Ahead of kick-off at Brighton, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said it wasimportant to move on from the midweek 7-2 embarrassment at home to Bayern Munich. But, instead, Spurs 3-0 defeat the south east shore has only served to hamper their problems.
As opposed to moving forward, this can be a Tottenham team stuck in a rut, together with problems throughout the pitch undermining of using previous years run to the Champions League as a springboard to the chapter Pochettino has spoken about.
As theoles rang out across the Amex Stadium, together with Brighton – a team that had not won at home since March – passing the ball round the beaten blue tops of Tottenham using a confidence earned from their dominant screen, it was tempting to wonder in which Spurs go out of here.
There is an global fracture which will leave Pochettino stewing over whats gone wrong but may give a mental refresh .
But Tottenham have issues which will not blow over during the next fortnight.
On the pitch, the Tottenhams defence, midfield and attack are failing to meet the standards they have set for themselves in years past while contract issues with Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen have created a feeling of doubt about where the team is headed.
Pochettino has described his squad sinceunsettled and, following the humbling League Cup defeat at Colchester, stated that the January transfer window could bea great chance to repair this situation. After 17 defeats in 2019, it is hard to see a fast solution to their problems.
A record, which has seen Spurs win three of their last 18 games away across all competitions, coupled with all the blown leads against Bayern, Olympiakos, Leicester and also Arsenal this season, has seen Pochettino question his groups mentality.
The pressing that was extreme game which characterised Pochettinos style at Spurs has dropped off, with the side looking lacklustre and weary at Brighton.
The brand new, hard-fought comeback win over Southampton with 10 men seemed to be a turning point. A nightmare week has followed with Tottenhams underlying issues exposed.
Tottenhams defence, which had the best record in the Premier League in the two seasons between 2017 and 2015, saw its status slide this past year and after sending 10 goals in the two matches that were previous, seems badly out of sorts.
There have been just two clean sheets this season – at home to Crystal Palace and at the jolt shootout defeat Colchester – and now Spurs are facing up to a long spell with no first-choice goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris later he dislocated his knee following his costly early mistake at Brighton.
Alderweireld and vertonghen – out of contract – have looked unusually insecure, while places linked to the brilliant play of much of the reign of Pochettino, at full-back, Spurs strength now seems something of a weakness.
Back in 2017/18, Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier made more opportunities from the Premier League than every defenders. Last season, Trippier – despite all the criticisms of his defensive work – just trailed the Andrew Robertson of Liverpool and Evertons Lucas Digne .
This year, while Robertson Trent Alexander-Arnold approaches 30 opportunities no more Tottenham full-back has reached double figures.
On the left , with new signing Ryan Sessegnon Danny and Davies Rose – a player who had been expected to leave Spurs from the summer – have been under the level.
At right-back, Pochettino has had to look as an alternative to this often-rash Serge Aurier, who was suspended for the visit to the rear part of his screen against Bayern Munich to make-shift alternatives in Moussa Sissoko or even Davinson Sanchez.
Giovanni Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele were likely to Tottenhams wanting central midfield but harm to the prior and inconsistent type in the latter has stalled the program.
Pochettino looking alternating the shape and personnel in his midfield has been left by that.
Harry Winks, playing as a deep-lying playmaker, has needed better defensive aid about him than Ndombele or even Sissoko have offered – especially when a bead was employed – while in Brighton the coming Eric Dier has been a shadow of the harmful defensive midfielder he has shown he can be previously.
Further forward, chief founder Eriksen is earning fewer crucial passes per 90 minutes than he has at any moment in his Tottenham profession, although Erik Lamela has made only one goal contribution in his past eight appearances, scoring Spurs fourth in their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
As Dele Alli, his beginning has been triggered by a hamstring injury to the year for, but he has failed to impress when hes been playeddisappointing in the Champions League against Olympiakos and Bayern Munich and losing his England squad place.
The goals continue to stream for Harry Kane – hes 11 at 12 appearances for club and country this year, with five Premier League run-outs to get Spurs – but beyond those characters there are indications Tottenham are not getting the maximum out of the star man.
Kane is averaging shots per 90 minutes than he has in his Tottenham career. Hes doing so without an abundance of chances, although he may be finding the net.
The problem with that is if Kane does misfire – as he did with a definite second-half chance at Brighton – there are not many chances to compensate for it. Really, that wayward attempt was his only real shot at goal in 90 minutes on Saturday.
Alongside him, Heung-Min Son – that wasted a opportunity against Brighton – and Lucas Moura are to strike the form.
The expectation is that they will hit on a series soon and, together with bottom-of-the-league Watford up after, followed with a house Champions League game with Red Star Belgrade, Spurs have opportunities to get back on track after the break.
But changing momentum and the mood isnt going to be an easy task.
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