gonzalo
Midfield
Whenever I watch a game of football, I always bemoan that modern commentators do any awful job of actually filling in the viewer on players strengths/weaknesses/background, and how a team plays, they just sort of expect you to know.
However, I only really pay attention to Sunderland games and occasionally watch highlights on Youtube, so I thought i’d see if there was an appetite for a weekly report on the SMB, basically detailing things about the opposition that commentators used to tell you about.
I’m never going to swamp you with insane tactical details, just the sort of stuff that might help when watching a match. If this is of no use to you feel free to pay it no mind, but if it was of some use, and you’d like me to keep doing this, please let me know.
So, to get this information i’ve trawled through online articles, highlights of previous matches, Sofascore, Reddit, transfermarkt, hopefully to let us all be a little bit more informed for the game.
Anyway; Tottenham Hotspur, this weeks opponents.
Spurs
Manager: Roberto de Zerbi; could be an interesting new appointment this, mostly for the fact that a lot of the journalism around him talks about his “slow starts” with a lot of pundits focusing on Lewis Dunk calling the first two weeks he was at Brighton “carnage”
League position/form: 18th - put in the bottom 3 by West Ham yesterday - LLLDL (league), but did beat Atletico 3-2 recently
Typical formation: 442 in the league, 4231 in Europe, however how useful is this, with de Zerbi playing 352? Who knows how fast de Zerbi will want them playing his formation. If they do play 352 it could be an interesting game
How have they been this season?
Spurs
+ Mathys Tel appears to be their outstanding maverick; whilst defensively he’s very suspect, going forward he certainly likes a long shot, a dribble, and looks to put opposition defenders on the back foot
+ Cristian Romero a massive threat from set pieces being Spur 2nd highest goal scorer playing at CB
+ Quite good at long throws, however this seems to be the trend this season
+ Xavi Simons and Souza love a long range shot
+ Richarlison a handful on corners
- Seem quite weak on defensive set pieces
- Seem quite emotionally weak, players give up chasing, or jog back when teams are on the counter (might be some new manager bounce though that rectifies this?)
- Vicario is mercurial, one minute quite good, but i’ve got written in my notes “poppadom hands”
- Seem quite weak on the wings, with 4 goals conceded from crosses in their last 3 games
What about de Zerbi?
Having read through a few articles on how de Zerbi likes to play:
- “Baits the press”; basically tries to draw the team down one side of the pitch, and then release a big switch to some pacey lads on the other side, this might have been hard to do against SAFC playing away as we enjoy a low block, but at home, who knows as we look to attack more
Players to watch according to sofascore
1. Romero (CB) - 7.11 match rating this season, 2nd most amount of goals too
2. Joao Palhinha (CM) - 7.01
3. Richarlison (ST) - 6.88, top scorer
4. Kudus (WM) - 6.86, most assists
5. Danso (CB) - 6.86
Injuries
Vicario (apparently), Bentancur, Kulusevski, Odobert, B. Davies, Bissouma, Maddison, Kudus
What do Spurs fans say?
These are some of the top rated Spurs fans comments on Reddit from their most recent league defeat to Forest:
“We’re fucked”
“Garbage players”
“No urgency, no edge”
“Club captain just watched the ball roll by him”
Lot of comments on how angry they at de Zerbi regarding Greenwood comments
Could be an interesting one this
However, I only really pay attention to Sunderland games and occasionally watch highlights on Youtube, so I thought i’d see if there was an appetite for a weekly report on the SMB, basically detailing things about the opposition that commentators used to tell you about.
I’m never going to swamp you with insane tactical details, just the sort of stuff that might help when watching a match. If this is of no use to you feel free to pay it no mind, but if it was of some use, and you’d like me to keep doing this, please let me know.
So, to get this information i’ve trawled through online articles, highlights of previous matches, Sofascore, Reddit, transfermarkt, hopefully to let us all be a little bit more informed for the game.
Anyway; Tottenham Hotspur, this weeks opponents.
Spurs
Manager: Roberto de Zerbi; could be an interesting new appointment this, mostly for the fact that a lot of the journalism around him talks about his “slow starts” with a lot of pundits focusing on Lewis Dunk calling the first two weeks he was at Brighton “carnage”
League position/form: 18th - put in the bottom 3 by West Ham yesterday - LLLDL (league), but did beat Atletico 3-2 recently
Typical formation: 442 in the league, 4231 in Europe, however how useful is this, with de Zerbi playing 352? Who knows how fast de Zerbi will want them playing his formation. If they do play 352 it could be an interesting game
How have they been this season?
Spurs
+ Mathys Tel appears to be their outstanding maverick; whilst defensively he’s very suspect, going forward he certainly likes a long shot, a dribble, and looks to put opposition defenders on the back foot
+ Cristian Romero a massive threat from set pieces being Spur 2nd highest goal scorer playing at CB
+ Quite good at long throws, however this seems to be the trend this season
+ Xavi Simons and Souza love a long range shot
+ Richarlison a handful on corners
- Seem quite weak on defensive set pieces
- Seem quite emotionally weak, players give up chasing, or jog back when teams are on the counter (might be some new manager bounce though that rectifies this?)
- Vicario is mercurial, one minute quite good, but i’ve got written in my notes “poppadom hands”
- Seem quite weak on the wings, with 4 goals conceded from crosses in their last 3 games
What about de Zerbi?
Having read through a few articles on how de Zerbi likes to play:
- “Baits the press”; basically tries to draw the team down one side of the pitch, and then release a big switch to some pacey lads on the other side, this might have been hard to do against SAFC playing away as we enjoy a low block, but at home, who knows as we look to attack more
Players to watch according to sofascore
1. Romero (CB) - 7.11 match rating this season, 2nd most amount of goals too
2. Joao Palhinha (CM) - 7.01
3. Richarlison (ST) - 6.88, top scorer
4. Kudus (WM) - 6.86, most assists
5. Danso (CB) - 6.86
Injuries
Vicario (apparently), Bentancur, Kulusevski, Odobert, B. Davies, Bissouma, Maddison, Kudus
What do Spurs fans say?
These are some of the top rated Spurs fans comments on Reddit from their most recent league defeat to Forest:
“We’re fucked”
“Garbage players”
“No urgency, no edge”
“Club captain just watched the ball roll by him”
Lot of comments on how angry they at de Zerbi regarding Greenwood comments
Could be an interesting one this
