It’s Lancashire again this weekend as Spurs go to Wigan Athletic & if any club is going to be out for revenge this season it’s them. The 9-1 stuffing we dealt out in November should surely point to another comprehensive victory for us, however you only need to go back a month and Norwich’s visit to Colchester United to find the flaw in that logic. Delia’s boys came away with a 5-0 win after losing 7-1 to the same opponents at Carrow Road on the season’s opening day.
Wigan lie 14th currently with 25 points from 25 games. They’re two points above the relegation zone and also two points clear of the Bolton team that comprehensively outplayed us for the majority of last Sunday’s game. We were lacking in quality in pretty much everywhere at the Reebok but it’s up front where we’ve been suffering in particular. The lack of speed and variety normally provided by Aaron Lennon has led to an overreliance on balls up to Crouch from almost any area of the pitch. Whether this is a deliberate tactic or derives from something more basic like a lack of options, the players use it as an easy alternative far more than one would hope for. It’s predictable and is currently proving easy to defend against, we’ve scored only three goals in our last six league games. Crouch himself hasn’t notched since his match winning brace at Ewood Park in December.
The prospect of a visit to the DW (or whatever it’s called this week) Stadium conjures up visions of litter and plastic bags swirling round in freezing winds in front of half empty stands and there’s no reason to expect anything dif ferent this time. At least it’s a sight Wilson Palacios will be used to as he faces one of his old clubs. Three bookings in the last four games mean that he’s currently fast tracking his way towards a two game suspension. He’s on eight yellow cards, the same score has fellow Honduran Hendry Thomas who obviously skipped the same Timing Your Tackles classes at school as our Wilson.
Redknapp’s had a week to ponder his selection options. As well as the front pairing to consider (and it’ll be a surprise if he does start with anyone other than Crouch & Defoe – Gudjohnsen looked nowhere near ready at Wolves and Pav and his agent are talking their way out of him ever pulling on a Spurs shirt again) Modric looked out of sorts last week and maybe needs a rest after his virus of a couple of weeks ago. Kranjcar looked good when he came on and the thought of him and the currently effervescent Bale playing together must be tempting. Jenas wasn’t even on the bench last week – punishment for his ball watching at Wolves? Harry has a choice of whether to save Ledley for Kevin Davies next Wednesday. Kaboul and Walker are available again.
Alan Wiley’s the ref. He was in charge for the first cup game against Leeds so is better at awarding spot-kicks than we are at taking them.
We’re now in the final third of the campaign. The middle third was mediocre but the first excellent and it’s that form we need to repeat to ensure we don’t let the league season peter out. Another nine goals would start us off nicely!
By MF
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