Santo, Tottenham again dominated in 3 goal loss to United

Are we there yet? That is what most Tottenham Hotspur fans are asking as Spurs faithful must be wondering when they will reach the bottom of this continued fall from respectability. For already the third time in just 10 matches, Tottenham is trounced by a 3-0 scoreline, as Ronaldo and Manchester United easily handle Spurs in another listless display from the Lilywhites.

Tottenham and lots of pointless possession

If you look at a few statistics you could be fooled into thinking Tottenham Hotspur dominated Manchester United. Spurs had 58 percent possession and had 10 corners compared to United’s one. Unfortunately, corners do not count for points and Tottenham could not turn any of the 10 corners nor any of their 9 shots into an actual shot on target.

Alternatively, Manchester United managed 10 shots on just 42 percent possession, with four on target, and crushed Spurs spirit 0-3. While Tottenham went side-to-side and backward most of the afternoon, United just looked for opportunities and made Spurs pay for their continued squandering of possession.

The strange decision to start Ben Davies over Sergio Reguilon in the starting XI meant Spurs really could only attack consistently up one flank. Combine the facts that Spurs just didn’t have enough movement in the attack with a lack of width in the final third and it resulted in an inability for Tottenham to do much of anything to move a new Manchester United back three off their spots.

Much of the afternoon saw Tottenham lofting hopeful balls into the box against outnumbered and often disinterested strikers. With no space to run in behind, no real passers to break down the defense, and the best player completely disinterested Spurs were never going to get a real shot on goal, much less score.

Battle of managers a bust for Spurs

Media are media but the build-up to this match was one of a battle between two embroiled managers. If that was the case, we saw where these players stand. They were not great but Manchester United had enough players making enough plays to rip Spurs in half. Whereas Tottenham could barely get out of their own way, looking at a team of players where everyone would rather be somewhere else.

The Tottenham team from the start of the season that worked and ran for each other all over the pitch left on the first international break and looks to not be coming back. Until XI players can play hard for 90 minutes executing a common plan, this team is going nowhere but down.