Second String Spurs Side Shown Up In The Netherlands

Thursday 21st October 2021

Match Report

SBV Vitesse 1 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

Venue: GelreDome, Arnhem, Netherlands

Competition: Europa Conference League Group G

"Pre-Match Thoughts – After a good performance on Sunday against Newcastle, Nuno may have settled on his strongest starting eleven. The fact he didn't make a single substitution made it seem as if he wanted to give them as much Premier League playing time together as possible. If that's the case then it'd wise to rest them for the big game against West Ham on Sunday.

I hope to see a completely changed second side line-up in this trip to Dutch side Vitesse, who currently sit in sixth spot in the Eredivisie. With potential names in that line-up including the likes of Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Gil, Bergwijn, Rodon, Tanganga and more, they should still be capable of going out there and getting the win. I'm predicting 3-1 Spurs."

Nuno did just that with his line-up – 11 changes from the team that started against Newcastle on Sunday. Gollini in goal, Tanganga and Davies the full backs, Sánchez and Rodon in the middle, Winks and Lo Celso took up those two central midfield positions Skipp and Hojbjerg dominated at the weekend, Dele sat in front where Ndombele dazzled, it'll be interesting to see if he he can put in a performance there, Bergwijn and Gil were out on the wings and seventeen year old Scarlett was given his second successive European start up top.

The big guns weren't even brought along for backup this time. They were given a real rest back home, which I see as a positive after the performance in the league at the weekend. Spurs' bench consisted of an array of young academy talent such as Nile John, Markanday and White. It'd be nice to see some of those given a chance to shine.

Bright start from the Dutch side with the home support really getting behind them as they pushed forward to test Spurs early. Sánchez looked shaky on one occasion and they found themselves in on goal, but Gollini got out well to smother. Aside from that, Spurs managed to keep the home side at bay for the opening ten minutes, but they needed to settle quickly.

A heart in mouth moment soon after as Gil lunged in with a sliding challenge and Vitesse wanted a penalty. The ref waved it away and the replay showed that Gil got a touch on the ball before bringing the man down.

Spurs kept trying to play out of the back and with the Vitesse press combined with a nervy start, they kept messing it up and just inviting pressure onto themselves.

Twenty-two minutes in and Vitesse came mighty close to taking the lead – a corner was whipped into the near post where it was flicked on with a header that dipped across goal and was only a whisker wide of the far post.

Vitesse continue to push forward. Noticeably down the left flank, targeting Tanganga at right back. Thankfully Sánchez was there to cover him on a couple of occasions when they'd gotten in behind.

"Thoughts at Half Time – Spurs haven't been at the races. The players out there are supposed to be determined to prove a point, force their way into contention for the Premier League games, but they've been far from good enough. Players like Lo Celso, Bergwijn and Dele especially. They need to take hold of this game and make an impact. So far they've been almost non-existent. Vitesse have been livelier all round, snappier in their passing, hungrier in the challenges and have looked the better side. Let's hope we see a much improved performance in the second half."

It was a bright start as Lo Celso carried the ball forward with a driving run before squaring to Bryan Gil on the edge of the box. His left-footed first time effort curled over the despairing keeper but crashed off the crossbar. Gil unlucky not to score his first Spurs goal, and what a goal it would have been!

Just under half an hour to go and the Vitesse right back embarked on a ferocious run forward before unleashing a powerful strike that was close enough to cause contingents of the crowd to think it'd gone in. Fortunately it was just wide.

He had another go from distance moments later, this time it was on target, but Gollini saved down low to his right. Spurs were coming under increasing pressure.

Scarlett was unfairly booked as he slid in to win a loose ball in a 50/50 with the goalkeeper. That was his last action of the match as he was substituted with 15 minutes to go for twenty year old and fellow academy graduate Dilan Kumar Markanday. His first professional appearance for the club.

On seventy-eight minutes Vitesse took a deserved lead – Dasa, the right back who'd been threatening throughout the second half, stopped in space down the right side of the penalty area. He chipped a ball to the edge of the area where Wittek connected cleanly with the volley, sending it low under the diving Gollini's outstretched left glove. Arguably should have saved it, but it was a well-worked goal from the home side and sent their support into raptures. 1-0.

Lo Celso came relatively close with an outside of the boot curling effort from the left side but it was too high and the whistle for full-time followed. A disappointing 1-0 defeat for Spurs.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Spurs never got going. Vitesse played this like a cup final and showed dogged determination all over the pitch. Spurs played it like a walk in the park and were second best throughout. Disappointing to see our fringe players not step-up and take their opportunities. A fully deserved win for the Dutch side and a dent in our European campaign. Let's hope we can get back to winning ways in the crucial game against West Ham on Sunday afternoon."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 22. Pierluigi Gollini – 4 – Made a couple of routine saves here and there but the ball snuck under his glove when it mattered most. Definitely no Lloris replacement.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga – 4 – Clearly targeted by the opposition down his side. Struggled with the pressure on him. Clumsy in a few challenges.

• 6. Davinson Sánchez – 4 – Looked nervous throughout. Heading up in the air toward Rodon and almost setting a Vitesse player in on goal on one occasion. Some decent slide tackles when covering Tanganga but all in all looked shaky again.

• 14. Joe Rodon – 6 – Not bad from the young Welshman and will have people scratching their heads as to how Sánchez is above him in the pecking order. Had to cover for his centre-back partner on more than one occasion.

• 33. Ben Davies – 4 – Quiet game, didn't see much of him at all. The cross for the goal came in from his side and the Vitesse right back looked a continuous threat up against him.

• 8. Harry Winks – 3 – Another shocker from Winks. Not involved and when he was he was often losing possession or showing his frustration going mad at clumsy challenges being awarded as free-kicks. Eventually carded for his protesting.

• 18. Giovani Lo Celso – 4 – Did a few decent things here and there, but considering the form he's been showing for Argentina of late, this performance just looked lazy from him. One of the 'big guns' that needed to make much more of an impact.

• 20. Dele Alli – 3 – Another of those senior players who we really wanted to see a performance from. Was put into that central position behind the striker that he used to be so good in but looked a shadow of his former self. Barely did anything of note the entire game and looked tired.

• 11. Bryan Gil – 4 – Disappointing from the young Spaniard who has quickly become a fan favourite for his energy and dribbling skills. Didn't see enough of that today and he struggled. Unlucky not to score with an excellent curling effort minutes into the second half.

• 23. Steven Bergwijn – 3 – His first game back from injury and one to forget. Struggled throughout and was lacking in ideas – often running into nowhere or lofting balls high into the area where Scarlett didn't stand a chance of winning them.

• 44. Dane Scarlett – 4 – Another frustrating night for the youngster. You can't help but feel for him, just seventeen and clearly with bags of potential. Full of running but just hasn't fallen his way in the appearances so far.

Substitutions:

• 44. Dane Scarlett <-- 75' --> 54. Dilan Kumar Markanday – 6 – Late run-out for the promising youngster. Looked lively with the touches he managed to get.

Man of the Match – Someone on their team