Opinion: Player ratings from Tottenham’s penalty shoot out loss to Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur are out of the Carabao Cup at the earliest possible stage following a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Fulham. Tottenham player ratings vs Fulham: Fraser Forster – 6 – Can’t blame him for the goal and he made the saves he needed to make, including a couple of big ones in the […]

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Tottenham Hotspur are out of the Carabao Cup at the earliest possible stage following a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Fulham.

Tottenham player ratings vs Fulham:

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 29: Rodrigo Muniz of Fulham challenges for the ball with Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage on August 29, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Fraser Forster – 6 – Can’t blame him for the goal and he made the saves he needed to make, including a couple of big ones in the second half. Didn’t always look too confident with the ball at his feet though, which is strange because he usually does. Disappointed in the penalty shoot out really.

Emerson Royal – 5 – Struggled with the pace of the game in the inverted role this evening. Wasteful with the ball at his feet at times in his own third and also didn’t defend his own back post too well.

Davinson Sanchez – 3.5 – A bit all over the place again today. Fulham beat him for fun in the first half and he got himself into some real muddles. Then he came up with a couple of really impressive blocks. You just wish you could get that kind of solid defending more consistently across 90 minutes. Why on Earth he took (and missed) the third penalty, I will never know.

Micky Van de Ven – 7 – Looked a little less imperious without his buddy Romero but still oozed class throughout. Just looks like he’s placing the game in third gear and is always in control of every situation… apart from the own goal of course but you can’t really blame him for a deflection.

Ben Davies – 5.5 – Played a little better than Emerson on the other side when on the ball but still seemed a little stuck in that inverted role. Saw plenty of the ball but without too much movement to aim for, which doesn’t help.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 5 – Nothing specific to moan about but the difference between Bissouma and Hojbjerg in the pivot was huge. Not as talented in turning on the ball and driving Spurs up the pitch. We saw a lot more sideways and backward passing from Pierre.

Oliver Skipp – 4.5 – You can never fault his work off the ball but Skipp’s passing was really disappointing tonight. Wasted a couple of really promising attacks and gave the ball away once in his own third which almost led to a goal conceded on the break.

Giovani Lo Celso – 4.5 – A couple of nearly balls and that’s about all you can say. He was taken off at half-time for Dane Scarlett. Not a great advert for him to push James Maddison.

Manor Solomon – 5 – One or two bright spark type moments but Solomon was rather weak and wasteful on the ball. I suspect he will be more effective for Spurs when they are at their creative best, rather than a heavily-rotated side. Looked more dangerous off the left.

Richarlison – 6 – Have to give him credit for his goal, which he took very well. But his overall centre-forward play was frustrating at times. It’s like he’s hard-wired to try and create a scoring chance with every touch, when most the time he should be holding it up and passing it off.

Ivan Perisic – 5.5 – Very poor all night and wasteful with the ball, which is unlike him. Then he pulled a beautiful assist out of nowhere, as he so often does. Perhaps why Postecoglou likes him more as a final 20-minute substitute so far this season.

Substitutes: 

Dane Scarlett – 5.5 – Hojbjerg should have squared the ball to him for a tap-in. Almost went through on goal before taking a heavy touch. Didn’t see much of the ball to start with but grew into the game

Heung-min Son – 5 – Looked lacking in confidence when he burst into the Fulham box on the break and stopped in his own tracks. A little lucky with his penalty.

Dejan Kulusevski – 6 – Made a positive impact, particularly on the break, after coming off the bench. Highlight was a nutmeg down the right side of the box followed by a dangerous cross. Scored his penalty very well.

Pape Matar Sarr – 5 – Never quite got up to speed with the game. Lots of loose passes.

James Maddison – 6 – The biggest impact off the bench. A mesmerising run into the box that almost led to a goal and some lovely passes in behind for others too. Tucked his penalty home too.

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