2010-05-10 10:30:41
Spurs manage expectations
by Alan the librarian
Nothing like losing a 2 nil lead at the hands of an already relegated club to bring you back down to earth huh?
Just typical of spurs to make my final review the most difficult. Do I focus on the game itself or the season overall?
I am just going to write what I feel and allow you to judge.
Yesterday's performance was extremely unprofessional, bordering on pathetic (OK I guess I am going for the former). Granted, the game meant little in the context of the season but there were points (and pride) to play for and even a potential place in the top 3. However, unlikely that was, we should have been prepared to take advantage (as UTD were) in case our rivals slipped up. Talk of our players finding out the score at Emirates during our game does not excuse the performance, but probably explains it.
It all started very well, a little too well perhaps, as we raced into a two goal lead through an encouraging link up with Lennon and Bale (hope to see more of that next season) and a wonder goal by Modric (just hope to see him in a spurs shirt next season). Unfortunately, I should have got drunk beyond comprehension right then as the rest was all Burnley. Assisted greatly by a spurs defence who contrived to present them with free runs right at the nervy looking Alnwick, Burnley managed to reverse a two goal deficit into a 4-2 win.
I am not going to blame the young goalkeeper too much but If someone can please tell me the logic of signing Alnwick in a swap deal PLUS cash for Fulop, I would be grateful. He does not appear to have cahoonas nor the ability to make it in this league. I've probably said the same of Bale at some point so I hope I am wrong again here.
He could have done better with Burnley's first goal but the next three, in fairness, were all outfield player errors as our lads afforded Burnley the freedom of Turf Moor. It was literally a case of our players saying to their counterparts, 'have more turf' (rubbish joke), as all the goals were scored from a central position.
I am trying not to be overly critical as the players had allowed themselves this 'party in the park' after their heroics in midweek but what kind of attitude was that? 73 points, just two behind our bitter rivals, and 6 ahead of fifth would have provided a nice gloss to a brilliant campaign. Call that greedy if you wish but that's the mentality I want at WHL. It would have also meant I could enjoy the final match of the day this season, watching Lawro and Hansen attempt to take their feet out of their mouths. In fairness to Burnley they did play well but they are incredibly suspect at the back and have the backbone of a lizard. Since Brian took over, the only Law at Burnley is to lose (still not funny?).
Anyway, it's gone now and I am of course acutely aware that I would have bitten your hand off to be in this position at the start of the season. I haven't forgotten that but felt I couldn't mask what was a poor display last weekend. I will be posting an end of season review later as I think this season deserves to end on a positive note (even if our players didn't).
Bitterly disappointing but not a surprise- the celebrations should have been at end of season not Man City! We had given up then. The only concern is will this negativity go on to next season remember post carling celebrations-manager getting soaked players on the town. Then comes ABJECT after ABJECT performances from spurs. Good job its end of season- but this is real tonic for coaching staff. The players need to be watched- and Arry can't let up on them if they are too push on. We take this on chin- it also highlights how great a manager Arry his- the team is quality but lacks b lls- so Arry has gotten MUCH out of this team of softies in heart!
I think that's fair Alan. A great season finished with a woeful performance. Utd knew at half time Chelsea were 2 up and Wigan down to 10 men but they still put Stoke to the sword...why not the same from our lads? And what of Dawson and King, making a claim for their England places by shipping 4 goals to a Championship side? I'm glad Harry said he wasn't happy and didn't make excuses about the season being over already.
Professional or not our players must have found it tough to keep the momentum going especially after going 2-0 up.As redknapp said perhaps he shouldve made changes, maybe at half time. We have had some good fortune this season but Fulham being in the Europa Cup Final on Wednesday was not part of that(good luck Fulham).
One thing worse than our second half performance was the beer behind the flitwick end I couldnt drink it, and believe me when I say ..thats a first for me.
I agree with the post, However watching the game I could feel that there was something in the air. Ledley playing his third game and all the England hopefuls and others in the WC not wanting to ship an injury. I think we can be proud of the lads and also proud to be a Yid. Get in there you Spurs.
MK, I agree with you about Harry. Martin O'Neil, said after losing against Blackburn yesterday that if someone would have offered him defeat against Rovers and still finish 6th at the end of the day he still would have taken it. Not really what I would have wanted to here.
Nobby, you paid to go so your opinion here matters more than mine. So I guess I am being a bit crtical. In fairness none of the top 4 hopefuls won yesterday so it was probably a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show but you look at the UTD example and that's the benchmark. The players need to up their game as the standard requires it. Even domestically, we are now a bigger scalp for sides to beat. The players had a couple of exhausting games and maybe Harry should have freshen things up but I hope that goes as a lesson to the players that, in this attacking format, we must work doubly hard.
Hear not Here.
Pretty sure Ledley our leader being upside down pissed on Wednesday night at 4am didnt help with the second half collapse...
Couldnt they wait 4 days before getting shit faced again??
post 7...mockery of Redknapp's 'no drinking during the season' policy.
But since when do players give a shit about the supporters
I hate to say it, but I think Harry should take the blame for this one, on his selection! The boys that were sent out have been absolute monsters in the last 2 months, and after all the emotions that came with the man city game they must have been absolutely phyiscally and mentally knackered. Also being allowed to let their hair down after the Man City game.
The Burney game would have been a great opportunity to let some of those boys have a rest while more importantly given others a chance to shine, who would have been highly motivated to really have a go to take the game to burley to show what they can do. I'm talking about Huddlestone, Modric (giving jenas, palacios or livermore a chance) Crouch (giving eudir a full 90 mins) Walker (while letting kaboul have a run out in his preferred CB position instead of King) Dawson (for bassong) while keeping some experienced 1st teamers in to improve form for the WC. Namely Defoe (who should have been given a full 90 mins...can't remember the last time he had one of those) and Lennon, still playing for form and fitness.
I just hope that 'Arry learns form his, but I have to say I'm not sure if he will. He's seems too old school to adoption the notion of rotation and all his changes during the season have been forced by injury. Great season tho!
Coys
Alan..make no mistake I wanted and in part expected us to win with a certain amount of style yesterday.That the team switched off for the second half is unaceptable i am simply trying to understand it.
What I will never understand is how that vinegar and pss was allowed to be sold as beer..last game of the season you want a couple of sherberts talk to people your unlikely to see for 3 months or so. Even the bar staff were apologising, worst beer I have had in a football ground ever.
Still it took
Still it took...nonsense ignore it.
some of these posts are wacky. if you are not a happy spurs fan today then you probably never will be. might be better for you to take up tiddly winks. less stressful than following a football club.
I want to know what Nobby was going to say.
That sounds like a competition.
How to end that sentence....
Still it took....
...me a while to realise I was actually at West Ham rather than Burnley?
Still it took....
.....13 pints for me to realise I didn't like it.
Parklane, I'm happy overall, delighted in fact, it's been a successful season...but, commenting solely on the Burnley game, the lads were awful and it was just another example of the team switching off when they think it's all done, much like after the Carling Cup win or when we're 2-1 up with 87 minutes on the clock...the layers seem to start thinking more of where they are going to go and get pissed up rather than finishing the job they started.
...the layers?
players.
ha ha Its hard work getting a beer at half time at West Ham and yes I had some quality beer on the the way up.
Best service at a ground, Newcastle, so quick it can leave you sideways.
Best beers Boddingtons in the old Old Trafford in about 1979 they were just beautiful.
Can't imagine that anyone has ever had a decent beer inside a British football ground.Never seen anything other than keg bitter or poor lager.Found myself watching Bayern v Inter on the way home from our pre season tour of Scandanavia and Nice and remember the German refreshments being pretty good.No beer yesterday ! Looked longingly out of the window as we drove past the Moonstone Brewery as we entered Burnley too late to stop.
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