Football

Tottenham’s Double-Appendix and Son’s Offside Runs Blamed for Defeat

May 13, 2023 8:37 pm

Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Wolves has made it mathematically impossible for Tottenham to claim Champions League qualification. Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa did not help their cause either, throwing shade over their participation in any UEFA competition next year.

Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring for Aston Villa in the 8th minute. Douglas Luiz made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute, making a Spurs comeback unlikely. Despite the odds, Harry Kane’s spot-kick allowed Tottenham to dream, making the eight minutes of added time even more interesting.

Son’s Offside Antics

The task was all but completed with Heung-Min Son putting the ball into the back of the net in extra time. However, the South Korean star was flagged for offside, putting cold water on their ambitions.

With Spurs’s Champions League dreams dashed as the referee blew for full-time. It saw them continue their search for an away, which they have been seeking for the last seven trips.

In the aftermath of the duel, former Arsenal winger Perry Groves questioned Son’s efforts on the night. Groves was frustrated with the 30-year-old continuously being caught beyond the line.

“I think Son must have been caught offside about eight times,” Groves told talkSPORT. “He’s obviously a top quality player, all you’ve got to do is band your run, but he kept on running straight and it was so frustrating to watch.

“Spurs were really passive in the first-half, Harry Kane wasn’t really getting involved, it was just a shambolic performance.

“That’s what they’ve been like away from home – no wins in their last seven away in the Premier League – and it’s what happens to Spurs when they play away.”

Spurs’ Absent Midfield

Despite similar possession and passing statistics, Ryan Mason’s charges struggled to make the most of their opportunities. They were outshot in the duel and their hapless in attack saw them on the back foot, accruing pressure and corners in the process.

Groves questioned the midfield pairing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp, who struggled to contain their rivals. There was confusion in pressing their rivals and no merit in the creativity from the middle of the park. The scoreline would have been worse had Fraser Forster not spared their blushes between the sticks

It all boiled down to the tactical battle between Unai Emery and Ryan Mason. It was the Spaniard who came out on top, ensuring that the Lions continue to inch towards UEFA competitions with every passing fixture.

“They didn’t know when they wanted to press when they wanted to sit off, Hojbjerg and Skipp are like a double appendix, they don’t do anything in the centre of midfield. John McGinn and Douglas Luiz completely dominated them.

“You saw a manager in Unai Emery who is at the top of his craft and someone like Ryan Mason who is obviously learning his trade. You could tell how well-drilled Villa were, they squeezed, they pressed, they kept a high line.

“In the end, Villa were hanging on in the six minutes of injury time, so the atmosphere changed at Villa Park, it got a bit nervy.

“But apart from a ten-minute spell at the end, Spurs were absolutely abject.”

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