Good morning.
Where to start? Well it was by and large a great game. And as the first coffee of the day works its magic the frustrations of last night are ebbing away…It was a well earned point against a side that any bookmaker will tell you are genuine title contenders. We aren’t genuine contenders.
There were essentially three phases to the game. The really good bit at the beginning, the collapse after that bit and then the desperate battle against evil …and Howard Webb.
8.042 If accusing a goal keeper of being lucky is a criticism then call me Brad and get me to a casino. One tip top save and another that saw Sturridge make a spectacular clearance.
6.000 Underwhelming. Pace to burn, blah blah blah but I’d really like to see him working on his defending. Moving forward he actually reminds me of a speedier version of Bentley. Less haircut, more football please.
7.081 A low key, intelligent enough performance. Arry clearly picked him and King for their collective experience, but there was something about this ‘on paper’ supremely solid pairing that didn’t quite transmit onto grass.
7.079 Looked sluggish. Play to the whistle is a tedious phrase to be hurling at a man of his stature but the sight of him waving at a linesman who wasn’t waving back at him was pitiful. At this level, there’s no room for that nonsense.
6.008 For their goal he was a postcode away from his man. Unacceptable. Elsewhere his passing on the floor was routinely outstanding, yet his passing in the air turned possession into a 50/50 ball we invariably failed to win. Must do better.
6.784 He appeared to not quite understand what his role was. I certainly didn’t quite understand what his role was. In possession we didn’t get enough of his stellar game changing passes. Without the ball he looked like J****.
8.909 A soldier. Out and out marine. It was his determination that sparked the move that made the goal. His will and application makes him more valuable than money. The energy levels were immense. Man Of The Match.
7.654 This wasn’t a game for him to be making any forays forward. Being in the thick of it is where he should be in games like this. The PNB/Sandro/Modric strategy looked scruffy and only Sandro managed to come out of it in a good light.
7. 832 Marauding forwards he’s a weapon. One of the finest players in the Premiership, in Europe even. Defensively though he was poor. It sounds like I’m being petty but we need to see these guys demonstrate they know that you build a team from the back forwards.
7.897 Fantastic poacher stylee goal but it is his complete unselfishness that routinely impresses me. The yellow wasn’t so much, but the endless attempts by Terry & Co to get him sent off obviously undermined him. Oh yes and his second goal was legit. That’s show business.
@theboyhotspur “Terry appears unaffected by off field troubles” You don’t need Brian Cox to explain that one away. Terry is a conscienceless piece of dog muck.
It’s easy to think outside the box, as long as the box is very small.
John Terry is a Completely Useless Nasty Twat.
Unless we buy some top class players, injuries will ensure we’ll be battling it out with the scum for that 4th place.
I love VdV but has he ever been properly fit whilst at Spurs?
PNB, great as he has been, not only looks like he’s just stepped out the ’50s but is starting to play like he has the time they had in the ’50s. Needs a rest.
Why oh why don’t we have a direct replacement for one of our most frequently injured players (Lennon)?
As others have said, there’s a good shout for moving Walker right wing if we can’t find a balanced side including Sandro, Parker and Modric. Would mean playing Parker or Sandro.
Adebayor was no way offside, but didn’t he score with his upper arm?
totally agree with all that. Victor Moses wouldnt be a bad shout
Why is no-one really mentioning coles hand ball?
To be honest, it shows have far we’ve come when we can play the majority of 90mins pretty badly and still not lose to Chelsea. I thought we looked jaded and unbalanced.
Luka is wasted on the wing we’ve seen this before but Harry still doesn’t get it. I love redschnapps and am not being bitter, I just think Luka is most probably our most gifted player and he needs to play his natural position at all costs!
Sandro was indeed outstanding and if we can hang on to him he is a future superstar. Assou-ekotto was very poor and I felt that for a lot of the match the team invariably hit it long, clearly forgetting that we no longer have ol’ gangles Crouch up there (thanks to some deity or other).
A few fresh faces in Jan would go down a treat, genuine competition at left back and at right mid are especially important if we are to maintain an assault on the top 4 and beyond.
On a brighter note, top team in London sitting in 3rd place come Christmas, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d have taken that!
Merry Christmas HH, your totteringham rambles brighten even the darkest of winter days.
COYS
:winke:
Harry does get it but as he says he has nobody else to play there with Lennon and VDV injured.
Sandro is a beast.
http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/506178/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2011-2012-Tottenham-Chelsea
Turns out that Manu is a bit ugly too… http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/ea-sports-player-performance-index.html
Play to the whistle is one of those lazy cliches used to excuse piss poor officiating, much like the decisions even themselves out myth
It is unacceptable in the modern game.
I didn’t see Sturridge stop playing. What is unacceptable is having spectators on the pitch.
‘Play to the whistle’ is only as irritating as say, ‘your shoe lace is untied’.
Both phrases make you roll your eyes but if you don’t prevent them from being said… you trip up.
I really should go into the fridge magnet business.