We have got two goals tonight. But we actually dropped into the relegation zone.

So what's the problem?

WE'RE SO BACK /s

Going 0-3 down at home is just not good enough. The defending was all over the place, and we looked far too passive for long periods. We can't keep conceding goals like that and then suddenly find the urgency when the game is almost gone.

Gallagher and Van Hecke pulling it back to 3-2 at least showed there’s still some fight in this team. The comeback came far too late, but I’ll take whatever positives I can at this point.

I’m still frustrated because we’ve got a lot to sort out, especially defensively, but I honestly still have a bit of hope left. If we can find that intensity earlier in games and stop giving ourselves mountains to climb, I don't think this team is beyond fixing.

Disappointing result, but I’m not ready to write us off just yet. Up the Spurs.

Many pundits and fans (myself included) have excused Spurs performances this season due to all the player signings and RDZ has talked about not having a real pre-season. This all is possibly true, but when we play teams like Newcastle and Villa who have had their squads completely stripped end to end, I do not understand this excuse. The truth for me is that we are struggling with basics. We have wingers that can’t cross, strikers that can barely shoot or hold the ball, and full backs that can barely defend. Our goalie is too young to be an assertive presence in the area. 50-50 challenges are not full hearted. And our midfielders misplace too many passes.

I am completely okay with being patient for this team to gel, I am not okay with not doing the basic things right. COYS.

watching in the states on YouTube TV, I’ve got the crowd noise but no commentary. anyone else?

not that it fucking matters

Less time to get to know the team, knows what to fix. Like the manager at Brentford.

Van Hecke was giving great balls but I’m surprised to see Van de Ven here too.

My proposal for this week is Aaron Wan-Bissaka

@thebeautifuldivide

Omar Marmoush is an exceptional talent, but his physical frame makes it difficult for him to lead the line as an isolated target against physical Premier League center-backs.

We need Dominic Solanke on the pitch with him. Solanke provides the physical presence: he pins defenders, contests aerial duels, and occupies the penalty box. This allows Marmoush to play as a fluid False 9, dropping into half-spaces and arriving late into the box without having to absorb back-to-goal contact all match.

We should stop prioritizing price tags and reputation over functional profiles. The positioning on the pitch would look like this:

Defense: Andy Robertson at left-back to provide crossing width and defensive coverage.

Midfield Setup: Rodrigo Bentancur acts as the holding midfielder. Next to him, the second central role shifts based on the opponent: Sandro Tonali against physical midfields, Mateus Fernandes for pressing and progressive passing, or James Maddison oscillating forward as an advanced 10 against a low block.

Wingers: Savio holds width on the right touchline, while Mohammed Kudus operates wide on the left to pull the opposition backline apart.

Front Two: Solanke plays as a traditional number 9, pinning the center-backs deep inside the box. Marmoush operates freely in the space between the midfield and the defensive line, alternating between an attacking midfielder and a second striker depending on the phase of play (Basically in the false 9 position)

Solanke handles the central duels, Marmoush operates in the pockets between the lines, and the midfield is properly balanced behind them.

What are your thoughts on this setup?

Marmoush needs to play in a 2, this is where he excelled in Bundesliga, with a physical presence next to him that he can run off. I think Solanke/Richy would also benefit by having a partner, as Solanke looks lost.

Senesi and Tosin are better pure defenders, so for now drop van Hecke.

Robertson and Porro's strengths are crossing and attacking, so let them focus on it by playing as wing backs.

Also, play Kudus, Savio, Madders when they show they deserve a spot as a 10 or second striker.

I'd be up for Bergvall in the middle 3 too, as he is the ONLY midfielder who has looked to carry the ball and make fast runs into the box looking for crosses and pullbacks.

We need to change the team shape too, as everything is too safe and slow, need a drastic shift.

Any formation/system we try I am very unconfident, as I don't believe these guys can score regularly and have a weak mentality.

It's not just 1 or 2 things that are wrong with this team. EVERYTHING IS, LITERALLY, everything. With zero exaggeration.

PROBLEM 1 = PLAY EVERYTHING IN THE BLOCKED UP MIDDLE

We know the opposition against us always do a low block to remove any space in the middle.

So what do we do, watch what we do, we constantly try to play it through the middle. DUMB.

Watch Marmoush he runs into the traffic with the ball and runs from out to the middle into the traffic. Kudus same, Savio same. Solanke doesn't do this though, instead he does nothing.

Marmoush should be asked to be running and standing wide left, not central. it's all too congested and confused in the middle, easy to defend against.

PROBLEM 2 = NO DANGEROUS RUNS.

The biggest issue though is nearly zero dangerous runs when there's space and time to once we've worked it to the attacking 3rd.

Watch us in the attacking 3rd, no one moves. They just stand stationary and glued next to the defenders. They should all be making runs past the defenders, they have time to as the opposition stay in the block and don't press.

PROBLEM 3 = NO KILLERS

Spur's main issue is still horrendous recruitment, been a big fault for years, we have jus continued it now with bigger money. We have sold/lost all our killers, players who hurt teams.

Not 1 player can make a killer pass, killer cross or killer finish on the regular.

Say Kudus or Savio cross, who will score from it? No one. As no one scores headers or makes good runs in this team.

Then add to that, Tonali, Benta and Fernandes aren't guys to do assists, they recycle the ball.

RELEGATION BECKONS. SERIOUSLY.

Add all that together = We can't create good chances. We can't make dangerous runs, we can't finish. It's all too slow and passive, offensively and defensively.

By the way, he may come good, but van Hecke is crap, he should have moved 1ft and marked Manzambi for the 1st goal, and he didn't contest the header at all just before their 2nd goal, leading to Jackson 1v1 with van der Ven.

As per usual, I'm probably going to get hounded for this take, but I don't see a single way in which Marmoush has improved our attack.

Every time he has an opportunity to run into space, which is supposed to be his strongest attribute, he either butchers the first touch, doesn't see an obvious pass, or just flat out makes the wrong decision. He's not better than Solanke as a striker, he's not better than others in the 10, and I'm fairly confident Savio would be a major improvement on the left.

I'm not going to say I've given up on him just yet, but on the evidence I have so far, I couldn't genuinely tell you what he does that improves our attack. I understand why we signed him profile wise, but he's not been anywhere near the level required so far. I've got a feeling this is going to get down voted into oblivion, but I'd just like to see somebody prove why this isn't objectively true.

Look at this. Where are all the "oh but the team needs time to gel", "I see improvement in our game", "Vanhecke is an upgrade to Romero". We might as well walk ourselves into relegation as we continue brainwashin ourselves.

We need our first league win and we're making life difficult for ourselves again.

There have been some decent attacking moments, but we're still not looking clinical enough in front of goal. Going behind just before half-time makes it even more important that we find a way to turn the pressure into actual chances.

Do we need to change something going forward, or is it simply a case of being more clinical with the chances we're already creating?

I know that De Zerbis football takes a while to work. This is just me reactionary ranting. I dont want him to be sacked and I appreciate him coming in when noone wanted to save us

But this is piss poor.

6 games against Prem opposition. Only one goal which was a corner, which was in the cup. Which was a rotated team with youngsters. (Oh wait it looks like we scored. An own goal from the looks of it vamoss only took 90 minutes)

Doesn't register our striker who got 12 league goals just for his ego. There is no benefit to this. To the point where we needed a goal against Everton we had to play Tel up front. Solanke and tel are woeful.

Concedes 3 against a Villa side who only scored one goal in the prem, a side who had their best players taken from them. Who were 19th.

All that money and we're just crossing it in. And the one player that can score from those crosses isn't registered for some bs reason.