As soon as I knew that we needed a Bayern win to get champion league, my hunch changed from that of Chelsea losing due to too many players missing and being outclassed to Chelsea winning the game one nil with a late goal or beating Bayern on penalties.
Having watched the match, and despite my heartache over the result, I must give full respect to Chelsea for the way they won the match despite looking like losing it for the majority.
It was like Ali vs Foreman, rumble in the jungle. Ropadope. They frustrated Bayern in their own ground and grinded out the result.
Maximum respect for Cech, who showed why he is a master goal keeper with the way he handled the penalty duties.
The man of the match for me though has to be Drogba. This guy is an out and out winner. The header. The final penalty. Class.
On the Bayern side, Neuer showed in his performance what a winning player he is. To take a penalty kick as a goal keeper, two penalties in showed that this guy was full of confidence and the will to win. Compare that to the way that Friedal watched the deflected shot pass him in the Villa game as if he couldn't be bother to attempt the save.
I say all of this as a Tottenham fan, to highlight the difference between us, and those above is in the league and footballs grand scheme of things. Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Man City, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona.
It's subtle difference, but a difference none the less. What we don't quite have is enough characters for whom nothing but a win will do, and when the chips are down they will step up and put their balls on the line to win it for our team. I include management in this equation.
They have both the will and the skill to do this, but the will is greater.
The closest we have to this for me is VDV. You can see it in him game and hear it in the way he talks about Spurs. He can't do this on his own though. Gallas tries, but injuries hamper him. Parker has the grit and determination but he's gone of the boil in recent games, noticeably against Chelsea in the cup. King seems more passive these days although he is the epitome of loyal, along with Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Bentley, Dawson, Defoe who I imagine wouldn't want to play anywhere else, but don't always take games by the scruff of the neck when they do play.
Bale and Modric, although technically more than capable, are wavering in their loyalty. As did Redknapp. They don't appear to be Spurs through and through. You can see it in their game and hear it in the way they talk about Spurs. (It's only very recently, after the England decision was made, that Harry began referring to Spurs as 'we', rather than 'they', as if he is only just become intrinsic to the operation.)
Arsenal have an advantage in that they have Wenger, then of course there is Van Persie, for now. I'd include Sanga in their equation also.
Sandro and Kaboul are showing signs of what we need and are growing in stature within our club.
Vertonghen is already showing signs that he will serve the club well if / when we sign him. He wants to play for the shirt.
Lets hope that Levy continues to show his loyalty and put his balls / wallet on the line to purchase the right players for Tottenham.
For me, champions league status was lost when we tried to hold on to a draw at Villa rather than going all out for a win, when only a win would have done the job. Ten men or not. If that game were a win.......
Having watched the match, and despite my heartache over the result, I must give full respect to Chelsea for the way they won the match despite looking like losing it for the majority.
It was like Ali vs Foreman, rumble in the jungle. Ropadope. They frustrated Bayern in their own ground and grinded out the result.
Maximum respect for Cech, who showed why he is a master goal keeper with the way he handled the penalty duties.
The man of the match for me though has to be Drogba. This guy is an out and out winner. The header. The final penalty. Class.
On the Bayern side, Neuer showed in his performance what a winning player he is. To take a penalty kick as a goal keeper, two penalties in showed that this guy was full of confidence and the will to win. Compare that to the way that Friedal watched the deflected shot pass him in the Villa game as if he couldn't be bother to attempt the save.
I say all of this as a Tottenham fan, to highlight the difference between us, and those above is in the league and footballs grand scheme of things. Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Man City, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona.
It's subtle difference, but a difference none the less. What we don't quite have is enough characters for whom nothing but a win will do, and when the chips are down they will step up and put their balls on the line to win it for our team. I include management in this equation.
They have both the will and the skill to do this, but the will is greater.
The closest we have to this for me is VDV. You can see it in him game and hear it in the way he talks about Spurs. He can't do this on his own though. Gallas tries, but injuries hamper him. Parker has the grit and determination but he's gone of the boil in recent games, noticeably against Chelsea in the cup. King seems more passive these days although he is the epitome of loyal, along with Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Bentley, Dawson, Defoe who I imagine wouldn't want to play anywhere else, but don't always take games by the scruff of the neck when they do play.
Bale and Modric, although technically more than capable, are wavering in their loyalty. As did Redknapp. They don't appear to be Spurs through and through. You can see it in their game and hear it in the way they talk about Spurs. (It's only very recently, after the England decision was made, that Harry began referring to Spurs as 'we', rather than 'they', as if he is only just become intrinsic to the operation.)
Arsenal have an advantage in that they have Wenger, then of course there is Van Persie, for now. I'd include Sanga in their equation also.
Sandro and Kaboul are showing signs of what we need and are growing in stature within our club.
Vertonghen is already showing signs that he will serve the club well if / when we sign him. He wants to play for the shirt.
Lets hope that Levy continues to show his loyalty and put his balls / wallet on the line to purchase the right players for Tottenham.
For me, champions league status was lost when we tried to hold on to a draw at Villa rather than going all out for a win, when only a win would have done the job. Ten men or not. If that game were a win.......
