TWO goals by Shayon Harrison decided a very close game in Tottenham's favour.
His first on 34 minutes had given them the lead but his second, six minutes from time, means the young Tottenham side remain top of the Premier League U18 table.
Jonathyn Quinn had levelled for Newcastle on the stroke of half time.
Last season had seen Spurs win 4-0 but only goalkeeper Luke McGee remained from that day.
Newcastle started the better although it took seven minutes for the first shot to be fired, Callum Roberts firing over from the edge of the box.
Roberts had another chance minutes later but hit his free kick straight at McGee.
Spurs slowly started to stir and two half chances from Conner Ogilvie and Kane Vincent-Young hinted at better things to come.
Most of the creative spark from Spurs was coming down the right wing in the shape of Nathan Oduwa.
But when the goal finally arrived it was from the left hand side.
Showing great strength and pace Anthony Georgiou finally managed to escape the shackles of his two markers and headed into the box.
He had time to look up and pulled the ball back perfectly for Harrison who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
It signalled a spell of intense Tottenham pressure as Oduwa continue to lead Ben Drennan at right back a merry dance.
Daniel Akindayini had the best chance in this period but his shot was well saved by the feet of Jonathan Mitchell and the rebound bounced clear of the onrushing attackers.
However with time running out Spurs gifted Newcastle a way back in.
They were guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous positions for a lot of the game and this time it proved costly as Quinn was given a fairly simple chance to equalise.
The goal give Newcastle plenty of heart and they started the second half with plenty of possession and territory.
However as with the rest of the game Newcastle failed to really test McGee.
On 54 minutes Spurs were given a slice of luck.
A quick break saw Olivier Kemen hit the deck under the attentions of Channing Campbell-Young.
It was more of a coming together than a cynical foul and he received a yellow card for his troubles.
On another day however he could possibly have received a red.
Harrison showed a glimpse of things to come with a clever turn but instead of shooting himself he layed the ball to Georgiou who was denied by Mitchell.
It was the winger's last involvement and he was replaced by Emmanuel Sonupe, who was straight into the action.
Two quick breaks and good crosses caused plenty of distress in the Newcastle defence but the goal remained untouched.
However that was not the case on 84 minutes.
Harrison used his body cleverly to turn into clear and although his first shot was saved by Mitchell, he made no mistake from the rebound.
This was still time for chances. Oduwa hit the outside of the post and Rolando Aarons went around McGee but couldn't find a black and white shirt with his pullback.
One final heart in the mouth moment followed for the sizable number of Spurs fans in attendance.
Quinn went round McGee who pulled him to the ground. The referee blew his whistle but for an offside against the Newcastle number nine and the chance was gone.
Player Ratings:
Luke McGee - Solid with what Newcastle threw at him. A great communicator, he was caught out once or twice when Newcastle got behind the defence but overall he was comfortable.
Channing Campbell-Young - Only time he was put under any difficulties was through his own mistakes. Looked happy on the ball and was always wanting it.
Kyle Walker-Peters - Same as above. Was beaten a few times in the opening 10 minutes but from then on he was comfortable and kept Roberts very quiet.
Anton Walkes - Quiet game for the midfielder. Struggled to take control in the middle of the park but looked very comfortable when he had the ball. Confident passer.
Kane Vincent-Young - One great run forward was reminiscent of Jan Vertonghen. Solid in his defensive work and helped limit the amount of chances Newcastle got. Booked.
Connor Ogilvie - More than a touch of the Michael Dawson about him. Strong, brave, good in the air. Some very important blocks and his crossfield passes found his man in more cases than not.
Nathan Oduwa - Not your typical winger. Big, strong, not as quick as Aaron Lennon but just as tricky. Very good close control and caused Newcastle a lot of problems.
Will Miller - Worked hard without a lot of reward. When his through balls worked though they were very good. Great slide-rule pass for the second.
Daniel Akindayini - Lived off scraps before being replaced on 60 minutes. One good chance which was well saved.
Shayon Harrison - Showed some very clever turns and use of his body. Wasn't always in the game but took his chances when they came along as all good forward men should do.
Anthony Georgiou - Great run and clever pullback for the goal. Didn't always have the beating of his man but was always willing to try.
Joe Pritchard - Struggled to get into the game after replacing Akindayini on 60 minutes.
Emmanuel Sonupe - Wonderful cameo after coming on after 65 minutes. Quick, agile, he put in some great crosses which were begging to be converted. Impressive.
Lloyd Ross - Only got 10 minutes and didn't really have a chance to shine.
Liam Priestly - Unused substitute.
Showing posts with label Tottenham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tottenham. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Friday, 16 August 2013
Premier League Preview : 2013-2014
After what seems a very long time the
new Premier League season is upon us. Fans up and down the country and
gearing up for what maybe 'their year'. But what has the league got in
store for us this year? Who will be the success story? Who is facing the
trapdoor of relegation? And who will take the top honour?
I've had a look at what I think might happen. As any who read my Tour de France blog will know, sometimes I'm bang on the money. On other occasions, well let's not mention them too much eh!
Club by club guide:
Arsenal
It has been a frustrating summer for Arsenal fans. The likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez have all been the subject of bids but have chosen to head to Napoli and stay at Liverpool respectively. On the plus side Oliver Giroud has shown flashes of form in preseason and Jack Wilshire will start this year but the locals will still be hoping Arsene Wenger can pull off at least one big name before the window closes. If not it may be another long, hard, and trophyless season for the Gunners.
Prediction: 5th
Keyman: Oliver Giroud
Aston Villa
Paul Lambert has again relied on young, fairly unknown players to bolster his squad. Villa will be hoping that the experience gained last year, couple with this influx of enthusiasm, will be enough to get them comfortably into mid table. And keeping Christian Benteke may prove to be one of the signings of the summer.
Prediction: 15th
Keyman: Christian Benteke
Cardiff
The name of the game is survival for last years Championship winners. In Steven Caulker they have signed a very good centre half who they can build their defence around. In Craig Bellamy they have somebody with Premier League experience and who can create chances. And the crowd in Wales will be raucous and intimidating. Whether that is enough for them to stay up remains to be seen.
Prediction: 18th
Keyman: Craig Bellamy
Chelsea
There are a lot of big personalities at Chelsea but none are bigger than the new Manager. Jose is back and ready to launch Chelsea towards another title but they can't just rely on the 'Mourinho effect'. A lot will depend on how Fernando Torres plays this year and whether Eden Hazard and Oscar can improve on last year. Hopes are high but it may not be enough to propel the Blues back to the top.
Prediction: 2nd
Keyman: Fernando Torres
Crystal Palace
Play off winners can be swept along by the excitement generated by their special day. Ian Holloway will certainly be hoping so and he does have the experience of coming up via that route with Blackpool. Dwight Gayle became the club record signing but it will be a big step up for the former Peterborough man. Marouane Chamakh brings top flight experience but despite this it should be a fairly quick return to the Championship.
Prediction: 20th
Keyman: Dwight Gayle
Everton
After many speculated what he would be like at a bigger club than Wigan, Roberto Martinez has finally been given the chance. Everton have for the most part been solidly top half of the table under David Moyes and will hope the Spanish influence of Martinez can push them on. Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz are good if unspectacular signings from Wigan but the capture of Gerard Deulofeu has raised a few eyebrows. Expect a season of bedding in but another top half finish.
Prediction: 7th
Keyman: Arouna Kone
Fulham
Fulham are one of those teams that never seem to be doing much but often make the top 10. They have lost Mark Schwarzer but in Maarten Stekelenburg they have a more than able replacement. Adel Taarabt has arrived on loan from QPR and on his day he can be a match winner. Darren Bent is close as is Scott Parker. However that has been about it for the Martin Jol's summer dealings. Survival should achieved without too much problems. But I fear another season of mediocrity beckons.
Prediction: 14th
Keyman: Dimitar Berbatov
Hull
Of all the three promoted teams Hull seem to have invested wisely. Danny Graham, despite his poor spell at Sunderland, can score goals at this level and in Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore they have two solid English Premier League players. It will be close but Steve Bruce may be doing his own version of Phil Brown's Karaoke by the year end.
Prediction: 17th
Keyman: Tom Huddlestone
Liverpool
The future of Luis Suarez has prompted many column inches in the national press but it looks like the volatile Uruguayan will be staying at Anfield for the time being. He will be suspended for the opening few games of the season but if he can avoid trouble he can single handled push Liverpool towards the top half of the table. Simon Mignolet is a decent goalkeeper and while Jamie Carragher will be a miss, Steven Gerrard remains. However they are still too far behind the rest to make that elusive top 4 spot again.
Prediction: 6th
Keyman: Luis Suarez
Man City
After a poor season last year and relinquishing their title rather meekly, and to their arch rivals of all people, city have used their financial clout over the summer to land Fernandinho, Steven Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negrado, for a combined price of £105m. A lot will depend on how they bed in but with the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero already used to the Premier League it should be enough to bring the title back to Eastlands.
Prediction: 1st
Keyman: Sergio Aguero
Man Utd
One of the big questions of the season is how will Manchester United fare without Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm. It is a massive role that David Moyes has taken on and despite his credentials it may be a step too far. The Rooney saga hasn't been what he needed and the lack of signings is a worry. People point towards the players winning mentality but it will need the senior pros like Ryan Giggs to make it work for United this year. I don't think it will and it may even see Moyes out of a job come May.
Prediction: 4th
Keyman: Robin Van Persie
Newcastle
Yet another summer dominated by off field issues. Joe Kinnear arrived as Director of Football to the disbelief of most fans and the appointment hasn't yielded a plethora of incomings. Loic Remy will finally don the black and white stripes after agreeing a loan move but the lack of a striker is worrying. However with the new signings that arrived in January now bedded in it should be enough for the Magpies to avoid a repeat of last years struggles.
Prediction: 9th
Keyman: Papiss Demba Cisse
Norwich
Chris Hughton is starting to mould this Norwich team in the manner he wishes. Out has gone Grant Holt and in comes record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel and long term target Gary Hooper. This will improve Norwich's goal ratio but it may not be enough to help the Canaries improve on last year's 11th place. Same again I think.
Prediction: 11th
Keyman: Gary Hooper
Southampton
A lot was made about Mauricio Pochettino's arrival at St Mary's but performances were on the whole impressive. With a season behind them the likes of Rickie Lambert, Gaston Ramirez and Adam Lallana should improve and with the signings of Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren the Saints have a very good chance of making the top 10. It would certainly be a surprise to see them involved in the relegation battle.
Prediction: 10th
Keyman: Gaston Ramirez
Stoke
After a poor campaign last time out Stoke have moved to appoint Mark Hughes as the new manager ahead of Tony Pulis. Hughes' last appointment was his ill-fated tenure at QPR and he will be hoping for better luck in The Potteries. However the goalscoring problems that plagued Pulis remain and for Stoke to avoid the drop this year they need to address this quickly.
Prediction: 19th
Keyman: Peter Crouch
Sunderland
It's all change at Sunderland as Paulo Di Canio shapes the team in his vision. No less than 12 new players have arrived at the Stadium of Light with Italian Emanuele Giaccherini, arriving from Juventus the most high profile. With any changes of this magnitude it will take time for his team to gel but the return from injury of Wes Brown may be vital. Expect them to fare better than last year.
Prediction: 13th
Keyman: Emanuele Giaccherini
Swansea
Very impressive upto and including their League Cup Final win yet went off the boil after that. With Europe to contend with this season they may find their sqaud size stretched to capacity. However new signings Wilfried Bony and Jonathan de Guzman are an improvement on what was available last year so expect another top 10 finish this time around.
Prediction: 8th
Keyman: Wilfried Bony
Tottenham
Like Liverpool with Suarez and Man Utd and Rooney, Gareth Bale has never been far from the headlines this summer. Yet with days to go he remains a Spurs player and if they manage to retain his services for another year, he will line up against some impressive new signings. Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue have all joined the North Londoners and the spending spree doesn't appear to be over. It is an array of talent which may finally see Tottenham break into the top four for good.
Prediction: 3rd
Keyman: Roberto Soldado
West Brom
West Brom had an excellent 2012 finally finishing 8th. However their form after Christmas wasn't the best and will be cause for concern. Romelu Lukaku has gone back to parent club Chelsea so the Baggies have to turned to experience in the form of Nicolas Anelka. They have also snapped up Matej Vydra on loan from Udinese after the Slovakian impressed on loan at Watford last year. It may not be enough to avoid a relegation scrap but they will ultimately retain their Premier League status.
Prediction: 16th
Keyman: Nicolas Anelka
West Ham
West Ham had a decent first season back in the top flight and have added more players with Premier League experience this summer. Andy Carroll has made his move from Liverpool permanent while former team-mate Stewart Downing has also moved from Merseyside. The defence stills looks a little thin however so while they will be pushing for another top 10 finish, they may fall just short.
Prediction: 12th
Keyman: Andy Carroll
I've had a look at what I think might happen. As any who read my Tour de France blog will know, sometimes I'm bang on the money. On other occasions, well let's not mention them too much eh!
Club by club guide:
Arsenal
It has been a frustrating summer for Arsenal fans. The likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez have all been the subject of bids but have chosen to head to Napoli and stay at Liverpool respectively. On the plus side Oliver Giroud has shown flashes of form in preseason and Jack Wilshire will start this year but the locals will still be hoping Arsene Wenger can pull off at least one big name before the window closes. If not it may be another long, hard, and trophyless season for the Gunners.
Prediction: 5th
Keyman: Oliver Giroud
Aston Villa
Paul Lambert has again relied on young, fairly unknown players to bolster his squad. Villa will be hoping that the experience gained last year, couple with this influx of enthusiasm, will be enough to get them comfortably into mid table. And keeping Christian Benteke may prove to be one of the signings of the summer.
Prediction: 15th
Keyman: Christian Benteke
Cardiff
The name of the game is survival for last years Championship winners. In Steven Caulker they have signed a very good centre half who they can build their defence around. In Craig Bellamy they have somebody with Premier League experience and who can create chances. And the crowd in Wales will be raucous and intimidating. Whether that is enough for them to stay up remains to be seen.
Prediction: 18th
Keyman: Craig Bellamy
Chelsea
There are a lot of big personalities at Chelsea but none are bigger than the new Manager. Jose is back and ready to launch Chelsea towards another title but they can't just rely on the 'Mourinho effect'. A lot will depend on how Fernando Torres plays this year and whether Eden Hazard and Oscar can improve on last year. Hopes are high but it may not be enough to propel the Blues back to the top.
Prediction: 2nd
Keyman: Fernando Torres
Crystal Palace
Play off winners can be swept along by the excitement generated by their special day. Ian Holloway will certainly be hoping so and he does have the experience of coming up via that route with Blackpool. Dwight Gayle became the club record signing but it will be a big step up for the former Peterborough man. Marouane Chamakh brings top flight experience but despite this it should be a fairly quick return to the Championship.
Prediction: 20th
Keyman: Dwight Gayle
Everton
After many speculated what he would be like at a bigger club than Wigan, Roberto Martinez has finally been given the chance. Everton have for the most part been solidly top half of the table under David Moyes and will hope the Spanish influence of Martinez can push them on. Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz are good if unspectacular signings from Wigan but the capture of Gerard Deulofeu has raised a few eyebrows. Expect a season of bedding in but another top half finish.
Prediction: 7th
Keyman: Arouna Kone
Fulham
Fulham are one of those teams that never seem to be doing much but often make the top 10. They have lost Mark Schwarzer but in Maarten Stekelenburg they have a more than able replacement. Adel Taarabt has arrived on loan from QPR and on his day he can be a match winner. Darren Bent is close as is Scott Parker. However that has been about it for the Martin Jol's summer dealings. Survival should achieved without too much problems. But I fear another season of mediocrity beckons.
Prediction: 14th
Keyman: Dimitar Berbatov
Hull
Of all the three promoted teams Hull seem to have invested wisely. Danny Graham, despite his poor spell at Sunderland, can score goals at this level and in Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore they have two solid English Premier League players. It will be close but Steve Bruce may be doing his own version of Phil Brown's Karaoke by the year end.
Prediction: 17th
Keyman: Tom Huddlestone
Liverpool
The future of Luis Suarez has prompted many column inches in the national press but it looks like the volatile Uruguayan will be staying at Anfield for the time being. He will be suspended for the opening few games of the season but if he can avoid trouble he can single handled push Liverpool towards the top half of the table. Simon Mignolet is a decent goalkeeper and while Jamie Carragher will be a miss, Steven Gerrard remains. However they are still too far behind the rest to make that elusive top 4 spot again.
Prediction: 6th
Keyman: Luis Suarez
Man City
After a poor season last year and relinquishing their title rather meekly, and to their arch rivals of all people, city have used their financial clout over the summer to land Fernandinho, Steven Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negrado, for a combined price of £105m. A lot will depend on how they bed in but with the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero already used to the Premier League it should be enough to bring the title back to Eastlands.
Prediction: 1st
Keyman: Sergio Aguero
Man Utd
One of the big questions of the season is how will Manchester United fare without Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm. It is a massive role that David Moyes has taken on and despite his credentials it may be a step too far. The Rooney saga hasn't been what he needed and the lack of signings is a worry. People point towards the players winning mentality but it will need the senior pros like Ryan Giggs to make it work for United this year. I don't think it will and it may even see Moyes out of a job come May.
Prediction: 4th
Keyman: Robin Van Persie
Newcastle
Yet another summer dominated by off field issues. Joe Kinnear arrived as Director of Football to the disbelief of most fans and the appointment hasn't yielded a plethora of incomings. Loic Remy will finally don the black and white stripes after agreeing a loan move but the lack of a striker is worrying. However with the new signings that arrived in January now bedded in it should be enough for the Magpies to avoid a repeat of last years struggles.
Prediction: 9th
Keyman: Papiss Demba Cisse
Norwich
Chris Hughton is starting to mould this Norwich team in the manner he wishes. Out has gone Grant Holt and in comes record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel and long term target Gary Hooper. This will improve Norwich's goal ratio but it may not be enough to help the Canaries improve on last year's 11th place. Same again I think.
Prediction: 11th
Keyman: Gary Hooper
Southampton
A lot was made about Mauricio Pochettino's arrival at St Mary's but performances were on the whole impressive. With a season behind them the likes of Rickie Lambert, Gaston Ramirez and Adam Lallana should improve and with the signings of Victor Wanyama and Dejan Lovren the Saints have a very good chance of making the top 10. It would certainly be a surprise to see them involved in the relegation battle.
Prediction: 10th
Keyman: Gaston Ramirez
Stoke
After a poor campaign last time out Stoke have moved to appoint Mark Hughes as the new manager ahead of Tony Pulis. Hughes' last appointment was his ill-fated tenure at QPR and he will be hoping for better luck in The Potteries. However the goalscoring problems that plagued Pulis remain and for Stoke to avoid the drop this year they need to address this quickly.
Prediction: 19th
Keyman: Peter Crouch
Sunderland
It's all change at Sunderland as Paulo Di Canio shapes the team in his vision. No less than 12 new players have arrived at the Stadium of Light with Italian Emanuele Giaccherini, arriving from Juventus the most high profile. With any changes of this magnitude it will take time for his team to gel but the return from injury of Wes Brown may be vital. Expect them to fare better than last year.
Prediction: 13th
Keyman: Emanuele Giaccherini
Swansea
Very impressive upto and including their League Cup Final win yet went off the boil after that. With Europe to contend with this season they may find their sqaud size stretched to capacity. However new signings Wilfried Bony and Jonathan de Guzman are an improvement on what was available last year so expect another top 10 finish this time around.
Prediction: 8th
Keyman: Wilfried Bony
Tottenham
Like Liverpool with Suarez and Man Utd and Rooney, Gareth Bale has never been far from the headlines this summer. Yet with days to go he remains a Spurs player and if they manage to retain his services for another year, he will line up against some impressive new signings. Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue have all joined the North Londoners and the spending spree doesn't appear to be over. It is an array of talent which may finally see Tottenham break into the top four for good.
Prediction: 3rd
Keyman: Roberto Soldado
West Brom
West Brom had an excellent 2012 finally finishing 8th. However their form after Christmas wasn't the best and will be cause for concern. Romelu Lukaku has gone back to parent club Chelsea so the Baggies have to turned to experience in the form of Nicolas Anelka. They have also snapped up Matej Vydra on loan from Udinese after the Slovakian impressed on loan at Watford last year. It may not be enough to avoid a relegation scrap but they will ultimately retain their Premier League status.
Prediction: 16th
Keyman: Nicolas Anelka
West Ham
West Ham had a decent first season back in the top flight and have added more players with Premier League experience this summer. Andy Carroll has made his move from Liverpool permanent while former team-mate Stewart Downing has also moved from Merseyside. The defence stills looks a little thin however so while they will be pushing for another top 10 finish, they may fall just short.
Prediction: 12th
Keyman: Andy Carroll
Thursday, 16 May 2013
AVB Year One : Success or Failure?
When Andre Villas-Boas took control
at White Hart Lane last summer it brought a distinctly mixed reaction.
A lot of pundits remarked that anything less than a top four finish would
be considered a failure. But with the league season finishing on Sunday
there is a new question which now needs answered; Is this still the case?
AVB took over the job with certain sections of the media, and indeed certain sections of the Tottenham fanbase, questioning his appointment. His brief tenure at Chelsea had seen the glittering reputation gained at Porto of being a young, forward thinking, talented manager severely tarnished. Chelsea's subsequent success in the Champions League final was seen as a further example of his inability to handle the complex personalties of high profile players and the more intricate workings of a big club.
Alongside this was the fact he was replacing Harry Redknapp, a popular manager both within journalistic circles and on the terraces. His sacking was seen as a brave but ultimately foolish decision by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Redknapp had not only managed to get the club out of relegation places in his first season in charge but had more importantly had oversaw final league positions of 4th-5th-4th in the last three seasons as well as a memorable Champions League campaign in 2010-2011.
Success therefore to some was to replicate this 4th placed position at the very least. Many doubted his chances of success.
The opening months seemed to suggest this opinion was correct. Defeat at Newcastle on the opening day of the season was followed by home draws against West Brom and Norwich. Some newspaper reports rather extravagantly proclaimed AVB had three games to save his job.
However slowly things started to improve. A sequence of four victories, including a historic victory at Old Trafford moved Spurs up the table. With new signing Jan Vertonghen among others becoming an instant fan favourite things seemed to be on the rise.
There were still blips along the way. Defeat at home to Wigan and heavy defeats to rivals Chelsea and Arsenal raised further doubts but with the new players slowly bedding in and the team responding to AVB's tactics and beliefs, Spurs continue to move forward.
Three defeats in the next 25 games followed and catapulted Tottenham into the Champions League places. They now sit 5th, one point behind arch rivals Arsenal.
On the playing side there have been ups and downs.
Spurs went into the season without talismanic skipper Ledley King, playmaker Luka Modric and Dutch goalscorer Rafael van der Vaart. Coupled to this centre half and last years player of the season, Younes Kaboul has only managed 90 minutes this year. Arguably these were Tottenham's best four players.
The players signed throughout the season have performed well. Dembele has been solid but is a different type of player to Modric. And the loss of the Croat hasn't helped Scott Parker who has struggled to recapture last season's form.
Dempsey while not setting the world alight has weighed in with seven goals, some at vital times. The same is true of Gylffi Sigurdsson whose haul of four league goals have come predominately from the bench.
The sensational form of Gareth Bale has obviously been a key reason why Tottenham are at the top end of the table. But AVB's decision to play him in a more central role has also been pivotal. He admitted after Bale picked up the Football Writers Award that he had held a frank discussion with the Welshman in order to help him enjoy his football more. His handling of Hugo Lloris by keeping him on the bench behind Brad Friedel brought condemnation from Didier Deschamps amongst others but ultimately proved to be the right thing to do as Lloris was given time to acclimatise to a new country and a new club.
It was a move that has reaped huge benefits as Lloris has proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
Michael Dawson was another player who had an up and down start to the year. Left out for the first few games despite AVB making him club captain, he looked to be on his way to QPR. Yet he chose to fight for his place and after another conversation between player and manager he has done just that.
This seemingly more personable approach is in direct contrast to his time at Chelsea. There he regularly locked horns with some of the senior pros to the point where the personality clashes played a major part in his downfall.
Now he seems more relaxed and has admitted making changes to his management style after Chelsea.
Another pivotal moment came in December at Everton. Two goals in injury time snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and led AVB to change training to put more emphasis on improving concentration and stamina in the last ten minutes of games. This change of focus proved to be inspired.
Spurs would go on to score a multitude of late goals which would see the club pick up valuable points. In the last four games alone goals in the last moments of games have seen an extra six points gained. Resiliency is not a trait that has been linked with Tottenham over the years but it has been instrumental in their league position.
It hasn't all been positive though. Home form has been sketchy at times and the home crowd has shown it's displeasure on more than one occasion. There has been less clean sheets this time around as well, just seven compared to last years 13.
However how successful or not of the season for AVB and Tottenham would be judged primarily on their league position and whether they qualified for the Champions League.
While not guaranteeing the club that coveted Champions League spot, victory over Sunderland would see Tottenham finish on 72 points, which would be their highest ever points finish in the Premier League. Should Arsenal also win it would also set a Premier League record as being the highest points total gained by a team finishing fifth. (It would be the second highest points total by a team who did not qualify for the Champions League. Newcastle hold that record with 78 in 1995-1996 when they finished second. 1995-1996 was in the days when only the Champions qualified.)
And it is this more than anything else that proves this year has been a success. Yes we may have overachieved and yes at times it hasn't been as pretty but all things considered, we're in a great position. If Champions League does elude us then so be it. It will be down to a combination of bad luck more than a poor season. A total of 72 points would have been good enough to get into the top four in 15 of the 17 previous Premier League seasons.
More importantly AVB seems to be enjoying life at White Hart Lane. Gone are the days of crouching on the touchline, the frowned expressions, instead there's smiles. This year has been a good start to his Tottenham career. With a touch more luck and a bit of backing, who knows where he can take this team.
To more success hopefully!
AVB took over the job with certain sections of the media, and indeed certain sections of the Tottenham fanbase, questioning his appointment. His brief tenure at Chelsea had seen the glittering reputation gained at Porto of being a young, forward thinking, talented manager severely tarnished. Chelsea's subsequent success in the Champions League final was seen as a further example of his inability to handle the complex personalties of high profile players and the more intricate workings of a big club.
Alongside this was the fact he was replacing Harry Redknapp, a popular manager both within journalistic circles and on the terraces. His sacking was seen as a brave but ultimately foolish decision by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Redknapp had not only managed to get the club out of relegation places in his first season in charge but had more importantly had oversaw final league positions of 4th-5th-4th in the last three seasons as well as a memorable Champions League campaign in 2010-2011.
Success therefore to some was to replicate this 4th placed position at the very least. Many doubted his chances of success.
The opening months seemed to suggest this opinion was correct. Defeat at Newcastle on the opening day of the season was followed by home draws against West Brom and Norwich. Some newspaper reports rather extravagantly proclaimed AVB had three games to save his job.
However slowly things started to improve. A sequence of four victories, including a historic victory at Old Trafford moved Spurs up the table. With new signing Jan Vertonghen among others becoming an instant fan favourite things seemed to be on the rise.
There were still blips along the way. Defeat at home to Wigan and heavy defeats to rivals Chelsea and Arsenal raised further doubts but with the new players slowly bedding in and the team responding to AVB's tactics and beliefs, Spurs continue to move forward.
Three defeats in the next 25 games followed and catapulted Tottenham into the Champions League places. They now sit 5th, one point behind arch rivals Arsenal.
On the playing side there have been ups and downs.
Spurs went into the season without talismanic skipper Ledley King, playmaker Luka Modric and Dutch goalscorer Rafael van der Vaart. Coupled to this centre half and last years player of the season, Younes Kaboul has only managed 90 minutes this year. Arguably these were Tottenham's best four players.
The players signed throughout the season have performed well. Dembele has been solid but is a different type of player to Modric. And the loss of the Croat hasn't helped Scott Parker who has struggled to recapture last season's form.
Dempsey while not setting the world alight has weighed in with seven goals, some at vital times. The same is true of Gylffi Sigurdsson whose haul of four league goals have come predominately from the bench.
The sensational form of Gareth Bale has obviously been a key reason why Tottenham are at the top end of the table. But AVB's decision to play him in a more central role has also been pivotal. He admitted after Bale picked up the Football Writers Award that he had held a frank discussion with the Welshman in order to help him enjoy his football more. His handling of Hugo Lloris by keeping him on the bench behind Brad Friedel brought condemnation from Didier Deschamps amongst others but ultimately proved to be the right thing to do as Lloris was given time to acclimatise to a new country and a new club.
It was a move that has reaped huge benefits as Lloris has proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
Michael Dawson was another player who had an up and down start to the year. Left out for the first few games despite AVB making him club captain, he looked to be on his way to QPR. Yet he chose to fight for his place and after another conversation between player and manager he has done just that.
This seemingly more personable approach is in direct contrast to his time at Chelsea. There he regularly locked horns with some of the senior pros to the point where the personality clashes played a major part in his downfall.
Now he seems more relaxed and has admitted making changes to his management style after Chelsea.
Another pivotal moment came in December at Everton. Two goals in injury time snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and led AVB to change training to put more emphasis on improving concentration and stamina in the last ten minutes of games. This change of focus proved to be inspired.
Spurs would go on to score a multitude of late goals which would see the club pick up valuable points. In the last four games alone goals in the last moments of games have seen an extra six points gained. Resiliency is not a trait that has been linked with Tottenham over the years but it has been instrumental in their league position.
It hasn't all been positive though. Home form has been sketchy at times and the home crowd has shown it's displeasure on more than one occasion. There has been less clean sheets this time around as well, just seven compared to last years 13.
However how successful or not of the season for AVB and Tottenham would be judged primarily on their league position and whether they qualified for the Champions League.
While not guaranteeing the club that coveted Champions League spot, victory over Sunderland would see Tottenham finish on 72 points, which would be their highest ever points finish in the Premier League. Should Arsenal also win it would also set a Premier League record as being the highest points total gained by a team finishing fifth. (It would be the second highest points total by a team who did not qualify for the Champions League. Newcastle hold that record with 78 in 1995-1996 when they finished second. 1995-1996 was in the days when only the Champions qualified.)
And it is this more than anything else that proves this year has been a success. Yes we may have overachieved and yes at times it hasn't been as pretty but all things considered, we're in a great position. If Champions League does elude us then so be it. It will be down to a combination of bad luck more than a poor season. A total of 72 points would have been good enough to get into the top four in 15 of the 17 previous Premier League seasons.
More importantly AVB seems to be enjoying life at White Hart Lane. Gone are the days of crouching on the touchline, the frowned expressions, instead there's smiles. This year has been a good start to his Tottenham career. With a touch more luck and a bit of backing, who knows where he can take this team.
To more success hopefully!
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
The Y Word
On Sunday the swagger returned to White Hart Lane. Spurs dispatched
West Ham in the style of seasons past. Quick movement on and off the
ball, controlled passing and decisive strikes in front of goal, the good
old days could be well be on their way back for Tottenham and their
manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Sadly though it wasn’t just this positive part of nostalgia and history which reappeared on Sunday. The vile, racist and abusive chants emanating from the West Ham fans were a sickening reminder of the bad old days, the seventies and eighties when the hooligan ruled the terraces.
The chants themselves have been well documented and don’t need repeating here but we are now facing the recrimination and aftermath. Questions like why did they happen and what can be done by the authorities to tackle them.
People like Peter Herbert from The Society of Black Lawyers and David Baddiel are very clear in their opinions of why. The use of the ‘Y word’ by Tottenham fans is wrong, leads to the legitimising of the word which in turn leads to it’s use by opposition fans. Their view is that it is a racist term and should not be used in any context by any person or group.
Let me get this out in the open straight away. If David Baddiel, a Jew himself says that the word is racist, I believe him. If he says that it’s use should be banned or eradicated I believe him. I also believe that the cause of the SOBL is a noble one. I even think that somewhere down the line the chant of ‘Yid Army’ will disappear from Tottenham fans’ repertoire.
I don’t however believe that the use of the Y word instigated and heightened the problem on Sunday. Anti-Semitic abuse existed long before Tottenham fans ‘reclaimed’ the word and used it as a badge of honour. Chants by their neighbours have regularly referenced their Jewish heritage, despite that fact that, as Baddiel argues, Spurs don’t have many more Jewish fans than other clubs.
This chanting has continued throughout the intervening years although not to the severity or viciousness of what was witnessed on Sunday. And at this point it is worth noting that it isn’t just West Ham fans who target Tottenham, other clubs supporters have too. And it is also worth noting that it is not all fans of a club we are talking about.
But it was the sheer scale of the chanting and the actual chants used on Sunday that was shocking. The attacks on Spurs fans in Rome just 4 days earlier, that look to have been more racially motivated rather than football related, are a definite catalyst but the sheer fact the anti-Semitic chanting is now in the news also plays a part.
Putting it in the media spotlight has merely reminded some of the idiots that go to football matches that it exists. Spurs fans chanting ‘Yid Army’ certainly didn’t do that, certainly didn’t warrant mention of Hitler or gassing noises. And even if Spurs dispense with the phrase, others will still refer to them as the ‘Jewish club’.
Mind you, the SOBL and David Baddiel might say that the ends justify the means. Having the debate in the public arena was their first goal. How the FA deal with the issue will be interesting and will define how their second goal is seen. They have in the past only sporadically penalised teams for offensive chanting by their fans. But perhaps now is the time for the footballing authorities to make a stand and tackle the issue head on.
As mentioned previously I believe the use of ‘Yid’ by Tottenham fans will probably disappear, but whether it’s replacement is any better remains to be seen. ‘Jew Army’ might be seen as equally provoking whereas ‘White Army’ opens up as whole different can of worms.
Whatever happens it does seem that we are at a crossroads. The issue is now out in the open. If it is dealt with effectively it could signify the first steps on the road to removing racism from football.
Otherwise the bad old days may be here once more.
Sadly though it wasn’t just this positive part of nostalgia and history which reappeared on Sunday. The vile, racist and abusive chants emanating from the West Ham fans were a sickening reminder of the bad old days, the seventies and eighties when the hooligan ruled the terraces.
The chants themselves have been well documented and don’t need repeating here but we are now facing the recrimination and aftermath. Questions like why did they happen and what can be done by the authorities to tackle them.
People like Peter Herbert from The Society of Black Lawyers and David Baddiel are very clear in their opinions of why. The use of the ‘Y word’ by Tottenham fans is wrong, leads to the legitimising of the word which in turn leads to it’s use by opposition fans. Their view is that it is a racist term and should not be used in any context by any person or group.
Let me get this out in the open straight away. If David Baddiel, a Jew himself says that the word is racist, I believe him. If he says that it’s use should be banned or eradicated I believe him. I also believe that the cause of the SOBL is a noble one. I even think that somewhere down the line the chant of ‘Yid Army’ will disappear from Tottenham fans’ repertoire.
I don’t however believe that the use of the Y word instigated and heightened the problem on Sunday. Anti-Semitic abuse existed long before Tottenham fans ‘reclaimed’ the word and used it as a badge of honour. Chants by their neighbours have regularly referenced their Jewish heritage, despite that fact that, as Baddiel argues, Spurs don’t have many more Jewish fans than other clubs.
This chanting has continued throughout the intervening years although not to the severity or viciousness of what was witnessed on Sunday. And at this point it is worth noting that it isn’t just West Ham fans who target Tottenham, other clubs supporters have too. And it is also worth noting that it is not all fans of a club we are talking about.
But it was the sheer scale of the chanting and the actual chants used on Sunday that was shocking. The attacks on Spurs fans in Rome just 4 days earlier, that look to have been more racially motivated rather than football related, are a definite catalyst but the sheer fact the anti-Semitic chanting is now in the news also plays a part.
Putting it in the media spotlight has merely reminded some of the idiots that go to football matches that it exists. Spurs fans chanting ‘Yid Army’ certainly didn’t do that, certainly didn’t warrant mention of Hitler or gassing noises. And even if Spurs dispense with the phrase, others will still refer to them as the ‘Jewish club’.
Mind you, the SOBL and David Baddiel might say that the ends justify the means. Having the debate in the public arena was their first goal. How the FA deal with the issue will be interesting and will define how their second goal is seen. They have in the past only sporadically penalised teams for offensive chanting by their fans. But perhaps now is the time for the footballing authorities to make a stand and tackle the issue head on.
As mentioned previously I believe the use of ‘Yid’ by Tottenham fans will probably disappear, but whether it’s replacement is any better remains to be seen. ‘Jew Army’ might be seen as equally provoking whereas ‘White Army’ opens up as whole different can of worms.
Whatever happens it does seem that we are at a crossroads. The issue is now out in the open. If it is dealt with effectively it could signify the first steps on the road to removing racism from football.
Otherwise the bad old days may be here once more.
Monday, 1 October 2012
U18's Match Report
Tottenham U18's v Newcastle U18's - Report, Thoughts & Ratings
A thoroughly entertaining game & well deserved win for Tottenham's young guns on Saturday morning which unfortunately was not a sign of things to come later in the day.
It took 5 mins or so for the Spurs lads to settle into the rhythm of the game but once they did they started to cause Newcastle many problems. And it was Spurs who fashioned the first chance of the game. Newcastle gave the ball away in the middle of the park and it was quickly moved out to Darren McQueen on the right. He whipped a great ball in, finding the unmarked Kenny McEvoy at the back post, who unfortunately couldn't keep his shot down.
But it wasn't long before we took the lead. A foul inside the 'D' on the edge of the area gave us a good attacking free kick. With both Laste Dombaxe and Harry Winks stood over the ball it was Dombaxe who took his time to compose himself, before curling an effort into the keeper's left hand corner.
Dombaxe thought he had scored again 5 minutes later out muscling the centre half before rounding the keeper and scoring. However the linesman had flagged to indicate a shirt pull in the build up, a decision which looked slightly harsh.
Spurs continued to press and create chances. McEvoy had another chance after being well found by Winks but while his shot beat the keeper, it also beat the far post, rolling just wide. A wonderful flowing move brought another chance. Slick one touch passing in the midfield gave Shaq Coulthirst his first sight of goal and he brought a fine save by the Newcastle keeper.
But Coulthirst wasn't to be denied a goal for much longer. Minutes later Dominic Ball, with a great through ball, found him 12 yards out and he made no mistake.
Spurs finished the half strong & McEvoy had another chance, this time the keeper getting a hand on it to tip it round the post.
But his goal finally came minutes into the second half. Another great ball through found him behind the defence yet again and this time he slotted home between the keeper's legs.
Newcastle, who up to this point had only created one chance of note, started to come back into the game and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark, Tom Gardiner adjudged to have brought the winger down. For a moment it looked as though he may receive his marching orders, so there was relief when only a yellow was produced. And there was then relief when Luke McGee pulled off a brilliant save, diving low to his right to smother the ball.
Newcastle continued to have more possession without really testing McGee again and indeed we nearly scored again when Rueben Lameires fired just wide after a strong surging run by Alex McQueen found him on the edge of the box.
But the scoring was not finished and with only a few minutes left on the watch, Darren McQueen took advantage of a slip in the Newcastle defence to race clear and score at the second attempt.
Final Score : Newcastle U18's 0 Tottenham U18's 4
My first ever view of Spurs at this level and a really enjoyable one it was too. Of the starting line up I only really knew of Shaq Coulthirst and the McQueen cousins prior to kick off. However there was so many strong performances across the entire team that I don't think it will be too long before some of these guys are pushing for a place in the U21's.
The formation used fluctuated between 3-4-3, 4-3-3 and 4-3-2-1 and it was in the first half when it was basically 3-4-3 that we had our best moments.
Ratings:
Luke McGee - 7 - Confident keeper, safe when called upon & good stop for penalty. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and not afraid to come out and play as a 'sweeper keeper' when needed.
Alex McQueen - 6 - Didn't get forward that much, being asked to stay and cover more. But the one time he did come out he produced a strong and powerful run and created a good chance.
Sam Smith - 6 - As with Alex he didn't get forward much as he was asked to cover. Wasn't tested a great deal but solid when he was. Very no nonsense.
Laste Dombaxe - 8 - Great goal but it was his presence and general midfield play that impressed. Played just in front of the defence but produced strong forward runs and big tackles when needed. Very good prospect.
Tom Gardiner - 6 - Give away penalty which looked to shake his confidence for a bit but either side of that looked comfortable with what Newcastle threw at him.
Dominic Ball - 6 - Seemed to move between Centre Half & a Defensive Midfield role. Again not tested but solid when needed and a great through ball for the second goal.
Darren McQueen - 7 - Played wide right in an attacking role and was prominent a few times going forward. Great cross early, looked quick and dangerous.
Ruben Lamieres - 7 - Worked hard in midfield without the ball and produced some great passes to split the defence on a number of occasions.
Shaq Coulthirst - 7 - Strong, led the line well and took his goal with aplomb. Looked very confident in his ability and caused problems all day for the defence.
Harry Winks - 7 - Always wanted the ball, which was great to see, and dropped deep to get it on a number of occasions. Passing sometimes went astray but never lost confidence in his ability. Real potential.
Kenny McEvoy - 9 - Playing left wing, constantly got behind the defence and his pace and dribbling were always a threat. Probably needs to work on his shooting as could've had a hat trick but exceptionally good game.
A thoroughly entertaining game & well deserved win for Tottenham's young guns on Saturday morning which unfortunately was not a sign of things to come later in the day.
It took 5 mins or so for the Spurs lads to settle into the rhythm of the game but once they did they started to cause Newcastle many problems. And it was Spurs who fashioned the first chance of the game. Newcastle gave the ball away in the middle of the park and it was quickly moved out to Darren McQueen on the right. He whipped a great ball in, finding the unmarked Kenny McEvoy at the back post, who unfortunately couldn't keep his shot down.
But it wasn't long before we took the lead. A foul inside the 'D' on the edge of the area gave us a good attacking free kick. With both Laste Dombaxe and Harry Winks stood over the ball it was Dombaxe who took his time to compose himself, before curling an effort into the keeper's left hand corner.
Dombaxe thought he had scored again 5 minutes later out muscling the centre half before rounding the keeper and scoring. However the linesman had flagged to indicate a shirt pull in the build up, a decision which looked slightly harsh.
Spurs continued to press and create chances. McEvoy had another chance after being well found by Winks but while his shot beat the keeper, it also beat the far post, rolling just wide. A wonderful flowing move brought another chance. Slick one touch passing in the midfield gave Shaq Coulthirst his first sight of goal and he brought a fine save by the Newcastle keeper.
But Coulthirst wasn't to be denied a goal for much longer. Minutes later Dominic Ball, with a great through ball, found him 12 yards out and he made no mistake.
Spurs finished the half strong & McEvoy had another chance, this time the keeper getting a hand on it to tip it round the post.
But his goal finally came minutes into the second half. Another great ball through found him behind the defence yet again and this time he slotted home between the keeper's legs.
Newcastle, who up to this point had only created one chance of note, started to come back into the game and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark, Tom Gardiner adjudged to have brought the winger down. For a moment it looked as though he may receive his marching orders, so there was relief when only a yellow was produced. And there was then relief when Luke McGee pulled off a brilliant save, diving low to his right to smother the ball.
Newcastle continued to have more possession without really testing McGee again and indeed we nearly scored again when Rueben Lameires fired just wide after a strong surging run by Alex McQueen found him on the edge of the box.
But the scoring was not finished and with only a few minutes left on the watch, Darren McQueen took advantage of a slip in the Newcastle defence to race clear and score at the second attempt.
Final Score : Newcastle U18's 0 Tottenham U18's 4
My first ever view of Spurs at this level and a really enjoyable one it was too. Of the starting line up I only really knew of Shaq Coulthirst and the McQueen cousins prior to kick off. However there was so many strong performances across the entire team that I don't think it will be too long before some of these guys are pushing for a place in the U21's.
The formation used fluctuated between 3-4-3, 4-3-3 and 4-3-2-1 and it was in the first half when it was basically 3-4-3 that we had our best moments.
Ratings:
Luke McGee - 7 - Confident keeper, safe when called upon & good stop for penalty. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and not afraid to come out and play as a 'sweeper keeper' when needed.
Alex McQueen - 6 - Didn't get forward that much, being asked to stay and cover more. But the one time he did come out he produced a strong and powerful run and created a good chance.
Sam Smith - 6 - As with Alex he didn't get forward much as he was asked to cover. Wasn't tested a great deal but solid when he was. Very no nonsense.
Laste Dombaxe - 8 - Great goal but it was his presence and general midfield play that impressed. Played just in front of the defence but produced strong forward runs and big tackles when needed. Very good prospect.
Tom Gardiner - 6 - Give away penalty which looked to shake his confidence for a bit but either side of that looked comfortable with what Newcastle threw at him.
Dominic Ball - 6 - Seemed to move between Centre Half & a Defensive Midfield role. Again not tested but solid when needed and a great through ball for the second goal.
Darren McQueen - 7 - Played wide right in an attacking role and was prominent a few times going forward. Great cross early, looked quick and dangerous.
Ruben Lamieres - 7 - Worked hard in midfield without the ball and produced some great passes to split the defence on a number of occasions.
Shaq Coulthirst - 7 - Strong, led the line well and took his goal with aplomb. Looked very confident in his ability and caused problems all day for the defence.
Harry Winks - 7 - Always wanted the ball, which was great to see, and dropped deep to get it on a number of occasions. Passing sometimes went astray but never lost confidence in his ability. Real potential.
Kenny McEvoy - 9 - Playing left wing, constantly got behind the defence and his pace and dribbling were always a threat. Probably needs to work on his shooting as could've had a hat trick but exceptionally good game.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Tottenham & The Europa League
(originally written in November 2011)
There’s been a lot of debate about our elimination from the Europe League at the group stage. Lots of people happier for it and lots of people who feel disappointed. I’m one of the latter.
A lot of the pro camp will say we had no intention of winning it and now we can concentrate on the league and they’ve got a point. But the counter arguement here is there wasn’t many of the first choice starting XI who actually played in the competition. VDV for example wasn’t even registered. Harry exercised his right to give the squad players and emerging talent a chance, a decision I actually agree with and despite our exit, I believe it proved beneficial.
Players like Tom Carroll, Ryan Fredericks, Harry Kane were thrust into the minds of Tottenham fans, many of whom had never heard of them or had never seen them in action. Again I fall into the latter. And like me, many were impressed by what they saw. Tom Carroll is a slip of a lad but looked very composed on the ball and a very usefull passer. Harry Kane a big strong, almost old fashioned centre forward who actually possesses a decent touch. Ryan Fredericks, quick and versatile, will have been disappointed to have missed a few games with injury.
Some of the younger brigade have been around for a little bit longer, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore for example. Townsend was played in a variety of positions but was at his best when wide left. He looks the type of player who will cause fullbacks sleepless nights and is able to create chances. At the moment very much a squad player who could be used as an impact sub if so required. Livermore as well remains a squad player in the big picture.
The Europa league also gave some of the more senior players a chance to shine. Some grasped it, some didn’t. Steven Pienaar while not setting the world alight did show some glimpses af quality and might still prove to be a useful player for the club. Others like Giovani dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko, while both getting on the scoresheet, didn’t really thrust themselves back into contention for a league start.
The main positive was getting these players gametime. Nobody wants to sit around on the bench or out of the frame on a Saturday. The Europe League provided a competitive environment for them to get games. Now that we’re out what happens now?
Well it’s a good question. The likes of Sandro, Kranjcar and Pienaar might not be happy with lack of games and benchwarming in league fixtures. And if we lose our squad players it will affect our league campaign should injuries and suspensions take their toll.
Of the youngsters some will go out on loan most proabably. Caroll for example would be a great addition to a side like Brighton or Southampton in the Championship. Others like Kane may not be allowed to leave, depending on how important our involvement in the Next Gen Series is seen. Townsend would be a one to keep for the reasons stated above. And of course there will be those departing the club for the last time, Gomes, Corluka, Bassong and Pav falling most possibly into this category.
And for those thinking a good FA Cup run will allow these youngsters and squad players games I disagree. FA Cup games are played instead of league matches so there’s no problem in playing more or less your strongest side here. They still get a week to recover before the next game. And I for one would love to win a trophy!
And I think therin lies the crux of the arguement. We all want to see the club be successful and winning trophies helps us achieve this. We all remember the league cup final a few years ago. And in the upcoming book ‘The Glory Glory Game’, written by the Spurs Writers Club, I talk about the sheer enjoyment of winning the 1984 Uefa Cup.
Therefore I think it is a shame we are out of the Europa League. And January might be an interesting time for goings.
There’s been a lot of debate about our elimination from the Europe League at the group stage. Lots of people happier for it and lots of people who feel disappointed. I’m one of the latter.
A lot of the pro camp will say we had no intention of winning it and now we can concentrate on the league and they’ve got a point. But the counter arguement here is there wasn’t many of the first choice starting XI who actually played in the competition. VDV for example wasn’t even registered. Harry exercised his right to give the squad players and emerging talent a chance, a decision I actually agree with and despite our exit, I believe it proved beneficial.
Players like Tom Carroll, Ryan Fredericks, Harry Kane were thrust into the minds of Tottenham fans, many of whom had never heard of them or had never seen them in action. Again I fall into the latter. And like me, many were impressed by what they saw. Tom Carroll is a slip of a lad but looked very composed on the ball and a very usefull passer. Harry Kane a big strong, almost old fashioned centre forward who actually possesses a decent touch. Ryan Fredericks, quick and versatile, will have been disappointed to have missed a few games with injury.
Some of the younger brigade have been around for a little bit longer, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore for example. Townsend was played in a variety of positions but was at his best when wide left. He looks the type of player who will cause fullbacks sleepless nights and is able to create chances. At the moment very much a squad player who could be used as an impact sub if so required. Livermore as well remains a squad player in the big picture.
The Europa league also gave some of the more senior players a chance to shine. Some grasped it, some didn’t. Steven Pienaar while not setting the world alight did show some glimpses af quality and might still prove to be a useful player for the club. Others like Giovani dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko, while both getting on the scoresheet, didn’t really thrust themselves back into contention for a league start.
The main positive was getting these players gametime. Nobody wants to sit around on the bench or out of the frame on a Saturday. The Europe League provided a competitive environment for them to get games. Now that we’re out what happens now?
Well it’s a good question. The likes of Sandro, Kranjcar and Pienaar might not be happy with lack of games and benchwarming in league fixtures. And if we lose our squad players it will affect our league campaign should injuries and suspensions take their toll.
Of the youngsters some will go out on loan most proabably. Caroll for example would be a great addition to a side like Brighton or Southampton in the Championship. Others like Kane may not be allowed to leave, depending on how important our involvement in the Next Gen Series is seen. Townsend would be a one to keep for the reasons stated above. And of course there will be those departing the club for the last time, Gomes, Corluka, Bassong and Pav falling most possibly into this category.
And for those thinking a good FA Cup run will allow these youngsters and squad players games I disagree. FA Cup games are played instead of league matches so there’s no problem in playing more or less your strongest side here. They still get a week to recover before the next game. And I for one would love to win a trophy!
And I think therin lies the crux of the arguement. We all want to see the club be successful and winning trophies helps us achieve this. We all remember the league cup final a few years ago. And in the upcoming book ‘The Glory Glory Game’, written by the Spurs Writers Club, I talk about the sheer enjoyment of winning the 1984 Uefa Cup.
Therefore I think it is a shame we are out of the Europa League. And January might be an interesting time for goings.
Memories & The Future
(originally written in Feburary 2012)
Google Earth is a wonderful thing and show just how far technology has come in a short space of time. From the comfort of your own home you can now be transported to anywhere in the world in just a few clicks, although bizarrely the first place everyone usually goes to is their own home! There or somewhere from their past.
That’s what happened to me the other day. I found myself looking at Hull, a place I know from my university days back in the early to mid 90’s. A great city to be a student in and also a very sporting city. One of my big regrets from my time there was never making it to The Boulevard for a Hull rugby league game and especially not making it to a Hull v Hull KR derby match. The passion that I saw from both sets of supporters was equal to anything I have seen in football and I would have loved to have seen it at first hand.
After a few minutes of flitting about the city, my eyes were drawn to The Boulevard. Now no longer used following Hull FC’s move to the KC Stadium I was struck by the sadness of a now crumbling stadium, still standing in the photos, but now looking eerily quiet and deserted. I could only imagine what it feels like for a supporter, someone who had gone week in, week out, handed over their hard earned money to support their heroes, to look upon such a sight. All of this made more difficult to comprehend by not having been there myself. I had however been to Boothferry Park.
The sight that greeted me at the former home of Hull City FC was even more shocking and heartbreaking. The basic shape of the ground was still there but the stands have gone. All that remains is the ‘supermarket’ end and a few bits of terracing. Street view allows you to see between the houses into the overgrown wilderness that once saw football league matches played out. It’s a strange feeling looking onto such a scene and set me off on a trip down memory lane.
From Hull I moved on. The Goldstone Ground, Brighton. The Dell, Southampton. Elm Park, Reading. The Manor Ground, Oxford. Highfield Road, Coventry. Maine Road, Manchester. Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough and finally Roker Park, Sunderland. Some are now just housing estates or industrial estates, any signs of their past now erased. Others are still there on the aerial shots in various states of decay or redevelopment. Street view which is a little bit later shows houses appearing on some sites. Roker Park holds a special place in my memory as it was the first ground I went to as a child. It is now totally gone. If you didn’t know where to look you’d probably miss it. I’ve actually only been past it once since it made way for the Stadium of Light and I nearly did but the internet being a wonderful thing, pictures of the old Clock Stand where I sat for that first game can still be seen and memories can linger on.
All this nostalgia though was well timed as only a few days later news filtered through about the NDP moving a step closer, thanks to the injection of money from Haringey council and The Mayor of London, money that will enable the town of Tottenham and the surrounding areas of the ground to be redeveloped. This news though also comes with a tinge of sadness and regret as it hastens the end of White Hart Lane as we know it.
The move to new stadiums is the right thing to do for some clubs, Darlington FC being the obvious and current exception. I understand all the arguments and reasoning coming out of Tottenham and I agree wholeheartedly with them all. It is vital for the club to move forward and start to realise its full and true potential. However as with any step forward, human nature says a part of you will always miss what was there before. WHL holds precious memories to all of us who are proud to call Tottenham Hotspur our team. The arrival of *insert name here* stadium won’t diminish those memories, in fact it will probably make them even more cherished. But it will still be a sad time when the Park Lane end finally leaves this world.
I for one am sad that grounds such as Boothferry Park, Highfield Road and Roker Park are no longer with us. The current young generation are already ignorant of the joy and fun that standing on the terraces at these grounds brought. Soon future generations will be ignorant of just how ramshackle football grounds used to be as well. Maybe that’s a good thing but then again when the newer grounds start to be replaced, maybe they’ll have their memories to warm them.
Google Earth is a wonderful thing and show just how far technology has come in a short space of time. From the comfort of your own home you can now be transported to anywhere in the world in just a few clicks, although bizarrely the first place everyone usually goes to is their own home! There or somewhere from their past.
That’s what happened to me the other day. I found myself looking at Hull, a place I know from my university days back in the early to mid 90’s. A great city to be a student in and also a very sporting city. One of my big regrets from my time there was never making it to The Boulevard for a Hull rugby league game and especially not making it to a Hull v Hull KR derby match. The passion that I saw from both sets of supporters was equal to anything I have seen in football and I would have loved to have seen it at first hand.
After a few minutes of flitting about the city, my eyes were drawn to The Boulevard. Now no longer used following Hull FC’s move to the KC Stadium I was struck by the sadness of a now crumbling stadium, still standing in the photos, but now looking eerily quiet and deserted. I could only imagine what it feels like for a supporter, someone who had gone week in, week out, handed over their hard earned money to support their heroes, to look upon such a sight. All of this made more difficult to comprehend by not having been there myself. I had however been to Boothferry Park.
The sight that greeted me at the former home of Hull City FC was even more shocking and heartbreaking. The basic shape of the ground was still there but the stands have gone. All that remains is the ‘supermarket’ end and a few bits of terracing. Street view allows you to see between the houses into the overgrown wilderness that once saw football league matches played out. It’s a strange feeling looking onto such a scene and set me off on a trip down memory lane.
From Hull I moved on. The Goldstone Ground, Brighton. The Dell, Southampton. Elm Park, Reading. The Manor Ground, Oxford. Highfield Road, Coventry. Maine Road, Manchester. Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough and finally Roker Park, Sunderland. Some are now just housing estates or industrial estates, any signs of their past now erased. Others are still there on the aerial shots in various states of decay or redevelopment. Street view which is a little bit later shows houses appearing on some sites. Roker Park holds a special place in my memory as it was the first ground I went to as a child. It is now totally gone. If you didn’t know where to look you’d probably miss it. I’ve actually only been past it once since it made way for the Stadium of Light and I nearly did but the internet being a wonderful thing, pictures of the old Clock Stand where I sat for that first game can still be seen and memories can linger on.
All this nostalgia though was well timed as only a few days later news filtered through about the NDP moving a step closer, thanks to the injection of money from Haringey council and The Mayor of London, money that will enable the town of Tottenham and the surrounding areas of the ground to be redeveloped. This news though also comes with a tinge of sadness and regret as it hastens the end of White Hart Lane as we know it.
The move to new stadiums is the right thing to do for some clubs, Darlington FC being the obvious and current exception. I understand all the arguments and reasoning coming out of Tottenham and I agree wholeheartedly with them all. It is vital for the club to move forward and start to realise its full and true potential. However as with any step forward, human nature says a part of you will always miss what was there before. WHL holds precious memories to all of us who are proud to call Tottenham Hotspur our team. The arrival of *insert name here* stadium won’t diminish those memories, in fact it will probably make them even more cherished. But it will still be a sad time when the Park Lane end finally leaves this world.
I for one am sad that grounds such as Boothferry Park, Highfield Road and Roker Park are no longer with us. The current young generation are already ignorant of the joy and fun that standing on the terraces at these grounds brought. Soon future generations will be ignorant of just how ramshackle football grounds used to be as well. Maybe that’s a good thing but then again when the newer grounds start to be replaced, maybe they’ll have their memories to warm them.
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