I blame Howard Webb
Monday, August 22, 2011 at 11:01PM Okay, so this is going to be depressing.
There was a point in the game when I actually thought to myself we were competing really well and there was little difference between us and Utd other than perhaps just that little bit more zing in their play. Opening ten minutes, we kept possession well (just not as slick with the passing and movement as we can be) but United found their players with more intent in going forward and as the game progressed we retained that the same level of composure but didn't improve where it mattered. Meaning, when United stepped it up, they created and when they create then tend to score. Which they did. 1-0 would have been okay. 2-0 hurt. 3-0 was just taking the p*ss. We were hardly outclassed in the game in terms of start to finish, just outclassed when it mattered.
That despondent shrug we do so well. It made a flipping cameo. Which is hardly of surprise considering the location.
Whilst United are decisive up top, we dithered far too many times. Fairly limp, illustrating the necessity to announce and play our new forward (Adebayor) because any new forward will completely change the dynamics of how we play our football when charging forward. I know that is such a cliché to drop in a match review but I think we've been stale for too long upfront and players like JD will find themselves galvanised by having to compete for their place rather than settle into it when selected.
But just so that I'm not buried by some of you, I'm only stating what we all knew for practically the whole of last season. My 'bring in the new blood' war cry is just a continuation of that rather than singling out Defoe and using him as a scapegoat.
Our wingers still need to produce the goods in terms of finding the forward(s) but again, I wouldn't go mental on nit-picking the lack of productivity. It's just one game, 90 minutes, and the side was just not good enough in the end to contain and punish United.
Defoe, (I'm not picking on him here, honestly I'm not, just an observation on his performance) was unintelligent when in possession in and around the box. Just too eager to either lash the ball (not very well) or hold onto it for too long. Unlucky with the woodwork though.
The midfield worked hard. Impressed with Livermore simply because he did not appear to be overhauled although he was nothing more than a bog standard no fireworks Jenas, tidying up in midfield and fulfilling Harry's instructions. He grafted, unspectacular but it warms me to see a yoof player in Lilywhite and working his socks off. Niko is no Luka. And regardless of the reasons for his (Modric) absence it was telling. The team simply doesn't function in the same way.
We played football without any genuine impetuous and in the end all it took was for United to change gear. Sure, we had moments of attacking purpose but tbh I'd rather lose to a Howard Webb assist than lose this way. Midfield was simply not strong enough or industrious enough and certainly not capable of dictating tempo and pace. No fault of the players selected. You almost wish we were nearer full strength because < insert scenario that would have played out to our advantage in a parallel universe >.
Substitutions confused me, but then something was needed. Just felt the midfield was weaker for it. Fact of the matter is, there was no authority in the middle and no apparent influence. Harry citing characters in his post-match interview and the need for them. Diarra a character? What's that? Did someone just say Barton?
So, there we were living with United quite well. Used the space pretty well too when running into it but not quite using it as we should have when looking to play a final killer ball. Conceded one then came the dizzy spell then it was over.
I don't know, first game of the season at a notoriously impossible away venue where we get nothing season in season out. Should we really analyse this to bits or just wait for us to lose to City first?
Joking. Expect a more accomplished performance at the Lane. We'll probably dick 'em.
Some other footnotes:
Brad in goal, not sure I understand this. It's almost like saying 'we don't trust Gomes'. He played well though, no denying that. I guess Harry prefers him. For the moment, there is no doubting the selection. Defending for the goals conceded, not exactly oozing confidence and awareness. But then I guess that's why they scored. No grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, collectively. You got that impression when United pushed forward (the scruffing of necks).
So convincing win for the home side, not so convinced of the need to knee-jerk. We have to fashion a working midfield in time for the next league game. The Lane has to be rocking when City come to town.
All in all, disappointing night but hardly end of days. Was actually confident pre-match and for a hefty chunk of the game you'd not have disagreed with me. But alas, it's out of our system. We never pick up points at Old Trafford. This hoodoo is not for breaking. Not yet. United, nothing special or amazing and you can see how they could get beaten by sterner opposition. Just that, there is very little stern opposition about these days so Fergie will be more than content his side will compete once more.
Anyways, someone let me know when it's safe to hit the forums again. Twitter is already a massive mess this late evening.
Honestly, hand on heart, no drugs, still think a top 4 challenge is well within our ability. Just call me a loon. We'll make those signings and we'll push on. Certain of it. Just a downer it ended 3 nothing in the end.
This weeks podcast should be a joy to record.
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Reader Comments (81)
Modric will not be sold, so no swap deals.
@flatearther
If you can't see a difference between Friedel and Gomes.....then I guess I can understand why you think we are doomed. It's because you blind.
*you are
Last night exposed the myth that we have a strong squad of players (Spooky, you are a loon).
We are having the same debate that we always have...why is that? Well it could be because we are not a very good football club, but we have an excellent balance sheet, but not quite good enough to finance a football team due to unadressed issues in previous years regarding stadium building.
Looking at the current squad it is maybe capable of upper mid-table. I cringe at some of the comments regarding players' performance last night...Walker was hopeless and slow as Corluka may be, Young made no impression at all 2nd half. Dawson is hopeless at the top level, doesn't know when to come and when to stay and his ball watching leaving players unmarked in the box is now beyond a joke. Krank doesn't have the energy to play CM and Livermore needs a better partner if he is to improve...he didn't get in the opposition box once last night.
Bale seems to be living off his reputation and contributed nothing, and apart from his well-documented failure to find the ego that is VDV was hardly in the game 2nd half. VDV is a waste of space...if anybody's head is not in the right place it is his. Can't shoot,can't pass, can't take good corners or free-kicks. DeFoe doesn't even warrant a description.
Only Friedel and BAE, and to a lesser extent Corluka can hold their heads up this morning.
The bottom line for me is, while Levy is in charge, nothing will fundamentally change because he doesn't understand the mechanics of running a football club. Here we are 9 days from the window closure looking to borrow a striker for one season and hire an overrated CM destroyer who will be irrelevant once Sandro recovers, while having all the deadwood on our books.
Look at our opponents last night. They have debts beyond our wildest imagination but still concluded all their transfer business before going on pre-season. The players they have bought over the last 2 seasons have all been relatively cheap additions, and with the exception of Young, relatively unknown while we stagger about trying to buy yesterday's rejects.
This is what Levy has brought our club to and it 'aint going to change anytime soon.
What a prospect to look forward to.
Disgraceful.
I blame Robbie Keane (still).
I wouldn't.
Levy's in the U.S trying to re-sign him.
Nah, Levy's still trying to pull off the Beckham deal.......
;o) That goes without saying.....which might be sound advice when I think about it...
Arry's latest speaking into a cornetto:
"If anyone can pick him up, I can. I have a great relationship with him," the gaffer explained, but says that Modric's relationship with the chairman might need more work.
"They probably fell out a little bit over that first meeting," added Redknapp. "If they can have a meeting and resolve the whole situation and Daniel tells him we need him, he is important and that we are ambitious and will bring one or two players in, you might find the boy will be okay."
Oh....and it's being reported we're about to offer Ratty 100K a week to appease him.
Sounds like total BS.
Interesting article. Love all your stuff Spooky, keep it up!
Also just wanted to mention that I have recently started up a football blog www.footballthatisall.blogspot.com
Would be grateful if you could give it a read anyone and maybe comment or subscribe, it will get more and more interesting. I have a lot of material planned.
@ big sky spur:
I must be blind cos I can't see where I said we are doomed, or where I said I can't see the difference between them.
Again; what did brad do that gomes couldn't? I know: he can watch a ball go into the net without trying to save it. More than once. He can also control his area so all the players are in good positions when the opposition are swarming the box........ oh erm...
Gomes has his faults (he's a right big girls blouse for a start), but he was a massive factor on the 4th place. People seem to forget that and would rather an old geezer who played one game where we lost 3 nil.
Where's that white stick?
Spooky, I seem to remember when Harry joined us that his aim was to stabilise the club and leave it in a strong position when he retires. He also saw this as an opportunity to manage a big club.
If Harry were to retire tomorrow, we would all have to admit that we have a solid team that has been together now coming on a few years and would be in a perfect position for the next manager to take over. As you say, we are building. Over the next 10 days this team will be strengthened ONCE AGAIN by the additions of Adebayour and Diarra, and hopefully a fully fit beast of a CB that can form a partnership with Dawson. We will be adding premiership proven players, and had we had Modric spraying the ball around last night (how many times did Niko mis place a pass) around the field, with Diara or Sandro tackling like a beast and Adebayour holding the ball up and not getting thrown around like Defoe then we might have had a slightly more productive last 35mins of that game.
I am looking forward to this season, I hope a certain few of the 1st team get 45mins on thursday because we are not 100% match fit yet. UTD were 1 league game & 1 very competitive charity shield match ahead of us.
Onwards and upwards - COYS.
The stable thing is something I've always gone back too and he's done his job. The arguments have always been about whether he can take us further. Not sure he's that bothered with doing so. But sure, he might find himself on another journey to the CL again this season and he'll stick it again to everyone who doubted him.
You'll still find others suggest any other top class manager could do the same, but then, that's stating the obvious. We just need to decide who the next top class manager of Spurs should be.
I can't believe there are people who want Modric to be sold. Surely the main reason we haven't signed anyone this window is because we can't offer the wages. We already have a bench full of very good players. What's the point of selling a great player and getting a couple more? We can only put out 11 players each match, and we need as many of those to be CL quality, not EL quality.
If the club can't find players who are CL quality and willing to fit into our wage structure, what are they supposed to do?
Mind you, if we could have got Suarez and passed, then I cry a little inside.
"I can't believe there are people who want Modric to be sold."
I can't believe there are people who want this unctuous little ex-peasant to stay and stink the place out. He has proven himself to be complete scum. I trust Levy to milk the Russian dry for this treacherous dollop of rat shit.
We'd never spend the money now anyway, so let him stay, let him see the light. Not been done before. Not with us. He signed a fucking 6 year contract. It's worthless if he's sold.
@flatearther
you said, "Apart from a lucky cup run, we've no chance. Not only this season, but ever."
I'd say that's a pretty doom like perspective on the situation. Few would argue that it shows any kind of optimism. So I was paraphrasing.
I don't do internet squabbles. Gomes is a good keeper, but Friedel did a great job. The goals he conceded weren't howlers and to suggest they scored because he didn't micromanage his defense appropriately is pretty harsh, and somewhat unrealistic.
In a parallel universe where Gomes was keeper for that match I just have a feeling the result would have been 6-0 and 3-0.
It's an opinion, and I think it's a pretty good one. Mostly because it's mine ;)
*6-0 and not 3-0, fuck I wish this thing had an edit function.
Don't be so naive Spooky. Ever since Judas left, Levy has persuaded players to sign long contracts so that he gets maximum return when selling. No one expects young players to see out their contract. In that respect, contracts have been 'worthless' for years.
Modric should be willing to do at least another year, but he obviously isn't, is he? Get rid in this window rather than have the stink affect the rest of the season.
My comment re no chance was regarding money, and money goes to money. Unless we can get a stadium up sharpish (which won't happen) we'll never catch up. I don't fancy being in hoc to a billionaire.
Hey, no ones squabbling, everyone's got an opinion, but like you said mines right. :)
Reports on BBC suggesting we will get public money to build a new stadium in N17 and in return we drop appeal re OS.
The masterplan is complete.
Shame half of N17 had to be burnt down to get it!
Tottenham were not fit last night. That's a fucking disgrace. Harry knew that we were playing away to Utd and could have arranged a 'behind closed doors friendly' with any team, just to give the stale players a run out prior to this game. All the squabbling about transfer fees and negative shit that's allowed to manifest itself during the close season is stupid. Levy is actually doing a lot of damage by not signing players like Diarra and Adebayour when the deal is offered and leaving time to find a defender and allow these players to train with their team mates prior to being thrown in at the deep end is very fucking frustrating and stupid. We need Parker in as well as Diarra as injury always takes it's toal at Spurs and Parker is a leader, which Dawson is proving he's not.
I'm not having a go at Levy, but he needs to realise it when Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U and Man C have signed the bulk of their players a month early that he has to follow suit to get us ready to rumble in August and not fucking October when were playing 'catch up'
Seems like Levy has don a deal with Boris. Well he can take a lot of credit for that bit of business.
We'll have another chance this season. Look around you, you honestly think the teams just ahead of us are millions of miles better?
The EPL is in transition.
As for Redknapp, he remains and idiot who is more bothered with his own brand and image. When it works, it benefits us, when it doesn't he goes on the defensive and attempts to detach himself. That's Redknapp and he's been like that since forever.
He wont be with us for that much longer so don't fret. As long as the club remains stable, we'll have a strong foundation to build on
WELL SPOKEN SPOOKY ....THESE ARE PROBABLY THE BEST WORDS WRITTEN IN THIS ARTICLE...
Spurs are still a football club NOT some billionaires plaything...Of course we want to be challenging but FFS lets grow up and realise that we just cannot compete with the current stupidity that is the EPL ...
There are lots of attractive women I would love to screw but am always happy if I get a home match !!!!!!!
If you cant accept what we are then maybe its time to look elswhere
SPURS through good and bad
'I remember when..... this room..... was filled with light... and laughter' Ha.. ha ha......he...he....he!
Some really bitter supporters out there. Perhaps they should pick a less controverial (and less ruined by money) sport... cricket, perhaps?
Levy: Come play for Spurs
Mata: who?
Levy: We'll pay £50,000/week and are aiming for top four.
Mata: Chelsea are in CL and offering £150,000/week
Levy: ummm, glory glory?
Mata: bye
TMWNN: I blame Levy
I blame almost everyone at the moment , except for Friedel.
Levy runs the club to keep it financially sound and i support that. Harry gets on my nerves with every passing day and soundbite.
Diarra ... somebody said he would be useless when Sandro returns but you know what , Sandro will return to the bench because Harry likes Diarra.
We want to be manure, chavski or even city ? I d say no thanks , Man U maybe but the other two .. nope. We do it our own way and on our own. That has always been Spurs , a different style of play , of flair of management.
Some hope for fifa fair play rules coming up to revolutionise the world of football and save us from the debt charged spending clubs : you're having a laugh. There are lots of ways to get around the rules , as was to be expected.
We ride the highs and the lows and we hope for a better tomorrow , COYS
oh and Harry , please shut up.
Where exactly have I blamed Levy for not paying silly wages, Spang?
Come on, find me one quote.
Spang: I am a complete wally.
This is an easy game to play, isn't it?
I am suprised at the number of people comparing us to Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U becasue they have done their transfers early.
To these fans, please read my lips: WE ARE SPURS!! WE JUST QUALIFIED FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BALL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS!!!
Those clubs get top players in quick because the players have ALREADY been dreaming about playing for THEM and pray to Jesus and Mary daily for the offer to come in! We get transfers done later because we have to beg, cajole, sell players, gather funds up, do makeweight deals and wait for left-overs (players that ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool do not want).
Over-achievement is a bad thing! I almost feel bad for HArry!
Also don't get the people saying we should sell Modric..
He's a quality player and we aren't going to attract anyone that can replace him. I also think the media has played a big role and over-exaggerated the whole situation, and him not handing in a transfer request speaks volumes for me.
Also seems clueless Redknapp is trying to force a sale, he'd be quite content selling him and signing 3 or 4 average players. The whole 'his head isn't right' is a load of shit and makes me think he's trying to force Levy into getting rid.