For Everton, Nirvana....For ENIC, Well Nevermind

If this match turns out to be Tottenham Hotspur's final visit to Goodison Park (there's still a chance, albeit small that the sides could meet there in the next round of the FA Cup) then its one that will live long in the memory of both sets of fans. 

Everton, a side that had managed just 15 goals before the game, were 3 nil up at the break which I imagine made their fans half-time refreshments the most enjoyable they'd been all season. Meanwhile in the away section, the pubs of North London and in the many sitting rooms of the armchair fans the beer, tea, coffee or fizzy drink would have had a distinctly sour taste. 

Ever since Spurs lost at home to Chelsea last season when they finished the game with nine men and the list of injuries that Florence Nightingale would have difficulty coping with began to grow, Ange has either refused to or has been accused of never changing his way of playing. This is of course bollocks, especially this season as the depleted squad has meant he has been forced into playing four in midfield or Kulusevski as a 'false' nine in some games.

At Goodison however, once the match started it became obvious that we'd gone for three at the back with Porro and Spence as wingbacks. The irony of this of course is that both of those players were signed as wingbacks. Ben Davies returned from Whitewebbs Lane branch of The North Middlesex Hospital but understandably looked short of match-fitness.

Deki & Pedro exchane pleasantries

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (no goals in the previous 17 games) opened the scoring, a good finish from Iliman Ndiaye put the home side two ahead and about six minutes into first half stoppage time we conceded out statutory comedy goal when poor Archie Gray diverted a Tarkowski header into his own net.

"Nevermind, one day we might be able to put you in midfield."

The team looked dead. 

I wouldn't say even at this point that the players had downed tools and lost belief in the manager. We've seen that countless times before and I still don't get that impression. They just look mentally and physically drained. 

Former Goodison favourite Richarlison replaced Radu Dragusin at half time. In recent weeks the 22 year old Romanian has a head injury, the flu-bug and had to play against some of the best teams in Europe alongside an 18 year old midfielder. Its no wonder he looks bereft of confidence. How fortunate we have highly rated young centre back Alfie Dorrington who can come in and give him a rest this Thursday in Germany. Apologies, we've loaned him to Aberdeen to 'gain experience' which is ENIC talk for getting him off of the wage bill.

With about 20 minutes to go Mikey Moore came on for Pape Sarr becoming the third player to return from injury which only left eleven players unavailable, lucky us, and did probably more in that time that Sonny did over the whole 90 and more than poor old Timo Werner had done since the City game in the League Cup.

Thirteen minutes from time Kulusevski scored what I would say would be almost the footballing equivalent of Picasso's Guernica. In other words a thing of beauty in the middle of something bloody awful. It was a magnificent chip, worthy of a much better performance than the one it came towards the end of.

Then in stoppage time Richarlison got on the end of a lovely cross from Moore to bundle home the second goal. Almost comically, for a moment it looked like he injured himself (again) scoring the goal. This gave the scoreline far more respectabilty than it deserved.

Today is January 22nd, meaning the transfer window has been open for three weeks. The one signing Antonin Kinsky performed pretty brilliantly in the game despite conceding three times. Don't forget that the club were forced into signing him for two reasons (a) desperation and (b) the fact that big clubs in Germany and Italy were sniffing around him. 

In his press conferences now Ange is beginning to resemble one of those terribly unfortunate homeless people that sit outside railway stations or shopping centres holding a piece of cardboard with 'Hungry Please Help' scrawled on it in felt tip. Except his one says 'Defender & Forward Needed, Please Help'.

Regardless of your opinion on whether you think Ange is the right man to manage Spurs the inertia and negligence on the part of the owners / recruitment department is an absolute fucking disgrace.

"What are those people moaning for, don't they know there's 20% off the Skywalk this month?"

I wonder if they're attempting to equal / exceed their own amazing 'eighteen months without signing an outfield player' record. Or maybe the Association Of Chartered Certified Accountants give an annual award for the UK business with the lowest wages to turnover ratio?

On to Thursday and a trip to Germany to face Hoffenheim. This is likely to be a 'two bald men fighting over a comb' kind of a match as the German side are one of the few teams in Europe currently playing as badly as we are. Of course as we got a couple of players back at the weekend another is now injured. Ange confirmed that Sarr will miss the game. Add this to the fact that neither Spence or Reguilon are registered in the UEFA squad then its another selection conundrum for the Boss. 

I know I shouldn't say this but IF we can win in Germany than a positive result in the final match at home against Elfsborg should see us into the last 16 without the need for the play-off round. But you'd have to barmy to predict anything to do with this club this season.