Wow! Normally I wouldn’t bother writing a summary of a game but the amazing 9-1 victory by Tottenham was something special. What makes it all the more amazing is it was just 1-0 at half time, Wigan were ordinary for the first half an hour but started to get into the game as the first half went on.
And then, something happened, whatever Spurs were drinking during the break now has a pretty amazing backing story for an advertising campaign as they came out and blitzed Wigan, it was 45 minutes of joy for a neutral, but no doubt despair for the Wigan faithful.
Spurs went mad with 8 goals in one half, 5 to Defoe, 3 assists to Lennon not to mention a goal of his own, even his replacement David Bentley scored an absolute blinder as his free-kick made it 8-1 and then another beauty from Kranjcar made it 9-1 in the 93rd minute, a few seconds later the referee put a dejected looking Wigan out of their misery.
Defoe could have had 6 but he will have to reserve praise for his midfield.
Lennon was sublime, he’s finally fulfilling the potential everyone saw in the youngster at Leeds. Kranjcar was mesmerising and some of his through balls were world class.
Palacios and Huddlestone were brilliant as well, literally every position was dominated by Spurs, all the Wigan players had a torrid time, Erik Edman in particular who was torn apart time and time again by Lennon and he handed one to Defoe on a platter.
What happened? It’s one of those oddities of football, sometimes you can shoot all day and not score, others you take every chance and trounce the opposition.
It would appear that Defoe has booked his flight to South Africa. Given the opposition wasn’t strong but the display of his instinctive ability, playing on the shoulder of the defender and timing his runs to perfection – not to mention his lethal finishing must have convinced Capello of the striker’s worth, he deserves a place in England’s squad as he is the only genuine finisher they have.
Lennon deserves a special mention too. Pick a superlative, his game was that. His passes, his runs, his work off the ball dragging defenders out of position, it was just another in a string of fine performances under Redknapp which have seen his stock rise.
What about Wigan? Well they were poor, very very poor as you would have to be to concede 9.
It’s their fourth drubbing this season after a 5-0 defeat to Manchester United and 4-0 losses to Arsenal and Pompey, not to mention a pretty embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Blackpool which knocked them out of the Carling Cup.
Roberto Martinez must surely be coming under pressure as they slumped to 15th in the table and look a shadow of the team that Steve Bruce assembled.
The additions of Amaya, Thomas and Diame and the duo of Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez who played under the Spaniard at Swansea have done anything but set the Premier League alight.
Martinez has admirably opted for an attacking mindset and formation but the results are reflective of the quality of the squad, they simply do not possess the players to play attacking, free-flowing football week-in week-out in the EPL.
Wigan’s only goal was scored after Scharner handled the ball, perhaps “Henry like” before smashing it past Gomes.
It can only be a matter of time before they change strategy or manager as at the current rate, Wigan are headed for a relegation battle when they should be safe in mid-table.
The last word has to go to Spurs.
They were simply classes above Wigan. Redknapp’s management seems to suit the squad and he is getting the results that the fans have long craved, on the basis of recent showings, including the 9-1 thrashing they are certainly Top 4 material and their system would suit the Champions League.
Move over Liverpool, your replacement has arrived.
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