Hi, everyone! Tottenham Hotspur played pretty well against the second-best team in the Premier League and possibly the world’s best defensive line, and while they couldn’t get a win over the South London interlopers in the North London Derby and everyone hates that, but honestly with some distance it’s not that bad. It just FEELS bad because it’s Arsenal and because of the slow start. Have some faith. This too shall pass, like a street vendor burrito.
Today’s theme is one I’ve been holding onto for a couple of weeks. Spurs recently celebrated their 142nd anniversary and commemorated it with this collage, which they posted on their social media channels.
It’s certainly an interesting collage, and it turns out there’s a lot to discuss about it! Fans immediately went over it with a magnifying glass, noting that there were some, uh, interesting decisions made about who (and sometimes what) to include in the graphic. Son Heung-Min is front and center, of course, which makes sense as the current club captain. Ledley King and Spurs Women legend Jenna Schillaci also get preferential placement, which is cool. In fact, Spurs Women gets some good representation on this graphic, which is something I’m pleased about. Gareth Bale (clearly from the Inter match) also gets represented, and there are a number of shout-outs to the pre-Premier League era as well. It’s good stuff.
More banteriffically, Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer and academy graduate legend is there, but kinda squished into the bottom left corner which is kind of petty and objectively hilarious. Also in that bottom corner: a double-decker London bus for some reason, IDK you got me on that one.
But what’s more interesting than who’s IN the collage is who was OMITTED. Because there are some pretty notable Spurs luminaries who seemingly didn’t make the cut. And that’s interesting, because obviously you can’t include EVERYONE (though they did manage to get Luka Modric in there twice), and someone had to make the decision to, say, leave Aaron Lennon out of the anniversary graphic — did anyone call him and explain?
So there’s today’s theme, and here are your Tottenham Hotspur player ratings for the North London Derby loss, to the theme of players left out of the Spurs 142nd Anniversary Social Media Graphic.
5 stars: Mousa Dembele
I get this is a tough decision, but did anyone actually stop to consider the impact from leaving out the one player that so many Spurs players have called the best player they’ve ever seen? Dembele’s been gone for five years now and there’s STILL a giant hole shaped like him in Tottenham’s midfield. What I wouldn’t give to have him here right now (so long as he doesn’t start talking to me about Bitcoin).
No Tottenham players were as good as Mousa Dembele.
4.5 stars: Erik Lamela
Look, there’s just no justification for leaving a Puskas Award-winner and fan cult favorite player out of the graphic. I’m sorry, but there just isn’t. I don’t care if he’s playing for another club right now, you put Harry the Snake in there, Lamela’s head should be largest one represented.
No players here either.
4 stars: Janby Alderweirtonghen
They need to be there. Both of them. And they should be hugging. Great, thanks Spurs — blogger’s crying.
Micky van de Ven (Community — 3.5): Probably Spurs’ man of the match. Saved Spurs on a number of Arsenal counterattacks, and occasionally drove forward with the ball. He might be Tottenham’s best ball progresser, and he should do that more often.
Dejan Kulusevski (Community — 3.0): Bright, energetic, and Tottenham’s most dynamic attacker on the day, which isn’t saying a ton but still worth noting. Now if he’d just polish that final pass or find his shooting boots, we’d be in business. Pressed like a monster too.
3.5 stars: Ricky Villa
You got Ossie in there, as well as two random guys polishing a chicken statue, and there’s no room for “and still Ricky Villa, what a fantastic run, he scores!”? For shame.
Cuti Romero (Community — 2.5): Look — this was a good match from Cuti on the whole. I mean, he got shoved in the back on the corner that led to Gabriel’s goal, and I maintain the only thing he did wrong there was not flopping like a fish and forcing VAR to make a decision. I don’t really blame him otherwise. He’s still our best player.
Guglielmo Vicario (Community — 2.5): IDK what he was supposed to do on that corner but he was screened by three guys so it feels churlish to pin blame on him. Made a smart save on a day when, strangely, he didn’t have a whole lot to do.
Pape Sarr (Community — 2.5): Added a burst of energy late, though his long shooting was uhhhhhh speculative. Would expect to see him start vs. Coventry.
Ange Postecoglou (Community — 2.0): I don’t know how much I want to lay at Ange’s feet for this loss. If you’re picky you can suggest maybe a tweaked lineup might have been better against an Arsenal team set up to play Pulis-ball, but on the whole Spurs faced a really good team and basically played them even except for a stupid set piece.
3 stars: Martin Jol/Mauricio Pochettino (tie)
This one is more about representation — you’ve got Bill Nicholson on there of course, and Big Ange, which makes sense. But the club omitted two of the best Spurs managers in the modern era. Poch, of course, led Spurs to within a whisker of the Premier League title and to a Champions League final. Jol might have been unceremoniously sacked by Daniel Levy, but what he accomplished was nothing short of setting the foundation for all the club success that followed and continues to follow his tenure. Jol doesn’t get the credit that he deserves for his tenure, but the streets remember, even if the graphic guys don’t.
Dominic Solanke (Community — 2.5): Spurs pressed exceptionally well in this match, and Solanke was right in the middle of things. The nature of the match was that he didn’t get much service on which to score and he had that one play where he overthought a clear chance and didn’t get a shot off, but otherwise considering this was only his second match and first since an ankle injury, this was an encouraging performance.
Pedro Porro (Community — 3.0): Pretty ineffective for much of the match, which says a lot more about Arsenal’s defense than it does about Pedro. Thought he was fine on the whole.
Destiny Udogie (Community — 3.0): See above, but it does look like he’s rounding back into fitness a little more. Will be more effective against a team that isn’t world-class at bunkering.
James Maddison (Community — 2.5): I wanted more from him, and it felt like he was playing muted and passive for much of this game especially in the second half. Is this coaching or is he still not feeling fit inside his body since the injury? But he was excellent in the press.
2.5 stars: Dele
This is just a sentimental pick because I love the guy, but it feels like throwing him in there would’ve been a small token gesture for a beloved former player that could really boost his mental health, you know? He deserves at least that much.
Rodrigo Bentancur (Community — 2.5): I know Ange was more or less forced into him but I really missed Bissouma’s more progressive dynamic play. Picked up a cheap yellow which reduced his effectiveness. At this point shouldn’t be seen as more than second choice, but since he’s about to get a 16-12 match ban it’s not like we’ll see a lot of him anyway.
Son Heung-Min (Community — 2.5): Everyone yelled at me when I said Sonny might be cooked, especially after he scored a brace against a woeful Everton side. But I am still worried that we have entered into a period of decline for him, especially after this performance. He’s just not the same player, especially against a side that is keying on him defensively.
Wilson Odobert (Community — 2.5): Mostly ineffective in a match where Arsenal were already committed to putting ten behind the ball by that point, but it’s not all his fault. We know he likes to take players on, he would’ve been a better choice to start here.
2 stars: Edgar Davids
I almost put Aaron Lennon here and made a #Barclaysman #joke but honestly, why not Edgar? The dude was cool and I was looking for his distinctive dreds and goggles and was sad not to see them there.
Brennan Johnson (Community — 2.0): If you had told me BJ had four shots, the most of anyone on the team, I would not have believed you because it sure felt like he did NOTHING in this match. His inability to take players on is maddening, and his crossing was pretty poor, though Arsenal had a lot to do with that. I don’t hate the guy, but he was the wrong choice for this match.
1 star: Christian Eriksen
Ehh, he wanted to leave, he’s still playing for United, I’m kinda fine leaving him out in this case I guess.
No Tottenham players were as bad as leaving Eriksen out of the anniversary graphic, even though I argued the opposite position above.
Tom Carroll Memorial Non-Rating
Timo Werner (but he was bad)
