Tottenham Learn to Coast in Norwich Win

Over two contrasting halves of football, Tottenham demonstrated once again why they are one of the best teams in England.

Tottenham scored three unanswered goals over a hapless Norwich side to advance to third place in the Premier League, just above Arsenal on goal difference. What’s more, they did it all with an almost unprecedented level of ease.

This was this Tottenham squad at the absolute height of its power. No effort was wasted. No individual player overexerted or did more than he had to do. Considering this was Kevin Wimmer’s first Premier League start alongside Toby Alderweireld, the defense was surprisingly balanced. In attack, there wasn’t a place in Norwich’s third where Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son could not go. Mousa Dembélé patrolled a huge swath of midfield, effectively ending all hope of Norwich finding any avenues through the center of the pitch.

Combined, this was an effort of immaculate harmony, one made stronger – perhaps counterintuitively – by the fact that this Tottenham engine has found the ability to play in new, lower gears.

The two teams were on level terms for less than two minutes before a succession of shots following a corner kick culminated in Dele Alli’s opener. Norwich had already looked overwhelmed in the opening moments of the game. Now they were overwhelmed and behind.

More from Hotspur HQ

Consequently, we never got a chance to see what Norwich coach Alex Neil actually intended for this match. Given Tottenham’s imperious form over the last few weeks, chances are it would not have mattered all that much. Still, Tottenham had the high ground from the very start and rarely looked like giving it up.

The penalty that Alli earned – and Kane converted – in the 29th minute doubled Tottenham’s lead and made Pochettino’s decision at halftime much easier. The team would come back out in the second half content on protecting their lead rather than adding to it.

Such a mentality has proven to be suicidal before. A 2-0 scoreline at the half is – legend has it – one of the more dangerous in the game, but this Tottenham side aren’t as lopsided as most other teams. They have the best defense in the league, and Pochettino was confident they could play their own part in the win.

NORWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 02: Dele Alli (L) of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his team mate Kevin Wimmer (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur at Carrow Road on February 2, 2016 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) /

This switch in tactics was best expressed by Alli’s substitution at the interval, even if the act itself was reportedly more the result of illness than anything else.

If Pochettino were interested in maintaining the same control as the team had in the first half, then bringing on Tom Carroll or Érik Lamela for the goalscorer would be the most natural choices. Both players are of a more creative bent and would be best equipped to duplicate Alli’s efforts.

Instead, Pochettino brought on Nacer Chadli – arguably the most direct and attacking player available to him. This wasn’t necessarily an attempt to score more goals. Rather, it was the first hint that Tottenham were going to play a more vertical game in the second half. The Belgian would be running down balls and stretching the length of the pitch while his teammates contained Norwich’s efforts to get back into the game.

Possession was gifted to Norwich from the very start, and Tottenham’s midfield and defense sat deeper, ready to thwart Norwich’s attempts to push into dangerous areas. In all, 18 of Tottenham’s 25 successful tackles came in the second half, along with 10 of their 15 interceptions and all of their blocked shots. Norwich had a better time of it than the first half, and but for a couple of isolated incidents never looked like they would find any kind of foothold.

At the same time, Tottenham’s attack all but dried up. Kane’s second goal in the last minute of regular play was the club’s only shot on target in the entire second half.

Part of that contrast with the first half came down to Norwich’s renewed spirit following a woeful first half, but at the same time there’s no denying that Tottenham were content to play a more reactive game in the latter 45 minutes.

Next: Tottenham Pick Up Easy Win over Norwich City Again

And for good reason. Pochettino’s kinetic pressing style is among the team’s primary strengths on a match by match basis, but over a course of a full season the effort to sustain that level could wear on key players’ legs. Early leads like the one Tottenham earned at Norwich therefore give the team the chance to shift into a lower, less exhaustive gear – one that makes it easier to do it all over again in a few day’s time.

The ability to defend such leads and remove some of the strain on the attack is arguably the second most distinguishing feature of this Tottenham team. It is in the balance of those two talents that Tottenham have succeeded so far this season and – if the ease at which they dispatched Norwich on Tuesday is any indication – will continue to do so though May.