If people love national cup anywhere that is England. In my opinion the most famous cup competition worldwide called FA cup continues in few days bringing us interesting game between Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City. Draw was merciful toward Spurs giving them not to strong opponent in this round.
Spurs eliminated Middlesborough and Southampton from FA cup so far. They played 2 games against both opponents drawing 1:1 away and then eliminating Boro with 2:1 and Southampton with 3:2 at home. North London club lost last 3 games against Leipzig, Chelsea and Wolverhampton. Last performance against Wolverhampton was not so bad, but deadly counter attack from Wolves I warned about in previous article and very clinical finishing combined with few very slow and clumsy defenders of Spurs led to 3 conceded goals and losing this important game.
I must say I don't understand Moruinho's starting 11. Davies and Dier both very slow players, Aurier who is more in attack than on right back position was not right choice. He said Tanganga and Sanchez are the fastest defenders and Dier is perfect to put between them, but how perfect he was we all saw. He miserably failed to do simple clearing, Tanganga's reaction after that didn't much help and it was 1:1. Clumsy bear was to slow on 3rd goal too. Mourinho's statement after that all played excellent is even harder to understand. If you concede 3 goals someone obviously wasn't so excellent. Yes Spurs had few chances, Dele Alli could score header just before 2:2, but his attempt went wide of goal. He was very unlucky.
Mou's naughty bringing in of Troy Parrot after 90th minute made me even more angry. Young boys should come in when result is good to gain winning mentality and not in losing game and of course not after 90th minute. If he wanted to bring him in he could give him at least 15 minutes in this match. He always moans he has no striker, but I am not sure Spurs would win this game even with fit H.Kane. Reason is simple defending process didn't work in this game. Three goals conceded is to much for winning the game unless you are football gentlemen like Roma. :)
Norwich won Leicester which didn't show themselves in the strongest squad. Vardy, Tielmans, Ndidi were absent if I remember correct. Anyway winning against 4th club on table shows that this club is not cat's caught and that they can surprise from time to time. They are still at the bottom of the table but this win might be moral boost for them and could make them believe they might survive in league. I don't know how big their ambitions in FA cup are, but I suppose they will not come in North London with white flag. They draw Spurs 2:2 at home and lost 2:1 in London this season. Spurs didn't blow them away in those games. In FA cup they eliminate Preston 2:4 and Burnley 1:2, both of them away from home.
Last 6 games in all competition Spurs have 3-0-3 with 11 goals scored and 10 conceded, but last 3 games were defeats.
Norwich has 2-1-3 with 4 goals scored and 7 conceded. Last 3 were against tough opponents like Liverpool, Wolverhampton and Leicester.
Tottenham is better in direct duels. Since 2004 Spurs have 7-4-3 25:11 against Norwich. In London they have 3-2-1 9:4. Last 3 games in London were:
22.01.2020. Tottenham - Norwich 2:1
26.12.2015. Tottenham - Norwich 3:0
14.09.2013. Tottenham - Norwich 2:0
I found games before that not relevant because they were long time ago.
I can only repeat what I wrote before last game between those two clubs which is I think Spurs have what it takes to win Norwich even without H.Kane, Son and Sissoko even with that defense they have at the moment. Mourinho rested Alderweireld and Verthongen in last game and I sincerely hope he will bring both of them in squad against Leicester instead of Dier and Davies. Regarding missing striker I have quick and dirty solution which is to put Aurier on that position and close gap in defece by putting Tanganga on right back. Aurier showed some class and skill in front of goal, he superbly tricked defender and fired up shot like Couthinho into net for 2:1 against Wolves. He said in interview he doesn't like his RB role so why not give lad chance in attack ? At least one half. That would be interesting. Maybe we have new mix of Diego Costa and Coutinho in squad and we put him on wrong position ? :) LoL I've heard Hary Kane is in fear for his position now. Aurier is zero in defense, close to zero in passing, but can be solid in crossing and superb in shooting at goal.
Odd on Spurs is not to big, but reasonable 1.50. I placed bet for 50 SCR on Tottenham win this game on betscorum here: https://betscorum.com/en-us/game/53573
My opinion here is Spurs win with something like 3:1 and Bergwijn to score first.
Thanks for reading and COYS!
This article had been written first by me on scorum sport blog platform here: https://scorum.com/en-us/football/@svarogbg/england-fa-cup-tottenham-norwich-preview
