On a record breaking night under the arch of the world’s most famous stadium, the occasion seemed to get to the players.
We didn’t start the game at all well, we didn’t press and we really didn’t pass the ball as well as we usually do, there was no tempo and no one showing for the ball.
For me personally, Poch got the team wrong from the start, playing Eriksen and Alli together in front of Dier was a mistake. Neither of them knew who had the licence to maraud forward and who should dictate the play, leaving Eric Dier open and vulnerable to their midfield. Halftime changes prove that he thought he’d got it wrong, as Dembele changed the entire game. He took the leash off Dele which created more opportunities for the boys and took the pressure off Dier, but one performance annoyed me most and that was the front man we call one of our own. Harry Kane. Now I don’t know if the arrival of Janssen has had a negative affect but he doesn’t seem the same in front of goal, he’s taking needless extra touches instead using his instinct and putting it away like we know he can. He looks laboured and tired and I feel a view from the bench in the next game may wake him up.
Don’t get me wrong I love Poch and he rarely gets it wrong but on this occasion, I believe he did.
But Harry Kane isn’t the reason we lost the game. We were weak on the ball and gave them an easy start with that two goal lead, but thankfully Toby to came up with the goods again and for me was the only player who played really well. His distribution and control of play was pleasing and his presence fills us all with confidence.
The subs of Janssen and Sissoko didn’t do enough to change the game but did show what is to come from them. Moussa had some positive runs but really didn’t lead to anything. Janssen chased down lost causes and created a great chance for Harry with a ball he had no right to win. With Harry Kane’s injury coming against Sunderland, Janssen will get his chance to really get off the mark and build his confidence in our next Champions League game against CSKA Moskow in Russia.
I still feel we will qualify but we have made it so much harder than it had to be. The positive from the first game of the group is the fans who packed into Wembley and did their part singing from minute one to the last.
