A Spock Mind Meld

Yes in true Star Trek fashion, the original series obviously, I appear to have been given a Spock-like mind-meld with Ange Postecoglou.

You don't worry about the things you can't control, you deal with what's in front of you.

In other words, if a player isn't signed yet, don't waste time worrying about it, if your opposition are signing players, who cares, you can't affect it so ignore it, it isn't important, only what we do is important.

This is the path we are walking down, you walk down it with us or you are not worth listening to.

I was itching for some reporter to ask if Harry Kane is committed because I knew what Postecoglou would say, "Have you seen the scoreline mate."

If he is here, he is here, if he is not, he is not.

It's that simple.

Background work will have been done for all eventualities so what will be, will be.

Onto others, Djed Spence would appear not to be good enough or not the right fit for a Postecoglou system, or it's nnot financially viable to sell one of the other right-backs.

Joe Rodon is another in the long list of youngsters we have failed to develop, while few expected Tanguy Ndombele to have the work ethic to suit a Postecoglou style of play.

He tears them off a strip at half-time because they stopped pressing and playing on the front foot for 5-10 minutes. How often does Ndombele take his foot off the gas, indeed does he even know where the gas peddle is?

Is the XI that started the Shakhtar Donetsk game the 1st XI or has he split the two teams to be decent whoever he puts out? I guess we'll learn more against Barcelona.

For now, it's this is how we are playing, learn it, learn to play it naturally, not mechanically.

OK, let's get into the mind stuff, as this is 95% what football is.

Maintaining pressure on the opposition and avoiding periods of coasting during a game is a fundamental aspect of a successful football strategy. Ange Postecoglou's half-time message to his Spurs players highlights several key factors that underscore the importance of sustained pressure:

Perhaps you'll notice things that happened last season with the shoe, deliberately, on the other foot.

Mental Pressure and Decision Making 

When a team applies consistent pressure on their opponents, it forces the opposition players to make quick decisions under duress. 

This can lead to rushed and less accurate decision-making, resulting in turnovers, misplaced passes, and poor defensive choices. 

Mental fatigue caused by relentless pressure can impair a player's ability to analyze situations effectively and execute decisions efficiently.

Sound familiar, yep. I have spoken about it many a time and you saw it in abundance lsast season.

Physical Fatigue and Performance

The physical demands of high-intensity play can wear down opponents over time. Continuously pressing and attacking forces the opposition to expend energy both in offensive and defensive efforts. 

As the game progresses, fatigued players may experience decreased coordination, reduced reaction times, and diminished overall performance. 

This can lead to defensive lapses, slower movement, and an increased likelihood of making mistakes.

This is what Postecoglou is aiming for.

Creating Mistakes and Capitalizing

As players become tired, their physical capabilities and mental sharpness decline. Fatigue can lead to decreased concentration, slower reflexes, and a higher susceptibility to errors. 

A tired player is more likely to resort to default behaviours or take unnecessary risks, which can result in turnovers, poor positioning, and defensive breakdowns. 

The team applying pressure can capitalize on these mistakes by creating scoring opportunities and maintaining control of the game.

I think you have seen by the number of chances that we create that we are a goalscorers dream, 50 goals for Harry Kane next season anyone?

Anxiety and Defensive Instincts

Fatigue can also amplify feelings of anxiety and stress among players, particularly if they are struggling to cope with the sustained pressure from the opposing team. 

Anxiety can lead to a player defaulting to conservative and defensive instincts, rather than taking proactive and assertive actions. 

This defensive mindset can hinder a team's ability to initiate attacks, control possession, and maintain offensive momentum.

How often has Spurs backward mentality passing frustrated you the way it has frustrated me for years, together with the slow pace of a pass itself. Ping it man ping it.

Tactical Advantage

Sustained pressure can disrupt the opponent's tactical plans and force them to alter their game strategy. 

When a team is consistently on the offensive, the opposition may struggle to establish a rhythm, make planned transitions, or execute their preferred playing style. 

This disruption can lead to disorganization within the opposing team's ranks, creating gaps and vulnerabilities that the attacking team can exploit.

A problem Tottenham have had with our initially successful counter-attacking approach petering out as the season wore on and the players got tired of being on the back-foot all the time.

In the case of the Tottenham vs. Shakhtar Donetsk game, Ange Postecoglou's emphasis on maintaining pressure throughout the match paid off. By preventing the opposition from resting, both mentally and physically, Tottenham gained a tactical advantage. 

The fatigued Shakhtar Donetsk players were less capable of defending against Tottenham's continuous attacks, leading to a dominant second-half performance and a convincing victory.

Overall, the lesson from this scenario underscores the crucial role of sustained pressure in dictating the flow of a football match, influencing the mental and physical states of players, and creating opportunities to capitalize on the opposition's mistakes.

Enjoy this journey folks, oh, and support your team, don't fight against it.

COYS