Things we learnt from Spurs’ 2-0 win over Wolves
Rahman Osman looks at the key facts to take away from Tottenham v Wolves game.
Spurs won 2-0 thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
The win takes them 6th on the league table, same at high flying Westham but with a better goal difference that leaves their London rivals in 7th.
So, what questions and answers did the game produce?
Dele back in favour:
Dele started his third straight game this season but it’s hard to still see the electric form that made him the most promising youngster when he first arrived in 2015 from Milton Keynes.
He started in the number 10 role but his pressing when Wolves hard the ball and attempted to build from the back was almost non-existent.
He gave the ball away five times in the first half, at least twice more than any Tottenham player and only Vitinha from Wolves lost the ball more in the first half (6). He did improve slightly in the second half hitting the post.
Dele has had his fair share of unfair criticism this season, be it his lifestyle outside the pitch or the questioning of his application on it, through it all, there has never been a question of his ability and he will have to return to basic at some point to get his full ability back, but at this rate you begin to wonder if it will be here in North London.
Every Kane goal now seems to be pushing him out of the door:
Harry Kane ended his mini barren run with his 22nd league goal of the season, he is also leading with the assists,13, two more than Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes who is being marked as some people’s player of the season.
But goals and assist alone do not tell the full story of Harry’s game. His overall contribution to build up, hold up play, defending from set-pieces is second to no striker in the Premier League.
His goal today again laid the foundation for the victory and he’d be kicking himself he did not get more, but you can’t help but think that he will be looking at these numbers and his management will want some trophies to go along with.
He has already said this season that he wants to be at a place where he will be fighting, for trophies. Will that place be at Spurs?
Reguilon enjoying a terrific season in the midst of Tottenham’s chaos:
Pierre Emile Hojbjerg might have scored Spurs’ second goal but the hard work was done by Spanish left back Regiuilon whose persistence and determination first kept the ball in play before his calmness and quality picked up Bale who saw his shot fumbled before Hojbjergpounced to finish it all off.
Given the team’s struggles this season it’s been hard to gauge his influence, but he’s stuck at it, he’s worked hard, he shown a rare determination and has fought back injuries to enjoy a decent first season in English football.
25 league games, 24 starts and 1 assist but countless brave and effective performances, it been hard to even notice that Ben Davies has been ruled out for what is left of the season. Will be interesting to see what Tottenham say as reports in Madrid continue to point that the Spanish giants are looking to trigger his buy back option.
Japhet Tanganga is powerful and will have to be integrated well:
Japhet Tanganga is young and strong with an explosiveness likened to Ledley King during his peak.
Since Jose gave him his debut against Liverpool 2019, he’s had his ups and downs, but he produced another solid performance against Wolves to remind all that he’s got enough to make it here at Tottenham.
He was full of energy, was tactically spot on and even managed to shoulder away the often hard to dispose Adama Traore when left one on one with him.
Tottenham will definitely go into the market this summer in search of a right back given the fluctuating form of Aurier and Doherty but given Tanganga can slot in both at centre-back and right back, it will be key to see if he goes out on loan looking for more game time or stay to continue his development in N17.
Players can’t wait to have fans fan it seems, Ndombele caught pointing to the stands
This will be the last game across the country that fans will be absent. Tottenham have been hit almost the hardest in that the newly built stadium didn’t see much from fans before the corona virus hit and games had to be halted and subsequently played behind closed doors.
No situation of players wanting fans back highlighted more than when French midfielder Mdombele was warming up whiles having a chat with Lucas and constantly pointing to the empty seats as the game travelled on.
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