Is our reputation as "physical" justified?

[barrybigfingers]

Just been reading a Spurs forum as well as Postegolou's post match interview. Same old comments about our physicality. The media regularly bangs on about it too. I know it was probably justified a few years ago but not these days. We have some very technical talented and skilful players in the squad and it's usually the opposition that bullies us these days. Do we still deserve this label? (maybe Hughes aside)

 

[Badger11]

Just been reading a Spurs forum as well as Postegolou's post match interview. Same old comments about our physicality. The media regularly bangs on about it too. I know it was probably justified a few years ago but not these days. We have some very technical talented and skilful players in the squad and it's usually the opposition that bullies us these days. Do we still deserve this label? (maybe Hughes aside)

I wish.

I have seen us bullied out of plenty of games in the past. If we are now getting physical it's about time just as long as they are not stupid fouls in dangerous places.

 

[MrRobbo]

Just been reading a Spurs forum as well as Postegolou's post match interview. Same old comments about our physicality. The media regularly bangs on about it too. I know it was probably justified a few years ago but not these days. We have some very technical talented and skilful players in the squad and it's usually the opposition that bullies us these days. Do we still deserve this label? (maybe Hughes aside)

Do they?

I feel like we are the least physical team in the league

 

[ASCPFC]

I think it comes from past teams - not the current one. Hilarious how effective we were from set pieces under Pulis and look now. It's certainly an area where physicality counts.

 

[WJK1960]

'Physical' can be interpreted differently. I sense that Postecoglou was trying to imply that we were dirty. It can also mean 'pressing hard, no space given' etc and I remember very vividly when we played Newcastle at Selhurst Park the season before last (a 0-0 draw) that their tempo was so high, they were completely in our face the whole game, working so hard on and off the ball - one couldn't help but be impressed.
If we are going to be harder to play against, with a high press and more robust defending that would be most welcome...I think we have been one of the least physical teams in the league.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

The PL is a tough league and we need to be tough to compete. It was a treat to see Hughes, Wharton, Munoz and Lecroix getting stuck in yesterday. Physical? Yes. Dirty? No.

In my book, describing a team as physical means committing fouls and being penalised for heavy tackling. In other words playing dirty. I always used to put Watford in the category of a 'dirty' team and Arsenal, whilst not necessarily overly physical, push the limits of, so called gamesmanship. Cheating in other words.

I'm delighted if we're seen as physical and not to be bullied, but I wouldn't like us to be labelled cheats.

Don't mess with us, we're from South London!

 

[Dogburger]

When we were winning at the end of last season it was because we started under Glasner to play a high tempo game . A change of style helped but it was the high press that was getting the results .

For whatever reason that was missing this season , until now . Maybe encouraged by Spurs midweek European fixture and the knowledge they would tire in a high tempo physical match Glasner obviously drummed it into the boys to pull their fingers out and let Spurs 'have some' . We can't match these richer clubs across the park , we know that but what we can do is match them and better them at the physical stuff because in the main we are only playing once a week where as they are playing two

A joy to watch