Manchester City vs Tottenham a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
January 22, 2017
2,301 Views
- Well that was an interesting game wasn’t it
- Manchester City fans will be asking how they did not win
- Tottenham fans will be asking ‘how on Earth did we come away with a point’
- The answer to both of those questions is arguably Raheem Sterling
- From a City point of view his aversion to actually shooting cost them dearly
- While from a Tottenham point of view, the fact that a Penalty was not awarded for Kyle Walker’s blatant push on the former Liverpool winger was a huge get out of jail free card
- We’ll come back to that later but on the balance of the game, it’s hard to exactly say who deserved to win if anyone
- City undoubtedly had the more attacking chances but were wasteful
- While Tottenham had two shots on goal and scored twice so the fact they were more clinical deserves some credit
- But even from a Spurs fan point of view, you would have to say that City deserved all three points especially if Kyle Walker been sent off and City raced into a unassailable 3-1 lead.
- The first 20-25 minutes was probably some of the worst football that Mauricio Pochettino’s men have played all the season
- The back 3 which has worked so well over the past few weeks, was completely overworked as City deployed an extra man in midfield
- Not only that though Spurs kept playing themselves into danger. Kevin Wimmer who replaced Jan Vertonghen looked unsettled throughout the first half and it was no surprise that he was bought off at half time
- Hugo Lloris had a poor game, not only for his two howlers but his kicking in the first half was incredibly suspect
- Tottenham looked rushed as they failed to deal with City’s high pass
- In effect City were doing to Tottenham, what Tottenham did to City at White Hart Lane earlier in the season
- The fact that Harry Kane did not even touch the ball until the 21st minute speaks volumes
- With the away side run ragged it was time for Pochettino to roll the dice and after 25 minutes the back 3 was no more
- Eric Dier was pushed further forward to give Spurs an extra body and they suddenly looked a bit calmer but still they were faced by a City onslaught
- The objective was just get to half time and re-assess, thankfully that is what exactly what they did and it gave Spurs the opportunity to digest a 45 minutes which had flown past them
- Wimmer was replaced by Heung-min Son and the side now operating a traditional back four with Dier and Alderweireld operating as centre backs
- But after a shaky first half, Spurs were to gift City a deserved lead just three minutes after the restart
- A inch perfect pass from Kevin De Bruyne would set Leroy Sane free and with Hugo Lloris racing to the edge of the area he was uncertain whether to try and collect the ball or not
- Instead he tried to head the ball away with a superman style dive
- Only he missed his dive and the ball landed at the feat of Sane who slotted into an open net
- Replays showed that the German international had come into contact with the ball via his hand but that was more to do with Lloris’ mistake rather than an intention to handle.
- A goal that stood and righfully so, City now ahead and looking to put Spurs to the slaughter
- If the first goal was a gift then the second one was but a present covered in wrapping paper and a nice pink bow
- Just minutes later, City had doubled their advantage and once again Lloris was at fault
- It really was an Evening to forget for the French international
- He dropped Raheem Sterling’s routine cross straight at Kevin De Bruyne’s feet and it looked like there was no way back for Spurs
- But a glimmer of hope was in the offing in a second half that had really come into life, the first 15 minutes would bring three goals
- And Spurs would have their first of the game thanks to Dele Alli. Once again he used his head to great effect to half the deficit and give the traveling fans at least something to shout about.
- And although their tails would be up for the first time in the Evening the mood would have tempered minutes later with Toby Alderweireld going off after clutching his hamstring
- The hope will be that it is just a precautionary measure and with Wycombe in the Cup next weekend he can be afforded the necessary rest
- If Spurs have to play a run of games without both their Belgian centre backs then there is every danger that they could lose serious ground not just in the title race but also in the race for the top 4
- With Spurs now having a patched up defence with Victor Wanyama slotting in next to Eric Dier it was a question of could City take advantage of a untested partnership
- And they very nearly did, but here was the turning point of the game
- That decision or lack of from Andre Mariner
- With Sterling set free after another inch perfect through ball, he was heavy favourite to score and all but wrap up the three points
- Kyle Walker was losing the race and had to rely on a push to stop Sterling getting a proper effort away
- A Penalty surely?
- No, Andre Mariner gave nothing.
- Does Sterling have to go down to remove any doubt or does Mariner have to do a better job
- Either way Pep Guardiola was seething on the touchline
- And his mood would have been even worse seconds later when Spurs got themselves a very unlikely equaliser
- Harry Kane who was kept very quiet, was on hand to neatly flick the ball into the path of substitute Son and the South Korean had the easy task of slotting the ball past Claudio Bravo
- 2-2 and all of a sudden it was Spurs who were in the ascendency
- But then there was the arrival of Jesus
- Could City believe in him?
- They very nearly did, the Brazilian youngster had the ball in net and he raced off thinking that he had just had the dream debut
- But the Assistant Referee had other things in mind and was the man to spoil the party as the goal was ruled out
- The arrival of Jesus did give City a lift and tilted the balance back their way but they could not get past Wanyama
- In both positions he played he had an excellent game, without question he has been the clubs best bit of business over the Summer
- Kyle Walker got cramp towards the end and although that added a few more seconds to added on time that was the last piece of notable action
- The game ending in a draw, if you were to have asked Spurs fans before the game they would have taken it
- At half time they would have definitely taken it
- City fans will feel aggrieved, while Spurs fans will say it’s karma for Mario Balotelli’s stamp on Scott Parker so they are finally even on that front
- In fairness it’s a point that does neither side any real favours and plays right into Chelsea’s hand
- A point that is arguably worse for City especially after defeat to Everton the weekend before
- For Spurs the unbeaten run is still in tact, that’s now 7 without defeat and a collective sigh of relief
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