Tottenham vs Newcastle: Spurs aren’t in crisis but derby defeat to Arsenal could yet cause one

Tottenham are only three games removed from a Champions League final but have looked anything but in a sleepwalking start to the season

It is too early to say that Tottenham Hotspur’s season is in crisis. The 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United on Sunday may have been just another bad day for Spurs when searing heat sapped their energy.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team never got into their stride and rarely caused Newcastle’s packed defence problems. Steve Bruce’s side deserved their victory.

There are plenty of people eager to point out that Tottenham are only three games removed from a Champions League final. But that is one of the damning points about Spurs’ start to the campaign.

After Liverpool were beaten by Real Madrid in Kiev last year, the mood around Anfield was a combination of anger and grim determination. “We will not let that happen to us again,” was the refrain. Jurgen Klopp’s men blasted out of the gates when the campaign started and strung together a six-game 100 per cent start. Defeat in the Champions League final sharpened the team’s appetite.

Tottenham have not responded in the same manner after their underwhelming performance in Madrid in June. The sense that they missed an opportunity will linger for a long time but the reaction – so far – has been downbeat. There was little sense of purpose and no zip in their game against Newcastle. They were stale in the closing weeks of last season and appear no fresher now.

Newcastle had enough conviction for both sides. They maintained a compact shape and let Spurs have the ball until the final third. When Bruce’s team got possession they looked to find Joelinton. The Brazilian was superb. If he can maintain this form he will be worth every penny of the £40million that Newcastle paid Hoffenheim for his services. His balance, physicality and touch were exceptional and he provided an effective outlet. He was able to give his defence a breather with his hold-up play and scare the life out of Tottenham’s back line.

The striker’s goal, after 27 minutes, illustrated his ability and threw up questions for Pochettino. Christian Atsu took possession in an area that should not have caused the defence too much concern but Davinson Sanchez seemed mesmerised by the ball and allowed Joelinton to ease into the space behind him. It was a simple task for Atsu to flick the ball into the central area and the Brazilian coolly took one touch, loped across the box with languid ease and then lashed the ball left footed into the net.

There is a feeling around the league that Sanchez can switch off and become vulnerable at times. How Jan Vertonghen felt about the situation from his viewpoint as a substitute is anyone’s guess. There are some within the Spurs squad who believe the Belgian is a better option than Sanchez.

Christian Eriksen spent most of the afternoon on the sidelines, too, finally being introduced as a substitute around the hour mark. The Dane is in a contract dispute but it seems perverse for Pochettino to leave his most creative presence on the bench. He changed the game when he was brought on with Spurs a goal down in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa on opening weekend but could not repeat the trick. The 27-year-old was livelier than his team-mates but no one seemed happy, something Pochettino alluded to after the game. Asked about Eriksen’s situation, he said: “The problem [with dissatisfied players] is during the week. That maybe can affect [the squad].

“These type of situations happen in the Premier League. That is why you need to create a very good dynamic and a strong team-bonding and at the moment that situation in our group is still far, far away in that respect.”

It showed. Harry Kane was ineffectual and too often found either Son Heung-min or Lucas Moura vying for the same space. The England captain should have been awarded a penalty when Jamaal Lascelles stumbled and knocked the striker over but VAR did not deem the incident a foul, to almost everyone’s surprise. Even the Newcastle players.

Tottenham have a number of problems to fix (AP)

Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko took too long on the ball and Erik Lamela was unconvincing, a word that might come to define the Argentinian’s Tottenham career. There is more to come from Giovani Lo Celso, whose cameo was undistinguished. Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon will add a spectrum of options when they return from injury but the malaise looked deeper than mere individuals. One of the characteristics of Pochettino’s tenure has been the spikiness of the team. They are frequently niggly and make life uncomfortable for opponents. Little of that side of their game was on show against Newcastle. The visit to the Emirates to play Arsenal on Sunday should at least focus minds.

Unai Emery’s team are unlikely to be as disciplined at the back as Newcastle. Bruce was glowing with satisfaction afterwards – not only about the result but the climax to the Ashes test at Headingley, which he watched in the dressing room. “The players were warming up,” he said, “I had nothing to do. I normally read the programme. The cricket was better than the programme.” It was a good day all round for the Newcastle manager.

The next few days will be a test for Pochettino and his squad. No crisis yet but a derby defeat would be a calamity that would cast a cloud over the international break and beyond.