COYS, get a move on
Monday, September 13, 2010 at 11:52AM Hello. My name is Spooky and I am not a knee-jerker.
However, I am concerned.
Not 'last season was a fluke, we're going to finish 7th this year, all our players are sh*t, especially the sh*t ones, Harry doesn't have a clue' concerned. Just a little bit concerned. In fact, not that much, not really, mainly because if one lesson was learnt last season it was - believe, at all times, just believe.
I have complete faith in both our management and our squad.
Starting slowly, well, it's a common trait for several teams. It's just that, what with us losing a player a game (even when we - THFC - are not actually playing), you start to scratch your head about the lack of settlement with consistency, flow of play and tactics. It's all out of sorts and disjointed at the moment. And yes, I do prefer this ilk of crisis to ones of previous seasons when we would lose all the time (although technically back then it wasn't a crisis it was just standard form).
We usually lose at the Hawthorns, but just because we didn't doesn't make it acceptable that we failed to win. Perhaps if Modric hadn't have gone off. But still, not a one man team, are we? The point is, we conquered one level last term, we have plenty more to conquer this time round if we wish to stick around in 4th. Early days, but my money is on this season being practically identical to last in terms of how many clubs have their eyes on that 4th spot and how many can genuinely challenge for it.
If we wish to continue on forwards, we can't keep stuttering. Fact is, we have a chance to build on last time out, and possibly even make it a more comfortable experience (my heart, my poor weak heart, will surely give way if we have to do the same as 2010).
So, 1-1 away.
It's by no means disastrous, is it? The injuries however are not good, obviously, because after last season I would have hoped we had some luck and thus been able to select from a full strength squad for league and CL. But that's fantasy. Everyone always has an injury or two to deal with. Gutting two of ours came by the way of International duty, and a third thanks to plenty of kicks to Modric that saw him go off (thankfully no fracture, travelling to Germany with CL squad). He was triffic for us on Saturday.
We do have depth. But tinkering and mixing it up is having adversed effects, mainly because Harry can't settle on what is best and isn't helped by our run of bad luck with crocked players. It also has a fair bit to do with the first leg of the CL qualifier that saw us crashing back down to earth. And the fact we got a certain Dutchman on the cheap. No complaints there, but Harry has to fit him in quickly (perhaps fit in others around him quickly).
My concern is that we are making it difficult for ourselves, struggling to ignite and spark our season with some of that ye olde Tottingham magic. It's there. Just no bunny rabbit out of the hat. But please, do not head to the bathroom with a toaster. It's not quite David Copperfield, but then it's not exactly Tommy Copper either. Had Bale scored on Saturday, we'd be saying, good old Spurs, winning away without playing well, that's the sign of a proper side that is.
Why am I even entertaining the negatives and knee-jerks? Because I know a couple of you need the therapy. And I probably need some too.
Brilliant first half v City at the Lane. Couldn't quite find the net. The aforementioned Young Boys spanking away and recovery along with brushing past them in the return leg. Sandwiched in-between the Young Boys (what?) was a gritty ugly 2-1 away win at Stoke. Then we had the Wigan home defeat, which was just one of those days that we tend to have under Harry. A blip. Which we experienced last season, but still found the guile to correct and make up for them as the season flew past.
It's been erratic. Nothing more, nothing less.
Anything below amazing would be, considering the way we ended last season. But such is expectancy. We know what this team can do, so we are right to feel aggrieved that they are currently not producing the goods with swagger and swashbuckle. But no need to head-butt the panic button.
So, the WBA game. Decent first half, up until the mess (from our perspective) of an equaliser which saw Gallas ghosted and the rest of our defence do little as they watched the ball bundled over, cancelling out the Modric opener. We kept the ball well, carved out a few moves. Lost the impetus when Modric went off. Don't agree he's injury prone. Do agree he gets kicked a lot. Leave him along, ffs. He's only little! Ref, where's the protection?! vdV put in a good shift I thought, all things considering, debut away. 4-5-1, not quite working, mainly because Pav seemed lost up there on his own. He was playing right?
More stuff I noticed/thought about post-match:
CC in goal saved us in the second half. Some quite desperate/wonderful saves to keep us holding onto the point. But I'd rather have the Brazilian mentalist Gomes back between the sticks.
Defending wasn't Kingesque. Struggled with set-pieces. Gallas? Off the pace. Mugged for the goal, but then we played like mugs in our attempt to defend it.
Lennon is struggling with his form. Perhaps we need a fit Bentley to give Azza a psychological kick up the head. I don't buy all this 'he's been found out' BS. It's a lull, not been bright since his return from injury. He'll get there.
WBA were dirty (ooh small team bullied us, so unfair), and thought Webb was lenient/blind on a few occasions, and yes, Modric did seem to be kicked an awful lot. Have I mentioned that yet already?
Pav offered not a lot. The fact he started and Keane didn't says all you need to know about what Harry thinks about Robbie. If Robbie comes good, no doubt we'll get the same sound-bites we heard when Bentley re-discovered his form (although that didn't quite work out long term any ways).
Wilson Palacios needs to be given extended time off to sort out his head. I don't agree that we over-rated him based on his early performances and that those decent games masked all his average games. Some of us are saying this. The thing, with his brother, clearly screwed him up (would screw anyone up) and he has not been the same since. He has lost his composure. Not that he was a beautiful studs on ball type of player before, but he was Gandalfesque with his 'You shall not pass' ethic in centre midfield, biting ankles and such. He is the definition of 'all over the shop' currently. Fast-track Sandro please.
vdV showed plenty of class and has quite obviously settled in quickly with the squad and did not look out of sorts at all. Good range of passing, vision and technical abilities. No shocker there. Not too bright on pace, but then we knew that. Don't agree with the suggestion that he has no work rate or physical presence (I need to stop reading message boards). He was all over the pitch. But do agree that if we don't get our forward conundrum sorted out, we won't be using him to full effect. Can't wait for a WHL showing. Bit more freedom to sex it up, and hopefully over the next few weeks he'll blossom with the mechanics of the EPL.
Tactics. The formation died when Modric went off. Huddlestone disappeared and lacked any control over the midfield. I'm still content he was given the captaincy over Gallas. Didn't work, but still content. Moddle is vital. But let's have some reminiscent of structure please when we have to change it because of a departure.
I just don't like Bale at left-back, even though I knew he'd start there. I'm sure Harry, I know Harry is astute enough to see what did and didn't work. And what with all these injuries, bare bones and tings, we might find ourselves having to take advantage of the misfortune and settling down with the key players we have available in key positions, without tinkering. That's if we manage to avoid any further losses. We'll muddle through, but will prefer to Moddle through.
So where does the spark come from?
Plenty of candidates. Just hope it happens mid-week then at home to Wolves. Because, may God have mercy on Glory Glory and all the other Spurs message boards and blogs if we don't win at the Lane next weekend. Perhaps the slow start is simply nerves what with the CL just up ahead for us. If we are getting distracted by Europe, then we might as well call time on our EPL top 4 challenge right now.
Focus, Spurs, focus. Momentum. Build it up. Then turn it on.
Concerned? Nah. Just impatient. COYS.
Reader Comments (67)
Not a lot to disagree with here, but to be fair with the exception of Chelsea - and maybe that lot up the road - no one's exactly come flying out of the blocks have they? I'll take our current form over that of Liverpool and Man City
End of the world is in nigh!!!
We're all screwed!!!
I think losing Defoe could be a real blow to our chances of the top 4 . Where are the goals coming from - Crouch and Pav can both be hit and miss . I would definitely play 2 strikers at home and play Keane . Away from home I can understand 1 up front - but then would play Bale left midfield as he scores goals and we need the midfield to score if strikers not going to get many . Not to panic yet but we do need wins - Wigan was the big blunder and Harry admitted in hindsight he did not realise how much CL took out of them and he should have freshened the team up . I think Gio could be useful down the middle with his pace and score goals but Harry did not even have him on the bench Saturday .
Van de Vaart like Modric is a proper footballer. He and Modders found each other from the start and demonstrated the old fashioned art of passing to a player in the same colour shirt.
He will be a Spurs legend by Wednesday.
Palacios was vastly over-rated as I found to my cost and was accused of being a ´gooner in disguise´for my critical comments. I thought his passing was much better at W Brom.
Possibly because Mod and Van gave him simple passing options by their movement.
Too early to panic, save it for when we really mess it up. Doesn´t do to waste a good panic Spooks.
I'm beginning to lose faith in Wilson. Keep waiting for him to wake up from his nightmare, but it's gone from dream to coma.
My view is simple, if erratic
3 points :D
1 point :|
0 points >:O
Push and Run. Yes
Rusn and Pun. No
I hope to be all smiles tomorrow night.
Van de Vaart is going to be special. Glad that Modric is fine. Have not a worry at the moment. As you said Spooky, nothing to suggest it won't be any different to last season but would love to see us go that extra mile and not be looking over our shoulders. First things first. We need to get into the top four and stay put.
It is a strange start to the season, and I am a little perplexed as to where our priorities actually lie?. For me the Premiership must take precedent and already we're behind in those stakes, but its early days all the same.
The Wigan game was a kick in the goolies, but it happens to the best of them. My concern is two-fold. Firstly we always seem to struggle in the latter stages of games, it was our downfall last season and its happening this term as well. My second worry is the midfield pairing of Palacios and Huddlestone, which is pretty mindless and ineffective.
I've been concerned about Palacios for some time now, and at this moment in time would prefer Jenas in the middle, who incidentally played well in our only premiership win this term.Lennon seems to be lacking in confidence since returning from the WC,but playing Bale at left back is beyond my comprehension, a bit like playing Keane in goal. Not worried at this stage, but concerned about the aptitude of the team so far, but it's still early in the season and can be put right without too much tinkering
it is a worry
the only thing keeping this from being a very poor start is the fact that LFC and Citeh are both also starting slowly.
No one realy expected us tyo challenge, but to at least keep the push for 4th a decent contest. it is such early days and we are only 3 points from 3rd place, but we have dropped points against teams I expected maximum points from. IMO we are already 5 points behind schedule. To be competitive over the season we will now need to gain points from places where we expect little/none to make up for these dropped points.
Our slow start vs average opposition may come back to bite us. I think we need a good win to get confidence up and momentum rolling!
I think we have the players to do the formation Spain used:
Gomes
Corluka/Hutton/Walker Dawson/Gallas King Assou-Ekotto
Palacios Huddlestone
Van der Vaart
Bale Modric
Defoe
just a quick note. We didn't play 4-5-1. It was very much 4-4-1-1 with VdV behind a once again very poor Pav.
Pav started ok for the first 10 minutes with a few nice touches but then he stopped controlling the ball and was basically useless.
You say we kept the ball well, and you're right. However, we did nothing with it. Nothing at all. The sideways slow passing with no movement from those in more advanced positions was sickening at times. VdV on numerous occasions had to collect the ball from Gallas which is nonsensical.
Although not as bad as the Bale at left back decision and then the even worse substitution of Modric with Niko. Niko is a player who offered something in a few games when he first signed but now is surplus to requirements in every position he could possibly play. However, it wasn't his fault he was brought on meaning we once again had no-one on the left of midfield. Ekotto should've come on and Bale pushed forward. It was basic football management and Redknapp's decision beggers belief.
Oh and Lennon and Palacios were truly awful. Lennon got cheered off the ground by the away fans.
I'm also not knee jerking but saying it as it was. Maybe for 10 minutes on Saturday we looked half decent but apart from that we created little, defender badly and were fortunate to get a point. Ask anyone else who was at The Hawthorns and I doubt anyone would disagree. Maybe it's different on MotD.
lennon wasn't great against WBA, but he was the man of the match against stoke, despite the fact bale got all the headlines with that great goal and performance, it was aaron he was the best player on the pitch. really like the look of vdV, not afraid to get in and tackle as well - always a bonus.
Wolves on Saturday and that Mug Karl Henry,....the smart money will be on a 1st Half Penalty to Spurs & 2nd half sending off of a wolves player ;-)
it worries me how many spurs fans have got way ahead of themselves due to last seasons 4th place. They seem to think that anything less than 4th this year for us will mean a crap year. this is nonsense. For the next few years i can see 4th place regulary changing hands bewteen ourselves, city and liverpool, personally i'd bite your hand off now for us to get chams lge once every three to five years but some of us expect us to push on and get 3rd, 2nd , even 1st. its totally unrealistic. this year if we finish top 6 and have a decent run in europe ( including if we finish third in the group and go into the europa ) then that will be a magnificent season, yet some of you will be furious by this. Why? Playing champions league will take so much out of us this year as we have already seen, we are already behind where we were points wise against the same teams from last year. Some of us need to get real. This year is to be enjoyed after our fantastic achievment last year, so dont let your football manager heads run away with you. We are getting better but no where near as fast as some of you want, so just chill out people, enjoy this season then next year without champions league football we should be able to really push for 4th again but for this year we really should forget it.
Was just watching some vintage Keano clips on YouTube. Come on Robbie! Find your way back to your old form and we'll be fine.
The Bale at LB or LW conundrum needs one of your analytical specials. I think there are times when he's more suited, for the benefit of the team as a whole, to one position than the other.
His defending is not great to say the least, but at LB he does allow us to play Modric and VdV in the same midfield without causing us to be light weight in the middle, and still play, for all intents and purposes, as a winger.
That we still looked lightweight in the middle in the second half when playing with two defensive midfielders is a concern.
Saying that, the real issue here is the paucity of fire power, but we all knew that anyway. Perhaps Gio or Bentley assisting a lone Keane or Crouch from the right might work and might also give Lennon a boot up the arse. As you say, Sandro could do the same for Palacios.
I don't think we're that far from having a team that could seriously challenge, but by not having a striker who can play alone and bring others in to play makes it so much further.
Im getting bored of "well everyone else has been inconsistent!!!" crap. just caus ethey are shouldn't mean we are, should have had at least 10 points on the board right now. Our only win was against a Stoke side who have zero points on the board and to be honest we were hanging on against them in the end as we were against WBA. City first half aside, we have been poor all season. Also, any danger of our forwards getting a few goals in the league?
P.S, Bale has to play L Mid, he cannot defend and offers only half as much going forward from there.
If we win in Germany then lose to Wolves I would cash in your season ticket and just go to the CL games this season.
I agree with you about Palacios. Boy needs sorting.
We have had a stuttering start to the season and have dropped points which could well cost us already. However every team will have a blip or two through the season. It is as always not about these 'damaging' results )as described on Goals on Sunday) but how we bounce back. I am really excited about the coming weeks. We have by all accounts signed a world class talent in VDV and he will no doubt get more from the players around him. He describes himself as a Street fighter and it was apparent from Saturday he means more like Ken or Ryu then KPB. He has bundles of ability and gets stuck in. Winner.
I think are false star is down to the level of ability and the quality we have in the squad. The crazy set of friendlies followed up by the round of qualifiers have taken their toll. West Brom were sharper and fitter at the weekend because in my opinion of the effect of this. We have almost two international players for every position. This is a big plus but comes with an obvious downside. We also fielded two new players not quite up to speed.
We could pick up a result on Tuesday and are one of the few teams in the PL capable of putting 5/6 wins in a row together so all is not lost, however I don't like the feeling of plaing catch up. A win therefore on Saturday becomes critical. We can't afford to many more freebies to the bottom half clubs particularily at home. An early goal and let the floodgates open and form build.
The future to my eyes is blindingly bright and lilywhite
ps a little perspective for the knee jerkers we are playing champions league football on Tuesday night.
I watched the game on Saturday and here ar a few observations.
Wilson - all over the shop as Spoojy says. Looking very much like Zokora. Sure he scraps and gets stuck in but it's rather forelorn if he just gives the ball straight back with a poor pass. Someone needs to have a word and tell him to make the simplest, easiest pass to whoever is most available. Like Makele, I don't actually want to see him on the ball. Just get it and give to to someone else. Roll on Sandro indeed.
Pav was totally isolated upfront, particularly in the second half. VDV was full of running and willing but he was playing too deep, especially after Modric departed. We are really going to miss Defoe's pace to play on the counter away from home. If we are going to play 4-5-1 the attacking midfielder needs to play more as a forward an less as a midfielder. Otherwise it's all posession and no penetration.
Lennon didn't have a blinder but then he hardly saw the ball! 68% of our attacks in the 1st half came from the left, where Bale and Modric were operating. It's similar to Lennon for England; don't give him the ball and he won't do anything. Play the percentages. 1 out of 4 runs will be successful so just give him more ball-time.
Bale is a more effective attacker than defender so I'd always play him ahead of BAE (as in left midfield).
Corluka looks off pace and almost as dangerous to our own back 4 as Hutton.
I fully expect us to tonk Werder......Keane hattrick......lol
Sorry Bazza...but thats a useless championship side formation. There is no Hudd-Palacios combination. And Hutton is a joke.
Try this one instead: 4-1-4-1
Gomes |
Kaboul | Gallas | King | Benoit A-E |
Huddlestone |
Gio - Dos Santos | Rafa Van-der-Vaart | Luka | Bale |
Keane |
(Unfortunately; Pav & Crouch are rubbish!)
Eh?
"well everyone else has been inconsistent!!!" crap
The point here is that, if we did start very well, we'd be leaving the chasing pack behind, early doors. But there is nothing to suggest we're going to spend the season being the chasers.
We just appear conflicted at the moment, thanks to reasons given (off form players, selection questions, injuries). But considering how open things look again, there is no concern to think we are about to be left behind with the EPL surge. Get CL debut out the way, and then it will settle.
re: 4th, yes, I agree we should enjoy the CL - it's what we got as a direct result of finishing 4th. And considering its not a forgone conclusion that we'll take 4th again, we should make the most of it. But...but...what with the EPL being so open, not finishing top 4 would potentially allow someone else to get a stranglehold on CL football. I know and have said many times, the league might be a see-saw with 2/3 clubs sharing 3rd and 4th over the next few years. But there is also a chance it could go back to the monopoly it once was, just with someone else (City) replacing Liverpool. If that's going to happen lets put in the work now, and rather than 'enjoy and have fun' be ruthless fucking cunts about it and take it for ourselves.
Would've won if Gallas was captain.
Get a life boys...... Why are you so suicidal at this early stage? Go down the road watch the goons and dont come back ... You are all sad traitors, slagging our boys off so soon. Take some time to think how you sound as supporters ........ We dont want whingers save that for the Emeriates and Old trafford
God save Harry and the men at the famous White Hart Lane YID ARMY
YID ARMY WE AINT MAD WE ARE BLOODY BARMY
I'm more concerned that Harry seems to be out of his comfort zone so far this season. Big pressure on team - can't drop silly Wigan-like pts at home in CL and expect to get thru to KO stage - and bigger pressure on Harry to produce a team that delivers every m/week AND sustains a top-4 push every w/end.
No doubting that at full-strength - and even allowing for Defoe/Dawson absences - he's got a squad good enough to perform on both fronts...but I'm not sure he knows yet what the CL and Prem 'core' line-ups should be and it's a tough gig learning on the fly like he seems to be doing at the mo.
Rare for him to admit to mistakes. Even rarer for him to go on making them. Even fans are puzzled. Vertical learning curve for us all.
I agree OldSpur, he seems to be winging it.
When we leave our transfer dealings to the last moment and with key players going down, it's not surprising.
Let's hope he learns fast.
We'll get a point away tomorrow and thrash Wolves and it will be good times and pro-Harry banter all the way into the next game again.
please unsubscribe me form your responses
Agree shouldn't panic but if you compare the four results with last year's (WBA = Hull) we're 7 points down, already.
Think Harry wanted to fit both VdV and Modric in at the expense of a second forward. We just didn't get into their box. I thought it was a failed tactic. Should have been able to play 2 up at WBA and win convincingly.
Harry seems determined not to play Robbie, whereas he seems to be the only forward playing well. Cutting off nose to spite face, in order to persuade Robbie to take a pay cut elsewhere?
I agree with spooky, this season is shaping up to be identical to the one last year - us, citeh and the bindippers all trading blows together during the season. Us and citeh seem to be having like for like results.
WHEN IS BENTLEY DUE BACK? He was very useful last season.
I think Crouch will be very useful in Europe this year, but the EPL seem to have him sussed out. Come on Pav, turn on that class we all know you have.
Early days, UTD always start off slow so I guess we are doing ok - some solid results in the next 3 games and our season will be well and trully on.
COYS.
A the moment it has become very obvious why Harry wanted to bring in Bellamy, with Defoe out where is the pace in the forward line? I can' see any, so it's a big worry for me. 0 goals so far. I personally would like us to recall Obikia as 4th chioce striker, we could give him some time in the carling cup game and give the lad a chance. Sherwood thinks he is a class act and he has pace. Also this season is going to be much more difficult than last what with playing the champions league and using different formations. You need two slightly different teams, players need to be rested and so fourth. My Chelsea, Arsenal and United mates all said league form does suffer when you're in the CL. It might take us a little while to get used to it....
Also we keep on loaning players out but I want to see some blooded, Danny Rose? He should be playing in the carling cup game against the Arsenal. Then today I hear Naughton is off to Pompey, this guy has lots of pace as a wing back and could give Corluka something to think about. He was excellent against Benfica away in pre-season. To me he looks as good as Gibbs who Arsenal wouldn't loan out. I think we are to quick to let some of these players go on loan. Obviously I understand some of them need to go but not all of them! Naughton, Rose, Obika should still be with us.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow but again we might be playing a different team from the weekend so there isn't anytime to gel. This is what we have to get used to though. I can see the Wolves game being tricky at the weekend though on the back of tomorrow nights clash.
Shame about Bellamy. Can't believe I'm admitting that. Still can't see the answer coming our way in Jan. We'd have to sell both Pav and Keane in that window and replace them with one 'world class' forward and another backup type of forward. Unless we promote within, which is about as likely as Pav scoring 25 goals this season.
I'm actually more worried about Saturday than I an about tomorrow.
Most people expect us to get spanked by Bremen, so anything better than defeat is a bonus, all things considered.
My worry for Saturday isn't even about the quality of opponent, it's about their potential to add to our injury list.
Last week they (or one player specifically) kicked Joey Barton off the pitch - which isn't always a bad thing.
This weekend, they did the same and ended up putting Bobby Zamora out of action for 4-6 months.
What we don't need, is for them to target any of our midfield 5......
I would much rather win against Wolves than against Werder Bremen. In fact I'd be happy to lose against the Germans if it meant a win on Saturday. We need to kick start our season and stop dropping points against average teams if we're to come anywhere near being in the mix for 4th this season.
Being in the Champions League is great and we should all enjoy some great nights at the Lane but the priority this season has got to be challenging for 4th again. I think winning our first 4 games last season was a huge factor in giving us the confidence (and points) that saw us over the line, we need to take advantage of City, Liverpool, Villa being on consistent at the moment because goodness knows we'll go through a poor path or two ourselves. Batter Wolves and we'll be back on song.
Can't believe I'm reading "more worried about Sat..." and "much rather win against Wolves than WBremen". FFS guys, what was the point of coming 4th last season if not to see whether we had the ability to raise our standards by beating WBremen AND Wolves ?
Utd do it...Chelsea do it...God help us, even Arse do it. If we seriously aspire to be a top-4 team season in/season out, then we have to start developing a mindset where we take it for granted that we do it too.
A couple of months back, we were all crowing what a piece of piss the start of the season was with the likes of Wigan...WBA and Wolves. Wrong. Down to earth with a bump. Like I said in earlier post, BIG learning season and so far we're just about hanging in there.
1. I cannot say I disagree with HR's tactics so far, except
a) we were complacent against Wigan; and
b) we played Gallas and VDV but not Sandro (I guess having 3 new boys on the pitch would be too much).
2. I've said before, we need to get rid of CC, he's a liability. No keeper playing for a top club should flap like he does.
3. The following should play more: Gio Dos Santos, Keane (only if together with Pav), Kaboul (like when Corluka is tired) BAE (if only to allow Bale to rest), Naughton (for experience) Kranjar (I mean come on he's done well when he starts)
4. The following should play less: CC (obviously), Palacios (he should rest, poor thing) Pav (unless together with Keane),
5. The following I am not sure: Gallas, Sandro (need to test him in the CC against L'Arse), Bentley, Hutton, Pletikosa (need to test him in the CC against L'Arse),
6. The rest seem okay, except I dont particularly care for Jenas. Oh yes - Hudd and Wilson cannot play together, and Pav must only play with Keane. Any other combination using Pav is doomed to failure.
7. What happened to the youngsters, like Rose, Bostock, Mason? Surely it makes sense to blood them too? We cannot continue buying Dutch stars on the cheap.
8. Worried? Not so much. Disappointed with the Wigan result. Apart from that, I think we got lucky last season, and we are not this season. But we must start racking up points and goal difference at home. Starting with Wolves. Simple as.
9. Tomorrow night, away from home, play for a stifling draw, or nick a win if we are up to it. If need be consult Sir Alex how to do it. We should not play with gay abandon but keep it tight. They will sense easy prey and will want to win. We dont need to win, so long as we take all points from Twente (H and A) and at WHL we prevail over Bremen and dont lose to Inter. That would make it 11 points. Just nice for second place.
10. Finally, I think it is a simple matter of belief. The back four must believe we cannot lose or concede a goal. The strikers must believe they can score at will and we can win. The midfield must believe we can overcome anyone by our teamwork and silky passing.
11. Post-finally, CC needs to save a penalty from some big name to boost his confidence. Otherwise he will never believe he will be able to command his area.
Obviously I'd rather we win both. But if I had to choose, I'd take 3 points against Wolves. Simply because while being in the Champions League is fantastic, it's all rather empty if we only ever get there once. I want to see Spurs in the Champions League every season, and that means bucking up our ideas in the league sharpish.
Besides, losing away in Germany doesn't stop us qualifying from our group. 9 points generally does it, sometimes 8. That's three wins out of 6.
Spooky before your heart stops here are some startling facts already emerging Blackpool cheapside are 4th Everton drew and nearly won in three minuets the Everton fans who ripped there season tickets up want them replacing . David Moyes want the last two seconds replayed so Everton can score.. Hercules did what Burnley did beat last years champions but in there own backyard . Wigan did what they failed to do with a stronger side last year and Win a Spurs. The teams we have lost points from both had weaken teams with suspensions and injury's .. So Spooky you are spirituality minded his it Harry playing the wrong system the wrong players are Spurs players not fit his its prostitutes using there energy up are some players being targeted by Gambling cheats like cricket. Well my honest answer his i don't no about Gambling and Prostitutes except Crouch and Rooney of course. But what i do no his this these shocks have the same Blue print and a must in all shocks plenty of energy that has stopped me watching live football and made even three minuets a heart stopping time no matter what the score . I have heard all kinds of excuses we miss so and so Harry should play five men and so on well we did at the Baggise and nearly lost the reason his five men in midfield wont work without the main ingredients all 17 players who can run without tiring right up to 90plus mins Now even one of the best teams in the World have fell victim to shockfootball.its not Spurs who are not fit but the opposition who are super fit ?
Nutter Dave, nutter
I wish sites like these came with auto punctuation and grammar sometimes.
We better win against wolves, or so god help me, I will be taking the toaster to the bath for sure.....
thfc1882 - you not loving Dav I guess?
Somewhere in there davspurs makes a valid point (i think).
Why is our team so knackered at such an early stage of the season????
It's the wags. Just blame the wags.
Ronnie I like that idea...Corluka and Palacios have been shocking so has Kranjcar thinking about it. Assou-Ekotto plays well and gets dropped it's a joke! Maybe drop back Modric with Huddlestone because Huddlestone lacks the enenergy to defend all day and pick passes etc. We should have signed either Fabiano or Dzeko we need a top quality striker in my opinion
Too many players too many possibilities. Our Harry has to be decisive with selections others we're going to fluff it up.
Who is in 4th spot at the moment?
Blackpool.
Chill out.