Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
White Hart Lane
Wed Dec 16, 2009
8:00 PM
News
Manchester City arrive at White Hart Lane for a midweek matchup which certainly has Champions League implications for both clubs. Sitting 5th and 6th in the League Table respectively, Spurs and City are both trying to shake off crusty form which has them seeming more pretenders than contenders as of late for a legitimate shot to break the grip of the Big 4 and steal a coveted Champions League spot this season.
City and Spurs are alike in that they’ve invested a large sum in their squads, albeit in the case of City it’s been largely over the last 12 months. This type of investment certainly creates an expectation of results. Results which Spurs over the years have been hard-pressed to live up to. They flirted with Champions League football under Martin Jol, and then unceremoniously sacked Jol in what proved to be a very messy and public spat ending in the hiring of Sergio Ramos from La Liga. Ramos did earn a League Cup trophy two seasons ago, but failed to maintain a sense of perspective on how to manage his team, and ultimately another team revolt led to his dismissal and the arrival of Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth. Now Spurs, one year on, have a realistic shot to entertain Top 4 ambition again under a revitalized side honed with Harry Redknapp’s focus and distinct character. Spurs under Harry are a side that are more even, and offer a balance Ramos couldn’t deliver from largely the same players. Granted, it’s difficult to vilify Ramos when he won hardware for the trophy cabinet, but ultimately Ramos’ approach, style and results got him the sack and got Harry another shot at the limelight with a big club in a big town – the allure of which he couldn’t resist.
What a managerial change like that could provide for City some fans have wondered over the last several months. Appeals for calm, and staying the course have been equally met with calls for a managerial swap out a la Spurs have done three times in three years to try and get their model sorted out. City fans are asking if Mark Hughes is the leader to push City forward and match the on the pitch ambitions with their spending and marketing achievements. City are sitting 6th in the Premier League 3 points off that desirous 4th spot with a game in hand. Further, City are in their first cup semi for nearly three decades – a two legged affair against their suburban rivals Manchester United to boot. Sounds like a delicious proposition for any club outside the Sky 4.
City have played arguably the most entertaining matches this season of any side in the league, and this clash of wannabes with Spurs holds a lot of promise for both clubs, but is probably a bigger match for City in which they need to shake the doldrums of “all those draws” and nick an away win to move up the table above Spurs and signal their intent.
Recent Form
Recent City form makes them the team hardest to beat in England. One loss in the Premier League all season has created a confidence among team and fans alike that City will fight tooth and nail, and that goals will not be in short supply. The City defense has been the Achilles heel which has let them down time and again. 8 draws in the last 9 matches has created real concern that City are letting easy points against lower opposition slip by. And fans know that time is of the essence. Points are there to be taken, and regardless of the opposition, when points are left on the table as City has this season, then most likely the team will be punished for not taking advantage. Luckily for City this is a topsy turvy league this season – arguably the most exciting in a long while – where top teams have dropped more points than ever, and where there may be more room for a side like City to continue to scrape points and earn their way into the CL spots. Though some fans may claim it wouldn’t have been out of hand to consider a title bid this season given the caliber of players and start to the season, that is clearly a bridge too far for City to consider based upon recent form over the last 2 months.
City’s have shown an impressive transformation from last year’s abysmal away form. City have earned 5 away draws in a row, and have just one loss away from home all season. City are 10th in the current form table over the last 6 matches as well, with 1 win against league leaders Chelsea and 5 draws to show for their efforts.
Tottenham are sitting 9th on current form, and have taken a more lopsided approach – one that apparently some City fans may prefer – with 2 wins, and 2 draws bookended by 2 losses over their last 6 matches. Parity for sure in their approach, but how will they break down City to earn the victory? That’s the question teams haven’t been able to answer against a determined City side this season.
Last Match
City and Mark Clattenburg both put in a poor performance last Saturday. City performed poorly on the defensive front by shipping 3 goals away at Bolton resulting in a 3-3 draw which neutered 3 fantastically taken goals – two from Carlos Tevez and one surprisingly nice strike from defender Micah Richards. Clattenberg performed poorly on the officiating front by not realizing the amazingly horrific non-call for offside on Bolton’s first goal, and then for the allegedly personalized sending off of Craig Bellamy due to the Welshman’s fiery riposte to the officiating for the wrong call on a throw in leading up to a Bolton goal, and then what was determined to be an alleged dive which easily could have been a free kick to City. End result for City was a proudly earned draw while down to 10 men against relegation form, cellar-dwellers Bolton. Highlights included a stupendous individual effort from Carlos Tevez, and a reasonable foray into the starting side for Brazilian fullback Sylvinho as well as a continued rebirth for Micah Richards.
Spurs last time out ended with a lack of vigor and precision, resulting in a 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves. Spurs went behind early and couldn’t find a way to crack the code of the defense-minded Wolves after that, as Mick McCarthy’s men were content to play on the break and shut up shop for 87 minutes after the goal. Job done and 3 points to the visiting club. Can City achieve the same thing against a Spurs team looking to bounce back after draws in their two previous matches. Spurs have dropped 3 matches at home this season, which lends itself to an opening for City.
Key Men
Spurs
Aaron Lennon – the speedy right winger will create havoc for City defenders down the flanks if he’s allowed to run riot and isn’t challenged at both ends of the pitch. City will be facing Lennon without starting Left Back Wayne Bridge due to injury. How will the little man be contained by City?
Lennon shows a small hint of what’s to come Wednesday. Can City embrace Lennon the way that Huddlestone has embraced the pink shorts below?
Heurlarious Gomes — Spurs have gotten a lot more than they may have hoped with Gomes this season. Gomes has been in better form as of late and looks to be regaining the form that brought him to White Hart Lane from PSV Eindhoven. Gomes isn’t short on talent, but City fans will hope for a gaffe or two to create the window they need with their punishing attacking side. City are going to score goals away from home. How will Gomes and the Spurs defense handle that?
Gomes celebrates a win like only a Latin footballer can.
City
Carlos Tevez – Tevez is in blistering form, scoring 4 in 3 in the league, and really start to show the fruits of what sometimes initially seemed like a lot of headless chicken activity from the Argentine national treasure. Tevez has endeared himself to City fans not just for having the sack to make the switch to the only team in Manchester, but for his work rate and attitude. City love a tryer and when that player also gets results then there is only one outcome — a City legend is being born as the clock ticks by.
No opposition player wants to be the cause of one of these faces. Usually reserved for coital bliss, Carlos shares them with City fans early and often.
Sylvinho/Petrov – City’s left side of midfield will really be tested by Aaron Lennon and their ability to control and restrain the midget winger will largely dictate how successful City can be on the day. Sylvinho, the Brazilian LB, will replace Wayne Bridge, most likely, as Bridge nurses a serious knee injury which will see him out for the better part of 6-8 more weeks. Sylvinho’s debut vs Bolton was reasonable for a player who hadn’t played a competitive match since winning the Champions League final against Manchester United as the starting LB for Barcelona. Sylvinho will need to put the clamp down on Aaron Lennon and create some link up play moving forward to keep Lennon engaged on the defensive front as well. Whomever partners Sylvinho on the left side of City’s midfield will have a big ask to ensure that Spurs right side is worked reasonably hard and tested early and often. Could that be in form of speed demon and left footed midfielder Martin Petrov? A Petrov-Sylvinho left side of midfield could create some interesting challenges for Spurs.
Sylvinho being the boss. He’ll need to bring a badge and some cuffs to corral Lennon.
My name is…my name is…my name is:
Prediction
City suffer early at the hands of arch-rival Robbie Keane, but ultimately City will prevail for their first away win since Portsmouth in August.
Spurs (Keane) 1-2 City (Adebayor, Petrov)
A City win is finally in the cards on Wednesday evening.
A massive thanks to DoomMerchant from www.mancityfans.net for this great match preview.