Back to Robbie and Jermain this weekend?

One thing for certain this weekend, is that Jermain Defoe will return to the starting eleven, far from suffering from a three game suspension, but returning as the clubs undisputed No1 striker.

At the time of his sending off against Pompey, I was one to fear he could have messed up a potentially great and life changing season, for both club and country. But if anything, the performances of those replacing him have elevated him in the thoughts of the fans and probably his managers.

All credit to Peter Crouch, he has done little wrong in his two starts. No goals, but he was very unlucky against Stoke and completely isolated at The Emirates. Pav was anonymous in his time on the pitch and Robbie was assigned to play nearer the centre back than centre forward.

The problem may not have been Peter Crouch, but our inability to play well with him so isolated. This could easily be solved by replacing Robbie with Defoe, and both would probably relish the pairing. The question is can we really blame Robbie for obeying team orders over playing to his own strengths?

Harry has a tough decision which will to an extent offers us an insight to his thoughts for the remainder of the season and who really is the best striking partnership at this time. Does he take a brave move and drop a player for doing what he was told or drop one who has done little wrong? Surely he will do one or the other but which?

Based on his inability to make a decision on the midfield, I have a feeling that he will play them all this weekend and the man to make way will be David Bentley, and Harry will go with all his favourites in preference of picking the best team.

Is it really possible that he will pick, JJ, Palacios and Hudd in the middle and use Keane on the left and Defoe and Crouch in attack? Personally I really hope not, but is that easier than upsetting the apple kart?

Realistically we have to have a decision on the midfield or the attack as the prospect of playing all six is stupid isn`t it???

I know everyone will go with Crouch and Defoe in attack, with Keano in the cold, and whilst it isn`t easy to argue with that, I feel that Robbie deserves the backing of his manager for getting his hands dirty and doing the ugly jobs for the team. So the other kop out will be to start a pairing of Defoe and Keane and use pace over the long ball.

Harry has always struck me as a decisive manager, but this has been a worry for me in recent weeks over his seeming inability to make vital decisions in key areas. Right through the spine, from central defence, midfield and striker, there are 50/50 calls and to date he has either dodged a bullet due to injuries or simply kept everyone happy and played them all.

For me that is no longer acceptable and decisions have to be made for the team, not to keep individuals happy. If players don`t like it then perhaps they should have played better or worked harder. That ideal works elsewhere, so why not at Spurs?

Big jobs and squads, necessitate big managers and in turn decisions. If Harry wants to back his players, he has to do it for the whole team, If he wants to play Robbie Keane, then it has to be with two fingers towards the paying public and use him as he sees fit (preferably as a striker), alternatively he has to be bold and go with his old Pompey pairing and it be a thanks but no thanks for Robbie. The same applies to the midfield and when everyone is fit to the defence.

It would be a pairing of Jenas and Wilson in the middle for me and Bentley(or a fit Lennon) and Kranjcar on the wings. In attack, I would revert to Robbie and Defoe and bring Crouch on later, depending on how things are going, but I can see Harry making a call and dropping Hudd or JJ, and I can honestly see him playing Robbie on the left, with either Niko or Bentley being the fall guy and sadly that isn`t the best decision for the team, but one for the big players.

Please, please please, its make your mind up time Mr Redknapp...

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