Oh my days, we won a game at Bolton.
Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 9:08PM Bolton 1 Spurs 4
An away win, the first since December and our first at Bolton since Sky Sports invented modern football. Okay, so sure, Bolton are awful compared to the bullish physical side that has always made sure we get nothing up there but having comfortably beaten Blackburn at the Lane without having to dig too deep it was good to see us do the same here. Our hosts displayed fight, unlike Rovers. We had a wobble early doors second half, but came through it. A flurry of punches from them failing to do any damage. Three quick uppercuts our response. Floored. I hope they pick themselves up and avoid survive the count.
Emotional stuff before the kick-off with Fabrice walking out onto the pitch. The Spurs Drum was apparently smuggled into the ground, then confiscated after 30 minutes. Spurs won't be too impressed after their explicit instructions that no drum is allowed (home and away). That and the fact the 'Y' rhythm was played. Tut tut. Got next to no chance of ever seeing it return to the Lane.
Our defending is still not that great but going forward we appear to have rediscovered the simple things that can be so effective. Spacial awareness, wingers on the flanks crossing the ball for players attacking the box. Quick precise counters. Smart and tidy one touch from midfield to attack that sees the players instinctively run into space to pass the ball onwards with intent.
A similar confident display (excluding the opening six or so minutes in the second half) away to Villa and it's all smiles with a hearty farewell to that almighty blip that almost killed our season. It still hangs in the balance, but this is a far better position to be in than a month back.
The goal from Luka (from a corner no less) was sublime. Is there a way to fit him into a system so that he isn't anchored too deep? He doesn't score many but when he does he leaves you thinking how many he could score if he played more offensively. Then again, he wouldn't dictate the tempo as much if he found himself lurking outside the box. Perhaps when Spurs are bossing he can sacrifice himself to the giddy heights of the area around the penalty box.
He did make one mistake in the game, leaving Reo-Coker free early in the second half for the equaliser but he made up for it with a brilliant assist releasing Lennon on the opposite flank to cross for Adebayor (3-1). In amongst the goals, a van der Vaart textbook pass into the net (2-1) and another Adebayor close finish from a Bale cross (4-1). Bang, bang bang. All over in the space of nine minutes. Clinical Spurs of the Fall, how I've missed you.
Sandro was again a beast this time without vomit. Adebayor, the paradox, scores and assists across the season (in patches) and has a first touch that has me pulling the hair out of other people (because I have no hair left on my head to pull). But still more effective than anything we've had since the last time we went out and signed a quality forward.
Lennon got better as the game progressed. Bale roamed and swapped but showed how important staying out left can be when the players around him are equally hungry but disciplined positionally. There might not be enough time left in the season to truly capture the rapturous solid full pelt flow of pre-blip, but this might just do. One journalist made a joke on Twitter when Spurs were 1-1 and on the ropes that it was because Harry was being linked to the England job, before the joke cut away with irony (what with Harry no longer linked as the job is gone). Further irony then that Spurs finally woke up which means it must be because there is no possibility of Three Lions, just the one cockerel dusting its self off. No follow up joke from the journo to balance out the comedy digs.
One point is now the monumental gap between us and third although only 4th spot is up for grabs. Woolwich won't drop points (hex). Chelsea look out of it (in terms of a league placing) after two ridiculous Cisse goals (apparently their announcer proclaimed pre-match that Chelsea would move into 4th spot when Spurs lose to Bolton...bless 'em). Pardew's men have the tricky remaining fixtures. I guess the shock would be them beating City on the weekend. Three points at Villa is now imperative. Let's just win the next two games because what happens elsewhere is beyond our control.
So where does this leave us, generally speaking?
Our away record across the past three seasons has been better than anything in the past 20 or so. As good as we've ever had it? Let's bury this fallacy once and for all. It's not as good as we've ever had it. Not when the 1990s and early 2000s were so abject. It's hardly difficult to call this Spurs side the best we've had in a long time when you look back to the ones we've had to endure sitting in mid-table going nowhere fast. We are simply playing to the standard that we've wanted to see since the 1980s left us forever. As good for some fans in their life time, perhaps, but that doesn't mean we gleefully accept and not want to push for more. Why should we be so defeatist ? This should never be about one man's ego but always about Tottenham and what we strive to be and play for. Glory.
It was as good as we've had in the past 20 years when pushing for 4th back in 2010. It's now better than it was that season but there is so much room for improvement, achievable improvement. Seems fairly obvious to me. Aim higher. Get better. Achieve more. Look how far off the top we are and yet we hardly took Europe and the League Cup seriously. Remove uncertainty and bulk the squad up rather than playing a game of cat and mouse nobody can decipher. That's a call to chairman and manager to take responsibility.
Harry is now focused on us having given up on England. Shocker. Although depending on the media, Hodgson and the England players there is no way you can discount another twist in a year or so. So if we are stuck with him, then it's back to accepting his strengths and his failings. Although he is not the most tactically astute or consistent with strategy (which means he might never have it in him to better 4th spot) we still compete. But you can't proclaim a title push one day and then admit we're lucky to be 4th the next. Harry will continue to be a short term custodian of team affairs, from one season to the next, reactive to whatever is happening at any given time. There might be no other manager out there that could do any better, but there might be one that could perhaps plan for the long term and allow this team to make that further step up.
If Levy believes in the gaffer and backs him, then so be it. I'll follow and support. We won't have a choice. Would be the more most prudent fiscal decision to make even if there are many that would prefer someone brand new to take the helm.
For now, I'll happily accept a smug Harry sound-bite on Champions League qualification, telling us all 'told you so'.
For now, all that matters is the next game.
I'm away until Tuesday, might log onto Twitter if I'm sober. Might log onto Twitter if I'm drunk.
Reader Comments (75)
All down to Arry not getting the England vacancy,funny how the afternon Roy gets approached..Spurs start playing like a team 2 games running!
I think it may be shtwitter if you're drunk!
In Harry we trust.......................Oh no we don't..............
Our elongated blip is most definately over thank the lord or the FA for opting for Roy.... It does seem strange that while all the speculation was going on we have our major blip Modders plays like he doesnt want to be there VDV lows hot & cold, more cold than hot, these are players that have stated their love for HR and if they think he is off it must effect their game.... Now it's confirmed he is staying they are all playing to their potential again. Anyway it looks like we have got him for the immediate future and if we can take this form into our next 2 games I will be very happy.... Spooky you say that the Arse will not drop points, it's rare that I disagree with you but I feel their last game against the Baggies is a potential banana skin, they don't do very well up there & it's Roy''s last game in charge, I really fancy them to give him a good leavIng present.
Well what can one say dear chaps... The minute Harry is linked to the England job (bar Newcasle) we started to lose, then Harry loses to Hodgson, then we start winning.
I said before on this blog that I would never forgive Harry for putting us fans through the humiliating mill, and will only forgive if we finish 3rd. I have this sneaky feeling the Arses will mess up and we take 3rd, and all is forgiven. So COYS :-)
I forgot to wish you a happy 5 th birthday... Here's to the next 5 years, I just love reading your posts on our great club.... Best blogger by a country mile, keep em coming.
Pay back for 05/06 is on the cards. Gooners get stomach bug (well, shit themselves anyway) in final day drama end up in the Europa league! Watch this space. We've got our new Tottenham back!
Here's my dream for the next few weeks. We and Newcastle win our remaining games. Norwich get at least a point on Saturday. Liverpool win on Saturday and next week. Bayern win Champions League. Means ManU win the league, but I think I prefer that to it being won by MoneyCity. Just hope the dream doesn't turn to a nightmare.
FA very much in the spotlight for their poor handling of the whole England/Redknapp affair. Many pundits pointing the finger at them for the Spurs slump. Reckon we might get some sympathetic refereeing until the end of the season. Spurs get Champions League and FA will be off the hook.
Just saying....
Well done Spurs, glad to see they remember how to play football still. Two more games to not fuckup, let's do it. As for Redknapp, apparently VDV wants the git to stay, so I guess he must be doing something right...what, I will never know. If the team like him, I suppose that's more important than how I or the fans feel about him. I'll save my discontent for when he says something stupid to the media next.
Once again Spooky, well put. The only Spurs blog I read that makes any sense.
Lucky for some, getting drunk for the extended weekend! Some of us have exams...due to your extended absence I guess that leaves us to write the Villa pre-view. Any takers?
I venture that it will be similar to when we dicked them at home. Fingers crossed, touching non-sexual wood.
So if we get top 4, chelsea finish 5 or 6 and lose in munich does Modric still want to move?
Finch - It will be interesting to see who Chelsea sign should they end up just in the Europa League. It will definitely pinpoint players who move for the money rather than a title/CL tilt. First one already done - Marin..... Chelsea don't even have a permanent manager and sit in 6th, yet he's signed for them. Then again, that's just Roman dictating who he wants rather than a manager having any say in matters.
Personally, I think we should look at trying to get Lukaku from them this summer......
Not sure that Hodgson getting the job ahead of motor-mouth has inspired the players to start playing again; Blackburn and Bolton are in the relegation zone for a reason, but the timing would certainly suggest so.
As Bimi says, it's the players' opinions which count, if they're happy with Redknapp and get results, there's not a lot you can argue with. As long as Redknapp keeps it buttoned, and stops belittling the the club, I could just about handle one more season of him.
Much rather he fucked off with egg all over his mush though.
Every time we win out comes the tapping noises why is City courting Bale when there is two games to go . I forecast this after the whistle went and its designed to upset Bale by tapping his brain so he plays shite and apart from his pass to Van he is obliging maybe 170,000 Ady showed Bale his pay slip and turned his head if he leaves the ankle will collapse when he returns to play Spurs Sandro will see to that and Walker and Lennon wont let hi pass. Together we win divided we fail Harry has said he is going no whare
agree that the tapping up seems designed to throw us off balance as soon as we get momentum. Rio, Rooney especially rabbitting about Harry for England back in Feb. Im sure Jack the lad tweeted somethnig similar as well. Now it's Bale. But the biggest villians in all this are the FA. They only care about their Big 4/5 and we aren't in that. Everyone else who threatens the status quo can expect dodgy decisions and general mischievious goings on. Actually Im v surprised that Chels were made to play our semi on the Sun nite, you'd have thought Gig 4 protocol wuold have allowed them to move it as suits.
Anyway let's see how the decisions go in ours and the goons remaining 2 games. A naughty line call here, an easy penalty there..
Dixta you have the same gift paranormal you must have been a Norther Soul DancerHaaaaaaaaaaaaagggrrreat Coys spoil the TAPPING pour some oil on it that will stop it no slip ups two wins and i will blow a gasket.
@ big Fish - I think it was the media that whipped up the Harry for England storm and everyone else bought into it, including us. The FA did say they would take their time in appointing a new England boss and kept pretty much schtum throughout
"But you can't proclaim a title push one day and then admit we're lucky to be 4th the next. Harry will continue to be a short term custodian of team affairs, from one season to the next, reactive to whatever is happening at any given time. There might be no other manager out there that could do any better, but there might be one that could perhaps plan for the long term and allow this team to make that further step up"
To be fair Spook, Harry never proclaimed a title push, now did he? The associated press did, you know, the lot that proclaimed Harry to be the next England manager, and links Tottenham to every striker in the world, and yes.... we are lucky to be 4th. Newcastle have a goal machine and yet we're above them on goal difference only! As for the 'further step' - What is it? Winning Champions League? or becoming a persistent top 4 club?
We'll finish in the top 4 this season without a doubt.....Newcastle will not beat Man City.. allowing us to lose to either Fulham or Villa, I'm guessing Fluham!!. The next step (in my eyes) has already been taken, when have we ever refused to sell a player?? That stance is how we grow, sprout legs and move on, all we need to do now is target, tie up and sign players before 12pm deadline day , instead of our customary long and protracted transfer NIGHTMARE, which incidentally has nothing to do with Harry....
Final thought
The whole world (apart from the obvious) thought and overwhelmingly agreed that Harry should be next England manager, pundits, players, ex-players, fans alike.....The FA thought different....The FA
I see Harry has come out today and says that 'Modric must stay'. Now that smells of Levy having had a word with him. Last week he was saying that Modric wanted to go. This man is an enigma. One minute we are contenders for the title, the next we are lucky to get 4th. If he stays, then Levy has to be able to control his mutterings because after all, they need to be seen to be on the one wavelength. A friend of mine once said 'if you weren't in control of any senior member of staff, then you weren't in control of the job they were running'. That goes for Daniel Levy; if he's not in control of Harry (which has been the case), then he's not in control of THFC, and he hasn't been for the entirety of the 2010/2011 or the 2011/2012 seasons. Harry has to toe the line and be seen to be in accord with Levy, and vise-versa.
I think you are wrong there cookiebun. It is about teamwork. That is what Harry and Levy need to do and have done very successfully. Good and effective teamwork is not about one person telling and the other listening. It is about working together, challenging each other, agreeing and disagreeing. Sometimes they might not get on but that friction is creative. The success is the proof of that. Being a doormat helps nobody there are ups and downs in any working relationship.
But they don't have to walk down the aisle together. Just do the best with what they have. And they have worked it out very successfully for 4 years in the real world where mistakes get punished. We have achieved many goals, played attractive football, all on a shoestring (relative to our rivals) budget - whats not to like. So I would say to Harry/Levy/THFC - keep up the good work, continue to ignore the online exhortations, and carry on regardless.
Woy's last game of the season for West Brom. They're going to want to give him a good send off against the gooners.
Well 'coys' time will tell, butI have a feeling you will see Harry on a one year rolling contract from here on in because I think Levy is nervous of Harry's mutterings to the press.
I can't understand why so many spurs fans get upset by what Harry says to sports reporters - it's all part of a game. When we're doing well beyond our expectations and he's asked about our chances for the title he says it will be difficult but we'll go for it - what do you expect him to say? He's always made it clear that 4th place was our goal and now he says it'll be difficult - which is true because we've made it look very difficult over the past few weeks. He does court the press a bit more than your average manager but at least he does communicate and the players seem to respect him for it (excluding Darren Bent and David Bentley). Lord only knows how Roy Hodgson got the England job - he didn't make it as a top professional player so had to make his name in the backwaters of Europe. He did a good honest job there and was rewarded by being made Switzerland's manager, where again he was very effective.However, I don't remember Switzerland ever being the third best team in the world - do you? Roy's chances at Bristol City and Blackburn didn't lead to much success. He had two brief spells at Inter Milan and an unfortunate one at Udinese. Roy did a great job at Fulham nearly winning the Europa Cup, before being caught up in a shambles at Liverpool. He strengthened West Brom and took them to mid-table safety. Meanwhile, Harry has been working day in day out with teams in the best league in the world.
I personally think that Harry would have made a brilliant England Manager and his ability to court the press would have been used to the advantage of all - in a similar way that Terry Venables did. I think that Roy Hodgson will be a steady England Manager but worry whether he will be given enough time with the players to adapt them to his system of play before the European Championships.
Anyway it's all resulted in Harry staying at Tottenham - the best scenario that I can imagine for us. Much better than trying to drag another foreign manager to our club - when we should be holding onto our best players and securing some good early buys
for the new season.
We won't lose again this season. Harry linked to the England job - we go to pieces. Harry un-linked from the England job - We're back to our old selves. Coincidence? Keep Modric again this summer. This is the key because it signals intent. We can challenge for the title next season if Harry has learned from his mistakes from this season. He's still the best manager for us. If big Martin could have done what Harry has done, it would have been perfect, but all we have to do is accept that Harry is not Spurs through and through and talks too much sometimes and then just get behind the team. Come on Norwich! COYS!
Just about to type please , please Norwich hang on to that lead and then Arsenal equalise. So please, please, don't concede -hang on. 10 mins to go, a point for Norwich will be good for them but potentially a season maker for us.......
Right my little darlings...all season you have pissed about with my emotions....I hereby demand two wins....and none of that last gasp single goal tripe...like I said u owe me......
Well done Norwich, you beauties!
3rd place is ours. Harry is staying. Europa for the goons. Lasagne revenge. It don't get much better.
@Deadly @coys
Just remember, we're Tottenham. Let's not get our hopes up. Every single time we've been given an opportunity to go clear we've bottled it. Let's hope luck is on our side this time.
Does this mean we can have a St. ArsenLOL Day this year? I sure hope so!!
Come on you spurs! Well done Kyle Naughton - see you next season.
Fair point Spence, but no matter how we do tomorrow, listening to those mugs boo their squad at the Effeminates today and watching Wenger storm off like a petulant pre-schooler made by weekend.
COYS!
So, where are all the Harry bashes now then? We go to Villa tomorrow, on the back of two wins, and with Villa in meltdown!! Our lads will be pumped up for this and so will our treasured elite-away support - we go 3rd tomorrow - period!
Harry redknapps lilly white army.....repeat..
I'm going to church tomorrow morning and I suggest you all do the same.
If I was responsible for risking my firm £30 million because I took my off the ball, I would have been fired long ago and probably in court for negligence.
If ever there was a time to show for once that we are ready to turn up, then this is it. When they talk about big men, for big games, courage, heart and to turn up on the day, then this is the day!!!
To be honest, if we do not do it tomorrow, then I will put my hands up and admit we did not deserve it!!!
Two games to go, 2 wins and take off!!!! COYS!COYS!COYS
Wisky Tom - just to remind you we haven`t gone away..............here`s a little Harry bash.
This talk of the England job as an excuse is boring and transparent. Are we meant to believe that for the first two games of the season Redkrapp thought he may get the England job, then forgot about it for a few months and when Fab quit it became a distraction again?And that these two occasions just happened to coincide with us playing the big boys? More likely he lacks the tactical nous to win the games that matter most. Bale on the right, Modric on the left? As no official FA approach had been made it strikes me that rather than taking his eye off the ball he tried to shop window himself by means of "clever" tactics and selection. And it blew up in his face and the face of his convenient vehicle - Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile in a pokey midlands shithole one Roy Hodgson was inspiring a mediocre team to results and league places beyond their wildest dreams and expectations. And are we to believe that when he got the phone call from the FA last week Roy`s reaction was `Oh fuck me the England job had never even occurred to me"?
We need to remember that life extends beyond The Lane.
The reason I don`t like Redkrapp is because I think he can do a job for us if only he sticks to the basics.
And just to give some balance - yes he has turned us into a side that wins the majority of the games we would expect to win and as for +23 goals - speaks for itself. Even if we get 3rd all is not forgiven but I will be right behind him next season and hope he`s learned a thing or two from this term.
About 12 years ago I left my roots and now live about 30 miles from Norwich - I will be buying many rounds this week!
Favour from Norwich, destiny in our our hands now.....Spooky, we need the speech or all speeches now please....Goodness I'm nervous cos we all know Spurs always let us...Nope, not this time!!!
If Arry stays, and I think he will, Levy needs to get a grip on Arrys mouth. He is causing significant trouble and confusion with his stupid comments, one day white and the next black. My real concern is why Levy has not done anything about. What has he got on Levy!!
Levy is waiting for the end of the season. No CL, Arry goes!! Levy now has Arry by the balls. When Levy asked him to sign a long term contract last month, Arry refused! Well what goes round comes round! Levy will let Arry sweat now whilst he considers others and sweat is what Arry is doing, hence today's panic comments about him doing a good job, I don't go running to Levy etc.
So in 2 days, we have had, Modricic going, Modric has to stay, and Levy may sack me!! What other fcu@@@ manager anywhere in the UK opens his moth in this way!!
@Shelf Side 38
Spooky is away binging apparently, or so he says. Probably stalking Levy again. If he's going to do a match pre-view we can expect it to be heavily intoxicated and hilarious. (HINT HINT Spooky, get on it lad).
As for Spurs always letting us etc. let's hope that this is the time for change.
@nycyid
To be fair, I actually shouted in jubilation at my TV screen when Stelling announced that Norwich had equalised. My housemates were extremely freaked out, pretty funny.
All we need from tomorrow is the stuff that we played against Bolton. If we play like that, without the dodgy marking from Modric, then we will cream them. Also, I really hope he plays Sandro again, because that boy is on fire at the moment. I couldnt give a shit that Scotty is fit, he looked off the pace in the last couple of matches before his injury, so let the kid have a go again - I just hope Redknapp doesnt pick Scotty based on favouritism etc.
Possible line-up:
Friedel (who else?)
Walker Kaboul King/Gallas Rose
Lennon Sandro Modric Bale
VDV
Adebayor
Fairly obvious I know, but its working, so let's use it again. I'd quite like him to play Defoe after 70 mins if possible, because Villa will be tired and he can go and run rings around them.
Nice one, Spence.
Yeah it's Zen koan time and the beauty of it all is that we are in charge of our own destiny. If we don't win these next matches, we don't deserve it, but if we do ... COYMFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ moe
We sit 4th, with 3rd place ours if we want it...ours! Get real! How many goals did City pump past United? Have we beat Chelsea? yes, Arsenal? yes. Liverpool? yes, We also beat that mob in Milan mate......Your bash is nothing but smoke......
@moe; I'm in agreement with you moe. I think Redknapp is not the tactication he thinks he is, he's a good man manager, nothing else. He can get players playing. He definately 'lost it' when the court case came to an end and he had the added distraction of Capello leaving the England post. He's the guilty party when we look at where we are today, when we should have been home and hosed. If he pulls it out of the bag now I will forgive him his transgressions, but I will never accept him as the manager to take us to the next level. He's not good enough, he's not honest enough to be Tottenham's manager and I am surprised that Levy hasn't blown him out by now. Perhaps this close season.
Has anyone got link...I have escaped 7th birthday party inking it was on tv and it ain't.......
Bad to worse...............................
I sometimes wonder why i bother with this all...............
Hotspurs....because of things like ades pen!
Oh yes............whow.......we need to win, simple!!!! A draw will not do in my book!!
I also forgot that Lennon had his one great game of the season last week..............
Great to see Arry have a little chat with Villa manager...FOCUS ON YOUR FUCKING TEAM ARSHOLE!!!!!
Need a goal...defies on bench and he brings on Parker......wtf
Well there you have it........pls dont come on here and tell me we deserve 3rd place. We had to do it and we did not, simple!!!
As i said, big players, big teams for big games............ Wle had our chance and we did not take it, there is nobody else to blame!!
Arrys has cost us a place in the CL, that is the onyl answer I have. There is no other answer to this!! There is no other way to look at it. Those who are on here defdending him need to open your eyes. He took his eyes off the team and it cost us. There is no other way to look at it.
Thank you Arry, you selfish son of a bitch!! You should be fired this afternoon.