Warning! I'm going to mention the unmentionable!
One question I asked myself after Jan Vertonghen's brace at Anfield on Sunday was "When did a Spurs defender last score two goals in a game?"
Some might suggest it was Gareth Bale, but the first time he scored two goals for Spurs in a game was on 21st August, 2010, when he scored both goals in a 2-1 win at Stoke City. By that time, of course, Gareth had been fully converted to play an attacking role, initially from the left of the midfield. On the few occasions since then that he has played at left back, defensive deficiencies have been evident, and Bale's attacking strengths and goal-scoring prowess have become more and more evident in the last three years.
So, who was it then? Well, dear reader, you have to go back to 12th December, 1998, when Spurs came back from 2-0 down to win a "glorious draw" with two second half goals by ..... well, have a look for yourselves, so I don't actually have to mention his name! (Spurs 2 Man Utd 2 - 12.12.98)
You've guessed though, right? That man went on to score 6 league goals and 8 in all games that season. Vertonghen has 3 league goals and 2 others to his name with 9 league games and potentially a few more Europa League games yet to play. Perhaps he can match that record from the 1998/99 season, or even beat it!
Jan Vertonghen is bang back in from right now, and deservedly got the Spurs man of the match vote, not only for his two goals, but some great individual defensive work too. he all but prevented that Downing goal going over the line too, but the ball passed through his legs.
Vertonghen has scored over 8 out of 10 in the last three matches, and is back in the reckoning for the ongoing player of the season vote, still led by Bale.
Two men definitely out of the reckoning for player of the season are Kyle Walker and Jermain Defoe, whose mistakes led to the loss of a 2-1 lead. You can add Benoit Assou-Ekotto to those two, not just because of his rash challenge upon Suarez, but he is just not winning the hearts of Spurs fans in his 14 appearances so far this season. Hugo Lloris has to bear some culpability over that second Liverpool goal too, but he is keeping in touch with Bale.
Anyway, our "one-man team" take their three goal advantage to Milan on Thursday, and still hold third place with a cushion over another unmentionable (this one is a team) in fifth place.
· This week's spursometer in full.
Results 09-10.03.13
Norwich 0-0 S'hampton
QPR 3-1 S'derland
Reading 1-2 A. Villa
West Brom 2-1 Swansea
Newcastle 2-1 Stoke
Liverpool 3-2 Spurs
Barclays Premier League
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man Utd 28 23 2 3 66-31 37 71
2. Man City 28 17 8 3 51-24 27 59
3. Spurs 29 16 6 7 51-36 15 54
4. Chelsea 28 15 7 6 56-30 26 52
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5. Arsenal 28 13 8 7 53-32 21 47
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6. Liverpool 29 12 9 8 56-36 20 45
7. Everton 28 11 12 5 44-35 9 45
8. West Brom 29 13 4 12 40-38 2 43
9. Swansea 29 10 10 9 40-36 4 40
10. Fulham 28 8 9 11 39-44 -5 33
11. Stoke 29 7 12 10 27-35 -8 33
12. West Ham 28 9 6 13 32-41 -9 33
13. Newcastle 29 9 6 14 40-50 -10 33
14. Norwich 29 7 12 10 27-45 -19 33
15. S'derland 29 7 9 13 32-41 -9 30
16. S'hampton 29 6 10 13 39-51 -12 28
17. A. Villa 29 6 9 14 28-54 -26 27
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18. Wigan 28 6 6 16 33-55 -22 24
19. Reading 29 5 8 16 35-56 -21 23
20. QPR 29 4 11 14 24-45 -21 23
