Shall I tell him it ain't gonna happen, or will you?
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The JimmyG2 Column
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And so we bid farewell to 2012, yet another year of hope and heartbreak. We seem to have been washed up by the cross currents and tides in exactly the same place as we were last year, in the Champions' League places. We have some nine fewer points, but are slightly better if you compare like for like games. The exact details are not crucial at this point and direct comparisons are a little tricky.
And so we bid farewell to 2012, yet another year of hope and heartbreak. We seem to have been washed up by the cross currents and tides in exactly the same place as we were last year, in the Champions' League places. We have some nine fewer points, but are slightly better if you compare like for like games. The exact details are not crucial at this point and direct comparisons are a little tricky.
But last year the
onrushing tide of good fortune and fair weather ebbed and we found ourselves
battling the headwinds that beset Harry. As a result we snatched fourth out of
the jaws of third. In so doing we had Champions' League qualification
cruelly taken away by Chelsea's success. We are unlikely to repeat
that particularly difficult trick for a second year running.
Now everything under
the sun is of course possible but I'm prepared to wager a moderate amount that AVB is unlikely to
be in court for tax evasion, or be out of action having a heart
operation or be distracted by hopes of the England Manager's job. He
is currently doing surprisingly well and is more likely than
not to continue to do so.
In the second half of
the season last year we took just 23 points from 19 games. In the
first half of this season we took 33 points from the same. A
top four finish is definitely on. The season of transition is
promising much more than many thought possible despite injuries and the loss
of Modders and VDV.
All this positivity is
borne out by the first game of the second half of the season against
Sunderland. Even going 1-0 down
just before half time could not prevent us making a fighting comeback
to win. A fortunate own goal just after the break put us back on
track. Cuellar impeded by O'Shea who had scored the opener minutes
before headed Walker's corner into his own net.
Within 3 minutes Lennon
had scored a brilliant individual goal and the game was sealed. Apart
from Bale getting unfairly booked for 'simulation' and Defoe missing
a goal that my Granny, let alone Sandra, could have put away,
nothing much happened. We continued to control the ball and dominate
the game.
Lloris was impressive
once again in the little he had to do; Naughton had another good game
though still playing out of position. Both of them made the Guardians 'Team of the Weekend'. Bale and Lennon were handfuls
all game. Once again we pressed from the start and made sufficient
chances to have won this much more easily. Adebayor contrived to hit
the bar from two yards out and hit the keeper when clear on goal.
So with Scotty already
out and about and Benny hopefully imminent, Kaboul to come and the
new players bedding, or bedded, in there is room for a little
optimism. Not too much of course: this is Tottenham after all. We are certainly
getting the results, six wins in the last eight games and the football is getting better too, which after all, is
the point of the whole enterprise.
So the future's bright
and we have Reading at home on Tuesday (edit) with QPR to follow. Complacency and arrogance
are our only enemies here. If we play as if it really matters because
it does and don't make any assumptions about them we should dominate and win even without Bale, banned
for this game for receiving 5 yellows. 3 of them for diving.
Spurs 3-1
New Year Predictions:
- QPR will get relegated despite Harry and Taarabt's best efforts. Managerial blather even of Olympic Gold standard doesn't win matches.
- Very little of importance will happen at Spurs in the January window.
- Man.Utd will win the league and we will be fourth ahead of Arsenal and then Everton. Sorry Sandro.
And remember: don't blame the messenger.
Jimmy's Video Spot.
Gareth is the most penalised diver in the Premiership. Three yellows and counting. Dives? You want dives?. Gareth has a lot to learn. Going down when you've been clipped has got nothing to do with it. Watch and learn Baler, watch and learn.