Five Takeaways Following Tottenham's 4-0 Win Over Stoke
Tottenham earn another 4-0 win against Stoke City at their stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Bet365 Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, central England on September 10, 2016. / AFP / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)
Tottenham’s August was a bit lacking despite earning five points.
It could have been worse, but Spurs managed to fight back against Merseyside clubs Everton and Liverpool to secure two draws.
Both games sandwiched Spurs’ first win against Crystal Palace but overall, August’s slow start wouldn’t define this club’s season.
With the Premier League back following the international break, Spurs began September with a win for the second consecutive season by beating Stoke City 4-0 once again at their stadium.
This is a good sign for Mauricio Pochettino’s side who needed to get their form back after dismal performances in their opening three games.
Whether it was fatigue from 11 of their players participating in the European Championship or not, Tottenham played below the standards they set under Pochettino.
And although it’s quite early to say that Spurs are back to their winning ways from last season, this is a positive step to take forward.
With Spurs’ fourth Premier League match in the books, here are four other takeaways besides starting September on a winning note once again.
Spurs start slowly, finish strong
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Tottenham Hotspur players celebrate their sides third goal of the game during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
For the first 10-20 minutes of the game Spurs started off slowly, which continues to be a recurring theme for this club.
Stoke City weren’t the better team by any means, they were just dangerous partially because Tottenham couldn’t connect on a multitude of their passes.
It left Spurs deep in their own half and Stoke having plenty of chances to punish them early on. Yet, to no avail.
Not only was it at a standstill score-wise, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side were finally able to get their bearings straight after the opening 20 minutes.
From there, the game started to even out with both teams having good possession and chances to put their sides ahead.
The opening goal wouldn’t come until the 41st minute when Christian Eriksen assisted on Son Heung-Min’s shot, but this would set the tempo for the second half.
Once the second half was underway, it would take Spurs 14 minutes to have a commanding 3-0 lead. By the time Harry Kane put the finishing touches in the 70th minute, Stoke weren’t in the game anymore.
Mark Hughes being sent off in the 35th minute played a part in the Potters looking disorderly but over time, Spurs gets better as the game wears on.
Today’s match against Stoke is another confirmation that Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs’ fans can will their team to get good results.
Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-Min, Dele Alli and Harry Kane
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides first goal with his team mates during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Tottenham are a difficult team to stop when their offense is able to match their defensive abilities: no-nonsense, clinical, efficient and most of all, dominant.
Last season, Spurs scored at least three goals against their opponents on 11 different occasions in the Premier League.
It didn’t happen often, but it was a sign that when Mauricio Pochettino’s offense is clicking, they are nearly unstoppable. And today was the latest example.
Christian Eriksen who has been playing sub-par for the first three games turned it around after signing a new four-year contract extension.
It appeared that something was weighing on the Danish international’s mind that affected his game. And Pochettino believed it was contract talks with Spurs that caused his form to drop.
And indeed that was the case. Because at the end of the game, Eriksen picked up two assists by contributing to Son Heung-Min’s goals while looking dangerous on the counterattack.
Son too, was another player who needed this kind of performance to show that he can be an integral part to Pochettino’s side and justify the £22 million spent on him.
After suffering heartbreak at the Rio Olympics, the 24-year-old South Korean international left World Cup qualifiers early to focus on his Spurs career. It’s safe to say that this move easily paid off when he scored a brace.
Like Eriksen, Son was a threat in this game from start to finish especially on the left flank.
Scoring Tottenham’s third and fourth goals would be Dele Alli and Harry Kane, who both had a brace last April in a 4-0 win at bet365 stadium.
Alli and Kane were a deadly duo last term combining for 35 goals and 10 assists in the Premiership last term. Having both players get on the scoreboard will help Spurs’ offense produce more goals when they’re on their game.
All four players mentioned above, along with the rest of the team, can help Spurs challenge for a league title if they can consistently keep up these types of performances this season.
Vincent Janssen and Moussa Sissoko are great additions
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at Britannia Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Vincent Janssen has now made four consecutive appearances this season with Spurs.
He has fitted in nicely and could either start alongside Harry Kane or come off the bench to replace last season’s Golden Boot winner.
No matter what role the Dutch striker will be given, Mauricio Pochettino is now able to properly sub out Kane with a center forward who is similar to the 23-year-old.
Although Janssen hasn’t scored yet, this won’t be much of a problem if Kane is scoring and Spurs are winning. The most important thing is that Tottenham has a “backup striker” behind their talisman.
As for Moussa Sissoko, he would make his Tottenham debut and almost scored on his first touch — deflection and all.
While the 27-year-old could have gotten a start, he still contributed to this game.
After Christian Eriksen was instrumental in Spurs’ first two goals by setting up assists for Son Heung-Min, Pochettino decided to rest the Danish midfielder.
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In his place came Sissoko with Son and Érik Lamela shuffling around to accommodate the Frenchman.
Spurs’ second line of offense, their three attacking midfielders, would be Lamela at left midfield, Son in central attacking midfield and Sissoko at right midfield.
Despite Eriksen being off the pitch, Tottenham still managed to look dangerous.
The game was well over by this point, but having Janssen and Sissoko on the bench helps Pochettino rest key starters like Kane and Eriksen, shuffle his players around and still be a threat on offense without skipping a beat.
On a related note, when Victor Wanyama came off in the 55th minute and Lamela replaced the Kenyan international, Dele Alli would drop deeper but still provid forward runs whenever Spurs reclaimed possession.
Overall, Pochettino’s squad is now able to withstand the loss of their best players who could be coming off for some rest when trying to maintain a lead or needs a late spark.
Mousa Dembélé returns to Premier League action next week
ENFIELD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 08: Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele of Tottenham during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur training centre on September 8, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
After serving his sixth and final game of his suspension, Mousa Dembélé will be in contention for the starting central midfield spot next to Eric Dier against Sunderland.
But before then, the Belgian midfielder could potentially suit up against Monaco in the Champions League in four days.
Either way, Dembélé’s absence, which has been felt through the first three games and the opening 20 minutes against Stoke, is now back.
The re-addition of the 27-year-old helps add more options for Pochettino and increases the quality on his bench.
Having a 7-man substitutes’ bench that includes Vincent Janssen, Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama will be able to properly challenge opponents moving forward after the bench has been a weakness for Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.
While Mousa Dembélé has not played club football since last May against Chelsea he has been training every day after his suspension.
He’s kept up his fitness, even if match fitness is different.
In the end, the biggest takeaways from Spurs 4-0 win over Stoke City is that Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min played a huge role on the counterattack.
Dele Alli and Harry Kane scoring goals will get their confidence up, and after last season when they’re on their game they have proven to be constant threats.
Another solid defensive effort and clean sheet should help Spurs get back to their winning ways and challenge for the Premier League title.
Finally, the return of Mousa Dembele can’t be understated.
Having the Belgian international alongside Eric Dier solidifies Pochettino’s double pivot and helps Spurs maintain possession and complete their passes much better as they march towards the final third.