Cause for concern as Tottenham Hotspur fall again to Chelsea

History once again repeats itself, as Tottenham Hotspur loses another semi-final and once more at the hands of Chelsea. Antonio Conte‘s squad needs an overhaul.

The reality of Tottenham failing in the latter stages of a cup competition is one I know too well. As someone who’s in their mid-20’s, I feel I’ve witnessed far too many cup semi-final and final defeats.

A common theme amongst many of these games is the yearning for a trophy. How badly does Tottenham Hotspur want it? How badly have they ever truly wanted it? Well, in my experience, not very badly.

In fact, when Tottenham gets to these stages of a competition, it almost becomes more pre-season than the pre-season tour itself. The movement slows down and the passing gets lazier. The defence always seems to be unorganised and without leadership, with the keepers looking like they’ve just won a competition to be there. Rusty would be a form of terminology, but it shouldn’t be applicable.

To make matters worse, regardless of coaching staff and management on the sidelines, the team sheet always feels weaker than it should. The tactics are typically completely off and against the grain of previous impressive displays. Almost as if it says somewhere in their contracts, ‘lose the games with a trophy at stake’.

Here we are once more, repeating the Tottenham cycle.

It’s lazy to always point the finger upwards to the board of directors and Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, every time something goes wrong on the pitch. Occasionally, destiny is truly in the hands of the management and players. For example, Mauricio Pochettino playing Heung-Min Son as a left wing-back, for the first time ever, in the 2017 FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea may not have been the wisest of moves.

The following season, he most definitely should not have started Michel Vorm in goal against Manchester United over club captain Hugo Lloris. Yet, here we are. Hindsight, I suppose.

Circling back to the present day, Tottenham’s defeat at home to Chelsea feels for the most part, different. Yes, Lloris was once more dropped and out of form Japhet Tanganga remained in the squad, with Matt Doherty starting again at left wing-back. However, what else and who else was there? Especially with the north London derby quickly approaching on Sunday afternoon.

Ryan Sessegnon could have started over Doherty, but in his 15-minute cameo towards the end, he looked just as shaky as Doherty. Joe Rodon for Tanganga? Potentially an improvement in theory, but truthfully, Rodon has failed to look a better option since arriving at Spurs. Could Gio Lo Celso have started on the bench for Dele or Bryan Gil? Once again it possibly wouldn’t have made any difference either way.

Tottenham Hotspur feels like it’s been whittled down to the bare bones. Who makes the difference anymore? Lucas Moura, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Lloris, and Son are so far the only names that could be considered worthy of the lilywhite shirt.