Matt Doherty D Wolves b.1992

[youngirish]

Doherty confirmed as a Spurs player, four year deal. One of the value signings of the summer if the fee being quoted is correct. Great to see us have a senior first team player with a "big 6" club, it's been far too long - nine years since O'Shea left United unless I'm forgetting anyone else?

Hopefully this is the start of a trend and we will see a few more go the same way in the next few years.
There's not much difference other than perception between Spurs and Wolves at the moment. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Wolves finish higher than them this season and Mourinho is replaced before the season ends.

[Eirambler]

It could go either way, but the other way of looking at it is that Spurs played in a Champions League final a year ago with much of the squad they have now whereas I thought Wolves looked like they had reached the limit of their abilities in the Europa League knockouts a few weeks ago.

This seems like a definite step up for me - Spurs can challenge for the Champions League places next season, I'm not convinced that Wolves realistically can.

[DeLorean]

Is it true that Chelsea stopped Duff going to Spurs or is that just one of those rumours ? ?

I wonder were Chelsea concerned about Duff’s injury profile and is that why they let him leave.

Spurs were interested but Duff himself felt he couldn't join such a close rival. Chelsea wanted Duff to stay, it was his own choice to leave and one he regrets - https://www.the42.ie/damien-duff-move-to-chelsea-5139562-Jul2020/

[seanfhear]

Spurs were interested but Duff himself felt he couldn't join such a close rival. Chelsea wanted Duff to stay, it was his own choice to leave and one he regrets - https://www.the42.ie/damien-duff-move-to-chelsea-5139562-Jul2020/
Who advised him to go to the Newcastle graveyard ? ?

[Stuttgart88]

I read that Doherty's agent Jorge Mendes, the so-called "super agent", advises Wolves' owners, is Nuno Espirito Santo's agent and is Mourinho's agent. More conflicts of interest here than in an FAI executive recruitment exercise.

[seanfhear]

I read that Doherty's agent Jorge Mendes, the so-called "super agent", advises Wolves' owners, is Nuno Espirito Santo's agent and is Mourinho's agent. More conflicts of interest here than in an FAI executive recruitment exercise.M’mmmm ? !

[Olé Olé]

Playing fairly advanced today against Everton. Has had a couple of dangerous moments. Played a nice one-two with Kane to get through on goal but Pickford closed him down and saved.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Playing fairly advanced today against Everton. Has had a couple of dangerous moments. Played a nice one-two with Kane to get through on goal but Pickford closed him down and saved.
the bounce tricked him, should have scored

[irishfan86]

It wasn’t an error by Doherty. It was a good run, an excellent attempt, and a better save.

Certainly Doherty is being given far more freedom in this Spurs system than he had with us in the last two matches. Leaning more toward Coleman for us in October if we are playing a true flat four at the back. For the record Coleman is playing excellently as well today. Some crucial clearances/interventions.

[Olé Olé]

There was one stage where Son took the ball to the byline after getting behind Coleman. Coleman recovered and made an excellent precise tackle.

Doherty is making hay on that flank because I think Everton are playing very narrow. They have effectively started four central players in midfield (Rodriguez, Doucoure, Gomes and Allan) and have two strikers up front. It looks like they are putting Richarlison out on the left to nullify him a bit now. High compliment.

[Bielsa´s irish]

richardlison cant follow doherty, good game for his debut

[paul_oshea]

Is Doherty not match fit still?

[irishfan86]

I suspect Doherty was removed for tactical reasons. Midfielder on for a fullback with Spurs chasing. Wouldn’t read too much into it fitness wise.

[Olé Olé]

Yeah, was tactical surely.

He had a good debut. I think it will be interesting to see how he would fare against a side with a wide forward, like United with Rashford.

[DeLorean]

Maybe not tactical - https://www.otbsports.com/soccer/jose-mourinho-questions-the-fitness-levels-of-matt-doherty-and-his-team-after-everton-defeat-1075486

[irishfan86]

Thanks for sharing. He did look tired at the end of the match, I will say that.

When Doherty is at his best he’s doing lung busting runs over and over. He made a few in this game but realistically I don’t know how many players are fully match fit for that style of play on Day 1 of a season.

[Olé Olé]

Interesting. I assumed tactical when it was Ndombele that came in as opposed to Aurier. But maybe that implies more about more about Aurier's standing in Jose's plans.

[Eminence Grise]

Yeah, was tactical surely.

He had a good debut. I think it will be interesting to see how he would fare against a side with a wide forward, like United with Rashford.


Maybe not tactical - https://www.otbsports.com/soccer/jose-mourinho-questions-the-fitness-levels-of-matt-doherty-and-his-team-after-everton-defeat-1075486


Everything Mourinho does is tactical, just not directly related to the game being played. Picking fights with players, squeezing more money from boards for marquee signings, deflecting blame from himself...

[paul_oshea]

Maybe not tactical - https://www.otbsports.com/soccer/jose-mourinho-questions-the-fitness-levels-of-matt-doherty-and-his-team-after-everton-defeat-1075486

Called it.

[DeLorean]

I assume any lack of fitness in Doherty's case would be fatigue from such a heavy schedule, as he couldn't really be suffering from early season rustiness? If so, it's bit concerning in the short-term given Tottenham's heavy schedule, granted they'll be some squad rotation. EG might be right too though, Mourinho's comments can't always be taken at face value.

[paul_oshea]

Everything Mourinho does is tactical, just not directly related to the game being played. Picking fights with players, squeezing more money from boards for marquee signings, deflecting blame from himself...

...losing 0-1 at home. Its all tactical.

I take your point though :) It's hard to figure out how good Everton were, and how less good Spurs were, but that Everton midfield ran all day. But Mourinho will be under pressure soon if they lose another couple of games.

[paul_oshea]

I assume any lack of fitness in Doherty's case would be fatigue from such a heavy schedule, as he couldn't really be suffering from early season rustiness? If so, it's bit concerning in the short-term given Tottenham's heavy schedule, granted they'll be some squad rotation. EG might be right too though, Mourinho's comments can't always be taken at face value.

This is it, he had a very long season send with Wolves. Its not going to get any easier. So maybe Mourinho is aware of that, and that is a good tactical substitution especially when chasing a goal.

[paul_oshea]

This is it, he had a very long season send with Wolves. Its not going to get any easier. So maybe Mourinho is aware of that, and that is a good tactical substitution especially when chasing a goal.

"You can, for example, look to Doherty, a player normally in incredible condition," he said.

"He didn't have pre-season. He went direct from holidays to national team matches, no pre-season at all, not one single training session. He played two consecutive matches.

"Today, he was not Matt Doherty like he normally is."

Mourinho talking above.

Nothing to do with this game, but I did worry about this move, not sure its a good move.

[seanfhear]

"You can, for example, look to Doherty, a player normally in incredible condition," he said.

"He didn't have pre-season. He went direct from holidays to national team matches, no pre-season at all, not one single training session. He played two consecutive matches.

"Today, he was not Matt Doherty like he normally is."

Mourinho talking above.

Nothing to do with this game, but I did worry about this move, not sure its a good move.
Mourinho is at an important test stage of his management career, If he does not produce the goods now at Spurs he is entering the Has-Been Stage of a Football Manager ! !

[DeLorean]

This could work out well for Doherty, hopefully - ​https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12073455/gareth-bale-and-sergio-reguilon-could-change-tottenhams-system (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12073455/gareth-bale-and-sergio-reguilon-could-change-tottenhams-systemThe)


The signing of Matt Doherty was widely regarded as a straightforward upgrade on Aurier even though he had been used as a wing-back at Wolves. Aurier's role was so attacking anyway that it could be argued that a natural wing-back on that right side made more sense.The move for Reguilon is different. He is not a like-for-like upgrade on Davies. His attacking qualities mean that he is more suited to mirroring the role of Doherty on the right than slotting seamlessly into the existing shape. A formation change would appear inevitable.

Switching to a genuine back three makes sense.

[seanfhear]

This could work out well for Doherty, hopefully - ​https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12073455/gareth-bale-and-sergio-reguilon-could-change-tottenhams-system (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/12073455/gareth-bale-and-sergio-reguilon-could-change-tottenhams-systemThe)
Doherty does seem to be an out and out Wing Back !

[DeLorean]

Interview with The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/26/matt-doherty-i-wasnt-even-young-like-12-so-it-was-a-bit-embarrassing?CMP=share_btn_tw

Starts today, Hendrick starts for Newcastle.

[Bielsa´s irish]

he is having a great game carries the ball almost as a right midfielder than a defender, on the other hand, hendrick is chasing shadows, as last week

[Bielsa´s irish]

one huge mistake alongside with Winks, actually was Winks mistake, almost the english allowed 1-1 with a street wise brazilian. I dont understand how that Winks chap is a premier league player only because he is english, he makes Glenn Whelan a beckenbauer.

Awful player. Slow, fragile not my kind of center midfielder

dont get why Coco Lamela is behind Winks

[elatedscum]

one huge mistake alongside with Winks, actually was Winks mistake, almost the english allowed 1-1 with a street wise brazilian. I dont understand how that Winks chap is a premier league player only because he is english, he makes Glenn Whelan a beckenbauer.

Awful player. Slow, fragile not my kind of center midfielder

dont get why Coco Lamela is behind Winks

Winks is grand, does the simple things well, has a bit of creativity and invention. He’s not great or anything but I’d imagine he’d be starting for us if he was irish...

[Bielsa´s irish]

Winks is grand, does the simple things well, has a bit of creativity and invention. He’s not great or anything but I’d imagine he’d be starting for us if he was irish...

no he wouldnt plus he cant protect the back 4 and it was heavily exposed yesterday. He plays there only because of nationality

[DeLorean]

Heavily exposed? Newcastle had one shot on target, and that was the crazy penalty in the 97th minute. I don't think Winks' primary role is to protect the back four anyway, Hojbjerg did that job particularly well.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Heavily exposed? Newcastle had one shot on target, and that was the crazy penalty in the 97th minute. I don't think Winks' primary role is to protect the back four anyway, Hojbjerg did that job particularly well.

For me the guy is a fragile player , Holbjerg is a caudillo i understand, but Winks wouldnt be a starter for Eire, theres one circunstance where he made a huge mistake with Joelinton yesterday. Doherty cover great the line and this chap was driibbled out and tricked by the brazilian so easily. Amateur stuff almost 1-1....i say get the yellow you are the frantic holding midfielder.

[Razors left peg]

What is a caudillo?

[John83]

What is a caudillo?
Military dictator. I've never heard it used in sport, but I could imagine it being analogous to 'midfield general'.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Caudillo is a democratic leader with great moral and ethic and a silver tongue. José Mujica is a caudillo in politics,
It is used in spanish football to talk about a charismatic leader .... a goalie, midfielder ,defender or forward. Usually a seasoned player with positive influence among others. Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton were caudillos. Ivan Zamorano was a caudillo for Chile. Dwight Yorke for T and Tobago. Ryan Nelsen for the all whites, Schmeichel and Chilavert etc etc

[Stuttgart88]

Charismatic. Silver tongued. Frank Stapleton. Words you never expect to hear used together.

[seanfhear]

Charismatic. Silver tongued. Frank Stapleton. Words you never expect to hear used together.
Agreed, and I’b be a huge fan of Frank Stapleton’s football ability even if I am looking back with rose tinted glasses ! !

[Bielsa´s irish]

Very composed game as a right back, still a bit low in confidence when attacking, but the mcneil dude was always marking him when overlapping

[zero]

some thoughts from spurs fans:

He was expected to be first choice but he has found the transition to a full back in back 4 tough. He's struggling to find the balance between attack and defence and is doing neither terribly well. I think he may still be preferred against Burnley and other teams with more of an aerial threat. He's better in the air vs aurier.

[Fixer82]

Caudillo is a democratic leader with great moral and ethic and a silver tongue. José Mujica is a caudillo in politics,
It is used in spanish football to talk about a charismatic leader .... a goalie, midfielder ,defender or forward. Usually a seasoned player with positive influence among others. Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton were caudillos. Ivan Zamorano was a caudillo for Chile. Dwight Yorke for T and Tobago. Ryan Nelsen for the all whites, Schmeichel and Chilavert etc etc

Brady has as much charisma as a drowned trout.

[irishfan86]

Two yellows led to a sending off for Doherty. Didn’t affect the win (happened near end of match). Not ideal as he is just re-establishing himself after his time out due to COVID.

Lots of rotation this time of year so shouldn’t be catastrophic but hasn’t necessarily been a smooth move to Spurs so far.

[Stuttgart88]

Pretty clear now that Doc is best as a wing back and that Seamus is still our best right back?

[Eirambler]

I think so, yes. I was 50/50 between the two last year but I think it's clear now that Doherty's abilities as a wing back don't really transfer to a back four to the same extent. He still offers useful cover for both full back positions though.

The option of going three at the back will no doubt come up again given that we have a lot of decent centre backs now, natural wing backs on both sides and nobody obvious to play centre forward in the short term with McGoldrick gone. The arguments in favour of it are probably stronger than they were previously. But Kenny strikes me as having no genuine interest in deviating from his preferred 4-3-3/4-5-1 setup. To be fair to him, with limited time to work with the players, switching formation at international level is more difficult than at club level.

[Charlie Darwin]

For 3-5-2 you need centre-halves who are very comfortable on the ball. We have Shane Duffy. The idea that we have two guys who are slightly better wing backs than they are full backs so we should change the formation to suit them is barmy.

[seanfhear]

For 3-5-2 you need centre-halves who are very comfortable on the ball. We have Shane Duffy. The idea that we have two guys who are slightly better wing backs than they are full backs so we should change the formation to suit them is barmy.
Fortunately, considering his form we have more than Shane Duffy.

I wonder as he gets older can Doherty play as a Centre Back. He is a decent size fellow and he stood in there for us in an emergency situation ( only part of a game I know ) and did well. It would be a handy string to his bow if he could.

[Charlie Darwin]

Who would play right wing back then?

[Eirambler]

For 3-5-2 you need centre-halves who are very comfortable on the ball. We have Shane Duffy. The idea that we have two guys who are slightly better wing backs than they are full backs so we should change the formation to suit them is barmy.



Ya, I'm not saying I necessarily think it's a good idea, just that it will inevitably come up again partly due to Doherty's struggles as an out and out right back, with McGoldrick retiring and with the emergence of Collins and O'Shea who could both be reasonably described as ball playing centre backs.

Also, I wouldn't be advocating playing Duffy as a centre back in Kenny's system going forward regardless of whether it's a back four or a back three. He just doesn't suit the style of play we're going to employ and will always be targeted by the opposition.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ya, I'm not saying I necessarily think it's a good idea, just that it will inevitably come up again partly due to Doherty's struggles as an out and out right back, with McGoldrick retiring and with the emergence of Collins and O'Shea who could both be reasonably described as ball playing centre backs.

Also, I wouldn't be advocating playing Duffy as a centre back in Kenny's system going forward regardless of whether it's a back four or a back three. He just doesn't suit the style of play we're going to employ and will always be targeted by the opposition.
I don't disagree but in a three CB system he's going to be needed regardless because everyone won't always be fit. England have a dozen defenders who are comfortable playing three at the back - we might too in time, but we don't now.

[seanfhear]

Who would play right wing back then?
Séamas Coleman.