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.
Spurs Ratings in the Second Half
The second half brought more of the same in terms of an open football match the led to some opportunities at both ends. In this half, Ludogorets created and capitalized on some of the opportunities made and for a moment were back in the match.
That moment for Ludogorets only lasted about 12 minutes as Giovani Lo Celso finished the scoring at 3-1, just over the hour mark. From there Tottenham held on by managing the game. So how did the players do in half two?
Carlos Vinicius – 6
Carlos Vinicius showed some good things in the second half. He was able to attack with pace on the dribble and quickly looks to move forward when he gets the ball. However, he was a bit off on his overall timing diminishing his effectiveness in hold-up play and limiting his opportunities on goal. Things will come for Vinicius, who appears to be dripping with talent, he just needs to settle. Should have scored on 52 minutes when Lo Celso found him open in the box.
Giovani Lo Celso – 8
Lo Celso was even more active in the second half than he was in the first. Maybe he knew his time was going to be limited in the half, but Lo Celso’s movement was superb, and vision was great, as he should have had an assist from Vinicius. The Argentine got his goal just before coming off the pitch finishing an easy shot on essentially an open goal.
Tanguy Ndombele– 6.5
Tanguy Ndombele came on later in the second half to replace Giovani Lo Celso. Tanguy did okay finding the ball and knocking it around a bit. His passing was not as crisp as we are used to seeing completing only 13 of 18 passes and being dispossessed once. Did come on with some flair as he was doing step overs and dribbling, the Frenchman is clearly enjoying his football, which is important for Spurs.
Gareth Bale – 6
Bale seemed to be in early in the second half, but a sliding tackle prevented his momentary opportunity. Was just less active and less of a target in the second half as Vinicius attacked passes and the play went more to the left than right. Was replaced by Bergwijn.
Steve Bergwijn – 7
Steven Bergwijn does not currently look the confident player that burst onto the scene scoring against Manchester City last season. However, it is only a matter of time and maybe a bit of luck before that happens. Bergwijn only played 25 minutes yet was able to manage 3 shots in that time. Was active and is looking to break out, just needs the ball to break for him.
Lucas Moura – 7
Lucas Moura neither scored nor assisted in the second half but was probably a better footballer overall in his 15 minutes of the second half. A constant outlet up the left flank, while not terribly effective, Moura was clearly attracting the defense’s attention and was continually active for Spurs.
Heung-Min Son – 7
Heung-Min Son had been on the field for maybe 20 seconds and was immediately contributing to the team. Seeing Hojbjerg making the steal, Son sprinted up to put himself in position to get to the ball just in front of Vinicius and then he played square to Lo Celso for his tap in. Son was not super crisp from there but did what he needed to ensure Spurs won.
Harry Winks – 7.5
Winks played as the deepest of the Tottenham midfielders in the second half, doing a good job in front of the defense. Unlucky on the deflection that led to the goal, and had a misplaced pass or two, but overall was a solid partner connecting the backline to Hojbjerg and the attack in the second half.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7
Was exceedingly active from the moment he stepped on the pitch in the second half. Was cutting passes and making tackles for 45 minutes. Won every duel, on the floor or in the air he had. It was Højbjerg’s defense that created the third goal, as his interception got the play moving.
Ben Davies – 6.5
Dove in and missed the tackled just moments before the deflected shot that made the goal. Okay going forward, but the clean sheet needs to be priority number 1.
Eric Dier – 7
Dier was not bad in the second half but was partially at fault on the goal. It was a bang, bang play so hard for Dier to have reacted. But it would have been better to see more reaction than turning and raising his arm. It was his own lateness in pulling up that kept Keseru onside in the first place.
Toby Alderweireld – 7
More active in the second half with more touches and passes, but not a ton to do. Solid all night.
Matt Doherty – 6.5
Matt Doherty had a less active second half than he did first. Some of it was what seemed a greater emphasis on the left of the attack and some of it was Bale playing a bit deeper. Either way Doherty just had less influence on the game in the second half, but as active as he is overall, that is okay. Did pick up a yellow.
Joe Hart – 7
Compared to the first half, Joe Hart was overexerted in the second half, but there were only 4 attempts on goal. Of course, one was converted as the goal, and just as Dier maybe could have responded quicker, so too could Hart have come off his line and made a play. But in the end the goal is likely not to cost Spurs too much. Made the other three saves without an issue.
Jose Mourinho – 7
Made good use of his substitutes as he worked to get most of his rotation some minutes on the pitch. A little disappointed to not see more of the young guys, but hopefully their time will come at the end of the Group Stage. Clearly has a plan for building the team toward something more, a solid tactical approach.
Those are our thoughts, what did you think?