Pathetic Pleat plays right into Fergie's hands

Gone are the days that teams totally change their tactics when at home and when away... Or are they? Hearing the starting XI on Saturday at 2.45pm meant only one thing, Manchester United ? Tottenham nil. The midfield quartet of Marney, King, Brown and Ziege was a ridiculous managerial decision, one made by a man who clearly does not know his best team. Pleat should have begun with the side that finished against Newcaslte which would have allowed Redknapp to have some influence on the middle of the park and Dalmat to support the front two, who did not receive any help whatsoever throughout the game. Tottenham's chances were limited, only two Stephen Carr potshots troubled Roy Carroll and this statistic is not surprising.

With United struggling in defence in recent weeks, Alex Ferguson would have been delighted to see that 7 of Tottenham's starting line-up were defenders, one of whom was making his full debut, in midfield. Keane and Defoe were left chasing shadows and feeding off scraps all game and United never looked in any trouble. If this attitude continues to flow through the club, then the years of fruitless away days at bigger clubs will continue. It is time that Tottenham stopped bowing to other teams and turned up at away grounds with their best team on show saying 'We are here to win this', not to sneak a nil all draw. It's been said before, but Audere-est-facere, TO DARE IS TO DO...