he’s happy to be the patsy.
Another Angeball masterclass of being on top and not being able to finish and not being able to defend, as they again lost away to Newcastle, suppose we should be happy it was just 2-1.
Ange sat there and said he was happy with the transfer window, happy with he’d been handed by Levy, happy to go into a game without a striker yet again – they say it’s the second game in a row, you could claim it to be the third – going into a game just one red card or injury away from Ben Davies being your centre-back again.
So he was happy to go into this game with Kulusevski as a false nine. A position he’s failed at previously and a team selection that failed miserably here. Spurs created chances, through a game in which they controlled the play for the vast majority, two thirds throughout. But for the most part they were chances created for a centre-forward, a real number 9.
The number of crosses put in that went across the face of the Newcastle goal. Crosses where no one was coming in at the near post. No one was coming in through the middle. No one was coming in at the back post. They were there in the first half, but even more so in the second when Johnson came on.
Of course they were doing their usual routine when not going wide. In the middle and shooting at either the keeper or the defenders’ legs, or just ballooning it over the bar.
Ange made two changes from the previous game, the comfortable home victory over bottom of the table Everton. One a choice with Sarr coming in for Johnson, a decision that lasted until half-time. One forced with Dragusin replacing Micky van de Ven not making the trip. He injured himself just before half-time in that previous game but played on. Now, yes he set up Spurs’ fourth that day but if they’d taken him off when the injury occurred or at the break, would Spurs be one defender down already in the season? They’re talking down the seriousness of the injury but this is Spurs. What takes 2 weeks elsewhere takes 6 months here.
I wasn’t worried about Dragusin. He’d just come off a great tournament and he’s got the ability, which he showed in an excellent chase down and tackle on Isak in the second half. No it’s Romero that’s the worry. This “best defender in the world” seems to have gone to his head. He knocked off for the equaliser in the opening game. He was absent for Newcastle’s opener. A number dropped off with the Newcastle throw, he’s lollygagging back and barely in the box when Barnes turns the cross in.
There was five other Spurs players in that box, not including Vicario. With two Newcastle players but of course no one was really anywhere near Barnes, certainly not in a position to stop him receiving the ball or score. For the second, Spurs have the high line, which is flat and playing Murphy onside. Three of the four are turning to go back, Romero is standing square and then just lollygags back again, not seemingly that bothered. Udogie tries the rugby tackle, without success, that would have been a red and Ben Davies.
But Romero. Should Romero be put up front when Micky returns?
It wouldn’t harm either end the way things are going it would probably improve things. I mean if they’re not willing to stick a kid in there up front. Was it really worth getting £100m for Kane to spunk two thirds of it on Solanke and be left with nothing?
In between those to home goals, they also managed to score for Spurs. A decent attempt from Maddison but I don’t know what Pope was doing just shovelling it away like that to Johnson, whose attempt was helped into the back of the net by the Newcastle defender. You just know if that had been a Spurs player he would have skied it over the bar from there.
But through it all you wonder if they do any defensive or attacking training. It’s got the whole feeling of how they deal with corners about it. Just suck it and see.
But I get this sinking feeling… the feeling that unless Man U bin off ten Hag and go for their first choice… Spurs are shortly to end up with Southgate. It’s the kind of dick move Levy would go for. I mean, Ange is happy standing there looking at what he has on his bench – and bringing on Werner – acting the patsy but there would be no bigger cuck than Southgate for Levy.
Kulusevski played the whole game…