68 games and counting...
Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 2:38PM Utd 2 Spurs 0
I wont be mentioning that goal.
In the grand scheme of things, another loss at Old Trafford probably doesn't change anything. In fact, from a psychological perspective, it probably didn't even hurt our players - who displayed more oomph in complaining at the death of the game than across the whole limp ninety minutes.
It was a performance that lacked spark, ideas and cutting edge in the final third. There just wasn't enough there to carve out enough chances to stake a claim on the three points.
Far too many under-whelming Lilywhites, under-par and from the looks of it under the big bruising thumb of United. Again.
The Manc side were not exceptional in any great way. Efficient. And focused. But not beyond the realms of defeat. They could have been got at if we had some of that long lost intensity and desire. But I guess if you can't pluck up the courage, you're still a level away looking up at them rather than fighting to compete.
Ignoring certain old skool inclusions in the side and missing players - we still had enough about us to give it decent go. We saw evidence of growth and evolution last season - even with injuries and tinkering. What I don't like is this almost defeatist attitude in the manner of our play, as if this game did not warrant that extra lung-busting will to better the opposition.
If the gaffer drills it into the player in the week leading up - this game is a must win game - then we'd have had a right go at them. I don't believe this is as good as we can get when facing a not that scary United side.
Dare I mention Tuesday and Inter. It looked like their minds were on this game and not on the one playing out at OT.
We played some good football, there was some decent movement, but nothing that made me believe we would score or win. Their first goal was thanks to some non-existent defending. Kaboul poor for giving away the free-kick and then losing his marker. He's not a centre-back.
At half-time you'd still have believed something might give, if we stepped up the pace. But we kept stalling the car. Failing to turn the keys, but then why bother turning them when the tank is empty? Long walk home it is then.
Tottenham, I'm afraid, simply did not want it as much as they could have wanted it, considering that a win would have meant far more than a win on Tuesday (because the game on Tuesday is not a decider, the ones against the Dutch and German clubs are).
Beating United at OT would have been far more significant.
Still, perhaps the selection wasn't the best for the occasion.
Keane, wasn't that great, but then did okay for someone playing in a position which was slightly isolated and as he didn't come deep too often to collect the ball, his performance looked worse than it did. But still, you have to accept his time is over. He just hasn't got the mojo.
Jenas played the ball forward once or twice, which for him is rare positivity. But he's not strong enough in mind and spirit to make us stronger. Our midfield was brushed past too often.
Both are not first-team players and it showed why.
As for the rest? Some mentions:
Hutton is detrimental to Lennon. The more the Scotsman got forward the less Lennon impacted the game. Azza did have a good first 45 until Hutton decided to take over the offensive duties.
Modric faded a little in the second half, but although he was busy dinking around the pitch, it's still far from vintage.
vdV was superb in the first half not so superb in the second and I'm hoping the hamstring injury was exaggerated a little, only in the sense that now we've lost, he can be fit for Inter. Cracking effort off the woodwork.
Did Bale get his beach holiday or not? Very quiet evening for him.
I find myself slapping my face with this one, but Roman improved us when he was subbed on.
As much as I do agree a new forward and another midfielder/defender might elevate us further, there has to be a change, another evolution, in terms of priority and focus with these games.
It felt far too ominous for me early on. It's tiresome now Spurs. Let's stop playing for DVD's in Europe and start playing for morale boosting points in the Prem.
Tactically, it didn't work. We had no apparent plan. We need to smarten up for these types of fixtures once and for all. I keep calling for us to up the tempo like we've done against Chelsea at home in recent seasons or play smart football like we did against Arsenal at the Lane last time out when we let them play pretty football which amounted to pretty much nothing then hit them hard twice.
Best post over on GG was the statement that went something like 'f*ck attempting to play free-flowing footie, just do a Stoke on them'. The idea here is to get in their faces, push and hassle and do the utmost to stop them playing. Play ugly and win. Just to get out of our systems. Just to edge that psychological barrier closer for us to jump over. I'm not someone who would usually suggest that and if I'm honest, I want Tottenham football the way it should be played, but it's time we took a leaf out of the United way and recycled our possession and made opportunities count.
Be relentlessness and punish. Of course, perhaps the reason why we can't always manage this and never seem to be able to do so away to these teams is because we don't quite have what's required on the pitch. And perhaps on the bench in terms of management. No knee-jerk here, just that at some point we have to show some b*llocks and stand tall.
So to conclude from an overall perspective taking everything into account, at the minute, 4th spot is as good as it will get which means we need to start to better Man City's results and make sure Everton and friends do not fly past us.
The battle for fourth is on. We can review again after Christmas and the closure (after the re-opening) of the transfer window and decide then if there's anything more to be had.
I'll leave you with the billion dollar question: How do we improve our mentality?
In the meantime, COYS.
Reader Comments (34)
Off load two strikers, we know who they are plus Jenas, buy two CB`s another MF and two strikers of quality.
I'm soaoo pissed off with that performance... yet again we fail to turn up at old trafford, i agree with you spooks we played some fairly pretty football in patches but with no cutting edge especially where it counts the final third.
When i saw Keano was starting i knew we would loose, did you hear his record against Man Uan U i wont even bother mentioning it.I agree the farcical goal is not even worth mentioning as we were 1.0 down at the tim, had the scores been level then yes. The truth is we never looked like scoring in the second half, i could go on and on but i wont... Roll on Tuesday and better days to come COYS !
Sorry I have to mention that goal and people say the ref did well. Good refereeing? Nani sat up with his hand on the ball, so Gomes thought a free-kick was given which he should of been more aware of I admit, but any keeper would have done the same. Then Nani gets up and kicks it in and runs off with his tongue out like a moron. The linesman then flags calls the ref over as he knows the goal cannot stand. They dicuss what happens with Rio invited to join them! It was like a tea party. But the ref won't change his mind after the linesman has flagged for a clear handball because he is a joker and getting his pockets lined no doubt. Nani should of been booked and a free kick for Spurs. It was a complete nonsense. This was the same ref who didn't allow the Mendes goal too. The game is dirty and that is a sad day for football. Even last last season the FA allowed Man City to get in an emergency loan keeper for the huge game at Eastlands for 4th place. City already had two keepers on their books but again the FA tried to spoil it for Spurs but it failed thak God. Things like this don't happen to United and co. I can think of it happening against Chelsea when the ref was clearly focussed on ensuring they lost when they played Barca a few seasons ago at the Bridge and Chelsea were completely stitched up. FIFA even posted the result up before the match. Football is all about money now and boy is it showing. Such a shame. The score would have still been 1-0 yesterday with five mins to go and anything can still happen. Spurs were playing well so it's very arrogant for people to say it's not like it cost us the game. Man Utd fans were calling up on the radio and say the goal shouldn't of stood and it was cheating yet Arsenal fans can't bring themsevles to do it too? Someting very, very sad about that. Sandro should of played and we really need to sign a hitman in Jan. Think where we would be if Defoe was fit. It's amazing to think we could of gone 3rd yesterday. I don't think Spurs mentally folded yesterday creating five very good chances but it's hard to take that the run of 17yrs without an away win continues. Gutted that Vaart now misses the Inter Milan game.
with vdv, modric, lennon and bale in the team we have become almost too attacking but with no one to finish. Too many great mids and not a finishes in the box. We desperately lack a decent striker. This is a priorty! Jenas is not good enough, keane needs to move on. I wonder what niko has to do to come on. Again Harry has not played his strongest team and has left it for the champions league. Our priorty is the league and the sooner redknapp realises this the better. The team selections have been a joke since the start of the season! In order for us to be balanced we either need to play 4.4.2 or 4.3.3. Our strongest team available yesterday was not put out: using harrys 4.4.1.1 the team should have been: kaboul, gallas, bassong, bale..lennon, sandro, modric. Niko..vdv, pav. That is far stronger than what we had out. Sandro over wilson for the height in central mid. People will argue bales position but have we forgotten he was playing left back and playing well last season.
We lost when Harry made the Clattenburg decision to play Keane. How he gets chance after chance while the likes of Niko and Gio don't get a look in is beyond me
Bale should always play left wing. He played at LB against West Ham this season and Manure last season and we lost both, partly because he was not an attacking threat
We cannot play Keane and Jenas. They are F*cking woeful. Need Dawson back. Buy a striker, and a Centre back with more than one leg.
Also, on this whole myth that the ref played advantage yesterday, he held his hands behind his back. Now, any other time I've ever seen advantage played, the ref holds his two hands up in front of him. Clattenburg is a c*nt.
Any other fan thinking why bother if we are no longer seeing the game played fairly?
11 goals in 10 games is embarrassing.
Seriously, 11 goals in 10 games.
At least we don't have to listen to the players talking about winning the league in the press anymore.
I don't know guys, although Tottenham were not spectacular last night, being at the game I noticed that we weren't that bad. There were times when Man U were looking limp and we should have killed them off right then and there. It's too bad we lack a punishing striker.
What we need to do is simple: sign a captain! so far this season we have had king, hudd, modric, keane - maybe daws and jenas too. For various reasons none of them is an ideal candidate. Only Keane is vocal/aggressive enough but he doesnt cut it on the pitch.
We need someone who is a general, leads by example, is a bit nasty/cynical, can see whats required, can bully other players, intimidate the ref, etc etc. Ideally this will be a midfield or central defensive general. All good teams have one - historicallly there were keane and viera, now there are people like terry, ferdinand/vidic.
Until we get someone like that we will regularly get bullied or stitched up.
Although old, if Van Bommel is still up to the job on the pitch and available, he might be a candidate.
We looked equally limp El. Toothless. So close yet so far once more and the controversy of the game only serves to hide our shortcomings.
Other than the Man city game, Spurs have not been at their best, and other than, Vdv and Bale, they seem to have taken a step backwards.
I think your right, some of the players need to grow some balls and give some of that fighting spirit. This alone will be a step in the right direction.
There is certainly a mental block when we play away at the big clubs but on match days surely that has to come from your leaders on the pitch? I don't think it's any coincidence that the first 4 choices for captian were all out injured (Leds, Daws, Hudd and Wood) and that clearly affects the commitment and mentality of the players. We're a work in progress, our first 11 are a match for anybody but we just lack the experince to maintain our level when slightly weakened. Yes it's a problem it's not terminal. People will probably point out that it's "the same thing that happens every time" but look at how United lined up against us, long shots and set pieces and terrified to attack becasue of our players. It's the same thing but in a different way. My header at the top of the page reads "two points, 8 games" don't forget where we've come from and don't forget where we're going
"Kaboul poor for giving away the free-kick and then losing his marker. He's not a centre-back.
Well ... yes you are absolutely right but ... who exactly can take his place right now?
Charlie? Bassong, maybe but is really much better than Kaboul back there?
It's amazing we're doing as well as we are with a duct-taped defense.
You know you're in trouble when BAE is your rock of stability.
Can't believe Krankys not getting any match time? He was fantastic when Luka was injured last season.
Don't see us winning away against sky 4 any time soon - even with Liverpool at their lowest ebb for years. Reason is that Harry just doesn't seem to know whether to stick or twist. Personally, I'd love to see us really go for it and see the boys play like it's the last match of their lives. Such an attitude sometimes delivers a bit of luck too. Yesterdays game only proved that showing too much respect means a hiding to nothing, especially when the opposition is there for the taking.
VDV out TUESDAY - SKYSPORTS.
If Inter beat us they are as good as through and no need to turn up for last 2 group games.
Have to get something out of the game minus Gomes, King, Dawson, VDV, Defoe and possibly Hudd.
SHIT!
As for yesterdays performance it's the one we always give up there. Beaten before the match begins regardless of the idiot ref. Must be a mental thing.
Why do we always have such a knee jerk reaction when we don't get a result. Did any of you really think we were going to get anything at OT? For some of us Kaboul was a rock last week now because of one bad challenge which I have to say did not warrant a yellow card as he was going for the ball, we are now saying he is not good enough...how fickle we are. I thought he had a sound game and looks to be an improving player. We are an improving team, but I think Harry made a selection error yesterday with Keane up front, just not quick enough and no physical presence, Pav for me, he needs game time as all strikers do. Although JJ had solid game I think he is often better coming on than starting. I feel Wilson should've started. When VDV went off it was obvious to everyone who should've come on but who did he pick bloody Crouch! No Nico was probably sitting there thinking I am off at the first opportunity. But no complaints about the result because I didn't expect anything else.....except Clattenburg is a tit!
The frustrating aspect of playing ManUre whether home or away is that you know something will go against you, so you have to play out of your skin.
I am as annoyed about the second goal like all Spurs fans, but you knew something drastic would go against us. Rio Ferdinand made his point about the incident in the first half where the ball went out but play continue. Fair point accept that both the linesmen and the referee along with the TV cameras had their view blocked by a mixture of players and goal post and net, plus the speed of the game. The difference between that and Nani was everybody saw the incident EXCEPT the referee. The linesmen saw the incident and flagged immediately after the ball went in the net.
The fouls verses cautions were another one. Fletcher fouled repeatedly and no caution whereas Gallas and Kaboul were caution after their first foul. It is to do with the fairness of the game and I cannot understand why referees, some more than others feel inclined to favour ManUre against whichever team they play.
Nani should've been carded right at the beginning of the match when he tried to con the ref into giving a penalty after his own trailing leg hit his other and he dove trying to claim that he was fouled. Others have stated that ManUre should've had a penalty for the incident leading to their second goal. My question is why? Yes there was a tug, but Nani then took two step and then went down. So it is either a penalty or it wasn't, Clattenburg saw it, he was straight on and ruled no foul. So why wasn't a card given for simulation? There is no consistency and what happened next is the controversy that ruined a decent match. If the game had finished one-nil then I would've been satisfied, it was a fair result. But that second goal completely deflated the match. We had high hope of getting an equaliser and if it didn't happen I wouldn't have felt hard done.
Again it is a referee that decides a match instead of the players.
Frustrating night. Watch us on Tuesday and how quickly we come out the traps.
As I've already mentioned repeatedly we can change our mentality by starting buying intelligent players with a winner's mentality and strong personality. Never buy a player if he doesn't fulfill all these qualities.
2 points- 8 games, try
10 games- 11 goals.
Intelligent players. In modern day football?
Where??
I get what you mean though, look at Wenger who buys technically fast players with quick feet who he turns into cunts.
Damn fellas, I gained about 20-something spots on the Dear Mr Leaguey fantasy this week...back in the top 10 (6) from a lowly 28th or something...thank ya very much. (and yeah, Nani was in my team...greasy diving prick). But the one who delivered...Dempsey.
Not bad for never having never even looked at fantasy games before. 14k out of 2.5 million or something. I'll take it.
most of you need to get real, what honestly did you expect, away to Man Utd ?!?!?! Heres a dose of realism for you, THEY ARE BETTER THAN US !!! HELLO IS ANYBODY HOME ???????? and while we are on it, chelsea are better than us and so are the scum down the road. Does that make us rubbish? No, of course not but for once please god, will some of you lot wake up. I was cringing reading all last week how alot of you lot thought we were actually going to win up there. Supporting the team is one thing, but telling them they are the best team in the land is dellusional and idiotic. Get real and realise what we are, we are the 4th/5th best team in the land and occasionally, every few years we might win a cup or we might break into the champions league, why is that not enough ???? what right is there to say we should be any more than that??? You lot do my nut in.
nani made garth crooks' team of the week... i should really stop bothering to look...
one controversial lose at ot and you lot are all moaning were crap and how to change the squad!
ok lets focus on that game. we got stitched up big time by that useless excuse of a refaree and that greasy tosser nani. we played well at times and mod and vdv and bale are world class and always a threat every min of the game! gomes should have layed to the whistle and kabul as gifted as i think he is needs lessons in defending duties! i still havnt accepted gallas as a spurs player so cant coment on him. we were a bit unlucky and its not fair to say we didnt turn up!
ok in the long term
jenas and keane are not up to it we all know, does harry? kranchier is much better imo. but the problems are trying to cram the midfield with 1 striker. its down to poor selection of strikers, so i accept we need a great goal machine. id like to see kabul grow to be great, but affraid its time to get a great center back too. i dont want another midfielder, the ones we have are awsome. sandro or palacious, bale, krachaer, modric, vdv, lennon plus bostock and parrot to come from the youth, we are blessed, be gratefull everyone.
dear father christmas, diego forlan please
Sorry spooky, while I agree with you most of the time, I think we have enough quality in the side to have beaten united, even with the injuries we have. The blame should rest on Redknaps shoulder, tactically the man is inept at utilising the squad to its full potential . we all know as spurs fans we have enough in the team to do well, and lets stop all this talk of there is not enough fight in us.Time now to get rid of the bad and utilise the good, but I have this horrible feeling (HOPE I AM WRONG) that Harry has taken us as far as he can, with no clear direction where we are going with our current squad.
Listen guys, as a Gunner I have got to say have a bit more faith. Spurs really have come on and upwards in the last couple of seasons. You are definately good enough to challenge the top 4 position. Man U are Man U that's to say one rule for them and one for all the rest of us. One thing I honestly feel is that the squad you have now can finish above them and Man City. If you had your 1st eleven at Old Trafford you would have got a result..no doubt. Man U are not the same team anymore but they still have top experience which sees them through. We will do them home and away. Your guys have got to stand up and be counted and you will win at W H Lane.I do agree you need a good striker and Dawson& Defoe back in the pack though.Final thought is that I think Bale, Defoe and VDV are players to build your team around. Modric would have been in there but he looks like his injury has affected him ( like our Eduardo ) .These 3 players drive the team on, this will get you points. Maybe make Bale as Captain !?
Didn't think we were that bad. Could have done with a defensive midfielder from the start.
The free kick that Kabul gave away was slightly soft but it was because the CMs were having to do too much without the cover of a DM they kept having to come out to stop them playing between our midfield and the defence and both Kabul and Gallas got booked for trying to do too much.
At times we played very well. Actually prefer the way we played with Keane on the pitch to when we have Crouch on his own up front. Not really enough clear cut chances and not enough good low balls pinged into the area.
Am I the only one who thought Jenas played pretty well yesterday? I fail to see where he went wrong.
I also think Modric has looked very lively in the last two games and he was excellent yesterday. Can not fathom why people are giving him any stick.
Keane up front was abysmal, although that was not really his fault. Fair play to him for sticking to instructions and staying high up the field. Unfortunately he is just not good enough to play that position versus Rio and Vidic. We got the ball wide in good positions several times but without crouch there was absolutely nothing to aim at when the midfield support consists of VDV, lennon and modric.
I thought Jenas was terrible, far too many misplaced passes when he could have taken simpler options. Hudd would have attempted a few of those passes too, but the difference is that they would have reached their target.
I don't think Keane even touched the ball more than 3 times, at least that's what it seemed like.
When I saw those two were in the starting line up my heart sank, but I held on to hope until the 2nd goal, when all hope was subsequently lost.
Spooks, can't believe that you of all people think Moddle "faded in the second half" - thought he was immense in that period myself...average in the first half if anything!
We were OK Saturday...but we should be aiming to be better than OK in games like this now, that is the "next step" - oh and to marmalise teams like Wigan at home (for shame)! That's where the frustration comes in.
If you go back and watch the game we had loads of possession and in good areas but never looked like scoring...just imagine that team with (dare I say it) Drogba up front - or failing that Chewie?!
Any suggestions on how I'm supposed to do any work today as well? So excited, just hope some form of cohesive back 4 turn up tonight!
I'll have to watch back Moddles performance. He buzzed, but found him to be buzzing just outside of everything.