Tottenham Hotspur duo in the firing line after insipid showing vs Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur had quite of a frustrating outing in the Premier League this weekend as Unai Emery’s Aston Villa took all three points (FT 2-1).
You could sense that feeling of frustrating (and maybe missed opportunity to build on what has been a fantastic start to the season) around the stands at Tottenham Hotspur stadium. And it was a feeling much similar to that of Jamie O’Hara who he didn’t hold back in his words after the game.
When the former midfielder was reflecting on the Lilywhites performance, he slammed both Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel. He went on to question the pairs inclusion in the starting eleven and calling their performances “not good enough.”
Taking to social media, he wrote:
We’re so frustrating to watch it’s painful, why is Tel playing? Why is Odebert starting? They are not good enough, we need more than just long throws, our home form needs to be million times better #Spurs
It was a game where Tottenham craved for some quality upfront but they didn’t find any on every turn of their heads in the frontline earlier today.
Lets talk Odobert as O’Hara points out his frustration
Tottenham Hotspur duo in the firing line after insipid showing vs Aston Villa.
Wilson Odobert looked raw as Jamie O’Hara questioned his selection.
Odobert had moments, but none that were truly threatening. He had a solo run in the 19th minute, and it ended with him holding the ball too long (again). There was also a sequence where Simons fed him into space down the left channel, but his decision-making meant that Villa players ended up eating that space.
The former Burnley winger also had a corner chance at the far post, but he miscontrolled the touch after sneaking past Rogers.
There is no denying that Odobert has talent, but the margin of these indecisions is quite thin at this level. And his rawness continues to show. More importantly, it is costing the Lilywhites momentum in attacking phases.
Tel pressed hard but left little behind
Tottenham Hotspur duo in the firing line after insipid showing vs Aston Villa.
Mathys Tel started upfront for Tottenham against Villa.
Mathys Tel started over Richarlison in that #9 role. And he was pressing from the wide into the central spaces early on (part of a coordinated front-line pressing system where Bentancur was central and Simons was inverted). But his influence on the ball was minimal.
Tottenham were trying to go for overhead passes to exploit Villa’s high line, but Tel rarely found the right angles to threaten behind on those balls.
While you could say that his pressing was energetic, when Tottenham needed options in the final third, Tel wasn’t the one offering them.
What did you make of performances from Odobert and Tel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.