The College Dropout

One thing that’s consistent between this team and the Howe Bournemouth team is that the system is built to maximise the goals from the striker. So having someone that will look for the striker early from the right with passes and crosses is fine. If Elanga was a massive success you would expect we move the 30 year old Murphy in the summer and bring in a different type. But for now we’ve doubled down on the same plan but meant to be better. My problem with Elanga is his technique and basic footballing ability is no better than Murphy. It’s barely premier league level. He’s fully reliant on that pace and 2 footed deliveries and finishes and we need a lot more than that

I’ve watched it loads. He should take small steps in the direction of the ball or at least position his feet well enough so he can make a full dive. It’s like he’s surprised he’s going to have to make a save. So he isn’t able to dive properly - he doesn’t get any distance on the dive because he’s not ready. It’s a routine save at this level. The kicker is that it’s the only one that was asked of him all game and it went in. The comms are surprised it’s gone in because it’s come from a long distance - slowly.

Watch the goal back. Tell me at what point he moves his feet? What has he anticipated?that the ball would go more centrally? He has to anticipate it’s going into the far post. Any half step towards that would make it an easy save. There’s no movement to suggest the ball would deflect more centrally. Nobody even dangles a leg at it. It goes through Thiaw far far out.

One thing I’ve loved about Howe’s team is we have never been weak. I don’t mind being out footballed by sides with more resources. But I hate being weak. Thats been Spurs problem. They are weak. As a club they are weak. So it’s no surprise when the goalkeeper is weak. This team we’ve built has been done with power. Bruno, Tonali through to a prime Nick Pope. Strong players. Mentally and physically. It’s in style now to attack the team or Howe for sitting back and holding onto leads. But to me - we’ve always done that. We might push and press for 60-70 minutes. But we end up defending without the ball. This season we’ve lost the ability to see it out. Part of it is down to the additional fatigue of CL yes. But also Pope hasn’t been at his best.

That’s the job. They train for this specifically. The fact it’s a shinner from distance with low power makes it bad goalkeeping. It takes no deflections and bounces twice before crossing the line. It should be saved. if it’s hit clean and fast fairs. The shinning makes it slow and much more saveable. A scuffed overheard kick from that distance is a bad goalkeeping.

Would still like him to attempt to time runs in behind. Doesn’t have to be a foot race, use creative movement

The shinner is awful goalkeeping. it’s so slow. That’s the problem. He has to anticipate it. He doesn’t move his feet. At all. He doesn’t even take a proper step to dive he standing leaps almost backwards because he’s reacted so late. Half a step to the right and he saves it comfortably. If it was fast like the first fine.

Thats not what a goalkeeper should do. He should be anticipating it comes to him.

No not really. Bruno has been class this season imo. And Murphy has been good in the main too.

It’s the margins that are killing us. Lack a bit of quality up front. Lack a bit of football in midfield. Lack a bit of defensive stability. Last year we win that and hold on. The tactics wouldn’t be much different. But we probably score 3 and don’t concede the second.

I still believe in Pope but he’s made too many mistakes this season

Yep. I love Pope but we do need to kick on. Don’t rate Ramsdale and don’t think he’s an improvement. Will support them both.

Dubravka of last season (and maybe this) saves one of those

Murphy’s final ball is often excellent and I love him. He’s maximising his game. But often - he’s really really bad in general play and today was one of them where his basic playing was not good.

Kudus is statistically the best dribbler at take-ons in Europe’s top 5 leagues. As he has already done Hall im not upset at the defending.

Should’ve started to keep his momentum. When he did come on he was back to bobbins.

The first goal is a good finish. Maybe could’ve saved it but I think it’s a good finish. The second is bad keeping at the cross and awful keeping at the shot. He had 2 saves to make and he didn’t make either.

It’s his fault. It was so slow. He doesn’t move his feet u til it’s way too late. He has to start moving earlier. You can tell straight away it’s bad keeping. You feel that it shouldn’t be able to go in from that far out so slowly.

Kudus had cooked Hall a couple of times when he got tight so Hall gave him some space and Kudus delivered with quality. That’s a quality winger. Murphy and Elanga were both bobbins tonight. I’m raw but Elanga is not a good footballer

Much better than what we have. Bested Hall a number of times like he does 99% of fullbacks and delivered a great cross for their first. Under Howe he would be superb.

This season goes back to the transfer window for me. Didn’t improve on Pope. Spurs getting a quality RW and us failing to do so cost us the 2 points.

Bad from Ramsdale man. Conceded with 2 shots on target. Crawls in.

Displacing this version of Burn is a colossal challenge tbf.

I think he’s over rated by us. I don’t think he’s better than Burn. He’s behind Ake and Van de Ven at LCB for the Netherlands and I hear it. I think he’s a a great player at his best. But there’s no justification to paying him more than Burn or Schar. He’s not at a level where he can’t be improved upon if needed with smart scouting.

I’m just saying he shouldn’t be paid more than them. Probably less. Definitely less in fact imo. Just for the wage structure. Vice captains. International players. High quality. Rarely miss a game. I would keep both Schar and Burn next season if they are happy to stay. Botman is the big question mark for me next summer. Of the 4 he’s the one performing at the lowest level imo. Im happy for Botman to prove he’s worth the money.