Tottenham dismantles weak West Ham after recovering from initial scare | first division

Ange Postecoglou was there to witness another defensive implosion, but this time he was not the coach who will have to deal with the consequences. For Tottenham, there was only joy in becoming the latest team to expose a multitude of flaws in Julen Lopetegui's so-called revolution at West Ham.

The idea of ​​Lopetegui as a tactical mastermind was never more difficult to take seriously than during a match in which his execrable team was annihilated by three goals in the space of eight crazy second-half minutes. If there was resistance from West Ham, who were lucky to lose 4-1, it was limited to Mohammed Kudus seeing red for trying to fight at least three Spurs players during the closing stages. But otherwise? There is only one word to describe it: surrender.

Strangely enough, West Ham had initially tried to test Spurs' character. But after taking the lead through Kudus, everything fell apart. Spurs, inspired by Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min, were more fluid, talented and intense.

Postecoglou had to answer the usual questions about his enthusiastic methods. after the collapse against Brighton. They reacted with two changes – Yves Bissouma replaced Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield and Son returned from injury – but there was no sign of a change in the overall strategy.

The intention was to press hard from the start, for James Maddison and Kulusevski to create in the middle, and West Ham needed to have their wits about them. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Son went close during the early stages.

However, for all their enterprise, Spurs still looked open without the ball and were fortunate not to concede in the eighth minute, when Gugiliemo Vicario saved superbly after Kudus met Jarrod Bowen's cutback with a high shot.

West Ham had joy on the right wing. Another attack followed and Spurs were too hesitant to clear their lines. Receiving a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, it was once again too easy for Bowen to escape Destiny Udogie and find Kudus, who would not pass up another opportunity to punish such a timid defence.

But when Spurs arrived, Johnson missed from close range and Pedro Porro pulled off a clever save from Alphonse Areola. Lopetegui, whose barrage of instructions from the touchline was becoming increasingly frantic, must have sensed that West Ham's lead was far from impregnable.

West Ham were vulnerable to speed. They wanted to be expressive on the ball, but lacked the poise to deal with Spurs' pressure and were left exposed when another play failed. Maddison had time to run towards a retreating defense and feed Kulusveski, who cut inside from the right, passed to Guido Rodríguez and fired back, surprising Areola, only able to take the ball with a weak hand and watch it spin. the line after hitting both posts.

Spurs finished the half on top, more chances came and went, the irrepressible Kulusevski was at the center of it all. Overwhelmed, West Ham needed to readjust, reinforce themselves and give more protection to Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo.

However, the differences became even more evident after the break. Is there a slower and more inadequate trio of midfielders in the League than Tomás Soucek, Lucas Paquetá and Rodríguez? And was there anything more ridiculous than Lopetegui waiting until West Ham were 4-1 down before finally making the triple substitution that had been on the cards since the moment Bissouma had put Spurs ahead in the 52nd minute?

The inertia was absurd, although, to be fair, the Spurs attack was exhilarating. They were in front when Son played a pass behind Wan-Bissaka, who saw Udogie turn and set up Bissouma for an easy finish. They were rampant, and soon attacked again, Kulusevski's movement setting up Son for a shot that twisted past Todibo.