Relax. It probably won't happen.
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The JimmyG2 Column
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There's been quite a run on emotional
investment in the Bank of Tottenham after a week of turmoil on the
Premier and Foreign markets. I have been making increasingly large deposits over
the season as AVB shares rose steadily after a modest start.
After Sunday I have shortened my forward position,
and retreated back behind the sofa for the rest of the season with my assets securely tied up in a Tesco carrier bag. Let's see how it
pans out after the International break while I review my investments.
We were dreadful and did little with the ball despite having the bulk of the possession. Bale caused the only excitement in the first half by heading a corner vaguely in the direction of the goal. Lloris was untroubled and the quality of the play was dire and the atmosphere funereal which turned out to be about right.
There is a horrifying similarity to
last season but with less excuses this time round. Last season we had
Harry's problems in the courts and in the hospital and in the delusional
realms of his ambition about the England job. On the plus side we had VDV and Modric.
It all ended against Arsenal just over a year ago(edit). We were 2-0 up, and
at that point a potential 13 points ahead. 'Dust to dust; ashes to ashes'.. Our collapse can be very precisely timed and
dated. It was all downhill from that point.
Will we be able to make a similarly
accurate assessment of our fall from grace this year from the moment
that Kyle Walker attempted his suicidal back pass against Liverpool
when we were ahead and the likeliest team to win? Let's hope not but
I wouldn't bet against the threat of a collapse for the third season
running.
It's looking that way after a
disastrous week. Harold Wilson once said that 'a week is a long time
in politics'. I can tell you that it seems even longer following
Spurs. It's never too early to panic at Tottenham. Better to be
proved wrong than caught by surprise.
My doctor advised supporting a
different team when I asked for medical advice about a heart
condition. Now you and I know that it's not that easy. In my next
life I will probably make the same mistake again because supporting a
team is not just about the football. What exactly it is about I'm not quite sure.
And the team formation was dubious against
Fulham. Benny at left half; Siggy on the right; Ade virtually a
left winger and Bale all over the place.The claim that we were tired
after the extra time at the San Siro doesn't bear too much close
examination either.
AVB says that tiredness was not a problem and he takes the blame for 'organisational 'problems.We just played as if we were tired. Perhaps in the head rather than the legs.
AVB says that tiredness was not a problem and he takes the blame for 'organisational 'problems.We just played as if we were tired. Perhaps in the head rather than the legs.
Most of the side that started on
Sunday didn't play the full match in any case. Lloris, Caulker,
Bale, Dempsey, Defoe and Ekotto all played less than 90 minutes or
not at all. Holtby who has at least shown some enthusiasm was left on
the bench.
No real energy was shown until Tom Carroll came on like
a breath of fresh air for a 20 minute cameo. Perhaps he should start next time. His
passing was positive and he made both his seniors look cumbersome.
Benny should be at left back or left out. I am coming to the
conclusion that the latter is preferable. Square pegs in round holes
seems to be the latest AVB tactical wheeze.
We now have an International break to
lick our wounds, regroup, get the injured restored and get our heads
right for the sharp end of the season. But I'm not holding my breath
as Chelsea once again overtake us and Arsenal have only manager-less
Reading to beat to be breathing down our necks.
Inevitably Berbatov scored against us
after a breakaway by scuffing a shot past Lloris. He outpaced Caulker
to get on the end of the cross which tells you something. Defoe had two
clean strikes on goal from close in at the end but both found Schwarzer with
unerring accuracy.
One of them could have salvaged a point which
we probably didn't deserve. Fulham came for a point and got all
three, their first win at WHL for a decade. Dembele and Dempsey could
be wondering whether they made the right career choices.
Hopefully I will be proved wrong in my
downbeat summary. We still have another 8 games to go and Arsenal and
Chelsea will no doubt slip up. But the way we played on Sunday in one
our 'easier' games makes it likely that anything they can do, we can
do better. But not in a good way.
We have been punching above our weight this season and we looked out on our feet against Fulham. Don't throw in the towel just yet boys.
Jimmy's video Spot
Here's some hope for the future. Andros Townsend, currently on loan but hopefully 'he'll be back'. I'd have kept him for the run in as a late substitute and cover for Lennon and Bale. But then my training manual is titled Hindsight'. Fast and furious but effective whenever he has come on for us and for QPR.

11 comments:
....Adebayor's lunge was this year not last year
Bring in Carroll and Holtby to play with Dembele in midfield. Bale on the left, Lennon on the right and try Coulthirst up front.
You're right. It's the 5-2 scoreline that's confusing me. I've edited it, thanks.
2nd anon.
That ain't gonna happen as you well know. But I like your style.
Everybody now - Jazz Hands in the air....
"Oh When the Spuuuuuuuuurs
Go Sliding dooooown
Oh When The Spuuuuurs gooooo sli-ding down
We're Gunner beeeeeeee back in the Champions Leeeeeeague
Oh When the Spuuuuurs go sliding dooooooown..."
He who laughs last, laughs loudest Spuddies.
And we laughed so much last season, but this years laughter will be the loudest and funniest ever!
Your BEST ever season is still not better than our WORST ever!!!!
St Totteringhams Day is coming in April - You are all invited! Xxx
Arsenal Supporter.
It's just a little early friend. I think it's the cock that will be crowing. But let's wait and see.
who's coulthirst?
Completely uninformative article. Full of unfunny bullshite.
Spot on Jimmy.
While not too concerned about Liverpool and Inter away, Sunday left me poleaxed.
Unless Chelsea are fatigued they will get third or second. Frankly, with the spending and players they have they should be embarrassed to come lower than third. Though of course it's impossible to shame a Chelsea fan, whether those few who went through the 80s and early 90s or the newbies since the late 90s early 2000s.
I agree we've punched above our weight this season, but it's still in our grasp and Arsenal, like us, will slip up at points.
AVB should change tactics. Why play with 2 strikers that don't score any goals. Tottenham should play in a 4-3-3 formation. Dembelé,Parker,Holtby (Mid) Lennon,Bale,Defoe (FW)
Maybe next season, if Levy spends some money and buys a World Class striker, maybe AVB could play in a 4-2-2 formation.
Greetings from Portugal.
Miguel
Anon 02:27
Shaquile Coulthurst.(19) Hackney boy who scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in the NextGen series. Highly thought of in Spurs Youth circles. On the bench against Liverpool.
You're welcome.
IKnowAlanGilzean.
It's gonna go down to the wire friend. It's the Tottenham way.
Miguel in Portugal.
I think 442 is a bit unsophisticated for AVB especially if he buys someone classy like Higuan, which Musings are tipping as a possibility.
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