If I had the wings of a sparrow...
Friday, October 30, 2009 at 10:58AM The North London derby.
Probably the purist of all derby games simply because the animosity stems from matters of football rather than religion or social and geographic economic upheavals. No docks or waving of loyalist flags. Just two neighbours at war over long forgotten arguments screaming abuse at each over the garden fence, we are forever enemies with no chance of a reconciliation. Not unless they sell up and move back to the South of the river where they came from. That would appease most. Unlikely with their current mortgage and new home. And we obviously have no reason to leave either. We were here before them. And renovations are afoot for a lovely new extension too. And we should still be left with the money and time to perhaps organise a nice little tour of Europe. Standard class. But we should try and book first class.
And as much as we despise each other, we perversely look forward to our encounters. A couple of times every year guaranteed, there's always a bit of a scuffle. Without fail. Pushing, finger pointing. The usual bravado which can sometimes end up with a brick being lobbed over, breaking a window. Their aim has been a lot better than ours recently. Although last time a fight broke out in their garden, it ended all square. They thought they got the better of us, all smug and showing off, but we managed to have the last word leaving a rather bitter taste in their mouth.
Never a boring day in North London.
Spurs v Arsenal. We hate them and they hate us. Because we do. Unquestionable good old traditional 'hate'. I'm hoping that regardless of injuries and suspensions and the fact that we hardly ever beat them in the league (it's getting tedious now), this time we turn up and smash them up all over the pitch. Last season we rode our luck but kept believing and plugging away. We looked for a way back in and deserved the point for simply never giving up. It was a point clawed back from the grasp of oblivion. And a point that set us on our way upwards and away from the mire.
Usually at WHL we stand up and fight and sometimes, almost…almost get something out of it. All I ask of the players is to remember to bring some of that blood and thunder to proceedings come Saturday mid-day at their patch. Nothing worse than not showing up and getting beat comfortable. Their form is good at the Emirates. But their defending has been suspect all season. Might turn out to be (another) game full of goals. But it’s a certainty that if we play openly, we might well suffer for our ambitions. There is no Modric to pull the strings and Defoe to pull the defence. And Lennon's absence is one that grates me although you can almost laugh at the irony that David Bentley has remembered what it means to be a bread and butter footballer, less than a week before another return to his former club.
But if we do suffer, then we have to make that despairing journey through the painful five stages of grief that we have come close to copyrighting so many times over the years.
Denial.
What the f*ck was that? I can't believe we are losing already? Come on you Spurs! Sort it out! We can do this lot! They’re just a bunch of kids!
Anger.
I can't believe we lost that. What happened to having a game plan? Tactics? Picked the wrong players in midfield and the wing play was shocking. No balance or purpose. Hit and hope. Harry is a joke. Cost us three points. How the fuck am I meant to got to work on Monday after this shambolic display? Top 4? No chance.
Bargaining.
Could have been different if we hassled them more, applied a bit of pressure and got the ball to Crouch on the deck rather than hoofing it. Thin line between defeat and victory. If that shot had gone in, it would have been a different game.
Depression.
What is the point of it all? We just can beat Top 4 clubs away. I'm sick of expecting anything different. I'm not going to watch Match of the Day.
Acceptance.
Fuck it. Who we got next week? Come on you Spurs! Top 4? Yeah, of course we can do it we only have to play Arsenal, Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea in total, 8 games. That's 24 points. But they've got to play each other and we can make up the points in other games. Top 4 here we come!
Been here a few times, haven't we? You have to earn the bragging rights rather than simply expect them to fall onto your laps. We have work to do come Saturday. This is not going to be an easy afternoon. And far too many times in the past we've fallen short. Choked. This is as good a chance as ever to get something out of the game.
We are not fighting for our lives, like we were when Harry took over. Instead, rather than damage limitation, we have to be looking for something more this time round. Which is why there's no point in being negative. Forget the 5 stages. Forget the ready-made excuses. Smile. Have faith.
Our players need to still go there and fight for every ball like their lives depend on it. The difference is we are now a balanced team and have more confidence than we've had in a long time. We have taken knocks this season and have bounced back. And on occasions done so when expected to falter.
It's about being fearless but also (yes, its a contradiction) fearing the consequence of failure. If you're scared or respect the opposing team too much, then forget it. If you're scared to ask the questions and take the game to them, then forget it. But if you fear the bitter taste that disappointment drowns you in when defeated, then take that fear and use it to inspire you with all your God-given will to avoid experiencing anything other than a win.
So what if we have a couple of missing warriors?
As long as the players do us proud, right? Although doing us proud is only half of it. We don't want to be losing gracefully either.
In a nutshell?
It's about time we stuck it up their bollocks and planted a white and blue flag in the middle of their back garden. Too often it's them sliding on our lawn and posturing arrogantly as we slowly close the curtains.
No more knock-down ginger. No more shouting from our own doorstep about what we'll do to them next time. Get in their face and then get in their face some more. And when they think you're not going to do anything other than stare them out…, goad them, knowing you've got someone round the back burning down their rose bush.
Be sly. Be tricky. Be expressive but not beyond your means. Be mentally strong. Be confident. Believe.
We need to go there with intent and passion, tied up to a master plan. A strategy. It's going to be won in midfield. But defending will be key as it's the type of game where mistakes will be punished ruthlessly.
They have key players starting. We don't. Let's not try to out play them pound-for-pound. Palacios will have to bite their ankles. Huddlestone's passing will have to be immaculate. Crouch will have to torment them with his tallness (he likes doing that) and we'll have to be clever with how we get the ball to him (try feet more than head). Both him and Keane will also have to be clinical. Hear that Keano? Get a one on one? Bury it. And Bentley will have to produce the goods from set-pieces and crosses. No Azza hugging the touchline and cutting in. Bentley will have to imagine roof tops and skips to focus on striking down the enemy.
Our defence will have to be heroic and completely disciplined as a working unit. Supporting and protecting each other. And if King starts, we are in with a chance of containing them. Woodgate? I'll be more than happy to see him back there too - but Daws can also do a job for us. Much the same Bassong. And we all know JJ loves a NLD. Step up, step up...
Every player selected will need to make up for the missing quality with determination and steel. Had Moddle been available then this write-up would have taken a completely different slant on proceedings.
Arsenal will want to give their fans what they lust for and will turn the tempo up, which means short quick passing. It might be another frantic 90 minutes. Arshavin has already gobbed off about doing us over and our Robbie has done the same. Not that I care too much about it now. Ok, so Robbie is 'bigging' us up. But if you've cared to notice, most Arsenal fans have laughed not just at Keane's comments but also at any suggestion Spurs pose any type of threat at all. Even though we are some way off the Sky Sports Top 4, the gap continues to shrink with each passing season and regardless what any gooner cares to believe, they are not half the team they were 4/5 years ago. If anything, they have stagnated and we've improved. They are still (wash you mouth out son) a very decent side. And that's all we need to concern ourselves with. AA is going to be the one to watch when they push forward. We'll have to make sure he is given as little time as possible on the ball.
It's going to be tasty. They will want to make up for last seasons 4-4. We will want to move on from those plucky memories and produce something more befitting of our progress since that fateful day.
This is it people. Derby day. Hairs on back of neck dancing a merry tune.
And don't be leaving the ground until the final whistle. Slow-clap. Sing up. COYS.
You know I can't smile without you
I can't smile without you
I can't laugh and I can't sing
I'm findin' it hard to do anything...
If you're going to the game, look out for a free newspaper that will be handed out around the ground to both Spurs and Arsenal fans. TwoHalves is a 16 page, fan-made newspaper of professional quality giving the informed fan's perspective on the North London derby giving readers two different insider perspectives on the game. The paper can be read two ways depending on your allegiance: one way up it's packed full of Spurs news and articles; flip it over and it's got everything a Gooner might want to read ahead of the game.
I'll be including a PDF of the paper on this blog after the game (or earlier if allowed). One or two familiar bloggers have written for it (including myself) so I guess the pdf will be all over blogland soon enough.
My article is about Ledley King.
Reader Comments (38)
It's time we serve the gypos with an eviction order.
COME ON YOU SPURS
Huge game for General Wilson. We need him at his absolute best kicking that Spanish oik all over the pitch. Hope Woody starts alongside Ledders too. Then if Keane is on song, Crouchie cements himself into Spurs folklore and Bentley can pull something special out of the bag... Maybe. Just maybe.
Huge game. Got a good feeling in my bones about this. Reckon they're be plenty of goal mouth action. Gomes will have to be on top of his game. Got my ticket. Shame Friday is getting in the way.
Smash 'em hard.
I just can't watch it, am a nervous wreck five mins before kick-off, slowly pacing up 'n' down changing channels hoping everytime I turn back to Sky that Spurs have scored and the goons scum are crying their girly hearts out. I just want to hear Matt Le-Tisser scream "another cracker from Spurs" so that I can finally sit down and relax and watch the last 10mins knowing we have finally beat those south London gypsys...
I can believe, can't I?
COYS!!
stop that wanker fibreglass ..thats the key ..wilson must do the busniss.the rest will follow.evry year i predict we gonna lose..and we do..this time even without azza defoe and luka..we will win coooooooooooooys
Don't usually swear on here, but f***ing postal strike. Sent away for tickets using good old fashioned mail (cause of needing a couple of junior tickets for people in the east stand). Sent application Sunday to get there by the following Friday. Didn't get there in time! Missed 1 in the last 20 years - pig sick (and not swine flu!). Pub I suppose.
LETS JUST FECK'EM
COYS.
hoop contact ticket office for duplicate, claim extenuating circumstance. Or simply put, 'posties are being b*d's'. Might get you somewhere.
As for the game, I'm starting to get nervous just thinking about it. Wilson v Fabregash is one I defiinitely want to see. What is odd is that there are a few goons I know who aren't that confident of a win despite recent form. Crouchie and Keano have decent records against them (crouchie's hatrick for the bindippers are worthy of a youtube visit), they still can't work out who their least inept keeper is, and whinger seems intent on playing eboue who isn't exactly a fan's favourite.
Maybe their (the fans) fear is our biggest asset (metaphorically of course as clearly crouchie has that title sewn up physically), and if we can make the noise and support for the team (and you can join in with the home fans in booing eboue's every touch - in fact do that anyway, as he'll think it's the home fans and his head will drop!). Then maybe, just maybe I can dare to dream.
Unfortuantely the head then rules and I can't see a win, therre's just too much talent not available for this game. But a score draw certainly isn't out of the equation.
If Harry can deliver a speech like above then maybe just maybe.....
first NLD that i'll actually be able watch on a TV rather than a terrible computer feed! hooray for espn picking it up here in the states. judging by last weekend, anything is possible here. hopefully we got rid of all of our bad luck then.
Y101 - If Bentley can deliver a ball you mean then maybe just maybe...
man i was really cool about it all week but reading the blog + posts from the spooky faithfull is getting me all worked up
I d like to see the absolute horror on the faces of all gooners after we score a very late winner ...
i ll be rooting at an Irish pub filled with gooners ... for once i hope it is me leaving the pub leaving a bunch of depressed lads screaming at me that next time we'll get a proper beating ... in stead of being dragged out by my GFafter a defeat while making nasty remarks about gooners and cursing their families ...
I m guessing she ll be glad that the NLD is over :-)
Think we will win this. We want it more than them and despite missing players have enough talent in this kind of game to hassle and harry them out of it (Harry them out of it, must remember that.)
This year because of the league positions they will be more anxious than usual and their style will be more affected than ours in a physical NLD.
Sorted, could even be an easy game for us probably not 5-1 but maybe 3-1. Relax and enjoy it.
Amen, Spooky. This should be mandatory reading for the players!! COYS.
Another brilliant blog spooks. Hairs tingling on the neck just reading it. Spurs till I die!!; this game wraps it up in 90 minutes.
bit randon has anyone got the photo of fabregs getting all the stick off loads of our fans at white hart lane? cant find it anywhere
fuckin yid cunts...forever in our shadow
And what shadow would that be son?
IT'S A LONG WAY, TO SEVEN SISTERS,
IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO....
IT'S A LONG WAY TO SEVEN SISTERS,
BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU KNOW....
WE'LL SEE YOU, DOWN THE HIGH ROAD
AND WE'LL CHASE YOU UNDER CARS....
BUT WE WON'T SEE YOU ON THE PLATFORM,
'COS YOU WON'T GET THAT FUCKING FAR....
What is it with dopey spuds and there poems????
Oops you ask what shadow? ok, i will tell you!
the shadow of our stadium over yours!
the shadow of our trophey cabinet over yours!
the shadow of our legendary players over yours!
you have nothing apart from that rusty old cup you won.
Thats the shadow your forever in!!!!! ok, SON!
"It's about time we stuck it up their bollocks and planted a white and blue flag in the middle of their back garden."
Yesss. That's more like it.... and while we're about it, leave one or two cry-babies nursing more than just bruised egos.... See you Arshavin or what ever your fucking name is....!
A few reasons to be cheerfull........
1. Forget all the smirky back-chat about King and Woodgate being cripples.... that's bottle talk! Medical/Football fact is this. If they play they're fit. If they're fit they are by far the better, more experienced CB pair on the field of battle. End of.
2. The Law of Averages demands her pound of RED meat!
3. Any number of Spurs "bench" players are up for this one. Not necessarily out of love or loyalty. No sir, they'll be up for this one to prove a point per se on the biggest stage (shop window?) going i.e. the NLD.
4. "So what if we have a couple of missing warriors?" More reason to stuff it to the Arse. Not forgetting that two of those "missing warriors" have a tendancy to throw their toys out of the pram when things ain't going their way (their as in me not us). I honestly believe the likes of Bentley, Hutton, Bale and Pav are the right "warriors" for this battle.
5. The "Arry" effect.
6. Statistics. The Arse fans are definately and seriously unsure of themselves this time around.... how does the song go "yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone".
Regrettably, I won't be at the battle..... but I'll be decked out in blue and white, in an Irish/Aussie pub, probably in the minority of one, giving it to a sea of red and white trash..... come what may!
COYSPURSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Punching above our weight? Do you even follow football? Everyone outside the 'Top 4' is punching above their weight. The point is - everyone (us, Villa, City) are getting closer and closer.
Enjoy the next season or two. The cycle always ENDS.
punchingaboveyourweight.....
Getting a bit nervous are we?
And as for "ok, SON" (Son in capitals in case we missed the oh so subtle "Woolwich" taunt).
Yawn!!!!!
On Woolwich. I grew up in south London and there was/is two cardinal sins. To be a nonce (nonce - nonsense - it means any number of things, all low, real low) and hailing from Woolwich. You sir, are both!
PS. Oops, I forgot the proverbial PAL in response to your SON. Know what I mean son?
The Prem is no longer as strong at the summit as it once was. Means in 2/3 years we might have 4//5 teams actually competing for 1st and 2nd. Now wouldn't that send Sky and the tabloids into a dizzy spell?
I think you Spuds need to recognize that your team will just NEVER have the quality, managerial prowess or history to be considered with the likes of Arsenal. It is a shame because you do have some quality, another shame altogether that your players (and fans) are so hotheaded as to kick themselves (literally in Defoe's case) out of games. Say what you want about Fabregas, Arshavin, van Persie, Eduardo and Nasri, but I dare say that you wouldn't KILL to have the likes of them in your squad. Not to mention players like Wilshere, Ramsey, Vela, Merida, Gibbs and Vermaelen all scratching the surface of their respective potential's. Enjoy the next 24 hours because come noon-time tomorrow you will go back to wallowing in self-pity as you are so want to do. 4-1 to the Arsenal tomorrow.
Zane... You forgot to mention the below the belt benifits the PL big-wigs, media, refs etc., bestow upon the fab 4.
This one's for you duckie!
Saturday 31st. of October and football clock's are ticking in north London. The Big One. Arsenal v Spurs. It's ten minutes to kick off at The Echoing Library, pardon, the Emirates Stadium. In the Arsenal dressing room the team talk begins............
"Right lads, I will accept nothing less than 100% from each and every one of you from the off against these wankers/arseholes. Remember how they turned us over 5 : 1. Now I don't care if you dive, kick, punch or even head butt your way to victory, you have to win today. I will do all the shouting and cajoling I possibly can, and I will try to use my influence to get us the result, but in the death it's down to you guys, good luck."
The door opens, and in walks Monsieur Arsene Wenger............................ "thanks ref, I'll take it from here"
Come On You Spurs!
PS. Sorry Spooky for elbowing in. It's just I'm really allergic to ........... (the name alone sticks in my throat). Won't happen again. Promise.
Yeah Zane, you tell em mate. There's only 4 clubs in England. Only ever been 4 clubs in England. No one else matters!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111
spurs r joke of a club ,they think they could b as good or anywhere near to arsenal in terms of fanbase ,quality ,stature ,history or worldwide status ,they r rightly called delusionals.even likes of newcastle and villa and chelsea r considered bigger than spurs both in as well as oiutside uk.as a westham fan i enjoy to follow a team which plays game the right way, we r not delusional and got better english talent and traditions and fanbase than spurs who will remain in arsenals shadow ever and ever. and also i think we were good enuf to earn a draw from arsenal but ur average rate team would b thrased.HAMMER 4 LIFE !!!
plan for tonight and tomorrow morning(n.b. from the states)
get annihilated at halloween party
find a broad
bring broad back home
...
wake up far to early after staying up far to late
push broad out of the way
Watch mothafuckin Spurs take it to the scum
live in HD on mothafuckin ESPN
To be fair punchingabovehisbelt has got a point, they are starting to get a pretty long shadow in their trophy cabinet after they failed to mug anyone else in a cup final for the last few years.
Even thir manager has realised that maybe the CC isn't so worthwhile, if it means opening the creaking doors other than to dust off the cups of yesteryear.
And as for HAMMY trying to mention 'quality of fan' given the derth of either grammar or indeed sense in the post itself, 'Life's not without a sense of irony sometimes' never has that been more appropriate for a hammer (allegedly of course, I suspect it's a gooner in disguise personally).
And finally, Zane, please think about it first (if that is indeed possible) to talk about us never having 'managerial prowess or history' when this week marked the 5th anniversary of the death of bill nic? Clearly the boy 'darnt reed da news, innit', dumb deluded waste of an ovum!
Does this mean I think we're going to win tomorow? No. But I'll sleep easier knowing that spurs fans, generally speaking, still have more class and cognitive ability than some our 'nearest and dearest'..
LOL... Gooners really are a joke. All this forever in our shadows shit, you evidently cant get out of your own shadows, how long since your last cup? yea thought so... You call us Yids delusional? You plastic poor excuse for fans turn up to the ground not knowing anything about your own history prior to Wenger, then you sit there with your prawn sandwiches talking about how teams dont even try to play football against arsenal... your entire history was built on playing shit.
You are one man, the second he goes you wont be shit again. Even with him you havent won shit for years now. Stick to football manager and fifa10, im sure you'll be supporting Barcelona once Wenger leaves you in the shit again.
Spooky, this is the best prematch talk ever since Pacino in anygivensunday.
"What is it with dopey spuds and there poems????"
I believe these "poems" you speak of are what are known as "songs". It's what all that rowdy uncouth noise emanating from the away section of the audience is when you're trying to concentrate on booing Bentdner and Eboue.
If Bentley can replicate the form he showed against Everton I quite fancy Crouchy's chances of beating those stunted centre backs and that schoolboy goalkeeper. Wilson should make a difference too. We didn't have him last time round.
not at the pub but for once happy that i m watching on a dodgy live stream ... dissapointed to say the least
Just figured I come and check and see how those swollen heads are doing on the opposite end of North London this fine afternoon? 3-0 to the ARSENAL!!
Well done spuds PMSL : D