Stoke vs Tottenham a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
September 11, 2016
1,478 Views
- Tottenham underwent the ideal preparations for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Monaco with a comfortable 4-0 win away at Stoke
- It was a result that blew away the early season cobwebs as Mauricio Pochettino’s side extend their early season unbeaten run to 4 matches
- It’s fair to say that they started slowly and rode their luck at times early on but once they got into the groove they looked like the Tottenham of last season
- When these two sides met at what was then still The Britannia Stadium, Spurs ran out 4-0 winners and there was a sense of deja-vu yesterday afternoon
- The main talking point of the first half would have been Mark Hughes being sent to the stands for saying some unsavoury words to the Assistant Referee
- That in itself didn’t cost Stoke the game but it certainly wouldn’t have helped their situation
- Tottenham got their noses in front just before half time and it came at just the right time
- Heung-min Son was afforded so much space in the area and once the ball found him he prodded home well with his left foot to give Spurs the lead
- That goal certainly deflated Stoke somewhat as they deserved to go into the break at least on level terms
- If Son’s opener deflated Stoke then his second would have taken the air out of them completly
- A fantastic curled effort from the edge of the area doubled Tottenham’s advantage and from there it was job done
- They may have been fortunate not to see Victor Wanyama sent off just before that second
- He was walking a disciplinary tightrope after already being on a yellow card and was lucky not to get a second one
- With that mind Wanyama was then bought off for Erik Lamela and soon after Son had made it 2-0
- Stoke will no doubt feel aggreived at decision not to give Wanyama a second yellow but truth be told they were never in the second half
- Tottenham’s third came from a lightning fast break after a Stoke corner. Kyle Walker relentless pace saw him fully advanced as he presented the perfect pass for Dele Alli to open his account for the season
- Soon after another player got off the mark as Harry Kane ended his goal drought for both club and country
- His first attempt was an air shot but by the time the ball came back into the box and Bruno Martins Indi was lost at sea he had all the time in the world to slot home and wrap up a near perfect performance from Spurs
- Christian Eriksen was man of the match, it’s amazing what signing a new contract can do
- This is a Spurs side still without Mousa Dembele, so the win was even more encouraging
- Now that he is back they won’t need to play both Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama in the middle so it will give the side even more energy
- So glad we didn’t sell Son in the Summer and his brace would have fully justified that decision
- It also means we have plenty of options on that right hand side
- I still don’t know exactly where Moussa Sissoko will fit into the team but there will be plenty of football to play between now and May and hopefully on multiple fronts so his time will undoubtedly come
- As for Stoke, their ground is no longer the fortress it used to be
- That’s 8 goals they have now shipped there this season.
- Shay Given looked like he had the reactions of a falling oak tree yesterday
- A lot to think about for Mark Hughes especially now that the transfer window is now shut
- For Tottenham the focus now shifts to Wembley and the start of the Champions League adventure, they couldn’t have prepared for the visit of Monaco any better
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