Tottenham’s efforts to simplify matters ultimately did not bring about significant change. Despite scoring early and late, they had to endure prolonged periods of Bournemouth’s attacks, occasional moments of concern, and a typical Tottenham weather pattern: sudden, heavy downpours followed by extended periods of calm.
However, in terms of texture, the gameplay was similar to what Tottenham has been displaying throughout the season: a determined but inconsistent effort where the enjoyment is difficult to differentiate from the disappointment. Pape Sarr successfully scored a great goal before being substituted due to injury; Bournemouth dominated much of the first half; Spurs notably improved in the second half, securing the win with goals from Son Heung-min and Richarlison, but ultimately ended the match in a chaotic state after Alex Scott’s two late goals – one counted and one disallowed for being offside.
Maybe this is the logical outcome of a team that always plays as if they are losing 1-0, sacrificing balance for a strong sense of determination. Spurs are not currently at a level where they can dominate the entire 90 minutes, nor do they have enough depth to comfortably rotate players, or the composure and maturity to close out games. This results in moments of exciting attacking play, followed by stretches of relying on luck and hope. Ange Postecoglou acknowledged the need for resilience and character in their performance, stating that it required a significant physical effort.
However, despite starting with a lackluster 2-0 loss to Aston Villa at home and the decline of Conteball, the year ends with Tottenham only three points behind the top of the league and in a strong position for Champions League qualification. It is even more remarkable considering the team has faced numerous injuries and suspensions. Postecoglou made changes to his lineup, resulting in a stellar performance from Giovani Lo Celso in midfield. However, the team was later dealt with injuries to Sarr and Alejo Veliz. On top of that, Son will now be away for a month to participate in the Asian Cup.
Bournemouth may have faced a daunting challenge at the end of a busy and impressive month. While their performance showed fluidity and teamwork, they seemed to lack some precision in both offense and defense, making it difficult to create clear opportunities. Nevertheless, they managed to take 18 shots, control possession for extended periods, and even hit the crossbar with a shot from Dominic Solanke. They finished strong, but the upcoming three-week break before their next league game may be just what they need to recharge.
“At the end of the day, the key is to score goals and they outperformed us in the final third,” stated their coach, Andoni Iraola. “I believed that we displayed a strong sense of determination against a tough opponent. We dominated possession in their territory and had numerous chances near their goal, yet we must recognize that playing well and creating opportunities is not sufficient.”
Bournemouth may reflect on how things could have gone differently if they had not given away an early goal. Despite their goalkeeper Neto’s recent impressive performances, his pass to Ryan Christie was intercepted by Lo Celso and Rodrigo Bentancur. Sarr took advantage and calmly scored in the bottom corner. Spurs showed their usual energy in the beginning, but then lost momentum as the first half progressed.
Sarr left the game in tears after 30 minutes, raising concerns about his ability to play in the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Without him, Bournemouth gained control of the midfield and the game became slightly more open.
The next goal felt pivotal, and it went to Son with 20 minutes left: finishing a counterattack he himself had started, after a sumptuous through ball from Lo Celso. Nine minutes later Richarlison settled matters after an early cross from Brennan Johnson, and Tottenham saw out the final period of the game without any fuss or undue alarms.
Pass over the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
Did you enjoy the joke? The situation was as follows: during a chaotic triple substitution for Tottenham, Scott scored a goal for Bournemouth by converting Marcus Tavernier’s cross. Bryan Gil hit the crossbar from a distance of three yards, causing Postecoglou to become angry with the Bournemouth bench. Veliz suffered an injury and had to be substituted, ultimately leaving the stadium on crutches. In the 100th minute, Scott’s header to make it 3-2 was initially disallowed due to offside.
To achieve their objectives in the latter part of the season, Tottenham must learn to control and utilize the chaotic energy, effectively handle various situations, and maintain consistent performance throughout the entire 90 minutes instead of sporadic bursts. It is likely that new players will join in January and injured players will make a comeback, potentially raising the team’s potential. If 2023 marked Tottenham’s return to enjoyment, then 2024 should be solely focused on business.
Source: theguardian.com
