S Poddar
Tottenham Hotspur went on to deconstruct what was touted as a tough Manchester United defense, and it did not take long for all parties viewing the game to recognize this was one going to be written about as much with the failures of Manchester United at the top as it is with the brilliance of Spurs. Fair enough-but not a word about the good sense of how Spurs wrecked Manchester United.
First and foremost, victory for Tottenham made such a strong sense for several reasons. While everything was weighted in the direction of ills of Manchester United, Spurs proved that they can match that level of competence and brilliance in attacking football, too. It feels almost like vindication watching Spurs flourish against a team that, by their usual standards, should have done so much better.
As we think back to that game, it’s worth recalling that Manchester United was pretty abysmal on this day. If we quickly look up the league standings, we could very well comprehend how many of these teams-even those relegated to the bottom of the league-would probably have gone much better than United did on this one particular day. It’s a frustrating thought to think of two such teams in the league who had given such chances and Spurs had not taken them to their advantage in a no-score game.
Yet, all this sleuthing into the problems of Manchester United, one cannot but give credit where it’s due: Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs played exceptionally well, and their performance on the pitch spelled out a team coming into its own under manager Ange Postecoglou. This is a statement win for the Spurs, who have shown that with all the criticism this team has received over seasons, there is some signpost toward much better times ahead.
So much of the reaction to the North London Derby was imperative for Spurs in trying to respond with real vigor. The shift in their structure is obvious; they’re now playing more urgently and directly. A consistently reliable source of goals remains absent, but this attacking setup appears capable enough of creating enough chances most games not to need one.
Spurs’ new system is basically an exact opposite of what they used to play and are now more passionate and energetic as compared to the previous times. Their forwards are playing in such a technical and quick manner that it’s taking the entire team benefitting from the defensive weaknesses of the opponents. Which is true, not all opponents would be that lenient as Manchester United was, however there is a fresh air in their play that suggests that they are a different team altogether. These lads were fast, and silky across this pitch tonight. They have been a long time coming.
This is only Spurs’s second back-to-back Premier League match win this season. It’s especially pertinent, though, that this victory comes after a long period of time where Spurs faltered against top-flight competition after losing seven consecutive matches to teams that are dubbed the ‘big eight’ since March.
Now, with four from four in every competition, Spurs are far better positioned. No one underestimates the shift in attitude and confidence after the late comeback in Carabao Cup against Coventry. While their next match against Manchester City will be another testing proposition, it may well be that momentum gained from performances recently could be enough to keep this new spirit alive.
As things play on, though, much attention may still be flung in the direction of Manchester United’s issues. Erik ten Hag’s team is having trouble pinning down an identity and a direction, thus resulting in calls for his position as manager that never seem to end. And yet, at the heart of this mess is a good bloom of renewal, with Tottenham. They are starting to look upwards in the league, and their fans are fully entitled to be excited about what’s to come.
In a nutshell, though scrutiny and criticism against Manchester United may seem well-deserved, the revival of Tottenham requires recognition. So aptly, they have adapted to situations and, more importantly, succeeded under pressure. No doubt, the story will continue to be told about United’s woes, but in all fairness let us not forget the signs of revival which are slowly being injected into Spurs as they again start to regain the rungs of the league’s genuine contenders.
