Tottenham Hotspur’s starting 11 vs Fulham deeply flawed

For all of Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho’s experience, you think he would have learned by now that playing risk-averse football at home to a relegation-embattled team is a recipe for disaster. 

After innumerable historical experiences, obviously he’s too stubborn to adapt. It was his pallid, tentative approach that cost Spurs a chance to move into the top three.

Starting a home match against a team trying to claw out of a relegation spot with three defensive, uncreative midfielders is nonsensical.

Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg all started in the same midfield. At first sight, you would think Tottenham were set to do battle at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.

Only Højbjerg’s starting role was justified when considering an opponent that hasn’t won a Premier League match in over six weeks.

Jose probably thought Winks would be able to grab a foothold and control possession. But the Englishman is low on confidence and, even when in top form, rarely has the creative nous to pick a threatening, incisive pass.

Moussa, on the other hand, is an incredible engine in the centre of the pitch. But he’s not exactly a goal threat. He does a lot of hard yards, tracks back and is as tenacious a player you’ll find, but he doesn’t belong in a creative role against a side of Fulham’s quality.

While Giovanni Lo Celso is still nursing an injury, surely Erik Lamela, Dele Alli or even the returning Gareth Bale could have started. In fact this match against Fulham represented a perfect opportunity for the gaffer to show some faith in the out-of-favour Alli, who played a brilliant match against Marine. Of course Marine isn’t exactly a world beater, but Alli enjoyed a proficient outing against the eighth tier side and could have used that as a platform on which to build confidence.

But Jose, yet again, decided to go negative, cautious and downright unambitious. His tactics made Tottenham look scared, fearful of a team in the drop zone. No other team vying for a top three spot would dare be so placid in their approach when hosting a struggling side at the bottom of the table. If there were any time to unleash our creative talent, this was it. But another chance to show enterprise and creative intent has gone by the wayside.

And it won’t be the last time Jose shows a lack of faith in his talented crew. Sure, we missed numerous chances to put the match to bed, but the lack of control Jose’s men showed in the second half was as alarming as it was disconcerting.

And for that the blame has to fall squarely on Jose’s shoulders.