Plucking the Home Duck

There was a horrible monkey on our backs going into the weekend, but we’ve (ahem) spanked him off now. Four home games in and we’ve got that win. But boy did it look unlikely. If that display against Norwich was one of the worst I’ve seen in about a decade, the first half against QPR was more than a worthy rival. In fact, we’d been even less dangerous, even less capable of successfully completing a pass to someone (on the same team) only two blades of grass away. Like the players, I was so flat I couldn’t even get angry with it. I was desensitised, accepting of the fact that, contrary to the laws of possibility, we’ve become a bad team overnight. The boos were just background noise, just like the rain lashing down on our fortunes. It didn’t come as a surprise that QPR were having a go at us. Like us, they’re not great at defending. Like us, they’ve also got a lot of new players. Unlike us, however, it didn’t show.

And then, enter Villas-Boas. With his managerial reputation still on the line, he had to do something drastic to change it around before we got buried. With Vertonghen moved out to left-back (not before time) and Bale pushed further forward where he can maximise his offensive damage and minimise his defensive damage, the game changed. Clint joining Jermain up front meant the little man was no longer outnumbered, no longer a distant, inaccessible target.

Even then, it still looked like we’d need a major slice of brilliance (not looking likely) or luck to get level, and that’s exactly what the own goal provided. Bale and Vertonghen were linking beautifully, as they did seconds later for the winner, and at the other end the Belgian saved a couple of certain goals. It all leads me to believe that the two could form one hell of a partnership on that side, at least while Beni’s on the sidelines. On the other wing, Lennon was looking like something approaching his best once again.

The belief and determination to win aren’t in question. Nor is the quality of the players we’ve got out there. What is in question is how they’re being used and what we’re even trying to do. Often with three at the back, one in midfield and six standing in a line up front, we look like we’ve been scattered over the pitch at random. Needless to say, the one left in the middle ends up getting forced backwards as he can’t get the ball through the opposition.

But when we changed things, people suddenly seemed to have a vague idea about where they should be and what they should be doing there. The question is, will AVB abandon his principles so early in his Spurs career, in favour of a system that our players seem to understand? Or will he persevere with the 4-3-3, proving to everyone that Chelsea got it all wrong? Sticking with our second half formation, when we got the luck to add to the judgement, wouldn’t amount to conceding defeat. In fact, it would be far from it. It would show that he can learn lessons about the best way to set up the team, that he does understand the strengths and weaknesses of the players – as he recognised after putting Bale further up the pitch. Then again, everyone knows that. Whatever he does, let’s just hope it works. With our annual fruitless trip to Old Trafford coming up, let’s hope it works quickly.