Blind Hammer looks at strategies for defeating our London rivals
We will battle Spurs twice in the next 13 days. What are our best strategies for success?
Tottenham’s Stadium moved has placed their Squad under massive pressure for the foreseeable future.
West Ham has laid out only £15 million to move into the LS. In contrast, Spurs have to find over £1 Billion. No amount of naming rights deals or creative commercial arrangements will prevent this massive debt mountain translating into pressure on recruitment.
The immediate impact of this was revealed in the summer where Spurs, to their fan’s disgruntlement, uniquely failed to recruit a single player.
Spurs will, like Arsenal, have to recruit clever over the next few years. Nevertheless big name recruits are less likely.
Early season results allayed fears over this dramatic recruitment failure. Yet cracks are now emerging and fears that their squad is overstretched are growing.
Spurs continue to compete on all fronts, including intense reverses against Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Yet the Milan reverse provides a clue to spur’s problems. Despite controlling large parts of the game at the San Siro, particularly in the second half, Spurs eventually ran out of gas and Inter were able to stun their lagging opponents with 2 late goals.
The less illustrious players of Watford were able to achieve an identical result by again coming from behind to win 2-1.Spurs also found it virtually impossible to “chase” the game against Liverpool where many of their players, especially their England contingent, were described as lethargic and unfit.
This pressure on their England contingent is not surprising given their late involvement in last summer’s World Cup.
So Spurs have struggled against high tempo, high energy opponents. Their squad exposed, on multiple fronts, is feeling pressure.
Yet Teams which fail to deliver high tempo opposition will suffer. A disjointed, low energy Manchester United found this to their cost.
So, high energy is required more than caution. There is no reason why we should be despondent if we fall behind. Spurs have a record of conceding late goals.
Ideally we would not face Spurs after an International Break. Our greater chances for success will come in the Cup. By then we may expose the fragilities in the depth of Tottenham’s squad.
As ever quality will have to be aligned to energy. If Diop and Balbuena are not completely on their game then Harry Kane will punish us in similar fashion to last season.
In the upcoming battles the energy and passion of Mark Noble are likely to be as important as the skill and quality of Arnautovic. Whatever the score, we should fight for 90 minutes and beyond.
COYI
David Griffith