Losing to Crystal Palace might have been the best thing for Tottenham’s title challenge. Spurs looked short on energy and ideas yesterday. Battling on two fronts rather than three could suit Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Tottenham’s work rate is one of the keys to their success and the effort required to play this way is draining.
The defeat at White Hart Lane may cause them to reassess how they approach the rest of the season. It will free up time, too, for Pochettino to work on tailoring his tactics for opponents rather than the treadmill of game after game.
Sometimes, defeats turn into the launchpads to success. This might be a game Spurs look back on with relief they lost.
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace - player ratings
LONDON CAN RULE SEMI-FINALS
Manchester United started the serious undermining of the FA Cup when they opted out to play in the Club World Championship in 2000 and Manchester City continued the northern town’s ugly tradition by playing an unrecognisable side against Chelsea yesterday.
City got what they deserved — a 5-1 spanking. The London clubs treated the competition with due respect but the quarter-final draw was harsh on the capital. Crystal Palace and Chelsea were given awkward away games and Arsenal, who still need to beat Hull in a replay, and Watford were matched. West Ham will travel to the winner of tonight’s game between Shrewsbury Town and United. That might turn out to be a better draw than it looks.
Neither team looks like they will instil fear in Slaven Bilic’s side.
West Ham might even worry more about a trip to New Meadow than Old Trafford the way United are playing. It would not be a shock to see an all-London semi-finals.
