After the Easter weekend, the Spurs boss said: "We've probably got over 100 points in the last 15 months. I may exaggerate a bit…The first 20 minutes (against Manchester United) was the best we have played since I have been manager."
In fact it's only 80 points from 48 games, since Mido made his Spurs debut in the first week of February 2005. But despite trailing 1-0 at home on Monday, Jol's comments regarding the performance were probably just about right. However, without a targetman in the team, for all the chances that came Spurs way they could not produce a way back – and an opportunity to extend the advantage over the small pack of teams chasing fourth place was missed.
Jol has preferred height in the opposition's penalty area all season, and certainly before the African Cup of Nations, Mido was producing form which would have made him an attractive acquisition across Europe too. Jol had clearly aimed to compensate for Mido's failed fitness test from the outset, as new centre back pairing Michael Dawson and Calum Davenport went for everything in United's penalty area. It almost came off when Dawson's close range header was on target but Edwin van der Sar pulled off a superb save to deny Spurs the perfect start.
Just seven days before the most important north London derby clash in the league for some time, all that was missing in the opening stages on Monday compared with the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley was goals for the team doing all the attacking. Maybe had it not been for Richard Wright and the woodwork at Everton two days earlier, then Jermain Defoe would have been back on the goal trail, and possibly converting one of the half chances which fell to him against United.
England's second choice goalkeeper David James in contrast gifted Mido the opportunity to score at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago, but the Egyptian allowed the ball to run, and with James well outside his area, he never managed to get his shot in. He's also only scored twice since returning from a groin injury which resulted in him missing the final stages of the ACN.
It could be argued that for all the hard work Robbie Keane has does for the team, in every department, not to mention his seven goals in seven games up to and including last Saturday, maybe he's in need of a rest. But a winning team never has tired players in it – only losing teams do. However, no matter how well Spurs played on Monday, the fact they now go to Highbury on the back of a defeat could warrant a change if the option presents itself.
Source: The Guardian