Manure In Our Back Garden

I hate manure

I think we’ll do this lot. Not in the sense that we can beat anyone on our day, but genuinely because I believe we’re good enough and now consistent enough to take them apart.

I don’t engage with too many of their ‘fans’, as most that I am aware of (careful not to say ‘know’) are made up of the worst kind of live-in-london-never-been-to-OT-but-watch-them-on-sky-a-lot-and-it-makes-me-an-expert types, but the general consensus from those reds whose opinion I hold in any sort of regard, seems to be that they would be happy to escape with a point from Sundays game. Do any of them really believe they can go a whole season unbeaten? Most of them are amazed that, in a season where they’ve only played decent football in patches, it hasn’t happened a few times already, and are worried that

White Hart Lane

will be where the run comes to an end.

But we’ve been here before. A potentially shaky looking back five, a midfield made up from a few of Nani, Giggs, Carrick, Park, Felcher,  (not a typo), interspersed with a couple of Gibson’s and O’Shea’s, Rooney up top, and they always look like they might give something away. Master of the collective over the individual, ol’ rednose always manages to get the better of us.

You could play Ferguson’s pre-match press conferences for this fixture on loop- the flattery, ‘they’re a team on the up, they play great football, they’ll be a big threat’, and how Spurs v Manure is always a great game. Of course it is, he always bloody wins them! It was how Mourinho used to describe us until we beat Chelski, and only then did the derision begin. This is exactly what I want from ol’ rednose. His ‘noisy neighbour’ comments betray his fear over what’s happening at Middle Eastlands, and when he starts giving us that kind of attention and scorn, that’s when we’ll be a threat. This time around though, he’ll know that all the talk of us being a danger is more than just sound byte.

There’s something different about this Tottenham, version 2.011. No longer do we sit and wonder which of our players will step up and have the game of their lives, while praying our own onion bag leads a charmed life. This season has seen us develop that rarest of traits, winning ugly and when things aren’t going our way, finding goals through that extra flash of quality or sheer bloody-minded determination to force the ball over the line. It’s what the best teams do. It’s what United have built the last 20 years of their history on. I won’t list our danger men, we all know who they are. I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed that Beckham won’t be installed in the Huddlestone role, where Harry saw him playing a big part, despite his talk of being cover for Lennon, but Jenas has been OK and believe he’ll play in a midfield 5 with Defoe up top. The rest of the team picks itself.

In Other News…

Feelings continue to run high over our proposed move to Stratford and the #saynotostratford brigade are tweeting in their hundreds. My feelings on the matter are in the previous article HERE.

Bentleys off to Brum where I hope he discovers enough form to get his price back up to a reasonable level. Good player, but never quite done it in a Spurs shirt which, if he has any personal pride, will hurt. May a change of scenery change your fortunes young man. Like that f**kin jeep that’s been parked outside my house for 2 months, Honest Bob just will not leave. To be fair, he’s keeping his mouth shut, I’ve just seen too much looped footage of him training next to our new #77 and his face annoyed me all over again.

Pienaar is on his way apparently. He’s very welcome, a Jenas type ball winner who can play a bit, just a bit younger and better. A great addition. As for Phil Neville? After initial scepticism, if Harry thinks any player can come in and do a job and add to what we already have, then I’m fully behind it. He’s in the centre of the playing staff everyday and knows what’s needed, so whether it be a pacey winger or a battle worn vocal leader, if he thinks it’s what we need, then I trust his judgement.

Predictions for Sunday lunchtime? I’m almost hesitant after correctly predicting the Villa game, but putting my 100% record on the line, I’m calling a 3-1 home win. F**k it, 4-1.