentimental/feeling one more than a true expertise. He's right to keep Friedel as the number one but I'm a huge Lloris fan who is with Ribery and Benzema our only true world class player and a really nice guy.

Tottenham is alright for him. I just don't like him and that since the beggining of his overrated hype...

[Ted Lasso]

I love how active this thread has been.

[Ted Lasso]

I know he's going to start soon or later

Exactly, so what's the problem?

[Ted Lasso]

Some quick thoughts on recent discussion;

- I think Vertonghen's versatility is overstated but he is a wonderful player as a central defender. I'm so happy we have him.

- I don't believe Kaboul is a reliable player who can be counted on consistently for a club aspiring to make the top 4 each season in England. We need Caulker to grow up fast.

- Sandro is, as already stated, a necessity.

- Dembele is great, but he is more lefty Essien than Modric.

- Sigurdsson has been a disappointment, which compounds the possession/creativity problem we seem to be experiencing now that we are Modric&VDVless.

- I think Dempsey can do a job on the wings as well. He's been doing it for years. He provides cover all around the front four.

- I appreciate Defoe and his ways but i can't wait for Adebayor to get back into the team.

- I remain cautiously optimistic about the AVB era. I'd feel much more confident of a Champions League place had we sealed the Moutinho deal.

[and1GS]

I watched the game again, and I'm going to take back what I said about Defoe. He did everything he could given the circumstances and obvious lack of viable support in the second half (everybody else was pushed back to defend). His work for the third goal was phenomenal, holding off Ferdinand and then slotting in a perfect through pass to find the cutting Bale, who's shot was of course parried by Lindegaard to find the open Dempsey.

And I love the avatar and1GS

His movement and understanding of spacing is definitely underrated. On Bale's goal he took his defender (Evans, the faster of the CBs) with him to the other side of the field to give Gareth a 1v1 with old Rio. The rest is history.

Bale's right foot has really come along this past year and a half, very impressed with him.

[5DOM]

Speaking of Dempsey, I hope he changes his shirt number. #2 on a forward annoys me

[SunKing]

I know he's going to start soon or later

Exactly, so what's the problem?

From a French National team supporter POV, our captain and best player is a bench player with no playing time... yeah that's great... And a GK not playing as good as he is, isn't in capacity to make 110% full time performance that he's used to without being in the rythm.

But even without this, a young world class player like him is on the bench. Kinda of frustrating no ?

Well, Levy wanted him, AVB wasn't on point, it's Lloris fault he might had to check if AVB really wanted him but it pisses me off.

[cgf]

I know he's going to start soon or later

Exactly, so what's the problem?

From a French National team supporter POV, our captain and best player is a bench player with no playing time... yeah that's great... And a GK not playing as good as he is, isn't in capacity to make 110% full time performance that he's used to without being in the rythm.

But even without this, a young world class player like him is on the bench. Kinda of frustrating no ?

Well, Levy wanted him, AVB wasn't on point, it's Lloris fault he might had to check if AVB really wanted him but it pisses me off.

He just joined the team a couple of weeks ago. Goalkeeper's a position that requires a great understanding between keeper and backline, that doesn't develop over night and Friedel has it already. With time Lloris will to and he'll take over as the number. Kinda silly to be getting upset over something reasonable that'll pass soon, no?

[Baphomet]

Yeah I think the Lloris debate is completely immaterial, personally. I understand the frustration but AVB is making the correct decision in keeping Friedel in the starting lineup, for now. It's simply a matter of time.

I expect him to play tonight against Panathinaikos.

[SunKing]

Yeah I think the Lloris debate is completely immaterial, personally. I understand the frustration but AVB is making the correct decision in keeping Friedel in the starting lineup, for now. It's simply a matter of time.

I expect him to play tonight against Panathinaikos.

Yeah like I said, AVB does the right thing for Tottenham it's a selfish opinion that I have I didn't hide this was one and I actually said this.

But it's never good when in a national team (in French NT) with always a polemic of playing fit player and starters in clubs to have your captain being a sub even more when as good as he is there's an incredible amount of good GK in France and number 2 Steve Mandanda can be a legit number 1 GK in 98% of team in the world.

He just joined the team a couple of weeks ago. Goalkeeper's a position that requires a great understanding between keeper and backline, that doesn't develop over night and Friedel has it already. With time Lloris will to and he'll take over as the number. Kinda silly to be getting upset over something reasonable that'll pass soon, no?

Soon ? Like the end of the season ? From MY POV, either we'll have a part-time playing Lloris or Mandanda can take his spot altough I think he's not as good but a very very good GK and actually we don't lost much. Mandanda and Lloris are captains and two really intelligent fellas but what happens if an important guy in the team like Mandanda says "Hey coach, Lloris isn't playing for like the entire year and he's still number 1, that's BS", I don't think it will happen but you never know in football these days with pressure etc...

And I agree about the backline and GK understanding but it's with game that you develop those type of things not training. And a natural talented GK can make up for the hard beggining of a relation with his defence.

Plus GK is the most exposed position and it need security and tolerance more than any other position. IMHO it's the only position in football where you need to stand by a hierarchy and having clearly define who is number 1 and 2 for the season and it really takes number 1 to be WAY under his standard for like the whole games of the half season to drop. And in my very humble opinion it's dumb to have two great GK in this type of situation... Some might say I'm going too far but well a GK has already enough pressure to add another one, like I like to say if striker misses chances it's alright there's midfield to create those if midfield **** up they can count on defenders but defence is whack there's still a great GK but your GK is **** then... you're **** up

If Lloris make just one mistake I know he's mentally tough and will survive but it basically can **** all his year because he's in a position to winning his spot. Same thing for Friedel, it would be totally unfair (even more) if he's drop to number 2 just for one mistake.

But I like said that's an opinion from a french Lloris' fans, you can just don't give a damn about, fair enough

I'm saying all of this stuff but Spurs' fan just don't give a ****, they do and think about what is the best for their team and that's alright I understand that. Me I'm thinking about what is the best for the team I support and one of my favourite player.

[and1GS]

HE started in the Lazio mach and I expect him to continue doing that in all of our non-league games. Eventually he'll take over for Friedel as the #1, then Brad will GK cup matches and whatnot. Don't think it's that big a deal especially because Friedel has played so well.

[SunKing]

Yeah Hugo Lloris, french national team captain and rated as one of the best goalkeeper in Europe with 40 UCL games under his belt, had to play only Europa League games ? Because he didn't start in Carling Cup or Capital one or whatever its named game either. FA Cup starts in January, so he will play like 6 games in the next three months ? It's not a big deal ?

I know next season he will be number 1 but he's stuck with the possibility to not playing PL football for an entire season. I don't like it.

Like I say it's a situation that I understand for Tottenham but I'm not really comfortable with it neither Lloris I guess but well it was his choice and he had to talk to AVB on his intentions. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying because he's Hugo Lloris he had to be given everything on a plateau but you know who he is, his pedigree and his price you just don't expect him to be on the bench (rightfully so IMO because Friedel didn't do wrong) for a whole season...

The exact same situation happened when Inter had Toldo and Julio Cesar, Man City with Hart coming back from loan and Given... JC and Hart have been chosen... that's a choice, AVB did his and sided with Friedel. Fair enough. Lloris is a very intelligent guy so he knows the situation and will not make a fuss about it so that's why (and rightly so) it's not a big deal but he doesn't like it and didn't think that (no disrespect towards Spurs) going to Tottenham he will be on the bench because he isn't going to Juventus or Real Madrid and being behind Casillas or Buffon (captains, still young for keeper, face of one of the biggest club in the world) if you know what I mean. It's not a problem for Tottenham, but I feel like it's a problem for Lloris (like many players from any position on the bench lol).

Like I said all that I said is from a Lloris french fan POV At the beggining I was really happy of his transfer to Tottenham but If I knew see the possibility of this situation well... if it was for me Lloris shouldn't have signed with you guys.

[and1GS]

Lloris will probably be the best GK in the world once Iker slows down a bit, but I'd rather we bring him up to speed slowly than force him into a De Gea situation. I think he'll be fine, keepers tend to be the smartest players and best leaders on the pitch.

FWIW I understand your point, and think Hugo is far and away the better keeper (heck, I'd say there are only 2-3 keepers better than him in the world), but I think it will be good for him to re-acclimate in England rather than thrusting him into the starting spot.

He won't be on the bench all season long, and I bet he starts in 2 hours against Panathainkos (excuse my spelling).

[5DOM]

AVB seems to be the only one in England who gives a damn about Europa for obvious reason and he has to hope it doesn't hurt their PL campaign

[SunKing]

Lloris will probably be the best GK in the world once Iker slows down a bit, but I'd rather we bring him up to speed slowly than force him into a De Gea situation. I think he'll be fine, keepers tend to be the smartest players and best leaders on the pitch.

Yeah, you might be right. But De Gea was an unknown young upcoming GK with no UCL/International experience... Actually that's why I'm like "meh" on the situation, but I can understand where you comin from.

FWIW I understand your point, and think Hugo is far and away the better keeper (heck, I'd say there are only 2-3 keepers better than him in the world), but I think it will be good for him to re-acclimate in England rather than thrusting him into the starting spot.

You might be right there too, but he's already speaking english, he's french and our players are known for not having a problem with British football culture/way if anything : We love it. That's why I think if you really want to acclimate him it's with playing time, maybe it will be difficult at the beggining but I see you like Hugo's talent so you know what you will get from him then

That's two way of seeing things you think he needs to take his steps and re-acclimate, I think he needs playing time as I think he's already in the right mindset. I think the two way of thinking are alright. But now there's Friedel that's where it's getting more complicated...

He won't be on the bench all season long, and I bet he starts in 2 hours against Panathainkos (excuse my spelling).

Yeah he will start Europa games and I hope CO cup too as for now. Don't feel sorry to me about your spelling I talk some **** english

AVB seems to be the only one in England who gives a damn about Europa for obvious reason and he has to hope it doesn't hurt their PL campaign

I'd rather finish 5th with a win Europa League than 5th and nothing else. Plus, Tottenham have a complete team... But when you play the 1/8 or 1/4 finals, no way you can get away with playing reserve team or not playing to the fullest.

[and1GS]

Bale and Lennon shouldn't be playing in those matches. And if they are, they should be subbed out early or only one should start. Other than that AVB does a good job at rotating around the squad, though I think he should give Jan some rest as well.

Caulker/Dawson's poor communication sunk us in the 77th. Like, come on, one of you is fronting him and the other is on his back. That's inexperience showing from Caulker and exhaustion from Dawson. Dawson was a step behind the man and Caulker wasn't in line so there was no way he was stopping the pass. But hey, that's why those guys are second string now.

2 draws to start out, how's the rest of our group doing? I assume Lazio beat that random team they played.

[SunKing]

How did you rate Lloris first game in PL ?

[and1GS]

He didn't really do anything. Admittedly I wasn't paying close attention to him because it was rarely in the defensive third, and I turned it off with 20 minutes to go (need to re-watch). He did seem nervous to start, as he parried away a shot from Villa's Belgian striker that he probably should have caught, but I'm ok with that.

All in all a meh match against a **** opponent. Sad to see how far Villa has fallen, but that's what happens when you sell Milner, Downing and Young in successive campaigns while giving up guys like Carew for peanuts and bringing in overpriced talent like Delph.

[Baphomet]

Lloris played more like a sweeper, ha. He was off his line all the time. He wasn't really tested but I have no quarrels with another clean sheet. The most concerning part of the Villa game is the increasingly diabolic nature of Bale's diving; he needs to cut that **** out, it's giving him a bad reputation.

Happy with 3pts. Happy with being right up there in the mix in the league table. I'm just worried that AVB will have a heart attack during his celebration if we beat the Chavs next game on the 20th, though I'm not really confident about that happening.

All in all a meh match against a **** opponent. Sad to see how far Villa has fallen, but that's what happens when you sell Milner, Downing and Young in successive campaigns while giving up guys like Carew for peanuts and bringing in overpriced talent like Delph.

This is true, but in fairness, they got a lot of money for Milner, Downing and Young. All three of them are vastly overrated anyway, though after Downing's infamous 'invincible' season he's kind of a laughing stock at the moment. Their main problem has been dreadful managerial hires after Martin O'Neill left.

[and1GS]

The Downing move was good on all levels, the Milner move was good for business and the Young move was a half-baked "the money's there might as well take it" move.

FWIW O'Neill left because of the Milner sale after repeatedly saying he wouldn't sell the player.

They haven't replaced any of them with anything decent (N'Zogbia is about the same level as Downing IMO) and they're acting like they don't have any money...they should have a ton left over from those sales. But no, all they have to show for it all are Fabian Delph and N'Zogbia. Oh, lol, and that new CM that almost killed one of our players on the counter. He looks awesome.