Month: January 2010

The problem being a Spurs fan is that you can never relax until you hear the final whistle. I mean, unless we’re at least 4 goals ahead. Too many times, we have lost two and even three goal leads and end up with nothing. If you’re a Spurs fan, I need not elaborate.

I’m guessing that Spurs fans would have taken a point off Birmingham before the game, considering the good form that Brum has been in of late. One defeat in 13 (at Stamford Bridge, no less) does suggest that Brum manager Alex McLeish is doing something right. However, for three-quarters of yesterday’s match, Spurs was in control, but had nothing to show for it.

The Spurs goal was hardly threatened as the likes of David Bentley and Gareth Bale did their best to create opportunities and apart from a gild-edged chance which Luka Modric, could not get pass the resolute Brum defence. Finally, in the 69th minute, the hard work paid off as Jermain Defoe finished a fine move with assists from Bale and Crouch.

But – and this is the galling part – instead of seizing the initiative to secure the win – Spurs inexplicably took their collective foot off the pedal and defended deeply, handing the impetus over to Brum. This made no sense whatsoever, almost as if the Spurs team had thought that the game was over after scoring. Suddenly, a Brum side that looked utterly toothless became dangerous with each and every attack.

Harry Redknapp brought on Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas for Defoe and Bentley respectively. Both contributed little. In fact, the removal of Bentley probably weakened Spurs right flank and in injury time, Jenas and Corluka allowed Ridgewell time and space to score the inevitable equalizer from an unmarked postion from close range – WITHIN THE SIX YARD BOX!!!! You can’t blame Spurs fans for the frustration, Ridgewell’s goal should have never happened but somehow the Spurs team switched off once again.

As I have often observed, this Spurs team lacks a winning mentality and resolve to see a game through. Too many players go missing at the end of games and all the previous hard work is wasted. On our away trips to our closest challengers, we have flattered to deceive – dominating possession but not getting the right result. It’s simply not good enough. With Liverpool, Villa and Everton all winning and Man City having games in hand, 4th place is probably out of our hands and dependant on the other pretenders screwing up as badly as we often do.

So obviously, there are problems which need to be fixed if we are serious about Champions League qualification but is getting Eider Gudjohnson and Younes Kaboul the answer? No. Simply put, with the players (and mentality) we currently have, we may not even qualify for the Europa League.

Since the mid-week victory over Fulham, Spurs have signed Eidur Gudjohnson on loan till the end of the season and also look like signing Younes Kaboul and Asmir Begovic from Portsmouth. The loan deal involving Gudjohnson seems to have sealed the departure of Roman Pavlyuchenko, although the fact that Spurs will attempt to recoup as much of the fee paid to Spartak Moscow for his signature may deter potential suitors.

Ironically, one of those potential suitors is Birmingham City, this Saturday’s opponents! Yes, it’s all a little complicated isn’t it?

Apparently, the acquisition of Gudjohnson is intended to cover the continuing absence of the injured Aaron Lennon, not to hasten the exit of Pavlyuchenko as Gudjohnson would be able to operate in a diamond-shaped midfield. More than anything, this move probably spells the end of Robbie Keane as Keane has been employed in this role whenever a five man midfield was utilized by Harry Redknapp.

The rumoured signings of Kaboul and Begovic make sense as cover for central defence and goalkeeping positions respectively, with the injuries to Woodgate, King and Cudicini but I still cannot fathom the Gudjohnson deal as surely Luke Modric would be able to function in the “hole” (and David Bentley has demonstrated against Fulham that he just may be able to compensate for Lennon’s absence) and at 31, is Gudjohnson still good enough for the Premiership?

In any case, the trip to St. Andrew’s will provide a stern test of Gudjohnson’s qualities should Redknapp choose to employ him. In mid-week, leaders Chelsea emphatically put an end to Birmingham’s unbeaten streak. So best or worst time to face Birmingham?

All of which makes this fixture an intriguing encounter.

COYS!!!

Finally, a league win in January! But then, you can usually rely on Fulham yielding all the points at the Lane. So, for once, this match went according to the form book. Spurs welcomed Tom Huddlestone to the central midfield after injury and included David Bentley in light of Aaron Lennon’s continued absence and Niko Kranjcar’s illness.

Apart from the opening 20 minutes, Spurs never really got into top gear. Both goals may be attributed to individual errors on the part of Bjorn Helge Riise. The first, prodded home by Peter Crouch after good work by Modric dispossessing the doddling Riise. The second, the unfortunate Riise changing the flight of Bentley’s free kick beyond Mark Schwarzer.

In truth, Fulham was poor, and never seriously threathened the Spurs goal. All told, a rather routine victory for Spurs, which keeps us in 4th place, for now anyways, until Man City and Aston Villa play their respective games in hand.

One notable statistic though, Gareth Bale, after 23 attempts, finally started in a Spurs team in a league match which ended in a victory! Been a long time coming but I’m glad that Bale can now put that horredous record behind him.

A sterner test awaits on Saturday with the away game against in-form surprise package, Birmingham City.

It has been a disappointing 2010 so far for Spurs. Apart from the 4-0 drubbing of Peterborough in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, Spurs have struggled to home draws against Hull City and Leeds United, and of course, an Anfield defeat to Liverpool. So you can understand my trepidation at the thought of Fulham at the Lane tonight.

Fulham are 12 points behind Spurs, having lost their way somewhat since the goal-less draw between the clubs on Boxing Day. Still, Fulham has proven itself to be a very organised & efficient team this season and is precisely the type of side that might defend stoutly for 90 minutes and grab a winner deep into injury time.

On the bright side, Fulham has a poor record at the Lane and has not been good on their travels this season. So once again, the impetus is on Spurs to take the game to the away side. After the poor performances of the last few games, what side will Harry Redknapp to take Spurs out of this slump?

Your guess is as good as mine. I am hoping for a Spurs win, naturally, but I am not too optimistic.

COYS!!!

In the end, Spurs got what they deserved. Football is a simple game – score more goals than the opposition. It is NOT about the amount of possession, shots on goal, corners etc. After all, at the 25 minute mark, Spurs had 10 shots to Leeds’ none. In fact, after 6 minutes, Jermain Defoe had contrived to miss yet another crucial penalty kick. We’ll talk about penalties a little later again.

For that first quarter of the match, Spurs were irresistible moving forward but failed at the most basic thing – score a goal. And when they did score, they proved to be brittle as glass at defending. Sure, as a 37 year Spurs fan, this kind of performance is nothing new but don’t professional footballers know when its time to hold possession to get the right result and when its time to bomb forward in search for an extra goal?

Yes, you can point to the usual defining moments – Defoe’s pathetic spot kick, Jenas’ bad miss, the other Defoe penalty that wasn’t to be, the wrongful ruling out of Keane’s “goal” for offside and of course, Dawson’s poor judgement at the death. Still, what it boils down to is Spurs’ inability to convert domination and chances into goals. Pure and simple.

Harry Redknapp shook things up a little by starting Danny Rose on the left and bringing on Pavlyuchenko, who finished off an excellent team move to give Spurs a 2-1 lead. However, the sad fact is that once again too many players went AWOL, notably Jenas, Modric and Kranjcar. Defoe and Crouch are beginning to look jaded and frustrated by the lack of success in front of goal and Redknapp needs to freshen things up and fast. By the way, thank goodness we didn’t get Ruud Van Nistelrooy!

The main positive to take from this game is the return of Pavlyuchenko. I do hope that Redknapp decides to give the Russian striker an extended run in the team so that the likes of Defoe and Crouch do not take their starting places for granted. And to be honest, considering the way we play over the entire match, a draw is probably what we and Leeds deserved. The ties is not over yet, now that the impetus has moved to the Leeds camp, maybe Spurs can go to Elland Road and book their place to the next round.

COYS!!!

Having already beaten champions Man Utd at Old Trafford (no less) in the previous round, giant-killers Leeds must be feeling confident of adding Spurs to their list of top flight scalps in this season’s FA Cup. Leeds probably did Spurs a favour as in the last two seasons, Spurs have been knocked out in the 4th Round by Man Utd!

As usual, being at home, Spurs are favourites but will Leeds be another slippery banana peel? After all, Spurs has already lost to Stoke and Wolves at home, and these defeats would provide the blueprint for Leeds to set out their gameplan and tactics. Speaking of tactics, will Harry Redknapp be able to rise above the naivety shown in recent games, where congested midfield and penalty boxes have effectively thwarted our offensive actions?

To be honest, I am beginning to despair of Redknapp’s tactical nous (or lack thereof). Spurs seem unable to breakdown more determined teams who do not give us the time or space to play our passing game and once the chips are down, the lack of mental strength is a worrying fact. Sadly, Spurs’ performance now hinges on whether the other team lets us play or not. This is a totally unsatisfactory state of affairs and despite all that he has achieved, perhaps Redknapp is not the manager to bring us to the next level.

With Lennon and Huddlestone likely to be absent, we are missing two key components of our good season and slotting in Modric on the right and Jenas in the middle, has not been working out so far. Redknapp may want to gamble with Giovanni Dos Santos (or even Danny Rose) on the left flank,  Kranjcar on the right and play Modric in the middle with Palacios. Whatever he does, Redknapp needs to mix it all up a little as we have become all too predictable.

And… with another crucial Premiership fixture coming up against Fulham on Tuesday night, Redknapp may have no choice to tinker somewhat. My prediction? A Spurs win but only just.

COYS!!!