Spurs Strikers Need Game Time Not Abuse
Posted by admin
If Jermaine Defoe and SuperPav were to read the some of the thoughts of their clubs supporters they would either be very depressed or wanting away as quckly as possible.
Unfortunately they are continuously described as mis-firing , goal-shy , underperforming instead of recognising that ,despite the fact they are the most likely to score , they were mainly watching from the bench.
The lone Crouch with support from the midfielder Van der Vaart was the preferred option for Harry Redknapp. Poor old Defoe even got left out after scoring two excellent goals at Wolves last season. It must be very frustrating for both of them. SuperPav had the best return of all the players in the squad in goals per minutes played terms. Yet both knew whatever they did the system meant at least one if not both of them would be watching.
I believe that instead of following the vast majority of supporters thoughts of paying millions for Johnny Foreigner, which often doesnt work out, Redknapp needs to setting the team up less predictably. The bottom six all knew how to come to White Hart Lane and stop Crouch so Spurs hardly scored in those games. Against the top sides Van der Vaart was playing off Dawson across the back rather than Crouch so equally there was little goal threat.
Spurs biggest priority should be to sell off the players that definitely are not going to be considered seriously this season. If it were my choice Jenas , Crouch , Keane , Corluka and Bassong but be gone with possibly Bentley as well although I still think he can regain his form.
I would also like to see Dos Santos given a chance. There is something going on there that defies logic or I am missing some vital information. He has only been good enough to play 10 part games in the least important matches in 3 years yet he is apparently worth more now than we paid for him and is interesting top European clubs. The boy is clearly better than he has been allowed to be at Tottenham. He is great for his country and scored the winner in against USA in the final of this summers tournament. He needs a proper chance though it looks unlikely it will happen. But he is player who scores on the world stage but not good enough for Tottenham. Spurs will probably let him slip away.
The biggest mistakes Redknapp could make would be to continue with the same punt it at Crouch tactic and the same goalkeeper. Start with a better goalkeeper and put forwards onto the pitch instead of onto the bench and Spurs can finish above Arsenal and in the top 4 again even without any major purchase.
MK Dons 3 Tottenham XI 5
Posted by admin
Tottenham fielded a surprisingly strong side for this Spurs XI fixture. It was great to see the starting line up included Defoe , Pavlyuchenko, Kranjcar , Corluka, Danny Rose and David Bentley and a magificent 16ooo crowd probably deserved to see some famous faces.
The game was very open and lively throughout with both sides missing early chances but it only took 7 minutes for SuperPav to burst through the middle and slot home. Baldock hit the post for Dons before the lively Pavlyuchenko smashed in a cracker in the near top corner to go in 2 – 0 at half time.
Spurs often looked vulnerable losing possession whilst dwelling on the ball in midfield and were very reliant on Corluka to clear things up at centre back.
Luke Chadwick seized a chance to get Dons back in the game just after half time when Kranjcar lost possession. It wasnt long before Dons were back on level terms following another midfield mistake by Spurs.
Defoe had got himself into plenty of good positions without catching a chance early like we all know he can. He either took one touch too many or hit it so clean it was straight at the MK keeper David Martin. He made way for Harry Kane after 75 minutes and Kane got in between goalkeeper and defender to steal a poachers goal at the Spurs end with his second touch. Within a couple of minutes Niko Kranjcar absolutely fizzed a long range one across the goal and into the far corner. It seemed like game over and Spurs took off Corluka who was the only defender with any height. Within a couple of minutes Dons scored again to set up a grandstand finish. However the promising Kane robbed a defender of possession and pushed the ball along the ground for the bottom corner to seal the win. He will have enjoyed scoring 2 goals in 15 minutes in front of a sea of Spurs fans behind the goal.
All in all a good game, good football at times but with lots of mistakes and also lots of goals and good value for a friendly match.
