Tottenham fell to their third defeat of the season after a disappointing loss at home against Newcastle.
Plenty of Spurs fans would have been heading to White Hart Lane this afternoon full of expectation that their side could put together a solid performance and claw back the gap from local rivals Arsenal.
However, an inspired performance from Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul kept Tottenham at bay and meant the North London side were unable to respond to Loic Remy’s strike in the first-half.
Andre Villas-Boas made changes to his starting side with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Christian Eriksen coming into the midfield, with Roberto Soldado leading the attack, joined by Jermain Defoe in the second-half.
It’s still far too early to suggest that Tottenham can’t compete for a Champions League place because on another day, AVB’s men could easily have won this match with Krul making several world class saves from shots that looked destined to hit the back of the net.
Jan Vertonghen also cracked the ball against the woodwork from only a few yards out in one of the few efforts that did genuinely beat Newcastle’s Dutch shot stopper.
Newcastle do deserve a little bit of credit because Alan Pardew got his side setup well with good organisation and once they went ahead, it was the sort of performance where Newcastle looked determined to scrap for everything.
Spurs now have the international break to go back to the drawing board, AVB can think long and hard about the tactics he’s using with the side in need of an injection of passion and some emotional football.
It doesn’t get any easier for Spurs because back-to-back matches against the two Manchester clubs follow the international break, with a Europa League match against Tromso in between, as well as eight other matches in December after the United clash.
Here’s what Spurs fans make of the performance.
What a joke we play out of our skin in the last 20 mins why dont we start like that
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) November 10, 2013
Defoe was the wrong choice against a big team, #lamela would have been better, but what do I know? #thfc
— Mr Wheeler (@BarryDoubleU) November 10, 2013
First time I've said this but AVB got it all wrong. Defoe is not an impact sub. Lost the shape. Lamela should have come on. #thfc
— Ian Roach (@Roachy1985) November 10, 2013
Always said AVB should be given time....just not managing my club. The bloke is being found out. #thfc #cfc
— Scott Hayter (@ScottyHayter) November 10, 2013
What kind of bellend buys a player for £30m with no intention of playing him. Can anyone explain? #THFC
— Ricky (@rickydimech123) November 10, 2013
Same old, losing games every season we should be winning, that's what costs us every year . #THFC
— Joe Gately (@JoeGately1) November 10, 2013
Well think the @andros_townsend bubble ha burst. Get ready to be loaned out again son ! Lennon should have your spot! #lufc #THFC
— Al Lawson LUFC (@allawson1) November 10, 2013
One of most frustrating football matches ever. #thfc
— Ben Stone (@MrBenStone) November 10, 2013
We shouldn't have sold Bale #THFC
— Fadhil (@fadhil_lg) November 10, 2013
54 years I've followed #THFC and this current team doesn't give me hope of an upturn in fortunes #letdown #toomanychanges #noconsistency
— coachgazspur53 (@GaryWarhurst) November 10, 2013
Could comfortably put that down to 'one of those games' if we'd been scoring freely this season, but 'those games are far too regular. #THFC
— Tim Collins (@ShotgunCollins) November 10, 2013
image: © StartAgain
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