Their empire of dust needs to be swept under the carpet
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 11:07AM There is no doubting that we need to finish above Arsenal to truly crow about the shift in power under the brooding North London sky. But you need to be insane (or own a red and white shirt) to disagree that one cycle is coming to its end and another continues to blossom.
One of the finest testaments to the Redknapp era at Spurs is the fact that in recent years we have the better record over our old enemy. In head to heads, we tend to best them. The fear, the crippling self-doubt...doesn’t exist any more. For too many years we lacked the quality and the authority to stamp Lilywhite across the NLD and sheer plucky effort was never enough as we were brushed aside time and time again. The dominance of the monopoly crumbled and everyone up top degraded a little. Arsenal have gone from super human to mere mortals whilst we have anchored ourselves to the upper tier without yet consolidating, but with every chance of doing so.
Wenger and his sorry lot are akin to Superman when he agrees to sacrifice his powers. Except you can’t see them getting their powers back (unlike in the movie), what with Arsene building a Fortress of Solitude out of Kryptonite. They’ve lost their best players. They tend to lose their best players almost by default these days. You expect them to replace the lost souls with new Gods but they dither and end up with decent players but of the ilk you expect seasoned top eight sides to sign. It’s a sign of the times, they’re in transition and they are struggling to adapt to morality. They look beatable. They look like they have mistakes and lapses of concentration in them all the time.
This is not an obituary. They still possess quality, but in a twisted way they are more alike to us in terms of how we shaped up a few seasons back. Couple of star players in amongst the ordinary, fancy football flattering to deceive. They show glimpses of belief and desire but it's almost at the expense of really having to push for it, rather than oozing with ease.
Our 2-1 win more or less paints the same picture as described above. Reactions from their support further illustrating how different things truly are at this moment in time. Did Arsenal play well at the Lane? Apparently so. They nicked possession by a couple of %. But if this was Arsenal playing well (bossing it) how come I hardly remember Friedel having to shot-stop? Szczesny on the other hand? More to the point, if this was Arsenal playing well, how can a Spurs side that hardly asserted themselves still be so comfortable in victory? You could point to Redknapp and claim he started the wrong midfield and that had we played three centrally to combat their three man midfield then Arsenal would not have enjoyed so much time on the ball.
They had efforts. They missed a sitter. They struggled to find cutting edge. We had less time on the ball, failed to dictate tempo but on the counter we were too good for their disorganised defence to handle. When Redknapp made the tactical switch and brought on Sandro it was game over. I’ll wager we’d have won easily if he had started. We’d have suffocated their trio and allowed the likes of Bale to run riot. From the heart of a defensive stronghold there would have been offensive riches to behold. Sandro and Parker in the middle means less of the running back for the more creative of our players.
In an ironic role-reversal, they matched us (we're meant to have the better players, right?) and at the start of the second half bettered us. And yet in the end our quality was superior. The likes of Parker, King and Walker excelling. Defoe worked his socks off. Okay, so Ade was subdued and Modric not as influentially. But Bale was menacing in the second half and Sandro consolidated.
A better Arsenal side with some of those long gone players strutting their stuff would have (might have) punished us. Speaks volumes that we can start the wrong formation and yet still work our way to three points. It’s not that we didn’t play well, it’s just that we should have been set up to be far stronger from the start. We have the depth now. We got away with it because they’re the ones now punching above their weight, trying to play a particular way when lacking the players to do so. We have that little bit more in the way of desire and belief than they do.
When Walker scored, I was obviously euphoric but there was a voice in my head that said, “Well that was expected, wasn’t it?”. What bizarro universe is this that I suddenly find myself living in?
New Spurs. Don’t have to play well to beat Arsenal. I like that.
Observations:
Was it handball? Top of arm? Apex? I’m going to be completely biased and say it was majestically controlled and not blatantly ‘handball’ in the traditional way. This was hardly a Henry moment. Arsenal should have complained about it with more vigour but they don’t even seem to have that in them these days.
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Talking of Rafa. He loves giving it to the scum. It's like having a Dutch version of Jenas.
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Ade. Obviously had a Robbie Keane moment when one on one and thought too much about the moment rather than instinctively scoring then concerning himself about whether to celebrate or not.
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As for Jack Wilshere and his tweets:
"Van der Vaart should be sent off! He celebrated with the fans? I'm sure that is a yellow?"
“Remember one thing.....Form is temporary and class is permanent!”
Let’s humour him. Rafa did not jump into the stands. If anything the fans moved towards the player. He then moved back. Absolutely nothing to see here other than someone passionately celebrating a goal in a massive game. If Jack was to ever score in a NLD, I look forward to him shaking hands with his team-mates and briskly walking back to the centre-circle.
As for his form/class comment? I’ll remember one thing Jack, your desperation.
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The vile chanting. The way the media are banging on about it, anybody would think this only ever happens when Spurs play Arsenal.
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Remember how most of us felt post-transfer window closure? We wanted more than what we got. What we’ve got is four wins out of four with Parker and Adebayor. Probably worthy of another article, so I'll just say sorry. I was (along with a few) proved wrong about Parker. I'm okay with that.
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12 points. 6 games. Both Manc sides played along with Liverpool and Arsenal. Just Chelsea left. Next nine games look winnable. This being Tottenham it’s the games we should be winning where we end up dropping points. But retaining confidence and positivity...we’re accomplished these days away from home and our form at the Lane remains strong (we don’t lose too many). The season is about to kick off for us.
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Clive Allen. Knight him.
Reader Comments (70)
Agree with everything you have just said, for me tow things changed the game, Sandro coming on and Sagna getting injured, that enabled the likes of Bale to run riot and Modric to get on the ball and be more creative, i cant remember us ever going into a North London derby feeling we would win but this time i did.
I think if i was an Arsenal fan i would be worried now, despite all their possession and "nice" football they dont seem to have a cutting edge, Fabregas going seems to have ripped the heart out of the team and without him they look a bit lost
Spooky,
I've been waiting for this. Where have you been????? Didn't watch the match - was the missus birthday and was away. Followed on BBC text thingy. Had really mixed feelings about the outcome. One part of me said, they are there for the taking. Another said, hold up, this is a NLD, form counts for nothing. Yet another said, the balance has shifted, they now fear your lot and you'll do them. Worrry not. In the end we did them. Phew. Really pleased. Now, Harry keep up the good work (did I just say that?) - we need to give credit where it is due. 4 games 12 points. but please like you said, win all winnable games - i.e. Newcastle, Blackburn, Fulham, QPR et al (no disrespect to those teams, but you know what I mean)
Onwards and forwards COYS
Pedro, do you only win a major trophy if you win the league? Because last time I checked the FA and Uefa cups were pretty major, as is the league cup. And if you ask Arsene Wenger, finishing in the top 4 is a trophy. Run along you mug
@PedroMustang - 50 years, no major trophy, great knowledge you've got there mate.
I thought Arsenal played very well by taking Modric completely out of the game. Modric is our maestro; he dictates the play and the tempo. When we could not find Modric in midfield we started playing long balls for Ade.
However I am very pleased to see that we coped with it. We coped against a very good and very well prepared team. When our regular way of playing was impossible we adapted to the situation and still created chances and goals.
And that is one of the reason why we are far better today than earlier years. Even when the conductor and maestro is taken out, our orchestra of lillywhite playing band uses different strings. Even though the orchestra does not play as planned it still ends up as a beautiful symphony.
COYS
Redknapp left Sandro, a future Barcelona or Real Madrid player on the bench and then commented in a `rare interview' that we were overrun in midfield. Arry is a great motivator of the players in his clique, but, a terrible coach/tactician, he tried his best to give Arsenal a chance. Watch us next season when we have a manager who doesn't think tactics are breathe mints. The lucky chancer. That team of great players should be challenging Man Utd.
Love it! And Parker have proved a lot of us wrong. And I think we're all fine with it.
All a bit premature if you ask me. If Arsenal sort themselves out in January (unlikely, but possible) then the game at the Emirates might be different. And this was a small victory. This is the worst Arsenal side since before the Graham era - beating them at home (and, frankly, making such hard work of it) is not really very much to crow about. Save your claims of a sea change for when Spurs actually win something worth winning. Until then Arsenal fans can always point to six league trophies won since the last one that Spurs won.
don't be sad pedro - you still have your memories you mamory.
Thought the line up was wrong from the beginning but we won and that is all that matters in a derby game. When we are utd we can worry about winning AND playing well, for now lets just make sure we win!
i observation is again we failed to kill a team off, against better oppostion or the Arsenal of a few years ago, we would have drew/lost the game.
Important we go on a win the next couple and consolidate our position in the top 4 as i think Arsenal cant help but improve so a points cushion is vital
MAYBE IN THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS OR SO YOU WILL WIN SOMETHING BIG LIKE CARLING CUP
OR A FRIENDLY MATCH
Thank fook we signed parker & Sandro. Levy & Redknapp have done a great job getting these two (conveniently ingoring other bad signings). How great it is to have two proper trojans in the midfield. I've been wishing for this day since I can remember. I was too young to remember Roberts but he has never been replaced (Still hold a candle for Freund the loon). We should have started Sandro but I think that'll be lesson learned now for Harry. He needs to man up though and not be afraid of hurting ego's. Rafa should have been taken off at half time and we wouldn't have had to endure the arsenal revival in the 2nd half.
Can I just add, Who gives a fook about woolwich wanderers? The Derby's over we won, This is about a league championship not just one game. This is about Tottenham, our Tottenham. COYS!!! fook off back to your own diseased forumns pedro you little runt.
Oh you silly spurs...one game and your talk times are changing... Agreed we are not playing well not on our best, lost our best players but Remember we are ARSENAL. We will come back stronger and you know it !
Ah bless. The thing is, it's not one game is it? The fact you still persist in ignoring this is so endearing. Makes me go all funny inside, want to give you a hug and tell you it's okay.
I seem to recall Henry making a habit of running straight to the Spurs fans and deliberately celebrating goals in front of us.
Never got booked as I recall.
Stop bitching, hypocritical Arse-hats. :)
It takes time for a new team to gel and once we do...we will leave the pool of mediocrity that we are in with your kind of teams...LOL
A handball and a flukey goal, hardly a storming win at home! When 'arry gets the England job another fantasy future will disappear. Dream On!
* Hugs spooky *
Agreed Woodbine...Spurs will always be that ugly sister of Arsenal...* hugs spooky again *...lol
I have stumbled here by chance and read your acidic bile carefully. I understand that permanent low self-esteem leads to external aggression. You don't have to be a Freud to know that. Living under the shadow of Arsenal for people like cannot be easy. I would find it difficult too.
Ultimately, Spurs won last weekend. If you think of results alone, that is enough anyway but in no way did the match suggest that Arsenal were second best. In fact, if you care to watch the match again, Coquelin, only with his 2nd start, out gunned your 'maestro', the unfortunate looking Modric. Coquelin outclassed him several times. The two goals you scored were from lapses of Arsenal's concentration, from throw-in's and not from any great moves. Bale, the player you so trumpet, touched the ball after 19 minutes.
It is true that recently you have started to feel self important and have started to win a match here and there but for you to be considered like Arsenal, you need to win the league at least once , if not the double?
I think rivalry between clubs is good for football locally and nationally but in the case of Spurs, I find your fans have suffered a lot of shame and humiliation over the last 50 years in comparison to Arsenal and you feel it right to abuse the Gunners! A lack of class surely?
As regards knighting Allen, if that is your criteria for knighthood, it goes on to show your utter lack of class, and basically the upstart parvenu nature of your club and hierarchy. You need to cool down. One swallow does not a summer make. Arsenal will finish above Spurs in the league again. Even you know that. Then you know who will have the last laugh. after that, you can eat your heart out.
Sandro was a great substitution, but truly it was game over when sagna got hurt. he kept bale in check all game, but when he left the game, bale ran rampant over the replacement RB and opened the whole game up.
lol Arsenal fans. Did you even read the article?
It's worth a mention - remember that Sandro was just coming back from injury and may not have managed 90 minutes at 100% and at NLD speed. Apparently he's picked up a knock now too, so maybe even that 30 minutes was too much.
Mind you, couldn't Livermore have done a job there too?
Kay - forgot to mention that.
Henry never got done for that. The Prem, the FA, the police, the media...nobody bat an eyelid. Neither did the Spurs fans. But the second someone does it to Arsenal, their fans burst into tears.
Ho hum.
Kubia - all you've done there mate is show you have no sense of humour. It was a joke, banter. You ever tried that? Or too busy boo'ing this glorious club of yours because you lose a couple of games. You lot never have and your idea of class is simply that no matter what you are always better than anyone else. That's no class. It's delusion. You honestly think you're the same club you were 6 years ago? Why is it so hard to look around and admit that times are changing?
"The two goals you scored were from lapses of Arsenal's concentration, from throw-in's and not from any great moves" <--- LOL, so by this logic every single win you've had over Spurs is because we're not very good at defending, much like you're not now.
Honestly dude, keep your pretentious nonsense for the middle tier at the Emirates.
I even state in the article that we have to finish above you to truly state the power has shifted yet you ignore this to appease you own insecurities. Well done.
WHEN you beat us for 5 years plus withut reply, then we can talk about a power shift.
2 wins doesn' t change 20 years of results. Your still the tiny totts at this point.
You do get that the monopoly where you had so much success in has gone now? The four clubs that dominated did that without reply and lets face it, nobody could compete with them. Not just us who lacked the ability to make an impact. Football always has been about cycles.
You think I no longer rate Arsenal? You got it wrong. I'm not dismissing you or writing you off. I'm saying you're not this big bad bully of a club you once was and you do little to improve and fix the problems you have. I know Arsenal fans who would completely disagree with what you have to say and say so with brutal honesty that you have gutless stupid players and no genuine heavyweights, mentally and physically in your side. But sure, hold onto the last 15 years Wenger have given you because you should be proud of your success.
Fact remains, there is no Sky Sports Top 4 any more. Fucking deal with it. You'll gain more respect out of it. You do get the irony of banging on about this '20 years of results', right? You don't need me to spell it out do you? Or do you want to wait to see what the next 20 years brings before we re-discuss?
Christ. Having two NL clubs giving it some would be better than the one, what with the Manc sides looking unstoppable at the moment.
If´s official. Power has shifted. The deluge of defensive Arse hitting this hallowed stomping ground desperately tossing scraps of datum proves it. Ah happy times.
Kubia - what would Freud say about scummer fans searching Tottenham blogs to make ridiculous points about an article its clear you haven't even understood? I think Freud would say you are a massive douche and you should go back to Woolwich.
Ta.
This is only a month ago:
http://www.dearmrlevy.com/dml/2011/8/30/back-him-or-sack-him.html
I know opinions can move fast but even so the changing mood of the comments from that period to today is huge.
"When Walker scored, I was obviously euphoric but there was a voice in my head that said, “Well that was expected, wasn’t it?”."
That, in a sentence, wraps it up. Niceeeeee.
Watching in a sports bar in Munich on the last day of the Oktoberfest, late-on in the game I spotted my 'thingy-supporting' godson in the crowd. His face said exactly the same.
Another first for me was (a) the sight and sound of this particular bar - my local - full of Spurs supporters, and (b) the utter invisibility of opposing fans. COYS !!
PS. "lol Arsenal fans. Did you even read the article?"
Oct 4, 2011 at 12:20 PM | spooky
They tried spooky. Oh how they tried, bless 'em !
Spurs' EPL records from 08/09 season to now:
3 wins
3 draws
Only 1 lost
Current Table: Spurs top 6, Arsenal bottom 6.
Power shift started long time ago!
Mind the gap gooners , mind the gap!!!
Hope this one passes the censor.
Dedicated to the swamp dwellers.
"I'm yer yesterday man
well my friends that's what I am,
that's what I am, the yesterday man.
"I'm yer yesterday man
well my friends that's what I am,
that's what I am, the yesterday man."
acknowledgements Chris Andrews
I got to say great article spooky. And it really is still very early to say that the power in North London has totally shifted. But even Arsenal fans must admit that the land is well and truely level now. They arnt better than us and we arnt better than them. Only finishing above them this season will it prove we are better.
In my opinion its only a matter of time before that happens but in the mean time we'll enjoy our win in the NLD. Its a great time to be a Spurs fan and nothing a gooner can say is going to change that.
Sir Clive Allen - that has a nice ring to it. 49 goals in a season for spurs playing up front on his own. A true legend.
I think it is too simple to say we played the wrong formation.
442 was a brave choice because we were out numbered in the middle but playing 433 comes at the cost of attacking threat...as was demonstrated by RVP who had little support and failed to make an impression (along with Walcott and apart fom the odd moment Gervinho). 433 gave them dominance of the central midfield but gave us dominance in defence and in attack.
We failed to take our easy chances. With a more defensive unit we probably would have created less chances.
Maybe a 4231 could have been effective but it is by no means certain.
If Sandro is fit he should be played.
best team for me is
Friedel
Walker Kaboul King BAE
Sandro Parker
Modric
Rafa/Lennon/Krancjar Ade Bale
There is enough firepower in any front 3 combo to score goals. We cannot concede midfield in games and hope to defend indefinitely.
Great article Spooks, well summed up really! I left the game Sunday happy, but a little underwhelmed by the performance etc. That says plenty for me about where we've come to and maybe where our expectations are as fans now.
And to the Goon clowns all over this blog trying to desperately prove to us all you're still the Arsenal of 1998-2004, well you're not. At no point does Spooky, or any other Spurs fan I know, say that Sunday's win alone means we are now better than you. Just that we have progressed, since 2004, to the point we now have a great squad and a team that plays consistently at a top 5 level who arguably underachieved in the league last season and still finished 5th. Banging on about what you've done for the last 15 years really does prove you've missed the point all together...the tide is turning and the playing field is level now. Accept it and stop burying your head in the sand, we've met in the middle and you have a slide to reverse while we have to worry about continuing forward and upwards.
And they used to accuse us of living in the past?
I don't like this talk of eras ending and beginning. What does it mean? We're going to be beating them every time now? Despite being on a good run, we've got a few problems of our own. Such as, a manager with issues and outstanding business to see to, two ageing goalkeepers who'll need replacing before long, a captain who is brilliant but only when he plays, and he can go out at any time, a midfield dynamo who has made no secret of wanting to leave and still might; and our best striker is only with us on loan. Then we're gonna need a stadium, which Arsenal already have. The future is full of challenges for us.
Good points but a CL position means players can be replaced. Which is why finishing above them is imperative.
We started in a 4-4-2 but VDV plays it for a bit then creeps back making it a 451. To me that ( and le arse catching him in various offside traps) is why Ade didnt feature. he also clogs up feed to Modders when he does that and, to me thats why he didnt really get going. I have said in so many blogs VDV is Brilliant, but he would be better coming on fresh later in a game when others are tiring. He would be pure impact then and his style of play would really suit that situation.
having two actual strikers up front we look our most dangerouswith walker coming through on the right and Bale on the left and parker and Mods in the middle it is pure poetry. Oppositions are so spread out because everyone is dangerous.As time moves on our back line will hopefully be able to give Ledders leggies a break. Love VDV as a player but is it me, or does the team light up when he comes off?
I agree with Shannon, it is a game by game thing. Eras only change with the benefit of hindsight (and a little bias generally). We have been better for a little while, but if they gain a few players and we dont get another good striker when Ade leaves (we will never be able to afford his wages). we will have a good midfield but be back to being toothless as Defoe is only great as one of a pair of strikers. Being ascendent it will be easier to persuade good new signings, I just hope Levy (not Schnapper) stays as astute as ever, being as he is reponsible for buying in our new players.
Look, I think you're all missing the point. Modric was outclassed 'several' times. The goals were due to 'lapses of concentration' not great moves. And Bale didn't touch the ball during the first 19 minutes. When you plug that into the Zonal Marking wankometer, you will notice that ((outclassing of one random player) * 3.14159) * ((great moves - mental lapses) / i^2) * (time of first touch of another random player - water bottles thrown) / (number of excuses made by gunner fans) - (number of 'youth' players starting) - injuries to gunner players + handshakes + 'class' factor) = utter bollocks.
I still love seeing videos of VDV shushing the Arsenal fans when he's scored. Big game player.
We can't moan at HR when we all wanted 442 again after last season. There could be better tactics deployed but I'll argue that HR fought Levy hard to get in Parker when 99% of us didnt fancy taking a chance.
He may get lucky every now and then and his comments are to be endured but he knows who are the right players to buy at the right time.
Yes Keano came back and wasnt the same player but by god did we need him round the place, without him and Wilson we would have got relegated.
This season was doom for a lot of fans after the manchester defeats but Rednapp didnt panic and got the players he needed for next to nothing and we look strong.
I've moaned about him before, its hard to listen to a lot of the stuff he says but we've been very lucky to have him and enjoyed some pretty epic games / wins under him.
Nobody is perfect but as it stands I'd rather Harry stayed and committed himself to the club.
He says it will be difficult to turn down the England job but it will be equally hard for him to leave us if were back in the CL.
COYS.
Regarding formations I expect some fluidity and injury to cause changes but mostly 442 at home and 451 away as the standard.
If Ade is injured however that changes.
Anyone fancy playing Pav as a lone striker? Try not to laugh as Ade will get injured this season and we will face this. Or any other Spurs striker solo for that matter?
So without Adebayor we have to play two strikers.
Which means 4 in midfield. Which means 2 CMs. Which means 2 of Modric/Parker/Sandro/Hudd.
So are all these 5 man midfields that are all the rage (and I see lots of pluses there) dependent on Adebayor's fitness ?
for a logical robot and engineer as me , that just made sense A diff Animal , it really did :)
My 2 cents : Vdv brilliant player , dont know where to play him but the man really loves winning , this club and this game. He's just brilliant but maybe not suited to play with Modric.
Ade was dissapointing , not a lot of energy and he looked a bit distant. Bale started slowly but i think that is intentional , he just waits a bit more to shift into 6 th gear now , just let the opponents run around and lose focus and then go all out on em. His skills are back , speed is coming back and his hunger towards the goal too. I believe the monster is almost back to run rampage down the leftside.
Parker , so much better than i reckoned he was , but really when i say so much better it s more than a landslide, such a smart , composed fighting player. Impressive.
But for me the game was won on the other side , if my knee wasnt completely battered after 20+ yrs of playing i would happily offer it to our Bionic Man. He and Kaboul were just freaking awesome , ruling the pitch as if we were playing against the u17's of the Faroer Islands.
So in conclusion Spurs beat Arsenal because Arsenal made mistakes? I must have missed all the domination in the final 3rd and all the saves Brad had to make to stop us from getting pummelled. Sorry, still don't get this 'argument'. Its desperation.
When Arsenal dicked Spurs 3-0 at the Emritates was it only because Spurs had lapses of concentration?
Stop bending the rules. Chin up and all that.
The only concentration that´s lapsing is in the quantity of contemptible gooners with a leg to stand on.
Wow, so many Arsenal fans here. They might get a bit more respect if they told it like it really was - Arsenal have got some serious problems to sort out and Spurs were clear favourites on the day. I also hold the view that it's premature to declare that the tide has turned, but this will surely be the case if Wenger is as blind to the problems as these gooners.