Spurs 1 West Ham 1 – Match report

Ah well, there you go, these things happen, it could’ve been worse, sometimes you just don’t get the breaks and that sort of stuff.

The lower than expected crowd for this game will be blamed on the fixture pile up, Sky and the restricted sale of tickets but maybe those who stayed away knew that Moyes’s Academy of Football involves tactically castrating his players to such an extent that watching sideways become the new forwards and hoofing become the new sideways was probably better viewed from home or the pub.

Having said that, those who did not show up missed two absolutely cracking goals. Obiang’s beauty of a strike from 25 yards when given a bit of space after 70 minutes was matched by Son’s screamer with 6-7 minutes to go; both will feature on highlight reels for many a year.

Aside from that… every team in the top half dozen will have days where an ambitionless side playing against them gets reward for their discipline and mental fortitude rather than their ability to play football and that’s what happened today. We played in a very familiar way and we’re not an unstoppable force. Half chances and shots abounded but as time wore on and West Ham clung on, the shift in pace, the dribble or the real real pressure that creates a mistake never happened. Pochettino must know of the limitations of Sissoko, Dele (too slow in his decision making tonight), Dier, Davies and Aurier as they support Harry, Son and Eriksen… but there’s only so much he can do. If shots get hit straight at the keeper or players arrive off balance into promising positions, well that’s that.

Disappointing because of the difference it would’ve made to the league table, not shocking given the travails we’ve had already this season against Swansea, Burnley, Bournemouth, West Brom, Brighton and Palace. Quite a list. Only Liverpool so far have come to Wembley with a positive plan.

AFC Wimbledon in the cup next before Allardyce becomes the latest manager to decide the best place to park his bus at the National Stadium.

COYS

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