Beef Bagel

It’s a bit difficult to keep up with events. It’s a little bit easier trying to follow things on the pitch, but off it, that’s another matter altogether!

Finally, a goal arrived in the league with the equaliser against Portsmouth. Then the numbing experience of the second leg at Burnley which was a bit of a shaker. Of course, if the away goals rule applied at the end of two legs, then that was it – ‘holders’ shock exit in semi-final’? Spurs looked like an average Championship side, which is what we’re not trying to become, next season? I did think of several show ponies in a circus on display, plus some donkeys.

Then, what sort of team were we going to put out at Old Trafford given all the news coverage (this seems endless at the moment)? Well, in the event, not too bad a team but a chance, with Rooney absent and Ronaldo hobbling off, went by. More effort was needed here. So, we can’t win all the competitions we’ve entered this season after all.

At least, we scored some goals against Stoke but still a fragile performance. I’m more hopeful than some. We’re in touch with the pack, we’ve signed (signed back) some reasonable players – a good striker and good goalie and hopefully useful midfielder. How the squad will look at the end of this period, and until the next window when the merry-go-round will start again, I don’t know.

Maybe we can repeat last season’s surprise Wembley win, against the odds, and once again we’ll be looking to next season? It would be nice to keep a manager for a season or three, let alone some players!

Glancing at Graham Roberts’ autobiography didn’t do some other characters in past management at the club any favours!

Back to the future again! COYS.

The Platzel.

No, obviously not. I hope we’re not on the way to Down and Out in Paris and London for those of you who get the literary drift.

Did you know that Wigan have never beaten Spurs – well they have now! Doesn’t matter if it’s first minute or last – if you don’t score, you can’t win (God help team Zokora!).

So, guess what - I sent my daughter, the Breadstick, to watch the match. Poor girl – she enjoyed it until it all went flat in the second half. That’s another supporter you may have just lost?

Anyway, I’ve found some good odds today at the bookmakers – Man Utd 4/5 and Spurs 2000/1 for the Premiership. I think it’s a shoe-in for Spurs. Trouble is, even if they win all their games it’s not a Premiership winning total and I can’t see United being relegated? Of course, they may get points deducted for the Tevez affair – about 50 seems right – so maybe the 2000/1 is more generous than I thought?

I have noted the gloom and doom mongers are back – you’re right it’s serious but we can get out of this one – we’ve got Houdini in charge. However, it is a mess and it just needs sorting. Give Harry support and give him what he wants because I’ve seen enough managers for a lifetime and hope Harry sorts it and stays for at least 10 years.

We need TH back in the middle and AE back on the left. Ditch the rubbish and sell them if you can. Buy some others if they’re worth having.

Back to the future! COYS. We are…

The Platzel.

I think you mean A Game of Two Halves? Well, both actually.

The game against Burnley was exactly both, but there were really three teams on the pitch – Spurs in the first half, Spurs in the second half and Burnley. We got there in the end but why don’t we start at the first half kick-off – that’s when the game starts (not that Bentley would know this?). I also don’t want to see a defender putting his arms up to let his man through to set up a first goal. I don’t like penalties, but you must tackle even if there’s a risk of conceding one with a fair tackle? O’Hara is not without talent but makes up in attitude what others with more talent don’t – know who I’m talking about, any players who might care to read this? So, that’s a job almost half done and should be completed barring a disaster. Overall, although not strong we are defending better than in some seasons.

The cup game against Wigan was also pleasing and showed us how to score goals again. Things are looking up – with Jermain back and more to come (?) we must be better prepared to score goals in the second half of the season. A win at Wigan would be a real bonus to cap a good start to the year. It’s early days, but Harry might be ahead of Megson this month, at the moment!

Cos you know why thing took a turn for the better again? The Bagel was out of the country – again? Just a coincidence, of course, or was it? We can’t seem to do anything wrong when he goes away – can we pass round the hat for more holidays or do we want him to emigrate?

Remember, your votes count!

Let’s see who else we can find in the January sales for the squad – Carrick, Berbatov, Tevez, Anderton, Sheringham?

The Platzel.

I’ve been asked to write about the 6 points we were supposed to have picked up against Fulham and West Brom. I could have been at both matches, so that was a lucky escape?

It’s almost like last season, except with a worse start. Just when you think the season has got going, we stall again and we’re not even out of second gear. Hopefully things will pick up again, but I’ll be glad to see the back of December.

It’s the lack of goals that’s going to haunt us this season – no real surprise with the departure of 3 of the best strikers of 4, even if 1 was replaced? I know you’re always right Fergie, but I’m not convinced about your prediction for Campbell and he may be welcome going back unless we can see something at Premiership level.

Who knows what the transfer window will bring, but may be it will be first aid in some form or another.

I think we should have beaten Fulham but they are proving tough for most teams so far. Yes, there was some bad luck at West Brom but we weren’t creating any good luck. Back to basics – more shots etc but we need 2 strikers on the field, I think, and a fit TH. Some of these other expensive imports are doing very little at the moment. January could be a very good month, but we’ve got to make it happen, now. We want to survive with a bit to spare. The Carling Cup again would be a real bonus, but frankly I can’t see any other silverware this season.

Happy New Year to all our readers.

The Platzel.