Brilliant goals but a lack of standards

In the annual Tottenham/Arsenal sex face competition, Huddlestone was a clear winner

What a week that was. In the space of just a few days, Harry's boys played out two relatively high-scoring draws - one, a frenetic, all-guns-blazing, high stakes shootout with the Arsenal that we did well to get a point out of, and the other, a game that personnel, location and logic all dictated that we should have won and we didn't. Our entire season encapsulated, perhaps, in the space of two games.

The nagging fear that this season will end up being remembered as 'what might have been' has led this blog to realise that it's all about standards. The standards of individual football sides and how these differ depending on status and what that side is trying to achieve.

Manchester United would see a home draw with West Brom as completely unacceptable. The mindset of the players and of the coaching staff would be that a result like that is not good enough for that team. Sure, it might sometimes happen - no team is capable of playing 38 immaculate games in a season. But the players would make sure that results like that don't happen as often as they have for Spurs this year. And that's why Man Utd are the country's most successful club of the modern era.

They may have suffered a few too many results like that this season, given the relative weakness of their side, but is it any surprise that, in season where the top five have all failed to fully convince, United are the ones who have stayed out in front?

The standards at Spurs aren't really at that level yet. A 2-2 home draw with West Brom is seen as highly irritating and two points dropped but is there really the same desire and will to go out in the next game and make amends as soon as possible? This blog would argue not. It's why we've suffered so many naggingly annoying results this season - losing to Wigan, West Ham, Bolton, Blackpool, Everton, etc. We're not at the mindset yet where we find it unacceptable to get results like these. Once we reach that way of thinking, then and only then can we possibly think about a title challenge.

But enough moaning. The two games did at least serve up some memorable moments: Van der Vaart's epic return to form against Arsenal, his celebration of the first goal, Huddlestone's devastatingly beautiful second, the entire Arsenal game itself, the heart-warming team celebration of Defoe's 100 Premier League goal against West Brom. Goal-scoring has been a problem for Spurs all season but when we're banging them in for fun like this, one really does wonder why we've been so off colour all year.

We're only a point behind Man City, who play tonight, so it ain't over till it's over. But, put simply, a team that has suffered so many poor results as we have this season is always going to find it an uphill battle to get into fourth place.

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It's the North London Derby

Rafa couldn't deny it - it WAS fun to stay at the YMCA

White Hart Lane away dressing room. 7.30pm. Arsene Wenger walks in authoritatively.

Wenger: Okay men, bring it in. We're up against it tonight. Fierce atmosphere. Opposition side desperate to win. Vociferous crowd. No league wins against them since 2009. No league wins at the ground since 2007. This is a night for heroes, a night for leaders. Cesc.

(Fabregas sits in the corner, posing for a self-taken photo on his iPhone)

Wenger: CESC!?

Fabregas: Yes boss?

Wenger: I was talking about leaders. We need our senior players to really stand up and take charge tonight. Show a bit of fight.

Fabregas: Oh, erm, yeah. Count me in for that, sounds good. Just give me one second - I need to tweet this picture before we play.

(Wenger sighs and rubs his temples)

Wenger: Right, so you all know our tactics. We're going to pass it around a bit, soak up the home pressure, pass it around some more, work the ball into some phenomenally good scoring positions then pass it again. If the opportunity to score comes, I don't think I need to remind you what you should be doing...

Arshavin: What, erm, what was that again boss?

Wenger: Look for the next pass. Or go down under contact. The ref will doubtless be against us but a convincing appeal or five coupled with a bit of arm flapping from yours truly will probably do the trick. Besides, if we have enough appeals turned down, I can go on another self-righteous rant about the luck not being on our side.

Arshavin: Ah, what a refreshing change.

Wenger: What was that?

Arshavin: I said, erm, what a refreshing game... plan.

(Wenger surveys the room)

Wenger: Now, whatever happens out there, it's not your fault. If you win, then it will all be down to your actions. But should we lose then fear not - it won't have been our fault. Someone or something will have conspired against us to prevent us from winning.

Wilshere: Even if we play badly boss?

Wenger: Especially if we play badly, Jack. We're Arsenal. We don't deserve to lose games. Ever. We play football the way it was meant to be played and if anyone has a problem with that, they're just jealous. I have a system here - it's one that I've used for years and has never failed me. If we don't win, let the football writers, pundits and fans say what they want. We will have been hard done by and that, my boys, is a stance we can use to deflect any criticism. Now, go out there and pass it to death. Make me proud.

Home dressing room. Harry Redknapp finishes his cup of tea and clears his throat.

Redknapp: Right lads, you know what's at stake here. So just get out there and f*cking run about a bit. Off you go.

And so will begin 90 minutes of excruciating tension and drama. Spurs, with their underdog status and desperation to overtake their rivals after so many years of being in the shadows. Arsenal, clinging on to their faint title hopes and general sense of bad luck like a small child holds on to a teddybear. Redknapp gesticulating, Wenger constantly complaining. Bale and Walcott sprinting their hearts out, Modric and Nasri both trying to expertly control the midfield with their skill, Gomes and Szczesny/Almunia/Lehmann (delete as applicable) all trying desperately not to make the biggest error of the game.

This, friends, is what supporting Tottenham is all about. This is the North London Derby.

Both sides are relatively full strength, though Spurs still miss defensive continuity, what with constant injuries to Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate. William Gallas, who was utterly immense in the Emirates fixture back in November, will look for a repeat performance - as will Michael Dawson, who excelled in this fixture last season.

PFA Player of the Year Gareth Bale (yes, that's right, he really did win it) will be keen to prove his award was no fluke. As electrifying a talent as he is, those who critiqued his award-winning merits do have a slight point when they make light of the fact that the Welsh one hasn't exactly sparkled in 2011. But hopefully that's all about to change. Ditto for Bale's fellow PFA nominee van der Vaart, who is finally getting 90 minutes but isn't too close to his best form. One prays that the challenge of Arsenal brings it out of them.

For their part, the Gooners are still in with a shout of a title challenge, no matter what the papers say. A Man Utd slip here, an Arsenal win there, and it's back in the mix. They'll be desperate to get back to winning ways against us, having not registered a win over Spurs since the 3-0 mauling at the Emirates in October 2009. Do they have the balls for a fight? No, of course they don't. But beware a wounded animal - they may be down and they may have a Spurs-like knack of imploding these days but they're still a tough side to put away.

Predictions are so 2010 so there'll be none from this blog. Just a crossing of the fingers and a silent prayer to the big man upstairs that we can pull this off. Nothing less than 100% please Spurs. This season ain't over yet.

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Don't Dream It's Over

Going, going, Gomes

This blog sincerely hopes none of you out there are feeling especially downtrodden or disheartened. Our fate was sealed at 4-0 in Madrid. There may have been a tiny chance of a miracle comeback, mainly because we're Spurs and it's what we do. But there can only have been a handful of Spurs fans who could have genuinely said that they thought we'd drag it back at the Lane. And, with the greatest of respect, it could be argued that they'd lost the plot in thinking so.

Spurs were excellent in this Champions League season. From the depths of 3-0 down in Berne and an Arsenal-supporting Facebook 'friend' of this blog posting a status saying simply 'Hahahahahaha!' to the glorious highs of Inter at home and Milan away and a Facebook status of our own saying something similar to the one before.

To condense the highlights of our campaign into one blog would almost do them a disservice but here goes anyway: Pavlyuchenko's bullet away to Young Boys, Crouch's hat-trick, van der Vaart's crazy one man show against Twente, Bale's astonishing hat-trick away at Inter, the Bale-inspired annihilation of Inter in the return game, Modric's masterclass against Bremen, Sandro, Dawson and Gallas keeping out Milan at the San Siro, Joe Jordan giving Gattuso a look so fearsome it made this blog run inside and hide, the heart-stopping goalless draw against AC at White Hart Lane to get us into the quarters... and then it ended.

To be frank, if this blog can name a whole (large) paragraph of highlights from our first ever season in the Champions League then it means we had a pretty good time of things. When Jermain Defoe engaged his mouth before his brain and predicted that Spurs would go further in the Champions League than Arsenal, who could have possibly imagined he'd be proved right!? 

Spurs were an unknown quantity and took advantage of that fact to land several killer blows. Werder Bremen didn't expect much from us yet we stormed into a two goal lead early on in our first group match. FC Twente thought they had a chance of getting the better of us but our phenomenal home support overwhelmed them. A desperately nervous start against Inter cost us the game but Bale's second half heroism displayed what we were capable of. And weeks later at the Lane, we displayed that attacking verve from the very beginning to the tune of a 3-1 win and a night that Spurs fans will never forget. 

The European champions beaten by 11 men in Lilywhite. For a club in it's debut Champions League season, that was some accomplishment. Bremen were overwhelmed in the return leg by the skill and guile of Modric before Defoe grabbed a couple of goals in a high scoring draw with Twente, by which point qualification was already assured. 

And so to Milan, the scene of our first half capitulation and second half fightback the previous October. Spurs were given an outside chance against AC Milan, an ageing side but one with plenty of pedigree and undoubted attacking quality. Yet they also seemed to fall prey to the curse of under-estimation as a makeshift Spurs side, with Sandro and Wilson Palacios in the middle, managed to control large parts of the game and exit the city with a deserved 1-0 win, courtesy of Lennon's brilliant run and Crouch's composed finish.

Gomes, Gallas and Dawson helped shut out the Rossoneri in the return leg, in a complete reversal of Spurs' usual home games - where many were expecting a blaze of goals, Redknapp's team delivered a nerve-wracking yet resolute defensive performance and ground out a 0-0 draw.

And then Real Madrid happened.

The Champions league was exhilarating, heart-stopping, breathless stuff. And wouldn't we just love to have another go at it soon? Imagine Man City in it next season - grinding their way to a 0-0 draw at home with CFR Cluj and thinking it's a great result and that that's what the Champions League is all about. All their players fighting with each other and badmouthing Mancini behind his back. It just won't be the same without us.

We can get there again next season but our lack of a killer edge in front of goal so far has cost us vital points and has put us in the position we're in now - not being able to afford anymore slip-ups and with games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and City themselves to come. If we don't make it, we'll have only ourselves to blame and only memories to keep us happy.

But enough doom predicting. We might have exited the tournament in anti-climactic fashion but, boy, did we fashion a whole lifetime of memories. Bottom line: don't be sad that it's over, just be glad that it happened.

Your favourite moments?

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The impossible made possible

Rafa suddenly realised that kebab before kick off probably wasn't a good idea afterall

The glorious thing about this game of football is that often when all seems lost, when prospects seem so bleak that one is almost moved to look away, fortunes change. After the 4-0 mauling in Madrid last week, there was hardly a smile to be had amongst those of a Lilywhite persuasion. But, a win over Stoke and a heavy Man City defeat days later, have quickly changed the complexion of the remaining few weeks of the season.

Whereas all was doom and gloom after Madrid, there is now a renewed belief that Champions League qualification isn't completely out of the realms of possibility via a top four place. Spurs are now just three points behind City, with a game in hand and a game against them to come. Opportunity knocks? Perhaps, but it's not as if Spurs have it easy – along with that trip to Eastlands, visits to both Chelsea and Liverpool still await and that's after a humdinger of a North London Derby next week.

As much as our fortunes may have changed for the good over the past weekend, so they might change again for the bad at any point in the coming weeks.

But enough of all that negativity. Spurs, stung by a severe shortage of goals this season and in particular over the past month, came out firing in front of a White Hart Lane crowd bathed in glorious Spring sunshine. Crouchy began his one-man redemption tour after his Madrid red card by scoring two goals and doubling his season tally in the process. But it was Pavlyuchenko who was arguably the more impressive of the two frontmen. Lively, quick and full of excellent movement and sublime touches, PavNav displayed an attitude that has seldom been shown in his Spurs career to date – he actually looked like he really wanted it for once.

Modric put his poor showing in Spain behind him with another awe-inspiring playmaking performance from the middle of the park, capping it off with only his second league goal this season. Little Luka is a player dripping with swagger and ability – surely the only missing piece of the puzzle is a more regular contribution on the goal front. Big Tom Huddlestone made his long awaited return from injury and contributed a peach of a cross from Crouch's second.

So, tomorrow night and the visit of Real Madrid. This one's all over, surely. But you really do never know, especially with Tottenham. An early goal or two might set the cat amongst the pigeons and if Bale's in top giant-killing form then things could get tasty. Think of the potential for DVD titles: 'The Miracle of White Hart Lane', 'Comeback Kings', 'Four-play: The remarkable story of Tottenham's Champions League comeback'. Okay, so the last one's not exactly lacking in double entendre potential but the general point is this: if Spurs somehow manage to get back into this one, it'll be a fucking miracle.

Personally, this blog would just like to see us go out with a fight. A battling win would be nice, leaving us with the opportunity to say we beat Real Madrid over 90 minutes. The first leg? Erm, it never happened, did it? Let's not go out of this competition with barely a whimper. Let's go out in that most traditional of Tottenham ways – gloriously, bravely and unsuccessful. Joke.

3-2 to Spurs. Let's take 'em on.

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Spanish Fury

Jose was trying but he knew the thought of playing Jenas would render Harry inconsolable

That tub-thumping, all-for-one, rallying cry all seems rather silly now, doesn't it?

Tottenham's Champions League hopes were all but extinguished in Madrid as Jose Mourinho's men delivered a no-prisoners performance to catch Spurs off guard and reduce them to a 4-0 defeat. The Lilywhites may have thrilled on their maiden voyage though Europe's premier club competition but the stark reality of an impending exit is now all they have to look forward to.

What went wrong? Well, just about everything. Lennon was pencilled in to play on the right wing but was withdrawn at the last possible moment due to illness, leaving Spurs rattled, unbalanced in midfield and forced into playing Jermaine Jenas. Three things that just can't happen if you want to win or getting anything out of this fortress.

Slack marking from (you guessed it) Jenas allowed Madrid to take an early lead and one sensed that it wasn't to be Spurs' night when Peter Crouch inexplicably got himself two yellow cards in just 16 minutes and was sent off. It was no good protesting Peter, you only had yourself to blame. Not for the first time this year.

If there was something to be admired about the way Spurs refused to buckle under immense pressure for the remainder of the first half then it was just as sad to watch Madrid dismanlte them in the second half as Harry's boys simply failed to come to terms with their illustrious opposition. The defending wasn't ideal but one senses Madrid still would have scored a hatful even had Spurs been on top of their game.

So 4-0 and game over, right? Erm, right. Scaling back a two goal deficit would have been a mountain capable of climbing. Maybe even three on a really, really good night. But Jose Mourinho teams just don't throw away 4-0 advantages. Spurs are as good as out, with nowt to play for but pride.

That said, it could still be a good night at the Lane. If Spurs can muster a win of any margin, then they can at least go out on something of a high and that's the least they deserve from a competition that they have enriched with some of the most exciting attacking play on the continent - not to mention defending to keep the neutrals entertained.

It's a disappointing time to be a Spurs fan right now: the Champions League is all but over, there's precious little hope of it coming back next season, we haven't scored a goal in about 7 years and it'll be very difficult to lure in top players over the summer. But it's not all doom and gloom - at least Crouch is suspended for the second leg.

Oh and, as if a 4-0 defeat wasn't enough, Lennon intelligently decided to air his views on the mystery surrounding his illness on Twitter, giving his 36,000 followers and the nation's media a secondary story to pile on the misery for the club. Clever stuff Aaron. This is the problem with footballers on Twitter - they don't think before they say things. This blog completely understand's Lennon's grievances and his possible annoyance at being blamed but it's not something that should be broadcast to the internet. Keep it internal.

Sorry to be so glum. If anyone's angry, feel free to vent below.

**Join us on Facebook and Twitter. It won't make the 4-0 defeat feel any better but at least you can have a laugh every once in a while.**

Once more unto the breach, dear friends

"I don't think we're in Wigan anymore, Jermain."

Three years ago this week, Spurs were about to face Blackburn away. A faltering league season that had seen managerial change, player unrest and general calamity was meandering to a close. The Carling Cup had been won in grand style and prospects for the next campaign were bright, in spite of some fairly nondescript league form.

Days before, Spurs had lost 4-1 to Newcastle at White Hart Lane. That same Newcastle side would go on to be relegated the following season. Jamie O'Hara was playing at left back that day and the midfield unit included Didier Zokora, Steed Malbranque and Robbie Keane - all fine players at various stages of their careers but hardly a combination to strike fear into opposition hearts.

Up front was the eager-to-impress but out-of-form Darren Bent and the wantaway Dimitar Berbatov. Spurs were mid-table at best and on the fringes of the relegation battle at worst. The following season brought further despair - the manager was changed yet again, the backroom staff was completely overhauled, key players left, fans were disgruntled and though a decent 8th place finish was achieved, the lethal flirtation with relegation for much of the season meant that the late revival in form couldn't possibly reap the rewards it may have merited.

Tomorrow night, three long years later, Tottenham take on Real Madrid and their pantheon of global superstars in the colossal Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. 

This is the clearest measure of just how far we have come from those lonely days where Champions League football seemed so unequivocally out of reach. This is the clearest indication of just what a titanic job Harry Redknapp and his team have carried out. This is the Promised Land. 

Whatever happens tomorrow night in Madrid or in the second leg in London, Spurs can be remarkably proud of what they have accomplished in their maiden Champions League season. Their collection of immensely gifted and ambitious players may have been lacking in experience but they have played with a verve and a swagger unbecoming of a side whose chances were written off from almost the very beginning. 

Winning a game against esteemed opposition is one thing. To do it with such style, belief and attacking confidence is another. And to do it after a horrifying introduction to the big time (that 30 minutes against Internazionale) is simply staggering. For that and for the remote promise of one more epic accomplishment, this blog is eternally grateful.

Do us proud, Spurs. There's a nation of believers with you every step of the way.

Player profile: Benoit Assou Ekotto

An enigma wrapped around a mystery inside a left back. Benny doesn't play the game for enjoyment, as he made clear in a Guardian interview in 2010. No, no: he plays because it's his job. Miserable, spoilt footballer or a refreshingly honest view? You'll have to decide yourself. No player quite divides opinion amongst fans quite like BAE. His incredible improvement since being a moody, want-away, little so-and-so is there for all to see but many still choose to highlight his incredibly regular risk taking and his casual attitude. But you can't please everyone. Benny is a very good defender when he wants to be and he's shackled some of the Premier League's finest over the last few years. He's had more hairstyles than he has sexual partners. And that's more a reflection on his eccentricity than his pulling power. He angered this blog in last year by getting into an on-pitch fight with Charlie Corluka - a crime worse than murder, frankly. But he made up for it by being awesome. Will never truly be appreciated but he probably couldn't care less.

The missed opportunities that have haunted our season

Peter was unimpressed with the new mirrored roof over White Hart Lane

Another game, another goal-shy display. Our failure to stick a single effort in the onion bag in the last two games against some fairly modest defences has exacerbated the fact that should we fail to reach the top four again this season, it will be a direct result of our failure to reinforce our striking options in either transfer window. Less time worrying about Stratford and more time signing off on new players might have been an idea, Levy.

Watching Defoe wander aimlessly through games is getting beyond annoying at this point. There's only so many blogs and articles that can be written detailing our attacking shortcomings this season. The point is simple and resonates stronger with every opportunity that passes us by: we haven't scored nearly enough goals this season and we'll probably suffer as a result.

Hindsight is a luxury and perhaps looking back after the event is cheating somewhat but let us take a brief look at how things could have been had we had the requisite firepower in attack this season. Below is a list of games that Tottenham have dropped points in this season:

Man City (H) 0-0
Wigan (H) 0-1
West Brom (A) 1-1
West Ham (A) 1-0
Everton (H) 1-1
Man Utd (A) 2-0
Bolton (A) 4-2
Sunderland (H) 1-1
Birmingham (A) 1-1
Chelsea (H) 1-1
Everton (A) 2-1
Man Utd (H) 0-0
Newcastle (A) 1-1
Blackpool (A) 3-1
Wolves (A) 3-3
West Ham (H) 0-0
Wigan (A) 0-0

Amongst that list are a few results that are perfectly acceptable and not far beyond the limits of reality. Losing at Old Trafford, for example, is a traditional Tottenham past-time. But there's an unacceptable number of games there that could and should have been routine Spurs wins. Realistically, were they on top goalscoring form, one would expect the following results be Lilywhite wins.

Wigan (H) 0-1
West Ham (A) 1-0
Everton (H) 1-1
Sunderland (H) 1-1
Blackpool (A) 3-1

Wolves (A) 3-3

West Ham (H) 0-0

Wigan (A) 0-0

Fair? The free-spirited Tottenham of last season would have been eating these games for breakfast. Wolves away is a tough assignment, admittedly, and one that last season's side weren't able to overcome but having scored three goals and had numerous chances to wrap it up, it's not unfair to suggest that this season's encounter should have resulted in three points and a smug trip back to London. 

Drawing with City on the opening day of the season is no crime - Joe Hart was in superhuman form that day and, though they hardly inspire, City have elevated themselves into Top 5 elect and will probably replace us in fourth place. Certain results, such as drawing with West Brom, Birmingham and Newcastle away and losing at Bolton and Everton, are hardly ideal for a side of the status we wish to be known for but they are fairly common pitfalls for nearly every Premier League side. Simply put, every team will slip up along the way in a 38-game season. These results can easily be dressed up as our 'slip-ups'.

So, for argument's sake, that's eight games where Spurs failed to pick up the three points that were expected to be there's. 16 points were dropped in those eight games. 16 precious points that, added to our current tally, would put us level at the summit of the Premier League table with Manchester United with a little over a month of the season remaining. When Harry Redknapp makes his occasional claims that Tottenham are very close to making a genuine title run, there's more than a bit of logic to his argument. Every team makes mistakes throughout a campaign but Tottenham's have been too frequent - cut them out and we'd be in the mix for the title. It really is as plain as that.

This season has seen every side in the top 5 contrive to stumble and make regular mistakes. Not one side has made a concrete and impenetrable case for being worthy title winners. Man Utd are having their weakest season in years yet find themselves in pole position, being dragged along by their wealth of experience and belief. Arsenal, in their best position to take advantage of United's slip-ups for years, couldn't finish off Newcastle despite being 4-0 up with 20 or so minutes to go. They lack the testicular fortitude to admit that their fancy passing gets them nowhere and that what they need is just an ounce of grit and guts. 

Chelsea have had a shocking season, despite that ridiculously free-scoring start. At one point, they were as low as fifth and looking a long way from the championship-winning side of last May. Man City have noticeably improved but are still fractured as a team and play incredibly uninspiring football, despite their 5-0 mauling of Sunderland today. Tottenham - widely seen as the plucky underdogs of the five sides - have widely recognised problems. But had the aforementioned games been won as many would have expected, then they could have taken advantage of the lack of decisiveness of the others and mounted a shock title bid.

Whatever happens, whoever claims the Premier League crown will be the weakest champions in years. And whoever suffers the unfortunate fate of coming in fifth will be the strongest fifth place side in the same amount of time. It's a fact emanating from the increased competition amongst the top sides this season.

As mentioned earlier, this is all just speculation. For every unexpected away defeat to West Ham, there was the equally unexpected win at Arsenal. But the general point is clear for all to see. Had Tottenham had a striker on form (Defoe from last season or a new signing), then they wouldn't have to rely on Bale and van der Vaart so much for goals. For all the talents of those two players, goalscoring is not their natural art and certainly not their primary responsibility.

Perhaps when we're in the Europa League next September whilst City bore their way to a 1-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, we'll think back to these missed opportunities. One prays that this season, essentially one giant missed opportunity, is not the downfall of Spurs' resurgence as a domestic force.

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