Swagger, let's be 'aving you...
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 10:47AM Away to Bolton in the Cup. And a couple of main ingredients I'm looking for today is fluidity and some self-respect. Shocking display at Wolves. It's in the past, nothing we can do about it now. Other than use it as a springboard for improvement. Modric and Wilson to start thank you very much. As a unit we need to be a 1000 times more focused and apply the right tempo to the game rather than just ghost through 90 minutes with no direction or intent.
4th is the priority we keep hearing. That's fine, but if you're still in the FA Cup, then on the day the tie being played is the priority. Wembley is within sight, if not quite within touching distance. It's only 90 minutes of football and in those 90 minutes the opportunity to boost confidence and form is one that can not be pushed aside because of other aspirations. Especially aspirations that are currently clogged in the great drain of hope, clinging on for dear life, avoiding the finality of being washed away.
So on the subject of ingredients, there is a third that remains missing in action. One that we are desperate for and one that has been synonymous with Tottenham and the FA Cup in years gone past.
Swagger.
Shirts pulled out, socks rolled down Lilywhite swagger and pomp. And with swagger comes cutting edge. Christ, we have the players to do it. We've seen them do it. But there's been a lack of evidence in recent games and rather shirts pulled out and socks rolled down, too many of our players have just skipped the casual look and gone straight for the pyjamas, sleeping through games. Wolves away the sum of all the parts we've witnessed recently as we continue to fall off the pace.
Time to wake up. No better place to display rejuvenation and redemption than live on tv in the 5th round of the FA Cup.
Step, step up...
Reader Comments (40)
Spot on we need to dust ourselves down after the last few disappointments and go for it, success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success.
It will be a tight game but we will win 1-2
COYS
With our shirts out and socks down and them,to a man,with there short sleeved shirts to show how hard they are because they are from oop north! I just hope that our boys dazzle them with skill. Pass, move, pass, move ......GOAL.!!!!
You use your tongue purdier n a $20 whoa!!!
It's Spurs, we'll struggle through this.
PLEASE NO JENAS
After the debacle at Wolves I expect nothing less than a win today. 4-0 Spurs...COYS!!
I'm still smarting from Wednesday. I'm really starting to doubt whether they've got it in them. Do we miss Keane? not for his play on the field, but for his mentality. It was a clueless surrender without any leadership qualities. It's not their fault - we didn't have it in the team - we desperately need a proper captain. Bloody hell, I hope I'm wrong.
I`m sorry guys but its a win-win for me. Spurs win and, as always, nothing can beat that feeling - even on Feb 14th. Spurs lose (And that can only happen due to the rubbish long-ball, meant to take useless Crouch to the WC, tactic...or, god-forbid, JENAS!!!) and the end of mediocrity is nigh....If he loses this one, Redk*app is as good as out. In levy I trust.
We always have similar views - the problem with our team is, you just don't know what the mentality is gonna be from game to game.
We are the most unpredictable team in the league - no-one can possibly guess the scoreline. It's like a we're "yo yo", which equals - not TOP FOUR.
Consistency and a "Winning Mentality" is what needs to be drilled into to them every single game !
Swagger is an absolute must - I totally agree that that is one of the very main ingredients to contribute to our game. Without swagger, there is no winning mentality that can evolve, as they go hand in hand.
But sadly, we are just supporters - we can't influence Harry and the players to behave in this way... Here's hoping.
Come on you Lilly Whites !!!
Will watch in the night garden if Jenas starts, is better for the mental sanity
Jenas isnt even on the bench! Couldnt get much better than that!
What has happened to us?
Weak.
We haven't closed down and are sitting far to deep. Need to get modric on the ball and start dictating rather than waiting and reacting to what Bolton do.
SWAGGER ? MORE LIKE SHAGGER ON THAT FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE.
THEY WANT IT MORE THAN US, THEY ARE FIGHTING HARDER THAN US, FIRST TO EVERY FIRST BALL, FIRST TO EVERY SECOND BALL AND ARE PASSING THE BALL BETTER THAN US.
MODRIC AND BENTLEY TOO LIGHTWEIGHT FOR A GAME LIKE THIS.
BRING O'HARA ON. OH I FORGOT, WE CAN'T, HE'S TOO BUSY GETTING MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS AT POMPEY. WHY DID WE KEEP JENAS AND SEND O'HARA OUT ON LOAN ?
THE GAME AT WOLVES AND TODAYS PERFORMANCE TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TEAM.
FFS WE ARE BEING OUTLPAYED BY BOLTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I DON'T CARE IF WE PLAY LIKE BRAZIL FOR THE REST OF THE GAME AND WIN 10-1, THIS IS CRAP.
FURTHER TO MY LAST RANT, I FORGOT TO MENTION, BALE IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR SUPERSTAR.
SHAME IT PROBABLY WON'T BE WITH US.
Well, second half was much better. I am starting to think that we are cursed actually given the fact that our luck is pretty atrocious.
We should have won but I will take this result.
So what does the assembly of mediocre coaches do for the whole week. No one can score a penalty in the entire squad? That kick by Huddlestone was rubbish itself...I guess all they practice nowadays is the useless long-ball to crouch. Come to think of it, How many goals has that thing scored this season? I mean, if he's so good that Pav can't even get five minutes then we need to see that reflected in the statistics. How many assists? One (1)???....How low have the Tottenham sank? Bent followed by Crouch? How are we supposed to attract young supporters for the future with this kind?
Anyway, we were rubbish. But Bale and Defoe saved us.
Hope we start Pav in our next game. Would really love to see that because I could do with a laugh.
I was thinking the same thing Ronnie. Was there any kind of contest within the team to see who could take a penalty kick? Or did 'Arry just flip a coin? If Thudd is the best penalty taker we've got on the side we're screwed.
It teaches me one thing. From here on our I'll stop complaining when the referees don't award penalty kicks. Because we clearly don't know how to make them. Better to just play on and let Crouch hit it off the post for the 30th time.
Dawsons constant long balls to crouch are really starting to get up my urethra. For fucks sake, its nopt like they ever fucking lead to anything. Maybe try it once or twice, but every friggin time? Crouch actually does much better with it played to his feet, but that never happens since the route between him and defoe is completely one way. Defoe very rarely passes it to 2meter peter. Defoe bailed us out but was very poor for an hour. The partnership with him and crouchie seems to have hit a dead end. Not entirely sure who to blame, probably defoe. but he's such a flippin conundrum. Almost always plays shit but almost always scores. Def need to bring pav in, maybe that will go some way to stopping the dick headed long balls.
Modric is rapidly dissappearing up his own arse. played an idiotic game today, hope its a minor blip but maybe hes going for a long range strop for a summer move. who cares. All in all, actually quite a good afternoon since we actually got totally dominated in the 1st half butr in the end drew and were unlucky not to win. bale and wilson really were good, showed trriffic desire and will to win.
I think soon we will see a change in formation/set up as we are not making full use of what we have. the team has kind of become less than the sum of its parts. Harrys aint stupi, and he will know that a tweak is needed somewhere. maybe play bale LW and modric right mid. Bale was quite brilliant going forward. like really really good. like world class.
Bale is going to be huge. Where else can you find a 20 year old with his attacking abilities ? His defence is improving as well. Trouble is, Man U will buy him and we will be back looking at the Gilberto's of this world.
Did anyone really think Hud would score ? Next pen should be taken by Krankie or Gomes, whom I seem to recall scoring a good one for PSV against us a couple of years ago.
Otherwise, get PSB back from Celtic and bring him on when we get a pen! Desperate times, desperate measures!
If it looks like it, smells like it and plays like it, it probably is.
Why is everyone on DeFoe's back? Have you noticed how many times the ball is passed to him a) on the ground, b)infront of him to run on to c)at all? The answer is c) except for twice today...one goal, one shot on goal saved.
Crouch is a waste of space...yes Harry he wins everything in the air and heads it to the opposition mainly, necer gets a header on goal except accidentally and then he usually misses or hits the woodwork. His anticipation of balls along the ground is hopeless and his reactions too slow, so let's keep humping the ball to him.
Huddlestone and Modric had no idea how to take control of the mid-field and consequently DeFoe is isolated and without Lennon there is no threat from mid-field.
I can only conclude that Harry has decided to teach Levy a lesson that if you will only buy and pay fro crap then crap is what you get.
Tottenham...the new Bolton...FFS!!!!!!!!
On the lengthening list of annoying things about this current Spurs team, is Redknapp's somnolence on the sidelines. Not that I expect him to be bouncing off the walls like David Moyes, but honestly, at times it looks like someone needs to kick the back of his chair to wake him up from his open eyed doze. After today's goal, you could practically see him thinking "Fuck me, gotta stand up now." Is he perhaps actually ill? Or is he really that bored with us?
Hoopspur, I've been wondering about the Keane factor myself. Hard to tell since his departure pretty much coincided with Lennon's injury. Don't think we've actually won in the league since and now we're making heavy weather of the cup too.
Hopefully, we can do Bolton on the replay since at this point the cup is far more likely than 4th spot.
You lot are real jokers, the proverbial 4th spot pretenders. Every season its same old, same old, I'm gonna, I'm gonna finish in a top 4 spot. Stick with tax dodger Arry, and you'll all end up just like his last club!
the problem wasnt getting rid of keane, the probloem was replacing him with a miserable, unmotivated, unfit 31 going on 41 year old who really has no business being at the sharp end of the PL in his current state. Utter bollocks that harry thought games were 'too tight' to bring on gudjonnsen, the truth is harry knows he is a complete bust. The most daming indictment of gudjonssen is the fact that we have missed keane!! and keane was total shit!! but al least he ran around and waved his arms!! Its not much to ask to have a half decent striker on the bench, but through a sequence of bad/unluicky descisions from harry, we dont have one.
Also, away from home, like today and against wolves, we really need to play an extra man in midfield to help out tom and willy.
also, did you see dawson get utterly diddled inside out by Elmander? it was pretty horrific. i had to put my hands over my kids eyes. fucking elmander for christs sake!
And what does everyone think jenas was doing today? i like to think he spent the day clearing up a childrens play area in haringey.
Yeah, Anon, nice one mate. At least we're flirting with it though. Who you support anon? Go on, be brave, wear you heart on your sleeve.
Jenas was on the old dog and bone to Levy today, complaining about being dropped. Harry is a marked man.
Don't shoot the messanger.
3
2
1
....and I just made that up.
Bet if I left it at that, it'd sweep through the internet forums quickly. Jenas sucks cocks, this may be true.
Another crap performance....Modric was decidedly average. You have to think HR's refusal to play Pav has to be more than just a love for Crouch. Has to be a personality/discipline issue as well. The guy plays 20 minutes against Leeds and changed the game for us. Why he can't get a run out when we are this poor going forward, I have no idea. Krancjar was good when he came on. Bale was fanatastic again. Bentley can't create space for himself. Between him and Corluka we look like we're in slow motion on the right. Palacios is pretty good at getting into space going forward but is useless when he gets the ball there. Huddlestone is not getting forward enough and seems happy to sit back which invites pressure. King and Dawson did well enough dealing with Davies in the air. No easy task although if Bolton had any class they would have been up more than 1 at the half. The link up play is very lacking. The attack is so slow in coming that you can read a book getting positioned and at the end of the build up, the cross to Crouch not effective. He can get his head to the ball but where it goes is anyones guess. Without Lennon, we don't have the pace to really attack and get the ball into Defoe's feet. Aside when Bale is at the gallop we look like we'll never score. And ffs, CAN SOMEONE ON THIS TEAM SMASH A PENALTY INTO A CORNER OF THE GOAL HARD!
Anyone see Kevin Davies' interview after the game?? He called us a long ball team!!! I would laugh but he's not that wrong right now.
the long ball strategy has proven to be utter crap ... stop it Harry , we are and never will be a kick and rush team
We are Spurs FFS , the swift dutch style passing game is ours ... let stoke, bolton and the whole division II play long balls but not us.
And i am starting to think that Pav is not really useless , he has just made a very poor choice in coming to spurs ...and then we wonder why players are reluctant to sign with us ... CL ? Well that is one reason but the other one is the complete lack of people management.
And i have a terrible rash on my knees ... probably from al the jerking.
ps chrissman , i like the mental image of JJ cleaning up a playground , the only decent bloke in the PL , shame he is a ghost of what he could be ... time to move on and find yourself a warm mid table club JJ.
Where was the passion that was shown by Davies and Elmander. Not once did they stop trying, maybe they are not what a Tottenham player should be but I would be more than happy to see Davies in a Spurs shirt - if only for the fact the guy tries....as for 2MP he is a waste, Pav must be really poor in training. Gudjohnson for Keane...another mistake...Moddle has lost his mojo...Kranj is better imo....We need some speed on the right whilst Lennon is out...we had that in Hutton. Absolutely love the way Bale is playing, move him to a longer contract and forward to the LM when BAE returns. Rant over....COYS as ever .... will be at the lane for the replay ....onwards and upwards apparently...
If elmander had the talent to match his passion, we'd be out by now. So be thankful for that!
Could only ever see us getting a draw at best before it starred, so maybe it's better to accept it happened and ignore the manner of it for once. And when I say 'once' what I actually mean is 'again'.
I was watching the match with a liverpool fan yesterday and he said "I'm so glad I'm not a spurs fan, it must be so frustrating". Its reassuring to know I'm not going crazy!
mazza ... and that coming from a Liverpool fan ...
I wouldn't be surprised if we put in a bid of £10m for Elmander in the summer... he looked like a Spurs player all over - plenty of running about, making chances and got involved but no end result.
p.s. I have missed out on this, why is Keane called PSB?
'I was watching the match with a liverpool fan yesterday and he said "I'm so glad I'm not a spurs fan, it must be so frustrating". Its reassuring to know I'm not going crazy!'
Coming from a Liverpool fan this season, that truly is damning.
Did Redknapp really say he was happy with the squad after the transfer window?
As far as I can tell, we're short of players up front; Pav must have taken a shit on the bonnet of Redknapp's Merc (it's a Russian thing). The Iceman looks unfit. Short of players in the middle; We were spared any sight of Jenas, but Huddlestone looks the average player he is (sweet strike on him though - as long as you want the ball anywhere except in the net). Short of players at the back; I like Dawson a lot, but is he really the stuff of the CL; King's on borrowed time and no real replacement for Gomes.
I am always banging on about O'hara, but its in games like yesterday that we needed his fighting spirit. Anyone see the Portsmouth game the other day, he was outstanding. Should have loaned out Jenus and recalled O'hara. Jenus has to go this summer. We need to have a few players in the squad that are either spurs fans or have been brought through the system and feel an element of loyalty (which is a rarity now days). Its this that will gee-up the other players when they see how much it means. Unfortunately, those coming through the system at the moment aren't of great quality. If we are looking at a shopping list, Priority No.1 has to be a hardened leader, a personality that isn't afraid to rustle feathers. But position wise we need a top quality striker, a backup/condender/partner to wilson and another 2 top quality CB (1 at least!) and get rid of Kaboul, King & Woodgate. Then I think we are pretty much there. The problem is raising the funds to get them, but more importantly attracting them in the first place.
Basically we need a spine!
bringbackmabbutt - PSB - Pointy Shouty Bloke = Keane!