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Tottenham Hotspur: Building on the Pochettino years

My annual attempt to bring success to my beloved Spurs
Started on 19 November 2019 by LedleyKingsKnee
Latest Reply on 23 November 2019 by ScottT
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OCTOBER 2019

Welcome back FM Scouters.

Another month has passed in my Tottenham Hotspur save, meaning another story post.

This month, our fixtures are:



We start with Juventus at home.

MATCH 10: TOTTENHAM V JUVENTUS

A challenging match, as Ronaldo, Dybala and Higuain come to Tottenham.

Intimidated by the Juve attack, I opt for my counter attacking 4-5-1 and a starting line-up of:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghan, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Alberto, Lo Celso, Moura, Alli
ST: Kane

The game is nip and tuck in the early stages, but Juve pull ahead on 23 minutes as Ronaldo puts it on a plate for Higuain. A few minutes later, Lo Celso loses his head and lunges in two-footed on De Sciglio and gets given his marching orders. A nightmare – 1-0 down and down to 10 men within half an hour against one of europe’s best teams.

Winks comes on for Moura to try and plug the gap, but it makes little difference as Bentancur and Alex Sandro (2) put Juve into a 4-0 lead by the hour mark.

I’m not sure there’s much analysis I can do here, it’s best to just put this one behind us. However, one small highlight is that even in as poor a performance as this, Ndombele made 5 keys passes – the most of any player on either side. He’s fast becoming one of our best players.

Result: Tottenham 0 – 4 Juventus.


MATCH 11: TOTTENHAM V BRIGHTON

Back to the Premier League after our humbling at the hands of Juve. This time we host Brighton, and I return to my 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress. We line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Lo Celso, Moura, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

After dominating the first 10 minutes of the game, Brighton break down the right hand side, and the ball eventually finds its way to Alzate in the box, and the ball is in the back of the net, Lloris’ hand only good enough to parry into the side of the net. A very frustrating start, as now Brighton can sit behind the ball.

We carry on with the same strategy, and it pays off as Dele puts it in the back of the net on the second attempt after some good work down the flank by Wague.

We go in at half-time 1-1 feeling hard done by having been the better side, but make no changes for the second half.

Our reward comes quickly in the second half, with Dele Alli poking in a wayward Ndombele shot for his second of the day to give us the lead. We keep the ball really nicely, and tie up a useful win when Kane thumps home from a totally unmarked position from an Alberto corner.

A solid 3-1 win, with Dele in the goals again. We take that and move on.

Result: Tottenham 3 – 1 Brighton.

MATCH 12: BURNLEY V TOTTENHAM

We next head up to Turf Moor for a Saturday evening match. Turf Moor is always a challenge, but we’ve been in decent form in the league and I feel quietly confident. I go for my usual 4-2-3-1, with a starting lineup of:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

It’s another match where we dominate possession – a nice trend developing there. We have the best of the chances, too, with 23 shots. However, only 5 are on target, and Burnley put their bodies on the line and defend resolutely.

In truth it was a poor match, highlighted by Gudmundsson getting MOTM with only a 7.1 rating (equalled by Alberto, but for some reason the Burnley man was favoured). The match ends in a dour 0 – 0. If we had put away our chances in these close games this season, we would be comfortably top of the league. As it is, more silly points dropped – though I start to wonder if I need a better shooting coach…

Result: Burnley 0 – 0 Tottenham.

MATCH 13: TOTTENHAM V CLUB BRUGGE.

After a battering at the hands of Juve, we return to the Champions League more full of hope than you might expect. I hadn’t realised before, but in a real shock Juve lost to Club Brugge in the opening match of the group. It’s hard to tell if that helps or hinders our chances of qualification – quite possibly hinders – but it makes it more interesting nevertheless.

To welcome Brugge, I stick to my trusty 4-2-3-1 and give a bit of rotation to the squad with this lineup, including a debut for Ryan Sessegnon who has just returned from injury:

GK: Lloris
DF: Walker-Peters, Dias, Vertonghen, Sessegnon
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Alli, Moura
ST: Kane

We start the match well, and take a 1-0 lead within 10 minutes, Dele Alli scoring from a Sessegnon cross. A decent way to start your first match!

We completely control the game but never put it to bed, racking up 68% possession, 20 shots, 9 of which were on target. But while the lack of a second goal made it nervy until the end, we see it home and take another valuable 3 points in the Champions League. Job done.

Result: Tottenham 1 – 0 Club Brugge

Now that I’m in the habit of check the other fixtures in the group, I notice that Juve have fallen on another banana skin away at Lille, drawing 2 – 2. That leaves us top of the group on 6 points, level with Brugge, with Juve in 3rd spot on 4 points, and Lille bottom with 1. It looks slightly strange being top of a group with -2 goal difference, but I’m not complaining:



MATCH 14: TOTTENHAM V NEWCASTLE.

These are the matches that should be our bread and butter. However, too often this season we’ve dropped points in matches like this (West Ham loss, Bournemouth draw, Burnley draw). If we’re going to challenge for the title, either this year or in future, we need to be putting these teams away.

When thinking about why this has been happening, I realised we’ve been poor at turning possession into good shots. We often get shots, but they are from distance, and we don’t unpick the lock of the defence too often when they’ve setup to keep us out. That’s the role our summer replacement of Eriksen, Luis Alberto, should be playing.

I adapt my tactics to try and get more from Alberto, who has an average rating of just 6.7 so far, with no goals and only two assists. I change his role from Advanced Playmaker, supposedly his best role, to Attacking Midfield (s), while changing Ndombele’s role in central midfield from Ball Winning Midfielder to Deep Lying Playmaker (d). My hope is that this will let Alberto provide more of a goal and assist threat while letting Ndombele dictate the tempo of our play from deep.

I go ahead and line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele (DLP), Winks (BBM), Alberto (AM), Son (IF), Alli (IF)
ST: Kane

It literally immediately pays off. A nice passing move involving Wague, Son and Kane leads to Kane picking out Alberto in space on the edge of the box, and in the 1st minute of the game he crashes it past Dubravka to make it 1-0. Maybe I’ve finally unlocked Alberto!?

15 minutes later, Alberto’s day gets even better. After he takes a corner, the ball his headed back out to him, and he clips it to the back post where Ndombele nods it back across goal and into the bottom corner. 15 minutes in his new role, and Alberto has a goal and an assist.

We continue cutting Newcastle open, with Dele scoring a sensational goal, dancing past two defenders before driving it into the bottom corner – goal of the month contender that.

At the start of the second half, Jonjo Shelvey makes matters worse for Newcastle with a rush of blood to the head, leaving them down to 10 men after a rash tackle.

The game was over long before Alberto got taken down in the box, allowing Kane to put away the resulting penalty and tie up an easy 4-0 win. Alberto gets MOTM, and deservedly so – this new role might just be the making of him.

Result: Tottenham 4 – 0 Newcastle.

So here's how our results in October look:



At the end of October, the Premier League table is fascinating. Despite an inconsistent start to my tenure, we lie are only 4 points off the top of the league. Moreover, the team that’s second are West Ham whose form is surely not sustainable in the long run, and top of the table Liverpool having played a game more (though it does make me feel better about losing to them). We sit 8th in the table, but are only 3 points behind second.



Alongside a solid position in our Champions League group, I feel good about our start to the season.
The current league position may be concerning, but upon closer inspection it's exceptionally close at the moment. Although games against the likes of Burnley and the teams you mentioned, Bournemouth and West Ham, have to result in three points more often than not should you wish to push Spurs to the very top. A horrible result against Juventus, but as long as you find yourself in the top two at the end of six games, you've done the job. Very surprised to see they're not accompanying you, but there's still time for that to change of course.
2019-11-21 11:32#262975 ScottT : The current league position may be concerning, but upon closer inspection it's exceptionally close at the moment. Although games against the likes of Burnley and the teams you mentioned, Bournemouth and West Ham, have to result in three points more often than not should you wish to push Spurs to the very top. A horrible result against Juventus, but as long as you find yourself in the top two at the end of six games, you've done the job. Very surprised to see they're not accompanying you, but there's still time for that to change of course.

I've also been surprised, as I expected us and Juve to breeze this group. Club Brugge are a very decent side though, they put up a real fight and we're tough to break down
Really interesting so far! I'll be following!
Decent start mate, like your signings especially as they aren't the usual stars of wonderkids everyone has! Just needing a bit of consistency but I'm sure you'll get that once the players become familiar with the tactics and the chemistry between them builds.
Love this thread and really like your signings. Looks like your starting to get a tune out of Alberto, long may that continue! Managed to sign Wague on loan on my Aston Villa save and he's been immense. Think the 40 odd million you paid will turn out to be a snip! Good luck the rest of the way, i'll be following your journey.


NOVEMBER 2019

Welcome back FM Scouters,

Our favourable run of fixtures continues in November, building up to Manchester City away at the end of the month. We also have two fixtures in a tight Champions League group to negotiate. Here are those fixtures:



It feels like a month where we can start building momentum. Let’s get into it.

MATCH 15: TOTTENHAM V CRYSTAL PALACE

Palace are riding high in the league and sit in 3rd place in the league, only 3 points off league leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. Their success under Hodgson has been built on counter attacking football, allowing them to notch up some credible results including a draw against Liverpool and beating Manchester City 2-1. Their only defeat so far was a 4-0 hammering by Norwich, but Andros Townsend got sent off in the 24th minute. I’m prepared for a tough match.

I stick with our attacking, high pressing 4-2-3-1, and line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Sanchez, Davies
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

In terms of selection, Vertonghen drops to the bench as I’m worried about Zaha’s pace in behind on the break, while Ndombele and Sissoko start in the midfield as they have the pace to track runners from deep.

As expected, Palace line up with a deep sitting 4-1-4-1 formation, with Zaha looking very isolated up top and two banks of 4 and a defensive midfielder looking pretty tough to break down.

The match starts quite evenly, with both sides having chances. However, on the 30 minute mark, we manage to counter on Palace, with Lloris hitting the ball up to Dele Alli, who found space inbetween defence and midfield while Palace were attacking. He knocks the ball to Alberto, who slides the ball to Son. After skinning Van Aanholt, Son shoots, and it’s spilled into the back of the net by Guaita. A poor piece of goalkeeping, but against a counter attacking Palace side it’s a really important breakthrough.

We press Palace from the restart, but their slightly panicked centre back work the ball to their right back Ward, who curves a lovely pass in behind our defensive line for Milivojevic, whose shot is saved by Lloris. A reminder that this is a dangerous Palace side.

My nerves are put to ease 5 minutes later, as Dele heads in a from a beautifully curled cross from Luis Alberto. Phew.

We’ve dominated possession, as expected, and we shut Palace out for the second half. They only muster 3 shots on target in the whole match, and 5 shots in total, as our pressing game suffocates them into giving us 62% possession. We rise to 4th in the table, overtaking Palace on goal difference.

Result: Tottenham 2 – 0 Palace.

MATCH 16: CLUB BRUGGE V TOTTENHAM.


Having beaten Club Brugge at home, and given their lowly status among Champions League clubs, you might think I’d be confident going into this match. But Brugge had a really tight defence in that match, and have already beaten Juventus away from home and Lille at home in their other fixtures. In a very tight group, I go into this match worried about what happens if we don’t get a result.

I line up with my now signature 4-2-3-1. Knowing we need a result, I rotate less than I would have liked. Vertonghen comes in for Sanchez, Lo Celso for Ndombele, Rose for Davies, and Winks for Sissoko, leaving us looking like this:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Vertonghen, Sanchez, Rose
MD: Lo Celso, Winks, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

Brugge line up with a 4-2-3-1, but with the two central midfielders playing as DMs, shielding their back 4. It looks like another tough side to break down.

As expected, and true to their record in this group, Brugge are very solid defensively. We rack up 60% possession but at half time it’s 0 – 0. The minutes tick by in the second half, and though we aren’t doing much wrong, we simply aren’t carving Brugge open with our passing game, as I’d hoped Lo Celso and Winks would be able to do from deep in midfield.

I decide to change tack at the 65 minute mark. I go slightly more direct, and bring on powerful midfielders Ndombele and Sissoko for Lo Celso and Winks, while changing Kane’s role to an advanced forward.

We get the breakthrough on 72 mintues, as Alberto clips in a delightful cross to the back post from a free kick, Vertonghen heads back across goal, and Kane nudges it in at the back post. Perhaps it was inevitable that for all our lovely passing, a set piece got us the goal we needed.

Off comes Son for Sanchez, and I go to 5 at the back with wing backs, changing the tactics back to a possession oriented approach. I’m quite happy to knock the ball between our centre backs for the final 15 minutes if necessary. That’s exactly what we do until 89 minutes, when Ruud Vormer gets frustrated and dives in on Wague for his second yellow.

We comfortably see it home, as do Juventus whose 5 – 0 drubbing of Lille sees them move into second. We sit top of the group on 9 points, with Juve second on 7, and Brugge third on 6. Lille are way adrift on 1 point.

Result: Club Brugge 0 – 1 Tottenham.

MATCH 17: NORWICH V TOTTENHAM

Next up, we head to Carrow Road in the Premier League, looking to build on a decent start to the season and put a run together. With our opponents sitting in 18th, we go out to dominate the game as usual with our 4-2-3-1.

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

This feels like my full strength team at the moment, with the possible switch of Vertonghen to Sanchez if the opposition have a pacey striker.

We get underway, and by 25 minutes Alli has added yet another to his tally for the season, smashing it in after Sissoko lays it on a plate for him in the box. Poor defending from Norwich, as both Alli and Sissoko had enough time to set up a picnic before putting it into net.

In the second half, Alli strikes again, following up after a Wague shot is spilled by the goalkeeper. It’s a better goal this time, with nice build up play, including Sissoko making a driving run through the midfield.

I thought the game was dead, and it proved to be despite Buendia making it uncomfortable around the 60 minute mark after Roberts supplied him in the box following Rose’s missed interception.

We run out deserved 2-1 winners. The only down side being an injury to Luis Alberto – hopefully nothing too serious.

Result: Norwich 1 – 2 Tottenham.

The Tottenham train rolls back to White Hart Lane for the visit of Leicester.

MATCH 18: TOTTENHAM V LEICESTER

Compared to their lofty position IRL, Leicester are struggling this season. When they visit us, they sit 17th in the league. I’m hoping we can pile on the misery and steal some unhappy players later in the season if they get relegated. Aiming to play them off the park, it’s the classic 4-2-3-1;

GK: Lloris
DF: Walker-Peters, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Lo Celso, Alli
ST: Kane

Despite dominating territorially, we go in at half time at 0 – 0 with possession approximately equal. Their main threat has been down the flanks, trying to get crosses in to Vardy, but Lloris has been quick enough off his line to deal with it.

Early in the second half, though, Sissoko makes a trademark driving run through the centre and feeds Son, who picks out the bottom corner with a sumptuous effort. 1-0.

A few minutes later, a good cross from deep by Rose gets to Kane in the area, whose shot is deflected into Lo Celso’s path, who puts it away. 2 – 0 up without playing all that well.

Leicester seem to lose heart, and despite getting a number of shots away from a lively Vardy, it takes until the 89th minute for him to strike. He intelligently isolates himself against a slow Vertonghen and gets in behind, slotting past Lloris after a smart pass from Tielemans.

After a slightly nervy few minutes, the full-time whistle goes. 3 more points, and our winning run continues. Leicester drop to 19th, we rise to 3rd – happy days.

Result: Tottenham 2 – 1 Leicester.

MATCH 19: TOTTENHAM V LILLE.

A big match back in the Champions League. Win and we qualify top of the group with a game to spare, allowing us much needed rotation ahead of the Christmas period. Lose or draw, and we effectively face a play-off for qualification away against Juventus in the final match of the group, as Brugge will probably beat Lille. I don’t fancy our chances in Turin, so the stakes are pretty high here.

Going for a win at all costs, we play a full-strength team in our attacking gegenpressing 4-2-3-1:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

We are totally dominant in the first half, cutting open Lille regularly, but can’t put a chance away. Just before half-time, Loic Remy plays a nice ball through to Osimhen, whose effort is straight at Lloris. However, Lloris’ parry goes straight to number 10 Ikone, who prods home into an empty net. DISASTER.

We go in at half time 1 – 0 down, haven’t not done much wrong.

The story of the second half is one of me getting increasingly desperate at our inability to break down the cannon fodder of this group. We are the only side looking likely to score, but just can’t find a way through.

Around 65 minutes I decide to change tack. Our usual passing style isn’t working and so I move the full backs forward into wing backs, bring Caicedo on for Alberto, and go for a very attacking 4-2-4 formation with 2 CBs, 2 WBs, 2 CMs, 2 inside forwards, Caicedo as a pressing forward and Kane as an advanced forward. I tell the team to go more direct and to hit early, whipped crosses. Dice rolled, I await the result.

My reward comes in the 75th minute. A throw in from Rose is taken forward by Caicedo, who then knocks it back to Rose who is sitting in the space opened up by his run. Rose, as instructed, whips an early ball across and picks out Kane, who nods it home. 1 – 1.

I now face a dilemma. Do I carry on going for broke and risk losing a hard earned point, or do I take what I have and hope to see off either Brugge or Juve? I decide to go for it, as I don’t fancy our chances against Juve and don’t know what the result will be in the other match going on tonight.

We continue battering away at Lille, me getting progressively agitated in front of my screen. With Lille pinned back in the last minute of added on time, Ndombele floats a ball out to the left to Rose. His first attempt at a cross doesn’t get past the first defender, but the ball comes back to him and this team he dribbles past two men and slides the ball across the face of goal. Caicedo gets a touch, which deflects off CB Pinteuax and goes in.

***ABSOLUTE SCENES IN MY LIVING ROOM***

I’d brought in Caicedo to be an annoying shin kicker as Parrott develops, and that’s just what he does here. It’s not graceful, it’s not a good finish. It’s not even his goal. But his persistence and work rate get us over the line right at the last.

It gets even better, as over in Brugge Juve have been beaten 1 – 0, meaning we are guaranteed to qualify from the group in top spot, and Juve’s fate is out of their hands. Caicedo’s last minute intervention has swung this for us, allowing us to get the whole first team a proper rest going into Christmas and potentially knocking out Juve. The most dramatic moment of the season so far. I SALUTE YOU SIR.

Result: Lille 1 – 2 Tottenham.

MATCH 20: MANCHESTER CITY V TOTTENHAM


High from our last minute European exploits, we head to the Ethiad for the second time this season, this time in the Premier League.

This time I’m going to back us to beat them at their own game. They may be 2nd in the league, but we’re in and around them and should have belief in our own abilities.

In line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Sanchez, Davies
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Moura, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

This was a really hard-fought match. City were the better team, but not by much. We go toe-to-toe with them, losing out slightly in possession (55-45%) and in shots. However, neither side produces a clear cut chance. The game edges along, and just as I’m considering going more direct to nick a win at the end, summer signing Savic thumps home a header from a corner to give City the lead.

We can’t find a way through, and end up losing 1 – 0. Respectable but disappointing.

Result: Manchester City 1 – 0 Tottenham

So here's how our November fixtures turned out:



A 100% record other than a 1 - 0 defeat away at Manchester City. I would most certainly have taken that.

And so we end November in 6th position, with the league still very congested at the top. We've qualified from a Champions League group that ends up looking easier than it was. And now we head towards those December fixtures where seasons are made or broken. Join me next time to find out what happens.
Fantastic work in the Champions League. I'm glad to read you enjoyed a good run of results in the league too. A loss against Manchester City is nothing to read too much into.


THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD


Welcome to a bumper post FM scouters,

Today I’m going through the Christmas period – all in one post. I’m going to skim over the matches faster than I have been to make some progress here.

Here are the fixtures facing us:



We get started with Wolves at home.

MATCH 21: TOTTENHAM V WOLVES.

Wolves are lining up with their typical 5-4-1. It’s going to be tough to break them down. I’m sticking with the 4-2-3-1 that’s served us so well. We line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Walker-Peters, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Winks, Son, Lo Celso, Alli
ST: Kane

A small amount of rotation with Walker-Peters and Winks coming in. I’ve sent Wague away on holiday for a week as the physio recommended he get a rest.

This is a really frustrating match, and there’s not much to say about it other than Wolves execute their game plan perfectly and grind out for a 0 – 0.

Result: Tottenham 0 – 0 Wolves.

MATCH 22: EVERTON V TOTTENHAM.


So, we head to Goodison on the back of a draw and a defeat, hoping to stop the rot early and get back to winning ways. I go for my normal 4-2-3-1 with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Aurier, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Winks, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

Everton get out of the blocks quickly, and match us for speed of passing and flair. Iwobi knocks it inside to former Spurs player Gylfi Sigurdsson, who crashes it past Lloris for 1-0.

We hit back later in the half through Dele Alli, but just as we think we’re going in at the break level, Fabian Delph gives Everton a 2-1 lead on 45+1 minutes after a wonderful run by Bernard.

We equalise early in the second half through a superb Son Heung-Min finish. However, within seconds, Everton have regained the lead, a long ball forward by Pickford, essentially from the kick off, finds Richarlison, who jinks past two defenders before finishing. At this point it's 3-2 and the game is developing into a classic, with both teams going all out to score goals with high-tempo attacking football.

But it gets worse for us as Iwobi nods in Sigurdsson’s corner to make it 4-2, before Richarlison makes it 5 after a long ball over the top from Keane.

To be honest, we haven’t even defended that badly, Everton have just been absolutely electric. Their front 5 all have absolutely brilliant matches:



Perhaps I should have responded earlier and dropped a central or attacking midfielder into an Anchorman role, but I backed us to turn it around at the other end of the pitch and got punished.

They’ve beaten us at our own game here, despite a consolation goal from Son after some penalty box pinball.

We leave Everton humbled, suffering a 5-3 defeat, and having only collected 1 point from the last 3 games. Too early to be called a crisis, but I’m now treating it as a dip in form.

Result: Everton 5 – 3 Tottenham.

MATCH 23: JUVENTUS V TOTTENHAM.


Our result against Lille in the last Champions League match makes this a dead rubber for us. We’ve guaranteed top of the group, and our only possible impact now is to knock Juve out. I decide focussing on our own season is more important, leaving Brugge to finish the job themselves, going for full rotation including youth prospects Foyth, Sessegnon and Parrott. We’re going to need the rest over the coming weeks. Here’s the lineup:

GK: Gazzaniga
DF: Aurier, Sanchez, Foyth, Davies
MD: Winks, Dier, Lamela, Lo Celso, Sessegnon
ST: Parrott

Predictably, the match is a total humiliation. Goals from Ronaldo, Dybala, Bentancur, Higuain, and Mandzukic (2) make for a 6-0 loss. But to be honest, it makes no difference whatsoever: Brugge draw their final match, meaning they sneak through and Juve go out. We still top the group, and our players have been rested. I don’t like the manner of defeat, but that’s what you get when you all but sacrifice a match.

Result: Juventus 6 – 0 Tottenham.

MATCHES 24-28

Can we bounce back from our 1 point from the last possible 12? Well, opportunities don’t come much better than the rest of the fixtures in December: Watford (H), Southampton (A), Aston Villa (H), Newcastle (A).

We win them all, without conceding a goal. A 5-0 drubbing of Watford is followed by a 5-0 against Southampton, a 2-0 against Villa and a 2-0 against Newcastle. Luis Alberto and Son score 4 in that time, Dele Alli gets 3, Kane gets 2, and Sanchez pops up with the other. 14 goals scored and 0 conceded in 4 games – that’s what I call a bounceback. It leaves us 4th going into the new year.

We then go to Brighton to start the new year.

However, we come unstuck at the Amex, conceding our first goal in 4 games in the 90th minute to cancel out Son’s early goal and leave us with a 1-1 draw. A disappointing result, and we drop back down to 5th, but it caps a successful Christmas period. Here's how Christmas looks overall:



We go into the new year full of hope as Daniel Levy hands me a January war chest of £45 million:



Join me next time as I review my previous transfers, plan for the window, and see how January turns out.


JANUARY

Hello FM scouters,

We’re back, and the January transfer window is open. Levy has given us a warchest of £45m, and before getting into the fixtures I’ll take you through my plans.

OUTGOINGS

On the sales front, there are some players that I’d like to move on if the opportunity arises. Serge Aurier is already heading out of the door to Lille – Wague and Walker-Peters have RB locked down so no replacement needed there. I will be moving Erik Lamela on, either this window or next. Similarly, I’d like to move Lucas Moura on as I just don’t think he has enough quality to be our inside forward if we’re going to win the Premier League or Champions League (despite his heroics in Pochettino’s Champions League run).

In the long run, Winks and Sissoko are only good enough to be squad options and Sissoko is aging. That being said, Sissoko has been a monster in our midfield, so no rush on this one and I won’t be actively touting them.

INCOMINGS

A few areas of the squad need improvement. While Danny Rose has performed okay this season, the difference in quality between him and Wague on the other flank has been all too apparent. In the long run, we need more at centre back, as Vertonghen’s pace is starting to decrease, and Sanchez and Dier aren’t as good as I’d anticipated.

Otherwise, I’ll look to use my warchest to replace anyone who ends up leaving.

Before any of that, though, I take a look at those available for free in the summer. A few names catch the eye: James Rodriquez, who I was tempted by on the transfer list in the summer, is running down his contract; Edison Cavani is becoming available, but he goes against our club vision and I’d rather have faith in Parrott next season; similarly, though Blaise Matuidi is an excellent option and would provide that steel I’m looking for alongside Ndombele, he’s 32 years old and I’d rather plan for the long term.

There is one player that I make my absolute priority, though. Sergio Reguilon is a Real Madrid LWB currently on loan at Sevilla – and having a decent season too – whose contract is set to expire in the summer. He’s 22, has 16 pace, acceleration, work rate and off the ball movement, good all round defensive attributes, and 14 crossing. On a free transfer he’s a no brainer, so I bring him in.

As the window goes on, we get very few serious offers, and so it becomes clear my warchest will not be needed to replace anyone. I turn my attention to other acquisitions, and decide that James Rodriquez is just too tempting. He can play all across the attacking midfield positions, and will allow us to move on Lamela or Moura in the summer without an urgent need for a replacement. Worst case scenario, we flog him for £30m in 18 month’s time.

A few days before the deadline, I’ve not sold anyone, and have money to spend. I decide that I’m going to activate Giovanni Lo Celso’s loan clause allowing us to get him in for £35.5m. He’s been a useful option this season rotating with Alberto, and is very versatile. I would have triggered this clause in the summer anyway, so better to do it now as I suspect Levy would not simply have added more to my budget in the summer, but would have somehow screwed me. He’s now a permanent Spurs player.

January Transfers summary:

OUT: None
IN: Lo Celso, Reguilon (summer), Rodriquez (summer)

Onto the fixtures. They January matches look like this:



Brighton we’ve already played (covered in the Christmas post) – a 1 – 1 draw.

So we move onto Everton away in the FA Cup 3rd round.

MATCH 29: EVERTON V TOTTENHAM. FA CUP 3RD ROUND

Still stinging from our 5 - 3 defeat at Goodison in the Premier League, we are out for revenge.

We line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Vertonghen, Dias, Rose
MD: Lo Celso, Alberto, Son, Alli, Moura
ST: Kane

We start brilliantly. We press their defence in possession, forcing Pickford into a wayward pass to Lucas Moura, who feeds Son to score. 3 minutes in, we’re 1 – 0 ahead. 7 minutes later, we pass through the Everton defence and Moura feeds Kane to slam it past Pickford for 2 – 0. On 20 minutes, a long range effort from Luis Alberto is spilled into the net by Pickford to make it 3 – 0. Everton are struggling to live with us and Pickford is having a shocker.

Everton get one back before half-time, thanks to Vertonghen getting caught in possession. It’s not enough, despite Sigurdsson making the last few minutes nervy with an 89th minute goal.

We’re through to the 4th round, and our earlier defeat to Everton is avenged.

MATCH 30: TOTTENHAM V MANCHESTER UNITED

Ole’s United come to London, and they sit 8th in the table compared to us in 4th. I fancy this one, and in front of the TV cameras we line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Davies
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Son, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

I was right to be confident. We dominate the game, with 60% possession, and 19 shots to their 6. Our breakthrough comes on 45 minutes from an Alberto corner, which Son heads in.

We control the rest of the match and see out a 1 – 0. It should be more, but it’s a good result against United.

Result: Tottenham 1 – 0 Manchester United.

MATCH 31: TOTTENHAM V BURNLEY


We’re at home again, looking to extend a good run of form reaching back to the start of December. This time Burnley are the visitors, and we gear up for an attritional game where Burnley stand behind the ball all game.

Our line up:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Moura, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

Son has a knock, but otherwise it’s a full strength team.

As expected, Burnley line up very defensively with a 4-5-1, including two DMs and two WMs.

The game goes according to script. Frustratingly, Kane misses a penalty in the 2nd minute after getting pushed in the back by Tarkowski. He makes amends just before half time, prodding in after some penalty box pinball.

While I expected Burnley to park the bus, the extent of their defensive focus is quite extraordinary. We have 61% possession, 23 shots, and 10 on target. Burnely do not register a single shot. They barely try to attack, and whenever they do, we snuff it out with ease. Wood is totally isolated up top, and Dias and Vertonghen have him in their collective pockets.

Result: Tottenham 1 – 0 Burnley.

MATCH 32: ASTON VILLA V TOTTENHAM.


Villa have been absolutely diabolical this season. They are rock bottom, have conceded the most goals and scored the least. We have to win this, because everyone else is getting results against Villa.

Dean Smith has just been sacked and replaced by Luciano Spalletti. It’s his first match, and to welcome him to the Premier League I absolutely tear into him in the press, saying Villa have made a mistake appointing him. I’d like to see if I can build a Mourinho style reputation for riling up other managers in homage to Tottenham’s new boss IRL.

We line up with:

GK: Lloris
DF: Wague, Dias, Vertonghen, Rose
MD: Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Alberto, Alli
ST: Kane

Lamela comes in to give a rest to Son and Moura. The Vertonghen/Sanchez choice goes to Vertonghen as I want a calm head after my comments to Spalletti. Otherwise, it’s a first choice team.

Two minutes in, Kane scores from an Alberto corner. For some reason, he was being marked by Jack Grealish. As I said, Villa have been diabolical.

A few minutes later, Targett takes Lamela out in the box. Kane converts. 2-0. Diabolical.

It’s 3 before half time as, passing all the way out from the keeper, we cut through Villa, Sissoko finds Lamela, and Lamela finds the bottom corner. Lamela’s having a great game and clearly staking a claim to that RW position (sorry Erik, Sonny’s got that locked down for the foreseeable future).

The second half is much the same as the first, and Lamela adds his second goal with an absolute pearler from the edge of the area. Another assist for Alberto.

Game over, and I dial the intensity down, aiming to control possession for the rest of the match. We see it out for a simple 4-0 victory, our easiest win of the season. Aston Villa are a dead cert to be relegated.

Also pleasing was Luis Alberto’s 2 assists. He’s turned it around from me being very uncertain I’d made the right move 10 games into the season, to being a nailed on starter and the top assister in the league. It seemed to coincide with me using him as an attacking midfielder rather than his apparently preferred advanced playmaker. Perhaps it fits our system better.

8 games unbeaten in the league, with only a 4th round FA Cup match remaining in January.

Result: Aston Villa 0 – 4 Tottenham.

MATCH 33: BOURNEMOUTH V TOTTENHAM. FA CUP 4TH ROUND.


Spurs’ baron spell without a trophy has gone on too long, and the FA Cup is our best chance at rectifying that. Bournemouth is a winnable tie. That being said, it’s also a more forgiving place for experimentation, given my board doesn’t require anything here.

My experimentation is to go aggressive and play lots of passing creative midfielders. I rest out powerful midfielders Ndombele and Sissoko to the bench, with Alberto, Winks and Lo Celso all starting:

GK: Lloris
DF: Walker-Peters, Dias, Sanchez, Davies
MD: Alberto, Winks, Moura, Lo Celso, Alli
ST: Kane

The game is lively, and Bournemouth open the scoring through Josh King breaking on us.

We hit back quickly, this time through Winks playing a ball over the top, which Kane gets onto and buries. He doubles his tally on 38 mintues, putting away a lovely threaded pass by Dele. 2 – 1 to Spurs.

However, we go in at the break 2 – 2 thanks to us switching off at the back, allowing the ball to break to Fraser who beats Lloris at his near post. No excuses there, we can’t lose concentration like that.

It’s an end to end game, probably due to our lack of steel in midfield, but we’re also putting some beautiful passing moves together. Dele finishes one of them off on 54 minutes to put us 3 - 2 ahead.

Bournemouth claw it back a few minutes later, Lewis Cook with a good finish from the edge of the area.

Despite trying to change it up with some subs late on – Dier, Wague and Lamela coming on – the game drifts to its conclusion, and at 3 – 3 we’re going to have to have a replay.

Result: Bournemouth 3 – 3 Tottenham.

And so ends January. A quiet transfer window, alongside some strong results. We end the month in 4th, right in with a shout of winning the Premier League title such is the congestion at the top:



Join me next time as we head into February, where we have 4 Premier League fixtures, an FA Cup replay, and the first leg of our Champions League First Knockout round match against some other Italian opponents: Inter Milan.
Alongside the deal to make Lo Celso's loan permanent, James and Reguilon make for great options, especially on a free. Great work... Harry Redknapp would be proud. A good run of results, just a shame the month concludes with a draw in the cup. A replay is something you definitely wanted to avoid.

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