Stellini has to wait to make his mark
Cristian Stellini's appointment as acting head coach in wake of Antonio Conte's departure meant that he had the opportunity to really stamp his own mark on his Tottenham team. Previously liaising with his fellow countryman when he was in charge of the side when Conte was resting up in Italy, the 48-year-old could select who he wanted in his Spurs XI to take on Everton at Goodison Park.
However, injuries to a number of players, including Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon who can both operate at left-back, meant he was unable to switch to a possible back four if he wished and it left him with little option but to continue with a three-man defence. Tottenham's current injury woes were summed up by Stellini naming two goalkeepers on his bench as well as youngsters Alfie Devine and Romaine Mundle.
The substitutes' bench was reminiscent of 12 months ago when Conte had very few experienced players to select from and instead had to call upon academy players to make up the nine. Having a further nine games to come in the league until the campaign draws to a conclusion, Spurs fans could see Stellini's Tottenham vision once things start to clear up in the treatment room.
READ MORE: Tottenham player ratings vs Everton: Romero on top but Son, Porro, Hojbjerg and Perisic struggle
Danjuma spared frosty reception
Monday evening saw Arnaut Danjuma make the trip to Goodison Park for the first time since almost joining Everton on loan back in January. With the move pretty much done and dusted and Everton fans just waiting for an official announcement from the club, Spurs made a late move for the Netherlands international and it resulted in the attacker making a dramatic U-turn.
Barely getting an opportunity under Conte, the ex-Bournemouth man will be hoping for better luck with Stellini now at the helm until the end of the campaign. Named on the bench at Goodison, the 26-year-old once again remained there for the whole game as the acting head coach preferred Lucas Moura over him when Son Heung-min made way late on.
While it did mean he was spared a very hostile reception at Goodison Park, the player must be wondering when his opportunity will come his way. It has been a nightmare loan spell for the player so far and Monday evening showed no signs of it getting any better.
Tottenham fans make feelings clear
The search is very much on for Tottenham as they look to find Conte's long-term successor. A number of high-profile names have been linked with the post and now it is very much on Daniel Levy to appoint his perfect man.
Former boss Mauricio Pochettino has been mentioned with the vacant position and the speculation will undoubtedly continue until he one day makes his return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Last month, a number of Tottenham fans made their feelings over the Argentine as they chanted his name on the way out of the stadium after their Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.
Pochettino's name once again could be heard in the away end at Goodison Park on Monday evening, with fans singing his song minutes into the game.
Problems at the back
One key change under Stellini saw Tottenham looking to play the ball out from the back a lot more. Doing it at times during Conte's tenure, it was a fairly frequent occurrence at Goodison Park in Stellini's first match as acting head coach.
Cristian Romero and Clement Lenglet would go either side of Hugo Lloris' six-yard box at a goal kick, thus seeing the Everton team push up and Spurs look to bypass them. It did cause problems on a number of occasions with the Lilywhites very much playing themselves into danger.
Eric Dier was caught dallying on the ball at the start of the second half and it resulted in a big chance for Idrissa Gana Gueye to net, only for the Everton player to shoot over when he could have played in Abdoulaye Doucoure. Having taken the lead through Harry Kane's penalty, Spurs then almost let their slender lead slip not long after with Everton piling the pressure on as Romero held on to the ball but they they couldn't take advantage as Demarai Gray shot straight at Lloris.
Playing some extremely risky balls at times but getting away with it, the team will most certainly get punished when they come up against a better attack later in the season.
A familiar issue
Tottenham will be praying that their 1-1 draw on Merseyside doesn't come back to haunt them at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. In a great position to see the game out and claim three vital points in their top-four battle, Everton clinched a huge point in their battle against the drop following Michael Keane's stunning strike on the cusp of full-time.
Prior to that Spurs had seen Lucas sent off following a rash tackle on the goalscorer, which duly gave Sean Dyche's men a further boost in their quest to net a late equaliser. The draw means that Tottenham are in fourth and join Newcastle United and Manchester United on 50 points, although they have played two games more than their rivals.
Squandering points in their last Premier League match as Southampton netted at the death at St Mary's, Spurs once again conceded at a time when it had looked like they had won the game. Tottenham cannot keep doing this as it is going to prove very costly indeed.
READ NEXT:
- Fabio Paratici - The man who can no longer be able to tell Daniel Levy what to do at Tottenham
- Tearful Cristian Stellini explains why he can never say Tottenham are in crisis
- Tottenham in Romaine Mundle contract race with first team promotion after Herbie James transfer
- Every word Stellini said on Conte's exit, his meeting with the Tottenham players and injury news
- The two men who will take on Fabio Paratici's duties at Tottenham as he starts leave of absence
