Tottenham Hotspur lose again and failed to take the opportunity afforded them by Chelsea dropping points against Bournemouth. The race for Champions League football is hotting up but no one seems to want to take the race by the scruff of the neck. Manchester United were fortunate to get a point away to Everton, Chelsea scrambled to a point on the South Coast and Tottenham are looking lost, devoid of confidence and fit players.
Tottenham Hotspur Lose Again
Difficult Opponents
Wolverhampton Wanderers are having another excellent season under Nuno Espírito Santo. They are into the Europa League last 16 and are chasing the top four. Along with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, Wolves could hijack the top four or top five – fifth at this stage would provide Champions League football depending on Manchester City’s appeal over their ban from European Competition.
For Jose Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur, their 3-2 defeat to Wolves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was their third in a row in all competitions. With Tottenham leaking goals, unlike a Jose Mourinho team would normally do, he made changes ahead of this game. The experienced pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were dropped and in came emerging star Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez. It was a bold move but one that didn’t pay off and saw Tottenham Hotspur lose again.
The centre-backs did well but Ben Davies was slow and lacking any mobility. Serge Aurier showed both sides of his game. A cracking goal and positive attacking play were interspersed with poor defending. The problems that Mourinho has, he just isn’t solving.
Injuries Can Only Be Blamed for So Long
There is no Harry Kane; no Son Heung-min; no Moussa Sissoko. On Sunday, there was no Hugo Lloris who had a groin injury. Tottenham and injuries seem to be uneasy bedfellows right now.
For large parts of the game against Wolves, Tottenham did play well. When on the front foot they looked dangerous. When on the back foot they looked all at sea. Harry Winks needs to work hard to find his form again. He was the captain and is a true Spur, but his passing against Wolves was slow, wayward and often backwards. That is not the Harry Winks that once ran Real Madrid ragged.
Eric Dier has never been the quickest player. Against Wolves, he was, at times, static. Injuries are hurting Spurs. Players not performing are hurting them even more.
Huge Rebuild Needed to Change Tottenham and Jose Mourinho’s Future
Defeat to Wolves sees Tottenham drop to seventh in the Premier League. They are still in the race for the top four but confidence is low and there doesn’t appear to be any great plan in games.
They were twice in front against Wolves but lazy in midfield and defence. The lack of intensity in defensive areas is a huge concern. Mauricio Pochettino said that the club needed to undergo a painful rebuild. In the summer the club needs to undergo a huge and painful rebuild. Tottenham cannot continue blaming injuries and bad luck. The current personnel and current manager are in a tight spot. Neither are doing enough to escape.
It is not a few players needed. There are players that need moving on and quality bringing in. Spurs need two players for every position. Right now they have one for some positions and arguably none in others.
FA Cup Next as Spurs Look For Silverware
Tottenham are back in action on Wednesday, March 4 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the FA Cup against Norwich City.
The FA Cup can provide Spurs with a trophy they so need and potentially save a season that looks like slipping away from them.
Tottenham Hotspur started a project under the sacked Pochettino. After the Champions League final defeat to Liverpool, Pochettino said that project had ended and a new one must begin.
Ten months later and a new project seems to be struggling to get underway. It anything, Tottenham are going backwards. Jose Mourinho has always been a winner. Tottenham have one trophy in nearly 20 years under Daniel Levy and ENIC.
The narrative at Tottenham needs to be changed. Jose Mourinho won’t have long next season to change the outlook from the closeness to success they enjoyed under Pochettino, to actually winning. With this season heading toward its final challenges, Tottenham look a long way away from success.
Main Photo
