Layoff Should Provide Tottenham Hotspur With Leg Up Over Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur have had a tough run of games lately. Spurs have collected only four points from their previous four league matches. Add in the fact that Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon have both been injured recently and it seems that many Spurs fans are nervous that they may be witnessing another late season collapse. One thing, however, gives me confidence that we won't be seeing that this season: Andre Villas-Boas.

Well, maybe not Villas-Boas himself, but his ability to create a game plan and devise tactics to put his team in a position to succeed. This has been especially true when Tottenham have a long break to prepare for games, much like the one the club have been afforded thanks to the postponement of the Chelsea fixture. This season, following an international break Tottenham have won three out of four games in the league. The loan loss was to an in-form Chelsea side in a match in which Tottenham didn't have Mousa Dembele or Gareth Bale and started William Gallas in defense.

Tottenham will now have 10 days after the second leg of their Europa League Quarterfinal match with FC Basel to prepare for Manchester City. In those 10 days Bale and Lennon should hopefully be able to get fit and the players should also be able to rest a bit.The biggest advantage though will be the 10 days that Villas-Boas has to study up on City.

The Citizens, meanwhile, have to Face Manchester United today, Chelsea this weekend in an FA Cup Semifinal, and Wigan on April 17th. With two big matches (and one against Wigan) there could be some tired legs in the City squad on April 21st.

I'm sure we'll do plenty of analysis in the coming weeks about just how Villas-Boas and Spurs should attack Manchester City, but for now, take comfort in the fact that Spurs tend to perform very well coming off of a break and a victory against Manchester City isn't that far-fetched of an idea.