The title of the previous article - 'Crisis Averted' (found here) - would have been even more appropriate for this weekend's chaotic finale. We were so incredibly close to utter despair in our final WHL clash against the Spammers, but the man for the big occasion saved the day with a trademark display of clinical finishing. Despite this, it was another young Spurs lad that stole the show - debutant Harry Winks.
There were multiple narrative points from today's clash, not least of all the emergence of Winks as a genuinely viable starting option. Our struggles on the pitch continued, with Christian Eriksen turning in yet another utterly diabolical performance. I don't know what has happened to the lad, but the fact he still starts week in, week out baffles me. He simply must be dropped. That's not to place the blame solely on Eriksen - in truth, most of our players have been sub-par this year - but he has without a doubt been the most disappointing. It was also surprising to concede two soft goals to a fairly average West Ham side. I could debate Janssen's bizarre decision to grapple Reid in our own box all day, but his over-zealousness helps us far more than it hinders us. Besides, Mike Dean awards penalties like they're going out of fashion, and nine times out of ten this in-the-box grapple doesn't even warrant a second look. It's part and parcel of defending, and if you're going to award a penalty for it consistently, games will be finishing 5-4 every week.
Despite our largely woeful performance, there was one shining light. The performance of tenacious, eyebrow-wielding Harry Winks lit up White Hart Lane at times, proving that every slight academy prospect doesn't have to end up like Tom Carroll. Perhaps Winksy's greatest attribute is something he shares with the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane - he does not respect anyone. Going into a London derby of this importance at a time where we aren't playing particularly well, you'd have forgiven Winks for shirking responsibility and passing backwards at times. What was most impressive is that he didn't show West Ham any respect, he took the game to them with some decisive and inventive passing as well as sticking a foot in on several occasions. I'd be lying if I said it didn't help that Winks was an academy product, especially in games such as these. You could see just how much it meant to him to score his first goal - the celebrations with Pochettino were almost tear-jerking, paying homage to the father-son bond Poch allegedly has with the lads. Following in Janssen's shot, despite operating from a deeper midfield role for much of the game showed Winks' keen football mind, with the intelligence to get himself an opportunity to score. And the best part of his emergence? The fact I called it back in July after an impressive pre-season. Having said that, I also tipped Erik Lamela to be in the PFA Team of the Year, but injuries (and perhaps my own bias) have scuppered that. You win some, you lose some.
Speaking of win some - no game now carries more significance than Chelsea away next weekend. After last season's collapse at the Bridge it would be incredible to get revenge at their place. There's the small matter of a crunch Champions League match in Monaco to contend with this Tuesday, but I'm sure the players will have next weekend in the back of their mind. It'd be nice if Dier's crunching challenges are inconsequential this time after we're 3-0 up. I can dream, at least.
Looking at our current injury list and taking into account player form, I think Pochettino has a tough choice on his hands. Do you drop the likes of Eriksen, who no longer warrant a guaranteed first team place? And do you replace him with either the untried N'Koudou, or the out-of-form Sissoko? It was abundantly clear that we struggled to create a plethora of chances against West Ham - a problem created by a severe lack of width. For Monaco, at least, I'd be tempted to operate with two 'out and out' wingers in Son and N'Koudou and see how we get on. Without a doubt the biggest selection call, asides from whether Winks now deserves to start the Chelsea match, is how we will cope without the suspended Danny Rose and his deputy Ben Davies, who is said to be injured. The logical replacement would be Jan Vertonghen, with Kevin Wimmer taking his place at centre back. It's undoubtedly a worry for us though, losing Rose - he's a frequent high performer and deservedly England's first choice left back. I'm sure Mauricio Pochettino will have a masterplan to solve this problem - he's magic, you know.
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