Regular followers/subscribers of the e-Spurs social media platforms will know that the Podcast team provide their predictions for games. I had seen enough in the second half of the game over in Leverkusen to know that tonight's opponents would provide a stiff test for us, which is why I had gone for a 0-1 win for our visitors.
Article by Ian Gunn @COYS64
Having finished work, I walked across from Paddington to Baker Street. The underground to Wembley Park was negotiated with no problem and I was soon making my way up Wembley Way. A visit to a well known fast food establishment and a walk around the outlet village preceded my entry into our national stadium.
By this time, our starting XI had been announced, with no place for either Kane or Lamela. Pochettino had also elected to start the game with Rose and Janssen on the bench.
As the game neared its commencement, the iconic 'Champions League' anthem was aired and the crowd swelled to a record 85,512.
The game started and to me in block N, we looked as though we had reverted to the Spurs team that were playing the occasion, rather than the game?
Our play lacked cohesion and we were making more increased errors as Leverkusen pressed our defensive rearguard.
We were forced into an early change, bringing Janssen on for the apparently injured Dembele?
Before the break, we had the ball in the back of the net, only for the referee to remind us all that he had blown for an earlier infringement.
In the second half, we had a decent appeal for a penalty waved away, when Dele fell in the box.
Leverkusen took the lead in the 65th minute as Kampl reacted to a double ricochet in the box to fire passed a stranded Lloris.
Walker and Davies had two half chances to score, but their respective drives flashed passed the opposite upright(s).
Dier came the closest to reducing the deficit, but he (and by now the reducing number of fans in the stadium) could only watch in disbelief as his effort thundered back off the bar.
By the end of the 5 minutes of added time, the trickle of fans who had started to leave the stadium in 70th minute had became a flood, and the final whistle was greeted with some unwelcome jeers from a selection of those supporters who had remained.
Ratings:
Lloris (5) - had a few routine saves to make, could do nothing with the goal, but oh, his distribution...
Walker (5) - was unlucky not to score with the run and shot. Had worked hard to eradicate his one error per game, but had to be bailed out by Vertonghen tonight.
Dier (5) - his free kick against the bar raised his rating. Looked uncomfortable and made a number of errors.
Vertonghen (6) - best of the back 5, often had to clear up the mistakes of others.
Davies (6) - like Walker, he was unlucky not to score with his shot.
Dembele (5) - didn't seem to get his 'A' game going tonight. Injury apparently curtailed his evening - made way for Janssen (30m).
Wanyama (6) - tried so hard to knit the team together, but often overwhelmed and inadequately supported by his team mates.
Eriksen (4) - after some speculative efforts, faded away to anonymity (again) - made way for Winks (66m).
Dele (5) - failed to get into the game, well marshalled by Leverkusen.
Sissoko (4) - poor decision making, poor first touch, offered us very little.
Son (5) - tried to get into the game, but like Dele, well marshalled by Leverkusen. Made way for N'Koudou (73m).
Subs:
Janssen (5) - starved of service, tried to get into the game, but it looks as though his confidence is slowly beginning to drain away.
N'Koudou (5) - it was great that he hugged the touch line, but his introduction came too late to influence the game.
Winks (5) - was efficient, but that was about it.
Tactics/Summary:
We were again back to our 4-2-3-1 formation, with Son 'leading the line'. However, as the game progressed, it cried out for some natural width. Eriksen naturally drifted in field and whilst Sissoko showed promise at the start, he too, drifted out of the game.
Our defence looked jittery and we had Vertonghen to thank for shoring it up.
Wanyama tried valiantly to hold the midfield together and link the team, but he was carrying 2 of the 3 in front of him and went solo when Dembele went off.
I always try to take some positives out of a game, but I am struggling today.
This game provided me with the evidence that we are woefully short of creativity and confidence.
It seems an age since Dele last swept a flowing move (from open play) past Bravo in our 2-0 win against City. Indeed, my research as I wrote this piece uncovered that it was a month ago!
As sure as night follows day, we have made qualification out of the group stages increasingly difficult for us. The spectre of the Europa League looms..
It also appeared to be quite a naive performance from the team? During our first experience of the UCL in 2010 we played with a total lack of fear and took the competition by storm.
Danny Blanchflower famously once said "The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom". I must confess that I am not enjoying our football at the moment, it seems formulaic and predictable. Our 'Plan A' is struggling and we do not appear to have any other options?
I try to get to all of our games and I am usually bitterly disappointed if I fail with my applications. I hope you will understand this rationale, but I am reasonably pleased to have missed out on a ticket for the NLD this coming weekend?
Pochettino will have to work incredibly hard on the training pitch (and in his office) to rebuild what appears to be a malaise/lack of confidence within the team? I guess he faces his first real test and challenge as the manager of our great club.
I have predicted a 1-1 draw against our bitter rivals, but unless we are awarded a penalty, or Kane plays and nets upon his return, then I am worried where our goal will come from?
We need to immediately rediscover our 'mojo' as a humiliating defeat against 'the other lot' will take it out of our young squad and supporters.
Before concluding this review, it would be churlish for me not to mention the atmosphere in the stadium last night.
At the start of the game, it appeared to me that it was reasonably good, when one particular rendition of 'Oh When The Spurs...' made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end. However, in a stadium as large as Wembley, you often struggle to get a chant going around the ground. During the game, chants begun in one area often failed to be taken up in others and they subsequently petered out.
As supporters, we all have our own reasons for going and we will also have a limit of how much of a personal contribution we are prepared to make to generate an atmosphere.
Personally, I have sung as lustily for the team as I've seen Man City sweep the sixth goal (for no reply) past us at the Etihad, as I have when Kane rose majestically to head the winner in (at home) against Arsenal. I guess it's a case of 'horses for courses', but we all need to address this soon; not only for the next UCL game, but also for our home EPL games next year and for when we finally move into our new home.
It would destroy me if we turned the new 'WHL' into our version of the Emirates!!
Uncomfortable reading, I know, but I have tried to be as honest in defeat as I am when we win. I also take zero pride from predicting the score.
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