Tiresias

Think Merino will be first choice eventually, it's his fitness Rafa said he needed to work on so we'll see. Will see. Reminds me of Arteta from his cameo. One thing is though he seemed like he was flailing his arms around trying to tug players a lot. Think may have been a bit of nerves, not wanting to be the one to let a player past him in unfamiliar league and worsen the game.

Thought Hayden was sloppy, gave away possession a few times. Otherwise decent but wasn't enough to control the midfield or anything.

I only was only hearing through sky broadcast, I did think it sounded quiet but could be all kinds of factors in that.

He looked decent enough that i won't complain too much about him being there in short term, albeit prolly when when Mbemba reverts to making silly mistakes

Indeed, and indeed if he is good begs the question with all our french links why we weren't in for him. Looked the kind of mobile fast forward Rafa likes. Prolly good reason why not I guess and may well turn out shit though.

Clark did go forward like even tried to show skills to beat players which ended predictably. Low point perhaps when obviously rehearsed corner routine ended up with ball being passed to Clark to hoof it in, again with predictable results. Clark was very good last season don't get me wrong, but not one i want to see on side of their box trying to beat a man

Crystal palace looked poor and totally unprepared for Huddersfield's press. We should know what's coming better, I do fear though their new striker may have improved them

Can see that tbh though would be tempted to start siem, know he'll get injured 10 mins in but in theory another big man to be on end of crosses from the wingers and should contribute more in middle.

I don't think he'll leave imminently because as he says he brought players here who wanted to work with him, but think he'll give us a season then go regardless. He won't trust assurances from Ashley ever again, he'll only trust action and there isn't much time left for Ashley to prove he wants to do anything at all.

It sounded pretty rubbish atmosphere, disappointing. Really need the crowd to fire up the players if we don't get off to a cracking start.

I can't really disagree I just don't think he was looking to break a leg or anything. May just be giving him way too much benefit of the doubt.

The main issue may be their new striker bringing bigger threat than when we played them. Definitely shouldn't be stupid like Palace and allow them tons of room for the high press. Keep tight at back, spread play and get pace in behind. I'd definitely want Murphy and Atsu on the wings for this one.

I may be going against the tide here, and it's certainly not a good tackle but don't think it was that malicious, think it was more he's shit at tackling and went in way too heavy. Still very possibly a red but didn't look that terrible intent to me, he got the ball as well.

After years of mild shrugs of managers it's great having one who really hates losing.

I'd be very tempted to bring in Mitrovic, Murphy and De Jong (is he actually fit of course?) on for Gayle, Perez and Ritchie against Huddersfield.

To be fair I agree are causes to be optimistic and under pardew we would have lost that 0-10000

The Shelvey of the first half of last season sure hugely important, the Shelvey of the second half after his racism ban was imo poor. He's too inconsistent. However what can't be emphasised enough is that we will never shift him on his wages

Elliot 5 nothing too wrong I guess but hoofed a lot and didn't convince Manquillo 7 looked solid and good going forward Lejeune 6 not on long enough to make an impact, unlucky Clark 5 solid enough but poor going forward at lb forever losing ball and can't cross, not his fault really though Dummett 9 bravely sacrificed himself to force clubs hand in replacing him Hayden 5 decent at times, but really sloppy at others not his finest Shelvey 0 last straw, needs replacing Ritchie 4 invisible, did some defensive work but bleh Perez 3 invisible as well Atsu 8 best of our players by far, think he has that edge where he's always looking for end product Gayle 4 had one chance should have done better Lacelles 6 thought good but need to rewatch that chance at end as think he has switched off Mbemba 7 thought looked very good Merino - 7 looked our best midfielder we've had in ages when he was on but also looked like he liked to rug everybody he could do hopefully not going to concede too many free kicks, think was nerves though

Think Atsu, mbemba, merino and manquillo emerge from this with credit, everyone else not great

Merino caught wrong side then or defense parted like the red Sea, lucky

Spurs now just killing the game

Should have scored that

Merino looks like an arteta type love him already