finish.
Another Wednesday trip oop North ends in a stuffing for the home side as Preston followed Doncaster and Hull on the wrong side of a 5-1 scoreline. And again the difference between the Premier League side and the potential giant killers is putting away the chances.
Five excellently taken goals, three by Crouch one each from Defoe and Keane, from numerous Spurs chances created compared to one for Preston from a number of good opportunities. Now hen a certain French player for a media darling club scored a stationary back heel from a couple of yards the TV & pressed wanked themselves silly for months. Now Spurs aren’t media darlings and Crouch certainly isn’t a media favourite so what chance his cracking third from about 12 yards out getting much talk and hype?
Crouch gives ‘Arry a selection headache with that hattrick, does he play in the next game and if so who does he replace? Keane is the captain and seemingly undroppable but doesn’t work out left, Defoe has goals in him, though again he hit the keeper with the shot before heading the rebound or is Crouchy still plan B. It also depends on how the rest play when Crouch starts, if the put in crosses like last night then all fine and good for him to start, if it’s aimless long balls like the ManUre game then it should be on the bench son.
Going forward again Spurs looked the business, admittedly against a lower league side, but those defensive weaknesses were still present. As Brown knocks the consolation goal in it’s traveled across the box and there he is at the back post in front of the fullback, where have we seen that before? Gomes made some great saves throughout the game, mainly as a result of distribution in the first place. His kicking was atrocious but when the shots were flying he was very much up to it.
Good to see Giovani given a start and it was good to see him look like he was going to take this opportunity in the first team. Yes again it was only PNE but he looked lively and the kind of Modric replacement needed until he had to off after just 16 minutes. Is the lad ever going to get a break? Hopefully he won’t be shifted off on loan to a Spanish outfit. Another positive for the night was Bale getting a game and also taking the chance. Going forward he looked the part, putting in some great crosses. If ‘Arry is going to put out a strict 4-4-2 side then by the looks of this game his best choice for the left side of midfield would be Bale, the side would be better balanced and he would give Assou-Ekotto the help he needs in defence.
Added to that having Dawson back in defence for 80 minutes, thought he was only going to get an hour, ‘Arry being cautious with them only being 2-0 up maybe. A good run out for Daws but he and Huddlestone not really tested as such by Preston’s one up formation lacking much pace. We desperately need the main centrehalves back and fit because Corluka and Huddlestone don’t have it to be the main pairing in the league and the talk of £8million Anton Ferdinand is frightening. As is all the talk about the possibility of a return for Judas, though if it did take place it would more than likely only last one game for “The Coward Of The County”.
‘Arry singled out Gary Neville for praise after the Salford v Citeh game for his passion for the club when Owen scored the winner…
That’s why United are where they are… They are a team and they are all together. Gary Neville has won everything there is to win but you look at the excitement he showed at his team winning, when he wasn’t even in the team. He wasn’t sitting on the bench with his arms folded. He was jumping higher than Fergie.
When we played United at White Hart Lane the week before, my coaches, Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand, were in the stands along with the United boys who weren’t subs. They were jumping up and down at every decision and again when they scored their goals. That winning mentality goes right through the club. [Darron] Gibson and all the other boys wanted to play but they also have those feelings that they showed.
There are not many clubs where you get that. It’s something you’d like to develop. It’s hard to change some people but that’s what makes winning teams. I thought it was amazing to see Neville’s feelings show and the joy he had at winning.‘Arry Redknapp
Redknapp has less than fond memories of his substitutes’ bench last January, in a 3-2 defeat at Bolton.
I remember looking at the bench and I think two of them were asleep… They had hats pulled down and blankets over them. I said, ‘I’m sorry to drag you up here, I know it’s cold and you could be at home with the missus having a cup of tea. It’s hard for 30 grand a week to watch a game.‘Arry Redknapp
Well you don’t help yourself ‘Arry, who did you give the armband to last night, who was the captain, the leader? Because when the going gets tough the Jenas gets hiding.
Bentley again was given the chance in the Carling Cup to show ‘Arry that he wants to play and has got it in him to stake a place in the first team, he did well last time but last night he didn’t show. Not that he was bad but he didn’t exactly shine or stand out.
Burnley at The Lane on Saturday, play like that and it should be back on winning ways in the league, lets just hope when it comes to the reverse fixture it’s on a Wednesday…