Five worrying reasons for Spurs’ mini-meltdown following Old Trafford win

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Things were looking good on the evening of August 27 for Tottenham Hotspur.

The club from north London had inflicted the biggest ever home defeat on Jose Mourinho as Mauricio Pochettino’s side mercilessly ran out 3-0 winners against Manchester United.

It was, to be fair, a game of two halves. United, following an indifferent start to the season, looked up for it in the first before Spurs took over after half-time. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Spurs – chasing a first championship since 1961 – were 100 per cent and things were looking up.

However, it has since taken a nasty turn, since that euphoric moment (which should have been a catalyst for greater things) Spurs have lost three on the bounce in all competitions.

Never before has this occurred under Pochettino, who has taken them from looking from the outside in to being serious title challengers. It’s one blow after another with their Champions League opening defeat away to Inter Milan exposing their deficiencies.

Understandably there’s no single reason for their recent malaise but, instead, there are contributing factors and we’ve highlighted five of them.

1. Kane output down

Once decried as a one-season wonder, Harry Kane has gradually evolved into the No.9 par excellence, thriving for both his club (Tottenham Hotspur) and country (England).

He is now a striker with unyielding predatory instincts simply built to do the one job he’s designed for, with his manager Pochettino favourably comparing him to legendary Argentine centre-forward Gabriel Batistuta who, like the 25-year-old Englishman, had an insatiable appetite for goals.

Last season was his best yet, bagging 41 goals across 48 matches for the Lilywhites, so understandably expectations are now high. With that comes added pressure, which isn’t a new thing for the Londoner, but it’s fair to say his 2018/19 season hasn’t got off to the best start.

Spurs, given who they have in cover, are reliant on their natural born marksman. So far, he’s playing below his best, we can see that when it comes to his shots per 90 in the Premier League. At 2.41 so far, it’s his lowest output since breaking into Tottenham’s first team: 2013/14 (5), 2014/15 (3.9), 2015/16 (4.2), 2016/17 (3.9), 2017/18 (5.4).

Of course, scoring with the fewest shots is the mark of a great goal scorer, though Kane has managed two after five league outings and is yet to register in the Champions League despite being presented with good opportunities against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Always looking to be involved, Kane doesn’t necessarily come alive in the penalty area, being their first line of defence his task under Pochettino is abundantly clear. When it comes to overall touches he’s somewhat off the pace registering 175, slightly up on last season’s average of 34.1 per game, but no Spurs players has made the most inside the opposition box (31).

Form, as they, is temporary and the Spurs faithful will be hoping the real Kane will soon be stepping up. It’s no exaggeration to say any future success depends on him.

2. Eric Dier looks lost in midfield

It’s been a debate for a few seasons now. What is Eric Dier’s best position? Being versatile can often be seen as a curse rather as a blessing. His multifunctionality has seen Pochettino field him in defence (as either part of a back-three or traditional centre-back pairing) and midfield, where he wants to play.

Not one to rock the boat Dier has become the model professional and someone his manager can rely on to plug the gap or play a tactical role if needs be. So far this season the England international has been needed more than ever.

Lack of summer recruitment (notably missing out on Jack Grealish) is stretching an already stretched team. Dier has started four of Spurs opening five league games in midfield, with him only sitting out their 2-1 defeat at Watford, and it’s telling he’s only completed the full 90 minutes just once (the incredible 0-3 win away to Manchester United).

His task is not made easy by the out-of-sorts Mousa Dembélé, who many observers felt would be gone in the summer, the Belgian midfielder – supreme when flying – has only exacerbated Dier’s plight.

He looks lost in midfield, which is hurting Spurs, leading to supporters to bemoan his performances. His interceptions per 90 (1.35) is down from last season’s average (1.53) whilst he’s suffered more take ons per 90 (1.6) in the Premier League than in any previous season.

Fortunately, there’s another transfer window on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Spurs do recruit – to provide subsational cover – at this rate it’s a must.

3. Vorm does not organise defence as well as Lloris

To say Hugo Lloris is vitally important to Spurs is an understatement. It’s not that he is their captain, but the Frenchman is one of the very best goalkeepers around, we’re talking about the total package: shot-stopping, distribution, etc.

Where he comes into his own relates back to his leadership qualities. Lloris, presently sidelined with a serious thigh injury, brings a degree of calmness to his defence through diligent organisation.

A formidable presence, the World Cup-winning skipper makes sure those in front of him know what they are doing. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said of his understudy Michel Vorm.

There’s a reason why the Dutchman is a good goalkeeper and not a great one. It’s not to disparage him, but Vorm lacks the qualities of the man he’s replacing, and it shows notably how Spurs’ backline looks more tentative. And nothing illustrates this point more than when it comes to assisted set-pieces.

After their opening five league matches, in which Lloris played the first three before Vorm took over, Spurs have conceded twice from such means. Both of those efforts came in their humbling defeat at Vicarage Road – with Vorm beneath the sticks – meaning Pochettino’s men are so far the only Premier League club to concede two assisted set-piece goals in the same game this season.

Since that loss they were brushed aside by Liverpool before falling to Inter, a game where Spurs snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and you couldn’t make it up: a 90th minute Matías Vecino header via an assisted set-piece.

4. Left-backs left lacking

If there’s one position Spurs aren’t lacking it’s at left-back. Across the last two seasons we’ve seen two of the best in the Premier League operate there. Danny Rose made the position his own before Ben Davies usurped him.

Competition breeds excellence. With two stellar players vying for the role Pochettino can’t lose. If the man currently in possession drops off the pace then his replacement is more than worthy to fill in.

But there’s a snag. Rose and Davies, for all their brilliance, are operating beneath their optimum levels. It’s just Pochettino’s luck given what else is going on.

Both have shared the berth this season; Davies completing their opening two league matches, before dropping out for Rose, only to return and then miss out once more.

Such changes only disrupt rhythm. Davies, for example, excelled last season because he knew he was the man (Rose’s injury woes played a significant factor). Neither have been productive, zero assists, let alone goals, to their name, with Rose producing 0 key passes per 90 whereas Davies’ output is a more respectable 1.95.

Of course, things can turn around, but it’s worrisome the one area where Spurs can be confident in terms of depth is somewhat fragile.

5. Fatigue-induced over-rotation

From the onset Pochettino made it known how Spurs were going to function under his tutelage. A squad boasting two solid players in every position, it’s taken a while, but there’s no denying the north London club is forged in his image.

Far from being a chequebook manager, the Argentine tactician prefers Tottenham to become self-sufficient, meaning their academy becomes even more productive. He’s willing to give youth a chance, we’ve seen that in the past, but at the moment there seems to be an impasse.Which makes their inability to splurge in the summer even more troublesome now.

By doing so Spurs became the first club in Premier League history to not make a pre-season signing; which isn’t necessarily a bad thing given how solid their squad is, coupled with those coming through Pochettino – and chairman Daniel Levy – backed their philosophy.

But their unwillingness, whether they were able to spend or not, is coming back to bite them. They knew, for one, that Son Heung-min was going to miss a handful of games at the start of the season due to international duty. His absence robbed Pochettino of a dependable body.

Injuries are always something to factor, given how many of the Spurs boys had a busy summer in Russia, it was going to be inevitable. Dele Alli, whose importance cannot be understated, is now on the sidelines. He was missed against Liverpool and then Inter.

Harry Winks, the club’s latest poster boy, is not yet up to speed but has shown glimpses of what he is capable of. There’s always a danger of rushing Erik Lamela following his recent injury woes, but he’s a match-winner, with him on the pitch against Inter the Lilywhites were in control as soon as he went off things went south.

As mentioned earlier Spurs, already thin on the ground, are being stretched. Pochettino is being forced to over-rotate; so far he’s used no fewer than 22 players in the Premier League, which is the joint most alongside Manchester United and Huddersfield Town.

Reports are now suggesting fatigue has kicked in and with domestic and international matches coming thick and fast things could get worse before they get better.

The post Five worrying reasons for Spurs’ mini-meltdown following Old Trafford win appeared first on Squawka News.



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