The Struggle is Real

Spurs had a difficult couple of cup matches, but we're still in both competitions... for now.

Although you couldn't call the first League Cup leg against Chelsea anything other than a shambles, Spurs still have a chance to go for glory in the home leg. We're lucky Chelsea only have a two-goal advantage from their home leg, considering the state of our defense in that match. But the FA Cup knockout match against Morecambe ended in a decisive 3-1 win after some impact subs rescued the middling second-string starters.

I've been traveling (hence this late recap for the Chelsea match), so most of the finer details from the League Cup game have left my brain in the meantime. Defensive errors were the biggest issues, but we were also completely toothless in attack. The best Spurs chance of the match was created by Bryan Gil, who didn't sub into the game until the 79th minute. Not great! It was also disappointing to see Tanganga make bad decision after bad decision. We all want him to succeed as a homegrown player, but it's looking like a loan is necessary to get his career back on track. Chelsea really didn't play all that well themselves, but it was a case of being our own worse enemies in the first half; we're lucky they didn't capitalize on the disarray and score more than just the two goals.

It should also be noted that Dier was a huge miss in the defense, not just because he provides stability and leadership, but also because he's one of the main distributors out from the back in our current setup. Luckily, he'll be back for the second leg. We also need to make some tweaks to the midfield to challenge Chelsea's midfield. I would personally like to see a Winks & Skipp pivot, a) because their individual skill sets will complement each other's well and b) I just don't trust Lo Celso at this moment in time. Son being out for a couple of weeks (at least) with a hamstring injury is a big opportunity for Bryan, or even Sessegnon--or Bergwijn, if he's back to fitness after his own injury.

The FA Cup match against minnows/Shrimps Morecambe was looking to be going the same way, thanks to a heavily rotated lineup that just didn't seem to know what to do with each other. Morecambe scored first from a set piece. I was a little surprised to see Bryan taken off in the 69th-minute triple substitution (which could have come earlier, in my opinion) because he'd been one of the few bright sparks in the first half. But Ndombele and Dele had both failed to impact the match, and it couldn't be clearer how fed up the fans are with Ndombele judging by the deafening boos. It seems like his time at Tottenham is finally up, but then again, how many times have we thought that before?

Lucas, Skipp, and Kane were just the impact subs needed to kick the team into gear and get the comeback win in motion. Winks scored a beauty of a free kick (which he meant, unlike his infamous long-range shot against Ludogorets last season), Lucas caused all sorts of problems for the Morecambe defense and got a goal of his own ten minutes after Winks', and Kane sealed the deal just three minutes later with a crafty maneuver to get off his shot right at the edge of the six-yard box.

Sessegnon was another bright spot from the original starting lineup, and Davies (captain for the day) also put in a good shift. Lowlights included Rodon's hospital pass to Gollini that nearly resulted in a goal for Morecambe, as well as several slow reactions from Lo Celso that had me screaming "move!" at the TV. And Gollini, god bless him, is nowhere near cut out to be Hugo's eventual replacement. He'll be going back to Italy, surely.

Spurs have drawn a home match against Brighton for the next round, which isn't the easiest of draws, but also not the hardest. It could have been Chelsea...

Spurs Women... lack of update

Speaking of Chelsea, I was really looking forward to Spurs Women being back in action this weekend for the final match of the first half of the season. Unfortunately, the match against Chelsea was postponed due to COVID cases in our opponents' camp. It's hard to say whether this would have been a good time to face them. On the one hand, they've been in poor form and suffered some significant defeats, including a loss to Reading in the WSL and an embarrassing knockout from the Champions League at the feet of Wolfsburg. On the other hand... they will be looking to bounce back in their next match--which won't be Spurs, anymore. Condolences to Everton.

Assuming this match isn't postponed too, we'll be playing West Ham on Sunday, right after the Men's NLD (gulp). I'm sure the players will still be smarting after the narrow 1-0 defeat at West Ham's home fixture and will be out for revenge. I'm curious to see who starts in goal for Spurs. Korpela was really thriving before the winter break, but Spencer is sure to be back at full fitness now. I'm also excited to see if Jess Naz's hot form will continue!

COYS