Spurs 2-0 Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester United (Eriksen 1, Jones 28 og)

 

For the third successive home league game in a row, Spurs took home the three points against Manchester United. Whether it’s White Hart Lane or Wembley, Spurs seem to be able to raise their game against the Red Devils at home – not since September 1966 had such a run been completed. In what was a record attendance for a Premier League game of over 81,000, Spurs completely dominated the proceedings and an anaemic United went home with their tails between their legs.

Spurs are the real deal these days, of course, and a loss to them is no disgrace, but the manner on this midweek night was deeply troubling. United had gone from a resolute backline that had kept six clean sheets in a row to conceding after just 11 seconds, one of the quickest goals of the Premier League era.

Straight from kick-off Spurs launched it forward, Kane and Alli won the duels in the air, and Eriksen reacted to the loose ball first and swept home beautifully. I hadn’t even got to the pub yet. By the looks of things, a quarter of the stadium hadn’t taken their seats either.

Spurs paraded their only significant January signing at half time, with Lucas Moura keeping to the cliché of holding up the scarf and doing a few keepie-uppies. On this evidence, the Brazil winger will find it difficult to muscle in on Spurs’ intelligent and talented front four. Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen are all well established as some of the best players in the league, but Son has often been forgotten about, although that is starting to change now. All four caused United all sorts of problems, with Alli and Eriksen in particular fiendishly difficult to shut down.  

Spurs were playing with an absurdly high line, this observer was astonished at their bravery, especially with United boasting the pace of Martial and Alexis Sanchez, making his league debut. While that is how Poch likes to play, it did seem to be a huge risk, although it paid off handsomely, with the centre-backs spreading play out wide at will. With the defenders happy to engage in battles on the halfway line, Moussa Dembele was liberated from having to fight, instead able to demonstrate his delicate touches and calm carrying of the ball.

The opening exchanges were ridiculously attacking for a game between two of the top six. The home side were passing at a high tempo and Trippier was finding himself in acres of space in behind Ashley Young. Spurs were always happy to put in crosses from any angle, forcing United to face their own goal at every opportunity. They were so intense, and fluid, their frontline showing off their proactive movement. By contrast, United were apathetic and stunted, unable to get a foothold in the game.  

Spurs have a propensity to shit themselves in big matches, but the early goal banished the nerves and gave all 11 players confidence to try things, to take risks, and pin United back. Pochettino was clearly targeting our left flank - Trippier, Eriksen and Alli were all taking turns to run at an all-at-sea Ashley Young. Mind, the converted winger wasn’t helped by his winger Sanchez, who didn’t exactly show full commitment to getting back and helping his teammate. As an aside, what was Mourinho thinking taking the in-form Martial out of his best position –left wing- to accommodate Sanchez? Martial had been our best player recently, it made no sense that our new player didn’t operate on the right instead of the Frenchman. Especially when Sanchez has plenty of experience on the right anyway.  

Spurs’ aggressive high press was creating countless turnovers of possession, as United were careless when hurried on the ball. It didn’t help that our two central defenders were Smalling and Jones, none of whom are Rio Ferdinand on the ball. While Rojo is an inferior defender to Smalling, his comfort with the ball at his feet would’ve been useful against the high press from Spurs.

They went close a number of times, with De Gea on form. Jones seemed to be keeping us in it, with a couple of excellent tackles to deny Kane and Alli, but then compounded the misery by side-footing a dangerous low cross from Trippier into his own net. A top finish, it was a shame he just couldn’t sort his feet out.

United, far from responding positively, were seemingly begging for half-time for some respite from slick Spurs moves. In the final third, Spurs were always making the right decision to open up the United defence. And yet, it could’ve been 2-1, with Pogba losing all semblance of technique when prodding over from almost the goal-line after a set-piece. That would’ve papered over the cracks – United were as open as mid-2000s Lindsey Lohan. The most frustrating thing of all was how much United were giving the ball away. There were simple passes sent straight out of play due to carelessness or lack of communication.

When we were under the cosh immediately after the second goal, Lingard should’ve been pushed back to make 3 in midfield to try and stem the flow of Eriksen and Alli. Instead, United tried to attack, only succeeding in leaving the midfield isolated. It didn’t help that Nemanja Matic was having a shocker. He gave the ball away almost every time he had it, was losing duels with players half his size and strength, looked exhausted after 35 minutes, and was unable to track the runs of Eriksen, Alli and Son. When Dembele coasted past him on his way to creating another chance, Matic lamely fell to the floor. He lasted the full 90, when he really should’ve been subbed at half-time. He wasn’t alone though, Young and Smalling were also looking out of their depth out there.

You beat the high press by going long, but United didn’t, happy instead to try high risk passes across our own goal in an attempt the keep the ball. It was admirable, but stupid, with the high defensive line begging for some long passes. A lot of our problems were self-inflicted, it should be said. Spurs often didn’t need great skill or guile to initiate attacks, often just waiting for our thick players to lose balls in dangerous positions via ambitious passes. It was Spurs who were enjoying themselves, with the quick thrust employed whenever they won the ball. Alli and Eriksen were finding so much space in between our rigid lines.

The only real chance United made from open play all night happened early in the 2^nd half, when Pogba clipped a ball in behind Davison Sanchez and Lukaku ran on to it and got a strong shot off, but Lloris tipped it round the post. A few minutes later, Pogba was hooked, with much attention paid afterwards to a clip of Mourinho berating Pogba for his lack of discipline. While I wouldn’t have taken the Frenchman off, in the vain hope that he could create something special, he was a pile of wank out there. We all have off days, but there is no excuse for ignoring the manager’s instructions to sit tight in a two with Matic, and that is seemingly what he did. Pogba was often found level on the pitch with our wingers while Matic was left alone again in the middle, and was a key reason as to why we were always under pressure. The pundits peddled the bullshit afterwards that Pogba can’t play in a midfield two, he’s erratic off-the-ball, he can’t track runs from a clever no.10… all complete nonsense. Pogba proved at Euro 2016 he can be disciplined, defensive, and composed, restraining his natural game for the good of the team. He just had a dreadful night, perhaps believing United needed him further forward. He deserves criticism for that, but let’s not go overboard.

The second half didn’t get any less embarrassing, with Alli nutmegging Jones, Matic looking like he’d been in a marathon, Smalling mis-kicking galore and the farce that was the Fellaini substitution. Sent on presumably to aid in the long ball tactics to help beat the press, he was off down the Wembley tunnel within seven minutes due to injury, meaning Herrera had to come in and play in midfield. Marcus Rashford was stripped, receiving his final commands before coming on when it became clear that Fellaini couldn’t continue, and so the kid sat back down and the last chance of a comeback probably disappeared then and there. Fellaini’s season has been plagued by injury, and with his contract up at the end of the season, you mind begins to wonder what his future holds, even though the manager remains his biggest fan.

There was no silver lining as Sanchez was the only one pressing, probably thinking how his new team - a Mourinho team - could be so poor at the back. Martial, eventually switched to the left, didn’t beat his man all night. Lukaku worked hard, to his credit, but yet another big game came and went with him making little impact. Perhaps in these games, 3 in midfield is a must.

The sensational Alli was purring in the second half, showing off his full repertoire. An outside-of-the-foot ball to Kane, an outrageous back-heel to play in Davies on the left, snapshots from anywhere. It was a tremendous return to form for young star, a good response to his critics. Kane, searching for his 100^th Premier League goal, had an odd night for him – he didn’t score. So rare is that these days that Mourinho should maybe buy himself a scratch card or two. It wasn’t as if the England captain-elect didn’t have enough opportunities, but the efforts of De Gea and a couple of mistakes meant he went home goalless, thankfully for the Reds.

Not that Spurs really needed him to be at his best, for Eriksen was majestic. The Dane was impossible to mark, always able to find space in the crowed midfield. His nominal position was right midfield, but in fact he popped up everywhere, and his elusive dribbling style made Matic look stupid all night. In the inside-right channel, he was able to slip Kane in, poke balls out to Trippier, (always stationed high up the pitch) or go for goal himself. Like all Spurs attacking players, he was a tad wasteful, often looking for the extra pass when you expected the net to bulge, or a slight mis-control when United’s defenders were nowhere. This feels like straw-clutching though, for these little moments didn’t distract from the overall feeling that he was controlling the game. He hit the post from 25 yards, he breezed past red shirts, and always played with his head up.

For the away team, the inquest started straight away. We have to be honest and say that it should’ve been 4-0, at least. The contrast from so many solid displays to the haphazard defending at Wembley was confusing, even if Spurs and the vibrant interplay they demonstrated was obviously a factor. I still have no idea why we were charging round the pitch without figuring out against Spurs you have to sit deep for a bit. Still, as bad as the game was, Chelsea slipping to a 3-0 reverse at home to Bournemouth meant that the damage doesn’t have to be terminal, if we get back on track quickly. We were shit, it happens, let’s regroup.
United (4-2-3-1) De Gea 8; Valencia 5.5, Smalling 3.5, Jones 5, Young 4; Pogba 4.5 (Mata 63, 5), Matic 3.5; Martial 4.5, Lingard 6 (Fellaini 63 [Herrera 70, 5]), Sanchez 5; Lukaku 5.5.

Spurs (4-2-3-1) Lloris 7; Trippier 8, Sanchez 6.5, Vertonghen 7.5, Davies 7; Dier 7, Dembele 8 (Wanyama 90+1); Eriksen 9, Alli 8.5 (Sissoko 88), Son 7 (Lamela 80); Kane 7.5.