PLAYER RATINGS - Newcastle 1:3 Spurs

Goals from Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane returned Tottenham to winning ways at St James’ Park on Newcastle’s chosen day of protest.

Chadli advanced from midfield and swiped home a vicious left-foot drive just before half time, amid the Newcastle fans’ infamous boycott in protest against their chairman Mike Ashley.

However, the Magpies managed to find some momentum on the field as they equalised through Jack Colback just 19 seconds into the second period.

Colback’s foul on Eriksen then provided a free-kick from which the Dane could swing into the box, evading everyone in the area and nestling in Krul’s bottom corner, before Newcastle’s forward ventures left Harry Kane through to seal the 3 points in stoppage time.

Player Ratings

Michel Vorm -6 – Another solid showing from Vorm, who was unlucky not to get the clean sheet. Helpless for the Colback goal but expect Huge back soon.

Eric Dier - 6 – Pace again exposed at right back but was confident bringing the ball out. We all know he’s more comfortable at centre-half but he was okay today, even with the introduction of Ameobi.

Federico Fazio - 6 – The same really, very solid in every aspect, and was almost accredited with a goal after Tim Krul’s fumble. Should he stay there now? Him and Vertonghen seem to play very well together.

Jan Vertonghen - 7 – A welcomed return from illness for Vertonghen and despite an arguable yellow card he played very well. So cool bringing the ball out of defence and into midfield.

Danny Rose - 7 – One of our main threats in the side nowadays, getting forward on multiple occasions. Not afraid of any challenge, too.

Nabil Bentaleb - 8 – Ran the show for me. My man of the match due to his commanding display in the middle of the park. Some of his tricks were outrageous and he was the metronome to our performance.

Paulinho - 7 – An energetic display from the Brazilian, given man of the match on Sky. Tried the balls that no other player seems brave enough to.

Erik Lamela - 6 – Similarly to Paulinho he provided a spark when the game was so flat. Couldn’t get a shot away but was involved in almost everything good.

Christian Eriksen - 7 – Such a vital player, grew into the game as the gaps opened up. Cool on the ball and his goal was well deserved if not flukey!

Nacer Chadli - 7 – A much needed goal for Chadli who’s form was dipping. Showed some awesome pace in the second half and should have had an assist from Bentaleb.

Harry Kane - 7 – 30th goal of the season! A mature display as chances didn’t come his way too often, but the opportunity he got right at the end was the only one he needed to grab a goal.

SUBS

Mousa Dembele - 6 – Couldn’t get involved and went backwards.. a lot.

Ben Davies - N/a

Ryan Mason - N/a

 

to credit lamela with a score of 6 out of ten is ridiculous, he is totally inept and he showed this time and time again today. It's some sort of joke to allow him to play for spurs, I'm sick of hoping he'll come good. we were lucky today we played a team who are worse tan us, and there's not many of them. apologies for the rant, but i'm sick of watching this football drain my life force away....three years of dross and counting. lamela should have been given a 2 and substituted at half time.

 

Can someone please tell me how Paulinho got rated 7 and Lamela 6, both were complete ****, they would have got a 2 from me just for turning up.

Philo I completely agree, Lamela and Paulinho have got to go.

 

Lamala was absolutely poor. The commentators said Lamela Gives the ball away so often that I thought Givestheballaway was his new name.

 

Paulinho got a 7?? And man of the match from Sky??? As usual he was absolute garbage!! Slow, lazy and if he didnt just pass it back to the player that gave it to him he gave it away. I cant believe how slow he is he cant run. Lamela was bad too I thought. Verthongen was excellent


Paulinho -2 I was horrified to see him start. Why Dembele is not starting is beyond me.

 

I totally agree with all of the above. Lamela and Paulinho are horribly frustrating to watch. I can't for the life of me understand why Dembele isn't playing, he has so much more about him than the pair of them put together! We need to shift some of the deadweight and bring in players who are worthy of putting on that shirt. Would also like to see Yedlin get a chance with Walker out and Dier looking susceptible to anyone with a bit of pace.

 

What's even more concerning is MP's inability to show that the team is moving forward in terms of style of play, they all look lost, or are playing within themselves as though they don't believe in what has been asked of them. I don't see senior players stepping up and taking the lead, showing genuine leadership character. I don't want to be calling for the managers head, but playing one or all of: Lamela, Chadli, Paulinho, Townsend screams out that there is something very wrong, and if the system isn't working with the crop of players he has at his disposal, then make some subtle changes, this would be a sign of a good manager in my eyes.
We have played well on or occasions this season, and then we have relied upon singular performances from Kane & Erikson to get us wins, it's just not good enough.

On Lamela, said it earlier, he was appalling without a single redeeming quality, he must be sold in the summer.
Paulinho over the past two seasons hasn't been good enough, today he was a , and did show some signs of wanting to play the ball forward, needs to go this summer
Chadle, he simply isn't good enough, awy in the summer please
Townsend, where do I start, I don't, part of the summer clear out please
Capoe- summer clear out
Adebayor
Soldudo

 

We did okay today but Paulinho played very well. You can't bash him just for the sake of it.
Season long over so come on Villa!!!

 

For me Lamela was Spurs poorest player, he so often lost the ball in dangerous areas and lacked any real penetration.Instead of following the ball/ game I suggest you watch Lamela for a few minutes off the ball as well and you will see he contributes nothing.Looking forward to Pritchard replacing him next season!

 

We were so lucky to be playing Newcastle.

Any team with something to fight for or with any semblance of pride would have beaten us.

Lamela was dreadful, his performance must rival Paulinho's against Burnley as one of the worst in a Spurs shirt. He did absolutely nothing apart from mis control the ball, kick the ball out and pass the ball back to Newcastle.

How Paulinho got man of the match by Sky and a 7 here is beyond me. An absolute waste of space.

A few years back we were a few top signings from being a very good side, depends how you look at things, we are now a couple of bad signings from being a really **** team or a team that needs at least 8 top class players.

Defence is a shambles. Fazio, Chriches, Walker all need to go. Dier needs to learn his trade and be a back up, he isn't good enough yet, if he does actually improve, that is impossible for him in the current team. For me still bit convinced on Rose and Davies with his rare chances doesn't look an improvement.

As much as it is lovely to see home grown lads in the first team, they need to be very good players, Bentaleb and Mason aren't. Promising possibly. I think everyone has taken them to their hearts because of all the big name foreign signings are so bad and at least they run around a bit, put effort in and actually look like they want to play for us.

In midfield, Chadli, Lamela, Paulinho, Stambouli, Capoue all need to go.

Obviously up front, Harry is a top player, Soldado and that other waste of space gone.

I think that leaves, jan, Eriksen, Harry and the keeper. At least we have one good player in goal, defence, midfield and upfront, just need to find the other seven starters.

We have put in three terrible displays in the last three games, the only thing that motivates footballers now days is money. By paying players on a win only basis would certainly encourage them to put more effort in. Make them work for their 50 - 100 grand a week. Embarrassing.

 

Real negativity around Lamela. The one player who always tries to go forward and constantly chasing and putting opponents under pressure. Also when he plays Eriksen looks a better player.
Surprisingly Poch has decided recently that Townsend was a better bet, on what planet.
Should have gone to Burnley and attacked, with Lamela and Dembele as when we were winning and playing well earlier in year they were both in team.
It's not the kids fault that we paid 30mil.

 

Its not Lamelas fault we paid 30mil for him no but if wed paid his true value about 7mil hed still be a massive dissapointment.

 

Well all I can say is thank god we played Newcastle today if it were any1 else we'd be saying the same thing we do every week. Roll on the summer when we can get rid of the **** in our squad(45%) of it anyways! Over the moon for Kane wiv his 30th and hopefully poch will learn how to manage this summer!! Yippee we won coys.

 

Its Baldinis fault we spent 30 million, i bet Roma couldn't believe their luck. Out of the players that came from the Bale money, only Eriksen and i know i will get shot down in flames- Soldado, who unfortunately doesnt fit our style of midfield possession with no end product. This guy cant go from being 3rd top goal scorer in la liga to a total also ran. I believe he was a good signing and has some skill, but will get no chance at spurs. Agree with above comments, will need to sell before we can buy, so im afraid times up for Lamela, Chadli, Walker, Capoue, Adebayeeaww and Paulinho. This could raise about 5 million to buy 5 new players!!!
Why does this Yedlin never get a game, is he another Baldini special? The spines there just need another class striker, midfielder and a couple of defenders that can defend! Need to win last 5 games and see where we end up, i believe europa league on the horizon again. COYS!!!!!!

 

It is interesting, nay amazing, that there are those around that thought that the Brazilian had a good game. FFS. He is hopeless. Watch his every moment, as I always do. He is truly not fit to wear the famous shirt....and the sooner we get shot the better.
Lamela - 6 Ffs - should have gone at half time. Only because it was Newcastle did his constant losing of the ball make no fecking difference. Chadli.....before the goal, as always, I was trying to work out where he plays. Totally without discipline. I don't care that he scores the odd goal - he also isn't good enough. Squad player possibly, no more - forces the Dane out of the middle. Poch is starting to worry me....particularly if Levy doesn't have a mass clear out. A real worry that....
COYS

 

Overall it was a slight improvement on the last couple of games but only slight and lets be fair thats not difficult.

 

Worth keeping from today's starters...Rose, Verts, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Kane...possibly Chadli, Dyer.....after that.....mmmm...
Not sure about Fazio, Vorm...
Defo sure about Lamela and Paulinho....

 

Surely this was just a shop window exercise starting 11. Won the game nothing to gain nothing to lose coys

 

I have the feeling a few folks need to join Bashers' Anonymous.

That being said, it just seems terribly obvious that Lamela's style just doesn't seem to fit in the EPL. He needs to ply his trade in a less-aggressive, slower-paced league. His fouling practices are a red card in the making. However -- let's give him creds this week for setting up Kane's goal.

Paulinho is useful if not phenomenal.

But what we seem to need most is fewer journeymen "midfielders" and more traditional forwards. Maybe that's why Poch sticks to the diamond formation, even if that's not what he really wants for his club.

And...as was evident today, we look pretty effective when we move the ball swiftly and crisply, as that's when we most kept Newcastle on their collective heels.

I really like Eriksen, but I wouldn't mind having a "Cazorla" type player in the ranks, too.

So next it's trying to make sinners out of the Saints. Any guesses on who's going to show best this week in practice and get a starting nod?????

 

Three points and a deserved win but how piss poor were Newcastle. Paulinho wasn't bad but MOTM ?
I think with these sort of players the expectations are so low that we give them way to much credit just
because they were ok. Ill give him some credit for doing his job, I might even say that he and Bentaleb
worked well together in a match where the home team were appalling, give em both a 6 because we won.