9-1. Frolicsome. Lap it up.
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 10:12AM Unbelievable, I'm still trembling with glee on the back of this epic buzz. What a result. What a result. Jedward, finally voted off the X-Factor. Superb. Oh, and Spurs won 9-1.
In my match preview, I made one or two simple requests:
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.
Honestly chaps, 3-0 would have done me just fine. No complaints about the dismantling of lickle Wigan. We were lethal, clinical and swaggered around like pimps in fur coats gripping diamond studded canes. It's all about the game, and we were game on. There have been plenty of teams who have defended shockingly in the past but the opposition still has to punish them for it. These type of results don't happen often. It's a rare combination that includes not just the welcomed ingredient of the opposition crumbling under the pressure but for the side dishing out the spanking to be completely on fire, all cylinders positively bursting. We deserved what we got and the same can be said of Wigan. They simply couldn't handle the hot Spurs.
Lennon was irresistible, tearing it up, dribbling, hugging the touchline, cutting in, teasing, pin-point crossing, assist after assist after assist. Unplayable. Niko schemed, play-making to his hearts content which included one moment of brilliance that saw him flick the ball over a defenders head and then play a perfect 30 yard pass (obviously with the outside of his foot) into the path of Defoe who had his shot saved. One of the rare occasions that JD wasn't wheeling away to celebrate. Five goals, only the 3rd time a Prem player has achieved such a feat, which included a 7 minute hat-trick. Ridiculous. Even David Bentley managed a worthy cameo, hitting a splendid free-kick (that came back off Chris Kirkland and in) and setting up Niko for the 9th. And to think it was 1-0 at half time.
3-D special edition dvd blatantly in post-production.
Keane sat out the game on the bench (conspiracy clause theory RIP) with JD and Crouch leading the front-line. Hudd with Wilson in the middle, Azza back on the right and Niko starting on the left. The depressives amongst us would pose the question…where's the strength in the middle? Having Palacios as the only defensive player considering the way Sunderland outplayed us last time out might have left a few scratching heads over our potential fragility. But no repeat concerns here. We started well and other than perhaps the latter stages of the first half looked to be in control. Lennon tormenting Edman and crossing for Crouch for 1-0 as early as the 9th minute. Solid stuff. Dare I say balanced? Ok, so the opposition wasn't world-class, but neither was Stoke at the Lane and looked what happened there.
This was simply the perfect performance for the occasion. Devestating.
Relentless pace on one side and sexual football on the other. Aaron and Niko bossed it. A goal-assisting factory, oozing out chance after chance after chance - effortlessly. The passing, crossing, movement was stand-up-on-your-feet majestic at times. Best individual performance of the season thus far from our little rude-boy on the wing. As for Kranjčar? Offensively and defensively sublime. You want swagger bottled up and branded? Look no further than this cracking Croat who had the Ginolas about him as he owned the White Hart Lane turf. Although ownership is a trinity, completed by the irresistible Defoe who bagged himself five (1-2-3-4-5). Faultless display, ruthlessly punishing the luckless Wigan back-line who seemed to collapse on point every time JD moved. He was bang on it, not just with his finishing but his all-round play. That loan spell at Pompey was a masterstroke.
And in the middle a welcomed return to form for our General, breaking up any faint hope of opposition momentum to his hearts content. A defensive paragon of bricks. And let's not forget Tommy Huddlestone. Oh yes. No QE2 jokes. The big man was in his element. Top drawer passing, unlucky not to score. This is the type of game where you forget about any weakness and wish that all opposing teams wore bright orange. If you're wondering, Jenas was on the bench (and not eaten by Tom as part of his pre-match meal) but came on very late in the game, too late to make an impact. Maybe more faith is required on my part in future relating to the conundrum that is the Hudd, as Harry has no qualms in selecting him.
You can hardly fault anyone on the day. Crouch was busy. The defence strong and organised. You know it's a cracking day at the office when forgotten man Bentley shines with a goal (ok, ok, OG) and an assist.
As for the Wigan goal? Hand-ball. Replay? Go on then, why not. Defoe might even manage a double-hat-trick.
8 goals scored in the second half. 5 goals from one man, 3 of them in a 7 minute spell. Lovely. Tottenham Hotspur. She's like a stunning looking girlfriend who too often complains about headaches as you lay in bed despondent, and then makes up for it by fucking your brains out and leaving you jelly-legged on cloud nine.
Also, special mention to Darren Bent.
Good weekend innit?
Reader Comments (61)
man i envy you guys for witnessing that live
can't wait till i can come to london
I love you Spook!
What do you say after a result like this? Get carried away and you get battered by every non spurs fan you work with, underplay it and you are not giving the team the credit they deserve.......................we have to embrace an emphatic team performance, Defoe may grab the glory but everyone played well........................points I want to make are.......it was good to play so well without Keano in the team, hopefully (unlikely) he will understand that he wont be guaranteed an automatic spot as Crouchie/Defoe played well and worked together...........(apart from Defoe being greedy!!!)........... which leads me onto my second point................. we seemed to strike the right balance with Crouch yesterday..............yes we played to his obvious aerial strengths but it was not a constant assault of pumping the ball up.......ok it was easy as Wigan (edman in particular, poor edman) was completely shit but it was still good to see..........and finally 4 4 2 very simple, know your position and your job..........
lets just hope we turn up to Villa park next week!!
still can't keep a clean sheet though ;-)
Brilliant write up! Something must have inspired you this weekend, and I don' think it was Jedward!
Great summary. Our boys turned it on and you can hark on about how Wigan feel apart, but that was down to the way we played. They simply could not cope. We've brushed aside all the small clubs this season - apart from Stoke. Have to be happy with our lot so far.
I love Spurs.
Pink boots. Who would have guessed? JD was brilliant but Lennon was off the charts! Great day for the Lilywhites!
Jenas was on the bench (and not eaten by Tom as part of his pre-match meal)
hahahha
What a performance, We look like a class team when we have 2 players comfortable on the wings in our team, Lennon and Niko where sublime. The balance also gives our cm's 2 outlets which naturally means they keep the ball more often! We could have hit double figures (crouch could have had 3, JD 7!)
Lennon was INSANE. Showstopping.
I love Darren Bent!
I love this quote I am still rolling around on the floor laughing!
"Tottenham Hotspur. She's like a stunning looking girlfriend who too often complains about headaches as you lay in bed despondent, and then makes up for it by fucking your brains out and leaving you jelly-legged on cloud nine."
SOOO TRUE! ;o)
Good analysis Spooky! The reason I have been refreshing dml since the final whistle!
I wish this game was on Sky Sports so I could have heard Andy Gray commentate on this one! As you said about Alan Hanson I would have only expected him to slate the Wigan defense not praise us!
Its good to see that Harry learn't from the mistakes made against sunderland and gave niko a start and went back to a 4-4-2. Twas a good thing lennon was fit again too to restore the balance. I love the little scamp! I am glad I paid the full £1k+ for my season ticket just to witness that match (sorry I don't mean to rub it in for those who weren't there) but it was awesome! lol Well done boys keep up the good work. Now to next week.....Villa will modric be back in contension? Do we tinker with the team if he is? Will Keane start? I'm just hoping Harry sticks with the exact same team (if injuries allow us) even if modders is available as we don't want to rush him back and he can always come on for the last 30 mins and make an impact if necessary. I have to say though, I was massively impressed with Niko and he really suprised me how great he can be, don't get me wrong I thought he was good, but not the sort who could boss a game like he did yesterday!
COYS!
Morning all. I agree with Yid101. The secret was playing 4-4-2 with Lennon and Kranjcar on the wings. I've never seen us look so balanced; and Lennon has obviously been working his bollox off in training improving his final ball.
If we continue to play like this, then the need for a second midfield enforcer to partner the Sgt. is massively reduced, as teams will double up on the likes of Lennon and Kranjcar, leaving THudd/Jenas/Modders with a lot more freedom.
I think yesterday's performance was all the evidence we need to demonstrate that we are at our most effective when we play from the wings; and also demonstrated the Crouch has a lot more to his game tha just being a target for flick-ons and knock-downs. Grated he only scored one out of nine, but he got into some good positions and could have had a couple more himself.
None of this will matter, however if we can't get at least a point against Villa on Saturday. With L'pool playing at Everton and Ar5ena1 against Chelski, a win agaist Villa should at least open up a nice gap and draw us closer to the to three.
'Lennon still needs to work on his final ball and is nowhere near as good as Walnutt is he?', is what I shall be asking to all my goon 'acquaintances'?
Didn't like Dixon's dismissive 'even I could have made that pass' about lennon's vicious ball in for the 'something-th' goal ( I lost count after a while) on MOTD. He's still pissed that Bent mis-hit one in the 6-yard box that actually went in. Poor bitter man, and deluded of course, he was never actually that good.
I feel sorry for Gomes though, no clean sheet, something I think we clearly need to work on!
All the results went for us too. Our attitude and bounce-back-ability is something to smile about.
Does anyone actually expect Match of the Day to be pro-Spurs? Even on the back of a 9-1?
442 is the way to go. It's not fancy, it's basic. It's simple. Get the right players in the right positions, working for each other and it works. We're blessed with a decent first team. I'll hold onto your hats. Luka isn't far off returning. He'll be like a new £15M signing when he's back in the side.
ETA on the dvd? Has to be on the Xmas list.
I am still drunk, but these are my ratings (after 5 pints)
Gomes - 7/10 - Didnt really have much to do, gave them a chance with a 'Gomes Moment' when he threw the ball out. Helpless with the goal.
Charlie - 9/10 - Supported Lennon really well, defended spot on! Lovely!
Woody - 8/10 - Didnt have much to do but looked solid. Kept Wigan out and forcing them to shoot from 25 - 35 yards out
Daws - 8/10 - See Woody
A&E - 8/10 - Great going forward but where was his for the Wigan goal???
Azza - 10/10 - Speachless, perfect. Couple of extra hours training on his own improving his final ball??? Me thinks so!
Thud & Sgt - 9/10 - Bossed the mid, wilson looked hungry for blood even at 8-1 he was diving in giving 100%. Sold a few people short with a couple of passes. But again, gave 100%. Thud's vision and delivery has to be up there with the best in the Prem if not world. Has he been on the same diet as Andy Reid?? he looks leaner, quicker and an all round better player. Think Wilson brings the best out of him. BOTH DESERVED A GOAL!
Niko - 10/10 - Intense performance, gave us the much missed width we has been lacking since his lil Croat mate got f**ked! Sublime skill, vision and WHAT A FINISH!
3MP - 9/10 - Great positioning for his goal. Should have possibly had one in the 1st minute.
JD - 10/10 - 5 Goals, Could have had 7, 0 tackles, 0 fouls, 92% pass completion, 3 Key passes. Need i say more...
Bassong - did he touch the ball????
Jenas - did he touch the ball????
Bentley - poor lil fucka! give him the goal!!!
i'll shut up now
We have to beat Villa. My God if we do, we'll be in for a superb Christmas run-in that might see us enter 2010 still in the top 4 and with no reason not to stay there. I think Harry and Levy have to look at this season as a perfect opportunity to crack it, thanks to Liverpool's permanent hiccup. I know it would be typical Spurs not to come falling back down to earth, so fingers crossed we can keep on bucking the trend. Well done to Harry. Excellent selection.
"Bentley - poor lil fucka! give him the goal!!!"
This made me laugh. Bentley, such is the luck of the man, a free kick that deserved to go down as his goal goes down as an OG.
Lennon/Defoe...World Cup 2010 here we come.
I'm glad you included Bent's strike in our 10 goals of the weekend. Yes, it was lovely.
And yes, I really can't see why that wasn't Bentley's goal. Mystifying.
A brilliant performance to say the least!
Now, only if we can play Modders in the middle with the Sgt(not that Thudd was bad, but theres only one Luka). And with Niko and Azza on the wings, well that should be tasty.
Robbie Keane applauding the Spurs fans anti-Henry chanting. Quality moment right there.
re: Bentleys free kick
Ball was heading back out (off the woodwork) until it hit Kirkland. Thus, own goal.
Lennon, that boy can play.
What a brilliant match! This was a return to the form of the first weeks. If we can keep this up we WILL be a top four side. So many great performances. Yes, Azza was sublime, JD brilliant and good to see the General back in form but what did it for me was Krancjar! Holy fuck! IMHO he filled the void that has been left since Modders left. Keep it up Spurs and the naysayers will eat crow!
COYS!!!!
I will go out on a limb and say to the scum: Be afraid. Be very afraid. If we can maintain this form you'll be weeping at the Lane in 2010.
Champions League?
You're aving a larf.
See this is what grates me. Arsenal thrash us, mainly because we failed to turn up, but we were duly written off by the press and now they are claiming that a top 4 finish is not beyond us.
It's madness, sheer madness!
Spookster, how can you possibly condone the description of Bentley's wonderstrike as an OG?
Keano conspiracy clause theory not dead - PSB not "fully-fit" after World Cup exertions, so good excuse to exclude. Guarantee he will be back next week.
@General Brickhouse:
You sad, lonely prick. Are you partially sighted as well as a cunt?
I am old enough to have witnessed our last nine goal win and that game has been in my memory ever since. This time, it was achieved against a 'considered' premier league team, with our lot putting on a team performance that, if it had been Manure, scum or Hellski, would have interupted normal viewing on Sky programs for Mr. Gray to verbally w**k all over the screen.
Remember this performance lads, it will see us through darker days in the future, when our trust and belief go wandering off down dimly lit alleyways.
Proud, not a strong enough word.........
Hey Harry, tongue in cheek mate, tongue in cheek. Ignore Brickhouse, he's a miserable git at the best of times.
Enjoyable write up Spooks. Also enjoyed this:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6927417.ece
"At some point in the second half, probably when Defoe scored his third goal in seven minutes, Tottenham’s players went beyond confident and into a state of certainty, all-powerful, bestowing goals on the game at will."
"There became a clinical detachment to their attacking play, a science to it, as they dissected their already dead opponents like pathologists open a cadaver"
COYS
Mr C, thank you very much.
Need to beat Villa...
Goonerjake in 3....2.....1....
General Outhouse .
Right. I'm off to score a packet of Lovehearts and false moustache.
9-1? Are we meant to be impressed?
6 draws on the trot. Eat your heart out.
Let's talk about the glorious gooners performance this week shall we?
Hmmm
Not too impressive
Fixate on that scum
Get your house in order first you overrated twats
Is this game (full 90 minutes) available online anywhere?
Loving the gooners at work. Apparently we only won because we had Lennon back in the team.
Er...no shit Sherlock?
"That loan spell at Pompey was a masterstroke."
:D
It's okay, when the going gets tough Arsenal will just play the kids. You know, the kids. The ones they play in the Carling Cup. At the Emirates. Usually against weakened Prem opposition or lower league sides. You know the ones. Coming to the Premier League near you. Soon.
Should have saved that for arsanal!
Now that's what I call football. So many players on form. Edman probably wished he was still injured.