You'll win nothing with kids (and Pav)
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 2:31PM Europe
5pm kick-off. ITV4. It's what dreams are made of.
I'll be driving back home and will probably miss the opening exchanges (thanks to the virtues of modern technology that won't matter too much when I sit down to watch it). This competition in group stage format still leaves me a little detached from getting all giddy with excitement. Going through the motions is hardly box office but there is still interest in how we might cope with each test our mix match of benchers and kids face up too. Especially in this game, what with it being the 'toughest' we've faced thus far.
Few would disagree that if we play the way we played in our first encounter with Rubin Kazan, they will probably punish us for our naivety and inexperience. Gomes, Gallas, Bassong, Pienaar along with Defoe and the ever-committed Pav should give the hosts plenty of work to do if we can be bothered to compete. A win and we qualify. Really does come down to the players selected. Obvious statement, but playing a weaker team lacking first team regulars will always leave us susceptible to a slip and fall. If we lack a spine and authority, I can see us suffering with aforementioned punishment and not the good kind you pay top dollar for from Miss Dominique Matrix. I'm talking about the 'why do I still sort of feel gutted that were losing in a competition I'm not supposed to care about' type of punishment.
I'd suggest (and hope for) Sandro in the middle of the park. Add to that less experienced 'kids' Livermore, Townsend, Carroll and also Falque. Bet I lost you after Sandro. Centre-backs will have to be sharp. Baptism for Willy and his return to first team action.
edit: Sandro not in the squad, ho-hum. Hope turned to dust. Seems I did lose you after Sandro.
Draw? I'd take that. Win, I'll have that. Loss? Wouldn't shock me as this competition remains an annoyance to the manager. Hopefully the game can serve one purpose regardless of the result. That being a shop window for that Russian forward that rates himself a bit.
PS Get well Harry.
The Tottenham Whisper
If you've read The Tottenham Miscellany by Martin Cloake and Adam Powley you might remember a mention in it about the mystery surrounding The Tottenham Whisper. Nobody appears to be able to provide conclusive truth, meaning there is little chance after so many years for a truly definitive answer to be discovered. So instead, its a case of perhaps trying to work out the most logical answer. I've read a pretty ace explanation for it which I'm happy to accept as the answer.
Sent in via email to The Fighting Cock team:
This memory is hazy as its from something my late granddad once told me. Apparently back in the day there was some kind of dig made at us spurs fans for the manner of our support during the games. We apparently out shouted, sung and cheered the oppositions fans so extensively that...
Read the rest here.
Movember Day Three
Movember update and it's day three and not a lot is happening in the mo-area of my face.
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Movember, Day Three.
If you look close enough, there is mo-stubble there. Honestly, I promise. Okay, so it's still in a pathetic state of nothingness, but it's day 3 and I practically guarantee something resembling a moustache by Sunday/Monday. Tuesday by the latest. Wednesday for sure.
Check out the thread over at The Fighting Cock forum for other participant photos and updates.
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Reader Comments (21)
what worries me is the lack of full backs in the squad - not sure if any of the youngsters play there but it will be a baptism of fire for them to make a debut in this match! otherwise defoe, pav, pienaar and livermore give us an attacking threat, although it really does look like harry is happy to lose this match as we should still qualify, my fear is that when you're on a run you don't really want it to end.
Thing is, in a strange old way, if we lose this game it wont have a massive effect as its not our first team. Feels like we have two sides and both are separate entities. Losing is never good, but a defeat today would hardly haunt me. Perhaps irk me a little.
plus of course the team morale can hardly be helped by pav, gomes and now bassong complaining about a lack of chances and that they want to leave. does it not occer to them that the best way to get a good move (or into the first team) would be to play at the top of their game when they get the chance?
Well Sandro has stayed at home Spooky so your wish is not granted there. I reckon the team will be:
Gomes
Fredricks Gallas Bassong Rose
Townsend Livermore Carroll Pienaar
Defoe Pav
occur!
Edit, just seen your edit about Sandro, please ignore /\
rose is injured and not travelled canada, perhaps townsend left back?
tbh we don't need to win this game.....win at home to PAOK and away at Shamrock will secure our safe passge to the knock outs and I don't think we need to fear anyone at that stage either.
I'd rather the fringe get some game time, the youth get some experience and the first teamers are kept wrapped up in cotton wool to be unleashed on Fulham at the weekend....a team that also have Europe but not the luxury of being able to rest their preferred XI.....why drag any of out preferred XI 2000 miles across the world and then back again if we don't have to.
Oh I didn't know that about Rose. I assume BAE hasn't travelled either? I guess Townsend would work then...
Gomes
Fredricks Gallas Bassong Townsend
Falque Livermore Carroll Pienaar
Defoe Pav
The fact some of us have not even bothered to check to see the players that have travelled speaks volumes.
I reckon that's spot on, but doesn't it look very fragile at full back?
Defoe's going to want to get on the score sheet to show his worth. Carroll recently named in U21 england squad will want to cement his position as 'prospect at WHL fo the future'. Livermore looking to step up. Might yet pull a draw out of the bag by hook, etc.
Could be a hell of a lot worse, I suspect if we go further there may be a change in emphaisis, but for now experience amongst the youth ranks and those returning from injury is no bad thing.
Better than no midweek game at all. It's like a pre-cursor to the weekend really.
Except for Cudicini in for Gomes I was spot on! (with my second attempt and steve's help)
A win tonight is what WILL happen. Whatever team we put out there will be better than them and conditions won't be an issue. This is Spurs we're talking about here, the new Spurs that turn up, play like demons and leave with three points...
Oh when the Spuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurs.........
COY(reserve)S!
I'm still at work is, there anywhere i can catch this pon tinternet?
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/europaleague/news/watch-live-rubin-v-spurs-and-birmingham-v-brugge-18833/
Thanks! There I was trawling the murky depths of the web and it was on ITV's site all along...
COYMS !!!! Anyone know anyone who's gone out there - looks preety chilly !!!!!
Big fat zero.
WITH hARRY - we wins all the timez
No Harry - 2 pts from 8 games
Did we win then?
Yes, we won a big fat ZERO for Bassong to take home and wank with. No point letting him make a mess all over the pitch.