The North London Derby - presented in Technicolor
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 12:03PM Ninety minutes. One interval. A couple of award winners in amongst the supporting cast.
Key strengths and weaknesses of the story arc?
Easy on the eye attacking bum off seats football. Lack of clinicality up front, sometimes because of the lack of chances created however mostly because there's too much of the tippy tappy and not enough of the smacking into the net ruthlessness. Dodgy keeper too. Defence can sometimes find itself all at sea, prone to lapses of concentration, what with key players usually missing from the back four. Midfield is tasty. Although if you listen to some, elements of it are over-rated. Choke? Yes. On occasions can throw it all the way.
One thing is for certain, the gaffer is much maligned. Splitting fans either side of the fence, even with moderate on the field success if not of the sustained silverware variant. The type that matters to most.
So in conclusion, deficiencies in amongst the quality. It's obvious what's wrong but patience is a commodity with a supply and demand problem with many despondent that fundamental errors occur without correction, always drowned out by familiar sound-bites. Nutty.
I'm obviously talking about Arsenal here. Actually no it's Tottenham, I've just described Spurs.
I think.
Is it?
We don't choke any more, what with them appearing to have taken that indignity off our hands. Then again, we have choked a couple of times this season with some notably under-performing, home and away, dropping valuable points. We're hardly tippy tappy, more swagger and swashbuckle. When we're not hoofing it up for the knock-down.
Arguably where it matters most, both sides are masters of making it an art form in how to almost score a goal at pivotal moments.
We only have the one dodgy keeper not a collection of them like they do. That's probably open for debate what with our second keeper being as erratic as our first choice and having never seen our third I dare not comment.
The good, the bad and the ugly amply shared between the two divided parts of north London.
The only discussion point beyond argument is colour. We play in white, they play in red.
United in our hatred for each other. Binding us like brothers (I guess from different mothers) fighting endlessly over a piece of land that both seek to claim as their own. The story is rich in history. Always entertaining, always captivating. Never boring.
And if we - Tottenham and Arsenal - decide to turn up this evening and bring us some ding-dong blood and thunder tenacity and desire we might just be in for a treat.
Both teams on the brink. Arsenal dreaming of mathematical possibilities having remained anchored all season long when countless times others cited a sunken ship. Spurs once more reaching out to claim back something made theirs last time out by sheer determination and unity that they once more hope to discover, even with a fixture list uncanny in it's form. A throw-back to the aforementioned last time.
Down to the wire, it's all in the game.
So what of it then? Whether you are white or red. What does your heart sing? What does your head quickly whisper?
I will be bitterly disappointed if we don't take the game to our visiting neighbours. Really want us to embrace the 'best team wins' mantra. In fact I want to see both sides go for each others jugular, with Jurassic drive and juggernaut effort.
We're at home. And we have to win. So says me, so says any of you lot in red too.
Last time out at the Emirates, we did some of that grand olde choking, freezing up in the first forty-five to find ourselves focused and spirited in the second half and thus pass the baton of bereavement over to our arch rivals who held it firmly to their bosom then proceeded to do some choking of their own.
Last time out at the Lane, it was win or die for their title hopes and plausibly win or die for our Champions League dream. For all their possession play they lacked any type of forceful damaging punch. In fact, we happily took their body blows before dishing out a couple of haymakers to knock'em flat out. A wonderful exercise in containment and counter aided by a sensational schoolboys own stuff strike and some heart-stopping keeping with a dab of luck-riding making a cameo for good measure.
Rather than be reactive to the occasion, I'm asking for Tottenham to be proactive this time round.
Pick up the pen and write the script from the start, rather than taking the responsibility of completing it after the initial author has become disillusioned with writers block and can't think of a definitive ending. Although you and I (being the ones who frequent N17 every other week) wouldn't complain much if that happened again. Considering we are rather good at satisfying all but a select group with a traditional satisfactory 'where on earth did that just come from?' twist, leaving us dizzy and giddy.
Box office smash please. Make me throw my popcorn up in the air and cough up my Coca-Cola. I want to see men in Lilywhite man-hugging and gesturing ecstatically to the camera as the credits roll, with the men in red despondent and dejected.
Two NLD league wins in one season? I'll take the drama not the fantasy.
Thoughts will then turn to the second and third parts of the trilogy. One filmed on location at Stamford Bridge. The other on location in Eastlands. May we be the ones taking the plaudits, the critical acclaim and another ceremonious bow and ice bucket at the finale.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let's wait and see how encouraging the write-ups are for the first part.
The North London Derby. Might contain scenes of an adult nature.
I wouldn't even complain if it went straight to DVD.
Reader Comments (59)
Massive selection decision needed by Redknapp. Sandro a must for me alongside hudd with Modric playing just off a striker.
If ever "Thou Shalt Not Lose" would mean anything, it's now and up to the end of the season. Otherwise, forget it.
Eloquently put Spooky!!
COYS
I am on the verge of dropping a load. It's up to spurs whether it will be milky white or brown
I fear this one will be oversold, with neither team gaining from a draw, is it not almost inevitably in the script for 'part 1' that we falter, leaving hopes for both sides clinging more onto 'mathematical probability' than 'heart and passion riddled certainty'.
We may have taken the honours on the last two outings, but lets face it, most the recent encounters could have gone either way, and on numerous occasions a draw being the conclusion.
My real hope is that Bale is as underestimated by the oppositon as their fans seem to think. Sure he's only just returning to full match fitness, but a few cheeky runs down the flanks might just shut their fans up about him not being a worthy 'PFA player of the year' (conveniently ignoring the fact that it is a calendar year and one which included a few performances this time last season).
A goal to match the danny rose screamer wouldn't go amiss either, I can never tire of watching this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XALVPwkor7U&feature=related
Here we go again, the hope, the anticipation, the expectation, to do the double over this lot would be amazing. We can i know we can at home fortress lane... no errors tonight please Gomes just perform the way you did last time we played them at home. 3 points please, that will put us level with our main rivals for fourth.... The season is very much alive & kicking.COYS !!
Come on Spurs. Lost once to the top 6 teams. Lost once at home. Beat Gunners away. Near enough full squad to choose from. Those facts suggest that we should be fine as long as we play near to potential. GK & back four practically pick themselves (Kaboul on bench). Lennon & Bale on wings - we must have sustained pacy attacking threat. Plus they both work so hard. Sandro is a must. Let's not let Arsenal have time on the ball. Modders next to him. Modric will be putting in a disciplined performance because playing with Hudd would have allowed him to attack more. Hudd will have to start on the bench - should we need to chance formation early, he is ideal to come on. Vdv behind the front man - Crouch. Crouch has been scoring lately. Defoe & Pav on bench. Harry will be very tempted to start with Hudd however.
Arsenal are on their knees, they're still thinking about the 102nd minute equaliser on Sunday, they're tired from playing an expansive, high pressure game that's seen them compete on four fronts and fall flat on their face in every one, they are there for the taking. We're comparitively fresh, we should go right for their jugular and get on top of them and remind them what a miserable season they've had. Psychologically we have the upper hand, they're tired, unhappy and prone to shitting bricks in any sort of pressure situation.
COYS.
Goal for VDV tonight
“You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.”...........................Miyamoto Musashi..........Cmon u spurs!
Cant watch the game due to the Belgian Football Association rescheduling one of our games :( will be forced to follow it on the blackberry or something
But for all you lucky sob's who are going to the game , be loud and proud , show the Scum what it means to have real home support
COYFS !!!
Personally I dont buy the 'Arsenal are chokers, Arsenal have had a bad season' stuff. I know we Spurs fans like to find very fault in our hated neighbours, but lest be clear: this is the best side Arsenal have had for years. Their midfield is to die for, they have good width and a striker who, if it werent for injuries, would be one of the top players in the world. And worst luck for us, tomight is one of the times when he is fit. But, they are week at CB (though Djourou returning is a boost for them), unpredictable betwen the sticks (arent we all?) and nervy when defending narrow leads. SoAnd lets be clear about this - they will be facing the best Spurs side in decades tonight.
So this is a winnable game against top drawer oppositon. Crouch will be key, if he can bully their CBs it will ensure a lot more possession for us. Goes without saying that we need a real performance from Bale. Gomes, if selected, has to have a good game. I'd definitely go for Kaboul at RB, we need some pace their to counter the excellent Nasri. Personally I'd probably start with Sandro given Hudd's lack of fitness, but I could make a case for either. The rest of the team picks itself. High hopes for VDV to return to form.
Come on you Spurs - this is our turf, our stadium, our fans. Make it our night.
Not suggesting for a second it will be easy and if they play to their strengths it might be tricky to get the ball off them. We have to take the game to them, dictate the tempo - otherwise, might as well not bother to turn up.
I do think they choke however. We are as many players off being 'great' as they are.
I too like the idea of a Sandro Hudd combo in the middle with Modric given a little more freedom to play the VDV role. VDV rested at first, coming on to torment in the last 20 mins.
I'm off ot the bookie to place a bet on there being a penalty after 90mins ;)
Not sure I agree about taking the game to them Spooky. Logic, and the experience of other teams against them this season, strongly suggests that the best way to play is defend deep and hit them quickly on the counter. We have the players to do this - better than anyone else in fact given the pace of Bale and Lennon and the height of Crouch. Think back to the 2nd half at the Emirates - its exactly what we did. How much possession did we have? Less than them for sure. Territorially they were all over us for most of the game. But who created the chances? We did. Ditto West Brom and Newcastle, who both beat them earlier in the season, and United in the cup game at OT. Give Wilshire and Fabregas space and they'll punish you for sure. Stiffle them and they fade as a creative force. That all points to Sandro over Hudd - we'll easily see from the teamsheet how we intend to play it.
Other than the Sandro/Hudd question, the other big decisions for Harry are whether to take Kaboul over Corluka (I would for sure), and Defoe over VDV. The last one seems odd given Defoe's dismal season, but if we are going to be counter attacking, Defoe will surely stretch them more than VDV. And he surely worried them at their place.
I would definitely have Kaboul in at RB tonight.
The big question is over the 5 man midfield. Lennon & Bale are certainties as is Modric.
Do we go tight and play Hudd & Sandro in defensive roles, with Hudd pinging it to Modric, or do we play Modric in the centre alongside either Hudd or Sandro, leaving VdV to wait for Crouch to knock it down?
I'd be leaving VdV on the bench I think.....
Do we play for a draw with the defensive midfield and miss out on 2 extra points, or do we play to win and potentially miss out on all 3?
Get in their faces early doors, right in em... don't let em settle, especially that little runt Wilshere. Hunt the ball down, be patient, keep the ball, work their full backs hard and hit the far post... job done!
Games like this are won and lost before a ball is even kicked, winning is a mindset built upon the foundations of hard work, belief and spirit!
COYMFS!!!
The intensity we showed at home to Madrid was relentlessly pleasing, if lacking the fabled cutting edge. We've got it in us to take the game by the scruff and keep the ball and dictate. Think it might be quite dangerous for us to fall back to the containment and counter tactic because there's always a chance you can soak up too much of it and be punished.
Harry's 100th game tonight by the way.
And just to help us that little bit more, Fabregas is having a bitch about the lack of maturity in the Arsenal squad.....
Spooky: If Shakespeare were alive today, he would be plagiarising you, and both Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett must be crying in there graves after your "Stupendous" series.
That's it. I'm leaving "work" for my dentist appointment now. Hopefully that will be that last pain that I will experience today!! COYS.
Our approach to this game needs to be quite simple. Attack, Attack, Attack like there's no tomorrow. I would play two strikers, Crouch and Pav. Yes..Pav! He did well against Real and should start. All the guns in the midfield..Bale Modric VDV Lennon. And Kaboul to start along side Gallas, Dawson and BAE. Have Sandro up our sleve in case we have a lead to bring on in the last 15-20 min.
Sorry Spooky, no time or place for Hudd after that terrible performance against Real. I know that's harsh on him after what he's been through, but couldn't risk him in a game of this importance.
COYS!!
Mick - VDV is not, and never will be, a central midfielder. He's a classic Dutch number 10. He plays in the hole, or at a push as a inger-come-auxilliary striker. So your line up will be 4-3-3, with 2 of the midfield 3 being wingers! Now I like Modders as much as the next man, but I'm not sure I'd put THAT much faith in him
Just a quick stat for you all, Spurs only have a 22.5% winning percentage when VdV hasnt played this season. He obviously brings something extra to the team!!
We need to get on them pressure wise, and hit on the counter with Lennon and Bales pace, VdV looking to feed off Crouch, Modders spraying the ball around.
Agree with most that Sandro should start ahead of Hudd. As much as I love Hudd, hes jst not match fit, and Arsenals strength is in their midfield. Need Sandro in there shielding our defence and getting in their faces.
COYS. Predicting 2-1. Again.
I agree with Mick that Pav should start, his hold-up play has been improving of late I reckon and will help bring the midfield into the game more. We'll see...
Fuck off Harry. Pathetic, gutless, always the same.
We are the official longball team of european football. Huddlestone is fuckiiiing rubbish!!!!!!
Sorry guys but this is another Harry F@#@ UP on team selction. Where is Lennon to pressure the Arse left back. Chunluka is weak and he will be murdered on the right by Masri!!
Why is it that he cant see this until its too bloody late, why or why are we made to suffer so much with this!!
Great....now Huddlestone gets back one of the three goals he's cost us. Good one though, I was beginning to realllly hate him. This is the NL derby - if we needed a spectator to walk around the pitch we'd allow one of the fans - or Jenas - into the pitch. Start running Huddlestone.
Question, what's the point of this hoofing? Don't we have any other idea/way of playing? Long to Bale (who's now been mercillessly kicked out of the game by the terrorist goons) and/or longball to the striker who can't shoot. Its a bit medieval. Are we taking it back to the roots? The origins of football?
terrorist? stay classy lads.
Fuckin 'ell. What a game.
Arsenal just cannot beat Spurs when it matters. Shame we didn't nick it.
I predicted that if Harry played both VDV and Hud we would lose and I was nearly right. VDV played well for a change, scored a great goal and generally contributed well. Hud scored a great goal and generally was left out of the game except when passing to Arsenal players or imitating the famous Jenas side pass. When Sandro came on we looked positive and should have scored 2 more goals, one of them by Sandro, and that is the difference between him and Hud in that Sandro can be in the opposition box and make a strike on goal and then get back to tackle and defend before launching himself again.
Harry stop f'ing about and play Sandro as CM. Probably too late now for 4th but at least let's go out in style.
Great game though. Both teams gave their all. Shame we didn't win it.
Completely in agreement. Sandro should have started.
DaveK: nearly right = WRONG. Just admit it.
GAME OF THE SEASON. HR SELECTION WRONG, BUT JUST ABOUT GOT AWAY WITH IT.
See Wenger storm off without shaking Harry's hand? What a douche. Is that because Harry called him a nutter? Man we should have won that. Modric should have buried that one that Szczy saved with his foot.
The difefrence between the right selection and wrong selection is a win or a draw/lost. We drew and are now 2 points behind with City away to come.
We have probably lost 4th now and its not via tonighst game, its all those drawn and lost games against lower positioned teams.
Good to see us doing most of the pressing in the last 20mins, shows how far we have come.
Just missing a world class centre forward to score some goals. Crouchie just doesn't offer enough for me.
We took it to them, no doubt about it. Unlucky not to win, but lucky not to lose as well. Hats off to Luka and Billy for getting battered and never quitting. And Lennon looked awfully good.
3-3 was a fair result on balance and hindsight is all good and well for us to embrace post-match and be critical. Sure, the selection could have been tighter, but once the whistle is blown and the game kicks off...pretty much anything can happen.
Also, considering it's two points with a game away to Eastlands I hardly think 4th spot is over.
Let's have a little bit more faith.
What did the ref have against Modders?
Aside from that, cracking match. That's a DVD for any football fan's shelf. Instant classic.
Hope that gesture from Huddlestone after scoring the goal meant "Yes, I found my magic touch again!" I love the big guy, but he's definitely been rusty since coming back. Which in fairness was only a couple of matches ago after a lengthy injury. Sublime goal, precision and power. Hope to see more of that.
I know I'm partisan, but it surprises me how little comment BAE gets in the press. Guy was flawless and just about everywhere today. What does he need to do to get some mee-dja love?
It would have been nice to take all 3 points and have our fate in our own hands re 4th, but that still was a fantastically enjoyable game.
Ziegemonster
As you know, in the alternate universe that you, myself and BigSkyspur inhabit, it's all BAE 24-7. Forget MOTM, in our world he has won a Nobel prize.
The man is legend!!!!
The three of us will continue to keep the sacred fire burning for BAE.
BTW, zigzag corn rows into the pony tail. I think he's found the right balance.
What a fucking game.
BAE reached legendary status last night. He was my MOTM and is my player of the year a close first to Modric. Funny how people are slating Hudd, saying they hate him etc. Not entirely sure how he was at fault for all the goals????? if anything VDV was at fault for the 2nd....he was tracking then just left Nasri.
in terms of getting 4th, we are in the same position we would be in if we would have won....4th, and a victory against man shitty will put put us above them. Coming behind from 2 goals down will feel like a victory to the boys and we can push on.
Just for the record, I too join the BAE fanclub. He really is a great footballer. Calm, skillfull, clever etc etc. Prone to the occassional...over-exuberance? Actually, I'm proud of our fullbacks (even the hapless Hutton played some good games this season)
Huddlestone is a good player too. But he needs to earn his place. He was awful against Real Madrid and started yesterdays game in the same way - in the meanwhile Sandro, who has proven himself very capable indeed, gets thrown to the bench unceremoniously. We can't afford to keep doing this you know. Kranjcar, Pav, Sandro, Taarabt, KPB, GDS and now Sandro? We will soon form a reputation of being the team where your performance or hard work is never rewarded and might end up only with hanger-ons like Jenas who have nowhere else to go but are guaranteed playtime despite being sure rubbish. As for the 'hate' directed towards Hudd. I apologise. There was this misplaced pass which had me almost jumping off the window....and then I typed something. I love Huddlestone.
Typical NLD. Tbh, as much as I deslike Arsenal, the games between us are surely the best games in the premiership by far. Both teams just can't stop to breath for a second until the final whistle. It is 'The Classic' of the premiership.
Apparantly i missed a great game , got to watch bits of it , the atmosphere when we got back into it was great. The result is maybe a bit dissapointing (not taking the three points and all that) but after being 1-3 down it is a great result.
Ronnie , you have a point about certain players not getting enough time out there , KPB being the biggest loss in a along time IMO. I have seen him play regularly now both for club and country and he turned out to be a great player.
OK HotspurUSA, I admit it, nearly right =wrong,
Leading up to this game VDV had been shocking but last night he performed well, scored a cracking first goal and sent the keeper and me the wrong way for his penalty (he always puts them to the GK's right doesn't he?).
As for Hud he looks a million dollars on the ball, can kick a football extremely hard, and on occasion scores a great goal like the one last night. Unfortunately, his positional sense is poor, his mobility is not at PL standard and he leaves the defense badly exposed, especially when he gives the ball away in bad positions as he did for the first goal last night.
If Hud is to play then surely he has to replace someone other than Sandro who provides both defensive cover and offensive capabilities as he showed yet again when he came on last night.
Ronnie, i agree with you, i was spitting nails when the Hudd was misplacing passes, i didnt realise yuo posted it at the time of the event....your words are understandable :)
I think Sandro is incredible but there is something about our team when Hudd plays, a certain flow and calmness. I think harry had a hard decision to make and may have wanted all along to bring Sandro on earlier. Bale and Charlie coming off at HT probably changed it.
Id have to also say that seeing a midfield 3 of Sandro, Modric and Hudd even for 10 mins has got me dreaming of potential formations for next year. I guess its all about getting the right striker though and making the system work. Crouch was no good really last night. Pav worked hard but i dont think had a shot on goal??
Imagine where we would be with a competent No.9
Why are people saying 4th place is gone for us?!?
We are 2 points behind them and still have a game against them to come.
If anything, it's now completely in our hands rather than theirs.
We could be above them by the end of this weekend. They have to go to Blackburn while we host WBA. The way City blow hot and cold, it's very feasible that we can be a point ahead.
They also have trips to Everton and then Bolton on the last day of the season, 2 more games that it's feasible they will drop points.
Granted, we have the tougher run in, but isn't that exactly what we need?
Or would you rather we just play the teams scrapping to save their place in the Premiership - putting 10 men behind the ball and looking to counter?
As for last night - superb game of football. Nice to see 2 teams going hell for leather for 90 minutes looking for the win. Only the NL derby gives that!
Hudd is still slightly off the pace at the moment, and I pin the blame for the first goal on him, miscontrolling in the centre of the park.