Woeful United Steals A Point.

Tottenham 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Tottenham : Berbatov 21
Manchester United : Tevez 90+3

Team : Van der Sar, Evra, Rio, Vidic, Brown, Scholes (Anderson 60), Hargreaves (Carrick 46), Giggs (Nani 60), Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez

This was such a poor poor performance, it's probably best forgotten. We were ridiculously lucky to nick a point off Spurs with virtually the last kick of the game.

It didn't help that the Arsenal supporters were out in force at the kopitiam were Kentona and I were watching, making watching the game extra dreadful. It seemed that after the Arsenal game (which was played earlier) ended, all the Gooners decided to stay and catch the United game, bringing all their negative energy along with them. Bitter little pricks.

Excuses aside, we really didn't show up today on the pitch. Come to think of it, we haven't really been good for a full 90 minutes for a long long time. Yet somehow we've come away with the goods. Unfortunately for today, I doubt we even played a fucking full minute of outstanding football.

But take nothing away from a spirited Spurs. After the defeat in the FA Cup, Spurs were extra motivated right from the kickoff. Their passing was simply outstanding and they bossed the midfield. And it was only fitting that they took the lead midway thru the first half.

Jenas was brushed aside in our penalty area by Hargreaves and the ball fell kindly to Lennon. There could have been a slight debate that Jenas handled the ball as he fell, but if you asked me, it looked like a clear penalty that was not given. Anyway, justice had a way of righting itself. The 'handled' ball fell to Lennon. His pass was parried away by Van der Sar, but it only fell to Babertov with an open goal in front of him. The result was a goal.

United's response was pathetic at best. We couldn't even string two passes together. Had it not been for Hargreaves basically destroying play in midfield, we could very well been another goal or two down.

Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo were kept very quiet by the outstanding Woodgate and gang in the Spurs defense. Giggs and Scholes were frankly non-existant. And Evra was just Lennon's man-bitch for the second time.

Things had to change at the break and Fergie did just that. Unfortunately he shocked both Kentona and myself when he took off Hargreaves and put in Carrick. We both felt Scholesy should have been replaced instead. It just didn't make any sense to us that the best player was taken off.

Nothing changed in the second half. Our play was still simply dreadful. Spurs were first to every 50-50 ball and once again should have punished our poor play. And perhaps hearing our pleas for subsitutions, Fergie brought on Nani and Anderson in place of Giggs and Scholes.

Instantly there was an injection of pace and energy. We started looking marginally more threatening going forward. But it didn't really last very long.

You know I've been perpetually whining about Carrick's disappearing act for the longest time since he joined. Today I just wish he was just that....invisible. At least he would still be a good guy....behind the scenes.

But today he was just ultra dreadful. I don't even think his own parents can defend he's performance today (unless they are Spurs fans). He's passing was simply abysmal. Every other time he got the ball, he gave it away to a player in white. There were numerous times out there that I felt he was still playing for Spurs. If I contract lung cancer or becoming an alcoholic, I'm going to put the blame squarely on Carrick.

Just as the game felt like it was going to be a loss (well deserved might I add), Tevez popped up and scored from a corner with virtually the last kick of the game. For 90 odd minutes, the Spurs defense had been outstanding, keeping our attackers at bay. Yet in the dying seconds, they gifted Tevez will all the space in the world to nick an equalizer.

I dare say it was a vital point for us in the grander scheme of things. It kept us within striking distance from Arsenal who won earlier.

We've not been doing well recently and it's a worrying sign. Maybe the whole Saudi trip is coming back to haunt us. Or maybe we're just getting too complacent. But one thing's for sure, something's gotta change and I dunno what.

The only thing I know is that I really don't want to see Carrick play for a long long time. Fergie's been in the news recently saying that Fletcher's been a real trooper. I say let Fletcher play. Let Fletcher take Carrick's place. Someone in the backroom staff should just smack Ferguson on the head everytime he even puts Carrick's name on the teamsheet, let alone start.