West Ham 3-2 Tottenham (Ings 18′, Mubama 23′, Scamacca 78′ | Lo Celso 69′, Udogie 72′)
Ange Postecoglou suffered a defeat in his first game in charge of Tottenham as his side lost 3-2 to a makeshift West Ham in Perth.
The Australian took the opportunity to assess the bulk of his squad by naming a different XI in each half and despite the defeat will take positives from individual and collective performances.
Spurs fell 2-0 behind to first-half goals from Danny Ings and Divin Mubama, but drew level in the second after Giovani Lo Celso and Destiny Udogie found the net. That good work was soon undone, though, when Gianluca Scamacca scored the winner soon after.
As well as offering a first glimpse into how “Ange ball” might look, the Spurs supporters in western Australia or those watching at home on the (barely functioning) SpursPlay channel, caught a first glimpse of a few new faces as well as a handful of returning ones.
Summer signings Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Manor Solomon all started, while Sergio Reguilon, Udogie and Lo Celso also featured after spending last season on loan elsewhere.
The loyal army of Ndombelievers were left disappointed, however, as Tanguy Ndombele was not in the squad after suffering a knock in training on Monday.
Here are five talking points from Postecoglou’s first game in charge:
Captain Kane to stay?
For the second time in the last three summers, Harry Kane’s future has hovered like a dark, gloomy shadow over Tottenham’s pre-season with Bayern Munich making no secret of their desire to buy him.
Kane, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract, started in Perth and wore the captain’s armband in Hugo Lloris’ absence with the Frenchman left in London as he attempts to find a new club.
It wasn’t Kane’s most impactful performance – he like the rest of the starting XI were replaced at half-time – although the soon-to-be 30-year-old is renowned for taking time to hit his stride.
Kane’s involvement despite recent speculation suggested that Postecoglou is planning to have him available for next season. For the time being, at least.
Promising signs for Ange ball…
When Yves Bissouma became the latest Spurs player to spurn a glorious chance to score towards the end of the first half, Reguilon slumped to his knees in disbelief.
Spurs created numerous chances to score and in contrast to last season’s over-dependence on set-pieces, mostly through open play with intricate one-twos and positive off-the-ball movement in and around the box pulling West Ham’s defence apart.
Bissouma’s opportunity was the best example of Postecoglou’s expansive style in free-flowing action, coming after a slick move that involved an Oliver Skipp backheel and clever Kane dummy.
Encouragingly for Postecoglou, that trend continued into the second half despite Spurs sending out a completely different XI after half-time, with the side registering over 10 shots on target in total over the 90 minutes.
On this basis, they should create plenty.
… but defensive issues remain
They may also let in plenty too.
Tottenham conceded 63 times in the Premier League last season (yes, sixty-three) and besides the signing of a new goalkeeper, Vicario from Empoli, they are yet to add any defensive reinforcements to the squad.
Evidently, it is still a significant area of weakness; Postecoglou is no miracle worker. Both of West Ham’s opening two goals were scored within five minutes of one another and were calamitous from a Spurs perspective.
Danny Ings converted the first, heading in at the back post after catching Sergio Reguilon unawares before a completely unmarked Divin Mubama nodded in a second from inside the six-yard box.
Vicario may feel as though he could have done more to keep out Ings’ effort, although the Italian did make a smart stop down to his left to deny Jarrod Bowen soon after.
Spurs dominated the game after that first-half flurry, but still managed to concede from virtually West Ham’s only attack of the second half.
The reputations of Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven, the two centre-backs most strongly linked with the club this window, grew further after this game. Perhaps along with their price tags.
Solomon outshines Maddison
Of the three debutants, Solomon, a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk, delivered the most eye-catching display. After a safe start, the Israel winger became an increasingly lively presence in attack.
During his purple patch of form at Fulham earlier this year, Solomon made a habit of scoring the same goal over and again, drifting infield and whipping an effort into the far corner like a right-footed Arjen Robben.
He almost repeated the trick on his first Spurs outing, driving past Bowen and forcing Fabianski into a fine save with an attempt that looked destined for the top corner.
He had another chance soon after that was kept out by the Pole in an incident that should have yielded a penalty after he was clattered by Bowen.
Maddison, while quieter, showed flashes of promise, knitting midfield and attack together neatly and popping up in pockets of space in dangerous areas in the final third.
That’s something that Spurs have badly lacked ever since Christian Eriksen’s exit three-and-a-half years ago.
A lifeline for Lo Celso?
That moment in time when Giovani Lo Celso was regarded as Tottenham’s saviour during the Jose Mourinho era feels as though it could be mistaken for a pandemic fever dream given what has happened since.
Lo Celso was at times the only bright spark in those dismal days, but injuries, a loss of form, Mourinho’s departure, and an 18-month stint in eastern Spain has seen the Argentine slip into obscurity.
The 27-year-old has been tipped to leave Spurs again this summer with Aston Villa, Real Betis and Napoli among the clubs believed to be interested, but perhaps there is a way back for him in north London after all following an excellent performance that was capped with a well-taken goal.
“I thought Lo Celso was a real bright spark,” said Clive Allen on SpursPlay. “I know he scored the goal but right from the start of the second half he was outstanding.”
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/kEPOhWc
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