Tottenham 2-3 West Ham: Player ratings as Postecoglou tastes defeat in pre-season opener
Ange Postecoglou’s first pre-season game as Tottenham Hotspur manager ended in defeat as his side were beaten 3-2 by West Ham United in Australia.
Danny Ings and Divin Mubama gave West Ham a first-half lead but a much-changed Tottenham side found its feet after half time, with Giovani Lo Celso and Destiny Udogie pulling them level. However, West Ham’s own substitute Gianluca Scamacca scored again in pre-season to wrap up the win for the Hammers.
Here’s how the players rated at Optus Stadium:
Tottenham
Guglielmo Vicario – 5 – Although it’s only pre-season, this wasn’t a performance that will have brought too much confidence in him replacing Hugo Lloris. You’d have wanted him to do better for Ings’ goal with the header right at him, though he couldn’t do much about the second. Produced a good save to deny Bowen just before the break.
Pedro Porro – 7 – Looked the stronger of the two full-backs in both defence and attack in the first half, getting forward quite well.
Cristian Romero – 5 – Part of a weak defence that lost focus for the second goal, not reacting quick enough to the short corner.
Japhet Tanganga – 5 – Gave the ball away quite a lot early on with some poor touches and sloppy passing, though that’s somewhat understandable as it’s the start of pre-season. Did stop an attack late in the first half with a good tackle on Bowen.
Sergio Reguilon – 5 – Pushing very high up the pitch, but was poor defensively. Beaten far too easily at back post for Ings goal – the kind of mistake you might accept in pre-season but you want gone before competitive football starts.
Oliver Skipp – 6 – Sometimes further up the pitch than Kane, Skipp had a couple of chances with late runs into the box including one early on which was saved.
Yves Bissouma – 7 – Looked really good at the base of the midfield, protecting an unconfident Tottenham backline.
James Maddison – 6 – Was good in flashes but like the rest of the Tottenham attack it was just missing that final product.
Manor Solomon – 7 – Linked up well with his teammates, got into some good positions to cause problems and looked lively. An exciting unofficial debut.
Harry Kane – 5 – You could be forgiven for not realising he was on the pitch in the first half, taken off at the break with the rest of the starters.
Dejan Kulusevski – 6 – Looked dangerous at times and had a good shot saved by Fabianski.
Substitutes:
Brandon Austin (for Vicario 45) – 6 – Had very little to do apart from picking the ball out of the back of the net after Scamacca’s goal.
Emerson Royal (for Porro 45) – 7 – Very confident on the ball and, like the man he replaced, spent a lot of time very high up the pitch such is the way Postecoglou likes to play.
Davinson Sanchez (for Tanganga 45) – 8 – Much more composed in the centre of defence, helping to play the ball out from the back and won the aerial battle to set up Lo Celso for Tottenham’s first. Caught out slightly for Scamacca’s winner with the high line but it was a positive performance.
Ben Davies (for Romero 45) – 6 – Looked okay in the second half but his performance wasn’t anything to write home about, not really being tested.
Destiny Udogie (for Reguilon 45) – 7 – Pulled Tottenham level with a neat header from a corner and had his moments in attack, linking up well with the forwards in front of him.
Pape Matar Sarr (for Skipp 45) – 7 – Quietly composed in the midfield which helped Tottenham take some control of the game in the second half.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (for Bissouma 45) – 7 – Lost the ball in the midfield for West Ham’s winner but it was a good overall performance.
Alfie Devine (for Maddison 45) – 7 – Looked really good in the second half, not out of place in the Tottenham midfield.
Giovani Lo Celso (for Kulusevski 45) – 8 – Pulled a goal back for Tottenham with a wonderful finish on the volley and his performance certainly gave Postecoglou something to think about, making his return from loan.
Ivan Perisic (for Solomon 45) – 7 – We know what he can do from set pieces and the Croatian assisted Tottenham’s equaliser with a good corner. You’d perhaps want a little bit more from him from open play, but you feel Postecoglou can get the best out of him.
Richarlison (for Kane 45) – 7 – Almost made an instant impact with a good run off the defender but his cut back was put out for a corner. Really good after coming on, Tottenham’s most dangerous attacker across either half, but again was missing the killer touch being a bit too wasteful in front of goal.
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West Ham
Lukasz Fabianski – 8 – Well-beaten by both of Tottenham’s goals but the Polish shot-stopper was the reason West Ham won this game, making a number of good saves across the match.
Levi Laing – 8 – In a battle against Reguilon and Solomon in the first half and did well, even though the latter looked dangerous. Made a good block on Richarlison early in the second half and continued to perform well above expectations.
Kurt Zouma – 8 – Looked comfortable in the first half and though he had his work cut out for him in the second, Zouma still did well.
Angelo Ogbonna – 7 – Was good in the first half but was given a bit of a tougher time after the break with Richarlison playing up against him. Beaten in the air by Sanchez for Lo Celso’s goal and did look a bit shaky as the match went on.
Emerson – 8 – Put in a great cross for Mubama’s goal, finding the forward in a square of Tottenham players, attacking and defending well across the game.
Jarrod Bowen – 8 – Playing like it was the Europa Conference League final, the Englishman was very dangerous and put in a good cross to set up Ings for the opener. As the game went on he tired slightly but this was a strong performance
Freddie Potts – 8 – Did not look out of place in the West Ham midfield, keeping a hold of things even when the Hammers were under the cosh in the second half.
Flynn Downes – 8 – Had a great partnership with Potts in the middle of the pitch.
Pablo Fornals – 7 – Was the least involved of the West Ham attackers as play was focused down the opposing flank in the first half, but put in a great pass to set up Scamacca for the winner. West Ham will want him a bit more involved in games when the real football starts.
Divin Mubama – 8 – Looked really good against Tottenham’s defence, enjoying himself up against Romero and particularly Dangana. Made it 2-0 with a very good header, finding space in what should have been a packed Tottenham box.
Danny Ings – 7 – The pre-season revival continued with another goal, heading West Ham into the lead from Bowen’s cross. Things are looking promising.
Substitutes:
Gianluca Scamacca (for Ings 58) – 6 – No challenge on Udogie for equaliser, put West Ham ahead, breaking through the high line and coolly finishing past the goalkeeper.
Kamarai Swyer (for Mubama 59) – 5 – Wasn’t really in the game after coming on.
George Earthy (for Bowen 85) – N/A – Came on very late.
Luizao (for Zouma 85) – N/A – A late sub.
