Four games into the Premier League season and things are not going to plan for Mauricio Pochettino and his young Tottenham side.
Some of last season’s demons have still not been exorcised and linger around this Tottenham team. Throwing away leads is still a common feature and shortcomings in the transfer market will do little to help. After one month of Premier League action, Spurs lay 16th on the table and while it is still early days, Tottenham begin September still without a win this season.
First four games
Pochettino took his side to Old Trafford on the opening day of the season, three days after Tottenham’s widely criticized participation in the Audi Cup. It looked to have no effect on the North London side as it dominated proceedings. Spurs maintained the lion’s share of possession as well as restricting United to few chances. However, when Nabil Bentaleb’s giveaway in midfield and the series of events after ended with Ashley Young playing in United’s skipper Wayne Rooney, it looked like he would have opening the scoring for the 2015-16 Premier League season. Kyle Walker’s intercept ended in the back of his own net and the opening goal of the new season was an own goal.
Spurs welcomed Stoke to White Hart Lane for the first home match of the season and it appeared that an emphatic win was on the cards after Eric Dier and Nacier Chadli put the home side 2-0 up in the first half. A catastrophic capitulation followed and Stoke pulled one back in the 78th minute, followed by a quick fire equaliser in the 82nd minute; Mame Biram Diouf met a wonderful Stephen Ireland cross to equalise.
In what was, on paper at least, Spurs’ least tough game of the first month, the North London side travelled to Leicester to take on Claudio Ranieri’s in-form side. New signing Dele Alli scored in the 80th minute and that should have been the winner. What transpired in the 90 or so seconds after would have set the alarm bells ringing in Mauricio Pochettino’s head. Leicester launched the ball down their right-flank and Ben Davies’ mistimed header landed at the feet of the in-form Riyad Mahrez who made his way into the Spurs box to score his fourth of the season.
Spurs’ best performance so far this season came at home to Everton. However, despite their dominance, Tottenham could not find a way past Tim Howard in the Everton goal. Harry Kane spurned a glorious one-on-one which would have done no good for his confidence. Ryan Mason also saw a strike from point-blank range saved by Howard.
Transfer window performance
Transfer windows are usually box office entertainment at White Hart Lane. Player trading is high with a large amount of players coming in and out of the club. This window was no different as five players came in and 20 left. However, while previous business was aimless, the club appeared to have a plan, with things kicking off early. Kevin Wimmer was signed in May and Keiran Trippier followed soon after in June. While these were deemed as signings to add depth, Toby Alderweireld was signed as an immediate first team player and has started every Premier League match thus far. Clinton N’Jie and Son Heung-min also joined to add pace to a lacklustre attack.
Where Spurs failed in the transfer window was the failure to sign a defensive midfielder and a striker. It is ludicrous that Kane not only bears the burden of having to replicate his incredible breakthrough season but also the burden of being the ONLY senior striker in the Spurs squad. Emmanuel Adebayor was frozen out last year and Roberto Soldado was sold to Villareal after asking to leave on the first day of preseason.
Daniel Levy would have known at the beginning of July that at least one striker was needed as an alternative to Kane and after putting all his eggs in the Saido Berahino basket, he was left short after West Brom refused to sell late into the window. Spurs’ chairman has done a lot of good in his 14 years at the club but this episode left the majority of the Spurs fan base unhappy with his transfer dealings. Spurs conceded 53 goals last season and that does not look set to improve without the addition of a defensive-minded midfielder. But as Tim Sherwood once said: “Who needs defensive midfielders, eh?”
Key player
After a month of Premier League action, no one player has stood out for Spurs. Some players have enjoyed good moments but no one has looked critical to the side.
One player who has stood marginally above the rest is Alderweireld. The Belgian, who spent last season on loan at Southampton before joining the Belgian contingent at White Hart Lane, has been solid in defence, rarely making an error and has settled next to his compatriot Jan Vertonghen.
What has gone right?
While Spurs are still winless, there is a cause to be optimistic. They have dominated in nearly every game they have played and have not struggled to create chances.
There has also been an improvement in defence. No longer do Spurs look likely to concede from every attack opponents muster. Teams do not look likely to score against Spurs during the course of the match and goals have come from individual errors.
Where to improve?
Any team with no wins after four will always have areas to improve. Spurs are no different.
Individual errors are one major area where Spurs need to improve. Bentaleb’s giveaway at Old Trafford set the tone negatively for the season and individual errors were the cause for goals against Stoke and Leicester. Lots of improvement is needed in this area.
Kane’s form will also have to improve for Spurs to get back on track. The burden of Spurs’ only real source of goals has been unfairly placed on the young man’s shoulders and the pressure has shown. His goal for England over the international break will do wonders for his confidence and Spurs will hope he will be back among the league goals after the international break.
Next four games
Spurs have four games now to get that elusive win and to put a run of form together.
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A trip to Sunderland beckons after the international break. The Black Cats have had a poor start to the season and are rooted to the bottom of the table with two points from four games and an alarming 10 goals conceded which is the most in the Premier League. Following the trip to the Stadium of Light, Spurs have two consecutive home games. First is Crystal Palace who have been this season’s surprise package, sitting second on the table. After the visit of Palace, Spurs will face the league’s most in-form team as Manchester City make the trip South. The last of the four games is a trip to Wales to take on Gary Monk’s impressive Swansea side. Spurs have a good record at the Liberty Stadium and will be hoping to continue in the same vein this season.
Grade: B-
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