ERST LESEN! » averaged just 1.1 runs in his nine losses.Archers

Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Monaco means Mauricio Pochettino’s men can no longer progress in the Champions League. It’s the continuation of a worrying run of form for Spurs, writes Adam Bate… Pochettino argued that you can only smile after Tottenham bounced back from a lacklustre first-half to earn a point at Arsenal earlier this month. Their fans added laughter to the smiles after turning another derby around against West Ham at the weekend. But Tuesdays defeat to Monaco showed theres also a serious side to Tottenhams travails.Of course, this is no crisis club. Spurs are the only team in the Premier League who remain unbeaten in the competition. But nor could the 2-1 defeat in the principality, one that confirmed the team will not be progressing to the Champions League knockout stages, be regarded as a shock result either. Spurs are struggling not soaring this season. Tottenham crash out Tottenhams 2-1 defeat at Monaco ends their hopes of Champions League progress. Saturdays scarcely deserved win was their first in eight. The fluency that so marked their title tilt in the spring is long gone and explanations are offered as regularly as the fixtures pile up. Its the challenge of the Champions League. Its the Wembley home games. Its injuries to key players like Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld. Its new players needing time to settle.All of these things should be seen as reasons rather excuses. Chelsea and Liverpool are enjoying far greater preparation time. Pochettino can show videos to his players but the opportunity to drill them relentlessly on the training ground has been lost. The problem is we dont have time to train too much, he admits. The priority is to rest and recover. Tottenhams players are struggling to regain their fluency this term Wembley has been a factor in their Champions League disappointment. The problem is home games, as simple as that, said Hugo Lloris this week. Its very clear.The ease with which Monaco cut through Spurs on Tuesday challenged that theory but nevertheless, had they so much as drawn their two Wembley games, theyd be on course for the last 16.The disruptive impact of losing both Kane and Alderweireld can hardly be overstated either, particularly when neither man missed a Premier League game last season.Replacements Kevin Wimmer and Vincent Janssen have offered nowhere near the same quality - but could that ever really have been expected of back-up figures given the abilities of the missing men? The confidence, belief and fluency just seems to have drained out of them. Paul Walsh, Sky Sports And yet, still there are issues that nag away. While Pochettinos reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in the game has been too hard earned to be easily lost, it must be acknowledged that mistakes have been made too.The coach is striving to get the balance right in rotating his squad but its difficult to be persuaded that he is getting it spot on.With Alderweireld missing, Jan Vertonghens inclusion surely became of paramount importance against a Monaco side that had scored 28 goals in their previous eight matches. Not since Alderweirelds arrival had Spurs gone into either a Premier League or a Champions League fixture without one of the two Belgians in the starting line-up. Harry Kane did equalise from the spot but Monaco soon retook the lead Instead, the experienced Vertonghen was left on the bench as Wimmer and Eric Dier were paired at the back. Alongside him among the substitutes was Kyle Walker as Pochettino opted to go into the game with only Danny Rose of his first-choice back four. It was a gamble befitting the Monte Carlo surroundings and it did not pay off.Dier, looking as uncomfortable in defence as hed appeared assured in midfield, was guilty of a wild swing at the ball in conceding the first-half penalty that was saved by the brilliant Lloris.Wimmers woes, meanwhile, show no sign of coming to an end - unable to intercept crosses as might be expected of a man of his height let alone track runners at pace. Hugo Lloris made nine saves against Monaco - the joint-most by a goalkeeper in this seasons Champions League. But its not all about individual errors. Tactically too, Spurs have issues that need to be addressed.The lack of width in the team is supposed to be resolved in an attacking sense by the forays of the full-backs, but against Monaco both Rose and Kieran Trippier found themselves badly exposed defensively by the absence of meaningful cover ahead of them.This was a key factor in Monacos match-winning goal. Straight from the kick-off, right-back Djibril Sidibe was able to overlap untracked leaving Rose in a two-on-one situation and unable to cut out the cross. On the other side of the pitch, left-winger Thomas Lemar had the freedom to pick his spot with no sign of any support for Trippier. Highlights of Tottenhams 3-2 Premier League win over West Ham Perhaps Pochettino does not feel he has the players to do things any differently right now. Certainly, wide options Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin NKoudou have shown little so far to suggest they should be entrusted with such roles. And the Argentine at least seems well aware of the need for his Spurs project to evolve more than two years into the job.Hes spoken of the need to be flexible and to play in different ways in different games recently, backing that up by going with three at the back against Arsenal. But his admission that he cannot rotate the way wed like to rotate the players suggest that his selections are being governed by issues of fitness rather than tactical preference. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! Weve had a difficult period over the last month for different reasons, he said ahead of a result that leaves Spurs facing the prospect of the Europa League once more.We need to be clever. We need to assess every player because we have some problems, we need to be clinical in how we pick the starting 11 because we have a lot of games ahead.The next of those games is at Chelsea on Saturday. Its a return to the ground where Pochettinos players unravelled along with their title hopes in May. Theyll need to be cleverer this time. Given the form of the two teams, they might also need some more of their derby fortune if theyre to find a way to be smiling when they leave Stamford Bridge.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! Also See: Tottenham crash out As it happened Michael Strahan Giants Jersey .Balotelli uploaded on Instagram a picture of the video-game character Super Mario, with whom the Italy international shares a nickname, with text around the image including jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew. Harry Carson Youth Jersey . -- Downcast before the final game of what had been a difficult road trip, the Ottawa Senators found a way to dig out a little momentum in the desert before heading home. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Eli-manning-giants-jersey/ . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night. Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey . LOUIS -- David Ross never expected to be on a World Series podium. Mark Bavaro Womens Jersey . The 30-year-old Moore played in 13 games for the Saints last season, catching 37 balls for 457 yards and two touchdowns.CLEVELAND - Corey Klubers closing argument for the AL Cy Young Award was a convincing one.Kluber struck out 11 in eight innings, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 on Friday night.The game concluded about an hour before the Indians were eliminated from playoff contention by Oaklands 6-2 victory at Texas. The As victory also put an end to Klubers breakout season.Kluber (18-9), who allowed five hits and walked two, is tied for the AL lead in wins. He recorded his 11th double-digit strikeout game of the season and leads the majors with 269 strikeouts.He looked like he was on a mission, but hes looked like that all season, Indians manager Terry Francona said. That was Corey Kluber at his best, and hes done it so many times.The race for the AL Cy Young Award appears to be down to Kluber and Seattles Felix Hernandez. The Mariners ace, who was roughed up in his last outing, is expected to start Sunday.Kluber, as he has all season, deflected talk of any personal achievement.Its not my call, Kluber said when asked about his chances. It would be a great accomplishment, but the biggest thing is the team winning.Cody Allen, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save, believes Kluber should win baseballs biggest prize for a pitcher.Hes been our horse all year, Allen said. Hes an elite talent. Hes a guy you can run out there and match him up against anybody. Every time he pitches we have a pretty good chance to win. A guy like him is pretty special.Kluber was at his best when his team needed him the most, going 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA in his last five starts. He had recorded 14 strikeouts in each of his past two outings, becoming the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2004 to have consecutive 14-strikeout games.Kluber also helped Cleveland set the major league record for strikeouts in a season when he fanned David DeJesus in the eighth inning for the teams 1,429th K of the season. Detroits pitchers fanned 1,428 in 2013.That says weve got pitchers on this staff with good stuff, Kluber said. That record speaks volumes for our staff.Jose Ramirez homered in the first for the games only run.Chris Archer (10-9) pitched 7 2-3 innings of three-hit ball for the Rays. The right-hander went 1-1 with a spparkling 0.dddddddddddd.86 ERA in his final three starts of the year.Klubers biggest jam came in the seventh. Matt Joyce reached on a one-out single and Kevin Kiermaier drew a four-pitch walk with two away. Kluber struck out Ryan Hanigan looking on a 2-2 pitch to end the inning.Kluber finished with a flourish, striking out DeJesus and Evan Longoria to end the eighth.Kluber struck out the side in the first and also fanned two in the third and fifth. James Loney led off the second with a single, but Nick Franklin bounced into a double play. After Matt Joyce walked, Brandon Guyer struck out.Loney singled with two out in the fourth, but Franklin grounded out. Kiermaier tripled with two down in the fifth, but Hanigan fouled out to first baseman Carlos Santana, who tumbled to the ground while making the catch.The elevated fastball was his friend, Rays manager Joe Maddon said. He did a nice job with that. He was not throwing the ball with the middle part of the plate very often tonight.The Indians scored 19 runs in Klubers previous three starts, but struggled again with their ace on the mound. Cleveland averaged just 1.1 runs in his nine losses.Archers only mistake cost him the game. He struck out six and walked two.WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKESIt was nearly a year ago, on Oct. 2, that the Rays were last in Cleveland, eliminating the Indians with a 4-0 victory in the AL wild-card game. Interestingly enough, Alex Cobb, who started that night for the Rays, will match up with the Indians starter from that game, Danny Salazar, on Sunday.PRAISE FOR THE CAPTAINFrancona wasnt surprised retiring Yankees SS Derek Jeter hit a game-ending single in his last home game Thursday night. That probably sums up Jeter, he said. Hes always ready for the moment. If it seems like theres more moments for him, maybe its because he makes those moments.UP NEXTRays: RHP Alex Colome (1-0) makes his third start and fifth appearance of the season Saturday. He allowed four runs in one inning in a relief appearance Sunday against the White Sox.Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (8-6) will try to finish on a strong note in his 14th start of the season. He held Kansas City to two runs in 7 1-3 innings Tuesday, but got the loss. ' ' '