HI PL, I try not to be negative, and as I say during the games I am always ultra positive. I'm not one who gets on the players backs, unlike so many Spurs fans. I cheer, sing, shout and generally get behind the team. Of course, like anyone I will give out the occasional 'what the **** was that' etc But after the game, if we've lost I will be down, and after a game such as Stoke I will be distraught and absolutely flattened, just as I'm always delighted and up, up, up if we win. There's never any 'it was only 'x' with me', especially in the Prem. Every win is treated with near delirium, every important win is a trip to ecstasy for me. (Without the tablets Looking at the wider picture, I think I'm being realistic. We haven't finished above Chelsea or Arsenal for what, 15 years? Therefore given that both are still very strong teams (our only CL reps) I think it's entirely reasonable to fear both will finish above us. Indeed if you check the odds http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/top-4-finish Chelsea are strong favourites for 4th, and we're only slight favourites to finish above Arsenal, so there are plenty who share my fears. It's not being particularly negative or pessimistic, it's reflecting what has happened over the recent past. Incidentally I would NEVER describe myself as a long-suffering Spurs fan. I don't actually like to read people call themselves that, though that's up to them. I am a proud Spurs fan, who is happy the club has brought me sooooooo much joy and happiness over the past 50+ years. But certain results like Benfica in 62, Barca in 82, Stoke last Sunday, really, really hurt, and will always hurt.
Apparently Defoe, Sandro, Kaboul, BAE, Pienaar and Niko have travelled to Ireland. Wonder how many will play and for how log? Pav hasn't travelled, apparently. EDIT The above is confirmed by this. http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...RY_NAME=soccer/11/12/14/SOCCER_Tottenham.html Gomes, Cudicini, Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Rose, Livermore, Sandro, Townsend, Carroll, Pienaar, Kranjcar, Dos Santos, Defoe, Kane, Falque.
I understand where you are coming from GHoddle, what you are doing is getting the maximum enjoyment from the game but with the downside of maximum distress when things don't go our way. I made a concious decision many years ago to avoid this syndrome (In fact the England Poland game when the draw put us out of the W/C, I was miserable for a week) I decided after that I would never let it get to me again in such a way. As a result I probably do not get quite the buzz you do with a Spurs win (I AM STILL DELIGHTED) but I do not get the big downer either. I enjoy the game but hold something in reserve for the defeat, should it happen. No right or wrong here just a different way of coping with the joys of being a Spurs supporter.
The OS has just put out an update: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/team-news-141211.html? Redknapp: "I was doing a little bit of work with them this morning and there's seven internationals in there" "Defoe is here, Gio Dos Santos, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Pienaar, Niko, Sandro, they will all play. Danny Rose is an England Under-21 international." "I've left five or six of the senior players behind - the likes of Modric, Parker, Adebayor - but we have a very good team." Presumably we'll see Cudicini play, but it sounds like Corluka must be out and we may see Livermore playing in the defence again. Rose must be playing in the midfield if Assou-Ekotto's starting.
Thanks for the update PNP, which confirms my original post about the players that travelled. Why do you assume Corluka is out, as you say the Sporting Life article seemed to miss out some players. EDIT - ah I get it, because he's an international I presume the SL article missed out a few Academy players will fill out the rest of the places on the bench. Cudicini; Fredericks Livermore Kaboul BAE; Pienaar Niko Sandro Rose; GDS JD?
GH let me clarify the "long suffering", it doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination that supporting Spurs is painful. What is painful is the years and years of seeing our main rivals continuously finishing above us and sometimes winning trophies. While we have always tried to play entertaining winning football that doesn't always win you things- that is the suffering. I will always love my club because of the traditions,but the odd trophy here and there certainly won't go astray.
Fair comments PL But I've seen Spurs win 14 trophies in 51 years, which is a record only bettered by the 'Big 4', and in turn we have done better than some 100 professional clubs in that time. That puts us in the very elite top 5% of professional clubs in this country, over my supporting 'lifetime'. So I can't complain too much about trophies, though I do desperately want to see that league title again Oh and another FA Cup and one CL win will do nicely
Is there some sort of stipulation in Benny's contract which states: "Since the undersigned abhors football so much, he must start no less than 99% of THFC's games" ? The poor lad doesn't stop!
We'd smash Stoke over 2 legs, no way would UEFA give us referees as poor as Foy and I guarantee when we play you at WHL next we will show you once again how proper football is played but this time the result will be the correct one. Now get off our board and enjoy your 1 season in Europe because you won't be back anytime soon.
Our record against you is P 81 W 41, well done for popping over here with that one! Had a rare win against someone have we recently! ...amazing how that can lengthen the neck! We're not interested in this comp, when you can top a CL group come back and see us...oh wait you can't even top a EL group with your first team!
It does seem that the SL article was correct, according to this report anyway http://www.football365.com/tottenham-hotspur/7378411/Harry-Post-match-chats-so-risky? Assuming both these articles are correct, gonna be interesting who plays RB - or maybe a new formation from Harry ? Cudicini; Livermore Kaboul BAE; Pienaar Niko Carroll Sandro Rose; GDS JD? I really find it difficult to guess the line up TBH.
Great to see Niko back. Such a classy player. Hopefully he can get around 70 mins under his belt and be fit enough to make the bench against Sunderland. Having him back will hopefully make Rafa, Lennon and Bale maintain and even up their performances as he's our best back up (too good for a back up in fact) we have and therefore will be on their heels should one of them slip up. Would like to see tonight: Carlo Younes, Livermore, Bassong, Rose Gio, Sandro, Carroll, Niko, Defoe, Kane If Charlie's fit I'd play 4-5-1 with Kane being dropped to the bench, Livermore in CM and Carroll behind Defoe. Really hope Benny isn't needed to play. Sunderland and Chelsea aren't too far apart and we'll need him as fresh as possible. Decent amount of creativity and attacking intent, hopefully see a couple of goals.
Cheers for info Ensil, my guess is BAE at RB and Townsend LW, Pienaar RM Though SP might play CM I guess as he has more mobility and better tackling than Niko (when they're both fit and on form Big test for SP tonight, to see if he is getting back to anywhere near his best.
