This time last year we played Spurs on the opening day and, although the result today was the same (another defeat) the two performances were poles apart. There were plenty positives to take.
We were camped in our own half when we played them a year ago, we barely had an effort on goal and didn’t really lay a glove on them. Yes Shelvey’s red card changed the game back in August 2017, but we went toe to toe to them today and showed once again that we’re more than capable of competing at this level.
Unfortunately, we’ve come away pointless once again today, but it was a performance that will give plenty people hope for the 37 games of the season that now remain.
Kenedy was absolutely brilliant. Strong, skilful and the one player who was constantly driving us forward. Comfortably our best player on the pitch, although Ritchie also impressed – with his cross for Joselu’s goal being one of the best deliveries you’re likely to see all season.
Kenedy destroying Spurs' midfield, one of our own. pic.twitter.com/34Hk0L3hm0
— Mod (@CFCMod) August 11, 2018
On the subject of Joselu, it was great to see him get an early confidence boost. He actually put in a decent shift and wasn’t that bad, but we’ll only get better once Rondon and Muto find their feet.
Rondon looks a handful (albeit not yet match fit) and Muto made some really intelligent runs, with both playing a part in the last half an hour – although the game seemed to fizzle out really. Spurs tired and we did too.
Ritchie was fuming to be replaced and you can see why when you look at how little Atsu offered when he came on. He looked half asleep and offered absolutely nothing.
On another day we’d have got a point. Kenedy’s one-on-one, Rondon hit the woodwork and Diame smashed the post – all chances that we weren’t creating when we played them this time last season.
Spurs are a quality side – and they fielded a much stronger side than most were expecting – but we’ll be frustrated by the two goals we’ve conceded. One set piece and another where we’ve just switched off at the back post – although the cross from Aurier was outstanding.
The one big worry is the injury Yedlin seems to have picked up. It doesn’t look good. He landed awkwardly on his knee and could barely even make his way up the steps as he headed down the tunnel for treatment.
He was poor today, but that’s not the point. Our lack of cover in that area is bad enough without him facing a long spell on the sidelines. I wonder why Rafa was asking for full-back cover on deadline day..
Cardiff away next weekend. Play like that again and we won’t be pointless for long.
At least good news in the cricket. Probably game over now the way Jimmy and Woakes bowl at Lords.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Agree with your summing up. Yedlin was very poor defensively but when he goes forward why does he seek the ball from Ritchie then pass backwards. I’ve never rated him. I thought Ritchie had a good game with an excellent cross for the goal. With Yedlin’s injury selling Mbemba without replacement looks a more and more a bad decision. Rondon lacks a little sharpness but Mutu looked good for the short time he was on. I thought we deserved at least a point. I agree Atsu was poor.
Groucho(Quote)
I expected us to look a bit rusty and we definitely did in the first half.
Disappointing Dúbravka gave a corner away with a save that was going well wide – only my opinion but I think a keeper should have better positional awareness than that. But again, it may have been 1st game rust and to be fair, he was 9mm from a good save to prevent the opener – but I do think he was at fault for it with an unnecessary corner to start with.
I thought we done really well to get back into it so quickly, with a great cross from Ritchie and an excellent header from Joselu. I thought he did ok today Joselu – can’t be easy when he knows the fans aren’t confident in him, but he did ok.
Spurs 2nd I’ll give as a fantastic first time cross. Yedlin maybe could have done better, but that cross was on a six pence for Ali.
I was greatly impressed with how we went about our 2nd half. Spurs still had chances with a great save from Dubravka to deny Sissoko being their best chance. But I think we were the stronger side – hit the post twice and but for a poor first touch from Kenedy could have levelled with his chance.
Shelvey and Ritchie were our best players imo, with Diame worth a mention in the 2nd half.
Yedlin getting injured was a huge blow & hopefully the crutches are precautionary. It was be a real worry if we had he and Lejeune as long term absences this early in the season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Any update on the site problem Olly ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Team gave it everything. Can’t ever accuse this side of lack of effort. We just lacked quality where it mattered today – in the final third. Our season won’t be defined by results against the top 6 I don’t think but we could do with picking up more points than we did last season against them as I’m not sure we will find it as easy to take points from those around us.
Rondon didn’t really look match ready but I thought Kenedy was fanstastic. I’d just like him to make these runs closer to the opposition box.
Stuart79(Quote)
Can we put these protests on hold for a couple of months. If Rafa leaves where would you rather be the PL or Championship? Protests are self defeating and Fatman’s mind will be on House of Fraser anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Was pulled back 3 times and only 1 booking. When will the Refs get consistent. And Shelvey waved the fake card to the Ref when fouled. I normally don’t like that but you could see he was saying to Atkinson “if it was me it would have been a card”. He’s right anaarl.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
May have deserved a point but we didnt get one? May have deserved to win byt we didnt. May have deserved to rain but it didnt. Lets face it ee lost. Spurs manager saying it may take his team months to grt fit is like a kick in the nits too lol so we lost to a half fit team? Hmmm. We were ordinary and predictable. Nothing less nothing more
Steve(Quote)
Why? What difference does it make when we don’t protest? Jabba just goes on his merry way carrying on being a ******! Apparently Harold Bishop has told Jabba that his will blow over by September. That’s what they want, Eric. Jabba will not be comfortable if these continue and it will have zero impact on player performance so asking for it to stop is futile.
Stuart79(Quote)
Kind of my sentiments too. We won’t get too many better chances to beat Spurs and should have taken advantage of their clear lack of sharpness.
Stuart79(Quote)
Richarlison scores Theiry Henry-like goal. Watford buy him for 11 million and he doesn’t score in his final 21 games and then Everton splash 45 million for him. Seemed insane. Probably will be insane, but not today.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Steve – I’d expect him to say that, but the fact is that the stats in terms of ground covered by his team was only slightly down on their average ground covered last season – by only around 1.5km. So that’s bollocks. His side won today so he’s obviously laying the ground work for excuses should they loose coming games.
We ran as far as them today, and created as many chances (15). We had good chances in the 2nd half so why shouldn’t people feel we deserved a draw?!.
We didn’t get one – but then we didnt get one last season either – we lost by 1 goal last season as well and went on to finish 10th. Not saying that will happen again, just making the point that the season is a lot longer than it’s 1st game.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Not just about fitness, Sharpy. A few of us today mentioned how bad Spurs’ players first touch was today. It really was poor and that’s down to their lack of match fitness ect.. I really wasn’t impressed with them at all. It was a great chance to get something and we missed out due to lacking edge…AGAIN!
Imagine what we could be… That’s the thing that pisses me off. I’m really not interested in another relegation battle and I’m not interested in being a yo yo club who finishing tenth every now and again. Sad!
Stuart79(Quote)
Sharpy said “Spurs 2nd I’ll give as a fantastic first time cross. Yedlin maybe could have done better, but that cross was on a six pence for Ali.”
Spurs’ second goal was down to Ritchie not tracking the run of Alli, it wasn’t Yedlin’s fault. Ritchie tracked him until the penalty area and then let him go.
I pretty much agree with the rest of what you say, though. You should write the match reports 😆
Brisvegas(Quote)
Stu – I agree on paper it seemed the best chance to beat Spurs, but we were still facing the WC winning GK, the Golden Boot winner and players like Ali and Eriksen. Spurs are a top side and will be top 4 this season. Yes most of them had the WC, but they played competitive games rather than friendlies – and have just had 2 weeks rest. Alright they only returned to training on Monday – but it’s the same manager, same training and no new players in – so everyone knows the system, knows their roles and knows what’s expect of them.
Whereas for us, we do have new players coming in – players like Rondon and Muto who unfortunately haven’t had long to train, and get used to playing with their new teammates.
You’re right, creating 15 chances we need to score more than 1 goal. Rondon and Muto need more time.
But I can’t say I’m overly concerned. I think if we can play like that each week, we will be fine.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Bris – yeah, I don’t think that’s an unfair thing to say. I don’t think Ritchie felt there was a danger, so didn’t close Ali down.
It’s kind of the point I’m making with Stu – Spurs are quality, and are a threat even when we don’t think they are.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It also didn’t escape me that all of these teams that spent when we didn’t – Fulham, Cardiff, Brighton, Huddersfield and Wolves – none of them won today … infact, most lost without scoring a goal.
The money they have spent will come with an expectation, and the longer it takes for those managers to start picking up points the greater the pressure mounts on those managers.
Watford and Palace may have won today but they are very hit and miss teams – and I don’t expect either of their managers to see the season out either.
I see those 7 teams struggling this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – I’m not really bothered about the players other teams have brought in. I’m bothered about why we are happy to tread water and just stay up. That’s not my idea of supporting a football club. Especially one that has so many supporters.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu – you’ve supported a club that has gone down in the last 10 years, so why would it be so difficult to support a club that stays up?!.
Am I happy about that? – I’d love to see my club win something – I’d love to see my club playing CL football every season. But let’s be realistic about this – there are 3 trophies up for grabs each season – how many have been won by a team outside what we would see as a top 4 side in the last 10 yrs?. CL footy goes to top 4 – are we really shifting City, Utd, Lpool, Chelsea, Spurs or Arsenal any time soon?! – I think only Leicester have been CL outside those 6 teams in the last 10yrs.
Man Utd have spent around £650m since Alex Ferguson left – and they are still at best 3rd favourite to win the league.
Everton in the last 3 windows have spent a fortune but have struggled.
Don’t get me wrong, I think we desperately need a 15+ goal a season CF. I would love for us to have a truly quality no. 9.
But all that would do is ease our relegation worries – it may give us a chance in the cups. But the best any other club can hope for is that one of the top 6 struggle and you can nick a spot – but to do that regularly is just not likely – based on the fact no other team has either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Stu – I think being realistic I’d be happy to be in that mini league behind the top 6 – with the likes of Everton, Leicester, probably West Ham and Burnley – winning that mini league and finishing 7th, putting pressure on the top 6 – with a decent cup run, a win would be dreamland, so keeping it realistic – trips to Wembley. I think without the financial clout of those top 6 clubs – that’s the best we can realistically hope to achieve.
Having real quality in the final 3rd would make that all the more possible. But having Rafa, and a squad as hard working as ours, I don’t think it’s impossible to be bottom of that mini league this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Now Andy Gray has come out and said NUFC spent 100 million last year. Very strange that he and Keys seem to have an anti-Rafa agenda. However, their show is almost entirely populated by their Pals from the 80s and 90s such as Reid, Pards and BFS. Keys is always banging on about giving British Managers a chance but doesn’t really say who and then applauds as Pards is recycled yet again only to go into his familiar failure loop. They let BFS say what he wants and treat him like some Godfather of football. Of course, Sam laps this up. And don’t get me started on their sucking up to John (point the camera up me nose) Cross, a journalist who makes Lee Ryder look smart.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They have cancelled Bein sports in Chicago which is a great pity as they had La Liga. At least I will not see Keys and Gray. I will leave with a parting shot at this John Cross, Daily Mirror writer. He is an Arsenal fan and spent 10 minutes every week of a 50 minute broadcast last year talking about Wenger. The Arsenal that were basically out of it by October. No insight at all about Pep or Klopp or Mourinho who were actually doing something. Not even about the drama around Conte who is also in London. The icing on the cake was that he would always skype from his laptop such that the camera was pointing straight up his nose. It tells you something about the producers on this show and Andy and Richard that nobody even noticed and told him to change. I am sure Icedog will know what I am talking about as he has watched it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
you bet i know mate,last comment not filling this every dam time,Rafa dropped a ******* y/day taking Richie off our best player as Spurs were starting to slow down badly,would have got a draw at least if he hadnt brought Atsu on,what a plank
iccedog(Quote)
Just a crying shame we did not get left back over and a proper #10. Would be Top 8 with thise I reckon.
Anonymous(Quote)
Tinkering a minute
Shamrock(Quote)
Is this better?
Shamrock(Quote)
Right guys and gals, think I have fixed the comments issue.. Next time you fill out your details it should remember you. Hopefully!
Shamrock(Quote)
I assume you have to check the box? Let me try.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yep. Fixed.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
At last – we’re saved!
It was a strange game yesterday and one that was really hard to judge. We did look better than a year ago, much better in fact, but a year ago we lost Lejeune, Dummett and Shelvey in the first half and this year a lot of Spurs players looked slightly off the pace. So hard to judge. Several things were clear though. Diame was way below his form last season. Much as I like Yedlin going forward he’s still a poor defender. Was Dummett playing? Atsu was absolutely dreadful.
Overall we looked to have improved and will probably get better as Rondon, Muto and Fernandez are integrated. HTL!
georgio(Quote)
Good lad Sham, I know Kim and Ice were tearing their hair out. Not sure how or why it was getting ‘worked’ on so long – but fixed now ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
cheers sham you care more about the site than the owner
i see jabba might get bit of bother over the buying of HO fraze,r guy bid 100mil and staff would keep their pension rights,jabba is cutting,how does he get away with it???? the bloody crook
the guy bid a day before jabba ffs
icedog(Quote)
Ah, sorted, well done Sham .
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice, he’s a bloody crook I reckon.
kimtoon(Quote)
Watching MOTD last night, was very impressed with that Wolves player Neves, he looks very good.
kimtoon(Quote)
Shola Ameobi had commented on Ashley’s running of the club and said: “Credit to him because you look at the likes of Aston Villa and these clubs who are struggling financially.
“The one thing that Mike Ashley has done for Newcastle over the last ten years is to stabilise the club where the club is running itself and we’ve got no debt”
Correct me if im wromg but dont we have £150m debt, which has not reduced in the 11 years MA has been here, despite the prifits from transfers and using the stadium as a free advertising board for SD?
Is it not the debt that is holding us back from a sale? He is keeping that debt as leverage to keep the club, to milk it for his free exposure of SD and related brands owned by him.
Shamrock(Quote)
i liked him as well mate,good spotting lol
icedog(Quote)
Should be an interesting match coming up. Not so much Liverpool because I know what they have, but West Ham. Supposedly, this Anderson they bought is a star and Jack Wilshere starts. So does Mark Noble who said yesterday that West Ham are one of the biggest clubs in the World. Made me laugh. I wonder where the cut-off is? I wouldn’t say WE are one of the biggest clubs in the world. I can probably think of 20 bigger (definitely more successful in the last 50 years and West Ham have been worse than us in that time).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bigger than NUFC/WHam?
Top 6 in England, plus Everton at the minute.
Bayern, Dortmund, Shalke
Real, Barca, Valencia, Athletico, Sevilla
Juve, Inter, Meelan, Napoli, Roma
PSG, Marseilles
That’s just off the top of my head and doesn’t even include Portugal, South America and Celtic.
Richest? That’s different and is all about TV money.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s not possible to be in that mini league below top 6 with our current approach. I’m not stupid enough to think we can compete for the league. But we should be trying to improve all the time, not settle for staying up.
Stuart79(Quote)
Settling for staying up is a good start though. Unless of course you’d rather be relegated.
georgio(Quote)
see SIKO could get three match ban for stamping on Kenedy
icedog(Quote)
Not sure if anybody will want to go to Anfield. They were unbeaten last year in the league there. Difficult to judge West Ham’s new signings but if they continue to play Noble, Rice (academy grad) and Wilshere in midfield they won’t matter. Arnautovic is a handful at No 9 but his finishing is suspect.
Hard to tell from this, as I say, but anybody anointing West Ham as the best of the rest may want to hold their horses and let them play a few games first.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ice: of course the Ref didn’t spot it. Typical. I usually don’t mind Atkinson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ha Ha, Mane a yard offside for the 3rd.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
No worries people. Turns out it was only a check box one if the owners or admin must have turned off then saved?! Took me 5 mins to find and fix.
Shamrock(Quote)
So that’s West Ham bottom then. I am not gloating because it is 1 game but it does make me happy. And Wilshere has carried on as he left off with Arsenal. If they continue to play him as a number 10 I don’t care how much they have spent they will not get top 10.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Liverpool I think, are the only team that can challenge Man City for the title. Barring any major injuries they will be exceptionally hard to beat.
Wolves looked a tough team yesterday also. They will be ok this season I think.
Sham… thanks for fixing the details box! ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Forgot to say that the Spurs fans will be hoping for a 3 match ban for Sissoko. They really don’t like him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
History shows that clubs who’s only ambition is to stay up eventually go down. We’re a perfect example of that.
Stuart79(Quote)
ERIC, DT
I said last season that I thought with a bit of defensive tweaking that Liverpool were a good bet for the league title this season. They are lovely to watch and I actually prefer watching them to City.
Sham I can’t believe it was such a simple fix in the end.
kimtoon(Quote)
Very disappointed in 🙄 Sholas comments Sham, in all the years in the PL we were never relegated and one of the richest clubs. He comes along we get relegated twice, SD nick all our merch revenue and now we are the paupers of the PL. Aye Shola mate, that’s some stabilisation right there like.
Think he’s after a job coaching the kids sham ? 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu, I would just like to enter a season without too much fear of relegation for once, to start a campaign with some expectation rather than worry about how quick we can get to 40 points.
Ashley has sucked the joy out of supporting the club, so I’m with you on that.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sissoko is a prize prat, hope he gets banned, Spurs were very dirty yesterday, just like last seasons opener.
kimtoon(Quote)
Any minute now we’ll be hearing the Emery out chants 😆
0.1 to city
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – we have about £100m sat in the bank FFS! What’s the point in that? I mean what is the point in that for a football club that is bang average? I think he’s saving it to either give to a new manager to placate angry fans when Rafa leaves or to use if we get relegated. He could use it to pay off a large chunk of his loan too but other than that what’s the feecking point.
Stuart79(Quote)
Sham, I’m not sure Shola knows what “stabilise” means. If he means increasing the debt from £87m to £144m then he’s right. If he means two relegations and 3 near misses then he’s right. If he means 11 years of free advertising for Sports Direct then he’s right. Or maybe he means stabilise as in the club successfully being sued twice by a former manager and former player.
Stuart79(Quote)
I have watched City a lot and they are a brilliant team but they also cheat. On the odd occasion they give the ball away and the opposition have the chance at a quick break, they invariably hack the player with the ball to stop it. The Refs aren’t wise to it and they hardly ever get a yellow. It is never a pullback, it is a professional foul. They are good enough to win anyway but they use this devious tactic.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It’s very odd Stu, he has said before that the winter window is a bad time to buy, you get ripped off so why take the gamble ? Or even give a big wad of cash to a yes man of lesser ability once Rafa has left, pointless and extremely short sighted approach .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – The worst possible scenario is if they just don’t agree with the prices. What are they waiting for? A crash on the scale of 2008 banking crisis? They’re just knobbers who have no ambition.
Stuart79(Quote)
Watching Sterling, I’m thinking, where was this player at the World Cup… he was ***** for England.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Well, according to Andy Gray we spent 100 million on transfers last year. Did Joselu’s Agent get a 95 million kickback? That’s where the money’s gone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think he is thick Kim.
Shamrock(Quote)
Arsenal should not be scared of this City team but it is difficult with a new Manager and Pep having City grooved and De Bruyne and Silva waiting in the wings.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yup. Thats why I think he must be thick mate. He was a player AT the club. How the **** is he not aware of the debt or the blatant stealing from the club via free SD advertising?
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, yep, thick just about covers it I reckon.
kimtoon(Quote)
He’s always better for them than England mate, possibly because he’s surrounded by world class players 😉
And City get a second.
Emery out
kimtoon(Quote)
Ozil to retire from club football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ozil played **** today but was a scapegoat for Germany. He set up his teammates for a bunch of sitters and Hummels, especially, missed them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Arsenal lose… oh dear what a shame… Emery out..
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Shola is brain dead he was on the pitch too is brother is no better
Emery oot,maybe he thinks like **** Emery 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
Ozil to retire from club football.so he should be maybe he could get a game with the Heed
icedog(Quote)
so jabba son in-law is going to run house of frazer as his son doesnt want nothing to do with it or SD,good on him,maybe hes in the huff seeing jabba has bought his son -in-law a 10.7 mil house in London 🙄 🙄
icedog(Quote)
Ice – isn’t that just Ashley all over!!. This isn’t a fucking kebab shop. Why spend £90m on something as big as HoF with 17.5k employees, then give it to a family member to run?!?!?!!! …. is he really the best, most qualified person to turn such a mess around.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sham – I think I get the point Shola was trying to make, he just made it really badly. He didn’t have a good day yesterday like. The lad kept asking him questions and he kept turning and answering them to Jamie Redknapp.
Sharpy17(Quote)