WANTED: One top class striker. Requirements: ruthless eye for goal, sublime first touch, clever movement and a bit of a swagger
Monday, January 17, 2011 at 1:01PM Tottenham 0 Manchester United 0
If Manchester United were toothless, Spurs were limp. Neither side had cutting edge. Both sides defended resolutely. And yet there is no disguising the disappointment that we didn't carve out more clear cut chances. Ball seemed to get stuck under feet once or twice. When a quality ball was crossed in, there was no quality at the end of it to finish it off.
Perfect illustration that we can go up against the teams that are meant to be on another level to us, compete and feel regretful for not quite grasping the initiative and punishing them.
Sure, we're not title contenders. Mainly because we lack that extra punch in the side that probably would have seen us take more points than we did against Man City (D), Chelsea (D) and now Man Utd (another D). The concern is that other sides might have that punch aplenty, either from seasoned experience of from splashing out £27M for the privilege.
We need to turn these almosts and if onlys into three points at home and dig deep away. Regardless, let's face it, even if Man Utd are hardly the beast of old they are one that has to be respected and very much admired for their spirit and their annoying doggedness. They battled and they could have nicked it, at least their fans would argue they had players with the potential to do so. But much like us, the game (end to end as it was) lacked that final third slick pass and movement to get past the bricks in defence.
Rooney and Berbatov hardly had me biting my nails. Apart from perhaps two efforts on goal by 'Wazza', but hardly heart-stopping. But alas, unbeaten they remain. The red card (not that it's helped in the past) was hardly fruitful in terms of possession in our favour. As we didn't quite make it count down the flanks and through the middle. A day for defenders indeed. Still think we're going to finish top four, got the players for it just need that ruthlessness in the key forward area. So yeah, top four ‘if’ we get that ruthlessness in the key forward area.
Crouch, no doubt, is going to be much maligned in post-match discussion, I'm certain of it. Nothing to suggest we would not have discussed the same 0-0 result had Pav started or even Defoe.
The Russian probably would have given us little movement or bad first touch (depends what variant of Roman would have turned up, but can't have seen him troubling Rio and Vidic much). Defoe also might have found himself lacking the cunning to get behind the Utd centre backs. Although, arguably, both Pav and Defoe could lay claim to having better shooting boots than Crouch.
Just that Peter can hold the ball up and head it down and...you know, stuff, for a big man. Crouch 'should' have scored from that delicious Hutton cross. In another parallel dimension. Not to single out Crouch, so I won’t, also worth noting vdV was not quite crisp with his efforts either.
And let's be honest, regardless of the forward(s), it would have taken something special to unlock the United defence on the form they were on. Trend developing here, with the reoccurring references re: defenders.
Don't think too much was wrong with our performance and our intent. Modric was supreme again. World class? Yeah, go on then. Stick that on the back of his shirt. He makes us tick, he conducts and dictates. Fergie licking his lips on the touchline.
Palacios played well in parts, but also doing his best at times to remind us of his erratic composure when attempting to pass, but he was effective with defensive duties. Not so bright in offensive positions. And please someone have a word with him regarding shots on goal. Jenas the alternative. Pienaar the alleged transfer target (Chelsea to nick him). Huddlestone, no doubt, the preferred choice of partner for Modric. Having him back in the side might actually feel like a new signing. You felt for all the majesty of Modric, with vdV not quite claiming a stranglehold on the game like he usual does, Hudd's pinged balls into and around the box are missed in games such as this where chances are not quite crafted with ease not for lack of invention – just needed a different type of question to be asked when moving towards the United goal.
Moving away from their defenders to ours...
Hutton and BAE worked tirelessly. And Dawson is beginning to be a tad talismanic at the back. What's that now, one goal conceded in our last five games? And that other bloke at the back, whathisface, the old bloke. Quietly quietly, he's proving one or two of us wrong with his composure and experience . What with Ledley stuck on the sidelines.
Other minor talking points?
Our set pieces remain utterly pants. Last decent free kick was taken back in 1991. More conversations required on the training pitch with D-Beck please.
The red card? Well it was hardly a Mendes or Nani or Webb incident. And petulant as Raphael was/is (the second ‘foul’ was probably meant rather than being accidently) he probably should have got away with just the one yellow. The first tackle, clumsy.
Conclusion?
In the end, not enough, when enough was not that improbable but neither likely. United, needing the point more than risking the requirement of all three. They contained us. I guess we should take that as a compliment?
In a season where nobody is head and shoulders above the team just behind them. In a season where Chelsea are showing signs of mortality and weakness, City spending more to consolidate and improve, Arsenal ruthless against the lesser teams and Man Utd, not playing with swagger but not getting beat either. It’s a soap opera with many unmissable story arcs and sub plots. We are stronger but with the ‘top four’ becoming ‘five’, so is the top end of the league which means we need to evolve further, and quickly. Twists and turns guaranteed, no doubt, before the finale.
Onwards.
Five of our next six games in all competitions are away. Backs to wall, wouldn't have it any other way. Well, other than being ten points clear of 4th spot looking down at it.
COYS.
Reader Comments (77)
We are a decent forward away from being a serious outfit.
Crouch - Doesnt score
Defoe - Doesnt pass or hold the ball up
Pav - Doesnt have any idea what's going on around him
Each one cannot play up top alone, which is what we need them to be able to do playing the way we do.
I suggest we round up all the squirrels from Mancunia and let them loose on the High Road.
Crouch was bullied and looked a bit helpless but then again Vidic is one the best defenders around ...
BAE was great in both defense as offense ...
I expected a bit more of Azza who made the wrong choices most of the time , Evra looked ready for the taking but Azza did not quite do that
Must admit i was wrong about Gallas , no antics , very calm and composed , no big ego discussions and some very good defending against strong and mobile attackers (Chicharito and Rooney because Berba and mobility ...)
The fact that we are slightly disappointed with a point goes to show how much we improved under Redknapp. It is fantastic to think that teams like Chelsea and United are relieved to get a draw at the Lane. Harry is working wonders. I agree though, bring in a world class striker and we are there.
COYS.
City, Chelsea, United, all draws, all at home, all disappointing results. They were all there for the taking. All we need to do is keep these players together another season. Just one more season.
What about the shirt pulling on VdV from Vidic?
Not far off now Spurs but the rest are still stronger if only just. Don't think we are any closer to sealing a deal for a top class striker. Although Darren Bent is available. Cheeky bid then?
Look, United parked the bus. They had - what - one corner? They had a 5 min period at the start of the 2nd half where they had territorial advantage. But they never committed players forward and created precisely nothing. Granted, teams parking the bus does show up our deficiencies at times, but lets not go OTT in our self hate. Utd - a proud club that for years set the standard for attacking football - shamed themselves yesterday. This wasnt a tricky away match in the CL. This was a regular league match. No need for them to play so negatively. I'm thinking of writing to Fergie and demanding a refund from him
I've also had enough of the media love -in with Vidic. Yes he played well,. of course he did, but no more than that. History has shown us that its very good for CBs to look good when their team is holding a line approximately 18 yards from their goal line, and with a line of midfielders not advancing beyond half way. In fact I say good, but I think the compulsory expression for a CB heading a few long balls away is 'magnificent'. He wasnt magnificent, he had a good game, nothing more. Where was he for VDV's header, or Crouch's golden chance? If both those had gone in nobody would be talking about 'magnificent defending'. Utd were solid and dull throughout their team, no need to single any individuals out.
C'mon now, if the the pull on the shirt by vidic on vdv was given, wed be looking at 8 or 9 pens a game!
Thought Modric was by far the classiest player on the pitch yesterday - expect Levy's resolve to be tested before the end of Jan.
Clear need (again) for a top class striker - is anything happening on this? Suarez? Can't Poyet put in a good word for us? Needs to be sorted out and quickly.
Having said that, Vidic and Ferdinand were very very good yesterday and they won't be that good, that often, this season.
Next 5 league games are absolutely crucial - all winnable but 10 from 15 should keep us in touch.
Being a mad red...(mancunian mad red) i would assume that you was going to get a comment from me which was biased and anti-spurs, but actually agree 100% with your article.
The game yesterday did lack a cutting edge... from our point of view Carrick and Fletcher were totally outclassed by your midfield... i find it appalling how our 2 international exerpiance midfielders everytime they were passed the ball it pinged 4ft away from them... and then from your side, how the numerous cracking balls that were played into our box were never converted.
I dont have any issues with spurs, and would say that 0-0 was a fair result (we definately didnt deserve the 3 points...dont get me wrong if we had got them, then i wouldnt be complaining).
Spurs are a good team... very good team... got the mix right what the Gooners havent... you have the physicality and also the technical ability to provide a perfect blend, but also agree that an out and out goalscorer is what is stopping you from being champions (ouch that pained me).
I dont understand though how everyone overlooks Pavlychenko... i would love to see him in a United shirt... i dont see as much of him as you guy's but he is a goalscorer and always seems clinical in front of goal....and just think you should be giving him more opportunities.
Modric, in my opinion is the best midfielder in europe... by far better than fabregas... its almost effortless to him... and is the closest i have ever seen to Paul Scholes especially in the Premier League.
I would rather have your team challenging us for the league than any other team, as you play footie the right way.. and are good to watch.. so good luck for the rest of the season and being honest, glad that we have played your lot twice now.
we are desperate for a goal scoring striker, someone who is going to score over 20 league goals in a season, I don't think any of our strikers are going to do that. on a slight aside what does pienaar offer which niko doesn't?
Looks like Bent's available! Triffic
Good point, was hoping for a win and shut up the sky pundits talking about 11 years since a win. blah blah blah. Pedro's goal that never was will always be the last time we beat them in my book. Disappointment when crouch was on the Teamsheet but in hindsight can see the reasoning. Good partnership with VDV but more importantly good defensive ability on corners. We are a small side what with BAE,Modders,Lennon,Palacios and VDV. UTD are nearly all 6 foot plus bar the full backs. We conceded from a Set piece up there in Old Trafford so I think this may have influenced Harry. I think we'll make top four without signings, No point rushing one in for the sake of it.
"we are desperate for a goal scoring striker, someone who is going to score over 20 league goals in a season, I don't think any of our strikers are going to do that. on a slight aside what does pienaar offer which niko doesn't?"
Heart, strengh, versatility and a bit more pace. I like Niko but Pienaar is a better all round player.
We need one striker. Ibrahimovich ! He would easily be the leagues top scorer in our side.
Bent to villa, Young to spurs ? :)
Bent to Villa? That's a sideways transfer around £15M too much in price.
Going 442 is not parking the bus. They came with a more offensive line up then us, just we were excellent in possession (particularly modric) and they were shit going forward. They brought on two non-defensive substitutes aswel. I understand though that it felt like they were parking the bus as vidic and ferdinand played like 6 men on their own. They played badly and still could of won even with ten men they nearly nicked right at the death. We showed were right up their but lets be a little more knowledgeable than some dinlo spouted "oh they parked the bus", because they didnt, they played to their strengths, good organisation and discipline, something we will need against milan. COYS
I dont think we "parked the bus"... i just dont think we have the midfielder with the cutting edge to feed Berba and Wazza... there was no service... Nani was non existent on the right... Giggs tried to help Evra on the left due to Lennons pace, and in the middle how can we create if Carrick and Fletcher couldnt even control the ball.
United are lacking 2 top drawer midfielders who can create consistently, and not waste possession.. that was our issue.. not wanting to play negative.. its just when we got the ball we didnt know what to do with it... plain and simple.
If Pav was given a prolonged run in the side he'd score plenty but the problem is much like Darren Bent he offers little in build up play and you're stuck accommodating a passenger even if he does score goals.
while bent clearly didn't fit in with our style, he scored more than any of players last season and has more league goals this season than crouch, pav, keano, and defoe combined.
I have come...... oh sorry I have come to the conclusion that we rely far too much on bale and Lennon for going forward. We do not cut through the middle often enough and as brilliant as Modders is I want to see him skipping into the box a bit more. Lennon needs to up his game plan needs to come inside more ( yeah he wishes) and get involved. Needs to run at defenders much more than he has been doing. He has two good feet when he shoots so come on Azza up your game. We als ned to stop launching the long balls which all they do is tyurn possesson into a 50 50 ball.. Big boy neede up forn with the skill and tenacity to slide it in on a regular basis, ene form the tightest of angles (we all need a boy like that dont we girls). Must also be able to use his head (goes without saying really) So come Harry do what we require to push on again and get back in the top 4. I dont think we will somehow. HHXX
"United are lacking 2 top drawer midfielders"
Modric.
VDV.
One of Huttons best performances this year I reckon, he was composed, I can only remember him caught out of position the one time - no Kaboul even on the bench, is he being punished for the headbutt thing? As prior to kick off I wanted him as RB with Dawson & Gallas in the Centre. We are not shipping too many goals since Dawson has returned, gotta admit I feel a little nervous about having to scrap for 4th place with Chelski - having said that, Chelski really are 1 0r 2 injuries short of losing a load of games again - fingers crossed.
Opportunity missed yesterday, a shame. Onwards and upwards with the away games - COYS.
Im just hoping this striker thing doesn't become the albatross that was a "decent" left midfielder for so many years. I was hoping that we might have seen defoe start, just to see him on the end of Bale's crosses....that said they didn't exactly turn up so maybe crouch was the right choice. He isn't the answer but he has his merits and we should keep him for Champions League, too much criticism of him yesterday i feel. I have to say though, if we are not prepared to play Pav in this game then we really shouldn't have him on the books, I can see no sense in it. I'd rather have a striker that we could bring on with 30 mins left that could present a goal threat.......even if it was michael bloody owen :$ As for who to sign.....i like the idea of Rossi, Klose maybe, less sure about Suarez and Cavani but im definitely not feeling the love for Carrol. As for 30 and 40 million pound bids for him? Half a season he has played, yes a reasonable rate of goals but anymore than 12 million for him and its too risky.......Remember the last "proven premier league" goal machine that we signed.......I give you Darren Bent. That said, i would take him back tomorrow tbh, although suspect that Harry may have burnt that bridge.
And here's me wanting 2 new strikers :$ Oh and Diarra please.....:D
I agree with devon , Klose or Rossi would be great , Suarez ... not so but i could be wrong , Cavani : the real deal but wont be sold at all ...
"..Remember the last "proven premier league" goal machine that we signed.......I give you Darren Bent. That said, i would take him back tomorrow tbh,"
the stats show that since august 2005 he is 3rd in the premier leauge goal scoring table with 81, one behind rooney and drogba who have 82 (that period includes his spell with us).
I'm not convinced by klose, I feel that suarez could be real hit and miss, there have been a fair few proven dutch league goalscorers who have failed to replicate the goals in the premier league, kezman, kuyt spring to mind
Keane is messing Birmingham around looking for a raise in salary. He's actually putting a gun to Levy's head looking to have the asking lowered so he can take a slice of a signing on fee. If he has to stay because of that, forget a new striker.
Keane f*ck me up! Take the same money and have a chance to play doesn't suit him ... what a cunt he is.
I don't think the problem is with the forwards that we have, but more with the system we now play.
In order to accommodate Bale, Lennon, Modric and VdV in the same line-up, yet also have someone to tackle (Palacios/Hudd), we have to play 4-5-1.
The side effect of this is that Crouch often has to hold up the ball so that someone can come in from midfield, and that means someone who isn't a natural goal-scorer or predator.
Also, it results in 2 opposition centre-backs having only one forward to deal with, with their midfield also tracking ours.
I think it's irrelevant who we try and sign if we persist with the formation.
How many Premiership teams are genuinely succeeding with the same formation?
We've seen in the past that Pav & Defoe or Crouch & Defoe as a partnership in a 4-4-2 tends to work.
Like I said though, that means dropping one of Modric, Lennon, Bale or VdV as we can't risk playing them without someone covering.
I personally don't think there's anyone out there that it's worth risking so much money on. Also, while we sit only in 5th, I suspect Levy feels the same about buying in someone from abroad.
none of strikers score enough goals, we'll never progress to serious title challengers without a world class striker.
"if the the pull on the shirt by vidic on vdv was given, wed be looking at 8 or 9 pens a game!"
Good. Maybe then shirt pulling would stop
The fact is that it is an offence punishable by a penalty, whether you like it or not.
There aren't enough goalscorers at the club, our strikers are all too one-dimensional and the team is suffering on the back of it... in our current formation (4411) which IMHO is our best lineup, if Bale and/or VdV don't score, we don't win...
I also agree that it wouldn't have been any better with Defoe or Pav up top yesterday instead of Crouch... it's just as a team we don't score enough goals, whether that's from corners, free kicks, deflections, bundles over the line, off someone's arse, whatever... in open play we simply don't get enough players into the box.
Also when the opposition's gameplan is to defend the 18 yard box in numbers, i do think we should switch Bale to left back so he can get onto the ball more, face his opponent, bomb on and cause havoc... sometimes i feel he's a little easy to mark when he's hugging the touchline. Btw i'm not in any way criticising him, the more he gets on the ball the more dangerous we are as a team and if he's at LB i think he'll have more of the ball and therefore can have more of an influence on the game when teams are sitting back....
How can people say Utd didnt park the bus? Its easy to say "'it only looked that way cos Carrick and Fletcher couldnt pass" but that just isnt true. We at Spurs know as well as anyone that Carrick can pass the ball - very well infact. However, when a team sets up to defend, as Utd did, with no movement ahead of the ball (with the single exception of Raphael), anyone would look like a poor passer. We had the same at Spurs under the dreaded GG - genuinely creative players like Anderton ended up looking woeful as they simply had nobody to pass the ball to.
I love what Fergie has done with Utd over the years - they've gone from my bete noir to my 2nd favourite team in the PL due to their superb attacking play over the years, but this season Fergie has retreated into a latter day George Graham. Is it due to his heartbreak last year at losing to Bayern and not keeping up with Chelsea? Who knows but the fact is Utd DID park the bus yesterday, and not for the first time this season. There's a reason they've drawn all those games, and it isnt scintilating attacking play. If you need any further evidence I suggest you watch a tape of their matches at Sunderland, Fulham and City. I can understand a Blackburn or a Birmingham playing that way, but never a Utd with their attacking options. Maybe they should appoint Holloway as their new boss!
PaulF Call me crazy but aren't man u top goalscorers in the league, top scorer in the league (berbatov) and won 7-1 the other week. Also I could of sworn they haven't lost for 24 games and are sat comfortably at the top. You would give your right arm at least to be half as good as that. Maybe spurs should look at holloway. Carrick was woeful in possession as was fletcher, they have been all season. Anyone who says man u parked the bus either a) didn't watch the game or b) doesn't know anything about football. You don't go 442 and then make two attacking subs (anderson and hernandez) if your not trying to win the game. Man u were poor but spurs still couldn't get the better of them even with an extra man. But as someone already pointed out, vidic and ferdinand were so good it must have felt like they were a ten-man army on their own.
Bent to Villa, Heskey to Spurs......lol
Bent to Villa, Agbonlahor to Spurs :D
What happened to Gareth yesterday? Didn't, wasn't, couldn't get in the game. Don't think he was doubled up too many times.
Benny played Nani off the park, literally.
And yes, a new King is born, Hoddle, Ossie and now Luka.
Singer, I don't think Gareth wasn't in the game, but he is less effective when we aren't paying the counter attack. As for Benny he is, alongside modric, one of our top top performer this year.
dawson = clean sheets
crouch = no goals
modric = pure class
anyone know if we get any money from the Bent sale, i'm pretty sure we sold him for 10 mill with add ons, perhaps sell on % ?
Yikes,
When we have Bambi on Stilts (I kid, I like Crouch) in to help our defense (as mentioned above) there is clearly something missing. Note: Crouch is surprisingly good at dispossessing the opposition and is often a steadying hand in the middle of the park, BUT, that's why we are playing Wilson isn't it? (Yes, yes, THUD's hurt I know)
4-4-1-1 puts our best players on the pitch. The embarrassment of riches we've got in the middle is part of what makes us such a compelling side these days and likely has much to do with why the technically gifted but slower European sides struggle to contain us. The sort of defending that we saw from Vidic (it's only a penalty if the ref blows his whistle remember) was crafty; albeit frustrating and Uniteds commitment to keeping numbers back is what we can likely expect from CL going forward. After the Glory Glory night against Inter, the Continents giants won't be underestimating our speed or execution going forward.
So, bunch us up in the opponents 3rd and we are well, Little better than mid-table in terms of result. Could Pav have done something with that? Actually, I think he could've. Look, Roman's never going to win awards for his footie IQ or spatial awareness but he can receive, turn, and fire with a man on his hip in ways that Defoe doesn't and Crouchotron hasn't. Is there a savior out there in the Eredivisie or Bundesliga or perhaps a fallen out of fashion player on one of the more moneyed clubs looking to come play attacking football? Maybe, hell, with D. Bent going to Villa, do we make an offer for Gabby?
singer - If you look at Bales passing and dribbling he was pretty good yesterday the problem is we never got the ball to him. Although we had a lot of possession we were too slow and cautios when passing (Modric aside) which meant United could cut the ball out before it ever got to the wingers , which is a shame becasue our wingers definitely had the beating of Evra and Rafael when they got at them
Agbonlahor , not sure about him but he does look lively if he is fit and it would surely be an improvement considering our current attackers
The Alamo - please tell me what Utd beating Blackburn has to do with them parking the us yesterday. Dont give me this 'anyone who doesnt agree with me obviously doesnt know anything about football' line. Anyone who has eyes could see that yesterday, and indeed for a large number of Utd's matches away from home this season, including in the Champs League, Utd were overly defensive for a team of their calibre. You also write as if being top scorers in the league and winning 7-1 against Blackburn are mutually exclusive points. Infact Utd are only top scorers BECAUSE they scored 7 against Blackburn. But that's completely beside the point. They dont park the bus at home. The real question should be how many they've scored away from home, and when you see the answer to that (14, the joint least of the top 5, and none against any of the teams they've played away to in the top 6), the next question is why it is so low for a team which has the best players, highest turnover and highest wage bill in the country. Dont pretend it isnt true just because you dont like it. The fact is, the once entertraining Utd have become boring.
We missed a real chance yesterday.
Could not understand why, with Man U having no proper RB for the last 20 minutes, we refused to pass the ball to Bale. Ridiculous.
Saw the Villa game and apart from one blunder which could have cost a goal, Walker looked very good at RB.
Reckon he will be back at Spurs next season but not sure where that leaves Charlie or Hutton as 3 RB is a luxury.
had we bought the one striker in august, we'd be top of the table, or close to it.
Pienaar bid has now been accepted by Everton....... Not that it solves the striker issue - in fact it just causes more issues with who plays/doesn't play in midfield!
Huddlestone.
cant remember us playing the way we like, highly expansive football (re: inter) since hes been injured. Luka is brilliant, yes, but Tommy is able to get the ball to the wide players more (i hear we have good ones at spurs {wheres bales crossing gone, quility is good but volumes seems low}), does less running more passing. desperate for him to return.
I would recommend people to read this superbly written match report.
http://a-kick-in-the-grass.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-football-contact-sport.html
We are not getting the ball to Bale often enough. Did not use him at all after their RB was sent off yesterday and he was a spectator for most of the second half.