Must win
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 12:03PM Pocket-sized match preview. Time is against me today.
Banana-skin, they call today's visit of Sunderland. I prefer to call it a 'test' of character. We have to retain focus and make a solid statement of intent and continue the level of performance we displayed second half against Stoke. We're hardly out of form. We suffered a blip. A wake up call, a gentle nod towards avoidance of complacency.
With Chelsea visiting us on Thursday, this game is equally as important in terms of winning all three points as we drive towards the festive period and the new year. January will be season defining. We've got plenty of home games and that game in hand against Everton. Whatever happens in the transfer window, is pretty much irrelevant for now.
Stand strong Tottenham. Bully your opponents. Boss the midfield and the tempo and take your chances with supreme confidence (you hear me Adebayor?). Take nothing for granted. Play to win like your lives depend on it. That's simply the only attitude to have.
We're going to be missing a few players today. I don't want to be citing that as an excuse come the final whistle.
COYS.
Love the shirt.
Reader Comments (20)
Defoe or VDV to get the nod?
vdV is my guess.
Look out for the starting line up.
Don't fret when you see it.
Do you know something we don't.... I know Leds is doubtful is VDV, not to fussed if he is as we have Defoe chomping at the bit.
Great battle cry by the way, also really miss your post's, i guess your too busy with the fighting cock podcast stuff. ... COYS 3 points a must today with Chelski round the corner.
To be honest, work has seriously got in the way of blogging this past 2/3 weeks. I tend to write up blogs the night before but also do ones based on news during the day (in my lunch hour). Just had no time to spare, also had to travel a fair bit.
That time of year.
Wouldnt shock me to see a cd pairing of bassong/gallas and sandro in for parker, Defoe in place of VDV.
That would hopefully enable us to bring in fresh legs in the form of VDV, parker, and kaboul against Chelsea.
If we are fortunate enough to get a couple of goals ahead (not taking anything for granted)
I'd take off Bale, Azza and either BAE or Walker to keep them in tip top shape too, which would let us give Krank or Pienaar some first team action.
All we need is too be ready like Utd are against QPR you need to match there work rate and strike early.
Believe: accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.
As I said last week spooky.... "fit for purpose".
COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I right in thinking Parker is one yellow away from a ban? Worries me. So maybe Sandro in.
Any good streaming sites to watch the match please?
No Bale. No Defoe. King is back. Sandro starts.
I'm okay with this.
firstrowsports.tv or atdhe.tv should work for a stream
A win is a win is a win.
Great win and who'd have thought Pav would pop up with a clinical finish? I'm worried Adebayor's GPS may have become infected by a Defoe virus. I hope Lennon's hamstring tear is only grade one: we need him in January
I worry about Thursday. Lennon is out for sure and highly doubtful will be Leds, Bale, and Defoe. Also is Kaboul's suspension over and will be available to play on Thursday?
"I worry about Thursday. Lennon is out for sure and highly doubtful will be Leds, Bale, and Defoe. Also is Kaboul's suspension over and will be available to play on Thursday?"
Guys... it's the big picture you'd best hold on to now, check it... the one that reads total games played, number of games won, number of games drawn, and games lost (real games).
TB, if there was ever a season defining match, Thursday is what comes close to it. We win we put daylight us and them for 3rd, not to talk of catching up to the Manchester teams. Getting as many of our 1st team players on the field against Chelsea will be extremely crucial towards our title challenge push.
Back in Tokyo again, complete desert regarding finding somewhere to watch the match. Was really pleased with the Sunderland win as it was a crucial test but the Chelsea match is the one which will define us. Absolutely on tenterhooks here but looking forward to following the BBC text feed of the match (Arghhhh) in the early hours of the morning!
As for Chelsea, I've read that Bale is available and I know it seems to be common knowledge that Ledley will miss the game, I'm not convinced he will. I expect to see a similar side to the one put out yesterday. Same back 4. Bale for Lennon. Bale roaming to attack both flanks. VdV was fantastic last night. Really looked at home and always in space pulling the strings. We discovered a new way to win a game. Another unusual thing for us, as for as long as I can remember, I've been saying "we found a new way to lose." Pav didn't fool me though. At one point last night he managed so heavy a touch that he handballed a ball played into his feet. Nice goal and I concede his strength is his finishing but I have no illusions about him. Hopefully the goal he scored means someone actually pays us 10mio in the transfer window. I predict a XI of: BAE, King, Kaboul, Walker Bale, Parker, Sandro, Modric VdV & Ade up front. Bench: Cudicini, Gallas, Kran, Pienaar, Livermore, Defoe, Pav...
IaG, don't get me wrong mate, I'm just as nervous as the next yiddo (habit of a lifetime an' all that). It's called "dutch courage" I think. You know, the stirring stuff like "whites of their eyes" !!!!!!!
And yes, the Chelsea game is BIG. But is it really season defining? Hand on heart, is this one more 'season defining' as the two Manc games or the visit to the Library?
Also, at long last I'm confident that in spite of ourselves (see new stadium panto) this is real, this is DESERVED. And this hasn't happened overnight. It's been coming now for a good 4/5 years.
If Levy hadn't had a moment of madness getting rid of Martin Jol for "what's-his-name" Tottemham Hotspur would have been a permanent fixture in the CL by now. Levy's mistake put the plan back by a couple of years that's all.
This team isn't the finished article either. It's "fit for purpose" and that purpose i.e. plan, is Champions League qualification year in year out. This team will not win the CL and it won't win the Premier League... 4th. is the aim. Anything above that is a bonus and needs to be treated as such.
*such: very much appriciated if it happens!
Another week and another season defining game comes along.
None of them really are. It is not about beating Chelsea to win a prize.
Each game is worth three points. Win three out of every four and we are sorted.
That is it.