Club Focus - Tottenham - Spurs hope to avoid a Toffee crumble
Having failed to get the job done first time round, Tottenham made much easier work of the replay to progress in the FA Cup at Bolton’s expense. As well as a place in the Quarter Finals, Spurs were rewarded with another brace from man of the moment Roman Pavlyuchenko.
After a torrid time at White Hart Lane, the Russian appears to have reacted with gusto to the conclusion of a make-or-break January for his Tottenham career. Having been constantly linked with a departure to pastures new, he has started a new chapter in his Spurs story and long may it continue. Harry Redknapp again deflected questions about his relationship with the striker by pleading that a lack of shared languages means they would find it hard to fall out but he might find the player’s lack of English to be an advantage right now. If it was helpful for Pavlyuchenko to be sheltered from criticism and speculation in the British press when he was out of sorts, it may also benefit him to be blissfully unaware of the sudden expectations that will present themselves in column inches now that he has struck four times in less than a game and a half. The forward still has to prove himself over a period of time in a white shirt but he is going the right way about it at present. Spurs are looking increasingly solid at the back but it is at the other end of the field where the thin line between fulfilling ambitions and failure lies.
There was less good news about Aaron Lennon’s recovery from injury. Having come close to a return from his groin problem, he has now suffered a setback and the prognosis is unclear. Assertions from some quarters that he could miss the World Cup have little substance at present but the lack of progress is becoming frustrating. Lennon will be particularly missed against Everton on Sunday where his battle with Leighton Baines would have been potentially match-winning. After Wayne Bridge’s announcement that he is making himself unavailable for England selection and with Ashley Cole on the treatment table, Baines is suddenly pushing for the front of the queue for the left-back slot in the national side. Highly-rated but relatively inexperienced, Baines will be under the spotlight like never before and a player of Lennon’s qualities could have really tested his mettle. Despite Everton’s well-deserved win against Manchester United, Baines struggled at times against a player with similar attributes, Antonio Valencia. In some respects, David Bentley’s contrasting style might be of more benefit to Fabio Capello as it will show how Baines fares against a less-direct opponent before the game with Egypt on Wednesday, but that will be the last thing on Redknapp’s mind when he names his team.
Midfield will be the key area of the pitch. David Moyes flooded the centre of the park with bodies against the Red Devils and came out on top, denying the champions space and time on the ball. This was made even more impressive, being achieved without a natural defensive midfielder and demonstrated that endeavour and discipline are the key to pulling off such a game plan. Without the injured Marouane Fellaini, the Toffees lack some physicality but Spurs need to deny their more creative players possession if they are to come out on top. A modicum of patience will be the bare necessity as an over-willingness to attack will just result in giving Everton the ball back time and again. Moyes’ team need little encouragement to put the pressure on and the best way to keep control of the game against them will be to keep hold of the ball. Tom Huddlestone will be a key figure with his composure on the ball and Wilson Palacios will need to put his usual hard yards in to protect his more cultured colleague.
The fixture list looks a bit kinder for the next few weeks after a month of playing twice a week. The international friendlies scheduled for next week aside, Tottenham’s players are set to only play in midweek once until the end of the season, on a date yet to be announced for the postponed match with Manchester City. The additional rest will be of benefit to tired legs and should enable Redknapp to select Ledley King without having to pick and choose which games to field him. At the same time, the gap between games means an extended delay until any defeats can be put right and so it is important Spurs prosper each weekend, starting with Everton on Sunday.
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