Spurs knocked out of Europe
Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 11:24PM 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)
I can't see a major signing coming. I think we will go for some cheap cover in central defence and Bellamy (perhaps to replace Keane or Pav) and would be fairly happy with that, but I can't see why Man City would agree to loan him to us. Why would they loan a good player to us, their key rival for a Champions League spot? We will have to pay, I guess around £6m to £7m. I think he'd be a good signing: genuine pace up front, a natural finisher to rival Defoe, and can play left wing too. Only problem is he can't play up front on his own in a 4-5-1/ 4-3-3 which is worrying.
Anyone got an update on our search for a new backup keeper? What about this Pletikosa guy from Spartak Moscow we were linked with?
How is Bellamy an improvement over Pavs or Keane? This is, at absolute best, a zero sum game. And that's ignoring the fact that Bellamy is dressing room poison--such a heartwarming history dealing with junior players. The guy has bounced through how many clubs?
This is not moving forward but it is smack dab in the middle of Redknapp's comfort zone.
8 clubs in 10 years. Amazing. Do you want to make that 9 clubs in 11?
If it was the champions league, it would have been a tough watch. We did not approach it like we had a lot to lose. Hence the result does not matter, and I enjoyed watching Villareal's passing, and our attempt at a comeback. Harry's lineup showed that he wanted to know how much he can trust the fringe players and youngsters when we have an important UCL game coming up. The schedule is tight. We WILL have to play these fringe players on the weekend game ahead of UCL game.
I think Bassong is a very good defender and that he and Dawson can make a very good Central defensive partnership They work well together and are young enough to improve. Dos Santos needs to be given a run in the team and Adel Taarabt is worth a run out in the domestic cup competitions. The rest of the youngsters need more time. Don't worry about the result of the friendly, it's only a friendly! When all the senior players come back we'll be much more dynamic with a cutting edge to die for.
COYS!!!!!
Last season Bellamy was streets ahead of Keane who still has not recovered.
If he could repeat that form for us this season we would improve notably.
In fact we only need a competent Prem striker this season to finish off a few the gazillions of chances we made but spurned second half of last season.
Bellamy easily gets the nod ahead of Keane for that "competent Prem striker" role imo.
I thought Jenas and Hutton were awful, they need shipping out sooner rather than later! I do not understand how they get a squad number. I like many others do not read into pre season games after all they are just to get some fitness. I have noticed that Lennon is doing a lot of back passing (even in the one game at the WC for England). I expect to see him get the ball and go like before he got injured in December.
The thing about the "Bellamy for us" suggestion is that Bellamy plays attacking left for City - not striker. So the comparisons with Keane are meaningless. If he were to sign for us, would he play as striker, or left midfield - or would we change our formation to suit him? Why would City sell him to us anyway?
If you put the kiss of death on us with this "we are knocked out of Europe" then I have lost all respect for you and your sick humour.
Bellamy is undeniably an odious little toerag, but he is a very good striker. I'd be much more confident with him taking a chance than I would Keane, Pav or Crouch over the last year. He's very quick, and has shown in the last season with City that he's versatile enough to learn a new position and become a team player without whinging too much.
In my opinion City have underplayed him and we could reasonably expect 15 to 20 goals from him this season. No one is claiming he's the marquee signing we want up front, but equally he is interested, will cost considerably less than £10m and would take a similar salary to our starting 11. So it's fairly low risk (dressing room harmony aside, but I think he many be growing up a tiny bit at last and Harry won't take any nonsense). Fabiano, Huntelaar, Forlan are all either not interested or £10m+ more expensive than Bellamy, and equally are unproven in the Premier League. Bellamy would be a decent mid-range, low risk option and he's scored plenty of goals against the big 4 in his time.
Why do people keep having a go at Spooky for the title of the thread? Do any of you mongs even bother to look at the image posted with the article?
Next Spooks, avoid the negativity by posting something like 'Spurs lose pre-season friendly 4-1 at the Lane against a Spanish Outfit'.
Or just post what you want and tell the pricks to do one
Ben - I will reiterate: Why should City sell Bellamy to us? And why is everyone convinced that he would be cheap. They bought him for 14 million 2 seasons ago. Did ok. By my estimation, stilll over 10m. If I were CIty, and wanted to sell him, I would A) Offer him to a non-rival - even at cut-price, B) if only rivals come in for him, then ramp up the fee. If all else fails, then keep him or loan him out. But I would never sell to Spurs!! Would you sell Lennon to them? Not without ample financial compensation! Or a player swap. It really is that simple. I am not saying that it is impossible, but a great deal of hoop jumping on both sides would have to occur for it to happen. I just don't think that the hassle, price or the risk of team disharmony is worth it.
I have to say time is running out for us to bed in new personnel.
The team as a whole were good enough to turn over most of the EPL most of the time last season, but our weaknesses were glaringly obvious once key players got injured. No good cover.
Funny thing is, I noticed that some atypical players stepped up to the plate when called upon. (Kaboul at RB?) And when HR tinkered with a winning combo for the game at Old Trafford, I cringed. I mean, BAE at RB with his slice and Wilson running back to bring Giggs down in the box.
Point is: if we aint going to bring in new players by now, then we better have a plan B for each position, and it might not be a good idea to sell anyone who played a part in last season's campaign.
The only good to come out of relative inactivity on the transfer front is that the familiarity within the team is maintained. The relative stability in the last few years has meant that the team plays better (even though prone to the odd freak result). Minimal disruption. I am glad Giovani has remained. If he gets his act together, he could be the new key to open a few locked defences.
The first leg of the CL qualifier comes just after the home game with Man. City. This is both good and bad. Ideally we should play fearlessly, with the same teamwork and confidence of last season.
I hope, for this new season:-
1) HR does not tinker with a winning combo, except to improve.
2) we promote one or two bright ones from the academy.
3) the team gets into the CL group stage and progress to a significant stage (QF?)
4) Woodgate and King enjoy relatively injury-free campaign
5) we prioritise winning a cup (or two)
6) we also prioritise qualifying for Europe (top 6)
Last year we got taught to play by Barcelona under16's, we then gave hammers a demonstration of what we learnt, then against Celtic we learnt that sometimes you have to fight for the right to play, a lesson we used to good effect against liverpool on the opening day...
..perhaps this year we learnt that scoring goals is good, conceding is bad, I'd settle for that
Also, perhaps its exactly what we needed ahead of a CL qualifier
I thought Rose had a great game but nobody else seesm to think so. Bearing in mind he was played out of position the whole game, he was useful never gave the ball away and looked to pass and move into good spaces. Gio must stay he looked sharp like he did in TWC, Bale obviosuly class and Walker was ok, apart from that the rest looked like they were treating it as it was. A GLORIFIED TRAIINING SESSION.
I love the fact the paper says a near full strength team & the image shows a player who can't get in the 1st team for love nor money.
JOKE ARTICLE???
THIS WAS A BLOODY FRIENDLY - THE QUALIFIERS DON'T START UNTIL NEXT MONTH... EXPECTED MORE FROM A SPURS BLOG!! Even as a joke this doesn't even raise a snigger... :oP
i like how we lose an this in back page news, it was a friendly, so because we lose to a spanish champions league team (not sure if there in it this year) but still does this mean were no good for it now NOOOO cause its a friendly
i dont hear people saying because chelski lost 5-1 to wycombe wanderers they are going to get relegated or man u losing to a 10man u.s side there going down as well
PATHETIC
Cracking stuff Singapore.
Yiddoflife the Yellow Peril finished 7th and had a rubbish start then when they found higher tempo they finished great.. Unless we find the same death defying Tempo and Jenes runs till he is near to collapse we will struggle to cope with Blackpool
Did any of you actually go to the game cos Kranjcar was by a country mile our best player.
Thanks spooky.
If HR only seeks "geezers" then we're in deep s&@t. The time for acquiring new players (and developing understanding and tactics has come and gone. At least we have not lost anyone of worth.
To those who believe we still need new blood should consider promoting our youth from within.
Now is the time to build upon what we have established last season. Nothing fancy. No multiple stepover types. A couple of crackers from Modric against City followed by a lucky victory in the first leg would do nicely.
Hope so the machine!!!
hutton was and is absoloute garbage, i thought niko did really well. i still think harry is looking for a big man to play up on his own for champs lge and play lennon and modric behind him.
Fukin Hell how big does Harry want is man upfront the Russian is 7ft 3 but David Slained Him
DAvespurs at long last you seem to have accepted that the high energy game is not pseudoephedrine driven, but may be more likely due to coaching. I think that really is the right answer otherwise drug testing would have identiified the real cause and it would have leaked out by now.
i agree harry needs to sign some players but good players not players past it liike parker i liked him until he didnt think we were good enough i think kyle walker played really well and so did dos santos give walker,dos santos,obika,bostock,livermore a few games to see how they progress and harry ive seen u want to get a player on loan and some papers say u want to sign benjani why the hell he is a pile of ?????????? we want to go forward not backwards our aim is to keep getting into the top 4 every season yid army
My thoughts...
- Harry is starting Jenas, Keane and Hutton in every friendly to put them on display for sale (unfortunately they don't do themselves or us much good though).
- I thought Gio, Krancjar and Rose were on good form last night.
- Any signings Harry makes will probably be cover for existing players now, I think that "marquee" signing will remain elusive. Probably looking at Bellamy, Curtis Davies and Pletikosa.
- I think left back cover is needed for BAE as I would rather keep Bale in midfield
- No matter how many people say it we DO NOT need a right back, unless Maicon fancies a bit, ahem...
- With the 25 man (over 21) rules a lot more kids will get chance to play in the PL, especially if we name crocked and useless players in the first 25 (Woodgate, Jenas, Bentley etc)
- Rose, Obika, Gio and maybe Taraabt should all be given a few more chances, providing they can behave themselves, the rest will go out on loan.
Also is O'Hara still injured? Making an assumption here as I don't know.
Spurs didn't even really come out of 2nd gear last night....
It was just a good opportunity to try a few new tricks without the impetus of being knocked out of a competition we've coveted for years.
We played attractive passing football. Unfortunately very little end result but entertaining to watch.
When all players are back and ready for the new season, together with some new signings, we'll have more than enough for man city.
nice to have a reality check........
keeps our feet on the ground...............
still getting the train .........not at the station yet
Who fabricated tha headline and wrote the load of Tosh below it!!
ANY REAL Spurs Fan would know that we don't even know who we're playing in the "Champions League" Qualifier yet... let alone not anywhere near the Europa League!
It's a friendly for gods sake... it means nothing as there has never really been any true correlation before pre-season results and what happens in the real season.
Chill Winstons!
I can only assume you are taking the piss, because the alternative (i.e. you not taking the piss) would make you an epic cunt.
Why did the Spanish side look in mid season form in a Pre season friendly?
They looked sharp. Can't see I'm reading too much into this result. And some of the Spurs fans need to actually read this article before having a spaz attack. Knee jerk obviously gone over their head.
Jet lagged we were, jet lagged.
Hutton is fat AND shit.
He is a fat shit.
How much are you getting paid to adverise Studs up btw? You IggyPop of the Spurs world you.
Untold millions.
Luke i was taking the piss you cat teach high Tempo you can do this sort of game normally for about sixty mins then you would tire' This is the area conditioning Trainers Have adopted and let me tell you it hi not Legal and it was the bloody testers who told me they could not catch them when i reported a team for using this method to beat us . They went slower and have just appointed a manager whose team also played above there ability i am watching him and there new signing who snubbed us closely. Do you think i speak from ignorants this five man high tempo game is all over Europe and Mutu Florientena two Dynamo Moscow in the champs league a championship goaly and the most famous player of all time on Ephedrine Maradona in the World cup so dont insult me with Tester whatwould you do if all your Team where taking it and you got caught would you keep quite no you would tell the Fa if i go then all of us get banned this is the problem and why the Moscow players got fined and said we had a cold . .Trust me its here and all the sudden deaths prove it this year new testin is being introduced after a lot of objections from Ferguson Sol Cambell Gordan Taylor the FA and UFA we have watered it down to ten or twenty players from thirty and they will not be named just in case there form dips alarmingly. I hope Luke you are right and i am wrong or even BlacKpool will come with a high TEMPO and WIN 1-0 and anothe just like Burnley did 4-2r Shock season will happen most class come twins sport when there opponent tire from the others skill this has now gone and full tanks last for the whole game
SORRY LADS ABOUT THE SLIP AT THE BOTTOM OF MY RANT NEW READING SPECKS
Don't worry about it. Everyone slips now and again.
Untold millions.
Jul 31, 2010 at 1:14 PM | spooky
Ahh good man, could you chip in for the 'Marquee' signing at all?
Davspurs
the whole thing seemed like a slip.
Sorry but it's true. Have a hard time making sense of what u say most of the time.
Anyway a question I want an answer to is
what the fuck happened to Hutton. I thought he'd come back from Sunderland sharper etc.
It's worse he's got. Lucky to sell him now.
GIO SHOULD BE START OF FIRST 11 IN THE COMING SHINING SEASON OF HIM ,
MR. HR PLS. GIVE OUR GOOD YOUNGSTER A CHANCE LIKE K. WALKER , ROSE , BOSTOCK , OBIKA , TAARABT AND PROMISING GIO DOS SANTOS
GET RID OF JENAS , HUTTON AND BAE
so are we broke then ?
Otherwise we must be choosing not to buy a £20m striker because we think we don't need one.
that would be a crazy thought though because our strikers were pants at the end of last season.
I've got Ramos deja vu and am shitting my pants.
Davespurs
It is still rather hard to believe you are right-thats if your not taking the piss out of me assumming you truely believed in what you preached? but then again I never cease to be surprised by the many bizarre and fascinating ways human greed presents itself.
I do concur though that some players have that nervous fidgety and glassy look in their eyes when they are playing well, and when their performances have gone off the boil that look also seems to be missing, I wonder why that is???
"so are we broke then ?
Otherwise we must be choosing not to buy a £20m striker because we think we don't need one.
that would be a crazy thought though because our strikers were pants at the end of last season."
They were pants most of the season if we were to be honest.
Let's wait and see what happens. It's seeming too little too late mind.
If the players don't come. I foresee major ructions between Redknapp and Levy and lots of blame laying on Redknapp's half.
"I've got Ramos deja vu and am shitting my pants."
WinterWeekend, apparently you're not the only one. Harry seems to feel a need to get the excuses in early:
"Too many games have been scheduled. I didn't want the Villarreal game...We've not really had a proper pre-season. We've not been able to get on the training pitch enough. We've gone away and played games." etc., etc, variations on the same theme.
Interesting, given we've got fewer friendlies this season than we played in the last two or indeed after the last world cup in 2006
Spurs Preseason Friendlies in July and August (from the spurs site)
10/11 7
09/10 9
08/09 8
06/07 8
I think Redknapp's a bit of cunt, but I'm not sure how you can blame him for the club's lack of ambition so far.
Again, let's see what happens before we start.