Top 4. Game on.
Monday, November 30, 2009 at 8:41AM With each passing week there appears to be less people scoffing at the idea that Spurs are serious challengers to finishing in a Top 4 slot. Great pretenders no more. I'm not about to streak naked down Tottenham High Road singing the Champions League anthem, but my socks and shoes are off. In preparation. All this off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Villa? Of course not. It's the sum of all parts thus far. We are a proper team. Or at least one good enough to take advantage of what is turning out to be a season of ups and downs for all concerned, including the sides that are meant to be super-glued to the CL positions each passing year. We've been outclassed this season by Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. Although none of the defeats, IMO, are as bad in hindsight as they appeared to be at the time. They were blips, hiccups that have simply needed a swift glass of water to be rid of. The sides we have to beat remain the ones from mid-table down and the rest who are our 'rivals' for the promised land. And so far, we're not doing too shabby a job. I'll have my shirt off and catching a bus to N17 if we do well against Everton, Wolves and City because then the reality of the situation will befall all - including non-believers.
The great fallacy is that breaking into the Top 4 is nigh impossible because the gulf of class between the likes of us and the Sky Sports 4 is massive. It is in the strictness sense with regards to mounting a title-challenge, but with each passing season - as we improve - the teams above us sort of kinda stagnate. We are beating the sides they are beating, just not beating them. But that's fine. We're not about to worry Utd or Chelsea, but the vastly over-rated Arsenal and Liverpool? They won't admit it, but we're catching up. Liverpool are disjointed, lacking depth and missing key ingredients. Arsenal are not half as good as their fans think they are. Yes, yes, pretty football and toddlers running around scoring fancy goals in the Carling Cup against weakened Prem opposition or lower league sides might allow for the usual superlatives from the red tops but the fact is they have no spine, are sometimes comical in defence and are hanging on desperately to the past. But hey, don't worry gooners, you've still got Theo Walcott.
Of course, they will still finish Top 4, at least one of them will. So it's up to us and one or two others (City have to break out of their draw-abyss and Villa have to discover more guile and adventure) to make it as difficult as possible for them. The more we improve, the more pressure pushing down on them.
And we continue to dig deep. So fuck it, why shouldn't I shout? It's better than whimpering. There's plenty of work to be had, and it seems we are more than up for it. Harry continues to impress. And even with several key players missing (King, Woodgate, Modric) we just get on with it. We have cover, we have commitment. Dawson (Forest bound, ha!) comes in and gives us one of those 'come here you big lump I want to kiss you' type of all-smiling performances. I love this guy. He took his goal superbly well. Niko is turning it on at the moment. He is positively on fire. Oozing class and has swagger we love to see in a Tottenham player. When Moddle is back, we'll be stronger for it. Obviously.
So, to the Villa game. Pretender v Pretender. First half, we hardly got stuck in so no surprise they took the lead. We sat back, looked nervous. Made it easy for them. Second half was rather better. Such was the tempo of our play that Villa could only survive by sitting back and defending. We were relentlessly good. Totally dominated them. Anyone would think the game was at the Lane with MON's men doing their utmost to survive rather than take the game by the scruff of the neck (although had they, and the game opened up, we'd have scored more). Disappointingly we didn't, and I'm a little gutted we didn't take all three points.
Even with Lennon, double-marked, we still pushed forward and other than a looping Heskey header there was nothing from the home side that troubled us. Dunne also doing a superb job of keeping Defoe on the quiet side. Credit to Villa and their defending, even if their fans are probably despondent that they could not muster up more in the way of offensive opportunities. Freidel was also superb for them. One or two of their fans, pre-match, were dismissive of our chances, suggesting we come unstuck against 'touch opponents'. I guess we'll let them know when we come face to face with the next one.
Villa 170. Spurs 394. Completed passes. Says about us much as any stat.
Obviously, Harry has to work out why it didn't go according to plan in the first half. We lacked composure with passing and appeared off-key. Whatever he said at half-time worked, but credit doubly to the players for reacting to it the right way and performing the way they did in the second 45. Concentration, bite and intent all back in abundance. And this is the little clue to my Monday morning jig. Our reaction was one that showed we look far more prepared for the long haul than Villa. Early days. Once we start games in the same fashion as we started the second half at Villa Park, we'll have grown big enough balls to really believe the next level has been reached. The next level is the one where we take all three points in games of similar ilk.
So, for now, my boxer shorts will remain on.
Onwards and upwards.
Reader Comments (32)
Still too early - we haven't played Citeh and Everton yet. Despite the Scousers' awful form and Citeh's drawing skills, they are still only a few points behind us and could easily overtake us with just a bad weekend or two; Pool, lest we forget, have plenty of players yet to come back from injury. Villa's defense should also save them plenty of points this season, though I doubt they'll get any higher than 6th. We also have an incredibly difficult run-in. And Let's not forget how badly outplayed we were by Sunderland at the Lane, it's not just the big 3 giving us trouble. We weren't so dominant at Pompey and West Ham either, but I hope we've rediscovered our form and keep playing like we did second-half Villa Park.
If we're still in the top 4 and playing well by the time we go to Anfield, and we strengthen in January, then we can start talking. Right now the only focus should be on winning the next game.
It's so 'unSpurs' to be thinking of a top four finish with any realism. But you're bang on Spooks.....it's kinda different this year.
And weren't the scum and scallies shite yesterday......
We need to beat Everton and City. Do that and I'll run down Tottenham High road with you.
No holding hands.
Said it before and I'll say it again: We need another DM in the Jan window and we'll be set. We are stronger than Villa. It's Manchester City I'm concerned about. Those boys WILL wake up and no doubt will sign more players. I dont think anyone is stupid enough to write off Liverpool just yet.
14 games in. I'm holding out game 20 before I start dancing.
Morning all.
We were fantastic in that second half, should have won it. As confident as we are (I am) about competing for 4th if we dropped points against Everton/Wolves/City then we'll be out of the top four. It's still that close. Have a (good) nagging feeling that we'll still be planted in the same position by the time 2010 rolls in.
God have mercy on us all had we actually beaten them. Agree that we should be quietly 'shouting' about our chances. People (other fans/the media) seem to get the whole 'breaking into the top 4' discussion all muddled up with being good enough to beat the likes of Chelsea/Utd. Nailed on Spooky, its not about winning the title, at least not at the moment. We are nowhere near that particular target (its not even a target). What people seem to be doing is ignoring that Liverpool and Arsenal are also nowhere near challenging for 1st spot. Which means they are closer to us than they are to Chelsea or Utd.
At least we're not dissappointing along the way, flowing football, open and attacking play and goals to boot.
However, there is a danger that we are turning into a team that resembles our nearest neighbours. At times our flowing football will mean that the reuls like the stoke game will happen ever now and then.
Still if by emulating their form (but with better defensive back up, dare I suggest having seen our 3rd and 4th choice in action performin admirably) we do somehow scrape into the top 4, then I can see a mass exodus of naked delerium in May flooding out of Bill Nic way.
It would be a 'sea of cocks' to behold, the likes of which was last seen in this country when the Ark Royal came back to Pompey.
let me know in advance when we are doing the naked man march because if have to swim over the canal and that might take me a while
That being said , we should have won the game and niko was impressive , hope we can find a way to fit him and Luka in the starting line ip
Spooky is drinking rum for breakfast.
GOD BLESS THE ARABIAN SPURS SEASON TICKET THAT IS SHOWTIMEARABIA, AND THEIR 380 (THE LOT) LIVE GAMES!
* We don't play Arsenal, Chelsea or United until APRIL
* Modric is to come back
* We have the psychological filip of being 3rd all week before the tricky away day at Everton.
Some of us were saying in the summer that LIVERPOOL were playing beyond themeselves in the 08/09 season - and having failed at full throttle to stop United, wouldn't be able to get it together this year.
No dodgy lasagnas please.
All that the last result confirms is that the race is on and are keeeping well on the shoulder of the pace setters. Should he marathon result with a Bronze medal in 3rd or a slap on the back (4th) then I'll be absolutely delighted. One or two injuries could still seriously dent our chances, so there's nothing to shout about just yet except for the fact that it understandably feels good to be a Spurs fan.
We are keeping well on the shoulder of teh pace setter.
Should the marathon result in a Bronze medal for us.
Mondays. Aaaaargh.
We need two more players in Jan. Dare I say a new striker. Let Pav go and then bring in a young hungry lad as a long term replacement for Keane.
Moses is my suggestion for a cheeky bid.
Posh in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Should be a goalfest for Bentley and Pav.
'No more nosebleeds'
Very clever.
Gotta give it to the lads, went 1-0 down and had the nerve to come back and hammer Villa in the second half, we are getting coached right for the first time in years and that is evident by all, lets hope Jordan does not answer the Scotland call and we keep our boys.
BTW, not on thread, but trying to get this in the public domain, as I discovered it and was amazed that the media seemed to have missed an opportunity to slam FIFA for telling porky pies to justify their decision making! And this despite everything over the last , oh I dunno, five years at tleast since it's been available.
Spooks, if you want this somewhere different use admin powers, but spread the word to all footie fans, it's time for video and tech to play a role in the game, other than to simply show up poor decisions:
http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk/files/FifaOpenLetter.pdf
Same starting eleven against Everton and we'll batter 'em. Good to see Redknapp has the balls to drop Keane and JJ. Sends a positive message to the players that are currently replacing them; that they deserve to be there on merit as opposed to reputation. Hopefully get a positive reaction from our erstwhile vice-captains to boot.
Modric is facing a battle to get back into the team which is a fantastic situation to be in although shifting Krank into the middle could well be the missing link to glory.
A left footed player being the 'missing link' to the team's potential, who would have thought it, eh? It's not like we've ever really had an issue with the left side of central mid or left half in recent seasons..............
What are you talking about? Both Modric and Kranjcar are right footed, which is why they cut in. Like how Messi is left footed and plays on the right or Young is right footed and plays on the left.
Well he seems comfortbale out there on hte left, but don't take my word for it, he's ambi-something or other, just ask the man himself:
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/behind-the-scenes/Left-is-just-right-for.3717574.jp
sorry to change the subject but why does pav want to go to Roma, they are as chalk full of strikers as we are
Because he's burnt his bridges by running off to the Russian press every 5 minutes, and apart from going back there with his tail between his legs, Roma are the only other side interested.
I know they're both better on the left side than the right, I'm just saying they aren't left footed.
Coming off one of the greatest wins in Premier League history, then performing the way we did in the first half is what truly baffles me. Confidence is the culprit here and the only way we will build on that is to continue winning, putting in resilient comeback performances (resulting in belief) and posting clean sheets.
COYS!!!
Need to nail the mancs to the wall tonight. I want another semi-final. Greedy? Yes and I don't care.
"... but the vastly over-rated Arsenal ... ? They won't admit it, but we're catching up."
2005/06 - Spurs finish 2 points behind
2006/07 - Spurs finish 8 points behind
2007/08 - Spurs finish 37 points behind
2008/09 - Spurs finish 21 points behind
Shitting our pants mate. Let us know when you get back with in single digits at the end of the season. LMAO.
Sky Sports 4 zzzzzzzz
Of course you do. You spend all your time here telling us you don't. Keep up the good work. And keep on believing mate.
Oh deary me. Posting stats now. He's got the big guns out.
Of course I do what Grim down your Mum's Hole? You ain't even making sense.
And yep, Jep, Stats. Facts. Instead of mindless blather about "Big 4" this that and the other. No wonder you're struggling with it.
Enjoy the 2nd half lads! LMAO