I'll huff and I'll puff and make a tasty lamb stew
for you all.
The JimmyG2 Column
Where to begin with the latest NLD encounter? Perhaps, first off, a little humility needs to be shown. We, the fans, the players and the bloggers were more than a little arrogant about Arsenal before the game. Musings predicted a close game but was dismissive in tone. We sure had that rammed back down our throats.
The Cock crowed just a little too early and too loudly and was silenced by a withering blast from the Gunners. All credit to them and if this game revitalizes their Assault on Precinct Third Place we have only ourselves to blame.
Lennon was inexplicably left on the bench and was probably glad that he was; Bale was encouraged to play wherever he fancied and did so to no good effect; Parker made one late lunge too many and apologized before he trooped off; Van Der Vaart was clearly not match fit; Sandro was eager but undisciplined; Ekotto was playing a starring role in a game conducted entirely in his own head; Kranjcar surprisingly started and was less surprisingly substituted at half time; Ledley looked to be on his last leg.
All this and more makes this a difficult piece to write and a penance rather than a pleasure. Is this the beginning of the end of our hopes or was that last week at Stevenage? Will we look back and pinpoint Sagna's goal as the moment when we capitulated to the old enemy as our season turned to dust? Hopefully, and probably, not.
But the old Spurs still lurks amongst the hype. As the old Farmers' Almanac says of March, 'We came in like a lion and went out like a lamb'. Remember the pundits who even as they praised us warned that 'In the end Spurs will always let you down'.
Ironically Parker our new steel core was sent off having spent the whole afternoon not quite getting there. He's going down the Palacios road. Brilliant start but eventually his limitations are becoming clearer.
Are we in fact a sheep in wolf's clothing? Despite the praise and adulation of the assembled pundits are we mere fools' gold that glitters to deceive. The latest NLD gives us pause for thought before we casually dismiss it and ignore whatever lessons can be learned.
We were two up away from home within thirty minutes. We assembled the well known ingredients for success: score early, get the second and bank the points.But the recipe came out half baked. Our goals both had an element of good fortune but even during this period Arsenal were playing well, and we allowed them play and paid the price. They might have been forgiven for letting their heads drop but they declined to do so.
A dire weekend all round. All our challengers for fourth won, except Liverpool who had a day off and picked up some silverware. No one will remember how lucky they were. History will merely record that their name is on the trophy. But everyone will remember this NLD scoreline and not just the Arsenal fans.
Even if we make third this game will linger a long time in the memory. Only Walker and Friedel emerge with any real credit. This is the he second time this season that our keeper has conceded five goals and been adjudged blameless.
The next three games against Man.Utd., Chelsea, and Everton are crucial and if we don't take points off Utd. and the Pensioners and beat Everton we could be looking at a very tight run in. Until now we were odds on favourites to make it but we are only an each way bet this morning. This was the sort of performance that might make Modric and Bale reconsider their options, although Gareth was as guilty as anyone else.
Can a single game make such a difference? We were inept, badly organised and lacking in effort in a fixture which means so much. We were two goals up and surrendered our advantage. If this game gives Arsenal hope by the same token it might plunge us into despair. They wanted this game more than us and they might want third more than we do too.
Perhaps our highly paid professionals will simply shrug and clear it from their minds. Bad day at the office, just a blip and all that. Not something the fans can easily do. David Bernstein was at the Stevenage game, let's hope he was at Wembley for the Carling Cup Final and not browsing for England Managers in the Library.
So, not quite the end to the weekend I had planned but I think we will still make third as after Chelsea the going gets easier.We will almost certainly go into the last eight games with a much narrower margin than is good for my health. Perhaps this will act as a wake up call. Coming third in a two horse race is just not good enough.
The Cockerel is dead: long live the Cockerel. If ever we needed a win against Man.Utd it will be at White Hart Lane on Sunday. We need to have a better attitude if anything good is to come of it.
Video Spot.
A reminder of happier days with the boy Gareth when he used terrorise right backs and stay on his feet even when clipped in the box. That was before he became a Jack of All Trades and the Master of None. Get them all sorted Harry before you go.
Video Spot.
A reminder of happier days with the boy Gareth when he used terrorise right backs and stay on his feet even when clipped in the box. That was before he became a Jack of All Trades and the Master of None. Get them all sorted Harry before you go.