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« In the know: Tottenham Transfer Exclusive | Main | Fantastic news everybody »
Thursday
Jul292010

Spurs knocked out of Europe

No chance for the second leg. It's too much of an ask IMO. I knew Champions League was too good to be true.

HARRY OUT!

Europea League chumps. No wonder Cole chose Liverpool.

 

Back in the real world, I detached myself from pre-season friendlies after being psychologically shagged up by the thrashing we dished out to Roma, to be proceeded with two measly points from eight games when the proper games kicked-off. So rather than commit suicide after the dismantling of our beloved club this evening, read this quick-sharp review of the game, settle down, and forget about it.

Review by apotccc from GG.co.uk:

Just got back. 

First half was terrible. Boring. We were outclassed completely. But it was a complete mish-mash of a team. For someone that forged a reputation on keeping the game simple, we had a lot of players out of position from Harry in the first half. But it doesn't really matter. Hutton - crap. Just so, so bad. How was he ever seriously linked with Man United? Naughton's not yet good enough to be our 3rd choice right back so he was never going to do anything at left back. We just couldn't keep the ball.

Second half was a lot better. BAE was good I thought. Few times he tried to keep the ball in dangerous positions but it shows he's about retaining possession, hardly renders him shit. Bale a bit dangerous. Walker surprisingly for me good attacking although got beaten a few times at the back. Rose looked tidy in the middle although I doubt he'll ever be serious option, it was more surprising that he wasn't completely outclassed. Gio lively. Crouch confident. Liked the look of Parrett when he came on, and Adel didn't have much time to make an impact although one flick I thought was very clever. 

Pretty bad game but we had a fair few chances second half and so did they. Don't think any conclusions team-wise can be drawn from it. 

 

Feel free to share your despair here, if that's what takes your fancy. The rest of you, browse porn or summit. The night is still young.

 

Reader Comments (111)

Sweep it under the carpet, sign up Rossi. I used to rate Hutton after some brilliant performances early on in his career but he has to go for so many reasons heading them all is the fact he is absolutely shit and was exposed for the first two goals. Can't wait to see more games, i think Gio and Crouch look like a potential partnership and the Mexican should be considered as a potential starter either in the position he was in today or perhaps as an understudy to Mr Luka. COYS

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:37 PM | Unregistered CommenterJoelyid

Headline of the day.

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:38 PM | Unregistered CommenterGeneral Brickhouse

The second half, SPURS looked really good, and I thought we were going to not only equalise, but go on to win. Their break-away third turned it. As above, GIO looked really good. Lennon and Bale also impressed for me. KEANE was dangerously back to his hapless average; wayward passing and ineffective attacking presence ever-depreciating his sale value.

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:39 PM | Unregistered CommenterStratty

Best moment of the game was after 90% of people had left. Taarabt roasting 3 of their players in the middle then losing out with an unlucky bounce.

Id say our best players were Bale, Bassong, Walker and Dos Santos.

Lennon was shut out, Keane just walked about aimlessly, Kranjcar had a shocker and Jenas put in a classic invisible man performance.

No Pav, not even on the bench..... no replacement in sight.... last minute panic buy? Rasiak?

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:40 PM | Unregistered CommenterPLN

It was a friendly wasnt it? Why would we field that team for a competitive game?

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:41 PM | Unregistered Commenterblob

I agree with above & definately after that pre season where we blew everyone away then turned to dog pooh!!!
Was glad Jenarse went off & hope he hasn't ruined any chance he had of leaving by injuring himself having a shot... lol

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:42 PM | Unregistered CommenterBrett

I'd second that PLN on Bassong.

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:42 PM | Unregistered CommenterStratty

it was a pre season friendly, we never played our full first team, we tried out youngsters, to assess them, naughton rose,walker, parrett, taarabt, dos santos, button, we would have given them a great game ,had we played a strong first team, because villareal are a very good side, and you have to be at full strength to play them, we needed dawson , king, to stop their attacks, along with a tough tackling midfield, modric, palacios, would have made a world of difference, but as i said before, ITS A PRE SEASON FRIENDLY, anyway man united were beat by a 10 man u.s team, did they care. just get real.

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:45 PM | Unregistered Commenterpete

boooooooooooooooooo if only we have all our players

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:45 PM | Unregistered CommenterSPURS RULE

It was just a warm up, chill guys. shit myself for a sec. Crap headline

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:49 PM | Unregistered Commenterbcnbadman

think walker is going to be a bit special can defend and attack and has alot of compsure on the ball

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:52 PM | Unregistered Commenterjim

I see a bumper crowd turned up to see all the new signings...

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:53 PM | Unregistered Commenterparklane

"It was just a warm up, chill guys. shit myself for a sec. Crap headline"


I was going to headline it, HARRY OUT, but decided not to just in case I got teh death threats.

Jul 29, 2010 at 11:54 PM | Registered Commenterspooky

you should look up pre season friendly, and what they are, with the players we had out there, it was still a good match to watch from both teams, but they just had too much for our young team, it needed a deflected 3rd goal from them to achieve their win, because we were coming back , but like i said , they were too good for a makeshift spurs side, but we saw some good play from fringe players, and saw a very entertaining spanish side, who can certainly play the barcelona way, and it was a great workout, and hopefully the players will learn from it.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:07 AM | Unregistered Commenterpete

Hutton.

What a bag of shite.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:09 AM | Unregistered CommenterAuthor of Comment

Pretty crap and we could easily have lost 7-1. Bale looked goodwhen he came on second half as did Crouch. Dos Santos gave us real energy and I was really impressed with Dean Parrett. Why is Jenas allowed to wear our shirt????
Taraabt is a showboater, a liability...loads of skill but not a prem player.
Very rusty performance from a lot of our players but thats what pre season is all about.
I wouldn't mind another look at Rossi. He doesn't seem to miss a chance!

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:18 AM | Unregistered Commenterwembleyspurs

Accurate summarisation of the game. First half we were very poor, Hutton flatters to deceive. Couple of decent runs up the right wing and then turns useless, simply nowhere near good enough. Lennon marked out of the game. Kranjcar made too many iffy passes. The youngsters really looked out of their depth. I know it was a pre season friendly but they were wearing the shirt and I expected a lot better after watching the games in the US. I can't make it to games due to geography and I rely on you guys to keep us informed of our young players coming through the ranks and trying to break into the first team at some stage. From that game, against half decent opposition I didn't see too much to write home about. They spent too much time trying to beat players before losing the ball when they should've laid it off. Gio looked good but he didn't get enough of the ball. We rarely won the second ball in the centre of the park, when we did have it, we gave it away sooooo many times. At the start of the second half we looked really good bombing forward for about 10 minutes. If we are going to be playing a lot of games this season a lot of these lads will need to buck up and get with the programme. We will need a good squad to compete effectively on all fronts. Love BAE, scares the shit out of me at times but at least he tries to play!! It's pre-season and a friendly but still.

COYS

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:18 AM | Unregistered CommenterMalSpur

"Alright, lads, Danny's not giving me any luverly dosh to play with... Fink that's disghasting, would've made some triffic signings...the way they treated 'at donkey is disghasting...anyway, you, Daws, Gomey, Azza, Tommy, go out there and play like lumbering shitebags,like obese pan'andlers, like one-legged catatonic sea captains with too much drink in'neir blud, to give our Danny sumfink to think about..." "what about me, boss?" "you just do what comes naturally, JJ."

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:19 AM | Unregistered CommenterDubaiSpur

I think HR had a few at the time he picked this team names. How many times we need to see Hutton helplessly flop and embarrassing and demoralizing other players and frustrating fans? The guy cannot play at this level, period. Starting home game with shit at right back and real right back playing at left side? Although Kaboul is better right back than both of them. Except Bale and Gio, the rest of forwards showed nothing. Spaniards demonstrated how cute passing could be a forward oriented and not only to the back. Of the youngsters (except goalkeeper), only Luke showed some desire, feel for the game and ball handling skills. The rest need to learn and should be loaned out
OK, it was a friendly and a warm-up game, but too many players look still frozen cold. I hope we don’t get any of Spaniard or Portuguese clubs in the first qualifying round, because we just don’t have what is needed to bit them, and that is stamina, strength and high tempo.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:21 AM | Unregistered Commenterbeetleblues

Rossi looks like an interesting option to pursue. Looks like good striker!. For the rest no need to panic yet.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:22 AM | Unregistered Commenterabe

Just the result we needed to shake things up.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:23 AM | Unregistered CommenterTrembly

Not Luke, I meant Dean Parrett

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:24 AM | Unregistered Commenterbeetleblues

Europea League is Mickey Mouse anyways.

The Peace Cup. Now that was a trophy always worth winning. Moonie Silverware at it's finest.

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:25 AM | Unregistered CommenterTreeHorn

2/3 weeks to go, and still no major signings.

Are we in for another last week mind-fuck?

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:25 AM | Unregistered CommenterThe Machine

I think it was good that Harry did not pick the usual starting XI.

Ramos did that pre season as I recall and we got lots great victories but the team went down the toilet as soon as the games got real.

Anyway we need to see some of these squad players some time and when better than during a transfer window so that we can see who needs upgrading.

Trouble is that I cannot see many buyers lining up for our undesirables so we are probably stuck with them :)

Jul 30, 2010 at 12:37 AM | Unregistered Commenterparklane

I see us ending up with one decent player from abroad and two from ManC (one or both on loan). The universe has told me so.

Just a sec, have to go put the squid back in the aquarium,
(splish...splosh)

I am honestly (and probably ever so foolishly) pretty happy to stay with the side we have. Last season we certainly had our shining moments - several at ideal times - yet it didn't feel like we were playing out of our skins. The romantics among us could ponder what might have been without injuries various to key players such as Lennon, Modric, Bale, Charlie. And the center backs... Oh, the center backs...

I think that the availability of our best 10-12 players for the most important games this season will be far more decisive than whoever Redschnapps and Dr. Evil do or don't get in before September.

That said, I would literally give Daniel a handjob if that's what took for him to shell out for: CB, ST, LB(?).

Wait... Did we play a game?

Jul 30, 2010 at 1:03 AM | Unregistered CommenterLosLorenzo

nice one Dubai Spur!

Jul 30, 2010 at 2:15 AM | Unregistered Commenternycyid

One could only hope that playing Villa Real woke up old knappy, and shook up ol levy a little bit, however doubtful. In fairness we didn't field the 1st team, and it is a friendly....although regardless of the match, I really prefer to see Spurs win really.
I am afraid that no one wants to buy our rubbish, and that we still haven't gotten anyone yet. The lack of transfer news is just a little bit unnerving, as the nonsense rumors are just irritating.
Not in a panic right now, but give me about 2 weeks and we'll see how I feel about how this business (or lack there of) is going. Knappy signed a donkey but we aready have one wearing the number 8 jersey.

P.S.
Jenas still has his name and squad number on his jersey right?

Jul 30, 2010 at 2:35 AM | Unregistered CommenterBim Spur

Keane has to go..........We need a legitimate striker. Sell Keane and Pavs........get that legitimate striker to match up w/ defoe. Crouch and Gio - reserve strikers. Its time

Jul 30, 2010 at 2:52 AM | Unregistered CommenterPhillyHotspur

we need to play Gio more often, he looked good. just needs more still and discipline to his overall personality (remember Ghaly?), and he'll come good.

Jul 30, 2010 at 5:31 AM | Unregistered CommenterPav

1-4 just a Harry mindgame to finally convince Dan to loosen the purse strings a bit and go out and buy some CL quality players.

Jul 30, 2010 at 6:01 AM | Unregistered CommenterOldSpur

Losing to villareal? That's a booking

Jul 30, 2010 at 7:55 AM | Unregistered CommenterHoward Webb

I think our world cup players just looked a bit rusty from not having linked up with the rest of the squad in America. Agree totally with apotccc about Naughton and Hutton. I can't believe I used to like Hutton. He's so lightweight. As soon as Jenas passed to a fan in the crowd I knew this was going to be a long night. But, as I said, it's a rusty side and they'll probably be a hell of a lot better against Fiorentina

Jul 30, 2010 at 7:56 AM | Unregistered Commenterspanish spur

Relax.

Jul 30, 2010 at 7:59 AM | Unregistered Commenterelwehbi@ibleedhotspur

You either want young players to get a chance to play or you do not.

Jul 30, 2010 at 8:26 AM | Unregistered Commenterperrymann

Seeing as half our team arent back from WC holidaying yet i think you need to relax a bit. take the positives out of the game - Gio looked gd for example.

Jul 30, 2010 at 8:35 AM | Unregistered CommenterDan

spurs kicked out of Europe some twats write anything to get noticed

Jul 30, 2010 at 8:57 AM | Unregistered Commenterstephenperth

Yeah, they do don't they Stephen. Good old Telegraph with their attention seeking and me with my cute little article title. Did ya notice us then? Did ya????

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:05 AM | Registered Commenterspooky

Can we not sell Hutton to Sunderland?

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:08 AM | Unregistered CommenterHazard

Perhaps we can just give him away?

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:11 AM | Unregistered Commenteral ctrl del

i was there and i was impressed with walker looked a good player and danny rose was pretty good gio got himself a bit and dean parret looked good when he was on , naughton looked a bit dodgy ,tarrabt wasnt bad certainly liveneed it up but no end product . keane was rubbish jenas was awful until he went of hutton was too kranjcar looked unfit but rember only pre season we beat roma 5-0 remember i take it as a good sign if we lose in pre seaon we did last season

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:23 AM | Unregistered Commentergolf jack

Last night proved a good test and showed the level we might have to play iat f we are to reach the group stages of the Champs League. I thought the defense was poor and showed that Corluka and Bassong might not be strong enough if called upon. This highlights the fact that we need to sign a top centre back before the season starts....

Cahill
Hangleland
Jagielka

Would all do a good job for us. I really hope we don't leave ourselves short of class at the back. It is a worry with only two weeks to go. There were some positives from last night, Walker has great pace, Rose looked good with his passing and running at people as did Gio and he scored a goal.

I thought when the day came that we finished in the top four we would be able to attract a few world class players. But in reality Levy won't break the current pay bracket so we can't sign these kinds of players. This is a shame for Spurs but I can also understand why Levy won't pay the big bucks. This means Harry will have to sniff out a few bargains....but it won't be easy.

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:25 AM | Unregistered CommenterRick.

Btw...Why is JJ even playing, this guy should of left the club years ago. Not good enough. I don't want him anywhere near that first 11.

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:26 AM | Unregistered CommenterRick.

Jet lag people!

Otherwise Villarreal would have scored alot more.

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:34 AM | Unregistered CommenterLemonadeMoney

Fiorentina next Saturday should be interesting.....anybody else attending?

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:35 AM | Unregistered Commenternorthbucks yido

I thought we were pulled around in every area of the pitch and were made to look silly every time they attacked. I think assou Akotto is an accident waiting to happen so we need to move bale back there asap or try walker/s there or Bassong. The youngsters showed promise and on the back of what Obika and Townsend and co done in America I think HR could bring some of these on. Still cant work out why Jenas isnt on the market and Bostock in his place, I know his attitude seems poor, but a lot of top players suffer from this, the boys got more talent in one leg than Jenas. Harry has to get busy in the market for a forward tho as we dont cut it up front especially without Pav anywhere the pitch. Defoe will be isolated and Crouch will always be punted to. Come on Harry lets have a striker please, release the funds Mr Levy

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:42 AM | Unregistered CommenterDave J

Moving Bale back to left back would be a huge mistake, he is wasted there. The lad is a great left winger. Last season proved that. We need cover for Ekotto really.

Jul 30, 2010 at 9:57 AM | Unregistered CommenterRick.

Well a lot of interesting Blogs but only one made a telling statement but he never said why . Beetleblues you have it in one Stamina strength Tempo and whippet like build. We started bright and looked like we could score any time soon then the Tempo kicked in and every time we broke and got behind them there was a tide of Yellow in the box and when they attacked the same tide went forward. This is the new Football that seen us leek four goals against Burnley high energy. What this new fitness level does for a team is this firstly you can lose the ball by being adventuress knowing you have the stamina to get it back these teams dominate possession and because of the high tempo they press the opposition into making mistakes . When Spurs players received the ball the Yellow peril had three players surrounding the ball we chased in ones and they just passed the ball around him . The other attributes this fitness brings is defending the Goalkeeping area with staggering last ditch blocks slide tackles and covering crosses. We stopped this energy advantage for a short spell with a load of fresh legs and scored but a deflection looked like it finished us but the real reason was there coach also brought fresh legs on and regained there high tempo advantage of denying space. . I f you sat down and looked at the game again you would see there defence was outstanding in stopping Spurs from scoring we had the same chances to score that they had the big difference is they had the energy to get back in numbers and plug the gaps. This was behind all the shocks last year and you will find the blue print is the same only the skill levels change . So this result is more alarming than just a friendly it means more and more teams are using High tempo and have caught up with the Team who i discovered using this high octane pressing game fuelled by endless energy levels three seasons ago . Apart from Mutu two Russian players and championship Goalkeeper this new way of playing is gathering more and more teams and Rossi Folrlan Kanoute have all benefited from extra energy to boost there once English failed careers. So we need to get one of these conditioning coaches or we will meet more of these teams and the same result will happen again no matter who they are Burnley Wolves or the seventh best Team in Spaih . Despairing sad mad Davspurs

Jul 30, 2010 at 10:29 AM | Unregistered Commenterdavspurs

our best player that played at the world cup was jonny two saints,however i fear for his 1st team future ,as he speaks el geezer ,and not pure geezer,the shame of it is that he is a raw talent waiting to be ,whats the word,coached ! thats it.

Oh no,lets make smart comments about his drinking ,cos no other spurs player goes out on the lash do they ???


But ,he will end up shining somewhere else ,down to the language disparities (that means differences etc in case any west ham fans are reading)

Jul 30, 2010 at 10:47 AM | Unregistered CommenterFabio Cappello

Cheers nycyid.

Jul 30, 2010 at 10:52 AM | Unregistered CommenterDubaiSpur

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