A brand new begin, recent optimism, a shiny new second half to the season, a brand new Spurs. All the pieces’s going to be completely different.
Besides, effectively, no, probably not. In truth, this recreation could as effectively have been performed on November 12.
Harry Kane was alleged to be within the midst of a private disaster, battling to beat maybe the most important (and positively most high-profile) psychological problem of his profession having fluffed that penalty.
As an alternative, he was the Kane he’s been all season. He scored, he linked play with precision, his motion was top-class, he was a couple of inches away from scoring one other dramatic winner with a header that cannoned off the bar.
Ivan Perisic was alleged to be knackered having performed extra minutes within the World Cup than every other Spurs participant, the latest of which got here simply final weekend.
As an alternative, whereas fellow last World Cup weekenders Hugo Lloris (benched) and Cristian Romero (not concerned) didn’t play, there was Perisic but once more at left wing-back with a sometimes constant efficiency.
Yves Bissouma and Japhet Tanganga have been alleged to have had useful time with Antonio Conte on the coaching floor in current weeks.
As an alternative, it appeared like they’d landed again from Qatar a day earlier.
Spurs began very sloppily once more (Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Getty Photographs)
And Spurs. Oh, Spurs. Conceding the primary purpose once more, taking part in dreadfully within the first half once more, rousing themselves for a spirited late comeback once more. Did the World Cup even occur?
Six weeks on, Spurs have been simply busy being Spurs and the remainder of us have been making an attempt to behave stunned.
Dejan Kulusevski picked up precisely the place he left off in opposition to Leeds final month, sauntering previous defenders who, regardless of him not displaying any explicit blistering tempo, have been unable to cease him, like he was coated in oil they usually couldn’t grapple him.
Son Heung-min additionally picked up precisely the place he left off pre-World Cup… the odd glimpse of his former self, however largely simply persevering with his poor kind (he’s now scored in simply two of his 24 appearances this season for membership and nation).
Ditto Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, whose perspective and equalising purpose epitomised what he’s been doing for Spurs this season. Additionally, Eric Dier, whose calamitous swish and slice conceded a nook from which Brentford scored their second purpose. He’s been doing that for some time, too.
It simply wanted Invoice Murray from 1993 reporting pitchside to finish this explicit Groundhog Day.
There was historic predictability, too – Spurs stored up a exceptional document of not shedding on Boxing Day since 2004. It’s the second-longest Boxing Day unbeaten run in English soccer historical past, stretching to 16 matches, with solely Aston Villa’s 20 video games between 1890 and 1913 lasting longer in all 4 English soccer divisions.
And Kane’s purpose means he’s scored extra Boxing Day objectives than any participant in Premier League historical past, on 10.
However in case you wanted a refresher course after the World Cup, this was a useful reminder of what the present Spurs are all about; a well-recognized cocktail of crapness, carnage and a comeback.
This time of 12 months is all about traditions and Spurs stored up their finish of the cut price by simply doing what they at all times do, solely with barely completely different gamers and with out a stoppage-time winner.
In any other case, it was all there, notably the crapness. Often, it’s simply turgid, fairly ineffective soccer that Spurs produce for lengthy durations, however right here it was slapstick comedy.
Bissouma fell over (resulting in an offside purpose), Dier directed a cross in direction of the moon, Fraser Forster aged 40 years with a delicate dive resembling a pensioner unsteady on his toes, Hojbjerg ran too shortly when in possession and forgot the ball, Matt Doherty performed a blind cross to a Brentford participant, Forster wafted the ball over the bar like he was waving to his mum within the crowd, Bissouma performed the ball straight out of play, Tanganga missed headers, missed unfastened balls and missed the purpose of being a defender.
At instances it was comical. And but, they didn’t lose. They got here again once more and earned a great outcome in opposition to a great Brentford crew, who’ve solely misplaced as soon as at dwelling this season.
“On the finish for the individuals it was an thrilling recreation,” Conte stated, trying on the positives. “I’d like my crew to be extra steady. From the beginning of the season, many instances it’s occurred that we’re down after which have the energy to come back again.
“In the event you ask me my want, it’s to get three factors, nevertheless it’s not simple in opposition to Brentford.”
And what of the ridiculous behavior of conceding first?
“We have now to seek out the answer. If we need to be aggressive now we have to take some dangers. We’re making an attempt to work underneath this side to win duels. If you wish to press excessive and play with excessive depth it’s necessary to win duels and second balls. We’re working.
“I’m dissatisfied with the objectives we conceded. Then again, I’m joyful for our response to what we did.
“This crew has proven nice character many instances however my query is why now we have to go down so many instances, to point out that character. We have now to point out character from the primary second of the sport to the top.”
How does the cycle break? Is it actually nearly character? Little doubt the presence of Lloris, Romero, Richarlison and notably Rodrigo Bentancur would have helped, however they have been there earlier than the World Cup, too.
Perhaps January will change issues, however possibly it’s greater than that. Both approach, Spurs don’t really feel just like the fourth-best crew within the nation. And but there they’re within the desk.
What isn’t questionable is the significance of Kane, but additionally the surprise of Kane. Gamers usually battle after the psychological and bodily exertions and feelings of a serious match (Mohamed Salah after final 12 months’s AFCON springs to thoughts) nevertheless it feels virtually insulting to have steered, nay even thought, that Kane wouldn’t simply get again to the enterprise of main the Spurs line with class and scoring extra objectives. He’s overcome setbacks earlier in his profession and, on this proof, he’s serenely doing so once more.
The place would they be with out him?
(Prime picture: Clive Rose/Getty Photographs)
