Nowhere man, somewhere
Tottenham are back in the Top 4 after a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The late Sunday afternoon kick-off saw both teams line up with the same formation and cancel each other out.
There wasn't much space while everyone stayed in formation, not wanting to take chances in the first-half.
It was played, as our games often are, to observe the opposition, to keep them at bay and to probe ourselves, more in hope, within a tight structure.
Credit to the Hammers they defended well when they had to so chances were few are far between.
The deadlock was only ever going to be broken by a moment of brilliance or by a player moving out of position.
Which side took that risk, Tottenham.
Our first goal was the two wing-backs combining, Davies and the rejuvenated Emerson.
Davies is the subject of abuse from our fantasy fans, but is in fact a crucial element in our squad.
Every club needs players like Davies, homegrown, a dependable player who will put in a shift and who doesn't cost the earth in wages.
Yesterday he combined with Højbjerg, who played a ball that cut through behind the Hammers defence to be met by Ben Davies, running from wide in behind the defenders.
The dangerous run brought a centre-back across to help the two players chasing him and Davies laid off the perfect pass for Ennerson, charging through in the centre-forward position.
Emmerson has looked a different player since Pedro Porro arrived and Matt Doherty departed, he looks motivated.
Doesn't this just demonstrate the difference I keep talking about between a motivated player and a player just trying to give it his best to win.
Their games are at different levels.
This one factor, more than any other, is vital to success and everything should be done to maximize the 'skill' through the use of sports psychologists as a compulsory part of training.
It's their job to figure out what makes a player tick, what actually motivates them, not what they or others think motivates them. leave it to the pros, not the amateurs.
Anyway, star player Emmerson is looming on goal, one-on-one, so who was confident he would score?
Were you?
I wasn't, but he tucked it away like an in-form striker.
Richarlison was clearly not happy about being substituted after 67 minutes, replaced by Son, who seemed to be spemding plenty of time in central midfield.
A hooked clearing forward, Kane judges the ball, checks to see where the defender is and out-muscles his way into the flight of the ball.
The West Ham defender (we don't need to know there names) could only manage a feeble header that merely played the ball into the path of the alert Kane.
Kane, effectively, forced him to head it there, was that side of his man already, so was away.
Who had read the game, who was rushing through the centre, ala last season (we haven't seen much of this, this season), none other than substitute Sonny.
Out of form in front of goal, although he doesn't seem to be in front of goal much this season, Sonny, with a sublime piece of control, took Kane's beautifully weighted volley in his stride and stroked it past a former arsenal keeper as if he wasn't there.
Game over, three points in the bag, just a bit of solid defending to do to see it out and return to where we belong, in the Top 4.
For me, I'm enthused by this new Emmerson and I have a Beatles number wringing through my head when I think of him now, Nowhere Man, but now he's somewhere, he's in our hearts.
He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere man, the world is at your command
He's as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere man, can you see me at all
Nowhere man don't worry
Take your time, don't hurry
Leave it all 'til somebody else
Lends you a hand
Ah, la, la, la, la
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere man, the world is at your command
Ah, la, la, la, la
He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
COYS
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