After a somewhat lucky draw and less than impressive performance away to Manchester City last week, this defeat reveals more of Tottenham Hotspur’s weaknesses. Newcastle United set up to frustrate Tottenham and many teams have set up like this against Spurs. Yet, Mauricio Pochettino is still to find a solution to combat these tactics.
That in itself is cause for concern, but Tottenham played with a lack of pace for much of the second half of last season and that is continuing. Their weaknesses are clear to see and need to be dealt with.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Weaknesses Laid Bare
Tottenham Need to Deal With Weaknesses
Newcastle United deserve credit for a hard-working performance. Another defeat today would have piled more misery onto the North East club. What it showed in abundance were the problems that Mauricio Pochettino needs to deal with.
Jan Vertonghen
Pochettino has been at pains to say that he will pick the players he believes are the best players. There seems to be an issue between the manager and Jan Vertonghen. What that is we don’t yet know but to suggest that Davinson Sanchez is a better option than Vertonghen fails to ring true.
Newcastle pin-pointed the Colombian from the start. Sanchez seems to lose long balls in the air which is a concern. He has already been caught out this way in all of the first three games. Today he was found wanting as the ball from Christian Atsu sailed over his head. Danny Rose was also out of position and Joelinton was able to give Newcastle the lead. The lack of communication across Tottenham’s backline is clear to see.
Christian Eriksen
The player won’t sign a new contract and Tottenham don’t want to lose the player now. Daniel Levy won’t want to lose him for free next summer. Against Aston Villa, Eriksen was on the bench and came on and changed the game in Spurs’ favour.
Today he started on the bench. Without him, Spurs lacked any invention. No one was moving the play forward and it just played into Steve Bruce’s hands. The returning Son Heung-Min worked hard and Spurs will be glad his suspension is now over.
Once Eriksen entered the pitch, Tottenham looked more threatening. If anybody thinks that the Dane is no longer interested, they only need to watch his performance against the Magpies. He was dictating play, calling for every ball. Tottenham’s passing at last was going somewhere. Harry Winks, Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko were wasteful in possession. Tottenham Hotspur tick when Eriksen is on the pitch. Losing him now would be a blow to their top-four chances.
Lack of Width
Winks, Rose, Toby Alderweireld and Kyle Walker-Peters were all far too close together. Tottenham had a 90% passing accuracy but that hid a brutal truth. The majority of passing was short and went nowhere. Having a high passing accuracy is all very well but if it goes nowhere it just becomes another of Tottenham’s weaknesses.
Ryan Sessegnon is needed to be match ready as soon as possible in a wide left position.
Isolated Kane
At the Etihad Stadium, Harry Kane was isolated up front. Against Newcastle United, he had little influence on the game. The England striker should have had a penalty but Mike Dean and VAR somehow decided that a rugby tackle was not significant enough to be considered foul play.
He also fluffed his lines in the final minute of added time but that wasn’t the main concern for Tottenham fans. He couldn’t get hold of the ball, he had to drop deep and just could not influence the match for the second game in a row. A vibrant Harry Kane is a strength. Isolated he highlights part of Tottenham’s Weaknesses.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Weaknesses Must be Addressed
There can be no doubting the progress that Tottenham Hotspur have made under Mauricio Pochettino. Yet, even with the incredible run to last season’s Champions League final, questions were starting to be asked as Tottenham lost to Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea and Bournemouth.
Tottenham cannot afford to lose games as they did against Newcastle United. Only three games in and they are five points behind leaders Liverpool. The exciting and attacking Tottenham Hotspur of 2017 seems to have disappeared. They are starting to look like a team that lack identity. A team that could yet challenge for the title or equally fail to finish in the top four.
Losing 13 games in last season’s Premier League was overlooked by many due to the Champions League final and finishing in the top four. One defeat already this early is not what was wanted. It also takes some of the idea of the new stadium being a fortress away very early.
The North London Derby is next up for Tottenham Hotspur. Before then, Mauricio Pochettino must work to address Tottenham Hotspur’s weaknesses.
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