Ardiles delighted
Ossie Ardiles was delighted with what he saw at the weekend in the North London Derby at the Emirates. We didn't win, that is the bottom line, but we outplayed them on their own patch and when you think back to last season you get an idea of how far we have come.
Last season we went ahead and hung on for a draw. We had to withstand Arsenal pressure. We bossed the game and won at our place, but it is a long while since I can remember us going to a top teams stadium and bossing the game in front of their own fans.
Where are all those fans who say these tactics don't work now? They have suddenly gone quiet. If people can't see we are making progress then they must be blind or prejudice they can't let go of.
Ossie sent messages of welcome when Pochettino arrived, he'll be sending messages of delight now. It should be easy to get ourselves up for a game against Arsenal, what we now need to see is that level of performance on a weekly basis. Do that and we can do better than most people expect.
Reproducing it and adding a clinical finishing touch comes next. With every young improving team though there will be ups and downs. They will be more motivated for some games more than others, genuine competition for places helps to keep the bar high though.
It is an overused phrase competition for places, often there isn't any a team picks itself. Look at Spurs and there are areas where the competition could be greater and others, like central midfield, where all have been regulars at one stage or another. Injury forced Mason out after a Man of the Match performance against Sunderland, Dele Alli steps up and grabs the spot for his own, Mason now has to fight to get it back.
Eric Dier has produced so when fit again Nabil Bentaleb has to up his game, Mousa Dembele is now the elder statesman in midfield, he has had to give more and he is producing motivated performances. Each player coming in is stating his claim to a starting berth, that is the level you have to produce when given an opportunity.
Tom Carroll, Andros Townsend can see what they need to do, can they do it?
Further ratings
Player rankings across Europe - Centre-backs
Kyle Walker ranked in the Top 15
Top Defensive Midfielder Rankings
Last season we went ahead and hung on for a draw. We had to withstand Arsenal pressure. We bossed the game and won at our place, but it is a long while since I can remember us going to a top teams stadium and bossing the game in front of their own fans.
Where are all those fans who say these tactics don't work now? They have suddenly gone quiet. If people can't see we are making progress then they must be blind or prejudice they can't let go of.
Augurs very well for the future. COYS!!!
Man of the match: All the team but Delli Ali extra special. COYS
Superb performance from our boys. Very proud of Mauricio and all the team. Desire, commitment, quality and a very young team as well
Ossie sent messages of welcome when Pochettino arrived, he'll be sending messages of delight now. It should be easy to get ourselves up for a game against Arsenal, what we now need to see is that level of performance on a weekly basis. Do that and we can do better than most people expect.
Reproducing it and adding a clinical finishing touch comes next. With every young improving team though there will be ups and downs. They will be more motivated for some games more than others, genuine competition for places helps to keep the bar high though.
It is an overused phrase competition for places, often there isn't any a team picks itself. Look at Spurs and there are areas where the competition could be greater and others, like central midfield, where all have been regulars at one stage or another. Injury forced Mason out after a Man of the Match performance against Sunderland, Dele Alli steps up and grabs the spot for his own, Mason now has to fight to get it back.
Eric Dier has produced so when fit again Nabil Bentaleb has to up his game, Mousa Dembele is now the elder statesman in midfield, he has had to give more and he is producing motivated performances. Each player coming in is stating his claim to a starting berth, that is the level you have to produce when given an opportunity.
Tom Carroll, Andros Townsend can see what they need to do, can they do it?
Further ratings
Player rankings across Europe - Centre-backs
Kyle Walker ranked in the Top 15
Top Defensive Midfielder Rankings
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