Tottenham slumped to a file twentieth defeat within the Premier League as Crystal Palace deservedly received 2-0 in north London, leaving Ange Postecoglou‘s facet seventeenth within the desk with two video games to play.
With full concentrate on the Europa League Remaining in opposition to Manchester United on Could 21, Postecoglou closely rotate his facet following Thursday’s win over Bodo/Glimt in Norway, and Palace repeatedly ripped via the hosts in a one-sided sport.
Listed below are three Spurs speaking factors from the match…
Spurs want a artistic choice in opposition to Utd
The much less mentioned about Tottenham’s efficiency, the higher – so allow us to simply say that they have been dismal and Palace deserving winners…and transfer on.
Primarily, you think, that Spurs desperately want some creativity in opposition to United in 10 days time and the lack of Dejan Kulusevski to a suspected knee harm means the top coach could must get artistic himself.
Kulusevski hobbled off after 18 minutes following a heavy problem from Marc Guehi and is now a serious concern for Bilbao.
Harm scare: Dejan Kulusevski
Getty Photographs
Spurs are already with out Lucas Bergvall (ankle) and James Maddison (knee) till subsequent season, which had left Kulusevski as the one match playmaker within the squad.
Pape Matar Sarr, who crammed in at No10 for the primary hour in opposition to the Eagles (Kulusevski truly began the sport as a central striker), is a runner somewhat than a inventor, and Spurs struggled to progress the ball, nor maintain it up as soon as Mikey Moore exchange the Swede and Mathys Tel went up prime.
What are the top coach’s choices? Wilson Odobert performed the ultimate half-hour at 10 however, like Sarr, struggled to make an impression, whereas Moore might additionally deputise via the center at a push.
Or perhaps Richarlison might play off Dominic Solanke in a entrance two and facilitate a extra direct gameplan, reliant on width from the full-backs and wingers?
In a extra optimistic harm improvement, the return of Heung-min Son for the ultimate half-hour was a great addition for Spurs after the Korean had missed the earlier seven matches with a niggling foot harm.
Son appeared very rusty on his return to motion, nonetheless, dithering over a cross for Moore when in an excellent place and struggling to make inroads as he deputised as central striker – albeit for a struggling Spurs second-string.
The hope, although, is now certainly an hour or so in opposition to Aston Villa on Friday, which would depart him in rivalry to start out in Bilbao.
As Spurs captain, talisman and most skilled participant, and an excellent clutch participant on his day, the case for Son to start out the ultimate is clear however he might now do with a extra polished exhibiting in opposition to Villa.
Richarlison was energetic and dedicated from the left in each legs of the semi-final in opposition to Glimt, so the Brazilian, too, has made an argument for his inclusion.
Again and again all through the 90 minutes however significantly within the first half Spence was caught wildly out of place, leaving Palace the liberty of their proper flank.
It was no shock that each Eze’s easy finishes got here after bursts down the suitable after cut-backs from Muniz and Sarr.
Spence was so usually to be discovered sprinting again, it was a surprise that Postecoglou didn’t hook him. Ben Davies was compelled to cowl for his full-back again and again, and Palace right-winger Munoz actually ought to have finished extra with all that house.
In possession Spence was free, greater than as soon as squandering the ball with an overly-ambitious raking cross.
Djed Spence endured a tough afternoon
AFP by way of Getty Photographs
It was not so way back that Spence was comfortably one in all Spurs’ greatest gamers, one of many few within the squad seemingly in stable kind within the league.
Has he began believing his personal hype? Or just misplaced confidence since left-back rival Future Udogie returned to health and favour?
Regardless of the case, there’s little doubt that Pedro Porro and Udogie at the moment are Postecoglou’s first selection full-backs, which didn’t seem in any respect sure just some weeks again.
