'Run around a lot and kick it in the net' - that doesn't seem to work anymore
Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 11:59AM It's manifested itself once again. The Tottenham disease. Pivotal moment in the season, and there it is, laughing in our face as our season falls apart faster than someone with leprosy. What a shambolic mess of a performance that was. Okay, so that doesn't happen often. We've had a decent season - more than decent in fact. We've played well and looked the part for most of it - however, that doesn't mean we can shrug and ignore the fact that as a team - with functioning parts - we've degraded over the past couple of months. Spark, cohesion lost in the midst of battle. To lose 6 points to Wolves is a statement. One of depression I'm afraid. We've got it wrong again. How did we become so one dimensional? We're not even digging deep and claiming scrappy/lucky points.
This isn't a knee jerk by the way. I've been confident and positive all season. Well for most of it. But games like this can't be marked off as one-offs. If we're going to be toothless we may as well just hope we finish outside of the Europa League qualifying position so that we can give it a right old go at 4th next season. Ah, 'next season'…music to my ears.
So what exactly went wrong?
Team selection for starters. Why chop and change? I understand we have a squad and we should be able to do so and perhaps Harry trusted his players to be professional but considering how we've struggled in recent games to put away chances, I don't think this was the game to shuffle. Palacios, Modric and Corluka all on the bench. Rested for the FA Cup game? Worth it?
Kaboul slotted into right-back. And what we witnessed was perhaps one of the most shocking displays from any Spurs player since, well since the last time Kaboul was here. Allow me to be insightful with some analytical thoughts on his performance.
He was fucking shit.
We've gone from having an abundance of right-backs, to one quality right-back who gets benched for a centre-back who IS NOT A SODDING RIGHT BACK.
And then, there's JJ. Monstrously poor. More lost than Jack Shepherd.
Can we not, for once, play the best team possible and not play players for the sake of it? If this was genuinely the best side Harry could muster up then shame on all the players for having less application than a ZX80. The fact he subbed Jenas in the second half more or less clears that one up. Give it up, he's just not very good so don't start him in the first place. It's detrimental to progression.
Dawson and Bassong struggled a little, no doubt the sight of Kaboul was too much for them to handle.
Niko was disappointing. Almost liked he peaked for 3/4 games and then run out of steam. He seems to lack the composure of earlier games. Okay, so he was dropped - but come on, is it too much to ask to have players who can retain a decent standard of form when involved in squad rotation? Harry needs to earn his wage here and get Niko's head sorted out. Quickly.
Gudjohnsen was okay. Nothing more but then again our forward play was abysmal. When we created chances early on, we failed to build on it in a commanding manner. Again. No bullish determined forcefulness.
Then we Just sort of watched them cross (Kaboul was putting the kettle on at the time) and score and then they proceeded to sit back and defend. Which is nothing to complain about from their perspective. They are Wolves, they're meant to be relegation fodder and might Spurs managed to simply make the art of scoring a goal look impossible. This was proper failing to break out of a paper bag football. If we are head and shoulders better than them quality wise, we didn't show it.
Wolves have managed just 9 goals (10 including last night) all season long at home. We managed 9 for a single dvd. Baby Jesus is weeping.
Second half was so tragic that I turned it off with 20 minutes left and decided that I'd rather be confused and left scratching my head watching Kate run around in two different realities in the third episode of Lost (season 6). Thought the ep was 'filler' IMO. One or two subtle moments and clues but nothing ground-breakingly 'ooh'. Considering it's the final season I hope we don't get more episodes of this ilk. Sawyer crying? I mean seriously, wtf?
So once more, another 'must win game' and we flop spectacularly. It wasn't because the opposition outplayed us or tactically out-smarted us. We choked. Bottled it.
12 games left now. And I'm stripping away any hope of 4th and just hope the team give it 100% from here on in because they owe it to us and themselves to try and claw back some respectability. When we look back on this season - if it turns out the way its looking at the moment - it's not so much one game (this game) that has ended hopes but more a collection of performances, mainly the ones were points were dropped at home and from winning positions away. And the crux has been our inability to kill teams off and more telling, to actually break teams down.
The Wolves game last night was neither of these. It was an old unwanted sickness we thought we'd seen the last of. Just a gutless pathetic 90 minutes. We probably won't play this bad again this season, but the fact we did - at this point in the season - it's just so typical and tbh, tiresome.
I still think were not far off from getting it right. The problem is, the standard will probably improve next season which means even though we might improve - it might not be enough.
What a crap midweek. Harry ballsed it up. Roll on FA Cup weekend.
P.S. I'm still loving Bale and Bentley.
Reader Comments (65)
I don't really think Kranjcar or Hudds deserves the anger that is directed at them. We played bad the entire 90 minutes. It was a typical spurs performance.
Kaboul was bought (correct me if I'm wrong) to be a fill in for our depleted CB's. Not a right back. Corluka, albiet slow does the job on the right. He made one huge error that cost us a few weeks back but other than that, he's good. I know Kaboul is young but I really don't think he is going to benefit us, other than being a body.
I wish we still had our reserves side. Jenas would be slotted there and never allowed to see first time football. I appreciate the energy he gives box to box, but other than that, he's worthless. An overrated Zokora.
I'm on the bandwagon for Pavy to start. I might be overly ambitious/crazy but I feel that he can really hit the ground running for us. He's got the talent, but his mind just wanders from time to time....which sounds similar to another former forward we had....forget the guy's name....Dimitar something.
I’ve supported spurs for some 45 years now and should probably know better. For a moment there, I though things were changing. I was angry on Sunday after the Villa game, but last night I felt this calmness whilst watching the game. Why was I not surprised!! The camera panned along the Spurs bench and there huddled in the cornet was Arry. What really hit home were the two people sitting next to him, Kev and Jo. What a back room team, the great Jo Jordan talking tactics………….Are we really surprised?
Diaz: what's the Chewbacca defence?
It's disappointing how we have faded this season but (for mine) its not too hard to see where things have really broken down. I don't think we have enough pace and width in the side. We lose Lennon and we look (ermm) lost. Bentley addition to the side recently has improved the balance because he's the only natural wide player we haveWe try passing it around a bit and then get anxious and punt it up to Crouchie. Two other issues I see with the squad are (1) Not enough steel in midfield aside from Palacios. (2) Someone besides Defoe needs to score. I agree with the sentiment that Pav needs to get a run out. We need to think about next year and I think we'll need a physical striker with pace who can fill the onion bag (not that they grow on trees). I don't think Pav is the guy but since we've got him in house, wouldn't it be worth it to see if he is capable. At least his price tag can go up. Jenas is hopeless. Just hope a team like Birmingham or Sunderland come in for him.
Spooky- I could not agree with you more!
Kaboul = Utter Shit. Completely pointless signing. We did not need another centre back. And if he was signed for defensive cover, we should have kept O'hara. He is certainly not a right back. Why drop arguably our most consistent performer?
And Jenas... Well, you probably already know... I think he is utter wank.
'Arry got this one massively wrong.
We won't get fourth. We will struggle for 7th. Anyone who denies this is delirious. x
I didn't watch the game, namely because I saw our team selected to start. Tried to get some sleep while I still could.
Reading about the game afterwards I made a good choice.
Seriously trying to keep faith in CL challenge though. We have what it takes, but Harry has to quit giving chances to lost causes and concentrate on the best players in their best positions.
COYS
Brilliant write up. To me i's simple..you need over 7 players in the spurs team that could get into the first team of any of the top 4...we dont. We have Jenas..who really is a championship player...I set up a facebook group wishing that he gets gangrene...I know I know...harsh on the gangrene...:) The other issue is Levy himself...we are a business not a football club and he wants to get into the champions league on the cheap...never going to happen...we need to stop buying expensive average players and increase wages for better players.....and the new stadium...well its 10 years after arsenals...he is rubbish
Edit:
I have nothing against Peter Crouch. I actually think that he is quite a talented player with the ball at his feet, and although he doesn't posses (a 12 year old spelling bee champion's) strength or (the) pace (of a constipated pensioner on stilts), he is a decent finisher (from 2 yards).
I cannot argue with that at all.
Sawyer crying? Yes, he turned on the fucking game! How much would it cost to replace the "To Dare Is To Do" signage with "To Watch Is To Weep"?
Actually the Lost analogy is almost perfect. Another dismal filler episode to a promising start, where everyone is making it up as they go along, we'll never get any answers, and every fan will be left feelling hollow and depleted, a sucker from the start.
Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Wow mate, you used the F word on your blog! Things must be bad. In fact, they're worse. Two new signings and a bench warmer thrown in to boot... It was a poor choice by Harry, I have to say. No fear... pressure off ;) We'll be back by the end of the season.
Had to pop in and see how you spuds are doing recently... Haven't commented since we saw you at the Ems a few months back... Realistically we're a bit off the pace and off form but I have to just bury my head in my hands when I think of you lot. Nicholson, Burkinshaw and the like must be rolling over in their graves having such a "proud" club like yours performing this way. Anyways, we'll see you in a few weeks... Enjoy 7th. Of course, you lot are well acquainted with that region of the table.
Wow. Losing to Wolves has truly destroyed the fabric of this club. Keep taking an interest in our plight. With each passing season you lot seem to talk more about us than West Ham fans do. It's nice to be noticed again.
Kaboul's game does not warrant dicing of this magnitude, unless you spook are lauding some shit here of the personal nature. Agree that Niko was shit, but also were the rest of players together with Bale and Bentley, less Gomes. Bale wasted more possessions than anyone else with his repeatedly failed attempts to outsmart opposing backs. His free kicks are also utter shit. What good is Bale’s running if he can not make one fooking decent or useful cross? Same goes for Bentley. In fact, Kaboul made more crosses that Bentley. I wonder what game you were watching….
Take it with a pinch.
I did the exact same thing Spooky! Switched it off and went to bed depressed!