This game summed up what it is to be a Spurs fan. A 4 match winning run caused much anticipation and yet a continual sense of fear that the ‘other’ Tottenham would turn up. This was a game that we should have won, should have lost and deserved to draw – all in equal measure – and that is what makes Spurs so unique.
There is no doubt that the club is well run and bought well in the summer. With Brad in goal I don’t have that continual sense of fear that I had with Gomes that any shot directed at him was likely to somehow end up in the back of the net. Scott Parker is ‘just the type of player that we’ve been looking for’ and there is no doubt that at £5m he is a contender for not only buy of the season but player of the season as well. I have asked a number of Gooner supporting friends why they did not go in for him and they reply with a shrug of the shoulder and a simple ‘ cause he’s not 18 years old and French with no experience at the top level’ Adebayor is another excellent signing even if only for 1 season. Its amazing how someone can be so vilified one season and so praised by the same fans the next. There is no doubt however that the boy has talent.
This backbone has proved pivotal in our recent run of success. Against Newcastle ‘Arry chose VdV over Defoe and I think now acknowledges this was wrong. ‘The Special One’ in Madrid doesn’t often make mistakes and it is clear that we still have not worked out how to get the best out of an undoubtedly quality player. Our back 4 is looking solid enough. Kaboul has looked superb and Kyle Walker has been steady. BAE remains an excellent defender but for some reason is prone to brain meltdowns when he tries to beat too many and gives the ball away. Row Z if necessary BAE. Bale has been a disappointment this season as he was last season post Milan although there are signs that against Newcastle the quality is returning.
Love him or hate him, when Modric plays well, Spurs play well. Play him in the centre with Parker and Sandro holding behind and Bale and Lennon supporting Adebayor. Away from home at least. At home drop Sandro and bring in JD.
Turning to the game itself, we started brightly but frankly neither side looked like scoring. A bit of fortune gave us a stone wall penalty. Everyone knows it except of course Piers Morgan. VdV finished with aplomb. Harry said keep it tight for the first 15 minutes cause they’ll come out all guns blazing. So, we fail to tackle, leave their hottest striker unmarked at the back post and the result was inevitable.
Revert to plan B and enter JD who must be mighty frustrated at the moment. He did what he does best – created something out of nothing and scored a cracker. That should have been that but we lose concentration. Even then we had a chance, possibly easier than the one he scored but as usual the keeper made a ‘worldie’. Naturally the Toon threw the kitchen sink at us but did Friedel have much to do? Not really.
Next up Blackburn away and then perhaps we’ll have a home League game? Remember when we used to play on a Saturday at 3pm?
Anyway, it doesn’t really matter cause Arsenal are rubbish (at the moment) and we beat them again.
By Mark Hoffman
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