Spurs v City: 3-5-2 will do
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 3:16PM If we don't let any in, then its record-breaking time down at the Lane. Nine conceded all season long. It's a far cry from the never-ending goal glut at both ends, during the course of last season. Now if only Harry could fine-tune the offensive line and overcome our reluctance to score a second goal and add more on top, then we could have a tasty home record next season that will help in abundance with a sustained push for the giddy heights of 5thish.
Lennon is out. BAE fit to play. King, detoxed and seeking redemption. City do not have Robinho available (which is a shame, because he's dire away from home). Win might see us take 7th (depending on what Fulham do, and some people would actually prefer to see Fulham beat Newcastle). Who cares as long as we see out the season (at home) with a lovely three points, a clean sheet and two or three in the onion bag.
Not since 2003 have we tasted defeat against City (Prem wise) at WHL. Might well be a Cup-tie type of game, as a loss for Hughes side would mean 7th spot is an impossibility going into the final game of the season. Probably render our chances as null and void too if we end up with zero.
Harry, bless him, has dropped another Two Points© mention into his pre-match interview. If we managed to steal 7th, expect a Redknapp special DVD release with a holographic cover, move it ever so slightly and you can see him go from serious face to joyful twitch.
Back on the European question (do we want it or not?) I guess the argument is around whether it interferes with league form when involved in Europe. And also, whether you value silverware and history books more so than a 4th spot and involvement in the Champions League. Basically, no Europa League means - in theory - we can go full pelt for 5th spot or higher. It's theoretical. And in reality, would you not want Spurs involved in all competitions possible? If we qualify, we should be aiming to win it. By the way, I'm just throwing out all these opinions for the sake of discussion - as personally, I'm still undecided. I don't think you can prove statistically that being in the UEFA Cup (or any version of it) impacts league form negatively. Unless you have a manager who prefers not to play his best players in the league and saves them for Europe.
Back to the game, will be interesting to see how the midfield lines up once more without Wilson. Does Hudd get another game to prove his worth? He might be more comfortable at home in a game where football is likely to be played (and allowed to flow). Chances our Harry will once more field a 3-5-2 formation - which might be more than enough for a home game - with Hutton and Bale allowed to run havoc on the wings (we need something from either side, with Aaron out).
I say run havoc, because it would be nice to see a system that places a hefty amount of emphasis on these two positions work and work well. Gareth had a decent game at Goodison. Would be grand, just grand, if that jinx was ended tomorrow.
Zokora is also fit and available which might answer the Hudd question. A Jenas - Zoko - Moddle threesome would be plenty frolicsome and would allow for energy, tenacity and spark.
I hope one out of three is enough.
Going backwards for a moment, don't expect the Charlie - Woody - Ollie Reed combo to change and looking towards the frontline, I'd like to see Defoe and Pav up front. Keane on the bench. But expect (much like last week) to see Robbie start.
A couple of kids on the bench would be a nice end of season preview for next year. Rose, Bostock maybe even Townsend. Any one of many would be cool. Just nice to have a wildcard on the bench.
As for Chimbonda and Bentley. One we've hardly seen the other we might never see.
Let's not forget Ledley King. Let’s just forget the week he's had.
Enjoy the day out people.
2-0 Spurs.
Reader Comments (25)
3-5-2 but with Bentley in place of Hudd and Pav + Defoe up front.
Bentley boy has a lot to prove and in front of his old manager might just deliver.
2-0 COYS
well done, u can read a newspaper and print their stories in your own words yer.
Lol. Anybody would think the 'newspapers' own events and people they report on.
sdf = daily mail journalist
We'll win this one. Think it will be an open game but can see us creating and scoring but hate to say this but can see City nicking a goal. Just think it's got that end to end feeling about it.
For the record, I don't read newspapers. Unless that miserable git Matthew Norman rants about something that needs debunking.
Whoop.
No one reads newspapers. We just look at the pictures.
YES to Europe.
Any truth in the rumour that Bently ain't getting game time as that'll incur another payment to Blackburn? Personally, I think he's just not getting games 'cause he's been a bit shit, to put it bluntly.
At least we can always remember him for that goal....
I agree with that line up. I had said previously (elsewhere) that ideally in the middle would be Palacios, Hudd and Modric but due to Wilson's tragic loss, JJ may be the man to see out the season. Like I say, the formation works well for me as we don't have Lennon available and the line up with Modric so central, negates the need for Keane....whoopee!
Screw Europe, as that elaborate sideshow looked down upon by everyone, called the Europa League is certainly a distraction it would seem. Personally I'd love to see the kids getting games in europe and Carling Cup, but we all know that it wouldn't work out that way. A big push for the top of the table needs implementing this season, and how far we fall off that will be interesting to see. I think we're good enough for 5th, but depending on the vile professor spending money at the emptycrates, I can see them being a little bit suspect, and ready for usurping. Let's hope 'Appy 'Arry can get us moving forward in the same vein as he has been doing, and we shall be up there fighting for 5th.
Another reason to hate agents>>>>
http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/05/15/PremSerie-A-Sabatino-on-Modric/gnid-53081/
The bloke isn't even Modric's agent or an agent attached to Inter, he's described as a FIFA agent (What the f*ck is one of those?) Why is it whenever a player does well for Spurs the press all take great delight in touting them to every club under the sun??
I hope it's not another long summer worrying about us losing our best players!! Fucking agents!!
HHH - Shooting a ball into a skip doesn't count.
Doesn't anyone else see that JJ & Wilson are the best CM partnership we've had since Carrick left?? Wilson's grit, steel and steady play in the middle lets JJ get on with getting involved in our attacking moves. I for one would like to see them given a chance to build on their partnership. Our other CM's would ruin the dynacism that give wilson & jj so much hold on opposition midfields.
In reality, Zokora isn't a footballer, lots of effort but no product. Hudd for being a GREAT footballer is still a lazy bastard who relies too much on his passing to get him through games then disappears when things aren't going our way (Everton 2nd half he vanished, i actually thought he'd been subbed) and JOH is too young an inexperienced to run in a midfield battle the same way that JJ & Wilson do.
In short HOW people still slate JJ is beyond me, if anything he suffers from trying to do too much to help his teammates or compensate for one of their weaknesses.
"That Goal" will never be forgotten, nor his trademark "Starjumps", but sadly for little else. Well, maybe his Dapper Dan hairstyle and homo-erotic shirtless cameo with Jenas post "That Goal" interview. Jesus, he really hasn't achieved a great deal with us if you add in his Carling Cup Final penalty miss.
Depressing isn't it?
Jenas also does a mean sideways pass! He also does a great little manoevre (spelling) whereby he spins around with the ball, loses it, and apathetically waves his arms in the air, whilst Wilson puts in a tackle to try to win back the ball. A case in point being the Everton game, where Wilson had to pick up a yellow because of Jenas' incompetence. Jenas is a good footballer, but sticking with him isn't gonna bring us forwards, more a case of sideways, er, much like his passing. I'm not a Jenas fan, not by any stretch of the imagination. The boy has ability, but seldom shows it.
get into europe first !
consider who plays later
Spooky, quaint write up. Sums up my feelings. Harry is half experiment, half hopeful. I'm glad we have something to play for even if its out of our hands.
WEEJP
Wilson DIDN'T play in the everton game!
Jamiespurs
.....oops!
meant the West Brom game, roughly about the 65th minute.
I mentioned it at the time, post 85 on HH
http://www.oleole.com/blogs/harryhotspur/posts/team-for-today
Apologies.
'In short HOW people still slate JJ is beyond me, if anything he suffers from trying to do too much to help his team mates or compensate for one of their weaknesses.'
Are you up to no good Jamiespurs, partaking in a little Devil's advocate?
HOW people still rate JJ is beyond me. Like weejp says, a good player, but we're going nowhere with him in the midfield.
As for the Europa thing, I'll be more than happy to give it a miss next season. If we can't break into the top four next season without the distraction of midweek games, I don't think we ever will.
'In short HOW people still slate JJ is beyond me, if anything he suffers from trying to do too much to help his team mates or compensate for one of their weaknesses.'
I don't understand. Take a look at our midfield. Wilson adds steel, Lennon contributes blistering pace, Modric provides trickery and tenacity. Where are the weaknesses? Replace JJ with someone who can compliment these players by being able to pass or tackle or motor from box to box and we have ourselves one hell of a team.
Anyway, slagging JJ is sooooooooo 2008. Simply accept the fact that he's he's a wafty, powderpuff, nothingy player and move onto who the hep cats are calling "The New Rasiak": Pavlyuchenko. No pace, can't control a bouncing ball and possesses finishing that is at best erratic. Stroppy git too judging by today's flounce down the tunnel. At least Darren Bent scores lots of goals.
I am the one of the first who strongly voice out that Pavy will be a good signing for us. RIght now, I still have faith in him but then if a good price comes along for him, sell him by all means. That goes out to JJ and Bentley and Bent.
I think Keane, Defoe, Obika and maybe one more out and out striker will do it for the strike force.