The TT Football Club

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Unfortunately for West Ham, we have Mata instead! The player Bale one day hopes to become

So true. Bale is amazing but the way Spurs' play flows through him is night and day different to how Chelsea's play flows through Mata. Bale's approach is much more direct and faster than Mata's, which is fine for what Spurs want to do and how they want to attack, but I prefer the amazing passing range, skills, technical ability and patience of Mata. He is Chelsea's most influential player by a mile.

I'd take him over Bale any day of the week.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

So true. Bale is amazing but the way Spurs' play flows through him is night and day different to how Chelsea's play flows through Mata. Bale's approach is much more direct and faster than Mata's, which is fine for what Spurs want to do and how they want to attack, but I prefer the amazing passing range, skills, technical ability and patience of Mata. He is Chelsea's most influential player by a mile.

I'd take him over Bale any day of the week.

I think it's a very interesting comparison. Bale reminds me of Ronaldo in alot of ways. They both have a similar build, have great pace and power to go with their huge level of skill. Mata is more of a Messi kind of player, they are tiny but they make up for it with incredible skill levels, passing, technical ability, finishing etc..

In this season Mata and Bale have scored around the same (18 vs 21), but Mata obviously has far more assists. Spurs have played quite well this season, whilst Chelsea have been abysmal for periods. Mata has almost single handedly kept Chelsea in competitions and got us to a position in the League that I didn't expect to be in.

Another thing that sets Mata apart is what he has already achieved in the game, he's won a World Cup, Euro's, Champions League etc.. I know cirumstances are different for Bale, but Mata has been there and done it on the biggest stages of all. Bale may well go on to do that, but as of yet, he has not.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I think it's a very interesting comparison. Bale reminds me of Ronaldo in alot of ways. They both have a similar build, have great pace and power to go with their huge level of skill. Mata is more of a Messi kind of player, they are tiny but they make up for it with incredible skill levels, passing, technical ability, finishing etc..

Yeah I think you're on the right track...Bale has the speed and power of Ronaldo but not the ability to use the other foot well, nor does he have the bag of tricks Ronaldo brings with him to the pitch (I don't ever think I've seen Bale attempt a stepover much less try to trick his opponent) but their physicality and presence on the pitch is almost identical. The space they occupy on the pitch is very similar too, but I think Ronnie's base position is a bit more advanced, and a bit more in the center. Tactically speaking Ronnie is also, like Messi, more free to do as he pleases and given the ability to roam around the pitch as he sees fit to influence play where and when he can.

With Mata, he's more confined positionally than Messi but that might have something more to do with Chelsea's tactics and the fact that Messi is given a free pass to position himself where he wants to and doesn't have to deal with the rigors of a very confined system where he'd have to play a specific role. I feel the main difference between the two is how they utilize the space around the box - Messi always looks to push it forward and find the slightest of spaces in which to operate (from there, he'd either shoot or make a pass as he is the one spearheading the movement) whereas Mata looks to pass things around a bit more to see if he can be the assistant rather than the executioner. He looks for runs ahead of him and to his sides before he takes a shot on goal.

Different approaches for different tactical systems.

[Ross K]

Spent hours in the boozer yesterday being abused by leery Arsenal fans (er, mainly family members ) repeatedly talking in eager tones of 'the wobble' and how it has well and truly begun (again) for Tottenham...

Fingers (and everything) crossed that Spurs don't lose today.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Spent hours in the boozer yesterday being abused by leery Arsenal fans (er, mainly family members ) repeatedly talking in eager tones of 'the wobble' and how it has well and truly begun (again) for Tottenham...

Fingers (and everything) crossed that Spurs don't lose today.

It's possible I suppose. They have a young and relatively inexperienced manager, there aren't too many leaders in the dressing room it seems. They are young, it will come.

I think they will be fine though, they managed to do it last year and they are playing very well still. Have faith

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by Feña14

It's possible I suppose. They have a young and relatively inexperienced manager, there aren't too many leaders in the dressing room it seems. They are young, it will come.

I think they will be fine though, they managed to do it last year and they are playing very well still. Have faith

Yes, I have faith! (He says crossing himself, uttering 'hail Mary's', and reciting the Lord's Prayer, whilst performing the Haka in his living room. )

'The wobble' the gooners are of course referring to is the horrific precedent set last season by Redknapp after he'd had his head turned and we collapsed quicker than Gareth Bale entering the penalty area (oops. did I just say that? ) I know I go on about it a bit, but us Spurs fans are truly haunted by last years 'wobble'/collapse.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Spent hours in the boozer yesterday being abused by leery Arsenal fans (er, mainly family members ) repeatedly talking in eager tones of 'the wobble' and how it has well and truly begun (again) for Tottenham...

Fingers (and everything) crossed that Spurs don't lose today.

Your brother is a wise man

[NickC]

Ross, it seems like your lot need divine inspiration at the moment.

[norbac]

Here we go again, Spurs. Arsenal only 4 behind and with a game in hand.

[PED]

So far so good, Fulham give us a hand now I need an Andy Carroll hat trick in the second.

Luiz seems terrified of going up against him. I guess they don't allow players to actually touch each other in Brazil though Ramieres doesn't seem to mind

[PureAlph4]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

Just because you had to scroll down a bit on the sports page you think there's no coverage?

I just thought it odd that up until two days prior the media were obsessed with the CL, yet a couple of days later news of the draw seemed to be bottom of the agenda, and had to be sought out in the same way as a tennis fan would need to in finding Murray's results from a Masters 1000 at any point before a final.

---------------------------

I think it's now a coin flip between Arsenal and Spurs to finish 4th, whereas after the NL derby it seemed to be over.

We're 4 behind with a game in hand against Reading at home.

Arsenal's remaining fixtures are: Reading (H), West Brom (A), Norwich (H), Everton (H), Fulham (A), United (H), QPR (A), Wigan (H), Newcastle (A)

Spurs' remaining fixtures: Swansea (A), Everton (H), Chelsea (A), City (H), Wigan (A), So'ton (H), Stoke (A), Sunderland (H).

Spurs definitely have a harder schedule, but we make hard work of every single game nowadays (essentially because we are now not that much better than most PL teams, including in terms of technical ability). Assuming we can beat Reading at home (a big assumption), then we really need to aim to be at least 3 point clear by the time United come to turn us over at the Emirates. That would mean four games in which to outscore Spurs by 4 points (in which they play Swansea, Everton, Chelsea and City), which is quite an ask.

If Spurs can get out of their recent slump they'll be OK, seeing as they're actually a better team than us at the moment. Hopefully they continue to struggle.

[Ross K]

Some random p***** off thoughts here...

Okay, how about Adebeyor. He has contributed precisely zero for us this season... Z... E... R...O.

Minus Lennon, we really struggle.

Creativity in midfield? This (other areas too) highlights Levy's failures to address signings situation properly (again)... AVB has done extremely well IMO but over the long-term he can't be expected to routinely perform bloody miracles!

I begun being very underwhelmed by Dempsey and Siggy, revised that view more lately, but after today... jesus...

Defoe... OMG... good until the New Year, but woeful, certainly last few games.

I honestly think Arsenal have a stronger and deeper squad, better forward options and movement, plus their run in is easier.

Chelsea away... "Deep sigh"...

And thus the run in torture has well and truly begun.

[Feña14]

I wouldn't panic just yet, Ross. It seems like the situation changes every week! Both Arsenal and Chelsea have looked like not making the top 4 in the past month, it only stands to reason that Spurs experience this at some point too.

Now Arsenal look like they have a great chance, whilst we've played well the last week and City seem to be on the slide. With a few games to go Chelsea could finish anywhere between 2nd, and 5th. There's still all to play for.

[Gorecki]

Originally Posted by NickC

The poster of the video on youtube is an absolute troll. Nothing to see here.

Further, if you want a truly despicable action from your countryman, try noting that he attempted to pay off the mother of his son to never see the child again, a mere 5 weeks after birth. The way he got her pregnant (as
reported in the tabloids, so I'm taking this with a grain of salt) is kind of nasty too.

Oh nicky nicky.... how predictable you are on you rabid hatred. You should drop reading the daily express. It is clouding your thinking by introducing female hormones your reasoning and writing

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

What?! Dude Hazard has been great at times. Yeah he's not in top form every match but he's still young and has time and when he does decide to show his class he's amazing.

Lucas Piazon is the one for me who hasn't quite done it...yet, because he's only 19.

This was from a month ago, when I said Hazard had a great start, but seemed to tail off a bit after that. I said it was understandable as he's very young and this is his first season.

Looks like he must of seen it and decided to step things up again he's been better than ever the last two weeks. If he can bring what he showed at the start, and is showing again now next season.. things are looking good.

I was interested to see our youth team win against Juventus yesterday aswell, a week or so after beating Barcelona. Semi's of the NextGen, on our way to defending the FA Youth Cup, it's good to see. There are players like Ake, Feruz, Baker, Kane who should be closer to the first team next year, along with the players out on loan (McEachran, Courtois, Chalobah, Piazon, Davila, De Bruyne, Cuevas, Wallace, Hazard). Markovic has signed a pre contract too I believe.

What's good is that these players seem to be in the same mold as the way the first team is trying to play these days. I think that's the key to getting more coming through, it's the way Barcelona and Bayern do it anyway.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Gorecki

Oh nicky nicky.... how predictable you are on you rabid hatred. You should drop reading the daily express. It is clouding your thinking by introducing female hormones your reasoning and writing

If I had more female hormones than male hormones in me I'd probably be professing my love for him.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

This was from a month ago, when I said Hazard had a great start, but seemed to tail off a bit after that. I said it was understandable as he's very young and this is his first season.

Looks like he must of seen it and decided to step things up again he's been better than ever the last two weeks. If he can bring what he showed at the start, and is showing again now next season.. things are looking good.

I was interested to see our youth team win against Juventus yesterday aswell, a week or so after beating Barcelona. Semi's of the NextGen, on our way to defending the FA Youth Cup, it's good to see. There are players like Ake, Feruz, Baker, Kane who should be closer to the first team next year, along with the players out on loan (McEachran, Courtois, Chalobah, Piazon, Davila, De Bruyne, Cuevas, Wallace, Hazard). Markovic has signed a pre contract too I believe.

What's good is that these players seem to be in the same mold as the way the first team is trying to play these days. I think that's the key to getting more coming through, it's the way Barcelona and Bayern do it anyway.

We're going to be nasty next season. I've seen some of the youngsters too, I've caught highlights of the youth teams and I already knew of that Mexican kid we signed for the youth team. I've kept tabs on De Brunye too.

The competition for places in the first team will be insane. Hopefully we're set for the next decade or so, only few signings will really be needed bar freak injuries and whatnot. I wonder if Hazard's other two brothers (10 and 17 this year) will be making their way to the club anytime soon.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

We're going to be nasty next season. I've seen some of the youngsters too, I've caught highlights of the youth teams and I already knew of that Mexican kid we signed for the youth team. I've kept tabs on De Brunye too.

The competition for places in the first team will be insane. Hopefully we're set for the next decade or so, only few signings will really be needed bar freak injuries and whatnot. I wonder if Hazard's other two brothers (10 and 17 this year) will be making their way to the club anytime soon.

De Bruyne has been doing very well in Germany, hopefully he can come back and replace Marin in the squad next year. Goalkeeper (Courtois), defence (Ake, Chalobah, Kane) and attacking/wide midfield is taken care of for the future. I'd like to get Shaw (who is a Chelsea fan) to be Cole's long term replacement, a striker, and of course a couple of midfielders are needed as there aren't really any coming through.

Hazard's 17 year old brother is already at the club, although I don't think a whole lot is really expected of him. I don't think anyone knows if the 10 year old is going to be good enough yet i've said before that I think Hazard will probably only be here for 2-3 years before moving to Spain (possible a Ronaldo replacement for Madrid?).

[PED]

Anyone with thoughts on Rio and his on again/off again romance with Int'l football?

Is Jack Wilshire the new Michael Owen, always injured? Having said that,we've won two difficult games without him so maybe it's not a bad thing.

[jimbo333]

So Rio Ferdinand currently winning my most pathetic footballer of the year award, although no doubt another footballer will soon do or say something more petty. But refusing to play for England giving the excuse of training to help an injury, when he had been banging on for months about not being picked, seemingly just to make a point to Hodgson is really pathetic in my opinion.

After all the support I (and many others) gave him during the whole Terry thing, as an England fan, I think Rio has really let his country down. He is now getting on in years, he will never be fit enough to play twice a week, surely he should retire from International football, what do others think?