Nothing was given actually, they were allowed to play on but eventually kicked the ball out whilst the morons in black did **** all. To be fair though I didn't see much reaction from our players or bench though. Maybe we should stop being nice and start giving the ref an earful like Carragher did today, it seems to help. Ah, really? I didn't know anything about him charging up to the ref or the gesture to the steward. I just assumed you were talking about him punting the ball into the crowd and timewasting. Although to be fair with the time wasting, Friedel got booked in the first half of our second leg against Inter, didn't he? I don't necessarily blame 'keepers for that, they're happy to take the booking if it comes but I just wish more refs would hand them out and early too.
I'm glad you mentioned Dempsey because I was a bit hesitant about singing his praises as I know he's not too popular on here. For me, he never stopped working today and for the first hour, was the only Spurs player who took the ball into the final third of the pitch. In fact he was the only Spurs player who really featured in their penalty area. Holtby had an influence, but Tommy was immense. We must not let him go, he's very popular around the club, he has worked hard on his fitness (have you noticed how slim he looks) and his pass to Bale for the goal was sublime.
I expect Sunderland to be safe by the time we play them, so hopefully they will take their foot off the pedal somewhat, the same is a possibility for Stoke. To be honest, if we can't get top 4 from this position we will only have ourselves to blame. I'm hoping Villa get a shock win against United tomorrow, so they travel to the Emishites really fired up.
The best part of the performance today was that Spurs kept right on going after they got the lead, scored another, pressed the crap out of City and won going away. I can't remember them doing that against a good team all year except for Inter. Huddlestone's pass to Bale was a thing of beauty. Inch perfect is an overused cliché, but describes it nicely. Oh, yeah, I can't remember getting so many things wrong for a game as I did today (though maybe I have a short memory!), from wanting Bale to rest for another week to preferring Ade to Defoe. Shortly before he scored I called Defoe something or other, then thought: he's going to shut me up. C'mon, shut me up! I also came to hate Joe Hart for the Dempsey goal reaction, screaming that Dempsey was offside. He wasn't offside. He wasn't close to offside. And anyone who would scream and whine like Hart did for a call that he didn't even come close to deserving is a big twat in my book. One thing I may have had right was my idea that describing Dempsey as a left or right sided midfielder who can also play second striker is misleading. What he can do is play either side in the front line of a 4-3-3. he won't blind anyone with his skill, but he can knock the ball into the net at a decent rate, and works hard. It's hard to pick against this team for the forseeable. Huddlestone's ability to carve through the defense with his passing was very noticeable. All three front row players got goals. I think Dembele and Holtby have enough spine to make them plus Huddlestone a good 3. Holtby had his impact on the goalscoring with his pass to Defoe. He also led the way in working hard and hassling. Lloris had a big save. Dembele seems to grow in big games. The whole team deserves credit for outworking City from beginning to end. They played like their future depended on it. I give the crowd credit for redoubling the noise after the City goal. AVB may have made his best halftime switcheroo of the year.
I saw it coming a while ago. We were ahead for a long time at the Etihad and lost in the final minutes and City aren't that good away from home. I've seen that we aren't playing that badly and felt that as we've had a good record against City until very recently that we'd win it. Remember the 3-0 hiding which proved the end of Hughes? I said they were ours for the taking so this win doesn't surprise me. We've some tough matches coming though. Stoke would have to get back to winning ways now wouldn't they and Sunderland have the new manager syndrome. I've seen before though Sunderland do well with a new coach ie Bruce and MON at first then tail off badly which I expect them to do again. Saints are getting some positive results and Wigan look lively as ie Man City. Which leaves Chelsea. Oh Chelsea,Chelsea,Chelsea,what do we say about you? You blow so hot and cold you are a very difficult team to forecast. Well many thought we'd lose to Arsenal and City but we won both and can turn Chelsea over too. That two goal win broke the one goal sequence which is what I wanted. Will Arsenal keep winning or will a defeat spark a run of defeats and draws? What will chelsea do? Everton are out of it now I think.
There seems to be nothing better than writing a player off. I thought Huddlestone was finished with us which is why I was so surprised when Jol said we pulled out of a deal to sell him in January. It's much easier to eat your words though when one of your own players proves you wrong by playing well, long may it continue
What a day. What a bloody day. I said in the predicions I expected to City to win 2-0 or 2-1 as they were on a better run (plus in all honesty they are a better team) and then getting their goal after 5 minutes (made even worse by the fact it was scored by that dog) I thought we were gonna be in for (another!) long afternoon against them. However, for a change, WHL was rocking, we in the Park Lane barely shut up despite going behind to an early goal and I think the players acknowledged it as they never let their heads go down. Both teams seemed fairly hesitant though throughout most of the first half, both keepers made a good save and Dempsey (who had his best game in our shirt, MOTM in my opinion) and Nasri missed decent chances. Second half started similar to the first, decent football on show but nothing cut throat, the lads didn't seem worried about City's lead, they were simply staying calm, perhaps a little too calm at times but we didn't look like capitulating as we have in games against Basel and Inter, then AVB made the changes and it was the changes that completely turned the game around in our favour. Huddlestone has been making impressive cameos lately and he did again today, spraying the balls around like we knew he could, Holtby too was showing great energy and making neat little flicks/ passes. Defoe came on to a massive cheer, and although I'm not a fan of the bloke Adebayor got booed by sections of both sets of fans which was a little disappointing. Then came our equaliser, Bale - who had a very quiet game up until this point (to be expected on return from injury) - played a deadly low cross with his outside of his left peg and the man most deserving of a goal Dempsey slid in, 1-1 and I think I speak on behalf of most if not all Spurs fans that we'd have been happy with a draw. The players however weren't, just a few minutes later and Holtby played a great through pass and JD did brilliantly, coming in from the right and hitting a belter into the far side of the goal, Hart had no chance, 2-1 and buzzing, I'm amazed the roof at WHL didn't collapse as we were rocking. So 2-1 and all that was in my mind was "Come on Spurs, just hold on to this" and then yet again, the players stuck a middle finger up at me and got a third! Hudd with a brilliant through pass for Bale to dink over the oncoming Hart (a goal and assist from a quiet performance on his return from injury... That IS world class), WHL went into a deafening overdrive. City looked shocked, probably as much as I was and for the first time in the game, it just felt comfortable, City lacked the desire to get back in it, they knew they didn't have much to play for before the game and at that point, even the most faintest of chances of catching UTD were gone. Final whistle, and BOOOOM, we picked up a fantastic - and deserved! Unlike what Manchini says - 3 points. As I said Dempsey was superb and the subs played a major part in changing the game, Benny came over to Park Lane and lobbed his shirt into the crowd (who was then followed by Daws) and underneath Benny's shirt was another saying "200 apps" which was a great touch in my opinion from our best LB in yonks. A major sour note of the game though was Joe Hart, his time wasting was disgusting, I think he actually got booked which was more than deserved, I never thought he was that type of player but clearly I was wrong, ironically as we took the lead his goal kicks were being taken a hell of a lot quicker... On the whole, brilliant, brilliant day and no doubt this will have given the lads a major confidence boost now to kick on in our last 5 games.
Congrats to Benny on his 200th Spurs appearance, what a game to mark it. please log in to view this image
Until today, I didn't think it was possible to dislike that smug little twat, Nasri, anymore than I already do. However, today he proved me wrong! What a detestable little **** he is! Plus, he has one of those self satisfied faces that you would never tire of punching!..
Holtby seems to have been watching some Carry On films to acclimatise to British culture... "Oooooooh Matron"
Has Huddlestone got something on his knee there? I would be typical if he got injured now, wouldn't it?
I thought we'd get caned today....am so pleased to be wrong. We came back from the 2 losses v lpool and wigan well.... Away win at swansea 2 down v basle and get a draw Losing to everton until the last minute before equalising Come back v basle and surviving 30 mins extra time with 10 men And today .......its going to be a nerve racking final 5 matches for us....and chelsea....and a nervy final 4 for the goons
A lot of that without Bale and Lennon too colin. A full team and a five day break and we should beat Wigan. But will Arsenal please stop winning.
A fantastic result considering what we were up against. Bale quiet for 65 mins then he kicked in , without him at best a draw. Thudd adding a little finesse to central midfield with Dembele doing more of the headless chicken Parker role I thought gave us some cutting edge. Defoe did very well for the goal . The three subs should start (long term I don't think they are the answer for the " next level " ) as they are replacing players that are delivering very little . Maybe this is our Churchillian call to arms .
We did very well to come back from a situation that, quite frankly, looked hopeless at half time. However, I'm not going to get too carried away as I believe that yesterday we saw City exposed for what they really are. For whatever the reason, management?, I don't know, they were seen to my eyes as a bunch of, admittedly individually talented, footballers who are not a team at all. They have all just seemingly congregated in the same location for one reason, and one reason only - money! There appears to be no genuine team spirit - no desire to work or fight for each other. As ye sow, so shall ye reap!..
Amazing result yesterday.... in the presence of 2 goons. All week their tone of voice suggested that at the back of their mind they thought we'd already lost this one. They were already counting how many point's we'd be behind them. Apparently we had the hardest run in? well haven't things changed? with the exception of Chelsea which will be very tough, the rest of the games don't seem that difficult anymore. - we should be winning them. (knowing us we'll slip up ) Where as Arsenal and Chelsea still have to play United, and Chelsea have also got Everton. Arsenal now have to face a period without Giroud, and when Chelsea face us it'll have been their 6th game in 16 days (including yesterday). If Chelsea get through that unscathed, then they deserve CL football!!! That's a lot to ask anyone at this stage of the season. As for yesterday, Great fighting spirit despite a poor performance for most of the game. Huddlestone was immense like YV says. It was like everyone playing and watching could just breathe a sigh of relief. Know what I mean? we were useless for most of the game until he came on. There was no width, we couldn't keep the ball and everything was being booted forward. I genuinely thought AVB had written Huddlestone off. We hadn't seen him feature in months until recently. - But he's obviously worked so hard to get back into the team and what a difference he's made with his sub appearances. unbelievable jeff. - For me, he must start the next game. Defoe - excellent when he came on. Looked dangerous, caused city problems with his pace and is just far more hungry that Adebayor. He might not be everyone's cuppa, but JD certainly has the passion and is Tottenham through and through. How anyone can defend Adebayor now is beyond me. I think far too many have made excuses for him because they don't want to be proven wrong by gooner fans on here. He's been useless for ages and does **** all. It really is a case of clutching at straws to say anything good about him. For someone that's paid as much as he his, whether it's by us or city, he's terrible. I'm a big critic of Dempsey as you all know, and IMO yesterday he was terrible in the 1st half (as we're many others). He worked hard as he usually does, but offered little else. However second half, I thought he turned it round and had put in an excellent performance. His goal was deserved after the shift he put in over 90 mins. Bad day at the office for Sig. I felt sorry for him to be honest. No support really and seems to be marked out of the game by 3 city shirts at any one time. Another bad game from Walker and Benny. As Hansen pointed out last night, what was Benny doing in the net when City scored?! LOL Thought Verts and Dawson were brilliant again yesterday and Dawson's pass crossfield which led to the first goal, was sublime. Also thought Dembele had a good game and Holtby made a massive difference when he came on. His non stop closing down rattled city and he was a big difference in the way the game turned round IMO, as he stopped the flow of city, allowing Hudd + others more time to create opportunities. Brilliant result. Oh, and 1 other bit of praise goes to AVB. - substitutions. Spon on.
I've been saying for a while that I expect that little house of cards to come tumbling down,it's just a matter of when.
