Palace 1-0 Spurs: Flightless Player Ratings
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a frustrating defeat at Selhurst Park, falling 1-0 to Crystal Palace in a match where they struggled to find their rhythm. Here's a look at how the players performed, with a special focus on those who failed to take flight.
A Below-Par Performance
Hugo Lloris (6/10): The French captain was solid in goal, making a few decent saves, but couldn't prevent Wilfried Zaha's decisive strike.
Emerson Royal (5/10): A quiet performance from the Brazilian full-back. He lacked attacking intent and offered little in the way of defensive solidity.
Cristian Romero (6/10): Romero had a decent game defensively, making some crucial tackles, but his distribution was sloppy.
Eric Dier (6/10): A steady, dependable performance from the center-back, but he couldn't inspire enough urgency in the backline.
Ben Davies (6/10): Davies was a constant threat down the left flank but lacked the final ball to create real danger.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (5/10): A disappointing performance from the usually reliable midfielder. He struggled to dictate the tempo and looked off the pace.
Oliver Skipp (5/10): Much like Hojbjerg, Skipp lacked his usual energy and drive in the middle of the park.
Dejan Kulusevski (4/10): A frustrating game for the Swedish winger. He was unable to find any space and barely threatened the Palace defense.
Richarlison (5/10): The Brazilian was a constant nuisance but ultimately failed to find the back of the net. He looked frustrated at times and his finishing lacked precision.
Heung-min Son (5/10): Son was largely anonymous throughout the game. He couldn't get into the game and offered very little in the way of attacking threat.
Harry Kane (6/10): The England captain was the most dangerous player for Spurs but lacked support from his teammates. He had a few chances but couldn't find a way past Vicente Guaita.
Substitutes
Ivan Perisic (6/10): Brought some energy and creativity to the Spurs attack, but it was too little too late.
Yves Bissouma (6/10): A promising cameo, showing glimpses of his ability to control the midfield.
Bryan Gil (5/10): Tried to inject some pace into the Spurs attack but couldn't break down a resolute Palace defense.
The Flightless Few
The lack of attacking potency was the biggest concern for Spurs, with the likes of Kulusevski, Richarlison, and Son failing to deliver on their potential. The trio looked disjointed and lacked the creativity and incisiveness needed to break down a stubborn Palace defense.
Hojbjerg and Skipp were also below par, struggling to control the midfield battle and provide the necessary drive and dynamism. This lack of midfield control allowed Palace to dictate the tempo, making it difficult for Spurs to create clear-cut chances.
A Long Way To Go
Despite the defeat, it's important to remember that it's still early days in the season. However, this performance highlighted some clear weaknesses in the Spurs squad, particularly in the attacking and midfield areas.
If they want to challenge for trophies this season, Conte needs to find solutions to these issues and help his players find their flying boots.