The spur of the cockerel needs to be sharpened
Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 9:46AM Swansea 1 Spurs 1
Not the best of days. Jaded, fragmented and lacked shaped, more so when Harry changed it up with the two substitutions in the second half which only served to invite more pressure from the home side. Two points dropped? Well no, not really. It was a point gained considering how much of the possession we gave up in the second half. The hosts were the better team.
The thing with mentality is our players should ask themselves why it failed today, why were we not at the races? Ask then put right next game and next time we’re away to a tricky side that might cause us a few problems. What I mean is, if there was a casual aspect to our play and if we held back in the early exchanges then there has to be a collective reason for it. Don't think it was anything more than the aforementioned jadedness.
Personally, I don’t buy into complacency or believing our own hype. Doubt very much we went there believing we’d just need to turn up to win. We just lacked that spark and all things considered, if we’re going to have an off day away from home then a point might as well be acceptable. Swansea had all the right in the world to attack us. Sadly we could only produce pockets of possession and could not get a handle on the midfield. Don’t underplay the fact that it only takes one or two players in the team to be just a little off balance in terms of performance level for that to have a knock-on effect.
Lack of rotation? Sure, that’s a reason, an obvious one. Perhaps because we haven’t quite defined our plan b we rely too much on a particular style of play which means rotation can have a detrimental effect on the side thanks to a lack of like-to-like replacements in the squad. We’ve played and won without key players before, but perhaps we’ve over-stretched a little and it’s caught up on us.
Still, if its fatigue we have an opportunity to be clever with selections in January (in our home matches) and capitalise on what looks to be an inviting fixture list. Also, it points towards the necessity for activity in the transfer window because we’ve still got a fair few games to get through and there is nothing more frustrating than losing out on something because we lack cover and then having to cite that as an excuse. When we were down to the bare bones last time, we somehow managed to finish fourth. It’s different today because we’re in a better position as a team and expectancy is on us to keep up the positive results.
One worrying aspect that remains concerns the players we do have, the fringe players, and which will perhaps (finally) be sold on as there is little chance of us signing someone when we’re not shifting others out. When you start looking at the semantics, it can turn into a nervous game of patience with varying arcs dependent on other clubs and the business they seek to do.
In the past this usually means nothing happens until the final week or day (if that). As I said back in the summer we need to be decisive. We don’t need a massive overhaul. Just consolidation in key areas. If the politics of management and other off the field dramatics play a part in Levy’s decision making, then it gets messy. The side and its immediate future has to take precedence. Long term questions can be answered in the summer of 2012 (i.e. new goalkeeper). The messy bit for Levy is the decision that might need to be made regarding a new forward. Not just the element of risk if Adebayor gets injured. It’s the conundrum of whether we need to look to bring someone in this January and how that might affect the potential signing of the Man City loanee.
Considering we didn’t splash out £20M+ for a La Liga or South American player and opted for a loan deal you might find yourself agreeing that Levy is playing a waiting game.
As for the game; It was high tempo – end to end at times. Very ominous towards the end. You just knew they would equalise and it was deserved even if I would have accepted the 1-0 in our favour (obviously). Perhaps better goal-keeping would have seen us steal all three points. I guess it’s a thin line. Hold on and win and we’d have lauded the performance of grit when not playing too well. We drew and thus, we’re disappointed in the two points dropped from a winning position. But in each case, the performance is identical. Just an instinctive reaction or reflex (or lack of) makes the difference. Either way, we did not lose the game. Consistency and work ethic is part of that mentality we’ve built up, which means the old skool capitulation disorder is no more. We know how to compete.
I could not care less about other results. Let them worry about us rather than us rely on them slipping up.
It was untidy. The substitutions did not influence the game in our favour (they aided the opposition). The impact of losing both Rafa and Parker (who is in dire need of a rest) was pretty much as subtle as a brick in the face. We failed to adapt and appeared reactive to the play, with Sandro doing his best to defend everything. Reason enough to rest Parker and allow Sandro to fly solo. Kaboul also impressed again and Rafa (with the goal) worked hard for the team before going off.
When presented with opportunities we did not make the most of them. Adebayor not great with his first touch and only needs to be offside once more this season to equal Defoe's all-time record. Too many lethargic performances. Should work in our favour though. A reminder we have to work harder and Harry has to be careful as to avoid that rather obvious excuse in the making burn-out. In the grand scheme of things, our festive tally was a decent one what with the games played away from North London.
Special mention for Gareth. Stop it and cut it out of your game. As for his positioning, Harry should have instructed him to anchor himself a little to the flank rather than free-roam centrally where he appeared to have little impact. These things take time to work themselves out, so no need for a knee-jerk.
39 points from the last 48 points available. Third in the Prem. I’m content. I’m ecstatic to be honest. Sure, I’m hungry for more and we should not get into the habit of accepting second best but we still have to be realistic. We continue to evolve and the most vital aspect is to retain that consistency and momentum we’ve built up.
And if you are inclined to show interest in what is going on elsewhere, it’s apparent that everyone is beatable at the minute. Nobody is quite the same force they once was. The Prem continues to flux in its state of transition. I wouldn’t go as far as suggesting four or five teams are level-pegged – but the difference is hardly insurmountable.
We need to quickly nail down how best to rest/rotate and rejuvenate when we hit a lull and still retain our style of play or adapt accordingly for damage limitation.
It’s been a cracking season, one that I hardly imagined when we got tonked 5-1 at home and then lost (as per usual) up at Old Trafford. We’ve been exceptional without always being spectacular, but we’ve embraced our traditions and have continued to add new traits to our tenacity. We’re playing fantastic football at times and have players others envy. It’s hardly a shabby position to be in so do more than enjoy it. Wear your heart on your sleeve. Always.
We are Tottenham. All hail the arrival of 2012.
Love the shirt.
Reader Comments (20)
Let's hope that Lennon is fit for West Brom.
Bale and Lennon hugging the touch lines, Modric and Sandro in the middle.
Can we have a strong, mobile striker please. Bit of a long shot, but I've been impressed with Agbonlahor of late.
Excellent post, esp. the reminder to GB about diving. I'm not sure why Adebayor is not sticking them away more and your point about a new striker's effect on him is very wise. Happy New Year. Love the blog!
Spurs have had a tremendous first half of the season, but this is the time to kick up a gear and not be thinking about being jaded mentally or physically. They should be running on adrenilin and be at peak fitness.
Being in our best position going into the new year for almost 30 years should be inspiring for the boys and motivation should not be an issue.The boys know all their energy has to go into League and FA Cup matches, not being side tracked with Europa and Carling Cup matches. It is only in the next couple of weeks where the players have to contend with 2 matches a week, plus they are all at WHL. No excuses. We need to step up to the plate. All quality teams get better after new year not worse, so come on Harry WBA, Everton and Wolves need to be 3 home victories and 9points in the bag. No slip ups or jaded players should be acceptable.
Players out will be Gio (Seville), Corluka (Roma), Pav (Outtermongolia), Peanut (Sunderland).
Players in should be Bridge, Hoilett, Samba if King is struggling. New blood and competition is needed to push players like BAE and Lennon to continue their progression and not to get to comfy in the team. A top striker would be great. I would turn the tables on Chelski and put bids in for Chelski for Drogba and or Torres. Otherwise a super star striker from abroad such as Damaio would send a message to our competitors we mean business and are not prepared to stay still.
Happy New Year to all Lillywhites. 80 points plus by the end of the season please and see where it takes us, oh, plus an FA Cup. I don't ask too much do I?
COYS!!!!
Mixing it up was definitely a major player in the result. Walkers first season with us the boy hasn't had a rest. Vdv clearly needs a rest in some games with his hamstring problems. Parker again should be rested on the bench for such games with Sandro to step in. The problem is lack of a wide player to cover on the right. We've looked unsteady since Morris has left his central position. Round pegs square holes again. Playing Sandra and midriff and drafting in kranjcar would've had more balance and not diluted Modrics effect.
Great post spooks... good comments too. I think everyone can see that we need to rest certain players, Parker, VDV Walker, HR really doesnt like rotation, we have a strong squad probably our strongest ever we need to utilise it properly, rest Parker and play Sandro, when king is fit play him and Gallas and The loose cannonboul at right back in order to give Walker a rest, give Defoe a few games and rest VDV's hamstrings.
It's been an unbelievable year lets make 2012 even better COYS !!
I've been saying for a few games now we haven't been at 100% and start to look leggy. Kranjcar surely can have a role in coming in now, as you say Sandro can more than cover for Parker without a real drop in quality and when Hudd is back we can let Modric rest. It's more a concern in the striker dept and at the back. Rafa didn't back himself to take the ball on when Adebeyor played him clear through and struck way to early. Defense wise we're never far off of playing people out of position to cover, with Gallas ageing, King injury prone and Bassong just not good enough we desperately need at least two suitable first teamer's in the summer. I wouldn't mind if Levy stumped up the cash for Vorm as a long term replacement for Friedel though.
If bale wasn't so fcuking greedy ade would be sticking um away for fun!
Did you write this spooky?
WTF does Kranjcar have to do to get some time on the pitch?
I promised not too use the word TUT too describe what i no is behind shock results but if i don't then our season could be ruined by it and i would feel even worse than i do now. I cant share your theory we gained a point we lost two valuable points to a team who made us look jaded. When our fans looked at the team sheets they must have thought this will be another three points not me i shit myself and couldn't watch the game on Triffic. When you watch our team you mark our players on how well they played and before the game and how good the opposition players are and i would do the same thing. That was till i discovered one off our main rivals using a supplement to increase there work rate . What staggered me was that i could find out about this form of cheating and four seasons since only two players Kolo Toure and Paddy Kenny have bean caught in England. The reason was explained to me when i reported this team who where one of the famous top four Cartel for years by a lady and part of the then testers Uk Sport who admitted it was rife but just under the radar of there urine testing in other words not enough of the substance too ban offenders. I thought this was a cop out but i later found out her statement was true and all these energy drinks and masking agents found in Kolo Toures sample are one of the reason. no my fellow fans find this hard too believe and god noes i find it hard technically and mentally hard too keep saying this over and over again. But if i can stop one team stealing points from us by alerting others too the tell tale signs of this form of blatant energy cheating then i will keep repeating and reminding fans because the alternative is another 5th place and our stars leaving for another team. I told my fellow fans points would be harder too get during and after Christmas not just because of new signings by clubs we have too play but because of fear of relegation and not getting into the top four. How are these teams gaining from this extra energy well one way is by being able to defend in numbers and attack or in Swanseas case keep the ball away from the opposition for long periods and hope too sneak a draw or a one or two nil win. If we don't wise up or join in our season will go down hill fast and games we should win will become defeats or draws. Arsenal and Liverpool have got the frenetic tempo required to stop these lesser teams getting upsets and even they are finding it hard too win points. This is because the more desperate the team the more energy is taken and the risk of getting caught increases but the fear of losing a lot of wages through relegation softens the worry of being caught. These results are not a shock too me what is no one is questioning why Blackburn have suddenly drawn at Liverpool and Beat Utd how Wigan drew at Stoke 2-2 with ten men for the last twenty mins. Aston Villa beating Chelsea. Why Swansea can make six changes drop there leading scorer and play players who have only played two games yet makes us look ordinary would worry me greatly if i thought Swansea's reserves where better players than third place Spurs. You have too decide if i am right and results are because our teams are all very good including little Swansea reserves are better than our first team.Next up are another team who's work rate will increase dramatically West brom and we need to be ready for this.
Davspur please use paragraphs in your rants. Swansea didnt out run us they outpassed us and made us look average. Running stats would be very similar with or without energy drinks, drugs or anything else.
"Swansea didnt out run us they outpassed us and made us look average."
This.
We got outplayed. That was the most frustrating part of it. Getting a point was a lucky result. They could have and should have had more. We didn't have too many serious opportunities and converted on a lucky goal off a defender's arse. Still we did battle hard and for that I see our excursion to Swansea as mostly positive despite dropped points.
Is Parker fit? If so I still think we should rest him.
Would like to see Pienaar given a run, even if only to prove that he doesn't belong anywhere near the pitch.
Is Parker fit? If so I still think we should rest him.
Would like to see Pienaar given a run, even if only to prove that he doesn't belong anywhere near the pitch.
Jan 1, 2012 at 3:21 PM | nycyid
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Nycyid;
You are very generous. However, was there at least one game where he showed anything? If it was I certainly missed that one. Your suggestion would be comparable with..."let's give Nico run of games to prove that he's as good a runner as he's a passer". I think most of fans know what the outcome would be.
Regarding our defense rotation, did anyone ever see RB Kumalo play in our shirt? I didn’t. However, at the time of him coming to Spurs there was a load of praise for his game, and, besides Charlie, he might be another “breather” for Kyle. The other two quality youngsters we have on our books are another Kyle (right side back or midfielder) and Caulker (young Woody). They seem toughened up enough to be part of the team rotation either now or in the next season. Only, the question is if we can pull them back from loan.
Fair point beetle but I thought he was very good for Everton a couple of seasons ago.
On the subject of knowing what the outcome would be, we've seen enough of Charlie to know he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the field in my opinion. Get rid.
I must say my mind was in a bit of a tizzy due to this weekend's other results. I know they say you shouldn't pay too much mind to what the other teams are doing but City reminds me of us that season we scored loads of goals in the first half of the season and then were bone dry for the rest...last season or the one before, was it? Hopefully they'll be on a continuing decline never the less. A gooner was taunting me today about how we're about to embark on a bad spell, but with the way we've been bouncing back, we just might be all right.
I am highly interested to see what comes out of the transfer window. I haven't seen as many names pushed at us as usual. Someone was going on about Higuain, I'm almost certain that'll never happen despite how much I would like it to. Kaka was another name mentioned, can't see him running in our kit either to be honest. We need to get rid of Pav and Pienaar. I'm in between minds about us loaning out Townsend, but I guess it's good for him to get a consistent run of games...
Echo the comments about Niko. Would love to see him in more.
Spooky--I assume you'll do a post on some thoughts about who you'd like to see leave/come in in January? I'd be curious for yours and others' thoughts.
Can't believe no one has said anything about Livermore. I've not seen anything to impress me, or think he is much chop for the future. Why he came on instead of pretty much anyone else staggers me. I really thought he was useless, perhaps worse than useless. Harmful.
I see a lot of people giving it grief over our results and players and whatever but what I see is that we have gone through the Christmas period unbeaten and in third place. I can't recall that situation recently (liberal use of the word) but do remember many Christmas periods where I felt we were on the verge of something and then found we couldn't climb the stairs let alone the table after Santa had been and gone.
I am hearing a lot of talk about challenges for the title, the top six (ha ha) and Liverpool still being contenders. I even heard one commentator today saying that if the gooners win today they will be level with Spurs but failing to mention that they need to have played two games more than us to achieve that feat. there seems to be a sort of collective insanity around at the moment and yes, we slipped up at Swansea but we took a point. Historically us slipping up meant coming away with F.A.. I just feel that we are in good shape, still a lot to learn, still a way to go but looking good with the prospect of a healthy 2012.
Happy New Year
I was concerned when Harry took off Parker (too late IMO) and replaced him with Livermore. Then he played the ill-disciplined Livermore further forward than Parker, thus giving an already-rampant Swansea more space to run into. I would have brought on Daws (welcome back!), and moved the Bull forward alongside Sandro (that's a powerful partnership); he would have been just as good sat a little further forward, and would have allowed Luka (who is amazingly aware of the balance between attack and defence) to push on a bit. We do need to remember that the best form of defence in these situations is attack. and we didn't do it enough. When the midget arrived, it seemed unclear whether he would be up front or Adeboyar. A few quibbles re. players. Harry should dress the increasingly sloppy Bale down a bit (he seems to be too readily convinced by Harry bigging him up) and introduce him to the idea of becoming unpredictable in a useful way ..... and BAE has been slowly draining away for about three games now ... we need a well-thought programme of resting individuals without disrupting our shape.
Its time for Arry to rotate his players much better........
For all Parker has done this year, he looked gassed out there from the beginning and Arry should probably have rolled w/ just Sandro and maybe a more natural wing-midfielder like Pienaar or Gio
DItto on Ade............SHould have given Defoe the start ............
But props to VDV and his effort out there ........maybe he is starting to get it and serve his purpose to the team in the MF.
At the end of the day, get 3 vs West Brom and 7 out of 9 over the Holidays w/ a massive fixture H vs Everton next is simply a very positive outcome. COYS