Game of the week

Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Comment: 0 January 17th, 2012
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The race to the Premier League title begins to tighten, and leaders Manchester City have every reason to be nervous.

Although the threat of a rally from second-placers and intense rivals Manchester United is still alive, so too now is the impending and very serious challenge coming from Tottenham Hotspur – the third placers who are within striking distance of United, and poised to dethrone City.

How threatening the Spurs are will be seen this weekend as City host them at the Etihad Stadium.  Maintaining consistent performance has so far kept the league leaders afloat, but not enough to deter the Spurs who stand merely 5 points away.

At least for this match it may be safe to say that for City, a loss could put their standing into question; this, plus a good chance to capture first place will be the incentive for the hungry and capable Spurs as they march into enemy territory.

 

City won’t crumble
By Wayne DeVille

This is a crucial game for both City and the Spurs but I would say it has more weight for City.

If they want to stay on top, they should hurdle this assignment. If they don’t, their bid to win this season’s crown would be in jeopardy. All City followers know this so I’m expecting a sardine-packed like Etihad Stadium to be rocking and rooting for the hosts.

The Spurs will put pressure on City and Manchester United if they can steal the 3 as visitors but Roberto Mancini’s men are ready to douse cold water on this ambition.

Never mind if Vincent Kompany is still unavailable. The Eastlands outfit had just found another gear after that 1-0 win over Wigan and they would ride on that momentum to carry on.

City will pulverise the Spurs and remain ahead of the rest at the end of this fixture.

 

The Spurs go marching in
By Jamie McClough

Right now I don’t care what the numbers say.  Although there is every reason to presume a City victory for this match, I see Tottenham rising to the challenge and maybe even stealing a victory.

Like I said, the statistics are against the visitors, especially when it comes to City’s insanely powerful home form: 15 straight wins, no losses.  Their last defeat at the Etihad Stadium was in December 2010, and since then they’ve had 19 wins and 1 draw.

Compared to this, the Spurs have nothing much to show for, except for 4 wins, 1 loss and 1 recent draw on the road.  The odds are massively against them, and to be honest a person with good mental health would bet on City.

Still, Tottenham are not a BAD team, with an overall EPL form with only 2 defeats, 4 draws and 14 wins in 20 matches.   This, against City who have recently been stumbling with 3 losses in 5 matches.  Not good, chaps.

Perhaps the challenge for the Spurs to win is too big, but so is the prize waiting at the end.  It’s an incredibly tall order for them, but I see this team at the very least giving a limping City a run for their money, and their top spot security.

 

Tottenham to topple City
By Noah Thatcher

Ah, a match that has serious significance on how the title picture will look. Though the majority will think City are just too strong, I’d like to take the underdog.

For one, City have not been the best team of 2012. They’ve come off losses against top-flight competition. They’ve won once in four matches. They’ve had off-the-pitch issues that have obviously derailed their concentration. They still don’t have Vincent Kompany and the Toure brothers. The chances of them imploding are as real as a nightmare waiting to happen.

That being said, Tottenham are as top-flight as they come. They are yet to lose this year and have scored at least once in every game since November of last year. With the steam that they carry behind them as they march to Etihad, they are poised to snatch three points – closing the gap and making the title race even more nail-biting.

They will take the win and the bragging rights that come along with it.

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