but at what cost?
Spurs latest Europa League struggle saw them finally secure automatic qualification against struggling Swedish outfit Elfsborg, thanks to player who wouldn’t have got a look in if Ange’s hand hadn’t been forced.
If Timo Werner had been fit, then what would the outcome of this game have been?
The Fat Fraud sits there and acts like it’s all him but it’ll be funny when Levy says he doesn’t need any new players in before the window closes on Monday, because Scarlett, Ajayi and Moore are like new signings.
Remember none of them were getting a look in when Ange could either start or bring on Werner.
Yes, Moore got the odd outing but there was numerous times when he was sat on the bench when the useless German was getting another game. Scarlett would still be out on loan and Ajayi would have have just sat next to Moore as he has done numerous times over the previous few games.
It took Spurs 70 minutes to finally break through and get the opening score, during which time they had over 80% of the ball and done nothing with it. Well, they had shots, a few but never actually looked like doing anything with them. Hell, at the break, despite having 83% of the ball there was only three Elfsborg players who had fewer touches than Spurs’ number 9, Richarlison.
Elfsborg are struggling this season, currently mid-table in Sweden, they sat just below mid-table in the Europa League, though with only one win less than Spurs, who started the night in sixth. The visitors had a chance of a playoff game to get into the next round. They finished the day out of the competition, in 26th.
It was another lifeless game from Ange and his team. Where you started out wondering where he’ll play Gray this time, and then after the joy of seeing Micky van de Ven back, you start wondering… worrying… about when his hammy will ping again. In the end it was his half-time replacement, Dragusin that exited with an injury, after 20 minutes.
In the end that was the turning point, as Ange replaced the Romanian defender with the English striker, Dane Scarlett. Four minutes later after some interplay between Porro and Moore, Kulusevski put in a cross. Scarlett got in front of his defender, in the way that Solanke just doesn’t, and headed in the opener.
Ten minutes later and the starting striker, Richarlison made way. Having made very little impression in the 80 minutes he was on the pitch, the Brazilian looked disappointed. His replacement, Damola Ajayi, had been on the pitch for just three minutes, when he got doubled the lead. Direct running. Running with intent and purpose, he played a one-two with Scarlett, one touch then in the corner of the net for 2-0.
Three minutes into added time and Moore added his name to the youngsters getting their first goal for the club. In the process, at 17 years and 172 days, becoming the youngest ever English player to score in one of the major European competitions, beating Jimmy Greaves’ record from 1957.
It was all him, winning the ball less that 10 yards inside the Elfsborg half, he went on a charge, then cutting from left across the box, he shot back across his body inside the post, from the edge of the box.
Moore at 17, Ajayi just turned 19, Scarlett couple months shy of his 21st. Players people have been wanting all the time while Ange has been moaning about injuries. Wanting when Ange was bringing on Werner.
Well, Ange is still in this competition but again it was an uninspiring performance, as he stood there, much like it has been for nearly the whole competition. Spurs could have quite easily finished up alongside Elfsborg in the league…