Tottenham Hotspur’s recent match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, resulting in a 2-1 defeat, has left fans and analysts dissecting what went wrong for the North London club. Ben and Sim from WeAreTottenhamTV provided their insights outside the Molineux Stadium, expressing disappointment over Spurs’ performance, which they deemed the worst of the season.
Early Promise Fades
The game started on a high note for Tottenham, with an early goal that seemed to set the stage for a strong performance. However, the initial promise quickly faded. Ben and Sim highlighted the lack of fluidity and quality in Spurs’ play, particularly in the final third. The team struggled to string passes together, and the midfield, especially Yves Bissouma, was criticized for their lack of impact.
Defensive Struggles and Tactical Decisions
Defensively, Tottenham had moments of solidity but ultimately succumbed to pressure in the latter stages of the game. The absence of key players like Cuti Romero and Mickey Van De Ven was felt, as Spurs conceded two late goals due to poor defending. The tactical decisions by manager Ange Postecoglou also came under scrutiny, with the midfield lacking creativity and failing to control the game.
Substitutions and Impact
The introduction of Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso in the second half brought some technical improvement to Spurs’ play, but it was not enough to change the outcome. The duo’s presence on the pitch highlighted what Tottenham was missing throughout the game – quality and composure under pressure.
Individual Performances
While the team’s overall performance was underwhelming, there were a few individual bright spots. Ben Davies and Pedro Porro were praised for their efforts, with Davies, in particular, being aggressive and effective in his defensive duties. However, the attacking players, including Son Heung-min, were largely anonymous, failing to make a significant impact.
The Bigger Picture
This defeat, coming off the back of a 4-1 loss to Chelsea, has raised concerns about Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures. With crucial players like Van de Ven and Maddison out with injuries and a challenging schedule ahead, Spurs face an uphill battle. The next three games against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle United are seen as particularly daunting, given the current squad’s condition.
Fan Perspective
From the fans’ perspective, there’s a mix of frustration and worry. The manner of the defeat, conceding two goals in the final moments, was seen as “classic Spurs,” reflecting a pattern of inconsistency and vulnerability under pressure. Despite the challenges, there’s a call for resilience and quick solutions to navigate the tough fixtures ahead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tottenham’s loss to Wolves is a significant setback, highlighting issues in squad depth, tactical flexibility, and individual performances. As Spurs navigate through this difficult period, the team’s response to these challenges will be crucial in defining their season. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Tottenham adapts and overcomes the hurdles that lie ahead.
Ange’s only focus right now is on ingraining the mindset he wants his players to have. Saturday’s performance and result, is the perfect illustration what happens when individuals and ultimately the team do not have that mindset ingrained. Adjusting tactics at this early stage can only set back that goal which is too big a compromise for Ange to make for the sake of gaining points in the short term … (even when down to 9 men). Brennan Johnson’s comments after the Wolves game show that he understands this and he sees his own fault in the performance. It also shows the size of the challenge. Whatever about fans clamoring for points and also wanting the team to develop at the same time (even though we were told this may be mutually exclusive at first), players are also conditioned in the same way and after the chastening result against Chelsea, self preservation won out over the instinct to “keep playing our football” at Wolves. Can’t wait to see who Ange trusts enough to start against Villa after last weekend.
First off, I’m gonna be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this game.
Without Madders, Van de Ven, Romero and Udogie, Angeball didn’t seem as cohesive as it used to be.
I think this game really highlighted our lack of depth, but I’m glad that Ange is working to really perpetuate the mindset of his playstyle regardless of the players we have on the pitch, because at the end of the day this is the team we will be stuck with for another month and most of the players will be staying with us for a while.