All Action, No Plot

Two consecutive defeats it may be, but even the most pessimistic amongst us have struggled to make a convincing case for this being a crisis. Man Utd and Chelski are the best two teams in the country, and amongst the best handful in Europe. Losing to them is not exactly to be welcomed, but neither is it a cause for alarm. That we have lost two games on the bounce says more about the quirks of the fixture-list than any catastrophe at N17.

Losing at home to Burnley would be a slightly different kettle of fish however. For a team with aspirations of the top six and possibly more, home games against the newly-promoted ought to represent three points. A defeat here really would undo much of the good work of August, shunting us further towards mid-table and giving a signal to the doleful chap at the back to start ringing the alarm bells.

However, I do not really see this worst-case scenario transpiring. Any suggestion that the consecutive defeats had caused a crisis of confidence was quickly dispelled with the midweek mauling of Preston. In attack in particular, the impression is of a bunch of top-quality players chomping at the bit.

Square Building-Blocks, Triangle-Shaped Holes

On which topic, ‘Arry has a selection dilemma upfront today. Defoe presumably is first-choice, and the beanpole’s hat-trick deserves recognition, but our glorious leader is famously loath to drop Keane. I type this with a philosophical shrug of resignation, but I would not be surprised to see Keane back on the left of midfield. My one year-old nephew was the esteemed guest at AANP Towers last week, and I noted him at one point attempting unsuccessfully to force a luridly-coloured square building-block into a triangle-shaped hole on a larger toy (cue much pointing and shouting). Symbolic, eh? I would rather welcome the chance to see what Kranjcar can do on the left (or Giovani, although I presume he is unfit), but the air of foreboding remains that Keane will be accommodated by hook or by crook. ‘Arry might even go for a 4-3-3 variant, with BAE given responsibility for all left-flank attacking duties. Incidentally, not to put any pressure on the lad, but I also last week ascertained that my nephew is left-footed.

Time For Dawson To Prove Himself A True Jedi

Selction dilemma also in goal, with Gomes showing us his best and worst on his return on Wednesday. Central defence is a bit of a worry though. Dawson is back, thank goodness, but in the absence of Ledley – or indeed Woodgate – playing Obi Wan Kenobi to his Luke Skywalker I am a little worried as to how he will cope with the burden of being organiser-in-chief at the back. Daws often looks a colossus alongside Ledely, but has some history of headlessness without him. His partner today could be Corluka, but I suspect Hudd will be preferred, with the usual full-backs in place. I imagine there are three-legged tortoises that would fancy their chances of getting behind a defence comprising Hudd and Corluka, but for all this I suspect we’ll muddle through, simply by virtue of having such a potent attack. Three points please chaps.

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