Another day and another top manager fails the tactical test against Arsene Wenger. Spurs were winning 1-0 after 20 minutes, and in truth it could have been four, yet Martin Jol reacted to an injury to Dimitar Berbatov by switching his formation to 4-5-1, putting Robbie Keane into what deserves to be dubbed the 'black hole' somewhere behind Jermain Defoe. Defoe was left horribly isolated, Spurs stopped playing football, and despite a second goal the excellence of their early football with Berbatov on the pitch was emphasised by the poverty of their attacking intent forthwith. Arsenal took full advantage of the space afforded them, with the unfairly talented substitute Hleb to the fore, and deservedly levelled the tie. Spurs and Jol have suffered from their lack of ambition in the same way that Alex Ferguson did at the Emirates on Sunday. Get amongst Arsenal. attack them, and they are vulnerable. Give them space and the will kill you. Jol may come to regret his timidity in a week's time.
No comments:
Post a Comment