From Poundland to Sunderland
I’m not sure if I’m in possession of a broom strong or wide enough but I’m going to try and sweep the tawdry efforts in the North West this weekend under the carpet. After the heroics of our encounter with Europe’s finest four days beforehand, it was an outright slag of a showing. One so bereft of anything positive to say about it, this looks frankly odd sitting above all the hurrahs and backslapping in the post below. Hangover from Inter? If I were to show up to work looking that dishevelled I’d most likely be advised to seek employment elsewhere. Super Pav and Hutton did their upmost to kick-start the mother-of-all-comebacks with a humdinger apiece, but even their, otherwise memorable goals, could do little to bring light to the darkness. A right old mess.
But, ho-hum. That’s all out of the way now. Under the shagpile. Worse things have happened at sea and no doubt worse things will happen in my days as a Tottenham fan. Onward. It’s Sunderland who come to White Hart Lane this evening with form almost as erratic as our own. A string of draws- including the half-scalps of United, Arsenal and Liverpool- was followed emphatically by a Nolan inspired twonking in the Tyne-Wear derby. Most recently they were to be seen in the North-East taking all three points from Stoke and making fairly light work of it at that. Give that all a shake and they find themselves on fifteen points- level with us and what seems like half the table.
With our erstwhile shin specialist, Darren Bent, out of action for the Cats, all focus will be on Ballon d’Or nominee, Asamoah Gyan. While not quite looking like a man at home rubbing shoulders with the Drogbas, Villas and Lionel Messis of this world, he will at least pose considerable threat to any defence not suitably switched on. Kaboul and *your guess is as good as mine* will need to keep their eyes peeled and collective minds alert. He’s quick and he knows where the goal is. Which, I suppose, is a given. You know, being a professional footballer n’ all.
For us, the good news that Rafael Van der Vaart had received the Player of the Month award was quickly scuppered by the less favourable rumour that he will almost certainly miss tonight’s show. He’s out with a dicky hamstring. Kranjcar’s probably in for a start, then, with the Baler occupying t’other flank with the onus on getting at them. Elsewhere, the order of the day will be to add rather more clout in central areas as to not let Sunderland overrun us as the Trotters did on Saturday afternoon. Palacios might be a worth a look- if he’s in any kind of mood. Of course, failing that we could always just send Gareth Bale out on his own, make him pretend their white and red stripes are, in fact, blue and black- then get the good folk at N17 to blast the Champions League ditty over the loudspeakers for the remainder of the game. That ought to get things ticking along.
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