Ahead of kick-off at Brighton, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino stated it wasimportant to proceed in the midweek 7-2 humiliation at home to Bayern Munich. Butinstead, Spurs 3-0 defeat on the south east coast has just served to hamper their troubles.
Rather this is really a Tottenham team stuck in a rut, with issues across the pitch sabotaging of using previous years run to the Champions League as a springboard into the successful chapter Pochettino has spoken about.
Since theoles rang out around the Amex Stadium, together with Brighton – a group that hadnt won at home since March – passing the ball around the beaten blue shirts of Tottenham using a confidence earned in their dominant screen, it was tempting to wonder in which Spurs go from here.
Immediately, there is an global fracture which will leave Pochettino stewing over whats gone wrong but might offer a refresh that is mental for the players who travel away on international duty.
But Tottenham have problems which will not blow over through the following fortnight.
On the pitch, Tottenhams defence, midfield and attack are failing to satisfy the standards they have set for themselves in the past, while contract issues with all Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen have created a feeling of doubt about where the team is led.
Pochettino has clarified his squad asunsettled and, following the humbling League Cup defeat at Colchester, stated the January transfer window could bea great opportunity to fix this situation. However, after 17 defeats in 2019, its challenging to find a quick solution to their problems that are current.
A wretched off record, that has seen Spurs win three of the last 18 away games across all contests, coupled with the leads against Arsenal, Olympiakos, Leicester and Bayern this season, has observed his teams mentality is questioned by Pochettino.
The pressing that was intense game which characterised the design of Pochettino has dropped off, with the side looking lacklustre and weary at Brighton.
The brand new, hard-fought comeback win on Southampton with 10 men seemed to be a turning point. A nightmare week has followed with Tottenhams inherent difficulties.
The defence, which had the best record in the Premier League at the two seasons between 2015 and 2017 of tottenham, after shipping 10 goals in the two games that were last, seems badly out of forms and watched its standing slide.
There were only two clean sheets this season – at home to Crystal Palace and in the jolt shootout defeat Colchester – and now Spurs are facing up to a long spell without first-choice goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris after he dislocated his elbow after his costly early mistake in Brighton.
Alderweireld and vertonghen – both out of contract next summer – have looked unusually insecure, although in the full-back, positions linked to the brilliant attacking play of much of the predominate of Pochettino, Spurs previous strength looks something of a weakness.
Back in 2017/18, Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier created more opportunities in the Premier League than any other defenders. Last year, Trippier – regardless of all the criticisms of his defensive job – trailed Evertons Lucas Digne along with also the Andrew Robertson of Liverpool .
This time, although Robertsons team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold tactics 30 opportunities generated, no Tottenham full-back has reached double figures.
On the left , with new signing Ryan Sessegnon Danny and Davies Rose – a participant who had been expected to leave Spurs in the summer – have been below the level.
In right-back, Pochettino has had to look as an alternative to this often-rash Serge Aurier, that had been suspended for the visit on the rear part of his error-strewn display against Bayern Munich to options in Moussa Sissoko or Davinson Sanchez.
Giovanni Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele were presumed to Tottenhams needing midfield but injury to the inconsistent and prior type from the latter has stalled that program.
Thats left Pochettino looking alternating personnel and the shape in his or her deathbed.
Harry Winks, playing as a deep-lying playmaker, has needed better defensive support about him than Ndombele or Sissoko have provided – particularly when a diamond was employed – while in Brighton the returning Eric Dier was a shadow of the destructive defensive midfielder he has shown he can be previously.
Further forwards, chief creator Eriksen is earning fewer crucial passes per 90 minutes when hes at any stage in his Tottenham career, while Erik Lamela has created just 1 goal participation in his past eight appearances, scoring Spurs fourth in their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
As for Dele Alli, his beginning has been hampered by a hamstring injury to the year, but he has failed to impress if he has been playeddisappointing at the Champions League against Olympiakos and Bayern Munich and losing his England squad place.
The goals continue to flow for Harry Kane – he has 11 in 12 appearances for club and country this year, with five Premier League run-outs to get Spurs – however beyond those characters there are signs Tottenham are not getting the most out of the star guy.
Kane is presently averaging fewer shots per 90 minutes than he has in his own Tottenham livelihood. Hes currently doing this without an abundance of opportunities, although he might be finding the net.
The issue with this is when Kane does misfire – because he did in Brighton with a clear chance – there are very few chances to compensate for this. Indeed, that effort was that his shot at goal at 90 minutes on Saturday.
Alongside him, Heung-Min Son – that wasted a opportunity against Brighton – and also Lucas Moura are yet to strike the form they showed for stretches past season.
The hope is a scoring series will be strike on by them shortly and, together with bottom-of-the-league Watford up after that, followed by a Champions League game with Red Star Belgrade, Spurs have opportunities to get back on the right course after the break.
But changing momentum and the mood is not going to be an easy job.
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