Wembley to Shanghai to Hong Kong
Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 5:18PM 5th game in 10 days, this pre-season lark leaves me miffed. Money-spinning aside, hopefully its served its purpose with improving the fitness levels of the players and building team morale, not so much with results but just having all the lads together. Tactics and training field is where it matters at this stage in preparation for when it all kicks off at home to Liverpool. Playing make-shift teams will never give us an indication of much. I’m actually pleased. More than pleased. Two defeats = no over the top over-hyping from fans and no indulgent self-confidence based on thumping wins over sides who are behind us in pre-season fitness (yes, I'm talking about that game against Roma). It’s all been very low key IMO, with the draw against the Barca kids, the Celtic defeat and now this. Absolutely perfect for us.
I didn’t see the game against South China, and from the sounds of it, didn’t miss too much. Little summary of the 90 minutes from Glory Glory’s ‘Enter the Pitbull’. Hope you don’t mind the copy and paste job, guv:
I was there.
No excuses, Hong Kong football is about League Two standard at best so we should have caned them. Lest we forget, last time we played a HK league side it ended up 7-2. As I said, do not confuse Hong Kong football with the China League, which is of a higher standard.
Main problem was twitchy started with a very underpowered side. He obviously thought the youths were technically good enough to perform but South China had a lot of big expat players from South America, meaning they were outmuscled often.
Of the youths, Obika was poor, Rose was not as impressive as his reputation suggested he would be. Bostock was full of tricks but seemed a bit tentative in terms of progressing the play.
The senior players looked disinterested when they came on but I suppose some of them never even expected to feature at all.
With a 30k crowd this was a good chance to build some goodwill but Tottenham didn't play well, hot conditions or not. Poor decision for their second goal but they were already leading at that point and we only have ourselves to blame for not really giving two shits.
Additional:
Rose appeared on the wing for a period in the second half and I was astonished by his relative lack of pace (having been hyped as a pacy type). This was certainly even more apparent when Lennon came onto the pitch. I'm sure regular watchers of the reserves will tell me if this is the exception rather than the norm. Maybe he just wilted in the heat.
We were very poor. JJ was awful and O'Hara had an off day. Livermore at centre-back is not really something I'd like to see again, he looked pretty clumsy. They played just the one up top and even that seemed to bamboozle us.
Naughton was anonymous, Hutton was one of the few who looked like he fancied it, getting stuck into some challenges. Pav had a few long shots which went on target but just stood around mainly. Keane came on and pointed and shouted a lot.
Click here for the hightlights.
UPDATE: Also, according to people out there that followed Spurs, Harry allegedly mentioned that dos Santos has no future at Spurs. ITK from the horses mouth via a Tottenham rep.
The lad always seems to show up late for training and has quite the attitude problem. We'll see how this one pans out, but doesn't look promising.
Reader Comments (45)
I just saw this highlights only clip and we seemed to have most of the chances.....
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3100203/
I would of course add to that no need to panic. It wasn't a great performance but the team was tired and there's no doubt the games against West Ham and Hull were more important. Still disappointing for the various Asian supporters clubs who flew in specifically for this game though.
- ETP
top 4 my arse :)
you spuds will struggle to stay up if you can beat these sort of teams
LOL at the gooner. Yes, because beating teams 5-0 REALLY REALLY does say much more about how well we are going to do.
Jog on pikey.
EPL - re: dos Santos. Was going to post separately about this. How public did Harry make this statement then?
spurs are a joke and will struggle to make the uefa cup with man city now an actual threat as well as villa and Everton .
can't believe you didn't sign arshavin when you had the chance Lol
Love how gooners are now soooo concerned about us they 'banter' on blogs. Finishing 4th spot, I guess, brings you closer to us than to Utd at the top.
well just watched arsenal destroy a team that is far better than the team which won the Wembley cup
so i thought id come and spread the happiness and sunshine to the bitter and dark side of north london :)
Arsenal wont win shit again this season. Your fans are happy at getting fourth but what the Fuck do you win coming there apart from keeping the shareholders happy. Jog on you nomad!!
Gloating on a Spurs blog by a gooner. That's just fucking hilarious that is.
Destroyed Rangers. LOLZ.
Destroyed Rangers? Jesus Christ, you fucking twat.
Goonerguy , I recon u won't take more than one point from Spurs next season.
we did destroy rangers, played them off the park
Rangers.
Was at the game as well, it was a really poor performance by a make-shift Spurs side. It is humiliating to have lost to a team in such poor league. If we play like this again during this season, we will be looking for a relegation battle again for sure!!!!
LOOK AT THESE SPUD FOOLS ,THRASED BY SOME MICKEY-MINI TEAM IN CHINA AND STILL NO ANGER OR DISCOMFORT,ON OTHER HAND THE ONLY TRUE GRAND LONDON CLUB ARSENAL DESTROYED A CHAMPION TEAM LIKE RANGERS (FAR BETTER THAN CELTIC AT MOMENT) WITHOUT USING FULL FORCE AND STILL WE ARE NOT HAPPY AND WANT IMPROVEMENT JUST SHOWS THE HUGE DIFFERENCE IN AMBITIONS ,CLASS GAP BETWEEN THE MIGHTY ARSENAL AND TOOTYNHAM FLOPSPUDS AND NOW WE HAVE ALSO GOT THE BEST ENGLISH TALENT FOR DECADES IN FORM OF WILSHERE ,ITS A GREAT SHAME SOME OF YOU WERE BORN TO SUPPORT SPURS, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10 year olds with Internet connections. Sigh.
So Arsenal fans are now bothered with us? How times are changing.
You're an Aussie supporting Arsenal.
Lol.
jim what you meant by that
If we play like this again during this season, we will be looking for a relegation battle again for sure!!!!
Short memory, m8. We beat two EPL sides earlier in the week. You can't jump to conclusions after one-off training game in preseason. Three games in five days in alien conditions. Trust me, we'll be OK.
There are millions of arsenal fans all over the world ,in india two clubs namely manu first and then arsenal are most supported and you guys in london(spuds) will call us plastic fans but to break your delusion , we arsenal fans contribute to our club by buying the arsenal merchandise (official one) and watching matches late night or even early mornings ( champions league games) in home or club cafe-house often skipping school and offices and i am not talking bul#s##t here i really mean my every single words.ITS THE TRUTH AND WHATEVER YOU GUY SAY WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING,SPURS FOREVER IN ARSENALS SHADOW( as you guy say true fans are those who go to watch matches in stadium i am even planning a trip to london this december).
INDIA LOVES ARSENAL , you can have your arse shaving then... who needs your f*****g propaganda?
Aussiegooner
The caps lock is next to the [A] key, looks like you missed it. Arsenal are looking very fresh this preseason, but beating rangers in a friendly wont win you the oremier league. There is nothing wrong with a bt of banter, but please, come up with something that holds a little substance, rather than the same ol SPURSUXOK response. be inventive, and clever, in fact whats more you could respect that spurs showed more bite and verve against the top four, which aye, include arsenal, last year than ever before in the premiership, and we have built upon that side. We have had a couple of rough results preseason, but as we have learned, it means all of very little. I look forward to a healthy rivalry this season between ourselves and yourselves, and confidence aside, we could well finish above you this season, we probably wont, but we could.
Honour in victory, gracious in defeat. My feelings are that the largest gap between the big four and the chasing pack, is the humility showcased by the followers. For a team who should be focusing on those above them, rather than feeling proud of a fourth spot finish, you talk alot of trash, and jibe. I bring your attention to the past 10 years, if you follow the arsenal position and trophy trend, the future is not as bright as the past.
Pokey,
Opinion Reeling
Well, with all hatred aside ,i have to agree with INDIA LOVES ARSESCUMS ,i went to india couple years back and yes there were too many people with arsenal shirts of various ages on streets and epl was on tv everywhere ,we really underestimate global reach of premiere league.
MR.POKEY JUST SHUT UP! AS UR COMMENTS R CHILDISH AND WORTHLESS BECAUSE YOU SAY WE R TAKING PRIDE IN COMING JUST FOURH NO WAY! IF THAT WAS A CASE THE SEASON GONE WOULDN'T BEEN CALLED AS WORST SEASON AT ARSENAL FOR A LONG TIME AND LAST YEAR WENGER WAS AT THE MOST PRESSURE BY FANS EVER BUT UNLIKE U WE STILL TRUST HIM WHAT U GUYS DO THROW A DECENT MANAGER LIKE JOL OUT WHO GAVE UR CLUB BEST SEASONS IN A LONG LONG TIME AND FINALLY DONT EVEN TALK ABOUT PROSPECTS OF BRIGHT FUTURE OR PAST I BET YOUR DAD WAS ALSO NOT BORN WHEN U LAST WON THE LEAGUE AND PRESENT U JUST NEED TO LOOK A LEAGUE TABLE PHOTO OF RECENT SEASONS I AM SURE U WILL B ASHAMED OF YOUR COMMENTS.
Ben
No doubt about that. What I disagree with is that Spurs are forever in Ar5ena1 shadow.
If you read Kolo Ture interview he says gooners have no leadership no more. Yes, they have some talented kids and fancy players but we are catching up.
Like i said before every one hates the spuds :D
COYI...
Ars5nal fans, you didn't play Barnet off the park did you?????
Attention bellends I mean Gooners,You should just concern yourselves with making those £20million payments every year yes every year read the small print [it says £20million per year for a tacky plastic atmosphereless ground] pay up you spivs and when youy dont get 4th spot the bankruptcy court is waiting.In the meantime continue to delude yourselves that playing at home to big teams like a scottish outfit and an old spanish team makes you a somebody but always remember 5 - 1 and 4-4 these are recent events you bellends
"Tottenham side made up largely of young and fringe players"
There's some clues in that one. Let's see if they can work it out.
Also, how are you gooners finding this article in the first place? Don't tell me you're fishing for anything posted about a Spurs defeat to come and gloat in it? First the Hammers, now the scummers. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
Tossers! All you gooners are tossers. Chuffed coz we lost .. but then what do you expect when we fielded the 'kids' [as you call it].
It doesnt matter ... they are pre-season friendlies. Get it .. FRIENDLIES. They are used to try things out and get playing time. Thats all.
The crunch is when it comes to the league. Watch us skank you Ar5ena1 "we're happy with 4th" scum this season. Then you can start mouthing off and crying!
hahahahahahaha
Guys, guys, come on now. Unlikely they are gooners. So bitter, probably West Ham fans pretending to be gooners.
Gloating about friendlies? Clearly desperate times for those klaarts down the road. Must be bricking it what with Man City, Villa and Everton catching up fast. Still, they could always sell Fabregas to City next season to make up for the loss of all that CL money.
Might put a bet on Viera captaining L'Arse to lose the Europa Cup final 2010/11 with Pires being sent off for simulation.
No more poopy and potty based news then?
Please list the blogs and message boards you frequent so we can get an insight into what passes as acceptable Spurs commentary. Thanks.
He's probably an admin from KUMB.
Who cares.
Frazzle is a Spurs fan. I think Spooky took a shit in his cornflakes.
An Australian that supports Arsenal is like a DD Bra that supports a anorexic model - just doesnt fit.
Im embarrased to be an Aussie right now....
Here in Vancouver we have a great mix of Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans and of course Canadians. Most of us play a lot of Rugvy but support football teams from Britain. Strange thing is no-one seems to identify with Arsenal. Its always West Ham, Chelsea ,Spurs and Crystal Palace from London. Plus Rangers and a few Celtic. The whole Arsenal set up seems alien to us despite,the good football they play Wierd isn't it There must be a reason. Any answers?
I was in the game too. It was quite a disappointing performance overall. But given that it was the 4th game in 7 days, that it was really really hot and humid and the air being very polluted, I sort of understood.
I'll record what I noted of the players from yesterday:
Rose: did quite well as a make shift left back, got pace but waned as the game progressed.
Chimbonda: did quite well, positioning and pace were good
Livermore: shouldn't be in the centreback position anymore
Obika: anonymous, a bit disapointed given the good reports before
Pav: one of the few players who showed an eagerness to win, had quite a few good shots on goal but the opposition goalkeeper was impressive yesterday
Naughton: did quite well, but again waned quite quickly as the game progressed
Bostock: not a left winger, quite dispointed by him overall, no pace, poor trickery, only one good shot of note
Hutton: only played the first half, one of the best players on the field, hope we do not sell him
Modric: only came on for the last 10 minutes, we definitely missed his presence and creativity, a super important player for us
Keane: came on in the second half, did reasonably well in midfield and showed enthusiasm
Any answers? - To PerthGlory - simple. Arsenal (the club and the supports) are a bunch of c*nts, Australians dont like to be called c*nts, simple as.
Now now aussieyid, no need to call peeps by that name! just goes to show how the spuds get a name for themselfs with there arrogant and abusive replys.
Harry, there is no 'I' in team, but there is certainly a 'u' in C*nt mate