We all agree, vdV is better than Cole
Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 10:00AM Bale out on the left, plays it to Huddlestone, Hudd to Cole, Cole step-over, loses the ball...
One two between BAE and Bale, Bale cuts in, drags ball back, plays it to Cole, Cole skips and dances around with the ball, loses possession...
Cole on the ball, fancy footwork, tricky trick, comes to nothing...
Imagine that.
In another parallel universe what you just read is playing out to a disgruntled White Hart Lane, every other week whilst Rafael van der Vaart is galvanising some other club with his superb work rate and excellent goals to games ratio. It’s a disturbing reality, I know. But shake off the concerns and be content that it’s not you experiencing it. Just another version of you. A depressive mess of a version. The poor bastard. Having to live with the misery of his club signing Joe Cole and not the Dutch maestro with the magical mojo.
Now we might be the ones living in the universe where Arsenal moved from Woolwich to North London (in that other one their bribes fell on deaf ears and they were never handed promotion to the first division post-war, just about survived financial melt-down and are currently third division – West Ham United are considered our main rivals...it’s a pretty f*cked up dimension for sure) but at least we’re not living in the one where Harry knocked back the chance to sign the Real Madrid ‘reject’.
For all of Joe Cole’s vision and touch there was always something dodgy about him for me. Five years back, the exact type of player we would have moved the earth to sign and fans would have been more than happy with it – but times have changed. We need something more than a luxury. Sure, he’s talented and on his day he can spark life into a team, but like most of the Tottenham teams in my generation, he’s inconsistent. Not the type of player who can play badly but still impact the game. Something Rafa can and has done for us.
Cole is a marquee player and in a side where everything clicks, he can get away with it. World class? Not quite. Doubt he ever had any intention of joining us and I do appreciate we got lucky with the vdV signing in that although the player was one we apparently looked at – he obviously wasn’t first choice.
Harry’s magic hug might have rubbed off positively on Cole in Lilywhite, we’ll never know. Not unless you happened to open up a worm hole and slide into that other universe where he stars for us in midfield along with Anton Ferdinand, rock in central defence and Andy Reid out on the left...because we can’t move him off the left he’s so f*cking fat. Doesn’t matter what universe you visit, there is no slim version.
At the time of writing, Rafa is 50/50 for the game against Liverpool and Cole is probably going to start on the bench. I think van der Vaart is still four weeks away from his best form for us. Couple of more pounds to lose, more work on stamina/fitness to be had. He’s doing everything he’s doing on 70%. Salivating at the prospect of him being fully fit in terms of physicality.
Regardless of my discounting of Cole and the fact that I genuinely believe that a full strength Spurs side with a new midfielder and striker (and go on then, a backup for the left-back position) would not be far off from something special – I still think we have one major bugbear to overcome.
Consistency.
We need it in abundance. Discount Cole, but discounting Liverpool would be dangerous. Shadow of the side from a couple of years back, but regardless of their ordinary workman type style, they still have one or two players of genuine quality. You know who. And we need to remember we’ve come unstuck against sides of lesser quality overall who have out worked us to claim the points.
Still, you know if Mark Lawernson isn’t backing his club this week, it’s not quite right at Anfield. I’ll be massively disappointed if we lose. vdV or no vdV I would like a DVD type performance, except with no actual release in the club shop on Monday week, because that would be unbecoming.
City are doing their best to encourage ourselves and Boltonlona. Time to place down that marker. If there has ever been a time to swagger and swashbuckle, this is it.
Hodgson might well set his team out to frustrate us. We have to show belief. I know, it's tiresome the amount of times we refer back to this belief thing, but if the players actually took time out - just for a moment - to grasp the fact they're actually pretty damn good we might see sustained confidence which will breed sustained consistency which would turn into mighty momentum.
Dawson not far off from returning. Lennon rediscovering lost form. Defoe back. Timing is perfect if we can make it count with points leading into the new year.
vdV is also, obviously, important to us. Winning without him in the side equally so.
Show some spirit and intent Tottenham.
Go for the jugular.
COYS, please.
Reader Comments (49)
2nd
going up to the game expect nothing less than a win but got a 2-2 feeling! COYMFS!!!!
@stone
Fail
Better by a LANDSLIDE. Not even if Cole got a hat-trick today.
Better by a LANDSLIDE. Not even if Cole got a hat-trick today. VDV is better than Fiberglass as well.
indeed! COYS!!
True VDV has been excellent for us and Cole has been ordinary for Pool so far but there are other factors for example Liverpool have been struggling and we have been flying which matters a lot for any new boy settling in and also Harry has usually given VDV a free role so he can just play without any responsibilities which brings out the best in him. Maybe Cole does not get that freedom under Roy and without a time machine we dont know how it would have worked out.
On the more general point of the summer window though I look at it as a missed opportunity because we had the chance to improve the strikers but spurned it and I think we would be top of the table now if our strikers were even half as good as our midfielders.
So. Joe Cole to score today then...
Cole's arse-faced and over-rated. Had he arrived, he'd have been one of those players who'd have been top-5 in a "Our Worst Signings Ever' post in about 5 yrs time. I bless the day he decided to take the yankee dollar rather than attempt to grace the hallowed turf of the temple of football that is WHL.
I know the Arse & Manure both won yesterday, but citeh and Reeboks both drawing was great for us, its another massive oppertunity to solidate our position, with 3 points and to be nicely tucked in there behind the field coming up to christmas.
We are on a good run with 3 out of 3 from our last games, F.F'S lets keep it going as you say spooks consistancy is what its all about.... nothing less than 3 points today COME ON YOU SPURS !!!!! felt like writing it in full today.
A flicky tricky trick to you too...
3 to Spurs. 1 to them? Probably - this is Tottenham after all. We will destroy them down the flanks despite rumours of doubling up etc. Defoe and VDV up front for now will do me. So much movement across the whole of our front 5. Another penalty to us somewhere along the line.
I'm up for this, got my thermals nicely warming on the radiator and am ready to go. Hope the players are. I believe!
Yeah. I like the Joe Cole vs van der Vaart comparison - there are alternatives that aren't so great.
cr'Ouch vs Torres. One of them wants to stay for life.
"What we have to do is make sure he doesn't get good service," Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.while discussing how to stop Bale.
Oh bollocks, I just knew that cunning tactician Hodgson would find Bale's weakness! In light of this revaluation - I, for one, hope Redknapp gives Bale the day off, rather than have him be made to look silly
2.1
COYS
Hope your words re: Cole do not come back to bite us today.
On his day, he is a great footballer with a spark of true genius and coupled with Torres and Kuyt could well cause us problems, especially if Hutton goes dribbling in mid-field only to lose the ball and BAE tries new versions of his 39-yard cross-field pass (it would be 45 yards but never actually gets there).
Consitency,Tottenham? we'll find out today if this is going to be another season of "marquee" victories such as Inter Milan and the Arse or whether the team will have the cojones to sweep aside poorer opposition on a regular basis.
So far, we have been in Roy of the Rovers recovery mode when what we really need is the '61 team's steamroller mode so get on it you overpaid Jessies and let's get going. COYS
We're doomed lawro is only backing us because his record of predicting wins for us is so bad, he's effectively handed Torres a couple of one on one's with gomes before a ball has been kicked.
Am expecting a dominant display bu with the sucke punch of a couple of torres goals.
Now imagine a world where we have VDV and Torrres, that would be worth crossing a few dimensions for. Cheeky bid in Jan? We could throw Keane back to his 'childhood club' as part of the bargain.
Redknapp to outsmart Hodgson by a long shot. Kaboul and Gallas need to seal the fortress and ensure Hodgson's firing tomorrow morning.
COYMFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Liverpool will score. But we'll get three. Can see us giving them plenty of trouble down the flanks.
Joe Cole is a very fine player who has been in decline for two seasons. There's a reason why Chelsea were happy to see him go! And on the subject of VdV being a lucky signing, remember Ferguson intended to sign Lee Chapman when he rang up Howard Wilkinson at Leeds; instead, of course, he was offered Cantona. The rest, as they say, is history...
Nothing to do with Joe Cole and this may be old news to some of you, but I just read on Ceefax that Michael Dawson is back in training.
He's a greedy cunt and I hope his time at the bin dippers, just like Keane's was, is a massive fail.
He was the last type of player we needed and I'm glad Levy wouldn't pay what he wanted.
Got a bad feeling about this one. I do hope i'm wrong. Cheeky bid for Torres? Can't see that happening. Cheeky bid for Caroll? He's just scored against Chelsea.
Romans Interpreter, old news? You don't get much older than Ceefax!!
This made me lose my coffee lol
"... Andy Reid out on the left...because we can’t move him off the left he’s so f*cking fat. Doesn’t matter what universe you visit, there is no slim version."
I like Joe Cole, he's great on his day but as you point out Spooks, inconsitent, flair players are something we have in abundance.
No Joe Cole on the bench for Liverpool. vdV up top with Crouch so it's a 451 morphing into a 442.
Well done to our plastic fans for slating Palacios.
Lacking composure and a leader out there. The game is far too open. It's why we are still two top quality players away from getting it right. need to be able to strangle the life out of their midfield not let them conduct play.
Yep, they have the centre of midfield tied up.
How many more injuries will we pick up ?
Kaboul & Gallas looking like a good partnership.
Bassong is sixth choice!
FUCKING ACE
Never a boring second supporting Spurs.
Brilliant!
That was a massive massive win for Spurs.
never dull with us is it gang??!! Have to say, thought we were deserving of that even though we weren't on top form. Starting to show signs of class in our results from adversity. That said, what the fuck are we playing at booing palacios like that?????? Serously bad form for Spurs fans, yes he had an absolute shocker with his passing but he's not gonna regain it hearing that from the lane, here's hoping we're not gonna turn into a prawn sandwich brigade now that we have some success.
Very true NYCYID, but the bastards are taking years off our lives!!!
Good job Joe Kinnear isn't our boss what with his ticker...
"vdV is also, obviously, important to us. Winning without him in the side equally so"
Spooky does it again.
Fantastic win. I thought the Liverpool boys lay down and died after Lennon's goal when they could have hurried things up. They didnt even care.
I love Defoe but he's an idiot for missing the target on a penalty. Bassong was a beast against Torres. No comment on Palacios.
Harry was great: Good job holding on to that last sub and letting Sandro come on at the end.
Nice bit of revenge for all of the hub caps I've lost over the years visiting the "Capital of Culture".
Well, the team made up for the boring game on Wednesday ;). And how! No subs left to make changes at half time, a goal down, a penalty missed, and _still_ came back to win.
Hopefully this kick starts Lennon's season. Both wingers free scoring ... awesome!
And wtf is with cheering Palacios' successful passes - hardly going to help his confidence.
I heart Spurs.
That was so good.
Just magic.
And agree with the others....the treatment of Palacios is hardly gonna help the situation.
Fuck Palacios, he needs to get a grip or be shown the door.
This is where criticism of Palacios belongs. On the internet. Perhaps also in coffee shops, pubs and in vehicles with mates. Bawl him out to your heart's content in these places. When you step into the hallowed cathedral that is White Hart Lane, you have but one obligation;support the players, no matter what, for ninety fucking minutes. Nothing less. End of. Some of us Spurs supporters need to be reminded these days, it seems.
For Crouchy haters out there - FUCK YOU ALL, you miserable ungrateful pricks. How many crucial assists Lanky has to have to outright win us points so that you can fucking finally give the man some credit? Or are you ready to again stink this place up with butt-talk how Pav The Lazy Cunt should start ahead of THE MAN?
While I like Crouch I have always felt he needs the ball to his feet not his head, while knock downs to vdV from wide have been a feature this season it shouldnt be forgotten that this was the first time hoofing the ball up to him from defence has worked.
Palacios had a bad first half, and not a great second, unfortunately with the injuries Harry couldnt take the pressure off him and had to make him play through the problem. Has anyone else noticed today that all the papers are reporting how bad it is for Liverpool to have Caragher injured? with little or no mention of the two injuries we suffered on top of the ones we have already, seems odd. 2subs used and down the first 4 out of 6 center backs inside half an hour and everyone seems to think it was because liverpool were without a defender for 15 minutes that they lost
I thought the same about journos’ hypocrisy regarding the injuries, as you did, bonse. Fact is that VdV and Kaboul are individually greater loss to Spurs than the former Spur to the Loserpool. Poor souls as Lennon caused them to ditch their already written praises for the “rising Pool”. Rising my azz. If anything is rising today it is the Spurs quality and confidence. We are a different team now. Big Four teams used to outrun us, but not any more. Pool players had a nightmare keeping up with fast feet of Bale, Luka, Hutton, Defoe and Lennon, who never let off of the fast pace. Palacios was Ok once he gave up on impersonating Luka, and sticking to strong tackles and short passes.
What we need now is a bit of confidence from next weekend's game (brum away won't be easy) going into the match with the chavs.
A full week off might even allow a few of our returning players to get up to speed and back off the physio bench!
Excellent win.
In a week when we qualified for the knock-out stages of the CL, we beat the club we displaced in that competition.
They came to WHL with a point to prove: we're fakers, and it should have been them, not us.
They came intent on taking back what should have been theirs - authority and stature.
We didn't let them. What we have we hold.
What a heroic performance , even with Kaboul and the flying dutchman injured an with a struggling Palacios we beat the scousers + city and bolton draw ... great weekend again.
Anyone know when JJ is back btw ?