And...we're back
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 8:32PM Is it safe to come out? International break is over, right?
Thank God.
Other than Bale and Lennon being pulled out of their squads due to 'injury' it's been a decent week having not lost anyone on a more permanent basis with the additional bonus and return of Tom Huddlestone to training. Woodgate is apparently injured again. Conspiracy theorists might tell you otherwise. Although that may simply be desperate optimism rather than kidology. Harry capable of the latter? van der Vaart did say our gaffer is like Jose. Probably meant they're both suave and sharp dressers.
But before the glamour of Madrid we play the role of visitors to bottom club Wigan. The fixture has less sex about it than an orgy hosted by eunuchs. Can we tag this with the must-win label? Goes without say, doesn't it? Back to basics here. Keep it simple, keep it traditional. 442 please. Nobody expected them to win in the game at the Lane, what with memories of the 9-1 still buzzing around our heads. Upsets still do happen and they tend to get dished out to us when we're feeling all apologetic in performance. They're bottom, but they're still fairly organised and plucky and they're fighting for their lives whilst once more (as ever) we have one eye on another game that might well distract.
Even with players rested, if we line-up up with a decent spine and attack and we don't wear t-shirts underneath the Lilywhite, we'll be just dandy. We could have decimated Blackpool a few weeks back and ended up losing 3-1. Wigan won't pose the type of threat we encountered on that particular evening. But anything resembling complacency or lack of focus from our lot will be disheartening and dangerously encouraging for them.
Momentum Spurs. It's easier to win the next game if you've won the one before and the one before that and the one before...etcetc.
Cohesive, clinical, cutting edge. Stand tall please. Show some heart.
It's every game is a cup final time. Hold onto your flat caps.
Reader Comments (33)
When I say 'stand tall' that isn't code language for 'please play Crouch'.
Wouldn't it be nice to actually smash a team for a change - got to do it once at least in a season, we still did that when we were sh*t
This is our season defining match. A win and we claim 4th. We lose, we finish 6th. Guys, time to take the bull by the horn.
3-0 Spurs
I'm hoping for a sneaky triple prong late substitution to bring on Woodgate, Bale, and Lennon who each score and execute simultaneous Klinsmann Dives.
www.parasiemprefc.co.uk
I actually think that the Wigan game beforehand is the defining match. This is a chance to recoup the point(s) we badly lost earlier in the season. Winning this game would mean that we would have the joint best away record in the premiership. The problem is that Harry will want to rest players....and we should not. If anything, we should start strong, and take players off if winning comfortably.... I am not that confident by the way...
woody is injured, again, unbelieviable!
my coach, is also barnets assistant manager and he told me that is was true
After playing around with the BBC predictor (I know I know) our best chance of Top 4 is going to be courtesy of Man City. IF City get results as expected, we simply can't afford to drop any points in games like this one AND we need to win one of the big fixtures we've got coming up. Otherwise it's a must-win at Eastlands again. The Spurs way.
We can't have another draw. It's not a result befitting a Top 4 side, simple as that. I fear if we don't make the grade again this season it'll be a setback for a few more years. If we do make it, not only do we get to light up the CL again but we'll get the pleasure of watching City implode, with Mancini sent on his way followed by another vast influx of panicky petrodollars and an outflow of unwanted underperforming mercenaries.
Never mind City, we will be our own worst enemies. If in the more likely than unlikey chance we don't make the CL, I don't ever want to see Defoe and Crouch in a Spurs shirt ever again.
TMWNN:
Agree on Defoe..but come on...Rodney has been great in the CL! Hopefully we'll sign Conor Wickham and all will be resolved!
I still have the erection i have been holding since last season and that goal to give us 4th. i say f*ck it, going to the wire is what being a spurs fan is about. I love the business end of the season, every game a cup final. lovely job. come on spurs be majestic (just like my erection).
northbucksyido, if we can't do better than Crouch next season, we may as well pack up and go home.
We've just got to beat Wigan. Even with 1/2 a fit squad and a massive game in mid-week. They did a proper job on us at WHL which I really hope we learnt from (though I'm far from convinced the players did learn this lesson)
Unfortunately the best striker on the pitch in the Wigan game will be Rodallega.
After the West Ham Game (aka Harry's Game) this can only go one way with the lads improving their ball moving ability to new heights, looking like Barcelona on steroids but just gallantly failing to score.
Wigan will probably spend 89 minutes in their own half until a desperate clearance from one of their centre backs somehow goes over Gomes's head into the net for the winner.
After-match comment from Harry talks about great times at Spurs these days, still in the race for 4th in the EPL (just like my Grand National Picks which invariably drop out of that race) and still inthe Champions League, setting us up nicely for an Arsenal week where suddenly we are hoping against hope that we finish 6th and don't have to play in the Europa League.
After all, we are Spurs and we know how to lose in style.
I think you mean 'annihilated Blackpool'.
'decimated means 'reduce by a tenth'.
Just saying.
It's been a long week.
If our squad is really as magnificent as we often claim we should be able to field many second string players and still win at lowly Wigan. That is what the squad is for isn't it. To allow the best to play the tough games at their peak.
Its gone pear shaped. And yet we're still in the race for 4th.
Argh. at the risk of sounding rather worshipful,
(nasal voice)
...The Chairman won't take too much more of this, especially if we get thumped by Madrid on Tuesday...
(nasal voice ended)
...after all, he isn't exactly renowned for his father christmas-like jovialty and kind-hearted generosity, now, is he?
Dear Mr. Levy,
Please do the necessary sir!
Its time to retrieve your famous AXE.
Yours Faithfully,
Tired-of-Jenas.
The truth is, when you look at the Premiership, the League cup and the F.A. cup without factoring in the Champions League (and its novelty...this being our first time and all), this has been a pathetic season.
Now, wait a minute! Why pathetic? Honestly try and recall any game where we have controlled, dictated or dominated in any of these three competitions? We've been really poor. Yes we won at Arsenal and the feeling was amazing but deep down we all know that that was down to their own defensive inadequacies. We attempted to defeat Chelsea at the lane, and Defoe and Pav did well for the goal, but once we brought on Crouch...we were lucky to escape with our point (Chelsea said that they 'were back' following their second half display at our ground).
And the worst thing this season... the hoof and knock down tactic. My god! How embarrasing! I always have to explain to my mates everytime we catch a Spurs game together that "we don't usually play like this....honest". Its really relegation fodder (of yersteryears) rubbish.
The reason behind all this...is the unfortunate signing of Rafael van der Vaart!
He was an 8million pound curse.
If this guy was not around, Crouch would be playing for Newcastle by now (on his way to div1) and we would be playing our usual 4-4-2 with our strikers all on 10goals and above. Our biggest highlights, Inter away, Inter-at-home (second half), all came minus this guy.
I know us Spurs supporters are quick to embrace anyone with a fancy name but, in all honesty, our attack has not been the same ever since we got involved with Van der Vaart. I hate his crouch-knock down goals so much (u.g.l.y.!!!!) They're so overrated. They were all down to defensive mistakes/inexperience and have now been cut out by all teams.
I believe we should capitalise on his name and sell him to Man city for 20m now before everyone discovers that he is only but a long-ball merchant.
I feel so bad to be the one to say it.
One wheel is off, the rest will follow shortly.
I agree regarding VdV. We were basically the same team without him last year when we got 4th. We shouldn't need him like we do. I think in particular the premiership his play has become a bit of a liability. His automatic selection in the squad has made the strikeforce feel inadequate. VdV is a world class player but he does not fit into our squad, although it has worked in the CL. Just not the premiership. The lack of goals scored in the league is just pathetic. It is a wonder we are fifth.
We should have a look at Danny Graham from Watford, top scorer in championship. Give them 2m and andros townsend
I don't think we should blame VdV for the strikers being completely fucking shit.
I agree partially with what ronnie says , the hoof and knock down tactics are pathetic , i also have to explain to all my mates that this is not the Tottenham way , i always brag about the quality and swagger and than this season everybody gets to see Spurs on live TV and it provided us with some great games (Inter and Twente) but the way we played after that is not my kind of football
But don't get me wrong , we grinded out the results (especially in the CL) , this season has been great just for the inclusion of that desirable CL , but i do miss the fluent passing game.
nice one Ronnie - we also went on our best winnig streak this season when Bale was out of the team injured, does he hinder our attacks als? perhaps we should sell him on with VDV also!!!
I'd look a little more closely at some of the idiotic team selections and not having a striker who can score.
Our strikers arnt as shit as people make out, its just we are playing a system that does not suit our style of play. We were better last season but to be fair this season our injuries have been dire and we have been in the CL for the first time too.
It took Liverpool to win it in order to remain in the competition the next season.
That said our season looked doomed last year after Portsmouth. Come on you Spurs.
As much as HR is frustrating sometimes you cant deny how he has transformed us by keeping things simple. Yes he seems to be a lucky bugger at times with the Bale situation but he is part of the reason we are where we are, including Levy & Camoli.
Doesnt stop things like seeing Niko bag 2 winning goals for us and then disapearing again : (
Gutted. My faith in Harry is failing with every poor performance / result in the Premier League. Those who say "it's the players" need to qualify why the Manager isn't responsible for the performance of the players.
For all our swashbuckling this season Man City have done things the right way - ensured solidity at the back to dominate the opposition and then use flair to demolish them.
Under Harry we can demolish the opposition (and it's great when we do) but are completely incapable of dominating them.
Let's hope for a demolition job against Madrid and then Barcelona - its surely the only way we're going to get back in to the CL next season?
I like to think it was all part of Harry's plan to lull Real into a false sense of security.
What we *really* need is a statue of Michael Jackson outside the Lane.
Hee hee, shamone muthafucka.
555...
Surely a statue of Chas and Dave would be more appropriate? or perhaps Glenn and Chris?
Gertcha muthafucka.