Tottenham Score Goals To Win Game

Mornin’ bluds. That was a bit more like it. Goal concessions aside, I’d agree with Harry that the first half was as good an attacking display as you’re ever likely to see from Tottenham. The movement of Mods and the much improved Rafa, thanks to the return of Thomas, was great to watch. The big man holding them both as twin yo-yo’s, allowing them to be thrust time after time down the highway to the Stokers danger zone, and quickly withdrawn again, with everyone’s favourite Russian doing an impression of someone on the verge of some very good form. Not famed for his work rate, he was IKEA-esque in his space-making and ordered functionality, with Peter providing the finishes that some of our less industrial-type assisting failed to glean reward from. Nice also to hear the crowd give him an extra loud cheer when the teams were read out. Despite what you might have read, the majority of viewers have, if not a burning love, then certainly a great appreciation for the lad who’s out-of-character loss of control on Tuesday was chalked up as just that. Great to see His Royal YouTubenes Raging Kaboul back in our colours as well. It was like he’d never been away.

The second half was fairly standard fare from a side working their way back to form. Not quite the dazzling attacking of the first, but enough of a threat posed while standing firm against the expected aerial assault to get the 3 points. Remaining home games are against WBA, arse, Blackpool and Birmingham. Away at chelski, citeh and liverpoor. Nice home games, stinky away fixtures. You’d have to say we’re looking for 5 wins as a minimum requirement.

An equally big game concerning our top 4 push happening tonight at Anfield where Defensive Midfielder United are the visitors. A favour from our friends on the Mersey would get the doubters doubting their doubts again and raise hope among the hopeful. Hopefully.

The end-of-season exhibition on Wednesday against Real Madrid next up, where Lennon is expected to have shoved enough Imodium down his gullet to get on the pitch this time. Let’s enjoy it. We’ve earned it.

Do The Stokey-Cokey, And Turn It Around

Will our powderpuff's be returning to next seasons Euro party?

With the unpleasantness in mainland Europe swept firmly under the carpet, it’s back to toiling in the ol’ premmers. It might not have the shimmer of a European adventure against sexy opposition in tight shirts (what?) but it’s what the big boys prioritise at the beginning of every season, and holds the same Euro-gravitas for the likes of Wigan, Blackpool, and Saturday’s sluggers, Stoke City. Let us not forget that rubbing shoulders with our kind is victory in itself for clubs relying on good ol’ fashioned gumption and doggedness to get by. Two qualities we need to locate. Now.

Stoke aren’t the most palatable opposition at this juncture to try and get a result from. Sort of like being desperate for a nice dinner but being served up a horrible lump of gristle (McDonalds). I’ll take it, but I won’t enjoy it. Top scorer Jonathan Walters (9) is exactly the kind of forward we generally hate; grizzly, determined, aggressive, direct, and his goal against chelski last week shows he’s got a bit of quality to throw into the mix. He worries me. 2^nd in the list of Stokes top baggers is Huth (8) which tells you all you need to know about how important Dawson, and probably Crouch, will be when defending our sticks. Nothing else I could talk about in terms of Stoke tactics will be news to anybody, so I’ll stop there.

I could just copy and paste the conclusion from yesterdays post, but I’d prefer to repeat myself if it’s all the same. Forget next Wednesday. The league now represents our best chance of a return to the top table where we’ve had some jolly adventures this year, and I for one wouldn’t be averse to giving it another go. No ‘he might be alright for Madrid if he’s given the weekend off’ nonsense please Harold. Get all the able bodied troops out on the pitch for Saturday and let Wednesday nights exhibition take care of itself. Play every minute as if it’s our last, because next years European hopes may just depend upon it.

Positive stuff in the shape of Stoke losing each of their last 6 away games. That’s tempered by us having not found the back of the net in 6 months (or something) however. Let’s be bullish and go for a 2-1 win.