thfc1882.com

Spurs blog

Tottenham tracking Toivonen

August 18th, 2010 Posted in Articles
Aug, 18 2010
No Comments »

I have to laugh at the press when they come up with the various stories linking clubs with certain players with apparently little or no truth in anything they say. It happens all the time of course and it seems supporting Spurs also means trying to weed through the utterly ridiculous rumours to the possible and sometimes probable.

Being bored at work I decided to quickly pop onto the Sky Sports website to take a look around and have a little read when low and behold I saw we’ve been linked with yet another player. Unsurprisingly he’s a striker too.

Swede Ola Toivonen signed for PSV back in January 2009 so of course 18 months into his contract he’ll be looking to move, and where else better than the premiership and a team “potentially” in the champions league. Forget the fact until his move he was making a living at Malma in Sweden.

However, I’ll give Sky the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they’re right. We don’t appear to be able to sign rubbish British players for inflated prices so why not have a look at some Europeans instead? Then I came across another article that bore a strange resemblance from 2 days previous. Anyone fancy a game of spot the difference?

I love games on a Wednesday afternoon. ;-)

, ,
Read More

Half Time – Honours Even?

August 18th, 2010 Posted in Match Reports
Aug, 18 2010
No Comments »

I’m not going to sit here and knee jerk like so many were last night during the game. Nor am I going to lambast every player in a spurs shirt. I’ll single some out later in the piece. ;-) As ‘Arry said after the game, it was a great defeat.

We Spurs fans can be a pessimistic lot. I’m sure that can be said about fans whoever they support but I would say I’m particularly bad. Very rarely do I think we’ll win, and while I predicted we would last night there was always a nagging doubt in the back of my head that maybe we’d have to settle for a draw instead. I didn’t foresee the first 30 minutes of last night happening though. However, as I trawled the internet while the shambolic performance was taking place and read the various forums and social networking sites I couldn’t quite believe all the negativity. Many suddenly suggesting we would struggle to finish in the top 7 or 8 this season and the good old “Harry must go” chants could be heard in the digital world.

For once in the 20+ years I’ve followed them I just didn’t feel that way. My wife thought I might be ill. Away goals are all important in these games and it was fairly obvious that their first 2 goals had been fortunate, even though they’d played well and we hadn’t. Say we didn’t get the rub of the green, the run of the ball or any other cliche you can think of but it’s true. Their first goal deflected off the arse of an offside player and fell invitingly to the unmarked Senad Lulic who calmly slotted home. The second wasn’t a great through ball as the awful Alan Smith on Sky would have you believe. It was a pass that was miss-controlled by Young Boys striker Henri Bienvenu who then managed to turn Dawson far too easily and again finish efficiently.

There’s no excusing the defending or the manner in which we competed in those first 30 minutes but we were at no stage out of the game. When their third goal was scored it did become a little foreboding but it was the only goal they scored that was genuinely good, plus if we could get ourselves together and get that away goal we could overturn a 2 goal deficit at home.

For those that say Redknapp just sits on the bench doing nothing even when we’re in trouble were put in their place if only for one game last night. Huddlestone was brought on for Benny when we went 3-0 down and it made the world of difference. Some would ask why he wasn’t starting as I did before kick off but it appears, reading between the lines, that big ol’ Tommy didn’t like the artificial pitch and it hurt his knees. If that’s the case, Redknapp didn’t really have much choice in starting him on the bench.

Fortunately just before half time we managed to get that important away goal just as a friend who was in Bern last night text me saying he could hear all the wanderers fans laughing. That text was very shortly followed by another one saying, “about f*cking time”. So we got ourselves a lifeline after what can only be described as the worst performance in a couple of years.

At this point I was settling for a 3-1 defeat.

The second half saw a lot of possession but not much else. Bale didn’t really get into the game at any point although he was still producing our best crosses which unfortunately no-one could get on the end of. Which brings me to the so called “Super Pav”. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been his biggest fan. I didn’t rate him before he signed and very little has changed my opinion on that. I laugh when I read people justifying his inclusion over this striker or that because of what he can offer the team.

If a Russian or Arab billionaire wanted to buy him but needed to see what he could do the simplest thing to do would be to make him watch last night’s game. By far the worst player on the pitch for the entire game and then BANG, top corner with 7 minutes to go and we’ve got 2 away goals and are right back in the tie. His movement is non existent for large periods when he plays, his control lets him down as much as it does for Sgt Wilson, he clearly doesn’t understand the concept of holding the ball up, his passing is ineffective and he can’t tackle. So why does he get this unheralded support from the fans? It doesn’t make sense to me. Once he crosses that line I’ll back him as much as any other player, but in my opinion last night just proved once again that we need a world class striker if we’re to compete at the top table. Having said all that, what a great goal ;-)

Now onto Wilson Palacios. A player I truly believe helped us get to where we are now. However, since the tragedy that he and his family had to suffer he’s just not been the same player. His passing has never been the greatest (see last night’s kamikaze back pass across the edge of the penalty area when we were 3-1 down) but his bulldog spirit and tackling used to make up for that. Now however, that’s gone too. He had a 15 minute spell at the beginning of the second half where he looked like his old self but then he faded again. The partnership of THud and Moddle looks so much better and with Sandro arriving in the next couple of weeks it does look like Sgt Wilson’s time could soon be up. For what he’s given to Tottenham Hotspur and what he’s been through, it should be his name fans sing and not Pav’s.

On a lighter note, it was great to see the little Mexican Gio getting his chance on the right. He showed last night what he can do in a very tough situation. He was running about, winning the ball and was probably the only player to come out of the game with any positives. Given Lennon’s recent form I’d like to see Gio given a run of 6-7 games starting with Stoke on Saturday.

So, we’re still in the tie and it’s probably honours even if not us just leading by a nose. Next Wednesday won’t be easy with Young Boys playing on the break which they showed last night they can do really effectively. But lets be honest, did we really want to go over their, win 3-0 and have our first home Champions League game be an easy one? Nah, that wouldn’t be the Spurs way. It’s set up now for next Wednesday to be a massive game. Under floodlights, the Champions League music will come on and White Hart Lane will come alive. The atmosphere will be electric and all in attendance will get their monies worth.

COYS

, , , ,
Read More

Win or Bust – The Champions League Dream

August 16th, 2010 Posted in Match Previews
Aug, 16 2010
No Comments »

This time tomorrow most of the fans lucky enough to be making the trip to Bern will be presumably sitting in road side bars soaking up the sun and drinking extortionately priced alcohol only a matter of hours away from witnessing Spurs first foray into the premier club competition of our era. Apologies if Switzerland is nothing like that but having never been it’s how I imagine it at this time of the year.

Of course we haven’t achieved anything yet. If the unthinkable happens and we don’t qualify over 2 legs for the group stages of the competition to face the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan or current holders Inter, last season will have been for nothing. The massive highs (city away, arsenal and chelsea at home) and lows (wolves home and away) the club and fans went through will pale into insignificance to what we’ll be feeling come the final whistle of a losing qualifier.

To say win or bust, or our season hangs on these 2 games at this early stage of the season seems a little over the top but it really is that important. Even if only for the guys that go from pub to pub selling spurs pins. What will they do with all the Champions League pins? The one I bought will be completely useless and will be disposed of sharpish.

If Redknapp’s worried about complacency all he needs to do is remind the players of Everton’s fate in 2005. They made the “big time” at the expense of Liverpool just as we did last season. Thankfully due to the likes of the Wanderers doing so well in European competition we don’t have to play the likes of Villareal as they did and if they’re honest we’re better than they were back then too.

It’s no great surprise we haven’d made any signings yet this summer either. Redknapp will have been very happy with the current squad and will know it needs strengthening in certain areas but will want Champions League standard players to come in. It’s all very well him saying he likes Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker but it’s only really Joe Cole he’s been actively and publicly confirming he’s made offers for and spoken to. Whatever you’re thoughts on Cole and where he’d play he’s certainly got the experience Redknapp was looking for. On the flip side, with our pay structure being as it is we can’t offer players vast wages to tempt them to north London so we’re left with the competitions we’re in, and until we’re in the group stages we’re not in the Champions League. Watch this space if we qualify.

So yes, everything does hinge on these two games. We’re not going to win it and we might struggle to get past the group stages but being in it is all that matters at the moment.

We need big performances from big players at the Stade de Suisse tomorrow night. Many think, me included, that Champions League football could suit our little Moddle down to the ground. Tommy Huddlestone will get more time on the ball than he’s used to so should be finding his passing range nicely. Bale should introduce himself on the big stage for those who aren’t already aware of him and the likes of King, Dawson, Lennon and Defoe have been waiting for this for a long time. It’s time to shine boys.

Nerves will be jangling in Switzerland, London and everywhere else there’s a Spurs fan watching when that music kicks in on TV or in the stadium. Young Boys have a good record at home, winning 15 of their 18 games last season, albeit against teams we’re surely a lot better than, but they did knock Fenerbahce out in the last round too. On paper, 9 times out of 10 we shouldn’t lose, but on a night with so much riding on it will we be able to perform with the pressure of being favourites and with the golden carrot dangling so close?

Time will tell and while I’m very nervous about it all, it’s an excited nervousness, because I can see the best in Europe coming to N17 and getting their asses handed to them in the process as long as we’re professional about both games and don’t take the boys from Bern for granted.

Stand up and sing loud, “We are Champions League, say we are Champions League”

COYS

Discuss this in our forum HERE

, , , , , , , ,
Read More

Joe Shows Hart

August 16th, 2010 Posted in Match Reports
Aug, 16 2010
No Comments »

I haven’t read any of the papers this weekend so I don’t know if the headline I’ve chosen was used but I’d like to think it was, or at the very least White HART Lane.

When Mincini picked Joe Hart to play instead of Shay Given the writing was on the wall for one of two responses. The one I was hoping for was seen yesterday at Anfield when Pepe Reina dropped the ball into his own net against the Wanderers. Unfortunately for us (good for England) Joe Hart made it one of those keeping displays we seem to see at the Lane from opposition keepers on a regular basis. Diving left, right, high and low, he kept out everything we could throw at him. I guess we should look at it as a good thing that those displays are seen so often at the lane.

Of course he had a bit of luck on his side too. Gareth Bale’s shot cannoning off the post and not falling to the onrushing striker for a tap in or his most instinctive save from a Defoe shot that could’ve fallen to King on the 6 yard box for another tap in but it was just wide of Ledley.

Credit where it’s due though, Man City put the work in during a first half that we completely dominated. Most of it was last ditch blocks and tackles but it showed the potential they have as a defensive unit. With Mancini being Italian that’s hardly surprising. It was at the other end of the pitch that they offered no threat until the second half and even then Gomes didn’t have a save to make.

However, after numerous close shaves and great saves it was City who had their one and only and probably best chance of the match early in the second half. Benny played Wright-Phillips onside which left the munchkin on his own on the penalty spot. As he waited for the ball to come under his control, our cornrosed left back managed to correct his error with a superb tackle, making up at least 8 yards before a shot could be attempted.

City changed their shape in the second half in an attempt to limit the supply to Gareth Bale and it worked. We weren’t anywhere near as dominant although we were still the team creating the chances with Pav having 2 when he came on for the last 25 minutes.

Gio, who in my opinion should’ve started on the right, came on with 15 minutes to go and looked lively. There’s something not quite right about Lennon since he returned from his injury. Hopefully it’s just a fitness thing because if we had Lennon at the beginning of last season on the right and Bale from the end of last season on the left that would be frightening. Unfortunately at the moment (I know it’s only one game) it looks as if a team can stop Bale we are not the same threat from the right. I’d play Gio on Tuesday night against Young Boys to see how he does.

All in all, it was a good opening game for us that we could’ve won quite convincingly on another day. If we play like that for the rest of the season we’re going to be there or thereabouts once again.

On a side note, does anyone know the last time we started a season without a new signing playing or at least being on the bench? I quite liked the continuity from last season and I think it showed in our play. We played like a team with few if any weak links. I just can’t remember the last time that happened. Although the host of missed chances (albeit the defending should take large amounts of credit) I do wonder if we had a Berbatov (of 3 seasons ago) or a Drogba like striker whether that one point would’ve been turned into three?

The big games keep coming thick and fast from here on in, tomorrow night being the first.

COYS

Discuss this in our forum HERE

, , , , , ,
Read More

The Waiting’s Over – City Preview

August 13th, 2010 Posted in Match Previews
Aug, 13 2010
No Comments »

It’s been 13 weeks and 5 days since we last played a competitive football match. That’s longer than Steve Coppell stays in most jobs. It’s just over 14 weeks since that fateful night in Manchester when we secured our first ever trip into the Champions League. This is where I should be saying ”how time flies”, but it’s dragged longer than a Bolton v Stoke match. (note to self: don’t mock teams before we’ve played them or it’ll bite you in the arse)

Most spurs fans, including me, thought this was going to be a very exciting summer. It started with the news we’d agreed new contracts with Modric and Bale and then the world cup ruined it all. Wait, wait, wait, once it’s all over ‘Arry will be getting that centre back, goal scoring midfielder and world class striker the team is craving for won’t he? It appears not. The summer for us yids has seen no new signings and disappointment with the players we’ve been linked with; Bellamy, Parker, Richards etc.

However, we’re not the only ones. In fact when you look at the transfer window this season there’s really only one team that’s had some fun and that’s tomorrow’s opponents, Manchester City. It’s said that once the Milner deal goes through, other deals will follow, much like a first time buyer at the bottom of a property ladder. Ireland will go to Villa, Young will come to Spurs, Keane will go to Villa etc. Time will tell.

Of course it’s not all about new signings. We’ve had a decent enough pre-season. A heavy defeat at home to Villareal which in my eyes was actually a blessing in disguise to make sure the players remember what it’s like to lose so they don’t do it too often. Players like Gio and Kyle Walker have given Redknapp something to think about, and even Mr 100 caps for Ireland has scored a few and could start tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s game will depend a lot of how City’s band of new signings gel in their first competitive game together. On paper and the money they’ve spent they look like they should be mounting a serious challenge to the top 3.

Last season our first month of excellent performances and results were on the back of a great win at home to Liverpool, the previous seasons runners up. At the time we didn’t know they wouldn’t get any better so it was a massive win for the fans and the players. Tomorrow could quite easily be the same. Tomorrow isn’t just about tomorrow. It could shape our entire season. I’m not saying if we were to lose we should be looking at another 2 points in 8 games scenario, but you can suddenly see how Stoke away the following week would look even trickier than it is normally.

If we perceive City to be aiming for a top 3 finish would a draw at home be a good result?

Go for the jugular I say. This could be the perfect time to play them. They won’t have liked to see their opening game was away at White Hart Lane. A ground that has become a fortress in recent years (Wolves, Stoke and Hull from last season have been wiped from the records for the purposes of the last comment).

It’ll be interesting to see who starts for Spurs. Bale looks to have recovered from whatever “injury” he had that made him pull out of the Wales squad on Wednesday but will he play at the back or in midfield? The Premier League Fantasy Football classifies him as a midfielder so I presume they’ve spoken to Harry on that subject. What about Gio? Surely based on pre-season form he deserves to start, but where? Left or right midfield? Up front? How about just behind a lone front striker?

Good luck Mr Twitchy trying to work that one out.

Will Keane play at all? What about starting him? Defoe hasn’t really had a pre-season to speak off, at least not many games. As we seem to be actively trying to sell Robbie what better way than to play him and hope he scores a couple?

We finished last season with Kaboul at right back and a central midfield partnership of THud and Moddle. Will Corluka come back in now he’s fit again and what about Palacios? Is he going to play as much as he has in recent seasons? Then of course there’s Sandro when he eventually arrives. Is Sgt Wilson on his way out?

Tomorrow’s game is about more than just 3 points. It can set us up for a great August or make everything suddenly look a lot harder. It’ll give us a better idea of how Redknapp will play this season in certain games and while we won’t be able to tell just how we’re going to do for the rest of the campaign it could give us a better insight into exactly what sort of players, if any, we need to sign before August 31st.

If you’re going to the game, make the lane a cauldron of noise. Refuse to sit when the stewards ask. Make sure you’re loud enough to help the people watching at home drown out the infuriating drone that is Andy Gray. Lift the boys onto another opening day victory, which there have been few in the premier league , because if we’re going to finish in the top 4 again this season we’ll need all the points we can get.

COYS

Visit our forum here

, , , ,
Read More

Season Preview

August 12th, 2010 Posted in Articles
Aug, 12 2010
No Comments »

Before you read this you must understand the writer is a strange breed of Spurs fan. He’s optimistic!! Not like the rest of us who believe we’ll always be let down. This, even though he lives in Norway and his last 2 trips to white hart lane were Wolves last season and Villareal in pre-season. Ladies and Genitals I present to you a Season Preview by Oivi.

It’s Wednesday before the season starts, and Spurs-Man City is set to open the 2010/2011 Premier league season. The last season ended on a high for spurs, and a tie with Young Boys of Switzerland stands in the way of Champions league football…

Many fans I have talked to are somewhat disappointed spurs have not been able to sign any new players this summer except Sandro, who was signed back in January. We know Harry/Levy are working on at least 3 new signings, and as I write this, Croation goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is supposed to finalize a season long loan to spurs, giving us exceptionally good cover for a long season. Gomes, Cudicini and Pletikosa should be more than enough!

Other players who might drop by are Ashley Young, Craig Bellamy, Micah Richards or Scott Parker. I do feel however that Levy and Harry have something special in mind, and possible a world cup star or two, or a certain Dzeko or Huntelaar are still possible… Hope I’m not too disappointed come 31st August.

- Enough speculation.

Looking at our squad, and the preseason, I’m actually not that worried. A couple of players some had written off, have shown real commitment and look ready for the new season. As mentioned before, the GK position is as good as it gets in the PL, and I think it’s essential to a successful team that we have great cover here.

GK
Gomes should be first choice with Cudicini reserve for now. (Pletikosa might challenge though, don’t know too much about him other than Harry has tracked him for a while…)

Defense
Looking at the squad, our defense looks very strong, but if you take away Woodgate, and 30 games from King, we look a little short in cover. However, Kyle Walker and Younes Kaboul have proved they can do well in more than one position, and should M. Richards come, then we’ll have no worries. The big question is whether or not Bale is going to play as LB. Harry talks about him as a left back, but he tends to play left midfield. I think this is down to whether or not we sign A. Young or C. Bellamy… For the moment I think he’s a LB.
RB: Corluka, Naughton, Walker, Hutton,
CD: Dawson, King, Woodgate, Bassong, Kaboul and Walker
LB: Bale, Ekotto, Walker (Rose…)

Midfield
Our midfield held possibly our most important players last season. It’s full of creativity, flair and pace, and also has some bite. With the addition of Sandro, a commanding defensive midfielder, we look very solid in this position. Giovanni Dos Santos has been outstanding this preseason, and was also one of the best young players in the WC. He offers great cover on both wings, and with Lennon, Bentley, Kranjcar and Bale also pushing, spurs look very well covered. Should Bellamy or Young arrive, the cover would be almost too good. In central midfield we have Modric and Huddlestone who worked so well together at the end of last season, scoring some cracking goals, and also Palacios, Jenas, O’hara and Livermore pushing on. In a weeks time, they will be joined by Sandro as well, meaning there is full cover on every position. What our midfield has lacked is a 15+ goalscorer, but judged on preseason, both Bale and Gio look to be adding goals on a more regular basis… I think our midfield will be the most scoring midfield in the league this season…(Optimistic as always…)

Strikers
There are currently 6 strikers listed at the official site. I do however think Gio will be used in midfield from now, and he is basically made for a 4-3-3 formation or a 5 man midfield. However, Harry has been very faitfull to a 4-4-2 system, and should we not get a new striker, I think we need to keep that formation. Keane is tipped to leave, but based on preseason there would be no problem if he stayed. He has been our best striker, and looks sharper than he has done for 18 months…

There are not two strikers who can be sure they’ll start the season, and that’s fine by me. If the 4(5) strikers we play score 50 goals between them, that’s good enough for me!

However, I would not mind us signing a prolific striker who can play alone to bolster our options. Dzeko, Huntelaar, Fabiano are all possible targets…

25-man squad
This season sees the introduction of a new rule, that lets a club only register a total of 25 players over the age of 21 to play in the Premier league, and the Champions league. 8 of these players must also be domestic players, or played at least 3 years in Britain before turning 21. However, a club can have unlimited domestic players under the age of 21. This will benefit spurs in opposition to some of our biggest rivals. This will make way for a garage sale in Manchester this weekend, when a few (many actually) players will not be in the 25-man squad. Spurs squad is also on the limit, and there will be players left out of the 25-man squad.

My squad would be, not considering any new signings;
GK
Gomes, Cudicini, Alnwick
Defeders
Corluka, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Bassong, Ekotto, Naughton, Bale
Midfield
Lennon, Bentley, Kranjcar, Gio, Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios, Sandro, Jenas, Rose
Strikers
Defoe, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Keane

We would be able to use players like Walker, Obika, Parret, Mason etc. if needed.

I don’t want to predict a league finish, but I do feel spurs have the potential to increase their points total this season, and I would be disappointed with everything under 75 points. If that’s only good enough for 5th or 6th, then so be it. But I’m sure there’s gonna be some twists and turns this season as well!

COYS!

Discuss this in our forum HERE

, , , , ,
Read More

Questions for a Sheikh – The City View

August 11th, 2010 Posted in Match Previews
Aug, 11 2010
No Comments »

The title might be a little misleading as I don’t believe the City fan we spoke to is an actual Sheikh from the land of Dubai but with the amount of white dish cloths placed on the heads of city fans when you visit the City of Manchester Stadium nowadays it’s hard to tell.

It’s always nice to find out why the upcoming opposition think they’ll beat us or have a hatred for the dwellers of N17 we know nothing about so we spoke to Neil Haynes-Jones over on twitter (follow him HERE if you so wish), a City fan for over 30 years and apparently still bitter over the 1981 Cup Final. Here was me thinking they got there own back on Black Wednesday.

With the end of last season still fresh in the minds of both sets of supporters it was hardly surprising the “random” fixture generator selected an early rematch. So we had to ask was their a massive sense of disappointment when they failed to get into the top 4 last season?

I think there was a sense of disappointment, but then again it was in our hands and to be honest all the draws that we had against the poorer clubs cost us dearly, not being involved in a relegation battle is always a bonus!

I also feel that there was a higher expectation level from all the other fans in the Premiership than the Citizens of Manchester….

On a personal level I’ve always felt a sense of camaraderie with city fans mainly because of their local red rivals and the fact they look at not being involved in a relegation battle last season as a bonus. Of course that is slowly changing the richer they get ;-) Which brings me nicely onto the question of what’s happened in the blue half of Manchester over the last 12 months.

Personally I hate what is happening to what was “my club”. We have gone from everyone’s second team to the team that everyone wants to fail. As I am exiled in Worcestershire, my kids had the dubious honour of being the only 2 kids who had City shirts….Not any more…..

City had somewhat of an up and down season last time around with Mark Hughes coming in just before the cash did. Most looking from the outside could see his days were numbered whether he did well or not. Our 3-0 win at White Hart Lane in December last year was probably the final nail in the coffin for a man that managed the same points as his successor but couldn’t get his team to convert draws into wins. If they had we wouldn’t be about to play with Young Boys. So who would Neil prefer, Hughes or Mancini?

When Hughes was appointed I wasn’t happy, I honestly didn’t believe he was big enough for the club, But I’d have him other Mancini any time!

The Sheikh’s have spent more money than the British Government have got in their coffers since taking over and this summer has seen them get their wallets out again. So far they’re main signings have been Yaya Toure, David Silva, Aleksander Kolarov and Jerome Boateng, totalling an £80m outlay. So far who’s the best signing?

David Platt! No it’s Yaya! I think he will be a huge presence for us next season.

I would think so too on the reported £220,000 per week wage he’s getting!! They do still own their first big signing, Robinho, who looked good when last season started but once it started getting a little cold and he was making trips to Burnley he became uninterested and was loaned back to Brazil mainly to get his negative attitude out of the dressing room. Like fans of any club Neil just wants players who give 100%:

I’d pack his bags! I don’t like players who don’t want to play. End of.

There seems to be a lot of unrest in their ranks at the moment. With the new 25 man squad coming into effect many players at City aren’t sure whether they’ll be playing. Redknapp and other managers have already expressed their desire to grab a bargain when the time is right. This brings in the question of Craig Bellamy. It seems Spurs have been tracking him before the end of last season, and judging by his failed attempt at a tackle on Younes Kaboul that led to our winning goal in May followed by that hand shake and wink at Redknapp, it looked like he was already thinking he might be on his way too. Neil, however believes he’ll go elsewhere:

Go to Fulham, Hughes can manage him…no one else can. The man is a talent but also so unpredictable. I love what he does on the pitch, but its all the afters that annoys and frustrates.

So with all that money at Mancini’s disposal and still over 2 weeks left of the current transfer window who else if anyone will be signed and with the squad they’ve got should they be looking at challenging for the title this year?

I really want to see Stephen Ireland at the club next season! What can Milner bring that Stephen doesn’t already have? Do we really need to spend any more money? Lets see where we are at Christmas, then get the pennies out!

If we had to buy someone else I’d love to see Balotelli at City next season….The lad’s a bit mental and will fit right in…I think he could become a talismanic figure like Cantona did for The Rags….

As for challenging for the title we have too! If we don’t mount at least a token challenge for the title this season, there could be worrying times ahead!

I can only presume worrying times will be only top 3? It’s funny what new pressures a huge pile of cash brings. Maybe it’s true what all those moaning lottery winners say? I’d still like to give it a shot though. With all that money I’ve found it odd that City haven’t come in for any of our players as far as we know. I’m sure that has a lot to do with new contract extensions being signed so they know they’d have to pay through the nose but when monies no object?

If we could buy a Spurs player I’d love Peter Crouch. Shaun Goater MBE, was one of my favourite players ever to have graced a City shirt and to be honest Peter Crouch is a poor man’s Goater!

Modric could bring an added dimension to any team and Pavlyuchenko, when he’s on form, looks good. I’d also welcome back Corluka, he did a great job for us!

I thought Dos Santos was destined for greatness, but nothing materialised..

We’ll see what happens with regards to that last comment. There’s a very good probability that the little Mexican might start against City on Saturday so fingers crossed he’ll do the business. Who knows, maybe he’ll score the winner and City will offer £30m on Sunday?

Finally let’s have a prediction for the City season and the opening game at White Hart Lane:

We’ve got to be looking at top 3, but c’mon its City you know for a fact that we will be “lovin’ it” at Easter then be hanging on for dear life by the end of the season.

As for Saturday’s game they’re usually pretty good aren’t they….?? I’d love a City win, but settle for a draw…2-2.

So there you have it. A City fan who is enjoying the wealth of new signings and the possibility of competing at the top (and more importantly finishing above United) but still has the old sense of impending doom that his team will let him down when it really matters. Sound familiar? Maybe that camaraderie I was talking about won’t fade away just yet.

Join our forum here

, , , , , , ,
Read More

Predict and win Spurs Prizes

August 9th, 2010 Posted in Prediction League
Aug, 09 2010
No Comments »

Every season in the past we have run a prediction league for all Spurs games. We have had signed shirts, books and pictures as prizes for the winner in previous seasons. This season’s prizes will be awarded to the top 5 finishers with the winner choosing their prize, second place taking their pick and so on until 5th place get what’s left.

If you want to be in with a chance to compete for one of the following 5 prizes you’ll have to join our forum HERE and start making your predictions.

The choices of prize this season are:

2011-12 replica Spurs shirt once available from the club shop
1995-96 squad signed yellow third shirt
Modric Canvas
Superfan by Morris Keston (signed)
Big Chiv: My Goals in Life

Rules

You must be a member of our forum and each prediction must be made in the relevant prediction league thread in the forum
You must predict the result, score and first goalscorer
2 Points are awarded for each correct prediction so a total of 6 points per prediction are available
A Bonus point is awarded for getting all elements correct i.e. correct result, score and first goalscorer
In the event of a tie on points the amount of predictions made will settle the league position
If players still can’t be separated a tie breaking question will be asked

If you decide to join and take part, good luck. Every competitive spurs game will be predicted on. The more predictions you make the higher chance you have of winning.

Read More

The Last Friendly

August 9th, 2010 Posted in Match Reports
Aug, 09 2010
1 Comment »

Saturday saw our final friendly before the season starts. Not only was it the clubs final friendly I’ve made the decision that it was my final home friendly too.

When I was 13 my dear old mum finally let me get on a coach and make the trip to white hart lane for the first time. It was a pre-season friendly against Lazio which we won 3-2. At the time I wasn’t a member because having no football fans in the family and still being too young to regularly afford the 500 mile round trip the only game I could get to was a friendly. Ever since that summer I’ve done at least one friendly even though it’s no longer the only game I attend. Call it a tradition if you like.

However, after another 3-2 win on Saturday against Fiorentina this time I’ve decided as long as I can wait the extra week or 2 before the season kicks off proper I can no longer justify the £250+ for me and my wife to attend what is basically a game I don’t care about. Don’t get me wrong I don’t like losing but it’s not important if we do. The past season’s when we’ve won every pre-season game only to get battered in the first few weeks are numerous and just go to show they mean very little.

The fact Redknapp didn’t even have Defoe, Modric or Bale in the squad just shows what his thoughts were on the match. With regards to Defoe it makes you wonder whether he’ll be starting next week. He hasn’t been back in training for long and hasn’t had much game time. Could it be Keane or Gio that start?

It’d much rather save that money for an away trip. Granted, the fact we missed our train home by 3 minutes resulting in having to buy new tickets and we were in the pub from 11am isn’t the clubs fault but it’s all part of the day and has to be costed into the expense. There’s no atmosphere at these game’s either. I was sitting there on Saturday in the Park Lane looking up at the east stand which was where I sat when I came as a kid. I always wanted to sit as close to the centre line as possible so I could really see what was going on. I swear there’s was a great atmosphere back then, but I’m sure it was more to be with the excitement I had of just being there. Saturday, I barely got out of my seat.

Of course it was great for the kids that were there. They all seemed to be having a great time and hopefully that’ll have them hooked for the future. I don’t remember being given a free flag when I attended though. Where’s my flag Spurs? ;-)

As for the actual game, Gio impressed although apart from a small group of fans in the Park Lane most people still sang Pav’s song for taping into an open goal from 6 yards after Gio has dispossessed the Fiorentina defender, run into the penalty area and had the maturity to set Pav up. A maturity I didn’t think he had until Saturday. He was asked to play on the right of midfield, up front and just behind the main striker, all of which he did well enough. Whether he’ll get his chance or take it when it matters is yet to be seen.

While I’m not Pav’s biggest fan I always try to start each game with a blank canvas and hope things change. However, once again he was absent for large periods against what wasn’t a good team. When Robbie Keane comes on and not only looks good, scores 2 goals and makes you look like a chump then maybe you’re not playing that well. Jenas was Jenas once again for the 45 minutes he played. When Huddlestone came on we looked a very different team. He passed the ball in a very Paul Scholes like way, only being let down sometimes be the receivers first touch. His pass for Keane’s first goal was brilliant. Good to see him playing well though.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwfwX0sqI60

I don’t tend to worry or be pleased with results or even the way we play in friendlies but defensively it didn’t look good. The goals we conceded were amateur at best from a back four that could very easily be starting against City in 5 days time. More time needed in training I think. The trouble is I don’t expect King will be able to train and Dawson (who didn’t play on Sat) will be on International duty so it’s unlikely that training will be done.

Overall I left White Hart Lane wondering why I’d even bothered. It’s been a very long summer and it was good to meet back up with the drinking buddies but with the games about to come thick and fast I could’ve waited one more week. I think ‘Arry would happily agree with me.

,
Read More

Champions League Draw

August 6th, 2010 Posted in Articles
Aug, 06 2010
No Comments »

It’s currently 11.01 as I write this. I’ve got both the telegraph and talksport websites open and am constantly hitting F5. Refresh, refresh, refresh. I can feel the sense of our season about to start. The empty feeling in the pit of my stomach isn’t just because I’m starving but the men in suits have just started their rituals and prancing before the Champions League qualifying draw.

F5

Who will we get? Will we be home or away in the 2nd leg? This is it. This is what last season’s triumph of finishing fourth was all about. If we fall at this hurdle like Everton did before us what was the point of all the chewed finger nails, the massive ups and downs and that fabulous night in Manchester?

F5

I’ll check Twitter too. There’s bound to be someone on there who’s actually watching the draw. Is it on Sky Sports News? I bet it is. Damn work!!

F5

11.08!!! Come on. There’s only 10 balls to pick out isn’t there? 5 seeded and 5 not seeded. It’s not bloody hard. COME ON!!!!! God, I hate UEFA.

F5

FC Saltzburg v H. Tel Aviv – hmmmm, Austria v Israel. I won’t mention the war if you don’t. Aha, a live feed posted. Lets get on that. It’s taken too long to load. Check back and plenty of draws have been made now. When are they gonna get onto what’s important?

F5

There she blows. The live feed starts to work just as the Swiss side Young Boys name comes out and who’s going to play them? GET IN…!!!! That’s the one I wanted. Young Boys v Spurs. 2nd leg we’re at home.

Doesn’t get much better than that. Queue all the “Spurs love young boys” headlines. Hmmmm, I know I shouldn’t but I’ve gotta use that one.

As a natural pessimist I still think it could be a tricky game but lets be honest, if we can’t beat some young boys we shouldn’t play with the big boys. Sorry, I just can’t help myself. Champions League group stages here we come? I think so.

, ,
Read More
Older Entries
Newer Entries