Tottenham dismantles weak West Ham after recovering from early panic | Premier League

Ange Postecoglou was there to witness another defensive implosion, but this time he wasn't the coach left to deal with the consequences. For Tottenham, it was just a joy to be the latest team to expose a host of flaws in Julen Lopetegui's so-called revolution at West Ham.

The idea of ​​Lopetegui as a tactical mastermind was never harder to take seriously than in a game in which his loathsome team was obliterated by three goals in eight crazy second-half minutes. If there was any resistance from West Ham, who were only lucky enough to lose 4-1, it was limited to Mohammed Kudus being shown red for attempting to take on at least three Spurs players in the closing stages. But otherwise? There is only one word for it: dedication.

Oddly enough, of course, West Ham initially tried to test Spurs' character. But after Kudus took the lead, everything collapsed. Spurs, inspired by Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min, were more fluid, more talented and more intense.

After the collapse against Brighton, Postecoglou had to answer the usual questions about his overconfident methods. He responded with two changes: Yves Bissouma replaced Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield and Son returned from injury, but there was no sign of changes to the overall strategy.

The intention was to apply a lot of pressure from the start to allow James Maddison and Kulusevski to create space in the middle and West Ham needed to keep them under control. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson and Son all came close in the early stages.

For all their enterprising spirit, Spurs still looked open without the ball and were lucky not to concede a goal in the eighth minute. Gugiliemo Vicario made a superb save after Kudus repelled Jarrod Bowen's counter-attack with a rising shot.

West Ham were enjoying themselves on the right. Another attack followed and Spurs were too hesitant to clear their lines. Receiving a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, it was once again too easy for Bowen to weave past Destiny Udogie and find Kudus, who didn't miss another chance to punish such timid defence.

But Spurs came back, Johnson missed from close range and Pedro Porro made a clever save from Alphonse Areola. Lopetegui, whose barrage of instructions from the touchline became increasingly frantic, must have sensed that West Ham's lead was far from insurmountable.

West Ham were vulnerable to speed. They wanted to be expressive on the ball but lacked the poise to deal with Spurs' pressing and were exposed when another move failed. Maddison had time to run towards a retreating defense and feed to Kulusveski, who cut inside from the right, outpaced Guido Rodríguez and fired a shot back across goal, surprising Areola who could only get to the ball with a weak hand and watch , as he turned the line after hitting both posts.

The Spurs ended the half as winners, further chances came and went, the irrepressible Kulusevski playing a central role. West Ham were overwhelmed and had to readjust, tightening up to provide more protection for Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo.

If anything, the gaps were even more noticeable after halftime. Is there a slower and more inept midfield trio in the league than Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paquetá and Rodríguez? And was there anything more ridiculous than Lopetegui waiting until West Ham were 4-1 down before finally making the triple substitution that had been planned from the moment Bissouma gave Spurs the lead in the 52nd minute?

The sluggishness was absurd, although in fairness Spurs' attack was exhilarating. They were in the lead when Son played a pass behind Wan-Bissaka, who watched as Udogie turned and teed up Bissouma for an easy finish. They were rampant and soon pushed forward again, Kulusevski's shot setting up Son for a shot that was saved by Todibo.