FA CUP 3rd round game between Southampton and Tottenham on St.Marrys just ended. Result was just like I thought and hoped 1:1. At the end both clubs can feel like they should win, both sides had chances and periods of domination, but scored just once. I am personally satisfied with Spurs performance except in last 15-20 minutes when they vanished from field. Game was with very high tempo, fast and very nice to watch.
Man of the match for me was Giovani Lo Celso who reminded me on his countryman Diego Armando Maradona. He fought like lion, conquering balls, passing in one word doing right things in every situation. He was real got who ran between 4 or 5 Southampton players before he founded Son who scored goal for 0:1.
That was only good thing Son did in this game. He went on my nerves so much because he is heavily exaggerate with dribbling or how we say here strangling the ball. He missed big chance in first half after great pass by Dele Alli. Korean ruined few counter attacks by running nowhere toward 3 or 4 Southampton players and losing ball instead of passing toward team mates on time. He fired up above goal once more in second half. In one situation he had ball on time, one on one situation with defender, but instead to dribble 1 on 1 he waited on 16 m. for other Saints player to come back and then tried to pass backward and lost the ball. Every sane player would dribble in this one on one situation and try to pass near defender or to shoot, but not him. He waited something. Don't get me wrong, he tried hard, ran like perpetual motion even near the end of game, but he must release the ball on time and work on his dribbling skills to be able to pass near 1 defender.
Lo Celso was world class making great attacks doing right things in right time. Dele Alli was also very good. He didn't phone call to defenders what he is going to do with the ball, but did something not expected. He created 2 (or 3) chances in first half, both missed by Son and Lucas. He fought like lion too. His anger when he lost the ball shows he cares and trying his best. His passing was very good tonight.
Lucas was really bad, missed one on one chance in first half. He fired up low shot which hit Saints goalkeeper's foot and deflected in corner. He didn't do many useful things. He managed to jump on my nerves when he took the ball to play free kick from 18m after foul on Lo Celso. Brazilian fired up powerless shot in corner of goal keeper. Invalid who you throw out of wheel chair could save that pathetic attempt. Is this the way how Spurs are playing free kicks these days ? They should watch Sinisa Mihajlovic free kicks over and over again. Everyone knows that on free kick you should try to shot in corner of goal covered by wall if you can and if you decide you can't because wall might be to close or if for some other reason you shot on goal keeper's corner it must be strong and powerful shot which he can only deflect without control and not catch like apple! I would strip this Lucas from free kicks right away after this pathetic attempt.
On other side we saw new goat in defense Japhet Tanganga who cleared ball from the line in first half and who played really well. We saw usual Davinson Sanchez who made two blunders one in each half, but fortunately without goals conceded. Alderweireld was average. He swam in second half too, but Ings missed alone header from 5 or 6 m. Aurier was not so bad, playing his real back role in this game, but his ugly habit to lose the ball carelessly is irritating. He lost it and Spurs conceded goal after. Lloris didn't made any super saves, because most of shots went out of goal and he couldn't save powerful shot for 1:1 in second half.
Spurs are still in competition, they have 2 goats Tanganga and Lo Celso, they have real Dele Alli again, but Lucas and Son are not good enough these days. They really exaggerate in dribbling. About defense I still think and can sign that any time of day Foyth is better player than Sanchez. He was substituted after one blunder against Norwich at half time, while this Colombian lad is playing all time (year?!) making minimal two blunders per game. I mean look what he did against Middlesborough and tonight. Two blunders per game and he is still first team player while they said Foyth to search for new club. That's injustice and negative selection.
Levy should pick up phone and call Betis owner and finalize signing of Lo Celso, save Foyth in first squad, tell Sanchez, Rose and Aurier to search new club and buy good backup striker and right back. FA Cup could be our if he does so. COYS! :)
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