How did we do?

Home again. Spent a couple of days up norf, within spitting distance of Old Trafford (tested and proved). Highlight, on the delayed journey back, was sitting within stalking distance of Kaya Scodelario. I'm practically twice her age. I disgust myself. But not as much as I disgust the o2 network and it's weak 3G connection. Following the football on Twitter whilst travelling on route from Manchester to London whilst salivating is hardly the best way to get my THFC fix.

So what have I missed during my bout of cold turkey?

Luka out for three games including the first leg of the monumental double-header against Meelan.

King delays op because he can't find his passport (you can't make this sh*t up).

Harry is still telling everyone stories about the almost/nearly signings in this past transfer window which saw us fail to resolve the ongoing forward conundrum saga.

Spurs win. Away. Gritty I'm told, not perfect and not vintage but some highlights including the performances of our fullbacks, Gallas, vdV and Jenas. Crouch scored. Defoe has forgotten how to.

And apparently if we beat Bolton on Saturday, we'll be one point better off than we were this stage last season. Not to shabby, even though some of us are struggling to stay afloat in a sea of negativity.

The arguments are aplenty and I'll formulate my take on all the deadline day mishaps when I've had nine hours worth of sleep.

Would appreciate some honest 'reports' of the game against Blackburn. Fill ya boots (i.e. the comments section).

DIY blog for this early early morning.

Injuries? We laugh in the face of injuries

It's time to pay kudos to Tottenham Hotspur - the unit. The team. The work laid out and delivered by Harry Redknapp and the march into battle the players repeated time and again, regardless of depletions, AWOLs and MIAs.

With thanks to THFC6061 (of Glory Glory) who is the (Ledley) king of statistics.

So, why 'the unit'? What made Spurs so special this season compared to previous (limp) efforts? Well for starters, resolve. Spurs have instilled a work ethic and spirit that means if we lose a player to injury, we get on with it, no complaints - with the replacement fulfilling his duties.

Now if you go back to Christmas/the New Year you'll remember all of us (yes, me included) holding our heads in the palm of our hands at the fact that we didn't quite spend during the window to fill the gaps in our midfield. Kaboul? Really? We shrugged. Again, this was a very subtle form of knee-jerk, mainly because we feared for the worst (lose Palacios, and we're doomed, dooooooomed I tells ya). When the reality of the situation was we had plenty in reserve to cope. As seen with the injury to Luka early on. Ye of little faith.

So, exactly what was the damage on paper concerning key players? You hear it from them lot over there in the swamplands telling us how they would have faired far better had they not lost players to injury. Using their logic, we'd have faired far better too. We all know it doesn't quite work like that, and had BAE not got injured, would Bale have broken through etc etc.

Anyways - to the stats. Below is a general overall breakdown, but for all the glory in Technicolor - please click here (and bookmark the site for reference as it's a gold mine of wealth). We've had a number of players out injured this season, but looking at key players, here are the numbers that mattered (but didn't quite knock us off our perch):

(All competitions)

Woodgate - 3 starts, 3 total appearances, 194 minutes players, (46 games injured) - Five game period saw Woody play three times, but has since spent a very lonely time stateside, with doctors struggling to work out what his injury is exactly (and how to fix it).

King - 20 starts, 21 total appearances, 1,637 minutes played, (29 games injured) - Vast majority of the season spent missing games and playing when his knee allowed him to do so, only managing to play 4 games on the trot in the finale to the EPL to aid our push for CL and his England ambition.

Lennon - 33 starts, 34 total appearances, 2,846 minutes played, (25 games injured) - Our Azza missed a run of 22 games which meant various shuffles in selection for Harry as he attempted to find the best formation to make up for the loss of one of most potent creative outlets.

Modric - 28 starts, 32 total appearances, 2,547 minutes played, (15 games injured) - Fourteen consecutive games missed in all competitions. Play him on the left or in the middle, when you lose Moddle you lose that craft and those dinking runs that allows us to dictate tempo offensively.

The Fab Four - 115 combined games missed through injury.

In addition:

Corluka (8 games missed towards end of season)
BAE (11 games missed - allowing for Bale to cement a first team place)
Bale (7 games missed at start of season)
Dawson (7 games missed at start of season)
Jenas (19 games missed through injury across the season)
Kranjcar (6 games missed at end of season)
Huddlestone (6 games)

We've had other players picking up knocks (Pav, Bentley etc) - but nothing out of the ordinary. The main key players cited above (Woodgate, King, Lennon, Modric) - are backbone players, imperative to the way we set out and play.

We got through the start of the season - special mention to Bassong who took his place against his centre-back partner without complaint and has been a quite superb signing for us. The King scenario is no surprise. We know he's not able to perform for us every week. So we make do. Having no Woodgate or Dawson didn't help but this is where people covered and got on with it.

Losing Modric was devastating. Felt like it would be detrimental to our progress. But we shuffled. Niko played a part on the left and at one point was quite simply unplayable as far as the opposition were concerned. He tore City a new one. Then when Modric returned, Lennon got injured, and again we had to balance the side to avoid any loss of cohesiveness in both attack and defence.

Moddle playing a part in central midfield, Wilson and Tommy sharing the other centre-spot. We showed adaptability and application with responsibilities given out by the gaffer.

No squad depth they said? I remember we got burnt after Robbie Keane's comments about the strength of our team on the pitch and on the bench. But across the season, he has had his comments vindicated - even though the irony of him being up in Scotland whilst we took 4th is no doubt hurting him bad.

Every time we lost a player, Harry tweaked it. Bale coming in for BAE for left-back, then shifting forwards to left-flank resulting in a flourishing lefty relationship between the two.

Huddlestone. More on the big lad in the next few days. Stay tuned. But I'll note here that he has time and time again proven the critics wrong and has been one of our most vital players in central midfield.

Kaboul, equally maligned, proved in the end that he was worth bringing back. Yes, he's raw and very much rough in parts. Whether there's a diamond underneath all the dirt, we'll have to wait and see. But he covered well (had his comedy moments) but should be applauded for his efforts. When it mattered, he dared to do.

At any given moment this season, we've had someone key out on the sidelines. More than one at any given moment in fact. It worried us. It didn't appear to worry the team.

The players deserve the accolade. It's a team game and we did more than enough to prove we are a team and one that doesn't crumble or lose heart because we are without a talisman or two.

The surprise factor also helped. Bale's resurgence. Pav's free-scoring goal-scoring stint. Love it when it all comes together when the Gods do everything in their power to test your resolve.

Well done.

Stats, scores and away form

Some stats I've plucked out of the Glory Glory forum from the past week with a little added commentary. Light reading.

Spurs and Arsenal comparison of positions

(2009 and 2010 seasons) after 37 games (With thanks to spurredjon):

2008/9

Arse P36 W19 D11 L6  F64 A36 GD +28  PTS 68

Tottenham Hotspur P36 W13 D9 L14  F42 A41 GD +1  PTS 48  

20 points behind Arsenal.

2009/10

Arse P37 W22 D6 L9  F79 A41 GD +38  PTS 72

Tottenham Hotspur P37 W20 D7 L9  F65 A37 GD +28 PTS 70

2 points behind a supposedly 'improved' Arsenal side. And let's not mention the last time we finished above Liverpool because most of us were not even born when it happened. It's been a season of progression, and it's in the numbers.

End of season form

I love looking at this. Storming end of season, and to think the month of April was meant to destroy us.

W 0 -3  Wigan Athletic    
W 2 -1  Everton  
W 3-1  Blackburn  
W 2-1 Stoke City      
W 2-0 Portsmouth    
L 3-1 Sunderland    
W 2-1 Arsenal           
W 2-1 Chelsea        
L 3-1 Man Utd    
W 1-0 Bolton          
W 1-0 Man City    

Poor performance up at Sunderland, but how often can you say that about us this season? Not a single draw in that list. Inconsistency? Bah! I laugh in your face.

Home Performance

14 won. 2 drawn. 3 losses. 40 scored. 12 conceded. That is just superb. And when you look at the three defeats, the fabled IF Fairy waves her magic wand and shows you what could have been. We've been here before with solid home form, and it's now vital we retain this.

Away Performance

Played:18
Won:7
Drawn:5
Lost:6
Scored:25
Against:25

Won
Hull 5-1 - Sexy
West Ham 2-1 - Dug deep, showed class
Portsmouth 2-1 - Good solid three points
Blackburn 2-0 - Same again
Stoke 2-1 - Showed our class
Wigan 3-0 - Easy
Man City 1-0 - Epic

Draw
Villa 1-1 - Battered them
Everton 2-2 - Should have won it, gave it away
Brum 1-1 - Last minute equaliser from the Brums
Fulham 0-0 - Probably lucky to get a point here, no complaints
Bolton 2-2 - Our record there isn't exactly great

Lost
Liverpool 0-2 - Defoe goal disallowed. We then sort of went a bit limp, frustrating
Man Utd 1-3 - Textbook result for us at OT. One of these days...
Chelsea 0-3 - Did we get a little screwed before collapsing to defeat?
Arsenal 0-3 - Three key players out, gutless and clumsy performance, gave them the three points on a plate
Sunderland 1-3 - Didn't turn up and let Bent tweet his way to redemption, although LOL at the two pen saves from Gomes
Wolves 0-1 - Awful

Had we won 3 of the games we managed to draw...if if if, eh? See how much of a thin line sits between us and 3rd place, even 2nd - based on this season alone? If we improve in the summer, then our success in what we compete for next year (4th, 3rd?) will also be dependent on what the teams above us and the teams below us do in the transfer market. One thing is for certain, we are finally turning potential into results. And we'll continue to improve. How can we not?

There's a certain unwanted quirk we need to get rid of, the type of performance seen at Sunderland and Wolves (we gave the latter 6 points this season...think about it). Ever so slight improvement away and we'll consolidate a top 4 place again next year - as long as WHL remains the fortress it is.

Regardless of us sometimes 'not turning up', when it mattered most. We did when it mattered most. City away. And as mentioned in earlier blogs, the two London derby games against the red and blue scum.

That's what won the day.

Top 4. Game on.

With each passing week there appears to be less people scoffing at the idea that Spurs are serious challengers to finishing in a Top 4 slot. Great pretenders no more. I'm not about to streak naked down Tottenham High Road singing the Champions League anthem, but my socks and shoes are off. In preparation. All this off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Villa? Of course not. It's the sum of all parts thus far. We are a proper team. Or at least one good enough to take advantage of what is turning out to be a season of ups and downs for all concerned, including the sides that are meant to be super-glued to the CL positions each passing year. We've been outclassed this season by Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. Although none of the defeats, IMO, are as bad in hindsight as they appeared to be at the time. They were blips, hiccups that have simply needed a swift glass of water to be rid of. The sides we have to beat remain the ones from mid-table down and the rest who are our 'rivals' for the promised land. And so far, we're not doing too shabby a job. I'll have my shirt off and catching a bus to N17 if we do well against Everton, Wolves and City because then the reality of the situation will befall all - including non-believers.

The great fallacy is that breaking into the Top 4 is nigh impossible because the gulf of class between the likes of us and the Sky Sports 4 is massive. It is in the strictness sense with regards to mounting a title-challenge, but with each passing season - as we improve - the teams above us sort of kinda stagnate. We are beating the sides they are beating, just not beating them. But that's fine. We're not about to worry Utd or Chelsea, but the vastly over-rated Arsenal and Liverpool? They won't admit it, but we're catching up. Liverpool are disjointed, lacking depth and missing key ingredients. Arsenal are not half as good as their fans think they are. Yes, yes, pretty football and toddlers running around scoring fancy goals in the Carling Cup against weakened Prem opposition or lower league sides might allow for the usual superlatives from the red tops but the fact is they have no spine, are sometimes comical in defence and are hanging on desperately to the past. But hey, don't worry gooners, you've still got Theo Walcott.

Of course, they will still finish Top 4, at least one of them will. So it's up to us and one or two others (City have to break out of their draw-abyss and Villa have to discover more guile and adventure) to make it as difficult as possible for them. The more we improve, the more pressure pushing down on them.

And we continue to dig deep. So fuck it, why shouldn't I shout? It's better than whimpering. There's plenty of work to be had, and it seems we are more than up for it. Harry continues to impress. And even with several key players missing (King, Woodgate, Modric) we just get on with it. We have cover, we have commitment. Dawson (Forest bound, ha!) comes in and gives us one of those 'come here you big lump I want to kiss you' type of all-smiling performances. I love this guy. He took his goal superbly well. Niko is turning it on at the moment. He is positively on fire. Oozing class and has swagger we love to see in a Tottenham player. When Moddle is back, we'll be stronger for it. Obviously.

So, to the Villa game. Pretender v Pretender. First half, we hardly got stuck in so no surprise they took the lead. We sat back, looked nervous. Made it easy for them. Second half was rather better. Such was the tempo of our play that Villa could only survive by sitting back and defending. We were relentlessly good. Totally dominated them. Anyone would think the game was at the Lane with MON's men doing their utmost to survive rather than take the game by the scruff of the neck (although had they, and the game opened up, we'd have scored more). Disappointingly we didn't, and I'm a little gutted we didn't take all three points.

Even with Lennon, double-marked, we still pushed forward and other than a looping Heskey header there was nothing from the home side that troubled us. Dunne also doing a superb job of keeping Defoe on the quiet side. Credit to Villa and their defending, even if their fans are probably despondent that they could not muster up more in the way of offensive opportunities. Freidel was also superb for them. One or two of their fans, pre-match, were dismissive of our chances, suggesting we come unstuck against 'touch opponents'. I guess we'll let them know when we come face to face with the next one.

Villa 170. Spurs 394. Completed passes. Says about us much as any stat.

Obviously, Harry has to work out why it didn't go according to plan in the first half. We lacked composure with passing and appeared off-key. Whatever he said at half-time worked, but credit doubly to the players for reacting to it the right way and performing the way they did in the second 45. Concentration, bite and intent all back in abundance. And this is the little clue to my Monday morning jig. Our reaction was one that showed we look far more prepared for the long haul than Villa. Early days. Once we start games in the same fashion as we started the second half at Villa Park, we'll have grown big enough balls to really believe the next level has been reached. The next level is the one where we take all three points in games of similar ilk.

So, for now, my boxer shorts will remain on.

Onwards and upwards.

David Bentley

Since the 31st January, David Bentley has made the following Premier League appearances:

29 mins as a sub vs Sunderland

51 mins as a sub vs Liverpool (last game of the season)

6 mins as a sub vs Hull

+

18 as an unused substitute.

Before this period of time he started 20 games in the Premier League in the Lilywhite of Spurs.

Now stuck between the 20th game and a 21st appearance. Same might say Blackburn are due a hefty wad of money if he starts more than twenty games for us.

With thanks to Unknown (GG.net) for the stats. Not sure if she pinched them from somewhere herself, but regardless, looks like David is stuck on the bench until some minor miracle allows him a way back into the starting line-up. Wonder if Blackburn have a buy-back clause they can take advantage of? Guessing we'd struggle to reclaim anything over £8M for him.

Catch 22 for us. Who wants to buy a player who doesn't actually play?

Another perfect illustration of the DoF system and Levy's lack of football understanding. Why sign a player for £15M who can only play right-wing when we've already got a right-winger who we all know is capable of so much? Hopefully David will be the very last big-money superfluous signing we make. Wanted him to succeed with us even though the vast majority would agree that he was an unnecessary addition. Sadly it's been nothing short of a disaster.

Lack of confidence due to personal issues (so they all say). Various off the field distractions (skip, bar, crash) and very few on the pitch joyful moments (just that goal). Played out of position and practically self-ruined himself by not showing heart or determination to fight his way back to something resembling form, preferring instead to show-boat and flick rather than play a simple ball. Was given plenty of opportunities to no avail. And is now super-glued to the bench for EPL games.

Gone in Jan?

Unless lickle Aaron disappears through a surprising and tragic worm-hole, then I'd wager Bentley will be off. Those star-jumps seem like they happened a million years ago now...

16 long years of away-day hurt for the Lilywhites

Played 62.

Won 0.

D 20.

L 42.

F 36.

A 114

Pts 20.

It’s been 16 years since we defeated Liverpool at Anfield in the league. That’s 16 years since the last three points collected away from home against one of the ‘Big Four’ (although Chelsea haven’t been a true top four club until recent years, but still, you get the jist of it). We are a soft touch away from the Lane.

This season (where we’ve struggled to beat the small clubs) we’ve had a good record against the top 4 at home (and away) beating Liverpool and Chelsea and taking two points from Arsenal. The 5-2 loss on Saturday was the first time this season we’ve ended with nothing against a Sky Sports elite side in the league. Why we never quite manage to battle towards a win is a curious mystery, when other (considered to be) lesser clubs are able to shock the big four on their home turf from time to time.

We saw both sides of Spurs at Old Trafford. The good (first half) and the bad (second half). The latter being a throw-back to the Spurs we thought we had left behind. It’s a mental block of sorts. A curious psychological problem that steems from a lack of belief and because this was Man Utd, we gave up after the shock of the penalty decision. We were overhauled by the occasion and the injustice. But make no mistake about it, even though Utd upped the tempo and got lucky with the Webb decision, we didn't exactly look like we were trying to continue where we left off after a smart opening 45 minutes.

Jenas cited that Webb was guilty of ‘crumbling under the pressure’. He saw the irony and made sure he mentioned the fact we conceded four further goals.These type of 'switch-off' performances happen often. At home too (Utd 3-5, City 3-4).

No matter the players, no matter the manager, we always have these lapses and negative reactions. I cited lack of leadership and composure in my match report. But there is no need to knee-jerk just yet. Dish out a spanking to WBA this weekend, and we are back on track to end the season on a high. Compared to the start of the season, I’d much rather be worrying about our development than looking over our shoulders at relegation.

Going forward, we (Harry) has to remove the mental block. How that's done exactly, I don't quite know. I guess the answer can be found in the following question: Why does it happen in the first place?

With and without

Stat of the year right here for you.

When King plays for Spurs our chances of winning increase massively. In the past four seasons we've won at least 50% of all the Prem League games he has featured in. This season our average is 0.89 condeded compared to 1.86 when he's missing. We havent won in the league without him.

Break down of the figures over the past few seasons:

2008/09 - 56% with King / 0% without King
2007/08 - 50% with King / 26% withouth King
2006/07 - 52% with King / 35% without King
2005/06 - 50% with King / 42% withouth King

Damn that dodgy knee.

10 on the trot

If Chelsea win away to WBA on Saturday they will equal our record of 10 consecutive away league wins in top flight football. That's a record that's stood for almost 50 long long years. It feels like 50 years since we were last decent away from home, coincidently.

It's how we roll

Spurs 4 Liverpool 2

Spurs were lucky to score four goals, all from defensive errors, and Liverpool should have won, but were cheated out of the game by the ref and Gareth Bale pretending to tackle when in fact he committed a cynical foul. But enough about what Liverpool fans thought of the game.

In all fairness, gloating should be kept to a minimum based on the fact that this wasn’t a full strength Reds side. We've already beaten that version.

So, yes, they made 10 changes and played their reserves. And yes, we made 7 changes (no King, Woodgate, Jenas, Bent, Modric, Bentley etc) and used other first team players. Is it our fault we appear to have better depth for these type of occasions? Even the Prince had time to come on and show-off a little. This wasn't our strongest side, but having Hoddlestone centre midfield, spraying balls all over the pitch (ooh) and the team pushing forward with intent, purpose and < insert other buzz words to help illustrate how decent we were on the night > helped make this even more comfortable.

Let's not forget a few years back (Fredi's handball) losing on pens to a team of Liverpool reserves. No mistake this time out. They weren’t up for it. We were and nobody is going to frown at 3 goals in 6 minutes of frantic play, and ending up eventual 4-2 winners. Their goals weren’t even proper goals. Early Christmas presents thanks largely to the flapping and mistiming of our calamity keeper, Gomes (they could argue the same about ours). Though credit to his bravery later on that saw him leave the field on a stretcher, but apparently (according to ‘arry) was well enough to grab a post-match Chinese with some of the other players. Sadly, he’s available for Fulham away.

Campbell looked electric, teaming up with Pav. Both shared the goals on a night that even witnessed several Ole, Ole, Ole moments as we passed the ball around. Got to love the over-excitability of the home crowd. Quarter-finals next. Chelsea knocked out by Burnley, so we’ll get Man Utd away no doubt. While The Kids© will get another home tie.

This win made it the best start to a Spurs reign by a newly appointed manager. You have to go back 110 years to a certain Frank Brettell (what, you’ve never heard of him?) to find a better record. All this after our worst start to a season ever.

Never a boring second supporting this lot.

Make 'em smile!

Ramos: 2 points in 8 games = average 0.25 points per game
Redknapp: 10 points in 4 games = average 2.5 points per game

Tottenham Hotspur, now ten times better than we were. Happy days.

The magic of tomato ketchup

Harry re-introduces it to the canteen and we go from scoring 12 goals in 12 games to notching up 12 in just 4. And if that doesn't prove the genius that is Redknapp, then asking Roman Pavlyuchenko, via his translator, to just 'Fucking runabout' (which resulted eventually in a last gasp goal against Liverpool) must surely deserve a sing-a-along.

All we need now is the re-introduction of a little mayo, and we'll be climbing that table in no time.

WE'RE GONNA WIN THE LEAGUE!

LOL @ the Premiership

Spurs. Worst start to a season in our history (at least Since the Titanic Sank©) and still bottom yet the Premiership finds itself with 14 clubs separated by a mere 6 points - 6 points from 7th place having just won 2 games all season.

Fans/the media alike have been citing us and Newcastle amongst one or two others as being in a dogfight, but if you take a quick gander, anyone who lacks form over the next 6 games will plummet. And it may well be the case that come Christmas, there maybe several clubs swapping places at the bottom faster than you can say 'three points' with no apparent certainty who might go down.

It's a bit zany, innit?