in reality.
A sloppy display by Spurs away to Swansea, resulting in dropped points from a winning position but in the end over the two Chrimbo/New Year games Spurs are up on deal being unbeaten as both Citeh and ManUre lost games they would expect to win, while Chelski tanked.
That though probably makes things that little bit worse. Could have been two points better off, two points closer and still that game in hand.
Tiredness due to lack of much rotation taking place – there isn’t really that strength in depth to accommodate much rotation of the big names – or complacency of big time Charlies stumping up to a little teams ground. Hard to tell what was the reason but either could explain it and either would be a piss poor excuse.
Have a feeling after the Norwich game there was an expectancy of Swansea backing off and watching the Mighty Spurs
swagger their way around the Liberty Stadium. Swansea didn’t, as they haven’t done for any visiting side, while not letting many goals in either. So with neither Modric and Bale getting a real foothold in the game it was a struggle.
Was surprised that after 20 minutes with no goals there weren’t the number of screams for Defoe to replace van der Vaart we’ve heard previously. The Dutchman took his goal well, after some good play by Assou-Ekotto. The left back had one of his better games of late, not quite as flaky a performance. In fact the back four played well. Kaboul is looking like one hell of a buy-back, with another beast of a performance.
When the substitutions came for Spurs and van der Vaart was eventually withdrawn it had as big an influence on the game as anything. There was just no creative outlet that was working. Parker’s removal didn’t have as great an effect, they were running past him well before he came off, or indeed got injured and those stupid pirouettes were just gifting Swansea possession.
So with the Welsh mob still one down but bossing it what was going to happen? Another Fulham/WBA away game. Getting battered and a quick breakaway goal by the anonymous – bar some defensive work – Defoe to snatch the three points. Hmm well no because someone chose to wear the black away kit not the purple snatch and grab one. Hang on for dear life, the new Spurs, they’d do it wouldn’t they? Show the grit and determination requir…no. Bugger.
A cross from the right is deflected by Benny – probably should have done better to cut it out – Kaboul backs of slamming it into row Z. Did he get a shout from the ‘keeper? If he did it’s Friedel’s job to clean up. He didn’t. Bit of a howler that he’ll be most displeased with and eventually Sinclair is all on his Todd to get the equaliser, having been left by Walker.
Gotta grumble. Swansea deserved it and Friedel hasn’t exactly made a mass of errors that have cost us. ‘Keepers will make the odd blunder and that blunder will be highlighted more than for most players but Friedel has saved us more than cost us so far this season.
Tomorrow’s home game against WBA and the game in hand against Everton become a bit more important after this slip up.