Official Spurs complaint re Charlie Adam?
According to reports this morning (31st December, 2013), Spurs are considering making an official complaint to the FA about Charlie Adam's tackle on Paulinho, who as a result had to go off with an ankle injury, and who we may now miss for a month.
It is a great shame about another enforced absence for Paulinho who shared your man of the match vote with Dembele. Both players had their best games of the season so far, and cclearly thrived playing in tandem.
Paulinho was adjudged one of our worst players in the Liverpool debacle, but thtis was his third man of the match vote of the season. The last was at Cardiff in September, where he scored that last minute winner.
Similarly, Dembele's last man of the match show was against Chelsea in September.
There is a video clip doing the rounds of Adam's tackle on Paulinho, which appeared to show him with one foot in the air, which landed on Paulinho's ankle in a challenge for the ball. The tackle went un-punished by referee Kevin Friend, whereas on previous occasions, Adam has been punished for injuring players such as Gareth Bale. I have my doubts as to whether any Spurs appeal would receive attention, but one thing for sure is that Adam is guaranteed a negative reception from Spurs fans forever.
Referring to that Liverpool game, Kyle Naughton got the worst grade ever given to a Spurs player, when he was played out of position at left back, against a rampant Raheem Sterling. It was therefore very pleasing to see Kyle given plenty of praise for his performance in his natural position, deputising for Kyle Walker.
As for the referee, he was certainly a friend to Tottenham, and in the last four years has proven to be the best of the current crop of Premier League referees in charge of our games. Mr Friend has been in charge of 9 games, three of which have been against Stoke. All three of those games were Spurs wins. Can you come to The Britannie Stadium in April, Mr. Friend?
See the Spursometer in full
After 19 games last season, we had one less point than our current total of 34, but we were in fourth place, three points above Arsenal, but thirteeen behind eventual Champions Manchester United. We go to Old Trafford tomorrow level on points with our hosts.
Results 28-29.12.13
West Ham 3-3 West Brom
A. Villa 1-1 Swansea
Hull 6-0 Fulham
Man City 1-0 C. Palace
Norwich 0-1 Man Utd
Cardiff 2-2 S'derland
Everton 2-1 S'hampton
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Spurs 3-0 Stoke
Barclays Premier League
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 19 13 3 3 37-18 19 42
2. Man City 19 13 2 4 54-21 33 41
3. Chelsea 19 12 4 3 35-19 16 40
4. Everton 19 10 7 2 31-18 13 37
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5. Liverpool 19 11 3 5 44-23 21 36
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6. Man Utd 19 10 4 5 32-22 10 34
7. Spurs 19 10 4 5 22-24 -2 34
8. Newcastle 19 10 3 6 29-24 5 33
9. S'hampton 19 7 6 6 26-20 6 27
10. Hull 19 6 5 8 22-23 -1 23
11. Swansea 19 5 6 8 24-25 -1 21
12. Stoke 19 5 6 8 18-29 -11 21
13. A. Villa 19 5 5 9 18-25 -7 20
14. Norwich 19 5 4 10 16-32 -16 19
15. West Brom 19 3 9 7 22-27 -5 18
16. Cardiff 19 4 6 9 15-30 -15 18
17. C. Palace 19 5 1 13 12-28 -16 16
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18. Fulham 19 5 1 13 19-41 -22 16
19. West Ham 19 3 6 10 18-28 -10 15
20. S'derland 19 3 5 11 15-32 -17 14
