apparently.
There seemed to be an awful lot of happy fans after Spurs went out of the League Cup 3-1 to Liverpool.
Liverpool are like Newcastle. A team with a new manager, new players, new way of playing and like newcastle they’re not that good really at the moment. Much was made of Newcastle when they beat Spurs but they weren’t good and have been worse since, it’s just they’re both better than Spurs. That win is the only thing keeping them above Spurs in the league, with Liverpool only one point better off.
So Liverpool made 10 changes from their last poor outing, put in a few kids had to bring on the bigger names but Spurs never looked like getting something from this game no matter how much people wank themselves over xGs.
There was the odd decent performances from the visitors but they looked better when established players were brought into their actual position. Tosin had his moments, looked decent enough, just happened to be beside Senesi who was having a stinker. Udogie many said was good but he’s dropped off, he’s the type to let the ball bounce which causes problems for himself and the team and more interested in trying to win a foul than playing the ball. He did make the run and put the cross in for Spurs two chances, Bergvall and Kudus, but it’s too infrequent.
Dubravka looked a decent addition the only problem being the fannying about at the back they were employing. Yes, it might drag the opposition in, they may get through the press but it’s rare, it’s more likely that nine times out of 10 they play themselves into trouble.
Bentancur does so much good, getting the ball, so smooth, but when he gets it it goes sideways. Over 60% of his passes go sideways. 80% of his passes don’t go forward. Added to that again he was giving away those stupid free kicks in and around the area. The ball had gone, Tosin was about to pick it up but Benancur went through the back of the player and the whistle went. Bergvall looked better, maybe being alongside Bentancur. Made forward runs, looked forward but still too much sideways. Should have lifted that shot higher and not given the keeper a chance.
Marmoush again isn’t a 9, looks so much better running from deeper with the ball but then no one would look like a number 9 if the three behind you were Tel, Kudus and Gallagher. Three nothing players, who did nothing.
The opener was typical Spurs, ball dropping to the edge of the box and there’s nobody there to stop the opposition player having a shot.
Archie Gray isn’t a right back, no matter how many times he has to cover. Gakpo when playing on the left only has one trick. Cut inside and have a shot. So he cut inside and had a shot. Gray giving him all the space required. He wasn’t the only to blame, there was a number, at least 5, blue shirts that could have done better.
Well, Spurs finally managed to score against a Premier League team, just not in the Premier League. A bounce off Gallagher from a corner. Fernandes had come on and made a difference. His corners are pretty good and he looks a lot better in midfield than as a number 10.
Maddison is a number 10. Hi introduction made things in that area a lot better. But there’s still no one to finish things off. They just never gave you any confidence of scoring an equaliser before Liverpool finished it off with a screamer of a third.
So yes I’ve talked some of it up, while not being too optimistic. With no striker and no great scorer in the rest how can it get better? Added to that there isn’t enough crossing, isn’t enough through balls, isn’t good enough passing – how many passes behind a player stopping all momentum – isn’t a winger smart enough not to run into defenders rather than away from them.
I just can’t get happy clappy about that performance. Can they beat Villa in the final game before the international break? Well, probably, Villa are a basket case who hollowed out their starting XI, it would be a papering over the cracks win… but it would be a win.