Superkid Eric leaves Big Sam in Dier straights

Sometime during the coming week, Big Sam ‘Allardici’ the West Ham manager will use his weekly newspaper column (The Evening Standard) to have a good whinge about the injustice of Saturday’s result. He would point to the 18 shots West Ham had during the game and how their general play was better. He would fail to mention that his team actually only had four shots on target, the same as Spurs and that despite playing more than a third of the match with 10 men, Spurs actually had the greater possession. He would forget that Spurs outplayed his side last October at White Hart Lane yet found themselves on the wrong end of a three-nil score line. Stats get thrown around these days to paint a picture, but the truth is that stats are only used in this context when a manager is trying to explain away a bad performance, result or both.

Ordinarily, I won’t devote this much space to West Ham. However, they have become a bit of an irritant in recent years, what with the Olympic stadium fiasco, dodgy lasagne and especially last year when Spurs lost three times to them and I had to listen to a smug-looking Big Sam milk each victory with the self-congratulatory air of an A-list tactical guru of a manager which he is not.  So although it’s only the first match of the season, it felt good to win it so late and deflate the optimism surrounding the bubble blowing hammers.

In terms of the match itself, it was a bold call by Mauricio Pochettino to give a debut to 20 year old Eric Dier who played well both at centre back and also when he moved to right back following Kyle Naughton’s rather harsh red card. I was really looking forward to seeing Christian Eriksson and Erik Lamela playing together in attack behind a motivated Emmanuel Adebayor. However, neither of them had a significant impact on the game and as a result, Spurs attacking play was not as impressive as one would have liked. Adebayor played well as a lone frontman but had few opportunities to attack West Ham.

The match was a slow burner to start with, but West Ham had the better of the opening 20 minutes. The sending off of Naughton changed the dynamics of the match though and denied us the chance to see the evolution of Pochettino’s philosophy. Spurs played better once West Ham’s James Collins was sent off to level the playing field. The fact that Eric Dier was so far forward in the 93^rd minute to finish so calmly tells us Pochettino is inclined to always go for it. It also tells us that Eric Dier is a good footballer, not surprising as he has been brought up in an academy that produced Luis Figo and Christiano Ronaldo among others.  

With Spurs unusually quite transfer window and the trauma of last season still fresh in our minds, expectation has been a bit more tempered this season compared to last and the only two questions to be answered this season are; can last summer’s signings live up to their reputations after failing to deliver last season. And can Mauricio Pochettino deliver success and the stylish football Spurs fans see at their birth right with players he has inherited? He backs himself to improve players as evidenced at Southampton and has shown a willingness to attack away from home. His high pressing game might be unpicked by better teams but Spurs fans will enjoy the attacking mentality which makes a change from the safety first approach of Andre Villas Boas.

It is only three points though, so not too much can be read into it. History shows us the folly of jumping to conclusions early. Six years ago, a young centre back tipped for big things scored the winner on his Spurs debut. Three years later, said young centre back, Sebastian Bassong had progressed to playing for Norwich City. Spurs started last season with a win at Crystal Palace. By the end of the season, we had lost two managers and some of our dignity despite a respectable 6^th place. Hope and trepidation abound in equal measure. Such is the lot of a Spurs supporter these days. We’ll know a lot about Spurs prospects this season when we play Liverpool on the 31^st of August, a few hours before the transfer window closes.  

It’s going to be another white knuckle ride at the Lane.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

All hail King of the Lane, Sherwood falls on his sword and Why I am relieved Arsenal won the FA Cup…….. Sort of!

It’s been interesting at Spurs this last week. Twenty four hours after an ultimately unfulfilling season concluded, White hart lane was again filled up as supporters turned out to celebrate the career of the peerless Ledley King with a testimonial match featuring some past favourites like David Ginola, Teddy Sheringham, Edgar Davids, Paul Stalteri (really!) current stars like Emmanuel Adebayor, Christian Eriksen and Sandro as well as some players of the future. At the centre of it all was King, still only 33 but cruelly forced to retire from the game at just 31. Watching highlights of King at his pomp, it feels almost tragically unjust that injuries curtailed his career so early. How much would a fit Ledley King be worth now? Coming through the youth ranks and a Spurs man to the end, he emerged at just the right time to give Spurs fans hope after the gut wrenching defection of a certain S Campbell.  In a premier league era that had Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Campbell and John Terry as its’ finest defenders, Ledley King was a class above.  Many strikers list King as the toughest defender they faced. It seems almost ridiculous that for the last four years of his career, he hardly trained and yet his performance level never dropped.  Ledley King is the standard by which all future Spurs defenders will be judged. A packed house left Ledley King in no doubt about the affection with which he is held. With the match proceeds going to charitable causes, it was a great night all round. Thanks for the memories King. As Spurs fans sang, “He’s only got one knee, he’s better than John Terry, oh Ledley…..”

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was conspicuous by his absence from King’s testimonial. The following day, we realised why. He had been sharpening the executioners axe and Tim Sherwood was predictably relieved of his duties as Spurs Manager. I mentioned when Sherwood was appointed in November that as a protégé of media darling and former boss, Harry Redknapp, he would get a far easier ride from the media than his predecessor, Andre Villas Boas received. Sure enough, the media has been wailing about the injustice of it all. How Sherwood has the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in the premier league era. How he was refreshingly honest and so on. Many pundits, still upset that their pal, Harry Redknapp was sacked by Levy two years ago have attacked Levy as some trigger happy executioner who knows nothing about football and hasn’t given managers a chance. I beg to differ. Daniel Levy has moved Spurs forward beyond all recognition since taking over from the Alan Sugar thirteen years ago. In fact I blame every manager that has ever been sacked rather than Daniel Levy.

Tim Sherwood has a lot to say for himself and like his mentor, he is always good for quote. However, he has never managed before and this opportunity has come too soon for him, given where Spurs need to be. For someone who has played for Spurs and been on the coaching staff since 2008, he did not seem to grasp that the most important task of any Spurs manager is to establish an attractive playing identity. Much has been made of the number of signings made last summer and how with the exception of Christian Eriksen, had not really delivered on their potential. But by openly questioning most of them and writing some off as rapidly as he did, he alienated himself. Daniel Levy’s identikit manager is a coach who can improve players on the training ground and be tactically astute during matches. Sherwood’s selections, formations and theatrics on the touchline did not give the impression he could be that and for a man with no managerial achievements, he talked far too much. In the circumstances, he did a decent job and he deserves great credit for getting a lot out of Emmanuel Adebayor as well as giving youngsters Nabil Bentaleb and Harry Kane game time, perhaps too much game time in the case of Bentaleb. 

Having lost out on Louis Van Gaal to Manchester United, it is now between, Frank De Boer of Ajax and Mauricio Pochettino of Southampton. My sense is that Rafa Benitez is not as available as we are led to believe and Carlo Ancellotti’s future may hang on winning the Champions League for Real Madrid this weekend. Ideally, I would prefer Ancellotti, just because of his mightily impressive CV. Failing that, I would prefer Frank De Boer, who is making an impression and whose, footballing education and philosophy is tailor made for Spurs. I have sung the praises of Pochettino before and my feeling is that he has great potential. A concern will be that he has not managed a club with the expectation of Spurs, however if he is as ambitious as I feel he is, he will overcome that easily.  Over to you Mr Levy. Choose well and may the Spurs be with you.

Saturday was interesting. The FA Cup final was on and the one team I could not bear to see playing in one much less winning the damn thing were the favourites. So when Hull City, featuring former Spurs player, Tom Huddlestone and  Spurs loanee Jake Livermore raced into a two-nil lead, the thought of Arsenal fans trooping dejectedly home empty handed and mentally scared was quite uplifting. However, the team who defeated Spurs on the way to the final had just enough left to take the game away from Hull. So in addition to beating us to the 4^th Champions League spot, they also had the new FA Cup to rub in Spurs faces.  The sight of their fans cavorting with shameless joy through North London grated to be honest. However, in the midst of that scowl was some relief. You see if Hull had won the FA Cup, Spurs would have been classified as England’s third entrant behind Everton and Hull to the Europa league and would have had to play an extra qualifying round. The significance of this is that that qualifier is scheduled for the 31^st of July. Two weeks after the world cup and with little time for a proper pre-season. Due to Hull’s loss, Spurs will enter the Europa league at the last qualifying stage with matches scheduled for late August. This gives Spurs the benefit of having an uninterrupted pre-season and starting the premier league in the best shape possible (although due to the world cup, every club will have some disruption) and could pay dividends later on in what is sure to be another intense season.  So the gooners had inadvertently given Spurs a helping hand for next season. Nice.

‘Supply teacher’ Sherwood finishes class in style.

Two issues had dominated the build up to the last game of a season that has undoubtedly been among the most memorable in the history of the premier league. The inevitable speculation over who would be the next Spurs manager, and whether it is worth qualifying for the Europa league. Some fans, having bought into the idea that the Europa league campaign would jeopardise the chance of a top four or title challenge. I will come back to both issues later. First there was a game of football to enjoy and Spurs players no doubt wanted to end a difficult season on a high.

It turned out that Aston Villa were just the kind of opponents Spurs needed for a day like this. Pacy enough to keep the back four honest, but weak enough in midfield (despite the best efforts of their best player, Fabian Delph) to make Spurs look quite good. Paulinho, showing the kind of form that will please his national coach ahead of the world cup could have had a hat trick instead of the solitary one he scored during a first half in which Spurs played with a freedom that had been absent for much of the campaign. Christian Eriksson, the fans player of the year was as usual at the heart of Spurs best moves and Emmanuel Adebayor, who has had a big impact on Spurs season both when he has played and even when he hasn’t ensured that the famous ‘salute’ celebration will be seen at the lane one more time, scoring the penalty that finished the game as contest before the half time.

The second half had all the intensity of a pre season kick about but was memorable for three moments, all of which reflects rather well on Tim Sherwood. By extending a congratulatory hug to Sandro when he was substituted, he was showed no damage had been done following the twitter spat a few weeks ago. Secondly, with Sherwood, seemingly resigned to his fate, he seemed able to relax and enjoy the occasion and nothing illustrated this more that his invitation to season ticket holder and armchair expert Danny Grimsdale to have his gilet and sit in the dugout. While I have sat in the dugout during a stadium tour and imagined barking orders at players and making all sorts of tactical signs, like a hyperactive orchestra conductor, to experience that during a live competitive match with a full house must have been surreal. Lastly the second half was memorable for the fact that it ended with four players from the youth team on the pitch.

Nabil Bentaleb and Harry Kane have already made an impact on the first team and both have great potential. Seeing Alex Pritchard and Milos Veljkovic gave a glimpse of the future and with Andros Townsend already a first team regular, the footballing future of Spurs appears in good hands. Tim Sherwood deserves some credit for that given his previous role as Academy Director.

Speculation will no doubt turn to Sherwood’s Spurs future. Sherwood has had a lot to say for himself during the six months he has been in charge. This was not the most dignified way to go about auditioning for a big job like Spurs. The stats may say he has the best win percentage of any Spurs manager in the premier league; however, he has not managed for long enough to be judged properly. He has merely shown that given a long time, he may turn out to be decent top flight manager. He did a respectable job in the circumstances, not least in bringing Adebayor back into the team and getting something close to his best out of him.

However, Spurs under Daniel Levy has evolved into a side that expects to fight regularly for the top four positions. This means getting between 75 – 80 points. Saying Spurs should wake up (translation; not a realistic prospect) when Liverpool and Everton, spending less money make it their season’s ambition betrays a lack of belief that was always going to grate with Levy. While no one expects it to be a cake walk, his Keeganesque unravelling when the pressure intensified during the season defining period in March showed that for all his qualities, the Spurs job has come too soon in his career.

In addition to his occasional tactical naivety, he also failed to instil any discernable identity into Spurs play. To this day, I have no sense of what a Spurs team under Sherwood will play like. Proven coaches like Pochettino at Southampton and even Tony Pulis at Crystal Palace have shown a willingness and ability to adapt and create a discernable system based on the players they find at a new club. Given, the outlay on players at Spurs right now, it is likely that Levy will be looking for coaches and tacticians rather than someone to uproot an entire team and bring even new players in.

Sherwood jokingly quipped in his first press conference that if he does well, he would be off to Real Madrid! Right now, there is more chance of him going to Reading. However, if Tim Sherwood is as good a manager as he thinks he is, cream rises to the top as Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers have shown and he will get his chance at the big time again. For now, I can only say, Thanks Tim. It is never dull at Spurs and your antics throughout the season ensured that at least one tradition was maintained in this topsy turvy season.

　

Hammered where it hurts.

Walking towards West Ham’s football ground from Upton Park station with thousands of West Ham fans, I pondered the inescapable feeling that the Upton Park faithful seemed unusually cheerful.  Was it the spring sunshine in East London? Was it the fact that they were more or less safe from relegation? You see from my previous life as a match day steward at among other grounds, Upton Park, West Ham fans have not sounded this cheerful since the days when Paulo Di Canio was serving up G and Ts (that’s genius and tantrums). The locals were supposed to be restless, the fans want Big Sam ‘Allardici’ out, Spurs had ‘form’ and were favourites going into this fixture.  

After a depressing run of results in March where the much coveted prize of Champions League qualification disappeared into the distance, the run-in had offered the chance to put a run together and finish the season on a high. Having stuffed Sunderland 5-1, given West Brom a three goal head start before rallying to salvage a 3-3 draw, seen off Fulham 3-1 and came away from an intimidating Britannia stadium with a 1-0 victory over Stoke. So Spurs understandably went into this match against a West Ham side that had lost their last four matches with confidence.

From the start though, it looked like West Ham wanted it more. Andy Carroll, predictably was giving Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul a hard time and his team mates were winning the second ball. Giving Stewart Downing a chance to run at the back for by playing a high defensive line when the midfield was not closing down space was organisational folly and while Kaboul tried to be cute with the foul, the red card was inevitable, although the goal that followed was unfortunate as it bounced off Harry Kane. Last week, Mark Hughes Stoke City pushed Spurs hard despite being a man down for a large part of the match. Tim Sherwood’s men, although tried to make a game of it, never gave the impression they could control this game.

Mohammed Diame gave the kind of powerhouse midfield play that Spurs fans hoped to see regularly from Paulinho who was completely overshadowed, even attempting a spectacular bicycle kick that any Brazilian would be proud of. With a release clause of just £3.5 million in his contract, Spurs could do worse than sign him, especially if the big sharks come hunting for the Brazilian with a fat cheque. Hugo Lloris as usual, needed to make too many great saves to keep Spurs in the match for comfort, but while he enjoys being involved in the game and always has a self- congratulatory look after making a save, even he was seriously annoyed by the defending for West Ham’s second goal. The 51st goal conceded, six less than Sunderland.

The outstanding Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone said after masterminding Atletico’s remarkable run to the Champions league final that he was grateful to the players’ mothers for giving birth to players with big balls because of the effort the players put in to repel every Chelsea attack. Emmanuel Adebayor and Paulinho, in the defensive wall set up to block a West Ham free kick seemed desperately keen to protect their own crown jewels, parting like the proverbial Red sea to allow Stewart Downing’s unremarkable free kick to go straight through to the Spurs goal. The match was effectively over despite the players’ game efforts to get a foothold in the game.

Trudging around Upton Park after the match, the spring sunshine a marked contrast from my mood, I looked for a pub to watch Manchester United do their level best to finish below Spurs by losing to Sunderland and offer crumbs of comfort to disgruntled Spurs fans who would have taken finishing above Manchester United at the start of the season. Just not with one third of the premiership as well. Watching the match in the midst of cheerful West Ham fans chatter, it struck me that West Ham fans have rather enjoyed being an irritant to Spurs ambitions in recent years, the dodgy lasagne in 2006 which denied Spurs the chance to finish above Arsenal and qualify for the Champions league. Most fans are still to be convinced of the merits of the Olympic park but they enjoyed giving Spurs a bloody nose over the affair and this season, they have beaten Spurs three times for the first time, having also knocked us out of the league cup.

The end of the season is being played out against the background of continuing speculation on Tim Sherwood’s future and which exotic manager will take over yet another rebuilding job with Frank De Boer the latest flavour of the month. I said in an earlier post that chairman, Daniel Levy needed to get an ‘A’ list manager or an ambitious young coach who will be backed and given time. With the managerial execution at Manchester United and Real Madrid closer than ever to ‘La Decima’ Louis Van Gaal and Carlo Ancelotti are now out of reach. Rafa Benitez is the only other ‘A’ List – ish coach on account of his Champions league win with Liverpool and record at Chelsea and Valencia. So we are left with young ambitious managers. Can Levy unearth the next Diego Simeone, Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp? Managers with a clear footballing philosophy and identity who can do what Tim Sherwood has failed to do despite respectable results and give Spurs an identity that Spurs fans can proudly identify with. We sure hope so.

Four-midable Liverpool put Spurs in their place

Yesterday was officially the start of the British summer season and as the clocks went forward by one hour, Spurs looked a few light years away from remotely challenging for the Champions league positions as Liverpool inflicted yet another pasting. The most depressing aspect of the drubbing was the air of inevitability about it. Such has been the gulf in performance between the two teams this season that few Spurs fans travelled to Liverpool seriously believing that a victory was possible.

Even allowing for the loss of some key players, there is still a look of trial and error about some of coach Tim Sherwood’s team selections, such as the failure to start with Andros Townsend, selection of Gylfi Sigurdsson and persistence with Nabil Bentaleb ahead of Mousa Dembele and Sandro respectively, given the momentum and danger posed by Liverpool’s midfield. In truth though, it is difficult to say with any certainty these players would have made any difference to the outcome, given that no one has really shown a consistent ability to lift Spurs play beyond the mediocre.

Liverpool, the top scorers in the league this season did not really need a helping hand from Spurs. However, Younes Kaboul who had a wretched game at the back for Spurs did just that, clumsily getting caught out of position before scoring in his own net after just ninety seconds as Spurs continued their miserable habit of starting games poorly. With their tails up, Liverpool sought to finish the game inside the first half. In the circumstances, Spurs did well to survive the next twenty minutes and ease their way into the match. However, just when it was looking like Spurs might make a game of it, some kami-kaze defending gifted Luis Suarez a chance to extend Liverpool’s lead which he took with typical relish. From then on, it was case of how many Liverpool wanted to score. Goal keeper Hugo Lloris was the only difference between Spurs a truly humiliating score line, restricting Liverpool to two more goals. The intensity and energy that Liverpool players showed seemed beyond Spurs which is surprising, given that Liverpool played in midweek while Spurs did not.

Up in the stands, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy sat stony faced as the carnage unfolded below him, no doubt reflecting that for the past four seasons, he has headed to Anfield, confident of finishing ahead of Liverpool regardless of the result on the day and wondering at how the fortunes of both clubs have suddenly changed to such an extent that in two league matches this season, Liverpool have put nine goals past Spurs without reply.

The truth is that the trajectory of both clubs changed last August, Spurs sold their best player, Gareth Bale for a king’s ransom and spent (recklessly in retrospect)without deciding what the identity of the team will look like post Bale. Not for a very long time has the loss of one figure robbed a team so decisively of it’s confidence and identity (Manchester United fans may beg to differ given their own struggles) Liverpool on the other hand, steadfastly refused to sell their star player, Luis Suarez for less than a king’s ransom and instead, built the team around him. That decision has effectively put Liverpool back in the Champion’s league, with all the financial rewards and may yet bring them the biggest prize in English football. At the start of this season, your knowledge of football would have been questioned had you suggested that Liverpool would finish above Spurs in the league, much less challenge for the title. That, the informed thinking went was Spurs destiny after the sugar rush spending frenzy in the transfer market.  However, as with any sugar rush, the high wears off quickly and leaves you with a quite severe low. Low is exactly what Spurs fans feel right now as a season high on promise has imploded before their very eyes.

The good news is Spurs are unlikely to lose heavily again for the rest of the season. They might even win all of their remaining games to put a rosy gloss on what has been an attritional season and strengthen Sherwood’s case for being long term manager. The bad news is such a run risks creating the illusion of being close to the top four, of only needing the odd tweak here and there to be genuine contenders, again creating a new bubble of false expectation. The Spurs hierarchy really need to reflect on their vision for Spurs, which coach out there is best suited to deliver the footballing vision and on what basis. Then back him to the hilt for the next three years at least regardless of whether Champions league qualification is achieved or not. Sugar rush fixes have not worked. It is time for a new approach to taking Spurs back to the big time.  

Comeback kid Sherwood still staring down the barrel despite win

Spurs salvaged more points from losing positions than any other team in the premiership, last season. Admittedly, a lot of those points were down to a player now the most expensive in the world. It made for exciting matches as you knew you could not leave the stadium before the end of the match while Spurs were playing. Spurs have delivered precious little of that excitement during this sometimes attritional season. So it was great to experience the thrill of fighting back from two goals behind to win the game in the last minute. Spurs fans could have done without the despair of going two goals down, however, this is Tottenham Hotspur and we don’t do straightforward.

Roberto Soldado would have been pleased to get a rare ninety minutes under his belt. He once again showed clever touches and a good footballing brain and linked especially well with Christian Eriksson. Despite his obvious lack of confidence in front of goal, there is enough in Soldado’s game to suggest the promise of a much better second season. Nacer Chadli also played well and just in the last few games is beginning to show glimpses of the pedigree he developed in the Dutch league while Eriksson has had a creditable first season in English football and influenced more matches for Spurs than any of the other summer arrivals. Once again, he was influential in this match, darting into box twice to score the type of bread and butter goals Gary Lineker would have been proud of before playing a decisive role in setting up the late winner for Gylfi Sigurdsson. Despite the last minute heroics, it has been a disappointing season for Sigurdsson. Perhaps his confidence was affected by so many summer arrivals reducing his starting chances. He just hasn’t raised his game this season.

At the back, Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen were their usual mix of good play and questionable positioning as the often got exposed for holding such a high defensive line, especially in the first half and better teams than Southampton could have scored three or four goals. The full backs were average. Kyle Naughton in particular had a poor first half with his hesitancy causing both of Southampton’s goals. He however remains a useful back up for Kyle Walker. Overall though, there is still a lack of an distinct style in Spurs play despite the character shown to fight back to win the game. Following on from Thursday’s battling performance in Lisbon where they almost took Benfica to extra time and a chance to retrieve a seemingly improbable situation. Coach Tim Sherwood can certainly not accuse the players of lacking guts or character.

Sherwood’s touchline antics rather than the football being played have provided much media fodder. One minute he is in the stands, and then he is back on the touchline animated as ever, then back in the directors’ box, then back again on the touchline. Despite his claim that he was considered and measured during his halftime team talk, it is doubtful if his touchline histrionics add any value to the performance. While no one doubts that he cares and his commitment to Spurs, it is clear that Sherwood is a manager uncertain in himself still discovering his own managerial identity, in style of play, preferred formation, touchline demeanour, all the challenges that a top level manager has. Whatever your opinions about Chairman Daniel Levy, it is beyond dispute that given his ambitions for Spurs, his preference is not a manager that will be learning on the job.

And so it is that despite this win and the creditable fight back in Portugal, there will continue to be speculation about Sherwood’s future at Spurs. In contrast, despite losing six nil at Chelsea and the understandable frustration of some fans with their manager Arsene Wenger, there is still much less speculation about Wenger’s Arsenal future. That in itself shows how much expectation has risen not just at Tottenham, but across the media. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

For all that, Sherwood would have enjoyed this victory immensely. His midweek quip about it being, ‘good to see Benfica coach Jorge Jesus flustered’ betrayed a sense of being compared to each continental coach, given Levy’s taste for the continental style of coaching. This writer has compared Sherwood unfavourably with Southampton coach Mauricio Pochetino and even suggested him as potentially the next Spurs manager. So Sherwood would have delighted in defeating him home and away.

It was a good weekend for Spurs fans as well with the other lot down the road getting a more humiliating stuffing at Chelsea than Spurs did a couple of weeks ago. However, in a weekend when the top three went goal crazy and Wayne Rooney scored a contender for goal of the season, it represents only a small crumb of comfort. The big parties; goals galore, swashbuckling football, special European nights, goal of the season contenders are all happening elsewhere.

　

Gone in 72 Seconds as Spurs Champions league hopes finally bit the dust

Seventy two seconds was all it took to put out the flickering flames of any top four ambitions and with their third victory over Spurs this season without a goal conceded, ensure that the balance of footballing superiority in North London remains largely untroubled.  It is humbling to reflect that this time last year, Spurs won the corresponding fixture 2-1 to go seven points ahead and former coach Andre Villas Boas remarked in an almost self-congratulatory manner how, ‘Arsenal were in a negative spiral that is difficult to get out of’.  After being stuffed by Chelsea, outclassed in European competition by Benfica and now mugged by Arsenal in the space of eight miserable days, Spurs know rather too painfully what a negative spiral feels like.

Coach Tim Sherwood cannot accuse his players of lacking guts and character in this match as he did after the Chelsea match. Neither were they outclassed as they had been against Benfica. However, while they had more possession than Arsenal, there was mostly huffing and puffing without any real goal threats. No one seemed confident enough to run at or commit Arsenal’s players. The most threatening players on the field were Arsenal’s Thomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.  In fact if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had his shooting boots on and was better with his final ball, the margin of victory could have been greater as Arsenal, despite their defensive set up throughout this match looked far more threatening on the counter attack than Spurs did with possession.  Spurs most potent threat was an increasingly combustible Tim Sherwood on the touchline with antics that did little to dispel a sense that the pressure is getting to him. Spurs, to their credit kept trying gamely but sadly, they never looked like they could open up what has become an unusually resilient Arsenal defence. That is what lack of confidence feels like. This in sharp contrast to fellow top four contenders Liverpool, a team not many would expected to finish above Spurs at the start of the season, but whose players are so high on confidence,(aided no doubt by great results) that their sights have been set considerably higher. Whether Liverpool win the league this season or not, a feature of their play is that almost every player in their ranks has raised their game significantly.

Not many Spurs players have consistently risen above mediocre this season. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been consistent and Emmanuel Adebayor can perhaps be excused as his season only started when Tim Sherwood replaced Andre Villas Boas and by and large he has fought for the cause since. Christian Eriksson is the only player to have offered any creative spark, but in this match as in most of his matches, he has been unable to lift the team beyond average on his own. Reflecting on Sherwood’s selection, it is curious that given how well Spurs were playing when Sherwood first took over and he paired Roberto Soldado with Adebayor, he has not found a way to play them both. Needing to win matches and with both strikers having contrasting styles of play, an effective partnership could have been developed while also giving opposing defenders more than one goal threat to think about. I am also increasingly convinced Sherwood was wrong to send Lewis Holby out on loan. He is one of the most energetic midfielders Spurs have and offers more going forward than young Nabil Bentaleb who while clearly talented, has a tendency for the a sideways pass too often.

So this season is now effectively over. The last rites of Spurs European season will be performed in Lisbon on Thursday and while a therapeutic win against Southampton is possible, Liverpool at the end of the month is a fixture that will under stably cause trepidation among supporters. Thoughts inevitably turn to next season and the case for or against Tim Sherwood staying as manager. Sherwood has polarised opinion among supporters. Some think he deserves the chance and others feel he is too inexperienced for where Spurs want to go. Even Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has given his tupence worth, imploring the Spurs board to stick with him. When you start getting the sympathy vote from Arsenal, you know it’s bad. Sherwood has also had plenty to say for himself as befits someone who always ‘shoots from the hip’. The facts are that he has lost four league matches and will probably lose at least a couple more before the season is out. In addition, he lost four knock-out cup games. AVB only lost five matches in total before he was sacked. By that measure, Sherwood’s chances of survival must be slim. For this writer though, the issue is more the lack of an identity in Spurs play and his performance under pressure with relatively mild media scrutiny, compared to that of his predecessor AVB. This writer has cast envious glances at the work that Mauricio Pochetino has done at Southampton and how he measures on the important criteria of playing style and performance under pressure. Unless Chairman Daniel Levy brings in a marquee manager like Louis Van Gaal, my money is on Pochetino to be the thirteenth manager to attempt to beat Arsenal. Unlucky thirteenth for Arsene? God I hope so.

Finally, in this most miserable of weeks for a Spurs supporter, the last thing I needed was to see Sol Campbell bleating in the media about his sense of injustice at not being made England captain during his career because of his race. Sol Campbell was a very good defender for club and country but few in the game thought he was an outstanding captain material. Whatever racial prejudices may be in the game, England simply had better captains than Sol Campbell during his career and the cause of the anti-racism brigade will be helped far more without the attention seeking antics of a traitor (sorry ex-footballer) with a book to sell.

Jesus denies Spurs European salvation

You know you are having a seriously miserable time when even Jesus gives up on you and starts mocking. As Benfica’s third goal went in, which all but confirm Spurs’ impending exit from European competition, their coach, Jorge Jesus, showing a distinct lack of class that would have made the original Jesus weep held up three fingers in the direction of the Spurs bench and waved. The message was clear. Three away goals. Game over. Bye bye Spurs. Spurs coach, Tim Sherwood, following the Alan Pardew manual of self-control, predictably took the bait and went over to confront him. This of course guarantees that a section of the post-match media coverage will be about the conduct of both managers.

Of greater concern is what unfolded over ninety sobering minutes on the football pitch. I mentioned in a previous post that despite this match not being a Champions league tie, this match had the feel of a proper European tie and Spurs players, to be fair tried their level best to rise to the occasion. However this was a classy Portuguese side that pitched up at White Hart Lane. Last season’s beaten finalists; they had finished third in their Champions’ league group with ten points and were unlucky to drop into the Europa league. Their class and pedigree meant this was a step up in the class of opposition that Spurs have faced in Europe so far this season. Boy did it show.

Sherwood’s decision to start with Harry Kane against this class of opposition rather than Soldado or an extra midfielder is questionable. Also as English teams have shown in European competition this month, one can easily lose a tie in the first leg by conceding an away goal, or two. Spurs have shipped three. One of the nuances of European knockout football is the value of an away goal.  A nil – nil home draw can sometimes be more valuable than a two – one win. This reality places a premium on organisation and keeping your shape, especially when the opposition are in possession of the ball. Formations and tactics count for little without this foundation and the Portuguese league leaders gave a master class in organisation, keeping an effective shape and choosing your moment to strike.  

Spurs lack of organisation and any discernable shape was laid bare in this match. Responsibility for this lies with the coach. I believe that every one of Spurs players could play for the opposition and they would be more effective.  After eighteen matches in charge of Spurs, Tim Sherwood’s ability to set up a team should really be more apparent. When Mauricio Pochetino took charge of Southampton, the way his team was set up became clear very quickly. Even Sherwood’s mentor, Harry Redknapp had his Spurs team set up in specific way very quickly and for better or worse, this became his hallmark. With confidence clearly in short supply, Spurs laboured through the match without looking like matching much less dominating Benfica.   

  

So where do Spurs go from here? Former manager Harry Redknapp treated this competition with barely concealed disdain, another former manager, Andre Villas Boas prioritised it and received little credit for it. For the foreseeable future, six clubs, will battle each season to get into four Champions league places therefore qualification cannot be guaranteed without spending many millions on A – list players (which Spurs do not currently have) and an A-list manager (which Sherwood is not. Yet) Spurs managers, rather than be obsessed with champions league qualification should therefore be encouraged to take the Europa league very seriously and master the nuances of playing and winning this competition. Stay in it long enough to compete with Champions league teams like, Benfica, Juventus and Napoli. It will be good preparation for the seasons when Spurs do qualify for the Champions league. Thinking about it, and given that better teams than Spurs have struggled in the Champions league this season, if Spurs had played in this season’s Champions league, it is likely that they would have been severely humiliated. As it is, we have gone as far as Arsenal, Manchester City and in all probability Manchester United have gone in Europe. So we are in good company when it comes to wallowing in Euro misery.

Club chairman Daniel Levy has review his expectations on managers and how Spurs is taken to the next level. However, for all that, it is increasingly likely that Tim Sherwood will not be Spurs manager next season. By the end of the season, he would have taken charge of almost thirty matches. By this time Juande Ramos had knocked out Arsenal and Chelsea to win Spurs only trophy of the last 14 years. Tim is a thoroughly decent, honest and open football man, but I would not be confident in the season ahead if he was starting next season as manager. Football being what it is, he can surprise us all but I won’t bet the house on it. I lost confidence the day Jesus made Spurs weep. 

Cockerels given a good stuffing at Chelsea as Champions league hopes fade

Cook books usually suggest cooking marinated chicken in the oven for 25 – 30 minutes to be well done. Chelsea followed the Jose Mourinho cook book to the letter as they stuffed and deep fried Spurs cockerels in 35 minutes of hell at the Bridge. Tim Sherwood’s bitter outburst during his press conference was as much an expression of disappointment at the result and second half collapse as the pained realisation that this bad defeat intensifies the pressure on him and lessens the likelihood of him being Spurs manager next season.   

Ironically, after surviving their customary sloppy start, Spurs had settled into the game and held their own against Chelsea for the rest of the first half with Sandro snarling around the field with barely concealed aggression which unsettled and irritated Chelsea. Nabil Bentaleb who made his debut for Algeria in midweek used the ball intelligently and Kyle Walker, playing in an advanced position in front of Kyle Naughton threatened with his pace but was often let down by his final ball. At half time, Spurs looked good value for a point. However with players of the calibre of Oscar, Willian and Demba Ba on the bench and Mourinho’s record of changing games tactically, one always sensed that Chelsea had an extra gear to find.

Unsurprisingly, Mourinho introduced Oscar for the second half to give Chelsea’s attack more impetus. Ten minutes in, Vertonghen was pressured into a mistake that led to Samuel Eto’s goal. Barely a couple of minutes later, perhaps with heads still scrambled, Spurs players switched off momentarily and allowed Eto to be played in on goal. Younes Kaboul was definitely the wrong side of Eto and once contact was made, a penalty was always likely. The sending off was extremely harsh though. Two goals down and a man down, Spurs faced an uphill struggle to salvage the game. Nonetheless, there is no legislation for the kamikaze defending that gifted Demba Ba two late goals and turned what would have been a heroic but respectable defeat into a humiliating rout and had Tim Sherwood openly questioning the character of his players.

Tottenham had started this season defining month, just about in contention for Champions league qualification, thanks to a scrappy win over Cardiff last week, but had little margin for error.  They all but signed their exit from the qualification race with this defeat leaving them four points behind Manchester City, having played three games more and six points behind Arsenal and Liverpool, having played a game more. Liverpool or Arsenal will have to gift Champions league qualification to Spurs. Speculation over Tim Sherwood’s future and the identity of the next Spurs manager will now inevitably intensify.  

It is an occupational hazard of being a Spurs manager these days that unless you are on a championship winning run, there is always speculation about the next Spurs manager. Tim Sherwood could have been under no illusions about what he signed up for.  Good results like the away wins at Manchester United, Southampton and Newcastle strengthen his hand. Bad defeats like the one against Manchester City and Saturday’s slaughter at the Bridge weaken his hand considerably.  Heavy defeats have been a feature of Spurs season. Andre Villas Boas was sacked after heavy defeats against West ham, Manchester City and Liverpool. Tim Sherwood has now lost heavily against Manchester City and Chelsea. The early self-assuredness has been replaced by tactical indecision as formation and line-up has been tinkered with almost every week. This is what pressure feels like. It is when games have not gone your way, when you have been outplayed and suffered a bad defeat that great managers show their worth.

For all that, there is still plenty to play for. Spurs must seek to win as many games as possible until May and be ready to take advantage if any of the teams above them implode. Also, Spurs reward for slugging it through the uninspiring early rounds of the Europa league is a glamour tie against Portuguese league leaders and last year’s beaten Europa league finalists, Benfica. With the likes of Porto, Napoli and Juventus in the competition, the Europa league now has the feel of serious European competition, if not the profile and financial reward of the Champions league.  Spurs have some pedigree in this competition and for all the obsession with champions league qualification, the Europa league is worth winning. Andre Villas Boas, Rafa Benitez and even Jose Mourinho used the Europa league to raise their profiles. Closer to home, England managers Roy Hodgson and Steve McLaren used success in the Europa league to enhance their reputations and ultimately benefit their careers. Whatever Spurs premiership fate, the Europa league offers Tim Sherwood a great chance to build his reputation. He and Spurs need the Europa league right now as the Champions league invitation is not forthcoming. 

Pesky Canaries pick holes in Spurs Champions league ambitions

By common consent, this is the most exciting season probably in premiership history with a mere four points separating the top four teams. Spurs have tried their level best to be part of this party. Unfortunately, they haven’t quite looked the part this season. This defeat at the hands of Norwich City, while not terminal, makes a tough task (finishing in the top four) even harder as Spurs are now six points behind Liverpool with only 11 games to go.

The week had started with the Champions league regulars across the continent entertaining us with their usual dosage of high class football. Even in defeat, Manchester City and Arsenal (though it pains me to say this) played high calibre football. Watching Spurs suffer a depressing Europa league defeat at the hands of FC Dnipro (coached by former Spurs manager, Juande Ramos)on a dog of a pitch felt like a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’. Watching Gareth Bale score a spectacular 30 yard screamer as Real Madrid went top of La Liga on Saturday was a further reminder of better times past. Spurs needed someone to inspire them to great heights (Bale style) against Norwich but no one could step to that level.

Perhaps, playing on such a heavy pitch in an eastern European outpost only three days ago took its toll. After all, his hand forced by injuries, Tim Sherwood had to name seven of the team that started in the Ukraine in today’s starting eleven. Spurs looked lethargic as the Norwich City players were sharper and quicker to every ball as they harried their way to a crucial victory. So much for having one of the strongest squads in the premiership. Perhaps the endless speculation over Sherwood’s own future has affected his confidence and made him more cautious despite the good start he has made to life as a premiership manager.  After all, in a game we needed to win, against hardworking but beatable opponents, there was a case for reverting to his preferred four, four, two formation and playing two strikers. The bold fresh Sherwood who initially took over from the sacked AVB probably would have done that. Incidentally, Spurs best period of attacking play in a largely forgettable match came when Roberto Soldado was introduced to partner Emmanuel Adebayor. While missing a couple of presentable goal scoring opportunities would have done little for his confidence, Soldado being upfront next to Adebayor makes the Spurs’ attack more varied and less predictable. Besides, given Spurs’ poor goals tally this season, going for goals seems a no brainer.

Admittedly, for a two striker formation to work effectively, two things need to happen. One of the strikers needs to drop deep and help out the midfield interchangeably. Both Soldado and Adebayor have shown an ability and willingness to do that. Secondly, the midfield needs to be really organised with a clear plan for attacking with the ball and defending without the ball. There has been no evidence of that in some of Spurs recent play, especially at Norwich. Nabil Bentaleb had a poor game by his recent high standards and perhaps needs to miss a couple of games to recover. Much of the game passed Paulinho by as he struggled to impose himself of the game. Perhaps he needs to sit in front of the back four for a while, not going forward and orchestrate Spurs’ midfield play from there. Mousa Dembele showed his usual good close control and dribbling skills, but his best work is  often done near the opposition box as his long passing is poor. Aaron Lennon played well enough without looking inspirational but perhaps he missed the outlet that regular right back Kyle Walker provides him.

Organizing the midfield four so that they attack as a coherent, well positioned unit and defend as a coherent, organised unit is the biggest challenge facing Tim Sherwood for the remaining eleven league games if Spurs are to have a realistic chance of gate crashing the top four and joining the Champions league party. Today was a bad day at the office and a setback but a six point deficit is not insurmountable. Tim Sherwood had estimated that Spurs could lose no more than 5 games to remain in contention till the end of the season. It is unlikely the teams above Spurs would lose half of their remaining fixtures between now and the end of the season. So Sherwood needs to reassess his target.  One of those teams, free scoring Liverpool currently occupy the 4^th spot, with a six point cushion to Spurs. It is vital that gap is not extended before Spurs play Liverpool in a potential ‘winner -takes- all’ clash at the end of March.

Such is the relentless pressure of chasing the holy grail of Champions league football. Watching the champions league games this week, this writer has to admit, it really is the only competition to be in. Chairman Daniel Levy would no doubt agree. He has made it his mission to make Spurs Champions league regulars and no Spurs manager is safe until Champions league football is on the menu at White hart lane and Tim Sherwood knows this. No pressure then.

Adebayor strikes again as Spurs grind out vital win

A few posts back, I suggested that we would soon find out if Tim Sherwood is a good manager, a lucky manager or both. After a scrappy victory against rivals Everton, it might just be the case that he is a lucky manager. One nil to the Tottenham does not quite have the same ring to it. Never will truth be told, however, Sherwood and quite frankly most Spurs fans would not care too much if he scraps enough one nils from the seasons remaining fixtures to get into fourth spot. So long as Manchester united do not finish 5^th and win the bloody Champions league! Surely that’ll never happen……….again. Please God!

This promised to be a good footballing match with both Everton manager, Roberto Martinez and Sherwood committed to attacking football. One for the purists even. However, what unfolded over ninety frantic minutes was a throwback to the days when former Everton manager, David Moyes brought his scrappers to the Lane. To be fair, Everton made the better start and what composed football was on view generally came from them as they dominated the early proceedings. With a decent striker, they may well have scored first, one chance requiring a fantastic save from goalkeeper Hugo LLoris after only six minutes. The pattern was set and despite the willingness of fullbacks, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose to get forward at every opportunity, Spurs only attacked sporadically in the first half, Adebayor just failing to connect with a wicked low cross from Rose was the exception in a half which Spurs were quite happy to reach half-time with their goal intact.

The second half was only marginally better and it was no surprise when Sherwood reacted after fifty nine minutes to introduce Andros Townsend to the fray. Quick thinking from Kyle Walker created the winning goal for Emmanuel Adebayor which he controlled well before finishing smartly, escaping the attentions of the otherwise excellent Sylvain Distin who had shackled him effectively all afternoon. As the ball hit the back of the Everton net, you could feel the relief erupt all around White Hart Lane. Sherwood, recognising that in such a tight game, one goal might be enough, sent on Etienne Capoue to shore up the midfield and by and large, Everton’s threat was reduced.  He almost regretted that change though in injury time when Capoue appeared to foul Everton full back, Seamus Coleman in the penalty box. The penalty claim was firmly in the ‘I’ve seen them given’ category but when your luck is in, the marginal calls go for you and the celebration by Spurs’ players at the end showed they knew it was a big victory as they leapfrogged Everton in the table. Now, only Liverpool stands between Spurs and the Champions league.   

With Liverpool only three points ahead, it’s definitely game on. However, being directly behind Liverpool in the table makes the goal deficit quite glaring. Liverpool have scored almost double the number of goals as Spurs have scored so far this season. Secondly, while it was hugely uplifting watching Arsenal get stuffed at Anfield, the form showed in this game plus their recent dismantling of Everton is ominous for Spurs, who still have to visit Anfield. Still, despite some heavy defeats this season, Spurs have only conceded two goals more than Liverpool. Their defence remains vulnerable and can be got at if Sherwood gets his midfield selection, organisation and tactics right.

So it was a boost to have Andros Townsend back in action. While he did not have any great influence on the game, he would have benefited immensely from the run out as he builds up match sharpness. After his enforced rest, he now needs to rediscover his early season form to aid Spurs quest for the Champions league and his own quest for a world cup spot. Christian Eriksson, whom Townsend replaced did not have an influential game but is showing some encouraging signs. Paulinho had a poor game by his standards but both remain key players for Spurs as we enter the business end of this crazy season. Of the other midfielders on show, Nabil Bentaleb continues to impress with his perceptive passing and willingness to show for the ball. Mousa Dembele has so much ability and is almost impossible to knock off the ball with close control and dribbling skills. His short passing is quite effective, so Sherwood needs to find a way to play him further up the pitch as long range passing is not his forte. Playing him in central midfield limits the damage he can do to the opposition as he is often too far away to cause the kind of foul that led to the winning goal. Capoue, perhaps sensing that Sherwood may not fancy him that much, does not seem the confident midfield enforcer that stormed through the early matches of the season before his injury. How effectively Sherwood uses these midfielders will go a long way to determining Spurs’ short term and Sherwood’s long term prospects.

It was good to see Jermaine Defoe on the White Hart Lane pitch one last time as a Spurs player. After 362 appearances and 143 goals over 10 years (punctuated by one year at Portsmouth), he heads off to play in the American league. Thanks for the memories JD and all the best in Toronto.

 

Spurs shown a Long way from Hull to Champions League

This was not quite the therapeutic trashing we needed to get the defeat by Manchester City out of our system but in the circumstances; it was a relief to travel back with a point. With Liverpool and Manchester United both dropping points, it was undoubtedly an opportunity missed to tilt that battle in our favour. Then again, no one said this was going to be a straight forward march to the promised land of the Champions league. More an attritional trudge that could end with the door slammed in our faces right at the end.

Having displayed some tactical variety in the last two games with mixed results, Tim Sherwood reverted to his trusted 4-4-2 formation and restored Roberto Soldado to the starting a line up. A clear statement of attacking intent. It was also uplifting to see Jan Vertonghen and Paulinho back in the starting eleven. Their return was quite timely given injuries to Mousa Dembele and Vlad Chirices who had both played well recently.

While this line up shows the strength of the current Spurs squad, a strong is no good if it is unbalanced. From kick off Hull found their rhythm far quicker than Spurs. This was perhaps unsurprising given that their midfield play was being orchestrated by former Spurs favourite Tom Huddlestone. It’s fair to say that Tom Huddlestone underachieved at Tottenham. The sale of one of the best passers we have had at the Lane since the maestro himself, Glen Hoddle caused much debate which was only supressed in the excitement generated by the avalanche of new and exotic talent that pitched up at Spurs Lodge.

Throughout the first half, Spurs struggled to establish any sort of rhythm, offering only sporadic threats. Hull, energised by their new January signings pressed and disrupted Spurs play, scoring when Shane Long took advantage of hesitation between Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose to finish smartly. Spurs continued to press without establishing any control. Adebayor and Soldado constantly dropped deep while Christian Eriksson struggled to impose himself on the game from wide on the left. The second half saw an improvement and although Spurs deserved the equaliser, scored by Paulinho, it was not a convincing performance overall.

While Tim Sherwood has done well since taking over, it is crucial that he establishes quickly, a midfield general. Spurs have some very talented midfielders. One of them needs to be responsible for orchestrating the midfield play and bossing games. He clearly likes 4-4-2 with fast wingers so the midfield general must be encouraged to release the wingers quickly. Christian Eriksson, I feel would be more effective off a main striker or behind two strikers even though he has played well in recent games. I feel for Roberto Soldado. He looks a shadow of the lethal finisher who terrorised La liga defences for the last three seasons. He still strikes me as an instinctively good finisher because of his movement, perhaps when the Europa league restarts, he may get a few goals to help his confidence. This could be crucial in the run in.  

Tim Sherwood also needs to orchestrate a win over a top four team as soon as possible, as much for confidence as for credibility. Unfortunately for him, beating Manchester United is not the prize it once given they have already lost 10 times in all competitions this season. Spurs have done well to stay in contention given the way the season has unfolded on and off the pitch. However the season defining moment is approaching. After Everton at the Lane next Sunday, all but three of Spurs remaining fixtures are against teams below us in the league. The three fixtures in question, Liverpool and Chelsea away and Arsenal at home are among a set of fixtures in March that could define both Spurs and Sherwood’s prospects.

The bean counters have now crunched the numbers that tell the story of this season’s transfer window that closed on Friday. Apart from the record spending for the season by clubs despite a less than frenetic January, a few deals will have raised an eyebrow or two; 

Southampton, in league one three years ago, loaning a striker (Dani Osvaldo) to Italian league leaders and Champions league contenders Juventus. Fulham, bottom of the premiership and perhaps heading to the championship loaning a striker (Dimitar Berbatov) to French moneybags and league challengers Monaco who will be in the Champions league next season. Two Italian internationals, Marco Boriello and Antonio Nocerino sign for relegation threatened West Ham from Roma and AC Milan respectively. It’s a funny old world. Word of advice for Signor Boriello and his mate Nocerino, no matter what Big Sam Allardici tells you, I’d give the West Ham lasagne a miss. Very dodgy. 2006 and all that. Very traumatic experience.

Déjà vu as City Slickers Inflict Pain at The Lane

The good news is Spurs will not play Manchester City again this season. The bad news is an aggregate score of 11-1 against City means that for the first time in over half a century, a league opponent has put more than ten goals past us in a season. That’s a record Tim Sherwood will not be proud of as his unbeaten start came to a crashing halt. More damagingly, the harm done to our goal difference by City is almost our exact deficit to Everton and Manchester United and means that Spurs are effectively an extra point down on our rivals for Champions league qualification. The tin hats didn’t work out so well after all.

Tim Sherwood bravely, heroically, gamely or stupidly depending on your point of view kept his promise to go toe to toe with Manchester City. With Moussa Dembele and Nabil Bentaleb up against the impressive Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. In truth the only way to stop the City juggernaut if you do not have a better team than them is spoiling tactics: man marking, packing the bus etc. styles which are anathema to the Spurs DNA and probably no guarantee of a result against players of the calibre of Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and the magnificent Vincent Kompany. Saying that, Sherwood’s apparent aversion to defensive midfielders will inevitably be the source of much lively debate in wake of what the Americans would call a ‘shellacking’.

City it has to be said, were much the better side throughout while Spurs struggled to get a foothold in the game. By the time Aguero scored yet another sublime goal in the 15^th minute, there was a palpable fear that this could become uncomfortable viewing. Spurs to their credit, refused to lie down, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced one of the saves of this or any other season to stop a goal bound header from the irrepressible Aguero and roared on by a belligerent home crowd that dared to believe, gamely scrapped their way back into the match. Michael Dawson was unlucky to have his equalising goal ruled out as Adebayor was marginally offside and at half time, with two City players on yellow cards, Spurs were definitely still in the contest despite City’s undoubted superiority.  

An uphill task was however made even harder after a contentious and ultimately incorrect decision was made for the referee by the assistant official to award a penalty to City and a red card to Danny Rose after what was undeniably a desperate and risky tackle. Replays however showed that Rose marginally got the ball before catching City striker Edin Dzeko. More than the penalty, which Toure converted with the minimum of fuss, the red card meant Spurs had a mountain to climb. The game then got further away from Spurs as City scored a third. Spurs battled gamely on and substitute Etienne Capoue, ironically a defensive midfielder then scored for Spurs to spark hopes of an improbable recovery. City were however too good, kept attacking with intent and gradually the advantage of the extra man told as they scored two late goals to give the score line a humiliating look that does not reflect the efforts of the Spurs players.  

To revisit his selection and tactics, the issue for me was less about defensive midfielders as most midfielders on Spurs’ books are good box to box players, capable of staying back. It is more about organising the positional play when not in possession. Despite effectively having five midfielders (which in itself reflects some tactical variety on Sherwood’s path), there appeared to be no plan for defensive, organised, collective pressing when City had possession. This meant that Bentaleb and Dembele found themselves constantly bypassed when City were attacking which was far too often for comfort. This is area Sherwood and his coaches must work on as they recover from this setback. The selection of Gylfi Sigurdsson was also flawed. Apart from one good game against Norwich earlier in the season, he has not really stamped any authority on Spurs attacking play. Perhaps Lewis Holtby (probably Spurs answer to James Milner), who despite reservations about his value to the squad often produces energetic performances could have done a better job while also offering defensive discipline. Maybe even Nacer Chadli (who despite having a build like Cristiano Ronaldo often plays infuriatingly like Jose Dominguez) might just have given the suspect Martin Demechelis a more testing afternoon. No doubt in future games, the likes of Andros Townsend and Erik Lamela would have an important role to play these types of formations.

Manchester city had better win the league now. If there is any consolation in being trashed so comprehensively, it is losing to record breaking Champions. It was a sign of the crazy times that City’s bitter rivals, Manchester United had gone from hoping Spurs beat City to help their quest for the premiership to hoping City beat Spurs to help their quest for Champions league qualification. Arsenal would not have minded a draw or a win for Spurs as it keeps the league alive. Even old Machiavelli himself, Jose Mourinho got in on the act, mischievously suggesting he would prefer a City win to reduce the number of teams fighting for the title. Be careful what you wish for Jose. Messrs Mourinho, Wenger, and Moyes, How do you solve a problem like Manchester City? Your problem, not ours anymore. We haven’t been much good at solving it.

 

Spurs at Liberty with another Welsh Takeaway

While I was away, not much appeared to have changed. Spurs went out of another cup competition, tactically outclassed by Arsenal, albeit with a helping hand from Danny Rose and then laboured to a crucial win against palace. Now an impressive away win at Swansea. While Sherwood is clearly still crap at knockout football, he seems to have got the knack of picking up league points. Although it is of course very early in his managerial career to make solid assessments on Tim Sherwood, he has made one heck of a start. The best start of any Spurs manager in the premier league era and the first Manager since the great Bill Nicholson to lead Spurs to five consecutive away victories. That'll look good on the UEFA coaching qualification assessment when he finally gets round to it.

He made a couple of bold calls for this game. The first was to drop £26 million striker Roberto Soldado in favour of the rejuvenated Emmanuel Adebayor as the lone striker and the second was to change from his instinctive preferred four, four, two formation to counter Swansea’s possession based football. Although the inclusion of Nacer Chadli in the reshaped midfield was questionable, given his underwhelming performances so far for Spurs, his line up reflected a tactical flexibility not associated with his mentor, Harry Redknapp and bodes well for his managerial future.

Swansea, despite patchy form of late, made the more confident start, settling into their usual passing rhythm quickly as Jonjo Shelvy tested keeper Hugo Lloris with a few shots and the impressive Wilfred Bony struck the bar with a powerful shot. Spurs took time to find their rhythm and as early as the 10^th minute, Tim Sherwood could be seen yelling instructions from the touchline as his side struggled to impose themselves on the game.  It would be another fifteen minutes or so before Spurs had an attempt on the Swansea goal.

Almost against the run of play, Spurs struck clinically to devastating effect in the 34^th minute. Christian Eriksson, having one of his more impressive games in a Spurs shirt whipped in a super cross, reminiscent of David Beckham in his pomp, which took out the entire Swansea defence and was gobbled up gleefully by Adebayor. Clearly rattled by the goal, Swansea stumbled, almost drunkenly through the rest of the first half, the Liberty stadium now subdued. Spurs, clearly lifted by the goal could have put the game almost out sight. Chadli wasted a glorious chance after Swansea gave away the ball carelessly and Danny Rose, having done the hard work was shaping up to score a belter before becoming a rugby player and belting a shot skywards, almost out of the Liberty stadium. His annoyance with himself was amusingly clear as he pounded the turf in frustration, clearly berating himself.

The second half saw Spurs continue in similarly dominant fashion and their composure was both typified and rewarded by the build up to the second goal as a wicked cross by the impressive Kyle Walker was turned in by Swansea defender Chico Flores in the 53^rd minute. Spurs continued to dominate, although the physically imposing Bony kept Lloris and his back four honest. Spurs domination of the second half was reflected when Adebayor, having vented his spleen at Moussa Dembele moments earlier for not passing to him when he was clear was presented with a glorious chance following good work by Danny Rose in the 70^th minute. He promptly swept hope his sixth goal in his last five games, followed by his now customary “salute” goal celebration. Although Bony added some respectability to the score by scoring a consolation goal, Spurs were largely untroubled as they saw the game out.

There is clearly a more confident feel around Spurs recently. The handbrakes seem to have come off and Tim Sherwood deserves credit for that. He also appears to be learning fast in this most unforgiving of leagues. With this recent good run, Spurs are right back in the mix for Champions league qualification, level on points with Liverpool, albeit with a vastly inferior goal difference that is realistically worth a point and still only seven points off top spot. No, Spurs are not realistic premier league contenders as there are two teams definitely better equipped in Manchester city and Chelsea. However, two more Champions league places are up for grabs with slight favourites Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and Manchester United still in play. In this tightest of seasons, consistency, confidence and energy or a lack thereof will be the deciding factor as we head towards the business end of the season.  Are spurs in contention because of the new coach bounce or has chairman Daniel Levy stumbled on the real deal. We are about to find out just how good a manager Tim Sherwood can be. Next up? Manchester City, scorer of over 100 goals in all competitions already who put six past Spurs in November. No pressure.

I am sure all Spurs followers will join me in wishing Spurs legends Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa speedy recoveries after they were recently involved in a car accident in the Falklands. We hope to see you both back at the Lane soon.

 

 

 

 

Ade and Eriksson Kick off 2014 with Big Win in Manchester

Different season, different manager, mostly different team, same result. Having waited twenty four years for a win against Manchester United on their own turf, Spurs have really gotten the taste for playing at Old Trafford after winning at the theatre of dreams for a second successive season. On a wet and windy northern evening, Tim Sherwood’s dream start to his managerial career continued as his bold, attacking strategy was rewarded with his biggest scalp to date. Tim Sherwood had made it his mission to release the handbrake from Spurs’ restrained play this season and he picked a team to go toe to toe with a Manchester United side coming off the back a six game winning streak. Capoue for the injured Paulinho was enforced while in Kyle walker and Danny Rose, he had his best available full backs. With Adebayor and Soldado continuing their promising partnership upfront and Lennon, Dembele and Eriksson in the side, Spurs’ attacking intent was clear.

United made the better start and dominated the play early on as Spurs tried to get in the game. However, as Spurs settled, their threat became apparent and was highlighted when in one lightening counter attack, Adebayor and Soldado combined sweetly to free Lennon for a glorious chance which goal keeper De Gea saved. Danny Rose was having an intriguing battle with Antonio Valencia on the left flank while Kyle Walker kept a watchful eye on the dangerous Adnan Januzaj. Rooney, who has a good scoring record against Spurs, had to come deeper to get the ball which reduced his considerable goal threat. Lennon was giving United full back Patrice Evra a difficult afternoon. Eriksson probed intelligently while Adebayor and Soldado linked up well. When Adebayor scored, it was not undeserved as Eriksson had found space intelligently to cross and Adebayor guided his header past De Gea. As half time approached, the tension could be sensed around this huge stadium. Spurs looked reasonably comfortable and only an error or flash of inspiration would get United back in the game. Hugo Lloris provided his customary heart in mouth moments with a few flaps at crosses and the occasional rushed clearance while United players resorted to diving for penalties at the lightest contact.

As the second half started and United introduced attackers, Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez to the fray, we waited for the inevitable siege on Spurs’ goal. Instead, the opposite happened as another searing counter attack ended with a second goal for Spurs as Eriksson, enjoying one of his best games, stooped and headed home Aaron Lennon’s cross despite the extremely close proximity of Valencia’s boot to his head. True Viking bravery that. Spurs were in dreamland at the theatre of dreams. However, this is still Spurs. They don’t quite do easy and most Spurs fans were still celebrating when sixteen seconds of play later, United had scored and a previously deflated Old Trafford crowd had been given its voice. Now it was really squeaky bum time. Adebayor had been injured mysteriously and left worryingly on a stretcher. Ashley Young joined the fray as United threw the kitchen sink at Spurs in a frantic attempt to salvage the game. A now frenzied crowed, used for so long to late, heroic comebacks under Alex Fergusson roared its encouragement. Five extra minutes of added time meant more chewed fingernails in addition to the squeaky bums for the Spurs faithful, up alone in the stands and millions watching in pubs and homes around the world. Spurs defended resolutely to the end although Hugo Lloris created one more heart in mouth moment with a reckless lunge at Ashley Young. Old Trafford bayed for a penalty and probably some of Lloris’ blood! Such was the tension. Thankfully, referee Howard Webb stood brave and resisted the vociferous penalty appeals. For all his recklessness, Lloris had not touched Young until he was mid-air and his reputation for diving probably went before him. I've seen them given though. Alas, there was to be no more ‘fergie-time’ and at the final whistle, the roar of elation from Spurs fans and players could probably be heard back at White Hart Lane and perhaps as far as a little corner of Porto, Portugal where a certain Andre Villas Boas would perhaps have watched, scarcely able to recognise the team stuffed at home by Liverpool just two weeks ago. He would know how it feels to win at Old Trafford of course, having achieved it just as impressively last season, one the highlights of an ultimately unfulfilling tenure.

It used to be said that to win the league, you have to finish above Manchester United. It is a measure of United’s own struggle that this win, sadly for their fans in not unique as West Brom, Newcastle and Everton have all won at Old Trafford this season. Spurs still face a battle to finish in the top six never mind the top four but they are most definitely in the mix in a season where most teams are dropping points like confetti. It has to be said though that the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are starting to look ominously consistent.

Nonetheless, this was a big win for Tim Sherwood. He may not have been the exotic, continental Adonis of a manager that some fans wanted after AVB and his style is more Harry Redknapp than Pep Guardiola. He may not have a coaching badge but certainly has tons of self-belief. It takes belief and balls to throw on youth team players Nabil Bentaleb and Harry Kane as substitutes in the white hot atmosphere of Old Trafford even if his hands were forced a bit by injuries. His biggest success so far though has been to get Adebayor firing in the first team. Some of his forward play was magnificent and it was no coincidence that Spurs threat was greatly reduced when he was injured. One hopes the injury is not too serious. Watching Adebayor, one can’t escape the feeling that AVB really missed a trick by ignoring Adebayor’s attributes so dismissively. A great coach finds a way to get the best players in his team playing at their best. If Tim Sherwood can achieve this, there are enough good players at Spurs to offer a season of real promise. A good start however will count for nothing if his team falters as we enter the business end of the season with cup games and league fixtures coming thick and fast. Speaking of cup games, Tim only has a FA cup tie at league leaders Arsenal to look forward to next. Not much time to savour one fine win. Welcome to the big time son.