Pochettino speaks!
Richard Jolly on Mauricio Pochettino
With that, I shall leave you to enjoy your evenings. Have an excellent Christmas, and we’ll see you on Boxing Day.
And here’s Andy Hunter’s match report.
Harry Kane flat-bats a question about whether Spurs are title contenders: a master in the art of talking a lot without saying a thing. Not that it’s a particular criticism, of course.
Everton, incidentally, in the brave new world of Marco Silva, are one point and two places worse off than they were at the same stage last season. Obviously this is not to say they were wrong to bring Silva in, but, y’know.
Spurs go within two points of Manchester City in third, six off Liverpool and five ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal. They’ve got 42 points from their 18 games, so we can be pretty sure they’re not going to get relegated.
Full-time: Everton 2-6 Tottenham
Peeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
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90 mins + 2: Everton attack, and Scheiderlin tries a big ol’ volley, which Skipp takes square in the kidneys. He barely flinches.
90 mins: A big, booming ball goes from left to right, and Kane tries a colossal first-time volley because, if you don’t try that sort of thing at 6-2 up in the 90th minute, you’re never going to try it. He...didn’t quite connect.
88 mins: Free-kick on the right for Spurs, in a similar spot to where their third came from. Eriksen spanks it in low, but it takes a deflection and goes wide. The corner comes to nothing.
87 mins: The Spurs fans at Goodison are attempting to head all the Poch to United stuff off at the pass, altering the lyrics to their song slightly: ‘Mauricio Pochettino, he’s Tottenham, you know.’
85 mins: Gustav Bjorkland is back with a solution: “I would like to bring to Jim Denvir’s attention the U-23 Spurs right/centre back Timothy Eyoma.”
84 mins: Kane advances on goal from the left but, in an unexpected moment of incompetence, simply falls over before he can shoot.
83 mins: Mauricio Pochettino is also going for it: Sissoko has taken a bash to the hip, so on for him is Lucas Moura.
82 mins: Marco Silva is going for it: Sigurdsson is off, and Cenk Tosun is on.
81 mins: Everton still plugging away, bless them. Sigurdsson shoots from inside the box on the left, but with no real power and Lloris saves with ease.
80 mins: “As I commented btl recently, I prefer to think of Spurs’ front four as Christian, Harry, Alli, and Son, with the acronym CHAS,” writes Jim Denvir. “They just need to sign a new right back to go along with Davies, Alderweirald, and Vertonghen...”
79 mins: Pochettino has decided to offer Everton some mercy and remove Son, bringing on young Olly Skipp in his place.
77 mins: There’s something very pleasing about an away team winning 6-2. Not sure why. What’s your favourite scoreline and why?
75 mins: Everton remove Richarlison and insert Bernard, a shuffling of Brazilian deckchairs on the Titanic.
74 mins: Glorious, smooth, flowing stuff from Tottenham down the left. Davies plays down the line to Son, who sweeps in and crosses low to Kane. He allows the ball to run across him, opens his body and guides it with his right foot into the far corner, a finish that I’d wager is much, much more difficult than Kane just made it look.
GOAL! Everton 2-6 Tottenham (Kane 74)
It’s six!
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72 mins: “Surely the Spurs acronym of the day is SAKE (Son Alli Kane Eriksen)?” says Tony Wawryk. Or perhaps ESAK, which sounds like a creative stowage solution that gets no bids on Dragon’s Den.
71 mins: Shaun Wilkinson writes: “Am I the only one looking at this game and thinking football hipster’s Premier League favourite Marco Silva has fouled up massively in this game? Not starting with a defensive midfielder is easy to criticise in hindsight, but surely he dropped a massive goolie not bringing Schneiderlin on earlier.”
Meanwhile, Eriksen gets booked as Davies takes a free-kick early, and into his shins. Seems a bit much.
69 mins: Everton are making some attempt at staying in this game, but Walcott is offside on the right of the box. Wouldn’t blame them if they downed tools at this stage.
66 mins: The bad news for Tottenham is that killing this game off so early means everyone now has the better part of half an hour to talk about Pochettino moving to Manchester United. As they are duly doing in the Sky gantry.
64 mins: Fun with acronyms, from Gustav Bjorklund: “Forget about your BBCs, MSNs or Fab Fours - DESK is the new hotness (Dele Eriksen Son Kane).”
61 mins: Lamela picks the ball up in midfield and drives through the middle, delays, delays, delays his pass to the point that Son was probably very marginally offside when he got the ball. But Son’s first touch was perfect, and he waits for the perfect time to stick the ball betwixt Pickford’s legs. Brilliant from Spurs, again.
GOAL! Everton 2-5 Tottenham (Son 61)
Still half an hour to go. WE WANT BRACKETS!
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57 mins: Turns out I can be bothered to look it up, and it is the only time those four have scored in the same game. After only a quick glance I think it’s the first time Son, Alli and Eriksen have scored in the same game since the 6-0 FA Cup win over Millwall in March 2017. The other scorer that day was, naturally, big Vinny Janssen.
55 mins: The Guardian’s own Sachin Nakrani is watching, and has a question: “Is this the first time Tottenham’s main four attacking players, Son, Alli, Kane and Eriksen,have all scored in the same game? Possibly not but certainly feels like a rare occurrence.”
Can anyone be bothered to look that up?
53 mins: After the good news for Everton, the bad: Andre Gomes sits down on the turf looking thoroughly effed off with life, and no wonder. He has to go off, replaced by Morgan Schneiderlin.
51 mins: Sigurdsson scraps for some space on the edge of the box, finds it and gets the shot in, which Lloris gets his hand to but not enough of one. Looked like he went down slightly late for that, and wasn’t strong enough with the hand. Either way, this is edging towards being a contest again.
GOAL! Everton 2-4 Tottenham (Sigurdsson 51)
Now then.
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49 mins: Kane takes the ball down brilliantly on the right of the area and crosses low, but Coleman gets across to head away. Alas for him it goes to Eriksen, who displays phenomenal technique by getting his foot over the ball and smashing it into the corner. It wasn’t dissimilar to his brilliant goal for Denmark in the World Cup, but from the right.
GOAL! Everton 1-4 Tottenham (Eriksen 49)
Oh my oh my oh my.
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46 mins: Lamela looks like he’s just slotted into Alli’s spot, behind Kane and Son. “While Spurs have been clinical and working together well its been pretty easy,” offers Jeremy Dresner. “Spurs have had enough space and time with holes in behind the Everton backline to inspire Brief History Of Time 2.”
The teams are out, but they are slightly different teams: Erik Lamela replaces Alli, which suggests some lasting damage from that nasty challenge from Pickford before the break.
“As decent as Dele has been, Sissoko and Son have been better this half,” offers the magnificently named Benedict Dries-Jenkins. “And Trippier, that free kick aside, has been ponderous. You’re right though, smashing game.”
Joe Pearson has some sage advice for Calvert-Lewin, serial Sanchez-shover: “Calvert-Lewin might try getting in front of Sanchez, so as to remove the temptation of pushing him in the back.”
Tottenham may have been behind for a brief spell, but they’ve been superb for basically the whole game so far. Alli is the standout, but Sissoko, Son, Kane and Trippier have been top drawer too. Everton have, for the most part, been chasing shadows.
Half-time: Everton 1-3 Tottenham
Peeeeeeeeep.
45 mins + 2: Crikey: Alli goes through, is offside but is two-footed by Pickford, who is pretty lucky to only get a talking to by the referee. Limps away, confirming his wind-up merchant status by angering some easily angerable Everton fans, putting the ball into the net anyway. Some people do get cross about some funny things.
45 mins: Two minutes of added time. Peter Oh celebrates that news thus: “In light of current proceedings, please add “O Come Alli Ye Faithful” to Mac Millings’ playlist.”
44 mins: For the third time in the game, Calvert-Lewin shoves Sanchez in the back in the Spurs box. And for the third time, he’s penalised. You might want to stop doing that, youth.
42 mins: Tottenham get a free-kick on the right which Trippier curls brilliantly right towards the bottom corner, but Pickford equally brilliantly finger-tips it onto the post. Alas for him, the Everton defence take the obvious step of giving Kane five yards of space in every direction, and he’s able to gobble up the rebound, slightly skewing his finish but sticking it home nonetheless.
GOAL! Everton 1-3 Tottenham (Kane 42)
Not Pickford’s fault this time...
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40 mins: The Spurs fans in the crowd voice the rather uncontroversial opinion that Mauricio Pochettino is magic, you know. Alli has been the best player on the park thus far, so would those of you who don’t rate him - and there are a good few of you out there - like to make yourselves known?
38 mins: Andre Gomes tries a flippin’ spectacular one from way downtown, but his left-footed effort skews a ways wide.
36 mins: Sissoko plays a one-two with Alli, then slides a great pass to Son on the left of the area. He can’t quite the ball from ‘neath his feet but still manages to force Pickford into a save, from which the ball goes back out to Alli. He manages to arrange his feet quickly and brilliantly, shooting powerfully with his laces and a bit of fade, taking the ball through an unsighted Pickford. Spurs deserve the lead.
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Tottenham (Alli 36)
Told you this was a good game.
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35 mins: Walcott tries to dig out a cross from right to left of the area, but it was too high for Richarlison who stretches to no avail.
34 mins: IT’S COMING HOME! IT’S COMING HOME! IT’S COMING...
3 - Jordan Pickford has now made errors leading to three opposition goals in the Premier League this season; no player has made more (level with Begovic & Leno). Walkabout. pic.twitter.com/IbGWnuoiBx
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 23, 2018
32 mins: Booking for Trippier, for putting his boot into Calvert-Lewin’s hip: in fairness he didn’t take his eyes off an airborne ball, but still fair enough.
31 mins: Spurs are cooking now: some superb interplay and movement down the left between Alli, Son and Kane - helped by some pretty passive defending - culminates in the latter taking a measured shot from the left of the box, but it skips just wide.
29 mins: Smashing game, this.
27 mins: Absolute calamity for Everton, brilliant finish by Son. Kane puts a slightly hopeful ball over the top, which for reasons best known to himself Pickford charges out of his goal to clear, despite Zouma seeming to have things under control. The two Everton men bang into each other like a pair of hapless cartoon baddies, and the ball drops to Son. He still has plenty to do with the ball going wider and wider on the right, but he takes his time and puts it into the far top corner.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Tottenham (Son 27)
Oh, Pickford! Oh, Zouma!
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26 mins: Spurs back on the attack, as Davies cuts back from near the corner flag and it finds Son, but his left-footed shot is blocked and was probably not powerful enough to trouble Pickford anyway.
24 mins: Everton have the ball in the net again, but it’s ruled out: Calvert-Lewin twists in the air and directs a great header into the corner, but the whistle had gone for a push on Sanchez. A slight push, but enough to make it the correct call.
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23 mins: Spurs are almost instantly level, and what a thriker that would’ve been: Kane tries a shot on his left foot from about 20 yards out, but it ripples the top of the net as it goes over.
21 mins: A moment of dilly-dallying between Winks and Trippier as they leave a big Zouma header down the pitch to each other. Eventually the ball makes it to Calvert-Lewin, who gets to the byline and cut it back, where Walcott forces it just inside the near post.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Tottenham (Walcott 21)
Against the run of play!
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20 mins: ...and hammers it well wide. Ambitious, but Kane looks sharp so far.
19 mins: Sissoko makes a nice run down the right and is found with a nice pass from Trippier, but his attempt at a cross on the slide isn’t quite as nice, and it’s cleared. But, Spurs do win a free-kick about 30 yards out, slightly left of centre. Kane lines it up...
15 mins: Ooof, penalty? No, but there probably should have been. Kane again finds space on the left of the area and Zouma absolutely barrels through him. The defender got a touch on the ball somewhere in there, but was it enough to negate the rest of the rather...robust challenge? Hmmm.
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13 mins: The home fans aren’t happy as Son gets down the left, on two counts: they think he was offside, which he probably wasn’t, and they also think he took the ball out of play on the byline, which it definitely was. Luckily for the officials, Trippier’s shot is saved by Pickford.
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12 mins: And now a big chance for Spurs: Trippier puts a fine ball down the right and over the top for Kane, who runs onto it, takes a brilliant first touch and with the Everton defence waiting around for an offside flag that doesn’t come, tries a lob that goes just wide.
10 mins: Everton go close: Walcott gets down the right and clips a cross to the back stick, but Richarlison’s header goes wide, via a last-ditch attempt from Sigurdsson to deflect it towards goal.
9 mins: Davies picks up the ball in midfield, but his bundled to the turf by Alli. Can any more-regular-Everton-watchers-than-me tell me if Davies has gone a bit backwards? Or did I always slightly overrate him?
8 mins: An addition to Mac Millings’s entry, just before kick-off:
For Mac Millings: "We wish you a Yerry Mina, and a Calvert-Lewin"
— William Hargreaves (@billhargreaves) December 23, 2018
6 mins: Sigurdsson tries to flick a ball over the top for Walcott, but Alderweireld puts on a turn and keeps pace with the forward. Which either tells you Alderweireld is quicker than you think, or Walcott has lost a yard. Possibly both.
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4 mins: For the tactics kids out there, Spurs look like they’re setting up with a midfield diamond rather than in the anticipated 4-2-3-1, with Kane and Son up top, Alli just behind them, Eriksen and Sissoko left and right with Winks sitting.
2 mins: Gomes tries to find Sigurdsson in the middle of the park, but that plan is boshed in a very real sense by Davison Sanchez, who batters into the back of the Icelander.
1 min: We’re away: Everton are kicking from right to left, towards the Park End. Both teams are wearing their traditional colours.
Anyway, here’s Z-Cars: we’re on.
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Mac Millings has the stuff right here:
“In the spirit of the season, I’ve put together an all-time Everton Christmas Song XI. I started a Spurs one, but I’m on the motorway now, so thought it prudent to stop. Perhaps your erudite readers might be able to finish the job?
Neville Southall I Want For Christmas Is You
Ian Let It Snodin
Joseph Yobo Holy Night
David Weir Walking In The Air
O Barryhorne
I Saw Mommy Andrei Kanchelskissing Santa Claus
Anders Limpartridge In a Pear Tree
Trevor Good King Wenceslas Looked Out On the Feast of Steven
Paul Sleigh Rideout
Graeme Sharp! The Herald Angels Sing
Romelu Lukaku They Know It’s Christmas?
Steve God Rest You Perrygentleman
Dave McKay Saw Three Ships
Victor I Wanyama Hippopotamus for Christmas
Jermain Silent Night, Defoe-ly Night
Peter Oh has taken the shonky cowboy analogy and run with it: “In your analogy, is Pochettino the cowboy, and the horse the Spurs team? If so, I reckon a rustler from the red side of Manchester has just sidled up to him, with a glint in his eye and an overly friendly “Howdy partner!”
Sure, if you like. I lost confidence in it a while ago.
Facts...
8 - Tottenham have won eight of their 10 away Premier League games this season, already more than they'd won in 20 of their previous 26 completed seasons in the competition. Obtrusive. #EVETOT pic.twitter.com/SsMBXMARpZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 23, 2018
Mauricio Pochettino speaks: “I think every player who was injured and comes back is fantastic news for us. We’re going to have a very busy period: we need all the squad fit. The challenge [to keep everyone fit] is from the start of the season after the World Cup. We are the team with less time to recover after every defeat, but we have to try to feel fresh after every game. Everton are a very tough team, the challenge is massive to win today.”
Marco Silva speaks: “They have high quality, not just in their individual quality. They have every good momentum, and it’s important for us to respect them. We have to improve at home - we feel we deserve something more, but for whatever reason we haven’t achieved the results we deserved. I hope we can achieve the three points.”
Some more pre-match reading, although I understand if Tottenham fans would rather not read it: on Mauricio Pochettino and the Manchester United job, by Paul Wilson.
The Argentinian has an extremely difficult decision to make but until he chooses his next course of action the list of alternatives merely forms a backup plan. Trophies or not, the fact that United and Real Madrid are both interested in the same manager says everything that needs to be said about Pochettino’s pedigree and potential.
Many would advise a young, progressive manager against a move to Madrid, because while the glamour is real the expectations are immense and the club has a reputation for burning through well-qualified coaches at a wasteful rate. The concern at the moment is that the same might be becoming true of Manchester United.
Big finale in Aston Villa v Leeds: let Simon Burnton tell you all about it here:
Some pre-match reading: an interview with Moussa Sissoko, by Dave Hytner, in which he REVEALS that he wasn’t familiar with Andrew Ridgeley’s finest before the Spurs fans started singing “Wake me up, before you go-go. Who needs Bale when you’ve got Sissoko?”
Sissoko smiles when he talks about the supporters’ chant for him. News flash: he does not know his Wham! “I didn’t know this song before they were singing it for me,” Sissoko says. “It started in Madrid. My uncle was with the fans and he filmed them singing it. It was funny. I like this song so I’m happy with it.”
So not much rotation for Spurs after their Carabao Cup win over Arsenal in the week: Harry Kane starts with Son Heung-min switching back out to the wing, while Davison Sanchez makes his first start since the start of November, with Ben Davies - who was actually pretty impressive as a makeshift centre-back - switching to his natural spot on the left. For Everton, Tom Davies is in for Yerry Mina, Idrissa Gueye still not ready with a groin twang.
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Teams
Everton
Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Gomes, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Stekelenburg, Mina, Baines, Bernard, Schneiderlin, Niasse, Tosun.
Tottenham Hotspur
Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies; Winks, Sissoko; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane. Subs: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Rose, Skipp, Walker-Peters, Lucas, Lamela.
Referee: Paul Tierney (Wigan)
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Preamble
At the moment it sort of feels like Tottenham are a cowboy who is desperately clinging to the back of a horse, doing their very best to hang on as whoever they’re chasing threatens to disappear over the horizon. On steeds ahead of them are Liverpool, gleefully giggling as they surge ahead, and Manchester City, still imperious but having just half-tripped over a rogue tree root.
A slightly shaky analogy, sure. But a victory over Everton this afternoon can drag Mauricio Pochettino’s (current) side to within two points of City, and thus in turn six back from Liverpool. The obvious consequence of Crystal Palace’s implausible win at the Etihad yesterday is that Liverpool move ahead in the title race, but a secondary effect is Tottenham might be genuinely in it again too.
Which is pretty extraordinary. A club that quite literally didn’t sign anyone in the summer is right on the heels of the one many thought was among the best they’d ever seen. Never mind the Manchester United job: has anyone asked Mauricio Pochettino if he can track down these dweebs with the drone at Gatwick?
The wider context of Pochettino potentially moving on has a consequence for their opponents today, too. Should the Spurs job become available in the summer, the two most obvious candidates that already manage in the Premier League are Eddie Howe and Marco Silva. So can the latter pull his potential predecessor’s pants down today?
Only one way to find out. Kick-off is at 4pm GMT.
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