A right Royal Spur
It’s a strangely big clash tomorrow at the Lane. What must have looked like an innocuous fixture back in August has turned into not only an important 6 pointer for a European spot but a grudge match too. Our players maybe driven by the hurt of that defeat but the Reading squad were just as hurt by the victory. Royals defender Greg Halford said:
“If we need that extra something on Sunday, we’ve got the perfect thing. All we have to do is think about what’s written on our dressing room wall.
We’ve got a notice up there with comments on it that Martin Jol made back in November when we beat Spurs 3-1.
It was put above the door so everyone sees it before walking down the tunnel. It says ‘When you lose to teams like Reading, you know there’s a problem’.”
This time though, it’s us with the form and Reading who have been a little flaky of late. The Premiership newcomers have picked up just 1 point out of a possible 9 in the last fixtures and to our pride it’s quite the reverse with the mighty Spurs and our four wins on the trot in the league.
There’s no doubt about it that Reading’ll be chomping at the bit to stuff those words right down MJ’s throat but what they may not have counted on is that when they met us before, we were poor, we were away and we had not gelled. What they could handle at home may come as a nasty surprise when they find a well oiled Tottenham machine and one big striker they just can’t handle. The Bagel’s looking forward to this one. We’ll need to be on it because Reading will not say die.
There are two little personal points of interest within this face off and I don’t mean personal to me. For one, Sunday sees Lee go head to head with Korean international roommate Seol but far more interesting, unless they’re roommates in a Jamie “Wha? I’m havin’ a wank” Carragher kind of way, is the fact that Reading striker, Dave Kitson, is a big time Yiddo.
Kitson is thrilled to be playing at the Lane, as we all would be, and although it’d be a dream for him to score the winner, his family have made it quite clear where their loyalties lie. They are season ticket holders and have been since the Push and Run days and through the double winning sixties and if Kitson scores a goal they’ll be pissing in his tea for months.
Deep down, I’m sure the striker knows which side his bread’s buttered. After all he was a regular himself during the late eighties and early nineties. Once you’ve seen the likes of Hoddle and Allen play, well, you’re a Spur for life aren’t you? I guess the blue and white of Reading was as close as poor Dave cold get. Let’s give him some nice embarrassing choruses of ‘Yiddo, Yiddo!’ tomorrow.
In the only other news, we’ve been linked with Swedish international striker, Johan Elmander. The 25-year-old is most certainly a big man at a promising 6′2″ and a strong enough 12.5 stone. Here’s his head…
…as neither a bird nor a plane.
Johan signed a contract with Toulouse last summer but the lad hasn’t stayed anywhere for long with a list of clubs looking more like a Tottenham European Tour than a playing career. He’s said to be flattered by our attentions as well as by those of PSG, Lyon and unfortunately Barca but the question is, should we be flattered as well? Let’s take a look…
Big, strong, good with his head, good with his feet and some cheeky free kickery about him. The Bagel likes. I don’t know if he’d be an instant success but there looks like a striker built for the Premiership. We could do a hell of a lot worse.
For now though, it’s all about those three tantalising points. Bolton may have stretched it with their one goal over Sheffield but Pompey have failed to capitalise and Blackburn received just the second half spanking we had hoped for, so it’s all there for us to close those gaps and make a late run for Europe. We’re coming round the back straight and it’s time to kick for the tape. Come on you Spurs.
Chariots of bagels,
The Bagel.
April 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 am
Wahey good win yesterday.
Bagel, in your match report (if you do one that is) would you mind giving little Left-Back Lee a special mention because I thought he played brilliantly yesterday and the Man of the Match award for me was a 3 way tie between himself, Malbranque and Jenas. Well done Spurs, I’l see you at the home leg of the Seville game.