Breaking the heart of O'Hara
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 11:25PM Now that's what I call Tottenham.
Still buzzing. The high octane swashbuckling football was nowhere to be seen first half, Fulham had our number, taken from under our pillow whilst we appeared to sleep. Head in palm of hands for most of it as they frustrated the fuck out of the players and the fans. BAE and Corluka seemed to both be obsessed with playing lackadaisical balls, and there was no authoritative swagger from the boys in Lilywhite.
Just efficient effort from Fulham and for the best part of the first 45 Harry was getting out-smarted tactically on the field. Ominous when they took the lead, Zamora of all people finding the net with a curling shot. They deserved it.
Football is always funny in about 1000 different ways. At half-tme you wondered what we would need to do in-order to get some kind of grip on the game. For starters, own the tempo. Said it in my match preview - make them worry about us rather than be concerned with trying to counter any spoiler-tactics directly. Hodgson is no fool. He did his homework, suffocated the midfield and had his players working their socks off on and off the ball. Made all the easier by a ghosting first half display.
Even though we pushed forward after going a goal down we still looked out of sorts. WHL wasn't exactly pumping positive pomp from the home support. Fulham had got to us. And we were concerned. It could have been far worse at half-time.
Then Harry Redknapp birthed a second half that was so majestic in difference, you'd have thought you had tuned into a different game. He must have had some words to say at half-time for a start. No doubt told them to forget about how Fulham were playing, slapped them about a bit and then made two quite simply superb substitutions. Yes - Harry Redknapp made impact-changing subs. Stick that up your bollox you non-believers!
On came Bentley and Huddlestone - both returning to the first team since taking time out injured. Off went Niko and BAE - both players well under par. All my hope was anchored on the first 10 minutes of the second half. You can tell what direction a game will go in from the tempo played straight after the break. Within minutes it's 1-1. Ace.
Bentley (first touch?) hit a stunning undefendable free-kick into the box that beat everyone (including a interfering-with-play-offside-Corkuka-if-he-touches-the-ball-which-he-doesn't) and it flys into the goal past a despairing Schwarzer. The Lane is rocking, and not for the first time this season, Bentley's foot is on fire.
The injury curse made a cameo, claiming Corluka as it's latest victim. And once more bold Redknapp played an absolute master-stroke (or perhaps out of desperation...sshh). Enter the Russian goal machine, Pavlyuchenko. Who just about made it on the bench and was never meant to play more than 20 minutes having survived a late fitness test. Seven minutes after coming on, he's off sliding in celebration. The big smiling show-off. 2-1 Spurs. Bentley again involved, crossing in, finding Pav who scores a sweet volley into the far corner. Schwarzer - no chance again.
What. A. Frigging. Turn-around.
For all of Fulham's guile and commitment to Hodgson's match strategy, it counts for nothing when we changed gear in this manner. Dictate the tempo, dominate the game. Inspirational stuff, proper full on FA Cup loveliness. This was more like it.
Obviously, being Spurs, you're not quite content until you get yourself 2 goals to the good. Six minutes after Roman's super-sub scorcher, we made it 3-1. And relax.
Playing it confidentially and with purpose, the ball finds Modric who (with deflection) threads the ball into the path of Gudjohnsen who takes the ball around Schwarzer (yep, despairing once more) with a touch and manages to get another to send the ball goal-bound. Happy days.
Fulham ended. Wembley again in our calender.
Kudos to Redknapp. Hodgson and Fulham were 1 up on him at half time. His man management skills coming into play, he mixes it up with some changes and the game completely changes course because of it. Great to see both Bentley and Hudd back - both involved and effective. And credit to the visitors for making it a painful first 45 minutes. It served a purpose. It showed we retain the backbone instilled since Harry's arrival at the club and the players believe in themselves and their ability.
Also - special mention to Gud. Class act, a player that oozes experience, patience and vision. He links the midfield with the forward line perfectly. Ice ice baby. He has mad skillz.
Pompey next in the semi. So so close now.
Tottenham Hotspur. Exclusive copyright on putting their fans through the mire every time.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
COYS.
Additional: Villa drop two points, City lose.
What a night.
More post-match commentary tomoz.
One more time...
COYS.
Reader Comments (76)
King and Lennon back to full training this week. Lennon back for the run-in. It's like signing a £30m player!
COYS!!
Louis - My other half is due on the 23rd May - but will probably have it a week earlier, no doubt on Cup final day. If she holds off until after the final whistle - then happy days. If she doesn't, I'll see her after I finish handing out cigars...to fellow Spurs fans outside Wembley.
As for your potential double booking, I see no problem.
Football > Random wedding of someone you've only ever met once
Dry clean your suit...for the Cup final.
Just a wee aside spooks, but the 23rd May is a great day as it's also my birthday, so I hope you have a child who's as wonderful as me and will grow into another Spurs maniac!!
Spot on. I'm moody if we are shopping while Spurs are away to Hull or someone. God knows what I'd be like if I'd have to sit through a wedding while we are making Drogba, Terry and co cry under that big arch thingy.
When the priest says "does anybody know any reason why these two persons...." I will have to stand up, clear my throat and go into one of why the ceremony has ruined my life.
Luckily I think she understands. I just hope your other half can hold off. But saying that, wouldn't it be cool if you could say your first child was born the day Spurs won the FA cup. I still hold on to the fact I was born a few days after we last won the UEFA cup. Glory hunter I am.
Cigars and suits at the ready!
Spooky if its your 1st she'll prob be late. Fingers crossed.
You guys have it back to front though. I agreed to get married as long as it was in the summer of no World Cups or European Championships. May 27th 2005. If she knows Spurs are No.1 early doors it makes for a much smoother life. She can't complain when you plan everything around league, cup, european tour, pre- season etc. :-)
It will come early mate. High risk and all that jazz.
I've already managed to sneak in 'Lily' as her middle name.
I'm going old skoll and painting the front of the house blue N white for the cup final (if we get there)
What a great night out last night, atmosphere was electric for the most part, apart from a half hour spell in the first half where everyone was bricking it! Anyone notice Dawson getting all embarrassed when we were singing his name right at the end?
What a turnaround for Bentley - he was the guy who got us going in the 2nd half. Fantastic stuff.
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COYS,
Spooks , my GF adores the name Lily , if we have a girl that will be her name
She is still a bit reluctant when it comes to calling the eventual boy , spooky though :p
We heart you too Pav!
Last night was simply brilliant. Buzzing on the way home, never been on a happier train, everyone soaked through but very very happy.
I am amazed by people who do not rate Redknapp....while I am not the biggest fan of Redknapp the person, and his WHU past, i think that his management skills have been proven to be of a very high standard. Its not just the way we play and the results we are getting but it is the way that he has built the squad, filling the positions that need filling, getting experience and quality. The way he has turned around the likes of Bale & Bentley has been superb. Sure they have the talent but he has focussed it.
People point at slip ups during the season and will no doubt point to 6 points lost to wolves, and these were poor results, but we have had as many very good results too. No team goes through the season without slip ups and all of Villa, City, LFC, Arsenal, Utd & Chelsea can point to games where they should have go t better results.
Yes there is room to improve but as a squad, under HR, it has only been 18 months together and we have made massive strides forward.
Wembley for the 3rd year on the trot, hopefully twice this season, in the mix for 4th place with a real good chance, a much improved defence and away record, stylish attacking football, a strong squad coping with loads of injuries and still winning......at this stage in our development I do not know how anyone can realistically expect more.
COYS!
ps.....hilarious watching Wilson trying to get booked in the final few minutes. he must have committed 6 or 8 fouls, only 1 picked up by the ref, and most were just late lunges, mainly on Dempsey who kept turning to WP , arms out saying...what are you doing you nutter??
Wilson should have just kicked the ball away for deliberate time wasting when we got to the 89th minute.
However, this being spurs at 3-1 up I was still nervous, like a man who has seen too many 'false dawns' ad 'late goals', so maybe it's best he didn't gie away a free kick in the RB position or a pen when he assaulted a couple of players in the box.
What are the odds he picks up one on Saturday?
btw, now linked to hitzlesperger, who is like O'hara (strong central midfielder left footed), but older and available on a free in the summer, oh yeah, and less likely to say something dumb to the press (in english at least).
Remember he did well at villains whilst there, not sure if he's right for us. Starting to think the WC might make some good scouting and give us a view on those already in the bag.
Roman Van Basten what a goal!
Fucking ecstatic last night, shitting myself first half but fook me we did the bizzo!
Oh, and I was cracking up when Wilson 'tried' to get a booking twice late on.
Wilson, bless, when you want him to get booked, when he tries to get booked, he fails to get booked.
wilson now needs to go the next 2 games without a yellow card, which takes him to 11th april. Then he's 9th turns to a 10th or somthing like that I think? Basically wilson get to 11th april without a booking and he will be allowed 2 more before suspension. hope this ain't confusing I ain't tryin to be DAVSPURS
"The natives get a bit restless round here if you're not winning 3 or 4 nil after 20 minutes"
Redknapp, when asked if he's giving the Spurs faithful what they have been waiting for.
Yes a great night but only a great night. I have supported the Lilywhites since the mid fifties and have been let down too many times over the years to get carried away. Dear Harry & team do not let me and these great fans of ours down just go on and win the cup and finish in fourth and this could be our best year since 1961.Next year champions? SPURS till I die.
COYS
My missus says WP should have just slapped the ref.
I thought she just meant on the arse or something.
Top site.
When is you next letter to Levy?
Brazilyid, here in sunny Mexico, they showed the Chelsea game live, followed by Spurs Fulham in its entirety. All I had to do was avoid looking at the results.
Shelfer, there was a letter to levy the other week. Search the site.
harry done well.
in the Mirror it says Pompey will ask for permission to play JO'H in the semi, as a goodwill gesture. they can fuck right off
As an occasional non-believer I have taken your advice and stuck it up my bollox. Bringing Pav on for Charlie was slightly surreal at first glance, but didn't it do the trick? I now believe.
As a very minor ITK, I overheard Lennon talking today to a friend at WHL......He reckons he will be back for the "3 big games" his words - wants to miss the semi as he is worried he might not be fully recovered.......said Harry wants him back for the semi but he was confident we should be ok....................was also pleased to hear him turn down going out tonight with his friend as he wants to stay fresh doing fitness work til he is fully recovered........he also had very high praise for Kyle Walker before game, said Juve were sniffing round him at the time we signed.......Thought Walker had a decent debut today.....will be nice next season to have some pressure on Charlie.......
Teh Trunk's just put some more stuff on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/user/tehTrunkTV#p/u