Friends, we've reached the end. The curtain is being brought down on 2010, a year that's seen us scale heights we could only have dreamed of 12 months prior. We've faced off with the best teams in the country and beaten them. We've gone toe-to-toe with the European champions and we've seen them off (nice one, Gareth). We've acquired some of the finest talents to ever play in the Premier League and we've a squad that's the envy of fans everywhere. Yep, 2010 has certainly been a year to cherish and it doesn't even end in a 1.
To round things off, we've assembled a crack team to discuss and analyse the comings and goings that occurred over the last year. Ladies and Gentlemen, allow us to present The Boys From White Hart Lane's End of Year Review - an event so fancy, almost every word has a capital letter. Joining us on the debating table (Note: there was no table) is Goal.com's Jamie Dunn, a London-based sports journalist who's been fortunate enough to report on Spurs a fair few times this year, and part-time BFTL contributor and Peter Crouch fan club founder Tom Tainton.
Let the, erm, madness begin:
TBFWHL: First things first: are Spurs actually title challengers at this point or are we just all kidding ourselves? Contrary to the perception of some, Redknapp hasn't actually declared that we'll win the thing - he says we have a chance as outsiders. Is he right?
JD: Tottenham are outsiders, yes, because they don't have that experience of challenging for titles. But then you look at the fixture run-in and there isn't really a sticky patch. You fancy Spurs can beat anyone on a good day – Manchester United, possibly being the exception. I mean, they've beaten Chelsea and Arsenal this calendar year and won some of the difficult away games – Stoke, Fulham, Villa, for example – so if they keep winning games, then why not?
TT: To all readers of this blog working themselves into a frenzy over the prospect of a title at the Lane; stop. Stop right now. I hate to burst the bubble but Spurs won't win the league. If I'm wrong come May, then you can point to this self-satisfied assertion as just another doubting nobody. Don't get me wrong, I'd be equally delighted is they pulled it off. Every neutral wants Spurs to do well. Why? Harry's a cockney starlet, the team play good football and Michael Dawson wears UGGs to training. It's the quintessential footballing set-up down at Chigwell.
Nonetheless, Spurs haven't got the experience of winning the Championship. When the FA Cup/Champions League/Prem League games come thick and fast, the squad will be stretched. There's still that niggling inconsistency (being ironed out, admittedly) of dropping points to mediocre mid-table clubs. And Hutton's still in the first team. With that in mind, Spurs are huge outsiders. Outside the title-winning house, peering glumly through the window while Wenger and Fergie tuck into a Christmas ham.
TBFWHL: Wenger?! The last time he was invited to the title-winning house, Labour were still comfortably in power and Geraint Jones kept wicket for England. Fact. What's both of your general interpretations of the past 12 months? They've been excellent, have they not? Top four finish, that magical week against Arsenal and Chelsea, Crouch's goal at Man City, everything Bale does, beating Inter Milan, van der Vaart's form - surely it all adds up to one of the greatest years in recent history?
TT: Spurs have been pretty special to watch. It's the biggest turnaround since the Nazis realized how cold Soviet Russia is and retreated back to Berlin (awkward silence). 2009: Eleven primadonnas more interested in drinking and shagging. 2010: Eleven primadonnas equally obsessed with drinking and shagging – but pretty decent at football too. Bale, after facing the prospect of squad obscurity several seasons ago, has been a revelation. These days, when he's not tormenting Maicon, he's heavily denying that he wants to move to Manchester. Erm, no-one asked Gareth. How many years in their history can Spurs look back on the year and think, we've beaten Arsenal home and away, we're doing exceedingly well in Europe and domestically.
JD: You have to constantly remind yourself not to get carried away, but yes, it really has been a magnificent year for Spurs. The last decade was, all in all, extremely mediocre - let's face it – but beating Arsenal and Chelsea off the back of the FA Cup semi-final loss, rubbing shoulders with Inter…it's been a suitable reward for a squad that has come on leaps and bounds over the last two seasons.
TBFWHL: Let's talk about Bale - his rise from January to where he is now is eerily symbolic of Tottenham's year. The sky's the limit, no?
JD: I don't know. Obviously Bale has had a brilliant year – people tend to think this spell he's having started this season but any Spurs fan will tell you he was brilliant after Assou-Ekotto picked up an injury at the start o 2010. He was central to those wins over Arsenal and Chelsea. But, as effective as he has been with his direct style, he does have quiet games and I don't think, in terms of individual ability and consistency, he'll ever match the likes of Messi or Ronaldo. That said, I was at White Hart Lane on Tuesday (Newcastle) and once again he was one of the best three players on the pitch.
TT: Bale could become a stalwart in the Spurs team for years to come. A Hoddle-esque legend waltzing around White Hart Lane. His game is riddled with attributes: he was a cross country dynamo at school, so his stamina is undoubted. He's quick and powerful. His range of passing is magnificent and he creates huge spaces for himself to work with. (No, I'm not referring to the gaps in Lennon's eyebrows). He's multi-talented, too. As well as dominating the football pitch every week, he's single-handedly revived the Planet of the Apes franchise. He's not the finished article just yet but he's developed at a frightening rate.
TBFWHL: Quite. A few defenders look to have figured out a semi-successful way of handling him in recent games but he's still producing the business. He was quiet against Villa and Newcastle but then suddenly popped up and had a huge hand in the second goals from both games. If we can keep hold of him, he could make himself a household name. Which other players have stood out this season? Obviously there's your Bales, your Dawsons and your van der Vaarts but what of the others?
TT: Peter Crouch has stood out for a number of reasons.
TBFWHL: (mutters under breath) No surprise there then.
TT: For one, he's incredibly tall. Secondly, he treats the fans to a dazzling array of skills and trickery. He's strong in the air, capable on the floor. He chips in with his fair share of goals. He seems an amiable fellow, often sporting a wide smile and too-baggy shorts, like a public schoolboy on sports-day. Considering he spends a significant number of hours every week in company of Jermaine Jenas, his good nature deserves the player of the year gong. Scrap that, the Nobel prize.
TBFWHL: Respectful disagreement. We all know you're a gigantic (no pun intended) fan of his but there's got to be a limit. He was excellent for us at times this year and that goal at City will be forever remembered. But the sight of him up front by himself sometimes is just too much to bear. He does his share of work for van der Vaart, yes, but he has to start scoring more if he's to justify your faith in him.
JD: Personally, I can't speak highly enough of Luka Modric – what a player he is. He's moved into the centre now and with Van der Vaart coming in, there's less onus on Modric to attack but, especially with Huddlestone injured, who I also think is an exceptional talent, Modric has been brilliant. He's always comfortable with the ball, always available, has excellent vision and is a fantastic passer. I actually think he's more important to Spurs than Bale – there, I said it.
Also, I don't know if this purely displays my penchant for the cult hero but I'm also a big fan of Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Assou-Ekotto has become a regular in the side and with good reason, plus his interviews are always brilliant. As for Pav, well, sometimes you want to kiss him, others you want to slap him but his scoring record, especially in the cups, is actually quite impressive. I'm glad he didn't leave during the window last season and I don't think Harry will be tempted to flog him this time around.
TBFWHL: By the same token, which players do you think haven't really stepped up? One suspects Robbie Keane's name may come up in the next paragraph…
JD: Well, Keane has been a good servant to Spurs – his partnership with Dimitar Berbatov was so entertaining and exciting and he'd scored plenty of goals for the club before that. But I think his problem is the club has moved on from relying on him – with Modric and Van der Vaart in the side particularly, there's no need for a forward who drops deep to get the ball. Plus, he never really kicked on when he came back from Liverpool, the odd four-goal haul aside.
David Bentley did alright when Lennon was injured at the start of the year but he is one of few that always leaves you frustrated and he basically hasn't justified his price tag. But it's ok, he'll be living off 'that' goal against Arsenal for the rest of his career.Wilson Palacios is another – he was the sort of player Spurs desperately needed when he joined the club and his impact was felt massively but he dropped out of the side off the back of some disappointing form. He's coming on again recently though, which must be encouraging for Harry.
TT: I'm going to be controversial here and not point to Pav. He hasn't stepped up – he's still useless. But he was equally inept last season, so there's no need for me to act like it's a surprise that he's still wandering around the pitch like a disinterested mercenary. Nope, this time I'm focusing my vitriol on Aaron Lennon. Lennon!? He's one of England's finest young wingers! Couldn't care less. The boy can't cross. He's too lightweight. He looks like he might mug you on a bus stop.
TBFWHL: All good reasons to dislike a player, certainly. But at least two out of three aren't strictly true. Saying Lennon can't cross is a tired criticism - he's shown by now that he can and if he's looked a little off colour at times this season, it's surely because he was out of the side for so long with injury. And he's a semi-prolific Tweeter - someone like that would surely never mug you. Moving on. Harry Redknapp's surely been the key to this incredible year. How do you put into context the job he's done so far? Surely it's just a matter of time before he jacks us in and takes command of the good ship England?
TT: Redknapp, to use a cliché, is a wheeler-dealer come good. An excellent man-manager, he's got the players doing the business on the pitch and selling fruit at an East London market on Sunday morning (probably). He's one of the finest managers in the country. He's steered Gomes away from calamity towards indomitability. He's shored up the defence (Gallas proved a masterstroke), he's sorted out the midfield too. He'll want the England job, who wouldn't? Harry's handled the plethora of egos at Spurs with poise. But if he accepts the greater challenge of dealing with all the mugs on the international scene his giant red turkey face would probably explode.
JD: Harry has got the best out of some of the players who were already at the club but the signings he's made have left us with a strong squad that can compete on a few different fronts, even if he did essentially bring back players who had left. Plus how he signed Van der Vaart I'll never know. But the less questions asked about that the better probably – that was more 22nd hour than 11th. All signs are pointing to the appointment of an English manager after Don Fabio and you've got to think Harry is the frontrunner in that respect. I think he'll jump at the chance if he's offered it.
TBFWHL: He's always offering his two cents when it comes to England and one suspects he'd relish the opportunity to have a crack. If Harry is to sign some fresh faces in January, who do you think we should be going for? A new striker seems pretty important with every game and missed chance that passes. Is there anyone else we should be grabbing hold of?
JD: I think Steven Pienaar will join - with his contract running out he'll be available for around £2m and Everton will not want to lose him in the summer for nothing. Fans might not see the point of bringing him in with the likes of Kranjcar already in the squad but I think Pienaar offers a bit more. I thought a central defender was a priority but Dawson coming back has given the team a huge boost at an important time, plus both Younes Kaboul and Sebastien Bassong have been impressive. Spurs do have to concede fewer goals though.
As for a striker, a few have been offered to the club – Forlan, Cardozo from Benfica – but I think they'll definitely want to shift Keane before bringing anyone in. It's difficult because whoever comes in needs to be an improvement on what Spurs already have but I wouldn't put it past Harry having another trick up his sleeve or pulling off a bit of a surprise loan deal.
TT: Football Manager 2010 cap on here. I've got a tip and he's called Chris Lines. An unorthodox choice maybe but this is a central midfielder with bags of potential. Currently plying his trade in League One, Lines broke through the youth ranks at Bristol Rovers and has been churning out average performances ever since. What's that? The last thing Spurs need is another central midfielder? Not to mention he's dangerously sub-standard and completely unproven at competitive level? Ah.
TBFWHL: Good tip mate. Harry'll, erm, certainly be looking into that one. What was your defining moment(s) of 2010? Let's be honest - there were a fair few to choose from.
JD: For pure getting you out of your seat, football fan excitement, it has to be the Danny Rose's goal against Arsenal. There were more significant results – winning that game, coming from two down at the Emirates, beating Chelsea, Manchester City and Inter – but who doesn't love a great goal? It exploded off his foot out of nowhere and stunned everyone and, yes, maybe Almunia could have done better but frankly who cares?
TT: It's been a dream year – the pinnacle of which was Crouchy nodding home at Eastlands. He celebrated with ecstatic fervour, the perfect receipt for his hard work and application. Of course, he received another receipt on his stag do, from 'Monika'.
TBFWHL: Ah Danny Rose. Rumour has it he wants to leave the club. How the mighty have fallen. Though, he did cause millions of Spurs fans to suffer the unique feeling of sheer euphoria and heart failure at the same time so fair play to him. The Bale goal from that same match was also a particular favourite moment here at TBFWHL Towers. Right then, everything was possible. Of course, Crouchy's header at Man City was a moment so perfect it's hard to put into words. Sweet memories. Finally, what do you think should be Tottenham's aspirations for 2011, realistically? It's a pretty even top five at present - would coming fifth make it a bad season?
TT: Finishing fifth would be like premature ejaculation with Angelina Jolie. A disappointing but inevitable climax, with little actual blame to be attached to the culprit. Spurs will probably finish just outside the Champions League spots. They MIGHT sneak into fourth, although Man City will probably give Sepp Blatter a 100 quadrillion pounds, he'll buy the FA, reinstate City in fourth spot and all will be right again. Probably. Either way, due to the nature of the top five, it'll have been another fantastic season, even if fifth is the end result. Watch out for 2011-12, if so. Spurs have to try and stay in the bubble at the top for as long as possible. That said, this is Tottenam: it's all going to have to go tits-up at some point, isn't it?
JD: At the start of the season I thought top six and a good cup run would be satisfactory for Spurs, purely because I wondered if they could juggle all competitions. But, carrying on from what I said earlier, they should simply be trying to win every game and the way they've been playing, there's no reason why they can't go up against the top teams not only in England, but Europe also, thinking they've got a good chance of winning. I don't really expect them to win the title or the Champions League – I don't think even the most ardent Spurs fans do - but they can repeat last season's exploits at least.
TBFWHL: We have to hope that one of City, Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal have a prolonged slump. Then when they do, we'll have to jump at the opportunity to take their place and stay there. But that, dear friends, is all yet to come. Here's to 2010 - a year that will only be forgotten when we lose five on the bounce, Harry is sacked and we slump back to 12th place, tail firmly between legs. Gentlemen, it's been an absolute pleasure - thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Follow Jamie, Tom and the voice behind TBFWHL on Twitter: @JamieRDunn @Tainton9 @MJT10
COMING SOON: The Boys From White Hart Lane's very own Twitter and Facebook accounts. Watch this space.
30 December 2010
29 December 2010
Christmas cheer aplenty at Tottenham
Stop the presses: Father Christmas is real and he supports the Spurs.
You can't really ask for much more than two wins from two games in two days, especially when you factor in our two red cards. Spurs have once again provided an excellent example of their top four credentials and, though a Premier League title is probably out of reach for this campaign, only a fool would right them off having a serious tilt at it in the coming years.
Boxing Day's backs-to-the-wall win at Aston Villa has the potential to be a season defining result - if nothing else, it's a sterling indication of the strong-willed determination that currently resides within this team. It's become something of a cliche to combine the phrases 'Spurs' and 'new-found determination' but it's one that doesn't hurt to be repeated.
Van der Vaart returned to the side after a month out with injury and, true to his exceptional quality, he turned in a performance of the highest class. A brilliantly composed finish from Hutton's cross put us one up - the goal being made possible in the first place by a pass of the century candidate from Luka Modric.
The baying home crowd fazed us not one jot, though the conditions were about to be turned even more against us when Defoe was sent off for alleged use of the elbow. Whilst his arm was certainly in the face of the defender, replays showed that JD didn't once look at him. A red card was something of an overreaction from Martin Atkinson, who's proven himself to be red card-happy ref all season.
But rather than wilt under pressure, Spurs stepped it up a notch and after Bale had taken the ball the entire length of the pitch in a typical lung-bursting run, he found Lennon who laid it off for van der Vaart to casually stroke home the second. Of course, there was the inevitable late goal back for Villa that had us clinging on for dear life but Redknapp had made sure Tottenham's backbone was brought along and we held out for a mightily impressive three points. There was even time for Redknapp to go toe-to-toe with former Gooner Robert Pires, who decided to mouth off to the Spurs bench after he was tackled. Talk about the shoe being on the other foot.
No time to dwell on success, however. Just under 48 hours later and we took to the field to face Newcastle, a side with more than a bit of potential to knock us of our perch. A closely fought first half strengthened that theory and it looked very much like Spurs would have to dig deep to get anything from the match. It was a tempestuous affair also with Joey Barton doing his best to endear himself to the people of North London with some pathetic antics, including initiating handbags with van der Vaart over what he perceived was a dive. That Barton later threw himself to the ground in a challenge with Rafa was worthy of a shake of the head from this blog.
It wasn't just Barton. Alan Smith slammed into Bale from behind and let go a furious verbal volley at both the ref and Bale himself. Carroll was using his height for all the right reasons to make our defence as nervous as possible but, later in the second half, he chose to barge himself into Heurelho Gomes and then lock horns with the Brazilian afterwards. There's no denying Gomes is a bit of a ponce but Carroll didn't need to act the hard man.
It wasn't just Newcastle's players, though. After a slightly aggressive but legal challenge from Tiote on Kaboul, the Newcastle midfielder came storming over to offer his two cents. Foolishly, Kaboul shaped to head-butt him and saw red as a consequence. It was a ill-judged decision and one that put our 1-0 lead in jeopardy. What's that? Oh yes, we were one up. Early in the second half, Lennon received the ball just outside the box, rediscovered his 2009 form, beat his man and lashed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a goal that reeked of his early season form from last year and showed great promise of things to come.
Kaboul's sending off made it two reds in two games but Spurs clearly had enough resilience in the tank leftover from Villa Park and systematically repelled everything Newcastle offered by way of attack. And, after a particularly troublesome Toon attack, Bale showcased his astounding energy once more. Modric broke clear and sent the Welsh Wizard off down the left, where he charged inside his marker and lashed the ball across the face of goal - almost a carbon copy of Lennon's earlier strike. Game over.
A clean sheet! Yes, really! To Man City, Young Boys and Werder Bremen, we can now add the name Newcastle to the list of teams we've managed to shut out this season. It was also perhaps the first time that both our wing magicians have combined in the same match. For months we've been looking to see Bale and Lennon both hit their best in tandem, creating a devastating double-winged attack. Form and injury has always prevented them from combining in the past but this time there was enough to suggest they really can function at the same time.
Six points is enough to lift us back into fourth place, though Chelsea have a game in hand on us. It's of the utmost important that we don't fall more than three points away from that fourth place at all times. Keeping touch with the top means that if/when one of them have a prolonged blip, we'll be in the best position possible to capitalise.
So, a Merry Christmas? You betcha. A Happy New Year? We'll have to wait and see.
You can't really ask for much more than two wins from two games in two days, especially when you factor in our two red cards. Spurs have once again provided an excellent example of their top four credentials and, though a Premier League title is probably out of reach for this campaign, only a fool would right them off having a serious tilt at it in the coming years.
Boxing Day's backs-to-the-wall win at Aston Villa has the potential to be a season defining result - if nothing else, it's a sterling indication of the strong-willed determination that currently resides within this team. It's become something of a cliche to combine the phrases 'Spurs' and 'new-found determination' but it's one that doesn't hurt to be repeated.
Van der Vaart returned to the side after a month out with injury and, true to his exceptional quality, he turned in a performance of the highest class. A brilliantly composed finish from Hutton's cross put us one up - the goal being made possible in the first place by a pass of the century candidate from Luka Modric.
The baying home crowd fazed us not one jot, though the conditions were about to be turned even more against us when Defoe was sent off for alleged use of the elbow. Whilst his arm was certainly in the face of the defender, replays showed that JD didn't once look at him. A red card was something of an overreaction from Martin Atkinson, who's proven himself to be red card-happy ref all season.
But rather than wilt under pressure, Spurs stepped it up a notch and after Bale had taken the ball the entire length of the pitch in a typical lung-bursting run, he found Lennon who laid it off for van der Vaart to casually stroke home the second. Of course, there was the inevitable late goal back for Villa that had us clinging on for dear life but Redknapp had made sure Tottenham's backbone was brought along and we held out for a mightily impressive three points. There was even time for Redknapp to go toe-to-toe with former Gooner Robert Pires, who decided to mouth off to the Spurs bench after he was tackled. Talk about the shoe being on the other foot.
No time to dwell on success, however. Just under 48 hours later and we took to the field to face Newcastle, a side with more than a bit of potential to knock us of our perch. A closely fought first half strengthened that theory and it looked very much like Spurs would have to dig deep to get anything from the match. It was a tempestuous affair also with Joey Barton doing his best to endear himself to the people of North London with some pathetic antics, including initiating handbags with van der Vaart over what he perceived was a dive. That Barton later threw himself to the ground in a challenge with Rafa was worthy of a shake of the head from this blog.
It wasn't just Barton. Alan Smith slammed into Bale from behind and let go a furious verbal volley at both the ref and Bale himself. Carroll was using his height for all the right reasons to make our defence as nervous as possible but, later in the second half, he chose to barge himself into Heurelho Gomes and then lock horns with the Brazilian afterwards. There's no denying Gomes is a bit of a ponce but Carroll didn't need to act the hard man.
It wasn't just Newcastle's players, though. After a slightly aggressive but legal challenge from Tiote on Kaboul, the Newcastle midfielder came storming over to offer his two cents. Foolishly, Kaboul shaped to head-butt him and saw red as a consequence. It was a ill-judged decision and one that put our 1-0 lead in jeopardy. What's that? Oh yes, we were one up. Early in the second half, Lennon received the ball just outside the box, rediscovered his 2009 form, beat his man and lashed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a goal that reeked of his early season form from last year and showed great promise of things to come.
Kaboul's sending off made it two reds in two games but Spurs clearly had enough resilience in the tank leftover from Villa Park and systematically repelled everything Newcastle offered by way of attack. And, after a particularly troublesome Toon attack, Bale showcased his astounding energy once more. Modric broke clear and sent the Welsh Wizard off down the left, where he charged inside his marker and lashed the ball across the face of goal - almost a carbon copy of Lennon's earlier strike. Game over.
A clean sheet! Yes, really! To Man City, Young Boys and Werder Bremen, we can now add the name Newcastle to the list of teams we've managed to shut out this season. It was also perhaps the first time that both our wing magicians have combined in the same match. For months we've been looking to see Bale and Lennon both hit their best in tandem, creating a devastating double-winged attack. Form and injury has always prevented them from combining in the past but this time there was enough to suggest they really can function at the same time.
Six points is enough to lift us back into fourth place, though Chelsea have a game in hand on us. It's of the utmost important that we don't fall more than three points away from that fourth place at all times. Keeping touch with the top means that if/when one of them have a prolonged blip, we'll be in the best position possible to capitalise.
So, a Merry Christmas? You betcha. A Happy New Year? We'll have to wait and see.
27 December 2010
Behind enemy lines: interview with a Newcastle fan
Something slightly different as we look ahead to the visit of Newcastle. We've gone and caught hold of a real, live Toon fan. David Kifford has taken time out of his busy schedule of taking his top off at cold away games and waving it over his head to share his thoughts on all things Newcastle, Spurs and Chris Hughton:
TBFWHL: Thanks for talking to us, good sir. Let's start with an issue that's perhaps still a little bit raw - Chris Hughton. He's obviously held in quite high esteem by our lot and over the years he's been grossly mistreated by both our clubs. What do you honestly make of his sacking and the appointment of Pardew? A farce, no?
DK: Farce is putting it lightly. It's one of those moments where you are genuinely disgraced by your own club. When you don't really want to admit your colours in conversation. I think you realise how much this has upset Newcastle fans when you hear us comparing it to when Sir Bobby was forced out. Results might not have been perfect but we knew we were heading in the right direction and with Chris in charge, Newcastle fans were actually quite accepting of the occassional defeats and our expectations were as grounded as I've ever seen them. If one of the Martins (O'Neill or Jol) had been brought in as a replacement, we may have understood but Pardew doesn't feel anything like a step forward. That said, it's not Pards' fault and we'll certainly give him a chance.
TBFWHL: Apparently he was sacked at Southampton for sleeping with one of the player's wives. But that's neither for us to confirm nor cast judgement upon (awkward silence). Managerial fiascos aside, how are you enjoying being back in the top flight? Is it all you wished for? What do you think would represent a good season?
DK: I think we'd all take survival right now but if the season progresses and we're still hovering around the Euro spots, it will be interesting to see if the players can kick on and have a real go. It may be the over-ambitious Toon fan in me but I do think we're capable of a good top half finish.
TBFWHL: Don't worry, we at Spurs are no strangers to over-ambition. In the past, anyway. Which players should we fear the most from Newcastle? Carroll? Nolan? Perch?!
DK: Fear Carroll and fear Nolan - that almost goes without saying. But, to be honest, stopping these two isn't as tough as you'd think: just go back to basics and cut off the supply. It won't be easy because while we don't have as much flair as some squads, we will run all day long. Jonas' (Gutierrez) form is as unpredictable as an Ashes test but I think Hutton can handle him.
TBFWHL: You've seen Hutton play, right?
DK: The one you've got to watch is Joey Barton.
TBFWHL: (Stifles a giggle)
DK: Really! He makes the headlines for all the wrong reasons but he's slotted onto the right flank beautifully this season. I always wondered how all our central midfielders would fit into one team (Smith, Nolan, Guthrie, Gosling, Tiote, Barton, Perch) but moving Joey to the right was a masterstroke by Hughton. He plays the role the Beckham way, he won't beat a man for pace but he can make a yard and his delivery really is exceptional. If he can't beat the man he'll deliver it from deep and with the likes of Carroll, Ameobi and Nolan in the box you'd back us to win the battles in the air. Mark my words, Barton is the dangerman... in more ways than one.
TBFWHL: We all shudder to think what you're implying by that. To be fair, Barton has looked like a player when he's not making offensive gestures towards Liverpool strikers or stubbing cigars out on youth players' eyelids (that was Man City's problem, admittedly). Meanwhile, Newcastle away has always been pretty high on the list of fixtures to dread - we just don't do winning at SJP. Do you approach games with Spurs with trepidation or confidence, or a strange mixture of both?
DK: We have a good record against Spurs but I never really especially look forward to playing you. This season though we are performing superbly against the so-called big teams, opening day aside (3-0 loss to Man Utd), and tripping up against the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool. Spurs are definitely one of the top teams in the country right now but anyone would back themselves to get a goal against you and when we get one we tend to get another.
TBFWHL: Offensive. Though, you make a good point - the only teams we haven't conceded against this year have been Man City and Werder Bremen. What have you made of Spurs this season? Do you buy into the whole 'title-contenders' theory being peddled by Redknapp? What do you think it'll take for us to be amongst the big boys for real?
DK: You're so close but to be one of the real big teams you have to qualify for the Champs League in succesive seasons. That's when you'll know you've made it. To be honest, I think you could challenge for the title but I think you're relying on Bale/van der Vaart staying fit and in form all season to do it. The usual suspects are all misfiring though so this season is as good a chance as you'll get. As strange as it may sound, I think you've got more chance of lifting the CL. No-one in Europe really knows what you're about these days and I think attacking football is the way to go in Europe as it will help grab those vital away goals. My worry would be can you stay relaxed if you get to the later stages of the tournament.
TBFWHL: Knowing Spurs as we do, the answer is definitely not.
DK: Look what happened to Fulham in the Europa League last season: no fear all the way through but all that build-up for the final made it a much, much tougher task. You can't avoid getting sucked into the occasion and if you don't have players that can rise to it, you get torn apart. It happened to Middlesbrough as well a couple of years back too.
TBFWHL: Ah yes, when they kept setting themselves targets of 4 goals in the second half and squeezing through at the last possible minute. As former Champions League regulars yourselves, what's it like watching Spurs in the CL? Probably quite entertaining for the neutral, one suspects. Good to see a side other than Man Utd/Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool?
DK: It's fantastic to see a side so carefree about the Champions League. I usually don't bother too much with the group stages because for the English teams it's usually pretty boring. Win at home, don't lose away and you're through. But Spurs have really treated it like the reward that it is. It wasn't just one season of hard work that got you to the CL, it was more like two or three and after almost crashing out to Young Boys, Harry clearly decided he wanted to enjoy it. The Premier League is your dinner and the CL is your dessert. Instead of dreading the big games, you relished them and even at 4-0 down, away from home, to the holders, you still went after them when most teams would've just decided it was over and got on the first plane home. That has to be admired and that defeat was perhaps your biggest victory, in some ways. It gave you the belief that led to you thrashing Inter at home and eventually topping the group. Although without a certain Welshman, things may have been a lot different. My favourite headline after that game had to be "Inter 4 - Bale 3".
TBFWHL: Yes, the Welsh one has made it a curious habit of his to be ridiculously good. Without him, we wouldn't really be the same side, although he hasn't been in electrifying form of late and we're ticking along alright. Speaking of, if you could sign any of our squad, who would you pick? Price and availability is no issue. Keane's been linked with a move to you guys but he's linked with every club north of the equator. You could be his next boyhood club, with any luck.
DK: There's a few I'd take but you may have guessed I court one member of your squad greater than any other. Gareth Bale has been absolutely unplayable at times this season, as good as Ronaldo in '08/'09 or Rooney in '09/'10. His electric pace is utterly terrifying but his ability to keep such close control of the ball at the same time is breathtaking. As for the others, I'd love to see Daws, VDV or Tommy Hudd in a Toon shirt. Huddlestone's pass against Shakthar a couple of years back still sends shivers down my spine...
TBFWHL: Shivers? Pull yourself together man. Though, this blog will admit to having watched it about 60 or 70 times over the last few weeks alone. Right then, predictions for the game? We're feeling 2-1 Spurs here at TBFWHL Towers. We probably won't stop Carroll scoring but we'll ought squeeze out a few goals, probably off van der Vaart's left knee cap. Maybe Defoe will decide to score. It is Christmas afterall. (Update - Defoe is now suspended, courtesy of Martin Atkinson)
DK: I fear our performance hangs on what happens against City on Boxing Day but I'll plump for 2-1 our way - as I said before, we've done well against the big boys this season and this'll be no different.
TBFWHL: Confident man. Hopefully that confidence will be crushed by a Danny Rose exocet. What do you mean he won't be playing!? Thanks for speaking to us Dave, good luck for the rest of the season but not too much good luck if you know what I mean. Dave? Hello?
It's over. Dave expertly blogs about Newcastle here and tweets about them, and other important things, here. If we win, feel free to direct as much abuse his way as possible. Only joking, don't really. Remember, dear reader: magnamity in victory. If we even win, that is.
TBFWHL: Thanks for talking to us, good sir. Let's start with an issue that's perhaps still a little bit raw - Chris Hughton. He's obviously held in quite high esteem by our lot and over the years he's been grossly mistreated by both our clubs. What do you honestly make of his sacking and the appointment of Pardew? A farce, no?
DK: Farce is putting it lightly. It's one of those moments where you are genuinely disgraced by your own club. When you don't really want to admit your colours in conversation. I think you realise how much this has upset Newcastle fans when you hear us comparing it to when Sir Bobby was forced out. Results might not have been perfect but we knew we were heading in the right direction and with Chris in charge, Newcastle fans were actually quite accepting of the occassional defeats and our expectations were as grounded as I've ever seen them. If one of the Martins (O'Neill or Jol) had been brought in as a replacement, we may have understood but Pardew doesn't feel anything like a step forward. That said, it's not Pards' fault and we'll certainly give him a chance.
TBFWHL: Apparently he was sacked at Southampton for sleeping with one of the player's wives. But that's neither for us to confirm nor cast judgement upon (awkward silence). Managerial fiascos aside, how are you enjoying being back in the top flight? Is it all you wished for? What do you think would represent a good season?
DK: I think we'd all take survival right now but if the season progresses and we're still hovering around the Euro spots, it will be interesting to see if the players can kick on and have a real go. It may be the over-ambitious Toon fan in me but I do think we're capable of a good top half finish.
TBFWHL: Don't worry, we at Spurs are no strangers to over-ambition. In the past, anyway. Which players should we fear the most from Newcastle? Carroll? Nolan? Perch?!
DK: Fear Carroll and fear Nolan - that almost goes without saying. But, to be honest, stopping these two isn't as tough as you'd think: just go back to basics and cut off the supply. It won't be easy because while we don't have as much flair as some squads, we will run all day long. Jonas' (Gutierrez) form is as unpredictable as an Ashes test but I think Hutton can handle him.
TBFWHL: You've seen Hutton play, right?
DK: The one you've got to watch is Joey Barton.
TBFWHL: (Stifles a giggle)
DK: Really! He makes the headlines for all the wrong reasons but he's slotted onto the right flank beautifully this season. I always wondered how all our central midfielders would fit into one team (Smith, Nolan, Guthrie, Gosling, Tiote, Barton, Perch) but moving Joey to the right was a masterstroke by Hughton. He plays the role the Beckham way, he won't beat a man for pace but he can make a yard and his delivery really is exceptional. If he can't beat the man he'll deliver it from deep and with the likes of Carroll, Ameobi and Nolan in the box you'd back us to win the battles in the air. Mark my words, Barton is the dangerman... in more ways than one.
TBFWHL: We all shudder to think what you're implying by that. To be fair, Barton has looked like a player when he's not making offensive gestures towards Liverpool strikers or stubbing cigars out on youth players' eyelids (that was Man City's problem, admittedly). Meanwhile, Newcastle away has always been pretty high on the list of fixtures to dread - we just don't do winning at SJP. Do you approach games with Spurs with trepidation or confidence, or a strange mixture of both?
DK: We have a good record against Spurs but I never really especially look forward to playing you. This season though we are performing superbly against the so-called big teams, opening day aside (3-0 loss to Man Utd), and tripping up against the likes of Blackburn and Blackpool. Spurs are definitely one of the top teams in the country right now but anyone would back themselves to get a goal against you and when we get one we tend to get another.
TBFWHL: Offensive. Though, you make a good point - the only teams we haven't conceded against this year have been Man City and Werder Bremen. What have you made of Spurs this season? Do you buy into the whole 'title-contenders' theory being peddled by Redknapp? What do you think it'll take for us to be amongst the big boys for real?
DK: You're so close but to be one of the real big teams you have to qualify for the Champs League in succesive seasons. That's when you'll know you've made it. To be honest, I think you could challenge for the title but I think you're relying on Bale/van der Vaart staying fit and in form all season to do it. The usual suspects are all misfiring though so this season is as good a chance as you'll get. As strange as it may sound, I think you've got more chance of lifting the CL. No-one in Europe really knows what you're about these days and I think attacking football is the way to go in Europe as it will help grab those vital away goals. My worry would be can you stay relaxed if you get to the later stages of the tournament.
TBFWHL: Knowing Spurs as we do, the answer is definitely not.
DK: Look what happened to Fulham in the Europa League last season: no fear all the way through but all that build-up for the final made it a much, much tougher task. You can't avoid getting sucked into the occasion and if you don't have players that can rise to it, you get torn apart. It happened to Middlesbrough as well a couple of years back too.
TBFWHL: Ah yes, when they kept setting themselves targets of 4 goals in the second half and squeezing through at the last possible minute. As former Champions League regulars yourselves, what's it like watching Spurs in the CL? Probably quite entertaining for the neutral, one suspects. Good to see a side other than Man Utd/Chelsea/Arsenal/Liverpool?
DK: It's fantastic to see a side so carefree about the Champions League. I usually don't bother too much with the group stages because for the English teams it's usually pretty boring. Win at home, don't lose away and you're through. But Spurs have really treated it like the reward that it is. It wasn't just one season of hard work that got you to the CL, it was more like two or three and after almost crashing out to Young Boys, Harry clearly decided he wanted to enjoy it. The Premier League is your dinner and the CL is your dessert. Instead of dreading the big games, you relished them and even at 4-0 down, away from home, to the holders, you still went after them when most teams would've just decided it was over and got on the first plane home. That has to be admired and that defeat was perhaps your biggest victory, in some ways. It gave you the belief that led to you thrashing Inter at home and eventually topping the group. Although without a certain Welshman, things may have been a lot different. My favourite headline after that game had to be "Inter 4 - Bale 3".
TBFWHL: Yes, the Welsh one has made it a curious habit of his to be ridiculously good. Without him, we wouldn't really be the same side, although he hasn't been in electrifying form of late and we're ticking along alright. Speaking of, if you could sign any of our squad, who would you pick? Price and availability is no issue. Keane's been linked with a move to you guys but he's linked with every club north of the equator. You could be his next boyhood club, with any luck.
DK: There's a few I'd take but you may have guessed I court one member of your squad greater than any other. Gareth Bale has been absolutely unplayable at times this season, as good as Ronaldo in '08/'09 or Rooney in '09/'10. His electric pace is utterly terrifying but his ability to keep such close control of the ball at the same time is breathtaking. As for the others, I'd love to see Daws, VDV or Tommy Hudd in a Toon shirt. Huddlestone's pass against Shakthar a couple of years back still sends shivers down my spine...
TBFWHL: Shivers? Pull yourself together man. Though, this blog will admit to having watched it about 60 or 70 times over the last few weeks alone. Right then, predictions for the game? We're feeling 2-1 Spurs here at TBFWHL Towers. We probably won't stop Carroll scoring but we'll ought squeeze out a few goals, probably off van der Vaart's left knee cap. Maybe Defoe will decide to score. It is Christmas afterall. (Update - Defoe is now suspended, courtesy of Martin Atkinson)
DK: I fear our performance hangs on what happens against City on Boxing Day but I'll plump for 2-1 our way - as I said before, we've done well against the big boys this season and this'll be no different.
TBFWHL: Confident man. Hopefully that confidence will be crushed by a Danny Rose exocet. What do you mean he won't be playing!? Thanks for speaking to us Dave, good luck for the rest of the season but not too much good luck if you know what I mean. Dave? Hello?
It's over. Dave expertly blogs about Newcastle here and tweets about them, and other important things, here. If we win, feel free to direct as much abuse his way as possible. Only joking, don't really. Remember, dear reader: magnamity in victory. If we even win, that is.
23 December 2010
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night
Villa on Boxing Day. Remember back in October when Rafa beat them all by himself because none of the rest of our players felt like doing it? The good old days.
Traditionally, a trip to Villa Park is rarely cause for a celebration. Or is it? Last season we played exceptionally having gone 1-0 down and were unlucky to only leave with a draw. The season before that we raced into a 2-0 lead and held them off despite them being on the cusp of the top four themselves. Our recent record is good, we're the better side on paper - so why does this blog always dread an away day in the second city?
For starters, Villa aren't a bad side. Far from it, in fact. They may have slipped from the 'nearest challengers to the top four' tag but under Gerard Houllier, they remain a combative opponent. And add to that the ferocity of the home crowd and Spurs' alleged inability to deal with slightly treacherous conditions and you're left with a eminently lose-able game.
That said, we're not in horrible form ourselves. Undefeated since the Bolton debacle, last week's Blackpool postponement has at least given a chance for some of our injured troops to return. Van der Vaart could reprise his role as Destroyer-in-Chief having been laid off since the Liverpool win. And with Dawson back in the fold, our defence is looking more secure than it has all season.
Should we expect a win? 'Expect' may be too strong a term. Let's go with the more conservative 'hope'. It should be a fairly even contest and if Spurs can silence the crowd quickly, there could be rich rewards. The late kick-off also gives us longer to shake off our Xmas hangovers from the day before. Not that this blog is suggesting anything...
All that's left to be said is to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe, eat too much and drink in moderation. Words to live your life by, surely. Keep it real.
Traditionally, a trip to Villa Park is rarely cause for a celebration. Or is it? Last season we played exceptionally having gone 1-0 down and were unlucky to only leave with a draw. The season before that we raced into a 2-0 lead and held them off despite them being on the cusp of the top four themselves. Our recent record is good, we're the better side on paper - so why does this blog always dread an away day in the second city?
For starters, Villa aren't a bad side. Far from it, in fact. They may have slipped from the 'nearest challengers to the top four' tag but under Gerard Houllier, they remain a combative opponent. And add to that the ferocity of the home crowd and Spurs' alleged inability to deal with slightly treacherous conditions and you're left with a eminently lose-able game.
That said, we're not in horrible form ourselves. Undefeated since the Bolton debacle, last week's Blackpool postponement has at least given a chance for some of our injured troops to return. Van der Vaart could reprise his role as Destroyer-in-Chief having been laid off since the Liverpool win. And with Dawson back in the fold, our defence is looking more secure than it has all season.
Should we expect a win? 'Expect' may be too strong a term. Let's go with the more conservative 'hope'. It should be a fairly even contest and if Spurs can silence the crowd quickly, there could be rich rewards. The late kick-off also gives us longer to shake off our Xmas hangovers from the day before. Not that this blog is suggesting anything...
All that's left to be said is to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Be safe, eat too much and drink in moderation. Words to live your life by, surely. Keep it real.
19 December 2010
Player profile: Michael Dawson
Was the uninspiring half of a two-pronged transfer that also brought Andy Reid to the club. Not a lot of people remember that. Immediately showed he was the one we would have been excited about with a beast of a debut performance away at Liverpool - you know, the one where Edman scored from a million yards out. Used to only play well when his mate Ledley was beside him in defence but last season decided that wasn’t good enough for him and became the senior partner to young Seb Bassong. Is currently a colossal defender and one of the best in the division. That’s right, Sky, he is. Scored a goal against Chelsea in 2006 and looked so happy, his smile defied the laws of physics. Throws himself heroically into the breach for his team, quite literally in the case of his goal at Everton in 2009. If King is Mr Tottenham, then Dawson is Mr Tottenham Junior. On his first start for England, he got injured and has had to miss about three/four months of football, including our Champions League run. Which is a bit unlucky. Recently spotted wearing UGG boots to training in snowy conditions. Is probably a bit little mental.
18 December 2010
Spurs will probably lose at Blackpool
If the thing even goes ahead, that is. And should the requisite miracle take place and the biblical amount of snow be pushed aside for a few hours then our lionhearted lot probably won't fancy it. Y'know 'cos it'll be all cold and slippery.
Well, that's what may have happened under previous incarnations of Tottenham but surely not this one? No sir, we're made of slightly sterner stuff these days. 'Arry will no doubt be informing the players how when he was a lad he played in far worse than this. Joe Jordan will probably be scowling silently at anyone who shows the slightest hint of hesitancy. So expect a battling, confident Spurs performance and subsequent win, right?
Maybe. Even if the sun was shining and it was above 0°C, this would still be a game to be cautious about. Because, despite us being in relatively good form, despite us having not lost a game since Bolton at the start of November and despite the predicted return of a certain Mr van der Vaart, this is a line-up that has 'Spurs Struggle' written all over it.
For starters, Blackpool are the business when it comes to beating teams no-one gives them a chance against. They've spent a whole season confounding odds and ripping up form books and whilst their unpredictability makes us look like a German tournament side, there is simply nothing to be gained whatsoever in thinking we'll turn up and roll them over. This is all not to mention our propensity for losing to sides we should beat. Especially away from home.
But fear not, dear reader, for it's not all doom and snowy gloom. Should we turn up and take the challenge as seriously as we should, we could be in for a vintage Tottenham away performance, the likes of which appear only fleetingly on the winter calender. Van der Vaart back is a bonus, though one suspects he won't be risked in such treacherous conditions. And with a fit and functioning Michael Dawson back in the ranks, our defence has a more solid feel to it. The Chelsea game would have been a clean sheet were it not for a few moments of madness from our resident psychopath in goal - surely not a coincidence that one of our better defensive displays this season should arrive with the return of Awesome Dawson.
Defoe is still beavering around up front, making himself a nuisance but not really finding his top form. A league goal for him him could do wonders but he has the ability to drift on the periphery of a game before bursting into life, as FC Twente discovered to their detriment. And for all the talk of poor conditions, bear in mind both sides have to play on that surface, snow or no snow. So it could simply come down to whoever adjusts the quickest. Regardless, it's time for a dig-deep and believe Spurs performance - this probably won't be a pretty affair.
If it even goes ahead.
Thoughts on the game, those of perhaps more faith than this blog?
UPDATE: Mere minutes after this blog going live, the game has been officially postponed. A curse on you, Mother Nature.
For starters, Blackpool are the business when it comes to beating teams no-one gives them a chance against. They've spent a whole season confounding odds and ripping up form books and whilst their unpredictability makes us look like a German tournament side, there is simply nothing to be gained whatsoever in thinking we'll turn up and roll them over. This is all not to mention our propensity for losing to sides we should beat. Especially away from home.
But fear not, dear reader, for it's not all doom and snowy gloom. Should we turn up and take the challenge as seriously as we should, we could be in for a vintage Tottenham away performance, the likes of which appear only fleetingly on the winter calender. Van der Vaart back is a bonus, though one suspects he won't be risked in such treacherous conditions. And with a fit and functioning Michael Dawson back in the ranks, our defence has a more solid feel to it. The Chelsea game would have been a clean sheet were it not for a few moments of madness from our resident psychopath in goal - surely not a coincidence that one of our better defensive displays this season should arrive with the return of Awesome Dawson.
Defoe is still beavering around up front, making himself a nuisance but not really finding his top form. A league goal for him him could do wonders but he has the ability to drift on the periphery of a game before bursting into life, as FC Twente discovered to their detriment. And for all the talk of poor conditions, bear in mind both sides have to play on that surface, snow or no snow. So it could simply come down to whoever adjusts the quickest. Regardless, it's time for a dig-deep and believe Spurs performance - this probably won't be a pretty affair.
If it even goes ahead.
Thoughts on the game, those of perhaps more faith than this blog?
UPDATE: Mere minutes after this blog going live, the game has been officially postponed. A curse on you, Mother Nature.
17 December 2010
San Siro redemption?
AC Milan in the Champions League? Alright then, why not? As if one trip to Milan wasn't enough this season.
It's a marvellous indication of how we've prospered in Europe's premier competition that a draw like AC Milan isn't completely insurmountable for us. Sure, there were those that said we wouldn't get out of the group and we quickly proved that theory to be as accurate as the one about the world being square. A return trip to the San Siro and subsequent second leg at Fortress WHL shouldn't be a source of fear of us Lilywhites - more of an opportunity if anything.
A quick cautionary note amidst this general feeling of confidence: Milan are no mugs. Top of Serie A and possessors of such luminary names as Zlatan Ibrahimovic (that Swedish guy who's supposed to be amazing but keeps moving clubs and never really does it on the big stage), Robinho (Man City reject - enough said), Andrea Pirlo (an ageing version of Luka Modric) and Alexandre Pato (he's actually quite good, to be fair). Beating them won't be an easy task but Spurs are quite good at the tasks that don't appear straightforward. The underdog tag suits us down to the ground - for now anyway.
It's a Godsend that the away leg is first. Our objective should be to avoid a first half like the Inter debacle and steer our ship generally in the way that Mr Bale did in that second half. An away goal would be nice and if we are to concede a deficit, let's not make it a mountainous one. Our home form is so formidable that we should be aiming to unleash hell on them from the very second the whistle blows. Our approach in Europe has often been to simply outscore the opposition and this is precisely the attitude we should take at White Hart Lane. Milan will be extremely wary of having to face Bale, van der Vaart, Modric and Defoe on our home patch.
Quoth Redknapp: "It will be a great game. I would have taken AC Milan before the draw. They are leading the league in Italy but it has the makings of a great game over two legs. I'm looking forward to it." Rough translation: 'Let's stick it up 'em.'
The opportunity for us to avenge that hellish half hour against Inter has presented itself. Will we take it?
(quotes courtesy of BBC Sport)
It's a marvellous indication of how we've prospered in Europe's premier competition that a draw like AC Milan isn't completely insurmountable for us. Sure, there were those that said we wouldn't get out of the group and we quickly proved that theory to be as accurate as the one about the world being square. A return trip to the San Siro and subsequent second leg at Fortress WHL shouldn't be a source of fear of us Lilywhites - more of an opportunity if anything.
A quick cautionary note amidst this general feeling of confidence: Milan are no mugs. Top of Serie A and possessors of such luminary names as Zlatan Ibrahimovic (that Swedish guy who's supposed to be amazing but keeps moving clubs and never really does it on the big stage), Robinho (Man City reject - enough said), Andrea Pirlo (an ageing version of Luka Modric) and Alexandre Pato (he's actually quite good, to be fair). Beating them won't be an easy task but Spurs are quite good at the tasks that don't appear straightforward. The underdog tag suits us down to the ground - for now anyway.
It's a Godsend that the away leg is first. Our objective should be to avoid a first half like the Inter debacle and steer our ship generally in the way that Mr Bale did in that second half. An away goal would be nice and if we are to concede a deficit, let's not make it a mountainous one. Our home form is so formidable that we should be aiming to unleash hell on them from the very second the whistle blows. Our approach in Europe has often been to simply outscore the opposition and this is precisely the attitude we should take at White Hart Lane. Milan will be extremely wary of having to face Bale, van der Vaart, Modric and Defoe on our home patch.
Quoth Redknapp: "It will be a great game. I would have taken AC Milan before the draw. They are leading the league in Italy but it has the makings of a great game over two legs. I'm looking forward to it." Rough translation: 'Let's stick it up 'em.'
The opportunity for us to avenge that hellish half hour against Inter has presented itself. Will we take it?
(quotes courtesy of BBC Sport)
15 December 2010
Player profile: Ledley King
The first thing the doctors said when he was born was 'hmm, that knee looks a bit dodgy'. Colossal, defending superstar who would have been one of the world's greatest were it not for his perennial injury problems. Rose up the Spurs ranks and is more Mr Tottenham than anyone else of the modern era. Heir to the throne throughout the Sol Campbell years and took over after Judas committed his infamous betrayal. Scored the fasted ever Premier League goal. No, honestly. Was played in midfield by the ever-wise David Pleat before returning to defence under Martin Jol to bitch slap his authority on strikers up and down the land. In 2006 he put in a tackle on Arjen Robben that was timed so beautifully, an artist asked the two players to pose in position so it could be immortalised on canvas. And that was after he broke the land speed record to get back in time to make the challenge in the first place. Played for England at Euro 2004 and had the world's best striker at the time (Thierry Henry) in his pocket. Was still dropped for the returning John Terry in the next match but that was okay because Terry played for Chelsea and they were fashionable. King doesn’t train with the first team squad but manages to play in occasional games and it's no surprise that we’re rock solid at the back when is name is pencilled in. A living legend of the club.
13 December 2010
Tottenham's post-Chelsea Christmas Wishlist
Dear Father Christmas,
We've always had a slightly up-and-down relationship, us Spurs fans and yourself. Each year we invoice you with request upon request: a new striker, a win against Arsenal, for someone to please just get rid of Anthony Gardner. And though you're generally quite responsive to our tiresome needs, let's be honest, it's been a while since you really dug deep and delivered us a Christmas present we'll remember forever.
This year, our needs are just as plentiful. Mostly they revolve around you bringing us a new hero up front - a bloke who can bang them in from left, right and centre even, and especially, when he's not even at his best. A few other players with genuine pedigree would be pretty decent but we'll get onto that in a bit.
Yesterday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea was highly illuminating as to the current state of things at our great club. On the plus side, the fact that the overriding feeling among the fans was one of slight disappointment tells a tale of our enhanced standing within English football. Chelsea may have been in dire form but the long and short of it is that they were still the champions and one of the best teams in the land. And yet, despite such a lofty reputation, we didn't fear them - they were the ones who feared us. They had more to lose than us. We were more confident of beating them than perhaps we have been in a long time and a point, though we only just escaped with it in the end, was something of a mild disappointment.
Yet, as with any Tottenham story, there's another end of the spectrum. Though our general performance was somewhere around the decent mark, there are aspects of our game that need to be remedied. The chief frustration of our current team is that we could use another high-class, regular goalscorer. Pavlyuchenko's goal was the very embodiment of quality, a first touch so good it deserves its own blog and a highly-cultured finish. But, this aside, our strikers lacked the cutting edge required to build on the lead, at a time where a few extra goals would have killed off the game. We all know the goalscoring qualities that Defoe brings to the side but having just one out-and-out goalscorer means that if he gets injured or loses form, we're left wanting.
Which brings us nicely onto our Christmas request. In the summer, Spurs fans dreamt of the big name signings that might be possible due to our top four finish. Those big names failed to properly materialise, van der Vaart aside, perhaps because we hadn't fully demonstrated our potential to Europe's best and brightest. Now, four months down the road and with a stunning Champions League campaign under our belts, we're surely in the position to attract the names we desire.
Players look at Tottenham and see a club that's among the best in the country. They see a club that's somehow not a million miles away from top spot in the Premier League and one that very few teams remaining in the Champions League want to be drawn against. That in mind, locating and luring a top-level striker should be a bit easier than it was in August.
So, Father Christmas, whilst we're all aware that you're extremely busy and not always in the mood to acquiesce to everyone's requests, this blog presents to you a brief wishlist for you to peruse over at your leisure:
Carlos Tevez -
Admittedly, this is an audacious ask. The bloke's desperate to leave Man City (can you blame him?) and England. And whilst it would be extremely difficult to secure his signature, dare we suggest he's exactly the player we need? A regular goalscorer, a world class talent and a talisman to get the entire Spurs community going. Would require big bucks and there's not a chance in hell City would want to sell to us. But, by Jove, this would be a truly jaw-dropping signing. We won't hold out too much hope for this one but if you could have a word, it'd be nice.
Adam Johnson -
Recently linked with a move to the Lane. Another discontented City player who wants to escape the ship before it sinks. Arguably, we have little or no need for him - our left-sided options are as prosperous as they ever have been whilst that kid Bale occupies the flank. But Johnson, a player who always seemed like he'd fit in at Spurs, offers both high quality and squad depth. Content on both sides of the pitch, he's one of English football's brightest prospects. And Johnson is a far better option than David Bentley, who could be sold to subsidise this transfer. Bentley's a decent player to have in the squad but will probably flourish playing week-in-week-out at another side. Not necessarily a signing we desperately need but one worth keeping an eye on - a big enough name to make the fans happy?
Ashley Young -
Another player, like Adam Johnson, that would be a good player to have in the squad but who isn't essentially, erm, essential. Young is perhaps too similar to Aaron Lennon to be considered as a signing but what he does offer is pace on both flanks and a regular supply of goals, should our strikers be misfiring. A brilliant player to be able to call on to either deputise for Bale on occasion or provide competition for Lennon. Signing both him and Johnson would be pretty reckless - just one will do, thanks.
Diego Forlan -
The big signing. Not all fans were convinced when this blog went to bat for signing Forlan, with his age and price being the major stumbling blocks. But this is a player who's both proven and experienced. He may not have succeeded in England last time but that was in a different lifetime. Since then, he's been tearing it up in Spain and on the international stage, there's few better marksmen. He may be advancing in years but his ability cannot be questioned and he has the know-how to be able to take us to the next stage. And that's what we all want from this January window, surely? The players that will take us to the next level. The players that'll take us either back into the top four again this season or to the latter stages of the Champions League or, whisper it quietly, closer to the Premier League title. Father Christmas, Diego Forlan is this blog's priority. Please make it happen.
Davide Santon -
Do we really want to go down this right back road again? For years, we've tried to fill this position consistently. Pamarot, Kelly, Stalteri, Chimbonda and Hutton were all tried and all moved on within a year or less. Corluka came in a few years back and did a good enough job to make the position his own. He was perfectly adequate all of last season yet remained a source of frustration for some fans, who belittled his lack of pace. Now, after a few particularly shoddy games, Spurs have resorted to Alan Hutton again, who admittedly did a good job in a few outings but is outrageously unconvincing. Perhaps it's time to forget about both of them and take a stab at another new man? Santon comes highly recommended from Internazionale and made a second half appearance against us during the 4-3 defeat in Milan. Wanted apparently by Man Utd and Liverpool, as well as us. Could be worth a shot.
As with all Christmas lists, this is made up of a lot of wishful thinking. And this blog doesn't expect all five names to be recruited - one or a few will do. Just give it some thought.
Please bear in mind our mostly good behaviour this year. That Dublin farce was so 2009. Did you read about any drunken Ledley King shenanigans after the Man City win? Captain Sensible Michael Dawson ensured the whole squad were asleep by midnight and focused on the Burnley game (probably). The boys may have caused collective heart failure in August with that whole Young Boys fiasco but they more than made up for their behaviour in that game - see Inter Milan, Arsenal, Liverpool and others for evidence. Whilst that lot down the road keeping trying to be a disruptive influence with their constant bleatings about injury or bad luck, the Tottenham child has behaved itself, almost impeccably. Please take this into account when dishing out your festive goodwill.
And if you could switch Gomes back to his regular setting from last year, that'd be just great.
Yours sincerely,
The Boys From White Hart Lane
We've always had a slightly up-and-down relationship, us Spurs fans and yourself. Each year we invoice you with request upon request: a new striker, a win against Arsenal, for someone to please just get rid of Anthony Gardner. And though you're generally quite responsive to our tiresome needs, let's be honest, it's been a while since you really dug deep and delivered us a Christmas present we'll remember forever.
This year, our needs are just as plentiful. Mostly they revolve around you bringing us a new hero up front - a bloke who can bang them in from left, right and centre even, and especially, when he's not even at his best. A few other players with genuine pedigree would be pretty decent but we'll get onto that in a bit.
Yesterday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea was highly illuminating as to the current state of things at our great club. On the plus side, the fact that the overriding feeling among the fans was one of slight disappointment tells a tale of our enhanced standing within English football. Chelsea may have been in dire form but the long and short of it is that they were still the champions and one of the best teams in the land. And yet, despite such a lofty reputation, we didn't fear them - they were the ones who feared us. They had more to lose than us. We were more confident of beating them than perhaps we have been in a long time and a point, though we only just escaped with it in the end, was something of a mild disappointment.
Yet, as with any Tottenham story, there's another end of the spectrum. Though our general performance was somewhere around the decent mark, there are aspects of our game that need to be remedied. The chief frustration of our current team is that we could use another high-class, regular goalscorer. Pavlyuchenko's goal was the very embodiment of quality, a first touch so good it deserves its own blog and a highly-cultured finish. But, this aside, our strikers lacked the cutting edge required to build on the lead, at a time where a few extra goals would have killed off the game. We all know the goalscoring qualities that Defoe brings to the side but having just one out-and-out goalscorer means that if he gets injured or loses form, we're left wanting.
Which brings us nicely onto our Christmas request. In the summer, Spurs fans dreamt of the big name signings that might be possible due to our top four finish. Those big names failed to properly materialise, van der Vaart aside, perhaps because we hadn't fully demonstrated our potential to Europe's best and brightest. Now, four months down the road and with a stunning Champions League campaign under our belts, we're surely in the position to attract the names we desire.
Players look at Tottenham and see a club that's among the best in the country. They see a club that's somehow not a million miles away from top spot in the Premier League and one that very few teams remaining in the Champions League want to be drawn against. That in mind, locating and luring a top-level striker should be a bit easier than it was in August.
So, Father Christmas, whilst we're all aware that you're extremely busy and not always in the mood to acquiesce to everyone's requests, this blog presents to you a brief wishlist for you to peruse over at your leisure:
Carlos Tevez -
Admittedly, this is an audacious ask. The bloke's desperate to leave Man City (can you blame him?) and England. And whilst it would be extremely difficult to secure his signature, dare we suggest he's exactly the player we need? A regular goalscorer, a world class talent and a talisman to get the entire Spurs community going. Would require big bucks and there's not a chance in hell City would want to sell to us. But, by Jove, this would be a truly jaw-dropping signing. We won't hold out too much hope for this one but if you could have a word, it'd be nice.
Adam Johnson -
Recently linked with a move to the Lane. Another discontented City player who wants to escape the ship before it sinks. Arguably, we have little or no need for him - our left-sided options are as prosperous as they ever have been whilst that kid Bale occupies the flank. But Johnson, a player who always seemed like he'd fit in at Spurs, offers both high quality and squad depth. Content on both sides of the pitch, he's one of English football's brightest prospects. And Johnson is a far better option than David Bentley, who could be sold to subsidise this transfer. Bentley's a decent player to have in the squad but will probably flourish playing week-in-week-out at another side. Not necessarily a signing we desperately need but one worth keeping an eye on - a big enough name to make the fans happy?
Ashley Young -
Another player, like Adam Johnson, that would be a good player to have in the squad but who isn't essentially, erm, essential. Young is perhaps too similar to Aaron Lennon to be considered as a signing but what he does offer is pace on both flanks and a regular supply of goals, should our strikers be misfiring. A brilliant player to be able to call on to either deputise for Bale on occasion or provide competition for Lennon. Signing both him and Johnson would be pretty reckless - just one will do, thanks.
Diego Forlan -
The big signing. Not all fans were convinced when this blog went to bat for signing Forlan, with his age and price being the major stumbling blocks. But this is a player who's both proven and experienced. He may not have succeeded in England last time but that was in a different lifetime. Since then, he's been tearing it up in Spain and on the international stage, there's few better marksmen. He may be advancing in years but his ability cannot be questioned and he has the know-how to be able to take us to the next stage. And that's what we all want from this January window, surely? The players that will take us to the next level. The players that'll take us either back into the top four again this season or to the latter stages of the Champions League or, whisper it quietly, closer to the Premier League title. Father Christmas, Diego Forlan is this blog's priority. Please make it happen.
Davide Santon -
Do we really want to go down this right back road again? For years, we've tried to fill this position consistently. Pamarot, Kelly, Stalteri, Chimbonda and Hutton were all tried and all moved on within a year or less. Corluka came in a few years back and did a good enough job to make the position his own. He was perfectly adequate all of last season yet remained a source of frustration for some fans, who belittled his lack of pace. Now, after a few particularly shoddy games, Spurs have resorted to Alan Hutton again, who admittedly did a good job in a few outings but is outrageously unconvincing. Perhaps it's time to forget about both of them and take a stab at another new man? Santon comes highly recommended from Internazionale and made a second half appearance against us during the 4-3 defeat in Milan. Wanted apparently by Man Utd and Liverpool, as well as us. Could be worth a shot.
As with all Christmas lists, this is made up of a lot of wishful thinking. And this blog doesn't expect all five names to be recruited - one or a few will do. Just give it some thought.
Please bear in mind our mostly good behaviour this year. That Dublin farce was so 2009. Did you read about any drunken Ledley King shenanigans after the Man City win? Captain Sensible Michael Dawson ensured the whole squad were asleep by midnight and focused on the Burnley game (probably). The boys may have caused collective heart failure in August with that whole Young Boys fiasco but they more than made up for their behaviour in that game - see Inter Milan, Arsenal, Liverpool and others for evidence. Whilst that lot down the road keeping trying to be a disruptive influence with their constant bleatings about injury or bad luck, the Tottenham child has behaved itself, almost impeccably. Please take this into account when dishing out your festive goodwill.
And if you could switch Gomes back to his regular setting from last year, that'd be just great.
Yours sincerely,
The Boys From White Hart Lane
9 December 2010
Redknapp and his (lack of) tactics
FC Twente 3 Tottenham 3
The suggestion that Harry Redknapp 'wings it' when it comes to tactics has been thrown around the press and various forums recently, no doubt due to our Keystone Cops defending and rampant European goalscoring. The idea that he sends Spurs out with little tactical instruction and ample encouragement to 'f*cking run about a bit' has been growing in popularity and Tuesday's 3-3 draw away at FC Twente has been used to illuminate the theory.
Whilst we did defend shakily at times in Enschede, only one of those goals came from open play. There's little that can be done to stop a free-kick going in when it's struck as beautifully as their third was, especially when the awarding of the kick itself was pretty contentious. Ditto for the penalty. Still, our inability to hold onto a lead was the main point of frustration from a result that should have been heralded as the moment we finished top of a incredibly tough looking Champions League group.
It wasn't just Tuesday that has led to people labelling Redknapp as tactically naive. The opening twenty minutes in Milan was as calamitous a passage of play as the opening thirty in Berne back in August. Spurs' approach in Europe does appear at times to be an all-out, gung-ho, all-hands-to-the-pump assault at the opposition goal, regardless of how open it may leave us at the back. In the league also, it seems as though our defence is often overloaded. See the Arsenal and Liverpool games as evidence.
Frankly, whether it's true or not, do we even have to right to complain? If Redknapp is tactically limited, then it's suited us down to the ground so far. His list of achievements since taking over just over two years ago reads like a hero's obituary. From relegation candidates to one of the continent's great entertainers, we've certainly had it good under him. This is a commonly known fact so it's not worth delving into too much. And, correct, Redknapp is hardly one of the league's best tacticians and probably never will be. But should this opinion of him ever turn to criticism, it may be worth remembering the job he's done with us and not the decision to play two keepers on the bench at Birmingham last week.
Anyway, enough negativity. We have just qualified for the next round of the Champions League, don't you know. And in a mightily impressive first place too. When the draw was made in August, many would have happily accepted just scraping out of the group. But to have taken on and beaten the Dutch, German, Italian and European champions is an achievement that deserves all the acclaim it will get. Lyon, Valencia, FC Copenhagen, Roma, Marseille or AC Milan await in the next stage and, whilst there's some talented sides in that group, none of them will want to come to White Hart Lane and take on the Bale Juggernaut. We've been derided at times this season by jealous fans who claimed our presence in this tournament was pointless. But there's no reason whatsoever to think we won't beat any of those sides.
It was heart-warming to see Defoe come back into the side and grab two goals despite a first half of general anonymity. His greatest strength is in his poacher-like ability to score when he's not heavily involved in the game and to have this back on a weekly basis is the best gift any Spurs fan could wish for this Christmas (maybe not the best).
Charlie Corluka and Niko Kranjcar made returns to the side and, whilst few fans will have agreed, this blog thought he was good. He won more than his fair share of tackles, looked confident on the ball and reignited his telepathic partnership with Lennon at the first time of asking. This blog may be heavily biased in that it's a big Corluka fan but how Hutton continues to get away with a starting spot is a small bone of contention. Kranjcar was very effective once moved into a central position and put in a display to remind everyone that we'll miss him should be feel the need to leave the club in January.
Right, Chelsea at the weekend - always a fun time of year. Let's hope we don't suddenly provide the tonic they need to reclaim their best form. Whether Harry 'wings it' or not, a performance like last years will go down a treat.
The suggestion that Harry Redknapp 'wings it' when it comes to tactics has been thrown around the press and various forums recently, no doubt due to our Keystone Cops defending and rampant European goalscoring. The idea that he sends Spurs out with little tactical instruction and ample encouragement to 'f*cking run about a bit' has been growing in popularity and Tuesday's 3-3 draw away at FC Twente has been used to illuminate the theory.
Whilst we did defend shakily at times in Enschede, only one of those goals came from open play. There's little that can be done to stop a free-kick going in when it's struck as beautifully as their third was, especially when the awarding of the kick itself was pretty contentious. Ditto for the penalty. Still, our inability to hold onto a lead was the main point of frustration from a result that should have been heralded as the moment we finished top of a incredibly tough looking Champions League group.
It wasn't just Tuesday that has led to people labelling Redknapp as tactically naive. The opening twenty minutes in Milan was as calamitous a passage of play as the opening thirty in Berne back in August. Spurs' approach in Europe does appear at times to be an all-out, gung-ho, all-hands-to-the-pump assault at the opposition goal, regardless of how open it may leave us at the back. In the league also, it seems as though our defence is often overloaded. See the Arsenal and Liverpool games as evidence.
Frankly, whether it's true or not, do we even have to right to complain? If Redknapp is tactically limited, then it's suited us down to the ground so far. His list of achievements since taking over just over two years ago reads like a hero's obituary. From relegation candidates to one of the continent's great entertainers, we've certainly had it good under him. This is a commonly known fact so it's not worth delving into too much. And, correct, Redknapp is hardly one of the league's best tacticians and probably never will be. But should this opinion of him ever turn to criticism, it may be worth remembering the job he's done with us and not the decision to play two keepers on the bench at Birmingham last week.
Anyway, enough negativity. We have just qualified for the next round of the Champions League, don't you know. And in a mightily impressive first place too. When the draw was made in August, many would have happily accepted just scraping out of the group. But to have taken on and beaten the Dutch, German, Italian and European champions is an achievement that deserves all the acclaim it will get. Lyon, Valencia, FC Copenhagen, Roma, Marseille or AC Milan await in the next stage and, whilst there's some talented sides in that group, none of them will want to come to White Hart Lane and take on the Bale Juggernaut. We've been derided at times this season by jealous fans who claimed our presence in this tournament was pointless. But there's no reason whatsoever to think we won't beat any of those sides.
It was heart-warming to see Defoe come back into the side and grab two goals despite a first half of general anonymity. His greatest strength is in his poacher-like ability to score when he's not heavily involved in the game and to have this back on a weekly basis is the best gift any Spurs fan could wish for this Christmas (maybe not the best).
Charlie Corluka and Niko Kranjcar made returns to the side and, whilst few fans will have agreed, this blog thought he was good. He won more than his fair share of tackles, looked confident on the ball and reignited his telepathic partnership with Lennon at the first time of asking. This blog may be heavily biased in that it's a big Corluka fan but how Hutton continues to get away with a starting spot is a small bone of contention. Kranjcar was very effective once moved into a central position and put in a display to remind everyone that we'll miss him should be feel the need to leave the club in January.
Right, Chelsea at the weekend - always a fun time of year. Let's hope we don't suddenly provide the tonic they need to reclaim their best form. Whether Harry 'wings it' or not, a performance like last years will go down a treat.
6 December 2010
Player profile: Luka Modric
Croatian Andrea Pirlo. Plays literally anywhere in midfield. In fact, the Football Manager boffins tried to label him as ‘DM/M/AMLRC’ before getting wildly confused and having to take a quick time-out. Signed for Spurs during the hideous Ramos/Comolli era but now that he’s turned out to be quite good, it’s probably better to forget that fact. Used initially as a left winger with license to cut inside by ‘Arry but when Gareth Bale decided to become good, that plan was scrapped. Now dictates things from the middle of the park whilst Bale and van der Vaart greedily steal all the limelight. Sir Alex Ferguson keeps mischievously telling the press how much he admires him, evidence of the world-famous, cunning mind games he likes to employ when trying to sign a player. Modric is probably the shortest certified genius in the world (no offence Mini-Me). Once scored a goal having only passed to fellow Croatians and no others. President of the Tottenham Hotspur Croatian Legion, despite occasional and timid threats to his authority from Charlie Corluka.
UPDATE: W*anker.
5 December 2010
Points dropped or not?
Birmingham 1 Tottenham 1
Ouch. One wonders if we'll look back at this result in a few chilly months and think to ourselves: 'Yeah, we really could have done with all three points here.' When you lead the game with 10 minutes to go, you should always back yourselves to close it out, even if you are away from home and up against it a bit. That we were actually up against it was an inevitability: no team with a proud home record like Birmingham is going to give up at 1-0 down. The fact that we A) didn't see it coming and B) didn't really handle it probably makes this a more galling result than it appears on paper.
There are two ways of looking at it: One is to see a Birmingham side that rarely loses at home, recently defeated the once-mighty Chelsea and have rarely allowed us anything more than a point on our travels to St Andrews in recent years. We were also missing a raft of important players - one hates to use injury as an excuse but van der Vaart, Huddlestone and Jenas (!) were just some of the key names not to be on the field. As well as we played in the first half, we were forced to repel an improved home side in the second and, though conceding late on is massively disappointing (just as it was when they snatched a point in stoppage time last season), a point in the second city is far away from the worst result in the world.
The other way people may choose to view this result is that if we're supposed to be taken seriously as 'title-challengers' (pinch yourself) then we can't afford to be content with 1-1 draws away to mid-table sides - no offence intended whatsoever to Birmingham. Anyone think Man Utd or Chelsea or Arsenal would walk away from a result like that and feel mildly satisfied? They'd be riled, both for conceding late on and for dropping points having been in control of the match. If Redknapp is serious about turning us into league challengers, then this kind of weekend will have to become a thing of the past.
And, let's face it, we looked to have done enough to escape with a win. Gallas was again fantastic, his lead-by-example style of captaincy working wonders for us at present. This blog is nervously waiting for it all to implode spectacularly. He was a stabilising influence on young Bassong alongside him, who built on his eye-catching display against Liverpool with another gritty performance, topped off with a well taken goal. Reports in today's News of the World claim he's after a move to Paris St Germain - one can understand the slight frustration at the lack of first team chances but this is a player with bags of potential. We let him slip through the cracks at our own peril.
Lennon and Bale, as well as they played at times, have yet to provide the devastating twin pace attack on both flanks that we all hope they will. Form, injury and timing have all combined to prevent the two of them from absolutely mauling a side in unison and, although they both looked decent, there wasn't the Internazionale-like bite in Bale's forward runs or the absolute, full-tilt pace in Lennon's mesmeric darts towards the box. It's perhaps harsh to expect that level of excellence from the young Welshman week-in week-out but another reminder of his genius would be welcome very soon. Lennon, having been derided in certain quarters for his lack of form this season, is slowly coming around to be the player we know he is. The day they both hit top gear is the day a pair of full backs retire from professional football.
Results didn't exactly go our way this weekend either. Man City edged out Bolton by a solitary goal and them lot down the road finally won a game at home, albeit only just. The thing to smile about is that we're still within touching distance of fourth and one might even go so far as to say we're comfortably inside the top five, which really should be our minimum goal this season. With Chelsea to come next weekend, our title and our top four credentials will be placed firmly under the microscope. It's games like this where we usually bring our A-game and if last season's nirvana is anything to go by, we could be in for another DVD. Let us not forget Chelsea haven't won at the Lane since August 2005. Let us not forget, also, that underestimating Chelsea would be foolish beyond belief.
So, what's the good word, ye of Spurs persuasion? Was this two points dropped? Should we be grateful for a point in light of all our injuries? Why is Hutton such an angry person? Answers on a postcard, please.
Ouch. One wonders if we'll look back at this result in a few chilly months and think to ourselves: 'Yeah, we really could have done with all three points here.' When you lead the game with 10 minutes to go, you should always back yourselves to close it out, even if you are away from home and up against it a bit. That we were actually up against it was an inevitability: no team with a proud home record like Birmingham is going to give up at 1-0 down. The fact that we A) didn't see it coming and B) didn't really handle it probably makes this a more galling result than it appears on paper.
There are two ways of looking at it: One is to see a Birmingham side that rarely loses at home, recently defeated the once-mighty Chelsea and have rarely allowed us anything more than a point on our travels to St Andrews in recent years. We were also missing a raft of important players - one hates to use injury as an excuse but van der Vaart, Huddlestone and Jenas (!) were just some of the key names not to be on the field. As well as we played in the first half, we were forced to repel an improved home side in the second and, though conceding late on is massively disappointing (just as it was when they snatched a point in stoppage time last season), a point in the second city is far away from the worst result in the world.
The other way people may choose to view this result is that if we're supposed to be taken seriously as 'title-challengers' (pinch yourself) then we can't afford to be content with 1-1 draws away to mid-table sides - no offence intended whatsoever to Birmingham. Anyone think Man Utd or Chelsea or Arsenal would walk away from a result like that and feel mildly satisfied? They'd be riled, both for conceding late on and for dropping points having been in control of the match. If Redknapp is serious about turning us into league challengers, then this kind of weekend will have to become a thing of the past.
And, let's face it, we looked to have done enough to escape with a win. Gallas was again fantastic, his lead-by-example style of captaincy working wonders for us at present. This blog is nervously waiting for it all to implode spectacularly. He was a stabilising influence on young Bassong alongside him, who built on his eye-catching display against Liverpool with another gritty performance, topped off with a well taken goal. Reports in today's News of the World claim he's after a move to Paris St Germain - one can understand the slight frustration at the lack of first team chances but this is a player with bags of potential. We let him slip through the cracks at our own peril.
Lennon and Bale, as well as they played at times, have yet to provide the devastating twin pace attack on both flanks that we all hope they will. Form, injury and timing have all combined to prevent the two of them from absolutely mauling a side in unison and, although they both looked decent, there wasn't the Internazionale-like bite in Bale's forward runs or the absolute, full-tilt pace in Lennon's mesmeric darts towards the box. It's perhaps harsh to expect that level of excellence from the young Welshman week-in week-out but another reminder of his genius would be welcome very soon. Lennon, having been derided in certain quarters for his lack of form this season, is slowly coming around to be the player we know he is. The day they both hit top gear is the day a pair of full backs retire from professional football.
Results didn't exactly go our way this weekend either. Man City edged out Bolton by a solitary goal and them lot down the road finally won a game at home, albeit only just. The thing to smile about is that we're still within touching distance of fourth and one might even go so far as to say we're comfortably inside the top five, which really should be our minimum goal this season. With Chelsea to come next weekend, our title and our top four credentials will be placed firmly under the microscope. It's games like this where we usually bring our A-game and if last season's nirvana is anything to go by, we could be in for another DVD. Let us not forget Chelsea haven't won at the Lane since August 2005. Let us not forget, also, that underestimating Chelsea would be foolish beyond belief.
So, what's the good word, ye of Spurs persuasion? Was this two points dropped? Should we be grateful for a point in light of all our injuries? Why is Hutton such an angry person? Answers on a postcard, please.
3 December 2010
Player profile: Heurelho Gomes
Brazilian acrobat, villain-turned-hero-turned-villain-again. Was signed by Spurs from the Eindhoven Circus in 2008 to be long term replacement for fans’ hero Paul Robinson. Spent early part of his career at the Lane doing impressions of Manuel Almunia and was described by goalkeeping expert Alan Hansen as 'the worst keeper to ever play in the Premier League'. Was so frustrated by his fortunes he decided to vent his anger and attack his own defence one chilly afternoon at Stoke. It took a while but Vedran Corluka eventually forgave him. He turned things around spectacularly (or annoyingly, depending on your point of view) in Tottenham’s 2009/10 Top Four Season (TM). Single-handedly beat Arsenal in April 2010 despite not actually getting on the scoresheet. Is a bit of a ponce when it comes to getting injured and once spent the majority of a first half begging Harry Redknapp to let him come off. Endears himself to the crowd by celebrating goals as euphorically as if he had just scored them himself.For reasons known only to him, he became awful again in 2011 and now can't even get in the side ahead of the great Charles Cudicini.
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