Tottenham Short on Talent, Bereft of Ideas in Europa League Defeat to Anderlecht

On the eve of the Europa League clash with Anderlecht in his native Belgium, Jan Vertonghen pledged that Tottenham were ready to start taking their chances in the competition. 

His performance in defeat, and that of his compatriot and centre back partner Toby Alderweireld, suggests he was serious. 

It seems the remainder of his teammates didn't get the memo. 

In control of the match after a fortunate early goal for Christian Eriksen, Spurs should have taken the three points from this fixture. A Tottenham win would have left them in command of Group J and all but eliminated Anderlecht at the halfway stage. 

Instead, they ended up with no points and now sit level with their Belgian hosts. 

The group has now become more complicated.

Francois Walschaerts/Associated Press

Mauricio Pochettino afforded too much respect to Anderlecht and selected a conservative lineup. 

Eric Dier, fresh after sitting out the weekend's Premier League action due to suspension, started alongside Mousa Dembele in the centre of midfield while the first-choice central defence of Vertonghen and Alderweireld were also selected.

Pochettino selected a largely full-strength side.

Eriksen, Dier, Dembele and Erik Lamela all started while Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies replaced Kyle Walker and Danny Rose. Clinton Njie came in for Harry Kane. 

Despite the strength of the lineup, Anderlecht were able to compress, defend effectively and break quickly. 

Dier and Dembele were solid in the centre, so the Belgians simply went around them. 

Spurs' full-backs, the only real concession Pochettino made to rotation, were consistently overwhelmed and outmatched by the Anderlecht wide men. 

Trippier was caught badly out of position for the eventual winning goal, leaving an enormous gulf between himself and the next man in, while Davies was little better on the left flank. 

The simple strategy of conceding field position in favour of playing on the counter should not be so effective against a side with two holding midfielders. 

Spurs' sloppiness was key. 

The inability of their ball-players to make passes into tight areas constantly gave opportunities for Anderlecht to break.

Dier remains the best option in central midfield, but his limited capacity as a playmaker slows Spurs down. The attack is more predictable and easier to break down. 

Opposition sides are able to apply greater pressure to his midfield partner, safe in the knowledge that he lacks the capacity to punish the overcommitment. 

Anderlecht were able to force Eriksen and Dembele into risky passes that, more often than not, failed to find their target. 

Frustration was clearly affecting Tottenham's playmakers as they resorted to vertical passes, often fired in far too powerfully.

One chief cause of this frustration was Njie.

Signed from Lyon as an unfinished player, there is no doubting Njie's talent, but he is evidently not ready to start as Spurs' main striker.

His insistence on moving into wide areas meant Spurs had no presence in central areas and Anderlecht were able to adapt effectively.

The Belgians played so deep that Njie's pace was also largely nullified, removing his greatest asset.

Francois Walschaerts/Associated Press

He was unable to hold the ball up or find space behind Anderlecht's deep defensive line and so, despite often receiving possession in dangerous areas, Njie was largely a non-factor. 

It would be unfair to criticise him too heavily.  

Instead, attention should be turned to the club's hierarchy.

For perhaps the first time this season, the folly of Spurs' summer transfer dealings was laid bare. 

Had Daniel Levy and his transfer team been more effective in the summer, Njie would not have been sent into a match that was never likely to suit him.

While the club has been fortunate in the remarkable performance of Dier in his new central midfield role and Dele Alli's equally surprising adaptation to the Premier League, lightning has not struck thrice and Njie will take time to develop. 

Spurs were desperately poor against Anderlecht, but that has been the exception so far this season.

Ryan Mason and perhaps Heung-min Son will return for Spurs' next match, and they will add the spark that was desperately lacking in this performance.

Harry Kane, too, will be back in the starting lineup against Bournemouth. 

Even if Tottenham return to the winner's circle on Sunday, their European performance should not be forgotten. 

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

It is a frightening glimpse at the team that Spurs are just a few injuries away from picking every week.