A good game of football and a great result. Thanks to Swansea for contributing a brilliant attitude and thanks to Spurs for bringing back the good feeling that we have had for much of this season. If the season stopped now we could not complain (well we could but we are Spurs ) but it doesn't and it could just be that the best is yet to come. I am not going to count chickens but I am feeling better now about the next game and looking forward to it with renewed confidence. Lennon is back and that's no small bonus. Gallas as well, his experience is a huge plus. The team will have learned from recent matches not to expect any easy rides and Harry has had a little reminder about the importance of focus. Our main rivals are under extreme pressure it will be harder for them in many ways, the need for CL football is hanging over them. We have the quality to finish third, we have shown that for much of the season but now it's all about resilience and focus with a bit of luck here and there. We may also have discovered that 4 3 3 is an option that this team can use and about time too IMHO.
Yep things are on the up, key players back and form returning. A CL spot and an FA Cup win would make it a great season, arguably our best since 61. So much to play for.
We need to put another run of wins together now though, Spurf. The next game is extremely important, because of the timing. Newcastle visit Swansea on Friday and we're the early game on Saturday at the SOL. Two away wins and the pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal goes way, way up. Chelsea will almost certainly beat Wigan, but the Goon's game against Man City on Sunday is a far trickier proposition. It might be good for us if Blackburn can get something from their game against Utd tonight and boost City's morale a little. Good to see us back to winning ways and playing good football. Bale playing on the wing was a massive plus, the trio in midfield combined well, Adebayor's back on the score sheet and Lennon got back on the pitch and got an assist. Bodes well for the run in.
good post Spurf. yesterday could have gone horribly wrong; Swansea are a very good side, capable of causing an upset against anyone. - the belief was really there in our performance yesterday. it was like watching us 7+ weeks ago. Like you say, Lennon coming back is massive. Although I personally feel that he's got a way to go yet till we see him back to his best, that performance will do his confidence the world of good. - the fans really got behind him. More importantly, it was just the presence of Lennon that made the difference. when he came on, there was such a balance to the team. i'm stating the obvious here, but it gives luka and bale more time on the ball and more space to create. - and it was pretty satisfying for me (as well as many of otherfans i expect), as it proved bale should be on the left, not on the right! It's certainly going to help us going into the Sunderland game, which is going to be very tough. until yesterday, i had that game down as a draw, but i really think we can push on now, having seen sucha difference yesterday, against a quality side. If things stay as they are, although we would all like our rivals to be as far behind us as possible come the end of the season, it's actually really important IMO that chelsea get the EL spot over Newcastle. it would be lovely to see Newcastle make it, as they deserve it, but we need the chavs in the EL. we had the hassle of flying all over Europe on Thurs nights and we need them to be in same boat. they are bound to get some significant investment over this summer and if they have no EL football it could make Chelsea very strong next season as they'll have a lot less games.
There are some potential banana skins in front of us Spurf, for instance Sunderland, but I think the majority are do-able. What is a concern is that a lot of matches are against teams fighting for their lives. You are right about Lennon though. Anybody who has said in the past that he was lightweight with no end product has been taught an object lesson in how we struggle without him. The midfield four is the key to the team and with him in it we are able to stretch teams and counter attack seemingly at will. I too have a good feeling; hopefully we have shaken off the Harrymania and will get back to business.
You could argue Sunderland is one of the "easier" games as they have less to play for. It's all very well saying games are all against teams in the lower half, but a lot of them have something to play for like avoiding relegation. I always thought that this time of the season you need to play mid-table teams who are secure and minds are already wandering to holidays/next season.
With the exception of Chavski's win, it was a great set of results for us, over the weekend. I never doubted that we'd get back to winning ways, because even with our injuries we've played good football, and it was more due to bad luck that we didn't get something from the City, United, Everton and Chelsea games. We've got to go to Sunderland believing that we can play them off the park and win that match. COYS!
It was really invigorating to see the players with smiles on their faces again- especially Ade. That should put some the doomsayers to one side for a while. But what was most enjoyable was to see corners and crosses reaching their targets- as many have mentioned its really obvious that serious work has been done on the training pitch.
I think Adebayor must've seen Spurf and Notso's comments about him never scoring headers and went out to prove a point We're even scoring from corners which is a huge bonus since we get so many of them when a team sits back against us. I think it's just as important to get a win on Saturday now to truly see us out of the bad spell aswell as putting pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea before they play.
I think the coaching staff must read our posts- how on earth do you explain such an improvement in just over a week.
I have this theory that Harry is a regular poster on this forum and has probably been banned from other boards as being a wum.
haha, it does make you wonder if the club have hired someone to read not606!!! what a job that would be! imagine getting paid to be on here all day*, but your actually a research assistant for the club!! to be fair, the bbc606 page used to take our comments and quote them on the site!! you never know... *... awaiting a quote from someone which states: "I do get paid to be on here all day".
Yesterday was the first time in a long time i got the same feeling as i had got the week we beat Chelsea..Arsenal..city to qualify for the CL for the first time....was just something about the dynamics of the team that was great to sense...and Lennon is a major player for us..just like Bale he is irreplaceable....i feel good about the run in like most of you.
Lennon is a good asset, but we can have balance without him. We have a WORSE ppg this season when Lennon starts than when he doesn't. So that is an indicator that we don't desperately miss him when he's not on the pitch, though of course many other variables are involved here. To me the balance at SOL will be better if Lennon doesn't start, but Livermore does. Lennon is lightweight, but he does have end product. Best used as a sub for the Mackems, I think.
Bringing on Defoe/Saha and Lennon as impact subs is a great ploy, IMO. Devastating pace + natural striking ability. What a devastating combination! And at a time when the opponent is at its most fatigued.
in the PL our record stands at : 133 corners 1 goal. i think we could have won the league at a canter!!
We've scored 3 from corners in the PL this season. Kaboul against City, Bale against Wigan and then yesterday's.
