Live By VAR

It was ludicrous, of course. Assuming the lines were accurate—unlike City’s goal or Leicester’s earlier in this same game when their entire front line was offside, no advantage could possibly have been gained and we would/should have won all three points. But let’s also be honest—but for that goal, unfairly disallowed—and an extraordinary once in a lifetime effort by Kane to put his ahead, this was a train wreck of a team- again.

Leicester had more space to work with for most of this game—it was just a matter of time before someone would exploit that space and beat Gazzaniga—and they did it twice. It should be noted that most of the period when we conceded the equalising and winning goals featured Victor Wanyama and Christian Eriksen on the pitch. The former gave Maddison too much space on the winner; the latter did nothing—per usual these days—than lose possession, foul his man or send balls into useless positions. And to be even more brutally honest, our two principal goal threats were godawful in every attempt they made (but for the London Bridge is falling down Kane goal) in both halves—including at least two or three that could have rescued a point or even all three in the final half hour.

Did we deserve, based on the actual effort and quality of play, to win this game? No. But we didn’t deserve to lose it either, and we were hard done by a technology which is ruining the sport and, I predict, will not last beyond this season. They say it is science, but in the case of an estimate of where Son’s shoulder was compared to the Leicester defender at a point they think is queued up to the point the ball is passed to the Korean, who really knows? And surely that reversal is so much more unfair than a reversal of the two non-penalty calls Kane has generated in recent weeks.

But enough of that. We blew another lead. We failed to score in the second half—again. We never looked like winning that game after the VAR decision. While there were moments of good play—from Lamela, Aurier (but a lot of ineffectual crosses from both flanks), Ndombele, Winks—in the end it wasn’t good enough. Poch was honest in his pre-game comments saying that is far from clear that this is his best side—that has to be proved. And as of this moment, I would say the evidence is lining up pretty much on the other side. A better and tougher side would have taken that VAR indignity and shoved it down Leicester’s throats—winning the game whichever way they can. Spurs aren’t that side. The killer finishing wasn’t there—the resolute defending wasn’t there—the brilliant goalkeeping wasn’t there.

This is not going to end well, I’m afraid. Eriksen seems to be going full Ozil or Sanchez—his play is regressing, his presence a reminder of what is not right at the club . He has to leave in January. I really hate to say the following words—but maybe the two Mickey Mouse cups have to be our ambition this year. Win a trophy, and then let Poch ride off to the Madrid sunset.