7 yellows and a dive by Wayne Rooney

Welcome to the upper echelon of the beautiful game Tottenham.

In what was a riveting match at White Heart Lane yesterday, Spurs outplayed top of League Manchester United. Indeed it looks like with Juande Ramos in charge, Spurs will be at the top of English and European football for a long time to come.

During the transfer window, the new Spanish manager brought in four defenders and those acquisitions combined with a higher fitness level and more disciplined play had the team looking very, very impressive. Spurs defended well, pressured well, passed the ball with style and attacked with real passion. What a team.

Even United manager Alex Ferguson had praise for Spurs:

"I must say, Spurs were very good and must take credit. They are on the up, Juande Ramos has done a fantastic job."

United meanwhile dissappointed us here at TBGSE, your arbitrar of things beautiful in football: 7 deserved yellow cards, including one for a dive by Wayne Rooney? Come on. One has to ask during a season when their Christmas party landed them in trouble with the police, what kind of team is this United?

Certainly they don't like to lose--hence all of the cards. Are they back to the Winning Is Beautiful category? Just days after calling them Beautiful United , I have to ask myself: "What was I thinking?", particualry after having to listen to Ferguson's post-match moaning about the excellent refereeing of Mark Clattenburg:

"There's something wrong when Manchester United get seven bookings."

Indeed there is something seriously wrong, Alex. Are you really a defender of the beautiful game?

But despite my recurring disappointment with United, I have to say that this for me was to date the best match of the year. As the television commentator said in the 58th minute, it was:

"...one of those games that you cannot take your eyes off."

Source 1 > 03.02.2008
Source 2