It’s far two Eze for the Eagles
TOTTENHAM are not only trying to save their shambolic season over their final seven Premier League games.
The crisis-hit North London club are also battling to quell a rising revolt in a furious fan base, while persuading a new boss to come and their best player to stay.
Even captain Hugo Lloris admitted “There is too much negativity” as he made a public appeal for calm before three “decisive” fixtures.
It is hardly an enticing prospect for Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany or the other potential managerial candidates. Or Harry Kane.
Boos
The Tottenham Stadium announcer raced to play “Fool’s Gold” to drown out the boos at full-time after this injury-time defeat.
The jeers and cheers for subbed scapegoat Davinson Sanchez — who had an admittedly awful 23 minutes — were followed by chants for Mauricio Pochettino and calls for chairman Daniel Levy to go.
Sacking Antonio Conte has achieved nothing apart from stopping his incendiary public criticism.
His former assistant Cristian Stellini’s side remain three points behind Newcastle having played a game more before their clash at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Tottenham then host Manchester United and visit Liverpool in their two games after that — and are in serious danger of being overtaken by the upwardly-mobile Aston Villa and Brighton.
It is a time for the big names in the Tottenham squad to step up on and off the pitch.
Lloris was so upset by the fan treatment of Sanchez that he voiced his frustration in a television interview — before later talking about the wider issues.
Help
Asked to explain the loss, Lloris said: “The first thing is when one of your teammates comes on and doesn’t receive the help of the crowd.
“I am a bit surprised, in a bad way. I feel really sad, honestly, because I don’t think he deserved that.
“And the consequence, I don’t know if it’s in relation, we conceded the goal just a few seconds later.
“I spoke with him after. It’s sad, it’s sad for the club, it’s sad for the fans and it’s sad for the player to be in this situation. I think I’ve never faced a situation like that in my career. There is too much negativity.” Out of the FA Cup and Champions League and now battling against the odds to make the top four.
“You know, the supporters, the fans are really important,” continued the World Cup winner. “I understand they are not happy.
“The players, also, we are not happy. We want more. We work for that. But it doesn’t work. But it is not a reason to give up. And we will push until the end.”
Spurs had taken the lead through Son Heung-Min before Matias Vina marked his first Premier League start with his first goal.
The excellent Dominic Solanke gave the Cherries the 51stminute lead following an assist by Sanchez — and the €46m Colombian defender was soon sacrificed as part of a tactical reshuffle.
Kane, who enters the final year of his contract this summer, was deployed in a playmaking role before Sanchez’s replacement Arnaut Danjuma equalised against his former club. Injurytime saw Richarlison miss from six yards – and Dango Outtara net the 95th-minute winner.
Tottenham had won by the same score at the Vitality Stadium in October after a late winner — and Cherries boss Gary O’Neil said: “When we were on the wrong end at our place, I shook the opposition manager’s hand.
“I was disappointed with them today. I thought to go straight down the tunnel and not shake hands was poor on their part.”
ROY HODGSON believes that Eberechi Eze is ready for another chance with England.
The only time the Crystal Palace star was called up by Gareth Southgate, in his provisional squad for Euro 2020, Eze ruptured an achilles in training on the same day he picked up the phone.
That kept Eze out for six months, and when he made his comeback, the €20m star
Role
found himself mainly on the bench under Patrick Vieira.
Before these last three wins under good old Roy, Eze had been a substitute for eight of Palace’s previous ten games.
Not now. Hodgson,