Me like Meelan
Monday, December 20, 2010 at 8:41PM Hello and apologies to all resident regulars and Levyists. It's that time of year where I might find myself sporadically posting if and when I have the chance to do so thanks to the commitments of Christmas and the seasonal festivities of food, drink and drink. Baby Jesus would approve.
There's hardly that much going on at the moment (transfer target nonsense does not count) other than looking forward to the Xmas fixtures, if they take place. What with snowfall dominating this past weekend we might be in for some more. Took me an hour and a half to get from Bath to Paddington and then four or so hours to somehow navigate my way through the decimated London underground labyrinth. At one point I was so lost I half expected David Bowie to appear out of nowhere, mocking me whilst dancing whimsically. Alas, he didn't, but there were still plenty of muppets standing at the barriers dishing out mis-information about the best route home.
Snow. It's unforgiving and shows no mercy. Cheeky bid? Could do with some of that up front. Talking of which, no game at Blackpool (one of many postponed). Spurs fans who travelled, one or two stayed over thanks to their hotel bookings and enjoyed a night out. Apparently the pitch was good to go in terms of playability (by how much I'm not sure) but the police deemed it all a bit of a risk in terms of safety. Which is fine, gives one or two players further room for recovery in time for next weekend and the New Year and eliminates playing on a surface that could have given us more knocks. Although there is plenty of debate about people (i.e. fans) being more than capable of travelling to and from a location (i.e. the game) much like people who went to work or travelled for non-footballing matters over the weekend. Spurs fans still went out Saturday night and travelled home the next night, so…ah, it doesn't matter does it? The slush around Bloomfield Road obviously of dangerous ilk. And us simple folk are not to be trusted in numbers.
So up next, weather permitting?
Villa away, Newcastle at home, Fulham at home, Everton away. Four games. 12 points please. Season defining this run of games. I say this in jest because everybody knows that this season is hardly one where sides are building up momentum over 5-10 games. Doesn't mean I can't ask for the moon on a stick, what with it being the time of year when Santa delivers to those that have been good. And we have been very good. Santa, if you're reading, two things. Firstly, never red son, never red. You'd look dapper in white and blue. Secondly, please unload your sack at the Lane. Specifically on the 16th Jan when Manchester United visit.
12 points. Plus an additional three. Equals 15. Moon on a stick? I want Howard Webb on a stick, roasting over a winter bonfire.
One early Crimbo present already on our lap and unwrapped consisted of a plum tie in the first round of knock-out games in the Champions League. Meelan. Away then at home.
Ibra, Pato, Pirlo, Robinho, Ronaldihno, Cassano, Flamini, Kevin Prince Boateng etc etc
Oh wait up.
Pato (I think) is injured. Robinho is the very very short Brazilian version of Peter Crouch (good with his feet rubbish in the air ) but arguably better dance moves. Cassano is decent when he isn't a mentalist which is always. Ronaldihno is more Jar Jar Binks than he is original Ronaldihno and apparently on his way back to Brasil. Flamini? Really? Okay so he's not bad but if we're going to worry about his pace along with the electricity of KPB, we may as well default now.
Inzaghi is injured and could be forced into early retirement at the young age of 37, so sadly no Battle Royal between him and tag team partner Jermain Defoe doubling up against the sly and mischievous offside trap.
Not that I'm dismissing AC Milan. Far from it. One word. Zlatan. Well actually more than one word: Best team in Serie A currently who might not have a great home record (1 W 5 D 3 L) in Europe but are better on their travels (3 W 4 D 2 L). Would much prefer a side we are not expected to beat than one we are expected to beat. The Spurs way. Rather them than a lesser side where complacency might eat us up.
For me, this is the definitive learning curve of our European adventure. You'd expect them to watch a few DVD's, do their homework and do a number on us, exterminating our plucky efforts. You'd expect them to. So do we play to our strengths or play to their weaknesses? Enter the empty clipboard and 'arry.
Looking forward to vdV v Zlatan. Gareth Bale back to the arena where he was invented up against their not as decent as Macion fullback - this could be tasty. All eyes on their deep lying playmaker conductor Pirlo. All eyes on our midfield line-up. No choke in the San Siro. Heads up and focus.
Prediction? Narrow defeat away. Glory Glory night back at the Lane. It's going to be epic. Because the alternative (a spanking or that predicated professional extermination many neutrals and the pessimistic amongst us are whispering) would be disappointing, be it no massive disgrace.
15th and 9th of Feb are the dates to pencil in. If you're wondering, it's Sunderland away on the 12th Feb and FA Cup weekend on the 18th followed by Wolves away on the 5th March (with another FA Cup weakened after it). Busy days, happy days.
I have more to share, but I'll leave it for another pocket of opportunity.
Reader Comments (33)
Spot on as always, l was kind of worried, no "news" for to many days.
Fecking snow! Spent the best part of two weeks stuck on SE trains going nowhere! All that for shite for a cost of 4k per year. Dirty thieving scum!!
Watching bin dippers mark deux beating Citeh! Keep it tight you scousers, keep it tight!
Dead boring at the minute. Other than City losing at home to Everton.
Great stuff.Wonder if we will see Beckham against his old team?!
Cassano is a Sampdoria player.
I went to see them play Chievo at the San Siro the Saturday before we played Inter. They won 3-1 and yes they are an ageing side, but they make up for it by doing the simple things well. Seedorf doesn't run around like he used to, but his pass completion rate is high. Gattuso skippers the side and is 100% committed, he has no fear and he reminded me of Steve Perryman, every team would want him. Ibrahimovic could come and play for us any day of the week, he is a class act. KPB will be up for it and I can see him clumsily 'doing' someone a la Ballack.
AC are a nicer club than Inter, more passion, pride and history, founded by Englishmen hence not being called Milano. They won't be a pushover, but they are beatable and Roma did 'em Saturday in the SS. It can be done and we play the right way to do it. I go totally with your prediction, though possibly getting a draw out there. We'll exhaust them at the Lane, but watch out for Ibrahimovic. One stupid mistake by our CBs and he'll make us suffer. We'll win the tie!
whos going? im thinking of combining some hot romance action weekend away in italy (its st spendalots day on the 14th with a "oh lordy theres a spurs match on".... i might even get away with it.....
On the lash in Blackpool. No football but two out of three aint bad.
Cassona is technically with Sampdoria but the rumours are he's AC Milan bound. He's out of favour after insulting the president or chairman of the club.
Cassano is on his way to Milan, so they say. James Richardson is the oracle.
Cheers Spooky for a nice (farewell) to my Christmas & New Year in the UK. Off to Goa in the morning, snow, runways and planes permitting. I understand from 'The Goa Forum' that there is no internet where we're Goain, so difficult to keep up to date with the holiday fixture list.
Nuff said, Merry holidays all, I want to return on the 7th to lots of nice comments about how everyone played out of their skins etc.
Oh and if I do get there, I will think of you all whilst on the beach on Xmas day..............ha!
Merry Christmas Spooky. You dirty dog.
Looks like he is an AC Milan player.
Cassano a 3 1/2 year deal through to 2014. Berlusconi says Milan are signing him in part "because it seems Ronaldinho may leave"
lets hope for a glory glory festive period, merry Christmas fellow spurs lovers!!
Merry Xmas to all on this site. City just lost to Everton 1-2. Chuffed, I am .
You wanna roast Howard Webb in front of a log fire? lol
I think we have a decent chance given that a) we score at the san siro and b) we can keep the defecit to just a goal. Not that I'm being defeatest (honest), but our progress though this competition is going to be dependant on our home form.
I agree with most that the extendedbreak may help us with oiur players returning, but my worry would be the fixture being replayed in a part of the season when there is a log-jam of games any way. The last thing we want is for the replay to jepordise a more important game.
Any ideas when the postponed games are being replayed?
COYS.
Merry Xmas chaps and chapettes.
Yids celebrate Xmas ? Is that legal ?
Cassano looks likely to sign in January, I think he might be cup tied though, played for Sampdoria in CL Qualifiers...would that make him ineligible? Pato is injured but should be back for the Champions League games, Ronaldinho looks like he might be gone though. I think a major factor is whether Thiago Silva plays or not, if he doesn't then Milan are very vulerable at the back, Nesta can't hold it on his own. Having said that against Milan, Gattuso was man marking Ronaldo and to be honest, done a pretty good job at it too, he was pretty quiet, so I'd imagine that's how they will look at tackling Gareth Bale. With regard to the Roma game at the weekend, they looked disinterested, Pirlo went off injured and Seedorf didn't have his best game when he came on, Ibrahimovic also looked off-colour, but if he is up for it, he is an awesome and scary prospect. "Prince" has been looking very good recently (albeit shite against Roma), and he will really want to get his own back on Spurs for dumping him (admittedly looking like it may have have been a poor choice now)
You can bet your bottom dollar that we won't win at Sunderland on Sat 12 Feb. Got a poor record up there (long travel plus they are a tough side to beat on their home patch) and our minds will be entirely on the CL game the following Tuesday. No matter how much we call for passion, pride and commitment the fact is the players are only human and they can't go balls-out for two games inside four days.
I have a moon on a stick if you want to borow it. No howard webb sadly.
Seasonal salutations and all that jazz to Spooks and all fellow yids.
Merry Christmas to all.
It has been a great year all told, so many surprises and unexpected victories to give us all a warm glow looking back.
As Spurs fans, surely we know that next year will be all down-hill won't it?
Most likely scenario is that Harry finally lands a diamond-geezer striker who is cup-tied for the CL, who scores a hat-trick in his first game and then gets injured for 2 months. This is closely followed by the Milan game where Gatuso finishes Bale for the rest of the season and KPB does the same to Modric after we have been reduced to 10 men by a repeat performance from Gomes, and then 9 men after VDV takes out Ibrahimovic with a well-timed head-but in the groin. Milan go on to win 1-0 and hold us to a goaless draw at the Lane.
Harry's court case goes belly-up and he becomes a guest of Her Majesty for a couple of months during March and April, but in spite of all the problems we just need to win our last game to finish 4th again when Danny, needing to economise for his new stadium plans, hires the same caterers for the pre-match meal that we used before the famous Spammers game and finish the match with only 8 players and a terrible smell hanging over the ground, losing 7-0.
Yes, plenty to look forward to!
Happy New Year
Luka, 30m quid, good bit of business that, tidy bit of business, we already got Sandro as his replacement, we can use the money towards the new ground, and if we ship Bale out too we could name a stand after him, the Welsh Wizard stand in Stratford, it might catch on, the VDV executive box, the Jenas burger stand, you never know what could happen.
lol
For a second I thought you were serious until I got to the Sandro bit.
Lads
Have yerselves a good festive period.
Villa (a) - 1pt
Newcastle (h) - 1pt
Fulham (h) - 3pts
Everton (a) - 1pt
Man United (h) - 3pts
Milan (a) - 0-0
Milan (h) - 2-1
Thats my predictions
Anyway I've checked it out and no team has ever won the Champions League and beaten both Milan clubs on the way. Lets make history. In 98/99 Manure beat Inter & Juve along the way so we wont make history by beating 2 italian clubs in the one tournament.
To do is to dare
Happy xmas all
Mine.
Villa (a) - 3pts
Newcastle (h) - 3pts
Fulham (h) - 3pts
Everton (a) - 1pt
Man United (h) - 3pts
Milan (a) - 2-2
Milan (h) - 2-1
Mine.
Villa (a) - 1pts
Newcastle (h) - 1pts
Fulham (h) - 3pts
Everton (a) - 3pt
Man United (h) - 1pts
Milan (a) - 1-1
Milan (h) - 3-1
Come on you Spurs
Modric to Bolton. It's done.
/\ Wrong article /\
Meant to be a replay to Jimmy in the other blog post.
Dave K, you really are a "Glass is half empty" kind of guy aren't you. The year ends in one FFS, Glory Glory all the way mate!
Villa (a) - 3pts
Newcastle (h) - 3pts
Fulham (h) - 3pts
Everton (a) - 1pt
Man United (h) - 0 pts
Milan (a) - 3-2 loss
Milan (h) - 3-2 win
"Yids celebrate Xmas ? Is that legal ?"--It certainly is in New York. As a Jewish friend tells it, "If my kids thought
Ramadan involved presents, we'd be celebrating that, too."
"with another FA Cup weakened after it" Erm, bit of a Freudian slip there, Spooky? I take it you expect 'arry to play the kids then? Or the bench as most of our kids seem to be out on loan.
Can't wait for Sunday. The Everton game was enjoyable, but not really a substitute. Absolutely jonesing for some Spurs action. Until then, Merry-whatever-your-preferred-excuse-for-overindulgence-and-good-cheer-at-this-chilly-time-of-year to you all!
I do love a good slip of the Freudian.