Fanzine Fanzone - Times Online - WBLG

Spurs: Lucky to get one

 

How often do you hear that said ?  Quite often, but with Tottenham’s whopping 9-1 score-line against Wigan Athletic on Sunday, you would really have good grounds to say that of the Latics team.

Apart from there not being a lot of time available between the eight Spurs second half goals, the one that Wigan did register was a blatant handball, which, on any other Sunday, might have been back page news in the grand tradition of Thierry “Handball” Henry.

Tottenham: Victory masks lack of creativity

It appears that Steve Bruce learned a lot from Alex Ferguson. Not only has he taken on board how to form a team that plays a good brand of football, but also he has picked up how to deflect the failure of the side to convert chances made by shining a light on the referee.

Maybe he had a point, as if Wenger-like, he had not seen Jordan Henderson chop Vedran Corluka down in front of the bench just before the break after already being booked he could have exited the field. Much like Bruce wanted Gomes to do when returning striker Darren Bent seemed to go down a bit before he hit the Spurs keeper. With the ball heading away from goal, it is interesting that Bruce claimed this was a foul denying a goal-scoring opportunity. For only a couple of weeks back (when it took an air filled deflection to get Bent on the score-sheet), he had missed an opening from a similar position against Liverpool, hitting the outside of the post. Then again, Kevin (the players') Friend may have been as aware of Spurs fans about the first touch Bent possesses.

Tottenham: bored into defeat by Stoke

 

Not mine, but Stoke City fans probably don’t worry about value for money, as their team get the points in a style suited to their strengths. For the opposition fans and players, the time-wasting, which started as early as the 18th minute is tedious and frustrating. But I suppose that is the idea. 

Stoke City seem to be the anti-Danny Blanchflower, who believe in boring the opposition into submission, although they do get their own brand of glory in pinching a win at White Hart Lane for a generation. I was there the last time they won and needless to say, it was a worthy win, achieved by footballing skill and ability.

Tottenham: it won't always be pretty

 

Having under gone some dental treatment, I expected the Bolton game to be similar to having my teeth pulled, but in the end, even though Spurs settled for a point after the poor first half display, it was a fairly entertaining game. Bolton showed that they could play a bit and Spurs showed that if need be, they can dig in and get something from a game that they might previously have been turned over in (like last year).

For all of Darren Bent’s two goals that saw Spurs come back from 0-2 at the Reebok last season, what did it get us? Nothing, as a last minute winner gave the Trotters the points. This year, Spurs had to come from behind twice and could have won it as Crouch hit the bar after Jaaskaleinen got something on the shot that took it into the floor and up onto the woodwork and out.

Tottenham Fanzone: whistle while you work

Surely that is what Howard Webb gets paid for? Or is his decision making is linked to some bizarre performance related pay? In some respects he is more like Howard Hughes in that he goes missing when the big decisions have to be made.

One wonders, as what should not have been a penalty at Old Trafford last season (which got the champions back into the game when they were struggling) suddenly was not a spot-kick when it was Tottenham going on the attack against Chelsea. Webb had a similar position of view to that when Gomes didn’t bring Carrick down to the one where Carvalho caught Keane, but there was a different outcome. The ball went at right angles when Carrick went for it, perhaps indicating Gomes touched it, while the trajectory continued in front of Keane when Carvalho knocked into him.

Tottenham: United showed us no Respect

Let's get this straight.  Manchester United deserved to win.  They scored more goals, played the better football and were blessed with many of the decisions in the game.

But I remember a time when United used to play with their feet and not their mouths. But with Darren Fletcher doing a good impersonation of Derren Brown in amazing viewers at to how he can run for 90 minutes while keeping up a running advice line in the referee's ear and also predicting what the official should do, perhaps the new breed of United player is being built in the mould of former Liverpool and present Arsenal players?

Tottenham: reversal of fortune

 

For Tottenham a year has been a long time, having brought a turnaround from the bottom place the club occupied at this stage last season.  But then again, Hull City's drop into the bottom three is the opposite to their flying start in 2008-09.

For a while now, I have advocated a different approach away from home. We have been so poor away from the Lane that we might a well go to away grounds and give it a go. Get a couple of goals ahead and then see how we do, rather than sit back and wait to see if the opposition are bad enough to let us win or draw. So, it was pleasing to see the team clicking right from the kick off to put Hull under pressure and take an early 2-0 lead. 

Tottenham: beating Liverpool at their own game

A fixture against Liverpool was hardly the opener Tottenham would have asked for. Fresh after the summer break and having beaten Spurs 3-1 in their last Premier League game on a glorious sunny day in May, the team who lost only two league games and still lost the title were going to be out to prove they were going for it again this time around.

Only Liverpool weren't that fresh at White Hart Lane yesterday. And they weren't the same team. Xabi Alonso had gone and Rafa Benitez's decision to play half the team who were on one leg perhaps helped Spurs record their second successive 2-1 league win over the Reds at the Lane.

Missing Alonso, Liverpool lacked the incisive passing they have had in the last few seasons and the mind games Rafa played over whether Gerrard, Carragher and Skrtel would be fit seemed to back-fire on him. It shows his ability to get results when they are really needed might cost him the title once more. Early days, but having lost 50 per cent of the number of matches they did last season, you might say their title challenge is almost over.

Spurs : TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR D.A.

After being much maligned, the Tottenham defence completed a Premier League season with only 10 goals conceded in their 19 home matches to establish a new club record.

This beat the previous best of 16 and also set a new record low number of goals let in during a league season, beating the 11 of 1919-1920, albeit that was from 21 home matches.

So, all those who labelled Heruelho Gomes a clown and the Tottenham back four who were leaking goals, but not many more than we scored, have provided the basis for Harry Redknapp's revival of the club from the bottom of the table to Europa League challengers.

With Fulham two points ahead with a game to go, Everton visit the Cottage, while Spurs travel in the opposite direction to play Liverpool.  A poor record at Anfield doesn't hold much hope of a result that will see Tottenham complete a double over the Reds, having been only one of two sides to defeat them this season, but then you never know with Spurs.  If the team don't succeed in gaining European football, then it will allow us to conentrate on the league next season.

This win over Manchester City was an odd one.  Spurs controlled the first half and then allowed City to get back into the match in the second half, before getting a fortuitous decision that swung the game in Tottenham's favour.

At times, it looked like a meaningless end of season game, with both sets of players enjoying the sun rather than sweating on getting into Europe.  The pressure to gain access to the Europa League was more acute for City because of their wealth burning a hole in the pockets of the money men behind them.  Unfortunately, that will have to remain in the bank for a little while, as it will be more difficult to attract the top players without the lure of Europe.  And attractive players are what City need, as I imagine the likes of Dunne, Caicedo and Richards are not the sort of players that the owners see as leading the club to the Champions League.

Tottenham got a good goal when Huddlestone played in a fine ball for Defoe to back-heel through his own legs to notch the opener.  City rode their luck with Keane missing two good chances and King and Defoe forcing Given into sharp saves.  It was only when Bojinov came on that City looked threatening and he hooked a shot past Gomes for the first goal conceded in eight games for Spurs to grab a City equaliser.

When Richards clumsily fell over on loan United forward Fraizer Campbell, as Defoe shot on goal, it was a shock when Tottenham actually benefitted from a referee's decision for a change.  In truth, Richards had been all over Tottenham's players for much of the game, with few free-kicks given to the home side for it, thus it was all the more surprising that Halsey pointed to the spot.  It was touch and go as to whether Tottenham would score, with Robbie Keane taking the penalty against his Republic of Ireland team-mate Shay Given, but he managed to send the keeper the wrong way and Spurs had the lead again.

It could have changed near the end, when Kompany (who partners Dunne in a gents outfitters ... sorry defence) had a header heading for goal, until Benjani changed the direction and headed it over the bar.

Good defending or a bit more luck ?  Whichever way it was, Tottenham's good luck or good defending (following a run of four 1-0s to the Tottenham !!), the rise has gone onwards and upwards and maybe it might just continue.

Wyart Lane
My Eyes Have Seen The Glory
www.mehstg.com

Spurs : Webbed Up

Tottenham Hostpur do not have a good record at Old Trafford.  Sometimes Spurs do not play very well at Old Trafford.  Sometimes, it doesn't matter how well they play at Old Trafford, as the officials deny them anything with some perverse decisions.

I am thinking that in future it might benefit Manchester United, the paying Spurs public and the planet to save the petrol for the team and supporters and just give the three points to United ... as Howard Webb obviously sees this as the way forward.

Wyart Lane
My Eyes Have Seen The Glory
www.mehstg,com