Punched where it hurts

After the near orgasmic feeling of euphoria that followed the New Year’s Day spectacular win over title favourites Chelsea, there was an opportunity to move even closer to Manchester United and surprise package, Southampton in the race for top four. So this defeat really did feel like a punch in the cojones as Crystal Palace rode the wave of new energy generated by Alan Pardew’s return as manager to record their first victory in eight premiership games. Palace on paper should be a home and away banker despite the unpredictable nature of the premiership. Yet they have taken four points off Spurs this season. It was the same last season as they played well at the Lane and we were a tad fortunate to win at Palace with a last minute penalty. I hope they don’t become a bit of a bogey team.  

After a lot of tinkering earlier in the season, coach Mauricio Pochettino appears to have settled on his best eleven. However, with Ryan Mason and Erik Lamela injured and Nabil Bentaleb away at the African Nations cup, Mousa Dembele, Benjamin Stambouli and Andros Townsend were given a chance to impress. None of them impressed. Wilfred Zaha was more dangerous for Palace in the twenty minutes he spent on the pitch than Townsend in the seventy frustrating minutes he spent on the field. He used to be called a cheap Gareth Bale. Now he plays like a cheap Aaron Lennon. Mousa Dembele showed his usual nice touches and close control but a player of his talents should be dictating Spurs’ attacking play from midfield in the way Luka Modric used to. Stambouli looks a useful player but in the fast and furious world of the premier league, occasionally looks a yard off the pace, illustrated by his despairing lunge which conceded the game changing penalty that allowed Palace back into the game. Kyle Walker also had poor last quarter of the game as Zaha caused him problems and the cross which Jason Puncheon converted for the winner came from his side. With Christian Eriksson and Nacer Chadli only showing glimpses of their form, it fell to new hero, Harry Kane to carry the fight to Palace. This he did, scoring for the 17^th time this season. However, one goal was never going to be enough, with a defence that has struggled to keep clean sheets despite the heroics of Hugo Lloris in goal.

We waited for the last quarter charge that Spurs had become famous for, given their habit of scoring late winners, sadly it never came and for the second game in a row, they have let a lead slip. That nasty habit needs to stop. Spurs players have generally appeared fitter this season. However with a few absences and with six games still to come before January is out, Pochettino must manage his squad well as that fitness is going to be tested to the limit. Given the way Pochettino likes to train and integrate his players, it is unlikely a January transfer will offer any short term value unless he is signing a player he has worked with before in the premiership. With Southampton going so well (that must irritate Poch surely!) that’s unlikely to happen.

Given that this was always meant to be a season of transition, most Spurs fans are reasonably satisfied with the philosophy Pochettino is trying to embed at the club. There is no doubt mild irritation that with the other expected top four contenders blowing hot and cold, Spurs appear hell bent on matching them for inconsistency rather taking advantage as Southampton are so thrillingly doing. That’s why this result, coming so soon after the Chelsea win was so deflating. My gut feeling is that this inconsistency will continue through the rest of the season, especially with cup games proving a distraction and will eventually cost us a top four finish. Whether Spurs finish top for or not, beat the noisy neighbours the way they beat Chelsea and win the Capital one cup and I would quite satisfied. Not asking for much am I?