Adebayor and Spurs back in business

As his long longs suddenly sparked into life and motored him away past a Southampton challenge, I couldn’t help but think of Scooby Doo. Here was the ungainly, unlikely and for most of his career, uninspiring striker, leading Spurs to victory. Emmanuel Adebayor, is nearly everyone’s pet hate, a player who sums up the worst of modern football, what it means to be rich and not give a damn about the fans paying his wages. At this moment in time though, he is very much the toast of Tottenham.

Adebayor has split opinions since arrived at the Lane two managers ago. One thing that we often forget amongst the gossip, the mickey taking and general finger pointing is that Adebayor remains on his day, unplayable.

Blessed with pace way beyond what his frame suggests, a decent first touch, a physical presence, and what he has shown in his three goals in two games, a finish. These are the qualities that have enabled him to pull on the shirt and score goals not only at Spurs, but at Arsenal, Man City and Real Madrid. If kept in order and unaffected by off-field issues, he is a +£20 million striker.

[authquoteleft text=”One thing that we often forget is Adebayor remains on his day, unplayable[/linequote]

During his post match interview, the Togolese striker spoke candidly about his issues and the problems that has affected his 2013. There has been the African Cup of Nations debacle, the falling out with AVB and the passing away of his brother.

In fairness to the haters, two of these were of his own makings, but anyone who has suffered the loss of a close member of family, understands the impact it can have on you and your motivation. Football regardless of whether it is your well paid job or not, will always take a back seat up against that level of personal loss.

Adebayor has needed time to readjust and reevaluate his life, however on the evidence of his last two appearances he may have well have put aside his issues. He has also been helped by the removal of Andre Villas-Boas as Head Coach.

For all the unfair criticism that AVB endured during his time, this season the one piece of truth he has been unable to hide from is the lack of bite to his team. The inability of Spurs to score more than two goals in the Premier League was what cost him his job, although this was assisted by his kamikaze approach to playing against two of South America’s best exports.

AVB’s reluctance to field Adebayor, we are led to believe, was down to a complete breakdown in their personal relationship. The former Tottenham boss allowed personal issues to lead his team selection, meaning Spurs started the season with an unsettled Roberto Soldado, and a below what is required Jermain Defoe. AVB needs to sit at home this Christmas and watch The Godfather, and make the quote: “It’s business, nothing personal” his new mantra.

Chairmen, fans and even players will put up with most things, until the day comes when the club stops winning. There is no surer way to have your issues highlighted, than by dropping three points.

At a football club all that matters is what happens on the green stuff. Tim Sherwood seems to get this, although his attempt to get Daniel Levy to play his hand, smells more of Sonny Corleone’s brashness than Michael’s more methodical approach. Levy as I am sure we are all aware, doesn’t deal in ultimatums. The former central midfielder would do well to back down and win a few more games, before throwing his hat in the ring.

[linequote]AVB needs to sit at home this Christmas and watch The Godfather, and make the quote: “It’s business, nothing personal” his new mantra[/linequote]

In fairness to Sherwood though, he has demonstrated remarkably well what kind of Tottenham he will be bringing to the table.  Against West Ham he was hindered by suspensions and injuries, but with a larger pool to choose from against Southampton he went for it. Once again there wasn’t a traditional holding midfielder in sight.

Employing a similar system to the one that has made Man City such a fearsome attacking force, Sherwood deployed five attacking midfielders alongside Mousa Dembele. This was cavalier at its finest, but one that in the end paid off. As the game went on and Southampton’s intensity dropped, Spurs looked the more likely to add to their three goal haul than concede, and they would have had Soldado been a little luckier/composed.

Personally I took great pleasure in the performance of Christian Eriksen in a central midfield role. Despite being hailed as the number 10 to unlock a misfiring number 9, he showed that he can function slightly deeper, a role that had been earmarked for Lewis Holtby.

[authquoteright text=”As the game went on and Southampton’s intensity dropped, Spurs looked the more likely to add to their three goal haul than concede[/linequote]

Eriksen’s passing was quick, his work-rate decent and though he may lack Holtby’s tenacity, he more than made-up for this with his on-the-ball composure and reading of the game. He looked every ounce the class act we believe him to be against a hard working/pressing Saints team.

Of course there were other strong performances, Nabil Bentaleb shone on his debut, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose offered width to a team that initially looked bereft of it and Roberto Soldado showed that even if he isn’t scoring, he offers far more than Defoe.

The day however belonged to Adebayor. Hopefully this form will last and he will not loose focus. If we are to achieve something in the league this year we will need him and his long legs.

With home games to West Brom and Stoke City in succession over Christmas, we could end 2013 in a much better mood than we anticipated after the West Ham and Liverpool disasters.

[author name=”ARLombardi” avatar=”https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000789662677/0ad5704c93624459c70b906dab544185_bigger.jpeg” bio=”I read, I write, I speak, I edit for The Fighting Cock” twitter=”ARLombardi[/linequote]