Posted on Sunday, 26th August 2012 by Harry Hotspur
Good morning.
Straight to business then and I do hope those of you feverishly composing letters in green ink from ‘outraged consumers’ to Levy & Co. this morning are will remember to thank them for at least the first hours worth of football yesterday.
As I commented yesterday much of our play was up their with the gods. Slick and dare I say it, scintillating. The passing and movement was Barcelonaesque. West Brom couldn’t get possession. They couldn’t get more than two passes together. They couldn’t catch us.
Who could have known that the removal of van Der Vaart would caused the whole Jenga Tower to go over? The issue was, as ever that the Dutchman was pooped. Done in. If anyone can highlight an instance where he’s played a full 90 minutes at anything approaching that tempo speak now or forever hold thy …well you know.
But the substitution of van Der Vaart was the cataclysmic. The change saw the arrival of Adebayor who is I see is accused of being unfit, but I suggest that the real issue is that with vDV gone a vital cog in the mechanism to serve him wasn’t there anymore.
Sandro was next to depart and too was knackered. He was far more impressive than he was last week but he was beginning to pant.
The problem is replacing Modric. We haven’t. Van Der Vaart was only masking the problem and when he went it was exposed for all to see. As per the Newcastle game, Jake Livermore is a player that doesn’t really do much wrong, but he neither does he do much of genuine note.
The addition of Gylfi was good, but if I look at my chalkboard from yesterday I would argue we needed him on from the start. Worse yet, Azza Blud and Bale switched wings. The net result was suddenly neither contributed anything of note apart from when Baled wandered back in centrally.
If the subbing of van Der Vaart was serious flesh wound then Defoe’s disallowed goal was a dirty great fistful of rock salt rubbed into the thick of it. The Tottenham of old emerged from the psyche. And so we brought on J****. Jesus wept.
In an instant all the delegates for Invisible Man Convention were seated and ready for the presentation. Villas-Boas, please tell us all that you don’t really have any belief in this pilchard. He was booed I hear by some of our lot. Presumably this was our fans and not his team mates. Either way it’s seriously not on at games. That’s what the Internet is for. Grow a brain.
We removed Van Der Vaart, paired Livermore with Jenas and the net result was a pair of giant Monty Python hands came out of the sky and laid onto the centre of the park the world’s largest Welcome Matt.
West Brom suddenly went from having little possession to the lion’s share. Thankfully this was West Brom and the worst they did was hurl the blunt yet nevertheless determined instrument that was Lakaku at us. I lie, the worst they did was score.
So where are we? Well, yet again we need to replace Modric. Because the answer is not on currently on the books and there isn’t a way of rearranging what furniture we have left to disguise the fact we’ve been burgled.
The boss is right. This is the beginning of a very exciting new era, but whilst we need more than a limited Defoe and a questionably fit Adebayor, what we really need is a Modric.
Made a pair of great saves. Saved our bacon. Hates leaving his line. Hates it.
Steamin’ and screamin’. A credit to the firm.
He really has come on leaps and bounds.
The lovable lunatic.
Looking every inch the part.
Should have started.
Fizzed in then fizzled out.
Characterless.
Immense.
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.
Slayed ‘em.
A player of an immensely limited dimension.
Fitness isn’t the issue. Supply is.
He undoubtedly has the tactical nous, he simply doesn’t have the personnel.
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Posted in Blogs, Premiership, Tottenham Hotspur | Comments (294)
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:00 am
It’s always disappointing to concede a last minute equalizer, but the signs are there that this could be a really good team in with a good shout of a Top 4 finish.
You are bang on HH. Modric replacement needed as the priority, with ideally another striker. I know Remy doesn’t seem to be many people’s favourite, but he would do very well playing off Adebayor and would be a superior option to JD as a lone striker.
Summing up, disappointed with result, encouraged again by performance.
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wiseone Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 5:07 am
I think Defoe did excellently, considering the fact that he didn’t get 1quality ball in from both wingers, in the 1st half, bale was extremely wasteful, wanting another striker would not diminish his quality, I might assume bale as with the linesman were bent on making sure he wont score, I feel the disallowed goal was good
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Splendid, all that was missing was 2 more points.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Thought we played well yesterday and again with a bit more luck in the first half we would have won the game comfortably. Defending was a bit rank second half but I think this will improve along with the players learning the new system. Fitness seemed to be an issues for some but again this may be down to the pressing style that AVB likes to utilise, with training and match time this should improve too.
Couple of signings this week and a dollop of luck and we will be fine.
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kings succesor Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Defending wasnt all that bad,Gert’longen had a blinder
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:03 am
Not a big Livermore fan but felt he played well yesterday. The problem was in the subs that were made. We went 1-0 up made changes to flood the midfield and couldn’t keep the ball for toffee, the equaliser was inevitable.
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Chirpy Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:17 am
I agree he did play well, but Gifi should’ve started and Livermore brought on once we scored to shore it up
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:08 am
SELL (Game of Thrones imp). IGNORE (J****). BUY (Will.I.An). BUY (Reme, Leandro, Rasiak- I don’t care). Do it, Levy. Before the market closes for trading. Please.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:08 am
exciting, Barcelona-esque whatever.
truth is we will be needing these guys somewhere, sometime, we will be using the squad, and they will cost us.we need a man of steel. we could’t hold on against Ncastle, we could’nt hold on yesterday.
wrong decisions made by avb. lets see how many more he’ll get wrong in time.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Called it 100% spot on Harry. Maybe I had watched a different game yesterday afternoon, maybe the late goal made me more negative than I should actually have been. Watched the full recorded highlights on SS1 last night, and we actually did play quite well. Our passing was slick and sharp, and we created a hell of a lot. So as you say, maybe it is just a matter of improving on the personnel. As for JJ, I feel for him a bit. He is actually a pretty decent player, but he has just become lazy and laidback and believes his own hype too much. We will improve and will get better, we just need to weaken, then strengthen the squad. Dembele looked quite good for Fulham on Goals on Sunday, maybe he is a viable option, and with 3 years PL experience, if we sign him, he can bed straight in, rather than needing time to adapt. Modric is a total disgrace though, the way he hs behaved, he could still have played these 2 games until his move happens, and helped the cause. The talk is that part of the deal may well be 2 games (home and away) against Real, for Luka’s sake I reckon he should shirk the WHL game, his reception would not be a good one!
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Livermore and Sandro looked really good together. Needed the big strike option – AGAIN. Vertonghen looked class but too easy to bully, will need to toughen up, Caulker would have stood up to Lukaku better. But in the end missing goals coupled by an immobile finished goalie did for us. Bringing in a continental goalie with no premier league experience and no pre-season with the defense worries me but it’s that or bring back Gomes (if they can get him fit) Friedel is finished – a liability.
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SimYid Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:24 am
I think Friedel kept us in the game with 2 or three good saves. You can’t blame him for the goal
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:10 am
never a good day when you bring on Jenas. Please someone sign him. definately need a couple of quality players to come in this week.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:12 am
The absence of Parker was more than evident.
You can’t progress with a striker like JD.
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n17yido Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:48 am
the absence of a creative midfielder was telling
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:12 am
As AVB stated “1 more point than at this stage last season”. Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring.
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Cuddlestone Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Shades of ‘Arry there…
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Our start this year has been considerably easier than last.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Very true.
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Claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Yeah but we played man citeh and manure so go figure…
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Claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:03 am
And it is 3pts less on the 2 same fixtures last season…
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Chris Hart Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Fans look at it different to managers. Beat Norwich at home next and equal on points. 2 games in FFS, let’s not get carried away. Spurs’ season NEVER starts until September 1st and that will continue until we have a chairman that doesn’t haggle over fussily.
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Claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
True but I fear for what we saw in the last 15 mins as I’m sure we all do…
August 26th, 2012 at 10:13 am
We look great indeed, H, but….these 5 points are gonna cost us for sure..
Defoe, as i stated before, simply not good enough..the guy can’t hold a ball for toffee..
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The Tottinghams Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:47 am
He isn’t interested in holding the ball.
Get ball
turn
shoot
Simples. It doesn’t matter if you have a chance of scoring. If you could set someone else up that could score they should definitely be ignored. Shoot shoot shoot.
“I just wanna score goals” I despise Jermain Defoe
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:14 am
That 2nd half was as poor as I’ve seen us play in some time. You have to go back to the 2 from 8 Ramos era I think. Bad omen? No, it’s too early to judge.
Yes, we looked a bit sexy in the first half. But even still we were never going to put out. One weak shot on target in the 45th minute tells it’s own story. In a way it looked like the culmination of all I saw in pre-season – the fluid, quick approach play and bossing of possession, and the complete breakdown of incision and common sense in the penalty area.
I thought Livermore had one of his best games, and I’m a doubter, but he did show glimmers of genuine usefulness. Like the through pass to Lennon for instance – that was, wow, Modric-esque. I shan’t get too carried away though.
Slightly worried by the fact that each of the bosses substitutions seemed to contribute palpably to our lack of control and in the end I feel slightly fortunate that we left with a point. It really was gruesome out there in that 2nd half.
I’m also genuinely perplexed that anyone would see Jenas as a better option than Thud. Both yesterday and last week he was the man to bring on. ‘Cept he wasn’t there.
All in all AVB gets nothing more than a C+ so far. He’s trying hard and all his preparation is good but he’s also making some bad mistakes. He needs more and better tools though. Levy is currently looking at a big fat fail for this Summer’s business and needs to seriously pull it out of the bag this week.
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Claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Agreed… Far better analysis than the blinkered tosh above.. Getting alittle tired of the virtual wankfest that hh pumps out every day – modern day poet my arse…
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CptCaveman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Agreed. I get the feeling everyone is prepared to say anything rather then admit that Harry might have gotten better results in these last two games. Only two games yes but so far I’ve seen jack to suggest AVB is some tactical genius. What would HH and all this site have said if Rednapp had brought Jenas on?? Or Bale played on the right??
All this we’re playing good football rubbish is, well rubbish. Yeah we can have as much of the ball as we like, but as usual, no goal threat AT ALL! How can people say we look like a top 4 side?? Have you seen the other squads…a few injuries and we are fucked!
In my opinion we have sacrificed a guarenteed top 4 finish on a gamble that may / may not work out. Dont get me wrong, Harry wound me up just as much as everyone else with his rantings, his drop of 13 points,poor set pieces and for his lack ever to comit to the club until after he didn’t get the England job…but, I still think the team were playing fantastic football for most of the season.
Of course I wont judge just yet as AVB really needs a creative Mid, a striker and poss a keeper. If he gets the tools then no excuses. God forbid Ade gets injured and we’re left with Defoe, cause lets be honest, Kane aint up to Prem standard yet.
People say we’re better off then last year but come on, we had played both Manchester clubs at this stage last year.
Come on Spurs, come on!!
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:15 am
Yes yes yes faaaaantastic. 60 minutes of attractive passing and a point every other game and I’m happy :/
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:19 am
Should Livermore grown a beard and had a parrot on his shoulder.Characterless… lazy text more like.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:19 am
I actually really disagree with your assessment of Bale and Livermore.
Livermore is a limited but committed player. He’s still relatively new to Premier League football and I thought he did what he did well. It is not his fault that he was paired with Sandro and not Modric. He’s a decent passer, tackler and mover of the ball, and is definitely a step on from the likes of J**** and O’Hara.
Bale on the other hand did… what now? I thought he was totally anonymous for large parts of the game. It didn’t help that the softly softly system doesn’t play to his strengths – searing pace and power. But if he only plans on giving that much every game, then we need to add a left winger to the shopping list for competition. Maybe he will focus once the window closes, but for a player of his calibre I thought it was an absolutely dreadful showing.
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:35 am
First half Bale and Lennon were very good. For some reason they swapped wings in the second half and haven’t been seen since.
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Yes, another tactical master-stroke from our master tactician in chief.
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NN Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Run about a bit, he said.
Matt Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
The both disappeared for a stretch of the 2nd half – agreed…
But Defoe’s goal against Newcastle came from when Lennon had moved to the left..
August 26th, 2012 at 10:23 am
Livermore is good but not what we need when we play at home. Ee should have played a midfield 3 Of sigurdson vdv and sandro cuz we have the ball most of the time anyway. Please levy I am begging you by moyntnhio at any cost it is a must!!
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Bale immense?? he was average at best Livernore is a stopper and without any creativity him and Sandro were like actors without a script.
By the way watched MOTD last night and they did not show our 2nd disallowed goal, the first was marginally off at the most (Torres midweek was way off in compariso), they did not show the one we scored after the equaliser at all, was it a dream!
We will come good when we sell rat face buy replacements and regroup but they must back AVB.
Also am curious if anybody went to Valencia? how much did you pay for a ticket? I was fortunate to be in the area and after a few attempts to buy on the net I called a sczammer in Madrid who wanted approx 100 euros?? for a preseason friendly??
I went to the Mestalla and paid 24 euros for 4 tickets and met some unfortunates who paid 110 each??
So why does the club not do something to prevent this?
Rant over
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Gary B Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:15 am
MOTD are a disgrace. They either don’t understand football and what constitutes a match highlight, or they have a gooner in charge. I wanted that one cleared up as I wasn’t conviced at the time.
Maybe I’m being cynical, but the fact they didn’t show it makes me suspect it was a perfectly good goal.
Either way, sack the director.
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`rich g Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
motd is anti tottenham, always has been , even linekar is a cad/harry lover these days, the past is gone, move on
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Come back to reality! We couldnt beat an average West Brom side at home – top 4? No, not a chance. All you AVB lovers sound like BMJ fans all over again. He doesnt know how to get the best out of Bale, Lennon and VDV – 3 players who have taken our attack and team, to another level in recent years. Full backs had no options inside so had to punt long up the line, Adebayor was a plank of wood when he came on – and Jenas? JENAS? We’re in for a long hard slog to 7th/8th and the gulf between us and the Manchester clubs / Chelsea will show to be huge when we play them – whereas last season under Harry we finally looked on their level if not above in some parts of the games. Why are we wasting 20+m on untested strikers with no PL experience when Defoe bangs in 18 from the bench alone? He needs to play and he will score. Invest in the service to him with good midfielders. As for defence – watch the final 10mins of yesterday and tell me you have faith in us dealing with balls into the box! Because I certainy dont. Disappointed and out.
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NN Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Well said. Harry won all his games against West Brom. And Blackpool for that matter.
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fatbloke Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Never mind +1, +10!
Bale = left, Lennon = right. They’re both wingers which means that they DON’T PLAY IN THE MIDDLE!
Why is this so difficult for them to understand? Stick out wide & stay there. Probably the fastest to wingers in the Prem & yet they continue to drift about. Stupid is as stupid does….
’nuff said.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Bale sent at least two cracking balls along the six-yard line, but our Midget Gem was nowhere to be seen for either of them. A proper striker would have anticipated at least one (if not both) of those balls and the result could have been so different.
As with the game last week, if we’d gone in at half time two-up (as we deserved to) we’d have run out comfortable winners and would be sitting proudly on six points now.
Having said that, as with last year our start only serves to highlight our shortcomings and I’ve no doubt we’ll be moving to plug those gaps next week. Two wins out of two and we’d maybe have a false impression that everything was rosy in the garden.
Assuming we do make the necessary moves in the transfer market, I’ve seen nothing so far to shake my belief that we’ll finish top three at worst this year.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:31 am
If the boys had stuck their chances away we would have won 6-0! Poor finishing from Bale/Lennon/Vertonghen, was our downfall. Build up play was immense, and spot on
with VDV being the source… He was sublime. Fed Bale through lovely with great vision, Bale’s crossing deserverd to be met with more aggression and attacking grit… Shooting practice needed I think. And bring in Willian, Lloris and a striker!
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Agreed.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Our midfield was so far from being anything ‘barcelona’esk’ im questioning you sanity HH.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Maybe this is AVB showing Levy that we need more signings by bringing on Jenas and not having a replacement for Rafa to keep up the way we played for 60mins.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:34 am
I’m not as impressed as you were HH.The play looked crisp and sharp and the tempo was high but what’s the point of setting up your team to supply crosses if no one is there to receive them.It looked like a template of our games towards the end of last season.
I’m an AVB supporter but Bringing on Jenas was just stupid,I fear he will make Jenas his little project to prove how good himself is.Has Livermore become your new Walker?
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:35 am
I was only able to see the first half that was streaming online, so you can imagine my surprise that we did not end up at least winning the game never mind destroying them. But reading HH’s article,and realising the subs that we brought on, the result becomes all too clear.
I’ve said it before that our bench is worryingly crap right now, although i expect this to be rectified by the end of this week. I comletely agree that we are crying out for creativity in central midfield and i am increasingly impressed with Dembele. He had another great performance for Fulham yesterday and i think we could get him for a reasonable price.
I also think that another striker is badly needed. If Adebayor gets injured, we are in big trouble up front. AVB needs Levy’s full backing this week and i hope for all our sakes that he gets it, because we have the capibility to be great if we can fill the gaps with the correct personnel.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:40 am
Avb does have the personnel – we missed a passer of the ball yesterday and one of the best (huddlestone) was probably sorting out his loan move to stoke. When lukalu came on we needed someone strong and able to head the ball away (Dawson) – both these players should have started yesterday because quite frankly Livermore isn’t even top 6 quality let alone top four and gallas was pathetic.
I don’t blame avb for lack of quality signings as that is levy’s fault but letting two influential players go with no replacements is stupid.
Did no one look at our bench yesterday and think what a load of shit other than adebayor n sigurdson?
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Huddlestone? Are you a relative?!
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:49 am
Could you explain, in footballing terms, what you have against him? And why Jenas was a better option to bring on?
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Calum Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:04 am
I never said jenas was a better option lol – a person with no legs is better than jenas.
I think jakes done well but Huddleston is the better player out the the two because his passing is a lot better. Tackling side jake is better but we’ve got Sandro to do that.
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:32 am
I was asking him
Thud obviously the best CM we have at the club right now, Sandro aside.
Calum Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Huddlestone can open up defences with one pass and ping the ball accurately all over the pitch.
Sandro or Livermore can’t do this. Away from home you can play those two but not at home.
I’m not saying huddlestone is the long term answer but we need someone who can pass the ball in midfield or it’s 7th place this season.
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Hot_Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Huddlestone “pinged” the ball all over the pitch in the pre season games, but not accurately. That’s why he’s not in the squad.
August 26th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Also, we should never boo our own player’s at a game. Remember, we’re not Arsenal, we’re better than that!
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:48 am
I don’t think we are really, they’ve always booed players / performances.
I personally think Jenas get’s too much flak online too. He isn’t very good but it’s hardly his fault that he’s still here and our successive managers keep fielding him.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:55 am
That’s true L, i think the problem is that no other team wants him, his chance at Aston Villa last season was ruined by yet another injury. All in all not good for him and not good for us!
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77spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:56 am
right on…
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77spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:57 am
to the first comment
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Bale was good in the first half , tore them to shreds and went wandering AGAIN in the second and fell out of the game. But there’s no use playing to our best assets pace on the wing (when we don’t have a creative centre mid) to fire balls into nobody. If lennons playing as a front 3 he needs to gamble more and get into the box but I thought he was panting early on. Livermore and Sandro did ok but cant find a ball gor defoe to run onto which id his strength if anything this result has done us a favour because surely AVB can point at that performance and say to levy get me moutinho/creativity and another target man. Possibly a new keeper, I would have liked to see siggy start in place of livermore at home swap with vdv and drop livermore in place of vdv to sure it up instead of bringing on Jenas (booing him is fucking pathetic though) but then I said this the other day, but then I drink moonshine and shout at pigeons
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:48 am
If Parker is back JJ goes back to shining shoes. With the team in it’s current state, Hudd on the outer, that only left poor little Jermaine. The onus is on Levy to get spending. Get us another creative CM and a striker and we’ll be all that
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:48 am
i don’t see anything wrong with avb subs,went more attacking with adeboy and siggy for sandro and vdv to get the needed goal and then brought on the j**** man for defoe,normal subs
like someone said we will need all players for the season,we certainly need to add some quality no doubt about it,as ever i hope the suits are some way down the road in some transfers otherwise we are going to be disappointed
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:50 am
i had a game without commentary,it was great,i don’t recall hearing many boos when jenas came on but i wasn’t there of course
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:55 am
After seeing dembele in the middle for mancs yestreday i reckon we should move it and sign him as modric replacement, he could be even more effective than the little turncoat, he’s stronger more skilfull and carries more of a goal threat. Cheaper and less hassle the lillian willian probably. Although matt jarvis was 10 mill so he should go for what?…40. Interesting to see what becomes of everton if they start bothering top 4 status quo like we did. watch that space. As for the result, dont wanna say i told you so. If fingers are not removed we wont make top 6.Realise.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Dembele AND Willian would be great.
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77spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:08 am
whoooa…why not. theres only 2 tranfers windows a year after all….
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77spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:11 am
whats a transfers windows?
Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:12 am
It’s on Levy.
Hot_Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Nobody is more skilful than Modric. He retains possession and distributes like nobody else can. I’ve seen Modric surrounded by 3 or 4 opponents, do a couple of wiggles and dummies and then emerge through the crowd with the ball at his feet and leave the crowd for dead. He does it consistently. I’ve never seen ANYBODY do what he does, even Xavi, Pirlo and the like cannot do what Modric does, he is unique. We will never replace him like for like, it doesn’t exist. By the way, Dembele plays for Fulham and in any case he is a different type of player to Modric, not even remotely a replacement.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I totally agree that we will never replace Modric, like for like. I actually mentioned it myself a few times but i do think that Dembele could make that central position his own in our team and at a steal of a price IMO.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:59 am
No real penetration… Pandering to Defoe does not work (even Arry knew that), he is simply not good enough unless playing off a big man as we all know. Bales ball in the 3rd minute was perfect for ade… If ade had started, he could have come off at ht with us 2-0 up.. I want to like Avb but feel that I know the team better than him… What the hell is he doing changing from his formation by sticking 2 strikers on at the same time? We looked confused and got what we deserved. You can flatter us all you like but the truth is that we only scored a lucky deflected goal and barely tested their keeper all game.. If we are honest, Avb looks out of his depth already, I love this club but not him yet, I can but whether I will depends on the next 10 games… Say what you like about him but if we had Arry we’d have at least 4pts today…
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outline Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Right on the money, mate
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claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
The irony is, I wish I wasn’t!
COYS!!!
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
I make you right. HH is suffering under the weight of his own joyful delusion.
Oh, and will take up your invitation to say what I like about Arry: he’s a bellend.
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Claesen is permanent Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
I was no Arry fan for sure but as they say, the grass is always greener right?? I thought we would have opted for even more experience a la van gaal or capello not a kid with a chip on his shoulder. I hope and pray I’m wrong but I haven’t seen anything to change my mind yet unfortunately. Sure I’ll give him a chance but if it all fucks up, change the chairman and bring back big mart – despite previous tactical mishaps I loved having him as our manager…
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I rejoiced when Redknapp left but was dismayed when AVB was appointed. I thought it was a massive gamble and couldn’t see why anyone would think differently. Yep, I think so far those concerns appear justified. I hope he proves me wrong.
My own choice was always Moyes, but apparently he is too Scottish and not sexy enough for the majority of our fans. Well, Everton are looking pretty sexy to me, 2 games into the season at any rate.
August 26th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Bale was far from immense. What I found even more strange yesterday was that there were a few boos for ade when he came on, mind you, these were the same few idiots who shouted abuse at gallas all game long
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I agree with the main thrust of your argument HH. That
and I am definitely not at panic stations yet but I do disagree with some aspects of this and yesterday’s post. And the word that troubles me most is “intelligence”. I worry that our players, particularly those whose job it is to produce in the final third of the field are particularly lacking in this dept.
We did play some wonderful football for a decent period of time yesterday, but you’re right as soon as VDV came off we had no one who convinced me that they, as yet, really got what it is AVB is really asking of them. Modric would, Rafa does, Gylfi I suspect does too. But that’s where it ends I fear. Bale I love, but as suggested above his game is built around power and pace, and this more cerebral approach to pulling a defense apart doesn’t do him any favours. Lennon? Jesus wept, and Midget Gem we all know is one trick pony, head down and hit it hard. He’s reactionary in his poaching but he rarely creates openings through pure movement and positioning.
It concerns me that as yet we don’t have players who can play that game. That can kept possession, move the ball around at pace and with precision and thus drag defenders out of their shape to create openings. We dont have players who are seemingly telepathic in movement and positioning (and we haven’t had it since PSB and Berba – I always felt it was a travesty that we never got play Keane, Berba and Luka in the same team. They would have been a class apart I suspect). I trust it will come, the players and the understanding. But I suspect that there will yet be further casualties a la Dawson’s transfer, further frustrations in battering opponents for long periods without actually having anything to show for it, and much more screaming from Gallas (who impressed me once again yesterday).
Plenty of promising signs but by god we have a long long way to go before this starts to come good.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:10 am
i agree with astro spur they would be great signings…
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:11 am
The performance of AVB was lamentable. People keep saying he’s a tactical genius but on the strength of 2 games he has shown himself to be clueless.
We haven’t replaced Modrich and Parker is injured. AVB likes to play with two holding midfielders and one striker.
If he was more tactically aware he would have changed his formation to utilise what he had. Sandro should have been the lone holding midfielder while both Siggy and Van de Vart could have been used.
I don’t think Livermore is a bad player but he is still learning the game and with him there the side lacks fluency.
Defoe is a good player and always good for a goal when he is on song, but he isn’t suited to the lone striker role. He is very wasteful due to his selfishness and doesn’t really do anything other than shoot
We got our goal, they made their inspired substitutions and we ended up with Livermore and J***** in the middle. Resultantly we were over run, lost control of the game and were lucky not to lose. I and thousands of other supporters could have told him what would happen with Livermore and ***** in the middle!
This loss of 2 points (and the previous 3) was down to managerial shortcomings. I begin to wonder how long he will last. We desperately need a couple of good signings and a bit more tactical wherewithal.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Not sure what game you were watching HH, there were positives but we were not ‘scintillating’ IMO.
I thought we lacked creativity and distribution in the middle which was perhaps unsurprising when fielding two defensive-minded central midfielders in Sandro and Livermore, the former removed as clearly fatigued, with good reason following the Olympic competition.
Another who looked tired, a fact which West Brom exploited later in the game was BAE, who despite his good play early on, free kick and goal, became something of a liability in the final 20-mins as he clearly was not match fit – he looked like he’d had an excessive summer.
Despite dominating the first half against a woeful albeit defensively organised West Brom side, we failed to produce a goal and spurned a number of chances.
The forward pair of JD and VdV, and the wingers, looked detached from the back four and centre midfielders (who sat too deep) and consequently conceded much possession in the centre of the park. AVB fixed this when introducing GSig, but too late in my mind.
Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty to be positive about but there were failings too. It’s early days and AVB and incomings will hopefully address these problems, but let’s not get all ‘happy clappy’ about it either, it really wasn’t that good, yet… COYS
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:15 am
dembele would cost a bomb after watching that motd highlight,anyone new we are going in for is going to give levy a stroke i’d say so again i hope we are halfway down the pipe and onto wages,be nice to have someone out of leftfield but i’d settle for anyone who can create something like a willian or a pjanic
although the radio seemed pretty solid on this isco bloke form malaga for us
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:40 am
£15m buyout hasnt he?
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Think so yeah. I think he would be worth it!
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kojac Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
really,go grab him then,what are they waiting for
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:19 am
I wouldnt say we were scintillating yesterday.The passing last year was good too. The problem we have infact is the same as last year up front.
We have been good on the wings for a few years now and passing generally has made us flow both last year and yesterday.
I think the defence looks tougher and more organized than Ive seen in a while except for the goal,but that happens with every team (everyone was looking at the player with the ball and had no ideas where there markers were)
The thrust for goal down the middle was non existent. Defoe had lots of space to work in and had NO EXCUSE for failing to capitalize. VDV was not on.Bale tried hard and others had a go but mostly from the perimeter and not inside.
BAE was spectacular in every way though.
We need more power down the middle. This was a home game against West Brom. All the teams are getting better over the past few years and this should have been 3 points.
I would say that there are just a small percentage of fans that absolutely believe in AVB.There are also very few that dont believe. Most are in the middle with me and want to see results first.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Shows how dangerous it would be to sell VDV.
In the first half with Leandro instead of JD we could have been out of sight.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Leandro is a fortune and Llorente is 15 mil.
Its a no brainer.
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SuperSpurs Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Berbatov is £3m and we could get Bellamy on a free, what is your point?
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
BTW Harry Redknapp is ‘keen for another job but keeping himself busy by doing some gardening.’ I fully expect to see him being interviewed on Friday, out of the rolled down car window of course, telling the journal that “no, I don’t expect to be doing much gardening today. No, I shouldn’t think so.” only to wake on Saturday to find it reported that he has sold two pot plants, lent someone his strimmer, bought a greenhouse, had some decking put in (mate’s rates, of course) and loaned next door but one’s sit-on mower. He will declare them all “triffic investments for the future of the garden, great deals all of them!”
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:48 am
“Well, you know, you need to have some Begernia’s in your garden so it’s smashing to bring some in. And I just thought we was lacking some Geranium’s, you know, I thought we were a bit thin there really. And you know, the mower, I didn’t really want to lose it to be honest, it’s a top, top mower in my opinion but it’s just better that it gets out there mowing lawns for a bit, you know. And we managed to bring in a new mower on a loan, it’s a loan really, but it’s a smashing machine, really a triffic bit of kit. The plants I’ve brought in are all top, top quality for sure, and we’ll look to get em planted and I’m sure we’ll be much stronger out there for em.”
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:56 am
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Bluehead Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Yeah those geraniums are proper plants aren’t they? They don’t make many plants like that anymore, proper old fashioned plants, sturdy, hardy but pretty to watch in their own way. I’ve liked them for while and when I heard they was available I snapped them up. Doesn’t matter what price you pay for a plant like that, they really bring out the best in those around them. The other flowers will enjoy having them around the place to be honest, and so will I.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:55 am
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Bingo!
Adebayor isn’t the answer either.
A creative mid and a striker will arrive, but Levy’s transfer policy handicaps us and is costing points.
AVB needs backing with players quickly. Any more poor results, and the team might start lacking belief. I reckon we’ll get the players and have a good season.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Last season we passed it around well without converting possession/chances into goals for game after game.
In all honesty, it may have been Arry in charge still yesterday, possession and no threat, shit subs, crap at set pieces and tactical short comings being cruely exposed at the business end of games.
The undeniable fact is that WBA created as many chances in a 5-10min spell than we had dominating possession for the first hour.
Sure, he has been left high and dry by our comedy chairman but I wonder if in many respects he was bought in exactly because a) he was free and b)his stock was so low he can do little but grin and bear the shite fostered upon him by levymug. He can hardly storm out or kick up a stink can he.
Jenas instead of Huddlestone though…Only Juandre can take the blame for that.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:37 am
For all the people already knocking AVB..which creative CM would you like him to play ? FFS.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Don’t panic. Don’t panic. ………….?
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:38 am
we do need a creative dictator in the middle.Livermore should be cover for Sandro thats it .We need to spend spend spend mr Leeeevvvvy!Willian(can cover Lennon and Bale.) ,Leandro if not Remy(I think he’d be good versatile to) Ade needs match fitness .
But besides that we’ve been playing very good football We got the jaw movement right,we just need some teeth! Them Spurs fans they let talk for ages on Talksport hating on AVB bugs me. Chill out for a bit actually watch.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:39 am
We played great football, we were great, we had style and verve, we were a sexy beast of foosball. It’s gonna click, we’ll start scoring and we’ll be away. Until then, I’m enjoying our swagger. Eyes on transfers this week!
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Can someone explain to me how Remy is different from Defoe, apart the fact that he speaks french? Havent really seen the boyo play
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I’ve said it before and got crap for it but i don’t rate him. He’s not an out and out striker which is what we need right now, not a striker/winger/12-13 goals a season in a crappy french league type.
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
He would be a very disappointing panic buy if we were to get him. Youre right, he is shite and there is a reason we are the only club in for him.
His stock has fallen considerably. Our Gervinho.
I would like to see Isco if we are looking for squad backup.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Couldn’t agree more! I don’t know much about Isco, but i’ve heard good things.
Urbane Sturgeon Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
.
One has to hope that our club’s scouts and manager know a little more than us about who’s worth getting and who isn’t. Remy, I once saw written, scored the highest number of goals with his head than any other player in Europe last season. Perhaps our having a winger centric style is why we may be interested.
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Smoked Salmon Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
thats an impressive stat for his size if true
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:42 am
“As I commented yesterday much of our play was up their with the gods. Slick and dare I say it, scintillating. The passing and movement was Barcelonaesque. West Brom couldn’t get possession. They couldn’t get more than two passes together. They couldn’t catch us.”
And we couldn’t get a meaningful shot on goal. Fancy is fine if it has an end product, bottom line it didn’t and it didn’t at Newcastle either.
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:42 am
I understand people becoming frustrated when we don’t play amazing and fail to win games IMMEDIATELY! A lot of fans feel we should be ‘up there’ with the elite but I have to agree with a lot of what HH has said.
Lets put things into perspective.
There’s no continuation of top form. Our form at the end of last season was dire. that of a relegation team. How can anyone of us expect instant results off of the back of that coupled with the absence of our most influential playmaker and using a whole new system?
These last two games are the first chances AVB has had to manage the squad in a serious competition.
I can’t police peoples thoughts or comments, but I’d like to encourage people to understand the task that AVB and Levy are undertaking. It’s a period of transition and we don’t have the money or the continuity of form to act as a catalyst in these first games.
The media like to throw sh*t our way whenever they get the chance, I’d like to give them the least amount of ammunition possible so the people who think booing is clever are actually just doing us all a dis-service.
I don’t think we can risk playing Hudd incase he sprains one of his kankles and ends up in the infirmary all season. We’ll move him on if we can, and lest face it, no1 is going to buy J****, because he’s not very good and he’s a bit of a liability. Most likely lumbered with him and chances are with injuries and fatigue wearing down the squad, we’ll see more of him this season. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll earn some of the letters to his name back. Maybe…
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`rich g Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
hes earned the first two back already C U
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:44 am
I agree with most of the reviews bar: Bale, Vdv and Adebayor.
I’m 100% happy with the philosophy AVB is trying to introduce because this will give us longevity much like our neighbours but I am seriously concerned at the amount of players we are short to perform the task and probably more importantly is the fact that it does not really suit most of our strengths….. at the moment.
As I have previously said on this forum our biggest issue is the lack of a transition player from midfield to attack, whether from passing or ball carrying (this is where Livermore is unfortunate in the fact that he has performed very well by his standards and the type of player he is but from the teams perspective it shows massive deficiency’s.
I have always thought Tom and Sandro could be our Alonso and Mascherano but due to Tom’s fitness issues and lack of mobility I do not think we could solely depend on it. To be fair Parker is not too bad at ball carrying or attempting to slide pass’s but his real kryptonite is completing simply pass’s( it would also be a sad state of affairs if he is our main play maker alla W.Ham).
Bale’s strengths are pace, power, crossing and running in STAIGHT lines so this is why we have seen the best of him as a winger and any top team only seems interested in him as a fullback.
If we had the clever Spanish type midfields we need that slide pass’s for fun I do not think we would be so in awe of VdV and maybe see him more for what he was at Madrid, an impact player who could not handle 90mins in a less physical league and tactically cause’s massive headaches for the rest of the team when not in possession. He is our Hollywood player looks amazing in patches and often at the expense of the team( drops so deep to receive possession spraying a Hollywood pass and isolating the attack)also takes terrible set pieces.
The Bale and VdV points are purely to get us thinking about what people outside of the Tottenham bubble.
Adebayor – match fit or not could have showed some desire, I hope this is not a sign of things to come with him now he has a perm contract. As I think if we are unable to get the creative midfields we are desperate for he will become the only outlet.
In short we need desperately need a few creative ball sliders?
Bale to left back (with lots of Def coaching) in this formation.
Sell VdV for big money while we can, as we will not miss him if we get the flair players we need or if we cannot attract those players then sell Defoe because he is not an option as the lone striker without the right players behind him.
With new players= 4231 or 433( expectation will also be higher….competing for 4th)
Without new creative players= 442 or 4411 (anywhere between 5th- 8th should be expected as we will not have replaced probably the most influential player to a team in Prem league history)
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:45 am
if we do end up with another striker do you think avb will sell defoe or loan harry out?
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:46 am
AVB
Your line up I like it’s the personell that’s the problem. Why not try Siggy and Sandro as the two defensive midfielders ? One of the ‘two’ need to be creative and at home against the Baggies we hardly needed two uber defensive types.
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Huddlestone instead of Livermore.
Dawson on for Gallas when they started bombarding us.
3 points.
Its not rocket science.
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John Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:59 am
As much as we all love Dawson he would have been a car crash yesterday.
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Seriously? we were totally pathetic in the last 10minutes. They created more and looked far more dangerous than we had all game.
I would have Dawson over Gallas when they started piling balls into our box, all day long. Nothing to do with sentimentality.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Our defence has been crap down the middle for the longest time. I saw something in Kaboul last week.He looked like he was positioning really well and played strong.
But generally we have been crap Dawson or no Dawson.
Kaboul solidified us last week.
That goal they scored yesterday.If you stop it you will seee EVERY TOTTENHAM PLAYER LOOKING AT THE PLAYER WITH THE BALL AND LAYING OFF OF ALL WEST BROM PLAYERS BY 5 YARDS
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August 26th, 2012 at 11:52 am
Liked AVB’s post match comments:
“The football in the first half was extremely good, side to side, creating through crosses, having opportunities. We have to improve on our efficiency and deadliness in front of goal, we’ll focus on that during the week and our consistency defensively.
“We look ahead to next weekend and putting things right against Norwich.”
A manager who has ideas on how to improve our attacking play? Sounds good to me.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Gary 90% of Tottenham fans knew that we had a problem down the middle up top,up front before the season starts. My 6 month old niece knows that too.
Here is AVB saying we have to work on it after this game doesnt make me feel confortable.
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
AVB has nailed it! We just need to attack more clinically, defend more stoically and score loads more goals than the opposition!
Well done Juandre, tictactical genius.
he can see through the matrix this one.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Its like the answer came down from God
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Have to say that Eden Hazard is the real deal. Brilliant player.Clever quick,super talented.
If Modric is 33 mil I would say Hazard is a bargain at 38mil
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Juandre has turned his nose up at Dembele and Sahin, allegedly but you have to think with Modric as a bargaining chip it was very much an option.
Cant help but think we could have tied one of those up if he had shown some interest. So, whilst Levy is a complete turd he isnt helping himself is he.
To think we laughed at Liverpool when we got Gylfi, now they get Sahin instead and laugh back in our face. Football is a bitch.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I agree with Sahin. But he also is a different player to Sigg.
Sahin would have been a great deal to replace Modric and Sigg to follow VDV,
Then Llorente.
a Goalie.
Then done.
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`rich g Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
YOU ARE A FUCKING WANKER
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jolsgonemental Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
if it feels so right, it cant be wrong.
you should try it
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
eloquent bastard he is
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
I once got all the number games in an episode of Countdown correct. All within the time limit to boot. I was quitely impressed with myself.
The moral of the story? Study hard, do your home work, and you will slowly start getting very good marks each and every week.
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
vainm’anyl
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Spot on Harry! We need a Modric replacement alright, but also need a world class striker. Defoe isnt good enough. Love the new tactics, screaming out for 2 world class additions though, hopefully we will get with Modric money
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Hot_Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Erm, scuse me but how do you buy two world class players with the money from one world class player? Two into one doesn’t go.
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Actually I disagree with every substitution plus starting with Defoe vs a team like WBA who are FAMOUS having strong CDs who eat defoes. Ade should have started. but as he did not, ade should have replaced defoe at 45.
Then we lose VdV to Ade at 62 (made me speechless as defoe was still there), then FFS Sandro for Siggy who still thinks he is at Swansea, then FINALL OFF goes Defoe….but for JENAS. Then I knew we would be lucky to draw let alone win.
As for the Livermore lovers: go watch the last 15 and see HOW USELESS he is without Sandro/Parker as the back four had NO protection and we had NO central midfield capable of covering the middle let alone helping out the defenders.
I had hope for AVB but now I am terrified as even Harry didn’t screw up like this and yes no point in pretty possession football if YOU DON’T SCORE and the TWO matches suggest that we are still only a 60min side.
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Very very worried. Think Joe Lewis and Levy are secret Arsenal fans, here to torment us. Why are we stalling at this point?
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
AVB tried (according to the Observer) to make a FOURTH substitution.
Tactical genius?? LOL.
I’m glad to see that some of the posters on here have a more realistic outlook than HH, who is delusional.
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
And you believe that,says a lot about you Bhatti boy
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NotAFickle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Bhatti reads newspapers? I use them for chippy wrapper.
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essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
I first wipe my Bhatti on ‘em as they’re shite, but I finish it off with a lanolin infused Andrex deluxe, ‘cos I’m a Spurs man, and can wipe my arse with the finest money can buy
August 26th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I think the takeaway fact is we are not going anywhere with sanrdo and livermoor playing together at home against weak teams.
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Hot_Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I wouldn’t call WBA weak.
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Yes, the clue was the annihilation of Liverpool last week.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
That and the fact that the train at Liverpool street should have stayed in the station
Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
If only we could play them now
Stupot Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
The Baggies goal was down to continuous pressure on our defence caused by the lack of a combative central midfielder. A fit Thudd would have helped but as he obviously is not fit he was not an option.
Both matches we have created plenty of chances without managing to convert all but two of them. It has been the same here for a season or two and we are in obvious need of a proper finisher.
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
The killer was bringing Jenas on.
I thought that Ade looked disinterested throughout.
I asked before we signed him how long it would take for him to lose interest once he had a juicy contract in his pocket.
We need another striker: Llorente or Leandro would do. We also need more creativity in the middle. And please no more J****.
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Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
I agree with that .
Never saw Ade chasing and harrassing as he did last season and not match fir my ****!!!! FFS he was only on for <30mins. Black hole for money tthtere IMHO.
The ******d is back in his comfort zone and will probably do nothing & yes he wears the shirt but it's his heart that worries me.
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August 26th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Feeling indifferent. We have only taken 1 point from the first two games. Better than last year but weaker opposition.
Streamed the first half and we looked good – quick clever incisive passing and good pressing. But second half we sounded like the Spurs last season while all the Harry-for-England crap was going on, having lots of possession but never looking like actually scoring or scoring but never killing it off.
Another last minute equaliser and genuinly legal goals ruled offside! Always us. Are we cursed?
I thought the ref gave us nothing in the first half, so no change there then.
Definitely need so new recruits this week. If you look at the other top club’s strength in depth and then look at us, you see a massive difference. Chelsea have about 7 midfielders who’s name begins with M ffs!
I’m sure we will strengthen (surely), but my concerns are only getting in 1 replacement for Modrid. What if the replacement picks up an injury? I guess we could play vdV or Siggy in that role if we had to but if we could get in, say, Moutinho AND Dembele, we would look a lot stronger. With the amount of games we will have this year (providing good cup runs – let’s hope), we probably DO need two for each position anyway.
Again with the strikers, if Ade gets injured, we need someone else other then Defoe & Kane. Man Utd have 5 TOP quality strikers. We have about 1.7 or 2 on a good day (if we’re playing Wigan at home).
Not a big fan of 1 striker up front, think strike partnerships forming are a beautiful thing and you look more likely to score goals with two GOALSCORERS on the pitch but if AVB’s system starts being successful, I won’t complain. I’ll be at WHL for the Norwich game so hopefully it’ll look a bit rosier at 16.45 Saturday.
Overall, tense times, but then it always is being a yid. Keep the faith boys.
And Harry, much prefer the new pics when giving ratings. Much quicker to read through than having to decipher all of those funny nicknames!
BIOYC!
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August 26th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
“genuinly (sic) legal goals”…???
keep clutching at those straws.
Mid table team, with spoilt brat supporters and a tactical dunce as a manager.
Enjoy!!
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kojac Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
why are you still here,are you lost
follow the light,it should take you home
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Birmingham is closed today
Nowhere to go
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August 26th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Really do not have a problem with AVB at the moment. Too early to judge on 2 games. But can see why people are having doubts already.
Someone needs to explain to AVB Jenas shoudn’t be anywhere near the first team. Bringing him on to shore up the midfield was a masterstroke of stupidity.
Doesn’t Vertongen play centre mid aswell ? Why didnt we bring on Caulker and put Vertongen into the midfield, surely a better option than Jenas.
Don’t tell me Caulkers a risk. If that is so he shouldn’t be on the bench.
As others have said. If Redknapp was in charge he would have been crucified for those substitutions.
Was expecting AVB to be a cut above, havn’t seen anything yet to suggest he is.
Still hopeful though.
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
the arse at Stoke. Anaemic bunch that they are,the srae.Stoke look like they could go down.The arse have the same problem we had. Nothing up front.
[Reply]
Habib Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
The arse have the same problem we have…. No Modric
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Habib we had him last year,again nothing up front
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Resort to 442,we will get over run in mid field.The inability to learn from historical mistakes is a major frustration.We need a world class goal keeper who is prepared to come off his line witl settle the back 4.A mid field play maker needed desperately
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I am still not sure the subs can be justified. It’s the manager’s job to know how the team will perform with changes. If your team is dominating possession it is okay to go like for like. I would have subbed VDV with Gylfi. Then Ade for Defoe like for like. Sandro knackered is an issue? Wouldnt have started with Livermore then.
I am not worried about lack of personnel. I know Levy will get them. I think the first sub resulted in a cataclysmic loss of form and function and that AVB did not anticipate. There are plenty of teams in the Premier League who have worse personnel then us but their substitutes adjust to the flow of the game. They dont cause it to fall apart at home and make WBA look like effing Barcelona.
I’m gonna keep a close eye on AVB in times of pressure when the footy is going on. I suspect he is still going through his EPL learning curve.
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
People can dismantle and re-wire the drill as much as they like but its the bit that’s not doing the work. We created loads of chances and the game should have been over after 30 minutes.
I’ve said it many times; Defoe is not an in-box player, he’s effective running at goal and if we are playing a high line, then he will be totally ineffective. If we play deeper against more aggressive tactics say ManU or Citeh, then Defoe will be more effective: you have to use the right tool for the job.
On the subject of tools, I can allow for some latitude in employing the tool J***s. A new guy cannot just wander in and say to all those who were not part of HR rotations policy (which is about half the squad) sorry you are sacked because the blogs say you are useless. AVB has to play fair and whilst J***s is the great underachiever, AVB has to give him a chance, especially if he’s done the right things in traning. He is also one of the fitter players and stamina was telling: AVB will learn or perhaps (please!) he’s being groomed for sale.
We need Ade, but we also need someone who can convert from 6 yards, a Greaves or Law or even Ted McDougall type of person…. our passing is great except the final pass which is always a minimum 4 yards wide.
We can get the ball into the box, we need someone who can toe poke it 6 yards without it getting intercepted!
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
As usual, quite a bit of intelligent discussion and analysis from the outside looking in. And it’s fair dinkum that fans of other clubs occasionally join in. I wish more would. Keeps the interchange from getting too narrow – like with genes, it’s useful to have new blood in the mix.
We’ll never know what really is going on at training (there has to be an explanation for AVB’s use of Jenas), whether Sherwood is on board with AVB’s thinking (or just treading water, a job is a job after all these days), or the understanding AVB has with DL re. new personnel. There are some puzzling inconsistencies, like the giving and taking away of the captaincy from Daws (though that might be just another media invention), making offers for strikers all over the place and then saying he’s not looking for more, buying Sig and not using him). And in light of the Berbatov shenanigans of recent memory, and how Modric’s behaviour affected our start last season, is AVB involved or is it just DL from whom we need explanations for the vacillations of the club (first negotiating a new contract and then not holding him to it, the so-called gentleman’s agreement, fining him for not showing up and then letting him train by himself, etc., etc.)?
Ah well, Ferguson’s first seasons at the Manure were not especially auspicious.
I’d start Townshend and not Lennon, Caulker and not Gallas when Kaboul is not available, Kane and not Defoe (in a 4-4-2 with Ade).
But, what do I know…
Jesus, how we need a Lukaku type striker!
[Reply]
Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Spot On!!!
Too early to be critical but okay to be worried or ….errrr…terrified after watching Liverless & JJ ru(i)n CMF while dear defoe missed the half dozen box balls.Ah yes!!”potential”. I knew it once.
I Just hope that Lewis gets a hint from his maker about responsibility and owning a PL club as opposed to skimming money grom currency exchange rates which makes the Mafia look almost honest.
[Reply]
essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Townshend’s dead mate, just saying so you won’t get fooled again
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Well we are only marginally worse than the goons at this stage in the season so there is still room to improve and become marginally better than them in time.
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August 26th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Everton are banging on the top 4 gates. Superb manager. Nothing is mid table or easy this season and WBA gave us a lesson on not giving up. How many match changing goals did our opponents score against us in the last 10 minutes last season, and how many did we score against them?
[Reply]
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Yeah, Moyes eh? His style is too boring for Tottenham. He isn’t good enough for a club our size. His name doesn’t fit. He’s too Scottish. He’s a bit too ginger. He only knows how to buy cheap players.
Why he wasn’t properly considered / approached is another bad mark on Levy’s pretty woeful recruitment record. Outside of Ferguson, I think Moyes is the best manager in the league and he’ll prove that at a club with more money one day.
[Reply]
Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Let’s watch Laudrup as well: great start..compared to some other team who have had their best players stolen.
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notsohotspurs Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
He isnt a yes man either. Too strong a personality for Levy.
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Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
That destroys Levy IMO and I do not GAF about how well he “runs” the club.
Any good levy does IMO is destroyed by his last minute transfer diarrhoea.
A well run club does not imply a successful one as we have about 60+ well run clubs below us.
Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Yes, I fear he is Man U bound when Ferguson retires.
[Reply]
4 Ever Hopeful Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
I agree. Missing out on Moyes in favour of an unproven smooth talker will prove to be a cataclysmic blunder.
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August 26th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Avb had the team purring in the first half,so I think his traning and tactics are good,1 moment of magic in the first half was a precision pass out of the blue to the vaart from the vert,then the vaart with a delicious tantalizing ball to bale to run on to who cut it back to Lennon who scuffed it .If that had gone it it would have been 1 of the best goals EVER.
A bit worried that AVB may have a ginger man crush on #####. cant explain it any other way.
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Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
wot ’bout putting deoe ‘fore adeb vs WBA?
Match unfit Ade surely not worse than defoe.
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August 26th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
its a bit early to start decrying the AVB regime after 2 games,and gobbling managers/teams after 2 wins,let’s see where everyone is after the window shuts,injuries have hit and the cold dark winter is settling in
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
It’s too early to write him off for sure, but so far he hasn’t really done anything other than what I expected which is fail to impress. I’m hoping for a lot better, and soon. Very soon. Next Saturday soon.
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
UmpahUmpah Ive got players up me jumpa
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August 26th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
You wanna have bruv…innit
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August 26th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Message to AVB
” Build it, and it will come!”
Over all a pretty decent performance, although it lacked invention at times. I still think VDV is the weakest link and will never be able to replace Modric ‘In the Hole’ Modric can tackle, play and pass, and at our very best, it’s movement of the ball at pace. Ronnie Wallman always goes on about a ‘game changing player’ well,unfortunately I saw one yesterday in Lukaku, the guy’s a beast, and he changed the game alright and sent fifty shades of brown to our defence once he arrived on the scene.
[Reply]
essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
‘Ronnie Wolman’
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August 26th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
You make your own luck & to say we were unlucky in both our matches is a lttle too convenient. Let’s see where we are after 10 games then we should have a better idea of where we are going this season. I do the talk sport weekly predictor & correctly predicted we would lose to N’castle albeit my score was 2=0 and again correctly predicted 1=1 for yesterday. Whoever Spurs brought in whether it had been Alex Ferguson,Arsene Wenger or David Moyes all would have struggled to hit the ground running. I have a horrible feeling that we may end up still in the botttom half after 10 games, a lot depends on which players come in now, if any & which one’s go out. Lets give AVB a chance but I’ve a feeling that the “Be careful what you wish for brigade” will have a field day this season. How come Pienaar is so brilliant for Everton, i saw him a few times for Spurs & he could not hit the target from 5 yards let alone the screamer he got yesterday.?
[Reply]
Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Moyes believed in him: we saw him as a cheap modric cum bale option.
I really don’t mind two seasons of crap (ie <midtable) for a decade or more of dominance but i think that "ants in pants" levy will have a heart atatck if we drop below 7th patience or not: IMHO if levy expects overnight success he is and idiot and its like running a jet on unleaded.
Continuation: you go for a Moyes/Pardew type.
Revolution you go for AVB and expext to wait but it still terrifies me and especially as lukaku is still not good enough for 80+mill spending Chelsea
[Reply]
August 26th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I agree with Kukaku. He certainly was a difference.
Bale is a game changer but he was a little off in timing.Vdv can be too for a short amount of time.He was also off. The complete predator we do not have.
I never believed Modric was a game changer.He is takented but rarely picked out the player for THE goal.
Silva does that. I think Sahin will do that for Suarez as both of their timings are good to beat the trap.
Modric was good moving the ball and moving the ball and mocving the ball.Not sure if he had the vision to pick out the man for a goal opportunity,maybe it was the strikers we had.Not sure.
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Lukaku
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
sorry Essex these posts were for you
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Just spoke to my 82 year old Mum who looks younger than me. I had 3 Great Uncles in Scotland. 2 emigrated to Hamilton and one to Vancouver.(Apparently on a more dangerous fault line than San Andreas. Cascadia or something). Didn’t know if anyone descended from them are Spurs fans, or if any of them are still alive for that matter. Still, worth pursuing I suppose.
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Saint Andreas Villa Boas Fault?????
Cant blame him for that too!
He has never even been to Vancouver.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Check them out.They can join Spurs Canada.We have a group that meets in Vancouver.
nobby nobbs Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
That is because we didnt play the ball through the middle often because there was no creative CM in the lilywhite.
Worse still when Sandro was taken off WBA really exploited this both on the ground and in the air.
They exploited our basic weakness.
Michelle Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Modric is sorely missed by us . But if you saw John White, you will know how limited was modric and even hoddle & Haxard wre better the former by far although still no white(yes he was that good)
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Michelle I saw John White in nearly every game for us. I know what John White was. His talent was brilliant.He wasnt a Modric type. His chips were fantastic.His understanding with Blanchflower was brilliant.
Modric is great moving the ball not finding the killer pass.He is less creative than ,most people think.More keeps the ball rolling runs into space passes short and runs again.
Hazard looks unbelievable. Incredibly quick,can turn quick,can pick out a man quick. brilliant player.
[Reply]
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Modric is the best player we’ve had at the club in over a decade at least. I give short thrift to all this chatter of his lack of assists and goals. That’s not his job. His position is a little more subtle, granted, but I still think people who fail to see his worth must be very dim-witted (that’s not directed at you btw Ronnie ;-))
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I can handle that LLL. Modric is talented and subtle he may be but subtle is not what wins games.
In a quality teamlike RM he may just highlite his great talents but I still say was not a game changer.Subtle yes. game changers are not subtle.
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
In order to win games you need to control possession and tempo, and there are few better at that job than Modric. Maybe 2-3 players in the world better, that’s it. When Spain played Croatia he was the best player on the pitch, if that’s not affecting a game I don’t know what is.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
He played for us and was not a game changer.
Bale was.
VDV was.
Not Modric
Modric made our attack flow. BUt we did better from counter attacks where the wingers found space behind the backs than the short pass inside game.
VDV got many from ADE,prob more than Modric.
Modric made many many passes a game and kept us in possession but possession was never a problem with us.
We couldnt deal with packed defences and by the time Modric kept passing and getting a return and passing and return…alll 5-7 yards etc… there was no room
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Ronnie, if consistency was valued, which it should be, then Modric is worth 100m. The others you mention – Bale hasn’t changed a game since January. VDV can only play for half an hour let alone change a game.
All the while, Modric has been excellent, the best player on the park, week in, week out. Almost every game he played for us he was the best player we put on the park.
I don’t get this fixation with being a ‘game changer’ anyway. I don’t really know what it means if I’m totally honest.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Drogba
Suarez
Aguero
Silva
Hazard
Bale
RVP
Rooney
are all game changers
They can turn a game with a few seconds of brilliance
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Tevez
Fabregas
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
You mean flair players, right? OK, but you wouldn’t want to field 11 of them would you? You need a functioning defence and certainly a functioning midfield. Modric makes the midfield function in a way that few others can.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Flair players????????????
Modric is a flair player.
They are game changers.
Got to go,discuss amongst yourselves!
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Ok, well please define ‘game changer’ then, I’m clearly not getting it
SuperSpurs Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Joey Barton
Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 8:54 am
I meant Micky Hazard : )
Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 8:56 am
LLL I agree that he has been the best for a while but that really says a lot about just how far we have slipped since Hoddle.
Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Read: “The Ghost of White Hart Lane” by John’s son Rob, and Julie Welch. The word “legend” is bandied about a lot these days. If there was anyone deserving of that title it was John. My apologies if you have already read it.
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Boy we were talking game changers.Dont consider White one. He was just a great player.
The game changer was Blanchflower and a year later Greaves,Ardiles,Hoddle,Klinsmann,Ginola,Gascoigne….aplayer would not only have to either make winning goals or score them but also inspire the others….
Changing not just the tempo of the game,but changing the momentum of the game
August 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Have to say that BAE was supreme yesterday.Not just the goal.The free kick was fantastic and he just had vision all day that was lacking in anyone else.
Walker was good too though.
Think even BAE has the vision to be a midfielder.
Would be excellent if he could gain some discipline.Has as much talent as any other player on the team
[Reply]
melcyid Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I love Benny
LoL
[Reply]
essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I’ve been on Benny’s case and for good reason, but he did play well yesterday, even without the goal, his performance was right up there, but all the defence were until Lakaku came on the scene, and we had no answer to him, but that aside, it was 3points dropped as the game should’ve been dead and buried by then. But as I said before, these early games under a new regime are as much about performance as they are about results, and I really enjoyed the game and the players movement on the field, so no grumbles from me, that’s for sure.
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Essex,our failure to show any strength down the middle up top was telling.
The flow we had last year.I think our defence looks steady and will be better with a rejuvenated Kaboul.
He played fantastic last week as BAE did this week.
(we really messed up near the end in defence for sure)
[Reply]
essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Agree,but then you’ve a dilemma with the Vert?
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
No ……..Happy to have Kaboul and Vert but they need one of them to captain the system back there. Not sure who can do that.Gallas is going to be a disaster up against the Agueros and Suarez’s of this world
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August 26th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Arsenal look very average but It will be difficult to get by City,Chelsea,United and Chelsea this year and so many others improving.
Liverpool with Sahin are going to be difficult.
Levy has to get his finger out.He is clever but he can be too clever.
Hubris from the VDV deal has hurt us.
[Reply]
LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Yes, there’s one spot up for grabs, and it will be a tussle between Liverpool, Arsenal, ourselves and Everton. On early season form, you’d have to agree that we are the least likely contenders.
[Reply]
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
I agree. Unless we get a faatastic striker (Llorente for me is the man) we will have a tough time fighting it out for 5th.
If we are ahead of the arse most of our fans will accept that as long as we are in say the top 7 or 8
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
City Chelsea United and Chelsea?
Even harder to get past City Chelsea UTD Chelsea Utd City and Utd.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Liverpool will be in the mix I think.
Not because of this game.I think Sahin-Suarez will be powerful
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August 26th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
AVB wants firing right now, asap and forthwith. My patience with him has run out. How dare he pick players that he thinks can do a job for him. Shame on him. And he has had plenty of time to win the league with Spurs, and lets face it if you haven’t won the title in the first two games you aint never gonna win it. Moyes is clearly better because his team have 3 points more than AVB’s. Swansea will come runners up because that’s where they are after 2 games.
And Daniel Levy just wants shooting. One season of glory is all I want then to quietly slip down the divisions a laughing stock.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Dont do anything is haste Spurstacus. Lets wait till after the next game
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Correction, Moyes has 5 points more than AVB.
It’s not fickleness on my part, I didn’t want AVB, I did want Moyes. I’m not saying I told anyone so, it’s far too early and so what if I did, nobody with any control over the matter would be listening!
Fact remains that Levy has a piss poor record in manager recruitment. Look at his most successful pair – Jol was a makeshift promotion from assistant, so an accident, not design. And Redknapp, god help us, was also an accident, an emergency recruitment designed to keep us from getting relegated by the last guy Levy hired.
Whether AVB joins this illustrious register of managerial disasters is very much in the balance right now.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Moyes 5 pts means nothing at this point.
I had them to kill Aston Villa because they are flying and Villa is doing the opposite.
That is nothing.Giving United a game was but this is only 2 games.
We have no strikers.Most of the other teams do.
[Reply]
Anthony Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
No doubt that DL badly needs AVB to be a success. No longer is there anyone else to blame. With OneDay Ramos it was all lost in translation, with BMJ the Dame effectively lost him the job, with HR he effectively talked himself out of the job but now the buck absolutely stops with DL. All the more reason that this week we must surely see the cash being splashed. As so many keep saying we urgently need a ruthless forward like Llorente, Falcao, Damaio, a central midfielder who can control the flow of the game like Moutinho, Isco and also some cover for Lennon, perhaps Remy, Willian . Would also be very pleased to see Dembele in a Spurs shirt, he just looks like a Spurs player, very confident in possession, quick feet and very skillful. DL it’s over to you , no more making do, we need quality if we want to compete. Also keep Daws and let him get fully fit as he will be invaluable because we are bound to get a centre back injury crisis we ALWAYS do.
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notsohotspurs Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
5 pts
just saying
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
I did type 5. Hotspur must have changed it! Glad he didn’t change it to ‘I like dogs arses’.
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essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Bloody inflation,under Gordon Brown 5 meant 15, but under Cameron, 5′s not even worth 4
August 26th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
OOh watch out Liverpool are one up. That must mean they are the new champions and poor old City are going down.
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Mancini out
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
The man has 15 of the worlds best players and is whining and willing his team to lose so he can buy another 5 of the worlds best players.AVB has to suffer with Levy owning Monopoly’s two worst properties and asking AVB to build hotels in Mayfair.
No wonder.
Mancini is a baby while AVB’s father wants to control the shop
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
who owns the shop?
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Joe
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August 26th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Swansea vs West Ham
Fuck the Hammers
They have these claims to fame:
In the sixties,their highlite years (ooops it was ours too) They have 18 players who’s names started with B.So Bollocks to them.
The stadium: so bollocks to them
Harry Redknapp so bollocks to them
James Corden and Russell Brand: 10 points to them
But still I hope Swansea destroy the fuckers 6-1
I predict though 3-1
Aston Villa vs Everton
Moyes,Moyes and Moyes
The man is Robert De Niro in The Mission
1-3 to the Toffs
Manchester United vs Fulham
3-1 to the Red Devils
Dempsey wants to impress but the defence of Man U is too good
Cheatski vs Newcastle
Chelsea have Eden Hazard from what I saw last wekk the next super duperstar brilliant talent (and his first game too)
4-1
Stoke vs Arsenal
The arse are shit 3-0 Stoke
Liverpool vs Manchester City
I think Liverpool will give them a game.
2-1 Liverpool
[Reply]
Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
You appear to be typing scoreline predictions for games that have already been played. Or am I missing something?
[Reply]
essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Our Ronnie’s a bit like Nostradamous,as his predictions are only relevant after the event
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
…and about as accurate, by the look of things.
Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
@Unk
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
hey look I did do it a little d ifferent on Talksport Prediction had Liverpool 1-1 i/o 2-1
Got every one right as far as outcome goes except one….that was my fcucking banker…yes you guessed it…Tottenham 3-1
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
sorry had Stoke beating the arse 2-1 both were passionate and wishful picks…
August 26th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Its just a hunch,just a hunch
Thats from a movie a long time ago
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August 26th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Got to Go…from BAE…
However, Cameroon international Assou-Ekotto is fully behind his new mentor and believes he can succeed at White Hart Lane, likening him to former Blues boss “son of Jose Mourinho”.
“He’s cool,” he said.
“He has a different way to work, so we learn different things from him.
“He’s like the son of (Jose) Mourinho because he used to work with him and he works in the same style. We do a little more tactics at training.
“If we work more about tactics we can win and we will enjoy (our football).”
[Reply]
The Bhatti Brothers Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
..from AVB’s tactical talk on Friday……
“and when we get to the last 10 minutes, we all huddle in our own penalty area, panic when the opposition play balls into the area, while carefully making sure that we are not close enough to the attackers camped in our area to block shots or tackle them”
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
LOL!
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
its true lol!
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Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Yes that was the worst part of it.
August 26th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
@LLL
i’m disappointed with not winning at home,you cannot afford to do that often if you want to compete,it has to be a fortress,i don’t really see the leaders on the pitch for avb which is a bit of a worry but it is early days,for sure the pressure will build if we don’t beat norwich at home
i also think people need to realise that for better or worse the redknapp era is over and levy is going to back AVB barring a complete titanic over the next couple of seasons regardless of the immediate backlash coming our way for whatever reasons,
thankfully it’s a long old season and personally 4th is any ones and i’m not as convinced about the chavs as the media or their budget ensues,of course we really need to add quality before the deadline to compete as far as i’m concerned
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Chelsea were ordinary at best in the second half yesterday. They’ve lost their best player for the last ten years or so (Drogba) and have appointed a muppet to manage them. They’ll struggle to make top four this year.
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kojac Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
hazard looks great but he can get injured and hasn’t been through an english winter fixture list yet and torres may go down who knows,it doesn’t look so pretty then,but hey they might spend another £50m by friday for all we know,fair play and all that
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
God, he does look bloody good though doesn’t he? Hazard I mean.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Chelsea will probably win it this year,Uncle Kev,Chelsea were spectaciular in the second half.The first half they were lethargic
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Well I saw the whole of the Chelsea game yesterday and I can assure you that they were to spectacular what we were to clinical.
They were second best to Wigan for long stretches of their opening game and were extremely lucky to beat Reading in their second. Then they had the good fortune to come up against a Tiote-less Newcastle yesterday. I stand by my conviction that they’ll not make top four this year.
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Sorry Kev,I didnt see the one yesterday,I saw the previous two (didnt see the Newcastle game) but Chelsea with Hazard were sensational in the second half of both.Hazard is outstanding.Torres is definately back and they have many supporting players too that are great.
Those players havent played together like our players havent played together.They have a much stronger team than us right now.
Liverpool also have a strong team and with Sahin will be stronger.
Man City are still strong,Man U probably will be about the same as they were
Arse have serious problems
We need 2 more quality players to compete.
August 26th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Arsenal 2 points
Spurs 1 point
Liverpool 1 point
Newcastle 3 points
If we hypothetically assume the worst and Cheatski come 3rd, the race for Champion’s League is wide open. Relax everyone….
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essexian76 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Sorry, you woke me up.!
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Everton 6 points!
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Fucking hell,you do like to moan,obviously without that I told you so tone though.
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LLL Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Sorry boss. Keep on clappin’
Frontwheel 2 Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Till my palms blister baby
Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
AVB’s Lilly White Flag Army!
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Who is this doyen of calm positivity that has hacked Habib’s account?
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Habib Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Stoke vs Arsenal at home does that to me. A draw so dour watching Rhino semen dry would have been more entertaining.
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Watching Stoke today I’ll be happy if we can come out the other end of our games with them with all our players intact, never mind the points.
August 26th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Hazard had plenty enough winter to deal with in Europe, despite the break. He is the best footballer for his age and playing history I have seen. There must be others near or like him out there. May be that Fryers kid was/is one. And Coulbaly? Just kidding… though the grass is (always?) greener…
As to AVB and where we finish in the PL I am with Kojac and his ilk. As I usually am. Be alert but also realistic. Be demanding of high standards, improvement, etc., but also have patience.
Ca y ira, as the chaps across the Manche would say.
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Gary B Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Hazard looks the best of the children Chel$ki have bought but he needs to change his studs as, every time I see him, he keeps falling over.
Reminds me of Andy Johnson who got 15 pens in his first PL season with Palace, then someone called him a diver and from then on, he had to score proper goals.
With him and wobbly legged Torres, Chel$ki are nailed on to be the penalty kings this season, as long as the refs keep ‘accidentally’ buying it.
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August 26th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Hazard great player but fades away……easy to play against in this league for most PL teams….Hernandez on his way to the Lane this week from OT….just a hunch C. O. Y. S
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I had roast leg of pork for dinner today. Just a haunch, just a haunch…
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Yachtsman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
And Berbastuff?
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Yachtsman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Berbastuffing
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August 26th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
There were more knees jerking on here yesterday than at a Michael Flathead Riverdance revival. Sheesh.
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Hartley Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
I’m not sure how to react to that statement without thinking long and hard about it…..
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Gary B Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
As long as they weren’t trembling.
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Hartley Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Ahhh the Ossie reference……good times
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Gary B Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Obtuse reference to Hitler sty;e dancing
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August 26th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Real Madrid must be getting pretty close to their ‘You can fcuk off’ time by now. All Levy’s fault, should’ve put ‘no time wasters’ in the ad.
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Habib Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Levy may not always get his man…. But he always gets his money
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Hot_Spur Reply:
August 26th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
I hope RM do tell Levy to FO, we need Modric, that’s been painfully obvious in both games, and in the pre season games. If he goes we won’t get a replacement anywhere near as good.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Harry … Is that you? your ghost writer is letting you down? (or maybe the editor is on holiday)
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
i have nail gunned the leaders scrortum to the chair but cannot find trousers big enough to smuggle him out of the building.
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August 26th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Nothing to pay on that darling.
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August 27th, 2012 at 1:41 am
For what it’s worth, I thought we played as well as we ever have for 60 minutes without Modric…
..and for those lamenting the use of 2 defensive MFs at home, we completely controlled the game for the first hour with Sandro & Livermore – we created chance after chance; W Brom’s only attempts were long range free kicks…
Sandro wouldn’t have been replaced if this was late September: but, in August, players need protecting…
I’m gutted about our capitulation in the final minutes but I don’t think it can be pinned on AVB… Levy’s got a lot of work to do, this week, if he wants to give AVB the tools to do the job…
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PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 4:38 am
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Anthony Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 7:55 am
If DL does not get the deals done then it is DL who has his head on the block. No excuses this time . He needs to back AVB by making the 2 or 3 signings we all know are needed. One forward….. Llorente, Falcao or Damaio, one central midfielder….Moutinho or Dembele, possibly MVilla and one back up for Bale/Lennon…..Willian or Remy .
We have let some good targets go already..eg Johnson, Sahin, Cazorla, so whatever DL does come up had better be good. No Signings like Saha, Nelsen please. Quality only.
Also can we please shift the usual suspects out, no need to mention names but at least 3 are surplus. None of those 3 are Daws or Thud. Why can’t we keep them and get them properly fit by playing in the Europa and League Cups ? Both when fully fit have got plenty to offer and our squad is bound to run into injury crisis because it always does especially at centre half.
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August 27th, 2012 at 8:13 am
oHAI real madrid, Howdy Partner.
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August 27th, 2012 at 8:21 am
Any thoughts on the real Madrid”partnership” hh
Oh and luka gone
levytime me thinks
*waiting for a new blog*
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August 27th, 2012 at 8:36 am
shows that Levy has taken his time to make the Modric saga count. I have no doubt that we’re going to make more from this deal than any reported transfer sum long term. Anyone up for a real friendly at the lane next season?
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August 27th, 2012 at 9:03 am
“White NOT a gamechanger?”
FFS I watched every game he played once he left falkirk and even when DB was stuck in the mud White was running the show. His greatest game was home vs Rangers and despite the record one of his corners went straight into the net.
He had everything that Modric had plus attitude and coulod play deep or forward. When DB was replaced by Marchi in one? match, Mackay pulled white back into deep midfield and swapped roles with him and (IIRC) scored some goals.
Our decline started when he died NOT when DB retired although that did not help.
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August 27th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Hats off to Levy once again. People have to understand that in the modern game-money or the lack of it, dictates everything. Levy’s brokered the best deal possible for the club, and with it a partnership that in both playing and financial terms could prove beneficial in the long term for us. Levy’s innovation in getting something out of nothing is remarkable-when you consider the Under Armour kit deal, the dual sponsorships and all of the other add-on’s that at least allow us to hang on in there until we’re either sold to an Oligarch or the world energy price collapses!
Building a new stadium won’t matter a jot-just ask any Goon and FFP is yet to be tested, and I won’t be holding my breath on that either-so a continuation of barter, make do and mend is the only option available to us-and fortunately we’ve got the best bloke for the job at the helm.
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Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Well make that lousy ******* Lewis SPEND some of his currency exchange cash. Having an owner like him is like drinking and not peeing: pointless as well as dangerous.
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essexian76 Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Lewis has no interest in football whatsoever, it’s an investment vehicle for him-nothing more. Tottenham have to stand alone as a club-get used to it-that’s the way it is for now-there is no money down the back of the sofa and between 60-80% of profits are ploughed back in wages-you do the maths? We want Bale to stay-it costs-we want Ade back-it costs!
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Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Ohh I agree that he wont spend a penny but that does not mean I cannot whinge about him being a poser who is simply allowing the opposition to disappear into the distance while he watches “his club”.
IMHO he is as useful as an udder on a bull.
New stadium? Even Brighton have one.Good old ENIC!!
Stable, efficient and totally noncompetitive.
The miracle is how well we have done despite bthem.
essexian76 Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Well, we happen to be in London, a very, very,populated part of London I may add.
We’ve tried to be realistic about changing things and save 200m, but 5 miles appeared a mile too far in some peoples eyes. So we’re having to stay put and build a new one from scratch and at considerable expense, while still trying maintain a decent team on the field. Even Arsenal cannot hold onto players when faced with bids from the Oligarchs teams and we’re in a far worse position than they are.
As you appear to be a support of some standing-surely you must recall the Irving Scholar years and his desire to elevate us into the upper tier almost sent us into oblivion. I said to RW on many occasions how I envy his memories of great players , when my introduction was the likes of Ian Moores and Terry Naylor. Were we a small club then? Youre blaming ENIC for something that’s out of their hands-try blaming Scholar for putting us back 25 years, because that’s when it all went titties up for us
August 27th, 2012 at 9:06 am
RM partnership? my ****!!! Last ditch stand to stop Levy’s face falling off.
We sweep their floors? Or do we just refill the towel and toilet paper?
Ohh That’s right” real Madrid FEEDER club.
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essexian76 Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 9:32 am
Yeah, brilliant insight
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Michelle Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Perhaps. But show me otherwise.
Levy didn’t even get his 40 mill so we were taken to the cleaners.
However, I would like to read your optimistic take and its justification.
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essexian76 Reply:
August 27th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
you have a little trawl on the web, and show me anything directly quoted by Levy saying he wanted 40m?-quotes from the following are totally unacceptable-inside spokesman-Harry Redknapp-Modric’s agent-The Daily (insert any rag of your choosing), The Sunday(ditto)The Metro..ect-ect..All the Levy said was ” A suitable offer from a suitable club”, same as he did this time last year, in which we held onto the player and increased his value by 5m, as opposed to the Chelsea offer of 28m plus a has-been of Chelsea’s choosing-over to you!
August 28th, 2012 at 3:31 am
essexian76 to your comments:
1)I thought I read that Chelsea’s offer was 40mill last season ans 35 plus sturridge this season or are you (or I ) just being selective in our reading?
IMO Modric with FOUR years left was worth 40 million going by present rates and in that case you opinion (not trying to be rude) matters little.
IMO we were done & Levy has been made to look a fool for all of his last minute Alamo delay.
2) I have been around for a LONG time and , yes I do remember that scumbag Scholar who went so close to getting Ferguson and ruining the club. But I also remember the late 50s, the 60s, the early 70s , the 80s when we wre competitive with all bar Liverpool(still my greatest hate with MU just behind then our feeder club Chelsea) and IMO we have not even been static sunce Suagr but have retreated.
As I lived in Tottenham while at uni and nearby for nearly 50 yrs i know all about the area and its few ups and many downs but we ALL knew that we needed a 60k stadium long before the PL came.
Sugar like ENIC are not THFC lovers just greedy bastards out for more cash and I loathe them.
Give me even a short lived Blackburn sugar daddy or anyone who actually cares for the club and its supporters and is willing to invest unselfishly. We are a PRIME option for a sale but ENIC WONT invest and they WONT sell except for a ludicrous valuation. I have never trusted them or Levy while Lewis? My opinion would blacklist me.
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