Football karma restores balance to the Facere
Monday, January 18, 2010 at 2:11PM vertigoclinic @spooky23 - I can't see the match here in the states, but from the sound of it Myhill is 20 feet wide and made of granite (via Twitter during the game)
Oh hum. Let’s try and sum things up.
The performance
Far from vintage in some ways, but arguably, you can’t frown at the amount of chances created. You could perhaps inquire as to why every shot was aimed towards Myhill’s body but then that would be doing a great injustice to what was a 2 point match saving performance from Hull’s wonder-keeper. We should tag this game and line it up alongside the Wolves and Stoke games. We did enough to beat Wolves but lost. The Stoke game – based on performance – was probably just about right as we didn’t do enough on the day. And then Hull. A team who got battered yet lived to tell the tale.
Frustration. That’s the tag.
The question mark is simply one of a tactically nature. How best to break down a side that defends with 11 men behind the ball?
We can’t expect them to turn up and play open football. Granted, it’s not pleasant to watch a side time waste in the manner they did and doubly not great to see the ref fail to control the antics. Again, not that I’m saying we need protection and aid. We should be able to pick off these sides. They play like this because they respect the quality we have. But alas, not enough of that quality in the right areas to break best them. I’m talking in general here based on the other lickle clubs who have ‘done us over’ at the Lane. If we genuinely have the quality then we need to get into the habit of using it in situations that force us to adapt accordingly.
But hey, this is all a little harsh. We dominated. And Myhill probably won’t stick in a performance like that again for a long long time.
Overall, the tempo was slow at times and our finishing not clinical enough.
Player ratings
I’d say Bale impressed. Along with Moddle who was busy but not quite outstanding (give him time). The defence was compact but our forwards not quite with the midas touch when it mattered most. Niko was very very quiet and Huddlestone, in a game you’d hope he’d grab by the scruff of the neck, seemed to lack the required oomph to do so.
The ref
Weak. It’s fine if Hull want to play anti-football. They’re fighting for survival so good luck to them. We should be big and bad enough to still find a way through. But would be nice if the ref imposed himself and layed down a few ground rules at the first sign of anyone taking the piss. Failed miserably in stopping the time wasting tactics Hull introduced very early in the game. Booked a player for it, then seemed to ignore everything else.
The stats
First draw at the Lane since February 2009? Last one was against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup. Last Prem draw was in the same month at home against Arsenal. The stat to shout out about is the one that sees us 547 minutes without conceding a goal. 6 successive clean sheets. Last goal conceded by our back four? December 12th. Obviously also worth nothing that we’ve failed to score…at home…against Wolves, Stoke and now Hull. Grrr.
Gareth Bale
There is no jinx. Don’t believe the hype. Wasn’t his fault he happened to play in a side, every now and again, that was utterly shit. His current form, based on a foundation of confidence, is one that should be applauded.
Robbie Keane
He is far from any sort of pulsating game-influencing form. Far far away. He’s still managed to notch up some goals for us (mainly in the Cups) and Redknapp is perhaps a tad too loyal in starting him. Much like Bentley there’s a lack of sustained belief and the want for that little bit extra in his performances. The Liverpool experience has been beyond detrimental. Can he be saved? Will he rediscover his mojo? I hope so. Wouldn’t want to think this is it. One thing that won’t aid him to return to form (and yes I get it, we’ve been patient enough) is the abuse he’s currently getting from some fans. Wash your mouths out. Yeah he left and yes the embarrassment of us saving him is probably half the reason he’s had the wind knocked out of him. But he needs inspiration rather than moans and groans.
Although he did miss that absolute sitter…How the fuck did he not score? Robbie, you ####ing ###!
Other results
It’s football. Anything can happen. And in some ways karma has restored balance to the Facere. Well, karma probably isn’t the right term, but still let’s rejoice in further evidence that this season refuses to settle down. City lose. Liverpool draw. Villa draw. And up we go back into 4th. Obviously it would be nicer to have a cushion or two protecting us from those within touching distance. Seems the race for 4th is on and off and on, every few weeks. Still we await for some one (please let it be us) to start pulling away from the chasing pack. I pray to God that we don’t go into April needing to win, let’s say, 3 games.
Repeat mode activated. We are in with one hell of a chance as long as we start to up the tempo now. People scoffed at the start of the season because all assumed that the Top 4 would walk it. Times are changing, but the Sky Sports Cartel are far from dead.
Liverpool away
I’m fearful. Okay, so Liverpool are God awful at the moment, have none of their key players available and all eyes on Rafa and his future once more. We are – brace yourselves – favourites for this. Complacency. Mus be avoided it. We have to be professional and ruthless. Go for it, that jugular, and make a statement of true intent. Yes, beating Liverpool might not be such a crowning glory these days but the fact we’ve failed to win away to any of the ‘Top 4’ for around 200 years means that rather than take this opportunity for granted we should work our socks off like we’re the underdogs and we’re the ones fighting to prove a point. How Harry prepares them for this will be vital. Along with selecting a side that will cause them untold problems at the back. I suggest Crouch + Defoe for this one.
Cue special atmosphere at Anfield and miracle 4-0 win for the home side.
Seriously, let’s just END the scousers.
Reader Comments (51)
It's becoming a trend this. Dropping points to low key sides who turn up with maximum effort. We lost similar types of points in 2006, to last minute equalisers.
Having jokingly put on here that I blame Keane for everything in recent months, I actually do blame him in large for Saturdays draw. Firstly, the whole crowd were down as soon as they saw he was starting. It was too many completely out of the blue and even hardened Keane supporters were agreeing the guy shouldn't be starting.
There's no doubt in my mind that Redknapp will play Crouch against Liverpool when in fact I wouldn't have a problem with Keane playing in that one. If he can't get up for a game where he could quite possibly put the last nails in a Rafa Benitez shapped coffin then he's finished.
I'm also of the opinion this game will a lot tougher than a lot of people think and I genuinely believe 'pool will beat us. I can see 1 of 2 spurs teams turning up:
1. over confident - lose
2. too defensively set up - lose
We miss Lennon badly as neither Niko or Moddle like to stay our wide. When you're most attacking wide player against Hull is Corluka occassionally supported by Palacios you know there's something not right. If we leave ourselves with no-one covering Bale on Wed night, Dirk Kuyt will have a field day.
Robbie's form is inexcusable. He's scored a few goals since he returned from Liverpool but his overall play has been shit. He's lost the spark, the electricity. Looks completely spent out there.
Lennon is far more important to the side than any other player. The outlet he provides is killer. Gives the opposition headaches and time and space for our otherp layers to get into decisive positions. Shame he wont be playing this wed.
I agree with almost all your points Spooky. Especially on Bale and Keane. Keane needs to spend some quality time with Pav on the bench if you ask me.
I feel good about Liverpool. We are due some goals. I'm expecting some swagger.
Keane? Spent? Can't disagree. I don't see him finding a way out of the deep hole he's got himself into. He had it made at Tottenham, guess he's found out the hard way he isn't half as good as he thinks he is. But good enough pre-Liverpool. Total gush post.
In games like this it's all about the '1st goal'. You got the feeling that as soon as one goes in, then they all go in (a la Hull away) but as son as we have half a dozen decent chances, yo ucan sense the frustration at the lane at the start of the second half. it's a though we've collectively resigned ourselves to 'here we go again', and it almost becomes a self -fulfiling prophecy.
For me, if a team is coming to park the bus you have to get round it, or sometimes over it. Crouch should have been a starter for me in exactly this type of game, and again should similarly be for hte liverpool game. He causes them problems, he may not be pretty (physically and in 'footballing purist parlance') but he is effective in tying up defences.
We also missed lennon, I have no doubt that his pace would have made a difference down the right (as noted above, good performances and link up between bale and krancjar).Just hoep he's fit for weds.
nb. can someone tell m whether or not our entire midfield is suspended as they each picked up their 5th yellow of hte season. Someone on another thread said that it didn't matter as there had been a 'factory reset' before this game, is this true? Can't find a definitive and FA website not exactly helpful!
Myhill, the bastard. On another day would have been five.
Is it only me who thinks out of all the save he made he made 2 that were world class. The rest seemed to be 70% efforts on goal. Keane should have buried that chance he had.
Ifs ifs ifs. If we dont change it then we'll find ourselves gradually dropping down 2/3 positions. I guarantee you someone below us will get their act together. We have to set it up.
It's not a bad position to be in though is it? And our problems are not ones of deep concern either. Room for improvement, but then when isn't there?
'Far from vintage in some ways, but arguably, you can’t frown at the amount of chances created.'
'How best to break down a side that defends with 11 men behind the ball?'
How about actually scoring from one of the many chances we created?
Crouch has never been a great goal scorer, Keane is finished and everyone is starting to realise again how hot and cold Defoe can be.
It doesn't require a tactical genius, we're lacking expertise in front of goal.
World class striker needed. Defoe can be too selfish, granted quality strikers need to be, but needs to play more for the team. Crouch has his moments but still not sure about him and Keane just isnt Keane anymore (dont think he knows who or where hes playing for). After 1pt from Hull game 3pts desperatly needed at anfield but even with players missing still expect us to come away with nothing.
Agree mad as a yid except two shots the rest were straight at that f****** keeper and Hazard we would be proper f****d if we lost Lennon.
FFS COYS
Tricky,
They're all playable, the five yellow card rule now runs from December to December.
TMWNN - simplicity wise, it would be to put them away. For sure. But I'd say we can be clever with build up play. Pass the ball, retain possession, tease and then look for a cheeky opening. Sometimes I think we get too built up with the chances we create, lacking control where it matters. None of our chances well most of them were not clear clear cut.
We live to fight another day.
We're not favourites for the Liverpool game, for which I'm grateful as we'd definitely cock it up if we were. At the time of writing (15:30 on Mon afternoon) the Betfair prices (rounded off and translated from decimal odds) -
6/4 Liverpool (implying 40% chance)
21/10 Tottenham (32%)
5/2 Draw (28%)
which is probably about right. Draw might be the bet...
I was always a huge fan of Keane, but he needs some time out of the team. Give Pav a shot at 3rd striker, it cant be any worse..........................
............do you reckon we will see Arry slagging of that Keane miss, and saying sandra would have scored it? Bollocks will we, that attempt was easier than the Bent miss last year!!!!
Arry loves him, expect him to start against the unemployed lot from up north on Wednesday.
COYS.
Not sure I would lambast Keane that much. I can understand Harry wanting to play two "little-un's" and give the Hull defense something different to contend with.
Starting with Crouch was almost too obvious as his height would've been negated by the other beanpole of Gardener.
At least Keane got in to positions to have chances - Defoe was extremely quiet on Saturday and yet we excuse him.
Having said all of that, I'd love to see Defoe and Crouch up front on Wednesday with a comfortable away win and another clean sheet.
If we don't turn up at Anfield and throw the kitchen sink in their faces I'll burn my 1981 Cup Final memorabilia.
I want to see GUTS and PASSION.
all i want to see is 3points on the board, followed by some tears from Rafa
I agree with "hot spurs". @CEJ darren bent missed an open goal, keane hit the ball at a keeper 1yrd away. I would say thats slightly different. The "keane miss" is what everyone has pinned the loss onto, I don't see anyone having a pop at defoe for his "miss". I don't often get annoyed at fellow spurs fans but there was a guy next to me on Saturday who was literally making arsy comments about keane all game. For me thats not on. We are supposed to be "supporters" of the team, which does happen to include robbie. All this negative energy towards keane can't be helping his situation. We know he has the talent there somewhere, I think the fans should shoulder some of that blame they are throwing at keane for not getting behind him as much as possible. If he played like this before he went to liverpool the reaction would have been nowhere near as bad. The fact is the system we play isn't suiting keane atm. Whether it be because his partner is selfish on the ball or the fact he has to drop deep to go looking for the ball. I reckon if we saw a crouch keane partnership and keane was told to play off the defender he would definitely improve.
Let my castration commence........
We do love a hate figure, don't we? The resentment is thanks to how he left us and it compounded by the reality that he has not done anything to make amends. I'm willing to admit he does the sort of work Harry approves off, working off the ball and whatever else (if you know let me know) but he lacks the dynamite he once owned. Half the player. Even when he does score it lacks that edge he once had.
He needs more trips to Dublin.
Sick of the Keane bashing.
Its all confidence.......its the same for any striker. Bashing the poor guy can only lead to one thing, s*** performances and ultimately the exit door at a much reduced price. That doesn't benefit anyone except the new club he signs for. Sort it out people!!!
Mazza - as i said, i was always a HUGE HUGE fan of Keane. I think it is better if he is dropped for a period, Crouch and Defoe is far more effective so lets just play to our strengths.
I hate to hear fans slagging off players also, so lets not give them the chance - Keane on bench.
Keane on the bench for Wednesday until the scousers have wound him up enough, and then unleash him to knock in the 3rd. Who knows............
I am torn on the Robbie Keane debate, he does give his all every time he plays and if he remained in the team i believe he would get the goals. Defoe should also hold his hand up and take some of the blame. He missed chances in the Hull game as well as several other games this season. He needs to be more of a team player as his greed is starting to cost us points. The team is playing well enough and this result is so frustrating!!!! I personally would love to see us go for Van Nistlerooy he would have had a hatrick given the chances Keane/Defoe fluffed on saturday. I hope we turn up at Anfield on wednesday and attack what is the worst Liverpool team in years. I would go for Keane/Crouch and hope lennon can recover in time because he is vital to us. COYS
Spurs will play well and they'll win. Liverpool might show some solidarity and have the crowd behind them but they are not strong enough back to front.
Had we scored one in the first half it would have been at least 3zip. We are 4th, creating chaces, not conceeding all without arguably are two most influencaial players in Lennon and King. Games like Sat are balanced by the performance/result against Sunderland where we were terrible but still picked up 3 points.
We are talking about very, very small margins and the CL spot is very there for the taking after 21 games and in my opninion we have as good a chance as anyone to put a run together until the end of the season. The game against Liverpool is HUGE for the momentum it will create for the winners (not to mention the 3 points). I'd take a draw right now but we are capable of winning it.
Just another one of those games I think. In previous seasons, we'd be crowing (sic) about being 4th and keeping more clean sheets than Katie Price's endless list of boyfriends can manage.....
As for our forwards, Can Defoe score, 'course he can. Can the Tree score, 'course he can. Can WPB score, he can...class is permanent, form is, well, kinda temporary. As for Pav, I just don't get it. The guy arrived at WHL with it all and somehow, lost it in the carpark.
We do miss Azza, but he's out against the Scouse, so I expect a five man midfield, with Modders playing just behind Defoe in the (hole).
And a win, by golly why not. Did you see that lot against Stoke. Jees, I watched that game and both sides were piss poor. At least we had a hatfull of chances against Hull....
Daws is the man at the moment, they ain't gonna get past him, so it's up to us to get a goal.
We are a serious team, not good enough for the top 3 but good enough for 4th. We just have to be better than City, Liverpool and Villa . At the moment there is nothing to suggest we can't fight for this position all the way to the end of the season. The other three clubs mentioned are not without their problems.
Support the team, get behind them , and sing your hearts out.
Here is a thought, Hughes was sacked shortly after we hammered citeh, wonder if we do the same for Benitez?
I like your balanced review. Its a game we should have won and really if one of the 16 shots on target went in then we could have expected a landslide. One of those games, a bit like Stoke.
It is disappointing. We have a lot of what ifs - Stoke, Wolves, Hull, Villa, Everton We could have won all 5 instead we gained 3 points. But then every team in the top 6 or 7 could say the same thing....what if
We cannot afford too many more similar slip ups. Averaging 2 points a game will see us to our target i think. So we really have to make the most of home games and snatch the odd away victory to keep us on track. A win at LFC is almost a must. they are weakened, we have to be ruthless. We need to take advantage where we can as we have some tough games at Brum, Citeh, Sunderland & Utd to come.
Heartened to see a fair amount of reasonable comment on here, rather than the usual "Keane is a C***" nonsense. You're right, he should have scored but all of his shots were aimed straight at the centre of the goal, signalling a striker desperately short of confidence. If he's wearing the shirt the crowd needs to get behind him - we don't have to love him.
And at the risk of sounding like A Whinger, the tactics of some of the minnows desperate to stay in the Prem (stand up Wolves) is scandalous. Football is, after all, meant to be a spectator sport.
Still fancy us to turn over the 'pool, regardless of who plays.
"Obviously it would be nicer to have a cushion or two protecting us from those within touching distance. Seems the race for 4th is on and off and on, every few weeks. Still we await for some one (please let it be us) to start pulling away from the chasing pack."
Spooks we have a chance of pulling away from City as we play three times in the league BEFORE there next league game. And two games BEFORE Villa have there next one.
OK they will both have games in hand, but its better to have points on the board than games in the bank (IMHO)
COYS!!
Mike England, whilst I agree with the sentiment tha football is a sport, it is in fact a business. The two go hand in glove. We may not like it, but managers income is reliant on points, and whilst Mick too the proverbial by resting 10 players in an 'unwinnable mid-wek game', it paid off by winning their own '6-pointer'. Doesn't make for good viewing but it keeps him in a job a little longer. Reality suck sometimes, I know!
As for Keane, the one thing I woud lsay in his favour, he has had a good attitude when beng benched since his little sojourn to the northwest, so why not drop him for Crouch. Even if we bring someone in who starts ahead of him (because hopefully whoever does eventually come in should be better) he is likely to retain his positive attitude, why? because he knows first hand that grass isn't always greener. Whatever people may think of him, I'd still have him even if he was our thrid or forth choice striker.
True, Tricky, Keane would be an enviable 4th choice CF and after what he's been through at his "boyhood club", he's probably not about to grumble too much.
Also, to reiterate what someone already observed, he doesn't pick himself. It's Harry's decision after all.
It was my 9th birthday on 31 August 1978 and my unlce, took me to see Tottenham's new Argentinan signings play at Anfield. We lost 7-0! Me and Barry Daines have had nightmares ever since. They are not one tenth of the team they had back then, or last week!, but I still can't bear to watch on Wednesday.
So glad we are not giving Harry a transfer budget this month. If he strengthened the team we might end up in the Champions League and who wants that. Better to be a Europa League club playing fizzy pop league opponents on Thursday nights.
Liverpool game ? Both sides would probably take a point right now so a draw would be my prediction.
Tricky, you're right - but we don't have to like it!
Well Spooky, I think you said it best. I posted comments along the same lines you have covered, but you just seem to put it in such a smoother manner. I guess the match just left me frustrated. Why can't we beat these types of teams? I honestly believe, now more than ever, that we need to add more quality up front. An experienced striker would be of great benefit. Someone who won't sleep until he hits the net (or keeper) every time. Our dependence on Defoe is frightening if you ask me. Hoping for a better result at Anfield.
COYS!
keane is shit, simple as. lovely lad, but shit. give him a job in the club shop with free capri sun and manster monch
Are Katie Price's boobs real ?
Bruce Castle, not one tenth of that team ? Kidding me ? we had just come back to the first division and exept Huddle and ardiles the rest of the team was not even close position to position with todays team.Like you said Barry Daines was the keeper ffs. John fucking Lacy and ian Moores fucking played for spurs
If I were Harry (And I am not as I do not have 6 passports and 2 dozen bank accounts) I might have maybee given Gio Dos Santos a go when we we struggle to break down teams as I reacon he could rip lesser teams apart in the last 20 mins if given an oppertunity.
So basically Harry decided to drop Crouch. I have to say that goes down as one of the most baffling and awful tactical disasterstrokes of the season. We had come off a run of form of beating blackburn, west ham and city, and getting very useful points from fulham, everton and villa, in games where we generally played really well. In all of those games crouch started, and was an intergral part of how we played. For better or worse, his style was a part of a spurs offence and team playing well and getting good points. To effectively drop him, off the back of a 2 week rest period, makes no sense whatsoever.
Why would you change a winning team, especialy in an area where the player has no signs of tiredness, and where another players performance benefits hugely from having said player in team?!?! If its for the supposed tactic of having 2 'littlemen' up front to go through the middle of hull, all basic football logic points to the fact that the opposite is really true. When a team has 10 men behind the ball, deep, you get it out wide and in the box, often. Playing a big man makes sense in that situation. What doesnt make sense is taking out the big man you already had. and had playing well.
As for Keane himself, im not from the 'booing' cartel. I'll never really boo someone, because its cowardly and its part of this stupid boo culture we have here at the moment. It seems the public aleways has to be booing someone, whether literally or otherwise. Like those horrible big brother evictions, where morons turn up just to boo some poor sod. There is the reality show element to the premier league too, and keane is falling foul of the same mob. I would definately abuse him in a 'put your fucking wavy hands down and kick the fucking ball' way, but thats sort of involuntary. I wouldnt make a big show of illustrating my displesure in some orchestrated pantomime. But the crowd are booing him because he has played really shit, for ages. He has not played realy shit for ages because the crowd are booing him. Dont confuse the two. I have no personal agenda against him, i just think he is currently a total liability and needs to be benched for a good 2 months or sold. I've always thought he is overrated, and prob played his best football like 8 years ago.
I am not holding up hopes for a clean sheet on Wednesday neither am I expecting any points. I say this for 2 reasons: Spurs has a habit of messing up matches they are expected to win or do well in; secondly, Pool, like the rest of the top 3, know how to pull out results against pretenders like us. All I can say is YOU SILLY SODS THAT ARE GOING TO PLAY ON WEDNESDAY, SURPRISE ME FFS.
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I loved keano but he decided to break our hearts and be disloyal so why should we still be loyal and treat him differently. Don't speak about his record for spurs ever as that player will never apear in a spurs shirt again.
We have to look at games last season and this. He was stale at the end of last year after making a triumphant comeback revitalising the team with a couple important goals. But how long does that guarunteed him in ythe side?
Agree with you about bale he was good not great buy definately better than he has been. Thier has been calls for us to sell him but I do think he has so much more to offer.
Spooky donu reckon he could hold off BAE when he is fit ?
Don't talk to me about "loyalty" - fans are fickle FACT! There is no loyalty in football, money changed that. But at least Keane didn't leave us for money, he left to go to the club he grew up supporting. If it was me and I was at Liverpool I would have definitely moved to spurs if they came in for me. At least he had the guts to admit it was a mistake and jumped at the chance to come back to us as we will always be in his heart. Keane always shows respect to the clubs he has played for, whether they deserve it or not. And I respect him for it.
Give it up haters.
mazzatron.... yer a man after me own heart.
Robbie to score the winner at Anfield.... COYS!