Tottenham Hotspur‘s mini-revival unravelled on the south coast final night time, with Ange Postecoglou‘s injury-hit facet succumbing to Brighton & Hove Albion‘s unrelenting stress and falling to a 4-2 defeat within the Premier League.
Spurs have been largely spectacular this season however have discovered the medical room to take a seat on the crux of their issues, with key personnel falling like flies to preclude the sustainment of a reputable title cost.
Tottenham stay inside touching distance of the highest 4 on the marketing campaign’s midpoint and can view the forthcoming switch window as an apt time to strengthen the ranks, however, nonetheless, Postecoglou can be upset by the poor performances of a number of stars.
Dejan Kulusevski’s recreation vs Brighton by numbers
Dejan Kulusevski has been sensational for the lion’s share of the 2023/24 marketing campaign, scoring 5 targets and supplying two assists within the English top-flight, however he flattered to deceive on the AMEX stadium on an event that known as for management and inspiration.
As per Sofascore, the Swede took 59 touches and accomplished 87% of his passes on the night time, however didn’t harness the crispness and sharpness that has been on the coronary heart of his particular person success this yr, wayward with all 5 of his tried crosses and failing with each dribbles.
The 23-year-old additionally took only one off-target shot all night, making one key cross however failing to say himself in an important midfield battle and profitable solely two of his eight contested duels, additionally committing the foul for Joao Pedro’s first penalty after carelessly tugging on Danny Welbeck’s shirt.
Branding him with a 5/10 match score, soccer.london’s Alasdair Gold was significantly scathing in his evaluation, commenting: ‘Gifted Brighton a penalty by grabbing Welbeck’s shirt within the field and earned himself the fifth yellow card of the season which means he misses the match towards Bournemouth. His sort out arrange the play for Veliz’s aim and the Swede took Dunk’s studs to his ankle within the course of.’
He was energetic although and tried to make issues occur, certainly establishing considered one of Richarlison’s offside targets and pressuring late on to spark the unsuccessful, if spirited, comeback into life.
Emerson Royal’s efficiency vs Brighton
Postecoglou deserves plaudits for his ingenuity and inspiration in implementing his imaginative and prescient as he sees match, discarding the buzzing disaccord of onlookers and sustaining that the cogs, as has already been the case, will click on with fidelity.
Whereas, in lots of regards, that is the case, the defeat towards Brighton was remaining affirmation that Emerson Royal should not be fielded as a centre-half once more.
Cristian Romero is sidelined for 5 weeks and Micky van de Ven stays out after his personal damage in November, however with Eric Dier and teenager Alfie Dorrington each languishing on the bench, one wonders whether or not this obstinate strategy to subject pure right-back Emerson as pure left-back Ben Davies’ associate within the centre of the backline goes to work.
To date, it hasn’t, and towards the Seagulls, the Brazilian was left somewhat scorching beneath the collar after struggling to stifle the hosts’ – specifically Joao Pedro’s – menace.
Emerson did win eight of his 16 duels and accomplished 92% of his passes, although was dribbled previous twice and didn’t emit the sort of calmness and management {that a} centre-back ought to present for an bold outfit such at Tottenham.
Gold gave him a 4/10 rating however did acknowledge the truth that he’s performing gallantly in an unnatural position, saying: ‘Regarded like a full-back attempting to play at centre-back, which to be truthful to him is strictly what he’s. It simply did not work on this event as he struggled with Porro in coping with Pedro.’
It did not work, and whereas Spurs’ most well-liked defensive axis is at present marooned on the periphery, the defeat towards Brighton could have informed Postecoglou that he would possibly have to search for an alternate answer.