English Premier League - Part 3: Losers of the first weekend
If a team needs to compete at the top most level of the English Premier League, it mentality needs to be one which needs excessive overhauling. Whenever, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal draw at home, they don’t consider it an achievement, they consider it a failure that they didn’t manage to get the three points in a comprehensive manner. This attitude prevails whether they are playing against West Brom or against each other.
This mentality is emphasized because it drives players onto greater things during the football match. When they realize that the team they represent is going to be sharing points with their opponents, it generates urgency in their blood and it makes them strive for the win. There is a feeling at Tottenham that their draw with Manchester City at white hart lane is an achievement. If anything it is a failure to get three points, failure put City to the sword when they were there for the taking.
Harry’s team did not succeed in getting the three points and any team looking to improve in the English Premier League, especially after finishing fourth in the previous season should consider it as two points lost rather than one gained. A major problem brewing at Tottenham seems to be regarding the strikers present at the club. Robbie Keane, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are the current target men at Hotspurs, however only Defoe’s name catches the eye of those listed above because of his extraordinary ability in front of the goal.
A surprising stat is that Defoe has only scored three league goals from open play since January 2010. Is it a sign of things to come? Admittedly Jermaine is a brilliant striker but Tottenham’s over reliance on the English international is a huge gamble. Defoe’s loss of form like the one which he is currently undergoing or absence through injury can be detrimental to Tottenham’s chances of maintaining their spot in the top four of the English Premier League never mind challenging for the league title.
With the Champions League coming up and less than two weeks left in this summer’s transfer window, Tottenham have got heavy work on their hands. Firstly, they have to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, any breakdown on their part to do so might be a sign of things to come in the rest of their season. It will also be a hugely de-motivating factor for the players, who played all of last season’s English Premier League in order to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and play alongside players from clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Secondly, with the transfer window winding down Tottenham have to indulge in smart and quick business. Clearly they need another striker and the arrival of a centre forward will mean the departure of either Keane or Roman because Harry has already hinted his reluctance to have five above average strikers in his squad. Tottenham might end up as losers in the long run because of this weekend’s result but they have greater things to worry about particularly in the short run.
Shay Given didn’t even play a single minute of the Tottenham versus Manchester City match and this might be precisely why he is one of the biggest losers of the weekend. Football is a remarkable game and importance of time in football can never be under stated. A year ago, Manchester City took on Blackburn in their season’s opening encounter. Given started for City on that fateful day and made half a dozen amazing saves to assist City in their quest to obtain three points from the game.
However, tables turned on Given this Saturday as his understudy Joe Hart was given a start by Mancini and what followed was an exquisite display of goalkeeping talent. The Irishman literally saw his first team chances erode away with each save Hart made. Given is a brilliant goalkeeper in his own right but Hart’s age and talent makes him a favourite for City’s starting eleven if the Manchester club is serious about building a young squad which continuously challenges top teams in the Premier League.
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