Tottenham Hotspur began their second season under manager Ange Postecoglou with a frustrating 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.
For a detailed match report, click the link above. In this piece, we’ll dissect the game and analyze the positives and negatives.
While it’s common to start with the negatives and end on a positive note, this game didn’t unfold that way, so this review won’t either.
A Tale of Two Halves at the King Power Stadium
Spurs were outstanding for the first 55 minutes. They moved the ball quickly with slick, short passes, overwhelming their hosts with intense pressure. Ange’s side created numerous chances, earning several early corners as they kept Steve Cooper’s side pinned back.
Their efforts were rewarded when Pedro Porro headed in a cross from James Maddison. The former Leicester City midfielder has kicked off this season in the same promising fashion as he did last year, looking like his old self again.
Dominic Solanke was another bright spot, even though he didn’t score the debut goal he had likely envisioned. He was mobile, dropped deep, ran the channels, and was unlucky not to score early on from a Son Heung-min cross. Despite the missed opportunity, Solanke’s performance was encouraging; he ended the game with three shots on target, 3/3 successful dribbles, one chance created, and 8/10 duels won. He also drew two fouls and made two tackles—a very complete performance for a center-forward, even without a goal.
Lucas Bergvall also had a promising competitive debut. In just 12 minutes on the pitch, he made three tackles, won 5/8 duels, completed 2/3 dribbles, and created one big chance. Although he lost the ball in a dangerous position, his teammates didn’t help him, and fortunately, no goal was conceded as a result.
The most significant positive, however, is that Rodrigo Bentancur is okay. The midfielder was withdrawn after a clash of heads but was soon conscious and talking in the dressing room.
Spurs Squander a Strong Start
Now, onto the negatives. The overwhelming concern is that this match felt eerily similar to many of last season’s games. While it’s only matchday one, it suggests that Spurs haven’t learned from past mistakes. Ange Postecoglou had emphasized the need for maturity this season, but the team didn’t show that tonight.
In fact, Spurs were overly emotional. After playing so well for nearly an hour, they crumbled after conceding a goal. Bentancur had a shot saved in the 55th minute, and a minute later, Vardy equalized. From that point on, Spurs’ performance deteriorated. They couldn’t handle the home crowd’s pressure and kept losing possession.
After Vardy’s 56th-minute equalizer, Spurs didn’t register another shot until the 84th minute. While there was a long stoppage due to Bentancur’s injury, it’s still unacceptable. The only silver lining was that the break in play disrupted Leicester’s momentum, but their intensity did wane after the stoppage.
Ange’s substitutions were puzzling. It seemed like he was making attacking changes for the sake of it, rather than with any strategic intent. Spurs ended the game with two 18-year-olds, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, in a double pivot, one of whom is naturally an attacking midfielder.
Jonathan Wilson recently noted on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast that to play attacking football, you need fewer attacking players. It might sound counterintuitive, but tonight’s game was a perfect example of what he meant.
The cameo from Timo Werner was concerning. Despite being right-footed, the German forward seemed more comfortable going down the outside when playing on the left than on the right. The other substitutes, aside from Bergvall, struggled to make an impact, but this was more due to structural issues than individual shortcomings.
It was alarming how easily Jamie Vardy, who is only 5’10” and 37 years old, managed to ghost around the far post, get between Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero, and head in the equalizer. It was only Leicester’s second shot of the game—the first being a 35-yard effort that went closer to the corner flag than the goal.
Vardy was also allowed to keep the attack alive by winning a header, followed by Bobby Decordova-Reid winning the second ball on the edge of the box. This is basic stuff that Spurs simply cannot afford to get wrong.
The final negative is that Richarlison missed a header in the 99th minute from a brilliant Bergvall free-kick delivery. Even if Spurs had nicked the win, the underlying issues would still be present, but the mood and atmosphere would have been much more positive had that header found the net.
Next up, Spurs face Everton on Saturday at 15:00 BST. Despite their defeat to Brighton, Sean Dyche’s sides are known for their defensive organization in a low block, so Spurs will need to be more creative in their approach if they hope to secure a much-needed three points.
