From Jim's chair
Morning.
Villa. I don't really know where to start with it if I'm honest. We lost, we're 20th, and it's been a horrible week trying to work out what to actually take from it.
Because here's the frustrating bit — Enya went through the data on the pod this week and we actually played okay. Line-breaking passes, elite. Chance creation tripled from what we'd done across the previous four games. We won more duels. Villa were missing more players than us. If a couple of those chances go in it's a totally different Monday morning and I'm probably writing this newsletter with a smile on my face.
But they didn't go in. And that's where I keep getting stuck. We haven't won a game from a goal behind in forty-seven matches. Forty-seven. You could feel it in the ground when Villa scored — that sag, that "here we go again" thing. Under Ange in his first season I used to stay to the last whistle because I genuinely thought we'd nick one. I don't feel that at the moment and it bothers me more than any tactical stuff does.
I still think the players are good enough. Marmoush needs a goal, Savio needs a goal, whoever's playing nine needs a goal. And honestly, maybe that's all it takes to shift things. It's not a click we need, it's just a stumble in the right direction.
The international break can't end soon enough for my emotions though! I need another Spurs game, even if it’s painful to watch…
Keep it Lilywhite #OhSo33,
– Jim