Well even I was happy with AVB at half time. A decent team selection with plenty of strength on the bench, followed by a thoroughly professional first 45 minutes against a poor Coventry side. The game was over at 1-0, but credit for the lads to press on and get a convincing scoreline to reflect the first half. I thought he might have withdrawn Bale then and given Andros a right good run, but not to be. I have always maintained that the modern day player rarely busts a gut when he doesn't need to and the second half proved my point. By the time the last 15 minutes arrived, we were well into a routine of being sloppy and slapdash. One lazy back pass from Tommy probably deseved to get punished but in reality, Coventry got what they deserved, nil. Several chances went inches wide which on another day might have gone in, but overall the scoreline in no way flattered us, just a bit disappointing that by the end everyone had had enough and were pleased to hear the final whistle.
From the radio commentary it sounded like some of the players were performing similarly to the Panathaniakos away game. Did a "Slack passing but who cares, it's only Coventry" attitude set in? Again just from the radio but were a lot of players only concerned with getting on the scoresheet? It sounded like Bale was, Dempsey spent the rest of the game chasing a hattrick and Huddlestone just wanted to get a haircut.
Joining the party late tonight - journey back from the Lane a nightmare thanks to work on the Met line!!!! And it only added to my bad mood following the 2nd half. Generally agree with Spurcats view above, but some big frustrations for me today were: 1. Ade - WTF was going on in his head today??? One minute chasing hard and looking keen, the next totally disinterested and just plain poor! 2. Naughton - yes I know he is only a backup but I was hoping that after a few solid but uninspired games on the left, he would show more on the right. How wrong I was. Just like play has slowed to a standstill on the left, he showed a similar lack of ambition on his favoured right. He had acres of space to move into all afternoon and always checked back. And the one shot he took was actually on his left foot!! 3. Hudd - just proved once and for all that he is not up to the level for this Spurs side. Slow and ponderous and not even producing the old trade mark passes against an average 1st Division opposition. Good to see Benny back, although he was bloody lucky not to get booked. And Scotty was - well, Scotty!! Really should have taken the opportunity to give either Townsend or Carroll a half, but I suppose a scare free path into the 4th round is never to be sniffed at.
Sounds pretty much spot on - and frankly, I imagine Hudd will not be short of spare time to get that haircut....
Sorry to hear you had transport probs Relayer, mine were on the way to the ground where the entire A10 was gridlocked with 22 coaches from Coventry trying to go through the centre of Enfield I agree witn your gripes. You know from a previous chat we had, what I think of Adebayor (!), but today he absolutely did my head in. Naughton is nowhere near good enough imo and he offers nothing going forward. I actually thought Huddlestone had a reasonable enough first half, but his foot was (predictably) one of the earliest to come off the pedal in the second half. I thought Parker was excellent throughout and I was a bit miffed when he was yanked off as he was one of the few who had retained a proper attitude in the second half.
Cheers Spurcat - my condolences on your journey too!! Yes, I know we do generally disagree about Ade but I just couldn't work him out today. Worst moment was when he was clean through and then waited to be tackled!! Maybe was playing for a foul but ended up just looking feeble as the Coventry defender moved him off the ball. PATHETIC!!
Oh, one other thing...... Have to say that the Coventry support was loud and excellent throughout. Put us to shame.......
Agreed. They were good in numbers and excellent vocally. The atmosphere at the Lane this season has been dire, it gets more like the Emirates with each game. That slow build up 'oh when the Spurs', now does my head in as it seems to be the only song we sing these days. In reality, the atmosphere has been deteriorating for 18 months or so, but this season it's reached an all time low.
Well done United.Another fluke result!But then,if you go broke buying a given goal scorer (as I have said before) you will be rewarded.Them with no special goalscorers ain't going far!!!!! Newcastle are just plain stupid giving up Ba. They'll be thinking about that one next season after their relegation.........
