Positive
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 9:53PM Spurs 1 City 5
Okay, so some perspective. We lined up with no defensive midfielders and started with Peter Crouch upfront and then found ourselves out numbered in the middle and final third quicker than you can say 'tactics'. Once again, there was an element of the disjointed and perhaps even a touch of the stubborn (what with Crouch supposedly on his way to Stoke City yet in the starting line-up - perhaps a message from gaffer to chairman forming yet another twist in their alleged damaged relationship).
Placing aside in-house disagreements, we lined up not only with a team not shaped to contain City but a team that lacked the belief they could do that and anything more. But that's not to say it was a chaotic calamity filled 90 minutes of football. At 2-0, it flattered City some what. After that, they deserved to ruin our afternoon at will and with ease. We let them with no reply of our own. Once more, apologetic.
There is no excuse for losing 5-1 at home. But it was the most passive 5-1 defeat you're likely to witness. City simply picked us off with clinical football. Confident in themselves, each other and their formation and confident in front of goal. Even though they were not completely fluid (expected considering their new players - makes it even more bitter a pill to swallow for us).
They were enjoying their day and their football. How ironic considering at the start of last season it was them containing us whilst we swashbuckled down the flanks and through the middle, with only Hart stopping us from running away with it.
City have grown with the aid of several million pounds and no wage cap. We've stagnated if you take a look at the back end of last season and how we stopped performing. But preparation for this one has hardly been great considering we appear reluctant to compete at the top end of the transfer market. Perhaps because fiscally, we can't. Ambitious targets beyond our reach. Still, you would have hoped for decisive action by chairman and manager. Instead we have suggestions they don't quite see eye to eye and once more, transfers will need to take place in the final couple of days or so.
The visitors have found their groove. We've lost ours.
Again, injuries don't help but if we look weak in key areas pre-match then you'd want admittance from Redknapp that perhaps we need to be shrewd, cunning in our formation and our strategy. Not the Tottenham way. Not what I previewed yesterday. But it looked to me like the manager believed we could perhaps play them and match them pound for pound when the reality was they were far too polished whilst we simply did not work as a unit and had various degradations of form from individuals.
Modric played. But his productivity hardly outstanding because the players around him were distinctively average. But he played okay. Not sure why he was subbed. Didn't make a difference either way in the end. Player not looking at the manager or applauding the fans when walking off the field of play. Disgruntled.
The goals (most of them) we conceded were not defended well at all. Embarrassing stuff, lack of any apparent focus. We had chances, but how many times do we have to sigh in despondence when said chances are not taken? It was City playing with intent and us presenting them with the red carpet. Never red, indeed. Red with anger today.
Nasri, Aguero and Silva. Stick them in our team then watch how different the result would have been. Hard knock life. We still have quality in abundance. We need to shake off the rust from last season's disappointing finish and reclaim that grit and spine we had so famously in 2010. Think back, we had injuries then too. Perhaps not so many issues with central midfield as we do now.
We've played two games and lost two. Arguably against the two strongest sides in the country. Our problems have been illustrated in quite a humiliating manner with regards to the scoreline for all to analyse and discuss. It's obvious what we need in terms of signings. We've got us a striker. We need DM cover. We could do with a centre-back. We could still do with a right-sided forward to compete with Lennon and give us options when playing two up front.
Adebayor will bring us that much needed cutting edge. Rafa will have a far better forward to play off if Harry continues with the current formation. Only takes one moment, once slice of luck or inspiration to completely change the course of season and set us on our way.
Criss? The fact we are even discussing avoidance of a 'crisis' after two games...well, its over the top. It hurts, but we might have to admit that the likes of Utd and City are in a far more comfortable place than us. We've lost direction, perhaps because of the Modric saga and the in-house disagreements (assumptions). We have to show unity once more.
More importantly, we need the players and the manager to get a grip and to remind themselves they are capable of much much more. We got it very wrong today and were duly and deservedly spanked for it. If Harry is keen on self-preservation of his brand name, then he has work to do. Levy has to support him in doing so. And Harry has to respect the chairman at all times.
Losing to a good team is one thing. Losing to a good team and making them look great is another. Losing badly to a good team that don't even manage to shift into a more aggressive gear is simply shambolic.
Not a good day at all. But with both Manc games out of our system, we can just look forward now. Redknapp, the players - they have a lot to answer for and a lot to give back to the club in the next couple of games to avoid any dramatic twists that might well cause us to unravel further and crisis isn't the only 'c' word quoted by the fans.
This Modric stuff is beyond ridiculous now and Redknapp constantly citing him as the root of all evil when in the past he's actually called him a model professional is almost touching comedy, the ilk that few will laugh at.
Onwards with pride Tottenham. I want to hear the cockerel crow.
We'll improve. I still believe we'll compete for the top four. Arsenal are having their own problems and Liverpool still have to prove their longevity and how they react to loss of form.
Not defending our teams performance today (it was poor), just trying to anchor myself to something to avoid drowning in depression.
Reader Comments (18)
Well said, Spooky. We shouldn't beat ourselves or H up over a poor start.
However, I do now think that Modric should go, the bond is broken.
Very Poor today, Difference in cutting edge and ability to defend properly was so obvious unfortunately. Wasn't at the match but watched it online......so anyone who was there can they confirm whether Modric reception when he went off was as bad or worse than how it sounded on the TV?
You're deluded
This is all akin to the kings new clothes - we all want to believe but there it is!!! his knob's hanging out!!
there were a few boos when his number came up, which were drowned out by cheers. I didn't do either, just sat there watching a man that earns more in a week than I'll earn in the next 5 years of my life, moping about. he showed touches of class, but not what we have come to expect from him - tired of it. and i don't know how a situation has arisen at the beginning of the season meaning we had to start our first games with no DM! This is a professional football club, how did they not think this through? They knew Palacios would be leaving and that Sandro would be injured... and still the haggle over Diarra - sort it out!
Tbh I'm a bit fucked off
We were beaten by the better team today but the problem is we look as shit as we did for the final 13 games of last season. Redknapp has to get 10 points from our next four games to save his job.
It hurt. I can't deny that.
Thank the heavens that we have only played two games of our season thus far. A win at Arsenal looks possible, eh?
Here's your positive:
1) We would have lost these two games at any time in the season - we got them out while still in transfer deadline hell
2) We have the international break for our injured players to recover
3) We still have a pretty damn good team
4) Next game we will have some holding CMs
5) Next game we will have Ade so could actually play 1 up front
6) Surely now even 'arry won't play two wide players in Bale and Lennon against the top sides
I really don't think the DM position is an issue. We played our best stuff with hudd / modders in the past. The test of a teams character is when they go one down. We have folded twice now. A club needs unity. Rednapp is acting like a player - he has all his excuses ready. We need the next 2 weeks to get united, otherwise this could have a painful ending. We have the players to challenge for top 4, whether we have the mentality is another thing.
With Lennon, VDV and Kranjcar injured, we will most likely have a
Freidel;Walker,Dawson,Kaboul,Assou-Ekotto;Bale,Modric,Parker,Townsend;Adebayor,Defoe
A simple 4-4-2 with the bearings of what made us good in the 09/10 season A little guy and a bigger guy upfront, now we have a bigger guy who can score, this could be interesting
If I was Levy I would'nt be backing Redknapp in the transfer market either, Bellemy, Parker, Diarra, come on!! Do you really think Redknapp knew anything about VDV before Levy got him.
Simply a gutless performance today - Citeh came to WHL for the opening game of last season and defended as if their lives depended on it, we defended today like lambs (even the Arse tackled with a bit of bite today) We need to build from the back.
We need a CENTRE HALF - we seem to be drifting along expecting some miracle to repair Ledley's knee - it is not going to happen so the club needs to move on.
My suggestion would be SAMBA, - ok I know he is not a brilliant ball playing Hansen or Rio more a Adams or Terry a guy who plays with Heart and is a leader (which this side need big time)
We have too many defenders who play with a smile on their face - Samba seems to frighten his own fellow players - so let's just go out and GET HIM
Modric got a mixed responce of a lot of boos at first then a few fans clapped.I wonder was Harry trying to make a point today by picking the team he did.He has to have known we stood no chance with the team he sent out at first.I blame todays defeat on Harry however did it also have a lot to do with not getting the backing the manager wants in the transfer market.There is a problem with this.Harry does not have a great record in past clubs when given the chance to spend money,he tends to spenda lot or not very well.If you listen to other clubs he leaves them with players they can't wait to get rid of when he leaves.He has not done well in the buying department other than Wilson who although his form has fell i think we all know why.spent A lot of his targets if the papers and itks are to be believed are not very well exciting to say the least.If he was trying to make a point to the chairman today i fear it may have backfired because as any forum i have been on people are calling for his head.He bought Defoe & Crouch and Kaboul and Charlie and Niko and the list goes on.Can Harry take us to another level its hard to say but i don't think signing Parker & Cole is going to do it.Against the two manchester teams we saw two different teams.Today was full of expensive players on silly wages and in the united game we had a very young team with a few old faces take us apart.Harry and Daniel need to sort out their problems because this is no corner shop they are running and in these very hard times how long will fans continue to fork out hard earned money while they play silly buggers with our club and our money.Stop fanning around and get it sorted and stop buying shite players who are past it and no good to man nor beast.Buy quality and buy youth and lets get this sorted.
and, davy41, what would be the point you are trying to make? Or you are just venting your hard earned hot air?
Just heard some disturbing shit!
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan does not own Manchester City - Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's falcon does!!
The Sheikh is so rammed with money that he (if so desired) could buy Modric just wash camels. In fact - he could buy our entire first team, and have them sell hot dogs at the City at half time wearing nothing but burkas!
me thinks redknapp and daniel levy have got different expectations of where tot are going and how much money tot will spend.i guess(?)levy thinks the squad redknapp has got is good enough to be around 4th or 5th spot and expects redknapp to start acting like a manager and start getting the right tactics and formations ie levy has got in vdv and adebayor(good players)but levy failed to replace woodgate and king.i guess redknapp has run out of ideas and needs to buy some new players to rejuvenate spurs.im going to side with levy at this time.i think harry has got reasonable resources ie decent players...coys
Gallas,Sandro to come back,Walker in for Corluka,Parker on his way,and we wont play the two Manchester clubs every week.
But...........wtf are we doing leaving transfers till the 11th hour AGAIN.Modric should have gone in the summer but for 50million so we could strengthen and have time to bed new players induring pre season.Playing hard ball with Chelsea was the correct course of action but using it to our advantage was the key.Now we are fkd.No money and a pissed off munchkin who dosent want to play football for a paltry 50 grand a week.How the majority could applaud the prick on the pitch beats me ,probably makes them better people than me .I m a home and away supporter but i just can not find it in my heart to support someone who wants out of Tottenham as much as him.
Gallas,Sandro to come back,Walker in for Corluka,Parker on his way,and we wont play the two Manchester clubs every week.
But...........wtf are we doing leaving transfers till the 11th hour AGAIN.Modric should have gone in the summer but for 50million so we could strengthen and have time to bed new players induring pre season.Playing hard ball with Chelsea was the correct course of action but using it to our advantage was the key.Now we are fkd.No money and a pissed off munchkin who dosent want to play football for a paltry 50 grand a week.How the majority could applaud the prick on the pitch beats me ,probably makes them better people than me .I m a home and away supporter but i just can not find it in my heart to support someone who wants out of Tottenham as much as him.