Attack attack attack
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 11:44AM Another weekend is upon us and the sudden realisation that this season is almost over saddens me. A little. Obviously there's the World Cup to help us all through the summer months. No doubt there will be plenty of emotion, heartache and headaches as we work our way through yet more quarter-final penalty torment before the pain is compounded further with the drivel that will no doubt surround us then drown us, concerning potential transfers to Spurs, in and out. And may God have mercy on message boards everywhere if Harry goes to jail/gets sacked.
But the fat lady has yet to arrive on location, let alone be introduced on stage.
There's still the matter of 10 league games to battle through and a potential semi-final date at Wembley if we professionally dismantle the challenge of Fulham in the replay.
Very unlike Spurs to be in on two fronts this close to the end. Actually, that's unfair. We've reached two cup finals in recent years, won one of them and it was only five years ago that David Dein broke into the Marriott hotel and injected our players with the Norovirus. Only jesting there David (and solicitors), only jesting.
So here we go again, this time, the only runs I want to know about are the ones made by our galloping players, swaggering with intent and purpose, chasing every point like our lives depend on it. Blackburn at home. It's vital. It's three points that can not be defaulted. And I don't think we'll be let down.
The FA cup game is a couple of weeks away, so there is no immediate distraction. As for our injured players, whispers of Huddlestone and Bentley to return and Lennon is not quite ready but looking good as he regains his fitness. Regardless of our lack of depth in and around the CM area, we can still muddle through, with Moddle in the middle and Niko out on the right with Bale slotting into left-mid (and BAE back in the left-back position).
If Bentley and Hudd do return, we can resort back to the standard line-up - with the only selection headache for Harry being the one on the left. Bale or BAE? The former please. Bale is undroppable at the moment and as consistent and reliable as BAE has been - he doesn't quite offer the beast power of Bale.
Liverpool obviously are the favourites for 4th, what with Rafa guaranteeing it - we still need to stay ahead of Villa and City and Everton shouldn't be ignored. We play City in what will be an epic (for the two of us) and then there's the small matter of the re-arranged NLD which might have earth-shattering consequences for the both of us.
10 games left. Still in the cup. Still in for 4th. A shed-load to look forward to. Starting with a lunchtime kick-off with Rovers visiting the Lane. Win and we stay fourth. COYS.
City go to Sunderland, Everton have a tricky game at St Andrews and Liverpool play Pompey on Monday with Villa away to Wigan on Tuesday. We face Chimbonda and Big Sam's silky Blackburn unit who sexualise play to euphoric panty-wetting standards each time they step onto the field of play.
I'll say it again, COYS.
More later.
Reader Comments (39)
Awesome stuff mate
Can't disagree, we need to smash past Blackburn. Some of the games we've got (April anyone?) are going to take mammoth efforts so home games against the likes of Blackburn have to be 3 points nothing less. I'd go as far as saying our 4th spot challenge ends tomorrow if we don't win.
Modric through the middle isn't the best but I'll take it. At home he might be far more effective in that role.
Moron
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_6015666,00.html
"They have a wealth of experience and that may be a telling factor when the nerve ends start jangling. We saw what happened to Tottenham a few years ago with the famous 'poisoned lasagne' scenario - which was obviously never the case - and they let it slip.
He's an arsehole that Allardyce.
clarification: moddle = modric?
Let it slip? What he's saying the players were faking it out on the pitch at Upton Park, puking their guts out?
Kois, correct.
Moddle > Hoddle.
Tell me Big Sam didn't just say that. He didn't just say that did he?
/bruce banner
COME ON YOU SPURS!
A great read and just what's needed on a Friday. COYS
another case of allardyce trying to get a psychological edge on the opposition.
A few problems with this:
1. It was 4 years ago and most of that squad are either gone or injured for this game
2. Harry has never been wound up by mind games before
3. I've not really seen that comment given any more than a brief mention anywhere. - No headline grabbers for you Big Sam. Don't you know our players can't read words that are in less than 60point font. Headlines only for them. Better luck next time.
To repeat what I said on that god awful teamtalk forum, perhaps if 'big sam' concentrated more on teaching his teams how to, i dunno, win a trophy, instead of all this pathetic psycho babble, he might be managing a better club than blackburn rovers.
Hope your players enoy their half time powerpoint presentation as we smash 5 past them on Saturday.
They'll try to rough us up no doubt, but we are at home and are made of sterner stuff these days so we should weather the storm. I foresee a Blackburn red card in this game and a brace for Project Peter.
Up the yids
I am still concerned about Modric in the centre. Fulham stood off him and allowed him to play. Would Blackburn do the same? Then again, do we have an alternative - apart from an untried youngster? I actually expect to see the same team as the Fulham match - even though both Bale and Modric were stifled in their positions. As for Everton - surely it's too late. They would need to win all their games to have a chance - that would give them at 62 points. Which I think one of the other four will at least match. Also, Birmingham has 2 points more than Everton - I can only sense that people FEEL that Everton are capable of winning all their games otherwise Birmingham would be in with a chance too.
Btw when I mean all their matches, I meant nearly all...
What we need for Saturday against Blackburn is to borrow Saracen's front row reinforced with a couple of guysfrom Hull Kingston Rovers.
I don't see how Liverpool are still the favs for 4th?
Neither does Spooky. He's taking the piss.
gonna jump the 50 point hurdle with flying colours this weekend chaps!
YIDS
Fox - I've mentioned that in a follow up blog article I'm writing - re: Sam, losing his touch.
Hello, here´s a brazilian Spurs fan speaking, found out about this blog thru Twitter. I like your posts, makes me understand each time better what it is to be a Spur. Of course I have a bigger support for my team in Brazil (Palmeiras), but Spurs hold a special place in my heart. It´s difficult to follow THFC here, as the local media give bigger attention to the 'big' 4 (Chelsea are intruders in my opinion). Anyway, tomorrow match will be shown on TV and I´ll wake up 9 AM to watch it. Hoping for a top-4 finish (still remember that sad ending of the 2004/05 season) and FA Cup glory. I believe it can happen...COYS!
I wouldn't say Liverpool are the favourites, but their run-in is largely winnable, and 4th place is in their hands and theirs to lose. However, we can hope that they keep slippling up. All 4 teams have question marks against them.
Welcome Diego! - You could say the same about the national media here! Thats why we sometimes refer to them being the "Sky Top 4" - Sky being one of, if not the biggest, broadcaster in the country, certainly for sport.
I am rather gutted this weekend as I am unable to get to the game, due to the fact I will be flying to New York when its on. Does anyone know of methods available for finding out football scores/commentary on a plane?
Expected line-ups
Tottenham: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Kranjcar, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe.
Blackburn: Robinson, Givet, Olsson, Salgado, Samba, Andrews,WEBB H, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Diouf, Dunn, Kalinic.
I believe Webb may play the old fashioned spoiler role. Cheat.
Ahh, the old 4-1-1-3-2 formation!
You usually only find it at Old Trafford.
A great read and a good way to start the weekend. Always good to see players returning from injury, eager to see what magic does Harry have in mind this time. We'll manage to take those 3 points.
"muddle through, with Moddle in the middle"
alliteration ftw
I know he is not exactly our favourite striker, but perhaps Crouch may start given his good showing in the reverse fixture at Ewood park?
Surely the big question is who partners Defoe.
I know Pav has been scoring and a lot of the fans love him but i just don't see him ever doing very much.
His touch outside the box is generally pretty poor and his workrate ain't great. Personally i'd go with Crouch.
What's the general concensus?
Thanks for answering, SheffSpur!
In Brazil we have the same problem with Globo, the biggest TV broadcaster, they favour teams like Corinthians and Flamengo (the 2 biggest fanbases, being the former my team´s fiercest rival).
Last year, on the ground at a game against Goias, when the ref blew the histle we singed something like 'Hey, tabloid press, F*** OFF'. They´re disgusting.
I see similarities between my 2 teams (Palmeiras and Spurs), as Palmeiras always assembled teams who play what you call 'The Tottenham Way'. Our loathing feeling about the media is also very similar. And as Spurs are (or were?) hostilized because of its Jewish roots, the same happened to Palmeiras because of its Italian origins, our fans were even called fascists, at times, during WWII.
Anyway, I´m here to talk about THFC, a team I really like even though I can´t follow as much as I´d want to.
There´s even a website for Brazilian Spurs fans (www.tottenhambrasil.com.br), but we can´t even afford to buy Spurs shirts, as they´re not sold here!
Hey Diego
Have you seen this guy Sandro play for Internacional?
He's supposed to be joining Spurs in the summer if the rumours are to be believed...
Obrigado...
Diego, welcome. Any news on Sandro?
Pikey - Pav should start. If he can't perform against Rovers or doesn't, then it allows Crouch to return and Harry will to smile about it.
Hello guys,
The local media hasn´t spoken too much about Sandro lately. At least, not the biggest sports portals. I can try to dig something at blogs or sites related specifically to Internacional, and if there´s new stuff, I´ll let you know.
He´s a good player, but I think their manager dropped him to the bench. I´ll confirm that.
I have a feeling Blackburn is going stifle our midfield and prevent Moddle to work his way through the middle to fed Kranjcar and Bale on the sides. The key to victory the way I see it is for Bale to sit further back and inter-change positions with BAE. Bale is far more effective attacking from deep rather than upfront.
In the attacking position I will prefer to see Crouch and Defoe. Blackburn is going to play a negative football tomorrow so they won't allow our players to caress the ball and keep the game flowing, which would work against Pav. Defoe will be a torn in the flesh for them with his constant running at defenders and instinctive shots at goal. With Crouch acting as the lumbering pole for all high balls sent upwards from our defence, Defoe should get plenty of shot at goals off Crouch's knock down balls, and hopefully result in at least 1 or 2 goals.
Blackburn on the other hand will do whatever it takes to prevent us from scoring. I doubt they will push forward to score. They will rather sit back and soak up all the pressure we can mount on them as long as they can leave WHL with one point.
My prediction is we will battle out a hard fought 1 nil victory with the goal coming in the last 10 mins of the match.
Hi Diego,
Always interesting to hear a view from the other side of the planet.
Is it the case you cannot get Spurs shirts because they are not imported due to the cost, or are they available but the cost is too high for most people to buy.
If they are available what do they cost ?
Over here, they are about £50.
3-0 spurs. Pav must start, he cannot be dropped after his recent goal haul. It will be very tight in the middle so please get the ball as wide as possible to bale & niko.
Everyone looking forward to see Pascal back at the lane?
Imho, Rovers don’t have players capable of stopping Luka, and I predict he’s going to have the best post-injury game. I think so because he’s obviously getting his legs back, and because the fact that throughout his footballing carrier he performed at least approx. 30% better at home pitches than away, regardless of the position he plays. We might see another traffic game that warrants saying “I was there”.
DAVID,
About the shirts: they´re not sold in the local market, and the shipping costs for ordering from abroad are too high. And, to be honest, I even prefer last season´s home kit, didn´t like that yellow strip around the neck.
Thanks to all those who welcomed me so well, be sure I´m really happy for talking to you too.
I´ll make an effort and wake up early tomorrow (today) just to see the match (will be 9h45 here in Brazil).
I really like Spurs, and have been following THFC since 2005/06 season.
Hope to keep in touch with all of you.
9:45 am? You lucky skunk :). It’s at 4:45 am for me…there goes satdee morning sleep in out of window…..again.
Haha, great match! Finally a Spurs match is broadcasted here...
It´s satisfying to see Gareth Bale in such a good form, putting Michel 'shin breaker' Salgado in his pocket!
We signed him with such high regards, and having seen so much good stuff at his previous clubs, but now i feel he´s in a much better position as LW rather than LB.
He and BAE resolved our left side really well. Pav´s a lucky bastard too...missed a few easy chances, but scored on another two lucky ones!
The local Brazilian pundits highlighted the fact we´re with half our midfielders sidelined and we still can play well enough to grab victories...now let´s hope Stoke upsets Man City!
I´m really excited about the prospect of finishing 4th AND winning the FA Cup...COYS!
Diego Oliveira, the newest YID in town, welcome on board.