Spurs unveil new home kit
Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 1:01PM 
No matter how many times we fire, we just never seem to do any real damage.
This might just be the words engraved on our 4th spot headstone cometh the end of the season.
You can't fault the side for effort. It's not like we're not crafting out chances. [ground-hog day] We just don't seem to have the cutting edge to put to bed teams who sit back and defend against us [/ground-hog day].
Christ, imagine if we were a tad more clinical? We'd wipe the floor with practically 90% of the Prem. Instead, we make the art of winning a game (based on chances and possession) look like hard graft, and in the end we get a point for our troubles and plenty of head shaking. What makes it even more frustrating is the fact we are leaving ourselves susceptible to a counter-attack and sucker punch goal. Simply because we don't stick in the back of the net. It's not great for the heart, but then watching Spurs never is.
Are we unlucky? Maybe, a little. Perhaps its our routine 'trying to hard' style of play when at times perhaps we should disguise our play a little with a clever ball. Game could have done with the touch of Gudjohnsen. I'm assuming he's not quite ready for action. Or Harry simply decided the game was just too highly strung to risk changing it's dynamics.
Villa, I expected to see arrive at the Lane and give it a right old go. Instead they parked the bus and defended, at times, brilliantly. Respect from Villa or just negative tactics from MON? Either way, they're the ones happy with the point. We're left with heads jam-packed with what ifs.
We played well, perhaps not excelling in one or two areas. But once more, did enough to win it and yet just about enough not to. Modric was involved but not quite on top of his game in the final third. Bale and Bentley continue to impress - Bale especially from a defensive perspective. Proud to see these two do well. Bentley continues to show determined consistency. Wilson was strong, Hudd equally so but didn't do enough IMO in an offensive way. Game needed someone to dictate. Hudd doesn't always impose himself half as much as he's capable of doing. We defended well too but then it wasn't like Villa put us under pressure. Gomes alert when called upon.
Should Harry have made a sub and taken a risk? Niko for Moddle? Had it not worked out I'm sure some of us would have still criticised him for making the wrong substitution.
I do think that had Lennon played in this game and one or two others in recent weeks we'd be in a better position. CL football is not in a galaxy far far away, but rather just a hyper-jump away.
13 games left. No need for a funeral procession just yet. But with Liverpool back in 4th and waiting on the return of Torres, once more we're left hoping all this possession ends with one or two head shots. At the very least.
Reader Comments (78)
That game was ridiculous and not what I needed to see before I dug my car out of 30 inches of snow. Whoever ends up with the 4 spot is going to have to rely on luck in some form.
Couldnt stop laughing when i saw the "new home kit".. brilliant spooks.. brilliant..
It's amazing how there is always something not quite really with us. Usually its 4-5 shit players. It's a good problem to have this but it will be costly if we dont change things around in the next game. Hate to end up 7th after spending so much time in 4th. Liverpool have quietly got themselves back in it and I would be too shocked if they ended up 3rd above Arsenal.
PS. Spurs = Stormtroopers? Nailed it.
Spooky do you not think ,that taking crouch of and playing Niko or Gudjohnsen just behind Defoe would have made us play a more offensive game from the midfield. surely this would of put more pressure on their defence and midfield and allowing us to play a more direct game like Le Arse play , where by they have players that can score from midfield as well as up front.
I know that there will be a chorus of anti-Keane vituperation at this, but letting him go will come back to haunt us before the season ends ....... Defoe either scores or doesn't, but generally does against poor opposition - the same is true for Crouch, and it is thus when either gets a game for England. We have Pav injured, and even he would be a chance for variety ...... but has no one remembered that when he came on to score against Leeds, after Defoe had made a pig's ear of it all (really getting fed up with hearing commentators tell me he is 'on fire'), the guy who set him up was pointy shouty and he is no longer available ........ We can only hope the that youngster we've brought in from Barcelona will provide a little variety. And am I alone in believing that, after a while, teams do tend to get used to the endless supply of long balls on to Crouch's thick bonce?
I think that we should stop worrying about where we finish, anywhere from 4th to 7th at the moment. Play well, as we are doing, entertain with some attacking football, which we are doing, keep it tight at the back, which we are doing and hope for some help from other results.
Recently we beat City, outplayed Villa, but were dismal against Liverpool so if they pip us for 4th so be it.
Yesterday we could have scored at any time in the last 20mins so I agree with Harry, which I don't always do, Who would you have taken off? Harry has come unstuck with his substitutions lately so play the percentages and leave it as it is.
He did the same against Leeds, he must have read a new coaching manual from the time before subs were allowed.
'May the farce be with you Luka......'
'Mmmm, triffic we wasn't Kevin'
Nice to see Joe Lewis at the match yesterday - our part owner and not the Peterborough goalkeeper.
Crouch is a good player but the good teams know how to deal with him. When this happens we seem to have no way through and need the likes of Modirc, Keane or maybe Gudjohnsen to unlock the defence. This was obvious before half time and we should have brought Crouch off then. Long ball only works against the sh*t teams.
Doesn't visit often does he? Hopefully he left his wallet behind.
I laughed my ass off when I read the title and saw the pic! Thanks for brightening up the moment Spooky!
I thought we were great last night! Once again, we are lacking an instinctual striker... another Defoe to aid in these situations. All in all, the boys were a joy to watch, especially Bale. Gentlemen, be expecting a lot of offers to be thrown our way come summer time. A LOT! On attack, the boy knows how to switch the tempo of play... and on defence, he has shown a world of improvement which makes me proud to have him in lilywhite... or should I say: Storm Trooper White?
COYS!
It's funny people wanting Arry to haul off cr'Ouch for a little and little forward line. I'm not his buggest fan, but the good far outweighs the bad when playing against Villa. If you haven't you noticed, they're quite good in the air. Defensively and offensively (yes in that particular fashion) cr'Ouch was effective - the lack of clinicality was shared by all our attacking players. It was too important a game to take unecessary risks, especially when we were playing so well. A point seems a bit glass half empty at the moment, but a point will be useful in the run in. Chin up, chests out, be proud and the spurs will go marking on.
Nah TommyHarmer--it's not we were any closer to scoring with Keano.
I'm not a Keane hater. I just think he sucked the energy out of our attack and he never established the right dynamic with any of our other--I'm sorry to say--hugely overrated and unclinical strikers.
Getting rid of him may not have solved any problems but I fail to see how it hurt. He wasn't contributing anything meaningful to our attack.
Didn't work though did it.
I re-read your post. I agree with much of what you say. I am flummoxed about the whole thing. Should we just wipe the slate clean? Is Eidur what we've needed all along? I certainly hope so.
I can't wait til we get Azza back
Trembly--I agree. Crouch was better in the air yesterday than he normally is.
I can't help but think that in the top of the Prem it's so bloody tight that you need to make your own luck, ie you need to get into that dirty mind game of manipulating referees. You see Ferguson, Wenger and Benitez do it week in and week out, where as Redknapp sits there, takes it on the chin and never brings forward any criticism after the game when things unrightfully go against us. When Defoe went down to the challenge inside the box right before the end I just knew we would not get it, simply because we're getting accustomed to Spurs never getting any of those by referees any more. Hell, Dunne even said after the game it was a penalty, but you hear us complaining? Nope. I am afraid that it sits in the back of the head of referees that they won't get any stick if they don't give us what we deserve, because nobody complains anyway. Against Liverpool it was a bloody disgrace. Anyone saw the Kyrgiakos assault on Crouch, yet the ref gives it the other way around. And offside at Defoes goal, are you kidding me? It's a completely new situation when the Pool players starts messing it up, the ref might as well have said that he came from an offside possition in another game at any other time of his life to have annulled that, it just doesn't make sense. Even if the linesman's a dud any ref in his right mind will see this and over rule it. Again, any complaints, or polite comments on how the ref cost us two goals? Nope. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Wengers og Fergusons constant moaning, but I think that all the managers of the biggest teams do it for a reason: they know it's simply not possible getting those crucial decisions your way unless the ref's have it in the back of their heads that they'll get hell if they wrong your side. And that means a shit load of points come end of the season. The solution for me is starting to use video refereeing as it will finally bring some fairness into the game. But until then: start bloody telling the refs when they are wrong! Pundits, players and fans alike sees it, but refs will continue to unconsciously be biased as long as we sit there and take it all without a whimper.
Lennon raiding down the right and Bale down the left means we will have more attacking options and be less reliant on 70 yard punts up to Crouch.
Its not Crouchs fault we keep punting the ball up to him and whilst hes not pretty to watch and will not score 20 a season, his prescence leads to a lot of chances such as yesterdays penalty shout.
I don't care whether Bale plays left back, left midfield or left wing but he is our most dangerous attacker on the left and to drop him for BAE or anyone else would be madness and would ruin the confidence it has taken months to build up.
He is 20 years old and is only going to improve. Can't wait!
When I saw the headline, I actually got excited...Finaly, I thought, tottenham have realised how BUTUGLY our kits are and had decided to reliese new once mid season.....
David, You right about it not being Crouch's fault but he isn't that great if it is passed to his feet. He seems like a poor mans Berbertov to me, a very poor man. You're right about Lennon, he would have made the differnce yesterday.
we're just not good enough up front. crotch is pathetic. if we are going to progress we need a real striker likedrogba, torres or rooney. until then we can forget about it. no 4th spot this season
Lennon wouldn't have made any difference they were doubled up on the wings all the time. Lennon needs space there wasn't any! same as stoke hull and wolves . Modric isn't quite up to speed Krank would have made a difference in last 15 mins
Another good post Spooky, I really do enjoy your posts and look forward to them after the game. I am at a disadvantage to most of you guys as I don't get to the games (due to geography) and only get to see them on tinterweb, sky or highlights on MOD. This is the best football I have seen Spurs play in many a year and imo are the better of the chasing group. The football most of the time is top notch, 3rd, 4th 5th 4th 5th.... all season? We are progressing!! Going in the right direction, not quite there yet but getting there. I think there is better to come. The young Lennon to come back will be a big boost a la Torres for the pool. Defoe is NOT ON FIRE but still he is scoring, there is more to come from JD. Crouch is a conundrum, I would love to see Pav play as he can play. Bale is excellent, again not the finished package but getting there. Who is this Bentley bloke, I don't remember seeing him before. There used to be some bloke with a similar name hanging around but he was sh**e. King is unable to play as often as I would like but when he does, HE DOES! I know everyone harps back to how bad we were at the start of last year, but compare us now to how bad we were at the start of last year!! As a team we are bloody brilliant to watch at times, when teams attack I don't find myself hiding behind the sofa anywhere near as much as I used to. We are getting there, believe it folks we will get there!! Franco, I see your point but I would prefer to win a penalty cos it was a penalty not because the ref is scared of a bollockin, Whiner, Red Nose and the Waiter should be hammered by the FA for comments against the ref, he's only human. I would prefer that he concentrates purely on the game and not worrying what is going to be said about him if he makes the wrong decision. At least then the decisions will based on what he saw and not on worrying about who he is going to upset!! Video replay is the only real way to go but that's for another time. This is my first post so please go easy on me!
Salutations from Belfast!!
COYS fourth is achievable this season and then who knows??
At last a decent home kit!! Its only taken 15 tears!!!
should be years!! but most of them i have spent crying when i look at our kit!