This is as good as it gets
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 10:46AM Firstly, frequent readers of this blog, I apologise for the lack of activity this past week in the build up to the season finale. I was brainwashed by the other half and spent most of it with her and the rugrat. Something about the latter celebrating her first birthday. To be honest, regardless of lack of time, I hardly felt inspired to match preview our final game of the season. When thinking 'football', my thoughts were on more pressing matters such as whether we have a decisive strategy with how to deal with the transfer window from opening to closure and if we plan to get our business done and dusted long before pre-season with viable targets already listed and targeted internally. Yes, I have my mind on science-fiction and my body is about to be frozen with the aid of cryogenics to allow for a more comfortable summer.
Okay, so 2-1. Pav with a couple of scorchers.
A game that spent most of the first half with no bite, like a sleeping lion. Plenty of teeth, just not on show. Livened up a little second half but mostly because of the Survival Sunday musical chairs playing out across the country. We performed with persistence considering this game was hardly do or die for us but we didn't quite brush the visitors aside where it mattered (in front of goal). Birmingham were plucky in pockets of play but without possession and without a Pavlyuchenko. In the end, Liverpool lost to Villa so 5th was secured regardless of Roman hammering the final nail into the coffin of Birmingham's Premier league life. Their fate sealed elsewhere on this day, Death lingering with his scythe, teasing the afternoon away.
The match doesn't warrant an in-depth analysis. Tag me with the lazy label. It doesn't mainly because it felt like an afterthought on this; Tottenham's finest ever season. Hey, don't take my word for it, just take the words of our gaffer. Go ahead and pick any words you want.
"This is as good as it gets"
"They're idiots"
"What do they expect?"
"Won't get any better"
"Anyone who has got any brains and understands will know it's been an amazing season"
"Go and support someone else if you don't enjoy it"
Redknappology at it's finest. I'll come back to ' finest ever season' and other discussion points in future blogs. As for Harry...
It's no longer about the cluster of contradictions. No point reminding him of when he talked us up as title contenders which probably followed a comment about how it would be impossible to finish top four again because nobody else will point it out. Sports presenters will probably just laugh with him when they repeat his rant on tv or radio. Good olde Harry, he's socking it to 'em. Let's play the video/audio every half hour.
He's reactive to whatever is happening at the time and is usually happy to share safe and media-friendly assessments and vibrant self-preserving pats on back for himself and all his friends within the game unless there is something eating away at him. When there is eating we are treated to body-shots of sarcasm and petulance. A glimpse of his true feelings. You can only play ball with my ball because I'm letting you play ball with it.
Crouchie responding to a fans request for a strand of his hair
Let's send him to QPR next season
This isn't another slice of some 'lets all hate on Harry' propaganda. The actual crux of the problem, the reason why people (that's Tottenham fans regardless of whether they pick up the phone and dial up a phone-in show - which by the way, if idiots call up to complain via this method of communication it's ironic how it's the same method of communication Harry uses from time to time to hype up his portfolio) are unhappy is because of his body language oozing vanity and ego whilst spitting out disrespectful snides.
He's upset at the idea that any one would possibly dare to criticise him. Perhaps humility is a commodity he hasn't quite grasped can work in his favour, even if his underlying agenda (self-preservation) remains the same. We don't have to know we are being fooled. He doesn't have to comment on anything and everything and end up drowning in all the rhetoric.
Harry is deeply lost in his tapestry of talk like a badly organised Inception where he can no longer tell what level of the dream state he's in. But it doesn't matter because his media chums will not question the lack of continuity. What is birthed from this is Harry + tabloid story versus the ungrateful impatient fans. Makes us look fickle. We can do that just fine thank you very much without any additional help.
He cites the great Champions League adventure (which it was always going to be) and our wins at the Emirates and Anfield and against Inter and AC Milan. All great moments in terms of how much this side has progressed under his guidance (be it at the same standard of last season rather than a massive improvement).
Now perhaps another manager might actually brush it all off and say something along the lines of, "We've had some highlights this season, learnt one or two things. We're growing, progressing...but winning at places like Arsenal and Liverpool...this shouldn't be seen as anything other than what is expected. If this club wants to be top four or better we have to always look to win away to other 'top four' clubs. We've done well, it's a learning curve...but it's hardly worthy of being showered by an ice bucket".
In other words: Under play it. But that's not his methodology. He is far too involved with making sure nobody has missed the point: It's because of him if the because is something to sing about.
I have no idea if behind closed doors Harry does under play what he says in public. That behind closed doors he outlines the disappointments and how we have to look to improve further. Perhaps we believe what we see is what we're getting when in fact it's not and there's more than the one dimension. But considering the history Harry has with referencing players in post-match interviews, I doubt it. He's so wrapped up in himself he can't even contemplate genuine mind games of the ilk that would appease the Spurs fans who dislike his ways. For all the talk of his great PR skills he hardly displays them where it matters most.
Simply put, there are no other dimensions.
It's pretty much like if they cast Michael Caine to portray Jose Mourinho in a movie and Caine based his performance on post-match videos of Harry Redknapp. It makes no sense.
Harry is Harry. He does what he does. Deflect, protect and blame. He's obviously not a Jose and it's unfair to compare of course, but it's worth reflecting on the fact that with Jose it's Jose + the fans versus the world. A brand of unity that binds the manager and team with the fans unequivocally. We have a far more fragmented variant.
Harry doesn't play off the media in any clever way He just uses it as means to make sure he has his back covered. We knew this from before, it's no shocker. Still, anyone would think he was fighting for his life the way he was soundbiting our 'amazing' (it's the new triffic) season.
There is no need for him to be so defensive. Someone like Martin Jol, say in another hypothetical, would be quite apologetic when looking back at the season we've just had if he was the manager. But still carry a hefty weight of pride with his words that would warm the cockles of the listening Lilywhites. Even if he also carried the extra weight of responsibility for the failings that saw us fall short of another top four placement.
Redknapp prefers to simply remind us of how improved we are as a team and how all the positives are because of Redknapp. Of course they are, he's the manager. Everything the team does on the pitch is down to him. The good and the bad.
There is no need for him to be so defensive unless he can only be so because he can't fathom the reality of anyone daring to question what he knows was a disappointing end to the season (3 wins in 15 if my maths is right). That's not being ungrateful, citing such stats. They are worthy of discussion. United have won the title by accumulating 68% of all their points at Old Trafford. We've only lost the once at home all season in the Prem. Turn some of those draws into wins, and my God, he'd be banging on the door of the Buckingham Palace requesting a knighthood right about now.
THFC remains on the up. It's good to have the problems rather than sat in mid table. We should not be in a position of fragmentation regarding the relationship of manager and fans.
We've not had it so good?
There's more than an element of ample truth in that statement. It was however hardly delivered with a loving touch. And perhaps he meant across the two seasons, although he clearly stated this season to be better than the last. It's all relative. By definition this season might be deemed more memorable and the better of the two because of the CL adventure. In the grand scheme of things we've simply retained a level of consistency meaning we are in the position to challenge again within what is the most competitive top tier of any league in world football. We could have done better, it's a fine line and all that.
So yes, we are grateful and we're more than content that this club of ours finally has some stability on the pitch. We can look forward to being in the thick of it, from one season to the next. We can compete, we've proven that. So Harry should be taking that onwards rather than dwelling on any feedback or opinion (which is our God given right) as being some form of dagger to the heart.
It's all getting slightly embarrassing now. The post-match interview with Sky Sports was ugly.
Harry - I'm no longer certain it's us that you need to be constantly reminding we haven't had it so good. You've never had it so good. That huddle in the middle of the pitch that galvanises our players and stirs up emotion from the fans before kick-off. Get in amongst it.
COYS.
Images taken from Facebook via Daniel Nash (Crouch and his disagreement with a fan) and Twitter (Keano banner via @BurkosBox).
Original creators of Keane banner are Dan and Ben from Bedford. Clicky here.
Reader Comments (47)
I have to be first sometime.
wheres the trophies Harry you horrible scrotum?
Yeah your right, Harry must be awful. Got us to the quarter finals if the champions league, constant praise from his players and still keeping us in Europe without spending stupid amounts of money. Yeah your right, let's get rid of him, get a foreign manager in and watch our best players walk out the door. Absolute twat.
Certainly not in the 'Arry out group but his comments really fucked me off yesterday and Levy should certainly pull him aside and tell him to think before he opens his mouth.
IF 'Arry really thinks "this is as good as it gets" then he should leave the club.
Damn fine article.
Reading the ‘sack him ‘comments on other sites I’m reminded of the Harry Enfield/Paul Whitehouse sketch with the two angry brothers in the pub….”Oi! Redknapp…NO!!”.
Old ‘Arry’s comments are, in the main, the mark of a man who says what’s on his mind …not necessarily thinking before opening mouth… but it’s always been his way. He’s certainly not from the ‘politically correct’ school of public speaking. Some people look at this approach as open and honest – even if it does ruffle a few feathers. However I am not sure it’s wise to criticize your fan-base (or in the modern football era – your market segment) and he might want to moderate his public statements sometimes. But I watched both the BBC and Sky after-match interviews, and whilst the first was a tad more measured and controlled – he was clearly irritated during the Sky interview when the interviewer mentioned ‘the phone –in calls’. And rather than fume and froth I began to think - why is this?
Now this might not be popular but – in the league Harry’s games won/games played ratio, post the infamous “two points from 8 games” takeover, is around 48%. Call me ‘Staty’ if you want but this is better than some of our most popular managers (in our living memory) – Bill Nick (over 15 full seasons) 47%, Keith B over his 4 best years (80/81 – 83/84) 42%, the Venables era (88/9 – 92/3) 36%.
Under old H we’ve gone from bottom to 8th, 4th, and 5th in successive seasons, and played in the top European competition for the first time in 50 years – and it’s not as if we ain’t seen some very good footie either! The last two seasons have been the best we’ve had since the PL started - which for many fans is the only THFC experience they’ve had! And yet some people still ain’t happy and feel the need to go national and call for his head.
Now I’m not defending his method – he could phrase his disappointment /frustration a wee bit more sensitively. But is it any wonder he has reacted in the way he has….he has a point, hasn’t he?
We have a good settled squad, with the chairman seemingly determined to keep the quality players and (within financial reason) making a few top quality additions. Sacking Redknapp now would I’d guess restore some fans’ pride / self-respect but would, have no doubt about it, send us back to the pre-Jol era mid-table mediocrity.
There’s a phrase that includes the words cut, nose, spite and face. Be careful what you wish for…….
Harry should fess up, it was a poor season with some highlights that put a better gloss on it, but we flattered to decieve in the Champs League until found out properly. No two ways about it, there were a lot of strange decisions on and off the pitch, ultimately we missed the opportunity to get back to Europe's top table due to our inability to score goals and finish lesser teams off, we NEED a 20 goals plus striker, the rest of the squad could do with improving and a kick up the hole to get them going...you can't give us a glimpse of what might be and then fail to get there and call it a success..Ruairi (wexford COYS).
Last year 70 points and CL qualification. This season 62 points and Europa League qualification. How, how, how is that the best ever season in the Premiership. I've long since felt Harry is a self centered bollicks and he proved it this past couple of weeks. As soon as he saw that he had lost the chance of catching Man City he statted turning on the fans. We can say what we like about Daniel Levy, he's one of us. He loves Tottenham. Harry loves Harry.
enjoyable and well versed article matey. I think you sum it up very well. Unfortunately I've only heard about the post match interview because about two months ago I started changing the channel any time I thought Redknapp was about to come on. I've found my dislike for him as a person has started to diminish because of this, you should try it. Imagine how much we'd all like him if we didn't have to listen to him?
Some of the players seem to think they have underachieved. Rafa and Hudd have both made comments about how the season could have been better. On a brighter note, very impressed with the Birmingham fans yesterday and some fantastic ability from Pav....
Results wise it's been an up and down season in the league. We're 8 points down on last season's total, we've scored 12 fewer goals and conceded 5 more so our goal difference has dropped from +26 to +9. We've been better against the top teams (good performances against Arsenal x2, Liverpool away, Man United and City at home) but still only a few actual wins in those games... but then we've been dross against some of the weaker teams, especially at home. Too many games we've controlled, but not created enough chances and then conceded a shock winner.
In a lot of games we play some lovely build up stuff, control the midfield and create lots of chances or half chances... but our strikers have been poor. Take VDV's contribution away and this team would have been a mid-table one. To my mind that means two things: we can only afford to keep one out of Defoe, Pav and Crouch, and that should be as a second-string striker. We need two new names of quality to freshen up the attack and put away the chances Bale, Modric and Lennon create. Buggered if I know who those should be though.
Personally I think of the three Defoe should stay, Pav and Crouch should move on. But it's a tough call as Defoe has been just as bad as the others this season.
Hey Spooky
I gota say that's another great read.... They just keep coming, you no what I wish, that HR souls actually read your blogs, you kind of sum up in words what it's all about being a spurs fan and having such a passion for our club.I hate the way he refers to us as idiots, it is extreemly degrading and so not true, we all have opinions as fans but ultimately we all want the best for our club.
We have come a long long way since the dark old days, we are now a genuine top 6 side, but that raises the bar we all want more especially having tasted CL football.
Thing are looking much brighter for our beloved club, don't turn us against you HR.
We genuinely have Much to look forward to next season COYS !!
That's one very lopsided argument you've got there.. 2009/10 was a great year. We couldn't repeat it this year because HR didn't recruit and he's been too loyal to existing players. Apart VDV the forwards have been crap this year. HR will not make the same mistake next season and then your pessimism will just be a fart in the wind.
Just seen the Sky interview. That bastard has some neck. He's an arrogant,offensive and deluded selfish toe-rag. He said enough yesterday for Levy to tell him to clear his desk and bog off.
I have no time for him anymore. I just want him sacked.
Neil, by the very nature of Harry and how he works and how he is driven to make sure he comes out smelling of roses, I have no doubt about his ability to take us back into the CL and perhaps even pick up a piece of silverware.
Yeh awful interview and not needed. Could easily have said thats just a few people who you will get at any club and I disagree with their opinion, its been a great season to be involved in the CL, play some great games. Slightly dissapointing not to get 4th again this year but well be up there again next seaso blah blah blah.
Id still want him to remain as our manager but Levy should def have a word.
Great goals pav. Should have been on the pitch more this season. Let Crouch or Defoe go before him.
COYS
Is Harry a nice person? No
Does he care much for Spurs? No
Is he out for himself? Yes
Would he leave if a better offer came in? In all likelyhood Yes
But most importantly, has he done a good job for the club? Yes
If he left could we get anyone better? probably not
Dam right he has never had it so good. he is at the biggest club and earning alot more with the most media exposure he has ever had!!!!
Think he forgets us idiots (sorry, fans!) pay his wages.
Absolute West Spam div
Harry is simply doing the mind games trick...saying the team has peaked etc etc....old tactic I know but sometimes it works. Bring on next season..
Is Harry a nice person? No
Does he care much for Spurs? No
Is he out for himself? Yes
Would he leave if a better offer came in? In all likelyhood Yes
But most importantly, has he done a good job for the club? Yes
If he left could we get anyone better? probably not
Exactly. I think we all need to accept him for what he is. He will never be loved by the fans but at the very least we should respect what he has done for the club.
I can't help but feel disappointed with this season.
Does that mean I should go and support another team in Harry's eyes?
Where our CL foray contained some real swashbuckling, exciting football, or league form seemed dull in comparison. There wasn't the same "we're gonna win this game no matter what" attitude that took us to 4th place last season.
Yes, by all means turning draws in to wins and better results against the bottom teams would probably have meant another 4th place (taking Arsenal in to the Europa League - imagine that), but the reality is that we never looked convincing and the run in to the the end of the season has left me flat and wondering where the goals where going to come from.
Some major changes needed for next season (strikers predominantly) and use the Europa to test out some of the younger and fringe squad players so as not to distract from pushing for 4th place (or better) again.
As for Harry's grip on reality "we've never had it so good"? - well in IMO last season was better.
As has been pointed out, Levy's remarks in the yesterday programme could be read as rather less than totally supportive of Harry. And there was the rumour of a board meeting a couple of months ago when Harry was asked to justify us not being in the top 4.
So maybe all is not well with his position. That interview was bloody annoying that's for sure.
Does anyone remember "2 points from 8 games"?
He's just making sure he gets the England job - which is the only way he stays out of jail.
Elwehbi, no. Please elaborate.
Played well against the big teams did we?
Utd, didn't show up against them as usual, 1 point from 2 games
City, 1 point from 2 games
Arsenal, 4 points which was fantastic but reality is we could have been 4-0 down int he first half of both games
Chelsea, failed to show up, 1 point from 2 games
Liverpool, don't count as frankly they are a poor side!
So thats 7 points from 8 games, that doesn't look too impressive, its nearly as bad as out record against the bottom teams.
Add the heavy defeats in the 1st/2nd rounds of both cups and that rounds up a poor season.
When was the last time we played well for in the league?
I meant across his tenure. We are getting results against them and they are more likely to happen compared to not that long ago.
Haven't read your post yet Spooky but a bit of info on Wikipedia: "On 23rd May 2011 Hazard signed for English Premier League Team Tottenham Hospur for an undisclosed fee."
Anyone know if this is true? Haven't heard it anywhere else?
yes he talks rubbish but...check the stats, he's ranked no. 1 of all our managers on points per games ratio.
Harry has done wonders for us, let's quit the Harry hating, please.
What a load of twats, you sicken me most of you, probably the same geeks on the phone F*****g sad bastards.
Find me better than Harry you wankers and then I'll listen for now F*** off and support somebody else
I am disappointed in the last 2 months but thats it!!! we have been amazing in some games and it was fun.
Long time reader, first time posting. Have to say always a great read. I've never posted on one of these sites but a certain amount of anger has been brewing for a while now so felt the need to join the so called 'idiots' as our great messiah calls us and vent my frustrations. I go to every home game including the cup games and a number of away games, I go because I love my club but ultimately I want to be entertained. Take away the champions league nights which I agree with HR have been 'triffic', our form this season has been poor, anyone who goes will know that if we dont score within the first 15-20 mins then we will struggle. We run out of ideas and HR doesn't know how to change things. If you break down our results at home, not including the 'big four' we have actually been very lucky to win most of them. Think Wolves, Bolton, Liverpool, Stoke, Villa all were either last minute victories or come from behind results. Aside from the facts, I'm not calling for 'Mr 2 points 8 games' to be sacked because of this, he could go on and win the PL, FA Cup and CL in one season and I'd still want him gone, I just cant stand him. Every time I here him speak he makes me sick. Did you know Tottenham didn't exist before HR? All I here is '2 points, 8 games blah blah blah'. And where was he after the game yesterday, why wasn't he walking round with the players? The fact is the current squad was mostly put together by Martin Jol and Damien Commolli, we have been looking like breaking the top four for a while, and it was only a bump in the road under Ramos that saw us where we were. 2 top five finishes and a trophy to boast were all to be seen before HR, but people forget this. For all his faults I would take Martin Jol back in a heart beat, he loved this club and was proud to be our manager, I would rather be a mid/top half side under a manager that was proud to be at our great club than have to listen to this cretin week in week out spouting 'how grateful we should be'. Anyway rant over, no doubt some of you will disagree, but isn't that what these sites and radio stations are all about.....'I love Martin Jol, Martin Jol loves me.....'
" as good as it gets"!??? Wigan at home 0-1? West Brom 1-1?Arse at home 1-4?West Spam 0-1?Bolton 2-4?
Fulham0-4? Blackpool 1-3?Etc
No Harry this is not as good as it gets and i dont believe you really think it is either.If you do its time to move on.
Beating Arsenal Liverpool and topping the Champions league group we brilliant highlights in an under achieving season.
Title contenders he considered us to be in August ........5th and trophyless is not as good as it gets mate no bloody way.
Full name Eden Hazard
Date of birth 7 January 1991 (1991-01-07) (age 20)
Place of birth La Louvière, Belgium
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Winger
Club information
Current club Tottenham Hotspur
Number 26
what's going on here then?
@ Bonio
Your comment was perfect.
Wiki is hardly the source of truth considering any editor can, well edit.
His club have said he's staying which probably means they are indirectly inviting bids. He's more likely to join Arsenal sadly.
Spot on article! Harry realise's how poor we have been in the second half of this season. That's why he has gone on the defensive and tried to show us what good his team have done. But facts are facts and in reality we qualified for the champions league run LAST season. This season we have qualified in 5th one place down from last season and it means a europa league place. 8 less points, less goals scored, we haven't beaten convincingly, domestically we went out of both cups early. Lost to arsenal 4-1 and fulham 4-0. Failed to sign the right players to push us on. Won 3 in the last 16. HOW is that a great season or better than last?! Although we played CL footy this season, it was last season we qualified for it. An let's digest it: lost away to inter/madrid/young boys. Let a 2 goal lead slip at bremen. Lost to madrid at home and drew to ac. The highlights beating inter at home and ac away. The rest you would expect us to win. So our season highlights were at liverpool and arsenal in the league and at ac and home to inter. Its been an adventure BUT its certainly NOT better than last season as we have qualification for a worse competition as the only thing to show for it! Harry needs to look at his tactics, formations and selections as a lot of the blame lies with him and his persistence to play 4-5-1 with crouch alone upfront and players that we're out of form like hutton and gomes. And playing players like pienaar and jenas when krancjer a better player is on the bench! Also poor squad rotation burning out the likes of rafa/gallas/bale and dropping defoe/pav and krancjer everytime they scored in favour of that streak of p#ss crouch. So really a lot blame as to why we haven't re-qualified in a season where we were more than capable of getting top 4 again is down to Harry himself and fans are right to voice there opinions backed up with the facts.
While managers up and down the country were thanking the fans for their support over the season ours was calling us idiots...cheers Harry and fuck you too!
Its not my wish to join this "idiots or fans" debate because it really irritates me. Its an embarrasment to the club and Daniel Levy is culpable for allowing such shame to be imposed on us by his appointed manager. I'm no Redknapp fan, I think he is a relegation battler/con-man whose loser mentality has been firmly etched during a 40 year management stint at bottom 4 clubs...Its therefore not possible for him to understand the "to dare is to do" motto of our club - hence his "do you expect to finish above arsenal, etc, etc?". I have accepted that his sacking will come later, (we'll have to go through a rough patch before Mr. Levy can summon his courage and evict this media manipulating con-man) so I'll bear with him for now.
As for the question of whose better than him that we can get. I firmly think that any 10 of the 20 managers in the league could do better than this con-man. It is the players that Levy and Comolli assembled that are keeping us in the top 5, not this chancer. If this is not so, then how come he has never managed to come up with such point tallies during his stints at other clubs? He even had his Defoe and his Crouchy with him at those other clubs too....
My point is simple...If Crouch had not gotten injured yesterday, would we have seen Pav play and would we have won? Answer is NO. If Harry had his way, Crouch would have played 90mins and Birmingham would still be in the Prem. Prove of his favouritism and patheticness right there. NB: Fucking Crouchy will be with us next season, Pav most likely not. Crouch only scores against Paul Robinson, Pav has 9 goals from sub appearances. There is an insight into the mind of your "greatest ever" manager.
Spooky i think you should have left this piece for a few days till you did a bit more research on our season. Harry has made a few mistakes mainly trying to fit Van into our 442 system that got us into the Champions League. Firstly we won 16 drawn 14 and lost eight games We had the worse injury list for a long time our squad was stretched to the limit and with our loans including Walker Caulker and Rose all the senior players on loan we where struggling to name the same team twice . We faced the Dirty one Moreno whose plan was to up there tempo and get Crouch sent off he was alerted by Sky's Gabbadini ex Chelsea striker who stated Crouch had committed the most fouls in the champs League and Judging by the way the Madrid players reaction Moreno must have heard his statement on Sky Sport. We also had Lennons sickness and our injuries Hudds King the message to bash Bales Back was used to the maximum by Pepe and Ramos then Gomes joined in with another Gaffs. This all conspired to get us Knocked out of the quarter finals and our luck at Home deserted us and we where doomed. Now our league position was not all down to Harrys management yes he made a few mistakes and quite a few media ones the trouble with Harry he speaks to the media to much especially when they ask him awkward questions like do you think Spurs have had a bad season because the fans are saying its bean a bad season. This is like a red rag to a bull with Harry and he hits back with Comments he should keep to himself he needs to speak to Jamie. Having said all that i still think Harry is the best manager for us at the moment what he needs to do is change these Back room staff Les Ferdinand Sherwood Ingelthorpe and replace them with Sheringham Beckham and Woodgate.. These where the problems i believe stopped us getting fourth or better this campaign. The seven months without King three months Lennon and four months Huddlestone six Weeks without Bale Kaboul and others . This was why we had 14 draws five in the run in we also played 451 and without the best passer and the one who keeps the ball moving Hudds it was a waste of time and one of the reasons our strikers became impotent in front of goal . The last reason and the most controversial one and a major reason and most damaging one was teams upping there tempo, this meant we had no time on the ball and without Hudds again we had no out ball to relieve the pressure from teams denying us space. I now call this the Toure factor and the silent B sample. The last and least damaging reason was Harry he is right when he says we had a good season . And this is why he is right to say so. With all the problems with Man CITY spending and Chelsea all the energy abuse Gomes gaffs the Missing King and others we still only just failed to get into the top four in the last few weeks. The most telling of those weeks was in the week we lost to Chelsea five points changed hands between Man City sand Spurs with City's late goal that should have bean disalowed for offside by Ballatelli and Chelseas two Goals we where beaten before Crouch gifted Man City the winner. Taking all this in too account we had a great season King Hudds Lennon Defoe all the Loans Toure Factor Gomes gaffas Bales Back Harrys Media statments God knows and Davspurs how hard it was to finish 5th. One foot note when Max Bernstien got the top job against all the media forecasts we where doomed to get fourth and Torues Missing B sample and nice friendly refs for City all conspired to help City Oilers to get 3rd before the finacial rules come in and Levey should spend wisely because City could fall foul of these rules if they attempt to buy big this year in Harry we trust in the FA we don't. Coys
Wiki now says Hazard has joined Liverpool...... Not that he's likely to leave a CL team for a team not even in Europe.
Agree with much that has been said here, but bottom line - quarter finals of the Champions League. That's a pretty f*cking good season.
Regardless of injuries Dav, the games we drew - we drew because of far more obvious issues that will hopefully be fixed this summer. Even with all the injuries etc, there was still plenty if tinkering and plenty of sitters.
Top top article Sir. Wheres the Arry of last season ? Quipping one liners in the post match interviews and giving us something to laugh at rather than making us laugh at him. I've loved what Arry has brought to the club and then suddenly the cracks started to show. I can even pinpoint the moment it happened. Right after the final whistle at the Emirates. In the post match interview Arry was asked if he got the team selection wrong in the first half (2. 0 down as if you needed reminding) We started off 4 . 5 . 1 and at half time it was changed to 4 . 4 . 2 and then came the comeback we all prayed for. To my open jawed shock Arry replied "No, we just werent getting enough of the ball SO I DECIDED to change it" . . . Since then weve had Sandro scoring a worldy at Chelsea and he ran to his manager to celebrate his first (of many to come) headline moment with his manager only to get a bollocking and told to stay back, weve had the snide comments aimed at fans for daring to have an opinion of their own club (isnt that the point of phone in shows ?) Jermain Defoe asks for more playing time, only to get told to stop whinging and score more, not many players can get in form or score bucketloads from the bench Arry. Weve had this "amazing season" of beating top european sides yet throwing away vital points to minor teams in the premiership. Time to shelve the ego Arry, we all make mistakes at times but the best can choke back the pride and hold their hands up then no respect is lost. Heres hoping the summer break brings back the Arry that arrived at the lane.
Harry if you think some of us are idiots, that is your opinion, but saying for the idiots to support another team is wrong and out of order. Never in my 40 years of watching spurs have I heard a manager disrespect the fans opinions. Levy needs to have a serious word with him, and tell him if that happens again, he is out. But if it were me, id tell him to fu2K off back to the goons.
I for one completely agree with Harry - u ungrateful bunch of mugs! Every team that gets knocked out of the Champions League has a come down afterwards. The media focus on being in the biggest club competition in the world is huge - who can blame the players for not being quite as up for Away to Blackpool, when uv just pi55ed on AC at the San Siro? It's a learning curve. There's a reason why the same teams are there or there abouts at the end of every season. It's about dealing with success as well as failure. Think back to when we last won the league cup - after the final, we won 2 games for the rest of the season! Since then tge club has been completely turned around, but sadly, we're not used to success anymore! Give it time and get off 'arry's back - we'll finish above the ar5e next year! COYS!!
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Thank you for your email, which was one of several I received on this subject.
We are aware that there has been much discussion regarding Harry’s comments and we should never want any of our fans to feel offended. Harry’s comments related to earlier ones he made about a specific phone in and specific individuals’ comments - he certainly is not referring to the wider Spurs fan base. We have aslo put a call into Sky as the interviewer clearly raised an issue that was not timely and which was deliberately designed to prompt a reaction from Harry.
In respect of assessing a season, I guess it depends on what basis and criteria you judge it and this will always be subjective. I hope however that you enjoyed a season in which there was some fantastic, entertaining football....whichever way you assess the season. Thank you for your support which I can assure you we never take for granted. I do hope you enjoy the summer and that we see you back at the Lane in August, best regards, Donna
What was put to Harry was that, some Spur's supporters didn't concur with him that it was our best season yet since the Premier League was formed and that they voiced this in 'phone in's' and Harry 'went into one'. When he gets asked an akward question, his real feelings come to the fore. His real feelings for the fans (all the fans) is, they are a bunch of idiot's. He has no respect for the fans and I feel he is so self-centered that, if a better offer came during the closed season he would walk.
He's dismissed Chelsea talk because he knows, that's all it is 'journo talk', but if Chelsea came knocking, you wouldn't see his heels for dust. He'd be off like a 'Bat out of Hell'.
Anyway's we don't know, it may be that it's the stress of his upcoming 'Court Case' that has him on such a short fuse because he certainly has become very intolerant recently.
If he was Tottenham 'through and through' like Hoddle, Ossie or Perryman and made those comments, we would probably forgive him, but he's a 'blow-in' and should know his place and stop playing God.
What other Premiership managers go on Match of the Day2? What's that all about?
Harry's agenda is to use Spurs as a stepping stone, could it be once the media had him as their choice for the next England manager, Harry's aim/goal changed into more about him than the club?
Or maybe he does think he is bigger than THFC?
I don't know, I'm happy with 5th though, no point crying over spilt milk. But if Harry thinks this year couldn't have been any better then he needs to look at himself in the mirror.