A scrappy game resulted in Tottenham Hotspur's unbeaten streak being ended against Newcastle on Sunday. As they did the weekend before, away at West Brom, an England international put Tottenham ahead and they seemed to be cruising. However, following Eric Dier's first half header, Spurs were hit by a Newcastle backlash, and succumbed to late strikes by substitute forwards Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Faltering Spurs?
Spurs now haven't won in three games in the Premier League and their is growing discontent amongst fans, who feel their team could be in the top four had they not thrown away points where they shouldn't have.
They certainly have a viable argument. While a draw away at West Brom was not a poor result, it was a game Tottenham could have and should have won having been ahead, and this Sunday's game will certainly be treated as three points lost, given how abject Newcastle's performance was in the first half.
However, some of the knee-jerk criticism for Spurs' performances seems naive given the greater picture of their season. The Newcastle defeat was their first in the league since the first game of the season, and although they have only won six and drawn eight, Spurs sit fifth in the table, three points off the highly sought after top four.
Whilst the criticism levelled at Mauricio Pochettino's side has come as criticism for individuals, as well as severe questioning of the sides mentality when ahead in games. This is a genuine concern, as they seem bereft of a 'Plan B' when teams seem able to disrupt their high energy system, as was demonstrated when Steve McClaren's side came out reinvigorated after half time on Sunday.
Danish mercurial subject to criticism
Amongst the players who has been subject to criticism has been Christian Eriksen. To an outsider, this would be surprising given the previous fondness for the Dane amongst Spurs fans since his arrival in 2013. And this fondness has been well deserved, following match winning performances and goals throughout his first two seasons, including spectacular dead ball efforts.
So telling it is then that Eriksen is subject to widespread criticism, particularly as it isn't unfounded. With his goals having dried up recently, he has only two all season, his impact upon games has been under question.
Recently he has struggled, and the Newcastle defeat at the weekend was the epitome of this. Too often did Eriksen receive the ball, and then was dispossessed. Being a 'number ten' is very difficult, it requires the ability to take the ball in very tight spaces and then offload it, creating chances in the process. Eriksen has been found out both in this role and out wide of late.
This is ultimately a result of his stature and subsequent presence on the ball. He is a slight figure and hence is naturally outmuscled by bulkier defensive players, but this is no excuse - he will have faced this his whole career. For some similar players, their pace allows them to evade challenges, but unfortunately for Eriksen he is not quick enough to beat players through sheer speed.
Lamela looking re-invigorated
Juxtaposed to the rise of Erik Lamela this season, and Eriksen's shortcomings are illuminated. Lamela's heightened desire and passion shown during games may result in him picking up yellow cards, but it also makes him an ever more threatening attacking prospect.
After two tricky seasons where he struggled with being nullified as a result of being too easily stopped, Lamela is looking and playing with greater strength than ever, and this has vastly improved the way in which he dribbles forward with the ball and retains it in tight spaces.
Eriksen must learn the way Lamela did, otherwise he may fall out of favour at White Hart Lane.
Example set by local rival can be encouraging
However, it would be rash to even suggest Eriksen without a future at White Hart Lane, especially considering how succesful he was last season. He can take encouragement from the rise of Mesut Özil at Arsenal. Following over a season of being berated as a big-money flop, Özil began to come into his own at the end of last season and has kicked on this year. With 13 assists already this season, he is again being rated amongst the worlds best.
Something which has characterised Özil's recent rejuvination has been his added eagerness on the ball. Whereas before, and similar to Eriksen currently, he waited for the ball to come to him, now he drops deeper on occasion, receiving the ball and bringing it forward positively. This gives attacks impetus from the outset and is something which talisman Harry Kane has to do on occasion, and hence if adopted by Eriksen it wouldn't only benefit him, but also his team and their fan-favourite striker Kane.
Eriksen's dip in form may only be temporary, and his side's position is barely precarious, but it is certainly true that a player of Eriksen's abilities has the potential to become world class, and he will only do this if he adapts his game so that he becomes a more dynamic player, and one that can step up and lead his side back into form.