Spurs Under-Perform; Lose 2-1 to City

By: Richard | March 18th, 2008

It’s been a rocky road for Tottenham Hotspur since winning the Carling Cup last month, and to be honest Sunday’s loss to Manchester City was no real surprise. Coming off what has to be considered their biggest loss of the year to PSV (a game I have purposely ignored in my blogs… damn you Jenas!) it was always going to be a rough going into Manchester and leaving with even a point. City were out of form and needing a reversal of fortunes, while Spurs were still recovering from the groin shot last Thursday. Not a good combo.

The game did start well enough though. Some fine work by Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane saw Spurs go ahead at just over a half hour in. Keane’s goal seemed to be the first of many at that stage as both teams were creating opportunities. As the half came to a close with the scoreline still holding at 1-0 Spurs it seemed like a road victory could be in the cards.

The second half told a different story though. Tom Huddlestone came on for Aaron Lennon with Jenas moving to the right, a move that adds fuel to the rumor that Lennon may not be held in the highest regard by Juande Ramos at the moment. Unfortunately for Spurs the second half of Sunday’s fixture was memorable more for controversial substitutions then for Spurs goals, of which there were none. Stephen Ireland pulled city even 15 minutes into the second half as he converted from close range. Ireland, clearly a yard offside, must have wanted to kiss the line-judge for keeping his flag down as the score was even at 1-1 and City looked to have all the momentum. Nedum Onuoha put City up 2-1 just minutes after Ramos brought on Bent and O’Hara for Keane (more on this later) and Malbranque. The 2-1 score would hold as Spurs found themselves leaving Eastlands empty handed.

- Back to the Robbie Keane substitution. It seems unfair that the one player that never stops running and playing at full speed is substituted almost every game. Dimitar Berbatov seems a shoe in for a full 90 minutes each and every time out, even when his play doesn’t seem to warrant the pitch time. Possession died at Berbatov’s feet after each and every touch Sunday yet it was his strike partner Keane who was taken off and made to be questioned after his tantrum on the bench. I’m assuming that Ramos brings Bent on to pair with Berba to see how much he may or may not be able to get out of the former Charlton/Ipswich man when playing along side a larger strike partner as it may be difficult to gauge Bent’s effectiveness should he be playing alongside Keane, who fills a similar role to that of Bent. Give us your thoughts on this matter Spurs fans. Should our Captain (Well, when King is not on the pitch that is) be taken off game after game just so Spurs can see just how much money was wasted on Darren Bent? And did this move cost us points Sunday? Also, Lennon has been seeing less time on the pitch in favor of Jenas at the right, is this a sign that Lennon may be on his way out this summer? Let your voice be heard Yiddos. COYS!