twice.
Spurs got back to winning ways with a convincing 4-1 victory over Saudi FC, who were tired, very tired and down to the bare bones of what all that money bought them, because no one else has injuries, as Callum Wilson had his pants taken down.
This match was brought to you by the words tired and injuries and the number 2.
Poor old Callum Wilson, wasn’t happy at the end of their 4-1 thrashing with a bit of Vicario shithousery, claiming it was a lack of respect but apparently Callum is a grown man so moves on.
Yes that would be Wilson the infrequently seen Newcastle striker who took to his podcast with that other well known infrequent flier Michel Antonio to slag off Richarlison and his scoring or lack of it. Now yes we’ve all done it but then we’re not fellow professional footballers. We’re not professional footballers like Antonio who have managed only two league goals this season, the same amount as Richarlison scored in this game, against Wilson’s Newcastle.
Imagine being this own by the Pigeon.
But poor poor Newcastle were tired. Ange made two changes from the midweek loss, Pigeon and Sarr in for Lo Celso and Hojbjerg. The latter understandable – and helpful – the former maybe no to. The Argentine had popped up with a couple of goals and decent performances and had done nothing to be benched, especially as it meant Kulusevski – who has underperformed – moved into that central space. This also meant Son moved back to his more familiar role on the left, with Johnson taking up the wide right. This helped things.
Son has more space on the left, as shown midweek he gets crowded in the middle, that space helped with the opener. By then Spurs could have been behind but for a Ben Davies toe that just got ahead of the Newcastle striker – not Wilson – to prevent a tap in. Though Romero had a header from a corner cleared off the line.
But just before the half hour, Porro found Udogie in the middle of the park, he shifted the ball left to Son, faced with his old team mate Trippier he got the space to get to the byline and put in the cross where it found Destiny Udogie in the middle of the goal for a tap in. The young Italian making the perfect run to get on the end of it for his first goal for the club. I did joke that it’s about time too what with the amount of time he spends in the opposition area. It’s great that he’s now signed a contract extension. Bought for Conte but seems to have slotted into Ange’s system perfectly.
Taken the lead again, maybe that was Howe’s plan, what with the way the previous five games panned out.
How many times do I say it about getting to the byline and getting crosses in? Little over 10 minutes later and it was the same old story – no not conceding after taking the lead – but getting to the byline and getting crosses in. It started with Bissouma and then Richarlison winning the ball in the middle of the park. Porro’s pass swung over the other side of the park was headed on by Trippier but only for Son to run onto it. Son’s feet tied Trippier in knots as he ran into the box, then cut the ball back for Richarlison to score for Spurs with hi feet for the first time.
How many times do I say it about getting to the byline and getting crosses in?
Spurs have the players for this game and with Son/Udogie on the left and Johnson/Porro on the right they can do it. With Kulusevski wide it doesn’t work. When he’s on the right he repeatedly cuts inside into defenders and trouble and is the main reason he has only one assist despite playing nearly every minute of the 16 league games this season. Here he was popping up on the left a lot and you’d think great, get the ball in with your left but no he kept cutting inside on his damn right foot.
People were talking up his central performance but no, Lo Celso could have offered more.
Meanwhile offering more was Bissouma, he looked more like his old self, maybe it was being back in tandem with Sarr that did it, whatever it was keep it up chap.
We did see the usual Richarlison a bit later when Kulusevski’s cross, after a storming counter by Son, was there to be headed home but the Brazilian fell down getting nothing of the ball in front of the gaping net. He was though putting in a shift, attacking and in defence. Still if a huge offer came in and another striker was available.
The second half started with that Spurs second half thing, you know where they drop off and invite attacks. Before after a quarter of an hour, Porro played a glorious ball from the right over to Richarlison in the middle. He didn’t really control it with his first touch but his second counted. Two goals in one game, Richarlison was on a hat-trick.
Porro was again showing, if he’s allowed to stay wide and get crosses over, not confined in the middle of the park, he’s a great asset in creating chances. He now has six league assists, just one behind Trippier who was regarded as the best assisting fullback, or Alexander Arnold who has three.
We wanted revenge for that stuffing last season, it should have been, could have been. Johnson hit the woodwork for the second time after Kulu eventually played him in. Spurs managed 12 shots in the first half, 11 in the second it was 5 to 7 shots on target.
Ange made changes, the two that came into the side, Richarlison and Sarr, making way for Lo Celso and Hojbjerg. Understandable with the side 3 up and the pair only just returning, though it would have been funny if Richy had got his hat-trick.
Lo Celso lost the ball on the attack, when it fell to Wilson, Romero went straight through him. Yes, he was a very lucky player, should have been a red, quite a surprise it wasn’t given and he only got the yellow. Though it was interesting to hear that “he got the ball” making a return when Newcastle players were going through Spurs players.
Five minutes before the 90 was up, Porro’s ball through the Newcastle defence found Son perfectly, Son taken down by the keeper and Spurs finally had their first penalty of the season. Only 16 games in. Sonny got up and became the first Spurs player not named Harry Kane to take a penalty in the league since Dele in 2021. Placed perfectly in the bottom corner, the keeper went the correct way but had no chance.
Of course there was just enough time to cough up that consolation. Bissouma, Johnson and Son had made way for Skipp, Gil and Donley, when a minute into the time added on they coughed up the ball and gifted Newcastle. Awful attempt of a pass by Hojbjerg.
But Newcastle were tired and had injuries. And finally a Spurs win, a win after going ahead, what a difference actually finishing off chances makes. Still, would like to see that starting line up with Lo Celso for Kulu, see what he could do. But it’s better with Son on the left and Johnson on the right and who knows Richy might be fit now, but we’ve had a few false dawns with the Pigeon.
And as I’ve said before… Eddie Howe… just the modern day Alan Curbishley…