Positives For Tottenham In Defeat of Tbilisi in Europa League

Andre Villas-Boas can take many positives from his side’s convincing win over Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League match in Georgia. The Tottenham team played well as a unit while individuals took the opportunity to show their worth to the coach.

Paulinho scored his first goal for Spurs. [@edgey642]

With Tottenham’s transfer activity this summer there is great competition throughout the squad. Players are vying to be included in AVB’s starting line-up and those players who came into the team last night grabbed the opportunity with both hands. AVB was very happy as he told @SpursOfficial.

Positives for AVB

Team

• The greatest pleasure for Villas-Boas will probably be that having scored 5 goals, the second leg at White Hart Lane has become a formality which will allow him to rotate his squad and rest a number of his senior players ahead of the following weekend’s derby against Arsenal at the Emirates.

• The nature of the win will also please him. It was a professional, all-round performance with clinical finishing against not the strongest of opposition but having sent out a strong team against Tbilisi, the players did what had to be done to record a comfortable win. Last season with a strong team in the Europa League games, the team often struggled to make the most of their superiority with five away games ending in a draw.

• For so many players having come into the team during the summer with little opportunity to work together, they combined well as a team with slick inter-passing in midfield and a good understanding of how the manager wants his team to play.

• The players worked hard throughout the 90 minutes and didn’t sit back with a two goal lead to try and play out time. They went looking for goals and took them, giving the opposition no opportunity to rally.

• Even when five up, they worked hard in defence to maintain the clean sheet and although Tbilisi threatened a few times in the final minutes Hugo Lloris and the defence gave total commitment to deny the home strikers.

• There is now competition for places within the team which augurs well for the season ahead.

Players

Many individuals took the opportunity to shine.

Andros Townsend started his first Tottenham match since disappointing in Maribor last October. He didn’t let the chance pass him by this time. He was confident and scored a lovely opening goal after 12 minutes. This inspired him and he was a constant thorn in the Tbilisi defence. He set up the second goal with a lovely run and cross onto the head of Paulihno before the interval and created Soldado’s first strike by getting to the bye-line and pulling the ball back for the Spanish striker. It was a good all-round contribution to the game and a reminder to Aaron Lennon that he has competition this season.

Kyle Naughton had the opportunity to play in his favoured right back position and had the best game that I’ve seen him play for Spurs. He linked up well with Townsend on the right and used his pace to get forward and to defend. Playing on the right he has greater confidence as he can play to his natural foot.

Nacer Chadli had the opportunity to show what he could contribute from the left. Like Andros Townsend he had two assists which would have been three if Kane’s precise header hadn’t struck the inside of the post. He laid the ball back perfectly for Danny Rose to strike the fourth and his cross for the fifth was the perfect ball for Soldado. If he gets crosses like that all season, Soldado will get his 20 goals in a season and more.

Roberto Soldado – two goals to add to his penalty against Crystal Palace – what more could you want? Clinical finishing at its best.

Hugo Lloris showed why he is so important to the defence. I was pleased to see his selection as he brings confidence to the defence with his alertness to danger, coming for crosses and quick reactions as he pulled off a number of saves. He wanted that clean sheet and wasn’t going to be beaten even in the final minutes.

Michael Dawson was as steady as ever – dominant in challenges – knowing no other way. The twitter assessment of @matt3oosey1982 on the central defenders.

Younes Kaboul was totally committed and it was good to see him playing the full ninety minutes. He appears to have fully recovered from his injury as there was no holding back in tackles or challenges. Only in the final ten as he started to tire did he make a few slips but when he regains full fitness those will be eradicated.

Paulinho scored his first goal for Spurs.

Etienne Capoue carried on from his brief display in last weekend’s game and glides forward with such ease.

Tom Carroll and Harry Kane had another opportunity for game time to add to their experience and with that result can probably look forward to more next week. It’ll be good to see some more of the younger players in the game at White Hart Lane.

All the players worked hard and contributed to the success, including those I haven’t mentioned. Another win helps the confidence within the team and squad and hopefully they will build on that with another success on Sunday against Swansea who also scored five in their Europa League game.