Smooth Spurs, Nice and Easy Does It

January 3, 2010January 3, 2010 / Alan / 9 Comments

Swiftly into our stride against Peterborough, Spurs banished any thoughts of giantkilling with an afternoon of smooth attacking football, four goals being scant reward for our dominance.

It was an inauspicious start as a pigeon had unloaded on my seat. A quick search revealed the sole toilet that actually had some paper towels but frantic pre-match scrubbing was only partly successful, as clearly a major proportion of the refuse had been baked on in an industrial oven. I’ve seen some crap at the Lane over the years but never before sat in it.

Defoe responded in kind, with an early astonishing miss from under the crossbar, not quite as shocking as the legendary Acimovic effort against Fulham but seen by many around me as an omen. Cue solemn muttering about, “it’s going to be one of those days”.

It became one of those days that we are seeing more frequently, thank goodness, where we played some delightful football. Once we realised Lennon’s absence and stopped looking to feed the ball down the right (it took a few minutes), Modric and Kranjcar asserted their midfield authority and were irrepressible. They cut in alternately from the flanks to find space in front of the Boro’ box and directed a steady flow of passes into the channels or out wide, where they found Bale in particular a willing ally.

Just as the excellence of their keeper Lewis provided more ammunition for the glum ‘one of those days’ theorists, Modric’s sweeping cross field pass allowed his mate to cut in and slam a sizzling curling shot into the far corner. I leapt up to salute a superb goal but the reaction was out of keeping with the eerily muted atmosphere. Only Peterborough I know but I can’t recall such a lack of response to a Spurs goal at the Lane, given that it was the first and was of such high quality.

Spurs’ onward march was temporarily hampered by an outbreak of flickiness, sometimes seen when we get too big for our multi-coloured, individually signed and ludicrously expensive boots. Suddenly it was all back-heels and one-touches over the head with the outside of the foot. However, complacency did not take hold. Learning lessons from other games this season, we kept the tempo high and continued to make chances throughout. Harry became anxious at 2-0 when our opponents forced a couple of corners, rising from seat to offer a few well-chosen words, but there was little to worry about as we set about achieving Cliff Jones’ half-time prediction of 4-0.

Without wishing to kick someone when they are down, I haven’t seen a side who defended in depth with five in midfield and who worked as hard as Boro to so little effect. There was space all over the pitch. Their superb keeper kept them in the game. I suggested that here was the second keeper that our squad needs (see my preview), then the Park Lane took up the cry of ‘Tottenham’s number two’.

Bale had a fine game, raiding down the left with determination and pace and delivering regular crosses at full tilt, setting up our second and third with classic precise pull-backs for Niko and JD (impudently with the outside of his foot) to touch home. Sterner tests will provide solid evidence of his suspect defensive qualities but he couldn’t have done more today. He was certainly not short of confidence. A great talent that needs to be nurtured.

Rose came on for a nice cameo. The only time I have seen him play was for the Under 21s when he had a more central role. On the left he was well-balanced and lightning fast, schooled to move and deliver a quick ball. He and Lenny have been working together, clearly. Naughton joined him. On first sight he too is upright and confident on the ball but he saw little action, although he could have conceded a penalty before Rose whizzed up the other end to be brought down for our fourth.

In my preview I suggested that the non-appearance of Pav and Hutton would most likely signal their imminent departure but on second thoughts league position is the target for any club thinking of buying.

Defoe went off early and may have a hamstring problem, the only bad news on a cold but pleasant day as thoughts move to the clash against Liverpool next weekend.

Spurs v Peterborough Preview

January 2, 2010 / Alan / 6 Comments

It’s 2010, time for an all-out assault on a place in the Champions League. This blog has deliberately refrained from any CL talk: I’m thoroughly enjoying our season but whatever a top four team looks like, somehow we’re not quite there. If pressed (go on, press me then, oh all right…), it’s that resilience and strength in adversity which is missing from our play. In the words of that great seer Billy Ocean, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And rough, but we don’t. Always.

Except that we are there. In fourth. There it is, in the table. Defensive frailties? Four clean sheets in a row. There’s one place available and we have as good a chance as any of our rivals to make it ours, so hang the doubts, put the pedal to the metal and it’s flat out until May. We are going to have some great games, ladies and gentlemen.

I only hope my nerves can stand the strain. It’s bad enough at the moment because I want us to win so badly anyway, but when something as potentially life-changing as Champions League football (or should that be CL income?) is on the agenda, then I will likely dissolve into a frenzied froth of anxiety for the next few months. I trust the stewards in Block 28 have had first aid training. I’ll ask the club to move those stretcher bearers to the East Stand. They are quicker off the mark than vultures on the Serengeti plains. My recent medical examination showed I am sound in body but then again the doctors have never had to see a body withstand the forces exerted on flesh and blood when Spurs are defending a one-nil lead.

Peterborough should provide some light relief. Dear sweet little Peterborough, or to give them their official title, Cup Minnows. Bottom of the Championship, number of away wins this season – nought.

No. No no no no no. The FA Cup is a worthy competition and we should go all out to succeed in it. Also, you can’t turn that winning mentality on and off at will – it is either there or it is not, so a strong team and 100% effort sends the right message to the players, never mind anyone else.

Banish complacency and all thoughts of playing a second team. We should field the strongest possible eleven. BAE and Lennon are injured but otherwise I don’t see why anyone should be rested, unless they have a little niggle that would respond to a weekend in front of Sky Sports. The one exception is Palacios. To be consistent, I’ve been suggesting that he could do with a break but Harry’s policy of allowing him to find his form by playing through a bad patch seems to have worked, judging by his excellent display against West Ham. And as this blog predicted, Benny’s injury requires treatment and rest just as the African Cup of Nations comes into view. Coincidence is a funny thing…

Ledley will not start, so Daws and Bassong in front of Gomes, a midfield of Kranjcar, JJ, Hud and Modric with Defoe up front alongside Crouch, although Keane may get the nod. There is a huge opportunity for Gareth Bale, a highly talented footballer who needs to learn the art of defending, as do many young defenders. This is hardly surprising, yet Bale has been subject to a great deal of criticism on the boards, something that is undeserved for a player with so little first team experience – he’s started fewer than 40 games in his years with us.

It’s tough for youngsters at Spurs. Consider the case of Charlie Lee, now a popular member of the Peterborough squad but formerly captain of Spurs reserves. I saw him play a couple of times, the outstanding performer in the match with a good tackle and pass and a great attitude. Watching the reserves you can spot talent but never quite gauge if that will be good enough for the first team. Maybe Lee lacked a couple of inches for centre half or the weight of pass for centre midfield, so he moves on and will play well today…but there wasn’t much in it.

The right back selection and the bench may offer some clues as to our transfer policy because if anyone is on the move, their value will diminish if they are cup tied. It’s unlikely therefore that Hutton will appear and a loan back to Sheffield has been mentioned for Naughton, although I look forward to seeing him play.

Talking of transfers, the icy blast of rumours, lies and misdirection is already blowing through the open window. Wrap up warm to protect yourself from several inches of guff. Harry says he’s not in the market for players. This is a lie. It’s fine, I don’t mind him lying because that’s a good place to open negotiations, just don’t take much notice of what he says.

We have money for the right player. The only major gap to plug is the lack of a decent second goalkeeper but this will not prevent Harry from improving the squad if he feels he can. If a top quality all round centre midfielder is available, one who can defend, pass, score and run all day, then by all means buy him. It’s just us and rest of the footballing world that is searching for the same mythical qualities. Sandro seems odds on to join us and I understand this is his position but he’s young and we should not expect too much too soon.

Decent players are seldom on the market in January so the demand may push up the price for Pavlyuchenko, Hutton and Bentley, all of whom will depart. We will lose money but maybe not as much as some suggest. Several English clubs are desperate for quality and Levy will make them pay for it.

Our most pressing problem in this and subsequent windows is not the search for new blood but keeping our quality players. We’ve done everything possible to keep them. The policy of buying players for whom Spurs is a step up is paying off as many of them take a step closer to maturity. Woodgate, Keane and Crouch have played in the CL – anyone else? Gomes? The rest will be motivated to use that as a target.

Others owe some gratitude to the club for the progress they have made, like Lennon, whilst Crouch and Defoe clearly feel understood and content with HR.

So I don’t see what else we could do to keep them. If ManU, Chelsea or even Man City (think of the salary) come in with a determined offer, it’s nigh on impossible for the player to resist. Fergie has his beady eye on Luka, I can sense it.

Fulham v Spurs. One is Better Than None.

December 27, 2009 / Alan / 4 Comments

Spurs left Craven Cottage with a point, which many fans would have settled for before the match began. But football at the highest level is not about settling for half measures. It’s about making the possible reality, and yesterday it was certainly possible for Spurs to play a whole lot better.

For much of the game we held our own but lacked the sense of urgency and purpose that could have translated possession into supremacy, and in turn into more chances. We were never able to dictate the shape or tempo of the match despite having our fair share of the ball. Much of this was down to Fulham, who are well-organised and hard-working. It’s hard enough to break them down but this became nigh on impossible because we gave the ball away so frequently. This old failing of ours is wasteful of so much of our better play and is hampering our efforts to become a top four team.

Our back four were solid for the most part, with a few aberrations from Assou Ekotto, but Gomes was the star of the show. His Stretch Armstrong impression plucked the ball from all four corners of the goal, a fine all round display. Gomes looks more relaxed and confident, a far cry from this match last year where he was so edgy and out of touch that he provoked pity rather than anger. He made the most absurd error, getting his body behind a simple ball but somehow contriving to allow it to roll into the net.

Ironic then that this morning David James is openly declaring his desire to come to Spurs, adding to the usual guff about being flattered at the interest of a big club that it will help his World Cup chances. Sitting on the bench won’t help, so if there is any truth in this rumour, and James is usually careful in the way he expresses himself, he thinks that he will be first choice. Whether number one or not, James’ arrival would totally unsettle Gomes and undo all of the good work that he has accomplished this season with his coach Tony Parks. I don’t want him.

In my preview I was disparaging towards Bobby Zamora so naturally he had a fine game. Clever with his back to the goal, his link up play with team mates was conspicuously superior than the manner in which Crouch, a better player, linked with our forwards. Fulham stay closer in possession to their centre forward, buzzing around him and providing different options and angles. Crouch on the other hand was often detached from his colleagues. Keane did not help, another poor game, full of effort with no end product.

The old adage that success comes if you win at home and draw away is not so true in these days of three points for a win and teams with cutting counter-attacking strategies, but this remains a decent point, made better if we win against West Ham. Other teams have targeted Fulham as an away win and come away with nothing. Also, that’s three clean sheets in a row for the first time in four seasons, I believe. That must represent some sort of progress.

Fulham v Spurs Preview

December 24, 2009December 24, 2009 / Alan / 5 Comments

I hope you have something better to do on Christmas Eve than read this…

Boxing Day derbies used to have more spice than a fixture against Fulham, who we face for the third year running. In the late 70s/early 80s Arsenal were the regular opponents on the 26th or 27th, followed for the next few seasons by West Ham. Presumably the police put a stop to all of this because of the trouble, hence the ‘we will fight for evermore because of Boxing Day’ song. Eminently sensible, but there was a real sense of anti-climax when we instead faced Southampton one year.

Fulham are cuddly and nice, with a charming old style ground by the river, all too scenic and peaceful for football. Maybe they are the right choice for Christmas after all.

They will be difficult opponents. Unbeaten in five, their confidence is sky high after beating Manchester United last week. Their manager is old style too, and all the better for it. Roy Hodgson comes over as a real football man, deeply knowledgeable and highly passionate about the game. This is manifested not in showy histrionics but in quiet determination. He gives the impression that he is always thinking about football. In interviews, he sounds serious but a little vague, his mind already pondering a possible future purchase or tiny alterations that will make all the difference. He goes through the motions when a microphone is thrust in front of him but really he’s on a higher, more cerebral plane.

He’s fashioned a hard working team who are well-organised and more than the sum of their parts. Hangeland was a canny purchase and he has brought the best out Murphy, something we conspicuously failed to do. He’s even got some goals from Zamora. You could see why Hoddle took a chance on Booby, where others had a long look and declined. He had mobility, control and could hold the ball up well. However, what appeared to be youthful promise to improve upon proved to be a ceiling – that was as good it got. It’s a damning indictment on England and our desperation for a centre forward as the fulcrum for the team that he is being seriously touted as an international.

For Spurs, it must be same again. An attacking attitude will put more pressure on Fulham than they have been used to and Huddlestone’s passing over distance could take the Fulham midfield out of the game if we keep a high tempo. Above all, carry on where we left off last week and maintain that same workrate. We must respect our opponents but not get too carried away with their win last week. Up against a defence of Carrick, Fletcher and some other bloke, I’d fancy even us to beat them.

Meanwhile, the Dublin fiasco has as predicted gone away, even though it is the silly season and the papers usually will take anything to fill up some space. A Prem manager in a brothel means those columns are empty no longer, I’ll grant you that.

A draw plus three points against West Ham will see us nicely set up for the New Year. Happy Christmas one and all.