Awful, just awful. We were humiliated at Bournemouth (0-0)

Awful, just awful. We were humiliated at Bournemouth (0-0)

Last season we went to the Champions League final, we finished in the top four, so on paper, we should have had no trouble facing a team that is trying to fight off relegation. In their previous game against United, they were thrashed 5-2. So we just needed to turn up, whether that was away or at home.  But it didn’t go to plan; at least in my mind. Awful, just bloody awful!

After our poor performance against Everton (only winning thanks to an own goal) I expected a lot more fight (more fool me!).

Before all the drama.

The previous lockdown games I had to watch on my computer, as I don't have sky. The Bournemouth game was going to be on a standard TV Channel (Pick TV), which meant I could sit in a more relaxed setting (my sitting room). I prepared well. In the morning I went to Sainbury's and bought 8 bottles of wine (not all for the same night, I must add). Rolls and fillings (God, there was no stopping me… at least I know how to party by myself… sad, I know!).

Before the match I prepared by wine and rolls and sat down to, I hoped (wished!), for a thrashing (not ours). After our unfortunate start (previous games), I thought, this was it. We were going to fight for a Champions League place, instead, we couldn't even fight our way out of a paper bag. We are going to struggle to get a place in the Europa League, never mind the Champions League.

We are currently ninth and to be honest, there are better teams above us (going by our performance)… and maybe below us. For one of the wealthiest clubs in the world, we were a disgrace (somebody or something needs shooting).

To the match:

Eddie Howe says his side are "still in the fight" to stay in the Premier League. Yes, thanks to us maybe he has hope… but what faith do we have? They even thought – that is the Cherries – that they had snatched a victory when Callum Wilson's overhead kick looked like they had won. Luckily for us, the assistant referee (VAR) came to our assistance.

Howe said it felt like a "missed opportunity" after Wilson's gymnastic stoppage-time exertion struck Joshua King's arm on the way into our net. He rubbed it in, even more, when he said on BBC Radio 5 Live, "The important thing was we stopped the losing run, that was absolutely vital".

Our one-point did fuck all to further our European ambitions, even though we should have had a penalty after a push on our Harry. But that is just crying over spilt milk. The bottom line is that we've only got ourselves to blame. We were shit! Bournemouth for Christ sake!

As for Kane, well he didn't have a touch in the opposition box until the 78th minute as our dull side failed to register a shot on target.

The home sides substitute Harry Wilson forced Hugo Lloris into a late save while King had earlier put the ball in the net from close range, but Stanislas was offside previous in the move.

Erik Lamela glanced a header wide in our only real chance, with our early penalty appeal, best chance of breaking the deadlock. As for Kane; it appeared that he was shoved in the back by King from a corner, but VAR looked at the incident and decided it was not a foul. On another day, with another team, it probably would have been given as a penalty.

So all this leaves us in ninth, one point behind north London rivals Arsenal, who we face on Sunday. Do I have any hope with that game; not really. If we lose all it means is another nail in our coffin.

Thoughts

On paper, we still have a Europa League spot to fight for. But then again, on paper and with the players we’ve got, we should have beaten Sheffield United and Bournemouth. On paper, we shouldn’t be in 9^th position. But the truth of the matter is that Mourinho now must focus on rebuilding his lacklustre side for next season. Deep down, he must be fuming, he has a very, very big job on his hands.

We have a new stadium, world-class infrastructure and a high-profile manager. All that should equal a star-studded winning team, but instead we’ve only got a second class team that has been starved of quality and money for years. In fact, we’ve been punching above our weight for a long time (thanks to Pochettino… but he eventually failed).

I said in my previous article that I  could understand that Daniel Levy has to juggle the team, stadium and his debts, however, by starving the side of quality players and falling below top four or sixth, thus losing out on millions, it is a false economy.

Some have argued that Levy gave Mourinho the job – and sacking Pochettino – because he had a better chance of getting improved naming rights. Instead, he is lucky to get £20 for our shambles.

Whatever way you look at it, we were wasteful, lethargic and lacking in ideas in the opening 45 minutes, having just four touches in Bournemouth’s box with none of those coming for our Kane. Observers would have noticed that he was more involved in his own penalty area.

Our club's record signing, Tanguy Ndombele, had played just 20 minutes since being taken off at half-time during our 1-1 draw at Burnley in March. Against Bournemouth, he was put on at the beginning of the second half to try to put some life into our team. The introduction of our record signing and forward Son Heung-min did lead to more fire, but the Cherries were hardly troubled.

Positives;  hard to find, however, Mourinho probably was happy with his team's second clean sheet, and without naughty boy and suspended Eric Dier to-boot. But that didn’t change the fact that we lacked attacking resourcefulness, which will be worrying.

As for Kane; he must be seriously thinking of his position, and that, maybe, he could win trophies somewhere else. On Thursday’s performance, he isn’t going to win anything at Tottenham. In fact, he might not get any European football at all (unless it is for England).

Sadly – because of how the night turned up – I finished off one of the bottles of eight. It could have been a lot worse, I could have drunk them all. If Tottenham keep playing like this, I am going to end up an alcoholic.

Some stats;

We have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since April 2019.

This was only our second clean sheet in 24 away league outings (also 0-0 v Watford in January).

Bournemouth have only won one of their 10 Premier League meetings with Tottenham (D2 L7), failing to score in six of those.

This was the first time Bournemouth have stopped their opponent from having an attempt on target in a Premier League match, in what is their 186th game.

It is the first time a side managed by Jose Mourinho failed to have a shot on target in a Premier League fixture since April 2007 during his first spell with former side Chelsea (against Newcastle).

Callum Wilson's disallowed strike was the sixth time Tottenham have conceded a Premier League goal which has later been ruled out by VAR - only Brighton and Southampton (both seven) have had more.

What's next for us?

We play Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday (16:30). That will be interesting. They seem to be on the up, while we seem to be….

Best Regards, Glenn