Tottenham Half-by-Half Player Ratings from Ludogorets
By Aaron Coe
With five substitutes in the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur essentially played two different sides against Ludogorets, so we rated the players by half.
Harry Kane was the story of the first half for Tottenham Hotspur. however, as he and Moussa Sissoko came off as the first of five substitutes in the second half, the complexion of the game changed. With this in mind, we have first half and second half ratings for each player on the pitch, because for some a half game was all they got. So, on a night when Tottenham clearly got the job done, who played best for Spurs?
First Half Tottenham Ratings
Harry Kane – 8
Yes, Harry Kane had a goal and an assist and if things went right, he would have had two assists. Of course, if things had broken right for the Tottenham talisman, he would have had a first half hattrick. Instead Kane ahs to settle for just the one goal important goal – his 200th for club. The hattrick would have made this a perfect 10, but 5 shots and an assist will have to do.
Giovani Lo Celso – 7
Giovani Lo Celso was a big part of the effective ball movement for Tottenham in the first half. He was the lynchpin between Harry Winks in the back half of midfield and the attackers in the front. Sometimes deep but mostly forward, Bale and Kane found their service often thanks to nice passes from Lo Celso.
Gareth Bale – 7
Gareth Bale was better than he has been in the first half and despite no goals or assists, his presence on the field was causing problems for Ludogorets. Bale has a decent free kick effort that almost fooled Ivanov in goal. Then Bale almost had a nice header assist to Harry Kane in turning a cross back in on goal for Spurs, but Kane’s effort was right at Ivanov.
Lucas Moura – 7
Lucas Moura was effective on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist; however, he was also probably the loosest with the ball of all the attackers. On a night where clearly Tottenham’s touch had returned, Moura lost the ball a couple times. Probably should have had a goal in the first few minutes but somehow got blocked off the ball.
Harry Winks – 8
Harry Winks was remarkably effective both on and off the ball on Thursday night. Looking to both make tackles and make forward passes, Thursday in the first half was an example of Winks at his absolute best. Finding the right rhythm with Moussa Sissoko, Winks showed some good work both in the attacking third as well as in the back protecting the defense. Probably should have had an assist for Kane in the first minute of action, but just was not to be.
Moussa Sissoko – 7
Moussa Sissoko was the least visible of the starting midfield three and that was okay. Sissoko did a good job of quickly moving the ball once he got it and put in a solid shift defensively. Sissoko and Winks will be battling each other to start next to Pierre Højbjerg who came on for Sissoko in the second half. On this night Winks stood out more, at least in the first half.
Ben Davies – 7
Ben Davies had an overall quiet first half. He was able to get into the attacking third some and did a decent job of working to find Harry Kane with the ball. Ultimately, did not have a lot to do.
Eric Dier – 8
Dier had little to do in the first half as well, mostly some passes back to Toby Alderweireld of forward to Harry Winks. Given the quick movement of the ball, it did not sit between the two backs for awfully long.
Toby Alderweireld – 8
Like Dier, Toby Alderweireld did not have a lot to do in the first half. He mostly played shorter balls to Dier, Winks, and Doherty, although we did see a couple of those classic cross field passes Alderweireld is known for, but not asked to do much.
Matt Doherty – 7
Like the rest of the defense Matt Doherty had little to do in the first half but did a bit more offensively than the rest. Doherty is slowly developing some chemistry with Gareth Bale on the right flank. The most I see Doherty with the ball, the more I see an outside midfielder who can tackle well, thus plays defense.
Joe Hart – 8
Ludogorets did not register a shot on target in the first half, although Hart did have to scramble a bit for the one shot, they took after it deflected. Ultimately, it led to a corner, which led to nothing. Hart only passed the ball six times the entire half, with the first touch he had on a strong back pass probably his best touch and pass. Just nothing for Hart to do.
Jose Mourinho – 8
Mourinho set up his team to succeed from the off, playing much of his top line-up. Great to see the competition taken seriously and for Spurs to get out early.