Terrible Birds: Tottenham Player Ratings vs. Palace
Tottenham Hotspur, known for their attacking prowess, faltered against Crystal Palace in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. The performance was a far cry from the high standards expected from Antonio Conte's men, leaving fans frustrated and questioning their title aspirations. Let's dive into the individual player ratings for this lackluster display.
Goalkeeper:
- Fraser Forster (6/10): While not directly responsible for the goal, Forster couldn't inspire the confidence needed. He made a few decent saves but seemed hesitant at times, lacking the assertive presence expected from a starting goalkeeper.
Defenders:
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Cristian Romero (7/10): The Argentine center-back was a shining light in a gloomy performance. His tackling was aggressive, and he showed his usual grit and determination. However, even Romero couldn't compensate for the overall defensive frailties.
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Eric Dier (5/10): Dier struggled to cope with Palace's pace and movement. He looked shaky in possession and made a few uncharacteristic errors. His performance was far from his usual reliable self.
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Ben Davies (5/10): Davies offered little going forward and was caught out defensively on several occasions. He lacked the necessary decisiveness and struggled to contain Palace's attacking threat.
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Emerson Royal (5/10): Royal was largely ineffective on the right flank. He was unable to provide any meaningful attacking support and his defensive positioning was questionable throughout the game.
Midfielders:
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Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (6/10): Højbjerg, as usual, was a hardworking presence in the midfield. He provided some much-needed defensive solidity but lacked the creative spark to unlock the Palace defense.
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Oliver Skipp (6/10): Skipp showcased his usual energy and determination. He covered a lot of ground and displayed his tenacity in tackles. However, he struggled to find his rhythm in possession and lacked the incisiveness to break down the opposition.
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Yves Bissouma (5/10): Bissouma, deployed in an attacking role, failed to make a significant impact. He lacked the vision and final pass needed to create scoring opportunities. His performance was underwhelming, failing to justify his selection.
Attackers:
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Dejan Kulusevski (7/10): The Swedish winger was arguably Spurs' most potent attacking threat. His pace and directness caused Palace problems, and he managed to earn the penalty that led to the equalizer.
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Richarlison (6/10): Richarlison was a constant nuisance for Palace defenders. His physicality and movement posed problems, but he lacked the finishing touch to make his impact truly felt.
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Harry Kane (6/10): Kane struggled to influence the game. Despite scoring the equalizer from the penalty spot, he rarely looked like his usual clinical self. His movement was restricted, and he couldn't find the spaces needed to make a decisive contribution.
Substitutes:
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Son Heung-min (6/10): Son provided a much-needed injection of pace and energy after coming on as a substitute. However, he was unable to decisively alter the course of the match.
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Ivan Perišić (6/10): Perišić added some attacking dynamism but struggled to impact the game significantly.
Overall:
Tottenham's performance against Crystal Palace was a stark reminder of their inconsistency. The defensive frailties were exposed, and the lack of creativity in attack was evident. The absence of Son Heung-min was felt, and the team lacked the necessary spark and urgency to break down a determined Palace side. While the draw may not seem like a major setback, it is a cause for concern as Tottenham aim to mount a serious title challenge.