I could have been a contender
Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11:51PM White Hart Lane, newly promoted team, expected victory. The traditional ingredients for us to fall flat on our faces. Alas no, I'm not going to delve into the past and I'm neither going to bore you with proposed team formations and questions over player selections.
There is no easy game in the Premier League. You need to turn up and turn on to be in with a chance to plough through opposition. We're a better team to the one we had when we qualified for 4th in what was a far tighter season thanks to the lack of courage shared by so many of the challengers. I look around and all I see are teams in transition. Some have improved others have stagnated. That's not to say the quality has dropped substitutional but there's a healthy argument to be had that all of the supposed top tier sides are beatable and all susceptible. Their weaknesses evident. Including us.
We've had freak score-lines with punishing finishes and shady defending. It's almost like the Prem is a TV struggling with reception, being smacked on its side in vein for the picture to return whilst the reception flickers. You catch a moment of something colourful then it returns to frenzied interference. Normal service will be resumed soon, right? Perhaps expect a new channel or two to replace the old.
Talk of stature and expectancy is not that relevant. It's nobody's God given right to finish in the top four. You earn the right with results so regardless of how we shape up on paper and all the positives and superlatives we like to sound-bite - we still have to improve. We still need that cutting edge. We still need forceful authority to kill a game off. A point dropped here, a point dropped there...they add up if it turns into a habit.
There's not that much in it up top. Sounds like a cliché but it's a statement of fact. This state of flux, it's real and it remains an opportunity. Others might still believe in the strength of the old monopoly and that they will always persevere because that's just how things are. Maybe five years ago. Maybe even three years ago. Not now. Don't believe in it, do believe in us.
We've still got that marker in our back pocket we didn't use from last season. Prove a point. Convincingly, emphatically. This isn't about our opponent on Sunday. This is about getting the bread and butter eaten before we move onto the main course. This week, next week, any week.
There's a particular trait in our personality that we all still need to see.
Show me Tottenham. Let's see how big your balls are.
COYS.
Reader Comments (16)
1st!
2nd! This is really a game we need to be winning I'll be there tomorrow and expecting 3pts. With gallas returning we are stronger, still not sure if I prefer parker pr sandro, 3-1 to the glory boys!
3rd............ I'm bored now! Come on yids -and COYS
Keep the faith 3/4 to Spurs. 1 to QPR with Adel I'm the dogs I'm off to Barca/Madrid/AC/Inter/the scum/can't pass wont pass shoot on sight Tarrabt getting it
5th. our team is strong enough to finish anywhere in the top 4 but we have to win games against lesser teams, aka QPR, especially at the Lane.
Iv gotta good feeling coming in though 2-0 at least
COYS
I feel that we can seriously challenge for the title on our current form. 5 years ago Jol said that in 5 years (2011) we would be title challengers. His foresight was spot on. City will drop points over the course of the season, like everybody else, so we need to make sure that we are consistent. Having either king or gallas, and sandro or parker for every game is pivotal to our challenge. We need to maintain or better our 2pts per game average. I would be delighted with 70pts this season, but anything more should see us pushing on for the title. I also can't see Chelsea making champions league this season. My top 4 is City, Man Utd, Spurs, Arsenal.
Tomorrows line up:
Friedel
Walker Kaboul Gallas BAE
Pienaar Modric Parker Bale
VDV Adebayor
Subs @ 70mins - Lennon and Defoe for VDV and Pienaar...
I have a feeling QPR will score today... we just need to score more than them.
I'm sure Lego-man-hair will give a rousing speech before the game, hopefully reminding the team that QPR will be going all out to get something from this game and that we have to be at our best to ensure victory. And how we could have done with such reminders last season against the 'lesser' teams. Whilst I commend a player who recognises the fact we need to be on the ball for these games, I can't help but wonder why the manager didn't provide a timely reminder of just how intensely, relegation threatened teams like to play, in seasons past.
*Yes, I'm aware QPR aren't on the brink of relegation just yet, but beware any team whos seasons goal is to stay in the prem.
Not sure I entirely agree with your view spooky. From where I'm sitting I see an outstanding team at the top of the league (albeit financial cheats who should be despised by all right thinking people), who are dicking everyone in sight - ourselves and united included. I see a Utd side in second which has lost once all season. I see Arsenal back on form and I see us right in the mix. Lastly I see Chelsea becoming the shambles I predicted they would with a complete amateur in charge (AVBs appointment will go down in PL legend - it's the one of the oddest stories ever, and for some reason the press haven't yet picked up on it. He is a rich kid who fancied getting into football and was helping people out for free 3 years ago).
We hate to admit it to ourselves, but while Arsenal might be in transition, under Wenger they'll never, ever be outside the top 4. I hope no goner see me write this, but Wenger is a genius. Who else would have turned Van Persie into what he's become? for those unaware, he was second fiddle to Kuyt at his previous club and was signed for 2.5m, around the time that Michael Ricketts was going for £6m.
City and Utd will finish top 2. Our rivals are Arsenal and Chelsea. Finish above either and we'll be in the CL. above both and we will be top 3. So yes, I am writing Liverpool off. Poor defence, they'll lose more than they win away, albeit they had a very good result yesterday.
Today? I think we'll win. the score doesn't interest me as long as we win. This is a season for putting points in the bag. We know there's 5 teams who will take a lot of points this season (in contrast to the last time we finished 4th, by the way) so let's not slip up. I'll predict 3-1
It's important that we win today, obviously our CL aspirations will remain on target provided we continue to pick up points. Fairplay tp QPR, they've come up to the PL and are playing some decent football. They've had a couple of indifferent results recently, but overall imo, they are a good side. I agree with Spooky, this is most certainly not an easy game, although I have to say that I am quietly confident that we'll play with the correct attitude later this afternoon. Looking forward to this match, I grew up in North London but I was born in a hospital on the Goldhawk Road in West London, out of all our city based rivals, I despise these guys the least!! Enjoy the game fellas. COYS!!!!
look at that, spot on prediction again. betfair will be getting suspicious.
for those who can't wait....next week finishes fulham 1 spurs 2. a hard fought, slightly fortunate win lit up by vdv scoring in his 6th consecutive match
Thank God for Ledley! As soon as I saw he was in the starting lineup, the game was over.
Poor Taarabt, what a bad day for him!
I realise that its is now almost inevitable that he will go, but PLEASE GOD LET HARRY STAY!!!!!
I have personally never witnessed a spurs side play such all round flowing football as we do under Arry! We have finally found some consistency, the players know what they are supposed to do and we have a squad where the main issues of the transfer windows is keeping players rather than buying whomever is available.
I am a very happy Fan right now, and as for Parker, 6 games.... LEGEND!!!!
That was just amazing , not only because of the freeflowing football but just overall we switched sides , went from attacking wide to attacking through the center , direct football interchanged with the more patient approach and what a technical team we seem to be having. Neat first touches , nice awareness and playing as a team ... Lennon doing his thing while defending (seen that block at the very end?) and not being egoistic.
We are a team now , i still dont like Harry due to the soundbites but he must be doing lots of things right if the team plays like this
Confidend , exciting and dare i say it ... consistent.
I said a while back when many were seeing only problems that the spine of our team Friedel, King, Modric, Parker, Adebayor was excellent individuals and in combination playing with passion and team spirit would be tough for anyone to beat. They bring out the best in anyone working around them. I still think, injuries willing, we are on course for our best EPL season yet. We got cover all over but Adebayor cover is the weak link. So If we can get to January sell Pav and buy some lone striker, even Samba might be able to do some of it so I am not talking necessarily about some mega bucks signing, we can then cope with the added pressure that comes after xmas.
Well played Scott Parker, he was awesome yesterday but I will reserve my final judgement on him for after I have seen him play against the top teams Man U, Man City, Chelsea. This was QPR.