Do not fade away, my darling Hotspur
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 9:26AM International abyss over and out. Finally back to the bread and butter business of the Premiership. And one simple ask for the boys in Lilywhite:
Do not fade away.
We've done fine getting ourselves in the upper regions of the table, even with the almost eternal loss of Modric and one or two other hiccups, we've picked up points more so than failing to. But if our form continues to stagnate, then I can see us dropping 2/3 positions and then yo-yo'ing between 7th and 5th. Which wouldn't be too bad but considering the form of others, it would be a disappointment not to give it a more determined go and continue to hang onto 4th spot before the likes of those other pretenders, City, punch their way out of the paper bag they're in and Liverpool awaken from their coma.
Wilson, bless his wonderfully big heart, is not the player he was last season. Obviously deeply saddened by the death of his younger brother his form has been lopsided. Which is understandable. He'll rediscover his discipline soon enough and channel the anger and regret through his footballing boots. He has to. He knows it. We just need to continue to support him. I'm making an assumption that his dip is down to the loss of his brother. It's probably a mixture of different things including no Luka (it's always about the Moddle) and plenty of trips across to Honduras for internationals. Regardless, what I'm not going to accept is some of the idiot Spurs fans who are know claiming that Wilson is suddenly no better than Zokora. Honestly chaps, please do one and stop embarrassing yourselves.
Another potential problem that has caused Palacios to be a little off his game is the conundrum of who should be standing tall by his side in midfield. Things started well this season with Huddlestone paired up with him in the middle and when Jenas came into the fold one or two expected the dynamite partnership we were treated to towards the back end of last season.
Once again, we've been let down. Jenas sometimes reminds me an eskimo. Cool, ice cold and in control - a blank white canvas surrounding him with ball at feet, prepared to paint a rainbow of colours. Not sure how that's an eskimo exactly. Perhaps and eskimo with a paint brush? But suddenly, the igloo behind him melts along with all the surrounding snow and the sudden hot temperature has our man sweating, unable to withstand the heat he strips off his clothes and runs around in a daze of confusion incapable of avoiding the glare of the hot unforgiving sun whilst neighbouring penguins look on with despondency, nodding their heads and groaning as naked Jenas eskimo falls into a crack in the ice whispering for help as he drowns. When the conditions suit him, he's a triffic player. He has no fear. Think Derby at home. Or even Arsenal. Such is the impossibility of knowing when he'll show up. But when the conditions do not suit him, he's beyond average (in the wrong direction). He's the most consistent of inconsistencies is our JJ.
Huddlestone, some of us thought, would take the opportunity of JJ's early season injury and cement his position alongside the General. But as expected (by the rest of us) the well known deficiencies in his armour have been once more shown up. So we are left with the January transfer window and the possibility of a new recruit to bolster the weak link in the side. The same weak link we had at the start of the season but failed to plug thanks to a drawn-out chase of various DM's - all of which came to nothing.
I'd expect Hudd to partner Wilson on Sunday v Wigan and the comfort of a home match might allow us to attempt to dictate play and tempo. If Palacios is in good nick and bites ankles, then Huddlestone might give us a quarter-back special, which will have us drooling again for another week before he's shown up as being slower than the QE2 attempting to do a u-turn in the Sahara desert.
Would dearly love to see Niko out on the left (still no Modric) and the return of Lennon on the right. No doubt Defoe will start up front and absolutely no doubt Keane will partner him.
That's Robbie 'played very well against the French' Keane. Robbie '5 goals in 6 league games' Keane. That's Robbie 'he's got a clause in his contract and that's the reason he's playing and it's not because of his form, no sir, it's not' Keane.
Ledley at the back? If we can rest him further, then I'd happily take that. He's another who's been out of sorts recently but rather than hang my head downwards in depression and start balling my eyes out about how this is all evidence of the demise of the King, I'd rather not. It's a lull. His knee hasn't gone to the dogs just yet. Perhaps this is a game for Awesome Dawson to smile his way through and allow Ledders extra time on the sidelines resting. It's not a perfect system, I know. Our best defender, with one knee. In the long term this isn't helping anyone chopping and changing.
As for the game itself.
We need the team to give us a confident performance. That’s one that sees us play well, dominate possession and swagger it with tasty end product. One that keeps us 4th in the table.
No banana skin frolics or daft defending.
Prediction? I'm going for a home win. I know, I know. Shocker.
Reader Comments (44)
never a truer word spoken:
"Regardless, what I'm not going to accept is some of the idiot Spurs fans who are know claiming that Wilson is suddenly no better than Zokora. Honestly chaps, please do one and stop embarrassing yourselves"
People hating on Wilson is no surprise. Every club has fickle idiotic fans. We've got plenty of them. Its football that is. One person sees it one way the other sees it the complete opposite. Palacios is a diamond bloke. He'll pull through. I think the rest of the team has been off key which is also going to effect his form.
Straight from the horses mouth - Modric is 'hoping' to be ok for Villa next week. On another note Wilson has got to sort out his passing a little and stop those crazy back heals in the wrong places. You cannot doubt his commitment or effort though in any way.
Morning everybody.
Palacios will rediscover the quality. We know he possesses it and we know he can produce it consistently. The same can not be said of Huddlestone and Jenas.
Jenus the eskimo..... classic! I now I'll probably get slated for this but isn't the "PC" term Inuit? Even though I hate the whole "PC" culture, its stifling the nation!
Couldn't agree more about wilson, poor guy. He'll come good again.
I just hope harry realises wingers are essential to our game because sunderland was such a horrible game to watch right from the off.... well until bent missed the peno and niko came on. GET THE TACTICS RIGHT HARRY!
I look forward to lennon being back, the little scamp!
As much as I hate to say it though, I think the lack of training is getting to king with all these niggling injuries. I think for the sake of having a back line that is less disrupted and therefore more stable we should at least look to sign another long term replacement for the big man in Jan/Summer, as next year I have no doubt we will have european football of some kind and therefore he will still get games. We just need a consistantly picked back four which we will never have with woody and king as our first choice CBs.
COYS!
It is. But we traditionalists like it the way it was. I had no idea it was Inuit until I watch Ricky Gervais stand-up.
Harry. Tactics, selection. It's down to our twitcher on the sidelines more than anyone this weekend. has to pick the right team and no over elaborate nonsense and hoofing of the ball. I've got to say, I'm very confident we'll do well in this one. I can see Keane shining.
"I can see Keane shining" - Lets hope so its about time he had a string of performances to warrant his selection. I loved Keane before the whole liverpool saga and to be fair I can't blame him because I'd do the same if I was playing elsewhere and spurs came calling. I just want to see him rediscover himself! He is still a leg-end in my eyes.
If we lose to Wigan, we may as well just give up and avoid all the stress and worry. Is Lennon fit to play then?
Inuit or Eskimo? Footballer or complete waste of space?
You decide.
"Is Lennon fit to play then?" - thats the word on the street! Although don't be suprised if he mysteriously doesn't make the squad as thats what generally happens on the day lol
You are absolutely right in that we will never achieve that step-up to the next level as long as we have to depend on Jenas and Huddlestone. For the life of me I cannot see how Harry thinks either Modric or Krankjar (sorry about the spelling..I'm guessing here!) are left-sided attacking players...they are too slow for that but both can play CM excellently and that is where they should be deployed, together with Wilson.
Failing that, we desperately need a CM captain fantastic who knows that the opposition goal is in front of him and not sideways or backwards and can keep the ball under the bar when he shoots from 30yards. Also a mobile, fast, big Centre Forward a la Chivers wouldn't go amiss instead of Keane or the robot...I know...dreams just dreams, but that's what makes us what we are.
I think we'll struggle again. Our home form has been erratic and Wigan won't be a push over. They'll have a go. Bit test for the midfield this game. Shame we haven't got O'Hara. I know the kid is limited in some ways but he adds bite that Huddlestone and Jenas can muster up. Great player to have coming off the bench.
If they have a go and we deploy a 4-4-2 with a sensible line-up we will win. If not we are in trouble.
Wigan at home is one of those games where you automatically assume the 3 points are in the bag, regardless of either sides form/injuries/etc etc. However, taking into account the defeat to stoke and the performance against sunderland, I cant help but have a little less confidence than I typically would.
Wigan are a strong team this year... theyve beaten Villa and Chelsea, and if certain players perform (think Rodallega, Thomas, Kirkland etc) then I wouldnt put it past them doing one against us. They have however shipped 5 against portsmouth, and can be a tad inconsistent.
I reckon the result on Sunday will depend on which Wigan side turns up. Although then again, if Harry plays Crouch, Defoe AND Keane again, then I cant help but think we'll struggle whichever Wigan side turns up.
Here we go again when the team is lacking in form blame Huddlestones pace forget that he done more against Brazil in 10 minuets than the others did in 80 forget that defoe who plays along side him rates him Hiighly forget two of is ex managers burley and taylor said he has the best passing skill they have seen forget he scored the winner against Sunderland .If he was fast he would probably taking the shite some of the other thin rakes that play in midfield are taking and also he would not have learnt to pass has good he would be Jenas mark two.Let me tell you i like Wilson but i warned Spurs fans buying players from these teams is like buying a car of a dodgy sales man . Wigan Blackburn Bolton Fulham Sunderland Stoke Liverpool and one we have bought two players from Sheffield. Now in a few weeks time the new testing laws come in to play and then you will see who plays well and who gets a long term injury the Fa have excepted the new rules but with a reduced player testing from 30 to 10 or 20 top players they will be tested any time during the year 5 times and players will have to tell testers where they are even on Holiday or like van persie seeking miracle cures . So we will just have to keep our fingers crossed that wilson is grieving and Paddy Kenny was a loan drug cheat or we have been bentlyed bought a ringer. One last note Toms Talent is real and i think he is superb . unlike a player that played for my local drugby league team Widnes he stood out with is none stop action a real grafter till he has just been banned for sucking on Asthma inhaler full of steroids.So don't look how slow tom is look at how quick is feet can switch the ball and deliver killer pass because England even with a full team dont have another Tom. With a little magic potion any team can beat even a better team and the problem is cheats like henry do exist and don't just handle the ball. Preston got beat by a goalkeepers drug induced display .
Jenas' trouble is that he's a little more 'out u it' than Innuit, a little less mighty Quinn than mighty quim. I'd replace him with Pingu ; )
Davspurs. You fucking mentalist.
It's not that Hudd is crap, he's just not very good in the modern day midfield set-up. You need to have a bit of everything. Box to box skills with pace, passing and an eye for goal. Shame he has no mobility and bigger shame that he doesn't know how to use his lack of mobility to an advantage for himself and the team.
Davspurs - do you post on any forums? Other blogs?
Guess what people, Tottenham Hotspur is known around the world for flowing passing football...I mean, even the new stadium is being made in testament to this. So what is this long-ball Div 2 crap that we are being fed with just to get Crouch a place in England's world cup squad? We are greater than that damn it! I would rather the team loses every game until Kevin Bond, Les Ferdinand, Sherwood and the other misfits who have brought this nightmare upon us are shown the door. It just isn't Spurs...and Crouch (and his ridiculous height) isn't anywhere near good enough to base our game on. The Tottenham way, Mr. Bond, ...or the highway! Lets get serious....or else we may as well redesign the new stadium and put one of those long arcs to indicate our new style and then prepare for permanent mediocrity! Please?
Gosh! That Crouch signing is really starting to hurt. I'm starting to think maybe the skill-less, but always scoring, Darren Bent is a far less painful headache! Hoooof!
Plan B makes me weep. Crouch can't head the bloody ball, we all know he's got mad skills for a tall bloke so play to feet and yet the players pump the ball up to him and you've got Harry complaining about it as if it's not his tactic and that the players panic play by hoofing. Doesn't bode well that. Doesn't bode well at all.
If the new signing in Jan is a DM can it also be a leader too? We need a Roy Keane character without the violence to slap our lads around when they feel sorry for themselves. Can't think of any English players (available English players) that fit that requirement.
I m going with ronny on this one , No problems with Crouch whatsoever, the lad can play and comes over as a respectfull normal human being compared to all those out of the world star players.
But we just can not ressort to the long ball strategy, the quality of our performance counts as much as the points. I m starting to feel that the closer we get to the so feared/beloved/craved top 4 spot we are changing and willing to accept just wins without the glamour
My strange love for spurs came to be based on the quality of the play, the morals of the club and the high aspirations of the fans.
Jenas the Eskimo? You been on Davspurs' home brew, Spooky?
We have to go back to that winning 442 formula on Sunday. Any more of this diamond formation rubbish and we're doomed. It's pretty obvious that it hasn't been working and it's not often the team gets booed off at half-time 1-0 up as they were against Sunderland. We've got a good squad, let's use it. No more square pegs in round holes, trying to squeeze our 'best' players into an unfamiliar formation that they're not suited to (Wilson left side midfield... Uh?)
Kranky on the left, Lennon or Bentley on the right, Hudd stretching play and finding them with raking 30 yard passes (it's either that or watching JJ chasing the ball like a little puppy, a job best left to Wilson who can actually put a foot in). And just two up front please.
@DaveK - "Also a mobile, fast, big Centre Forward a la Chivers wouldn't go amiss"
Sadly none of the options are fit to lace me. ;)
You couldn't be any worse than Raziak.
Palacios is clearly not as bad as Zokora, but then neither was Zokora.
We are in the top four after a third of the season, Huddlestone has played virtually every game, so has Jenas when fit and yet here we go again, get some new players in preferably world class midfielders and strikers.
Yeh right. They are queuing up top turn us down before we even approach them.
And some of those rejecting us are not even good let alone world class.
What would we do without Jenas in the team? Who would we blame. On one blog I read he was slagged off and he wasn't even playing. Its probably Jenas fault that Wilsons been off form.
Imagine if we did have better players in place of JJ and Hudd. Why shouldn't we want better?
Wilson "Quasimoto" Palacios is from Honduras which is in Central America, and plays in CONCACAF. It is not in South America. That said, yeah, it's a long plane ride back and forth every few weeks.
That's the second time I've got my geography wrong. Ta.
Results have gone are way today, MUST take advantage tmrw! COYS
Could not have asked for better results on the Saturday....I pray we don't leave this opportunity to draw level on points with the scum for 3rd slip.
Give it up JimmyG2, it's a battle you can't win ;-)
TMWNN
We can't go on meeting like this but I notice you are having to dash round with the water bucket to try to put out the ever increasing fire- storm of support for JJ, and Tom.
Disappointed with the way we faded...
After today's result, it doesn't look like the team's in the mood for the usual fade.
Dodgy lasagne it is then!
"What would we do without Jenas in the team? Who would we blame. On one blog I read he was slagged off and he wasn't even playing."
In order to try and restore some kind of balance to the universe I would just like to say that Jenas was stunning today. Absolutely stunning.
http://pavlyuchenkosvodkabottle.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/spurs-9-wigan-1-defoe-and-lennon-throw-a-party-at-the-lane/
match report and player ratings :D :D
The scum fans are silent. The glow in the room is tangible. Darren 'f**king' Bent! Hahahaha! COYS!
what a weekend :-) I'm sorry for all the badmouthing i did about Bent , what a great player
What a game , 9-1 OMG
Come on Spooky! Where the review ? I have been refreshing this page since yesterday waiting to see your thoughts... :o)
You want a review of sundays game, it was an absolute outrage, how that wigan goal could be given after this last week of all weeks is beyond me.
No clean sheet despite some fine gomes saves, have to say I'm slightly disappointed.
Oh the plus side at least we scraped together a win, just about, and ok so it's only wigan. and yes Villa away will be a sterner test next week.
Now who says Hudd is a luxury for his half a dozen good passes in the game? And that lennon is lacking in a final ball?
Best pairing for the team for me this week was Keane and JJ, showed they are capable of supporting the team regardless of the situation. Good on yer fellas.
One final thing, did anyone spot that we scored nine goals? NINE? I mean seriously, chuffin' NINE. Shame kirkland played well, could have had a few more. And Hudd's drive in the first half was only just past the wrong side of the post. I want ten next week, at least. Anything less than Ten and I will be disgusted with the team performance.
What effect will this have on us, though? Such a massive win, when you think of our results against United, Arsenal and Chelsea, will it boost us or lull us?
I thought Wigan actually had more of the ball and more attacks and chances than Stoke. Obviously we weren't lucky but when you think of the nine goals - Christ, how long have we waited to have that happen, nine? - the build-up and the execution, they were all so incisive., it's like everything went our way, like a kind of compensation for games like the Stoke one.
Aston Villa away next up sure is a great one to have follow that - how are we going to approach it and how should we? And this time next week will we get our customary non-Spurs jerks crapping on about coming down to earth with a bump?