Post Palace (a game of two half's!)

Article by John Shepherd

I don’t think a game of two halves can be any more accurate than in this game. Palace started the game sharply and had Spurs in all sorts of trouble from the off, which led to Palace being rewarded a penalty as a result of Dembele’s foul. Luckily Puncheon decided he would score a penalty in Rugby rather than on the football pitch (which was highly appreciated by fellow Spurs fans!). Although we were on the back foot most of the first half we did grow into the game and had a couple of chances around half time.

During the interval I was thinking of the AVB days, that we would come out strong for 10-15 minutes and be worn out and on the back foot the remainder of the game, holding out for a 0-0 or 1-0 via a penalty! Got to give it to Tim Sherwood though, whatever he said at half time worked and we came fighting, dominating the second half, creating plenty of chances and were rewarded with two goals. The three points were much needed and kept us in the hunt for a top 4 finish. It could have been very different mind you if the penalty would have been converted but now we seem to be able to create plenty of chances, go up through the gears when needed and still keep the ball and work hard when not in possession. This is definitely an improvement over the past regime where AVB’s team would be cautious playing side to side and going backwards, putting the fans to sleep and not giving the fans their money’s worth.

Still early days but since Tim Sherwood has taken over there seems to be that instinct that we didn’t have with AVB. We were too slow and predictable, but now we are starting to show signs of confidence, playing players in their positions and to their strengths definitely helps. He seems to concentrate on the basics and give the players the freedom to express their selves, helping to make Eriksen, Lennon, Adebayor shine in particular, but I have been very impressed with the midfield pairing of Bentaleb and Dembele in the last couple of games. Not forgetting all the players we still have out injured with many due to be back fit by the end of the month, which suggests it could be a strong finish to the season if we keep the key players fit.

Finally, Swansea away at the Liberty stadium this weekend. This will be another true test against another team who likes to keep the ball, but who are in a slight dip of form recently. However, we seem to be hitting our stride since the turn of the year with 13 points out of 15 in the Premier League (with Tim in charge permanently). Swansea are a team who we have played well against in the past (a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture via a Soldado penalty) and I fancy us to win this one, I predict 2-1, with the same team to play that were successful against Crystal Palace.

Thoughts on the game this weekend against Swansea, who do you think should start? Will some of the injured players return? Does Capoue deserve a chance in the team? Score predictions including Tottenham goals scorers?

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