You wanna make an omelette, you gotta break some eggs
Monday, September 20, 2010 at 9:34AM Tottenham at the moment. It's a bit like that scene in Fight Club where the nameless narrator (Edward Norton) is fighting Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) in the parking lot towards the end of the film. You sort of know what's going on but can't quite get your head around it because you're too busy trying to piece together everything that came before it so that you can aid yourself in understanding what in the heck is unfolding.
Dissociated personalities in the one single body, conflicted. Norton has it figured and then works out how to get rid, by shooting himself in the mouth. Very decent shot in fact to put a bullet through your face without killing yourself. But if that's what it takes to stop mentally projecting an annoying alter ego, then it's the chance you just have to take. Otherwise, you'll be lost and consumed by all the madness.
So how exactly is any of this like our beloved N17 club?
Well for a start, the split personality. We know we can play teams off the park (44 minutes at Werder Bremen, first half v City at the Lane). We know just not from the teasers we've had this season but from the whole of the epic 2010 battle for 4th. And yet, this term, we appear to just turn up, mostly for the first half of every game and then lose our grip on balance and structure as we heads towards the 90th minute mark. Like an insomnia sufferer struggling to get through the day, we end up in auto-pilot. Everything seems so far away.
It's a bit of this and a bit of that, with a bit of this being super Spurs and a bit of that being sleepy Spurs. That's the template, although it isn't always played out to textbook standard. This can also include dominating homes games against supposed weaker opposition and still end up losing 1-0.
I'm a great advocator of Brand Spanking New Tottingham™. It's very easy for us to knee-jerk and cite 'same old Tottenham, here we go again, we never change'. Well, soz, but yes we do/have changed. This is a new Spurs, be it one with new issues that require ironing out.
Crisis talk, or the flirtation of said talk, tends to be over matters concerning games much like the 1-0 Wigan loss this season and last seasons home loss to Wolves and one or two other disappointing WHL fixtures. We don't get smashed up that often any more. We don't buckle or choke per se. We simply, beat ourselves up. We turn the art of scoring into something infuriating. It's much like a eunuch running around a brothel naked. It's just never going to happen mate. Actually, no, scrap that disturbing yet comical image. We do have the functioning tools available to us unlike the sorry eunuch. We just sometimes lack that extra kick of special. So it's more like Pele running around a sauna, just without having taken the Viagra. Intent is there. But alas, no penetration.
You can argue and discuss the mechanics of the game, in terms of theorising that fabled what if scenario(s). What if Defoe was playing? What if we had that extra Croatian craft of Modric dinking and trickstering, making beautiful football love with his Dutch partner in a harem of wonder in the centre of the Spurs midfield? Well obviously, we probably would have won comfortably. But then again, looking to the not so distant past, we've had key players start and still ended up with nothing to show for it.
Split-personality? No question.
To be fair, on Saturday, I didn't think we did that badly. In relative terms, how did all this pan out? How did we finally work through it? Like the nameless narrator in Fight Club, we got it figured in the end. It wasn't as graphic or dramatic as putting a gun to ones mouth. The answer was always there. We just had to pull the door open towards us, rather than attempt to kick it inwards.
We played brightly in the first half, Bale was his usual marauding self, creating chance after chance for the forwards. Lost count of the crosses he put in. Crouch, Keane could have scored. Wolves did, just before half time and against the run of play. The irony of switching off for a second, resulting in an opposition goal when we had spent the entirety of the first half asking the questions...you could see where this game was going if it continued to follow the re-hashed script.
So, at this point, there was plenty of ground-hog day head shaking. We didn't turn our possession into goals. Simple math, stuck on a basic equation, left scratching our heads. Second half, had Wolves more involved, be it sitting back and defending resolutely. With us looking ominous attempting to make/create the breakthrough. It wasn't as such laboured, but it lacked clinicality. The effort, was there. The positivity was there. If lacking genuine swagger. It wasn't in any way depressive football. Just time, tick tocking away, gave it an air of desperation. You had that Déjà vu feeling about it. You just felt, at least I did, that it would not come. The template was mocking us.
Hutton (on for the injured Kaboul) was showing plenty of remember me? intent and purpose. vdV, always trying to work something for the forwards. Bale beasting it as per standard. But still, nothing. And then, Wolves gave away a penalty. Not luck that. It's what you get for forcing the issue. Hutton fouled in the box after a superb run from defence. van der Vaart, 1-1, cool as you like. Great pen. Home goal. Rejoice.
This was our moment of clarity. Staring us back in the face. We're holding the gun. Use it.
Sure there was some Wolves pressure, which initially masked the hope that the equalising goal would inspire further pressure of a Lilywhite nature. But with Lennon (on as a sub), darting and crossing, ball was cleared to Hudd who struck it back into the box, hit Henry, fell to Pav, who decisively scored. 2-1. Once again, the Russian, in the right place at the right time.
Gun to mouth. We take control.
Hutton, forcing the issue once more, running into the box chasing down the ball, which hits him and loops over Hahnemann. 3-1.
Gun fired. Smoke puffing out of the mouth of our split personality, as it collapses to the floor in a dead heap.
We're left standing, tired and emotional, but content, happy, and alive. Whilst the explosives detonated and the buildings collapsed...(that's plucky bogey team Wolves finally beaten...I think the analogy is over-stretched at this point, although tbh, it was over-stretched from the start).
We took responsibility for our own creation. We exorcised our demon. Our eyes were opened.
It wasn't overly convincing, but again, it took some guts to keep on plugging away when it genuinely looked like one of those afternoons. Against Wigan, we run out of steam, incapable of changing the game in our favour, and suffering one of those templated sucker-punches. This time round, there was enough about us (on the pitch and off it) to eventually make the difference. It's not something you can quantify. Had Hutton not made that run, and we had not won the penalty, we could have failed to force another way into the game. And we'd all be near suicidal at this point, debating how Harry is losing his grip.
Honestly? We've still yet to get going as a complete fluid unit. 60%, lower regions of 70%, performance wise. It's still all about digging deep to persevere and battle through. Whether the team of two halves Tottenham is still with us, we'll have to wait and see.
There wasn't enough bite and the ruthlessness. But enough of something in the end. Even though we were low key, heads never dropped. We created plenty of chances. 18. So it's that clinical touch that remains MIA. I still standby my statement that the Prem this season will play out much like last season. And that's a good thing. But if we want that next level, then these types of games, can't be games where we drop points. We are three down already (Wigan). Six if you want to push it and claim the WBA game too.
Player mentions:
King, Gallas, fine. BAE, about average. Jenas played well again. Sshh. Bale is a freak. Kaboul was solid (until subbed). Hutton deserved his goal and had a stupendous effect on the game. His pulsating run into the box, the game-changer.
Hudd was quiet, lacked any type of influence on the game. Crouch, not effective. Keane, tried bless him, but he lacks that assured edge. Did have 3/4 decent chances, so at least he's attacking the right areas in the box. Wasn't terrible, but just seems to try to hard and it doesn't work out.
Pav, can't fault his finish. He might do little else, but he takes his chances (the white Darren Bent?). He's popping up with the goods when it matters most, so no complaints from me. As long as he doesn't open a Twitter account. Lennon did well with his cameo. van der Vaart, as stated, is quality with the absence of Modric, it clearly shows the depth we have. Talking of which. Special extra mention to Redknapp and the three subs he made. They all worked. They all had positive effects on the game.
Conclusion. When it's said and done. It's Wolves. At home.
Get on it Spurs. We've got to be far more accomplished than this.
Reader Comments (33)
Nice one Spooks.
Excellent post Spooky.
Hutton was the unexpected catalyst in our resurgence against Wolves. Quite a pleasant treat when it was most needed. Anyone know how long Kaboul's out for?
I'm going to make a prediction. I don't think this problem of ours has gone away just yet.
I would say that there was some defeatist psyche on Wolves' part. One up and they were cruising/holding Spurs off well, but that penalty (as clear cut as it was) tipped balance in Spurs' favour and derailed Wolves' organisation once VDV scored. NOTHING else would've swung the game round to Spurs apart from that penalty to be honest.
But we won and that's just dandy for me; plus it should give us a little optimism boost for tomorrow :D
If we had lost that game however, it would have firmly cemented what I had controversially said about 'typical Spurs' not carrying their great football through/backing it up with enough goals to win the games that they should have been winning along with some of Harry's duff sub choices last Tuesday.
I think Wolves defeatist psyche had a lot to do with them knowing that if they dared to attack they'd have been left wide open. I don't think they had a choice and they probably believed lightning would strike twice. Cracking performance from Hutton. Always surprised how many of our players come back from the dead. Hope he plays tomorrow.
I'd like to add that Hahnemann is now by far my most hatted keeper in the prem. What a cock! Time wasting just like last season..... then has the cheek to come out in the press today and slate the ref for telling him to hurry up when he was taking the piss and booking him for moaning about us celebrating a goal. What a dick!
But onto us. It was a squad result on Saturday. Credit to everyone involved, especially hutton for taking the opportunity and (dare I say it) Jenus for being consistent for once! Not the greatest game, but it was a win none the less and we need to get it into our heads that when things aren't going our way we can change things and make it happen.
Well done spurs. Oh and is this stat right? We hadn't won in September in 9 years until yesterday? I swear a commentator said that.
At least we got the result we needed and we're back in the hunt, league-wise. I know it's a cliché (look at me all fancy using accents!) but the big teams do that. On the days when they just can't get going properly, they still somehow manage to scrape points they maybe didn't deserve. We're starting to fall into that category now, which is pretty nice actually, thank you very much. Interesting to hear 'Arry talking about a plan C now that Hutton's woken up (although I'm not putting any money on that form lasting). We've already got the 4-4-2 and with VDV we have a 4-5-1 option. Now 'Arry's talking Hutton up as a right-footed Bale and talking about playing 5-3-2 (or maybe even 5-4-1) with Bale and Hutton as wing-backs. Nice to have options.
That stat is wrong, I must have misheard. We have won 5 premier league games (including Saturday) in the last 9 years in September. Which isn't great. We still have Wet Spam to play this month yet, so thats another win ;-)
If we want to become an established big club we have to improve in some sectors were we obviously come short. We need more players with a high decree of intelligence, a strong personality/winner's mentality and also adequate physical strength. One point were we come short is also the ability of our attackers to combine between them inside the box. We are still making too many crosses instead of combinations on the ground. Another sector we should improve is speed.
Our game development and passing game is too slow. Also our players individually they loose more of their personal battles due to luck of speed and physical strength. Finally we have to improve our tactics specially against defensive teams as well at European level.
'Interesting to hear 'Arry talking about a plan C'
Can someone tell me what plan A is?
In reality it was about our play for the 30 minutes after half time. We did enough to score a number of goals in the first half. Then they did us. Took quite a while to get back on track and I personally didn't think we would do it. The fans are feeling fragile at the moment - not just me, the majority.
I do think we need to score an early goal or 2 in a game and then we'll be away again.
As long as we don't use Plan B. I hate his whiny singing and stupid pop videos.
You answered your own question - in this match it was Hudd, Crouch and Keane, that's 3 out of 11 [almost 25% of the team] under-performing. Against Bremen it was Corluka, Lennon and, when he came on, Palacios. This is the reason that Tottenham will finish 6th or 7th this year - and it's a problem Harry doesn't know how to fix. Basically we always have around 7 players at the top of their game, and the rest not. That's because [a] we don't have a good enough squad; [b] we don't have an on the field leader to manage the the balance between the good ones/good performances and the not-so-good ones. As much as it pains A-L and Spartak have 11 players on the pitch and class acts on the bench, Spurs have some outstanding players who can play a chunk of a game like world beaters [including beating A-L, Spartak] but, once they tire, or one of them is injured, the deficiencies make themselves felt. Until that's fixed, 2010-11 will be forever 'the year we made the Champions League and almost got past the group stages'; the season ended in a 1; blah-blah.
Excellent roundup, worth the wait :-)
I think you nailed it, so there's not much for me to add. Jenas was good; he seems to be looking forwards more often than I've ever seen him. I wonder if that's something to do with VdV? Hear me out - our new Dutchie reminds me of Gazza in his pomp, always demanding the ball, coming deep to receive it and then turning and running. This means Jenas can look forward more, taking a position ahead of VdV as he drops behind him to receive the ball from the CBs. By time Jenas gets the ball there are runners ahead of him, creating options for a forward pass or the space to run into. It's amazing what that eagerness from VdV does to establish the movement of the whole team.
It might be something to do with why Hudd's not looked at his best too, though I can't quite figure that out yet. But don't underestimate the potential influential players have to affect the performance of others. The way that burk Johnson at the WC overran Lennon constantly, eating up his space and giving him nowhere to accelerate into, is a case in point.
nothing new learned from Saturdays game. I think every Spurs fan was saying we needed a forward that can actually finish before the season started, for whatever reason one wasn't bought and now we are expecting/hoping that Keane/Crouch/Defoe will suddenly become that player! For me Keane needs to go, he seems to have a negative impact on the team and the Thudd needs to improve his urgency, no wonder we can't break a team down when he takes 10 minutes on the ball and only passes sideways or backwards!
Strongest team tomorrow night for me, we need to make winning a habit, especially after the poor start we have had
Hudd did the give and go which led to the second goal. Agree wrt Crouch...and as for Keane lady luck/skill was just not on his side
'Clinicality'
Like it.
If we had a world class striker, we'd be laughing hard at the others around us. Would breed confidence. Just look at how Chelsea dismantle the lesser teams, home or away. That is the standard set which we need to at least pretend we're going to aim for.
January transfer window please. Let's try and get it right this time.
We all know what the problem is.
We have a top defence and a brilliant midfield, but we don't have the finishers we need.
We started this season with 4/5 forwards with decent reputations but not enough class.
No Defoe and we will struggle to put teams away.
I see everywhere on the net people screaming for Gio, but in honesty what has he done to deserve this. It reminds me of the summer and everyone screaming for Joe Cole for England like he would change everything. Players seem so much better when they are not on the pitch. Gio had a decent world cup yes, how many times did he score? How many competitive goals has he scored for Spurs? How many times does he score in Soho?
This season will revolve around us keeping in touch until we get a genuine goal scorer to take some of the many chances we create,
Whether that is Defoe or a new player in January I don't know yet.
I fear for us when we play the prem's top teams this year though, I can't see where our goals will come from.
Robbie Keane did try his best and his best is good enough for 15 goals in Scotland but sadly not good enough for us. Keano of old would have a couple or more on Saturday. He really doesn't have the heart for it anymore. As for a new striker, anyone actually know of a viable target because I'm at a loss for one.
True that Spurs have not been 100% convincing even though the potential is there but when you look at our rivals they haven't exactly been perfect either. Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City are all dropping points, and we're in 5th place without playing our best so there's plenty to be positive about at this very early stage. COYS
I guarantee if we sign a player in Jan it will be a continental purchase.
Bale's crossing was terrible, the ball kept going straight to Keane.
But Hutton answered the 'how do you beat teams that park the bus' dilemma - run at them. Even Lennon went past his man for Pav's goal.
Excellent summary of the match. I felt that things suddenly started to go right for us in the last 15 minutes, but we've got to make them go right for us much sooner.
Lemonade, you made me laugh :)
I'd given hope hope by the time we got the pen. It was a complete shock to me. The second half till then saw us play without any momentum or pressure. Wolves were in complete control, but for some reason were happy to kep control 30 metres from the goal rather than attempt to extend their lead. I see all the paudits for Bale about, but really? I assume none of you sit near me in the West Stand, where I had a perfect view of him doing absolutely nothing for the whole of the second half. He barely moved. The boy is knackered and needs a rest. Given his injury woes of the past, I think his body simply isnt used to playing so often.
We are lacking fitness all over the field, I think partly due to the WC / disrupted pre-seaons and partly due to individual issues. VDV faded very badly, Hudd lacks stamina, Crouch always fades (maybe he could try laying off the bottle for a while?), Pav has less natural fitness / stamina than me. This is why we always look better first half. Fitness should pick up, but I do worry that we simply have too many of the wrong type of player. You never see Arsenal or Chelsea fade like we do. Do they simply sign players with greater natural fitness levels? I really think they do. Can you imagine Wolves leading so comfortably at Arsenal or Chelsea's grounds? It would be kitchen sink tossing for the rest of the game. Where was that on Saturday? There was almost nothing for 25 mins of the 2nd half, no momentum, no desperation. Until we fix that, these games will keep happening and we'll lose a fair share of them. Lassane Diarra would be a start for me.
Spooks good blog but your still wrong on two points you said Hudds never had any impact on the game well apart from his shot that cannoned to Pav he had good bit of skill and a shot it went straight to angry Hannermann. He also made some good passes Hudds plays better when Lennon plays and Modric he has played the most mins along with Bale. You always mark Hudds down you don't seem to like him well if he his not playing you will definitely miss him.. Secondly you cant understand why Wigan Beat Spurs and we struggled against West Brom and Wolves and you can also had West Ham to the list . I wont go through my boring rant instead i will use statistics to make you think twice when asking the Question why we fail to beat inferior opponents . Most of these shock games end up 1-0 the tempo from the winners is .very High most of these teams Performance levels increase after half time . These teams have sporadic form winning one week and losing the next this his called targeting points to stay in the money laden premiership and the stakes have never bean higher . We live in a world of pills a pill to make you sleep a pill to make faster a pill to make you shag longer and a pill for shocks called more energy. So the next time you cant believe Wigan beating Spurs then getting beat so easily by Man City you should say to your self its just another shock result in the cleanest league in the World if you except the drug testing results and Mr Mutu his the only cheat in nine years of shocks . One last stat for you to mull over Spooky Chelsea 15 points 21 goals and one against are the oldest and biggest team averaging 13 stones of muscle the only player caught taking the new steroid all the muscle without the massive bulk was a player from Chelsea's manager's old club Ac Milan. Chelsea never won a game in the close season the commentator said about Anelka the other night in the champs league he has gone ten yards faster this year even though he his getting older now that's Magic Spooks
"it's more like Pele running around a sauna, just without having taken the Viagra. Intent is there. But alas, no penetration."
This line had me properly laughing. Nice work.
I was lying on the couch watching the game and said to the Mrs "This is painful" at 75 mins on Saturday, to which she replied "turn it off then", but you just can't do that, can you? It's like when you're stuck in traffic jam and get to the end of it to find that it's caused by people slowing down for a glimpse of twisted metal even though it's on the other side of the fucking motorway. They can't help it.
Thank god I stuck with it because we (fortunately) showed some resolve. I HATE Mick McCarthy and his tactics, so to see us stick it up them made my Saturday much more pleasant.
amanwithbollocks a.k.a. _____________________DaveSpur. Legend.
But here's one thing. You can give Crouch all the 'energy' in the world, but he will never be a talismatic striker. He has'nt scored double-digit goals in any season for the last 4 years but somehow, magically, he is Harry Redknapp's new hope and our entire game has now been changed to suit the style of this mercurial striking force. Hoooof! and Hope, instead of the traditional push and run. This is desparate stuff. I can't believe that the real fans have not spoted this new game yet. Observe. No sooner does the ball pass the midfield before a desparate kick towards the heavens is launched in hope that the tallest striker in the world will save us by picking it in from the skies where no defender can reach. He's tall after all, isn't he. We are yet to score one goal in the prem from this tactic but 90% of our attacks are based on this rubbish idea. I think the only time we came into their penalty area with the ball on the ground we got a penalty and a goal.
Look, it may work in the CL where no team has ever seen a player like Crouch (CL regualr fans would never allow such a game from their team) but its rubbish! we are not Wimbledon Mr. Harry. This is Tottenham Hotspur. The makers of Gazza, Ginola, Klinsmann and ... even Berbatov. We don't play like that.
Plus, its not even a successful tactic.
JJ was nothing special on Saturday. He did what he has always done over the years. He is Tottenham's refusal to get rid of guaranteed mediocrity. I've seen O'Hara and KPB produce way better performances than that for Pompey on a more regular basis and they were both deemed not good enough. Why the different treatment for JJ?
Yes. We won. But that was a really poor showing from Spurs.
Ronnie, from the fact that you have nothing good to say about our 3-1 comeback, I don't believe that you are a Spurs fan at all. Why are you here? I will say only two things to you:
1)We do not play a long ball game; we have British wingers and so they tend to dribble and cross the ball, and not cut inside and pass like the spanish/italian/dutch/croatians tend to do. And our wingers cross quite well.
2)"This is Tottenham Hotspur." So every reader of this blog knows that your dear Gazza, Ginola, Klinsmann and ...even Berbatov NEVER TOOK US TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!!!!! But Harry and a team including Crouch did it!! So If you have nothing good to say, just sit tight and watch!
COYS!!!
Best. Spooky. Ever.
(...and if not, certainly one of the best of)
Spooky,
You are a legend. Your posts are truly awesome! Where do I start - The adventures of Bentley, The bit about the squirrell and Berbatov, Dan, food for thought........The list goes on!! Is there an award out there for best blogger? I'd say Spooky wins hands down!!! Really really good.
I may not agree with everything you say, but the delivery is matchless?
I'll tell you what Plan A is:
Plan A - Plan Aaron
Plan B - Plan Bale
Ya don't really need any more options than that ;)
And Ronnie, your post would be valid if it was said about 6 months ago, but currently Crouch is using his feet more and it's brilliant to watch. It's a big exaggeration to say that 90% of our football is CURRENTLY long balls to Crouch.
Have you not been watching any games lately???
At home against Young Boys, we played them off the park with smooth, flowing ground football. Spurs are ultimately a passing team. The club don't forget that, Harry doesn't forget that, even Crouch hasn't forgotten that; we don't forget that and so you shouldn't forget that either.
Now stop being silly and watch Spurs play ground football against Arsenal tonight.
COYS!