Favourites v Underdogs
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 9:31PM I've seen quite a few of us referencing the fact we are being perceived as favourites in the North London Derby. That's both the media and the fans believing Spurs have it done and dusted on paper and that it should easily translate on the field of play. I'd agree that our midfield is superior to theirs. I'd also cite the fact their defence plays out to the tune of the Keystone Cops.
They still possess quality (RvP) of the match-winning ilk. But so do we, in abundance, and we are on a roll (three wins on the trot). And we're at home. But then the self-doubt (it never goes away) gently reminds us that we don't tend to do well when expected to do well. We do better when we have less pressure weighing us down. Also, in a NLD, form goes out the window and effort can sometimes match the stronger opposition. Although in our case, that still meant no win against the old enemy for many years. Until recently.
It's almost role reversal this. Arsenal are Tottenham in red and white, whilst Tottenham are the Tottenham we have worked so had to become after 15 years in the wilderness. But still prone to the odd lapse. Major differences? We strengthened in the summer and retained our top players. They lost their top players and signed less than glamorous replacements. You can see why they are regarded as underdogs. They choke more than we do.
Still, there's hardly anything between both sides these days, except perhaps for Wenger and his experience at the very top level and the fact his side have always been at that level, even when others have suggested a 'crisis' or transition.
On paper? We should win. On the field of play? Honestly? I'll be very shocked if Arsenal can show their past seasoned focus and intensity (and desire) considering their form and their fragmented team, punctured with the ordinary and average in amongst the class. I'll be disappointed if we are the ones to choke and allow them to best us. We have the more settled side. They're the ones who stand before us depleted. And yet the positivity is still not embraced.
Teams can always punch above their weight. We've done it many times in the past. Not to dismiss or write off Arsenal, but a pulsating powerful show of strength and unity in our midfield will consume theirs and allow our front-line to punish their back four. My only concern is RvP. Take him out of the equation and it will be the first time in my life-time that my heart will not dance to the beat of nerves. He'll play, which means there are no underdogs or favourites in this game. Not matter how you choose to use paper to prove a point.
There's simply a team that wants it more than the other. I'm obviously going to claim that team is the team in Lilywhite. I hope the players wearing the shirt believe in the shirt as much as we do.
Embrace the positivity. Prove we're the favourites, prove we're the top dogs and let them bask in the indignity as the plucky underdog that tries ever so hard and gets nothing. Life is harsh. We've been at the end of it so many times in the past. It's time to give some of it back.
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Winners of John Crace's 'Vertigo' (original article here): Matt and @betambeau88 - congrats. Email me (use the contact form) your name and address.
Reader Comments (25)
agree completely..at the moment rvp is arsenal...no one else frightens me....think positive people - lets not let fear of failure stop our support of success!!...COYS
im on the fence on this one and my balls are on either side. my dick is down the middle. You get my drift. We need to strike early and grab this game by the scruff of the neck. How we start is paramount. I am and will be as nervous as ever.
The thing that makes me most confident is that the spine of our team (Friedel, King, Modric, Parker, Ade) is very strong and has played with enthusiasm and team spirit that brings the best out of the excellent players around them. So I would back that team against almost anyone at the moment.
So long as we play the game and not the occasion (which is easier said than done) and get a reasonable rub of the green I am sure we win. Prepared for some bumps along the way though. They will raise their game and counter attacks from RVP/Walcott are a clear threat. But 3-1 is my guess.
I remain calm and confident.
If we play concentrated we're going to win.
Probably by a two/three-goal difference.
With King playing my confidence rises dramatically. Everyone focus, get on with playing it about and penetrating their fragile defence and it could be a sexy day. COYS!
My arse is twitching...and not in a good way. Playing the scum is NEVER a walk over. This is the NLD, this is IT...proper shit.
I will reserve my judgement until the final whistle but if they boys out there love the shirt as much as we do then we have what it takes. COYFS!
can't remember being more nervous before a spurs game ever.
we will win.
spurs are faviourites..... enjoy
I HATE being favourites!!
Lets destroy the Enemy.
When you look at the squads, how many of the goon mugs would you say are up for the fight? I dont see any real battlers. Plus their new faces wont know whats hit them when they hear the lane in full voice. Expect Parker to be well up for this one, he was born for these types of matches. Full dominance today, as shown against the scousers.
Well, reality check then at half-time. Basically we are not competing and are being outplayed in MF. Having said that could be 3-2 if both sides had taken all their chances.
A very lack-lustre performance, no guts, no effort. Need to improve 100% in the second half.
We played a desperate team and at the end of the day, we deserved our 3pts. Modric wasn't at his best but I think the Sandro sub changed the game. Thank god for Parker, 5mio of the best money we've ever spent. 2 weeks off, its needed. Hopefully, Lennon, Pienaar, Gallas are fit again. 12pts, 6 games. Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City and United played.
Very happy. As expected the goons raised their game but we did exactly what we needed to do to win the game. We were smart and professional and did not fight the goons for possession in places it don't matter.
We kept our shape and discipline did nothing stupid and got the win. I guess some will consider the possession stats the be all and end all but the fact is that the goons are excellent at keeping the ball but what did they get out of it? We got the points :)
Four EPL wins on the spin. COYS!
"One more thing, you have an all out prize fight, you wait until the fight is over, one guy is left standing. And that's how you know who won." - Al Capone
There were blame and praise to be handed out today in equal measures... But I'd single one man out for credit (where it's due, etc.) Redknapp now has a winning record against the scum (who was the last spurs manager who could lay claim to the same?) and every substitution he made today seemed to work a treat, particularly Sandro for VDV. Although regularly slated for his supposed lack of tactical acumen, if you had to pick one "genius" and one "idiot" between him and Wenger today, which would be which?
On a lighter note, were five points above the scum, with a game in hand, and have taken six points off our two biggest rivals for fourth place- COYS!
Fantastic win....... very happy but.......
as a long supported of the " Crouch Out" club, i still believe that VDV does not bring balance to the team.
Redknapp was too slow in making the substitution today. VDV should have gone off earlier. We were being overrun in midfield and the balance again looked wrong. We may have paid the price. Once Sandro was on, we looked far better, stronger and matched them in mid field allowing Modric to play in a freer role.
We are getting there but still need a a few more adjustments!!
COYS.
Really pleased with the win but my concern remains our finishing. We are creating many chances but converting them at a poor rate. On next, Newcastle. That is a true battle for 4th.
Still buzzing after yesterday's win , shift of power complete and all that ... Need to apologize to Parker , he is a class act.
Can't believe I had to record the game after I was accused of putting the NLD ahead of spending time with the kids!
Ended up taking them to the park to play for an hour.......
I'd rather us be creating chances and missing them than not creating chances.
To be frank, we were lucky.
If AW wasnt stubborn and played AOC, if Gervinho hadnt missed, if Sagna hadnt suffered his injury, who knows?
VdV was fortunate. If the Ref is unsure whether or not there is handball, he cannot give it. We should be thankful it wasnt Webb or Clattenburg.
By the same token, we were also unlucky that so many chances went begging. Parker, Adebayor, Bale and Defoe all missed good chances or had a very good keeper keeping us out. On another day, it could so easily have been 6-2.
So I would enjoy the win, and look forward to the next game.
But I wouldnt go so far to say that there has been a power shift or that we are now favourites for the Champions League, let's see where we are after the next 4 games (Newcastle, Blackburn, QPR and Fulham). It should not be missed that Newcastle, Aston Villa, and to some extent Liverpool have so far beaten the teams they are "supposed" to beat. Even if they fail against the Manchester teams and Chelsea, these are the hallmarks of teams that qualify for European football. Our direct competition.
On a different note, I am reassured that HR is using the Europa League to "blood" youngsters, and that Livermore, Walker, Carroll, are being given opportunities, not to mention Dos Santos, and Pavlyuchenko. I look forward to seeing them given the opportunity in the EPL.
I still feel Niko is given a raw deal but with the midfield we have I can understand why there is no place for him. If only Sandro and or Parker were around for the City game... sigh...
Where is the ziegemonster AKA "the Harry hater" ? He is conveniently absent now to acknowledge that Harry is steadily reversing the trend of Arsenal's dominance over Spurs in the NLD.
Harry was uber frustrating during the close season but give the man massive credit for ensuring we got Scotty Parker and Ade.
With Harry you have to take the rough with the smooth and endure his never ending comments and the fact he clearly dislikes football fans in general.
Loving having Parker in the team. What a masterstroke. We took until the final day to get him, could so easily gone somewhere else.
COYS
@nochman.
Wake up man, he's polishing up his act, that's all. He's already stated he's applying for the England manager job
PS. "hate" is a BIG word. Be carefull how you use it.