Spurs Online

Tag: coys

  • Are we losing our identity ?

    Are we losing our identity ?

    Maybe I should be thanking Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou. 

    After so many defeats this season I’ve stopped counting and for the first time in my life I don’t feel anything after a loss. I no longer feel that anger, frustration or disappointment when the final whistle goes, I’m completely cured (well, almost:)

    True I can’t remember the last time I felt excitement in a game either, or the last time I could share the envision of this club. Is this what the club has come to? Has this club lost its identity? 

    Or has Enic created a new fan base that is no longer results based but instead focussed on sharing a football experience for tourists at premium rates?

    Are team selections now based on popularity rather than performances? Just how far down the list of priorities has the football results become?

    Many fans expressed their bewilderment on transfer day deadline as fans remained glued to their phones waiting for those announcements of much needed players to try salvage the season. Instead they were notified by Tottenham Hotspur of the announcement of a four day Beyonce concert this year. Not the kind of news you would expect to be announced on such an important day you would think, but that appears to be the new direction of this club.

    Maybe old skool fans like myself need to learn to change with the times and just enjoy the experience of being a Tottenham Hotspur fan and sleep peacefully knowing how fat the Spurs shareholders are all getting in this remodelled Tottenham envision. No, f@%k that!

    We have seen an increasing number of protests recently for “Levy Out”, I know I’m not the only one that is questioning the direction of this club! But this new global fan base may have given the club the power and freedom to completely ignore the loyal and long standing fan base that has helped build this club over the last 24 years under Enic.

    The fan base has changed in modern football, that is for sure, the big clubs (and Spurs) have been working on their global brands for many years now. With summer tours in Asia and round the world trips for a single friendly in Australia, Spurs are no exception to these marketing games and it seems just as much effort goes into the off season these days.

    In fact the global following is so involved now through social media we even see them online criticising other Spurs fans, if they dare to criticise the clubs methods or the managers style! But perhaps these people should check our club motto again.

    After all it’s the fans that should define a club’s identity and if we don’t live by our own motto, then what can we expect from the team and staff at Spurs?

    ‘To dare is to do’ does not mean stay quiet and it does not mean settle for second best, we didn’t win over 20 trophies because we were afraid to dare.

    Fans shouldn’t be afraid to question the club’s direction, nor should they be ridiculed for pointing out the simple facts of the team’s failures. It’s important the fans are not afraid to speak out, everyone at the club needs to be held accountable and if it’s time for change then so be it, ‘to dare is to do’. 

    The mentality at Spurs needs to change, the players have to demand better from themselves and the fans need to demand success from their club because that’s what it’s all about. 

    We need players on the pitch like the Roy Keanes of the world who are not afraid to criticise their own teammates when they are below par. And we need fans that are not afraid to confront their club and demand better, because if you want to be the best then you have to act like it, on and off the pitch. 

    If you think it’s ok to criticise our fans because they demand more from their club then you do not understand. I am guessing you took the blue pill.

    But for the rest of us we are wide awake and we see how it really is, this isn’t kindergarten soccer, it’s not about taking part, it’s about winning!

    We dare to criticise.

    We dare to change.

    We dare to dream.

    To dare is to do, don’t forget it!

  • Guess the Ball – Fulham Vs Spurs

    Guess the Ball – No.1

    Ryan Sessegnon seals the victory for Fulham against his former club Spurs, but can you ‘Guess the Ball’?

    Competition: Email the correct answer and you will be entered into the draw with a prize for the winner.

    If you would like to enter our competition send your answer to quiz@spursonline.net

  • Bilbao? Booked it, Packed it!

    Spurs T-Shirt: Bilbao?

    Spurs have reached the Quarter Finals with Frankfurt next up!

    The chances may be slim for Tottenham to reach the final in Bilbao but we’re allowed to dream right?

  • This is the end?

    This is the end?

    Preview:

    We have said it before but it feels like another “do or die” game for Ange.

    Fixture:

    Thursday 13th March, 20:00

    Tottenham Hotspur Vs AZ (Agg 0-1)

    UEFA Europa League – Last 16 (Second Leg)

    Available On:

    UK TV – TNT Sports 3

    IRE – Premier Sports 2

    Result: 3-1 (Agg 3-2) Tottenham Qualify

    W. Odobert (26′, 74′)

    J. Maddison (48′)

    P. Koopmeiners (63′)

    Match Report:

    I think Ange must have 9 lives or something as once again he survives another must win game. True it was only against 6th placed AZ at the end of the day, not exactly a great achievement, but for this Spurs team any victory feels like a hard fought struggle.

    Despite boasting 60% possession and managing 17 shots, Spurs only had 4 shots on target so it was a relief to see 3 of them go in! With the return of the centre back partnership of Romero and Van de Ven the team looked more balanced at the back with VDV bringing the ball out confidently on multiple occasions. It wasn’t until we saw VDV substituted in the 2nd half did things begin to go a little wayward. Nevertheless we weathered a mini storm from AZ and replied well with that vital 3rd goal.

    For much of the game we dominated in possession without being spectacular and when we did push forward to attack, early chances were either wasted from Sons solo efforts or they hit a red wall with a lack of movement in the final third.

    However whilst we may have been fortunate with the opening goal which rebounded off Son to Solanke, the 2nd and 3rd goals certainly had more class with the 3rd goal in particular starting at the back and finishing with an easy tap in from Odobert. Son, when he was able to resist the temptation to wastefully shoot, was actually involved in all 3 goals and Solanke too played a great part in 2 goals with a lovely flick on (yes I believe he meant it) for Odobert’s winning goal.

    All in all it was a job well done, we’re in the Quarters!

    Entertainment Value: 7/10

    Standout Players: Van de Ven gives us another dimension at the back and Bergvall is developing every week, but we shouldn’t get carried away with him just yet.

  • Antonin Kinsky

    Antonin Kinsky

    New Signing: 5th January 2025

    Position: GK

    Name: Antonin Kinsky

    Age: 21

    Nationality: Czech Republic

    Transfer: Permanent

    Value: £12.5m

    Status at previous Club: Hailed as the greatest Czech goalkeeping talent of his generation, but was initially sent out on Loan. On his return to his club Slavia Prague, he conceded just one goal in his first nine league matches of the 2024–25 season.

    Out of Europe’s top 10 leagues, Kinsky ranked top for save percentage (83.3 percent), goals conceded per 90 minutes (0.37) and clean sheets (12, joint with Diogo Costa) after setting a new Slavia record of keeping 12 clean sheets in 19 games and conceding just seven times.

    Other reported interest: Scouted by Chelsea but no other clubs reported.

    Previous Clubs:

    Slavia Prague – 2021-25

    MFK Vyškov (loan) – 2022-23

    FK Pardubice (loan) – 2023-24

    Player Stats: 

    Appearances – 123 games played across all leagues / cup competitions

    Goals Conceded – 130

    Clean Sheets – 40

    Transfer Rating: 7/10

    Summary:

    Based on first impressions I’ve only given Kinsky a 7 out of 10 but I do think he has the potential to grow as we need to accept he is young and the fact that he has come into a Spurs team during an incredibly difficult period. If we take those into consideration then I think it would be fairer to say he is worth at least an 8 out of 10. 

    The Goalkeeper position is usually where we find the player gets better with age as they gain experience and confidence. For just 21 years of age he is not lacking any confidence and he was certainly thrown in at the deep end making his debut against Liverpool in the Semi Final 1st Leg, where he kept a clean sheet.

    In fact he managed to keep a clean sheet in his next game too (ok it was Tamworth) so it was a pretty solid start. Since then we have seen a few erratic moments from him, especially with the ball at his feet but with such poor defence it would be harsh to be over critical. Time will tell whether he will replace Vicario but I suspect he will be number 2 choice once Vicario returns from injury.

  • A bunch of Elfs!

    A bunch of Elfs!

    Fixture…

    Thursday 30th January, 20:00

    Tottenham Hotspur Vs Elfsborg

    UEFA Europa League – League Stage

    Available On…

    UK TV – TNT Sports 2

    IRE – Premier Sports 2

    More Info…

    connect@spursonline.net

    Result: 3-0 (Tottenham Win)

    D. Scarlett (70′)

    D. Ajayi (84′)

    M. Moore (90’+4)

    Match Report…

    The biggest news of the night should have been the confirmation of Van de Vens return but that was soon to be overshadowed. Young Mikey Moore was also given another start alongside Richarlison and Son up front. 

    Spurs started brightly and Sonny showed plenty of trickery, beating his man on more than one occasion to get to the bar line and make the cross. Both Richarlison and Van de Ven had half chances with headers but it was Moore and Sarr who had the best chances of the half, forcing good saves from the goalkeeper.

    Davies, playing on the left side this evening enjoyed the freedom of the inverted full back role to push forward and join the strike force on several occasions, leaving me to wonder what he could have done with that role in his younger days. But for all Tottenhams possession it was a deadlock at half time and Spurs were going to have to be patient to open the scoring.

    At half time 3 substitutions were made by Spurs which were clearly planned and explains why Sonny was so lively in the first half, with Kulu coming on in his place. On came Dragusin, with 45 minutes deemed enough for Van de Vens return. Also back from injury was Bissouma who replaced Bentancur. Some sensible squad rotation in preparation for what will be another huge game for Spurs on Sunday.

    Spurs started the second half relatively quiet and on the 52nd minute it was Elfsborg who came close to taking a shock lead with an overhead attempt just going over the bar. In all fairness it was probably their first attack on goal in the match. Moments later Porro burst into the box to provide a cross for a diving Bergvall, only to be denied by the goalkeeper once again.

    However on 66 minutes Tottenhams injury problems continued with Dragusin hobbling off after only 20 minutes. Dane Scarlett was brought on with a rare appearance which meant a complete reshuffle with Davies coming into centre back with Gray.

    With a reshaped front line too it was Kulu who provided a wonderful cross and after only 3 minutes on the pitch it was Scarlett would you believe who broke the deadlock in his first game for Spurs this season with a fabulous leaping header.

    In the 80th minute another academy player Ajayi was given an opportunity in place of Richi who had worked hard for the team but never really looked like scoring. It was a night for the super subs because after only 4 minutes on the pitch Ajayi dribbled the ball forward towards the box and made a superb one two with Scarlett before striking it into the bottom corner like it was just another kick about at the park! What a debut and what a moment for the 19 year old.

    If you thought that was special young Mikey Moore, determined not to be left out of the limelight made a solo effort from something out of the books of Messi, dribbling the ball forward from near half way line into the box and slotting it home effortlessly. That’s 3 academy players all scoring their first goals for Spurs and just what the fans wanted to see.

    At 17 years and 172 days old, Moore has become the youngest English player to score in a major men’s European competition, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ record (17 years 245 days), set in October 1957. For Moore, that’s now 2 assists and 1 goal this month, not a bad return after a lengthy layout.

    The final score was 3 nil and it was a professional performance with Tottenham controlling the game from start to finish. It might have only been Elfsborg but after such a poor result against Leicester it was good to see them bounce back. It also meant a guaranteed qualification spot in the Europa League.

    It was a great result with a positive attitude from the players and the return of some injured players was excellent news too. But it was the young academy players who stole the show and will be giving the fans a buzz all the way home. Maybe there is hope yet!

    COYS!!

  • Its a Must Win!

    Its a Must Win!

    Fixture…

    Sunday 26th January, 14:00

    Tottenham Hotspur Vs Leicester City

    Premier League

    Available On…

    Optus Sport 3

    Bein Sports English 1

    Astro Supersport 2

    Hub Premier 1

    SuperSport Premier League

    More Info…

    connect@spursonline.net

    Result: 1-2 (Leicester Win)

    Richarlison (33′)

    J. Vardy (46′)

    B. El Khannouss (50′)

    Match Report…

    Well I said it was a must win but I didn’t say it would be easy. When is it ever easy with us?  As expected, it was a tough relegation fight with little separating the teams in the first half, but for a touch of extra class up front for Spurs to edge the battle. 

    In the 33rd minute a wonderful cross from Porro allowed Richi to head in from close range for a 1-0 lead. Spurs looked for a second goal and Son was unfortunate not to score when hitting the bar from the edge of the box.

    The second half kicked off and it was yet another classic Spurs example of us switching off, losing the intensity in our game and allowing Leicester a free pass in front of goal. With just a minute on the clock Vardy scored with his 10th goal against Spurs. Moments later Porro hadn’t learnt his lesson and gifted Leicester a second goal with the sort of poor passing we have become accustomed to all too much under Ange. In a blink of an eye we find ourselves 2-1 down purely through our own stupidity. 

    Let’s face it, if a team is struggling, they want to come to Spurs, if a striker can’t buy a goal, they want to come to our stadium. We’ve seen it time and time again so it was no surprise to see Spurs crumble this way in the second half.

    The Spurs players looked shell shocked with a “here we go again” feeling echoing around the stadium. We are playing a side that has only scored 2 goals in their last 7 Premier matches and have lost all 7 of those matches. Here we are 2-1 down looking rather desperate now to salvage even a draw from this game.

    Ange made some changes and on comes Moore for Richi and Reguillon for Sarr, allowing Gray to move into midfield. Spurs push forward and chances are created, Porro hits the bar and then wastes a second opportunity when he selfishly goes for goal himself. 

    With the clock ticking it’s hard to see how this Spurs team can find their way back into this game and it looks to be another day Spurs regret not being more clinical with their earlier chances when the game could have been killed off. Have Spurs ever killed a game off? I’m not sure that’s even in Spurs vocabulary!

    With just 15 minutes remaining it’s all Tottenham but they cannot break down this Leicester defence showing a lack of quality in the final third. As the minutes painfully count down, Spurs efforts look only more desperate and the writing is on the wall. We are looking at a home defeat against a struggling relegation team whose manager looks more clueless than Ange, or perhaps not.

    Spurs continue to attack in all fairness and corner after corner the balls are swung in but without Richi on the pitch it’s hard to see where any header is going to come from at this point. Leicester are happy to do what Spurs should have done when taking the lead, they defend deep with numbers and it’s going to take something special to break them down now.

    4 minutes into injury time and Ange decides to bring on Lankshear. His actions seem as desperate and hopeless as the atmosphere within the stadium. Not for the first time this season Spurs have been their own worst enemy and have thrown away another lead that will only ask more questions of what the hell is going on at this club?

    Fair play to the loyal Spurs fans who keep turning up to support the team, week in week out. Going to home matches in that beautiful stadium must feel a bit like being told you are going to be picked up in a limo for your wedding only to discover Mr. Magoo is behind the wheel.

    1 win in 12 Premier games now, it is what it is as Ange would say.  What are you doing Levy? You are aware it’s January? Do something before it’s too late! We may be 90 minutes away from a cup final but we’re also just 8 points above the relegation spots.

    I’m sure if Ange was put in charge of a school team they could do very well, they might even win something in their second season, but this is the Premier league and he is completely out of his depth with his lack of tactical knowledge. Sooner or later Ange has to go and Mr Levy will have to concede he has made another almighty error of judgment in his managerial recruitment.

    It wasn’t that long ago Ange would complain our poor results were down to a lack of game time due to no European football. Now Ange tells us the poor results are down to the players being tired. Personally I have heard enough of the excuses.

    Sean from “Spurstalkshow” summed it up well this week when he said “I think there’s 3 teams in the league worse than us”.

    Well, one of those sides just beat us! That’s about all we can say on this current Spurs form.


  • Hoffenheim huge for Spurs

    Hoffenheim huge for Spurs

    Fixture…

    Thursday 23rd January, 17.45

    Hoffenheim Vs Tottenham Hotspur

    UEFA Europa League – League Stage

    Available On…

    UK TV – TNT Sports 2

    IRE – Premier Sports 1

    Bein Sports English 1

    More Info…

    connect@spursonline.net

    Result: 2-3 (Tottenham Win)

    J. Maddison (3′)

    Son Heung-Min (22′, 77′)

    A. Stach (68′)

    D. Mokwa (88′)

    Match Report…

    With 14 players missing either through injury or being unavailable for selection it meant more changes to the Spurs lineup. In came Richarlison but out went injured Solanke and Johnson. In came Bentancur but out went injured Bissouma and Sarr. In came Davies to help strengthen the back (in theory) but out was injured Spence and our fourth choice goalkeeper Austin was also to get another rare start. 

    It was clearly going to be another big test for this Spurs team and so when Pedro Porro pinpointed a direct ball forward to Maddison after just 3 minutes it was just what the doctor ordered. Maddison did exceptionally well to bring the ball down with a single touch and with his second touch he smashes the ball past the stationary goalie. It was a clinical finish and helped settle those early nerves.

    Just 20 minutes later Maddison became the provider after a break on the counter Mads released Son to go clear on goal with just the goalie to beat. Lacking in confidence Sonny looked to have scuffed his shot wide only for a deflection off a defenders lunge that saw the ball loop over the goalies head. We were 2 nil up and coasting, what could go wrong? The football was smooth and Spurs were playing with real confidence by this point but of course we know a third may always be vital. A wonderful piece of football saw Richarlison get through and just a simple pass across to Maddison was required and we would be looking at a 3 nil lead by half time. It wasn’t to be however with Richi taking far too long to make the pass and 2 nil it remained for half time.

    The second half kicked off and Spurs now find themselves under constant pressure, unable to get hold of the ball for more than a second. However Spurs kept their line and Hoffenheim were resigned to long crosses into the box. Whilst I wouldn’t say Spurs were handling all of these crosses well, for the most part it was better than what we have seen in the past when Spurs throw themselves unnecessarily forward, leaving gaping wide holes at the back. At least in this moment Hoffenheim were going to have to break us down if they wanted to get back into this game.

    Looking at the lineup you would have expected the likes of Mads, Sonny and Bentancur to show their maturity and get hold of the ball and just calm everyone’s nerves. But of course this wasn’t the case with both Mads and Sonny guilty of losing possession needlessly and putting us directly under pressure again. Another cross came in and this time Austin was forced into action, leaping in the air and attempting to punch the ball clear. It was a 50-50 challenge against Hoffenheims forward and in normal time it wasn’t clear from where I was sitting, but the referee had no doubt and pointed to the spot for a penalty. 

    Austin pleaded his innocence to the referee but only VAR could help him now. Looking at the replay in slow motion maybe Austin had a case. The goalie only needed to get a fingertip on that ball before colliding with the forward (with his fist) and we were saved. He did! Hoffenheims player is already stepping up to take the penalty but the referee is going to the TV screen. After seeing the replay in slow motion it was clear for all of us, most importantly the ref, no penalty!

    Maybe this was what we needed, a bit of luck, a bit of a breather and time for the leaders on the pitch to get the team reorganised. Spurs get the ball and go on the attack and despite my screams at the TV for them to just hold onto the ball, we lose possession again and this time there’s a counter on for Hoffenheim. But it’s all fine I tell myself as I count the number of white shirts, surely we have this covered? Hoffenheim break down the left flank, getting to the line with ease and putting in a cross unchallenged. At least 3 white shirts in the box yet Hoffenheims Jurásek slots it home from just a couple of yards out. Incredible, had we learnt nothing?

    At 2-1 we all know it’s going to get very nervy here on. But Hoffenheim fail to apply further pressure when to be honest, they probably have us on the ropes. Instead, Moore who has replaced Richi brings it forward and with a simple pass to Sonny he uses his trademark sidestep before hooking it into the far bottom corner leaving no chance for the goalie. It was a much needed third goal and maybe a sigh of relief for us all.

    Lankshear comes on for Sonny up front who needs to be rested for the weekend’s action. With just 2 minutes of normal time remaining Spurs fall asleep again and Kramarić heads in to make it 3-2. Now we have to just hang on, why do we always do this to ourselves? Thankfully Hoffenheim had little more to give and a vital 3 points in Europe means we now sit in 6th place in the qualification spots. 

    It was a mixed performance but they did what they had to do and as they say, a win is a win! It’s Leicester City next, another relegation fight, lets just hope no more injuries before now and Sunday.

    COYS!

  • Ange Postecoglou Exit?

    Ange Postecoglou Exit?

    I’m a big believer that any manager needs to be given time in a job and I would say 2 years would be the minimum time a manager needs when he is rebuilding a squad to the degree we have been doing this last 2 seasons. But at the same time there has to be a moment when you say enough is enough. Is that moment now? Or is the prospect of a cup final and mitigating excuses of injuries and inexperienced youngsters enough to warrant him a little more time.

    I like the fact our youngsters are getting a good run out this year, even if it’s mostly down to injuries. I hope these youngsters will progress and we can benefit from this in future years. If we have to watch poor performances every week, I want it to be at least for the sake of these youngsters finding their feet in the Premier league, that I can accept.

    But if Ange Postecoglou is still with us come the end of the season, will Tottenham Hotspur or these young players benefit from continuing this philosophy of football. After all, if we want these young players to progress, we need them to be led by coaches who have a little bit of a clue about tactics and understanding of Premier league football. 

    How much can these youngsters learn from Ange ball, or as the rest of the world knows it, Predictable ball. This constant insistence of short passing with virtually no direct balls out from the back not only make it predictable and easy for the opposition to apply pressure, but it is making it much harder work for themselves. Without mixing up their play they are forever finding themselves under pressure and it is inevitable that a bad pass will occur sooner or later. Has anyone actually worked out just how many goals we have conceded under Ange that have been self inflicted ? I am quite sure that percentage will be well above the average for any team. 

    If you look at Arsenal’s distribution for example, they are known for playing a progressive and attractive style of football but they are willing to go long with their goal-kicks as they are short. Stats show roughly half of Arsenal’s goal kicks end in the opposition half. If you compare this to Spurs, incredibly we have gone long with just four of the last 145 goal-kicks so far this season. I would be interested to know out of those 141 short passes out, how many times were we able to get out of our own half before we lost possession? 

    It’s not just this playing out from the back that is the problem. These so-called inverted full backs seem to create chaos for ourselves and leave more gaps at the back than it is really worth. If you are going to play this way you need to see a lot more discipline from a defensive midfielder to provide cover, but instead the Spurs setup looks like a complete melee. When we do manage to form an attack the threat of a counter attack is imminent because our midfield is wide open. If you are going to insist on pushing these full backs so far forward then you need a holding midfielder who can be relied on, or even implement the system with three centre halfs.    

    To be honest, I didn’t see the point of bringing in another manager until the end of the season but the situation in the league table is becoming a concern. The last time our league position was this dire was under Juande Ramos. Interestingly this was also the last manager we picked up silverware with. Is it an omen?

    However, had we not brought in Harry Redknapp when we did that season there was a strong possibility we were heading for relegation. We should never underestimate the threat of relegation, a club is never too big to go down! As far as I am concerned we are now in a relegation fight and something may have to change, especially if we lose to Everton tomorrow.

    Unfortunately we know from last time around that top managers are not interested in the Spurs job and it has become rather a poisoned chalice. That’s hard to even comprehend isn’t it. Enic have spent the last 20 years rebuilding this club from the ground up, training facilities and stadium that compete with the best and revenues that make it one of the richest clubs in the world. But neither world class players or managers want to be part of this club. 

    That is the sad fact of things at Spurs but even with a subpar team and a coach whose football methods are more consistent with Aussie rules football, this club is making some serious money. So do Levy and the shareholders even care? I would argue that winning trophies certainly hasn’t been made a priority at this club and all these promises of bigger and better things to come when the new stadium is completed is now wavering very thin. I think it’s time some of us accepted we have had the wool pulled over our eyes!

  • Relegation Battle Confirmed

    Relegation Battle Confirmed

    Fixture…

    Sunday 19th January, 14.00

    Everton Vs Tottenham Hotspur

    Premier League

    Available On…

    UK TV – Sky Sports Main Event

    UK TV – Sky Sports Premier League

    Optus Sport

    SuperSport MaXimo 1

    More Info…

    connect@spursonline.net

    Result: 3-2 (Everton Win)

    D. Calvert-Lewin (13′)

    I. Ndiaye (30′)

    A. Gray (45’+7 og)

    D. Kulusevski (77′)

    Richarlison (90’+2)

    Match Report…

    I’m not saying Ange read my last blog but possibly for the first time this season Spurs utilised a back three with Ben Davies joining Gray and Dragusin. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut because it didn’t help a bit. Without a single holding midfielder on the pitch we were still wide open and so easy to break on the counter. Dragusin and Davies lack the pace required and the jury is still out on new goalkeeper Kinsky. I’m not sure if Kinsky is a good signing but I do find him entertaining and so I guess that fits the Ange way.

    It didn’t take long for a team sitting close to the bottom of the league who’s struggling to score goals, to find themselves 2 nil up against Spurs. At the other end of the pitch Son missed an absolute sitter and after only half an hour Spurs looked in real trouble. By half time we were 3 nil down and the writing was on the wall in more ways than one.

    With very few options on the bench optimism was low for any remarkable second half turnarounds. Youngsters including Lankshear and Moore were sitting patiently as was Richarlison, returning from another long term injury. It was Richy who got the nod and the back 3 was scrapped with Dragusin being replaced.

    Spurs started the second half brighter but with such open play, the risk of conceding more was probably greater than us ever getting on the scoresheet. After 70 minutes Sarr was sacrificed for young Mikey Moore and that was about all we could hope for by this point. Another training exercise for our young players to gain experience.

    However, on 76 minutes Tottenham were offered a slim lifeline when Kulusevski scored a wonderful little chip with the goalie off his line, but there were few celebrations from a much deflated Spurs side. A short corner and a beautiful ball in to the far post from young Moore in the 93rd minute allowed Richarlison to score on his return from injury and against his former club. With the scoreline now 3-2 there was a frantic last few moments around the Everton goal area but it was too little too late for Tottenham Hotspur.

    With so many injuries it can be understood why we are struggling but questions still need to be asked of Ange’s system and Levy’s lack of activity in a time of crisis. If you don’t have the players to make the system work you have to adapt, it’s as simple as that. If you don’t know how to adapt then go back to your school boy league, because this is the Premier league and quite frankly you’re not only embarrassing yourself, you’re making a mockery of this club, which takes some doing after the last 20 years under Levy’s Spurs.

    But what can we expect from a manager who refuses to change his high line defence when going down to only nine men against Chelsea, or from a chairman who refuses to buy a single player for more than 16 months.

    We are now more than half way through the January transfer window and all we have added is a goalkeeper. What is this club doing?  Get in Toney, get in Eze, get someone in who can make an instant impact. We have an abundance of players for the ‘future’ and we don’t need any more average players, we need a top class player who can come into this team and make an actual difference.

    With regards to the injuries It’s no coincidence most of our injuries are hamstring problems and I don’t accept it’s just bad luck. If players are constantly overstretching or over trying these sorts of injuries can occur. For me this suggests the players are just not relaxed in their play and this over trying results from acts of desperation. A poor run of results and this set of players are looking both physically and mentally drained. Ange cannot get these long term absentees back quick enough I’m sure.

    However I’m just not convinced that if we had a full squad available our performances would be any more consistent but we cannot ignore the fact that the injury crisis has gone from bad to worse and the results have followed suit.

    If you were in any doubt before the Everton game about the threat of relegation, take a look at the league table, we are now sitting 15th in the league. Just 19 wins from 49 Premier league games now for Ange. Time is running out.