It was a better performance, but it was a similar result in the end. Tottenham Hotspur started their newest signing Omar Marmoush up top for the first time in their first home Premier League match of the season, but Newcastle spoiled the party. Despite Spurs outplaying Toon for most of the match, Newcastle got second half goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa to keep Spurs winless in the league. The final score was 2-0
Roberto De Zerbi planned to start new signing Savio along with Marmoush today,
but Savio had some “muscle fatigue” in training yesterday and the medical team suggested playing it safe; he was not in the side. Instead, De Zerbi opted for a strange formation that had Archie Gray at RB, Pedro Porro at RW, Mateus Fernandes at the 10, and Omar Marmoush up top. Mohammed Kudus made the bench, as did Dominic Solanke and Mikey Moore.
It wasn’t necessarily a GOOD performance, but it was definitely an IMPROVED performance to what Spurs did at Brentford last week. There are some good things to take away from the match, though, and the result feels harsh. In the end, though, it doesn’t matter — Spurs remain winless after two league matches this season.
Here are my match reactions.
Match Reactions
- Andy Robertson vs. Elanga was already giving me the vapors not even two minutes in. Not sure why we didn’t play him vs. Charlton, the team that was sitting deep all match, and play Udogie today, but Robbo did have a couple of nice balls in from the flank.
- Weird formation. With Savio out, Archie Gray is back at RB with Porro pushed ahead at RW, Mateus Fernandes at the 10, and Marmoush alone up top.
- Not a great start for Spurs. Opening 15 minutes were a little less chaotic than vs. Brentford, but it still wasn’t great. I’m not sure Tonali actually successfully completed a pass (this is hyperbole but only just) and it still doesn’t feel like the players know what they’re supposed to do in midfield.
- Spurs seemed to find their feet about 20 minutes in and created a couple of very nice chances, including a rocket from Tel that was well saved, and a couple for Pedro Porro. Van Hecke also had a (surprising) good header saved on a set piece. Spurs had 20 touches in the opposition box that half… imagine THAT under Frankball?
- Marmoush had a somewhat quiet first half but he made some excellent off-ball runs and holds the ball up extremely well. We haven’t had a striker like him in a while.
- As someone said in Carty Free chat, you can definitely see the Savio-shaped hole in this Spurs offense. I think he would’ve feasted going up against Newcastle’s fullbacks.
- On Tonali — he might not be a good passer and bad in the press, but you got to see what he CAN bring with a couple of super dynamic runs with the ball through the middle. I’m starting to squint and see the plan here, assuming he has the right pieces around him. But holy crap the guy can’t pass his way out of a paper bag.
- Van Hecke’s passing from deep is SO good. If the plan really is to progress the ball through the central defenders, you can start to see how it might work watching JPVH do his job.
- Mateus Fernandes is our best midfielder, full stop.
- I have no idea how Peter Bankes managed to miss Yoane Wissa blatantly diving on a “challenge” from Fernandes, but it was egregious. VAR should be able to get involved there and it’s wild that they can’t.
- Love to get denied a clear penalty and then concede an absolutely bozo goal, extremely good shit, you can’t make it up. 10/10, highly recommended.
- It was nice to see Kudus back after six months of no football. Shame he didn’t make much of a difference, and the guy still doesn’t seem to know how to cross. Maybe we SHOULD try him at the 10.
- I can complain about the first Newcastle goal, but I can’t complain much about the second one. Wissa just got to the right place at the right time from Woltemade’s initial header.
- Kinksy had a bit of a rough match, flailing at a couple of crosses and making some curious decisions about when to rush out. Had my heart in my mouth a few times.
- The result felt a little harsh, but Spurs also didn’t put away the chances they had and managed less than 1 xG for the match. An improved performance, but still a bad loss. Patience still required, apparently.
