I need to stop watching these games with the sound on during our chats -- otherwise it's just gonna be me getting upset by the announcers. Lee Dixon is now obsessed with the idea that City need to "take more long-range shots". They had 11 shots in the first half!
Huge three points for Spurs, and they WERE clinical on the counter. But unless City are the dominant team of year's past -- and everyone agrees that they're not! -- then I'm not gonna get carried away with their title hopes based on this match. They got dominated in every phase of the match -- pitch control, shot creation, etc. -- other than "chance conversion". And all the other phases of the match are the things that actually predict future winning. Some see a tactical masterclass, others see a team that had a couple nice counters and finished well in a match they lose more than half of the time if it's played 100 more times.
As for City, they were ... fine. The biggest thing is that Pep as them playing a dialed-back attacking style, which is supposed to make the team more robust against counters. Except, based on today's evidence, they're still pretty bad a defending counters. Despite the result, I'd still pick City to win the title over Spurs -- but I'm probably not picking either one at this point!
Lotta fun today. Thanks as always for joining in. Enjoy your weekends!
Pretty texbook move there. CM picks up the ball, turns up from pressure, CF drops for the ball, RW runs into the space behind, chip over the top, goal. Shouldn't be that easy to score against the team that is still favored to win the league!
Oh yeah, that reason to be skeptical of Tottenham. One of the things Bill Connelly, this week's pod guest, likes to look at as a predictive factor is attacking-third turnover margin. In other words: how many possessions are you winning in the attacking third, vs how many are your opponents winning. Liverpool are plus-63 in first, then City are plus-32 in second in one fewer game. No one else is above 25. And Spurs, meanwhile, are minus-13, which is 15th in the league. We'll see if they can keep up their current performances if that doesn't change.
Spurs do have some really dangerous-looking counter-attacking patterns here and there -- partially because they have superstar players leading them -- but they don't have enough of them.
Spurs haven't been top of the table since August 2014??????? Wow. At one point a couple years ago, they had the most points of any team over the previous 38 games.
Much better second-half for Spurs, btw. Three shots! And City haven't really created anything great, unlike the first half, which required a Gabby Jesus body-shield to keep the clean sheet.
At this point in the season...Brighton have a higher xG than Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa have a lower xGA than Liverpool, and Harry Kane has more assists than last year's top 3 combined. Early season variance is so fun.
The announcers on NBC are killing me right now. They're ascribing Mourinho's tactics to him being concerned about his players getting hurt and having to expend too much energy. Have they never watched a Mourinho game before??????
MLS update: After a red card that led to 10 minutes of added on time(!) because the player that got red carded faked an injury trying to get out of it we go to extra time at 1-1.
From a neutral perspective, what outcome here is more "fun" for the league? I hate Spurs to be rewarded for playing like this, but having them near the top would be nice? I guess??
I don't know if it's tiredness or Spurs gameplan, but this is already dying down as a game similar to how City v Liverpool did. Except we're in the first half!
It's the 72nd minute, and Pep "We Need Five Subs" Guardiola hasn't made a sub.
I need to stop watching these games with the sound on during our chats -- otherwise it's just gonna be me getting upset by the announcers. Lee Dixon is now obsessed with the idea that City need to "take more long-range shots". They had 11 shots in the first half!
It's not a City–Spurs match until VAR rules out a City goal.
FT stat update:
Shots (on target): City 22 (5), Spurs 4 (2)
xG: Cit 1.62, Spurs 0.64
Final-third passes: City 192, Spurs 37
Penalty-area passes: City 20, Spurs 4
Huge three points for Spurs, and they WERE clinical on the counter. But unless City are the dominant team of year's past -- and everyone agrees that they're not! -- then I'm not gonna get carried away with their title hopes based on this match. They got dominated in every phase of the match -- pitch control, shot creation, etc. -- other than "chance conversion". And all the other phases of the match are the things that actually predict future winning. Some see a tactical masterclass, others see a team that had a couple nice counters and finished well in a match they lose more than half of the time if it's played 100 more times.
As for City, they were ... fine. The biggest thing is that Pep as them playing a dialed-back attacking style, which is supposed to make the team more robust against counters. Except, based on today's evidence, they're still pretty bad a defending counters. Despite the result, I'd still pick City to win the title over Spurs -- but I'm probably not picking either one at this point!
Lotta fun today. Thanks as always for joining in. Enjoy your weekends!
This is insane! https://twitter.com/Reunewal/status/1330214068381229058
Pretty texbook move there. CM picks up the ball, turns up from pressure, CF drops for the ball, RW runs into the space behind, chip over the top, goal. Shouldn't be that easy to score against the team that is still favored to win the league!
Oh yeah, that reason to be skeptical of Tottenham. One of the things Bill Connelly, this week's pod guest, likes to look at as a predictive factor is attacking-third turnover margin. In other words: how many possessions are you winning in the attacking third, vs how many are your opponents winning. Liverpool are plus-63 in first, then City are plus-32 in second in one fewer game. No one else is above 25. And Spurs, meanwhile, are minus-13, which is 15th in the league. We'll see if they can keep up their current performances if that doesn't change.
Mourhino > Me
Spurs do have some really dangerous-looking counter-attacking patterns here and there -- partially because they have superstar players leading them -- but they don't have enough of them.
HT stat update:
-Shots (on target): City 11 (3), Spurs 1 (1)
-xG (per Stats Perform): City 0.86, Spurs 0.20
-Attacking-third passes: City 103, Spurs 13
-Penalty-area passes: City 10, Spurs 3
My one-word review: Woof.
Spurs haven't been top of the table since August 2014??????? Wow. At one point a couple years ago, they had the most points of any team over the previous 38 games.
Harry Kane playing like that one season Wilt Chamberlain decided to care deeply about his assist numbers
Much better second-half for Spurs, btw. Three shots! And City haven't really created anything great, unlike the first half, which required a Gabby Jesus body-shield to keep the clean sheet.
jameis winston has scored more at tottenham hotspur stadium than manchester city.
One thing Lee Dixon got right: “Tactically, Jose will be very happy with himself.”
At this point in the season...Brighton have a higher xG than Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa have a lower xGA than Liverpool, and Harry Kane has more assists than last year's top 3 combined. Early season variance is so fun.
City players blocking each other in the box, the new analytics inefficiency!
I just looked up the players most-similar to Fernandiho's 17-18 season on Smarterscout. The top five, in order:
1) Fernandinho 18-19
2)Pierre-Emile Hojberg, Southampton, 17-18
3) Fabinho, Liverpool, 18-19
4) Maxime Gonalons, Lyon, 16-17
5) Fernandinho 16-17
Most-similar player from last season? Leicester's Wilifried Ndidi.
De Bruyne blocking a Son shot feels like it should make the ball explode or something.
The announcers on NBC are killing me right now. They're ascribing Mourinho's tactics to him being concerned about his players getting hurt and having to expend too much energy. Have they never watched a Mourinho game before??????
Question: Do you guys think Spurs would have taken more than one shot by now if they didn't score right away?
Maybe I'm missing something, but Rodri just sucks all the punch out of the City midfield. No dynamism or creativity.
As a Stevie Bergwijn True Believer, I’ve got a lot riding on today
MLS update: After a red card that led to 10 minutes of added on time(!) because the player that got red carded faked an injury trying to get out of it we go to extra time at 1-1.
Hahah mourinho masterclass
aguero on the bench sucking his belly in just in case Roy's on punditry this evening
I wish there was a stat that totaled up miles travelled during the international break by team...
the england captain isn't allowed to be offside! who does the lineman think Kane is Morata
YES!!
It's time for the Young Turk that is Jose Mourinho to rubberstamp his rise and supercede the tactically dated Pep Guardiola.
Next weekend: Chelsea vs. Tottenham . Championship Playoff?
Hey Ryan, off topic, but any chance we can get another one of those "Who's Good - Who's Shit in Top 5 Leagues" graphs?
I really hope Barcelona v Atletico redeem today's game slate.
What is the point of Rodri on this City team?
Gary Neviile's really exasperated with City's centrebacks.
Smelling salts?
Kane just pulled a wrestling move on Cancelo. Going full Mourinho
Is Harry Kane more Steve Nash or Nikola Jokic?
Is Harry Kane secretly Messi now?
OH MY!!!!!
2 SHOTS ON GOAL!!
From a neutral perspective, what outcome here is more "fun" for the league? I hate Spurs to be rewarded for playing like this, but having them near the top would be nice? I guess??
I F3ed to be sure and none of you mentioned Chelsea as potential title winners. What have you got against Frank 'English Rose' Lampard?
This actually does seem like a perfect game for Bale to come on with 20 mins left to go for a smash + grab goal
Arsenal fans: Duncan Alexander
@oilysailor:
Son now has as many PL goals as Arsenal this season
Wow, Orlando has fans. And you can STAND! What? Premier League being upstaged by MLS. Would never have happened on Scudamore's watch.
If someone says "Wow imagine how good City would be if they had Kane and Son up front!" I'm gonna get really annoyed.
Another good tackle by a city player on another city player
I don't know if it's tiredness or Spurs gameplan, but this is already dying down as a game similar to how City v Liverpool did. Except we're in the first half!
erm ok i concede, what was that stat about spurs not gaining posession in oppositions final 3rd? It can't go on like this!