Why Spurs Lost Against Manchester United

Okay after seeing Tottenham's performance against Manchester United I felt that Harry Redknapp was shown up as a poor tactician for the umpteenth time. The are three big games in which he was shown up, against Werder Bremen, Inter Milan and yesterday against Manchester United. I'll be concentrating the the game again Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

Cudicini, Bassong, Palacios (Jenas 66), Kranjcar, Cordeiro Sandro, Pavlyuchenko (Keane 63),  

Crouch (Van Der Vaart 77)

The first thing I noticed was that Redknapp decided to start without a recognised holding midfield. He did this in the past against Werder and Inter and paid for it, this time it was at Old Trafford against United. Jermaine Jenas is an energetic box to box midfielder not a holding midfielder with both Sandro and Palacios sitting on the bench I feel this was tactical error by the Spurs manager.

Another issue I saw in the Spurs midfield was the presence of Lennon, Modric and Van Der Vaart. Three midfielders who aren't known for their defensive capabilities. Add Bale in who is now an attacking winger, there is very little protection for the back four in game where most teams would expect long periods of pressure.

With Chelsea and Arsenal who all play with one up front have holding midfielder which stops them from being over-run in midfield. All the teams who've taken points from United started with combative ball winning midfielders Fulham (Etuhu), Everton (Fellaini), Sunderland (Cattermole) and West Brom (Mulumbu). With no holding midfielder tracking him Nani had one of his more positive games for United as he exploited the spaces between the Spurs lines. 

The decision to play Robbie Keane also baffled me. Just like during his short unsuccessful spell at Liverpool he was asked to play up front on his own. Keane is a good forward but he doesn't have pace, aerial ability or physical presence, therefore Vidic and Ferdinand had an easy afternoon. Both Lennon and Bale failed to provide him any support during the game and were fairly anonymous.

Kuszczak, Brown (Rafael Da Silva 64), Smalling, O'Shea, Scholes (Berbatov 64), Obertan (Hernandez 87), Tiago Bebe

If you look at Manchester United's midfield Carrick sat deep spreading possession to different areas of the pitch with Nani switching flanks trying to stretch play. In the middle Fletcher and Park (tucking in from the right) are more energetic and mobile defensively than Van Der Vaart and Modric and they can get forward maybe not as well as the Spurs pair but I feel their role was to negate them. I feel that this was were the game was lost for Spurs.

Redknapps substitutions showed that he was trying to rectify the errors made with the starting line up, he brought on Palacios for Jenas but was unfortunate enough to have Van Der Vaart injured and had to bring on Crouch emptying midfield further, especially as United had brought on Scholes for Berbatov 10 minutes earlier.

All in all i feel that Redknapp was on the back foot from the start due to his selection of no holding midfielder and Robbie Keane as the sole striker. I can see that Redknapp is starting to veer away from the 4-4-2 he was so used to but the striker he has dropped is for an attacking midfielder rather than a holding one.  

This Seasons Dream Team... So Far...

Well when there's nothing of note to write about why not create a dream team? This seasons been an interesting one if it was a normal one Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard would've scored a million goals between them and people would still think that Glen Johnson is a good player. Well have a look below and give me your thoughts and suggestion if you can do better?

Dream Team So Far...

Bench: GK - Joe Hart,CB - Alex, LB - Gareth Bale,
DM - Nigel De Jong, CM - Paul Scholes, AM - Rafael Van Der Vaart, CF - Darren Bent

1.GK - Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Has been very impressive this season in a relatively unimpressive Blackburn side. Lost his confidence after a poor end to his time at Spurs and with England a few years ago. Sam Allardice has brought the best out of the Yorkshireman even to the degree that Fabio Capello recalled him to the England Squad only for Robinson to announce his international retirement. 

2.RB - Branislav Ivanovic - (Chelsea)

Not the most creative and attacking full back but solid and dependable also a threat at set-pieces. May lose his place to the returning Jose Bosingwa but is a very good centre half so expect to see him back in the Chelsea side. Scored the winner against Blackburn in a game with had draw written all over it.

3.LB - Ashley Cole (Chelsea)

Has just been proclaimed the worlds best left back by his manager Carlo Ancelloti... where has been the last 3 years? Cole is as dependable in the opponents half as much as in his own. Is one half of a deadly left sided double act with Florent Malouda who we'll discuss later.

5.CB - Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

He's been the only reliable player in a strangely shaky Manchester United defence. The Serb has the habit of winning any aerial duels and uses his imposing physique to its maximum. Is also a very good leader from the back as shown when United have been missing Rio Ferdinand their usual captain.

6.CB - Titus Bramble (Sunderland)

Yes... This isn't a typo and it isn't April fools. Bramble has played some of his best football under Steve Bruce at Wigan and now Sunderland. He is currently at the heart of the best defence in the league outside the top four and hasn't shown any of his trademark concentration lapses.

4.DM - Yaya Toure (Manchester City)

Imposing central midfielder with the strength of a brutal centre half and the touch and passing of a number 10. He is here after he took on Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Ramires and... Won. He is a instrumental part of Mancini's side and looking like he's played in the Premier League for years.

6.CM - Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

The only Arsenal midfield who can pass forward with intent. Unable to get into Spain's national side but has been at his imperial best this season. Arsenal fans are probably counting their blessing after Barcelona failed in their traditional summer smash and grab.

7. RM - Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

9 games 5 goals and 3 assists in all competitions... Need I say more? Continuing his good form from the end of last season and has become a major player and also back up play-maker when Fabregas is injured.

8. LM - Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Has had a very good season supporting Didier Drogba, scoring 7 goals combined in league and cup matches. Who would've thought 2 seasons ago he was labeled a big money flop. Chelsea's patience has been rewarded.

10. SS - Carlitos Tevez (Manchester City)

I feel he is a world class centre forward with the attitude of a limited centre half. He will run all day for the team but the also score the goals needed to be a top class forward. Has recovered well from a unsuccessful world cup. Manchester City's captain and top scorer is definitely worthy of a place in this team.

9. CF - Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and Drogba make up what i feel is the big three in Premiership strikers. This season its been a "big 1" with Drogba being absolutely unplayable in some games. With 6 goals and 5 assists in his 8 games so far I think he could already be a possible footballer of the year.

Any doubts?