Game of your life Tottenham, game of your life
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 11:54AM The inside of my head currently has more glittery explosions than any given November 5th. I didn't walk out of my home this morning as I began the first leg of my staggeringly labourious trek from the depths of Epping Forest to the badlands of Croydon (office relocation, long story). I floated. Feet not touching the ground, gliding in the air like a ghost, akin to a Spike Lee movie just without all the rage and anger. Raining and cold? I hardly cared. Knowing there were one or two N17 representatives in Madrid singing a song the night before and more to follow today was more than enough to warm me up.
It's surreal. Not in a giddy Beatlesque screeching and fainting kind of way. More so in terms of remembrance. Looking back to when we chased the dream we are now living with pomp. I'm placing aside all the discussions about the importance of progress and sustaining the current crop of Spurs players to secure a new generation of Lilywhite history rather than just a pocket of glory nights before we return to the uncertainty of the chase. Because just is more than enough when you're living that very specific moment. One that finds us visiting the Santiago Bernabeu. In it's purist form football is about moments. We've had so many of them this season, we've been enriched with the unforgettable. There's room for more. Not that I'm being greedy.
If it's our destiny to fizzle out of qualification for next seasons competition then at least we can look back at our maiden voyage into the continental elite with pride. Tottenham swashbuckling our style with refreshing zest and desire. I'm sure we wouldn't be such a massive surprise and shock if we made it back for 2012. But we've set out and proven we are more than capable to compete with the top sides in Europe. Which has irked many and had others scratching their heads in wonderment.
It's not about the taking part to feed the various guises of structure and standing. It has to be about the moments. I'll let reality consume me once more in the aftermath.
Sure, logic will tap us on the back and whisper solemnly that at some point we'll be up against a team who will shut shop effectively and punish every single mistake we make. I'd rather that exit happened in the semi-final, if it is to happen at all.
I had a dream last night. Watching the game on TV. We had two penalties. van der Vaart with the first. Crouch with the second. The home ground despondent.
Gotta dream, right?
I've followed La Liga for years, adore the Morbo in what is a wonderfully fragmented country. And like most have followed Madrid and their soap opera. They're like a Spanish Tottenham. I don't mean in silverware and domestic and European success. I'm referring to some basic fundamentally building blocks. The necessity to play attacking free-flowing football and always having a shady defence. That and the amount of managers that tend to come and go. And although in many other ways we are worlds apart, we both have rich histories. Glamour clubs. Sometimes more style than substance, but both of us on the road to progression rather than a road tinged with puddles of perdition.
And in Jose they have a manager shrewd and tactically astute enough to stifle the life out of both games and have us dumped out in inglorious fashion. The party pooper. And we have a man-manager at the helm of the first big club he's coached who has done what so many other have failed to achieve. Fulfil some of that pent up potential.
Jose knows his side won't be able to steam-roll us like the various assortments of Spanish fodder they dismantle week in week out. But he does know his English Premier League. There's a suggestion (not that I tend to believe him as he's the master of the underplay) that he believes 0-0 tonight would be a good result. The thinking that not conceding at home will be enough to win the game across the two legs. As far as Madrid and Jose are considered, we must not score tonight.
Can't see anyone parking the bus. In fact, there's a part of me that worries that Madrid might just attempt to steam-roll.
Madrid also have a number of key players on yellow cards. So hoping Sandro can bring some of that physicality and incite some hot-tempered tempo to proceedings. We do however need to retain our cool. Remain composed. And not over extend beyond our means. Stand tall at the back and aim for a knock-down or two from the tall at the front.
We are not expected to win. We're not expected to beat them over the two games. So the pressure is on them. Leaving us to play without fear. Because to do otherwise would be regretful.
I hope our defence retain unity.
I hope Bale has 'a game'.
I hope vdV galvanises his team mates on his return to his former club.
I hope Modric dictates.
I hope our players show resounding mental strength.
I hope Harry gets one over Jose.
Win the midfield battle. Play with pace. Play with width. We have nothing to lose, right? We're not meant to be in the quarter-finals, right? I'm having flashbacks, 3-0 down to Young Boys.
Our spine has to be strong. It's not beyond the realms of impossibility to get a draw there. I'll be shocked to the bone if we collapsed Inter first leg style, all choked up and star struck. We're all grown up now. It's quintessentially Tottenham when you feel slightly more confident your team will perform against the might of Real than playing away to Wigan.
Come on you Spurs. Weather the White Storm. Let's be having the Madridistas waving their white handkerchiefs.
Game of your life Tottenham, game of your life.
Reader Comments (83)
COYS!!!!!!
I can feel the excitment, all giddy and nervous. def wont get any work done this afternoon, loved the post COYS
FIRED UP. COYS.
Darren Lewis on Sky news this morning reckons that we'll lose tonight but still go through .
(jacquie wasn't happy with that)
Jose said he'd like us to win the CL if they dont!
we are doomed!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful.
I'm extremely excited about the game tonight. This article got my expectations up, and I hope to see the secksayh Spurs that will make your eyes pop out when you watch the performance.
Home match is game of your life
Two games of our life? Why not. Let's break the rules.
'Game of their lives' for some Spurs players who might never again get the opportunity to perform at this level or on such a stage.
It's not what you do but what you don't do that you most regret. The greatest sins are the sins of omission.
Don't ANYONE have a bad game. Don't ANYONE have a game that causes him to look back and rue, 'I could have done better.'
As we gird up our loins and get ready for battle
the media says "theres no-way that Jose's cage will be rattled"
they think we'll be slaughtered, and cower like cattle
But we'll send em right up shits creek without a paddle!!
Already at the Bernebau, we've loaded up the weapons
got Azza doin 0-60 MPH in 2 seconds!!
Can Ramos Handle Gareth?I Guess we'll soon see
Or will he be another Maicon.........Can someone call a TAXI please?!?!?
"Get under there bloody skin" Screams Harry "niggle like a splinter"
Cant wait to see the Master Modders Pissin on the Winker
They think their one-of-the-greatest-teams, we'll prove that their mistaken
Rafa will bedazzle them whilst Sandro F**ckin Rapes Em'
Super Spurs or Lilywhites no matter what you call em'
Support the boys through thick and thin, THE GLORYS more important
when the SPURS GO MARCHING IN TONIGHT, YOU BETTER BE AFRAID
YOU JUST CANT STOP THEM
THE BOYS FROM TOTTENHAM
THE BOYS FROM WHITE HEART LANE!!!!!
C.O.Y.M.F.S!!!
Glory Glory!
The song was written for nights such as these, it's why it's ours!
Audere est Facere!
The moto was written for nights such as these, it's why it's ours!
''It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high... so high, in fact, that even failure will have in it an echo of glory!"
That was said by Bill Nicholson and was also spoken for nights like these.
Make us cry with pride and make history!
COYS.
Trying to think of something Churchillian to say, but I think between Harry Hotspur and Spooky, it's all been said.
ooohhh yes.
Well up for this one. Just hope it's not ruined by Ronaldo collapsing like a sack of shit in the box after making "contact" with Sandro's bootlace.
At least your dream about the game was better than mine (1-0 defeat tonight, Gomes howler in 2nd leg - fortunately all the players turned to fish before the end....)
I'm nervously excited, but it's different to the 2nd leg against AC.
Then we had a lead to defend, whereas now it's about staying in touching distance and scoring an away goal.
Inter were supposed to be alongside Barca as the best in the world, but look what we did to them.
Who's to say we can't get something tonight?!?
I'd also leave Bale on the bench tonight. Have him there as an option if things get desparate, rather than risk losing him in the first 20 mins and have to start playing narrow.
Oh and to the list of "I hope" - BAE goes back to cornrows!
Come on guys, its only the quarters. The final will be the game of their lives!
The plan is a simple one - we have to make the most of the significant advantage of playing the away game first. Keep it tight as a drum early on. No raids fom full backs, Modders keeping deep, VDV tip of the diamond, Crouch essentially there only to hold the ball up for the onrushing Bale. Wont be a great surprise to see Jenas start, Lennon coming from the bench after an hour. If they score (they almost certainly will), dont let it effect the game plan. Open up as the tie progresses, the home side will very likely punch themselves out as frustration grows. As we open up, introduce Lennon. Give them 20 mins of what to expect for the 90 to come at WHL. Lightening pace, unstoppable energy. Give them something to shit their pants over for the next 2 weeks.
A narrow defeat - particularly with an away goal - will be fine. There's no need to go mental looking for equalisers. To be honest, I'd even take a 3-1 defeat. I have a sense of momentum, players returning, form rebuilding. Honestly, if I were them, I wouldnt want to face a full strength Spurs team at WHL protecting a 3-1 lead. Needing the win, we'll build up a head of steam that few sides can live with. The crowd will roar, the roof will raise, the players will find depths of energy that they didnt know were there. None of this happened aganst Milan, we were stiffled by the fear of having to protect a narrow lead. Coming from behind suits us better, we play with the freedom of knowing there is only one way to go. So dont worry when Madrid score. Keep your heads, keep it to a manageable total, then bring them into the cauldron of the lane. 100,000 tonight wont prepare them for the racket 33,000 yids can make with bees in their bonnets.
Come on lads, once more into the breach.
Uncharted territory.
Every game ought to be a cup final.
Knees = trembly
I am now going home to kick the kids-wife-dog out of the front room, armchair in front of the door, filling the ice box up with stella and maybe rig a funnel to a hose and run this through the patio doors to save me missing a single second!
Good evening & good luck!
COYS
@paul f
Very very spot on
@spurbone
If things go pear shaped like Inter 1 then you might want to go and hide in the toilet with the funnel rigged to the cans!
@Paul
I'd like to think you are right about the injuries, but somehow or other, I think the curse of our season has been injuries and lack of fire power from the forwards
"Rafa will bedazzle them whilst Sandro F**ckin Rapes Em'"
Love it Loz!!
That's more like it Spooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tonight.............its why I'm a spurs fan
COYMFS
"Come on guys, its only the quarters. The final will be the game of their lives!
The plan is a simple one - we have to make the most of the significant advantage of playing the away game first. Keep it tight as a drum early on. No raids fom full backs, Modders keeping deep, VDV tip of the diamond, Crouch essentially there only to hold the ball up for the onrushing Bale. Wont be a great surprise to see Jenas start, Lennon coming from the bench after an hour. If they score (they almost certainly will), dont let it effect the game plan. Open up as the tie progresses, the home side will very likely punch themselves out as frustration grows. As we open up, introduce Lennon. Give them 20 mins of what to expect for the 90 to come at WHL. Lightening pace, unstoppable energy. Give them something to shit their pants over for the next 2 weeks.
A narrow defeat - particularly with an away goal - will be fine. There's no need to go mental looking for equalisers. To be honest, I'd even take a 3-1 defeat. I have a sense of momentum, players returning, form rebuilding. Honestly, if I were them, I wouldnt want to face a full strength Spurs team at WHL protecting a 3-1 lead. Needing the win, we'll build up a head of steam that few sides can live with. The crowd will roar, the roof will raise, the players will find depths of energy that they didnt know were there. None of this happened aganst Milan, we were stiffled by the fear of having to protect a narrow lead. Coming from behind suits us better, we play with the freedom of knowing there is only one way to go. So dont worry when Madrid score. Keep your heads, keep it to a manageable total, then bring them into the cauldron of the lane. 100,000 tonight wont prepare them for the racket 33,000 yids can make with bees in their bonnets."
@paul F .... majestic.... says it all. Cheers mate !! COYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Hey tonyblue.
Forget two weeks. The return leg is in eight days.
Let them shit themselves.
COYS!
Bale and Lennon,are going to skin them, then feed them to Sandro and VDV- COYS
Jenas?! Shit.
Here we go again. The Spurs Way (TM)
That's 19.25 years off my life and counting
.25 years = Benny's poof (though not sure if the poof = doomed has been shown statistically significant in CL)
2 years = Lennon out
3 years = Jenas in his place
4 years = Crouch sent off
5 years = Bale wincing and holding his back5
5 years = general run of play.
I don't know if I'll live to see the end of the match!
Come on you Spurs. Hang in there, lads.
Oh, fuck. Just what I was dreading. Defoe on. that's good for another 10 years. Thanks, Harry. Tosser.
Ziegemonster - don't blame Harry for this one.....
Blame Lennon for losing the plot in the tunnel and chucking his guts up.
Tactically that results in changing all the marking at corners & free-kicks, with no notice.
Then blame Crouch for being a complete and utter waste of a Spurs shirt once again.
What the hell was going through his mind?!??!
Lastly, be thankful we aren't playing Barca..........!!!
Its all over, and oh how the irony of Diarra's ( a player we could have had ) pass to Adebayor, If only Levy had just gotten his chequebook out and signed some frickin players instead of trying to barter at the last minute., and now with all these players hobbling off it looks even worse for Sat,
All due respect, Walker, I'm sure Lennon didn't choose to be ill, but Harry did choose to replace him with Jenas, not to mention playing Bale on the right at the start and he certainly chose to bring on off-sides Defoe. I mean come on, down to 10 men, playing one striker and you pick defoe to replace VDV? Crouch, the first yellow was stupid, but I think the second was an adrenaline driven rush of blood to the head of the I might to able to get there variety. Still, he's been in the game long enough to know better.
Still, the score line makes it look worse than it was. Poor Daws must be half dead, he left everything on the pitch. Benny worked his balls off too.
See the Schalke result? Holy crap!
You have probably all waken up now and realised where we are and that im afraid we have got our priorities totally 100% wrong.
I cant resist the below, because thats where it was at this season, not bloody Europe!! But im afraid many us cant see the long game, we can only see the short game.
0-1 Wigan (h)
1-1 WBA (a)
1-0 West Ham (a)
1-1 Birmingham (a)
1-1 Newcastle (a)
3-1 Blackpool (a)
3-3 Wolves (a)
0-0 West Ham (h)
0-0 Wigan (a)
Im afraid harry is also to blame. The wrong preparation - dont tell me nerves got to Lennon - i don't believe it!!!
You all know how i hate Crouch and how buying him changed the way we normally play 4-3-3. Not only cant he score - he also buries us. No doubt in his usual fashion he will be all over the press tomorrow and talking his stupid head off.
Can hardly blame Harry.
And considering we imploded and then got out classed up against 11 men, we did 'okay' considering the life was sucked out of us. Goals conceded, apart from one, all weak.
11 v 11 would have been different. Probably still would have lost, but not by four clear goals.
Game at the Lane, let it be a massive party and thank you for the adventure.
Oh, and a 5-0 win.
Madrid - 36 shots. Spurs 4 shots.
Ouch.
That stat is actually more embarrassing for them. If this was Barca they'd have won 102-0.
Yes, I really can.
Jenas for Lennon, Defoe for VanderVart, Bale on the right. Whose made those decisions? Harry.
Not saying we would have won with ten men, but different decisions could have meant at least an away goal or not conceding 4.
Return leg, a win would be nice, not asking for 5-0 and through to the semis. Just a nice win with a goal or two, end things on a high. It was a thrill ride and I remain very proud of the lads.
Think we will struggle to put a team out for Saturday and next Tuesday.
We have run out of Right backs.
Bet Lennon feels even more sick now... at least he'll be fit for the weekend, as long as he has a good sleep to get his energy back.
Ziege - I think we got found out in terms of inexperience and lack of unity under pressure on the biggest stage. Mental collapse. Madrid didn't allow time for any shape to form either. Massively disappointed. Would have taken it better had we lost 4-0 with 11 men.
Nice to see spooks remaining positive. Me, I think we'll see Bale and Modric in a Spurs shirt for a few more months and that'll be it. Can't see the lads recovering from this and I certainly don't see them having the fight (and the firepower) to realistically compete for 4th.
Still, I thank Harry for the CL experience, a one-hit wonder it may be. Let's at least try to beat Madrid at the Lane, as a consolation for the season. Jose, maybe you can play your 2nd stringers so that we could win 1-0, possibly.
Doco - if that happened, then its best for everyone supporting a club like Spurs to just back off with the pressure and expectancy because we'll never break the monopoly if our own players look to just move on because of their own failures. Its why modern football sucks a crack whore.
Harry has to earn his money here. If we don't win this weekend, then sure, I'll give up waving the flag of hope and concede defeat.
I'm with you Ziegemonster. Anything to end this with dignity would be much appreciated.
I am 90% furious at Crouch but weirdly and perversely grateful to him for giving us a something of an out. We probably would have been outclassed with 11 men without any excuse at all. At least this way we can at least wonder what the score would have been like if we had a full squad. So thanks for that you freak of nature :)
Easy way out :p
My Spanish neighbour Jose turned up at 7.40pm with his son, Damien (yes, Damien). He's a good bloke and a Real fan. Could he and his little one watch the game as his SKY had packed in? Hmmmm, mustn't believe in superstitious nonsense. Having him in my house in North London couldn't possibly have any bearing on the result? So, I let him in, and even gave him a nice cold beer. Next thing I see is Jenas lined up - what the...? Jenas?? For such an important game??? Where's Azza????? On 4 minutes Damien announced that Spurs aren't very good at defending corners. On 17 minutes, just after Crouch had cashed in his bribe money (what other reason could there possibly be??) Damien announced that Real would now go on to win 4 - 0. I didn't take too long to show them both the door after 90 minutes I can tell you. Then I hung garlic and bolted crosses to the door. So, my fellow Yids, don't blame Azza for shitting his pants (literally). Don't blame Crouch for having the tackling ability of Ian Dury. Don't even blame Harry for his failure to deal with Lennon's prolonged toilet break (nobody would have been better than Jenas tonight). Please blame me for inviting the Devil and his Child onto my sofa. I have ruined everything....
Why did we implode??? Why was Crouch
The mental out should have been weeks ago...........We should have focussed on 4th place not quarter finals!!
We are still shouting about the return, I could not give a flying f#### about the return, I have wanted 3 points for every weekend for the last 6 bloody weeks!!!
Do I blame Harry, yes i do in some ways. Why did we implode?? What was Crouch doing with tackles like that in the first 10 minutes, what was Harry telling them in the dressing room, was Lennon unwell before the game?? Jenas for Lennon, Defoe for VanderVart, Bale on the right. would have stuck him down the middle and used his pace over the top!!
Harry's love affair with some players has wrecked our season. the pathetic Crouch knock down to VDV, what is this a Sunday bloody game at the park!!
Im afraid we lost our attacking style with Crouch and dare is say VDV!!
Very disappointed all round ! We could have got on the top 4 this season and the players would be looking forward to another Champions season!! More income, longer contracts, bigger stadium, attracting better players, and so it rolls on!!
We will make the Europa Car Hire Cup next season, not sure now, we are spent, mentally drained and Liverpool on our heels!!
Can we now hang on to the players we have - not sure.
Harry will leave pretty soon for England - he has taken this club as far as he can!! The issue will be who leaves with him and who will replace him?
Back to purgatory.
Crouch to hell for behaving like a 5 year old.
"Can we now hang on to the players we have - not sure"
If we can't hang onto player because:
a) The club want to sell and make profit
b) Because the players want to move onto another club in the CL
Then it's best to not take football too seriously because football doesn't give a flying fuck about any of us.
...and somehow, Jermaine Jenas will still be one of our main players next season!...?
Its upto Levy really. We played Jenas and Sandro against Fulham in the FA and got hit 4-0. Today we played Jenas again...but we expected different.
Look. This is not our level yet. We have to wait for Jenas to retire in 2020 first. Then...we can hope.
I'm sad.
Spooky, i'm afraid you have nailed it - don't take it seriously - something as a Spurs supporter for over 45 years is very difficult to do. I was at my daughters Choir finals tonight, my head was buried in my blackberry and i was receiving text messages from my son! One said, after 14 minutes " We are doomed"
I have seen 100 Levys and every one of them thinks in the same way. Cold hearted business men with one thing on their mind - Cash, Cash is King!!! Profit is King!!
Spurs = Bale = Modric = £70k per week
Madrid = Bale = Modric = £140k per week
What would most of us do??
We will be left with Defoe, Crouch, Jenas and co
The issue here is that if we had focussed on the cash cow = 4th+ place, we may of hang on to some of our best players going into another Champions cup competition next year , but now its going to be much harder!!
You see, i find it so hard to go there again!!
Aye its not nice when nights like these happen but its less frequent than how we used to have it.
Who knows maybe now we will fully focus on what we need to do to finish 4th.
Whatever way you look at it, were still in a good position if we finish 5th. I wouldnt see bale or Modders leaving that same season and if we get it right up top then we could challenge for top of prem again.
Even if Bale did leave we are quids in which can be spent on new players.
Its all good. COYS
I think we will definitely lose some if not all of our top players if we don't get 4th. So be it. Can't be bothered to worry about it. Who can blame them if they leave?
It's been said a bunch of times here but the turning point for our club is slipping away quickly.
And yeah, the summer (minus the unexpected acquisition of VdV) and the disappointing January window said it all to me.
Unfortunately money does rule the day and we don't spend the cash required to compete with the big boys. Levy had a chance to push us up higher but we've blown that. Somewhere between 5-10th is where we'll probably be for some time to come with occasional challenges for 4th every now and again.
But no matter what we'll always be Tottenham and in the end that's all that matters.
COYS!!!!!