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Tottenham Hotspur have walked away from the Etihad with yet another win, putting two goals past Man City and earning a valuable Premier League clean sheet.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the match:
The power of family and friendship
Who needs new signings? Who needs Eberechi Eze or Morgan Gibbs-White? The current crop of Tottenham Hotspur stars are standing up and saying: “Hey, what about us?!” In all seriousness, Spurs need new signings to reinforce the quality of the starting XI and the depth of the squad as a whole, but Thomas Frank is showing that the foundations are strong. This is a together Tottenham, all fighting for the same cause.
Fans might criticise Daniel Levy and the transfer team, but the playing squad looks so well-balanced and well-structured under the new boss. There is not a hint of disjointedness in this team. Of course, that makes it all the more frustrating from a transfer point of view. Because just how good could Spurs be if Levy and co actually managed to add a couple of world-class additions? Whatever the case, it looks like Frank’s Tottenham will be hard-working, press from the front, but will be very difficult to beat.
Bayern Munich are crazy for letting Joao Palhinha go
Why on Earth is Joao Palhinha not currently playing over in Germany? Bayern Munich got a gem when they signed the Portuguese midfielder from Fulham, yet left him on the bench all season and then allowed him to leave on loan. Oh well. Vincent Kompany’s loss is Thomas Frank’s gain. The former Sporting Lisbon star covered every blade of grass at the Etihad in one of the most well-rounded midfield performances Tottenham fans have seen since Joao Palhinha in the Super Cup against PSG.
While Palhinha is predominantly known for the defensive side of his game, there is far more to him than just blocks and tackles – even if Tottenham saw an abundance of that against Man City this afternoon. His calmness on the ball, quality at playing between the lines, and winning mentality will come in handy for Tottenham this season.
The perfect demonstration of that fact came when Spurs were 2-0 up and looking to hold on to their win in the dying stages. When the ball rolled across to Palhinha, instead of passing it backwards, hoofing it long, or crumbling under the pressure, he slammed a perfect crossfield ball over to Brennan Johnson in an attempt to start another break. You get a sense that he is going to be both a key player and an absolute bargain for the Lilywhites this season.
Pape Matar Sarr makes an interesting number 10 debate
All the talk has been about Tottenham signing a number 10. James Maddison is out injured. Dejan Kulusevski is out injured. Morgan Gibbs-White signed a new contract. Eberechi Eze snubbed Spurs in favour of Arsenal. Yet Pape Matar Sarr is proving that he is the man for the big games when it comes to that number 10 slot. It’s true, he may not have the creativity to unlock a low block, but what Sarr does have is impeccable fitness and tenacity to press from the front all day long.
The Senegal midfielder must have been an absolute nightmare to play against today. Remember, Man City have some of the best ball-playing defenders on the planet, but even they weren’t immune to Sarr’s pressure. Pape is always available for his teammates when Spurs are on the ball, whether it’s to create a passing angle or tirelessly run the channel. Off the ball, he is the first one to press and the last one to stop. Yes, Tottenham need to sign a number 10, but this is far from the last time you will see Pape Matar Sarr playing there.
Richarlison vs Dominic Solanke at Tottenham
If there is one thing we know from the opening two games of the season, it’s that Dominic Solanke is going to have a hard time getting his starting spot back from Richarlison. In very similar ways to Pape Sarr, Richarlison encapsulates everything Thomas Frank wants and needs for a number nine. He presses all day long, he never stops running for the team, he’s great in the air, he holds the ball up well, and he is an absolute nuisance for defenders to play against.
Operation Richarlison is now all about keeping the Brazil number nine fit. Having a good squad is also about Richarlison and Solanke pushing each other to get the absolute best out of their games. For so long, Tottenham have been without a top-class pair of strikers, due to Richarlison’s injuries or Harry Kane’s sheer dominance. If Frank can find a good blend between Richy and Dom, while protecting the former from playing too many minutes, Tottenham could be on to a winner.
Mohammed Kudus shows his one big weakness at Tottenham
Mohammed Kudus is already a hit at Tottenham, and today was no different. Although few will be surprised at his strength on the ball and flair in attack, some Spurs fans will be shocked at the sheer amount of defensive work the former West Ham star gets through. However, today highlighted one weakness of his game that should be left in the dust – the long throw. Twice, Mohammed Kudus lined up to launch one long into the box, and twice the ball barely even made it to the first man. Perhaps Thomas Frank needs to train up someone else on that front.
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