Hello and welcome to the ramblings of a madman who called his weekly blog “Monday breakdown” forgetting that sometimes we play Monday night but alas here we are, a Monday Breakdown, on a Tuesday!
Last night saw us do something I did not realise we were allowed to do and that is score goals and win games. I assumed that was simply against the curse that has clearly been put on us; did appear three players had to drop on the pitch with injuries for us to get there, so, trade off.. but yeah we actually won a game but before I talk about the game I want to just spend a moment to discuss the man pictured above. Dejan Kulusevski.
He missed 526 days. I cannot imagine the feelings and emotions of walking back out on the pitch but I will tell you, I didnt realise it, but when he took the ball with loads of space and started sprinting forward … I held my breath in fear of seeing him drop.. I am not sure when that will pass for me, let alone how he must feel but damn he did not show it as moment later there was a 50:50 and I do not think and of us watching around the world, given all whats happened, first game back, would have blamed him for just sitting that one out – no – not Deki – he went in and gave away a free kick, hilarious to think I was seemingly more worried than him!
He is not someone I know personally and never likely to know or even meet but last night I felt very proud of him, which is an odd feeling I guess but still it was there and I was just very happy to see him look happy.
So, back to the game itself somewhat ironically I think we have played a lot better and lost this season. I did not think the formation change made sense or worked, in fact our right back position was constantly exposed and better teams would rip us a new one so does concern me but as many people keep telling me we finally won so shut up ha ha
I had said after Solanke bundled one in against Manchester United to earn us a point yet we as a team missed MANY chances we were due to give someone a hiding and yet unlike in the past few games where we seemed to start fast and aggressive in this game we seemed tame, kept the ball well yes and looked in control for large parts but not as threatening.
Of course frustration and worry was setting in around the stadium when out of a seemingly blunted attack Kudus rolled the ball to a certain James Maddison outside the box who hit the ball beautifully to nestle in the top corner and leaving their keeper with no chance! 1-0 Spurs!
What worried me is I felt in previous games if we scored when on top we would run riot but in this one it just did not look that way and time went by and then they scored an absolute shocker of a goal, like… what were we doing and just awful lower league crap. However they all count the same and the game was 1-1.
I will admit, I was angry, I felt like the momentum in performance we had been building was gone and was that down to a formation shuffle? A lads few days in Marbella … sorry… warm weather training… but then, a man with a foot like a traction engine (if you know, you know) smashed in our second goal, his first for us, from range. A great goal from Marmoush; 2-1 Spurs!!
I commented to my fellow admins at Spurs News you could feel the tension in the stadium lift after the goal but return had as once again, once we scored, we seemed to settle into a negative mindset and sat deep. A few players were trying to drive the team forward but we were suffering and injuries started to strike.
BUT cometh the hour, cometh the Welsh adonis, the man, the myth, the legend, Mr 13 years himself… Daddy Davies… 3-1 Spurs!!!
A utility player retained for his expeience and cover for left back and left sided centre back – the Welsh captain stepped off the bench to replace the injured Scottish captain and smashed home (keeper should have saved it, awful keeping to be honest but shhhh) the ball with the outside of his left foot like prime R9 … okay I am exaggerating a little, more like Romario in USA94…
So we were not as good as we have been but we won. I am still not sure this change in formation is a good idea and I would be genuinely worried to play like that at Stamford Bridge next weekend because of course after finally winning a game we go to the ground we never (hardly ever) get a win in the Premier League – the football gods once again laugh in our face and rain their delight down upon us.. wait… that’s not rain….
Until next week; COYS !!
-Admin SJ
