Hammer time for Spurs
Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 12:56AM Looking forward to this. I like Zola, I like him a lot. Wouldn't rub his back in a hot tub with a James Morrison cd playing and scented candles burning, but I do hope he succeeds as a manager. Although there's a good chance he might be a future Chelsea boss, so I guess I should change my tact and just say I hope he has success anywhere other than with them lot. Ironically never thought he had the look of a manager when he started out and it may well be Steve Clarke who has aided him (and West Ham) but regardless, good bloke, the honest kind and obviously likes football to be played the right way. Probably lacking the right amount of quality players at the minute to push on further, but showed enough intent last season that WH might just compete thanks to this dear old Prem league being as open as Katie Price on any given weekend.
And regardless of all the usual 'it's your cup final/we aint your rivals/pikeys/yids' banter nonsense that plights this London derby between us and the Hammers - one thing we do share common ground with is our rich tradition for flair players and playing football the way it's meant to be played - on the deck, attractive, swashbuckling and bloody gorgeous to watch. At least we try.
Not certain of what’s happening behind the scenes at Upton Park relating to the board and the apparent stories about pressure on Zola to accept he has to part with some of his star players. It’s been denied. But there’s trouble brewing as the stories just won’t go away. Regardless of that, they aint too shabby on their day – as Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool have found out in the past. They do like beating the big clubs. They just struggle a little with the medium-big clubs like us. I'm just messing people. Big is in the eye of the beholder, and apparently (so they say) it's not the size that matters, it's what you do with it. And recently we've been dicking them. Still, doesn't mean it's a given. Mainly because something usually has to give way.
I reckon the game will be won tactically tomorrow. King of the understatements I am. What I mean is, if we go at each other and play football we’ll edge it. Just think we have that much more to offer – pound for pound. But if Zola and Clarke work out a way to nullify Huddlestone which may well leave Palacios isolated – we might just come unstuck. And if we do this will serve us, in a twisted ironic way, going forward as it will highlight a weakess that other teams may well take advantage of. Not saying Hudd is the weak link, but he's obviously a player we are all looking at and hoping he can continue to impress.
I’ll guarantee this – it won’t be as poor of a game as the last visit (2-0 win) to Upton park.
Dismantling Hull is one thing, but coming up against a far better side in WH is altogether a different kettle of fish. If we flop and they win comfortable, then that old question about ‘mentality’ will rear its ugly head. If we lose a ding-dong game full of drama and excitement, all you can do is shrug and churn out a philosophical excuse about how it was not meant to be. What we need to do is come away with all three points, even if we mug them in the final minute or brush them aside across ninety breaktaking minutes.
This isn’t about the Top 4 and striving to be part of it. No delusions. Just another step towards banishing all the issues we've had that have remained constant through-out the past decade (apart from those two great Jol years, the first year especially, when things ticked wonderfully well). And all this isn't just about passing a test at Upton Park. What I'm refering to counts for every other game that follows until it all levels out and we can see exactly how well we will do across the season. I guess after 15 games we'll know.
It’s about consistency. Brummies at home after this one, so potentially we could be looking at four straight wins. Consistency = confidence. The teams progress results in growth of statue rather than a apologetic whimper and blaming tiredness or bad luck or whatever. Winning mentalities are birthed from accepting that defeats are unacceptable. Losing should hurt and hurt badly and the want to win should be above and beyond anything else. We've sat in a comfort zone for so long that it's no surprise that prior managers have come in and made assumptions relating to players and ambitions. Drunk on hype is a common occurance, however the majority of fans in the stands wised up to this years and years back. Glad Levy finally has to, and Redknapps appointment is proving to be a clever one even if all he's doing is the obvious - which is something that's been criminally overlooked for a long time.
There are some teams out there have have given a ton more effort than some previous Spurs sides have given, but the reason they don't compete over a season is because they don't have quality players or depth in squad. They have the organisation and work ethic, but can't out play 'better' teams who match them and then play them off the park. The frustrations with our team(s) has been that the players have been present but the committment has been lacking, along with a key player or two missing.
Finally, there is some form of balance. Way off being perfect, but it's there. As for the Sunday game:
King back in defence, Corulka out to the right-hand side. Cudicini in for the injured Gomes. I guess the question is, will Keano partner Defoe again. At a guess, probably. Unless Harry decides to implement a little squad rotation and bench Keane and stick Crouch up front. Personally, I wouldn’t change it. Keane and Defoe works. Both in form. Why break it up now? Wait for Birmingham at the Lane to perhaps rest one of them. As for Modric – let’s make sure he’s in the game and has plenty of the ball.
Do hope it’s an open game. All eyes on Cole and Noble for them, who can definitely hurt us. So that brand spanking new work ethic has to continue so that there is further evidence that times are changing. And by changing I mean more Mars bar than Milky Way.
Reader Comments (20)
I agree about the mental strength issue. Don't see why we can't go there and boss it. We've got the means, the belief and the players. Will be disappointing to see us under-perform.
There is no way west'am not lossing this game.I guess 2:0 for us wiill be the final score.Guess also JD will have a shot in target.Possible 2.West Ham can't do passing football,long balls is the only way to do some escape.If we press them from them penalty-well,doing that last year without terrific performance give us 2:0.Now we have so many players with self confidence and believe and 2:0 will be a mercy.COYS!!!
Wow. A very well written piece.
Nice work. COYS
We need more leaders, more professionals, more character in the team. No more prima donnas, no more drinkers and partiers. Harry has banged on and on about this, and his signings are of the committed, sober sort; I've been impressed by how Defoe has worked his ass off when injured to improve his game so much. The lad's not satisfied with just being a decent poacher known for his goal droughts away from home. If he wants to play, Pav will have to follow Defoe's example; imo greater upper-body strength would benefit him immensely.
I just hope that kind of commitment and desire is something that can be brought out in our current players. No manager's really succeeded yet, but maybe Harry's the One. Against Hull I was pleased to notice how upset Lennon looked every time a run didn't come off or a pass went astray from the very first minute. This season Hudd in particular needs to show that he finally has the hunger and mentality to succeed, to show that he's not content with just reaping the rewards of his innate talent while ignoring his own weaknesses. And as for Mr. Average - perhaps even Jenas could get out of his comfort zone and demonstrate some leadership and aggression against teams not beginning with Arse. Harry would have to be a miracle worker! :)
West Ham will be a great test for us, better than a disjointed and unfit Pool and relegation fodder Hull. They are a good, well-coached and disciplined team that should be up for the game. They are the kind of consistent midtable-ish team that we MUST defeat if we want to get anywhere. We know we can match the top 6 on our day, but let's not forget we lost to every single team in the bottom 10 last season.
Good read.
I think its all about us tomorrow. If we play as we can, we win if we dont West Ham could get somthing. I think even the most biased hammer could admit to that. Same old story I suppose. The difference is that under Harry Im becoming more and more confident that the 'good' spurs team will turn up on away days. Still want another DM before the window closes though.
In terms of team selection, I agree that Harry will go Keane and Defoe up top. If it aint broke dont fix it.
I agree that Hudd is a weak link, but he's not too bad so far is he? There might be a Harry surprise: Crouch could start in place of Robbie, and his presence could actually distract the defence and open room for our midfield to HAMMER them big time. I'm hoping for another three points. COYS!
Excellent read. Expecting team to be as Liverpool, potentially with Hutton at RB instead of Corluka. Its harsh, seeing as Corluka was one of our best against Liverpool and only lost the RB slot against Hull to move to CB and cover King, but boy did Hutton take his chance! Showing Charlie that he has to consistantly perform by letting him sit on the bench for a game can only be good for the team. COYS!
Another well balanced appraisal - can't touch this.
Great article mate - puts to shame the drivel on the wh blogs.
good piece mr spooky..is it me imagination or is spurs playing more attacking football this season compared to the end of last season? we seem to be playing with a little bit more freedom? we steel got the steel in the side but it seems like "H" has givin the players the green light to push forward and also we seem to be avin more shots at goal from outside the box?. also l/pool are not a small side and they are not a soft side and physically we out played em.
so im looking forward to that part of our game against wham.i dont think wham can stifle our creativity.and as for the players bein motivated i can think of no bigger motivation then they bein subbed or shipped out to another club.btw have u see dimmy b at man u hahaha my god e can actually run hahaha even sprint but e doesnt look alf the player e did at spurs..look at the development and style of the man u team this season compared to spurs.man u aint playin football and they look tactically terrible.would u want scholes and giigs in the spurs side?blimey man u are on the way out...coys
See the Joe Cole stuff is still floating about ,would love it to happen but don't see it but feel he would go a long way to making us the finished team.Play him in the middle with wilson add another wilson to the team as cover for the first (Sissoko maybe) and we have a shot at top 4-6
My prediction for the game
Spurs don't win and the Spammer fans start crowing
Spurs do win and the Spammer fans start using every excuse under the sun
" Keane and Defoe works. " A week ago I'd have patted you on the head and carted you off to the asylum for writing that. Makes sense now though.
Good read.
Harry won't touch the Keane / Defoe partnership with his magic stick @ Hammers. Still hoping Pav gets subbed on instead of Crouch but after watching an interview with Harry yesterday, he repeatedly mentioned Crouchie so I expect him on for Keane at some point.
3 more points please! COYS!!!
Dont worry about players not playing hudds wont let us down he must be in heaven with defoe and keane mods running allover the defenders and dont forget its world cup year the only thing worrrying me is the burnley result showed me uk sport are still losing the energy battle .i will leave that for now and just hope they stop this dangerous abuse of energy .score 4-1 to spurs crouch and pav to score with defoe and hudds
So much for West Ham playing pretty football.
Agreed, filthy football from the spam today. Thank god the result was the right one!!
So the spammers lost 2-1 in their cup final but this is no way justifies the chants aimed at Defoe and will be very interesting so see if the police follow up on the precident that was set with judas down at pompey.
Thought our play was very scrappy at times but we managed to dig an away win out after going behind - this is not the tottenham of recent seasons! Thudd was a tad frustrating today but was not out of the game.
I think Corluka is the man that should be most worried about his place on current form. and will be interesting to see the 2nd string in action in mid-week.
Wilson was isolated. Prescient.
It's still nothing we didn't do last season.
Another test passed, tick in the box. but like for like games compared to last season, we are zero points up. ANd yet the media still has the gall to suggest that it is spurs fans that are saying we are 'top 4 material' well guess what? My season still won't be decoded by beating a team intent on assualt and battery or dismantling some nothern cloggers.
Looking forwards to the 'second string' against Donnie' and then back to the business in hand, BIrmingham has shown themselves to be no mugs, and mental strength is the key. Anyone can manage a team when it's on a high, but when that confidence is cut short, then we'll see how good the team / manager really are.