EPL: Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur - Five talking points

Tottenham Hotspurs displayed rare character against Stoke City this weekend. They went down to a Steven N’Zonzi header, and it looked like one of those frustrating afternoons for the North London team. But untrue to character, they bounced back and won the match. Here are five talking points from a highly entertaining match between the two teams-

1. AVB’s set piece conundrum:

Spurs have had major defensive problems this season. One of the most recurring of their maladies is defence from set pieces. Once again, they conceded a goal via a free kick. The marking was non-existent, as N’Zonzi got a free header at goal. In a team which contains Dawson, Verthongen, Caulker and Adebayor, more aerial prowess is expected. Spurs need to avoid conceding any soft goals in their final match. AVB needs to make sure that his team are stronger against Di Canio’s Sunderland next week.

2. A return to form:

Emmanuel Adebayor has been in very poor form this season. At one stage, he just had two goals in the Premier League and three in the Europa league. But in the last month or so, he has come to life. He capped off his return to form with a man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea. This week too, he looked dangerous against Stoke. His movement was outstanding and he harried and rushed Stoke’s centre-backs with his movement. The easy finish he made off Dempsey’s cross was again a result of his quick movement and brilliant reading of the play.

3. The Dempsey factor:

While at Fulham, Dempsey played in various positions. He was a winger, a number 10, or a striker; sometimes, all in the same game. But at Spurs, he seemed to have settled better. The troika of Dempey, Bale and Lennon was very fluid and they left the Stoke team befuddled. Charlie Adam(who got a red card), in particular, was caught off the pace. His finish for the first goal was beautiful, and he set up Adebayor for the late winner too. All in all, a very good day at the office for the American.

4. Tottenham’s midfield woes:

A central midfield pairing of Scott Parker and Tom Huddlestone may sound good on paper; but in reality, it is a very weak combination. While Parker had a clearly defined role under Redknapp, here he seems to be trying to do too much. Last year, he had Modric’s finesse and skill alongside him. But Huddlestone, at times, plays like a schoolboy. His passing deserts him most of the time, and he looks like a very mediocre player. As a result, Parker has to take the onus on himself to take the ball forward. Admirable as his intent may be, the results are usually bad for Spurs. Barring the crossfield ball that caused confusion in the Stoke defence and let Dempsey score, Parker did little else of note. And Huddlestone might have contributed more had he been a spectator.

5. Majestic Shawcross:

Despite all the good performances from Tottenham players, one Stoke player stood out for me – Ryan Shawcross. He has been in excellent form in the last 4 games, and it is no coincidence we see Stoke’s fortunes turning with his form. He blocked shots from Lennon and Bale, and at times looked like the only man committed to the cause. His marking was superb and so were his headers. It is about time that Roy Hodgson began to take notice of him.