How to win a North London Derby, by Harry Redknapp and supporting cast
Monday, November 22, 2010 at 12:07PM Arsenal 2 Spurs 3
Oh ye of little faith. Myself included. Go on, hands up, even in the dejection and misery felt when the second Arsenal goal went in who had a feeling that somehow we were not out of the game? Even if you couldn't quite bring yourself to believe, I'm certain there were many of us out there who took solace in the fact that surely things would not get any worse which would mean they could only get better. And Spurs, when they do better it's not the bog standard type of bland and boring good. It's undeniable heart in mouth fantastic good.
The way we shaped up for the first half wasn't the only problem we gave ourselves. Giving space to Fabregas and the scum allowing for infinite time on the ball for them to lap up whilst we failed to display any guile or determination, brushed aside with ample easy. It was all gearing up to be another textbook Emirates humiliation. Let's all lube up and bend over because it's less work than standing up against the wall and throwing the bar of soap at their smug terrorising face.
Not sure what the worst highlight of the first half was for me. Gomes trying to claim the ball softly softly, scared it might suddenly and inexplicably evolve into something with a mouth and bite his hands off. Our Brazilian preferring to squander it allowing Nasri (the first ever female professional footballer to participate amongst men) to score from an acute angle for the 1-0. Cheap. Stupidly cheap. The ball from deep that found its way into the path of the ugly bint was from our seasoned tormenter Cesc who was given the freedom of the park to turn and pass. You felt at this ever so early juncture he would do this at will.
Another highlight was Nasri running off to celebrate, screaming out and slapping his chest and badge. I guess all for Willy G's benefit. Calm down Zizou. The second goal was another nomination for worst highlight of the first forty five. Because of the nature of its birth. Pav, keeping the ball in, but not in our possession (not that I'm blaming him but he started the move, the unlucky sod, from our own penalty area) for them to then counter attack off the back of it and score - it was easy. Comfortable. Effortless.
Cracking stuff. Sorry I meant cacking stuff. I was cacking it.
Surrendering by virtue of not turning up. Again. I was being inundated with texts messages and tweets. Laugh out loud they told me. I was at home, on my own in the living room, with the missus pottering about in the kitchen/bedrooms/wherever tidying up. Still slightly more noise than you'd expect to find at the Emirates, especially once she started to hoover up the hallway. But I sat in solitude, no words from my mouth other than a muttering of 'ffs'.
Volume on the tv was turned down, I didn’t bother with the half-time Sky Sports assessment. I didn't need two pundits and a presenter to tell me we were f*cking sh*t. It's not like Arsenal were tearing us a new one. They were having a go. Okay perhaps they were tearing us a new one because a comparison of both sides would have had us at opposite sides of the footballing spectrum.
They dominated possession, had us chasing shadows. Slick passing whilst we burst lungs for what seemed like nothing.
But yet that whisper in my mind taunted and teased me. It's only two nil right? I playfully posted on the Glory Glory forum at half time we'd win 3-2. A gleeful prediction shared out of desperation. First five minutes I said to myself, we'll know if once more we have displayed a lack of mental strength and belief that will doom us to yet another away failure to them and a 69th away game without a win to the traditional Top 4.
Within five minutes of the re-start, we scored.
It's the type of irony that I'd happily share a bed with and go bareback. Here is Tottenham Hotspur. Unused clipboard. No tactics. Completely out of the game and suddenly not just back in it with a goal but looking like we believe we could get something more out of it.
Harry is not Jose. Never will be. And it's usually all pretty much reactive and instinctive in terms of application. He adapts to the predicament and the players react to his new instructions. It's refreshing, be it naïve at times, and frustrating (the question still remains: Why not start off the opening minute the way we started off the 46th minute?).
Harry twitched and tweaked. He narrowed the midfield so that we were no longer stretched on the flanks. Tightened it up so that we could not just stand up against their midfield but take the fight to them - make them chase us and the ball. And the introduction of Defoe (on for the sacrificed Lennon) was the catalyst for the comeback.
BAE finding Defoe who jumped six hundred feet into the air to head the ball onto van der Vaart who had sixteen Arsenal players around him, pushing the ball into the path of a marauding rampant Bale who caressed it with one touch and passed it into the net with this another. It was bliss. It was a punch to the gut of the enemy that left them winded unable to stand up in defiance. World class control and finish from a player that will be world class in time.
We can chat away amongst ourselves about how they reacted to our goal, if you want. Perhaps for all their fancy pretty football and stand-out individuals, they lack a spirit and belief they once had in abundance. Who cares? I don't. We've been gutless for years and in the past two we've grown in stature and I'm hardly going to make excuses for the opposition. If they can't handle it and if they allow themselves to be engulfed by a resurgence in-game, then boo f*cking hoo. It makes them not good enough to win. Our places on that football spectrum - reversed.
As the minutes ding donged by we started to show commitment. Pride. Apparently at half-time Harry had a go at Bale for shaking Sagna's hand after a clash. Told him off, explaining we are not 'nice guys'. Whatever you say about Harry and his agenda(s), he wants to win. And if he's our manager then that means he wants us to win. He worked magical mojo at half-time that galvanised the side and allowed our top players to further galvanise the ones around them.
This meant the likes of vdV and Modric were now more involved able to play to their strengths. JD up top with Pav, vdV out on the right but running into central positions. 4-4-2, be it not set in stone. We were set up with one thing in mind. Attack. The intent forged with leadership - something you might nod towards the opposition and agree they lacked. It was more direct in style in terms of pushing forwards but it was effective and it instilled confidence.
How many times have we seen this now? Never say die Spurs. We lived dangerous at times but we have to accept that this new breed of Spurs has it in them to claw themselves back from the brink.
Belief.
Luka weaving and dinking through red shirts only to be fouled (more irony here - isn't it Wenger who constantly bangs on about flair players being hacked down constantly?) allowing for Kaboul and Rafa to stand over the ball, surveying options. Blast it through or curl it around?
What we got was a gift, one to cancel out the generosity of the first we gave them. Hands up if you're a bottler? Thank you Cesc. Heart in mouth once more. Cool as you like, Rafa sends him the wrong way. There's even time for some age-old conspiracy support work from Phil Dowd who booked Raf for placing his finger to his mouth whilst running past and looking at the Arsenal fans before he got to the away section to celebrate. Because that's really really worth a yellow card that. Unlike, I don’t know, an Arsenal player scoring at one end of the pitch and running down to the other end and sliding in front of the away fans.
2-2. And one or two red scarfed fans must have muttered to each other about choking and capitulation. Usually associated with Lily white and not ghastly red. Unlike the classic 4-4 there was still time on the clock and the third goal helped to illustrate that even though our defence is much maligned (with three key players out) their defence (with one key player out) is at times as accommodating us ours. I'd still prefer Gomes between the sticks than what they have to choose from.
In came the cross from Rafa (yet again involved), Kaboul's touch with his head finding its way into the net. This was now ridiculous. Uncharted (well, forgotten) territory. 2-0 down, 3-2 up. 17 years finally ended. Sixty eight games laid to rest. How very dare we. Can the new script-writer be signed on a 20 year contract please?
I screamed and shouted like a mad man whilst the missus (now sitting on the sofa whilst I bounced off the walls) asked me, "You're not going to start crying, are you?"
I held the tears back, man up I told myself. Like the eleven heroes standing proud on the swamp, within touching distance of a win. I remembered the words of a gooner (via Twitter) at half-time telling me in an unholy patronising manner that it was all okay because we had Bale and you never know - we might roar back in the second half. Now that's irony. I think there must be a network outage in his area because he's not been online since.
Eleven heroes.
And in amongst the talismanic leader and undoubted world class ability of van der Vaart and our crafter of creative work Luka we had Gareth 'never does it in the league' Bale and a certain Jermaine Jenas who has managed to make us forget that Huddlestone is missing from our midfield. At the back Kaboul, continuing to grow and mature and casting himself as a brand new NLD 'legend' for popping up with the winner.
And then there's William Gallas. Not good enough to have his hand shaken by Nasri, but more than good enough to shake the spark out of his former team-mates. Whether he is reclaiming past form or played to impress because of the occasion (or a combination of both) he deserves the plaudits for a commanding performance. And I hope he continues to play at this level. He has done himself a massive favour, endearing himself to the faithful. He's proved a point, to us, himself and them lot down the road.
I wasn't sure what to make of Harry handing him the captains armband. I'm hardcore Tottenham like most of you I guess, and it's sometimes hard to see past certain emotions. It's naturally not going to sit well seeing other players bypassed and Gallas made captain, but it was a stroke of genus. Inspired. If it wasn't for his effort first half we might have been punished further, with the game out of sight before half time arrived.
To win, in this manner, and to have Arsenal collapse on their own patch and take a hard kick to their chest from our boot - it was all rather majestic. Adding this onto the back of our 2-1 Lane victory and seeing how a similar hoodoo with Chelsea was finally laid to rest in recent times - it's not something to be dismissed as a mere fluke. We've grown a set of balls. Hopefully this victory will kick-start a run of games where the focus is evident from the start rather than appearing mid way through. Cease the moment and all that type of stuff.
Post-match was equally telling. vdV once more displaying the mindset that we've never had in the past - suggesting we move onto the next game. I like that. Not for the first time he's saying quite publicly - keep your feet firmly on the ground. But that's not to say we - the fans - can't gloat. Just a little. It's deserved.
Shall we make a dvd? Perhaps Arsenal will release one covering the first half only.
We dared to do. It was a thing of beauty to watch them lot display the type of traits we have been cursed with in the past. Plenty of graft to be had yet. But you sense no open bus parade mentality any more from us. Just the desire to improve.
Kudos to Harry. Even if it takes us 45 minutes for us to find our way. Although there is something wonderful about the guts and spirit we now possess. We obviously have no need for a clipboard. Maybe we can lend it to Arsene Wenger. As long as it doesn't come back broken.
Spurs; as likely to win the title as Arsenal. For a backhanded compliment, that pretty much shows the demise of the dark gulf that has separated us for so long. Not off the back of this single away day comeback. But over the past 2/3 seasons. They are still a good side and we still have to finish above them to truly claim the tide has turned. But it's hardly beyond the realms of possibility any more.
Going forwards, this game, this NLD, is no longer one we should look ahead to and knowingly have to endure. We can now look forward…and enjoy.
Come. On. You. Spurs.
Reader Comments (141)
Got to love GoonerGerry though. I bet he was front row and centre when they beat our reserve side at WHL earlier in the season. No they don't care about spurs at all.
Yet all their top stories on newsnow appear to be how gutting the defeat was? Funny that.
"They are still a good side and we still have to finish above them to truly claim the tide has turned"
Come back when you've won a few titles and finished above us for 15 consecutive seasons (94\95 was the last time in case you needed reminding) then I might take you seriously.
300 euros? is that how much you earn these days for having your arse shagged for an hour?
GG - jealous of your club? Do you have any comprehension how despised you lot are? With the team and style and success you've had you are some of the most miserable emotionless fans in the country. Your club was reborn under Wenger. But that doesn't make you lot any less of a cunt(s). As displayed by manager - players - and many of your smug gloating fans.
Horrible club. Horrible fan base. Thanks but no thanks.
Rob, try finding a goonerblog.
Cheers.
Rob. keep up the good work.
happy happy joy joy.
so much sweeter to hear your despair.
Cheers, that'll do!
Alan@Nov 22, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Nah.
Cheers.
@ouji Nov 22, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Not despair, was gutted but thought it was a great game. Was just responding to a deluded comment in this post.
maybe a gooner would care to explain why when Nasri scored her goal she started spinning her head around , neighing and banging her tits? Is this a gooner thing?
She has the look of a lesbian loose women presenter.
Rob, come back when you have something interesting/original/insightful to say. Then we might start taking you seriously.
I don't normally post comments, but Saturday was a very special day. Not just for the result. My step-daughter and I had spent an hour of Saturday morning waiting patiently in line at Waterstones Hemel Hempstead for the honour of meeting/speaking to/getting a book signed by/having our photo taken with ... Ricky Villa !!! (Yes, I know...Ricky Flippin' Villa!!!!!!! Still can't believe it. What a lovely man!) I raced home in time for the game thinking "This is a special day, nothing can possibly go wrong now".
Well, I confess that at half-time I was moaning and complaining like a 12 year old girl to my step-daughter (who IS a 12 year old girl) that my day CANNOT be ruined by this game!! Even at 2-0 down, something felt...unusual. As if 'something' was about to happen.
So, to whoever heard my tearful half-time prayer...to whoever silenced the gooner next door and stopped him bouncing off the walls of his bedroom...to whoever caused the contents of Whinger's water bottle to kick back at him...to the series of events which conspired to wipe that smug look off Henry's face just before the 5mins of added-on time" board came up...I thank you. A lot. Thank you for making it a very lovely day.
(Oh, and did anyone see Matthew "Jack from LOST" Fox standing next to Henry with that look on his face that he had most of the time in LOST when he was about to cry? Priceless.
Another entertaining read. Cheers Spooky.
Mr. H. String: Who cares how much money you made this morning? Why do we give a rat's if you have any pussy lined up (people who announce that sort of thing, are usually the most desperate for female companionship). Your personal insecurity is palpable.
Ouji, that is some funny shit. 'Lesbian loose women presenter' - a literallly perfect decsription.
the dvd is just being made!! and posted to Nasri and co..........now shut the xxxk up ha ha
300 Euros!! wow - you must be working at Tescos something - part time?. no worries - 5 more years of sweeping the floor and you will make the bread section mate. well done!!!
I am so frikkin happy it's untrue. I had to have a little sleep at about 7pm on Saturday due to "over-stimulation" (i was fairly p*ssed).
Love the comments from the apparently uncaring Arsenal fans. Makes it all the sweeter. Most of my Arsenal supporting friends have actually congratulated spurs which, although is very sporting of them, it takes a lttle bit of fun out of it.
Profile;
Herpes String
Age - 12
Job - Rent Boy
Residence - Woolwich
Girlfriend - His Mum
Main Client - His Dad
COYS
Must admit i teared up..the day after! (the pints of guinness held back the pansy side) . 17 fucking long ass years to witness a comeback from 2 down, the gods sure have a screwed up way to grant us some joy..but what joy!
All round good team performance. Gomes's save before the third was key.. bless you, you Brazilian nutter. Never a dull moment with your literally heart stopping moments. Not good for the ol'ticker though.
Bremen up next.. win it please.
herdee, i see what you did there son. good luck in seeking new ways to compensate the lack of attention you receive in life.
COYS!!
The fact the goons are turning up on here today says everything you need to know about this result. It hurts them...so bad.
They can say it is one win, but it is two on the bounce against them in the league. This is called progress. We are building towards something, they are keeping things together with sticking plasters.
Next time we go to their new library the players know they can win, and the goons know we can too..
We have hurdled a huge physchological barrier, we need to keep going and hurdle a few more (Man U please) and then who knows how high we can reach..it's great times for us..enjoy..
With each bitter gooner's appearance on this blog, the win becomes that much more satisfying. I've got absolutely no urge to visit any gooner sites, now or in the past, and I guess the result must really have pissed off a few of our friends down the road. spooky, you really should keep herpes string's posts saved for posterity; some classic lines from him - cricket ffs!
Only one comment to make after a thought provoking game.
Ian Wright, ha ha ffs, ha ha , jesus h christos, he looked at though he sucked cheese strings dick. (and liked it!!)
fluke... dive... bale's over rated... i don't care about spurs or their fans but can't stop refreshing to see if they've responded to my latest comment... you don't have jobs... i have a good job and a bird... you don't... invincibles... thierry henry... fabregas... look at the stats... wengers great... EMIRATES!... wenger out... you didn't win, we gave it to you... 1961... none of your players would get in our team...
ad nauseam.
Loving it. Marching on together.
haha great post genericgoon, you're most welcome here!
It's the bitterness from the goons that makes this far more enjoyable:) (though I admit I have an inkling that it's our own fans posting in disguise, if only because surely even the goons can't be THAT bad at spelling!)
to my dearest goons..........across the way .......youve appeared on our blog just for one day....what you say is talking shite.......loser's sad and no self respect ..............throwing tantrums on the net..........i guess you call it suicide.......to chase the spurs in flight........but dont be down.. ask arsene round ......to get you through the nite
Hilarious.... little Sp*d w*nker watching the match on telly and creaming his knickers.... you won your little cupfinal .. so very impressive...Go win the EPL, or go a season unbeaten.... do.. something... anything of note and then you can crow...
As likely to win the title as Arsenal?? Have you seen the league table? Been near any bookies lately...?
Love the bit about Harry having a go at Bale for being nice. If that's true it's an absolute gem.
Love the focus of VDV as well after the game... "Yeah, that was great, Now let's win the CL game on Wednesday."
Man, these last two seasons have been among the happiest times I've had as a Spurs fan... And I've been trudging up to the Lane for over 30 years and include the Burkinshaw/Hoddle/Ardiles days in that.
welcome Steveo, nice post. it's real, it happened, not watching MOTD or Goals on Sunday, not buying the NOTW, not buying today's Sun, or Game pullout, not looking at the bbc website, does not change the fact that you lost at home, after leading 2-0, to the are you Tottenham in disguise team..
have a nice day..
Why did I bother writing all that out, Steveo is clearly the most generic goon of all. It had everything. Invincibles, title, 'spud', won your cup final, have you seen the league table?
You sir are a red and white gift.
Brilliant.
very enjoyable column . I mean anything else I could add is not needed. We are celebrating in fine style at a certain pub.
cheers.
A red and white gift? Like a bloody tampon?
Good description of the visitors on here today.
spooky, i appreciate this fake character you have invented in herdee string, but i assure you, the need for extra entertainment at these moments is not necessary when i have the highlights at my disposal.
but i really do appreciate the sentiment nonetheless - its very thoughtful of you :)
COYS x
Bottom line... Spurs and Arsenal are closer now, than they have been in 10- 20 years. Tottenham are moving forward. Arsenal are staying the same or moving backwards. Undeniable.
Carling cup proved it, we played a far weaker team than you, It used to mean a lot to spurs, now it means more to Arsenal to be in it. Then it comes to the real game, the EPL. We win and you are shitting yourselves.
Arsenal's manager, fans and players are all arrogant, stupid and mouthy, now you need to eat humble pie. COYMFS!
steveo. oh dear.....,,,,,,,take a pill......the fact is the EPL is up for grabs for the next few years as times change.......the honeymoon is over
Dear Goons,
The fact that you come on here to state that you don't care and it doesn't matter clearly shows the world that you do and it does. I think you all secretly want to be Arsene's water bottle, abused and mistreated by him, before being lovingly cradled and told it will all be ok soon, this is a team for the future.
Little Spud wanker who is a season ticket holder of 6 years who has to sacrifice going to games to cater for his 6 month baby daughter who will grow up to hate sorry miserable cuntos like you.
Sticketh up your bollocks haters.
"As likely to win the title as Arsenal?? Have you seen the league table? Been near any bookies lately...?"
I've seen the league table. There's hardly anything in it. Add to it the fact that you lot are shit and I'll say you have no chance of winning. Like us.
Yeah...ok GG.... But what have you actually done? What's all the fuss about here? I prefer my irony a little less overdone.....
Arsenal are a side holding onto the past, somethign we've been guilty of for so long. 5 years no silverware for a club that is meant to be head and shoulders above most of the rest? The Prem is going to crack and shatter in the next season or two. You best hope Wenger wakes up and works out how he's holding you lot back.
Why are goons posting here? Have you all book marked Spurs blogs?
Bitter, bitter, bitter
Oh.. and we only come on here because your pathetic little site links into Arsenal newsnow and such...... and to wind you neanderthall bell-ends up.......
Oh and wasn't it lovely that Thierry Henry was there to witness the game!!!! :D
wind up? your presence is reassuring us all how bad you are all feeling..
cant wait to see more of defoe, vaart modric and .bale..............nxt!
I have to apologise for some my idiot brethren. They have parallel thoughts to our manager which is why we're never blossoming into the team we should be. Time we admitted we have masses of problems. Defence is not half as good as we think it is, made worse by our goalkeeping issue and lack of activity of AW with sorting it. A criminal negligence that will cost us dearly in the long run. Our midfield on its day can out play anyone but can we finish teams off? No. Can we muster strength to overcome teams that don't roll over for us and give us space to play? No.
Our problems are far more tricky to fix than those of the likes of Spurs and City who are on the up and just need to shore up certain areas.
Tough times ahead. Can see us losing more home games this season and with Fabregas off we best hope WIlshire steps up to the task.
Jack from Lost was standing next to Henry. How apt.
The one thing I miss about working in England is not being able to go to work amongst all the "we let you win" gooners. That would have kept me laughing for days.
Lets not get carried away. We have to be honest with ourselves - for much of the game it was a poor performance on top of a number of poor performances this season. The first halves of Bern, Inter, Arsenal and Fulham away were woeful - as poor as I can remember. The second halves against Wigan, Stoke and Bolton werent much better. Granted the injury list is crazy - adding Hudd to it was an act of cruelty from the football gods. Not many teams could cope with the loss of Hudd, King, Dawson and Woodgate, especially with Lennon and Defoe being miles away from full fitness. Even gooners would have to admit that these are good players. (As an aside, they are also all English - wtf is that all about?). But the truth is, we arent really coping with these losses in the way a Man Utd would.
Currently we are muddling through. Its all very well saying "that's Redknapp's way, he always lays open football" etc, but it isnt true, is it? Last season's success was based on a solid platform, a strong defence and the predatory instincts of the forwards. This season's platform is very wobbly indeed - its like a prize fighter throwing heavyweight punches while balancing on rollerskates. We're gonna miss Hudd terribly. No arguments, no nonsense, we're going to miss him at a season defining time. Harry needs to work out some tactics, because what we saw on Saturday isnt the answer.
Of course this all sounds downbeat, when infact I am of course very pleased to have won on Saturday. Its all very well the gooners saying we put too much emphasis on one game, but it simply isnt true that we put more emphasis on this than they do. Remember when they beat our 3rd string in extra time in a meaningless cup a few weeks ago? Now that, my friends, was an overreaction. The truth is, even if subconsciously, Arsenal fans can see what is developing at WHL and they are worried that their period of dominance is under threat. Make no mistake - I am no over-optimist (by any stretch of the imagination) - but with the above listed players back and fully functional, Spurs have the best squad in the country and will win an awful lot of games. Come February / March, if Spurs have kept themselves in contention, we could see something special. Almost by stealth we've pulled together the most talented group of players in our history - and certainly one of the best in the land today.
To the game itself, as other have said, Arsenal imploded. But why? Partly they lack leadership and a will to win. There was only one winner when the 2nd went in. They became ragged and nervous. As Spokey himself said, they became like we used to be. Dont for one minute under-estimate the impact Bale had on that nervousness. Having scored the first goal, he ran into the net to retrieve the ball, raced back to half way and got it on the spot for the restart. What did this say to Arsenal? It said, we're back in this game and raring to go. You miay have had the upper hand for 50 minutes, but the next 40 are ours, and we dont want to waste a second. He did the same away to Inter, and it had the same effect. Suddenly the dominant Arsenal players had doubt - what does he know that we dont? I doubt any of this went through Bale's mind, but if it did, he is a pychological genius.
As to the ratings, personally I would only score Gallas, Kaboul, VDV and Bale above 5/10. The rest were below average. Modders had a decent 2nd half, but that doesnt make up for a woeful first 45, where he and Jenus chased shadows. BAE was woeful again - he is fast becoming the weakest link. Pav was anonymous - inexcusable in a NLD.
So fellow yiddos, be happy, but be warned. We need to improve tactically and we need to get key players back on the pitch before we get carried away.
Did anyone notice just before our first goal Rafa kissed the ball as it dropped from the sky before stroking it into Bale's path??? What a signing, £8million buys you just about 33% of a James milner!