Couldn't get a ticket for yesterday and couldn't sit at home and watch it so I blagged a ticket for Palace v Hull. Afterwards got completely, staggeringly, ridiculously drunk watching the game with hundreds of Palace fans and the landlord, who's a United fan and mate who has gone to quite a few Spurs games over the years. We got the odd look but when it's your gaff...... Couldn't bare to watch the post-game ceremony until this morning. Gulp..... that was a real tear-jerker. Such a shame that Stevie P couldn't be there. Maybe he could open the new stadium? In recent years I've suffered from some early onset memory loss due to medical reasons but being at WHL, standing on The Shelf is as clear in my mind as anything else. There are houses I've lived in and old friends whose faces I can't picture clearly any more but everything about those days remains crystal clear. I guess the mind prioritises what's important. Looking at the the legends on the pitch and the fans in the stands, the wistful looks and watery eyes you could see that it's the same for us all. COYS!
For some reason I think the Spurs employees must have been cutting a shed load of onions yesterday... What a send off. Atmosphere was incredible and the lads gave a performance to match it. 2-1 was a generous scoreline to Utd, especially as we dominated the first half. Gary Mabbutt was spotted in the South East upper corner and fully lapped up the "Super Gary Mabbutt" chants. Half time saw Chas and Dave come for a chat as well as Winksy giving his review of his breakthrough season. Chants of "Only one Aaron Lennon" was nice to hear. As was "There's only one Paul Gascoigne". It was fitting that our very own goal king scored what turned out to be the winner, a shame it wasn't the actual final goal of the game but the winner is more than fine with me. As the final whistle went and fans went on to the pitch, I initially said I wouldn't join in with the invasion but the temptation became too much, my Mum and two Cousins came to the game as well so I managed to grabbed them all and took them down, we took group photos with the pitch in the background and then Park Lane where we all sit. Naturally we all had to pick up some of that hallowed turf, something I'll cherish for a life time. The closing ceremony was excellent, credit to those at Spurs who organised it. Seeing some of the legends come out was when it really hit home at just how special this place was to have graced some of finest footballers to ever play the game. Being 27, my main era are the more recent players like Ledley, Keano, Robinson, Berbatov, Crouchy, Davids and I was kid growing up watching Ginola, Mabbutt, Carr, Teddy, Davies, Edinburgh, Howells, Nielsen but seeing guys like Hoddle, Ossie, Villa, Jennings, Roberts and co was immense. I was also glad the crowd gave a cheer when Paul Coyte announced Levy had a message. Over the years I've heard small sections of fans turn on him and while some of his footballing decisions with regards to management changes can be questioned, the man has been incredible for this club and he deserves the utmost respect from our supporters. I took this photo once the stadium was virtually empty, a final pic of the ground that has given me some of the best memories of my life, thank you, White Hart Lane:
'king heck @Spurlock you went on a proper bender with the likes mate! just signed in to see 28 notifications, mostly from you
Mourinho says United only lost because they prioritized the Europa Cup instead of the league game.......funny if he falls between two chairs!
Whatever the priorities, the game showed that there is a gulf in class between Spurs and Utd presently. The differences are very obvious - and very simplistic rather than complex or technical things - but they are significant. The way Spurs move the ball so quickly is a huge strength. When Spurs gain possession, all the players move to take up positions where they can receive the ball with great energy and purpose. Someone is always creating space, whether it's out wide or, in the case of Alli or Eriksen, in pockets between opposition defenders. By contrast, most Utd players are static and when they receive the ball, they can be closed down quickly, forcing them to try to pass too soon, without assessing whether another player is ready to receive the ball. Moves break down after two or three passes at best unless the ball is passed around in our own half or hit long either to Fellaini or to try and release Martial or Rashford to run at defenders. Invariably though, the pass is poor or predictable. Spurs play with great energy without the ball too, pressing and closing down opposition players all over the pitch and forcing errors. These energy levels are maintained throughout the game. By contrast, Utd players seem to lack energy. The stats suggest they cover less ground on the pitch over 90 minutes than any other team. Spurs players can demonstrate their skills playing this way because confidence is high, all the players are playing to the same plan and they have learned what each other's strengths are. By contrast, Utd's players don't play to a consistent plan, there are constant personnel and positional changes every game and no understanding between the team as a result. Skills are only shown when an individual produces something special - which is all too infrequently. Credit has to go to your manager, who is responsible for the set up and organisation of the team, the style and tempo of play, the fitness levels of the players and, it would seem from what is reported, the attitude, commitment and camaraderie too.
Whilst the press fawn over lesser talents with bigger egos and mouths, Mauricio Pochettino has in three years wrought a transformation miracle far greater than the parting of the Red Sea. Looking at the bag of **** he inherited and what he has turned that squad into, the man is deserving of the praise that others receive. All of the big mouthed managers.....sorry, superstar managers are excused their poor performance because "they haven't got their own players." Pass that through the Bullshit Detector and it translates as "If I spend another quarter to a half a billion pounds on better players, I will show what a great manager I am." Is it not part of being a great manager to get the best out of what you've got and to improve those players? United are still a mess. I fancy Ajax strongly in the EL final. Liverpool are getting some better results but I don't see a better team with anything resembling a pattern of play. At the very basis of their team is a defence that melts at corners. Pep's answer to defensive frailty was........John Stones..........John ****ing Stones...... I ask you? These are things that Conte and Pochettino bring to their sides. You can see the coaching in every performance. Every player knows their job and does it. They may be the manager's choice of player or they may not. It doesn't matter.
A couple of people have claimed that Sigurdsson was there, but he seems to have deleted the posts: I wasn't sure if it was true, but there are a couple of comments on his latest instagram post from Swans fans saying it. Glad he could make it, assuming that he actually did!
