That was the week that was
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 10:55AM So, according to Harry we need a goal-scoring midfielder like Lampard. No shit. That's why we tried our utmost to sign one in the last transfer window and ended up with Kaboul.
/tumbleweed
Pav is once more mouthing off. Although it's tiresome, it's equally so to hear Redknapp bang on about the player as though he was an integral part of the squad and yet hardly ever gets a chance, forever warming the bench. Okay, so it's doubtful he's even half the player we wished he would be based on what we've seen, but considering we've seen very little its impossible to truly gauge if he could possibly fit into the side. Perhaps he should turn up to training on a pogo-stick. If he did he'll be a shoe-in to partner JD.
Lawro is predicating us to lose away on Sunday. Looking at the state of their pitch I wouldn't be surprised, considering we struggle to score on grass that's green Christ only knows how we plan to play on the savaged mud marshes of Wigan. We tonked them 9-1 and since that day we've managed to lose our mojo which has seen us hiccup our way to where we are now. Still within touching distance. So perhaps rather than attempting to turn it on like Brazil 1970, we should simply be forced to dig deep and win. Otherwise we sink in the mud taking any hope of 4th down with us. Maybe Harry can mix it up a little with some long balls.
/tumbleweed coming through again
Still on the subject of Lawro and his opinions, he's apparently been telling everyone that Theo Walcott has to go to the World Cup. What the same player who's always injured and hardly does anything other than working on looking and acting like a glossed over arrogant twat so people can lay claim that he's possibly the next Henry? That Theo? Yeah, okay Lawro. Let's take someone to the World Cup based on potential. Jenas, if you're reading this, pack your suitcase. If he (Theo) played for anyone other than Arsenal, he'd be out on loan to a Championship club right about now. Pace with no direction, and no end product. But he looks good with facial hair, so it's not all bad.
Carlton Cole to Spurs. Yep. When you thought it was safe to browse through the seedy underbelly of the internet (Spurs message boards) the ITK's are saying this is done and dusted for August. Rivaldo also scheduled to finally complete his medical and sign for Spurs this summer.
Talking of West Ham, can I just say congratulations to Terry Dixon who has been called up to the Eire U21 squad. Two years out with a serious injury at a critical stage of his development, Spurs were amazingly patient, working to get him back to fitness - but then advised by specialists that he would have to retire. If any Irons are reading this, please get in touch. Would like to know how well he's doing in reserve team football. Considering Dixon was told he would never play professional football after his continued injury problems, I'm chuffed for the lad who seems to have unlimited determination and fight in him. Of course, he probably won't be half the player he was on course to becoming, but the kid is earning a living from kicking a ball, so that deserves a massive round of applause.
Seriously though. Carlton Cole?
Devastated to hear this week that Darren Bent has quit Twitter to concentrate on aiding Sunderland out of their slump. No, seriously, heart-broken. He's scored 16 goals this season so not sure how logging onto the internet and typing one sentence messages can quite possibly distract him from what happens out on the training pitch and during games. Obviously it doesn't because he's been scoring plenty. Perhaps the gap left in the world wide web can be filled by Peter Crouch. Would love to read his tweets about waking up next to Abbey Clancy. Every morning. Does she wear panties in bed? PJs? Or perhaps just Chanel No5? I think these are important and vital questions. Questions that require answers (with accompanying photos for definitive clarity).
Final word saved for the enemy. Excellent back-pass, expertly touched with toe. Instinctive pick-up by the keeper. Superb release of the ball to the opposition and additional groan towards the linesman. Quick free-kick taken. Inspired blocking of the defender by the ref. Clever goal scored. Perfectly legal. Magical spasm on the touchline. David Lynch scripted excuse from the manager. Made me laugh out loud. With all the depression relating to our current dip in form, it's nice of them to provide everyone with a bit of comedy. Good work fellas. Keep it up.
Reader Comments (70)
Actually, during 2010 we have 6 points from 6 league matches, with only 3 goals scored. And that's relegation form.
I don't know what table you're looking at, Ted, but right now we are in sixth with 43 points, trailing liverpool with 44 and Manchester City with 45 and a game in hand. We are one point ahead of Aston Villa with 42, who also have a game in hand. We are on course to finish 7th, assuming we stop dropping points. Which looking at April's schedule (Arsenal, Chelsea, ManUnited, one right after the other) does not seem terribly likely.
Unless we win the FA Cup (please god), we won't be playing in the Europa Cup next year, never mind the Champions League.
Spurs please don't screw my weekend up again. I almost enjoy work more at the moment.
Sorry the comment about the Woowich wanderers, we will always laugh at them even if we are in the Conference it's in the blood until they either move back south of the river or to France. We all loved it and made Wednesday evening enjoyable.
April was always going to be the month that decided our season. 3 games that could return 0 points. 7th place would be a realistic finish.
So what is it about some Spurs fans? Deluded? Or just stupid?
To quote some Spanish fella let's talk facts
2005-2006
Spurs finish 5th
Everton 11th
Villa 16th
Man City 15th
2006-2007
Spurs finish 5th
Everton 6th
Villa 11th
Man City 14th
What should we do the next season - Build? Consolidate? I wonder..............
2007-2008
Spurs finish 11th
Everton 5th
Villa 6th
Man City 9th
2008-2009
Spurs finish 8th
Everton 5th
Villa 6th
Man City 10th
Are we really better than Villa, Man City and Everton? No.
Why? One of the reasons is we have an accountant at the helm whose first priority is the books.
Look at the Berbatov saga - worth it? No. The 5million made there for the messing around was spent on Pav - is he in Berbatov's class?
Any fool that says Yes - stay off the crack.
The people calling for Harry's head need to take a reality check. He is the best thing to happen to the club in years. Martin Jol had us knocking on the door of the Top 4 and look at us now - closer or further away?
Everton this year may not finish 5th - think Everton will sack Moyes? Think again. O'Neill may or may not get Villa into CL spot. Should they sack him for taking the club as far as he can go?
Moyes and O'Neill have been given time to build a side, a culture, a club. As for Man City they have been given a shed load of money - so the rules of the game do not apply to them.
We are different. Levy hires and fires like a businessman. And some of our fans support him in this. Crazy. I hope that Harry is allowed to build and consolidate and the next manager gets the same.
Is the grass greener? Usually not. So why do Spurs fans continually think it is?
This year will be a 7th or 8th place finish and mainly because we have failed to kill off games due to poor finishing or incredible goalkeeping, neither can be blamed on Harry Redknapp, How did his last club do when he was there?
The season we finished 11th Portsmouth finished 8th and won the FA Cup. And thats a FACT!!
'Moyes and O'Neill have been given time to build a side, a culture, a club. As for Man City they have been given a shed load of money - so the rules of the game do not apply to them.'
So exactly how much money needs to be thrown at a team before 'the rules of the game' fail to apply?
Is a manager that has spent nearly the whole of his career fumbling around the lower regions (ooh err) really the best thing that has happened to this club, or do we now have a manager who is brilliant at fighting fires and man management (as long as they laugh at his jokes and have English as their first language), but tactically inept?
"So exactly how much money needs to be thrown at a team before 'the rules of the game' fail to apply?"
How the hell should I know? Man City can spend with no fear of tomorrow. We can't. We will sell Modric, Palacios and Lennon for a profit. That's the game we play. Look at Man City's spend over the last 18 month and you get a rough idea of what I am talking about. The transfer decisions at Spurs are monetary before anything else - why do you think we took back Kaboul?
And tactically inept? I don't think so, if you are tactically inept you do not manage at the top level. Tactically challenged maybe. The biggest problem we have faced in 2010 is the loss of Lennon. Due to this outlet being taken away we see Crouch is used more and more. Modric is not at full strength yet either.
I suppose that Harry is also to blame for the penalty misses as well is he? And that his decision to bring in Wilson was tactically inept? That for the last few years central midfield was our strongest position?
What is wrong with the club and the fans that stability is a word that stands for nothing.Was Ramos for Jol the best decision? Or was Ramos such a master of tactics and communcating to the players that being bottom with 2 points was actually part of his plan.
Harry pulled us up to 8th last year and we should finish in a similar position this year. I'll be happy with that.
Diaz, I actually agree with a number of your points. This ongoing nightmare started with the board's decsion to scrap the 5 year plan with Jol ( and god knows the board weren't exactly acting in good faith on that, see decision to sell Carrick and not replace, not bring in players/fill positions that Jol asked for) and go for the quick glamour fix with Ramos. At the time I compare it being told a project was due on Friday and you get sacked on Weds. cause you weren't finished yet. And, remember, the Ramos deal was public information in August, so I don't hold Jol responsible for results in Sep./October. He was a dead manager walking by then.
We have undeniably being moving backwards or putting out fires since then. RE Harry, he did what we asked him to do--he kept us up. He simply isn't a manager capable of handling a top 6 side. Look at his (very long) history. He's not an up and comer--he is what he is and you can't expect a dog that old to learn new tricks. Plus, there's the legal stuff. HMG might have a say in just how long Harry remains at liberty. Don't tell me oh, it's just tax evasion. That's what got Al Capone finally banged up. We might not be able to prove you got the money through illegal means, but we can show you didn't pay tax on it.
Yes, the managerial merry go round has cost us. Sticking with one manager would be a very good thing, provided it is the right guy with demonstrated skills or at least the potential for developing them. We should have kept Jol. We didn't. that doesn't mean we have to keep Harry.
"How did his last club do when he was there?"
Yep, won the FA cup, but didn't qualify for Europe so the massive transfer fees and wage bill have bankrupted the club after Harry left them in the lurch to come to us.
Oooh, yes, I want me some of that kind of success.
zieg, harry wasn't in charge of the business side. The chairmen and owners sanction any moves or finance decisions, so can't really blame him for their demise. It was of their own making, chasing the dream and sepnding 'tomorrow's money'.
btw, 0-2 currently. Do we have to give Harry credit for subs, or can we wash over it for once?
Ahhhhh....now that's better!
In the 10 minutes Pav was given by that Harry...he managed to score more goals than crouch has managed all season despite starting all games. Like someone here said..."crouch is the single most destructive force to fall on us since the dodgy lasagne'
Good win today and with pav in form and Lennon shortly returning things are looking good. During this spell without BAE we have also re-discovered the gem that is gareth bale.
As for ziegemomster your comments almost leave me inclined to suggest your not spurs but in fact I'm sure you are :-) my take on it is that harry is a good bet to keep us ticking along until the training ground and stadium is built, then this club will be ready to seriously kick on. We could get mourinho then but wouldn't get anyone better than redknapp now.
Let's not risk another disaster that harry saved us from AND let's not judge redknapp YET - only a fool would.
Pav to start against Bolton please Mr Redknapp.
Best thing was to see all of the squad delighted for the boy. Give him a game on Wednesday at the Lane and feed his confidence. Wembley here we come.
Tricky - spot on.
Well done Pav, lets see much more time on the pitch from him please Harry.
I was a little puzzled to see such obvious affection from the entire club for what I was led to believe was a sour, lazy, whinging sod. Maybe reports of his malaise are somewhat misleading.
0-3 at the end. And we give credit to Pavs. Too bad Mr Man Management couldn't do the same and say a gracious well done to the lad, instead of having another dig at him on Sky.
Hey, I'd love to finish fourth. I'd love to win the FA Cup. I'd really love to see some sparkling push and run Spurs style football, rather than this hoof it up to the big fella crap (for which I do NOT blame Daws. I love Daws. How can you not? Now there's someone who is truly madly deeply Spurs.) I just don't think I'll see that while Redknapp is calling the shots.
But, God, it was good to win today. And for the last twenty minutes there was really some quite decent football played.
Good on you, Modric and Pavs. Hope to see you Thursday against Bolton!
Pav did well and still i am sure that he will not get into the starting lineup, he must have done something to piss Harry off
He could no longer refuse the shouts for a Pav cameo and yet still he did not seem relieved that the Russian star finally shone ...
Great finishing on both occasions , first one was a real striker goal and the second one he kept going where everyone else was lost
goon on ya mate , and i agree with a diff animal , he seems very wel adjusted and friendly with all the players , not the sourpuss he is made out to be.
Harry's post match interview:
"Pavlyuchenko's trained well this week. He's worked hard and showed a great attitude.
I've always said he has got great ability. When he wants to work and give everything, he's a top quality player."
Some might call that 'a dig', I can equally see it is also 'a challenge' and this is the thing about 'context' given by individuals and the media sometimes.
If someone said that to me, I would be driven to give 100% and not let my standards drop, whereas we all know someone who would bitch about not being given enough credit. I know which type of person I would want on the pitch and in training.
I'm hoping that Pav is the former and makes himself undroppable for the rest of the season, forging a partnership with defoe and each of them scoring another 10-15 between now and May.
But I can hope all I like, the proof of it all exists behind closed doors. So I guess we'll never know......
Roll on Bolton is all I can say.
belgian 'goon on yer'? you might want to be careful what you wish for, I know a few goons who are crying out for a striker like Pav! Fortunate for us, they didn't have the cash in Jan.
haha damn wat a typo :-) sure enough it had to be you that saw it the first ... Tricky.
I have to say I'm proud of our boys this morning. I watched the game via a dodgy stream which kept stopping and starting which was very annoying, but ultimately I got to see most of the game (I refuse to pay for sky its a rip off, especially the sky player packages). I thought we dug deep yesterday, it was never going to be a game of attractive football, due to the woeful pitch! Seriously that shouldn't be allowed at this level! But if we can show some of the fight we showed yesterday in away games for the rest of the season I'll be a very happy man. I pleased for Pav too, who may not have gone about things in the right way this season, but he took his chance with both hands which is what he needed to do. I don't think harry was taking a dig at him in his post-match interviews, I think he was simply highlighting to the player that if you earn the right to play a part in games, you will get an opportunity. I think the whole issue between pav and redknapp was simply down to miscommunication. As its been noted recently, pav doesn't speak much english, which means harry's message may not have got across that he just needs to get his head down and work. Its not like they can talk through their problems like he can with other players (who all seem very happy, even when they aren't playing). I think the agent will have been stirring things as his probable "translator", as they do to get a fee for finding a new club. Therefore I believe that redknapp has handled this matter in the proper way. If anything, its made pav more determined to prove his worth when he is on the pitch. Redknapp may have a personal issue with pav now, simply because of what pav has said about him in the press. But its clearly not affecting his professionalism when it comes to team selection. As harry said last week, if pav hadn't have got injured after he score against Leeds, he would have started the following game. Enough on the pav saga now, hopefully he will be given a well deserved start against Bolton, if not Everton.
Lennon will hopefully be back in contention by Everton the latest, providing there are no further set backs. Which is great for the team, if not a little harsh on Bentley, who has been great for us in his absence. Here is another example of what a player should do when they aren't playing, he got his head down, kept quiet and waited for his chance, then grabbed it with both hands. I think the situation may have been different however, had he not supported spurs, but nonetheless he has done himself proud since getting his chance. What happens to him after lennon returns is anyones guess? a place in the center maybe? It'd certainly be interesting to see how he'd do.
Most importantly we took advantage of the dropped points by city and pool, which will no doubt be vital come end of the season. I said 4th was unlikely and it still is, but I'll maintain that while its mathematically possible I will live in hope!
Roll on Bolton.....
COYS!