Tottenham Hotspur dropped another three points on the road this afternoon, falling to a 2-1 defeat away at St James’ Park against Newcastle United.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned:
Tottenham have now won just two games from their last 11 away matches in the Premier League. That is not the credentials of someone pushing for European football, let alone top four, let alone trying to close the gap on the league leaders.
To make matters worse, Spurs have played really well in a large percentage of those games, which brings us onto our next point.
It’s the same old story for Tottenham. Play really well, make a load of chances, completely dominate the game, but fail to actually turn any of that pressure into goals. Postecoglou’s system is designed to create an abundance of chances and that is working to a degree.
Unfortunately, it also leaves Spurs very open at the back, and when you’re not taking your chances at the other end, that only ends in defeat. The best teams in the league take their chances while they’re on top and then manage the game to see out the win. Spurs are doing neither of those things at the moment.
A huge part of Postecoglou’s tactical set-up is getting the ball out wide and in behind for the two wingers to flash crosses across the face of the goal. We saw that a lot in the second 45 today with Brennan Johnson getting a whole lot of joy down the right side. But with just a few minutes on the block, Spurs down 2-1, and Johnson flying down the wing, not a single Tottenham player decided to make a run into the box to get on the end of what turned out to be a dangerous cross.
I know Spurs were without a number nine today, but Son, Kulusevski and Maddison should have been making late runs, while the likes of Odobert should have been gambling at the back post far more often.
I can’t help but feel Solanke would have grabbed a goal today, had he been on the pitch. Spurs were in desperate need of a presence inside the box to finish off some of their chances. I also feel like Maddison’s game will reach a new level once he has a target to aim for in the box, making the most of some of his dangerous crosses. Fingers crossed a number nine poacher is the missing piece of the puzzle for Tottenham’s troubles.
One slim silver lining from today was Tottenham’s high press. In fact, that could be the best I have seen it work, particularly in the second half when Newcastle were tiring. Son, Kulusevski, Maddison, Odobert, and Johnson were winning the ball back in the final third for fun at times, and Pape Matar Sarr also did a great job in the first 45. All that was missing was actually turning those high-press breaks into goals. Some of the decision-making in the final third today was woeful.
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