Ange Postecoglou was present to witness yet another defensive collapse, but this time, he was not the coach who would have to address the aftermath. For Tottenham, there was simply joy in becoming the latest team to expose the numerous flaws in Julen Lopetegui's so-called revolution at West Ham. The notion of Lopetegui as a tactical genius was never more difficult to take seriously than during a match in which his woeful team was annihilated by three goals within eight chaotic second-half minutes. If there was any resistance from West Ham, who were lucky to lose only 4-1, it was limited to Mohammed Kudus being sent off for trying to fight at least three Spurs players in the dying moments. Otherwise, there is only one word to describe it: surrender.
Interestingly, West Ham had initially attempted to test Spurs' character. But after taking the lead through Kudus, everything fell apart. Spurs, inspired by Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min, were more fluid, talented, and intense. Postecoglou had the usual questions to answer about his aggressive tactics following the collapse against Brighton. He responded by making two changes, with Yves Bissouma replacing Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield and Son returning from injury, but there was no indication of any adjustments to the overall strategy. The plan was to push hard from the start, with James Maddison and Kulusevski creating in the middle, and West Ham needed to be on their toes. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Son all came close early on.
Despite their enterprise, Spurs still looked vulnerable without the ball and were fortunate not to concede in the eighth minute, with Gugiliemo Vicario making a superb save after Kudus met Jarrod Bowen's cutback with a rising shot. West Ham found joy down the right flank. Another attack followed, and Spurs were too hesitant in clearing their lines. Collecting a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, it was too easy for Bowen to wriggle past Destiny Udogie and find Kudus, who made no mistake in punishing such lax defending. But Spurs quickly retaliated, with Johnson missing from close range and Pedro Porro drawing a smart save from Alphonse Areola. Lopetegui, whose touchline instructions were becoming increasingly frantic, must have realized that West Ham's lead was far from secure.
West Ham were vulnerable to speed. They aimed to be expressive on the ball but lacked the composure to handle the Spurs press and were exposed when another move broke down. Maddison had time to run at a retreating defense and feed Kulusveski, who cut inside from the right, skipped past Guido Rodríguez, and pulled a shot back across goal, surprising Areola, who could only get a weak hand to the ball and watch it spin over the line after hitting both posts. Spurs finished the half on top, with more chances coming and going, the irrepressible Kulusevski at the heart of everything. Overwhelmed, West Ham needed to regroup, to tighten up, and to give Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo more protection.
If anything, the gaps were even more glaring after half-time. Is there a slower, more unsuitable 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 he finally made the triple substitution that had been on the cards from the moment that Bissouma had put Spurs ahead in the 52nd minute? The inertia was absurd, although in fairness, the Spurs attack was exhilarating. They were in front when Son played a pass behind Wan-Bissaka, who watched Udogie turn and tee up Bissouma for an easy finish. They were rampant, soon surging forward again, with Kulusevski's flick setting up Son for a shot that squirmed in off Todibo.
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