A day to forget, yet worth remembering
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 1:46PM I've re-posted the match review of the 1-5 home defeat against City (it's a little further down). I think I knee-jerked a little in places (that's the magic of hindsight) but more of a controlled knee-jerk than all-out effigy burning voodoo doll pinning.
A day to forget, yet in many ways the catalyst for the run that now finds us sitting pretty in 3rd and aspiring for more. We made the necessary additions prior to the transfer window closing which birthed a solid fluent midfield that has been a roaring engine ever since. Perhaps in need of an oil change, but it's incredible how finely tuned you can become when slotting in the right ilk of player(s) into the side (and sometimes struggle when said players are missing).
We still need to consolidate for the remaining games ahead. It's not just about the next game. Momentum is paramount which means its the performance that matters more so than the result (although the latter is still key to truly making a statement of intent).
City are however a far stronger unit of players with extraordinary wealth of depth (ignore Mancini and his complaints). No shame in defeat as long as we're not bending over after handing them the lube. But the very thought of defeat, I'd rather not entertain. Like I said, we have a right to expect something out of the game. I'm sure our players will believe that to be the case too. Especially because of the spanking dished out to us at the Lane.
It's a Galáctico type of game (not in any way as supernova as any given El Clasico). But when comparing both sides, like for like...there's some tasty match-ups and plenty of match-winning talent and show-piece skill on display. And although they excel in certain areas (more so than us) we can arguably go toe-to-toe with them. Up front, they'll have an obvious advantage. But they're missing key players in key areas (Toure and Kompany). I'm hoping we play it on the ground (no requirement for the hoof), push patiently forwards and look to get the ball out to Bale and Lennon with Modric involved as much as possible in the centre. It's going to be bruising in there, shame there's no Sando. Have to hope Parker re-discovers his tempo. I'd rather not think too much about Dawson facing Dzeko and Aguero.
Luka v David in the battle of the influential.
If King plays, we win.
van der Vaart's form and subsequent (hopeful) impact in this game is also imperative - what with us starting Defoe up top, Rafa will have to make sure he moves into forward positions rather than get lost in deeper ones. We have to find ways to pressure Savic.
We have to adapt (no Adebayor) and continue to make do without other key players (although King might yet be the surprise inclusion).
Is this make or break? Of course not. Mainly because I'm not sure what this is meant to make or break. Other than perhaps the morning after headlines. February in it's entirety will make or break. Let's not lose sight of the marathon.
Few are expecting an upset (City's home record testament to that - ten out of ten). So we've got nothing to lose. I mean that. Go for the glory. It's the Tottenham way. Although that might involve plenty of pragmatism, with midfield possession and counter-attacks rather than romantic notions of gallivanting and swashbuckle. Worth noting that in the last two games up there, its been intense and tightly fought. It won't be easy for us. Equally so, for them.
For now, sink your head into your hands and sigh ever so gently if you so wish to remind yourself of the debacle of the 1-5. On (super) Sunday however, hold your head up high and believe. We are Tottenham.
I'm buzzing off the hype. Feet still on ground. I'll only levitate if applicable at the final whistle.
Positive
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.
Crisis? 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.
We've come a long way baby.
Love the shirt.
Reader Comments (57)
"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."
Almost prophetic...
If we avoid some moments of lack of concentration in the defense, we have good chances to win the game.
Key to winning this is bale actually doing his job and stay out wide instead of offering nothing and disrupting the whole balance of the side in the middle
Ossie I think your completely wrong about bale, he has alot to offer when coming inside, just look at how Benny has been overlapping him and getting the crosses in, aswel as when Lennon cuts in central and walker overlaps. Adds a totally new depth to our game, allows Lennon bale modric and even vdv to move around freely in the final third and I think all of their games have improved since they've started working this system.
On note of tomorrow's game I think if king plays and we keep our heads in it for the 90minutes we have a bloody good chance to make a real statement, and put ourselves 8pts clear of 4th in the process. 2-1 spurs win, vdv and Defoe the goalscorers. COYS
i cant see us losing tomorrow,siteh have key men out and this is a massive test for them, they're at home and are favourites to win,their 100% home record has to end at some point and i have a feeling it could be tomorrow.
Hi all, long time reader first time poster. first of all, keep up the good work, this is deffo one of the better and well balanced blogs. my biggest worry for tomorrow is the amount of drum beating in the media by our players. all saying how we r not afraid and have a chance. in my spurs following experience this usually precedes disaster. no matter, enjoying the season so far more than any other. coys!!!!!
We are at City so we got to expect them to attack and us to be on the defensive for a good part of the game.
So if we can have King, Parker, and Sandro all fit that should keep us solid defensively alongside Kaboul, Friedel, Benny. Walker tends to be the weak link defensively so they will probably target him. But if they are all fit we are about as strong as we can be defensively given the squad.
Up front without Ade we have nobody to hold the ball up so our attack will probably have an emphasis on the pacey counter attack rather than the usual(Ade hold up>everyone moves forward>pass and move in the final third>goal chances). The nearest equivalent we can play is the ball into the channels for Lennon/Bale/Defoe to run on to. But it is a bit more hit and miss than aiming for Ade's head/chest so the ball will come straight back a lot more often.
With Ade and the above all fit I would fancy us to win the game. Not strongly, but enough. Without him I am not sure where the goals come from. So the key for me is the striker which is probably either VDV or Defoe. We will likely need at least one goal from whichever starts to get something from the game.
1-1 - Rafa van Der Vaart scoring for us - COYS!
Bale for me will play in a free role off Defoe. I would even employ him in the Ade position and bring in Rose, if Sandro doesn't make it. I always thought he should play LMF when he was playing at LB and I now believe he would fit in as an emergency 'up front man' if needed. City will be nervous about this game. Come on you Spurs.
Bale is great in the centre /right most places, however the point people miss is that when he is there we lose the width on the left and the shape of the team with Modric and VDV aready roaming.
Brilliant post city article. Not over the top atall. Your faith after that game have been proved to well founded. Keep up the good work. Thorougly enjoy the read.
Let's not be worried about this. There is no pressure on us. All the pressure is on city and they don't fancy this game. They will be happy with a draw. Have faith in our team. It really is now or never and players like vdv know. Expect strong leadership from him. Expect 2 0 to spurs unless Harry bottles it and settles for a draw ( after we go ahead and he tries to defend a narrow lead). All out attack let's kill them. Coys!
Let's not be worried about this. There is no pressure on us. All the pressure is on city and they don't fancy this game. They will be happy with a draw. Have faith in our team. It really is now or never and players like vdv know. Expect strong leadership from him. Expect 2 0 to spurs unless Harry bottles it and settles for a draw ( after we go ahead and he tries to defend a narrow lead). All out attack let's kill them. Coys!
Sorry damn iPad fucked up and double posted!
I think if we are going to get anything out of this game we need to score first. I would prefer Bale out on the left with the formation we've been so successful with over the course over the season. Recently we've got too narrow and aside from the Norwich game Bale drifting into the middle has made it too congested so please out and out wingers with crosses coming in for Defoe or Rafa/Luka out on the edge of the box. Its not make or break for us by any means but a win would help out our cause for the Champs league spot and who knows where else. COYS!
Rafa and Defoe - take your chances, don't pass, don't drop deep, just shoot.
King will sort defence, and Luka will sort midfield, your job is goals.
We will make chances, you got to score them, that is it.
COYS!!
Very good first half from us but toothless up front without Ade. Pedestrian up front like watching us last season. The only surprise in that is for people like Souness+Neville who don't seem to have cottoned on to how vital Adebayor has been to our play in the final third.
Not sure where our goal is going to come from but VDV + Defoe have shown nothing first half. But all in all a very good first half from us. COYS !!
90:00+3:38 Mario Balotelli fouled by Ledley King, the ref awards a Penalty.
The irony is killing me.
Great comeback. Unlucky at the end. Points aside we can take heart that we at least matched them and Newcastle let slip a 12 point lead so nothing is decided yet.
Slight revision to us relying on Ade. We can score without Ade when opponents open up like City did today at 2-0. But for breaking the door down against 9 man defences like we usually face we can't do without his magic and hold up play.
Defoe need to play in platform heels.
Hope Ledley don't take it bad. Nothing he could do really.
Hard to take that one. Hopefully ballotelli will be punished for that on video evidence. Could have won that we still don't seem to believe enough in ourselves against big teams.
How's our luck then. Ballotelli shouldn't have been on the pitch. I'm gutted.
After Defoe miss I texted mate "We're going to rue that." I meant at the end of the season, not in the last 20 seconds. Gutted doesn't come close to describing all of it.
Heads up though, we showed courage and determination. That's what we'll need moving forward. COYS.
20 seconds from being the first team to get anything in the league at the Etihad...... gutted.
Balotelli's proved himself to be a dirty git once again. Hope that he gets suspension from FA on video evidence, but that won't help us.
Great display of determination to get back into the game though. Let's hope we get something out of the other big games next month.
Big winner today I reckon is United. Bans for Balotelli and Lescott coming.
I think today showed that we don't really have anywhere near the depth in our squad to seriously challenge for a title. Who could Harry have possibly brought on to give our attack anything different? When you consider the players they have out and the fact that Mancini could bring Balotelli in to give us a handful. When you consider that United has so much depth at all positions. We just aren't there yet and of course it's largely about money.
But positives were that we played with a lot of heart and grit and f*ck me, if Defoe had put that in we would have won.
Oh, and the fact that Balotelli shouldn't have even been on the pitch.
Howard Webb, the fact that you have a serial inability to see that kind of stuff makes me think it's time for early retirement.
Levy needs to open the vault and buy a couple refs. We have be Foyed and Webbed. Only the officials can stop us they're doing a dam good job at it.
"90:00+3:38 Mario Balotelli fouled by Ledley King, the ref awards a Penalty.
The irony is killing me."
My my mortal wound was receieved on 68 minutes: With the score at 2-2 and the momentum going our way, we made a defensive sub. Defend a draw for 22+ minutes? Yeah, that always works for Spurs. A strategy consistent with the approach to the first half, play for a nil all draw. Which always works for Spurs.
In words of one syllable, when we play for a draw, we lose.
I could add something about the wisdom of having a midget lead the line, but I'm off to have my skull trepaned before it actually explodes.
I actually thought Aguero fouled Ledley when the ball was bouncing over his head. Anyway, nothing anyone can do about the result now. Poor defending for both City goals, but the fightback was truly heartening. Defoe's miss will be stopping me from sleeping tonight though. Width of a post between away from glory. Lady luck is a mercenary whore.
NYC, Lescott should have been off even earlier...
Lads looked gutted...hope they can bounce back.
Ayup - Harry screwed the pooch on that Livermore for vdV sub. Unless Rafa was somehow hurt, I think you let him go the full 90 in this one. If you needed fresh legs for defense, bring him on for Parker (if you have to). Man City got lucky with the anti-Tott assignment of Webb and they know it. King involved with the PK / Balotelli - now that is just cruel and a hard one to take...
Rafa was our only starter to have an off game today and deserved to be subbed.
But to make an attacking sub you need someone on the bench.
All we had was lazy Pav as an option which is no option at all unless we are playing part timers.
If Demba Ba for example was on our bench then an attacking substitution is possible.
Or any half decent striker tbh. But we don't have that option at present.
"If Demba Ba for example was on our bench"--and had been sitting on said bench except for the early in season Europa run outs (when he scored) or odd ten minute cameos (when he scored), how much of an attacking option would he still be?
"If King plays, we win."
I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.
Lack of game time makes Pav look bad?
Well Adebayor had not even kicked a ball in months after being froze out by Mancini when he made his debut for Spurs, yet played great and even scored. Been a vital player for us all season too.
Good players don't need excuses. They just do it.
Fire away my friend. Fire away.
COYS, so you're okay with us being a one man team? A borrowed man at that? What happens if Ade gets injured? What happens next season when he won't take a wage cut and goes some place else? When we play for a draw, we lose. Among all the traditional Spurs "weaknesses" that have gradually gone away, this one remains. When we go out looking for a draw, we lose.
Out of curiosity, how many among you think/thought we have/had an actual shot at the title?
Good weekend of results for a top 4 finish. Apart from our own that is.... :-(
Long way to go and still on for the double :-)
Ziege, this is what happens when you go for everything on the cheap Levy-style. Get a player on loan and he can't play in the most critical match of the season.
We aren't exactly a one-man squad but we pretty much do when it comes to challenging a top club with deep pockets. If Ade were able to play today we would have had been able to have some sort of option aside from a sulking useless Russian on the bench. You can't challenge for the title with a squad that really has little to offer after the first 13 or so.
Nevertheless, this is one of the best if not the best Spurs side of all time. I'm thrilled by everything the team has accomplished. I hope that they don't get down from this but rather they see it as proof that we really are challengers (if not actual contenders). I want to see us keep pushing on but I don't have any delusions about the title.
Ha! Nice one Big Fish.
Been reading some pundits who are not sure Balotelli stamp was deliberate. Well, pretty clear that he makes contact with his other foot first and then stamps backwards knowing Parker is in that spot. Deliberate attempt to stamp on a player - might not have known he'd make contact with Parker's head, but still a clear red card offence and far worse than Henry's for Wolves yesterday. Posthumous ban likely, but no use to us is it?
Another game against the big boys refereed by Webb, once again his ineptitude is the talking point. It's beyond me why he is so highly rated
Don't know why VDV was subbed, and if JD was two inches taller he would have got his foot round the ball.
Gutted.
Big Fish, don't forget--as Ziegemonster pointed out--that lady garden Lescott was lucky to still be on the pitch as well
Good point NYC. Lescott was up for doing some damage today too. Forearm smash - Mick McManus wouldve been proud of that one.
Another big match reffed by Coward Webb and another "if only" evening...
NYC, good points re your 6:25 post. I think I was already getting a bit fed up with winning ugly so it really pisses me off when we start losing ugly (this the second match in four where the commentators have been basically apologizing for Spurs less than stylish play. That's embarassing, cause it's true and so extreme even those tossers have picked up on it). I knew from ten minutes in that a draw was the aim and figured we would lose. So when, against all expectation (who would have thought Joe Hart would screw up like that and Bale would briefly remember he's wonderboy) we did claw back those two goals and looked good to go on and maybe just win because that's what glory glory is all about, I was quite euphoric.
Prior to those two goals, Harry had Pavs warming up. After those two goals, he brings on a defensive mid instead and I lost my mind, swearing, throwing things at the TV, screaming slanderous spittle flecked rants about oil shieks buying judges for friends prepared to them a small favor, etc. Totally lost it. Still haven't seen one of the cats since...
But, forwards aside (and I've been bitching about that for, oh, years) this is a good even excellent side. The confidence, the ability to come back having conceded is great to see. But like Norwich against Chelsea, I just get the sense that if they and we had truly come out swinging, ready to win, not hoping to draw, both canaries and cockerels would be whistling a happier tune tonight. I think the players know it too.
No, I did not think we would win the league this year, but contending for it increased the likelihood of champions league and makes us more attractive to new players for next season. 'Cause there is a next season. we do need to strengthen, and, unlike some people, I'll still be here and still be Spurs.
PS "Lady garden Lescott" LOL!!!
I an amazed that some are trying to defend Balotelli, with the "we don't what he is thinking". I am happy with performance
nyc, for me the title was always a pipe dream - 4th is the goal. You can't fault Levy for running a tight ship but if we don't make the Champions League, we can forget about keeping players like Modric and Bale much less attract top new ones to the Lane.
Some thoughts of the game:
Well done lads. We did everything we could but everything that could go against us did. I would like to say a big Thank You for a good days' work.
This bodes well but we must not give up.
Where to start? Well Webb didnt help and it was fated that he didnt spot the thuggery of Lescott and Balo. At the least justice must be done and the deliberate acts be punished, surely?
Everyone was immense but having said that we have such poor strength in depth in comparison. We take off Lennon and VdV but bring on Livermore and Pienaar, whats wrong with Niko and or Pav?
HR should not have changed at that time we had momentum but then i'm not the manager and maybe both of them were tired or some other reason.
This is not our year but Champions League is a must. Our resolve is unbelievable even i thought we would lose by 3 or 4 but the lads proved me wrong:-)
The entertainment value is great! We are the neutrals' favourite even though any Liverpool loss or gossip regarding Torres' hairstyle gets more press space than any victory but that is slowing changing.
This should show HR that we need to rotate more, and use our youth more. Pains me to see rusty Pienaar coming in and dont even get me started on Niko. Would it kill him to use the likes of Defoe and Niko and Pav more often and rest some of the first team from time to time.
Word on Livermore and Walker. Both were found out today. Pains me to say Nasri outfoxed him for the first goal and Jake needs to be able to shield the ball better from people like Barry Milner and Silva. I hope they learn from today and continue to improve.
Interested to see how the next 2 weeks pan out. Harry's not allowed to be anywhere other than court until the verdict is delivered. Means that Joe & Kevin are preparing the team for the Watford game and presumably Wigan next week.
The FA have to come down heavy on the two acts of thuggery. They deserve 4 game bans each. We could possibly catch them if that happened.
Balotelli wont get any ban, they will say the ref saw the incident and deemed it to not be a foul.
If they retrospectively gave Balotelli a ban they are basically admitting that the game should have been a draw, it would cause too much controversy.
So I seem to be the only one that thinks the Livermore sub was an astute move? For my mind, without condensing the midfield we could have been on either side of a 4-2 result. As it was, once he came on, we controlled the following 20 mins, and it was only the first mistake in about a decade from King Ledley that let them in.
Another game of ifs and maybes, but this is still an enjoyable ride and as good as we've had it in years.