Back in time for the cup final...
Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 9:26PM Good Christmas? I had a fairly wonderful Xmas Eve and day, spent with close family, drinking twenty three year old Guatemalan rum and eating plenty. Boxing Day was altogether a rather less pleasant experience. Was meant to be a day spent again with relatives (turkey and mash) after a brief drink or two in the local pub. If it wasn't bad enough that the pub in question was West Ham (Buckhurst Hill), we managed to consume a ridiculous amount of triples, quadruples and shots rendering some of us devoid of the ability to either talk or walk. All this in the space of three hours. There was no dinner (over-cooked and the host almost sliced his finger off when attempting to carve it). Plenty of arguing (the sober ones did not take well to our state and late arrival back) and I apparently spent the next two and half hours hugging the toilet and shivering. I had turned a horrid shade of green. What a light weight. I don't remember much else and what I do (in the form of flashbacks) would be preferable to have remained forgotten. Oh the joys of the festivities. It's all in the name of baby Jesus.
I've seen nothing of the Fulham v Spurs game so read this if you want a quick summary. Family members and friends have told me it was a fair result in the end with Gomes making some pretty ace saves. Great goal for us disallowed thanks to some shabby decision making from the ref. We looked more up for it after JD and Modric came on. And thanks to the organisation of Fulham we spent the early parts of the game hoofing it. Happy with a point then. 3rd clean sheet on the trot. Hopefully tomorrow things will be a little more tidy offensively. Clinical and ruthlessness is the key because I couldn't possibly stomach a Wolves/Stoke type of game/performance.
It's not been a bad half season has it? In fact, it's been pretty good, lots to improve on with steps forward rather than falls backwards. Hopefully we'll remain on track after tomorrow. We do love playing the Hammers. I'm completely out of sorts with the latest news, ITK info and selection teasers - but glad to see Dawson and Bassong continuing their partnership and Gomes with the much deserved plaudits for his keeping. Would like to see Moddle play a bigger part tomorrow also. Might be the right type of game for him, space wise. We'll see.
If there are any major talking points, let me know. Think of this as a self-service blog. You write the content. I'll play catch-up from Tuesday.
Reader Comments (23)
Twas a fantastic goal, but i fairness i think a draw was a fair result. Was a bit disappointed Harry subbed Niko for Luka, genuinely think they can play together and theyr our best midfielders! glad you had a good christmas im half pissed typin this! God i hope i dont text the ex!!!
Nice one spooks. Feel better, son. Yeah it was a fair result and though it could have gone either way it was a deserved point against a solid opponent.
I do agree with AANP that Keane did little to silence his critics. I'm not a hater, I actually would like to see him do well but he just doesn't create any meaningful opportunities when he's in. I also agree with Ger that it would have been nice to see Nico and the Modfather together.
Palacios still lumbering away, poor lost soul ...
Keane has lost heart. He was at his level, left for pastures new, and has come back damaged.
Sounds like alcohol poisoning. Spooky not Keane.
I think Keane lost one thing we all miss - Berbatov!
Look at the state of Berbatov. He's half the player he was. Sometimes its best to accept the level you're at is the one for you.
No, really think Berba's world class, I know at united he's not the star he was with us but hes still chipping in with assists as well as goals. tho i think your right, for us he was more but i think thats because he needs to be the star. The yanited fans will never appreciate him like we did.
He lacks that extra bit of swagger he had for us. Every thing he does is bland. Fair enough he chips in but he is not exactly glitter for United.
Thats the point tho! hes just another player at yanited! Hes not the star anymore! Wonder if he ever regrets the move?! Or is that wishful thinking?
Ah feck the ex is on her way over!!! drink and mobile phones are a dangerous mix!! Merry Christmas guys, you too spooky i enjoy reading your blog!!!! Really hope Harry plays
luka and Niko together! COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Berbatov looks sucky at MANURE, just like Keane the 'infidel' is now with us. I would plead with Harry to play Pav where possible rather than Keane, who can now go play for his whatever boyhood idols in Ireland, maybe some Dublin Rovers?
This website is becoming disturbingly wayward in terms of contributors - like, I'm seeing 11 comments, and thinking... ok, just going to be a whole load of people slagging off this article, being as it is unrelated to anything.
Then I read the comments and its all... Ah, Spooky, come to Candy Mountain, Spooky, its a magical adventure... Ahhh Spoooookyyyyy...
Very strange. Stick to the topic, dammit - aint like nothings going on, or its some piss-poor excuse for suicide "international break" or summit - (memories... we, the great QATAR SPURS went to the England v Brazil game - and yes, the best part of it was the light show before the match)
Alrite, this comment is getting a touch of the Spooks itself - Buckhurst Hill? Ah me poor departed Nan, lived her life in South Woodford and we lost her on her 88th, last January. Any mention of the London/Essex border brings a tear to the eye.
It's better to be a nobody in a team that wins the League than to be a star in a team that wins the League Cup. But once we get the new stadium, and are regulars in the Champions League, as I'm sure we will be, SPURS will be the place to be!
I was too critical before, sorry - didn't read the whole article or een all the comments. It's Christmas and I've Heinekein concentration levels.
Until Suralex gives Berba a regular start he's not going to get the best out of him. I think he's one of the best strikers we've ever had and I was sorry to lose him, but his impersonation of a spoilt five year old meant he had to go.
Keane seems to have lost belief in himself but as Ger said he misses Bebatov
Keane's missing Modric too. Last season he wasn't at his best either, but at least he was linking up well with the midfield and Modric improved greatly. But Keane was playing too deep considering he's supposed to be a poacher, which has still been the case this season. The sulky Bulgarian is a huge loss in general - I reckon Defoe would be scoring even more now if he had Berba next to him, I can't remember him linking up with any of our other strikers except for a few times though Crouch has done well to make space for him.
I don't think it's a case of 'heart' for Keane, though he may have lost some motivation with Ireland out of the WC now. I remember watching some of his games at Pool and he was working his ass off (well, running around like a headless chicken - but hey, they were still at the top when he left), but so nervous he kept hesitating in shooting positions, taking extra touches, scuffing his shots etc. He's an instinctive goalscorer, and as soon as he starts doubting himself he's f*cked. (Just look at Gerrard, with his confidence gone this season he's turned from world-class to something worse than Lucas.) And I don't think the stick Keane gets at the Lane is making him any less nervous, which I guess is why Harry told us to lay off him, so I'd advocate sending him out on loan at some midtable club to recover his confidence. Or somewhere like Wolves, their fans love him.
I hope we thrash the Spam and they get relegated on goal difference :) But I think it'll be a tough game, they'll be up for this one and if our crowd is as moany as it was at the Wolves game (which it could well be if they score an early goal), things could turn ugly.
The sulky one will never come back , and lots of fans don't want him back ... i would forgive him instantly. He's just one of those players with an amazing skill and well his euh let's call it under par workrate is just something you accept.
Keane was bad , Jenas did not warrant my incessant defending of him and luka/niko need to be paired up. Fulham was pretty strong , smaller budget but well managed club so it seems.
Last West Ham win at the lane was 1999.
Lets hope they don't break their record today.
Must admit, not feeling all that confident today and reckon it could be a tough game.
People say the top 4 is up for grabs this year, but the truth is, you can say the same about winning the league.
The Sky 4 have all dropped a level which should give us Villa and City a chance.
Trouble is, no-one seems able to take it and you can bet one of the Sky 4 will get their act together shortly.
If Harry makes a couple of decent buys next month and the players start believing, this could be our best season for years.
Ron Zacapa rum by any chance?
Fair result at Fulham, was there, we scored, advantage should of been played. Gomes made some fine saves, he is a real point earner for us. Again onto Keane...must admit I am a Keane fan...however..something is missing..perhaps the Liverpool trip, perhaps the loss of Berba...perhaps both. Life moves on so maybe we should thank Keane for helping us after the 2 from 8 debacle and move on...ie. let him go and rely on Crouch/Defoe and one other. Would like to see Kranc/Modders play together in the middle. HAve to end with a very well done to Bassong and Dawson...they are becoming what we need. Spooky...hope the aching head has gone now!!!
ooh, i love me some zacapa!
almost as much as I love seeing modders back in the fold!!!!!
Jesus the incredible hudd played fantastic, best I have ever seen him play. Yes we should have scored more, as that west ham team were poor, I have rarely been so relaxed as a spurs fan. Great to see modric back, although I don't think he will ever be on the same field as niko with hudd playing so well. Dawson great as always, nice to see ledley back but I honestly thought bassong has not put a foot wrong so should not have been dropped.
Lennon.........as always.
Chaps, these are great times, we have 18 games to go lets not start Shitting ourselves........keep it going. I'm feeling very emotional, I love you spurs!
Jesus the incredible hudd played fantastic, best I have ever seen him play. Yes we should have scored more, as that west ham team were poor, I have rarely been so relaxed as a spurs fan. Great to see modric back, although I don't think he will ever be on the same field as niko with hudd playing so well. Dawson great as always, nice to see ledley back but I honestly thought bassong has not put a foot wrong so should not have been dropped.
Lennon.........as always.
Chaps, these are great times, we have 18 games to go lets not start Shitting ourselves........keep it going. I'm feeling very emotional, I love you spurs!
I dont share everyone's love-in with Tom Hudd. He's OK, but not great. Considering the weakness of the oposition and the fact that Palacios swept everything up he had license to get forward but missed chances when he had them - hitting the post wasnt unlucky, it was another poor attempt. Krancjar looked more dangerous when he came on and is an all-round better player. Hud is too slow to cut it gainst the better teams. Sorry, but its true.