One last dance
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 1:58PM It's almost surreal if you care to reminisce about the back end of last season and the outrageous heart in mouth stamp of determination and desire we brought down onto the throats of our opponents, choking them dead, when chasing a dream which most had already decided was out of our reach.
It's Eastlands again but this time it's not neck and neck it's not do or die. City have breathing space. We simply have pride. That's if we've remembered to pack it up with the kits and boots. The home support will no doubt lap up the avenging nature this game is offering them on a plate. Brace yourself for a history enriched Poznan.
If they win, they have their pot of gold whilst we look up to the heavens with the rain pouring down on us with no sunshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine to be seen. Another day perhaps in the future it will burst through the clouds once more and we'll rediscover our rainbow.
I would still welcome an upset in our favour (obviously), even if we are simply prolonging the inevitable.
So, with casual badge thumping, come on you Spurs. Do that thing that you do sometimes. The daring and the doing in association with each other that can result with ample swashbuckle tinged with tenacity. Only if you can muster it up of course. Would be nice. One last dance before that sun sits behind the cloud ridden sky and we're left with the light from the night sky moon to guide us home.
Preferable a white moon. Not blue.
Reader Comments (52)
Tonights performance will speak volumes regarding Harry's tactics, and relationship with the players. If we cant even get ourselves psyched up for this one then there is some serious problems behind the scenes at our club. No one seems remotely interested of late, the players, manager or coaching staff. Harry's constant contradictory mumblings to the press make we want to vomit. Be interested to see if niko gets a game given the absence of fit left footers. Oh and gomes should be dropped. Enough is enough. Harry will probably play vdv in goal as he is a triffic player and can play anywhere on the pitch even when 70%fit. Triffic.
Should we beat them (clutching at straws a bit), then we will be relying on no gentleman's agreement taking place between Stoke & Man City.
Facts are:
Stoke win the FA Cup then they are in Europe, meaning they don't really need a result against City next week.
City win the FA Cup, beat Stoke and finish 4th, Stoke are in Europe
City win the FA Cup and finish 5th, Stoke are NOT in Europe.
In other words, Stoke only need to perform on Saturday in the cup final..... they can quite easily roll over next week.
In fact, they can pretty much lose both games and be in the Europa League next season.
It would be nice to see a performance from the lads tonight, after all, we've not had a REALLY good one for a while. Maybe some of them who will come in to cover injuries can use it as a shop window.
Team:
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Corluka
Lennon Modric Sandro Kranjcar
VdV
Defoe
@walker, corluka is having difficulty playing on the right never mind the left side of late
Winning is ALWAYS better than losing.
True, but would you stick Rose there again?
Only other viable option would be a 3-5-2
Just looking at table & fixtures - City are at home to Stoke, so unless we absolutely batter them, Liverpool AND Birmingham, there's no hope in hell of us taking 4th. By batter, I mean SCORE lots rather than just possession.
We can close it to 3 points tonight and slim the GD a bit (by one goal in all probability). They may then lose to Bolton away on the last day, but a comfy win at home to Stoke after parading the FA Cup next Tuesday is more likely.
Assuming we've taken 3 points at Anfield then they will only need 4 points from 2 games to guarantee it, but even 3 would be enough based on current goal difference.
Definately something wrong behind the scenes. I saw VDV this morning filling up his X5 in a cockfosters petrol station. I asked why he wasn't going with the rest of the team on the coach and he said he prefered to travel this way. That says a lot about team discipline and team bonding!!! No wonder we haven't looked like a team playing for each other recently. There is something wrong and I think VDV is at the heart of it.
Is that for real? Christ on a stick if it is.
thats huge guesswork there spurs1961, you are supposing a hell of alot. Could mean nothing.
If the post about VdV travelling to Manchester by car is indeed for real, and assuming no personal crisis has happened then there is absolutly something wrong. No club should be about individuals, we win as a team, we lose as a team and we should travel as a team. The team spirit was so very good last season I do hope one player has not come in and upset the applecart. All the good players in the world will not perform well if the team spirit is not there.
Surely that can't be true....... although it also wouldn't surprise me.
I'd have thought Harry would be ensuring everyone travels together. He's not likely to let them make their own way.
The only other possibility is that he's injured and will miss the game.
Hopefully we'll see a glimpse of him when the coach arrives at Eastlands.
Does anyone know why we didn't go for Suarez? Not because he is too small to play up with VDV I hope.
That would be typical Spurs irony if Mr VDV is the problem.
Arry can no longer allow vdv to travel on the bus as he has tried him out in every seat and it upsets the balance of the wheels.
Can remember reading (and probably writing) that he was too similar to vdV and that we needed an out and out forward rather than a player to play alongside an out and out striker.
haha @ john, superb
even more embarassing is that whilst we've already thrown in the towel, this smug git of a liverpool fan at my office is desparate for us to beat city tonight because he's certain they'll thrash us at anfield and if stoke can get a draw at eastlands and bolton can beat city at the reebok then liverpool will finish fourth.
such depressing times
with regards to the Suarez thing we could've signed him. His preferred destination was Spurs because of being in London and the transfer fee and wages weren't a problem. It was decided, presumably by Redknapp, that he was too similar to what we already had. Whether that was vdV or Defoe I'm not sure but whoever made that final decision should be asked to leave the club for incompetence. That's not with hindsight, I think most fans would've said Suarez is better than what we have, and that includes vdV.
Has to be the most dissapointing season in a long long time. I heard Harry being interviewed at the WC and said there was four strikers he was looking at, all World class. Nothing happened. Then in January he was on the trail of two World class strikers. Nothing again. The way the team has performed since Christmas, without any belief is soul destroying and the only one who seems to give a shit is Joe Jordan. The rest of them sit around with gormless faces, you'd think they were at a wake.
Well now that this season is over and we will finish sixth, let's see what happens and who Harry brings in and if anyone walks. I think he fancies us for the Title next season and we will know if Levy belives in him by who comes through the doors in the close season. Otherwise I am hoping the Judge will help us out in aquiring a new Manager.
Spurs players doing one last dance?
Gomes, well he was doing the samba with Sandro, but so many of you would've let him sleep with your wives earlier on in the season you've now spotted him in the corner chatting up your woman and you've now changed your mind...anyone know Brazilian for step outside? Sandro has meanwhile turned up in a dress proclaiming his name really is Sandra and he really would have scored that Bent miss.
Dawson's in the Creek doing that hillybilly dance, lets see you wave your hands in the air!!
Corlukas got his flip flops on so its bit dificult for him to keep up in time doing that spinning round in little circles that his fellow countryman Moddy keeps doing. The other Croat Krancar has resorted to watching 'So you think you can dance' but 'Arry says he is only allowed 5 mins on the dancefloor at any one time, would get more but he keeps pulling his sleeves down & joining in the action not rolling them up (things like that concern 'Arry - 5 points booooooooooooo says the crowd)
Pav shows off his Ballet skills (without the ball, of course)
Bale, well he went home early...someone stood on his foot and is being tucked up in bed somewhere in Wales by Mummy Bale.
Ledley cant dance anymore, keeps complaining about his knees...so has been propping up the bar since everyone was in the shower, always gets the first round in and always last to leave the bar..he just dont hear someone shouting 'times up ledley, time to go'
Crouchy, oh no hes doing that f*cking Robot dance again...wouldnt have minded if he'd scored more goals this season though...Joe told to remove his glasses and sent over to give him a Scottish Kiss.
Huttons strangely throwing shapes all over the dancefloor, he can move when he actually wants to, they say hes not been drinking recently so has stayed on the Coke.
Willie Gallas is changing his shoes.........again.
Benny is having his hair done...............again.
Van Der Vaart is doing the hokey cokey...put the left foot in, the left foot out, in out in out and shake it all about.....put your left foot in, your left foot out, in out......actually hes gotta keep one eye out on his missus hes brought along as shes gettin down and shakin her booty thang with da Ladeeeeez Man Lennon, hes claiming to her hes got some new go faster stripes *wink*
Defoe is dancing somewhere, its like you cant see him..oh there he is bumping into Rafael again in the middle...Defoe now needs the little boys room and its pointed out that its marked 'Room 101' same as last week.
Andros turned up with some his fellow young Spurs on-loanies...they keep banging on the door but nobody hears and lets them in.
The little party scallywag that runs around dancing in his pants pouring drinks over everyone is still stuck in Brum...whats his name again?
Danny Rose & Kaboul...you wont see them on the dancefloor for a while yet, still comparing about the good old days with THOSE goals against THEM... Kaboul is suspected to be one of those ubercool french urban breakdancers, Cudicini wants to have a go...
Palacios, Pienaar, Keane & Jenas invites got lost in the post (allegedly)
Ah well such is dance party, lets hope all in all its not the funky chicken dance...and may the Mighty Cockerel crow this evening...COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cookie, disappointing because of our lofty ambitions?
It has to be Gomes tonight, at least he comes for crosses. He is, however, a mental.
I hate, loathe and detest Pavlyuchenko. Super fucking Pav, my arse.
If Redknapp tries to sign Joe Cole this summer I will hunt them both down and do for 'em, mark my words.
No Spooky. (Glad your feeling better) Dissapointing because Harry gave the impression we were ready to shake off that 'underdog' cloak and mix it with the big boys. If I cannot believe the Manager when he says he's buying World class players, when he says were ready for the big boys and when he says Modric, VDV and Bale are World beaters then my lofty ambitions are there for all to see.
Harry changes his mind based on form. I think that's partly been the problem (loss of focus).
"Harry changes his mind based on form."
Epsom or Ascot spooky?
'Cos it certainly ain't football
Spot on with that comment about form Spooky. This is why Defoe will start tonight (4 goals in 5 games). When we probably would rather he didn't.
Whatever happens tonight, our team is going to be patched up due to injuries. It's going to be an untested lineup that's for sure. I'm going to struggle to guess at...
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Rose
Lennon (please) Sandro Modric (if fit) Pienaar
VDV
Defoe
If pienaar is not fit I supsect harry himself will play on the left wing until the 90th minute until he has had enough and brings on niko in his place.
i hope we run these clowns out of their own town tonight (as we always do).
don't care who plays, it doesn't matter, we always beat these wankers, and things will be no different tonight.
2-1 spurs!
Do that thing that you do sometimes - couldn't be a better summation of Spurs. So very talented but completely lacking in consistency and a steely-eyed, ruthless killer instinct.
My guess is that the guys are planning their summer hols already and we'll get turned over by the oil barons. I think Harry's got one eye on the England job and can't be all that bothered either. Please, I beg you, prove me hopelessly wrong.
@ john..cracking coach comment!
@ mr.vexed.....is that spooky pretending to be someone else so he can jump off the fence and say what he really wants to? =p
think rose will keep his place and i personally think that he should after the blackpool game as i thought he was one of the better players on the pitch that night and i dont think he shys away from big occasions either! (i.e the arsenal game/debut he played last season) Niko should start on the left but i bet it will be pienaar (huge dissapointment for me)....or maybe,..just maybe in harrys head sticking our best central midfielder luka out on the left would be a good idea?!?
sandro's going to have to be at his usual best to fend of attacks from viera, yaya and silva but i dont think that man will dissapoint us, not sandro.
All we can do is wait and see, no point trying to second guess the man recently and whatever will be will be, just hope its done with a bit of the pride and passion for the badge that we witnessed 12 months ago... fingers crossed aye.
@diaz;
My guess is that he would have shattered the wage structure.
Wow.... Harry's dropped Gomes!!!
Cudicini
Coluka Dawson Gallas Rose
Lennon Palacios Sandro Modric
VDV
Crouch
Not a team that will win the game, but will certainly try to prevent City guaranteeing 4th tonight.
We are a joke!! Why Palacios for gods sake. he has not played for weeks, what has he to offer in a game we have to win!!
Ive never been more depressed.
You do know we failed to qualify for 4th spot weeks back?
I think it's all because we're missing David Bentley...
... in his white Y Fronts.
Yep, but I’m for ever the optimist. Even if we were relegated id be the same. You need to rad the Evening Standard to see how harry contradicts himself a 1000 times. he is great at lifting the opposition into the stratosphere and rubbishes our own chances of winning anything. Can you ever imagine Fergie speaking in this way – what a bunch of losers!! How on earth does he motivate the team for the big games.
"...You do know we failed to qualify for 4th spot weeks back?"
May 10, 2011 at 8:30 PM | spooky
LOL! Spooky. Nice perspective. Here we are at half time, slightly behind from a rare Crouch goal. Ha.ha.ha.....!!!!!
I've always dreamt of Spurs winning at City with Crouch scoring for them. Only that in my dreams, Crouch is dressed in City uniform having signed for them for 25million pounds.
Funny how the pundits on TV, and the commentators are desparately trying to avoid blaming Crouch for kicking a ball into his own net. Apparently, its all young Rose's fault. Very funny indeed.
How different it is watching a game without any pressure....or to be exact, any hope.
Lets fior go glory VDV.yet another free kick and yet another wasted opportunity.
We have no outlet in the box - for Gods sack bring Defoe on - its screaming out for another stricker
We need goals and they are going defensive - its not rocket bloody science!!!!
I think Danny Rose is looking like a prospect.
Sure many will disagree.
Just watching the game, so forgive me if this comment is said with a less measured approach than I normally like to give...
Is it me, or is Steven Pienaar a bit rubbish? I really want to like him, but it just seems that more of his passes don't find their mark than do and he' seems like he really chugs across the pitch.
Maybe it's harsh considering he hasn't had much consistent game time, but still...get the basics right!
Well done boys. Best we've played in months.
My only regrets were the ever-reliable fuck-up Peter Slouch, the awful Van der Vaart and the really really useless and unnecessary Pienaar. Why the f*ck did we get this Everton idiot into our team. No wonder we've regressed. I have no doubt that Van der Vaart is the main reason for our downward trend. One just wonders what we would have achieved if, by some form of heavenly intervention, the three metre joy withdrawing giraffe and VDV had been unavailable for the last 12 games forcing the inept Redknapp to play our goalmachine Niko Kranjcar. Well...we'll never know.
VDV clearly thinks he's our best player. He's deluded. The only player he can claim to be better than is Crouch. Pienaar is his equivalent.
Well done Cudicini. Well done.
@Diaz
Danny Rose is going to be great. That is, if he's not sold to QPR for 1 million pounds.
There are many where he came from. Bostock, GDS, Townsend, but hey! If we play them, where will Harry find space for...the Pienaar? You know, Pienaar will form an incredible partnership with Phillip Neville next season. Not for Everton, but for us. Yippeee!
what a dogs breakfast pinnear crouch and corluka have so many technical defficiencys it is untrue.But there combined lack of pace and body strength makes them unfit for purpose.I have stopped caring who you replace them with but for my sanities sake sell them to wet spam
The missus was regularly pointing out how crap Corluka was.....
Danny Rose certainly held his own tonight and I wouldn't pin the blame on him for their goal.
“I'm going to go and commit suicide, it's so sad”
I admit. I am really shit. But Harry loves me and I love him too. We will be back next season whether you like it or not. Jamie doesn't like Lennon so, even though he played well, we will sell him and bring in our pal Joe Cole. Ha ha ha! This is our club...If you don't like us, go support United.
I took you to the Champions League all by myself last year and you repay me by being angry at my own goal. You fickle bunch. Southampton and Portsmouth was not like this. Sheikh Mansoor said Ime and Harry would be paid handsomely and he will keep his word.
Ta ta yiddos. Who is the giraffe now.
We got to the promised and did not invest. End result is no repeat appearance in the CL.
However despite a gaffe prone keeper and no striker force there have been many highlights this season. We have played some beautiful stuff and won many admirers too.
The majority view seemed to be that it should have been 4th or nothing.
Indeed it's now looking likely that we'll finish 6th and therefore not
qualify for the Europa league.......but wait...!
We are,as of now,neck and neck with Fulham in the fair play table,
with possibly an identical points tally after tonight.So unless we can rack up
more cards than them in the final two games we're going to find ourselves in
Europe even if we finish 6th....and that will probably mean starting the campaign
even earlier than a 5th place finish.
Don't book your summer holiday just yet...we could be off to somewhere nice in
early August (July ?!).Anyone fancy Albania ?!
I could be wrong....anyone know ?
We're due to be Brighton's first opponents in their new ground at the end of July,
so I hope it doesn't mess that up !
Don't know why Harry looks so satisified, oozing with 'job satisfaction'. This time last year he had qualification for the CL under his belt and a chairman who was offering presents. Harry didn't sign anyone and Levy forced the VDV present at five to midnight. Same old in January. Levy offered Adam at the eleventh hour. No strategy, no planning, no discipline, no organisation. Plan. To win the Olympic Stadium bid and have a good run in Europe. This had to include getting knocked out of the domestic cups asap.
If Wenger, Ferguson, Ancelotti, Dalgleish or Mancini planned their season this way their Chairman would have them sectioned. I want Redknapp out. I want to see some progress ay my football club and as long as we persevere with this wanker, the longer we are going one step forward and two back. Sugar did this for ten years (no steps forward and two back, every season) and it has taken another ten to come, even close to Arsenal's shirt tails again. Lets get O'Neill or Moyes in now, otherwise we will still be having this conversation in 2021.
“I'm going to go and commit suicide, it's so sad”
May 11, 2011 at 12:29 AM | spooky
Did he really say that? Then the cunt's offering us all out. He's taking the piss big-time !!