Reflections on Tottenham Hotspurs 2-1 Victory over Watford

Tottenham Hotspur used two late goals to turn the tables on Watford and get revenge from an early season loss to the Hornets.

With everyone talking about the recently-closed transfer window, it could be easy to overlook an actual match. This is unless you are a Tottenham Hotspur fan of course – as Spurs do not participate in incoming signings anymore. Alas, all that really matters is the product on the field and Spurs did just enough on Wednesday evening at Wembley to beat Watford 2-1. So, what can we take away from the match?

Son is Shining Again

With his latest international duties over with and a few days’ rest after sitting out the Palace defeat, Heung-Min Son was back for the Spurs in a big way against Watford. From the beginning of the match Son looked a step quicker than just about everyone else and was quite bright. His turn in the 9th minute to whip a left footed rocket past a stretched Ben Foster went only inches wide.

Son led the team in shots (5) and of course scored the crucial game-tying goal in the 80th minute. The shot was struck with quite some force and Foster never had a chance. It was just desserts for Son who was active early and often. With any luck on his side, Son may have had a hat trick, but a loose first touch cost him an opportunity in the 16th minute off of a deft touch by Christian Eriksen.

Knowing Tottenham will be without Kane and Dele for up to a month more, seeing Son come back from international duty so fresh and on form was a good sign for Spurs fans. For me, Heung-Min Son was man of the match and the best player on the pitch.

Return of Early Season Lucas?

Lucas Moura began the Watford game on the substitutes bench with full-backs in both wing roles as well as Fernando Llorente and Son starting up top. While Rose was tearing things up down the left-hand flank, Serge Aurier just wasn’t providing the width Spurs needed for balance from the right.

In an atypical move for Mauricio Pochettino, he made a change at half-time taking off Aurier and putting on Moura. However, Moura wasn’t deployed on the far right, rather Pochettino moved Sissoko out wide right, dropped Eriksen to play in the pivot with Harry Winks and sat Lucas Moura in the number 9 role behind Son and Llorente. The move paid off early and often for Spurs.

The truth is, after taking the lead Watford sat back, especially in the second half, meaning Tottenham needed someone to take the ball and run with it up field between the lines. Moura was able to do that and then some. It didn’t take long for the Hornets to recognize the problem, which began a string of fouls being committed on Moura.

Messi the man is not, but Watford must have had some tape thinking he was. Moura drew at least 4 fouls in the second half, two of which went for yellow cards. I’m not sure Moura was ever allowed to take more than three touches without getting fouled. His immediate pace as he picked up the ball was a clear problem for Watford and a plus for Spurs.

Had he played 90 minutes, he may have beaten out Son for MOM, but with only 45 on the books he made the most of them and was a game changer on this night. Like Son, let’s hope this aggressiveness and energy is here to stay. Moura’s early season form was quite promising and if he can again reach that level there are good days ahead for Spurs fans!

Defensive Three plus Harry

Pochettino again rolled with three across the back line, with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld on either side of Davison Sanchez.  They gave up a goal, but the group looked sharper than they have in some time together and were quite active in the offensive half of the field. Additionally, it seems that those three and Harry Winks are growing more comfortable in the diamond they form in moving possession up the field.

Watford sat back–way back at times–but that doesn’t diminish how well the four played together helping the Spurs dominate possession at over a 70% clip in the second half and 65% for the game. Further, the flexibility afforded by starting at the back three allows Spurs to get creative with their substitutions.

Normally, seeing Vertonghen come off is not a good thing, but when Sanchez and Alderweireld can drop into a back two, with Winks covering, and Spurs can bring on an extra attacker, aka Erik Lamela it makes the team more of a threat and gives the bench more of the stuff needed to make a difference. Within 30 seconds of the change Spurs had scored. While Lamela wasn’t responsible, it was a good sign in my book.

If Spurs can continue to create offense, 17 shots–8 blocked, 3 on target–and maintain a back three, it may give the team the best options moving forward. While Sissoko wouldn’t be a top choice at right back, he did a good job on the wing before coming off for Kieran Trippier in the second half. Add in the confidence that seems to be returning to Harry Winks, who plays some hard-nose defense and the team seems solid and flexible from the back through midfield.

Another Lloris Lapse

Hugo Lloris was also back to his early season form at Wembley as the goal was all on him. While it was Michel Vorm who gave up the two goals with Lloris injured in the first meeting, the goal for Watford was all on Hugo.

Granted, the corner was a thing of beauty as the ball came in right about 3 yards out, legitimately Hugo’s ball. However, somewhere between crossing the 18 and reaching the front post, the ball began to curl. By the time the corner reached the back post, it was well past the six-yard line and Lloris was in keeper no-mans-land. He made a valiant effort to get back to the ball with his arm, but it was too late.

Tough to blame that all on Hugo, but if you can’t get to the ball, don’t come for it and let a ball bounce/roll/plop into an empty net.

Llorente’s Journey

It was good to Fernando Llorente get the winner. With some luck or simply a better touch he would have had a hat-trick. He headed one ball just inches wide off a nice Rose cross and then kneed, yes kneed a sitter over from a few feet away. I know his head is much higher off the ground than mine, but a knee?

I digress, because this was legitimately Llorente’s best game as a Spur. Not just the game winner, which was a teach-your-kids-how-to-finish-a-cross-with-your-head thing of beauty,but more so from his activity on the field.

At one point I saw Fernando just outside the defensive penalty area working on a double team. He dropped back into the midfield a lot more than he has been and is improving with his hold-up play. A younger Fernando Llorente would be awesome to have, but Spurs can make do with this more experienced version, if he can keep up the work-rate from yesterday. Or maybe my dad was right, sometimes a blind squirrel does find an acorn, only time will tell.