But for David Marshall, yesterday’s win over Cardiff would have been far more comfortable than it eventually was but as the game was finally clinched in the third minute of injury time, it’s hard not to focus on the contribution made by our late substitutes.
Lewis Holtby and Erik Lamela made direct contributions to Paulinho’s strike but Lewis in particular did much to unlock the defence and could have set up the winning goal on at least one previous occasion.
After the match, head coach Andre Villas-Boas acknowledged the role that the subs had played.
“Lewis came late into the game but he had some wonderful assists, he really found the link up well,” AVB said.
“Credit to him because he came into the team with a great spirit to help the team.
“And it was a great contribution from Erik as well in that goal.
“All of them today made the right impact and that is the spirit that you need from the match.”
Holtby has been the subject of predictable transfer speculation after the club signed so many new players in the window but the German has spoken of nothing other than his desire to stay and fight. His team spirit was also evident in his reaction to the goal and the 23 year old may have a huge part to play in Tottenham’s current campaign.
Holby seems to be finding his feet. Ran around a lot last season, now he’s getting on the ball and making a decent contribution. Only on the pitch for 5 minutes ysterday and set up 2 great chances including the goal.
Since Modric we haven’t had anyone who can regularly play a decent ball in behind. i think we now have 2, Holtby & Eriksen.
Lovely pass with the outside of his left boot by Lamela for the goal and also suprised to see him up for the aerial battle to set it up as well.
Still, we should’ve scored 10
For all our good play throughout the course of the match, it was ONLY when Lewis entered the field of play that Spurs began to ‘get in behind the Cardiff defence with any consistency!
With 10 mins remaining on the clock, Holtby wasted no time in getting involved, popping up all over the park and reintroducing a higher-tempo into Spurs’ play/passing.
I counted three KEY passes the German made which had the Cardiff back-line turning and running back towards their own goal.
The first was a beautifully weighted reverse pass into the feet of Paulinho inside the oppositions 18 yard box. A CLEAR-CUT opportunity which the impressive Marshall did well to block.
The second was a neatly threaded through ball to Erik Lamela inside the box, again. Unfortunately the Argentine was unable to manufacture anything other than a corner for the team on that occasion.
The third was the pass again to Lamela (and again inside the box) which resulted in the goal.
Excellent cameo from the German which provided the spark Spurs were desperately in need of going into the last 10/15 mins of the match.
The MOST INCISIVE PASSER in the Spurs team, bar none, I hope Holtby’s recent good form is rewarded with a start in the EPL, sooner rather than later.
Great to have a squad with so much depth and quality, playing together and getting results. Long may it continue!
Spurs and Arsenal fans let us for once stop the feud and let us all sing “Man utd, please mind the gap!!!”. Thanks
Never!
The substitutions were key, as well as the purchases we made in the summer. Imagine last season and we were 0-0 with 10 minutes to go. Our subs would have been livermore and dempsey……would they have created the chance that paulinho scored…….and it would have been Parker in the middle of the box anyway. So no offence to three real tryers but having holtby lamela and paulinho puts us on another level.
Let’s not forget that Cardiff had been fighting for 93 minutes and were done 😉 Something had to give.
With all due respect to Holtby and Lamela, they did not do anything that the team had not been doing the whole game. We should have won the game 4:0, until the goal Lamela had done nothing. two or three failed crosses.
But, good work from them though. Talented player Holtby. He will start and do well in Europa league and the cup matches. Im sure of that.
Great goal from Paulinho, he derserves this.
we need Soldado to start to score. that means Townsend and Walker for example, need to stop wasting with shots from outside the box. We did not buy a 26m pound striker to watch Townsend shoot on sight. Hope AVB will fix this.
Overall a good team performance.
NONSENSE!!!For all our good play throughout the course of the match, it was ONLY when Lewis entered the field of play that Spurs began to ‘get in behind the Cardiff defence with any consistency!
With 10 mins remaining on the clock, Holtby wasted no time in getting involved, popping up all over the park and reintroducing a higher-tempo into Spurs’ play/passing.
I counted three KEY passes the German made which had the Cardiff back-line turning and running back towards their own goal.
The young Germans quality and form deserves a shout in the 1st, in his rightful position (no10). When he gets this, I am SURE people like yourself will soon change their tune about his importance to the FIRST-team!
‘Talented player Holtby. He will start and do well in Europa league and the cup matches’ COMPLETE and utter tripe!!!!
Lamela and Holtby can be potential winners.
Lamela will be a a fantaster winger.
Holtby will be a good no 10, and he needs to play like a a more attacking mid-fielder.