Im bored. I'm bored of the problems, bored of the concerns and bored of the questions.
Is our season finished? Have our hopes of fourth spot evaporated with our goalscoring ability? Has Harry Redknapp taken us as far as we can go (a stupid and all too common question)? The list is endless and relentless.
Yes, if we don't beat chelsea today, then we are probably not going to qualify for the Champions League. But it's not mathematically impossible and, until that point, i'll be backing the team to the hilt.
Vital run-ins are not the time or place for post mortems.
Recent weeks have led me to suspect that as a group, our squad is running out of steam for this term. The will and the ambition is clearly there, we came back to draw against Arsenal, but it doesn't look like there's enough gas in the tank to see us over the finishing line.
To me, that's perfectly understandable and perfectly acceptable. The season started with an almighty bang in August and we kept it going until Christmas, in January we began to roll with the punches a bit, bouncing back off the ropes on occasions but focusing efforts and raising our game for the two tough but ultimately successful legs against milan.
The fact that we are still fifth in the table is actually a minor miracle. the only questin that Spurs fans should be asking is 'have we enjoyed this season?'
We attacked a new level of challenge with style and we reacquainted the club with a generation of football fans around Europe beginning to think 'whatever happened to Tottenham Hotspur?'. The answer, from those with a sound mind, is always an almighty 'Yes'.
If we can't beat Chelsea today, then we'll probably all look to the West Brom game as the day our hopes faded. But can't is a big word, and it's a word that this Spurs team don't always know the meaning of. So here's hoping...
Saturday 30 April 2011
Friday 22 April 2011
Top 4 On Friday - North London derbies
Yet another impressive comeback against our closest rivals and it's beginning to look like we might be some sort of bogey team for them nowadays. Maybe it's the never-say-die attitude or even just the wingers, either way it's led to this week's Top 4 On Friday being based on; memorable derby days.
4. Arsenal 1-1 Spurs, April 22, 2006
Fans of the Martin Jol era will have fond memories of this one. The Dutchman had us chasing fourth spot for the first time since the start of the Premier League and to break the so-called Big Four would have been a massive achievement. Obviously it was Arsenal we were fighting tooth and nail for the final Champions League spot.
We were four points ahead and three games from the end of the season, a victory would have all but confirmed us in the top four but Robbie Keane's strike was cancelled out by a slick Arsenal goal finished off by Thierry Henry.
But the game will be forever remember for the sight of Arsene Wenger and Jol squaring up over our opening goal. Wenger felt that Edgar Davids should have put the ball out of play as an Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto collided in the penalty area; needless to say, the Frenchman had no case, the Arsenal players had injured each other, but we all got this picture as a memento.
3. Spurs 5-0 Arsenal, April 4, 1983
This was literally days after I was born. Massive few weeks for my dad (also a Spurs fan, obviously). Anyway, needless to say I can't remember it, so I can't do it justice, but neither side has won the derby by a five-goal margin ever since. Here's the highlights...
2. Spurs 5-1 Arsenal, 22 January, 2008
Arsenal fans will always remember this one because they still sing about it. Even though we won. They can mock us all they want for releasing a DVD of it, but it makes great television as we didn't just play them off the park, we totally embarrassed them with as good a 90 minutes of football as I have ever seen.
Juande Ramos had us attacking with pace and with a lethal end product. Sadly, it didn't last all season, but it did see off Arsenal in this League Cup semi-final and eventually won us our first silverware since 1999.
1. Spurs 3-1 Arsenal, April 14, 1991
"In the North London Cup they was only runners-up, now they can't get the Double up the Arsenal." Chas and Dave's lesser known 1991 FA CUp song says it all.
Gazza's outrageous free-kick puts us one up and Gary Lineker doubled the lead minutes later. Alan Smith dragged one back but the year ended in one and Gary Lineker's solo effort secured us a trip back to Wembley.
The Goons were fighting for another double and, whilst they did end up winning the league that year, we weren't going to let them have the Cup.
4. Arsenal 1-1 Spurs, April 22, 2006
Fans of the Martin Jol era will have fond memories of this one. The Dutchman had us chasing fourth spot for the first time since the start of the Premier League and to break the so-called Big Four would have been a massive achievement. Obviously it was Arsenal we were fighting tooth and nail for the final Champions League spot.
We were four points ahead and three games from the end of the season, a victory would have all but confirmed us in the top four but Robbie Keane's strike was cancelled out by a slick Arsenal goal finished off by Thierry Henry. But the game will be forever remember for the sight of Arsene Wenger and Jol squaring up over our opening goal. Wenger felt that Edgar Davids should have put the ball out of play as an Emmanuel Eboue and Gilberto collided in the penalty area; needless to say, the Frenchman had no case, the Arsenal players had injured each other, but we all got this picture as a memento.
3. Spurs 5-0 Arsenal, April 4, 1983
This was literally days after I was born. Massive few weeks for my dad (also a Spurs fan, obviously). Anyway, needless to say I can't remember it, so I can't do it justice, but neither side has won the derby by a five-goal margin ever since. Here's the highlights...
2. Spurs 5-1 Arsenal, 22 January, 2008
Arsenal fans will always remember this one because they still sing about it. Even though we won. They can mock us all they want for releasing a DVD of it, but it makes great television as we didn't just play them off the park, we totally embarrassed them with as good a 90 minutes of football as I have ever seen.
Juande Ramos had us attacking with pace and with a lethal end product. Sadly, it didn't last all season, but it did see off Arsenal in this League Cup semi-final and eventually won us our first silverware since 1999.
1. Spurs 3-1 Arsenal, April 14, 1991
"In the North London Cup they was only runners-up, now they can't get the Double up the Arsenal." Chas and Dave's lesser known 1991 FA CUp song says it all.
Gazza's outrageous free-kick puts us one up and Gary Lineker doubled the lead minutes later. Alan Smith dragged one back but the year ended in one and Gary Lineker's solo effort secured us a trip back to Wembley.
The Goons were fighting for another double and, whilst they did end up winning the league that year, we weren't going to let them have the Cup.
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Goons' problems could be just Fab
It's derby day, so I'm going to talk about Arsenal and, in particular, Cesc Fabregas. If you haven't read about it then basically he's said that Arsene Wenger would never have lasted so long without winning a trophy in Spain.
Fabregas added that Arsenal need to decide whether they want to be in the Champions League every year or whether they want to win trophies.
Well, Cesc. Put quite simply, you are an idiot of the highest degree.
Aside from the obvious murmurings of tension that are bound to arise from the captain's outburst, Fabregas would do well to remember that, the season before he broke into the first team, Arsenal won the Premier League without losing a game.
Has the midfielder even stopped to think that Arsenal's trophy drought could be all his fault! The evidence is there in black and white, he breaks into the first team, success dries up.
I'm not seriously suggesting that Cesc Fabregas is the scourge of the Woolwich Arsenal but he would do well to get his head down and stop continually bitching about the club that made him. Everyone at Arsenal knows he's going to Barcelona at some point and they don't need another whingeing ninny making them look stupid in the meantime. Isn't Arsene Wenger enough?
In fact, it was Wenger's policy of exposing youngsters to big occasions and putting his faith in new talent that gave Fabregas his chance in an Arsenal jersey and allowed to become such a huge name in football at just 23 years old, he should be grateful and show a bit more respect.
Fabregas had the chance to become one of the great Arsenal captains of all time but he has instead focused his mind on what everyone around him is doing wrong rather than focusing on his own shortcomings.
After the season we've had at Spurs, I would happily trade in the chance of winning the FA Cup or the League Cup now and again, if I knew we'd be involved in the Champions League every year - as that far outweighs the short-term glory of a minor trophy (and sorry, but the FA CUp is a minor trophy these days).
It seems to be a case of "the grass is always greener" for Fabregas and the point he seems to be missing is that if Arsenal are ''nearly there'' every year, then it's much easier to take that extra step, ride your luck a bit and end up with some silverware.
He's conveniently forgetting that Arsenal only crashed out of the Champions League by one goal; a goal for which he gave away possession attempting a silly backheel on the edge of his penalty area; a move every bit as naive and inexperienced as any of the players he is undermining.
If the petulant Goon really wants to win a title then he needs the players he is captaining to be willing to play for him and give 100 per cent all season long. Questioning the whole ethos and caliber of the club and it's players is hardly the mark of a true professional, especially before a North London derby of this importance.
So, my original point stands. The man is an idiot. But who are we to complain?
Come On You Spurs.
Fabregas added that Arsenal need to decide whether they want to be in the Champions League every year or whether they want to win trophies.
Well, Cesc. Put quite simply, you are an idiot of the highest degree.
Aside from the obvious murmurings of tension that are bound to arise from the captain's outburst, Fabregas would do well to remember that, the season before he broke into the first team, Arsenal won the Premier League without losing a game.
Has the midfielder even stopped to think that Arsenal's trophy drought could be all his fault! The evidence is there in black and white, he breaks into the first team, success dries up.
I'm not seriously suggesting that Cesc Fabregas is the scourge of the Woolwich Arsenal but he would do well to get his head down and stop continually bitching about the club that made him. Everyone at Arsenal knows he's going to Barcelona at some point and they don't need another whingeing ninny making them look stupid in the meantime. Isn't Arsene Wenger enough?
In fact, it was Wenger's policy of exposing youngsters to big occasions and putting his faith in new talent that gave Fabregas his chance in an Arsenal jersey and allowed to become such a huge name in football at just 23 years old, he should be grateful and show a bit more respect.
Fabregas had the chance to become one of the great Arsenal captains of all time but he has instead focused his mind on what everyone around him is doing wrong rather than focusing on his own shortcomings.
After the season we've had at Spurs, I would happily trade in the chance of winning the FA Cup or the League Cup now and again, if I knew we'd be involved in the Champions League every year - as that far outweighs the short-term glory of a minor trophy (and sorry, but the FA CUp is a minor trophy these days).
It seems to be a case of "the grass is always greener" for Fabregas and the point he seems to be missing is that if Arsenal are ''nearly there'' every year, then it's much easier to take that extra step, ride your luck a bit and end up with some silverware.
He's conveniently forgetting that Arsenal only crashed out of the Champions League by one goal; a goal for which he gave away possession attempting a silly backheel on the edge of his penalty area; a move every bit as naive and inexperienced as any of the players he is undermining.
If the petulant Goon really wants to win a title then he needs the players he is captaining to be willing to play for him and give 100 per cent all season long. Questioning the whole ethos and caliber of the club and it's players is hardly the mark of a true professional, especially before a North London derby of this importance.
So, my original point stands. The man is an idiot. But who are we to complain?
Come On You Spurs.
Friday 15 April 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Famous Fightbacks
Spurs used to be more prone to throwing away leads than clawing them back but this season we have more than made up for it with a few big comebacks - sadly, the four-goal deficit to Real Madrid proved too big a task.
Here, Taxi For Maicon looks back at the occasions when we have completed the turnaround in Top 4 On Friday - Famous Fightbacks.
4. Spurs 4-4 Aston Villa, October 1, 2007
Languishing in the bottom three, Martin Jol's tenure was grinding to a halt. We'd won just one of our first seven games and despite Dimitar Berbatov putting us 1-0 up, we found ourselves trailing 4-1after an hour.
Jermain Defoe coming off the bench seemed to spark us into life and, after he hit the post, Pascal Chimbonda netted the rebound. Robbie Keane added our third from the spot and we had eight minutes remaining to save Martin Jol's job.
When Villa hesitated over an injury-time corner, Younes Kaboul slammed the ball home to equalise and spark wild celebrations. Jol held on for another few weeks before being relieved of his duties during our dismal 2-1 home loss to Getafe in the UEFA Cup.
3. Spurs 3-2 Cardiff, September 2, 1961
One of the purposes of Top 4 On Friday is to do some delving into the annals and provide a bit of info on occasions that people may not be old enough to remember, and in the process, learn a bit myself.
Anyway, speaking to my dad, a lifelong Spurs fan, he remembers being at White Hart Lane for the visit of Cardiff City the season after we had won the Double.
With all eyes on us, Spurs had made a reasonable start to the season but prior to the Cardiff game, a derby win against Arsenal was sandwiched between a home draw and an away loss to West Ham and at 2-0 down, it looked like Cardiff were going to get the better of us as well.
However, a penalty from Danny Blanchflower and goals from Bobby Smith and Cliff Jones won the game for us and set us back on track for another memorable season that almost saw us clinch the double again, had the league title not eluded us by 4 points.
2. Spurs 6-2 Southampton (aet) March 1, 1995
FA Cup replay during a tumultuous season at White Hart Lane. Southampton were two goals in front at half time and it looked like our season would be over early.
Step forward Ronnie Rosenthal to bag a brace to take the game to extra time, converting his hat-trick soon after the restart. Goals from Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton and Nicky Barmby hammering home
our advantage.
Hugely significant not only for the fightback on the pitch but the fact that we had six Premier League points deducted and were thrown out of the FA Cup due to financial irregularities. Chairman Alan Sugar fought to have the decision overturned and we were reinstated in the Cup.
After this result, it looked like our name might be on the trophy, we went on to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the quarter-final (another comeback), eventually losing to Everton 4-1 in the semi-final.
1. Arsenal v Spurs
Take your pick really. Two of the Top 4 could have been recent games against Arsenal. In October 2008, as well all know we were stranded at the foot of the Premier League and Harry redknapp had just arrived.
4-2 down at The Emirates with minutes remaining, Jermaine Jenas strode forward and curled a beautiful third for us and, deep into injury time, a Modric volley came back off the post for Lennon to slide home and square a game we had no right to win. If you're looking up the game highlights then keep an eye out for David Bentley's magical opening goal.
Then, of course, there was November 22, 2010. We turned Arsenal over in their own back yard after 18 years of waiting. 2-0 down at half-time, Gareth Bale set us on our way with the firston 50 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, a Rafa Van Der Vaart free-kick was transformed into a penalty by a Cesc Fabregas handball. The Dutchman converted and with five minutes left, it was his crossed free-kick that Younes Kaboul clipped past Lukasz Fabianski for the sweetest three points of recent years.
Here, Taxi For Maicon looks back at the occasions when we have completed the turnaround in Top 4 On Friday - Famous Fightbacks.
4. Spurs 4-4 Aston Villa, October 1, 2007
Languishing in the bottom three, Martin Jol's tenure was grinding to a halt. We'd won just one of our first seven games and despite Dimitar Berbatov putting us 1-0 up, we found ourselves trailing 4-1after an hour.
Jermain Defoe coming off the bench seemed to spark us into life and, after he hit the post, Pascal Chimbonda netted the rebound. Robbie Keane added our third from the spot and we had eight minutes remaining to save Martin Jol's job.
When Villa hesitated over an injury-time corner, Younes Kaboul slammed the ball home to equalise and spark wild celebrations. Jol held on for another few weeks before being relieved of his duties during our dismal 2-1 home loss to Getafe in the UEFA Cup.
3. Spurs 3-2 Cardiff, September 2, 1961
One of the purposes of Top 4 On Friday is to do some delving into the annals and provide a bit of info on occasions that people may not be old enough to remember, and in the process, learn a bit myself.
Anyway, speaking to my dad, a lifelong Spurs fan, he remembers being at White Hart Lane for the visit of Cardiff City the season after we had won the Double.
With all eyes on us, Spurs had made a reasonable start to the season but prior to the Cardiff game, a derby win against Arsenal was sandwiched between a home draw and an away loss to West Ham and at 2-0 down, it looked like Cardiff were going to get the better of us as well.
However, a penalty from Danny Blanchflower and goals from Bobby Smith and Cliff Jones won the game for us and set us back on track for another memorable season that almost saw us clinch the double again, had the league title not eluded us by 4 points.
2. Spurs 6-2 Southampton (aet) March 1, 1995
FA Cup replay during a tumultuous season at White Hart Lane. Southampton were two goals in front at half time and it looked like our season would be over early.
Step forward Ronnie Rosenthal to bag a brace to take the game to extra time, converting his hat-trick soon after the restart. Goals from Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton and Nicky Barmby hammering home
our advantage.
Hugely significant not only for the fightback on the pitch but the fact that we had six Premier League points deducted and were thrown out of the FA Cup due to financial irregularities. Chairman Alan Sugar fought to have the decision overturned and we were reinstated in the Cup.
After this result, it looked like our name might be on the trophy, we went on to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the quarter-final (another comeback), eventually losing to Everton 4-1 in the semi-final.
1. Arsenal v Spurs
Take your pick really. Two of the Top 4 could have been recent games against Arsenal. In October 2008, as well all know we were stranded at the foot of the Premier League and Harry redknapp had just arrived.
4-2 down at The Emirates with minutes remaining, Jermaine Jenas strode forward and curled a beautiful third for us and, deep into injury time, a Modric volley came back off the post for Lennon to slide home and square a game we had no right to win. If you're looking up the game highlights then keep an eye out for David Bentley's magical opening goal.
Then, of course, there was November 22, 2010. We turned Arsenal over in their own back yard after 18 years of waiting. 2-0 down at half-time, Gareth Bale set us on our way with the firston 50 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, a Rafa Van Der Vaart free-kick was transformed into a penalty by a Cesc Fabregas handball. The Dutchman converted and with five minutes left, it was his crossed free-kick that Younes Kaboul clipped past Lukasz Fabianski for the sweetest three points of recent years.
Thursday 14 April 2011
Moving on from Madrid.
For the last eight months, the Champions League has been Tottenham's bit on the side; a wealthy spinster mistress satisfying our long-standing lust for the big occasion.
Like all whirlwind romances, it was a great experience and yes there were some fantastic nights and some glorious moments but if Spurs want it to blossom into a serious relationship, then we have to learn some valuable lessons.
True, we had a great run, we went further than expected and we played some fantastic football along the way but we came up woefully short against Real Madrid and the two-legs against the nine-time European champions highlighted some shortcomings; namely in concentration and killer instinct.
Realisitcally we were never going to overturn a four-goal deficit last night but we were giving it a right good go and when the opportunity arises you can't go skying the ball out of the stadium like Roman Pavlyuchenko did when he ran unchallenged onto Aaron Lennon's first-half cutback.
Concentration has proven to be a bit of a bugbear all season and yes, Heurelho Gomes has the ability to save shots that no other keeper on earth could but he was arguably at fault for three of Real's five goals, without which, 2-0 would have been an entirely respectable result.
It's not just Gomes, our whole backline fell asleep for Adebayor's second header at the Bernabeu as they did at Wolves and Blackpool to name just two other games recently.
Luka Modric featured prominently in yesterday's press claiming that even if we didn't qualify for the Champions League next season, the team would stick together and build on what they've started.
Obviously this is a great relief to hear, especially after Gareth bale recently said he'd be happy to learn a foreign language if he moved abroad, but big players need a reason to stick about and if that reason isn't success then it has to be belief.
It must be very disheartening for a top player to put his all into a game only for a lack of concentration elsewhere on the field to undo everything.
That is why Spurs need not to move on totally from the Madrid game; to forget it entirely would be naive and dangerous. Instead they must admit their inadequacies and get to work on sorting them out.
Only if a wiser Tottenham team emerges from the ashes of our Champions League quarter-final can we look back on it as a truly invaluable experience.
Like all whirlwind romances, it was a great experience and yes there were some fantastic nights and some glorious moments but if Spurs want it to blossom into a serious relationship, then we have to learn some valuable lessons.
True, we had a great run, we went further than expected and we played some fantastic football along the way but we came up woefully short against Real Madrid and the two-legs against the nine-time European champions highlighted some shortcomings; namely in concentration and killer instinct.
Realisitcally we were never going to overturn a four-goal deficit last night but we were giving it a right good go and when the opportunity arises you can't go skying the ball out of the stadium like Roman Pavlyuchenko did when he ran unchallenged onto Aaron Lennon's first-half cutback.
Concentration has proven to be a bit of a bugbear all season and yes, Heurelho Gomes has the ability to save shots that no other keeper on earth could but he was arguably at fault for three of Real's five goals, without which, 2-0 would have been an entirely respectable result.
It's not just Gomes, our whole backline fell asleep for Adebayor's second header at the Bernabeu as they did at Wolves and Blackpool to name just two other games recently.
Luka Modric featured prominently in yesterday's press claiming that even if we didn't qualify for the Champions League next season, the team would stick together and build on what they've started.
Obviously this is a great relief to hear, especially after Gareth bale recently said he'd be happy to learn a foreign language if he moved abroad, but big players need a reason to stick about and if that reason isn't success then it has to be belief.
It must be very disheartening for a top player to put his all into a game only for a lack of concentration elsewhere on the field to undo everything.
That is why Spurs need not to move on totally from the Madrid game; to forget it entirely would be naive and dangerous. Instead they must admit their inadequacies and get to work on sorting them out.
Only if a wiser Tottenham team emerges from the ashes of our Champions League quarter-final can we look back on it as a truly invaluable experience.
Tuesday 12 April 2011
Crouch turnaround is fine example as Spurs eye grandstand finish
Man the drawbridge, ready the trumpets and strike up a fanfare because here comes the lilywhite cavalry and we're galloping back into the race for fourth spot.
Hold your horses! We've a few more big hurdles to worry about yet, and anyone from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City could yet prove to be our Becher's Brook.
But Saturday was a big step, filling in a worrying chasm between results and expectation and Peter Crouch led from the front in the How To React In A Minor Crisis stakes.
Everyone was screaming for an apology from Crouch last week and, I have to admit, at Taxi For Maicon, we were getting concerned for our angly gangle man; he is usually the first to confront the cameras, claiming that Spurs can win the league or England can win the World Cup, but he went suspiciously quiet after his sending off against Real Madrid.
Had Crouch gone into hiding, we mused? Was he sat in a dark room, crying over the morning papers, consumed with the guilt of letting the side down, or was he tearing his hair out over the confirmation that his legs are longer than he ever realised?
Not so. He did exactly what he should have done in the circumstances; got his head down, let the dust settle and and concentrated on making amends as quickly as possible.
We didn't make things easy for ourselves, 3-2 is by no means a resounding return to form but it is a vital step in clawing back some confidence.
If Crouch turning things around to score twice against Stoke on Saturday is the example that leads the rest of the squad into home straight on a sprint finish, then it will more than have made up for his moment of madness against Real Madrid.
Hold your horses! We've a few more big hurdles to worry about yet, and anyone from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City could yet prove to be our Becher's Brook.
But Saturday was a big step, filling in a worrying chasm between results and expectation and Peter Crouch led from the front in the How To React In A Minor Crisis stakes.
Everyone was screaming for an apology from Crouch last week and, I have to admit, at Taxi For Maicon, we were getting concerned for our angly gangle man; he is usually the first to confront the cameras, claiming that Spurs can win the league or England can win the World Cup, but he went suspiciously quiet after his sending off against Real Madrid.
Had Crouch gone into hiding, we mused? Was he sat in a dark room, crying over the morning papers, consumed with the guilt of letting the side down, or was he tearing his hair out over the confirmation that his legs are longer than he ever realised?
Not so. He did exactly what he should have done in the circumstances; got his head down, let the dust settle and and concentrated on making amends as quickly as possible.
We didn't make things easy for ourselves, 3-2 is by no means a resounding return to form but it is a vital step in clawing back some confidence.
If Crouch turning things around to score twice against Stoke on Saturday is the example that leads the rest of the squad into home straight on a sprint finish, then it will more than have made up for his moment of madness against Real Madrid.
Friday 8 April 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Game-changing gaffes
Peter Crouch's foolish red card on Tuesday night may well have given us a mountain to climb in the European quarter-final home leg, but it did at least give Taxi For Maicon an idea for the Top 4 On Friday.
It's not going to make pretty reading but this week we're looking at Tottenham's biggest game-changing gaffes.
I should qualify, that I'm aware Peter Crouch's sending off is probably worthy of the No.1 spot, but we all know what happened, so I've left it out.
4. Sol Campbell - FA Cup semi-final vs Newcastle, Apr 1999
Having already won the League Cup earlier in the season, Spurs fans were dreaming of a Cup double. The Newcastle semi-final was a nervy affair and we felt hard done-by when the ref denied us a penalty for a blatant Nikos Dabizas handball in the second half.
Then, in extra-time, with the game evenly poised, Gary Speed played a one-two with Duncan Ferguson and our Sulzeer Jeremiah inexplicably threw his arm up to slap the ball as it sailed over him. Shearer scored the pen, then a wonder strike just to rub it in. Newcastle won the game and we missed out on a final with Man United.
3. Heurelho Gomes - Champions League group stage, Oct 2010
Our unpredictable goalie could maybe have made a clean sweep of the whole Top 4 game-changing gaffes, but this one made by far the biggest "clang".
We were already 1-0 down after Inter Milan scored with their first attack of the game but, as our defence was again caught out, Gomes raced kamikaze-style from his goal to challenge Jonathan Biabiany.
Clattering the attacker, Gomes was immediately show the red card and we were down to ten men after just 8 minutes. Gareth Bale's second-half hat-trick deflected media attention away from the blushing Brazilian but there is no denying it changed the course of the game.
2. Gary Mabbutt - FA Cup Final v Coventry, May 1987
Mabbs was a model captain at Tottenham, making 482 appearances and becoming our longest-serving player between 1982-1998, but that doesn't take away from his extra-time nightmare at Wembley.
Tied at 2-2, Spurs had led twice and were pinned back by goals from Dave Bennett and Keith Houchen, the latter a diving header which was named goal of the season by the BBC.
Early on in extra-time, Mabbutt threw himself at a cross, which looped up off his knee and over Ray Clemence in our goal. Terrible luck, but It won the tie for Coventry and was the first time we had ever been beaten in the FA Cup Final.
At least Mabbutt had a further 11 years to make up for it.
1. Paul Gascoigne - FA Cup Final v Nottingham Forest, May 1991
This was meant to be Gazza's FA Cup Final; he'd already set Wembley alight with his famous free-kick in the semi-final against Arsenal and had scored some brilliant goals in a memorable Cup run.
Worked up and raring to go, the bullish midfielder threw himself into the task and was lucky not to be booked for a hefty studs-up challenge on Garry Parker. Gazza followed up with an awkward lunge on Gary Charles, injuring himself in the process and ending his involvement in the game after just 15 minutes.
Stuart Pearce scored from the resulting free-kick and, whilst Spurs battled back to win their eighth FA Cup, Paul Gascoigne's knee – and his hopes of a dream final – were left in tatters.
It's not going to make pretty reading but this week we're looking at Tottenham's biggest game-changing gaffes.
I should qualify, that I'm aware Peter Crouch's sending off is probably worthy of the No.1 spot, but we all know what happened, so I've left it out.
4. Sol Campbell - FA Cup semi-final vs Newcastle, Apr 1999
Having already won the League Cup earlier in the season, Spurs fans were dreaming of a Cup double. The Newcastle semi-final was a nervy affair and we felt hard done-by when the ref denied us a penalty for a blatant Nikos Dabizas handball in the second half.
Then, in extra-time, with the game evenly poised, Gary Speed played a one-two with Duncan Ferguson and our Sulzeer Jeremiah inexplicably threw his arm up to slap the ball as it sailed over him. Shearer scored the pen, then a wonder strike just to rub it in. Newcastle won the game and we missed out on a final with Man United.
3. Heurelho Gomes - Champions League group stage, Oct 2010
Our unpredictable goalie could maybe have made a clean sweep of the whole Top 4 game-changing gaffes, but this one made by far the biggest "clang".
We were already 1-0 down after Inter Milan scored with their first attack of the game but, as our defence was again caught out, Gomes raced kamikaze-style from his goal to challenge Jonathan Biabiany.
Clattering the attacker, Gomes was immediately show the red card and we were down to ten men after just 8 minutes. Gareth Bale's second-half hat-trick deflected media attention away from the blushing Brazilian but there is no denying it changed the course of the game.
2. Gary Mabbutt - FA Cup Final v Coventry, May 1987
Mabbs was a model captain at Tottenham, making 482 appearances and becoming our longest-serving player between 1982-1998, but that doesn't take away from his extra-time nightmare at Wembley.
Tied at 2-2, Spurs had led twice and were pinned back by goals from Dave Bennett and Keith Houchen, the latter a diving header which was named goal of the season by the BBC.
Early on in extra-time, Mabbutt threw himself at a cross, which looped up off his knee and over Ray Clemence in our goal. Terrible luck, but It won the tie for Coventry and was the first time we had ever been beaten in the FA Cup Final.
At least Mabbutt had a further 11 years to make up for it.
1. Paul Gascoigne - FA Cup Final v Nottingham Forest, May 1991
This was meant to be Gazza's FA Cup Final; he'd already set Wembley alight with his famous free-kick in the semi-final against Arsenal and had scored some brilliant goals in a memorable Cup run.
Worked up and raring to go, the bullish midfielder threw himself into the task and was lucky not to be booked for a hefty studs-up challenge on Garry Parker. Gazza followed up with an awkward lunge on Gary Charles, injuring himself in the process and ending his involvement in the game after just 15 minutes.
Stuart Pearce scored from the resulting free-kick and, whilst Spurs battled back to win their eighth FA Cup, Paul Gascoigne's knee – and his hopes of a dream final – were left in tatters.
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Finding a cure for the Bernabeu Blues
Scared to look at the papers today? You bet! And with good reason. Peter Crouch will wish he had pulled an Aaron Lennon and chickened out before kick-off because the cut-throat wordsmiths all have their pen-knives out and the logically challenged striker gets a deserved verbal kicking.
I don't blame Crouch exclusively for what happened last night. In fact, his sending off forced us to play with the ball on the ground and build from the back, rather than just lumping the ball forward. The way we dealt with the remainder of the first half was admirable but with only 10 men, fatigue was bound to set in and, for that, Crouch has to shoulder some responsibility.
The morning after the night before, and our recent results can no longer be twisted into having one eye on a glory, glory night; now they just look like a bad run. Sky Sports continues to play that advert for the road to the Champions League Final at Wembley but suddenly the feeling of involvement has all but evaporated. The season goes on regardless, and we need an almighty dusting down session before the Stoke game at the Lane on Saturday.
Games thick and fast, that's what suits Spurs best, right? Ten-day breaks between games certainly haven't seemed to work. We do relish our chances as the underdogs, however, and after this rotten run of results we are certainly underdogs to get back into the Top 4.
The European adventure has felt all along like we were flying by the seat of our pants; prevailing despite injuries and unfamiliar gameplans and still proving our worth on countless occasions. When you live on the edge, sometimes you fall off with a bump.
The rest of the season is now going to be about character; what's done is done and it is up to those who have played badly or made mistakes to dig in and find that something extra. I wouldn't say that the Champions League is a total lost cause - if any Spurs team can overturn this sort of deficit, it's this one - but it's unlikely. Very unlikely.
For now, we're going to have to put up with the sneers and the jibes. Men versus boys, finally found out, simply not good enough; you know, that sort of thing. The best tonic is a good performance and more importantly now a good result.
But there is another cure for the Bernabeu Blues:
On opening a Christmas card from my girlfriend, what should fall out but a copy of Spurs v Inter Milan. Immediately I stuck in it the DVD player and rewatched the game in its entirety. I then watched the highlights and then homed in on what I've come to call Bale's goal, watching it over and over. I watched it again last night.
Of course, we all know it wasn't Bale who applied the finishing touch but that third goal against the Champions League holders is as much the Welshman's as anyone else's.
From Younes Kaboul's interception, the touch to Bale, the quick thinking as he knocks the ball past Maicon and the audible gasp of crowd anticipation as he gives chase, the perfect ball across the box, again the crowd volume soars as 35,000 realise we're actually going to beat Inter Milan, Oh When The Spurs Go Marching In and Andy Gray stating "I have never, ever, seen a player do what he does." The whole thing constitutes a wonderful moment that sums up our season in Europe.
Nobody realistically expected us to win at the Bernabeu, yet everybody knew we might just get hammered. Next time you see an advert for the Wembley final, or a negative newspaper column, don't look back to last night, because it's not the sum total of what we've achieved along the way.
True glory may be out of our reach for the time being but being a football fan is as much about glorious moments as glory itself, so before you turn your attentions to Stoke and our end of season run-in, take some time to reflect on what we've done along the way. You won't be disappointed.
I don't blame Crouch exclusively for what happened last night. In fact, his sending off forced us to play with the ball on the ground and build from the back, rather than just lumping the ball forward. The way we dealt with the remainder of the first half was admirable but with only 10 men, fatigue was bound to set in and, for that, Crouch has to shoulder some responsibility.
The morning after the night before, and our recent results can no longer be twisted into having one eye on a glory, glory night; now they just look like a bad run. Sky Sports continues to play that advert for the road to the Champions League Final at Wembley but suddenly the feeling of involvement has all but evaporated. The season goes on regardless, and we need an almighty dusting down session before the Stoke game at the Lane on Saturday.
Games thick and fast, that's what suits Spurs best, right? Ten-day breaks between games certainly haven't seemed to work. We do relish our chances as the underdogs, however, and after this rotten run of results we are certainly underdogs to get back into the Top 4.
The European adventure has felt all along like we were flying by the seat of our pants; prevailing despite injuries and unfamiliar gameplans and still proving our worth on countless occasions. When you live on the edge, sometimes you fall off with a bump.
The rest of the season is now going to be about character; what's done is done and it is up to those who have played badly or made mistakes to dig in and find that something extra. I wouldn't say that the Champions League is a total lost cause - if any Spurs team can overturn this sort of deficit, it's this one - but it's unlikely. Very unlikely.
For now, we're going to have to put up with the sneers and the jibes. Men versus boys, finally found out, simply not good enough; you know, that sort of thing. The best tonic is a good performance and more importantly now a good result.
But there is another cure for the Bernabeu Blues:
On opening a Christmas card from my girlfriend, what should fall out but a copy of Spurs v Inter Milan. Immediately I stuck in it the DVD player and rewatched the game in its entirety. I then watched the highlights and then homed in on what I've come to call Bale's goal, watching it over and over. I watched it again last night.
Of course, we all know it wasn't Bale who applied the finishing touch but that third goal against the Champions League holders is as much the Welshman's as anyone else's.
From Younes Kaboul's interception, the touch to Bale, the quick thinking as he knocks the ball past Maicon and the audible gasp of crowd anticipation as he gives chase, the perfect ball across the box, again the crowd volume soars as 35,000 realise we're actually going to beat Inter Milan, Oh When The Spurs Go Marching In and Andy Gray stating "I have never, ever, seen a player do what he does." The whole thing constitutes a wonderful moment that sums up our season in Europe.
Nobody realistically expected us to win at the Bernabeu, yet everybody knew we might just get hammered. Next time you see an advert for the Wembley final, or a negative newspaper column, don't look back to last night, because it's not the sum total of what we've achieved along the way.
True glory may be out of our reach for the time being but being a football fan is as much about glorious moments as glory itself, so before you turn your attentions to Stoke and our end of season run-in, take some time to reflect on what we've done along the way. You won't be disappointed.
Tuesday 5 April 2011
This stage of the season is neither the time or place for sitting on the fence
Yesterday, I posted a rubbish, nothingy blog; fuelled only by the belief
that I simply had to update the site to prove to readers that Taxi For
Maicon hasn't run out of gas.
The offending post - which you can read below but I would recommend against
it - laboured over a few warbled points before concluding nothing in
particular so, to the 10 readers who logged on yesterday, I apologise.
Nobody ever won anybody over by sitting on the fence and, at a time when
updates have been scarce, Taxi For Maicon needs to win over readers.
In a similar fashion, no team with their head somewhere else ever won a
football match. Spurs' recent Premier League results, let's not sugarcoat
it, have been terrible; no wins in four games against the division's bottom
four teams. A run of games doesn't come much more friendly than that and we
have three points to show for it.
On Saturday, Spurs played a game of sit-on-the-fence football, seemingly
saving themselves for tonight's most prestigious affair keeping one nervous
eye on the ball and the other on not getting injured and it is an attitude
that undermines the success of reaching the last eight of the Champions
League.
I'm not naysaying or whining, I'm just saying that Tottenham have not been
playing like worthy challengers and that needs to stop - tonight. The last
eight is neither the time or the place for hesitation.
We got our current European reputation by attacking with pace, power and
intelligence, so we need to rediscover the game that got us here.
It doesn't matter if we win or lose the tie, everyone knows what we've
achieved; but to go down with a whimper and not give it 'a real go' would
be a disservice to our European campaign.
If this is what the players have been waiting for then here we go... It's time to climb down off the fence and stand up and be counted.
that I simply had to update the site to prove to readers that Taxi For
Maicon hasn't run out of gas.
The offending post - which you can read below but I would recommend against
it - laboured over a few warbled points before concluding nothing in
particular so, to the 10 readers who logged on yesterday, I apologise.
Nobody ever won anybody over by sitting on the fence and, at a time when
updates have been scarce, Taxi For Maicon needs to win over readers.
In a similar fashion, no team with their head somewhere else ever won a
football match. Spurs' recent Premier League results, let's not sugarcoat
it, have been terrible; no wins in four games against the division's bottom
four teams. A run of games doesn't come much more friendly than that and we
have three points to show for it.
On Saturday, Spurs played a game of sit-on-the-fence football, seemingly
saving themselves for tonight's most prestigious affair keeping one nervous
eye on the ball and the other on not getting injured and it is an attitude
that undermines the success of reaching the last eight of the Champions
League.
I'm not naysaying or whining, I'm just saying that Tottenham have not been
playing like worthy challengers and that needs to stop - tonight. The last
eight is neither the time or the place for hesitation.
We got our current European reputation by attacking with pace, power and
intelligence, so we need to rediscover the game that got us here.
It doesn't matter if we win or lose the tie, everyone knows what we've
achieved; but to go down with a whimper and not give it 'a real go' would
be a disservice to our European campaign.
If this is what the players have been waiting for then here we go... It's time to climb down off the fence and stand up and be counted.
Monday 4 April 2011
On the hard shoulder of Top 4 Freeway
Right, Taxi For Maicon is back. What did we miss? Well, Spurs are still struggling to score goals, we're still picking up defensive injuries and we're still dropping points to struggling teams.
We didn't make it to the game on Saturday and, just like a watched kettle never boils, a watched scoreline never updates. I went through one of those awkward afternoons of forever clicking 'reload' on the BBC Sport mobile phone site whilst still trying to remain useful in my surroundings.
Come on, lads. What's going on? We've become known as one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League yet we seem to be stuck on the hard shoulder of Top 4 Freeway waiting for an AA van.
We're going to need more than fan belt or a monkey wrench to tighten the cogs and wind ourselves back up for a busy, and difficult, end of season.
That's our third 0-0 in a row and by the looks of it the old "you score three, we'll score four" attitude is stuttering to a halt. Instead it's opposing defenses saying, "well if you aren't going to score then we'll just take a point thanks."
Many will be reaching desperate measures by now and if Gareth Bale doesn't dig out his shining armour and ride to the rescue then we can probably expect the curmudgeon choir to strike up a "woe is me" chorus.
Although if our run of no-score draws stretches to four with a clean sheet against the nine-time European champs at the Bernabeu tomorrow night, you'll be hard-pushed to find anyone complaining.
We didn't make it to the game on Saturday and, just like a watched kettle never boils, a watched scoreline never updates. I went through one of those awkward afternoons of forever clicking 'reload' on the BBC Sport mobile phone site whilst still trying to remain useful in my surroundings.
Come on, lads. What's going on? We've become known as one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League yet we seem to be stuck on the hard shoulder of Top 4 Freeway waiting for an AA van.
We're going to need more than fan belt or a monkey wrench to tighten the cogs and wind ourselves back up for a busy, and difficult, end of season.
That's our third 0-0 in a row and by the looks of it the old "you score three, we'll score four" attitude is stuttering to a halt. Instead it's opposing defenses saying, "well if you aren't going to score then we'll just take a point thanks."
Many will be reaching desperate measures by now and if Gareth Bale doesn't dig out his shining armour and ride to the rescue then we can probably expect the curmudgeon choir to strike up a "woe is me" chorus.
Although if our run of no-score draws stretches to four with a clean sheet against the nine-time European champs at the Bernabeu tomorrow night, you'll be hard-pushed to find anyone complaining.
Friday 1 April 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Tottenham Blogs
Anyone who has visited Taxi For Maicon during this working week may have realised that we've been pretty inactive. On the other hand, if nobody's realised, then I should never have admitted it. Anyway, Que sera, sera and life has led to a lack of updates; this is likely to continue until at least Monday.
In the meantime, it's time for the Top 4 On Friday, which will have to be a quick one. It seems fitting that while we're quiet at Taxi For Maicon, we can point you in the direction of our favourite Tottenham blogs out in the ether.
4. McNamara's Band
Fun, regularly updated and loads to keep you interested.
3. All Action, No Plot
Simple, easy to use, not gimmicks, no nonsense; but updated regularly with comment on all the major issues and well-written enough to keep coming back.
2. Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Fantastic looking blog with a humorous turn of phrase and probably the best name I've seen yet. A refreshing change from a lot of what is out there. Posts never drag on and are usually quite unpredictable, offering something different.
1. Dear Mr Levy
Quite simply the definitive Spurs blog. Evolved from a series of angry letters and rants that found their way online circa 2004 and now form part of the most varied offering online. Updated at least once most days and never just commenting on the same old, same old. You'll be sure to find something to interest you and you'll be sure to keep coming back.
Happy reading, and don't forget us at Taxi For Maicon... see you next week.
In the meantime, it's time for the Top 4 On Friday, which will have to be a quick one. It seems fitting that while we're quiet at Taxi For Maicon, we can point you in the direction of our favourite Tottenham blogs out in the ether.
4. McNamara's Band
Fun, regularly updated and loads to keep you interested.
3. All Action, No Plot
Simple, easy to use, not gimmicks, no nonsense; but updated regularly with comment on all the major issues and well-written enough to keep coming back.
2. Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Fantastic looking blog with a humorous turn of phrase and probably the best name I've seen yet. A refreshing change from a lot of what is out there. Posts never drag on and are usually quite unpredictable, offering something different.
1. Dear Mr Levy
Quite simply the definitive Spurs blog. Evolved from a series of angry letters and rants that found their way online circa 2004 and now form part of the most varied offering online. Updated at least once most days and never just commenting on the same old, same old. You'll be sure to find something to interest you and you'll be sure to keep coming back.
Happy reading, and don't forget us at Taxi For Maicon... see you next week.
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