Dry them and move onwards
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 6:47PM What a ridiculous waste of an afternoon that was. Worst performance of the season? Spineless? A consequence of fragmented selection? Poisoned by lasagne?
Yeah sure, injuries aside, I still fancied us pre-match. Around about the 37 second mark I conceded that today would be shambolic and that conceded my confidence was cursed. To which it was.
Players looked lethargic and dis-interested. When Frazier Campbell is made to look like quality you know there has to be something surreal going on. In this case, the Spurs players appeared to drift away into next weekend and their FA Cup semi-final date. Knees trembling, for all to see.
Even a second half improvement (just about noticeable) wasn't enough, neither were the heroics of Gomes who saved two penalties, although he was probably guilty for that 36 second opener as he could have done better. Maybe that's a tad harsh. It smelt a goal the moment they got a corner. A preview of the pattern of the game that would play out over the 90 minutes. Us, willing Sunderland on, to have a pop at any given moment they chose.
Talking of pens, the ref was abysmal. One of the three he gave (the 3rd) was a no brainer - the first two were weak weak decisions. Although he sort of made amends for disallowing a 3rd Sunderland goal, which didn't matter because when Sunderland did score their third it was almost worthy of applauding, such was its genius. It's horrible horrible genius. A volley that will no doubt when goal of the month. Ref was also reluctant to dish out yellow cards. Although Wilson came out of the game without one. Small mercies.
Crouch cameo the only worthwhile moment to give us a glimmer of hope. Gomes proving that even though Bent believes he has banished the Sandra sound-bite by notching a brace and celebrating with much venom, he's still an idiot with a stupid beard (honestly, I have nothing more at the moment). His face after his second pen miss, a picture. The only picture I'll be choosing to remember cometh tomorrow. Defoe might have done better with a one-on-one, Gordon to the rescue, who then saved another goal-bound effort moments later. Bentley header in the first half, easily saved. Not sure there was anything else, offensively, for us.
There's probably plenty to analyse and discuss, and I had notes from the game and was planning on singling out one or two players who struggled and the detrimental impact the missing players had on the team - something I sort of refused to dwell on too much as a potential excuse pre-match.
Stuff like our inability to retain possession, control the ball, play with any type of shape, show any sustained intent and courage. Bassong missing Dawson. BAE lacking confidence. Palacios messy. Bale lacking composure with his passing. All-round clusterfuck to be fair.
Credit to Sunderland. Talk about making it an easy afternoon for them. If they had a better forward up front, it could have been humiliating (haha, yeah, still bitter). Jones air-kick testament to how stupid we and his owners were back when a £20M label was being tagged on his shirt. But they still won and Bent has taken his revenge, no doubt he'll be gutted he won't be able to Tweet about it.
So yeah, no deep thinking post-match tactical breakdown. The players never switched on. They hardly looked bothered. So if this was a pre-Wembley type of 'ooh let me try not to get injured' performance, then shame on all. Or perhaps I should just admit I was wrong and having so many players out has damaged us. Pompey might even fancy us now (j/k).
I just don't want to believe that we under-performed because the FA Cup was made a collective priority subconsciously by all who took the field. So I'll have to hug the excuse that the lack of Dawson, Corluka and Huddlestone and the forced re-shuffle has made us momentarily poop our pants.
Pushed, bullied, kicked and out-played. At least its done and out of our system. 5 wins on the trot halted and today makes it just 8 defeats all season in the Prem. Not bad. But we are no longer in the driving seat for 4th. Don't fret. I'm not knee-jerking. I've been saying it for a while, we'll still finish 4th. Just have to do things the hard way now.
Maybe conceding that goal so early was a catalyst, but to suggest had it not been scored we might have performed better is a bit like hoping that having gone 1-0 down we'd get back into the game. It won't happen unless you make it happen.
Tragic we failed to turn up for this. I'd rather we play beautifully and with effort and desire, and if we lose at least we can say we gave it some. Rather than just lube up and bend over.
What's that? City, 4 up at Burnley after 20 minutes? 5 up at half-time? Our goal-difference nervously looking over its shoulder? Although it's now City looking over their shoulder at us.
Okay, we really do have to do it the hard way now.
COYFS.
Reader Comments (116)
It's over. I realise how knee jerky that sounds but honestly it's over. We'll be getting seven points from now till the end of the season if we're lucky and draw with City, which we won't, so six then. FA Cup to look forward to but we'll probably lose to Chelsea in the final, they're lethal. Season shattered. Next season...
Summed it up well mate - an all round shit day looking at the other results and I include hull losing in that. If we're gona have any chance we need to get are players fit. We have pulled of some great results lately particulary away despite missing key players but it was always gona catch up with us.
Bring on WEMBLEY!!!!!!!
Disagree ahmed. We're at home to arsanal and chelsea and those missing players I mentioned will mostly be back, so imo we have a great chance of taking those two bastards apart at the lane. We have an amazing record at eastlands as well.
It ain't OVER yet!!!!!!
Amazing record? City's been beating us 2 - 1 at their place for a couple of seasons now. And L'arse and Chelski will rip us to shreds, not to mention United of course. Leaving us with three wins this season, the semi final and the other two league games. We shall lose every single other game, including the final. Such is life.
Gutted. But both Man City and Liverpool are likely to drop more points before the season's over. Let's not start feeling sorry for ourselves until the game really is up - we're still in with a very good chance of 4th and the Cup. COYS!
Very lethargic performance against a team you knew attack from the get-go. To make things worse, I had to listen to Dean Sturridge as a co-commentator. Citeh are up 6-1 against Burnley, this does look too good for use right now. We need to re-gather and make sure a performance like this does not happen again. Wow, that was poor.
"City's been beating us 2 - 1 at their place for a couple of seasons now. "
Being fickle is one thing but not doing research is another
http://www.mehstg.com/mancstat.htm#Spurs%20v%20Manchester%20City
I'm not exactly sad to be proven wrong am I? A City supporting mate has been bragging about that stat and I didn't bother to check up behind him.
My big gripe is that I get the impression Harry was saving the likes of Dawson and Huddlestone for the Semi's when we needed leadership and a cool head for this game. Worse still is selecting Modric both as Captain and playing him in the centre of midfield?
Our entire defence was looking frail, with both fullbacks having a poor afternoon, although Kaboul & Bassong didn't make any huge errors, it was clear there was little confidence at the back. Midfield was perhaps even worse, Modric kept losing the ball, Wilson was half hearted in the challenge whilst Bale and Bentley both failed to provide enough consistency down the flanks.
Upfront wasn't much better, Pav fluffed all of his opportunities and Eidur looks much more at home playing in the deeper midfield role.
At half time Harry changed things around with little impact mainly because we still didn't have anyone bossing the centre or providing us assurance at the back. It's at time's like these I would have liked to have seen Livermore being utilised and not being afraid of using our talented youngsters.
Niko worked hard when he came on but we still gave the ball away too many times, deep in our own half. We were fortunate to have only lost 3-1.
It was a disappointing performance and a poor result but lessons have to be learnt, namely Modric shouldn't be played in the centre of midfield and should NEVER captain our side. Bale should be played at left back otherwise he's pretty much useless, whilst Assou Ekotto should spend a little more time on the bench until he learns to care more or we can offload him in the Summer, he looked like a miserable so and so, completely dis-interested on the bench when he was subbed at half time, we don't need people who are too temperamental and don't have the heart for the game. Bassong can play in that position next year if we have King or Woodgate back to partner Dawson.
How can you say arsanal and chelsea will rip us apart? We'll fucking rip them apart!!!!! Bring those bastards on I say!!!
And we do have a great record at city. I can only remember losing there once in recent times with us constantly winning there on the other occassions.
Don't bother watching the semi mate as according to you the final is a foregone conclusion - we beat em in the lg cup final a couple of years ago and we can do it again with every one fit
COYS
IS everyone going to be fit though?
Come on....we all know its been a good season and we should not be disapointed with not getting 4th.I think it is a shame, but thats what happens when u let to many players go out on loan...O'Hara would of been good today.Anyway...im happy...I have tickets to the fa cup final sorted...coys
Disappointing result but I ain't giving up on Spurs. Been there, done that. We've been here too many times before and somehow we've persevered. This is a blip, albeit a costly one. We have serious injuries and lacked coherence and leadership today, but the season is far from over. Some big games coming up that can turn everything around. COYS!!!!
Fackkkin ell! everywhere I look people are giving up! Jeez - some people would do well to remember just who it is we actually support! - Last 5 games were wins! Fackin wins! And we expect to go up to the SOLight where they've only lost twice all season and just brush them aside coz we're SPURS!?
Look at that back 5 today for starters! We're down to the fackin bare bones last bone-on!
So we lose away for once in a while...? And? We didn't perform? Arry's starting 11 whatever...fact is, we're still in it, City are too scared and Pool are too shit, If we don't do it, we don't do it..but let's fackin try and enjoy it. I hope people aint getting too spoilt! We've gotta do it over the whole season rather than just building our hopes up coz we have a good start, or a good end to a season. Top 6 and a cup run was all I hoped for, they've exceeded our expectations, I didn't think we'd get this far, I'm a Spurs fan.
KEEP THE FAITH...THIS AINT OVER!
COYS
“Tragic we failed to turn up for this. I'd rather we play beautifully and with effort and desire, and if we lose at least we can say we gave it some. Rather than just lube up and bend over.”
This right there sums it up. Also, I think our players are too fooking girlie. Small knocks gets them off for too long time. And wtf is with “hamstring” bs? I never heard that any other team ever had this “bug” sidelining almost half of the team throughout the course of a season. How somebody can walk off the pitch with no hobbling what so ever and then disappear from the fight cause he doesn’t “feel 100%). Bullshit! Coaching stuff should take a hard look in the mirror and what they do/did, cause the majority of these “injuries” occur due to poor players fitness. All that saddens me because it looks that the fans care more about the club that the players do.
Rant over
One positive is Wilson didn't get booked. Does that mean his 9 yellows have been wiped out? Or does he need to avoid a booking in the semi for that to happen?
Anyone know?
Errr how will we rip Arsenal and Chelscum apart with the team we had today stop dreaming boys we messed this up months ago...
By the way i aint knee jerkin just being realistic we hada nice run up there but we'll be heading south now top 7 finish COYS
Go back to Liverpool ngog you fool
Think everyone knows that we have to play Bale at LB and Modders LM, including Harry based on his half time subs. Harry needs to decide if he wants to achieve something or keep BAE happy. I like BAE, but not at the expense of our two best players.
I very much doubt he is playing someone to keep them happy! Suspect there may be a spammer amongst us and if so enjoy losing yet again tmoz :-)
Anyone know about Wilson? And comon haye!!!!!
I love the way that everyone who complains about the team showing a lack of courage & backbone, turns into a drivelling pathetic heap every time we lose. A season is played over 38 games, not one away game at Sunderland, which was little bubba tweety boys cup final. When we've played 38 games, I'll tell you if you can blub or not like that Gooner in Barcelona (You know the one), until then grow a f***ing pair.
Like the headline rightly says, dry them and move on.
COYS
come `on people, lets be positive. I feel we will get something at the lane against the ars and chelsea. The dirty gooners have allsorts of injury problems with no leaders at all. We are a better team this year and feel we will get something from both games. The only game to worry about is at old trafford but the rest we have a great chance.
Is there anyone in the club to explain to Defoe what the OFFSIDE is?
Wish he was watching Ibra vs Arse and learn some fooking things about it. At one point Defoe was in identical situation as Ibra was at his first goal, but Defoe fumbled it and missed without ever raising his head to see where the goalkeeper is, while Ibra was aware of goalkeeper at all time and cleverly chipped over Almunia. Also, by watching that game Defoe could have free lesson how to play in line with defenders and avoid offside and take advantage of his speed. But, unfortunately, he’s too big egomaniac to ever consider taking lessons from anyone.
This looks more like spuds, team loosing, spuds cussing eachother out, hoplesness, etc etc.
Learn how to stand by your team at times like today from my beloved beloved.. Oh beloooooooved gunners.
Spooknet.... U are the best when u whine.
Get rid of BAE
its alright we got next year!!!!!!!!!!
im only eighteen so i can wait for the glory years which will be in 10-20 years time
Waste of time.
Gutted.
Never thought I would say this but the gooner BROOK has a point.
Given the fact we were playing with our fourth and fifth choice centre halfs, a right back with 90 minutes premier league expierience, a left back who has reverted to his form of 2 years ago and a back 4 with no expierience of playng with each other ( ooh err missus) what did you expect ?
Whenever I used to see BAE name on the team sheet I thought shit.
I had exactly the same thought when I used to see Kabouls name there.
Today we had both of them in defence. Thats double shit at the very least.
Add to that our midfield enforcer cannot tackle anyone in case he gets a yellow card and the ban that goes with it and it was obvious we would be in trouble today.
Given the mounting injury problems its a miracle we won the last 5 matches but the wheels were bound to fall off eventually and today was the day.
Stating the bleeding obvious, but we need to get some proper defenders back as this team will get stuffed by the Sky three.
Wilsons cards are wiped out if he avoids a booking next weekend. Is it worth risking him ? Pompey have 12 players injured and we should be able to beat them without him.
And for those who say Bale is only capable at left back - he's 20 years of age and will be a world class player whether he plays in defence or midfield.
I'm looking forward to going to WHL soon. I shall get my annual fucking in my arse from my boy friend before the game for good luck - it's worked for about 10 years for me!!!! Gaygooners is are new firm and we will be at the lane!
Good positive thinking youngyid - don't forget the ultra stadium that you will spend most of those years in as well! As for Brooke I have nothing against gays but you really are a sick bastard.
I honestly feel today's result is more down to lack of personnel than desire of the players. Though Palacious played all 90 minutes, we have to realize he is not 100% and he is playing through pain. THudd is his preferred partner in midfield but THudd was absent today. If he was probably we would have turned the game on its head and won. The fact that we gave away 3 penalty kicks sums it all.
We seriously need Dawson, Corluka, and most especially THudd back in the team. We have managed so far without Aaron and I believe we can continue to do so till the end of the season but without the aforementioned players we don't stand a chance of picking any sort of result against the Sky 3.
Do we still stand a chance of finishing in the top 4? I honestly believe so. City played a poor Burnley side today so they were flattered to deceive. They are most certainly going to drop points before the end of the season thereby giving us the chance to climb back over them. Pool too will most certainly drop points as well with the likelyhood of it been against Birmingham tomorrow.
Let us keep the faith. We are so close yet so far. We have to keep believing and inject such believe upon our team. The guys have done excellently up to this point so let us not make them feel one bad result means the end of the road.
Stop the fucking whining allready. We are still in it. Bring on the gooners. COYS
Brook = JR Hartley.
Oh, and stand by your team? Ha! You mean the thing we've done all our lives, as opposed to the goon faithful who have countless times in the past years called for Wenger to go every time you experience a ickle lull.
Arsenal are on their last legs, their last hurrah. He knows it. Hence the flirting.
Typical spuddies, can never handle tough and rough times and start blaming each and everybody managers ,players everyone. its no surprise each new day players from spurs come out and say they r using spurs as a stepping stone and will ditch them at slightest opportunity for e.g berbatov , palacios , keane ....... many more, anyways i dont blame these players who will really want to play for fans who r so disloyal and not understand meaning of true real supportes ,if u dont believe better ask martin jol !!
Time for some perspective.
Did anyone really think Man City wouldn't beat Burnley? And we were looking for a point from Sunderland, not expecting three. This weekend's games actually turned out pretty much as we could have expected.
Going to be a great watch, the next three games. Lets just hope we can put a first team out.
Harry's post game interviews were too nonchalant. "Oh well! We played an open game and got caught out a few times"He seems to have been holding his fire for the FA Cup semi. if so, I think that was mistake. We need a Champions League spot more than anything so we can build a deeper squad. Today's debacle showed how thin we are in the back if injuries hit (or we rest players of the FA Cup). Kyle Walker was out of his depth, and Bassong needs Dawson by his side. Kaboul was ok at times but is not focused enough.
Most missed player today? Charlie.
you whingeing c**** never cease to amaze me.
Modric was a central midfielder long before he was a left winger, and despite the fact that Cattermole seemed determined to shove himself up Modric's arsehole, was always available for a pass. The only problem was that he didn't have anyone to pass to, as "run in a sodding straight line towards goal" isn't as brilliant a tactic as it seems on paper.
It was an awful game to watch, because I knew in my heart of hearts that despite our decimated squad, on another day we could have won this. I honestly believe that. We played like shit collectively, so it's easy to forget that Gordon also played very well. Good Johnny should have had a goal, and Modders could have easily had one too. Bale should have been given a penalty and Cattermole should have been sent off by half-time.
In retrospect, I'd rather lose to these guys than the scum. Law of averages and all that. If you lot haven't the bottle for this sort of thing, feel free to let go of the bandwagon. I'm white-knuckles the whole way. COYS.
We lose a game and suddenly all the trolls come out to play. Didn't hear a peep when we were winning week in week out.
Mad mad timing skillz ladies.
*what I mean about Bale and the penalty is that Bale had a shout that was disregarded because Lee Mason is a mong.
So what. We lost a game. We'll get over it. In the mean time, ignore the gooners. They'll just desperate for attention. They'll end up empty handed again this season, like last season. And the one before that. And the one bef...you get the picture.
Win, lose or draw all the rest of this season's games, I am very grateful for the entertainment and am with Spurs all the way.
COME ON YOU SPURS
I know people are upset we lost, but come on, lets keep things in perspective. We have had a mostly superb season. Sunderland have lost just twice at home all season (Villa & Chelsea), and beaten Arsenal & Liverpool. Considering the ex-Spurs element, the players will have had more oomph than normal. Our squad is decimated, key players are missing such as King, Woodgate, Dawson, Corluka, Lennon, Huddlestone and Palacios is clearly holding back from tackles. Defoe & Pav arent 100%. Any other team in the Prem would be struggling under such circumstances. FFS, support your team, we can still achieve what we all want to. Lets show some class and back Harry and the lads. We can have a post mortem come 4:45pm, 9th May. COYFS.
extremely undignified behaviour by Darren 'the twitter king' bent today. He showed his real class. We are better off without.
Why do you TrentSpur, and several other "sober" pricks inhere that think any criticism of players (especially pointed to their shown crappy and easy give-up attitude) automatically nullifies their passion and support for the Spurs. So what if some voice their displeasure with today’s performance, which was crap anyway. No one inhere announced tearing up their membership cards or turning their back on Spurs. I personally cannot stand this fooking nonchalant “oh, well” rotten gayish attitude. Fook off and reach for that powder box of yours….
Let everyone believe we are out of it because of one defeat. Much like some discounted City and Villa and Liverpool. This is far from over.
Lads don't pay attention to the the fickle Spurs fans who moan straight away when we lose. Harry is doing a great job and came up against Darren Bent a dodgy ref and a tough Sunderland team with a load of our top players missing. A defence who is missing two 1st team players. We have lost four times in 27 games when Dawson has played!!!! Yes we should have worked harder but hopefully they will take a slap on the back and try harder next time. Spurs were on a five game winning run which has been fantastic. Our run is so difficult so if we if do get top four it would be amazing. It's still possible and I hope we give it a real good go. Some of the comments moaning about Spurs and Harry is just a joke. These kind of people don't say a word when we're winning but as soon as we loose it's point the finger time. I'm sick of some of our fans being so FICKLE!!!! Luckily it's only a few fans who are like this and just don't understand the game.
Some of you guys are unbelievable! If you expected us to win today, then you are deluded. Sunderland have lost only twice at home, and we haven't beaten them there since 2001. It was tough. I predicted a point. So we got 0 points. Not a problem, we'll make that up somewhere else. I'd rather play like that today, than against Arsenal. We don't need as many points are many of you guys think. It makes little difference. City bother me a little, but their run-in is just as hard. Liverpool and Villa will need a miracle. COYS
Wait until we lose to Pompey next weekend. Everyone seems to have brushed them aside. How does Fa Cup semi-finalist and 7th place sound to you?
I never blamed the team though. I fully understand how we lost, and I never blames the players or the managers. I just think that the fact that we lost, which was down to injuries and nobody's fault, has pretty much fucked up our season.