Tottenham Hotspur lost to a good, but certainly less talented team in Belgium on Thursday in Europa League, despite doom and gloom, some positives emerged.
Losses stink! Losing a game can turn a good day bad or a bad day worse in a real hurry for players and fans alike. A few days ago, the team was winning the league for some and now they are falling apart, and some players will never play again, or the coach needs to go. Such is life in the fast-paced, what have you done for me lately world of professional sports.
The good news is these were not precious Premier League points dropped, they were points in Europa League and if Spurs were going to lose, better now than in the Premier League or knockout stages. Also better now in Belgium, than a month ago when it would have meant the end of Europa League altogether, but not one Group Stage loss.
In fact, this loss can serve as a wake-up call that this team – like any other in the world – can be beaten on any day. Despite the harsh realities that come with a poor performance there were some redeeming qualities found in the Tottenham loss to Royal Antwerp.
Spurs should take those positives with them and leave everything else from the game in Belgium where it belongs in the dumpster. So while the negatives certainly outweighed the positives, there is almost always a silver lining, so here is our effort at HotspurHQ to find from the loss.
Vinicius Holding Power
Let me start by saying Carlos Vinicius did not have a good game overall, as there were just too many poor attempts to get him the ball where he was not ready, and possession was lost. When that is happening there is likely some fault both in the passer and the receiver, so Vinicius was not awesome.
That said, Carlos Vinicius did continue to show Tottenham coaches and fans alike the skills that have some thinking the team could end up with two strikers on the pitch before the season is over. Harry Kane is the man and only injury is going to change that no matter how good Vinicius is. However, the ability to hold the ball and most importantly distribute it effectively is clearly a strength for Vinicius.
The combinations in and around the box were just a fraction off here or a step off there all night. Part of the reason for that is how some of the defense were looking to play the ball into Vinicius and benefit from his passing and bypassing the midfield. Eight of the ten players on the pitch with Carlos played a pass to him. Only Ben Davies and Sergio Reguilón failed to target Vinicius on the night and Hugo Lloris targeted him six times on long balls or goal kicks.
It is these targets from Lloris that were most interesting. At least three times during the match I saw Vinicius take a goal kick or punt out of the air on his chest and pass it directly to a teammate with his chest. This is no small feat and demonstrates just what a target he is. The first time it worked great, second time the ball got to its target although a bit off and the third time, well Dele ran past, expecting a flick.
On that third attempt after Dele missed the chest pass, Vinicius controlled the ball near the midfield circle, turned and then attacked the goal. He ultimately lost control of the ball near the penalty box with at least five Antwerp players in screen shot and none from Tottenham. When he finally had some support Dele and Bergwijn were too late and the ball was lost. Regardless, Vinicius is showing he brings some things no one else does and that will help as everyone gets more familiar with his unique, Brazilian born style of play.
Davinson Sanchez Shows Ledley King’s Influence
At the very start of the second half, the only midfield holdover, Harry Winks, tried to play a back pass to Davinson Sanchez. Given Winks proclivity to pass backwards this was no surprise to fans or to the Antwerp team who pounced on a poorly aimed pass and were in on goal.
Like Vinicius, Sanchez did not have a great game, but this tackle was vital. Had Spurs lost by two goals, the mood would really be bleak, versus the current overblown sky is falling mentality. Sanchez was okay in the air and solid with his passing completing 85%. However, it was that block that stole the show defensively and proved two things.
First, that block demonstrated the resolve of Sanchez as a defender. Given the situation of the first goal and the helplessness he faced in trying to decide if he should step or not; the decisiveness in the tackle was a real positive. Sanchez can split opinion, but he is the most athletic center-half on the team and is needed more often than not. Second, was the nature of the tackle.
If, you watch the highlights and see that tackle again, the familiarity of the motion should make Spurs fans smile. Sanchez was well behind Refaelou with not much of an angle. Most defenders – including Sanchez a season or two ago – would have slid in and come around with their left boot to try and curl the ball out. More often than not, while the defender would get the ball, the follow-through into the player would leave a big decision in the referee’s discretion.
However, Sanchez did not try and come around to clear the ball with his left foot, instead he made a toe/cleats first direct lunge at the ball with his right foot. Sanchez was down quickly and pushed the ball out for a goal kick as Refaelou swung through with his right foot hitting nothing but air. If it looked familiar it is because you saw his coach do it 100s of times.
Ledley King has officially been an assistant with Tottenham since the summer and this was one time where you could see the impact of his presence with the club. The Sanchez of old would have been far more reckless in the tackle and it would have been 50/50 if it resulted in a penalty or not. Great to see King teaching his style and more importantly Sanchez adapting it.
Ndombele Has Been That Influential for Tottenham
The one other takeaway I think most fans and of course Jose Mourinho has is something we have been suspecting all along, which is just how darn influential and good Tanguy Ndombele has been to start the season. The difference in the tempo and game when he came off against West Ham was apparent, but maybe it was just coincidence.
However, the team was not great after he was removed on Monday evening and certainly looked to be missing a focal point in the passing game – outside of Vinicius. Targeting a striker is good, but if the midfielders cannot be the ones doing it, you have a problem. Lloris had six targets of Vinicius, Serge Aurier had 4 passes to the striker.
However, Winks, Lo Celso, and Dele combined to target Vinicius only twice. Dele and Winks both attempted one pass to him and Lo Celso never sent a pass the Brazilians way. When the defense is bypassing the midfield that much it is telling. I must believe had Tanguy Ndombele been in the match, the same overlooking of the midfield and the midfield overlooking the striker would not have occurred.
We cannot yell off the mountain how good Sanchez, Vinicius, and Ndombele were on Thursday, the Frenchman did not even play. However, we can definitively say all three have a major role to play for Spurs moving forward, which might be more difficult to say for many of the players on the pitch, particularly in the first half. The reasons they will have those roles were apparent for everyone to see in different ways Thursday night.