JAMIE REDKNAPP
NOW GO FOR EUROPE
HOW Martin Atkinson reached that decision, only he knows, but it is no excuse for Tottenham losing 5-1 to Chelsea. Roberto Di Matteo (right) has suffered one loss in 12 games and Chelsea now face Barcelona; the challenge to the Spurs players is how they react to this setback. After defeat by Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final two years ago, they rallied and qualified for the Champions League. Can they do it again?
GET UGLY, DANNY
DANNY Welbeck needs to score more of those ugly, scruffy twoyarders. In this United team, with the chances they create, he should have 10 tap-ins this season, let alone 10 goals. He seems to enjoy the long-rangers, but with his pace and power, there should be more variety if he wants nts to be England’s centre forward. It was good to see him score from close-in yesterday.
HOLE LOAD OF TROUBLE
IT’S a travesty that Carlos Tevez spent nt most of his season on a golf course and that is only amplified by his hat-trick at Norwich. Manchester City have allowed Manchester United back in the title race as their forwards have run out of steam and the goals have dried up. Imagine if Tevez had been around all season and nd had accepted Roberto Mancini’s rotation of forwards? He is such a talented, explosive footballer...
...BUT WHAT A PLAYER!
WHEN City lost 1-0 at Arsenal, they were carrying passengers. That doesn’t happen when Tevez plays. His desire to hunt the ball is contagious. Mario Balotelli (right) looks uninterested when the opposition have possession, Tevez chases the ball ll with an attitude that screams: ‘It’s t’s mine and I’m coming for it.’ Shame he hasn’t been around to do it more often.
SAM STEPS ON THE VAZ
BEFORE Ricardo Vaz Te’s hat-trick for r West Ham in their 6-0 win against Brighton, who was the last Hammer to score three goals in a League game? You don’t quite have to go back as far as Sir Geoff Hurst... it was Marlon Harewood in September 2005. That’s seven years ago! Vaz Te’s s treble means he has scored 10 goals since signing from Barnsley and has given West Ham fresh impetus, but they’re still likely to fall just short.
TERROR TUESDAY
TOMORROW could be a defining night in the Championship. Southampton have been the best team in the division for some time (and have Rickie Lambert, right), but go to Peterborough needing a win as West Ham (away to Bristol City) hunt them. Reading (home to Forest) est) need to keep their foot down having gone top. Brian Mcdermott’s team are nearly there.
BEST WISHES TO PAOLO
SWINDON can confirm promotion tomorrow and are almost there after their 1-0 win against Plymouth. An emotional Paolo Di Canio chose to stay for the game, despite the death of his mother, departing immediately after the final whistle. They are strange bedfellows in Wiltshire, but his passion to succeedd and their willingness to accept his eccentricities is proving to be a success.
CHARLTON ARE BACK
THE main men for Charlton are manager Chris Powell — and striker Bradley WrightPhillips (right), who is itching for another go at a higher level, having been signed from Plymouth. Behind the scenes, Tony Jimenez — a decent and passionate football man — has done his bit too for their promotion bid. They are back in the Championship and deserve to be.