Tottenham’s 2022/2023 season is currently mirroring the feelings of a hangover, and last night’s superb win against Crystal Palace proves it.
A 4-0 win away from home was an excellent response to the awful showing on New Year’s Day against Aston Villa, where the players looked like they were suffering from a heavy night out.
An immediate response was desperately needed before a difficult run of games. But will this result be a sign of things to come, or show that Tottenham fail to learn from past mistakes?
Following on from the brilliant ending to last season, Spurs started this season by going 7 games undefeated in the league. This filled the fans with optimism that this would be a superb season.
This optimism was unfortunately a false dawn, like the optimism a university student has when they wake up still drunk from the night before, believing to have avoided any hangover.
Despite our unbeaten run, our performances were not impressive. With superstar forward Heung-min Son out of form, and injuries to the likes of Kulusevski and £60m summer signing Richarlison, Spurs did well to pick up results and remain undefeated.
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Then Arsenal happened. And the hangover hit.
‘Only’ a 3-1 loss seemed almost a miracle in a game where Arsenal simply showed more skill, energy and character than us.
What followed was the worst stage of the hangover.
Between the 1st of October and the 9th of November, Tottenham crumbled to five defeats in all competitions. The side lost the rhythm and form Conte had built in his first year in charge.
On the other side of North London, Arsenal are on a charge, and started 2023 7 points clear at the top of the league.
Perhaps most frustratingly for Tottenham fans, this season has been littered with disasters that question previous decisions made by the football club.
In the Champions League games versus Sporting Lisbon, Tottenham reject Marcus Edwards dominated the midfield and showed all the creative qualities our side has been crying out for.
Another player Tottenham sold, Kieran Trippier, has been in superb form at right back for Newcastle team this season, a position Tottenham have struggled with since his departure.
Like someone suffering from a hangover and questioning their decision-making the night before, Tottenham will have to look back and question some of their decisions, and why these players were sold so easily.
However, a good spell of form on the back of Wednesday night’s 4-0 win and Tottenham could find themselves back in Champions League contention.
Just as a party-goer has never let the memory of a hangover stop them from drinking again, Tottenham fans will quickly forget the pain and frustration at their football club as soon as the team starts winning regularly again.
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