O'Donnell's Observations: Spurs in trouble
by Paul O'Donnell
Tottenham is in trouble. Three defeats from four games, two of them at White Hart Lane. Interesting twist: all three losses have been by the same scoreline, 2-1. No Robbie Keane, no Berbatov, no Jermain DeFoe and no Paul Robinson; Spurs are a very different team that also began last season with a horrible start. The Tottenham brain trust must be in shock since their very successful tuneup contests where Darren Bent scored 13 goals seemed to suggest they were headed up the table this year. Actually, this version of Spurs has now established the worst start ever recorded in the EPL for Tottenham as they anchor the table with only a single point after four games.
The problem Ramos faces with this version of Spurs is as different as the players he has on the pitch. Last year their problem was they conceded goals game after game in the last 15 minutes. This year in each of the four games they have scored a goal, but only one, while conceding twice to every team except Chelsea (last weeks 1-1 draw at the Bridge).
Last year's poor start led to the sacking of Martyn Jol. Where is he now? His new team Hamburg, sits atop the Bundesliga.
At Tottenham, Jol got himself in trouble over player selection and tactics that many deemed questionable. Others suspected the perpetual funk expressed by Berbatov would be lifted if Jol was not at the helm. That proved wrong. With many of those players now no longer part of Spurs Ramos doesn't have that problem these days. Now Spurs seem to be thin, lack pace and quality in key spots. Jenas is a terrific young player that frequently brings pressure to bear on the opponents. He often creates an opportunity but can't finish what he started or get the ball to someone who can. Without the relentless work rate of a Keane or the skill and guile of Berbatov and the quality of DeFoe this team will be very fortunate to finish in the top half of the table.
Failure to close the deal with Arshavin in the summer now looms large for Ramos and Spurs. Especially since the other half of the Russian front line they had in mind, Pavlyuchenko, has so far contributed little.
UEFA Champions League group stage matches reveal some interesting twists for EPL sides. Chelsea hit the ground on the full trot with a 4-0 romp over Bordeaux and it could easily have been even worse for the French side. The Blues, who lost in the final versus Man United last season, send a strong message to the rest of the field; you'll have to get by us if you're to win it this year. Plus, the Blues got a great lift looking ahead to their weekend match with United and quieted the concern about the loss of Essien. Scolari has the Blues firing on all cylinders while United seem stuck in first gear and have shown little power so far. When they do get it going in high gear they've lacked the quality you'd expect from them on the final ball. Chelsea seems to be there while United have yet to shake off the cobwebs and produced the beginning to end quality match we've come to expect from them.
Speaking of Man United they had to hold on tight against Villareal in a scoreless draw at Old Trafford despite the return of Ronaldo who was ineffective for the most part after coming on as a 2nd half sub. SAF wanted to give him a run out ahead of their big weekend tilt with Chelsea and other than that little was accomplished by his workout.
Looking ahead to the big clash on the weekend Chelsea is on form while United is sputtering and have not yet produced an effort that befits a defending champion in either the EPL or the Champions League. As current holders of both titles United simply have not measured up to expectations. Frankly, that makes the coming match even more intriguing for fans whether they're truly neutrals or dedicated supporters of either side.
Will SAF get the top quality game from United? Can Chelsea maintain their form against United? Did the loss to Liverpool then the disappointing result versus Villareal reveal problems with this version of United? Questions, questions and more questions make the weekend match a compelling encounter for both sides.
Elsewhere Liverpool continued their lucky streak squeaking by Marseille 2-1 on a Gerrard penalty kick in yet another come from behind win. Cana beat the Reds high back line offside trap for the breakaway goal in the 24th and Gerrard's wonder strike got Liverpool level three minutes later before the PK match winner. The French side were the more likely to score from that point as Liverpool didn't cope well with their high energy and close marking. Credit Pepe Reina who had a fine game in goal and saved the day for the Reds.
Inter Milan produced a quality win for Jose in a 2-0 victory in Athens over Panathinaikos while back in Italy Roma was beaten by Romanian side Cluj 2-1. Barca defeated Sporting Lisbon 3-1 while PSV received a rare whipping on their home ground by Atletico Madrid 3-0.
Juventus fielded a full complement of their hits from the past in Trezeguet, Nedved, Camornesi, Buffon and Del Piero who hit a 76th minute free kick for the win over Zenit St. Petersburg 1-0. Zenit, last seasons UEFA Cup winner, had only two weeks ago defeated Man United for the European Super Cup are led by Euro 2008 sensation, Andriy Arshavin.
Arsenal's William Gallas pulled the Gunners level (1-1) versus Ukranian side Dynamo Kiev while Lyon thrilled the home fans with a spirited fightback for a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.
The Battle of Britain, as the looming clash between Celtic and Man United is being promoted, looks to be little more than an over-hyped media event as Celtic failed to score at home in a stalemate with Aalborg and United has been unable to get back to the form we saw from them last season when they claimed the ultimate double (EPL and CL trophies).
It may well be the Battle of Britain and has centuries of motivation behind it for many reasons at this point it looks as if the result could be less than satisfying for both sides. Since neither side seems able to score goals at this stage the result is not likely to be very significant beyond the British isles anyway.
In a group where both were pegged as nearly sure bets to advance wouldn't it be a real shocker if neither of them did?
A word to the wise; don't bet against SAF.
