We are just over a week away from the end of the Premier League season, which typically means a huge ramp up of pressure as placings for relegation and qualification for European football are finalized.
For Tottenham Hotspur though, it was just another Friday, with nothing to play for except pride and some semblance of form leading into Thursday’s Europa League final against Manchester United. That context set up an intriguing clash with Aston Villa, a side with everything to play for: sitting in sixth, and on the cusp of the Champions League places, and in need of the windfall that European qualification would provide.
Somewhat surprisingly, Ange Postecoglou wrapped the majority of his squad in cotton wool, naming what was very much a second-string side. Captain Son Heung-min made his first start following his injury lay-off as potentially the only nailed-on starter to feature in the XI and in need of match sharpness, with the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven not even in the squad. Aston Villa, on the other hand, named a side that was much closer to their best XI, as would be expected in their Champions League push.
Spurs lined up in a shape much more akin to a Jose Mourinho-esque 4-4-2, with Mathys Tel and Wilson Odobert playing through the middle and a very clear “two banks of four” structure keeping Villa from playing through the middle. There was also a distinct lack of a press, with Spurs sitting deep and looking to catch the Villains on the counter.
This led to a largely uneventful first half, as the Lilywhites sat off and Villa probed without much success. Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky was forced into one very good save, as he palmed a Morgan Rogers flick-on past the post; and Spurs had a very exciting moment of their own as an extremely well-worked counter resulted in a heel flick from Odobert, only to be saved by Emi Martinez. If it had gone in, it would have potentially one of Spurs’ best goals this season. Instead, the ledger remained even at the close of the first half, with the only other moment of note a scuffle between Tel and Ezri Konsa as both teams started to get a bit heated.
Ange Postecoglou made a change early on in the second half which initially looked like minutes management, with Pape Matar Sarr replaced by Yves Bissouma, both likely features in the Europa League final. Unfortunately, maintaining fitness was seemingly not the cause for the substitution, as Sarr trudged down the tunnel accompanied by one of Spurs’ medical staff. Things then went from bad to worse as Villa opened the scoring: Ollie Watkins won the aerial battle for a corner kick, with his knock-down then flicked on past Kinsky by Konsa.
That lead was soon doubled. Spurs had been sitting off Villa all match but did so one time too many in a dangerous area as Boubacar Kamara found himself in acres of space at the top of Spurs’ 18-yard box. He rifled a shot past Kinsky as the Villa crowd began to allow themselves to dream of a return to the Champions League. For Spurs, though, things went from bad to worse as Mikey Moore was the next Tottenham player to go down, clutching at his leg and being subbed off. Late substitutions weren’t enough to get Spurs back into the match and Aston Villa cruised to a 2-0 win.
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Look, that wasn’t great, but if you squint there are some positives to take from this match: Spurs got a chance to work through some tactical tweaks, and in general the change-up didn’t go too badly.
That said... really the goal today was no injuries, a solid performance, and shaking off the rust for a couple of players. And uh.. I guess mission failed?
It’s getting tougher and tougher now to determine just what Ange is going to do with his side against Manchester United. Losing Sarr and Moore is a bitter pill to swallow and is yet another oncoming train he and the squad have had to dodge. Ange must be pulling his hair out as continual injury losses probably meaning he and his coaching staff are having to change their tactical plans on a daily basis.
Asking the real questions though: why are Villa so tetchy when it comes to playing Spurs? There were a number of “coming togethers” through the match, and Matty Cash could have potentially been sent for an elbow to the face on Tel as the Frenchman looked to wriggle free from the attention of the Villa defense (that said, that’s kinda just Cash, isn’t it?).
Related: Matty Cash asking the referee for a card for Sarr only to be carded himself for asking was my highlight of the match. No notes.
If we want to look at positives, Sonny honestly looked sharper than he has in some time. That injury layoff enforcing some rest may have actually been good for him, and I’m hoping he can do big things in the final. We’ll probably find out he’s scheduled for an amputation midweek.
I actually think the midfield two seems to work better with most of Spurs’ CM options. While you can’t exactly say Gray and Sarr looked good, and there was very little progression through the middle, they did look more comfortable in their roles than in a three; and it’s been the same in recent weeks for Bissouma and Bentancur. It once more points to the fact that Spurs don’t really have the players to play more modern, possession-based football. Get to work Lange (or Paratici, or whoever): that midfield cadre needs a significant overhaul.
Honestly, I’m just done with the Premier League. Bring on Thursday. COYS!