Spurs 2 West Ham 3 – Match report

Our Carabao Cup dream is over.

Both sides named weakened, though not weak teams thus there was no blooding the youngsters and, in the first half anyway, not much blood and thunder either as West Ham looked a pale imitation of the little brother come for a scrap with their elder relative image that they normally try to portray. 

A lovely goal on the break from Sissoko and a deflected one from Alli were just reward for our domination before half time as the supine visitors looked as ineffective as all the rumours suggested. Andy Carroll. Blimey. 

All changed after half time though as some poor defending from corners and crosses was capitalised on by Ayew twice and Ogbonna and from being comfortable our players were suddenly exposed as looking inexperienced, past their best, out of position or unfit. Alli and Son did their best to get us back into it but with Rose providing little on the left and Trippier largely shackled on the other side, the two tricksters mostly ran aground in the middle. West Ham meanwhile sensed blood every time they had the opportunity to put a cross in. 

So the lesson? Don’t pick a defence with three short centre halves and a short goalie against a team full of beanpoles. 

Foyth was interesting. In general he looked capable and composed and rarely, certainly in the first half, lost any challenges. He was playing on the side that the Hamsters mostly threatened on after the break, my seat was too low down and too far away (Wembley is shite) to tell how culpable he was for anything goal related. He’s slight and has got some growing to do, there appears to be plenty of potential there though. 

Rose is a long way from properly fit, Llorente cannot lead a line by himself, Ben Davies is a better full back than centre back. 

At least we’ve kept Slaven in a job a bit longer. 

COYS 

Ps No half time ‘entertainment’ from Paul Coyte for some reason. A big plus point but all downhill after that. 

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