The future's bright, the future is still Lilywhite
Monday, April 26, 2010 at 12:30PM What's that now? 68 games away from home against top 4 sides leaving us with a bitter taste of regret in mouth? Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I'm thinking I should embrace the fact that Wilson has not been great this season and we should have shown balls and kept the same line-up without having to shuffle players for the sake of over-cleverness. Even though I did think we'd be 'ok' if we did just that.
BAE at right-back, uncomfortable and out of sorts. Bale at left-back, almost felt like he'd been gagged and tied to a chair. Safe to say that Hudd/Moddle in the middle with BAE left-back and Bale left-wing should be our line-up for the remaining games. But don't fret, I'm not about to knee-jerk. We got it wrong. But take away two stupid clumsy defending errors (the two pens) and the roll-out of the red carpet for Nani (three errors then) and things might have been different. Even with the changes in line-up.
Though I still feel we didn't show half as much guile as we should of. Not disgraced, but all a bit of a limp effort in the end. We didn't give the occasion the swagger it deserved. But then it was by no means looking (from either side) to shape up into the classic game most (wanted) expected. On the bright side, Azza is back amongst us. King is a frigging freak of nature. And Bale is best played offensively.
We should have played football, taken the game to them. To dare is to f*cking do, right? I cited state of mind in my match preview. But perspective please. It was United. Perhaps not a storming version of Ferguson's men what with Rooney up in a box, but if you're going to make mistakes, you don't make them in their patch - especially when they have a title at stake.
So, six points from nine then? You simply cannot be disappointed with that, considering that few expected us to win even one of the three, let alone two of them. Makes you think that before we entered the month of April, only the insane (me) would have stated 'we will finish 4th' - considering our fixture list compared to others.
City drew at the Emirates (Zzzzz). Villa and Liverpool both won. This chase for fourth spot continues to twist and turn. Although nothing much has changed this past weekend other than the important footnote for all sides involved; that one more defeat will spell the end.
City v Villa will be the one to watch as it will no doubt shape the tension for our visit there. We first need to avoid the banana skin of complacency when Bolton visit the Lane.
So what next?
Spurs - Bolton home, City away, Burnley away
Villa - City away, Blackburn home
City - Villa home, Spurs home, West Ham away
Liverpool - Chelsea home, Hull away
Spurs 35 played, 64 points - 3 games max 9 points - 73 pts max
Villa 36 played, 64 points - 2 games max 6 points - 70 pts max
City 35 played, 63 points - 3 games max 9 points - 72 pts max
Liverpool 36 played, 62 points - 2 games max 6 points - 68 pts max
We may have failed to conquer our Old Trafford demons, but redemption awaits. It's in our hands. We have shown grit and heart and style through-out the season to continually remain up top in the mix. With every hiccup, we down a glass of cold water, and crow.
Bolton (H) - We need to be professional. Focused. The Lane has to rock in the same manner it did against the red and blue scum. We simply have to dismantle them and apply the pressure on the other contenders. As noted, pick up and bin that banana skin.
City (A) - Cup final day. The £30M+ game. Potentially. The irony that things might work out that City have to win at West Ham on the final day of the season to finish 4th is tinged with the type of irony that would see a new statue built outside Upton Park to commemorate the occasion. Tevez scoring the winner would have the home support cheering louder than the travelling City fans. And then there's the irony of us playing away to Burnley (same colours as WH). Shades of 2006 all over again. If City and Villa score-draw (if if if), a win at City's patch and it's done and dusted (as long as another 3 points is collected).
Burnley (A) - Relegated. If we failed to win here (no disrespect to their club and fans) we don't deserve to finish 4th.
So all this is easily simplified... Just beat Bolton and City and it wouldn't matter what the other sides do, it wouldn't be enough for them.
So all you crazies, keep the faith.
And keep on believing.
Reader Comments (82)
As a united fan, I can only say well done and hope that you come 4th over city scum. First thing though, weird as it seems, we need a favor from uhh..the pool !
we're gonna lose out on goal difference.
OR
we're gonna win all 3 games and do an Everton next season in the CL
OR
we're gonna scrap into the top4 and conquer Europe like dirty Leeds did.
I'm so confused. Forget what might happen, lets concentrate on beating Bolton and then go from there.
Fascinating end to a brilliant season, all said. Which Bolton will show up, the one which is mathematically safe with nothing to play for, or the team with nothing to lose hoping to turn us over? If we get our free-flowing footie going we should be able to come away from that with max points. Then it's all about Villa and what they can get out of City. Big one that. Then the small matter of Eastlands. I just hope we don't bottle it or do something daft.
I see that City have appealed to the FA for an emergency loan keeper. Anyone know the criteria for allowing this? Or is it a measure of desperation? Would be ironic if the team with the most resources suffered for not having enough.
Would be typical of we drew 0-0 at home to Bolton. We really have to step up now as there are no more second chances for us.
im fed up of this 68 games shit.
we have beaten arsenal, chelsea and liverpool away from the Lane since the TOTALLY ARBITRARY YEAR OF 1989 - Arsenal at wembley, Chelsea at Wembley, Liverpool at Anfield twice.
its not a great record. its pretty much an indication of our massive underachivement and reflects how much has been spent for so little. but it seems almost reflex to find a stat that utterly humilates us. I had one guy telling me we hadnt won at old trafford in 68 matches, I had the exclusion of the cup runs where we did win away, I had the convienient forgetfulness of massive victories over Arsenal and Chelsea at home against the odds, not least the last weeks two wins against supposedly the best in the league, and the world. I had the omitted Mendez win, the omitted Webb incident last term, I didnt hear anything from the boys about Gazza in 1991. But then if we want to go right back, we dont hear about Arsenal or Chelsea forgetting their horrible roots, their horrible traditions or their history of utter lack of class acts.
So I say, fuck all them lot, they live in the past more than we do and it suits them to remind us of exactly the crime they are committing when they slag us off.
the future is now, the door is open wider than Jordans canyon.
we all need to step up and dont let up for the next 3 matches. Strap on your rocket launchers and semi automatic weaponry.
If Villa beat City this weekend and we beat Bolton it's pretty much done as well.
I think we're in a great position - as long as we beat Bolton - not again, surely?
I've also just been reading about the Man City keeper appeal.
Do they have much chance of the FA allowing this?
Seems like the sort of thing woolwich would ask to do. (Obviously if it were them, Dein's mates would allow them to play with two keepers and a reduced size goal and award them an extra point or two for good measure.)
Is that right Mattyblamblam?
Villa beat City, we beat Bolton and we can't be catched?
Sorry, *caught.
Ollie - No, we would be 4 pts clear with 6pts potentially remaining. We could theoretically lose at Eastlands then, and 3 pts at Burnley would seal it.
No matter how good any side is, there will always be crunch games. Season-defining games. Ours await.
No it's not true.
If Villa beat City and we beat Bolton, then Villa are still level with us on points with a game left to play, and City would be 4 points behind with 2 to play. OK, you'd argue we're unlikely to fail to beat Burnley, but that's just the sort of match we've slipped up in this season.
If Villa beat City and we beat Bolton, we'll still need to beat Burnley. But to be sure we'll still need to beat City and Burnley. We want to go into the last game being more or less safe to avoid any potential Wolves moments.
The 68 games thing is a load of b***cks that's gonna hang un-necessarily over us like the Bale hoodoo.
Someone on BBC 606 has written a breakdown of the games United, Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool have lost at home to the rest of the Premiership in the last 10+ years. The facts came out as as about 23 defeats between then during that time.
7 points from th last 3 games guarantees us 4th place.
6 points may be just enough..... but relies on others.
Look , I agree that there's nothing worse then a smart a**** trying to say 'i told u so'....so i won't. I only have one
gripe (alright3)With Harry. What does this guy do when selecting the 1st 11 (Roll dice),he never ever learns
from his mistakes. (Major gripe)we arguably played the best footy in donkeys last week during 2 games...right balance
tactics ?? attitude and application and at his 1st chance to show savvy ,bolloc** or anything else a manger should...he flops us the fans and the players. His mistakes have become laughably depressing,they were their for the taking. That was proven whole heartedly when he brought on the real footballers. Harry lead us in to battle under false pretences
and yet again a waisted journey and money for the fans and another chance to engrave in to the minds the likes of our boys that fighting is for wimps and that going to Otrafford is a sign of what might be. No Ronney..No Rio...and he still managed to Duff it and fit his Crouchy in for a couple of minutes (He does pay his subs). GUd Pav and mod and Bale play the game with a 6th sense. Prob;em is Harry only has light splashes of common sense to his Illustrious career. If Defoe is envolved in play for say 8/90 mins how good is he (IN real terms)...He is a yido tho!!!
If we finish 5th ,knowone could argue that we had a good season with Harry at the helm. However it is abundantly clear to me that Harry's limitations are painfully obvious....he aint good enough ......almost but no cigar. Maybe get him to motivate the team with his (Loveablr rogue routine)and let someone that can see a player do the hard stuff.
Just like against Pompey in the final and countless others ....Rednapp has decided on leaving form players out the team and out of position in order to facilitate 'his guys'. I am a spurs man not a Rednapp man ......so i say it as I see it. (GUtted) COYs
I have a sneaky feeling that Villa might turn City over (like Everton did) and then, beating Bolton would really put us in the driving seat. It would be great to know that we could lose at City and still get 4th with a victory against Burnley. Actually can't wait for it all to end or my head is going to explode.
We'll finish 4th!
The time has come, get ready to enter the dark side that is Sky's big four.
End of.
Its either city beat villa or they draw which is ideal, with us beating bolton. Remember villa are level with us. We just have to win 3 games. If villa and city draw we can draw with city but again the idea is to win all the games.
Make No bones about it; the best solution is 3 wins in 3 games, which is well within our means.
That said, if we beat Bolton and Burnley, a draw at City would still be enough.
First things first though- a 2-0 win over Bolton at the Lane, as in the cup, would be the perfect start.
COYS
Keep the faith)) It is in our hands cant ask for more than that. Like Spooky says the Lane needs to be rocking when Bolton visit from start to finish nothing but really loud noise and total positive energy, win that one and we are well on our way. We need to do our bit to help get the lads over the line. BELIEVE.
COYS
7 points guarntees 4th dosen't matter who they come against.
Hi Guys, this whole thing about 68 games and X number of years since we last beat manure is a pisoned chalice...even if we had beaten them on Saturday or if we beat them next time around....the media quotes will change slightly to 'SPurs have only beaten manure once in the last x years...' when we beat them again it will be '...and spurs hav only won twice in x years...'...it get on my tits!!!
Yes if Villa beat City and we beat Bolton, we would need 3 points from City/Burnley.
All that really matters is that we beat Bolton.
SPURSINCE82, I think it's pretty pointless pointing fingers at Redknapp.
The fact that we didn't beat United at Old Trafford isn't really going to rock the world of football to its very foundations, regardless of how much we've improved.
There are decisions that we may not always agree with, and thats our right as supporters, but lets look at the United game and Hary's "contentious" decisions.
Palacios, available again. Yes, we'd played well without him, but he's also been one of our most influential players since he joined. When he was banned, we were all worried as to how we'd cope without him. Granted, we did well- but we were playing at home. Away games, with the momentum of the crown against you and unfamiliar surface, are a different game altogether. We've actually played Huddlestone and Palacios together many times succesfully this season already; and in fact, while playing in midfield, Wilson did little wrong. There's no way Harry could've left him on the bench to close out a game in the last 20 minutes, hoping we'd be ahead.
BAE at right back. True, he's left footed, a left back, wing back at a push; but to be fair to him, he had Nani in his pocket in the first half, turning the portugese onto BAE's left foot. Sure, he gave away a costly penalty in the 2nd, but if memory serves me correctly, he did exactly the same recently from left back too. That's not to say the boy's a liability, and while I certainly won 't be defending his lunging tackle inside the area (wtf was he doing?!) these things happen. Not just to us; every team conceeds penalties.
To conceed two though? Sloppy. But the second penalty came after HR had effectively made the changes we'd been baying for- BAE to left back, Bale to left wing, Wilson at right back and Modric in the middle. The clattering Palacios gave Nani in the box was always going to send him to the floor; nothing unexpected there really, and again, Wilson's given away another penalty. But what else would you have the manager done? Without Corluka, and Walker being turned inside out by Sunderland of all sides, who would you trust in a top of the table game?
We're all entitled to shout at Redknapp; I was FURIOUS after Old Trafford, but looking back at it, we didn't capitulate like last year, and when Ledley equalised, we looked most likely to go on and get the winner. Lets point fingers at the end of the seaon, if we finish fifth.
Because I'll tell you what, at the start of the season, if you said we'd have had an FA Cup semi final and were right on the chase, in pole position no less, for fourth place, I'd have taken that.
2 from 8, lest we forget.
And how pathetic would it be if the Premier League bend over and allow Man City to loan a keeper now? They have 5 registered keepers in their squad. Two of them are loaned out and Shay Given is injured, while Taylor isn't fit to play yet!
They just have to adjust. Having said that Nielsen is from the same town as I am, we played in the same team aswell. He's an ok keeper, but nowhere near Prem material. I can imagine him having a torrid time against Villa.
COYS
Well said, Spooks. It's heart in mouth time. Please God, let Spurs do it. (And it would be a travesty if MC were allowed to sign an emergency keeper, flaunting the rules of the league.) COYS!
there's absolutely no way city should be allowed an emergency loan. Did we get an emergency loan when all our right-backs were injured/suspended/loaned out?
Can't see it happening to be honest. Especially as they have a fit goalkeeper to play. It's their fault if they don't think he's good enough.
I can't take this excitement/dread/stress any more. I might knock myself out and ask to be revived on 10th Mat when it's all over. I can just see us completely dominating and still drawing a blank against bolton on the weekend like with hull. Away defeats to the top 4 aside, it's the games against hull, wolves and stoke at WHL that could have seen us practically challenging for the title. PLEASE don't let Bolton be another one of those. I couldn't bear it.
im shitting myself at the thought of letting myself think that finally we will be in the champions league, i wont believe it or get my hopes up until its confirmed, on the last whistle of the campaign away, then and only then will i go fucking mental & start abusing scousers & gooners !,
Pleased to see Azza back..........looked pretty comfortable running and it will be fucking great to have him and Bale on either wing..........scaring the life out of defenders.........my concern at the moment is Defoe..............looks a little off the pace.......think he has been working hard but on the ball doesnt seem himself at the moment.............we will need that explosive fire power and hand stinging snap shots against a Bolton and Burnely who might park their respective team buses against us........wouldnt be entirely suprised if Harry benches him and brings him on as and when we need him
Villa will beat City.
Dapa - im in the same boat matey.....but less forget we still need to play a qualifying game to finalise champions league football if we get 4th.....COYS
rob j's got it.
Seven points from nine. It makes you wonder how we ever thought we'd do it without the wins over Arse and Chelski. But here we are. Seven points and we're there. Of course it means that whatever happens we need to pick something up at City. But hey, we're on a run of 21 points from 27 with Bolton and Burnley still to play. It's in our hands and we can do it.
COYFS!!!!
Focussed is the correct word.
1. Take one game at a time. For this weekend, we dont care about the others and do all we can to beat Bolton. That's all. Nothing clever, no fancy tricks. Bolton are beatable. They are weak at the back, but they can hurt us if we are not careful.
2. Thus please no more Bentley. Waste of space. Flattered to deceive but has contributed nowt. Even in the Chelski game.
3. Palacios and BAE must learn discipline in the tackle. Between the both of them, we've conceded 4 penalties recently (Stoke, Sunderland, Man U). It's getting expensive.
4. Go for the jugular. Dont waste chances. Yes, looking at you, Pav. Bury them well before the end, no more nervous endings.
5. Please dont tinker with a winning combination. We changed for Wolves game (A) ! We changed for Sunderland ! We changed for Portsmouth in the FA Semi !
We beat Bolton, nothing else matters until Wednesday.
just makes you think if we had done wolves x 2 & everton away, we wouldnt be in this position now, we need to smash these smaller teams & not throw leads away in the last 20, the last 20 mins must the worst part of the day for any spurs supporter, i dread it !
If we beat Bolton and City we're home and hosed aren't we?
We'd have 70 Points
That would leave Villa to get a max of 70 (with a worse goal difference)
City could get a max of 69 as we'd have beat them
Liverpoo can only get 68 anyway.
Perhaps we should have kept Hutton and loaned out Walker?
Couple of mentions on this already but how Spooky and others were confident we'd finish 4th with the two London derby games ahead of us (at the time) and it looked impossible. Those two games put us back in it. Bolton at home is massive.
THE ONLY GAME THAT MATTERS RIGHT NOW IS BOLTON.
WE'RE SPURS, LET'S NOT THINK THAT ONE'S A FORGONE CONCLUSION....SEE POMPEY/WOLVES/HULL ETC
DEAR GOD JUST LET IT BE OVER! (if I believed in you of course, Amen)
These next few games aren't about teams on paper, or squad quality, they'll be all about BOTTLE, how they handle the nerves. Saturday's game was in my opinion critical, not the result but the performance itself. A good display would have given the team a great fillip, but we failed to deliver anything like it. I just cannot get my head around the selection for the game.More so when you consider the opportunity to bury a demon.
We must get behind the lads on Saturday, be the proverbial Twelfth man, it's the last chance we've got to get the Lane rocking this term, lets do it for 90 mins, and hope that we've got the mettle to deliver. We're in pole position, so it's all or nothing at all
HR needs to stop tinkering and play the line ups that beat Chavs and Arse.
Repeat those performances and it should be 9 points fromour next 3 games.
Need to take our home form to away matches.
Man U without Rooney and Rio were there for the taking had we had the right team selection and belief.
I can't agree that united "were there for the taking", they never are, that is why they are one of the best in the country. They grind these games out time and time again. Agreed we could have done better but you can't guarentee 9 points from three games with the line-up that beat le arse and chelski. Any spurs supporter knows this too well and if we knew by simply fielding that team we could win every game don't you think we would? We aren't that good otherwise we wouldn't have lost all season. We still have a long way to go, lets be realistic here.
I think the OT game was a missed opportunity. No Rio or Rooney, Utd needing all 3 points, we should have gone at them and tested their nerve. We had nothing to lose, they must have been a bit wary of our form and threat. Instead they brushed us aside as usual and so long as we turn up with that negative attitude they will do it for another 67 games. Our timid unbalance approach saw us lose anyway, so what was the point. Where was the To Dare is to Do spirit? A shame, thats all I'm saying.
Its in our hands still, which is the good news. The great thing is the Villa City game next. Whoever wins effectively ends the others ambitions. Lets hope its Villa. A draw is in all likeliness not enough for Villa so they will have to go for it. A draw for City and we could be 4 ahead with 2 to play, so really they will have to go for it too.
Both matches are at 3pm Saturday so both sets of fans will be glued to the wireless and the action at one game will be matched by either cheers or anxiety at the other. Thats why an early goal for Spurs is essential. Calm our nerves and set on edge those fans/players at the other game .
We have to beat Bolton and there is a real chance that this could come down to goal difference, especially if Villa and City draw. So we really need to dismantle Bolton & Burnley to give us the best chance.
The worst final day scenario that has gone through my head (other than being out of the running by then) is needing to beat Burnely by a greater margin than City beat WHU, to go 4th on GD.
Lets hope we have it nailed down by then!
Missus came home early, nearly caught me looking at the Dr Mr Levy website. Luckily I managed to put porn on and get my cock out just in time to save any embarrassment. ;-)
I can't see Man City winning 4th now thanks to the whole goalkeeper situation. I hate to see a player get injured but Given has done a great job for them and without him the whole team might just fall apart. Wishful thinking. Lets just hope the PL don't give spetial dispensation to recall Hart!
special*
Lemonade, LOL
Nani & Evra: lasagne or epirizade. Discuss.
I agree, lemonade, that post made me piss myself. Very funny. cheers!
SHEFFSPUR.
So are you saying the team Harry put out against Man U was better than the teams he put out against Chavs and Arse ? It was pretty obvious to me that he had the balance of the team wrong when I saw the line up for Saturdays game.
His changes actually weakened us and made us less effective.
Bale has been our most threatening player over the last few games but he has done it from left midfield, not left back. If you don't believe me ask Paulo Ferriera!
BAE and Bale formed a good partnership on the left, so he split them up.
Modders and Hudd were excellent in the middle of the park; another partnership broken.
Bale Modders and Hudd all combined well in midfield; scrap that for the Man U game.
And BAE at right back was asking for trouble.
I am not anti Harry but sometimes he gets the urge to tinker with the team when there is no need.
I seem to recall him doing something similar in the away games against Wolves and Liverpool and during the course of those games, he made substitutions which made us weaker.
The point I am making is that we had 2 outstanding performances against Chavs and Arse, so why make positional changes that weaken us for the next game ?
I am with Devonshirespur on this one. Go up there and have a go and if you lose, at least you tried and gave it your best. Not sure we could claim to have done that last Saturday.
Man U are nowhere near the team of the past few seasons when Ronaldo was playing.
Its a shame we did not really test them.
We are in the hunt but HR needs to get selection spot on and we need to transfer our home swagger to away matches.
I agree, lemonade, that post made me piss myself. Very funny. cheers!
Back again, the Harry / Crouch basher,
its good to see some people agreeing with me. Anyway, lets look forward, nobody is talking about goal difference. I think it may come down to this!! Can it??
We need to smash Bolton out of signt and 5-0 will do. City will not get a hat full of goals against Villa and us or west ham for that matter. The Bolton game is a chance and we must grab it. It has to be an attacking team. Lennon has another week to recover, The united game was really a "Lennon get out there and touch the ball a few times" type of game.
Personally, i think we are far better suited to European football than Everton. We play a european style game and i think we can do well. European football runs through the club, its in the blood, the all white kit, european nights, thats what im looking for, the big time!!
Lets dream, let hope, lets pray, lets keep our nerve, but most of all, lets go for it!!!!
COYS