Tottenham won Everton 2:1 just like I predicted in previous article. Spurs went out in line up I wanted with Skipp on #6 and Kulusevski on #10 and Royal on left back. It didn't look good in first couple of minutes. It was very clear we have big problems to transfer ball on opponent half, but once we did it with great Sarr pass in space for Johnson it was goal. Welshman made cross and Richarlison did easy tap in from close range for 1:0. Soon after we did similar on left side where I think Royal made similar cross but Johnson blazed ball over crossbar instead of scoring goal. Second goal came soon after corner. It was short pass to Kulusevski who found Johnson inside the box, but his shot was deflected luckily toward Son who made very nice kick from around 14-15m and ball ended inside the net. At that time it looked like every time we manage to transfer ball close to their goal we can create chance. I smelt trashing of 5:0 at that time, oh how wrong I was!
I can't describe you how many times we sold ball to Everton players in dangerous zones in first 30 m., but they failed to take advantage of that. They forced Vicario to do some saves or get blocked or we recovered ball after mistake.
Shock came in second half when we saw Romero is out with ice on back of his thigh and Eric Dier coming in to replace him! I thought that was the end. We didn't do much in attack in second half. One Kulusevski chance saved by Pickford and one Son's blocked attempt when he was one on one with defender and that was it. It was dread and fear on the other side. Everton scored, but after clear foul on Emerson Royal and VAR rightfully disallowed that goal. I can't describe how many promising attacks Son destroyed with to short, to long, to weak or to fast or inaccurate passes toward team mates. It was just shocking just like our inability to take ball on their half. They scored after one corner and very good shot in other corner of goal for 2:1 and late drama. They had at least two dead chances, one saved in world class style by our excellent goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
I still don't understand how he saved Danjuma's shot on this picture. It was amazing. It was brilliant. I am so happy we signed him and not Raya. I can confirm Pagliuca and Gigi Buffon were right when they said he is generational tallent. However that was not all. Deep in stoppage time Danjuma was alone kicked, ball hit crossbar deflected down on line, didn't cross it but wanted to end inside the net, but Italian venom pushed it out with his thigh with incredible reflex. That might be luck, but for me it was save out of this world. You can see that on this picture and tell me how was this possible ?
We were badly outplayed from around 30th minute until the end of this game. I was in constant state of dread and fear. It was "save who is alive" style of football if you understand what I mean. Man of the match was of course Italian goalkeeper.
Dejan Kulusevski disappointed in this game big time, Skipp was unable to receive ball from central defenders most of the game, made some good tackles and blocks but was not very good, had one shocking dull pass near the end. I hope he can do things better in next games. I understand he didn't kick ball for long time and he need time to gain old form. On the other hand if this was all he can do I can only tell sell and buy better player on that position. The worst fear happened. We saw midfield of Skipp, Hojbjerg and Lo Celso at the end and that was when Everton looked the most dangerous. Imagine behind them central defenders Davies (who was good and cleared one shot off the line) and Dier and Royal on not his left back position plus Porro who didn't have the best game.
This was pure luck and Vicario masterclass ladies and gentleman. If Romero is going to be out for month or so we're so done. Sometimes you play much better and lose like Spurs did vs West Ham or Aston Villa and sometimes you get battered, but you win like today against Everton.
Marry Christmas to everyone who celebrate it in few days and see you after!
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