Written by kirsikka
A start for Huijsen with Senesi out and the return of Semenyo were the only changes from the weekend. Meanwhile, the return of Dom was the obvious one to watch.
It soon became clear that AI had decided to play this one a little differently. The high press did occasionally rear its head but, for the most part, we were sat far deeper than usual and tried to hit them on the counter. It was an intelligent choice since Spurs are so pacey, leaving space in behind is asking for trouble.
As soon as I heard that “Oh when the Spurs…” dirge from the away end I was hoping for another night with a cancelled last train. How I despise that song on every level. Merely a personal observation.
Let’s start with the bad because there’s always room for criticism and this thought is familiar territory.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
We have to be more clinical.
I’ve said it so many times this season but it happens game after game, and today we can’t even claim that the chances weren’t that good. We have clear openings time and time again but the finishing was often so poor.
Tavs and Dango were the most profligate but they weren’t alone. They showed a stat in injury time that showed our xG at something like 3.34, with Spurs close to diddly squat. Think about that for a minute. On the balance of chances we should have destroyed them but we got home thanks to a set-piece goal.
This is the challenge. You can’t teach composure. You can’t replicate the crowd. Or the pace and intensity of a real match. We repeatedly frittered away gilt-edged opportunities to put the game to bed. It has already cost us this season, notably against Chelsea, but I think today was the worst in terms of not taking the opportunities.
I don’t know how we solve it, but solve it we must or we’re going to be left wondering what might have been come the end of the season. We have so much going for us in everything else we do, this is the final nut to crack.
Actually, there is one thing we can do. Be less greedy. There were multiple times when players tried to score when a teammate was standing with the goal gaping waiting for the simple pass so they could knock it in. That’s the thing to address first.
Now that’s out the way, let’s get to the good stuff.
The early pressure was theirs with some moments of misjudgement from several players nearly opening up chances for them but we held strong.
Then Evanilson stole a chance from nothing with a clever physical move to snatch it from the defender but his snapshot was saved at the near post by the keeper. He really is a menace the way he takes the ball off the toes of opposing players.
The resulting corner was swung into the far post by Tavs and Huijsen ghosted in to score his first AFCB goal. Our set piece coach earning his corn. Great stuff, but let’s not forget that came about because Eva won a ball he had no right to get.
After that, we were mostly the stronger team throughout. The only time we looked under any pressure was when Spurs tried to enact a high press on us but we mostly avoided that by hitting it early into the channels or for Eva or Kluivert to hold up.
It’s a hard game to report on because I could list chance after chance that we created but they all came to nothing. Yet, we were superb. Don’t let my frustration at us not making the most of what we created fool you. We were the better team all over the park and deserved the three points three times over.
Their keeper did make one superb save from a Tav header after an excellent run from Kerkez and Christie had a shot clip the post but apart from them, I won’t go into the plethora of openings.
After his goal, Huijsen grew into the match and was excellent. Even covering and mopping up for others at times. He genuinely looks a player. I hope we can keep him happy and settled as we have three top-class centre-backs vying for two spots at the moment.
The comedy moment of the match was seeing an overlapping Zabarnyi trying to fly down the wing and knock a cross in towards the end of the first half. I don’t think a future positional change awaits him, as it didn’t look all that natural. Good effort though!
Say what you like about Ange and Spurs, but their team is packed with top quality. For example, our best player of last season is leading the line for them but he looked a shadow of himself thanks to the effective marshalling of our defenders. We made excellent players look ordinary tonight.
That comes from the tactical plan but also comes from the players putting in the shift needed and following the instructions. Which they did perfectly. It sounds crazy, but I’d say we played them off the park tonight. They were poor, but I think that was because of us not them.
There was even time for a couple of decent moments from Kepa when the wind was swirling the ball all over the place but he did the job and took control of the situation. More like that, please.
So yeah, enjoy it. There won’t be too many nights where we look so far above one of the Sky Six. Glorious stuff. Let’s just take some of those chances next time, eh?
Brilliant.
Selected Player Watch
—– Huijsen —–
One early shaky moment but after that faultless. A good goal and an absolute rock.
—– Eva —–
It must be like playing against a video game character, the way he constantly nicks the ball from the toes of an opponent from seemingly nowhere. A constant thorn in their side tonight.
—– Semenyo —–
On an evening of excellent performances, he had a quiet one. To be honest, we needed him to step up and show the rest how finishing was done. Tonight he was the backseat passenger as Kluivert, Evanilson and Tavs took turns at the wheel.
—– Adams —–
Fantastic energy and regularly covering for others to nip attacks in the bud. Was it that the more defensive setup suited him more or was it that match fitness finally starting to show? Could be a bit of both. Up there with our best players tonight, but I’d probably just give MotM to the goal-scoring teenager.
AI and Tactics Watch
What can I say, apart from that it was a masterclass? The switch from a default high press to counter attack was inspired and they mostly didn’t look like they knew how to deal with it.
In fact they looked really one-dimensional for most of the match. Even when they were bossing possession, I didn’t feel all that worried as it seemed like we had a handle on them.
Sometimes there isn’t a lot to say apart from “Wow, that was fantastic”. Tonight is one of those nights. We should have won by a clear margin but I’ll happily take the three points.
In a season where two of the big six look to be struggling, there could be an opening. Can we now continue this form and rack up the points to make ourselves one of the contenders for a European spot?
On tonight’s showing, we have the personnel and we have the man in the dugout. Let’s not do something stupid against Ipswich, ok? I can’t wait for Sunday already.
Man of the Match against Tottenham
Huijsen
Huijsen
Vote
Adams
Adams
Vote
Kerkez
Kerkez
Vote
Tavernier
Tavernier
Vote
Christie
Christie
Vote
Kepa
Kepa
Vote
Semenyo
Semenyo
Vote
Someone else
Someone else
Vote
Your say…
AFCB_Liam
Superb performance. The defence were all excellent, especially Deano. Adams and Christie dominated and Eva is an absolute menace. We made Spurs look absolutely shite and it really should’ve been 3 or 4.
Agree we need to be more clinical, and bringing on Dango and Unal does feel like a massive step down, both are so wasteful with the ball. Would’ve been a travesty if we’d not won today.
SlowDownDerek
What a club legend Adam Smith is. I thought he was fantastic against some extremely tough opponents tonight. He’s been refreshingly honest about not always enjoying being a footballer and it seemed like it judging by his face when Son replaced Johnson on his side and then Werner. No problem for smithy though.
drd
Negatives – I agree our finishing was appalling. I was absolutely convinced that would mean a last-minute, undeserved Spurs equaliser
Bit worried the injuries are racking up with a lot of fixtures coming up and think we will need 1/2 reinforcements in January
Positives – we dominated Spurs completely. We made all those great chances. Adams is improving each game, my MOTM
We have beaten Citeh, Arsenal and Spurs in the space of 7 games and dominated them all. If we ever go back to losing 6-0 at Northampton, they can’t take these times away
AFCBade
very disciplined AFCB performance. Great tactics by AI and of course Coops for another set-piece goal. Quite defensive but I laughed that we were protecting a 1-0 lead but AI brings on 3 attacking subs with 5 minutes to go!
A couple of other player points besides the obvious stars last night; I think Kerkez is now proving he is the player that the hype justifies and Adams brings a different game to this team.
I noted Dom trudging off head down at full time. Looked very down. Spurs not playing to his strengths at all. – To join the conversation, click here.