Good evening.
I am tempted to recall the Hannibal Lecter line, ‘but you may lack perspective’ in relation to today’s fare. The first ten or so minutes were pretty good. Van der Vaart was chucking weight about and it was clear the Bar Codistas were set up every bit like a side that that had been on an awfully good run.
But this isn’t to say I believe this draw reflect the natural order of things nor am content. But given the way we failed to cope with their formation, we came out of things none too bad.
For the bazillionth time stats ain’t my bag. Yet I think that today wasn’t a disaster on the basis that I will be interested to see damage Toon do to to the so called big boys. So far they have been upon an unprecedented run of dealing admirably with mediocre sides.
Today was their first real crack at a gang of chancers with so called pretensions of greatness. And they have to be commended for their performance. Whatever the much maligned Pardew is up to he is definitely doing something right. A predominantly so so gang of players; yet they are so far dishing it out week on week so far.
Player ratings tomorrow, but I think we can’t gripe over too much about today. Not really.
Thought that set up would only have worked with Sandro available. Livemore still looks lightweight to me, especially up against the likes of Tiote. Credit to him for not letting us play – he’s a one man wrecking ball, like a souped up Palacious.
The best strikers are selfish, and rightly so; they will take their chances. Problem is, Defoe isn’t good enough to warrant such selfishness.
His selfishness also rubs other players up the wrong way. In the first half Adebayor was screaming for the square ball, didn’t get it. Is it any wonder why Adebayor didn’t pass to Defoe when the roles were reversed? Two wrongs don’t make a right, but we’ve all played next to the player who never passes and know how frustrating it is. Defoe is good player, and scored a great goal, but it’s all about JD with Defoe. No wonder he struggles to form a partnership.
I’m not saying VdV is ideal either (although at least he can score a penalty), clearly fitness is a major issue with him, and he as good as decides one of your subs, leaving only two other possibilities to change tactics. King, although a great player, is also an accident waiting to happen who often uses up another.
I’d prefer us to replace Pav ahead of any other striker
Why he’s still at the club is bemusing.
On paper, Pav is our most prolific striker……
On grass, he’s been poor for a whie now………
…oops, pressed submit by accident…
Our top four aspirations shouldn’t rely on players who are so unreliable. It’s early days yet, and we’re not in a bad position, but Redknapp still doesn’t seem to know what his best team is, how to play them or how to close a game out. We’ve got a nice run of fixtures now that should give us a better idea of where this team’s going.
BIOYC!
Once King departed we looked ‘inexperienced’ at the back; In fact the whole squad demonstrated a lack of experience (or was it youthful enthusiasm) in chasing an unnecessary third goal in preference to closing out the 1-2 away win, at that time on the cards. And Walker will hopefully learn from his mistakes.
Overall I thought had we retained the ball better, as we have done in preceding games, we could have beaten this (albeit much improved) Newcastle side comfortably. In any event had we ‘put our foot on the ball’ for the final 10-mins, we would have come away with 3-pts.
PS: I thought VdV’s pen. was one of the best seen in a long time, especially in a Spurs shirt
Why does Walker look so shattered after 75-80 mins?
Yep Pav is poor on grass. Amphetamines are what that boy needs.