Yesterday, in the hammering North London rain, I was only dimly aware of Spurs being on the pitch at all when my mate pointed out that they were running for their lives. A goal down in three minutes, a deflected knock on the post and a keeper from the 1990's David James book of technical positioning pointed at an absolute walkover for the Reds. I even allowed my mind to wander back to September 1978 and our 7-0 demolition against them. It's about time we finally gave someone a proper hammering in the league and our start bore all the hallmarks. It could have happened too. Had Xabi had dry hair he could have scored from that header and Gerrard (imperious again) scuffed his lob we could have strode into the Atletico game with United panting at our heels. Sadly football happened and the more we missed our chances the more Spurs thought they might as well pass a bit even if they wouldn't get too far. We all know what happened next.
Luck runs both ways and yesterday it gave us the skunk eye. That said, there are always lessons to be learned. Just because we've been making more comebacks than Sinatra it doesn't mean that we can get points simply by waiting. Even at 1-1 we were lethargic to the ball, almost as if we were waiting for the inevitable Kuyt shot into the ground and the sight of his translucent milk-white knees sliding into the corner. Maybe it was tiredness but maybe it was simple complacency given our start. Anyway, we have lost the three points we took at Chelsea and now have to take them back.
Today I've been thinking about who was to blame and, unusually, I can't single out anyone. If anyone underperformed it was the substitutes, the leaden Babel and the candyfloss Yossi. Indeed, The Sunday Telegraph even have the latter in their 'Subs not used' list. A mistake that has some truth. I'm not as confident as others about Babel as I'm never convinced as to what he brings. Goals? Well, he can do. Anything else? Well, not yet. As for Yossi he can still be excellent (Wigan) and have games where it looks like we've left the mascot on by mistake.
Of course, the mark of any good side is how they react to defeat more than how they take victory. For the first time this season we have a good 'on paper' run of matches. I'd like to see a statement of intent from the club now. Yesterday may have been an aberration and now is the time to prove it. Let's see leaders now, not Achilles sulking in his tent. We are good enough to go on another run. Let's break some hearts.
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