Sunday, November 2, 2008

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Wigan Athletic

Right, that's it, I've had enough. Five games in, the league table all official, and we are rooted to the bottom.
A side incapable of creating. Formations and tactics that boggle the mind. A club hell bent on wringing every conceivable penny out of the transfer market. The most shocking of starts to the season. Supporters built-up to an - again - unrealistic level of optimism. And, most damning perhaps, a set of displays as inept as I've had the displeasure to watch for a good long time.
These are troubled, troubled times at White Hart Lane. Make no mistake.
This latest no score bore against what was a Wigan side much poorer than I'd expected did nothing to inspire confidence that the corner is about to be turned.
This match was so devoid of entertainment and excitement I feel obliged to spend more time commenting on what has gone wrong.
I should, though, spend some time documenting my thoughts on this latest encounter. Who'd have thought a draw at home to Wigan totally devoid of goals would end up doubling our points tally for the season?
The omens were not great. A strange sort of selection again with BAE at left back, Bale pushed up to left wing, but worst of the lot, Zokora playing right back again. Clearly his worst position, even on this season's rare showings.
In a first half lacking much in the way of good football, Bent created one for himself by harrying the defender, but Kirkland smothered easily. At the other end Gomes saved at full stretch from a long range half-volley.
An insipid first half performance from Bentley did for him as he was soon replaced by Lennon, while Campbell's exploits from the UEFA Cup encounter had already been rewarded with a second half substitution for Pavlyuchenko.
Between the two of them they created our most effective attacks of the second half. Lennon gave us the running and pace we had totally lacked in the first half, and while not called upon to cross, he did have one very notable appeal for a penalty turned out. Looked cast iron to me.
Certainly this cannot have been the vision when Martin Jol was replaced a year ago. Perhaps a reminder is required for Daniel Levy and co? The business of a football club is football. Not merchandising, not transfer window brinkmanship, not clever media snippits, not clever management structures. Football.