Aguero inspired City knocks out Spurs

Remember when we actually used to enjoy playing Manchester City? Up until 2010 when Abu Dhabi oil money flowed into the Etihad, Spurs would be quite disappointed if they didn’t get three points against City. Nowadays, we are just glad to end matches against them with our dignity intact. So much so that part of the assessment of Pochettino’s first year at Spurs could well be how badly we lose against last season’s top four teams compared to his recent predecessors. With that in mind, I greeted the final whistle at the Etihad not with much wailing and gnashing of teeth like last season, but with a sanguine acceptance of where Spurs are at right now.

This might sound strange after yet another spanking by City. However, we need to remember that Spurs are no longer running the same race as Manchester City’s superstars, a side that scored more than 100 goals last season as they romped to a second title in three years. The best players will always make the difference and those of the quality of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Jesus Navas, the rested Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany are well out of Tottenham’s reach. And they don’t have Gareth Bale or Luka Modric anymore. Difficult for Spurs fans to accept but reality until a new stadium and big money is in place.  

Spurs coach, Pochettino did not have last year’s shambolic capitulations on his record and Spurs were not really expected to win yesterday, so he had some room to experiment. This he did, handing Federico Fazio his debut in such a fraught game in place of Jan Verthongen, displaying his continued faith in Ryan Mason and perhaps most surprisingly starting with Roberto Soldado upfront in place of Adebayor who may have arrived late and leg weary from the African Championship qualifiers.   

The inevitable hysteria over the 4-1 score line rather overlooks the fact that Spurs actually played reasonably well and while City were the better side, Spurs, like a brave but  outclassed lightweight stubbornly refused to be put away by their heavyweight opponents. They attacked city with some creative play and on another day could have scored two or three more goals. Spurs were also unlucky for City’s first two goals as Frank Lampard was offside and interfering when Aguero scored the opener while the first of three penalties awarded to City was extremely harsh as Lampard went to ground far too easily. To be fair, the penalty awarded to Spurs was dubious. However, a score line of 2-2 with less than half an hour to go would have tested the nerves of City and would have made for an interesting finish. As it was, Soldado fluffed his penalty and less than 10 minutes later, instead of being level at 2-2, Spurs were 3-1 down, a man down and the match was effectively over as meaningful contest.

As usual, Hugo Lloris was far too busy for comfort and without him, Spurs could have conceded more. Fazio had an ok game until he pulled Aguero back, conceding the game changing penalty and getting sent off for his troubles. Continental defenders are too quick to pull attackers down and Fazio will have to take that out of his game. However, he is a big, tough no nonsense defender and once he settles, should become a commanding presence at the heart of Spurs’ defence. Younes Kaboul had one of those games that make you question his worth to Spurs. Danny Rose and Eric Dier, neither of whom are natural full backs performed gamely enough but were up against some very high calibre players in David Silva and Jesus Navas. Soldado actually had a decent game despite his penalty miss and most of the midfield put in a shift. However, Erik Lamela had a bad day at the office. Despite the final score line, the one-nil home defeat to West Brom in September remains Spurs’ worst performance this season by some distance.

Pochettino’s demeanour after the match reflected satisfaction with the performance if not the results.  He knows that Spurs’ fortunes this season will be decided by their results against the other pretenders, not the top four as such. Results have been uninspiring so far, but performances are ever so slowly showing signs of improvement. It will take more than a year for Pochettino to fully implement his philosophy on this team. Most fans understand the need for stability and are willing to be patient. However, Pochettino’s biggest problem is that Southampton, the club he and half the first team left behind for bigger opportunities are flying incredibly high and put eight goals past Sunderland yesterday. It shows that a new manager can make an immediate impact with good buys. He must hope that their results start to drop soon. 

Eriksson strike clinches crucial win for Poch

A penny for Mauricio Pochettino’s thoughts as the confident Southampton juggernaut rolled into town. As you didn’t pay the requested penny, you don’t get the benefit of Senor Pochettino’s actual thoughts; just this writer’s best guess of what must have been going through his mind as kick off approached. Spurs have not won in the league for four games, were not playing particularly well and had dropped out of the top ten. Southampton, the club he left in the summer to join Spurs and who sold nearly half their first team had won four games in a row, were third in the league, five points ahead of Spurs and playing well. So much so that some saints fans were happy to taunt their former boss. Pochettino is far too decent and respectful to speak ill of his former club, but for all the understandable reason of taking time to improve Spurs, this was a game he dared not lose and he knew it.

After the energy sapping efforts of Thursday’s Europa league effort against Besiktas, it was no surprise that only Hugo Lloris retained his place in the starting eleven. Academy product, Ryan Mason was given another chance to impress against Morgan Schneiderlin, the one player Pochettino really wanted this summer and who has made a superb start for the Saints. Two big beasts, Etienne Capoue and Victor Wanyama collided in a thundering midfield tussle that lasted all match as no quarter was asked or given by either.  

Spurs slumbered their way to a disappointing defeat against West Brom at home last time out. However, with the personal stakes for Pochettino so high this time, there was no repeat of that sluggishness as Spurs pressed with far greater intensity from the very start. A feature of Southampton during Pochettino’s time there was the high intensity pressing game and perhaps for the first time this season, we saw evidence that he might just be able to implement the same style at Spurs. It must be said that Ronald Koeman has created a good side from the traumatic summer he walked into at Southampton and his side came prepared to give Spurs a game. There was to be no hiding place for Spurs and to their credit Spurs fought for every inch of territory throughout the game. Saints striker Grazianno Pelle had shown good form but was well handled by Younes Kaboul who often seems to have at least one mistake in him every game, even when playing well. Kaboul also joined the attack often and could be seen putting crosses. Like him or not, it’s never dull with Kaboul in the team. Danny Rose also dealt admirably with the dangerous Tadic and managed to get forward well.

With the midfielders cancelling each other out, chances were few and far between. Christian Eriksson had another quite game and despite his well taken goal which proved the winner, still is not playing at the level of last season as he adjusts to the demands of Pochettino. Erik Lamela continues to give the ball away a bit too often for comfort, but he is trying and can often be seen tracking back and pressing the opposition defenders. He needs a few goals to really boost his confidence. Nacer Chadli, whose confidence has no doubt been boosted by a few goals already this season had a decent game, creating the breakthrough goal for Eriksson and was unlucky not to score himself when his shot struck a post and stayed out. I can’t escape the feeling that there is much more to come from these two and it is my firm opinion that if these two, along with Eriksson really start to fire, Pochettino and Spurs will have a really good season.

For all that, Spurs’ Achilles heel this season is the lack of a dynamic number nine. The style Pochettino wants to play at Spurs requires either three attacking players who are reasonably prolific, good for at least fifteen goals a season or a dynamic number nine good for twenty five goals, preferably both.

Emmanuel Adebayor tried manfully but does not seem to have the energy required to make this role work in a way that threatens the opposition. Neither Roberto Soldado nor Harry Kane, the other strikers at his disposal seem suited to this role so there is real issue for Pochettino to resolve there.

All in all, Spurs fans would have left the stadium satisfied with what they saw and there are encouraging signs that Pochettino is getting his message across and the players are responding to him. Following on from the spirited draw against Arsenal last week, it sets the standard by which future performances will be assessed.