Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton
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Today’s free tip is in the English Premier League encounter in London between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
God, Mourinho’s football is so depressing, isn’t it? Welcome to our past world, Tottenham Hotspur fans! For an astute businessman, Levy really has fucked up by replacing Pochettino, a forward-thinking manager, with this dinosaur. I actually feel really bad criticising Mourinho because he’s genuinely been one of the best managers ever. It’s just that it all happened in the past, and he doesn’t seem to know when to call it a day. His style does not work in the modern game, and the players hate playing for him because of his aggressive, outspoken style.
When watching Tottenham Hotspur now, I’m reminded of my beloved Manchester United under Mourinho, and it’s awful to witness. It was the same on his return to Chelsea too, which was in stark contrast to what he was like during his first spell at the London club. It’s an over-reliance on big, physical defenders, keeping most of the team back at all times, and hoping that one of the four designated attacking players bails them out in every single match. Tottenham Hotspur are lucky enough to have such players in Kane, Son, Moura etc. but it’s just not enough. You all saw what Sheffield United did to them recently, and that’s a team that has struggled a lot since the league resumed. The Blades weren’t the first, and they won’t be the last either.
Mourinho teams take no risks. None. They’d rather draw 0-0 than try to win. Subsequently, they don’t tend to concede many goals, but they don’t threaten much either. Even when they do score under Mourinho, I’m always left feeling like there’s more than a touch of fortune about it. It’s such a shame because Tottenham Hotspur are genuinely a very good team but they’re being made to look like a newly-promoted team that is merely trying to avoid relegation rather than a team that is on the cusp of becoming an English powerhouse. They might win tonight, Tottenham Hotspur, but it doesn’t change anything. They’ll continue to regress, and exclusively make short-term signings, until the Portuguese manager leaves. It’s that simple. This club is no longer progressing.
If I was a player for in-form Everton, I wouldn’t be bothered in the slightest by the prospect of facing this horribly defensive, negative, unconvincing opponent. The more I see of the Merseyside club, the more impressed I become by the work Ancelotti has done. His pedigree was never in question; only the longevity of this ‘solution’ to Everton’s managerial problems. He’s made things a lot simpler for Everton to follow, and if they follow his instructions, not only do they score goals but teams find it very hard to score against them. Tactically, Ancelotti is excellent; we all know that. Now that the players are on board with it, Everton look a lot better than I’ve seen them in years.
Everton don’t rush with their style of play. They’ll harass opponents with their frontmen, trying to get their opponents to go long, but they’re not a team that panics on the ball anymore. Intelligent is the word I’d use to describe what they do. They’re defending well, and they’re attacking well. By no means is this a perfect team, but it’s one that impresses me at the moment. They’re ticking along rather nicely, playing very consistently, and look more composed than they have in ages. Why would a team like that lose against a team that seems afraid to leave their own half?
I was tempted to back the visitors here with draw no bet cover but what would be the point? Everton aren’t going to get relegated, and they’re not going to get into Europe, so there’s no motivation for them that I trust, at least not when it comes to winning such games. However, there’s enough players with points to prove to Ancelotti for me to trust them to at least follow his instructions, and if they do that, there’s no reason for them to give Tottenham Hotspur an inch tonight. Even if they do, do you think Spurs will leave their own half when they’ve got a lead to defend? I doubt it.
Therefore, whichever way this game goes, backing under 2.5 goals at 19/20 appeals to me greatly tonight.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 19/20.
Monday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Bulgarian A PFG:
Botev Vratsa vs Dunav 2010
English Premier League:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton
German Bundesliga Relegation/Promotion Play-Off:
Heidenheim vs Werder Bremen
Portuguese Liga 1:
Moreirense vs Sporting Clube de Portugal
Spanish Primera Liga:
Levante CF vs Real Sociedad
Sevilla CF vs Eibar
Swedish Allsvenskan:
IFK Norrkoping vs IFK Goteborg
Djurgarden vs Helsingborg
Ostersunds FK vs Mjallby Solvesborg
Varberg vs Kalmar FF
Turkish Super Lig:
Kayserispor vs Besiktas JK
Enjoy your free betting tips!