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A few weeks ago, there was a moment when, for a dizzying moment, it really did seem like there was a nonzero chance that José Mourinho’s Spurs could come down and work their way up to accidentally winning the Premier League.
It’s fair to say that we should all feel a little foolish for even thinking that Mourinho’s men are now busy on the descent, working their way to the middle of the table making the exact same mistakes in the same way in game after game.
It all begins, of course, with José himself. We are not saying this is becoming an issue for their Spurs team, but we do write the following about them. after drawing 1-1 with Newcastle in September, which is basically about four hundred years ago in 2020.
“And we still have to ask: why does José insist on continuing to play like this, when he has a totally inadequate squad for such tactics and a sport whose current laws and the interpretation of them create the very high possibility of a loss of points? nonsense that unfolds at the end of the day?
“The Spurs could have finished this game in the first half, but in the second they allowed it to drift aimlessly toward its final joke. It’s a really crazy way to play soccer in 2020, especially when you’re in charge of a team that possesses a lot of great attacking qualities but has Eric Dier as the starting center-back.
Even if crazy penalties weren’t a thing, and it’s already clear at this early stage of the season that regardless of what you think of them, there is no point in simply ignoring their existence, the Spurs are totally inadequate technically, emotionally and historically. to sit down and holding a 1-0 lead.
“The risk-reward calculations are wrong. The Spurs are a classic example that offense is the best form of defense; occupying the opposition with defensive work and minimizing the actual defense that the Spurs must put up is definitely his best approach. Especially against such limited opposition as Newcastle.
“It doesn’t mean a reckless abandonment, but if Spurs had tried a tougher touch for that second and third goals, would they really have been left particularly vulnerable to disaster? And, more importantly, would that risk really be greater than that created by maintaining a single target advantage and thus remaining permanently vulnerable? “
Quickly edit a couple of words, tweak a couple of details, and it applies just as well to a 1-1 draw at Wolves today, as happened in the 1-1 draw at Palace a fortnight ago. It just doesn’t make any sense for the Spurs to play like this. in every game. It was prudent – and successful – against City. It made sense, even if it wasn’t successful, in Liverpool. It even worked well against Arsenal due to the pure and naive disposition of the gunners to fall head first into the trap. It doesn’t make sense against Palace or Newcastle or Wolves.
And Mourinho’s stubborn insistence on moving on is as disconcerting as it is maddening. Yes, we know how you view football and how you like your teams to play. But we also know that he likes to win. He is, at heart, a pragmatist. “What is the most likely way for me and my team to get the best chance of winning this soccer game?” is the only question that matters. However, he continues with a demonstrably wrong answer for this team this season in this era.
What was truly infuriating about today’s effort was that for 20 minutes after the goal, the Spurs were really good. When the magnificent Tanguy Ndombele, who had scored the first goal in 57 seconds, casually ignored the laws of physics as he loomed menacingly through midfield and Sergio Reguilón appeared in strange and interesting places from his nominal left-back spot, the Spurs. He carried a threat and a purpose despite Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min conspiring to have rare days off at the same time.
But it did not last. The Spurs were soon back on their feet and hoping to get out unscathed. The tie was, if not inevitable, certainly completely, obviously, infuriating and hilariously predictable. With no way out, the ball simply returns faster and faster to a defense that sits deeper and deeper. Tottenham, with two of the best attackers in world football at their disposal, failed to get a shot on goal in the 21st minute.
The Spurs have now scored eight times in the first 15 minutes of games this season, more than any other club. They have lost nine points in the last 10 minutes of matches, also more than any other club. Leave Mou.
Mourinho just can’t keep playing like this. The question of style is not the primary consideration, but it is not totally irrelevant either. Even when it’s successful, there’s no point pretending it’s a cool thing to watch. Daring is not for Mourinho’s Spurs. Even if you deliver cutlery, the glory will have an echo of failure. But no, that’s not the biggest problem. The problem is that it doesn’t work. Not in these games. An approach that seeks to narrow each game down to one or two key moments and the best margins is understandable against superior or even equal opposition. Against inferior teams, it is, by definition, counterproductive. A game plan that minimizes your disadvantage against better teams should also minimize your advantage against weaker teams. It’s a bold thought, but listen to me: different parties require a different approach.
Spurs’ next two games are at home to Fulham and Leeds; We will soon know if Mourinho has learned his lesson.
Dave tickner
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