Another away day at Stamford Bridge, another defeat for Tottenham Hotspur. Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Spurs’ latest 1-0 loss as the pressure continues to grow on Ange Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou vs Tottenham fans
It’s never a good sign when the fans start to boo your substitutions. That is exactly what happened in 2021 when Nuno Espirito Santo took off Lucas Moura in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United. History repeated itself this evening when Ange Postecoglou removed the bright Lucas Bergvall for Pape Sarr.
Of course, context is important – the Spurs boss was likely protecting the Swedish midfielder after a recent bout of illness, not to mention a big European game on the horizon. But that will matter little to Tottenham fans, many of whom are clearly turning against the man in the dugout.
Worrying lack of patterns in Spurs’ build-up
We saw so many clear and unique patterns of play when Postecoglou first arrived in North London. The full-backs inverted and pushed high up the pitch. The team pressed high and won the ball aggressively. The wingers maintained width and peppered the box with crosses.
Tottenham were able to turn possession in their own half into a blistering attack with a neat flick around the corner from their number six. None of that has been visible this season – before the injury crisis, certainly during it, and now out the other side. That is worrying for Postecoglou as it seems the wheels are starting to come off his project in North London.
Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero are back! Oh…
Tottenham endured an injury crisis for so long that we almost forgot about what would happen once it was over. The rhetoric has always been this season that Spurs would bounce back to their swashbuckling, chaotic, free-scoring football as soon as the likes of Van de Ven, Romero and co were back in the XI. Most of the team has been back for a good few games now, but the performance levels have shown little sign of resuscitation.
Both the Argentine and the Dutchman were poor in the buildup today, nervous defensively, and all over the place with their marking in the box. How on Earth you let Enzo Fernandez ghost into the box for a free header with three Tottenham defenders around, I will never know. One thing is for sure, Diego Simeone would not accept that level of defending at Atletico Madrid. If you want to be considered among the best players in the world, or even the best players at Tottenham Hotspur, you simply have to raise your levels.
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Rodrigo Bentancur given the nod over Archie Gray
Rodrigo Bentancur has been inconsistent at best this season, and downright woeful at worst. Archie Gray, on the other hand, has been a standout star for Tottenham across numerous positions. It feels as if Spurs fans have waited and waited and waited for Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero to return so Gray could be unleashed into his preferred midfield role, only for the youngster to earn a place on the bench instead.
Of course, he needs to learn the position in his XI and get used to the engine room at Premier League level, but Gray and Bergvall are so clearly the future of this Tottenham midfield, so why are they not being given a chance to grow together? If Bentancur or Yves Bissouma were putting in good performances, it would make sense, but both are underwhelming on and off the ball. If the bar is being set that low, you may as well invest in the future and give Gray his deserved chance to shine.
Eintracht Frankfurt will destroy that version of Tottenham
Make no question about it, if Tottenham play the same as they did tonight across the two legs against Eintracht Frankfurt, they will get dismantled piece by piece. All over the place in defence and toothless in attack – Spurs desperately need to find some form this weekend against Southampton, for a confidence boost if nothing else.