Review: Man City 6 – 0 Spurs

Article by Johnny Murwill

City thrash Spurs, as defensive shambles leaves AVB ‘embarrassed’- and facing serious questions.

Facing a City side unbeaten at home and with the highest goal tally in the league, it’s likely that Andre Villas Boas plans revolved around keeping it tight and hitting City on the break.

Those plans would have to be discarded after just over 10 seconds, as Hugo Lloris’ dazed long ball was punished – Aguero’s parried shot delightfully chipped in by Jesus Navas.

A relatively quiet 20 minute period followed, with the familiar story of lots of Spurs possession, with very little cutting edge. But just as fans started to hope for a resilient fightback, Lloris’ déjà vu moment led to an unfortunate own goal for Sandro. What followed was not so much a collapse as a dismemberment that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Saw franchise.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The pressure that had started to build on AVB following the home defeat to Newcastle has since been cranked up several levels, with a performance that AVB stated left him feeling “ashamed”

Yet while the thrashing has led to more vocal calls for Spurs to release their head coach, is this really the time to think of such an irreversible decision? Certainly Villas-Boas cannot be blamed for the team he selected. With the exception of Rose through injury and perhaps the inclusion of Lennon for Townsend, this was the team that the vast majority of Spurs fans had hoped for.

Equally, the Portuguese tactician was hardly helped with the almost laughable mistakes that his players made. Hugo Lloris, undoubtedly the best ‘keeper that Spurs have had in years, had a horror show, while no other Spurs player covered themselves in glory.

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The real worry remains the inability to create clear-cut chances. Having spent £26million on Roberto Soldado, it is clear that his talents – or talent – will be wasted if service continues to be poor. While fans raged at Soldado’s performance in comparison to Negredo, it is hardly the former Valencia man’s fault. In Soldado, Tottenham knew the kind of striker they were acquiring. A fox-in-the-box, clinical scorer of volleys and goals, the Spaniard was never going to offer the same threats as Christian Benteke, or Man City’s Negredo.

Calls for AVB to go are premature, despite the poor results and form. Having spent £100 million in the summer, surely Daniel Levy will be wise enough to give his coach a season to show his worth. If Spurs were to let AVB go, how soon would they live to regret it?

Following such a mauling, questions will undoubtedly and deservedly be asked, but to jump to knee-jerk decisions is something Spurs fans should be wary of.

A win against Manchester United on Sunday would throw Spurs right back in the mix for Champion’s League places. AVB’s side will click, it just needs time. How much he has remains to be seen.

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