Posted on Monday, 26th November 2012 by Harry Hotspur
Good afternoon.
Even the most ardent ‘I told you so’ merchants are struggling to find fault with a 3-1 win indoors over the great unwashed from the East End. That said I’m slightly surprised that more hasn’t been made out of how miserable West Ham were. Noble, Nolan and Diame had a bit of a go and when t hey eventually did press there was nobody for the second ball from Carroll’s headers.
Spurs were quite cagey in the opening exchanges and it took Defoe’s first goal before we appeared genuinely comfortable on the ball. Long range ‘shots’ and runs that petered out seemed the order of the day.West Ham were pretty awful. As toothless and witless as their support.
Caulker’s assist aside, Hugo had an decent game. He’s a spritely little fella and I feel a lot more comfortable with him in goal than Brad. He’s not better than Brad, they simply offer different things and I prefer what this guy has. He must however get a settled back four in front of him. Where for art thou, Benny?
Defensively he never really came under much fire. Offensively he made one memorable run during which he sneezed and his frontal lobe shot out of his nose and being the size of an ant’s arse it was lost in the grass. He won’t miss it. Then run ended with him also losing possession.
A remarkably measured game. Clearly he was instructed repeatedly not to hoof and it had sunk in. He was clearly brought on to diffusive the threat of Andy Carroll. The truth is he didn’t succeed and from memory Carroll won every ball. Mmmn.
He was having a steady enough game until the howler. One ‘new’ thing that our lads need to grasp is that punting the thing mindlessly is not on. It invariably hands possession to the other lot.
Commanding and thoughtful. Did anyone else spot him pleading for movement when trying to pass and take throw ins? Oh that must have been Tommy then…
Sam old same old. Some breathtaking passing that at once gave our play a lift. To counter this his movement was abysmal. More life in a tramp’s vest, And this shooting thing needs to be knocked on the head now. He hasn’t scored since forever and needs to stop shooting. I want Carroll given a go.
If all our players were as dedicated as he is, we’d win the Champions League. Left the pitch after vomiting. Word is he ate someone that disagreed with him.
Given how bloody awful they were he should have run rings around them, but he didn’t. I seriously get the impression he joins in when he’s in the mood. The assist was good, but that was an example of simply doing the right thing. Looking up and thinking quickly. He needs to employ this tactic every time he gets the ball.
At last. A proper performance. We now know what it was he was doing in training that kept getting him picked. If he can play like this and build from this, we could be on to something. Again, the opposition was pants, but you can’t help but feel slightly cheered by that showing.
Another improved effort but you have to ask why we aren’t getting this every week. We’ve enough on our plate without supposedly ‘world class’ players going missing or joining in when in the mood. He went through West Ham like he went through Norwich. We need to see him at it every week. No excuses. That Maicon business was a long time ago now.
What a goal. When wasn’t scoring he was of course serving up the usual. Selfish and wasteful. That’s what you get.
He looked pensive and rightly so. The fast food, Persian bazaar culture of the Premier League would have had him listed as having 2 games to save his job or some such gibberish had we lost. Hopefully he has faith in Hugo now. The sooner he can field a steady back four the better. Moussa clearly and understandably isn’t quite match fit. So it’s another week of sticking his head round the physio room door asking for updates.
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Posted in Blogs, Premiership, Tottenham Hotspur | Comments (200)
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November 26th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Totally disagree with your assessment of Huddlestone, as he had a stand out game and played it like a footballing quarterback-we all know he’s got the mobility of an oil tanker turning in a stream-but-he can ping it-and Boy, he pinged it good.
Perhaps Wessss-Taymmmm were made to look poor, by us having more fluidity and verve than we’ve shown of late?
That said I hope Siggy get’s an opportunity via the Europless League to bed in and prove himself to be the player we all hope he’ll be.
Carroll by the way-wins nost headers against most defenders-what we did was ‘mop up’ the threat better than when Gallas has played-again another for the Europless League team, I hope
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half_baked_spuds Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
totally disagreed with most of his assesments actually. I think hh is watching a differant game sometimes, witty though, i’ll give him that, factual? er no.
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MIKE T Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:14 am
hes obviously not at the match
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mattspurs Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Can’t really think that many of Hudd’s passes led to anything particularly productive, far too much sideways and too static. Without Sandro next to him he’d be terrible. I really want to like him there’s something just slightly too complacent about him – he needs to learn how to want to win.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Huddlestone at his best played in tandem with Modric-and yes,yesterday TH moved the ball side to side-by doing that it allows players to gain space and cause the opponents to re-think both their positions and where the threat’s coming from. Sandro’s job is exactly what we had Parker doing, but more dynamically and with better movement-it’s called team work-and it worked!
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Pretty sure it was Huddlestone’s through ball for Dempsey which led to our second and it was definitely Huddlestone who broke up the play resulting in our third. How much more productive do you want, for crying out loud?
Huddlestone was excellent yesterday and a little bit of recognition wouldn’t go amiss. We’re beginning to see the makings of a very useful partnership with him and Sandro. Add Dembele and the promising Carroll into the mix and the future’s looking very bright for our midfield prospects.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Cheers Unc, for a while I thought I was watching an entirely different game yesterday
UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
This Huddlestone (and Defoe) bashing is getting beyond a joke. I get the impression that the pair of them have to play twice as well as anyone else just to break even. Defoe’s goal yesterday was as good as you could wish to see anywhere; imagine the sensation it would be if Messi had scored it.
But no. He’s a flat-track bully and Huddlestone’s too fat. It’s really quite pathetic.
LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
I love Thudd and Defoe. They both have glaring strengths and almost equally glaring weaknesses. That’s probably why they fit so well at Spurs!
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Strangely enough I wouldn’t argue about that (Really), but Defoe is what is and I’m prepared to allow TH match time over a period to regain his form and adapt to AVB’s idea’s-same as I’m prepared to wait and see how we develop under AVB in general-yesterday I saw a chick of light, nothing more nothing less, but it was a spark that had missing before-the afterglow is wearing off now and I’m fuckussing (damned that Benitez) on Weds and wouldn’t ‘arf mind more of the same
SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
I am a great admirer of the Thud, and my only regret is that he can’t shoot as well as he can pass. The number of times I’ve seen that 70 yd cross field pass straight to the feet of Lennon, I’ve lost count of. A real joy to behold.
What worries me is that sooner or later,we are going to have Parker, Sandro, Dembele, Siggy and the Thud all competing for two or possibly three central midfield places depending on what formation we use, and I just don’t see any of that talent list being happy in the long term as bench warmers, and I have yet to mention that the Carrol lad, looks like he might be the real deal in the very near future.
Hartley Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Tommy Hudd was born to play for Tottenham……Jermain Defoe has the finest right footed shot I have seen……
LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Let’s not worry about having too many options in midfield just yet. Last I checked we were still somewhat short.
November 26th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
“He’s not better than Brad” At what doing an American accent?
Brad is a very good keeper and a top guy who’ll never let you down but Hugo is better than him in almost every department.
Early signs are that Hugo is the best since Clemence. I could be wrong there he may turn out to be the best since big Pat
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the man from room five Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
wow!
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the man from room five Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
actually- that deserves another wow!
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
He’s not wrong, though.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Not having seen Jennings in his early days-but going by the comments by some of the old codgers at the time-I know they all thought big Pat was a huge dud-I witnessed an England international in Clemence have a torrid time when he first arrived, but he battled through it to become almost legendary-just wondering if the same would happen today if players like those would’ve been the same amount of time to become as iconic as though mentioned became?
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david Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
When Pat first arrived he was very prone to flapping at crosses but that did not last too long and in the end, he used to come off his line and occasionally catch them one-handed.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Now that I do recall but my point was simply-players, even the great, need time to adapt as do managers-but we live in a pot noodle world I guess, but I’d sooner have a decent meal that takes to prepare and has good ingredients in it
david Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I see where you are coming from and think we are all too quick to judge, Pienaar was one who springs to mind, Boateng another and there was a time before the Milan games when Bale was getting stick from some who thought he was not up to it.
Prior to Sunday, Dempsey looked clueless to me when playing for us and I never really followed what he did at Fulham so had serious doubts but he looked a whole lot better on Sunday so lets hope it continues.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
In regards to Bale, it’s pretty easy to see why he’d never make a decent defensive full-back that’s for sure, it’s no wonder playing him there we never won a game.I was impressed by Rose’s attitude though, and would think he’s still a better full back than Naughton is, but hopefully he’ll learn…in time..maybe not
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Maybe this is how Clint got that eye
AVB..I want you to do this Clint
CD….What this boss?
AVB….No Clint…like this
AVB….. No!, FFS You feckin’ idiot
WHACK
CD………That freakin’ hurt boss
AVB……….There, there, but you’re getting now I see?
SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
In case there are any doubters, Big Pat is the best GK that Spurs ever had, and at his peak, was considered the best in the world.
November 26th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Agree with every single bit of this. You’ll have the usual Redknapp-ites saying that Defoe is worldclass and this is why we should play him, without realising that it probably could’ve been 20-0 if he’d actually do something other than stop, shift and lash. Bale and Lennon have been so hit and miss. It’s not a drop in form, he was never good, I don’t know where this rumour has come from. I honestly have no idea how he won the award last year. He is just fast, that is it. Huddlestone will always be too fat. In fact, is there anyway we could get Thudd and Walker to have a baby? Good to see Dempsey play well. Please, please, please tell me that’s the start of something…
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
We played Defoe because we don’t have another striker as the other idiot couldn’t contain his own pride for the teams cause-20-0?, you’re going a little overboard there, like anyone suggesting any of our players are World Class. Hudd’s too fat-Defoes crap-Lennon’s more miss than hit and Bales a sprinter-Mmmm…What did you like?
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half_baked_spuds Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
doggy poo; chelski and arse would love an in-form striker like defoe right now. Still, once an anti-defoe bigot always one I guess? What’s the poor little sod gotta do to please some numpties? Dribble skilfully into non-threatening areas of the pitch without scoring many (aside from tap-ins) like ade!
When will some people realise that GOALS win matches, I don’t care if defoe spends 90% of each match swinging from the crossbar as long as he keeps getting goals (9 so far – late Nov).
So for gawd’s sake change the record and stop whining like some spoilt toddler.
HH doesn’t help with his warped view of matches; AVB has the sun shining out of his arse regardless whilst certain spurs players are one step removed from the devil incarnate regardless of what they do on the pitch. This is the plonker who says spurs fans shouldn’t boo their own team. lol; hypocrite.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Could it be the simple fact that there just aren’t strikers available right now, as it’s not only us who are light in that deportment?
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
‘Department’
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Spud-I-like
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Just my opinion, but Defoe looked so much better when Ade was taking the pressure off him.
PLaying 4-5-1 with Defoe as the lone gunman, is a miniscule improvement on 4-5-1 with 3mp.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
No, you’re spot on Dub, but he played well yesterday-and I’m really pleased for him-and that goal will do him a power of good..I hope, because we’ve another 2 games without Ade regardless…but yesterday we had far better movement off the ball, mainly IMO because Hudd was spraying around and they’d set up to hurt us down the middle…my heart was in my mouth when JD went in for that tackle mind?…I thought he was a gonner to be honest
November 26th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Best Performance of the season so far. Analysis pretty spot on from where I was sitting
Lloris is pretty athletic and comes bravely – love the way he hugs the ball like a baby! Distribution good too, puts the ball where players can move onto it. Did he call for the ball?
Walker had a pretty decent game, one little moment where he just needed to clear at left back and nearly got caught again.
Caulker mad a hash for the goal but is increasingly impressive.
Jan – he’s a class act but sometimes his runs can leave us exposed especially with Bale deciding he doesn’t track back these days.
Sandro – what a player, he’s carrying Huddleston at the moment.
Hudd – I desperately want him to be good but he’s just not got the mental side right. too much sidewards and backwards.
Lennon – didn’t see enough of the ball, almost due to bale wanting to dictate every attack more than anything else.
Bale – he’s a player who has it all, he has however lost all interest in tracking back or defending – Defoe covered a few times as Bale loitered on the halfway line. maybe we should just buy another winger and play him up front?
Deuce – had a great 20 minutes, need more of that. Best game (after a load of shit ones) for Spurs.
Defoe – glad to say I moaned that he hadn’t touched the ball for 25 minutes, 20 seconds later he scored his best ever Spurs goal. Clearly my moan worked, well done for proving me wrong!
Dembele – good to see him back, that ability to beat a man is what we’ve been missing in the middle.
LIvermore – Actually did OK.
Dawson a huge improvement on Gallas – a calm head organising well could be really good for Walker.
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
If I had to think of any ‘told you so’ stuff, then I’d plumb for the fact that yesterday proved we can indeed beat poor quality teams at home without players such as Adebayor, Kaboul, Benny, Parker and Dembele.
Overall, it was just good to see a solid and convincing 90 minutes of football, and was good that AVB himself admitted we hadn’t seen one until yesterday. At least he’s aware. Sometimes managers seem to lose connection with reality and then you are f***ed with a Kenny Daglish / Captain Ahab style madman at the mast. I worried that his post-Arsenal comments were hinters that this might be the case, but he was sensible here.
I’d agree with Essex, thought Tom had a good day. He does need a bit more time than most to get around the pitch but in games like yesterday his quick and accurate passing compensates. He is also at least trying to tackle and block and it’s coming off sometimes too. As for the shooting, sooner or later he’ll welly one in from 30-40 yards and he’ll be able to get that haircut.
Lennon is an enigma. I don’t think it’s that he joins in when he feels like it, I think he is a player that still plays with a lot of fear at times. Part of this is good, he’s much more defensively responsible than Bale. But he often chooses the safe option rather than ripping into his full back and his confidence in front of goal is literally non-existent. Worked out alright yesterday when he had Defoe to square to, but how often have we seen him get into goal scoring positions and then panic and not take the shot because he’s looking around to lay it off for someone?
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LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
*plump not plumb, just auto-correcting before Mr. Spellcheck humiliates me again
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
It get my goat more than a little with Lennon as Bale belts up and down with gay abandon-loses possession then meanders back-Lennon’s available for every ball-but equally back tracks and covers for Walker time and time again-still we each see what we want to see I suppose
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Sorry LLL that was in agreement with your post BTW
LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Eh, what, what was that then?
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Cheeky Sod-or is it-really you
LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
What’s happening? Posts appearing all over the shop!
LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Cheeky? What did I do this time?
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I re-read my reply to you and thought it looked like I was in disagreement, which wasn’t the case, that’s all-so I thought I’d clarify-but if you want to argue about it-fine!
LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Yeah, why not, it’s been a couple of days or so now. Erm, you go first…
November 26th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
HH’S Mum was a West Ham fan, the picture above is his uncle who has a fruit stall on Queens market
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
The lady in the photo above is my mum.
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A_Felching Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Is it true she used a 3 compartment sholley to push you around in when you were an infant and you shared with a Jack Russell and the tripe you were reared on?
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
It was a stuffed Jack Russell. We couldn’t afford one that needed feeding.
Billy Legit Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
It’s Michelle.
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Things changed soon as JD scored that gem… we became more confident in possession, and after the break came out wanting more, rather than sit back
Dempsey finally came good and gave more than a hint of better things to come.
Hugo is Brad with the added gutsy sweeper quality.. hope AVB doesn’t disrupt his momentum now
Watching Hudd ping that ball so beautifully was the icing on the cake… and sorry HH, if anyone can shoot from far Thudd is high on that list.. got this feeling we’ll see his afro off soon now
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Credit where it’s due I say-but I think that hairstyle is rather fetching, but when it goes it won’t be a tap-in that’s for sure.
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I’m lovin’ Hugo, quick off of his line, catches good, punches good, reflexes of a scolded puma and repect to AVB for managing the transitionn from Brad very well.
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BrizzleSpur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Yes!
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I like Thudd and he is trying bless but he is the chubby lad with a gifted foot that cant do everyhting but what he does is generally very good and I think I probably need a comma now or a fullstop at least
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Disagree with Thud and Defoe comments. Thud had a good game except for his shooting. It might appear that he hardly moved but he got into his defensive positions consistently just not at break neck pace. I don’t know what JD has to do to earn your respect. Is he world class? No. Is he a good striker? Think his record speaks for itself.
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November 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
wake up harry.
where you sleeping somewhere.
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November 26th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I’m with HH on the Thudd analysis. A few nice balls across the pitch but so so lazy. His movement is abysmal. As mentioned, I saw Jan screaming at the midfield to drop in to receive throw-ins and Thudd rarely made himself available. He stinks all day of a luxury player. Thats if your idea of luxury is eating out at TGI Fridays now and again.
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mattspurs Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
is he still allowed ketchup under AVB?
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StuSpur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
AVB has apparently introduced portugese ‘Mild’ Nando’s sauce
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November 26th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Tommy and Walker had “okay” games, to be honest. It just so happens that an “okay” performance is comfortably better than their performances in most other games. They deserve credit for it though as form isn’t a switch that you flick on and off, when you’re in bad form you have to work hard and you’ll improve little by little.
I’m always positive about AVB and Spurs but I’d be cautious about taking too much from this performance but West Ham were very poor. Even though they won plenty of headers off their hoofballs there didn’t seem to be any plan as to how they convert that into goals, they just hoped the ball would somehow work it’s way to a player in the box for an easy tap in. Great to see Dembele get back on the pitch again, hopefully he’ll be able to play more of a part against Liverpool.
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November 26th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Thought we were very mediocre in the first half as once again we could not break down a team packing everyone behind the ball…..
Too many long speculative shots and passing around the edges…. Looked like we couldn’t figure out how to lift the latch on the gate….
JD’s effort obviously changed everything… So frustrating that we get so few glimpses of goals even close to that one….
Hugo, Hugo, Hugo…. Have not seen a single comment that the turning point in the game was his dive to take it off Nolan. That save turned into the 2nd goal…
More, more, more… Need to keep this up Wed night. Glad Sandro is OK and maybe even get to see PNB on the bench… Certainly an ungrade on JJ (oh I mean Livermore)….
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
He made that save look easy, when in fact he anticipated the ball across the box and he was sharply out to collect it. Most other ‘keepers would have stayed on their line resulting in a tap in for Nolan.
The only thing I can fault him for was not screaming at Caulker to leave the ball in which led to their goal. But that aside he was very assured and looks every inch the ‘keeper we want him to be.
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LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Point of fact: Friedel isn’t coming for that one. Game changer.
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LosLorenzo Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Can’t remember where I read it, but someone wrote somewhere, claiming to have been in earshot of the incident, that Hugo did in fact give Caulker a big ole’ shout that went unheeded.
This was someone writing something on t’internets, so it’s basically the opposite of a reliable source.
I hope that was helpful.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Don’t forget Caulker had just got a huge whack from Carroll-ringing in the ears-addled senses-and a Spanish yell, it’s understandable I’d say
hoofing Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Is Dawson speaking Spanish now? What a back line-
Mhspurs Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Watched it on the pc. Could clearly hear hugo call the ball.
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Well that’s told me.
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Frontwheeler Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
We were in the paxton and heard Hugo shout but agree with Essex caulker had taken 2 whacks in the head (think cant control whacked him in the mush as soon as he got back on after treatment from the carrol wallop) just before that poor clearence so he may have an excuse
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November 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Hopefully our team in Europe will be something like
Brad-Naughton-Gallas-Dawson-Smith-Huddlestone-Parker-Carroll-Falque-Siggy-Ade
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November 26th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
What a wonderfully harsh review.
Defoe gets a hard time from his critics but i’d take him over most the other blokes that we’ve had up front in recent times.
He had a decent game yesterday. I’m not about to go and buy a shirt with his name on it. I’m not going to carve his name into my arm with a stanley blade. I just appreciate him for what he is.
Imagine if we moved him on again and kept Pav? A few of our wins have come down to what type of game he’s having, so we’re not in any position to be complacent.
Yesterday was important for a couple of reasons. It’s sparked a belief that we can put something tidy together and has put us on track to climb the table. This season may be painful for some but it is not hopeless.
Of course, we are always only one bad performance away from hearing “I told you so”. But lets enjoy the win and save those arguments for a less tidy performance.
Those Spammers are a bunch of ars*h*les and our guys pushed em down a notch in the Prem. And there’s a couple more pretenders above us too that need brushing aside.
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I’d certainly take Defoe over Torres and Sturridge right now. And Welbeck. And Giroud. And Podolski…
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A_Felching Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Defoe is shite
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Spurstacus Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Is that the unabridged version?
Harry Hotspur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
I have his album. Ha’penny Bridge Blues.
Spurstacus Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
To be sure.
BrizzleSpur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Top scorers are Ba and Suarez whos clubs currently sit beneath us in the Prem.
Player games Goals Assists Shots
VP 13 8 4 42
Defoe 13 7 2 56
Van Persie cost Manure how much? His wages are what now?
Think about what players VP has in support in relation to what Defoe has had.
Still early in the season I know and I will be very interested to see how they change.
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BrizzleSpur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
That all looked a lot tidier when I typed it out….
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
And all RVP cost was 58 million,bargain-we should’ve Goon for him instead
November 26th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
wonder who sandro ate?
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November 26th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
I absolutely don’t agree with your analysis on Thudd. Did you or anybody here really watch the match yesterday? Or did you just cut and paste comments from the Wigan match?
Sandro had 3 interceptions and maybe 1 or 2 completed forward passes the entire match. Sandro made Thudd look like Modric yesterday.
Thudd had 7 interceptions, one led to the first goal and his interception of Carroll led to the third goal.
Thudd’s passes were instrumental in almost every shot and attack we had yesterday.
His pass that setup the second goal was absolutely brilliant – maybe only one or two other players in the premiership could make that pass. For those that were sleeping, Thudd faked that he was going to pass back towards his own goal, spun a 180 and instantly slid a perfect pass directly into the path of Dempsey up the middle, who then setup Defoe for the goal.
Then throw in Thudd’s 98% completion rate (which was leaps and bounds above Sandro’s), several blocks and critical clearances in the box, and you have my MOTM.
Granted, Thudd’s shooting is not back yet to where it was before the ankle injury, but the rest of his game is finally back to his previous excellent level, so I can’t imagine the shooting will be far behind. He did launch a hammer blast around the 70th minute that was headed into the upper left hand corner and almost decapitated McCartney.
If he continues to play like this, AVB is going to be left with some tough decisions about what to do with Dembele. If you sit Thudd to play Dembele, then Dembele has to drop way too deep to get on the ball to be effective. And you are left with a massive drop off in your ability to defend. Neither Sandro, Parker, or Jake are capable of getting Dembele the ball on the other half of midfield.
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LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Surely the solution is a midfield 3 of Thudd, Sandro and Dembele? Sandro deep, Tom hovering around the centre to receive the ball and pass it, Dembele further forward, both pressing the defence and receiving the ball / making runs and dribbling as he does.
Granted you sacrifice Dumper, but up until yesterday that hasn’t looked much of a sacrifice.
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UnkleKev Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Sandro = ball-winner, Dembele = box-to-boxer, Huddlestone = playmaker. It’s the perfect Villas-Boas combination.
Having to drop Dempsey to accommodate the three of them is the icing on the cake.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
So do you change the side for Weds or not LLL?
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LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
This depends to some extent on the fitness of Sandro and Dembele obviously…
However, I think to drop Dumper after he’s finally done something decent would be a bad move for the manager. So perhaps we don’t change the side, go similar again and bring Dembele on for the last 30 minutes – in place of who I’m not sure!
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I was thinking along the same lines-and perhaps have a change in midfield for the Fulham game, allowing some players to recharge the batteries, because we’ve got another bloody fixture the following Thursday.
Harry Hotspur Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Defending Huddlestone is a surreal exercise.
Spellbound by a few majestic passes and blinded by the light.
As for harking on about his injury, when was that? He’s been a slacker for years. Unsellable/un-loanable even to Stoke.
Big, cuddly, likable Tommy the teddy bear? Nope, big, cuddly, likable …waste of rations.
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daytripper11 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I doubt that Andy Carroll is thinking of Thudd as a teddy bear after he ran into the Thudd wall four separate times yesterday.
Going back five or six seasons now, you have consistently slammed Thudd, while giving legendary status to a group of midfielders that were all duds: JJ, Zokora and Sarge.
I suffered through an entire season of vomiting while you talked up Sarge, who Sandro is exactly equal to at this stage in his development; a totally inept attacker who is lost on the ball, unable to deliver a forward pass, and runs around like a wild animal, constantly losing track of his runners and his position and exposing his defenders.
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Klinsi Klinik Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
The Sarge, Bless him, is no comparison to Sandro…Sandro is Dave Mackay reincarnated (OK I know he hasn’t shuffled onto better just yet, but you get my drift…) as far as I’m concerned and most times is looking for a forward/progressive pass. His fiendish winning of the ball resulted in JDs 3rd goal yesterday (yes, yes Hudd got a little touch in its way as well, Sandro did the winning) and it isn’t the 1st time he has won the ball a long way back and resulted in a goal before now.
Sandro is quality, Hudd is average…we have around 5 maybe 6 CL Quality players at present, and we need another 6 at least !!
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Behave yourself Harry-the bloke had a series of injuries and was effectively out for 2 seasons-I’d suggest the Stoke loan deal was simply to get him fit and return a leaner meaner machine- However,injuries have forced AVB to play him earlier than he or Hudd wanted or expected, but such is life-he played well yesterday and this blogs about yesterdays performance I thought?
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PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Hogwash
PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
@HH
Spurstacus Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
I did get it. Would Oh Lordy pick a Gareth Bale of cotton? Would oh Lordy pick a Gareth Bale of cotton a(ll) day?
Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Fcuk me Spurstcus…only took you three days
SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:58 am
@daytripper re 5.12 pm.
I am with you in praise of Thud, and I think Hartley summed it up beautifully when he said, “Tommy Hudd was born to play for Tottenham”.
However, I don’t think the comparison with Sandro does your argument any justice, as effectively, they are players with different roles, and its a bit like comparing Defoe with Verthongen. I think they both had good games yesterday, but the Thud’s contribution did shine.
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November 26th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
It was great to see a good, sustained team performance for a full 90 minutes; over the years that’s been rare for Tottenham but I hope we now see it often under AVB.
Lloris, Vertonghen, Sandro and Bale are special players and if Dembele can stay fit he will be in the same category. The squad is still incomplete but with just one or two quality signings in January I believe we could be as good as any club in the premiership.
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LosLorenzo Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
“just one or two quality signings”
I’ve just had a Harry Redknapp flashback.
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klinsmannfan Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Apologies LosLorenzo – I’m no HR fan but I do think this squad could achieve great things with a couple of reinforcements.
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LosLorenzo Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
No need to apologise. I hope you’re right.
Spurstacus Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
I bought a truss. Made a world of difference to me.
TMWNN Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
We’ve been just one or two short of a competitive side for years. One or two quality players come in one door, only for one or two quality players to exit another.
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November 26th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
10 Million Quid doesn’t look so bad anymore…..
http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germany/2012/11/25/3555672/rafael-van-der-vaart-expects-to-be-out-until-2013
Tell me, have we ever seen this before?
Loved the player, hated the hamstrings…
#itsallsylviesfault
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david Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
VDV obviously needs time off to buy and wrap Sylvies presents. Can’t blame him really.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:07 am
I reckon unwrapping them is even more fun
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November 26th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Heard on radio today Huntelaar is moving to London for 6 million in January.
Trouble is we are not the only London club looking for a striker/ goal scorer.
Anyone at the game yesterday think Carroll could be decent in a good side ? I have only seen the highlights but he seemed to win every aerial ball.
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LLL Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
No to Carroll, fecking cart horse. Plus poo would want at least 15m for him – double helping of no thanks. Huntelaar now, he would be more interesting.
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Lordy Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Couldn’t agree more, wouldn’t want to waste £1 on him yes he wins a hell of a lot of ariel ball and uses his elbows quite a bit but you buy him and you only play one way hoof everything up to him and if you buy him thats what you should do. We are Tottenham Hotspur and should be attractive even if its costs us its in our make up as much as its in Baddiels Chelsea to be racist or West Ham to be shit
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:34 am
I recall that when Carrol was transferred to the Bindippers, there were some on here who were cursing Levy for not buying him. But they also cursed him for not signing Suarez and or Torres
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:06 am
I love watching Surarez-really, I’d like nothing more than to see him in a lilywhite
notsohotspurs Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:05 am
He’s a fat Peter Crouch
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LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:39 am
Worse than that. He’s a shit Peter Crouch.
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LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:46 am
A fat, shit Peter Crouch.
Hartley Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:10 am
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:09 am
Defoe and Carroll? I reckon that could be pretty awesome myself, but hey ho
November 26th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Speaking to West Ham fan today about the behaviour of their fans yesterday. He’s response was:
Now I have been to a fair of games but not all games of course. Has anyone hear ever heard Spurs fans behave in such a manner and to revert to such sickening chants about opposing teams former players ?
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:17 am
Who are you quoting please?
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November 26th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Zis eez ze crackeeng.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2238720/Joey-Barton-French-accent-Video-watch-midfielders-hilarious-post-match-interview.html
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Listen: I will say this only once: Hilarious
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 26th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
He gives me indigestion….Oh,Rennes
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November 26th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
For those The Thick Of It Fans… I saw Peter Capaldi at my University t’other day, sketching. None of the future generation recognised him. I did, as did another ‘mature’ person. Only one of us had the bottle to say hello to him. Her.
BTW he looks just as scary in real life.
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November 26th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I find myself now becoming a doubter. When I watch games like yeterday’s, I think we were very good. But then I ask myself, “Were we good, or were they just poor”? Are we the real deal? Is AVB a “wunderkinder” or a flash in the pan at Porto.
The questions are rhetorical, but our forthcoming PL fixture list looks relatively kind for the next two months. I think if wev are the real deal, we will be challenging for 3rd by the time we play Manure on Jan 20th.
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November 26th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
I can’t believe some of the Huddites on here, the bloke is a passenger. He is the weak link in the side, how he gets into our squad is beyond me. A midfielder afraid to tackle, you could not make it up.
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skankehmonkeh Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:22 am
Stats for Thudd, game at home vs WHU:
Passes: 57 (Highest in team)
Pass accuracy: 91% (Highest in team)
Long balls: 13 (second highest behind Daws)
Accurate long balls: 12 (highest in team)
Touches: 75 (joint highest in team with Walker)
Tackles: 3 (joint highest in team with Walker)
Hardly a passenger.
Also, Thudd is not fat at all, he is lean, just a mountain of a man.
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LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:40 am
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:42 am
I hate stats, but I love these ones
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PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 7:28 am
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the man from room five Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
67% of statistics are made up…
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
50% of me wants to believe that stat
notsohotspurs Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:55 am
Thats why we got rid of Modric. That boy couldn’t tackle either.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:23 am
Makes you wonder how with only 2 mids… Modders and Hudd-we pissed over Chelsea and the Goons over a three day period..tackles!… who needs flippin’ tackles when you can knock the ball 70 yds or play your way through the buggers..!
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Hartley Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:55 am
What a tackler that Hoddle was, and don’t forget Modric, boy could he tackle, Ginola, Waddle, White, Jones, Bale, Gascoigne, Peters, Ardiles, Conn, Villa, Hazard, Galvin and Nayim, all great tacklers………
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Don’t forget Lloris, Ronnie will kill you
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A_Felching Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
That is why we never win fuck all, I’m 41 and have seen us lift the odd cup but at least I have seen non tackling midfielders who can ping the odd nice pass
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November 27th, 2012 at 12:06 am
.
I won’t be coming out from behind the sofa til ABV% has at least one top 4 finish under his belt, no idea how long that might be but arry reddies reckons that this season, for Spurs, top 4 is nailed on, so I’ve booked a glitzy night out in May.
Still not absolutely sure whether Sandro is an as yet unpolished quality animal, or just an animal, he appears to need a tad more composure and vision once he’s taken the ball from his crumpled opposite. Walker had a good game, I see no need to slag him off, the boy done good. Defoe will never be consistent so we have to make the most of these good days until we acquire the real McCoy. Daws continues to be not quite good enough for what we aspire to be and Dempsey won’t make it, trust me, not even as peripheral squad. I agree with some on here that it would be good to see Carroll get some games under his belt.
Oh and I’ve got a question; who reckons QPR will stay up and who thinks they’ll go down?
Anyone?
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skankehmonkeh Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:26 am
Depends how much Harry is given to spend in January. If he’s given less than £25 million, they are going down (I just pulled that figure out of my posterior).
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:40 am
QPR will go down and I predict that when HR is booed by their supporters, HR will say, “Idiots! When I came here they had 4 points from 13 games.
Regarding Dempsey, his signing reminds me so much of the Darren Bent signing. He played a better game yesterday, but like Darren Bent, I ask myself why have we spent so much money on this particular player and what does he add to the team that justifies him wearing the shirt? I do hope he soon proves me wrong.
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Hartley Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:57 am
To be fair to Bent, who I never liked due to his arseanal style name, he did score goals in the proper manner….
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melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:07 am
in the net by any means possible,even used a beach ball once
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:25 am
Can’t see how they can stay up-as we don’t have three or four ‘good for them-not for us’ players to flog to him this time
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November 27th, 2012 at 12:32 am
Not to sure if anyone else has posted on this but I recently heard a book review on Irish Radio regarding “Snobs Law” http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0957155905/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/280-7755357-5716717?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
The basic premise of the book is that the more that racism and sectarianism declines the more laws they pass after the fact. He points out that the “golden age” of racism in football was the 70′s and 80′s, but specific laws to deal with racism at stadia were not introduced for 20 years, by which time, the problem had largely gone away.
Similarly, there was an improvement in the behaviour of Celtic-Rangers game, after which they introduced laws punishing sectarianism.
He argues that many of the laws are being introduced, not because there is a serious problem, but because some people may claim to be offended, and as such, the new legislation can be seen as an attack on free speech.
Are you reading this Mr Herbert?
Seriously though, there is a certain degree of hypocrisy about racism in football. I have yet to hear of an incident where a black player has complained when his own supporters are racially abusing an opponent, but that is because I am sure that most of them have hearing like Arsehole Whingers vision. The day that players criticise their own supporters will see the beginning of the end of Racism in football.
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skankehmonkeh Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:41 am
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8286578/
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LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:44 am
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LLL Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:44 am
It would be much easier for a white player to criticize their own fans for being racist to another team’s player. They would get a lot less stick for it, they would in fact most likely be held up as brave and noble. Whereas a black player is more likely to be accused of playing the ‘race card’, complaining too much and will get lots more abuse in general. imo.
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:14 am
Thanks for that and good for Benayoun. I had written elsewhere earlier in the day, about the irony of supporters with ethnic players in their team, racially abusing their opponents. It goes a long way to proving the suspicion that racists are inherently stupid.
I’ve got to say that everytime I hear someoine tell me that they can’t get a job because of all the immigrants having taken them, I think to myself, “Yeah. What a shame. You would have been so good at cleaning Khazis”.
Regarding whether it would have more effect if the complaining player was white, my thinking is that unless they are just paying lip service, that his colleagues, black and white, would support him.
But you seemed to have stumbled over my real point in any case. The fact that players only seem to complain when they are the victims of abuse, and are impervious to when the opposition is being abused, makes me wonder how much of this is about genuine indignity, and how much of it is “playing the race card”.
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PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 8:13 am
“I’ve got to say that everytime I hear someoine tell me that they can’t get a job because of all the immigrants having taken them, I think to myself, “Yeah. What a shame. You would have been so good at cleaning Khazis”
Funny,you thinking others are racist,when your thoughts that immigrants only clean toilets could be racial in itself.Only saying mind
Urbane Sturgeon Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:19 am
.
Define ‘largely gone away’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_association_football
It appears to be alive and kicking.
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:55 am
It was a hell of a lot worse in the 70/80′s when the National Front was actively recruiting at West Ham, Chelsea and Millwall.
In the 60′s it was virtually non-existent when there was only one black footballer that I can remember in the entire league, Albert Johanneson. The worst I can remember in the way of a racist incident was when Mark Lazarus of QPR jumped into the crowd at Fulham because of anti-semitic chants. A point I keep comning back to on this subject is the stupidity of the racists. At the time, George Cohen was playing for Fulham.
As black players started to appear at the beginning of the 70′s, there was quite a degree of abuse, but as they became more prevalent people worked out how stupid they were racially abusing the opponents when they had black players in their own team and this started to eliminate a lot of the racism that existed at that time.
I think in fairness, apart from the NF hotspots, most of the racism was more of the “winding up” rather than the “master race” variety.
I haven’t looked at the Wiji article, but I would qualify my remarks to the effect that I was referring to the British game.
As far as Spurs was concerned, many people think our first black player was Chris Hughton in 1977, but our first black player was in 1910 with Walter Tull. He is actually quite a fascinating character, and was the only black man to become an officer in the British Army.
There is a Wiki page for him, though it fails to mention that his nickname from the Spurs fans at the time was “Darkie”.
Here is an extract
Tull signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 1909, after a close-season tour of Argentina and Uruguay, making him the first black/mixed heritage professional footballer to play in Latin America. Tull made his debut for Tottenham in September 1909 at inside forward against Sunderland, making him the second mixed heritage player to play in the top division after goalkeeper Arthur Wharton of Darlington, but only made 10 first-team appearances, scoring twice, before he was dropped to the reserves. [5] This may have been due to the racial abuse he received from opposing fans, particularly at Bristol City, whose supporters used language “lower than Billingsgate” according to a report at the time in the Football Star newspaper.[6]
Sadly he was killed in 1918 at the age of 29.
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melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:04 am
billy nicks wife was called darkie as well.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:18 am
There’s a brilliant BBC film about Tull. It was shown recently and Northampton Town actually named a road Walter Tull Way. THFC released Tull, after a game in Preston where the abuse he’d got made his position at Spurs untenable, so they say. Still I’ve witnessed it first hand with Spurs supporters with Garth Crooks as i posted a month or back.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:01 am
@Melc-The Old English way of names-was to highlight either a profession, trade or characteristic of the parent-Black meant dark-sallow-White-ashen-pale skinned and so on-although where Green came from I couldn’t tell you?
Boy Charioteer Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 7:54 am
Splendid post Spurredon. I have been a Spurs fan for 50 years. The last 43 living in Leicester. Although our multicultural city is renowned for it’s racial harmony today we have had quite a torrid time of it in the 70′s and 80′s where the National Front and it’s ugly offspring British Movement were quite prevalent. The NF weren’t Nazi enough for the BM apparently. The player that got the worst abuse was Clyde Best, and I can remember at one night match at Filbert Street a whole section of the crowd making monkey noises. The thing that upset me the most was the complete indifference of the “ordinary” fans, some of whom who would probably not have considered themselves to be racist, but found it to be an amusing diversion during the match. I remember feeling so ashamed of some Leicester fans that I stopped going to matches there. There was some fantastic activity by the ANL to counter NF hot spots and “no-go” areas, especially at Filbert Street, and I will always have a place in my heart for the people who leafleted outside the ground to combat this vile “ideology”, and made the racists themselves the pariahs.
j Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Spot on!!! A true hero and amazing man. Not a bad player either so they say.
Urbane Sturgeon Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
.
“Largely gone away” is an unhelpfully vague term to use when discussing something like racism, and if said by a historian, a bit silly, that’s all I meant. I agree with much of what you point out and I’ve referenced Tully on this blog myself, one of Spurs’ greats for a number of reasons.
SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:18 am
Alf Ramsey also had that nickname when he lived in Dagenham. Apparently his neighbours suspected he was of “Gypsy blood”
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:21 am
@Essex
I missed that Beeb film, and heard that it was good.
Maybe one day it will reappear on BBC4 or similar.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:27 am
I’m sure there’s a DVD available, brilliant film all the same..made me cry if you really want to know..!
November 27th, 2012 at 1:01 am
I put the blame of all these recent shananagons at Herberts door…..he’s inciting racial hatred FFS
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:50 am
I found it quite laughable that SSN now say the attack on the Spurs fans was anti-semitic,So do we now assume those fans stabbed Italy in the past decade were attacked by Italian’s against Scousers, Roman’s against Smogmonsters-and the Italy hates Man Utd brigade?-Nice-one Mr Herbet you’re a real asset to your profession…but he’s on the news now so it’s job done I guess.
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:27 am
Yet again I find myself in agreement with you.
I think as far as Sunday’s game goes, Mr Herbert has poured petrol on what was a dying ember.
I think he will soon be the legal professions answer to Mary Whitehouse, seeing problems where there are none. It’s noteworthy that she was often pulled up for complaining about progs that she had never viewed. Does anyone know if Herbert has ever been to a Spurs match (or any other match for that matter)?
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:55 am
Listening to him on SSN earlier I’d put him in the David Lammy class-so, NO, what was it the Romans said about sport?
November 27th, 2012 at 1:48 am
.
Couldn’t find the Grenada tv stuff on youtube about Very Terribles but I did find this which cracked me up:
In 1993, following the bust-up between Scholar’s successor, Alan Sugar, and Terry Venables, which led to Venables’ acrimonious departure from the club, the BBC’s Panorama decided to investigate the feud between the two men. Mark Killick, the producer, says that he originally expected the story would be one of how a nasty, scrub-faced Thatcherite businessman ousted a working-class hero. It’d be the bastards versus the romantics.
But as Sugar told his side of the story about how Venables had run the business side of the club, the optimal anti-millionaire tale evaporated. To be replaced, as research continued, by the weird story of how – led on by an unscrupulous and plausible partner (Ashby) – Venables had broken nearly every rule in the book: first in raising money to buy a stake in Tottenham, and then in his management of the north London side. At one stage, Killick recalls, he sent a researcher down to Cardiff to look for a pub called The Miners, against which Venables had attained part of a million pound loan. When the young woman failed to find the place, he got quite shirty with her. Only after she had wandered round the Welsh capital for three days did he accept the almost unbelievable truth that this pub didn’t exist at all.
It’s from this very decent article if anyone’s interested.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/the-workingclass-hero-who-we-all-wanted-to-believe-in-1138943.html
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melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:58 am
slick tel annuver spiv,wonder how they get the players going, probably con then into thinking they are better than they are?
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East Stand Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:34 am
Whether they a decent football manager is the ONLY opinion we need to have on these people. Spivs or notebook hugging accountants…
Who gives a monkey’s arse? I certainly don’t. Sorry chaps.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:41 am
Not when the club’s future is at stake it isn’t-sorry but you’re wrong!
melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:48 am
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dont say monkeys arse sherbert might be lurking.
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:02 am
Tried to find it as well but no joy I’m afraid-but I’ll hunt it down somehow-am now going to look at yours while I’m in the mood
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SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:02 am
At the time this happening, I hated Sugar, but as time went on, , I realised that he was not most cuddly person in the world, but he talked a hell of a lot of sense. Unlike his predecessor, Irving Scholar, he ran the club as a business. Scholar left the club in such a mess, that it was nearly taken over by Robert Maxwell.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:11 am
I wrote to Alan Sugar after TV’s sacking, in the letter I enclosed my cheque, and asked if he was serious about taking Spurs out of the crap (or words to that effect), cash it and send my season ticket by return-but if you’re only in this for the short haul-send it back-I got a brilliant letter back, outlining the position the club were currently in and how he hoped things would change in the near future-remarkably honest, unfortuntaly I’ve since lost/mislaid it, but if I ever find it-I’ll happily post it on here.
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melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:24 am
oldgit Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
just to let you know you can enjoy all of the Venables v Sugar saga including the Panorama programmes on the excellent ohwhenthespurs website
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Top Man, thanks
November 27th, 2012 at 2:05 am
Love the Sandro comment Harry.Keep that one for the tee shirt.
Dempsey coming out of the Midfield position and finding space up front is much more effective ,than making him a legitimate striker.
Defoe Is great on the run with space,very Greavesie
We need Ade when he gets back, to mature into the unique and exceptional creative striker he can be.He will make Defoe and Dempsey look fantastic
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:11 am
Harry also agree re Lloris.Perfect comment.
I think actually looking back at the game and our games before that that the players are not yet sold on AVB.That this game it felt better.That the hedging by Bale previously and Lennon in theis one are our players trying to feel confortablewith AVB’s system and possibly AVB even adjusting somewhat by allowing the players some voice with their instincs.
If it can steadily get better,even slowly I will be happy this season. The jury is still out.the flow came back in this one.Its encouraging.But its still West Ham. Still its encouraging.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:38 am
Still holding judgement, but I really liked what I saw-they played the free-flowing football I’d hoped and yearned for-and with confidence from the outset-what that tells me is one of 2 things-either it was because it was Wesss-Taymmmm-or the manager got them ticking over, despite two really indifferent games previously-and that’s good management in my book. Also-any manager worth his salt-will stand by his convictions-When the team was called out-Dempsey and Hudd’s names were less than enthusiastically greeted (and for good reason) but to AVB’s credit-he was right-wasn’t he?
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Dempsey is not a great player but he can be potent in front of goal.Sometimes players try too hard and it gets worse,not better (i.e. Torres) but eventually they do find their groove.
I think this is the case with Dempsey.
Think his best game is creeping up from midfield and finding that space in the box and can make it happen. This was a start.
melcyid Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:19 am
Lennon reminds me of greaves when he runs against a player into the box,but thats where it ends.If he had scored instead of passing to Defoe,that would have been a Greaves type goal,
By the way great to see that Gilly was at the lane.I shall be forever grateful that I was able to get to the lane regularly when they played in the days of black and white and was able to see the gmen in operation,unbelievable memories ,just sorry they were not saved on film.those were the days when I used to be a proper supporter ,never booed only at the ref.
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:31 am
As a teenager, My old mum worked with a player we had called Tony Want-anyway-I got wind of his 21st birthday bash, and begged my mum to get me an invite-which she did-my ever lasting memory of that night was seeing Gilly wankered with a bottle of scotch to himself-and couldn’t Eddie Baily swear!
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East Stand Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:38 am
I’m a bit younger than you but that must be an amazing memory… That was the ‘Glory Game’ squad wasn’t it. Maybe a year or so later?
SpurredoninDubblin Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:41 am
I remember Tony Want. Full back and England Youth skipper. Don’t recall he got that many games for us, but it was about the time Joe Kinnear and Cyril Knowles were the regular full-backs
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:45 am
yep,he went to Birmingham a while after,and played with another schoolboy team-mate of mine there,watched them play and beat us 3-1 at the Lane ’75
Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:48 am
@ES-yes,but I was only a kid,a near neighbor was John Pratt,whose parents ran our local sweet shop,and numerous boxers such as John H Stracey, John l Gardener-Peter Eubanks-Maurice Hope-and many others-tough area-but great times all the same
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Nostalgia??? LOL!
Ronnie Wolman Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Gilzean was fantastic.Playing off of Greaves and feeding Greaves with glancing headers,he offered what Ade could offer Defoe and that is great supply as well as scoring himself.
I think really Berbatov had that quality to glance those headers down (never saw it much at United)
Ade has to get into it and be committed to the game and stock mucking about
November 27th, 2012 at 2:22 am
like the way Ddoris grabs the ball and stops the game, it breaks up the oppos impetus and gives us a breather ,back into the game on our terms.
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Hartley Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I had an oppo impetus last year, it’s worked wonders….
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November 27th, 2012 at 2:45 am
Dempsey’s got a whole lot of proving still to do. Better last night but against a load of old pants team. Encouraging but i won’t be out to get my number ’2′ shirt just yet!! Number 2 for a forward just shouldn’t be allowed.. might help to fool the opposition though “why’s the rightback so far out of position” then he curls in a beauty… Yeah right.
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david Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 9:40 am
I will be happy as long as he does not play like number 2.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Really I think Lloris will be great for us for years to come and he has a strong mind that will help the other players.He is very committed you can see that.
Great move to buy him.
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November 27th, 2012 at 11:56 am
You’ve got to love Redschnapps… he remains true to
his philosophytype… “when you don’t have the ball run after it”…”run around a bit”, classic…I see his trusty assistant was in the Landrover.. I wonder did Joe Jordan get a gig as well?
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Essexian76 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Harry, Bondy an’ Big Joe-the Three Profiteers eh?
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the man from room five Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
that’s got legs!
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November 27th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
I had to laugh at this.
When he was speaking scouse…he was quite convincing.This casts doubt on his origins.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20511307
Apart from hell, where is he from?
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
Both my Parents were Irish and I live in Ireland,but if I started talking to my pals in Oirish they’d laugh at me,I’ll always be a blow in.
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Bruxie Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Apparently he was shrugging his shoulders like the ‘Allo ‘Allo actors.
Imagine all the overseas players doing a “posh english accent” at the next presser.
Ade would be good!
Benny..?
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November 27th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
i don’t think sandro & thud are the right combo though for the middle it seems like they sit too deep,i seem to remember sandro being able to maraud a bit more when parker was sitting too,sandro,thud and dumper certainly won’t cut it against a decent team for me
but thud does have good qualities like wanting the ball,someone has to want it and move it so we’ll see what avb thinks when more are fit
game up 2moro,good stuff
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Steveo1987 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Thud needs to up his Davspurs juice intake. Obviously, Walker needs to tone his down.
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Habib Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Thud wouldnt start for Dagenham & Whatever
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Summerspur Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Oh….. Righto
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November 27th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
finally the negative Graham Roberts gets a lesson in the real AVB and says “I’ve had a change of heart”.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/hawksbee-and-jacobs/121127/roberts-tottenham-players-are-positive-about-villas-boas-186267
As for the LFC game, AVB needs to feel the need for Speed against the young LFC. Suarez hate him or not, he will destroy Daswon and thud…so NO THUD NO DAWSON.
Lloris,
Walker, Caulker, Jan Vert, Naughton
Sandro, Dembele/Carroll
Lennon,Dempsey or Sig or Falque, Bale
Defoe
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Frontwheel 2 Reply:
November 27th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Roberts is a grade 1 arse”I wouldn’t have let him charm me”as if AVB gives a shit what Roberts thinks
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East Stand Reply:
November 28th, 2012 at 12:39 am
Another example of people forming opinions of others through the media without meeting them… Harry was the same, as much as everybody thinks the press are his best mates they still make him out to be a one dimensional Barra Boy basically. Does my head in so much, like that AVB notebook bollocks at the Citeh game.
Do it with the Jungle Celebs by all means, but leave it out of football and sport in general please. Their ambition is to be a successful manager, not some cartoon celebrity twat… That’s not why they’re in the job,
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