Wigan Combed Over

And the Spurs go marching on.

There’s something very unnerving about being widely tipped to win a game of football as a Tottenham fan, especially when that game is away from home. Even Mark ‘Lawro’ Lawrenson had us down for a win.

The first half was, at times, luscious. Illness/headphone related injury had ruled Defoe out of action before KO, but with Rafa ready to step up to replace him; it meant that on paper, it was probably our best side. Personnel wise at least, if not formation fluidity wise. Not that we showed any signs of struggling with a newish set up as we set about proving that sending out quality footballers with a will to win generally gets the job done.

Bale was excellent for a second game in a row, appearing to have remembered that running at defenders usually equals chances for us, and his glanced header was a thing of beauty. Sandro still isn’t fully fit, but showed enough to remind us of what he’s all about, and Captain Combover had the most touches (106) of any player in the Premier League this weekend, according to Garth Crooks and his team of the week. I’m no fan of stats, but that one summed up nicely the effect he’s had since his arrival.

Modric was quiet, having been deployed at right of centre, we were unable to fully adapt to Wigan’s half-time shuffle, and we didn’t really figure out how to play against 10-men for the second week in a row, are mere grumbles and not anything to lose sleep over. We’re nicely poised for a good go on Sunday. Interesting will be whether Sandro makes do with a start from the bench, what with it being a home game ‘n’ all, or whether Krankie and Defoe will return for VdV and the blue haired beast.

One other thing that caught the eye this weekend. Following our erstwhile goal getting umbrella man scoring against United on Saturday, young Crouchy, having missed a couple of other decent efforts by all accounts, made the following snarling, ruthless and vitriolic statement:

‘’I could have got the winner, but then you can't be greedy’’

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah.

Cup Shruggery and Wigan Away

Tom Carroll see's Tuesday night's team sheet

Just another toe-tappingly dull week as a Spurs fan then? Not on your nelly guv, plenty to pump up the thermostat, even if the on-pitch fare wasn’t exactly hot tamale.

It would appear only a handful of us got a full picture of what really happened up in Stoke, but encouraging consensus seems to be that young Tom ‘Tommy’ Carroll continued to impress; his wee Charlie Bucket stature belying his obvious ability to kick footballs at a high standard. Jake Livermore was impressive, and descriptions of ‘immense’ have been directed at the Atomic Kaboul. So that’s good. Less said about Gomes, GDS and Pav the better, is my understanding. The result and subsequent penalty shoot-out defeat was disappointing, but seems to have given way to a rather heated debate in some forums about what the cup’s mean to us.

None of us like to see our lads lose, but I can’t say I was particularly devastated. I was lucky enough to be at the ar5ena1 game, and the Wembley final, and can assure you there was no one who went more potty than I at Berbatov, Woody and the final whistle, but like all things, it’s relative. At that point in time, a domestic trophy was a great achievement and the best we could have hoped for following an alarming neglect of our league commitments from the hapless Spaniard, so the celebrations reflected that. It was the circumstances of our position and opposition that made that cup win so special. As for now, we find ourselves with a decent chance of finishing in the top 4 again, meaning potential Champions League qualification, and all the riches and exotically named opponents that come with it. It may not be represented in the form of silverware, but it’s the only thing that really matters to a club with our aspirations.

The league must always be our priority. In order to thrive in the league we need to attract the best players, who invariably want the best pay days which only a Champions League run can fund, and to play against Europe’s best. Tell a coveted target you won the Carling Cup last year and look at their reaction. Tell them you can offer them Champions League football and see the difference. All these steps are towards the ultimate aim (realistic or not) of winning the league, and if the Carling and Ropey cups are sacrificed along the way, so be it.

With that out of the way, Wigan are next up at a ground where we’ve not exactly been prolific over the years. They lie 15^th in the table, and bearing in mind who they’ve had to play so far, they’d probably hope to have a few more points on board. Tottenham meanwhile have lost a couple of games they were likely to lose, and won their 2 winable ones. So a bit unspectacular all round, but it is us with the momentum after a dominant showing at home last week, still riding the wave of optimism that Captain Combover and Ade’s signature’s have brought to the side. Sandro’s back, and his potential incorporation is an interesting point to ponder.

My feeling is that the experimentation with Bale on the right has been preparation for Harry to play Parker and Sandro in the middle away from home, with Luka moving left and Gareth right, making us nice and compact (narrow) and the full backs providing the width. Ultimately, I think he see’s VdV playing behind Ade, but has alluded to starting Defoe again, following his 2 in 2 return (and he likes a goal against the Wiganista’s), so can see Sandro for Krankie being the only change.

We only need one goal. Ledley’s fit so we won’t concede. 0-2 for the Totters.

Back on Track

Hi Chums. Apologies for the radio silence, the general haphazardry of life is the only excuse I can muster. Had I had the chance however, my pre-game guff would basically have been: I’d be gutted with anything less than 3 points.

Looking at the betting before the game, I noticed we were 13/8. I also noticed Liverpool were 13/8… so effectively, taking out the home advantage, the bookies saw the ‘pool as a better side. They don’t often get it wrong, so on this occasion, my unusually bullish pre-match mood, mixed with a little wounded harrumphing had me reet up for it I tell thee. As luck would have it, so were our lilywhite lummoxes, and even with a full compliment of players in opposition for the whole game, the result, if not the score line, would have been exactly the same.

Indeed, after Kenny’s allusion to a few perceived injustices, he eventually backed down and conceded that we were simply a lot better than them. ‘We can talk about those decisions another time’, or something to that effect. Is that perhaps because there’s pretty much no debate about any of the cards your chaps received? Shall we pencil in a chat next week about it? No, didn’t think so. His eventual concession was his only saving grace- if he thinks refereeing played any part in their downfall, he’d be doing a massive disservice to the ‘pool fans that had to sit through their pasting.

Banana and custard, cheese and pickle, Bodger and Badger. Great double acts from down the years, and with the relentless heel-snapping of Captain Combover, and the craft of the little Croatian in the middle, it looks like they might just be on their way to joining them. The former is a breath of fresh air, comprising, the guile and leadership that we’ve been missing for too long in the same package, and the latter… that goal celebration didn’t look like it came from a deeply unhappy individual. He can do it for Croatia AND Tottenham. Marvellous.

Nice one Gareth, running beyond his full back helped us out immeasurably in pulling them out of shape. More of the same please lad. Adebayor’s great isn’t he? If he’s not scoring goals with clinical accuracy, he’s giving great interviews and being generally endearing. How nice it is to see a forward with a first touch and moving about with a bit of intelligence.

Generally excellent throughout, with another special mention for Ledders who is just a freak of nature. According to management, he doesn’t kick a ball all week, has a little jog for 10 minutes on a Friday morning and that’s enough to see him through 90 minutes of Premier League football. While I’m sure that’s a *bit* of an exaggeration (strength and conditioning work at least?), it’s almost beyond comprehension that he doesn’t train with the squad at all. Imagine if…

Anyway, Stoke tomorrow. More good news see’s Sandro and Gallas in line for a return to first team action, although I’d expect us to largely shield the precious things of the shop for Saturdays coach trip to Wigan.

The Redknapp Review

What’s this? A Spurs blog doing an opinion article on Harry Redknapp? Stone me, whatever next?

But woh there, slow down, you move too fast. Solomon's here. All part of the job. What's going on? No points for originality, but here comes the USP, setting my stall out, getting off the fence and putting my cards on the table. I neither love him or loathe him. Ambivalence is probably the wrong word, but he doesn’t inspire the same levels of anger that seem to drive a number of our lot.

The football world is one of extremes; from the mega money to the micro-analysis of every ball kicked. From the vitriol directed towards the sugar daddies, launching ever more shocking and offensive barb’s towards our North London neighbours, to those sad acts who spend their time slating individuals for a wayward pass in opinion pieces and match reports *cough*. No longer is it enough to say Harry has his good points and bad points, but overall he’s doing a decent job. What sort of supporter are you without blind faith or an allegiance to a lynch mob? If you’re to be taken seriously, make sure you position yourself at one extreme of the scale, or you’re just not paying enough attention. Or you don’t care, and you can faaaaaaaaaaaak off and support the gooners.

We all know he can’t pass a CCTV camera without giving an interview, but what’s the other extreme? A man who gives staccato responses in press conferences, and constantly tows the party line? I wonder what kind of reaction he’d have got from the faithful had he spent all summer saying, Wenger style, that ‘’everything’s fine with Modric. He’s happy, training well, and he won’t be leaving’’. Imagine hearing that every press conference, no elaboration. Praised for his unblinking stubbornness and consistency in the face of such rife speculation? No chance. ‘’You’re a f**kin’ liar Redknapp, we have a right to know what’s going on at our club’’, would probably be a little more like it. The handling of it was far from perfect, but given the choice, I’d choose a little naïve, weary honesty over robotic compliance.

There have, of course been some unfortunate choices of words, the most recent of which described tonight’s Ropey Cup game in Greece as a ‘nuisance’. It’s not that he’s wrong- I have no doubt the guy will have been given the remit of prioritising a top 4 push, and as in any job, all smaller tasks forced upon you that detract from your main charge are usually a nuisance. If you’re a professional about it however, you take it in your stride and negotiate the most efficient way through it by correctly delegating your resources in as low a profile as possible. Perhaps something like ‘it’s a great opportunity to see how the kids respond to European competition etc, etc’’ would be a little more calming, but as already mentioned, if his constant off-the-cuff comments leave us exacerbated more often than we’d like, it’s hardly cause to call for his head. 

He’s got my goat on a number of occasions mind, not least after labelling us all idiots after daring to suggest that drawing at home to Sunderland, West Ham, West Brom, Blackpool etc wasn’t really on. The freedom to throw out such comments must be earned, and the level of criticism of the fan base goes way beyond the remit of anything he’s achieved. As for his ‘love’ (or lack thereof) of the club and the fans, I can live without it if results befitting his levels of expenditure and bravado are being achieved. You can spend big money on the likes of Palacios, Crouch and Bassong (£31 million pounds), talk up title pushes, and criticise the support without reproach if you’re finishing in the top 4 and beating bottom 6 teams at home on a regular basis. When you aren’t, you have to expect a bit of backlash and take it on the chin. Lashing out just make you look a little silly.

Here stands a man who’s very much into the twilight of his career. Previously hailed as a hero for comparatively moderate achievements against a backdrop of even more moderate expectations, he leads Tottenham to 4^th place and a Champions League quarter final, and there’s no statue of him erected on the

Park Lane

. What’s all that about? I can sympathise to an extent. Imagine you’re a runner who’s been expected to run 5 hour marathons your whole life, consistently posted times of 4 hours and told you’re the bee’s knees for doing so. You then take a voluntary step up in class where you’re expected to run it in 3 hours, and through a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and pressure the likes of which you’ve never experienced; you actually manage to hit that 3 hour target. A magnificent achievement on a personal level, but at the finish line, there’s no open top bus parade and delirious fanfare waiting for you, just a round of applause, a warm handshake from your employer, and then being asked ‘do you think you can do it in 2 and a half?’.

I’ve never taken the ‘this is as good as it gets, really’ comment in regards to our CL quarter final appearance and 5^th placed finish as being literal, but as a ceiling that Redknapp himself has set. There’s no doubt that that represented his most successful, eye-catching season in club management, and at the age of sixty-whatever, there will be very few, perhaps only one, more chances to top it. Back to the running analogy, having posted your best ever effort in an ageing frame, would you go about managing expectation, or immediately declare that this is just the start and to expect previously unimagined levels of success, when you’ve got at least one eye on putting your feet up a bit? I don’t believe he meant it’s the best season Tottenham will ever see, it’s just the best he himself is now likely to achieve. Poor choice of words again, and a little misdirection from a man with an agenda to get himself what he feels is his job by right.

The England job, so often cited as a distraction for Redknapp, and used as a stick to beat him with, I can only see as being a potential win-win situation. Despite yesterday’s protestations that there have been no discussions over it, I think we can all read between the lines and assume that, barring a meteoric rise of a currently unfancied outsider, the job will be his, and this year will effectively be his final interview. For Harry, the Tottenham job is a means to an end. He doesn’t love Spurs, but he does love the idea of being England manager. If he can galvanise a supposedly unsettled Tottenham side (an idea he seems to take pleasure in promoting, translating to ‘’I’m holding this lot together, I’m great at dealing with lofty chairmen and lowly players alike’’), and get us to qualify for the Champions League, his case will not only be strengthened, but he can probably name his price as well. The incentives are there for him personally, and if he can do it, he’ll leave us a far more attractive proposition for any new manager or player.

To wrap it up, I think Redknapp is doing a decent job, but with the potential and incentive to do an even better one. Both transparently shrewd, and ill-advised in equal measure when it comes to dealing with the media and supporters, there are still some creases to iron out before next summer’s seemingly inevitable departure, but delivering for Tottenham delivers for Harry… and you know what, I’m fine with that. He’s still the best man for this job. For now.

Relief

It wasn’t convincing, it wasn’t pretty, and at times in that first half, it was downright unwatchable unpleasantness. We looked exactly like what we are- a team looking for cohesion and form, heads still on the beaches of ‘beefa, or on summer moves that could have been.

But a win’s a win, so let’s not labour the point and be thankful that in the end, we were slightly less unconvincing than they were. Bale on the right doesn’t work, but Bale trotting out without a brain in that leaky sponge bag between his ears is even more disabling. He’s going to have to work hard this year to become the player we all hoped he was turning into.

Palacios feeds Crouch to score the breakthrough goal in an evenly fought contest… is something you will never have read. Proof, as if it were needed, that quality begets quality, and the replacements of the formerly mentioned produced it. Adebayor looked a bit rusty, but he had some clever touches and all the signs are there for us being in for a treat if we can keep him fit. Our entire attacking set up this season will be based around him. Captain Combover too, was full of snap and snarl, and the previously mentioned assist was more impressive for it’s industriousness; clearing danger one minute, up supporting the forward the next. The word ‘leadership’ was bandied about in the wake of the two Manchester debacles, but with this chap and hopefully a bit more Ledley to come, it’s something we won’t have to worry too much about. Every time a camera was on him, he was growling out orders. Good stuff.

It was nice to see Levy in the stands at Wolves, and nice to see his smiling face when his new boys done the business. ‘What a clever and shrewd man I am’, said young Daniel, pleased with his summers work. I didn’t however, see any shots of his face when it inevitably dawned on him that all this, for a little more bravery, could (and should) have been his last year as well. Ho hum. To his credit, also on show was his refusal to take money for a player that we had no hope of replacing for any amount of money. The Croatian was excellent as always.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Ledley back in the starting line-up, and even if the performance won’t go down as one of his finest, his presence was enough to ensure that all around him kept their heads long enough to see us safely home. A clean sheet as well; we’re just better when he plays. Despite moments of powder-puff delicacy, Kranjcar came up with one (one and a half?) assist to set Defoe off on what we all hope will be some sort of run for a striker who’s been pretty diabolique for too long. For all the raggedy, nervous dross of the first half, we settled down in the second and once the first goal went in, the sense of relief more than anything was palpable, and we never looked like letting the lead slip.

Just a quick word on the Adebayor interview that appeared on MOTD. There was a good 3 minutes of interview footage, which you can see in full on the BBC sport website, including him saying how he was honoured to be representing a club such as ours with a proud history and tradition etc, but they instead chose to pick out 20 seconds of him delivering positive comments about his previous employers at le arse. Surely somebody was on a wind up? I reckon the resident Spurs fan was allowed to edit the arse/Swansea game (''If it weren’t for the Swansea fans this place would be quieter than Islington library''- learlz), and the resident goon got to butcher the Adebayor interview. Either way, poor show from Auntie, sensationalist nonsense is best left to your pals at Sky. Must do better.

Molin-Me, Molineux. Ah-ha!

What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense? Whatev’s.

This should be where we begin to amble into focus, allowing us a modicum of perspective in light of the 2 heavy defeats we’ve already suffered to the sides that will probably be duking it out at the top for the lion-topped silver goblet at seasons end. Wolves, far from being an easy proposition, nevertheless represent our most realistic chance yet to post some prime premier pointage. I say ‘should’… *Spurs related lamentation*…you know the rest.

With new faces comes new hope among our lot. For those who didn’t think he was good stuff already, Scott Parker got himself a MOTM in that groovy black England jersey to celebrate his escape from the East End, and show us what we’ve been missing so far this season. His skill set and personality traits should be just the ticket for tomorrows dust up. Adebayor as well, yearning for the comfort of a loving home after losing his way a little should be Keane like Robbie to make a good impression on his new foster club. He’s famed for starting quickly, and he’ll need to if we’re going to get more goals than them.

New faces to old faces, as our midfield will be facing none other than former Ramos favourite Jamie O’Hara. They say you are what you eat, and followers of his twitter account will know he’s partial to a bit of Nobu. Despite being a bit of a twit, I always quite liked Jamie and his Essex boy snarl, and have seen poorer players retained during his loan stints and subsequent perma-tran to the olden golden of Wolverhampton. His comments about hoping Spurs get knocked out of the F.A.Cup in the hope he’d get to play for Pompey in the final didn’t do him any favours, and the granting of that wish was probably the final nail in his Tottenham career coffin. Still, he’s a decent technician with an attitude befitting his new surroundings and will be one to watch. Especially from range.

Not usually one for line-ups, but it’s fun writing the new lads names down, so lets have a go: BBB, Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, BAE, Livermore, Modric, Parker, Bale, Kranjcar, Adebayor in a sort of 4-2-3-1 type dealey. If that’s too radical, take out Livermore and Krankie for Lennon and Defoe. Either way, I’m sure I’ll be wrong.

3 points, if you'd be so kind.

#givedossantosachance

Just stumbled across an article that was worth a little bit of focus from news leviathan talkSPORT, on our forgotten forward Giovani dos Santos.

He’s the ultimate Spurs player; bags of potential, lots of tricks, never produced, but unfathomably adored by sections of the support, and there are plenty of youtube clips testifying to his ability while wearing the green of Mey-Ee-Ko. But unlike Pav, for example, who reminds us of how talented-yet-frustrating he is with numbing regularity, dos Santos’ legend has grown in Spurs following circles; the less we see him, the better he gets- like a Hollywood monster that becomes even more terrifying with every passing glimpse we’re drip-fed.

My over riding memory of this lad is from his performance from the first half in the Carling Cup game against le arse last year. In a team so horribly disjointed and lacking any form of cohesion, he was stand out terrible and looked like he’d been in the juicer all afternoon. Out of the whole team that needed replacing at HT, he was the only one to get the hook. A more truly terrible showing you will never see.

However, quotes attributed to the former Barcelona player, seem to cast doubt over the image of the talented, yet work-shy show pony, coasting by on raw talent. You can read the whole thing HERE , but just a few of the quotes from the lad himself to catch the eye are worth highlighting:

‘’To be honest I already felt at another club, Sevilla, and we had already completed more than 50 per cent of negotiations. Almost everything had been agreed but with half an hour to go Spurs changed their minds, something I found very odd.’’

‘’After such a long time without having any confidence in me I am now going to get my chance, which makes me feel weird. Even so, I mean to take this opportunity out of respect to the Tottenham fans and also because of the professional I am’’

The first quote, you’d suspect was linked to Crouch being let go- but then if you believe any of the talk coming out of Tottenham during the window, dos Santos wasn’t even being considered as worthy of a squad number, let alone a replacement for someone who had as much game time and managerial faith as Big Pete enjoyed. The real encouragement comes from the second quote.

The club have to shoulder as much responsibility for the lack of development as the party popper himself, but a wiser, more mature young man seems to have emerged from all of this, and we might yet reap the rewards. Let’s hope for the sake of his career and undoubted talent that he and the club’s management can finally work together for the benefit of both parties, and for the fans that love to see players of dos Santos’ ability shine at the Lane.