Next season the Championship here we come.
That is the road Tottenham is on listening to the reaction to the opening day defeat to Everton. It seems the season has already been decided.
Chelsea has made fantastic signings and will challenge for the title after beating the mighty Brighton, Arsenal may join them in that battle but are guaranteed top four regardless after they trounced the formidable promoted Fulham.
Liverpool will, of course, be in the mix because they took care of a rampant promoted Leeds United. Leicester City will be a force to contend with after the number they did on another promoted side in West Brom and Wolves have to be taken seriously after dismantling a magnificent Sheff Utd.
Everton could sneak into top-four contention after beating a woeful Tottenham while the Lillyhites face a relegation battle that will determine the very existence of the once-proud team currently managed by a massive loser like Jose Mourinho.
You see, it has been written and it must be right because everyone is saying so, I mean, they have ample evidence of how this season will turn out, there has been one game after all, what more does one need.
There are absolutely no reasons why Spurs could have possibly had a bad opening day, how you perform on day one has always determined how your season ends. If you don’t believe me then go check the stats. Actually don’t, that would kill the narrative.
I am worried though, you see, if Tottenham beat Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday and then Southampton at the weekend I may have to rewrite this piece declaring that Spurs will win the title, they are back among the big boys and the Europa League is in the bag.
Someone called our midfield ‘the axis of boredom’ against Everton. We should have signed both Grealish and Fernandes but of course both never happened.
(Shots on target / total shots,Spurs 5/9. Everton 4/15.If you watched the game you would find it hard to believe that Spurs had more possession,more passes,more corners,and more shots on target than Everton but we all know the only stat that counts is goals & points. Everton were very wasteful with their 15 shots,and it could have been a lot worse.
Whilst Levy appointed Mourinho for a quick fix, seemingly Jose is a has been busted flush. Surrounded by better players the designated Special One did well at Chelsea but has been found wanting at Spurs!
Obviously your article is sarcastic Bruce.However if you look at all the performances of the teams that lost in the first round of fixtures,ours was by far the most depressing and singularly lacking in coherant purpose.
To me the main fault lies with the manager.Either he is not getting his ideas across or the players don’t believe in his methods.This has been brought on by no proper investment leaving the players stale and with little competition for places.
It will certainly be interesting watching how they approach the Ropey league game on Thursday.
Top top player. Big up manager Karen. Really nice lady she is. Once a week the ladies train at Haringey borough with some girls from the colleges.
It’s early days.
In typical Jose fashion even when we are not ‘at it’ we still could and maybe should have come in 1-0 up at half time.
2nd half was worrying but it’s just the first game – the feel good factor has to come soon though. If the negativity settles could be tough to shake.
Dele is not, and has never been, a real #10. He’s played there, sure, and Toby played as a RB for about half his national team career – doesn’t mean we should stick Tobes in the RB slot. Lo Celso or Lamela in the #10 for me. Dele needs to play an inside AM/fwd role behind the striker in XX21 formations ( 3421 or the christmas tree).
Part of the reason Dele’s stats dropped from his peak form of a few years ago, was Poch’s formation choices and playing Dele further back in the midfield where he was never going to be able to make all those runs into the box.
If all were fit, I’d play the 4321 with Son and Dele behind Kane, mf of Hjobjerg LoCelso and Sissoko. Neither Gio nor the Dane have great pace, but Sissoko can motor.
Can’t effectively judge any teams chances for the season right now, because of the obvious – no real break or pre-season, on the back of a long season with extreme fixture congestion. Some squads have few internationals, and were out of all competitions except the league. Some are full of internationals and were still in various cups.
Add that, at the end of the day, at least 1/3 prem matches end in a result based on very fine margins and luck, being the better side is rarely enough. PIckford doesn’t make a save with his foot that he knew nothing about from Doherty and it’s a different narrative.
I’m not a Jose fan, and the sooner he goes the better imo, mostly because the football is dreadful and he will have input into what players are bought/sold, which is absurd for a guy who won’t be here 3 years from now while the players he buys almost certainly will be. There is no reason to get stuck with a bunch of Jose rejects like United did, keep the guy far, far away from transfers imo.
Yeah its always the way you want to start the season getting outplayed in your shiny new stadium by last year’s mid table kings. A team we never lose to.
Rather than posting a critical article (and I use the word loosely) put up your actual own personal thoughts on the defeat and maybe add a few positives we can cling to.
*Spurs Ladies team
The one bright spot I can see is that Spurs women team have signed a top USA player!!
Its all doom & Gloom bruva Bruce for some.
When he first bust onto the scene Alli was a good un but having lost his mojo the past years thinking he is better than he actually is his form has badly regressed to the point he is a passenger in the side. All flicks and touches to nil effect. I would sell him now.
His name was called Modric!
Yet another one we can cross off the list we could not afford in the first place.
Would have done a good job for Spurs, just the kind of player required, but heh ho c’est la vie!
Boding well for the Villans, incidentally I see that Grealish has signed a long term deal with Villa!
Spurs ” failing to turn up” was probably not one of them!!
There were some pretty wild predictions BEFORE a ball was kicked I seem to remember.
Whilst I am happy to eat humble pie, lets live in the real world this team ain’t n where near good enough for top 4. We are relegation form!
*going no where fast…
Unlike our archest rivals who have a clear plan / philosophy under Arteta, simply put the Spurs team resembles a dysfunctional motley crew go no where fast. Happy Days!!
I dont think the problem is the squad, it is good enough to challenge for top 4. The problem is there is 11 players playing their own game, They show no understanding of each other and the way they should be playing, Doherty didn’t mark richarlson like he should have been. and no one from midfield seemed to be able to bring kane and son into the game. Jose is producing negative tactics, as we expect and the players arent buying in.
we need a number 10 with vision. we have too many forwards who think creativity is trying to bumble past the 3rd defender on some sort of miracle dribble, and too many midfielders who think constant safe sideways passing is good ‘patient’ football.
On his day it’s Debbie Ali, but I can’t see him waking up any time soon.
Not much hope for this season with the squad we have and Mourinho
Can anyone tell me why Dier is picked over Sanchez .. Dier is a donkey.
Sissoko can tackle and nothing else. Davies is now too slow at left back .. Moura is a guy who turns up to play 1 match in 3. Kane he seems to have given up, doesnt tackle back or hassle the defenders, he looks lazy, Doherty he’s not a full back , Aurrier is a better player.
We have no speed in the team and noone with vision now eriksen has gone
We need to either spend big OR pick 3 younger players and play them all season
SELL Dier Lamela Sissiko at least and quick
I find it hard to take Spurs fans serious sometimes. It was shit after the half way point and the spat with Dele obviously didnt help. But if Kane hadn’t cut his toenails or Docherty slides it past pickford it would be so different on here.
Sometimes you have to listen to the coach, I thought his explanation was justifiable.