Scorers: Antonio (73’), Angelo ogbonna (96’) – Son Heung Min (36’), Lucas moura (43’), Harry Kane (49’)
3 things we learned:
- Jose gets the job done.
A first away win in 307 days gets the job done. Whilst it might be presumptuous to think Jose will transform the squad that Pochettino left behind completely, he did made them more dangerous for a huge portion of the game. Up till the goal from Antonio against the run of play, Spurs were dominating. Eric Dier protected the back 4 alongside Harry Winks; Son and Moura gave width; and Kane and Alli interchanged at will to give the West Ham defence problems.
It’s a slight difference from the usual style Spurs fans have been used to but it’s also a style that gets the job done. While going forward Spurs may look threatening, not least because they had Eriksen in reserves, it still felt a squad that is short on options. If Jose can get a few signings in January, they might have a good chance in a cup competition (FA Cup/Champions League).
Jose will also have to work on his fabled bus as it broke down in the last 15 mins. A goal against the run of play from Antonio who, picked up a pass from his team mate, rifled a goal from the edge of the box showed a surprising defensive fragility. In the last few minutes of the game, Ogbonna slotted in a goal from a corner kick to give the limp Hammers a respectable scoreline.
2. Hammers came too life too little too late
For a huge portion of the game, Pellegrini’s men were 2nd best to everything. Spurs completely dominated them up till Antonio’s goal. A tactical substitution was brought in the 2nd half to try and inspire the hammers but only the substitute gave any fight.
The Hammers are in a terrible run of form with their last win coming against Manchester United back in September. The 2 goals they scored against Spurs in the closing moments of the game may bring about some spark going into a busy December period but the fixtures do no look kind for them.
Away games to Chelsea and Wolves followed by a visit from Arsenal loom ahead and they may be in worse form before a possible respite in fellow strugglers Southampton. For a team that stocked up well in the summer, West Ham are fast heading into a relegation batlle.
3. The storyline that is setting up to explode.
Jose Mourinho has 2 more games to prepare his team for a mid-week game against his former employers. This is a Jose that has come out to say he has learned from his past mistakes and is ready will make new ones. Games against Olympiyakos and Bournemouth are winnable games that can set his team up to be full ready to get one over Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
The world will compare the next 2 games both set of teams have as a barometer of sorts for their big clash on 5th December. OGS knows that this is his best chance to show he is the right man for the job while Jose will show that they were wrong to have let him go. It is a narrative that would be looked on by the world as one that would shape the race for European spots.
OGS might have thought that this time last year, was his audition to get the job as a permanent manager. But with the situation standing that the man United are coveting to replace Jose being available, it has turned into one where he has to prove – he is the right man for the job all over again.
Written by: Bazli
