It’s a sign of the big money
sloshing around even the Premiership’s nether regions when Stoke City have made
almost three times as many signings as Spurs by the time these two met. Stoke
showed up at the Lane with at least 4 Champions league winners, including
Xherdran Shaqiri. Then again, Liverpool signed a Champions league winner in
Mario Balotelli and I’m probably more popular on Merseyside than he is right
now. Understandably, there is something exciting about bringing in players from
Barcelona and Inter Milan, even if they turn out to be crap, or worse, just as
good as our Academy graduates and it is hard for Spurs fans not to cast envious
glances as one exotic signing after another pitches up at whichever premiership
club they seem to have picked out of a hat. ‘Why didn’t Spurs sign that one?’
goes the cry after a few good games or even one good season. Michu anyone? Been
there, done that, got the crap T-shirts. Alas! No more trolley dash. Every penny
counts. There’s a big stadium to build you know. Anyway I’d at least wager a
Euro cent that Clinton N’jie will end up being a bigger Premiership star than
the Stokesy lot once Senor Pochettino does his magic on him.
Stoke had become a bit of bogey
team for Spurs recently and took six points off the last season, the same
amount by which a Champions league spot was missed. There was enough
trepidation prior to kick off to wish for anything other than a defeat. In the
circumstances, Spurs actually played quite well. Eric Dier once again acquitted
himself very well in central midfield two good goals were scored and more
should have been scored.
While the match turned on an
uncharacteristic mistake from Toby Alderwiereld, this match showed up a couple
of worrying signs. Harry Kane showed enough to suggest that in overall play, he
could be even better than last season. He however needs to score within the
next two games to ensure his mind is not affected by thoughts of a drought. That’s
the good news. The bad news is that woe betide Spurs if he sustains an injury
that causes him to miss two or more matches in a row. Daniel Levy is adept at
transfer window brinksmanship but he simply has to get at least once out and
out goal scorer in or he will be playing roulette with Spurs season. A like for
like replacement on Saturday would have allowed Spurs to keep pressure on Stoke
rather than allowing them to pile forward which transferred the pressure on
Spurs. It doesn’t help that although Chadli scored, the front three behind Kane
did not offer a consistent goal threat.
The second worrying issue was
also on display last at Old Trafford. This is the apparent dropping of heads
when a goal is conceded. While it is understandable to want to protect a one
goal lead, a team aspiring to challenge the big boys should roll up it’s
sleeves, regroup rapidly and focus on seeing the game out. Stoke did not
equalise because they had better players on the pitch. Spurs simply allowed
heads to drop and panicked. This was a team that specialised in last minute
winners last season. Thy need to rediscover a swagger that says even if you
come back to two all, we’re coming to get you.
All said, since I am a glass half
full kind of writer, here is the positive spin, but for a couple of individual
mistakes, Spurs could arguably have four points from their opening two games and
no one would have said they were undeserved. And they are above Chelsea. I
reckon Pochettino’s philosophy is in reasonably good nick. They’ll get into a groove
soon enough. If not, just blame in on the pretty club doctor. Well, if it’s a good
enough excuse for Jose…
Next up, Leicester city, the
return of the Tinkerman. Should be fun.
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