Looking Forward

Manchester City  (Away)

Premier League

Wednesday 4th January 2006

A visit to play a Stuart Pearce team is a tough task at the best of times.  With two wins out of three during Christmas and New Year, Spurs will be looking to consolidate fourth place, while City will be seeking their first three points of the holiday period.

Having shown a desire to attack Newcastle, Spurs might need to adopt the same tactics against City, who have a number of youngsters still learning their trade, while Tottenham' s equivalent players are a little further along the road of their careers.  With this extra experience, they might be able to impose themselves on the City side to give us the edge.

David James will be keen to show that he still has it in him to go to Germany with Paul Robinson as his number two.  A good keeper for saving shots on his day, his concentration and handling are the aspects of his game which let him down.  Spurs might be able to cash in should they pressurise the City keeper.

Danny Mills will be missing with a broken leg, so the back four should consist of Onuhua, Distin, Dunne and Sun Jihai.  The first three are not noted for their pace and are suspect to being turned, as Distin showed on Saturday, when he brought down Viduka after being spun around in the area.  Robbie Keane has shown that this skill is a forte for him and it might cause problems for the City back four.  He also seems to enjoy playing against his Republic of Ireland colleagues and having run Kenny Cunningham ragged, he might fancy taking on Richard Dunne.  Jihai is fast and might have to be if we put Aaron Lennon up against him.

The City midfield has recently been made up of Joey Barton, Trevor Sinclair, Stephen Ireland and Antoine Sibierski.  Bad boy Barton has settled down under Pearce and is having a good spell, driving City forward and scoring too.  Alongside him, Ireland is carving a reputation as a very creative midfielder, after originally having a few temper problems himself.  Sinclair is now back to fitness and while not the pacy wide-man that he once was, he can trick his way into space and plop a cross onto someone's head.  And it is usually Sibierski's head that is found, as he times his runs well, while making a useful contribution to the attacking option.  The defensive duties are usually left to Ireland and Barton, so Spurs might make use of a quick break to catch City out.

In attack, Andy Cole and Darius Vassell are backed up by Bradley Wright-Phillips.  Cole and Vassell have struck a good understanding and while Cole may be entering the latter stages of his career, he takes up good scoring positions, while Vassell makes the darting runs into the box from deep or with the ball to cause problems.  Wright Phillips is a leggy version of his brother and has good ability on the ball and a strong shot.  With Gardner having the pace to cope with Vassell and Dawson mobile enough to track Cole, it should leave a good chance to keeping them quiet, as long as they don't get dragged out of position.

Spurs' way to break through would be to hit Mido early and get runners from midfield supporting him.  With Keane making the sort of runs he did against Newcastle, this would pull the defence out of shape and make the defenders wonder who they should be marking.  It means that the midfield will have to put a lot of effort in, but it should pay off if they do.

With Tainio and Davids doubtful, it might leave Spurs light in midfield when a battling four there will give the team a solid base, but the way that City play leave you in with a chance, which we might just take ... either with Robbie or Jermain up front alongside Mido, who is becoming important to our forward line.  While it will be an absorbing affair, I take Spurs to just sneak a point ...

PREDICTION : -   Manchester City  2   Tottenham Hotspur  2 

For more information on the opponents and their history, including full result history of matches between the two teams, click here.

Coverage

TV :
Live on Sky Sports 1
FOX Soccer Channel (US); FOX Sports World Canada; FOX Sports en Espanol  3.00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT  (Live coverage)
For coverage in all parts of the world, check here and here.

Radio :  
BBC London  94.9 FM (London area only), BBC London Digital Radio and Sky Channel 902 (Live commentary)
BBC Five Live 606/693 AM  (Live commentary)

If available on BBC radio, it can be heard in these countries on these stations ...
Australia (Melbourne) SEN  -  116 AM  Live Transmissions: TWI, Saturday. 12.45 & 1500 matches
Australia (Syndey)  Radio 2  -  1611AM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 12.45 Match
Singapore Media Corp Radio  -  93.8 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
South Africa  SABC (Radio 2000)  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
Uganda  Radio 1 (English) 90.0 FM, Radio 2 (Lugandan) 87.9 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, Carribean)  Sirius Satellite Radio  Live transmission: Saturday - 12.45, 15.00 (TWI) & 17.15 (BBC) Sunday - 14.00 & 16.05 (BBC) Mon, Tue, Wed - Various times (BBC)

Internet :
www.spurs.co.uk   Live webcast  - subscribers only
Planet football - http://play.www.planetfootball.servecast.net/downloads/sky/spurs-pl04-kean0.ram (free - only available when match is on)

James

Onuoha (Sommeil 54)
Dunne
Distin (c)
Thatcher

Sinclair
Barton
Jihai
Ireland (Croft 70)

Cole
Vassell (Wright-Phillips 70)

Unused subs: 
Fowler
Jordan

Robinson

Stalteri
Gardner
Dawson
Lee (Pamarot 74)

Lennon (Defoe 84)
Carrick
Jenas
Brown

Keane (c)
Mido (Rasiak 89)

Unused subs: 
Cerny
Pedro Mendes

None

Tottenham Hotspur

Mido 31
Keane 83

    
Sinclair (foul) 58
Thatcher (persistent fouling) 82  

    
Carrick (foul) 41
Brown (foul) 73  

It is funny how times change.  

At one time, it would not have been until around April time that Tottenham racked up 40 League points.  But these days we have done it in the first game of 2006.  

At one time, having Ben Thatcher playing would have been a bonus to Spurs, such was his injury problems ... and it proved just that today.  His intimidatory tactics failed to work on Aaron Lennon and the diminutive winger skipped past him on many occasions.  So, when Thatcher brought him down for the fourth time (as indicated by Mr. Wiley) he got a yellow card for his troubles.  It was Lennon's quick thinking that set up the first goal on the half hour, when Distin tried to let the ball run out of play, but there was not sufficient pace on the ball, leaving it stopping before the dead ball line.  Lennon spotted this and dashed round him, prodded the ball back into play, then laid the ball for Mido to be able to strike it first time past Dunne on the six yard line.  It was a goal out of nothing, but one that Tottenham's early possession deserved.  The way the ball was played around between the players was confident and even missing the likes of Davids, Tainio and King, the Spurs side looked happy with the ball and rarely threatened by City.  A couple of Dunne headers from set-pieces went high and wide, so Robinson was left untroubled.

Cole had a couple of half-chances, which he blasted too high and the defence coped comfortably with anything that came their way.  Carrick was having a fine game picking up the ball in front of the back four and distributing it with great accuracy and alongside him, Michael Brown was doing a lot of the dirty work with out Edgar Davids there to be the "enforcer" in midfield.  Brown did a sterling job and showed why Martin Jol wants him to stay at the club, as he can do the ball-winner role well.

Dawson and Gardner looked more like the impressive pair who started the season, while Lee and Stalteri made inroads into the wide positions, with Spurs being without Tainio to open up the left side, with the Canadian supporting Lennon well.  Mido was working well up front and his partnership with Keane looked to be improving, with both scoring.  Robinson's long goal-kick saw Mido rise above Distin to flick the ball onto Keane, who seemed to know where to run.  He took the ball in his stride with one touch and then drilled a low bouncing shot that flew past James to ripple the net to tie up the points at 2-0.

Robbie deserved his goal, as he looked on good form tonight and with good support from Jenas in midfield, the front two worked the City back-line, leaving them chasing shadows a lot of the time.  Keane could have scored a second goal before half-time, when the ball fell to him after a Mido effort was blocked, but his shot was unusually wildly wide of the mark from just outside the six-yard box.  

Joey Barton failed to show his recent good form and the only flash of it came when he broke forward to put a shot across goal, with Robinson having it covered, even though it missed the far post by only a foot.  Gardner and Dawson were blocking well and Anthony especially in the second half, when a ball dropped in the box and he got his frame in the way to stop the ball getting as far as the goal.

The game was played in a pretty good spirit, but a rash tackle by Brown put Barton up in the air and as the ball landed, it was cleared by Lee, who got a bootful of studs down his leg for his trouble.  As the ref was rushing to get his card out of his pocket to book the Spurs midfielder, he failed to see Sommeil drag his boot across the Korean's knee.

A good professional performance and one which demonstrates the club's credentials as justifiable fourth place holders.  City are a funny side in the way they can be good one week and poor the next.  Under Martin Jol these days, Tottenham are good most weeks (in result if not always performance !!).

MEHSTG TOP MAN : -  MICHAEL BROWN

Just finished watching the Man City game, having missed the Newcastle game due to illness.  After a dodgy start, Spurs took control and pretty much dominated this match.  Robinson hardly had a save to make, until a late Andy Cole effort, such was the powder-puff approach from the Mancs.

Dawson was outstanding and Gardner, after his usual shaky start, bossed Vassell.

In front of them, Carrick was awesome and must surely be in line for an England call-up, unless Eriksson is a complete buffoon.  Ledley's had his chance in that midfield holding role and now Carrick should get his.  The Geordie maestro was at the heart of everything good tonight and didn't appear to miss Davids or Tainio.

God knows he carried Michael Brown for much of last season but, surprisingly, he didn't have to tonight, as Brown really worked his socks off and gave Joey Barton a torrid time.  If he was a better finisher then he could've grabbed a brace himself.

Also in midfield again was Jenas, who remains solid, if unspectacular.  He wasted a few passes, but was good defensively and always made himself available for a pass.

Aaron Lennon was tremendous and really enjoyed himself against Thatcher, who'll be having nightmares for weeks about him.  Lennon took him one way, then another, and back again, twisting and turning our former left-back inside out. Lennon showed searing pace and perseverance to outwit Distin and set up Mido for the opener.

Mido worked hard throughout and deserved his goal, also flicking on for Keano to finish excellently to make it 2-0 Spurs.

The Egyptian held the ball up so well, as he has done for a year, and the City back four couldn't handle him, so they took to chopping his legs and Sun Jihai, with his martial arts background, was effective.
Upon being subbed, I noticed Mido limping badly and I just hope it's not an injury.

Keano had a very good game and deserved his goal but could've easily had a hat trick, but for profligate finishing.

Once again, my only sticking point is the full-back situation.  I don't like Stalteri and never thought that Kelly needed to be dislodged to begin with.  Watching the Canadian attack, is like mixing oil with water, as he's so obviously negative but trying to fight his instincts.  Stalteri cannot cross the ball and gives possession away too often. Kelly must be recalled.

Lee Young-Pyo is improving his overall game, slowly but surely.  The big problem is his continual missing left foot.

As for the boy Defoe ... poor, poor little Jermain.  It looks like he'll never get his place back with Keano and Mido gelling.

We know Jol likes a target man so when Mido departs for Africa, Rasiak will get the nod to partner Keano.  I support that because he needs a run in the side to really prove himself.  He played his worst game ever against WBA and it's out of the way, so let's see what he can really do.

If the Pole repeats, then we'll see the deadliest finisher in England restored to the starting line-up, so it's not all bad.

Special mention goes to our greatest prospect for the future, Mark Yeates, who scored his first three league goals in the last two games for Colchester, helping them to fourth in League One. 

It's good to be Spurs.

SEAN JACKSON

City were not the greatest opponents, but Tottenham looked so comfortable in the first half, you might have mistaken them for the home side.  Stroking the ball around with confidence, City were left to chase the ball all over the pitch.  However, Spurs failed to carve out the chances their football deserved and it was left to Sylvain Distin to put Tottenham in the lead.   Not that he scored, but his contribution was vital.  Stalteri's pass was way too long for Lennon, but the City captain decided to try and let the ball run out.  He hadn't banked on Aaron chasing down the ball and he got it before it hit the line and dragged the ball back for Mido to powerfully side-foot into the net off Dunne's effort to stop it.

It was well-deserved, but the second half of the first half saw City come back into it a bit more, but, apart from a Barton free-kick that smacked into Mido's ear via Jermaine Jenas' hip, there was no real goal threat.  This left Tottenham to pass and move to stretch the play from one side of the pitch to the other and stretch the City midfield and defence with it.

With the second half going the same way, the second goal became vital to the team's success.  Again, there were few chances threatening the goal and the biggest threat came from home sub David Sommeil, who dragged his studs down Lee's knee and he had to leave the pitch on a stretcher.  Bradley Wright-Phillips entered the play and struck a shot that went just wide across the goal, but was more notable for trying to bump Spurs players off the ball.

When the second goal did come, it was another route one goal.  Robbo's goal-kick won in the air by Mido and Keane was on it in a flash to take a touch and drill it bouncing past James in the City goal for 2-0.  It was a classic piece of finishing, which showed how confident Robbie is at the moment.

Lee, Gardner and Dawson had thrown their bodies in the way earlier to prevent Robinson being called on to save, but the midfield worked so hard that the defence were well protected too.  Lennon's pace tied Thatcher in knots and Carrick's expansive passing kept the ball moving.  Jenas was athletic in getting back to tackle, to nip the ball off City players' toes and to get forward too.  Michael Brown also shone back at his old club, but his effort was matched by his shrewd short passing to keep possession once he had won it.

Jol got his team just right, despite the missing Davids, Tainio and King, so perhaps the squad has the depth required to stay near the top.  With Liverpool and Villa coming up soon, it might be tested.

BARRY LEVINGTON