I seriously doubt O'Neill wants to play like this

[MonkeyLove]

Have seen a few posts coming out about how negative we were today, parked the bus, awful to watch. And in a way it was. Spurs fans are also being very critical about it.

But I don't think this is O'Neill's preference. Whilst he has always had a similar kind of setup you can also play quality attacking football with a 4,5,1. We have some times this season, and Villa under him in their pomp played some good stuff.

But unfortunately he is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Simple fact is he has inherited a limited squad of players that he has to work with to get results so he has had his hand forced. If we try to go out and play in a game like that we could easily get carved open by a superior team and end up on the end of a heavy defeat.

For all his inspiration, ultimately quality always wins through if we try to match teams man for man.

I'm quite happy to watch this until the end of the season if it gets results. Then hopefully give him a summer and lets see how we do when he can shape the team and hopefully bring some quality in.

[Dangly Ham]

We had more shots than Spurs did. Regardless of our tactics, we still had a go.

[Crook Mackem]

Originally Posted by Dangly Ham

We had more shots than Spurs did. Regardless of our tactics, we still had a go.

More corners anarl

[Billy The Kid]

I must have been watching a different game cos IMO it wasn't like that at all

[JonMc]

BBC has it down as an 80min wat of attrition and for me that is about right. Both sides just cancelled each other out. It happens sometimes.

[kingbant1]

I thought we played ok and if you're expecting change next season then I'd prepare to be disappointed...

[ollie c]

They were very disappointing though. They have the CL incentive...it was up to them to break us down and they could not.

End of debate.

[humbug]

i don't think we did 'park the bus'.
the statistics say otherwise. spurs reminded me of swansea-fannying about passing the ball sideways with very little going forward.
not saying we were the more attacking team but to suggest all we did was defend is wrong.

[thecozmo]

MON sets up his team not to lose, if they score great but he is looking not to lose


not always pleasing on the eye

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by MonkeyLove

Have seen a few posts coming out about how negative we were today, parked the bus, awful to watch. And in a way it was. Spurs fans are also being very critical about it.

But I don't think this is O'Neill's preference. Whilst he has always had a similar kind of setup you can also play quality attacking football with a 4,5,1. We have some times this season, and Villa under him in their pomp played some good stuff.

But unfortunately he is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Simple fact is he has inherited a limited squad of players that he has to work with to get results so he has had his hand forced. If we try to go out and play in a game like that we could easily get carved open by a superior team and end up on the end of a heavy defeat.

For all his inspiration, ultimately quality always wins through if we try to match teams man for man.

I'm quite happy to watch this until the end of the season if it gets results. Then hopefully give him a summer and lets see how we do when he can shape the team and hopefully bring some quality in.

The whole park the bus shite is getting out of hand. We are set up solidly, allow other teams to have possession in their half, defend well and break well with pace.

Our goals last week against Man City were fucking quality and there have been plenty more this season and some great attacking football, far better than 95% of games under Bruce.

Of course fucking Spurs fans didn't like it. Just like Wenger when he complains other teams don't give his team the space they need.