Tottenham won Fulham after very good performance in most of the game. I've got feeling like we are grinding them from around 25th to around 75th minute. Some of our players looked like they are not running but flying on the pitch. Mindset was right, running on the pitch and pressing were clever and strong and result is only 2:0 just because of little lack of concentration in finishing and misfiring from promising situations. We could and should on example give them more than 5 goals until half time. Dejan Kulusevski could alone score 2 or 3.
Squad was like I expected with Hojbjerg and Richarlison in it. In preview I was wrong about Gil. He didn't get chance in this game. Match started with good chance for Fulham after corner, but "venom" Vicario saved very strong header of away player in very good way.
It's hard to mention all chances and promising situations in front of Fulham goal after that. Richarlison did give very good effort in press and were flying on the pitch despite being pulled, fouled setup couple of chances with good passes, missed goal from 18m shot, Son had two chances both saved by goalkeeper, Dejan Kulusevski had 2 or 3, Hojbjerg had one shot from promising position too.
Goal happen after bad pass from Fulham player. Van de Ven intercepted it, passed to Richarlison who did the right thing and passed it for Son who made two Fulham defenders hug eachother before he fired rocket inside Leno's net. Very effective goal.
Spurs didn't stop in second half, continued to play good, to press them, and same Fulham player made another bad pass intercepted by Hojbjerg who sent ball toward Son who did the right thing and sent it to Madders who easily scored for 2:0 and game over for Fulham. Picado celebration could start... We should score at least one more after Madders has stolen ball inside the box, but him and Son tried both to take ball after and Madders shot was saved. He shouldn't take ball away from Son in that situation. Also Kulusevski was all alone in front of empty net inside the box. There was another situation worth of mentioning when Dejan Kulusevski played little Waltz with one Fulham player, did right thing after, ball ended in Richarlison's feet but his attempt from inside the box went very high above the crossbar.
Then some changes happen. Pape Matar Sarr and Udogie went out injured and Skipp and Royal came in. Soon after Lo Celso and Veliz came in for Madders and Son and Fulham start to become better side. Howeer venom Vicario saved two close range shots, one of them by catching alive ball from like 5m shot, Royal blocked couple of attempts and result remained the same. We really fell in last 15-20 minutes and I hope it's because players wanted to save some energy for Friday night when we will face Crystal Palace.
I want to point out to Christian Romero and Van de Ven. Cutie was my man of the match, ease how those two are taking away balls from opponents is really unbelievable. They make opponents look like little kids. Over tv it looks like they come and tell them give that ball to me it's not for young kids it's for grown up men. LOL! They are both amazing.
I like this performance a lot, I really enjoyed in most of it. That press was awesome and overall play was grinding of opponent most of the time. Let's mention some bad things I saw in this game now.
When we look from other side we should and must be better in finishing chances and shooting from 18-20m. Only player who in my opinion was not on big level was Dejan Kulusevski. He had 2-3 chances in first half, didn't score single one and I think in last one he got afraid to shot when he was alone in front of goalkeeper and tried I don't know what and big chance ended without even shooting on goal. He also had at least two bad back passes, but Romero quickly dispossessed opponent after. He had some good moments like that waltz and some good carrying ball and passes. Madders had also his moments of magic but also moments of wrong decisions like when he dribbled two and instead of passing right toward alone player he tried some long diagonal pass left and didn't do it well and that pass ruined all good work he made with that amazing dribble. Arguing about who should shot ball on goal from dead chance should not happen too. Vicario had also two bad passes, but fortunately defenders dealt with them quickly. Hojbjerg was also dispossessed once or twice in dangerous areas, but super defenders nullified threat after.
There was also one more situation worth mentioning when Fulham player was alone in 5m, high cross was coming, but Pape Matar Sarr came in like fast train in front of him and took ball away. That was superb piece of play by Sarr. It was for Flash o-o if you know what I mean. He looked like that superhero who is a lot faster than everyone else.
Referee Antony Taylor in my opinion didn't use cards right. Palinha got yellow late in the game, but he viciously deliberately kicked Madders in first half in start which could not win the ball. He got yellow for another vicious kick from behind without chance to get ball. Very dirty player who should have seen two yellow cards in this game. There was penalty appeal in first half when Hojbjerg was brought down inside the box, but nothing was given. I think it wasn't penalty because he kicked ball to far away from him before being brought down, but I am not sure it would not be given to Liverpool or Arsenal. Referee also missed to give us clear fouls in some situations. Richarlison was pulled from behind a lot of times too and I didn't see yellow cards. Porro was fouled in front of penalty box in something which could be big chance for us, foul was given but no yellow card for stepping over his foot ? The best English referee should use cards better.
All in all it was very convincing display, joy to watch, very, very, very good match by Spurs. Let's continue like this but if possible without those bad moments! COYS!
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