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Tottenham vs Gent a few late thoughts

  • Probably everything that could be said has been said but that said it’s probably a good time to give my views on proceedings
  • After a defeat it’s always a better to reflect on proceedings rather than writing straight away as judgements can get clouded
  • That and I was going to write this piece at Friday Lunchtime but I had two pints instead
  • Perhaps I was delaying the fact I had to write about the fact we had been dumped out of the Europa League to Gent
  • Yes that sentence still seems a bit unfathomable when typing it out but then again results don’t lie
  • The fact that we were not good enough in the first leg has ultimately punished us
  • I could give a breakdown of how the match panned out but if it’s been said then it has certainly been read (might have to trademark that actually)
  • So it’s probably worth reflecting on the aftermath
  • From being knocked out of the Champions League at the first stage to being knocked out of the Europa League at the first stage does not make for a good sub plot to this season
  • Will it define our season?
  • I guess that depends on whether or not we finish in the top four and/or win the F.A. Cup
  • A home draw with Millwall in the Quarter Finals is all very well but then the next two games are at Wembley
  • And it seems as if that Wembley hoodoo is not yet removed
  • How much you can blame the change of stadium for the draw on Thursday can be argued
  • I think it’s more the fact that we played the majority of the game with 10 men that was are undoing
  • Once Harry Kane scored that own goal to allow Gent to level then it was always going to be a difficult task, that said it wouldn’t be an impossible one
  • Take any player out of the equation though and it’s a very uphill struggle
  • That said it was the right decision, a bit of a horror show from Dele Alli
  • He may have had complaints at the time but if he watches that back then he will have to hold his hands up and say “fair enough”
  • It all started so well though and with Christian Eriksen opening the scoring after just 9 minutes, Tottenham fans would have every right to think it would be a similar routine win to the one away at Fulham last Sunday
  • But after Harry Kane’s deft header in the wrong goal, it was a case of here we go again
  • That’s now three own goals and a goalkeeping blunder from Kane
  • Perhaps it’s better if he just stays in the opposition half from now on
  • Credit must go to Gent whose almost heroic defending at times frustrated Tottenham on numerous occasions
  • Frustration on the pitch then was converted to frustration in the stands
  • Although the “home” fans were still getting behind their club the longer the game on they more the feeling the game was ebbing away from them
  • Victor Wanyama’s strike just after the hour set the game up on a knife edge but it was a knife that was too blunt to cut through Gent for a third time
  • I don’t know what would have been a more frustrating way to go out
  • On away goals or in the manner we did by not even winning on the night
  • Jeremy Perbet who scored in the first leg was on hand again late on to top off another forgetful European night
  • Tottenham did have to understandably roll the dice though with the tie as it was
  • It was just the manner in which Perbet scored which rankles the most
  • Rudimentary errors and a failure to clear from Eric Dier meant the ball was bouncing about like a pinball
  • It all needed was someone to put a foot through it
  • Unfortunately that someone was Perbet and it was game over
  • Once again the rush to get the Jubilee Line tube would have kickstarted into action as Gent fans celebrated a famous European scalp
  • So now there are just two fronts for which Tottenham will compete on
  • Obviously the Champions League is for many the be all and all
  • But there is a louder contingent who would happily sacrifice that if it meant winning a trophy
  • No F.A. Cup win since 1991 and no trophy since the 2008 League Cup win
  • If this squad really is to make strides then it’s about time some silverware is delivered
  • The cup will once again resume in two weeks time when we host Millwall
  • But first we need to make sure we bounce back from Thursday’s blip and beat Stoke to keep our top 4 hopes alive
  • Otherwise the season is in danger of collapsing
  • Not doom and gloom just yet but failure to win on Sunday and I would recommend giving Twitter a wide berth

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