Takeaways and reflections from Spurs Carabao Cup Win

Spurs deserved to win and, in some ways, Watford probably deserved the tie. But that is football, and after a few hard defeats on the trot, Spurs have a couple of victories

Thanks to ESPN+ and a free 7-day trial, I was able to watch a replay of Tottenham Hotspur’s spot kick victory over Watford in the Carabao Cup. The stream worked well and at times Spurs did too. This was a game of ebbs and flows as Spurs at times dominated possession, then gave up good chances, only to then hit back on the counter themselves.  With four goals and penalties after the half, the game was worth the watch and it was good to see Spurs go through.

The Game’s Flow

In the first half Spurs moved fluidly through the paces but failed to create many clear-cut chances. On the other hand, Watford was able to generate a few shots on goal, but most were from distance and nothing troubled Paulo Gazzaniga in the first half.

The second half started per usual by Spurs giving up an early goal. But after dropping down a man and bringing on some fresh legs, Spurs made a game of it, with 2 goals after the 80^th minute, all while down a man. Okay, they were only down a man about a minute, but still. In the spot kicks Gazzaniga came up big with two saves and all four Tottenham takers converted. Spurs advance!

The Formation

It doesn’t matter what the TV said or what I see in my apps, with my own eyes, it was plain as day, Spurs were in a 4-3-3. Davies, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Aurier in the back. Winks, Wanyama, and Sissoko across the midfield three. Lamela, Lucas Moura, and Dele Alli across the front link.

There was a lot of fluidity and interchange between the players, particularly with the front three. However, in looking at when Spurs had time to set up defensively, they were clearly in that 4-3-3. My only complaint would be about the width we are getting, at times, it still just isn’t enough as many of those players, Lamela, Dele, and Winks for example all like to pinch into the middle and dribble.

When the outside players pinch in, offensively the middle can get clogged and if we lose the ball, we are out of shape and susceptible to the counter. That said, I applaud Pochettino for continuing to adapt and adjust his formation as he works to find the best position to put all the players in. Some days it works, some days it doesn’t but he keeps tinkering. Maybe the flat track bullies will never return, but he keeps looking for them.

Spurs Defense

The big weapon in the first half was Toby Alderweireld hitting cross-field drives. While not surprising, seeing it come from the left center half position was new. With Mauricio Pochettino giving Jan Vertongen the night off, Davison Sanchez and Alderweireld were the back duo.

The interesting piece of the pairing was that they started and played the first 40 minutes of the match with Sanchez on the right and Alderweireld on the left. In those 40 minutes Toby drove at least six balls across the field springing Sissoko and Serge Aurier on the right to push the attack.

For some reason, at about the 40^th or 41^st minute, Toby and Davison switched with Sanchez moving to the left and Alderweireld moving to the right. Sanchez doesn’t play those balls and Alderweireld didn’t hit nearly as many balls in the remaining 50 minutes from right to left out to Ben Davies. Although Toby pinged a few when Spurs started pushing, it was nothing like the barrage in the first half.

The two negatives here, where that Sanchez is not as good as the left center half as he is the right or the center in a back three. Again, kudos to Poch for forcing him to continue to grow, but if this were a more important competition, I’m not sure that mid-game switch would have occurred.

The other negative defensively was Aurier walking off the pitch at about 79 minutes. It was clear a foul on an aerial dual he had suffered about 7-8 minutes earlier was bothering him. Then after making a run down the right on a nice one-two with Lamela that was called back for a foul, Aurier quietly limped off the pitch.

Hopefully Aurier isn’t gone long, he was playing very well, and his crossing can give Tripps a run for his money when he is on like he was against Watford. At minimum Fernando Llorente, a 69^th minute sub for Lucas, should have buried a free header from the six that he hit over. That said, this is one position where Tottenham has some depth, and we know Marcus Walker-Peters is better on the right anyway.

Spurs Returning Wounded Show Depth

With Aurier looking set to be out, it was good to see some real depth for the first time this season from Tottenham. Spurs used six new starters from the Premier League side that beat Brighton at the weekend. It was good to see the many players back from injury to start a match, with Victor Wanyama, Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks, and Dele Alli all in the starting line-up. Wanyama and Sissoko came out after about an hour as part of a double swap with Heung-Min Son and Mousa Dembele coming on. Winks and Alli were about to give Spurs 90 minutes and that is a plus moving forward.

The midfield pivot of Winks and Wanyama both looked a step slow and tentative in the first half but knew to move the ball quickly. In the second half Winks seemed to get his legs and confidence back, he did at least two stepovers, and he brought something to the table, with his direct dribbling and more importantly forward passing out of the back. Winksy might just be back!

Wanyama, never really got going. He didn’t hurt Spurs but didn’t add too much either. While his crutching tackles were not seen, just being on the field does give Spurs a measure of intimidation. That said, the hour we got was about all he seemed ready to give, but in fairness Wanyama has barely seen the pitch this year prior to this match.

Sissoko, well he was Sissoko, he had some flashes and what may have been a pretty good penalty shout, I needed another angle of it, which ESPN+ never provided. Where is VAR, or at least TiVo when I need it. Beyond that, he had some good runs, but his touch failed him a couple of times too. Again, for a first real stretch of the legs in a while, his 60 minutes showed he can still be a capable squad player for now.

Captain Dele Alli

It was exciting, to me anyway, for the first shot of Spurs in the tunnel to see Dele leading the team, Poch had honored him as captain. Sure, this was his home town, but our Captain Hugo Lloris was out injured, our Vice Captain Harry Kane was getting a needed night off, and our third in line Eric Dier was on the bench. Looking across the 11, Dele was the only real choice, good for him, Milton Keyes, and Spurs.

Dele had his moments too. At about the five-minute mark Dele played a one-two with Lucas out of the back and the proceeded to dribble the length of the field and win Spurs a corner. It was clear the band and the crowd gave him some extra step at times.

While the red card may have been controversial, the penalty itself Dele drew was clear. Moments after Aurier limped off and it looked like Watford had dodged another bullet getting a foul to clear box following Lamela’s curling free kick; Spurs were pushing when Lamela and Dele again connected, and Dele was in on goal.

In on goal that is the key. While not your classic breakaway, the referee was clearly thinking this was a clear scoring opportunity, hence the red card. Tough break, but it was the letter of the law, it was only Dele and Gomes left. Dele calmly converted the penalty, only his second as a Spur.

Paulo Gazzaniga

So, Paulo was in the sticks again, and did a solid job. The first goal, which came as much from a missed header and mispositioning in the midfield as anything, was a blast from 8 yards out. Those you just must hope are hit at you as a keeper.

The second goal looked kind of bad at first glance. However, on replay, it is clear that the ball deflects off Ben Davies derriere and then Gazzaniga slipped when switching directions, Goal Capoue. Gazzaniga got his revenge, saving a rather weak effort from Capoue in the shootout.

Paulo’s second shoot-out save, however, against 18-year-old Domingos Quina was another story. While not a side-netting effort, the pace was there, but Gazzaniga got a strong hand on the ball knocking it to the ground, smothering the ball and ensuring the victory. Gazzaniga deserves to be the Spurs #2 at this point.

The Shoot-Out

Speaking of shoot-outs and strong hands. Eric Dier and Dele Alli now both have shoot-out winning penalties where the keeper just wasn’t strong enough. Heurelo Gomes got a hand on Dele’s final kick of the game but wasn’t even close to stopping the ball. Just very reminiscent of Spurs, I mean England this summer.

Speaking of shoot-outs, Spurs should feel good, we can go 7-8 deep with spot kick takers with confidence. While Kane deservedly gets the lions share, if Spurs are in a shoot-out again, they have a lot of options to take the kick, given none of Dier, Trippier, or Kane; all successful takers for England this summer; even stepped on the field, let alone took a kick. And we haven’t seen Lucas or Winks take one.

In the end Spurs deserved to win and, in some ways, Watford probably deserved the tie, but that is football, and after a few hard defeats on the trot, Spurs have a couple of victories, during what was known to be a big stretch of games between international breaks and can take confidence in the depth and resolve of the squad. Heading back into the Premier League on the weekend.