Tottenham Hotspur played a match where they could only really advance, and a very rotated side dominated Marine as expected, so how did everyone play?
Tottenham Hotspur were expected to dominate against 8th tier, non-league Marine AFC in the FA Cup on Sunday. Tottenham started slowly and after a very brief scare, came through without any blushes. On a day when everyone who played should have showed well, how did all of the Tottenham players do in the 0-5 win over Marine.
Dele’s Day
On a day when the defense got a clean sheet, Tottenham had their youngest ever goal scorer, and Carlos Vinicius left with a hattrick match ball; Dele Alli was the best Tottenham player on the pitch. Dele Alli was not his old dominant running self, where he was timing runs into the box to finish off goals. Rather Dele was the one trying to spot the runners.
With Moussa Sissoko and Harvey White, the two primary midfielders with him, Dele was looking to get on the ball and then do something with it. Marine in no way sat back against Tottenham and looked to counter quickly, but the space and time Dele was afforded through others playing fast paid dividends for the attacking midfielder.
Alli was able to combine with others effectively and push the ball forward while he worked horizontally across the pitch. Often finding the ball in spaces the used to be the domain of Christian Eriksen a couple years ago, Dele was often working left to right against Marine. This opportunity to be coming in with the ball on his stronger foot led to a lot of passes and one good cross the led to Spurs second goal.
Whether setting up others in the box, moving the ball in and out, or having a half-chance himself, it was a good day for Dele Alli and Tottenham Hotspur. So, Dele was good, how was everyone else?
Tottenham Defensive Ratings
Tottenham Hotspur did their job defensively keeping the clean sheet, but much of that was down to doing the job with the ball and keeping it away from their 8th tier opponents. While normally Spurs feel content to sit and wait for mistakes, they wanted domination and really got it, starting with the defense and the shutout.
Joe Hart (GK) – 7.5
Joe Hart did not have much to do most of the evening and he did well with everything he touched. He did have one scary moment when he decided to let a long-range missile go without deflecting it with his glove. Whether the shot was that wicked or Hart was that off in his judgment we do not know, we just know for a moment everyone cheering for the team in lilywhite held their collective breath. Following that one play, Hart made a couple decent enough saves and worked to own the box with a solid claim and a good punch.
Ben Davies (LB) – 7
It would be difficult to say that Ben Davies played bad, because he never really made any mistakes and did not allow much from a defensive perspective. However, if anyone on Spurs had an off day it was Ben Davies. Davies was the only Tottenham player not to complete more than 80% of his passes connecting on only 73% of those. Was replaced for the last 20 minutes by Sergio Reguilon. Just not a great day from Davies, but it was really no harm no foul from the captain, just as we projected.
Joe Rodon (CB) – 9
Joe Rodon did everything he was brought to the club to do as a center back on Sunday and maybe then a little with his effort. Joe Rodon was a rock defensively for Tottenham and worked very hard to make sure the team kept the clean sheet. Rodon was solid in the air, winning a few headers. Joe looked good stepping up defensively leading the team with three interceptions. Maybe most importantly Joe Rodon had two blocks including one at 35 minutes with the match 0-3, where he sprinted across the defense and past his partner Toby Alderweireld to the right side to make a crucial block.
Toby Alderweireld (CB) – 7.5
Whereas Joe Rodon played like a man possessed who was ready to do whatever it took to earn more minutes, Toby Alderweireld played with considerably less intensity. Instead of being the aggressor defensively, Alderweireld was the pressure valve that Rodon, Davies, and Matt Doherty could knock the ball back too, almost like a sweeper. What this deeper position did for Toby was give him room to operate and ping balls forward. While his completion percentage was not as high as Rodon’s the number of long balls dwarfed his teammates as the space led to the Alderweireld diagonal ball that few teams allow in the Premier League anymore. Came off at half-time for Japhet Tanganga.
Matt Doherty (RB) – 7
Matt Doherty provided a solid shift for Tottenham. Doherty had a nice opportunity to score on a wonderful cross into the box from Dele Alli, but the first time volley was saved by Bayleigh Passant the Marine keeper. Of course, Passant only saved the ball to the foot of Carlos Vinicius, but it did mean Doherty got neither a goal nor an assist officially. Did commit a couple fouls, which led to nothing, but could have given the opposition a chance. As we have seen this season, free kicks are one of Tottenham’s problem areas.
Tottenham Midfield and Offense Ratings
Moussa Sissoko (DM) – 7.5
Moussa Sissoko had a strong 45 minutes as the Frenchman was substituted at halftime. During the first half, Sissoko was part of the defensive effort that kept Marine pinned in. Additionally, Sissoko dribbled several times, which worked to put the Mariners under pressure. Did the job needed and then came off.
Harvey White (DM) – 8
Harvey White had a strong game at the base of the Tottenham midfield. While White ventured forward enough to get three shots off, he ws disciplined enough to get back and be back defensively whenever Spurs needed him. Was actually recovering well and tracking back when Kengni ripped his big shot. Did have one free kick attempt, but the wall kept the shot off goal. Solid recovering the ball and tidy in possession with a bit of bite to go forward, a nice match for the young man.
Dele Alli (CAM) – 9
Dele Alli was really strong in his hour plus on the pitch for Spurs. Clearly starting to tire a bit in the second half as he has not received a ton of game minutes. Played well, but really should have against this team. Remains to be seen if it earns him more time or not.
Gedson Fernandes (RW) – 8.5
Speaking of earning more time, or maybe even just earning a stay until the end of his loan Gedson Fernandes looked solid for Tottenham, particularly in the first half as the Portuguese U23 international went the full 90 for Spurs. Fernandes showed solid passing skills and played quite a bit of one touch football as he worked in the pocket on the right combining with Dele, Doherty, and Sissoko. Seemingly a bit bigger and stouter than the last time he was on the pitch for Spurs, Gedson earned a look, the touch part is finding minutes to go with that look. If it was his last Spurs match, he played alright.
Lucas Moura (LW) – 7.5
Lucas Moura was doing his thing about the Marine on Sunday. Moura was a threat to attack on the dribble from near the opening kick of the game. The Brazilian hit a nice free kick for a goal with went up and down over the wall easily. Moura was looking to get others involved and combined well with Devine for the young lad’s goal playing a backheel on the overlap. Did his job and then off with Dele Alli just after the hour mark.
Carlos Vinicius (ST) – 9
Carlos Vinicius did well in that he had a hattrick and got to leave with the match ball. It was the first hattrick for Spurs for Vinicius, but hopefully not his last. The truth is Vinicius maybe could have had four or five. Particularly given the dimensions of the pitch and the camera angle, Carlos Vinicius looked an imposing target for Tottenham on the night. Benefited from a gilt-edged passed from Dele Alli to open the scoring and then quickest to the rebound for the second. His third goal was a nice bit of individual skill but will likely still be thinking about a couple that he missed as he received the ball, turned and fired over or wide a couple times.
Tottenham Substitute and Coach Ratings
Whereas in the first half Tottenham had the ball mostly in the attacking half, the second half saw a bit more domination on the ball through the defense, as Spurs knocked the ball around and scored one more to finish the match, while using all five substitutes.
Japhet Tanganga – 7
Japhet Tanganga came on at half-time for Toby Alderweireld. Still playing center back rather than fullback, Tanganga saw plenty of the ball. Tanganga played most shorter passes when he had the ball, although he did try one longer ball forward. Came on to help preserve the shutout defensively and did that well.
Alfie Devine – 7.5
Alfie Devine joined Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and now he is the clubs all time youngest goal scorer at just over 16-years of age. Devine worked for the goal, making the overlapping run behind Lucas Moura on the left and then squaring up his defender after receiving the back-heel pass. Initially moved left, then cut back to the right and somehow forced the ball between Passant and the near post for Tottenham’s fifth and final goal.
Gareth Bale – 6.5
Gareth Bale came in for Dele Alli in the last 25 minutes or so of the match. Bale managed two shots – including a dipping freekick – and completed all 16 of his passes attempted. What we did not see from Bale was a real burst of pace or an effort to beat anyone. Would have been nice to see Bale – who was grinning ear-to-ear as he came on – get right in this match, but it looked like he may have tweaked his calf even more. Guess we will see as we continue to wait for Bale to do something truly special.
Jack Clarke – 6.5
Clarke had a few more touches and a couple more passes than Gareth Bale, but never really got going on the offensive side of the ball. By the last 25 minutes, Tottenham were in a control mode, not a score more mode, so Clarke just did not have the same intensity around him as there was for the first hour of the match.
Sergio Reguilón – N/A
Sergio Reguilón came on for Ben Davies for the last 20 minutes of the match. Whether it was tactical or pre-planned, Reguilón did his job. Completing 14 of 15 passes, Reguilón brought some control back to the left side of the pitch and helped Spurs see out the game.
Coach José Mourinho – 8
José Mourinho had his team right for this one. Tottenham did their job and killed the game early and then did well to control the ball and the opposition both in the second half. While Spurs could have really stepped on the gas and looked to score a lot more, that was not he point in such a significant moment for Marine FC in reaching this stage of the competition. Maybe should have played Davinson Sanchez to give Toby Alderweireld more time off, but that is kind of a minor complaint, particularly given Harry Kane got the day off. Seeing Tottenham continue to progress is a good thing and all according to José Mourinho’s plan.