It's a popular belief that Wednesday's England friendly against Ghana serves no purpose other than to disrupt teams at an important stage of the season but Fabio Capello has to have some time with the players at some stage.
If the nation really wants an improvement on our World Cup performance at the Euros in 2012 then we've got to accept that the manager needs to spend some time with the players.
Most fans appear to be united in the opinion that yesterday's 2-0 win over Wales was like watching paint dry but it was a solid, professional performance and probably a necessary starting block as Capello tries to regain his grip on a coaching reign that seems to be slipping through his fingers.
It is in Tottenham's interest that England keep winning because much more press criticism and the FA will be slithering up Tottenham High Road with a juicy red apple for Harry Redknapp.
It's nice to see Capello cooperating with the clubs and releasing a group of players who have a busy schedule coming up; it's a common-sense move that will not only please the clubs that benefit but should recieve some rare praise in the media - although that's not taking into account the potential shitstorm if someone like Jack Wilshere or Joe Hart suffer an injury.
You could also question why he's kept Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch when he seems so confused as to how to employ them or reluctant to use them at all.
On the whole, the squad the Italian is now left with is much younger and impressionable than previously and if there was ever a time to concentrate on practising a new system and fashioning some much-needed team morale then this is surely it.
It's relatively early days in the England careers of Wilshere, Ashley Young and even Lennon and Darren bent but it's important that they form an understanding and, above all, become mates.
The so-called golden generation suffered so much from celebrity and massaged egos that bonds between team-mates went out the window.
It really is back to basics for Capello but if this new look England team is to have any hope of settling in a rhythm, then they need to spend time together..
That said, if Lennon and Crouch get injured on Wednesday then I reserve the right to change my tune.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Friday, 25 March 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Tottenham's England players
With it being the international break, and Spurs having no fewer than five players in the England squad (Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Kyle Walker, Aaron Lennon and Michael Dawson) this week's Top 4 On Friday looks at Tottenham's most influential England players down the years...
4. Glenn Hoddle - 1979-1988
Hoddle scored 8 goals in 53 appearances but is associated more with the England manager's job than pulling on the shirt in his playing days. As a coach, his World Cup campaign in 1998 came to an explosive finish against Argentina in the second round. In fact, Argentina proved to be a bit of a curse for Hoddle. The twinkle-toed midfielder was one of the players left in the dust cloud of Diego Maradona's devastating run in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which led to one of the greatest goals of all time in the World Cup.
Despite his popularity at Tottenham, Hoddle never really settled into an England role; coaches are thought to have struggled to accept his technical, creative game, opting for hard graft and work-rate in the midfield instead. That said, he was greatly admired on the continent; Dennis Bergkamp idolised him and Arsene Wenger described his game as "ahead of his time".
3. Gary Lineker - 1984-1992
Younger Spurs fans will obviously know him as the face of BBC's Match Of The Day but Gary Lineker was the winner of the Golden boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup and the only English player ever to do so, he retired with 48 international goals to his name and just one short of Bobby Charlton's record.
There was never any debate about who started up front for the national side during Lineker's day, he also scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and famously gestured to Bobby Robson to keep an eye of Gazza's trembling bottom lip (more about that later).
Lineker was never booked or sent off for England or Spurs and is renowned as being the model professional. Although, he has recently "soiled" his squeaky clean reputation by admitting he was caught short during a 1990 World Cup game... If the video isn't proof enough for you, then here's a recent news story detailing Lineker's say on the whole sordid matter. Sorry Gary.
2. Jimmy Greaves - 1959-1967
James Peter Greaves remains England's third-top goalscorer of all time, behind Gary Lineker (48 in 80 caps) and Bobby Charlton (49 in 106 caps) but his scoring record far exceeds both, having taken only 57 games to notch his 44 goals. Greavsie's record is similarly impressive for Spurs (220 in 321 appearances).
The striker's impact on England's history books was sadly hampered by a leg injury during the 1966 World Cup, Geoff Hurst took his place in the team and held it all the way to the final, despite Greaves' recovery. In Greaves' absence, Hurst used the chance to write his name as one of England's greats with a hat-trick in the final. Due to not being on the pitch in the final, our prolific forward was denied a World Cup winners medal until his work was finally recognised in 2009.
1. Paul Gascoigne - 1988-1998
There really is no picture in football quite like it; of 23-year-old Gazza mopping his tears with his England shirt in the 1990 World Cup semi-final after a yellow card proved to be an onion in the eyes for the unpredictable midfielder. His impact, good and bad, is written all over England folklore; from dazzling performances to painful controversy, such as the famous dentist's chair night out prior to Euro '96. Some people even go as far as crediting the sight of a young man in tears with reigniting the nation's passion for football.
Gazza only scored 10 goals for the national team, but his exploits and his attitude ensured his impact is long-lasting. At Euro 96, during the group stages and in front of a home crowd at Wembley, Gazza again captured the nation's heart as he looped the ball over Scotland's Colin Hendry before volleying home, mocking the dentist's-chair scandal with his celebration.
4. Glenn Hoddle - 1979-1988
Hoddle scored 8 goals in 53 appearances but is associated more with the England manager's job than pulling on the shirt in his playing days. As a coach, his World Cup campaign in 1998 came to an explosive finish against Argentina in the second round. In fact, Argentina proved to be a bit of a curse for Hoddle. The twinkle-toed midfielder was one of the players left in the dust cloud of Diego Maradona's devastating run in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which led to one of the greatest goals of all time in the World Cup.
Despite his popularity at Tottenham, Hoddle never really settled into an England role; coaches are thought to have struggled to accept his technical, creative game, opting for hard graft and work-rate in the midfield instead. That said, he was greatly admired on the continent; Dennis Bergkamp idolised him and Arsene Wenger described his game as "ahead of his time".
3. Gary Lineker - 1984-1992
Younger Spurs fans will obviously know him as the face of BBC's Match Of The Day but Gary Lineker was the winner of the Golden boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup and the only English player ever to do so, he retired with 48 international goals to his name and just one short of Bobby Charlton's record.
There was never any debate about who started up front for the national side during Lineker's day, he also scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and famously gestured to Bobby Robson to keep an eye of Gazza's trembling bottom lip (more about that later).
Lineker was never booked or sent off for England or Spurs and is renowned as being the model professional. Although, he has recently "soiled" his squeaky clean reputation by admitting he was caught short during a 1990 World Cup game... If the video isn't proof enough for you, then here's a recent news story detailing Lineker's say on the whole sordid matter. Sorry Gary.
2. Jimmy Greaves - 1959-1967
James Peter Greaves remains England's third-top goalscorer of all time, behind Gary Lineker (48 in 80 caps) and Bobby Charlton (49 in 106 caps) but his scoring record far exceeds both, having taken only 57 games to notch his 44 goals. Greavsie's record is similarly impressive for Spurs (220 in 321 appearances).
The striker's impact on England's history books was sadly hampered by a leg injury during the 1966 World Cup, Geoff Hurst took his place in the team and held it all the way to the final, despite Greaves' recovery. In Greaves' absence, Hurst used the chance to write his name as one of England's greats with a hat-trick in the final. Due to not being on the pitch in the final, our prolific forward was denied a World Cup winners medal until his work was finally recognised in 2009.
1. Paul Gascoigne - 1988-1998
There really is no picture in football quite like it; of 23-year-old Gazza mopping his tears with his England shirt in the 1990 World Cup semi-final after a yellow card proved to be an onion in the eyes for the unpredictable midfielder. His impact, good and bad, is written all over England folklore; from dazzling performances to painful controversy, such as the famous dentist's chair night out prior to Euro '96. Some people even go as far as crediting the sight of a young man in tears with reigniting the nation's passion for football.
Gazza only scored 10 goals for the national team, but his exploits and his attitude ensured his impact is long-lasting. At Euro 96, during the group stages and in front of a home crowd at Wembley, Gazza again captured the nation's heart as he looped the ball over Scotland's Colin Hendry before volleying home, mocking the dentist's-chair scandal with his celebration.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Rafa van der Vaart - the sweet and sour sorcerer
Picture the scene...At 23.59:59s on August 31, 2010. Harry Redknapp pulls off one of the biggest shocks of any transfer window and immediately it looks a match made in heaven.
Rafa Van Der Vaart arrives at Tottenham for a ridiculously cheap £8million and hits the ground running. He's banging 'em in all over the shop, links up with Peter Crouch, fights for every ball and plays the Tottenham way. An instant hit.
Fade out.
Fade in; it's Saturday and Rafa's trudging moodily down the tunnel and towards the dressing room with about 70 minutes on the clock - it's getting to be a familiar sight, only this time it sparks waves of concern and debate in the papers and around the forums.
The difference being that Harry Redknapp publicly criticised the Dutchman in the press and there are maybe the first murmurings of discontent between the man in charge and our too-good-to-be-true deadline-day coup.
Opinion seems to be divided among Spurs fans. One fan on Planetspurs.com says, "If I was subbed every game like Vdv, I'd be getting pissed off. He has hardly completed 90 minutes since we signed him."
Whereas on BBC606, someone else says, "The more I know about the guy the more i'm convinced he's just not a team player."
Personally, I think that if you want to play the last 20 minutes, then first you need to impress in the first 70 minutes and Rafa has gone off the boil a bit lately. Maybe he's a victim of his own success in that he's set our expectations high but he can't argue that his impact on games isn't what it was, be it due to injury or lack of fitness etc.
Van Der Vaart has a history of reacting to substitutions and depending on your views you can take it one of two ways; either that he's acting spoilt and is a danger to team morale, or that being so desperate to play indicates a hunger and drive that should excite us.
Rafa himself said after the West Ham game, "Often I like to play 90 minutes, but at Spurs that hardly ever happens. I read that Harry Redknapp wanted to talk with me, but I did not see him before I left for Holland."
Redknapp does have a tendency, when he finds a player's weakness, to start poking it with a stick, in some cases until it bleeds. He famously upset Darren Bent by claiming his missus could have done better than an open goal he missed. Admittedly, Bent's weakness was that he couldn't hit a cow's arse in a cattle farm, which is a pretty big problem.
Pavlyuchenko complains about not starting, so Redknapp leaves him on the bench, and now Rafa starts storming off and spitting his dummy out, so Redknapp keeps taking him off. Maybe it's to test their reactions, or just show 'em who's boss. Who knows?
Different players need treating differently and a club is always going to have a few egos, it can be the price of having players who are explosive on the pitch, they tend to be live wires off it.
The one thing that does royally irk me about the situation is that Van Der Vaart said he did not see Redknapp before he left for Holland. Sorry, but why the **** not? That means not only did he not watch the rest of the West Ham game, but he left the stadium.
There is no situation in which that can be seen as acceptable and it should put us firmly in the picture of who's in the right here. If your manager wants a word after the game, you have a word after the game. End of story.
Rafa has said it will "all have blown over" by the time he returns from international duty. At the end of the day, Redknapp is the boss and he hasn't got us this far by pandering to the players' demands.
Hopefully, the Dutchman wants a long and successful run at Spurs but if that's the case, it's him who will have to fit into Redknapp's ideals. Not the other way round.
Rafa Van Der Vaart arrives at Tottenham for a ridiculously cheap £8million and hits the ground running. He's banging 'em in all over the shop, links up with Peter Crouch, fights for every ball and plays the Tottenham way. An instant hit.
Fade out.
Fade in; it's Saturday and Rafa's trudging moodily down the tunnel and towards the dressing room with about 70 minutes on the clock - it's getting to be a familiar sight, only this time it sparks waves of concern and debate in the papers and around the forums.
The difference being that Harry Redknapp publicly criticised the Dutchman in the press and there are maybe the first murmurings of discontent between the man in charge and our too-good-to-be-true deadline-day coup.
Opinion seems to be divided among Spurs fans. One fan on Planetspurs.com says, "If I was subbed every game like Vdv, I'd be getting pissed off. He has hardly completed 90 minutes since we signed him."
Whereas on BBC606, someone else says, "The more I know about the guy the more i'm convinced he's just not a team player."
Personally, I think that if you want to play the last 20 minutes, then first you need to impress in the first 70 minutes and Rafa has gone off the boil a bit lately. Maybe he's a victim of his own success in that he's set our expectations high but he can't argue that his impact on games isn't what it was, be it due to injury or lack of fitness etc.
Van Der Vaart has a history of reacting to substitutions and depending on your views you can take it one of two ways; either that he's acting spoilt and is a danger to team morale, or that being so desperate to play indicates a hunger and drive that should excite us.
Rafa himself said after the West Ham game, "Often I like to play 90 minutes, but at Spurs that hardly ever happens. I read that Harry Redknapp wanted to talk with me, but I did not see him before I left for Holland."
Redknapp does have a tendency, when he finds a player's weakness, to start poking it with a stick, in some cases until it bleeds. He famously upset Darren Bent by claiming his missus could have done better than an open goal he missed. Admittedly, Bent's weakness was that he couldn't hit a cow's arse in a cattle farm, which is a pretty big problem.
Pavlyuchenko complains about not starting, so Redknapp leaves him on the bench, and now Rafa starts storming off and spitting his dummy out, so Redknapp keeps taking him off. Maybe it's to test their reactions, or just show 'em who's boss. Who knows?
Different players need treating differently and a club is always going to have a few egos, it can be the price of having players who are explosive on the pitch, they tend to be live wires off it.
The one thing that does royally irk me about the situation is that Van Der Vaart said he did not see Redknapp before he left for Holland. Sorry, but why the **** not? That means not only did he not watch the rest of the West Ham game, but he left the stadium.
There is no situation in which that can be seen as acceptable and it should put us firmly in the picture of who's in the right here. If your manager wants a word after the game, you have a word after the game. End of story.
Rafa has said it will "all have blown over" by the time he returns from international duty. At the end of the day, Redknapp is the boss and he hasn't got us this far by pandering to the players' demands.
Hopefully, the Dutchman wants a long and successful run at Spurs but if that's the case, it's him who will have to fit into Redknapp's ideals. Not the other way round.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Glass half-empty, glass half-full
Frustrating isn't it. Being a Spurs fan, I mean. Other people can speak with authority on their team and their players, but after 20 years of supporting Tottenham Hotspur I still look like a muppet if I try to comment how we'll do from game to game. All I really know is that we're unpredictable.
Many Spurs fans have always had a glass-half-empty stance, although, with our recent successes, I know a few (me included) who are becoming glass-half-full kind of guys. In an attempt to please everyone, here's our current situation from both sides of the glass philosophy.
Half-empty
Three games without a win against three Premier League strugglers; if we can't even beat Wolves, Blackpool or West Ham, how can we get into the Top 4? Jermain Defoe missed three good chances against the Hammers, and Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are hardly firing. Goals from midfield are drying up so we might regret not buying a striker in the transfer window.
Teams seem to have worked out how to play against us. If they keep eleven men behind the ball it frustrates us; our wingers can't get in behind the back line and we have to rely on pot shots and goalmouth scrambles.
Our run in's worse than last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, and the distraction of a massive tie with Real Madrid. Pplayers will want to be fit for both legs, so they won't put their all into the Wigan and Stoke games.
If we don't finish in the Champions League spots, we could lose Rafa Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and, with City in the Top 4, they'll buy the world's best players and we won't have a chance of getting back in.
Half-full
We've actually only lost one of our last eight Premier League games, and with all our injury problems, we've still only conceded one goal at home in 2011. We had 24 shots at goal on Saturday, and played some great football. We just need to start finding the net.
We've consistently played good football throughout the season, albeit with a few off games, but largely, we're coming out of bad results saying, "How did we not win that game?" rather than wondering where the form is going to come from.
As for our run in, our best performances have come against the better teams, so our boys will hopefully rise to it. We have a game in hand on City, which if we win, and beat them, then we'll jump into 4th, so it's all still in our hands. City have an easier run of games but off-pitch dramas could cause a few problems.
We all want to qualify for the Champions League, but if we don't it's not a crisis, we're still headed in the right direction. Gareth Bale's signed a new contract, so he certainly has no immediate plans to go anywhere and Redknapp made it all sound very simple after the Hammers game.
"If we don't make it this year, we'll have a go next year. I really do think I can win the Premier League with Tottenham."
Many Spurs fans have always had a glass-half-empty stance, although, with our recent successes, I know a few (me included) who are becoming glass-half-full kind of guys. In an attempt to please everyone, here's our current situation from both sides of the glass philosophy.
Half-empty
Three games without a win against three Premier League strugglers; if we can't even beat Wolves, Blackpool or West Ham, how can we get into the Top 4? Jermain Defoe missed three good chances against the Hammers, and Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are hardly firing. Goals from midfield are drying up so we might regret not buying a striker in the transfer window.
Teams seem to have worked out how to play against us. If they keep eleven men behind the ball it frustrates us; our wingers can't get in behind the back line and we have to rely on pot shots and goalmouth scrambles.
Our run in's worse than last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, and the distraction of a massive tie with Real Madrid. Pplayers will want to be fit for both legs, so they won't put their all into the Wigan and Stoke games.
If we don't finish in the Champions League spots, we could lose Rafa Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and, with City in the Top 4, they'll buy the world's best players and we won't have a chance of getting back in.
Half-full
We've actually only lost one of our last eight Premier League games, and with all our injury problems, we've still only conceded one goal at home in 2011. We had 24 shots at goal on Saturday, and played some great football. We just need to start finding the net.
We've consistently played good football throughout the season, albeit with a few off games, but largely, we're coming out of bad results saying, "How did we not win that game?" rather than wondering where the form is going to come from.
As for our run in, our best performances have come against the better teams, so our boys will hopefully rise to it. We have a game in hand on City, which if we win, and beat them, then we'll jump into 4th, so it's all still in our hands. City have an easier run of games but off-pitch dramas could cause a few problems.
We all want to qualify for the Champions League, but if we don't it's not a crisis, we're still headed in the right direction. Gareth Bale's signed a new contract, so he certainly has no immediate plans to go anywhere and Redknapp made it all sound very simple after the Hammers game.
"If we don't make it this year, we'll have a go next year. I really do think I can win the Premier League with Tottenham."
Friday, 18 March 2011
Top 4 On Friday - European nights
With today's European draw bringing Tottenham back to the forefront of the European limelight, we take a look back at some of our most memorable European nights. This is obviously open to debate...
4. Spurs 8 - 1 Gornik Zabrze - September 20, 1961
The first ever European Cup game played at White Hart Lane and, similar to Young Boys this season, the stadium proved to be a fortress.
Having lost the away leg 4-2, we looked in danger of an early exit. But, in front of a huge crowd, we hit back against accusations of being dirty in the away leg and blew the Polish side off the park - a Cliff Jones hat-trick amongst the eight goals.
This narrowly pipped the quarter-final home leg against Dukla Prague, a 4-1 victory in snowy conditions, where Dave Mackay and Bobby Smith helped themselves to two goals each - but Gornik was the game that started it all.
3. Spurs 1-1 Anderlecht - May 23, 1984
An English team winning on penalties? Surely not. Yes, it really happened. Spurs drew the first leg 1-1 and brought Anderlecht back to White Hart Lane for a huge night. Conceding after 60 minutes, we looked to be headed for defeat until Graham Roberts popped up six minutes from time with an equaliser.
The game headed towards penalties and the shootout looked won as Spurs converted the first four kicks but a Danny Thomas miss had the fans' hearts in their mouths - until keeper Tony Parks saved the next one to win Spurs the UEFA Cup and give Keith Burkinshaw the perfect send-off.
2. Spurs 3-1 Inter Milan - November 2, 2010
Well, something from this season had to be in there or there was just no point in doing a rundown! This was the night that Spurs proved they could mix it with the big names. Gareth Bale tore Maicon apart for the second time and attacking football won the day. The sound of White Hart Lane singing "Oh, when the spurs" in unison after Bale had raced down the left to square for Pavlyuchenko to score the third will live long in the memory.
1. Spurs 5-1 Atletico Madrid - May 15, 1963
The Benfica semi-final was difficult not to include, but at the end of the day we lost it, so we went for the original glory, glory night instead.
Jimmmy Greaves and Terry Dyson helped scored two each, to add to John White's goal as we turn out one of our most memorable performances of all time. Beating the defending champions at Feyenoord Stadium, we became the first English team ever to bring home a European trophy.
4. Spurs 8 - 1 Gornik Zabrze - September 20, 1961
The first ever European Cup game played at White Hart Lane and, similar to Young Boys this season, the stadium proved to be a fortress.
Having lost the away leg 4-2, we looked in danger of an early exit. But, in front of a huge crowd, we hit back against accusations of being dirty in the away leg and blew the Polish side off the park - a Cliff Jones hat-trick amongst the eight goals.
This narrowly pipped the quarter-final home leg against Dukla Prague, a 4-1 victory in snowy conditions, where Dave Mackay and Bobby Smith helped themselves to two goals each - but Gornik was the game that started it all.
3. Spurs 1-1 Anderlecht - May 23, 1984
An English team winning on penalties? Surely not. Yes, it really happened. Spurs drew the first leg 1-1 and brought Anderlecht back to White Hart Lane for a huge night. Conceding after 60 minutes, we looked to be headed for defeat until Graham Roberts popped up six minutes from time with an equaliser.
The game headed towards penalties and the shootout looked won as Spurs converted the first four kicks but a Danny Thomas miss had the fans' hearts in their mouths - until keeper Tony Parks saved the next one to win Spurs the UEFA Cup and give Keith Burkinshaw the perfect send-off.
2. Spurs 3-1 Inter Milan - November 2, 2010
Well, something from this season had to be in there or there was just no point in doing a rundown! This was the night that Spurs proved they could mix it with the big names. Gareth Bale tore Maicon apart for the second time and attacking football won the day. The sound of White Hart Lane singing "Oh, when the spurs" in unison after Bale had raced down the left to square for Pavlyuchenko to score the third will live long in the memory.
1. Spurs 5-1 Atletico Madrid - May 15, 1963
The Benfica semi-final was difficult not to include, but at the end of the day we lost it, so we went for the original glory, glory night instead.
Jimmmy Greaves and Terry Dyson helped scored two each, to add to John White's goal as we turn out one of our most memorable performances of all time. Beating the defending champions at Feyenoord Stadium, we became the first English team ever to bring home a European trophy.
Making a 'Real' go of European football
Real Madrid. What a draw. Whatever happens, this is the best possible way to continue an amazing season; a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, followed by a memorable night at White Hart Lane.
This is the stage we've always wanted to see Tottenham on but a younger generation of fans just couldn't see it happening. Our history crows loudly about the big European nights at White Hart Lane. Well this is about as big as they come.
If the quarter-final is to be the end of a brilliant journey then, let's be honest, losing to Shakhtar or Schalke would have been a disappointment, as would going down to an English team. In Real Madrid, not only do we face the most successful European team of all time but also the more beatable of the two Spanish sides - and I think we can give them a real go.
In an effort not to tempt fate, I switched off before the draw for the semi-finals was made . Now I learn that the path we have plotted it the most difficult but therefore also the most glamorous.
This draw is exactly what European football is about, it is exactly what we've all been dreaming of for so many years and, if our future does lie away from White Hart Lane, it is no less than the old place deserves.
Now, I hate to ruin the starry-eyed party, but West Ham tomorrow anyone?
This is the stage we've always wanted to see Tottenham on but a younger generation of fans just couldn't see it happening. Our history crows loudly about the big European nights at White Hart Lane. Well this is about as big as they come.
If the quarter-final is to be the end of a brilliant journey then, let's be honest, losing to Shakhtar or Schalke would have been a disappointment, as would going down to an English team. In Real Madrid, not only do we face the most successful European team of all time but also the more beatable of the two Spanish sides - and I think we can give them a real go.
In an effort not to tempt fate, I switched off before the draw for the semi-finals was made . Now I learn that the path we have plotted it the most difficult but therefore also the most glamorous.
This draw is exactly what European football is about, it is exactly what we've all been dreaming of for so many years and, if our future does lie away from White Hart Lane, it is no less than the old place deserves.
Now, I hate to ruin the starry-eyed party, but West Ham tomorrow anyone?
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Where to start on a truly mouth-watering menu
The quarter-final draw is, essentially, the printing of the menu for a potential three-course meal at Europe's top table. For the seasoned Champions League sides, the last eight is the least that is expected; the "business end". For Spurs, well, we've already proved we're not just here to make up the numbers but who do we want as a starter?
Bill Nicholson quite famously said, "It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."
If that is the Tottenham way, I'm unsure how to apply it , does it mean that we should hope for Barcelona and, if we go out, then getting to the quarters is an achievement in itself? Or does it mean that we aim to win the competition, and therefore hope for as kind a draw as possible?
First things first, it's a totally open draw, so we can draw anyone from; Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Man United, Real Madrid, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk - so I'm going to try to whittle them down to one ideal opponent.
Seeing as our European campaign thus far has been such a magical mystery tour, it'd be nice to avoid the English teams. I'd fancy our chances against Chelsea, but we play them at least twice a season and that's enough for now.
Spurs have raised their game for the top sides in the Champions League and certainly benefit from being the underdogs. Drawn with Shakhtar or Schalke, the English press will almost certainly paint us as favourites, which could work against us as we've had a tendency to underestimate teams this season. If we're going to go out to anyone, we'd all prefer they were as big as possible!
Above all else, we want to avoid Inter Milan. True, we've beaten them once already, and we know they don't like our attacking game. But, Inter have a new manager and won't make the same mistakes again, and if they end up knocking us out, it'll tarnish the memory of tearing them apart earlier in the competition.
That leaves Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both are as dangerous as each other and a cut above anyone we've faced so far. Both would represent two absolutely massive European nights and, even as I'm writing this, I'm changing my mind. The thought of Spurs v Real Madrid is a mouth-watering prospect; not only the greatest team in European history, but a team I really think we could beat.
I keep coming back to Bill Nick's quote and thinking that you enter Europe to pit yourselves against the very best.
It would be a shame to look back in years to come if we hadn't seen just how well we could stand up to the best football team on the planet - so roll on Barcelona.
*Please note, these are just the whimsical ramblings of a Spurs fan after nine days without a game. In truth, I'm chuffed just to be involved in the quarter-final draw and will happily take a draw against any of the teams involved
Bill Nicholson quite famously said, "It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."
If that is the Tottenham way, I'm unsure how to apply it , does it mean that we should hope for Barcelona and, if we go out, then getting to the quarters is an achievement in itself? Or does it mean that we aim to win the competition, and therefore hope for as kind a draw as possible?
First things first, it's a totally open draw, so we can draw anyone from; Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Man United, Real Madrid, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk - so I'm going to try to whittle them down to one ideal opponent.
Seeing as our European campaign thus far has been such a magical mystery tour, it'd be nice to avoid the English teams. I'd fancy our chances against Chelsea, but we play them at least twice a season and that's enough for now.
Spurs have raised their game for the top sides in the Champions League and certainly benefit from being the underdogs. Drawn with Shakhtar or Schalke, the English press will almost certainly paint us as favourites, which could work against us as we've had a tendency to underestimate teams this season. If we're going to go out to anyone, we'd all prefer they were as big as possible!
Above all else, we want to avoid Inter Milan. True, we've beaten them once already, and we know they don't like our attacking game. But, Inter have a new manager and won't make the same mistakes again, and if they end up knocking us out, it'll tarnish the memory of tearing them apart earlier in the competition.
That leaves Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both are as dangerous as each other and a cut above anyone we've faced so far. Both would represent two absolutely massive European nights and, even as I'm writing this, I'm changing my mind. The thought of Spurs v Real Madrid is a mouth-watering prospect; not only the greatest team in European history, but a team I really think we could beat.
I keep coming back to Bill Nick's quote and thinking that you enter Europe to pit yourselves against the very best.
It would be a shame to look back in years to come if we hadn't seen just how well we could stand up to the best football team on the planet - so roll on Barcelona.
*Please note, these are just the whimsical ramblings of a Spurs fan after nine days without a game. In truth, I'm chuffed just to be involved in the quarter-final draw and will happily take a draw against any of the teams involved
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
No more reason to "mind the gap"
For years now, it seems like every Spurs success, and every good result we've had against Arsenal has brought with it cries from fans and media alike, "Are we catching them up?" and "Are Tottenham finally closing the gap on their bitter rivals?"
I'd still be wary of claiming that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours, even now, as we await the quarter-final draw for the Champions League, and Arsenal fans are left to spend their Tuesday or Wednesday nights catching up on soaps or watching BBC cooking shows.
On Saturday, however, I stumbled over an unexpected yardstick to indicate how far Spurs have come.
At 5.30pm, I realised that I'd missed the start of Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final against Man United. What's more, I was shocked to realise that I really couldn't care less about it.
I didn't care who won, I didn't care how they played and, come the closing stages, I even wanted an Arsenal comeback; not so that they cause themselves further fixture congestion, just because I wanted to see a decent game of football - the fact that Arsenal were involved at all meant nothing.
When I was younger, hating Arsenal was part of the fabric of being a Spurs fan. The intense dislike of all their players, kits and sponsors, the joy taken from every bad day they had and the desperation that they didn't finish the season with the league title. On Saturday evening, however, none of it was there.
To me, that speaks volumes for the Spurs team of today; the fact that, by mid-march, we still have our own aspirations for the season and the fans no longer have to seek false triumph in the off-days of our neighbours.
There's nothing wrong with healthy competition, though. However you exercise your North london rivalry, we've all had a laugh, smirk, joke or even just a wry smile at the Gooners' as they pick up the pieces of a fortnight from hell - but this "closing the gap" talk no longer interests me.
If the last ten years have been Arsenal's time, then let them have it. Because, right now, if there's any chance at all that the here and now might just be our time, then Tottenham have my undivided attention.
I'd still be wary of claiming that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours, even now, as we await the quarter-final draw for the Champions League, and Arsenal fans are left to spend their Tuesday or Wednesday nights catching up on soaps or watching BBC cooking shows.
On Saturday, however, I stumbled over an unexpected yardstick to indicate how far Spurs have come.
At 5.30pm, I realised that I'd missed the start of Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final against Man United. What's more, I was shocked to realise that I really couldn't care less about it.
I didn't care who won, I didn't care how they played and, come the closing stages, I even wanted an Arsenal comeback; not so that they cause themselves further fixture congestion, just because I wanted to see a decent game of football - the fact that Arsenal were involved at all meant nothing.
When I was younger, hating Arsenal was part of the fabric of being a Spurs fan. The intense dislike of all their players, kits and sponsors, the joy taken from every bad day they had and the desperation that they didn't finish the season with the league title. On Saturday evening, however, none of it was there.
To me, that speaks volumes for the Spurs team of today; the fact that, by mid-march, we still have our own aspirations for the season and the fans no longer have to seek false triumph in the off-days of our neighbours.
There's nothing wrong with healthy competition, though. However you exercise your North london rivalry, we've all had a laugh, smirk, joke or even just a wry smile at the Gooners' as they pick up the pieces of a fortnight from hell - but this "closing the gap" talk no longer interests me.
If the last ten years have been Arsenal's time, then let them have it. Because, right now, if there's any chance at all that the here and now might just be our time, then Tottenham have my undivided attention.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Spurs maths equations
Ever get the feeling some of our players are a bit Jekyll and Hyde, or that you've seen somewhere before? Well here's the Taxi For Maicon rundown of what, or who, constitutes some of our biggest names.
4. Roy Keane + Tony Mowbraw = Robbie Keane
3. Tom Cruise + Johnny Depp = Niko Kranjcar
2. Kids' cartoon Pikachu + Cameron Diaz = Roman Pavlychenko
1. Mickey Rourke + Lord of the Rings' Gimli = HRH Harry Redknapp
4. Roy Keane + Tony Mowbraw = Robbie Keane
3. Tom Cruise + Johnny Depp = Niko Kranjcar
2. Kids' cartoon Pikachu + Cameron Diaz = Roman Pavlychenko
1. Mickey Rourke + Lord of the Rings' Gimli = HRH Harry Redknapp
Thursday, 10 March 2011
A worthwhile ruination of European football
I've always loved the dynamics of European football; the way a two-leg tie can swing back and forth, the sub-plots and mental battle produced by the away goal rule and the fact a single goal can turn a game on its head make it one of the most dramatic footballing stages on the planet and as a rule I enjoy watching it.
Last night, however, that all changed.
I was as ecstatic with the result as the rest of us but the 94-minute period leading up to the final whistle was probably the most tense, nailbiting football experience of my entire life.
As a neutral, you can sit back and thrive on the tension and take in the various subplots and tactical battles but being a supporter of a team involved makes the whole thing a different prospect.
Yesterday I found myself totally immersed in every pass, every tackle, every touch. Time slowed to a crawl as I watched the clock tick over in earnest, breathing a sigh of relief every time the ball went out of play.
It made no difference to me that Milan subdued our attacking game, it made no difference where the ball was on the pitch, my only hope was that we would get it back. "Keep it" and "think", I continually mumbled out loud, greeting every misplaced pass or loose touch with "Arrrgh" and "Nnnnr" noises.
Only at half-time, stepping back from the precipice and seeing some of the highlights could I make any sense of this alien way that our team were playing - gradually it began to fit into place.
By the time my dad rang claiming, "They're all over us, we're being torn apart, how it's still 0-0 I have no idea", I had just about come to terms with what was going on and looked to reassure him.
"We've got a one-goal lead, Dad, we can't go steaming in or we'll lose it in a flash. This Milan side are much better than they were at the San Siro, they're fast, fluid and dangerous but we're keeping them at arm's length.
(Obviously, I'm elaborating slightly, I don't actually speak like this, especially to my dad, but the ideas were the same)
"Look at how well we've kept our shape, we've been rigid and except a few wobbles, we've been tough to break down, it doesn't matter that we're not attacking, it's 0-0 and we're half way there."
The second half was much of the same, Spurs were a bit more sprightly going forward, we had a bit of confidence but could we really see this out? An actual nil-nil? Surely not.
The build up had been all about Gareth Bale. Given the column inches devoted to his possible fitness, you'd be forgiven for thinking the whole Spurs squad had been massaging and pampering the Welsh whizzard to get him into shape, escorting him down steps and up kerbs to protect him, maybe even feeding him grapes and reading him bedtime stories.
And that was fine, while the circus deflected Milan's attention towards Gareth Bale, Redknapp must have been working on defending as a unit. The two banks of four in our 4-4-1-1 formation seldom wavered and Sandro further cemented his starting place with an assured performance.
The Brazilian is rapidly becoming our very own Thames Barrier and broke down wave after wave of Milan attack, winning the ball in key positions and putting us on the front foot as he broke out of defence.
Only in the 87th minute did I seriously start to entertain the thought that, "Hang on, we might actually do this," And, from that moment, it was back to clock-watching and nailbiting.
I'm now left with no fingernails, sore fingers from where I ran out of nails, and my innocent enjoyment of European football has been well and truly ruined - but I still can't wait to go through it all again next month!
Last night, however, that all changed.
I was as ecstatic with the result as the rest of us but the 94-minute period leading up to the final whistle was probably the most tense, nailbiting football experience of my entire life.
As a neutral, you can sit back and thrive on the tension and take in the various subplots and tactical battles but being a supporter of a team involved makes the whole thing a different prospect.
Yesterday I found myself totally immersed in every pass, every tackle, every touch. Time slowed to a crawl as I watched the clock tick over in earnest, breathing a sigh of relief every time the ball went out of play.
It made no difference to me that Milan subdued our attacking game, it made no difference where the ball was on the pitch, my only hope was that we would get it back. "Keep it" and "think", I continually mumbled out loud, greeting every misplaced pass or loose touch with "Arrrgh" and "Nnnnr" noises.
Only at half-time, stepping back from the precipice and seeing some of the highlights could I make any sense of this alien way that our team were playing - gradually it began to fit into place.
By the time my dad rang claiming, "They're all over us, we're being torn apart, how it's still 0-0 I have no idea", I had just about come to terms with what was going on and looked to reassure him.
"We've got a one-goal lead, Dad, we can't go steaming in or we'll lose it in a flash. This Milan side are much better than they were at the San Siro, they're fast, fluid and dangerous but we're keeping them at arm's length.
(Obviously, I'm elaborating slightly, I don't actually speak like this, especially to my dad, but the ideas were the same)
"Look at how well we've kept our shape, we've been rigid and except a few wobbles, we've been tough to break down, it doesn't matter that we're not attacking, it's 0-0 and we're half way there."
The second half was much of the same, Spurs were a bit more sprightly going forward, we had a bit of confidence but could we really see this out? An actual nil-nil? Surely not.
The build up had been all about Gareth Bale. Given the column inches devoted to his possible fitness, you'd be forgiven for thinking the whole Spurs squad had been massaging and pampering the Welsh whizzard to get him into shape, escorting him down steps and up kerbs to protect him, maybe even feeding him grapes and reading him bedtime stories.
And that was fine, while the circus deflected Milan's attention towards Gareth Bale, Redknapp must have been working on defending as a unit. The two banks of four in our 4-4-1-1 formation seldom wavered and Sandro further cemented his starting place with an assured performance.
The Brazilian is rapidly becoming our very own Thames Barrier and broke down wave after wave of Milan attack, winning the ball in key positions and putting us on the front foot as he broke out of defence.
Only in the 87th minute did I seriously start to entertain the thought that, "Hang on, we might actually do this," And, from that moment, it was back to clock-watching and nailbiting.
I'm now left with no fingernails, sore fingers from where I ran out of nails, and my innocent enjoyment of European football has been well and truly ruined - but I still can't wait to go through it all again next month!
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Falling foul of the "key" decision
Some people are quick to gloat in the faces of Arsenal fans, taking a lot of satisfaction from the fact that they were dumped out of the Champions League last night - personally I see it as warning shot of just how cruel European football can be.
It's a sight you see only too often - an English side bemoaning bad refereeing as they crash out of Europe. Everyone remember Drogba screaming down the television cameras in 2009?
Regardless what anyone says about Barcelona deserving the victory, there is no denying that the referee had a huge impact on the game by sending off Robin Van Persie in what can only be described as a ridiculous decision.
Arsenal may have been played off the park by one of the best attacking teams on the planet, they may have been swarmed when in possession and Barcelona may have pitched their tent in the visitors' half of the Nou Camp, but who is really to say that, with 11 players still on the pitch, Arsenal couldn't have protected their slender advantage?
At the very least, it might have been Van Persie bearing down on the Barcelona goal in the 90th minute instead of Nicklas Bendtner, and it could have turned the game on its head.
Spurs are on a great run so far in Europe, but we've done it largely without interruption from referees. It takes a very forgetful Spurs fan to think that our 1-0 lead is by any means solid.
A long day of people telling us that Spurs are in pole position, in control, and favourites to go through is already underway. Of course, as Spurs fans we know that our side are capable of beating Milan - if Milan play into our hands then we're capable of blowing them away - but we're all only too familiar with just how delicate the mindset of our side can be.
In 2007, we blew our quarter-final against Sevilla by conceding two goals in 8 minutes at home in the second leg of a tie that we just needed to win 1-0. Today's squad is better in both attitude and quality but we're all familiar with the alarming tendency we've developed this season of imploding at the beginning of games.
Rafa Van Der Vaart's broad and experienced shoulders will be key to settling the side's early nerves in the "white hot" atmosphere. However, if we're faced with the wrong referee, decisions are bound to go against us.
Spurs can't spend the game in fear of stepping out of line but it's how we react to these moments that is so important, so as not to tip the balance in favour of our opponents and so as not to become another English club complaining to officials come the final whistle.
See you on the other side!
It's a sight you see only too often - an English side bemoaning bad refereeing as they crash out of Europe. Everyone remember Drogba screaming down the television cameras in 2009?
Regardless what anyone says about Barcelona deserving the victory, there is no denying that the referee had a huge impact on the game by sending off Robin Van Persie in what can only be described as a ridiculous decision.
Arsenal may have been played off the park by one of the best attacking teams on the planet, they may have been swarmed when in possession and Barcelona may have pitched their tent in the visitors' half of the Nou Camp, but who is really to say that, with 11 players still on the pitch, Arsenal couldn't have protected their slender advantage?
At the very least, it might have been Van Persie bearing down on the Barcelona goal in the 90th minute instead of Nicklas Bendtner, and it could have turned the game on its head.
Spurs are on a great run so far in Europe, but we've done it largely without interruption from referees. It takes a very forgetful Spurs fan to think that our 1-0 lead is by any means solid.
A long day of people telling us that Spurs are in pole position, in control, and favourites to go through is already underway. Of course, as Spurs fans we know that our side are capable of beating Milan - if Milan play into our hands then we're capable of blowing them away - but we're all only too familiar with just how delicate the mindset of our side can be.
In 2007, we blew our quarter-final against Sevilla by conceding two goals in 8 minutes at home in the second leg of a tie that we just needed to win 1-0. Today's squad is better in both attitude and quality but we're all familiar with the alarming tendency we've developed this season of imploding at the beginning of games.
Rafa Van Der Vaart's broad and experienced shoulders will be key to settling the side's early nerves in the "white hot" atmosphere. However, if we're faced with the wrong referee, decisions are bound to go against us.
Spurs can't spend the game in fear of stepping out of line but it's how we react to these moments that is so important, so as not to tip the balance in favour of our opponents and so as not to become another English club complaining to officials come the final whistle.
See you on the other side!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Nevermind the jargon, what will it look like!?
The club's official website has today announced a new shirt manufacturing deal with US-based company Under Armour, starting in 2012/2013.
Daniel Levy, Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, said: "We are delighted that Under Armour will become our new technical partner from 2012 onwards. They are an extremely ambitious brand with global aspirations, making them ideal partners for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Blah, blah, blah, the usual business jargon then. On forums and blogs, the most popular response to the news seems to be, "Who the **** are they?"
Fans generally want to see one of the big names on the kit, such as Nike or Adidas, although this season's Puma shirt is the best I've seen in years. In general, the club will go for the best deal financially but what we really want to know is what the shirts will look like?
The worry with having an Stateside firm make our kits is that we'll be watching our boys in American football shirts, basketball vests, Budweiser T-shirts or dressed as hot dogs.
Well, Under Armour make this season's kits for Greek side Aris Thessalonika (left) and German side Hannover 96. Obviously it's still two years off, so the current template isn't much of an indication but you'll be very pleased to see that they do at least look like football shirts.
Daniel Levy, Tottenham Hotspur Chairman, said: "We are delighted that Under Armour will become our new technical partner from 2012 onwards. They are an extremely ambitious brand with global aspirations, making them ideal partners for Tottenham Hotspur.”
Blah, blah, blah, the usual business jargon then. On forums and blogs, the most popular response to the news seems to be, "Who the **** are they?"
Fans generally want to see one of the big names on the kit, such as Nike or Adidas, although this season's Puma shirt is the best I've seen in years. In general, the club will go for the best deal financially but what we really want to know is what the shirts will look like?
The worry with having an Stateside firm make our kits is that we'll be watching our boys in American football shirts, basketball vests, Budweiser T-shirts or dressed as hot dogs.
Well, Under Armour make this season's kits for Greek side Aris Thessalonika (left) and German side Hannover 96. Obviously it's still two years off, so the current template isn't much of an indication but you'll be very pleased to see that they do at least look like football shirts.
Some sort of perspective
I've had to wait a day before writing about the Wolves game. If I hadn't, you'd probably just be reading a four-letter diatribe of 'Why?' this and 'Why?' that.
Now that the nerves have settled and my blood has stopped boiling, I can take a proper look at the situation - how Harry Redknapp manages to immediately compose himself and do a post-match interview is beyond me.
The man's got nerves of steel, and he has an uncanny ability to put the whole thing in some sort of perspective. We're all sat there, head in hands, concerned that our wonderful journey is at an end, and 'Arry comes out and says "That's football", then points out that Wolves have beaten Man United, Chelsea and Man City at Molineux and suddenly we all feel that little bit better about things.
Make no mistake, our last two results have made a Top 4 finish an uphill struggle, but Spurs have never made things easy for themselves and, the result aside, there were a lot of encouraging signs to come from yesterday.
Obviously, the sight of Gareth Bale careering down the flank is a timely boost as we look towards another difficult run-in. And, never mind Kolo Toure, I want some of whatever Jermain Defoe's been having, as both those goals were not only out of the top drawer, but completely out of nothing - and that surprise element is something we've been badly missing.
Defoe is famed for slamming the ball home from 18 yards with no regard for the keeper's positioning, but both strikes yesterday were placed carefully out of Wayne Hennessey's reach. Now, if he can just learn to take it round the keeper in a one-on-one situation… one step at a time.
It was nice to see Roman Pavlyuchenko on the scoresheet, you have to go back to November for the last time two of our strikers scored in the same game. But for me, he puts very little into his off-the-ball game. Countless times yesterday he gave up the moment he was dispossessed, in stark contrast, Jermain Defoe harried and chased down every ball, highlighting the lack of effort from the man alongside him, and maybe that's the reason Redknapp is hesitant to give Pav a run in the side.
Sandro had a much better game on Sunday and is starting to look like he's getting to grips with the Premier League. He's got a good awareness, he seems to know when to get stuck in or pile forward and when to hold off, protect the space behind. Even if his development isn't as meteroic as Bale's last season, in future seasons he could prove to be the solid general midfielder we've been craving for so long.
Chelsea may have beaten Blackpool last night but then their following Premier League game is against Man City, so someone is guaranteed to drop points. Our next three games are West Ham, Wigan and Stoke so finger crossed we can make up some ground.
If all that's not enough, then we still have to play both Chelsea and Man City so, whilst recent results have not been what we'd hoped for, the situation is still very much in our hands.
Now that the nerves have settled and my blood has stopped boiling, I can take a proper look at the situation - how Harry Redknapp manages to immediately compose himself and do a post-match interview is beyond me.
The man's got nerves of steel, and he has an uncanny ability to put the whole thing in some sort of perspective. We're all sat there, head in hands, concerned that our wonderful journey is at an end, and 'Arry comes out and says "That's football", then points out that Wolves have beaten Man United, Chelsea and Man City at Molineux and suddenly we all feel that little bit better about things.
Make no mistake, our last two results have made a Top 4 finish an uphill struggle, but Spurs have never made things easy for themselves and, the result aside, there were a lot of encouraging signs to come from yesterday.
Obviously, the sight of Gareth Bale careering down the flank is a timely boost as we look towards another difficult run-in. And, never mind Kolo Toure, I want some of whatever Jermain Defoe's been having, as both those goals were not only out of the top drawer, but completely out of nothing - and that surprise element is something we've been badly missing.
Defoe is famed for slamming the ball home from 18 yards with no regard for the keeper's positioning, but both strikes yesterday were placed carefully out of Wayne Hennessey's reach. Now, if he can just learn to take it round the keeper in a one-on-one situation… one step at a time.
It was nice to see Roman Pavlyuchenko on the scoresheet, you have to go back to November for the last time two of our strikers scored in the same game. But for me, he puts very little into his off-the-ball game. Countless times yesterday he gave up the moment he was dispossessed, in stark contrast, Jermain Defoe harried and chased down every ball, highlighting the lack of effort from the man alongside him, and maybe that's the reason Redknapp is hesitant to give Pav a run in the side.
Sandro had a much better game on Sunday and is starting to look like he's getting to grips with the Premier League. He's got a good awareness, he seems to know when to get stuck in or pile forward and when to hold off, protect the space behind. Even if his development isn't as meteroic as Bale's last season, in future seasons he could prove to be the solid general midfielder we've been craving for so long.
Chelsea may have beaten Blackpool last night but then their following Premier League game is against Man City, so someone is guaranteed to drop points. Our next three games are West Ham, Wigan and Stoke so finger crossed we can make up some ground.
If all that's not enough, then we still have to play both Chelsea and Man City so, whilst recent results have not been what we'd hoped for, the situation is still very much in our hands.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Waiting for Wolves - Day 10
In the last seven days Man City's Kolo Toure has been banned for failing a drugs test, Chelsea's training ground became a shooting range, Man United's manager was charged with misconduct and Arsenal missed out on yet another trophy to add to their six-year dry spell.
Who would have thought I've just described the Top Four? Yes, the current cream of the crop in the English Premier League are all plunging themselves into turmoil at a vital point in the season. But, having had 10 days without a game, us Spurs fans have speculated over everything possible, so in an effort not to tempt fate before Sunday's game, I'm just going to attempt to make Friday a bit of fun.
Here is my very own Top Four... Spurs-related Youtube vids, that is.
In fourth, a Spurs ball boy becomes an instant hero with the Shelf Side, picking out Loumpoutis' weak spot in our 6-1 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta in September 2007.
At three, 'Arry reacts in style as he's asked a stupid question at a press conference.. It was a close run between this and the Wheeler Dealer reaction.
In second place, there are a host of these Hitler skits, but this is a translation of his reaction to our Champions League Last-16 draw against Milan.
Worthy first place goes to this brilliant account of two Spurs fans' trip to Milan last month. A few further clicks will take you to a series of "Away Day" videos, all of which are brilliant.
Who would have thought I've just described the Top Four? Yes, the current cream of the crop in the English Premier League are all plunging themselves into turmoil at a vital point in the season. But, having had 10 days without a game, us Spurs fans have speculated over everything possible, so in an effort not to tempt fate before Sunday's game, I'm just going to attempt to make Friday a bit of fun.
Here is my very own Top Four... Spurs-related Youtube vids, that is.
In fourth, a Spurs ball boy becomes an instant hero with the Shelf Side, picking out Loumpoutis' weak spot in our 6-1 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta in September 2007.
At three, 'Arry reacts in style as he's asked a stupid question at a press conference.. It was a close run between this and the Wheeler Dealer reaction.
In second place, there are a host of these Hitler skits, but this is a translation of his reaction to our Champions League Last-16 draw against Milan.
Worthy first place goes to this brilliant account of two Spurs fans' trip to Milan last month. A few further clicks will take you to a series of "Away Day" videos, all of which are brilliant.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
The irrational thought processes of a modern football fan
In the modern world, twelve days without a football match can only mean one thing - it must be summer, the close season. Nothing to play for, no poor records to worry about or good records to uphold, no injury concerns, just sun, clear skies and...
Wait, what's that? It's the middle of the season? You've got to be joking?
No I'm not joking. It is day eight of Spurs' 12-day break between games and, with only our loss at Blackpool to concentrate on, my mind is going into meltdown. We lost to Blackpool, for heaven's sake, that must mean we're terrible, doesn't it? We've lost it, we have no hope of fourth place and we're going to lose all our best players and our manager.
If I could step back and take a breath, I would see that it will all turn back and forth a few more times before the season is out but, having had so long to week to stew over our last result, my ability to process rational thought has ceased.
Basically, it's a form of cabin fever, and I'm sure other Spurs fans must be feeling it - forced to look elsewhere for kicks, on Sunday evening, folk stood foolishly outside their glass houses, throwing stones in the direction of our neighbours, Arsenal.
Jokes and insult filled forums and fanzines as Spurs fans fell about laughing at the Gunners' misfortune to have lost a cup, the final of which they stumbled into and, come the end of the season, they aren't going to care about.
Then yesterday, I'm sitting comfortably in my front room watching the Oscars highlights, when I flick channel to see Chelsea launch a brick into our patio doors, cracking our window of opportunity looking out over fourth spot and handing the bragging rights straight back to the now-realistic title challengers, Arsenal.
When I was younger, I'd come up with all manner of weird and wonderful reasons and explanations that proved Tottenham were better than their league position suggested.
It worked like this... In 1998, Spurs beat Newcastle 2-0 which meant that by default, because Newcastle had beaten Barcelona earlier that season, we were better than Barcelona. Add to that, the fact that Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 in March 1998, and Real went on to win the European Cup, then Spurs must be better than the European Champions.
Experience tells us this logic is flawed. But that doesn't stop us applying similar rules week in week out . Only a few weeks ago even the papers screamed, "If Spurs can beat AC Milan in the San Siro, they can beat anyone."
Today, this simple logic, improper as it may be, is working heavily against me. It is telling me that if Wolves can beat Blackpool, and Manchester United moreover, then they can make short work of us.
If our last game had been the 1-0 victory over AC Milan, then I'm sure that by now we'd all be convinced we were on the cusp of an extended spell of European domination, but it had to be Blackpool didn't it.
There are still four days before our match at Wolves on Sunday, by which time we'll most likely be convinced of impending relegation, possible administration and all in training to attend tryouts for FC Hotspur of Tottenham?
Sorry, but this is the football season, and twelve days is too long.
Wait, what's that? It's the middle of the season? You've got to be joking?
No I'm not joking. It is day eight of Spurs' 12-day break between games and, with only our loss at Blackpool to concentrate on, my mind is going into meltdown. We lost to Blackpool, for heaven's sake, that must mean we're terrible, doesn't it? We've lost it, we have no hope of fourth place and we're going to lose all our best players and our manager.
If I could step back and take a breath, I would see that it will all turn back and forth a few more times before the season is out but, having had so long to week to stew over our last result, my ability to process rational thought has ceased.
Basically, it's a form of cabin fever, and I'm sure other Spurs fans must be feeling it - forced to look elsewhere for kicks, on Sunday evening, folk stood foolishly outside their glass houses, throwing stones in the direction of our neighbours, Arsenal.
Jokes and insult filled forums and fanzines as Spurs fans fell about laughing at the Gunners' misfortune to have lost a cup, the final of which they stumbled into and, come the end of the season, they aren't going to care about.
Then yesterday, I'm sitting comfortably in my front room watching the Oscars highlights, when I flick channel to see Chelsea launch a brick into our patio doors, cracking our window of opportunity looking out over fourth spot and handing the bragging rights straight back to the now-realistic title challengers, Arsenal.
When I was younger, I'd come up with all manner of weird and wonderful reasons and explanations that proved Tottenham were better than their league position suggested.
It worked like this... In 1998, Spurs beat Newcastle 2-0 which meant that by default, because Newcastle had beaten Barcelona earlier that season, we were better than Barcelona. Add to that, the fact that Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 in March 1998, and Real went on to win the European Cup, then Spurs must be better than the European Champions.
Experience tells us this logic is flawed. But that doesn't stop us applying similar rules week in week out . Only a few weeks ago even the papers screamed, "If Spurs can beat AC Milan in the San Siro, they can beat anyone."
Today, this simple logic, improper as it may be, is working heavily against me. It is telling me that if Wolves can beat Blackpool, and Manchester United moreover, then they can make short work of us.
If our last game had been the 1-0 victory over AC Milan, then I'm sure that by now we'd all be convinced we were on the cusp of an extended spell of European domination, but it had to be Blackpool didn't it.
There are still four days before our match at Wolves on Sunday, by which time we'll most likely be convinced of impending relegation, possible administration and all in training to attend tryouts for FC Hotspur of Tottenham?
Sorry, but this is the football season, and twelve days is too long.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)