Thursday Hoddle of Coffee: November 10, 2016

Seven of your most influential players (Lloris, Alderweireld, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Kane) miss time through injury with the eighth (Eriksen) going through an extremely bad patch due to contact issues: CHECK.

All three of your big money summer signings have major holes in their games with two of them looking especially poor in early performances: CHECK.

You have a run of four straight draws, none of which look particularly great in hindsight: CHECK.

Both credible backups to your already-injured star striker are hurt: CHECK THAT ONE TOO BECAUSE WHY NOT.

With news breaking yesterday that Son Heung-Min has been playing with an ankle injury, Spurs fans likely felt sorry for Sonny and realized, perhaps after a deep gulp, that this meant the team’s only fully fit striker is misfiring new arrival Vincent Janssen. Then, of course, Liverpool backup keeper Simon Mignolet had to concuss him.

Point being, this has been a rough couple days for Spurs fans as we have already felt frustrated by bad draws and too many injuries and now are finding out about two more injuries.

Honest question: Is this the the same thing that rocked Chelsea last season starting to get to us? I don’t think it is because for all our issues, we’re still unbeaten and still very good defensively. But... what’s happened to our attack? Do y’all have theories? I’d love to hear them.

On to the links:

The History of Dos a Cero

This Arseblog piece (I know, I know) about Granit Xhaka’s role in last weekend’s NLD is helpful.

Greece cancels more matches than they play, I think. The latest cause for cancellation? A top referee’s home was burned recently.