“He’s a top manager, Richard.”
“I hate the whole Redknapp clan. Horrible people”
The Oogel, 25th October 2008
“I take it back”
The Oogel, 26th October 2008
Well, football makes hypocrites of us all! I didn’t think Ramos was anything like the main cause of our predicament, and I didn’t want to see him sacked. But sometimes its more important to make a possibly wrong decision than to make no decision at all. I stole that from “touching the void”, by the way, which could also be the title of our season to date. And I have to admit that one of the reasons I didn’t want to see Ramos go was because I didn’t see anyone available who could come in and do any better.
Redknapp will do better.
I will always believe that Ramos was the victim of shitty circumstances and shitty boardroom shenanigans. He’s not the first, I guess. But there comes a point (call it the Getafe moment) where it really doesn’t matter anymore. One phrase from Levy’s statement rings particularly true. The premier league is an unforgiving contest and it was clear from the public comments that Ramos was beginning to lose the players (if he hadn’t already a long time ago). Something needed to change because the premier league wasn’t about to forgive us any time soon. It still might not, but delusional Tottenham fan that I may be, I’m much more hopeful now that it will.
1066. The Berlin Wall. Maggie Thatcher. Saddam Hussein. Harry Redknapp. When regime change comes, it usually comes quick, but the speed of this has taken us all by surprise. When I went to bed on Saturday night, I knew Ramos was a goner but there was no suggestion of a replacement and I feared for the worst. No offence to Alex Inglethorpe or Clive Allen, but they weren’t going to be the solution, and I didn’t see where it was going to come from. I don’t know how long Redknapp will stay away from Sandbanks. I don’t know how high he can take us ultimately. I don’t know why I’ve always disliked him so much, but I know that he knows his onions. If I can stomach George Graham, and if I can still hero worship Glenn Hoddle who, lets face it, may also have tendencies towards being a bit of a plonker, then I can certainly live with Harry Redknapp. I think its always been more of a comedy dislike than a real one. Just don’t sign Sol.
Damien Comolli has gone too. I look forward to not having to discuss the director of football role any more. All I’ll say is I’m not convinced it must fail. I just think you should appoint someone with an established reputation (say Frank Arnesen) rather than a scout. Who looks like a boy. A boy scout.
And to Juande - sorry it didn’t work out. You gave us a much enjoyed victory over the Arse, and you gave us a much more enjoyed (for me, anyway) day out at Wembley. You gave us crazy substitutions that worked, and then you gave us crazy team selections that didn’t. I guess ultimately you are a class act who I hope will go on to show it again in Spain, but maybe the Premiership wasn’t your cup of rioja libre.
And I assume we’ve given you about half the Berbatov money. Oh the irony…
So Redknapp took Southampton down but we have better players than Southampton did, and he might actually have the support of a chastened board who have vowed not to interfere for once. Huge huge questions have to be asked of Levy but ultimately, we’re stuck with him until we’re no longer stuck with him. For now, I can honestly say that I no longer think we are one of the three favourites to go down and this time yesterday, I did. And thats all that matters at the moment. Redknapp is a big reason for that.
As is todays game. Oh yes, the game that I volunteered to write about before I realised the weekend was going to go nuclear.
The day begins in Haringey, where the lady oogel, as she will never know she has just been called, resides. Much to my joy, I realise that my trip to Tottenham is going to involve a 3 minute overland train journey to South Tottenham station rather than the usual 1hr slog from south London to Seven Sisters.
As I get on my train journey I look around at my fellow passengers. “Come on Oog” I think to myself “Come up with some interesting Tottenham match day based observations together with some slightly too revealing details of your relationship. You’re writing the Bagel today”.
But no. Nothing interesting happened on the train, and the rest is none of your business. Sorry readers.
The team news is interesting though… Ramos being sacked was a surprise. Redknapp was a bolt from the blue. But nothing can compare to the shock of hearing that Ledley “Faces” King is playing a second game in a row. And no Woodgate. Has there been a passing of the “knackered inspirational central defender” baton? Are there two batons? I hope not, because surely Ledley can’t make it three in a week and I really don’t want to see Zokora in central defence against L’Arse.
Today is one of the oogfathers trips down to see the 101 year old ooggranny, timed of course to coincide with a home game. So I’m delighted to have his company, but I’m not confident - he’s not a good omen (or he hasn’t been in recent years, he was a pretty good omen as a regular in the early 60s…). However, he does come in useful as I lean over “early doors” to the guyinfrontofmewhoalwaysstandsevenwhentheresnothinghappening and mention my dad’s completely fictitious arthritis, and would he mind sitting down today, cheers mate? No problem, guvnor. I make a mental note to hobble my mate Dave for next week to see if we can make a habit of it.
I miss the pre-match introduction of Redknapp on the pitch. All this change. Its like a brave new world. Or is it? As I take my seat I hear one of those middle aged, medallioned Spurs fans we all know and love (you may even be one) muttering “No Ramos. No Poyet. No Director of Football. We’ll still be SHIT”. Thats the spirit, my no-doubt-Jenas-hating friend.
The game kicks off and I have to admit, our shape just makes sense in a way it hasn’t done recently. 4-5-1 with Hudd, Jenas and Modric in the middle, Bentley on the right and O’Hara on the left. We’re playing ok, nothing special but at the same time we’re playing quick short passes to feet and keeping possession well. Bentley’s getting involved but his early balls are still wayward and we’re not really creating anything. O’Hara is doing little more, and my usual worries (is he actually any good? Is he just delaying the inevitable transfer down the divisions more than the usual youth team player? Does he even NEED a transfer or can we provide him with the lower level anyway) are surfacing. Modric is looking neat but in general its not top quality.
But thats the thing about chasing 17th. It doesn’t need to be top quality, it just needs to be good enough. And today will be good enough. On 19 minutes Bentley and Hutton are fannying about as usual just inside their half when Bentley puts a ball in and… christ, its a beauty, and Teddy Sheringchenko rises to nod it equally beautifully in off the post. Bentley liked that, he clenches his fist and goes over the the Shelf. Teddy looks equally delighted over at the corner of Paxton and the “main” stand. We’re winning in the Premiership for the first time this season! Its surreal! Its surreal that it seems surreal! But its real, as are the chants of ‘Arry Redknapps Blue and White Army. And Jermain Defoe is a Yiddo, apparently. It seems believable, especially if Portsmouth are i) skint and ii) about to appoint Allardyce.
The confidence clearly still isn’t there though. Big Bad Tom is giving away possession (its like Zokora hasn’t been dropped). Ledley fluffs a clearance and luckily Elmander responds with an even fluffier fluff in response. Ledley goes down but even as he gets to his feet a stretcher appears on the touchline for a good minute after. Whats happening? He appears to be walking but do they know something about our two-games-in-a-week captain that we don’t? But he seems ok, and the oogfather’s usual “he’s finished” (first heard circa Stephen Carr) comment dies on his lips. They hit the post at some point, but the pillar in front of me means I have nothing to say about that… The rest of the half disappears in a edgy, nervy blur and at half time the talk from Charlie, Frank, Jimmy and the Bagel is all generally positive about Redknapp. Chris is less positive about life in general - lets just say she is clearly not in marathon training mode - whilst the Bagel is unforgivably passing up an opportunity to be smug about his impending holiday to Madagascar. Just wait until Xmas, you won’t be able to get me to shut up about my trip to… oh well, it can wait.
After the break and its the same as the last quarter of an hour of the first half. Bolton applying pressure, but that kind of crappy low quality Bolton pressure. We may have two points, but they only have two fans, and theres something so grey and Megson-y and Watford-y and stupefyingly dull-y about them. They are a whos-who of whos, a team of Scandinavians I can’t remember if I’ve heard of (Steinsson?) and the “I forgot he was theres” (Muamba. Taylor. Samuel. Cahill) that increasingly make up a lot of the premiership. Anyone half decent could beat them, surely. The question is - are we capable of reaching those giddy heights?
I think we probably would have been anyway, but on 56 minutes McCann (I forgot he was there) is sent off for a second yellow. We look like we’re treating it as a chance to not concede rather than go for the kill, and I’m as nervous as the team seem, but today the decisions are going our way. On 76 minutes Jaaskelainen parries a well struck shot from Modric-of-the-match and Bent just beats the keeper to the rebound to be brought down. It looked pretty soft to me, but who cares. Bent takes the penalty himself and in it goes. 2-0 against Bolton - its beyond all our wildest dreams (!) and the relief and joy I expected to get from the first goal finally pumps through my veins as for the first time today I realise that we really are going to get this big hairy smelly bastard of a gorilla off our back and record a win.
From then on, its easy street. Lennon comes on for O’Hara and with Bolton down a man he has lots of space to exploit. With the help of Benoit Who he does that pretty well but in true Lennon style we don’t actually get anything from the 2 or 3 whippet like breaks he creates. Benoit plays ok today. Not great, and I can’t see him becoming a fixture at the lane, but at least I can kind of see what his game is actually about for once.
In injury time a lone firework crackles somewhere in the sky, behind the west stand. It was equally unspectacular on the pitch but there were good signs. Modric looks like he might get the hang of this premiership thing. Bentley took a while to warm up but was quality thereafter and by the end he was taking ridiculous long shots and playing with a swagger. I’m sure he’s a cocky twat, but he’s also obviously a confidence player and Redknapp knows how to manage players like that. I think he’ll be good for the hudd as well, he may see a few more games now.
As the final whistle goes, there is a refrain of “we’ve got our tottenham back”. A song I never really understand. Boys - we never LOST our Tottenham. We play well in patches, we look like we might be going places, we struggle away, we go on a bad run, we sack our manager, we hire a big name european manager, we win a cup, we shoot ourselves in the foot, we waste money like there’s no tomorrow (and perhaps there isn’t), and when things look bad, we sack our manager again. That IS Tottenham. We didn’t go anywhere. We’re a melodrama, and whatever else we are, we’re never boring. I want a better Tottenham ‘back’ but, shucks, I surely do love this one anyway. Here’s to the next crisis - hopefully there’ll be another good bit in between.
We know we could be a good team, but at the moment we’re just not. Today looked like an average premiership performance by an average premiership team. How refreshing, and I’m looking forward to a few more of them over the course of this season.
COYS!
Oog
October 27th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Good man Oog! You are helping my face to remember that it forgot how to smile. Bring on the arsenil. COYS
October 27th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Oog, that made me smile from beginning to end; a fantastic read. The “who’s who of whos” is a stroke of genius with Megson king of them all.
I’d type more but LB is trying to sleep next to me and the more I clatter the keyboard, the quieter her breathing gets. I’m in no mood to start and argument before our two-week trip, and besides, it’s been a good day - why spoil it now?
The Bagel.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Brilliant report oog; funny, informative and - best of all - reporting a Spurs win!
Rosie x
October 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Oog, a brilliant first write up on the Bagel. Keep ‘em coming my friend.
And Redknapp… I’m not sure yet, but its started well so let’s put our faith in him and see where he takes us.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Cheers Oog, Top Man.
Victory at last, if I was Bale I would be worried!!
Bring on L’Arse, our season starts here.
October 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Excellent bageling (or should that now be oogling) oog. It’s like having the Bagel himself back in the hot seat, and there can be no greater compliment than that.
I’m actually pretty excited about Harry taking the reins. I think he’ll do us a lot of good this season, and I’m very optimistic that he’ll keep us up. He’s right when he says we’ve got a lot of quality players, and he’s the kind of manager that’ll get the best of them.
I’m more excited about Camolli going. I agree with oog, and Mr Levy, in that a Director of Football / Sporting Director isn’t in itself a bad thing - but Camolli was crap in the role. Great quote from Steve Rowley (Head Scout at Arsenal) - ‘He was a a hard-working member of my straff for about seven or eight years and the player he found for us was Gael Clichy’. One good player in seven or eight years at the arse, and he never improved on that during his time at Spurs. Always was, and always will be, totally shit, adding nothing but useless players to the wage bill.
Finally, just to say, it’s great to be happy and optimistic about the club again - it’s about time.
October 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
thanks Oog ! Quality.
I found out really late - Sunday morning in fact - about Ramos going and Rednapp in, just as I logged onto the Spurs site to find out if we were on the telly..
but from that moment - I just had a spring in my step all day - something was back - I really hope it’s Britishness!
We seemed to lose something as well with less British players and continental structure (despite Levy denying the relevance of ‘titles’ etc - he definitely once said that it’s a structure he believes in because he can maintain consistency in case the manager leaves - the Director of Football can ensure a seemless continuation).
I kinda envied Pompey’s English look that ‘Arry had assembled so I hope he’ll bring this back.
The January sales have also become a mouth-watering prospect with ‘Arry hopefully having more money than he’s ever dreamed of to play with!
I hope he can turn round our Euro campaign because things are looking up !
October 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Great Article Oog.Very well written.
I was very worried that we might never
win again!!!
The Arse* next surely we wont, wont we????
October 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Nicely done, oog.
Juts watched the MOTD highlights on the internet — did we attack the Park Lane end in the 2nd half (ie the reverse of our normal procedure)?! Why?
October 27th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Well done Oog, If I was The Bagel I would be very worried.
October 27th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Pavalyuchenko ”dedicated his goal to Ramos”
October 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Oog, what can I say, other than to add t all the other observations & comments that your match report was great, interspersed with touches of pure Bagel
We won, we kept a clean sheet, the arse next… I can hardly wait
COYS!
October 28th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Oog, am I glad that you did the report and not me - that absolutely shitted on the pile of streaming poo I’d have served up!
Well done that man - a quality read and very honest. Agree with the sentiments on the whole. We’re average, but there’s lots of less-than-average teams who we should shit on for the rest of the season.
Still, I think we’ll get turned over by S. London & Paris Nomads and also by Liverpool on Sat, so there’s plenty of work for ‘Arry to get on with.
COYS
October 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Spurs bottom, Churchill as manager, Bent upfront. Happy Times
October 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
http://www.juanderamos.com/index.php?s=sec_din/vis_lst.php&nt=noticias_en&cod=101&sel=ms3&hl=en&lst=2
Nice bloke really. Thanks for spanking the scum and helping us win the cup, but it was definitely the right time to go.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Great post, Oog. Top skills.
Glory Glory - that was an interesting read. As are mr Wenger’s comments in the grauniad:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/29/arsenal-tottenhamhotspur
I still say, even if he were given more time, I can’t see any points from the next few games - by which time, Ramos would have been out anyway.
I feel sorry for him, but Comolli was the weak link, and common factor in all the recent troubles. Mr Levy was responsible for him.
I wonder if Defoe will return?
While I’m on the subject of the future - how long can anyone see ‘Arry staying for??
October 29th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Bets of luck to the lads tonight. I think we might just do it, you know. I’ll say 2 - 1 to us.
COYS!
Rosie x
October 29th, 2008 at 10:38 am
“Here’s to the next crisis - hopefully there’ll be another good bit in between.”
Love that, oog. Brilliant.
Now, bring on the Arse!
October 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Fabregas.
‘you aren’t good enough to beat the ladies team’
If only we still had the likes of Graham Roberts & Dave Mackey, Cesc would be sent 10 feet high in the air
Coys!
October 29th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
http://www.upforgrabsnow.co.uk/
5 simple reasons we’re going to dick on you tonight. Enjoy!
October 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Looking forward to your comeback match report Bagel ;-), what better way to do it than with a win tonight?!
October 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Wilson, think the Bagel has gone on holiday!
Thanks to y’all for the thumbs up to the blog, by the way!
Don’t give us much hope for tonight but then again it almost feels like it doesn’t matter so much. A win against Bolton was what we needed and I feel like anything from the next two games is a bonus given our current situation.
Mind you, come 8pm I doubt I will be thinking “A loss is acceptable”!
Anyone else seen the rumour of a Lennon for Defoe swap. I could live with that. Mind you, feelgood story though it would be, Defoe isn’t as good as Berbatov and Keane so if it ever came to us being any good again and signing new strikers, it would be funny if Defoe found himself slipping down the pecking order again. Mind you, at the moment I think the press are loving this. Just pick a Portsmouth player at random, and say that ‘Arry wants him…
October 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Ah well Oog, guess we’ll have to put up with you for another week then…
One headline I don’t think we’ll be seeing - ‘Arry wants David Nugent
October 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I definitely just heard Arsenal fans booing their team at full time. FICKLE!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Hahahahahaha. Fuck me!!
October 30th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Was that bloody brilliant or what?? A 4-4 hasn’t felt this good since… well since our last 4-4 comeback against Aston Villa! And this one is so much sweeter because took 2 points off the Arse! And I heard their fans booing all the way from out here in Singapore! Hahahaha!!
October 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
What a game! Bentleys goal was a cracker. And now the announcement of a new stadium. Levy timed that well.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Amazing. Simply amazing.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I’m getting bored of 4-4 draws…
Although its always us who gets the last minute equaliser!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
What was everyones take on Hutton’s performance? He played Adebayor in brilliantly, didnt mark Silvestre well enough, and wasnt quick enough to clear the line on another goal. I hope he hasnt had his head turned by Fergusons comments of him.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
good point Wattson
Hutton was dire and bringing on Gunter was a good move. All our goals at least resulted from some decent craft whereas we gave away corners and freekicks by failing to clear our lines quickly enough (Hudd and Bentley) and then Hutton could have done more to prevent Adebayor’s goal, then the 4th just had me in a fit. I’m ashamed to say I left the pub on 85mins as I was just distraught that we’d gifted them goals on a plate (esp with Scum fans surrounding me) - especially after Bent’s effort to pull it back for us to 3-2.
So watching MoD later I couldn’t believe my eyes!!
Sure this morning there is euphoria around us snatching a thrilling point - but - we have got to cut out negating all our great work by naive errors and Gomes - DONT come for every ball! otherwise we’ll quickly slip back to the conceding from set-pieces rut from not so long ago.
Loads of positives there - maybe my expectations are too high. There’s a lot of players there starting to display their true form - mainly Modric. hopefully Pav will come good soon enough as well.
Confidence continues on the up..
Bring on the scousers!
October 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’ve got to say - and this upsets me (mildly…) as a Scot - Hutton hasn’t yet fully convinced me (a point I have raised before last night, but not on the bagel!). He’s clearly got the game going forward (although his delivery of the final ball isn’t that great either) to be a good attacking full back (stamina, provides support, likes to get forward) but he needs to improve defensively.
Still time on his side though. But the jury is out. I always like Scottish spurs players (and I like his attitude) but maybe I will have to introduce an “ex-hun” exclusion to that rule. Hopefully not!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
take your point Oog - disappointed last night with Hutton - but only because we’ve seen some great marauding play from him in a Spurs shirt since he’s signed and he looks like a fantastic right back overall. Definitely a class act player but last night he looked afraid of the ball and intimidated. I was thinking last night we could have beaten them - christ - 4 goals at the Emirates! gifting silly goals undoing all the hard work is just the most frustrating thing - especially with so much positive play and confidence clearly coming back to the team..
onwards and upwards!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hutton looked good last year. I will give him the benefit of the doubt by saying he probably isn’t anywhere near full match fitness and sharpness.
I have Glaswegian relatives and last time I was in Scotland my cousin was sure that Hutton would do well in the Prem.
2 points of Chelsea and now L’Arse. Bring on Liverpool for the full 3 points.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
First off - well done, was a great game and a great fight back! You showed a bit of fighting spirit that has been sadly lacking at Spurs since the start of the season and deserved the draw (at least!)
Cracking goal by Bentley as well, a goal of the season contender if I’ve ever seen one - until Xabi brings out his trademark goal from his own half anyway!
I applaude the appointment of Redknapp, I think he’ll be great for you and he’s finally got a chance to show whats he’s made of at a big club with money to spend - something he’s never really had before (maybe had money to spend at Portsmouth but, quite frankly, Tottenham are a far more attractive club than Portsmouth will ever be). If he does well with you I can see him becoming a contender for the England job (make no bones if he was offered it he’d take it) after Capello leaves, something I’ve always been a fan of.
Looking forward to the game on Saturday, although with a lot more trepidation than I was originally feeling I have to say! I do, however, still feel that this will be a sterner test of the recent Spurs revival than Arse-nal for a couple of reasons.
1)Defence - Our defence is much better than the Arse, Skyrtel might be missing but Agger - after a dodgy first few games - has refound his form that made him an Anfield favourite and keeping a clean sheet at Chelsea is no mean feat. No keeper could have done much about Bentley’s screamer but the other 3 you scored had a lot to do with Arse-nals bad defending as much as your attacking verve.
2)Confidence - yes you’re getting on a run and the draw will only give you more but breaking the Stamford bridge hoo-doo and the manner of our fightbacks (Man City, Wigan etc) is very encouraging. We’re winning games that we would have drawn/lost last season giving us a sense of resiliance and never-say-die attitude that has been missing for a long time, in the League at least.
I’ll be watching it with G who is also a regular reader of this blog so maybe we’ll try to write a Fans view blog of the game!
October 30th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
How sweet was that? I never get tired of seeing Wenger down on his knees, pounding the ground with his fist. what a cunt!
On a more unhappy note, very sad to hear Levy say that the new WHL will have naming rights to be sold to the highest bidder. It will always be WHL to me and once the new stadium is built we should all continue to call it such and not adopt whatever stupid name it is given.
We are Tottenham from the Lane.
Roll on Saturday.
COYS
October 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Regarding the naming of the new stadium… I agree with you Hornchurch entirely. However, modern football as it is, the business side of it will dictate (esp. with Levy in charge) and so this is something we have to accept in our quest to mix it with the big boys. I guess Man U/Liverpool have so much money (aka debt) and Chelsea are simply a bankrolled plaything, that they don’t really need the extra cash.
That said, if the highest bidder was the BNP I wonder what Levy would do then? Must….take…highest….bid…..dilemma…..arrrgh. Mind you, the BNP would probably be happy with the current name of the stadium anyway! Although they might choose to add the word ’supremacy’ I guess
October 30th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Well, when WHL was first used it was often referred to as the High Road ground. Only through the fans adopting WHL as a name did it come into popular usage.
We will all just have to keep calling it WHL. Fuck the sponsors and their red logos!
I hope and pray that we make a better effort of this new stadium than those bottling cunts from last night. The Emirates is a piece of shit with no soul and stupid name. Lets not have any oval shaped stadiums. Keep it tight and make it a fortress.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Lets take the money, they can call it whatever they like, and we’ll all call it White Hart Lane. No-one likes it, but unfortunately thats just the way it goes.
After all, if its going to be on the north side of the current ground, it will be NEARER white hart lane!
I’m more concerned with the news that they think the current transport system is acceptable. Its bad enough getting in to 7 sisters or WHL after a weeknight game at the moment without worrying about 25,000 MORE people!
October 30th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Also, I’m hoping for the following stadium design.
Take White Hart Lane blueprint. Add another tier. Job done.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
To quote the eminent blogger “oog” - “I can’t see him becoming a fixture at the lane”.
Right on the money, oog. Benoit wants out out out!
First Keane, then Berbatov, now Benoit. All our best players are leaving.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I agree about the transport Oog. Its a nightmare the way it is at the moment, another 25000 people will collapse it all together.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I’m afraid that the new WHL will have even more executive boxes and corportate areas. Increased capacity and increased revenue is a wonderful thing but time and consideration should be taken to designing a proper football “ground”. The people that run our club have a wonderful opportunity to create something special. Imagine how the club directors must have felt when they unveiled the old East Stand. Now that was an impressive and imposing sight back in the 30’s and still was even until the old Shelf’s last season. (Good old Archibald Leitch - another fine Scot oog!) The present custodian of THFC have an opportunity to leave us and future generations of Spurs fans with a home to cherish and be proud of. A new ground that is as unique as Tottenham Hotspur itself.
To dare is to do!
October 30th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
From the chairman
“We are talking about an iconic stadium, one of the best in Europe,” Levy said.
Here’s hoping.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Any ideas that the stadium will be designed to bring joy to the fans, rather than money to THFC coffers, is simply delusional. I still think it will be a fantastic venue (it’ll be home to the mighty tottenham hotspur after all, so it will by default), but to expect ‘the present custodian of THFC..to leavus us and future generations of Spurs fans with a home to cherish and be proud of’ is, i fear, a bit overambitious. Let’s not kid ourselves - a new stadium is only about one thing, and that thing is increasing revenue. I certainly won’t be surprised if we end up with a bog-standard, flat-pack IKEA stadium.
Having said that, it’s the fans more than anything that make WHL so special, and all we have to do as fans is ensure that stays the case once we have our new home. After all, the Emirates isn’t a bad stadium. I always find it difficult to take seriously claims that a stadium is silent - all buildings are silent, unless built by dodgy cowboys and they’re creaking in the wind. It’s the Arsenal fans that have turned the Emirates into ‘a piece of shit with no soul’.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I agree with G. Sorry to say it, but the Emirates is an impressive stadium. Its the fans that give it the special library atmosphere.
I’d like the stadium to be close in if possible, but beyond that its going to be about the fans making it a good place to go. And its not as if going to a premiership game anywhere these days isn’t a corporate assault on the senses anyway.
Just make the seats blue and fill it with spurs fans and a decent team and I’ll be happy. And don’t put the bagels up by too much. Just a shame I won’t be able to get £100 off my season ticket because a pillars in the way any more…
I also think these identikit stadiums tend to be disappointing when they are 30 000ers. Make it bigger, like the Emirates or of course Wembley, and just the scale makes it pretty impressive.
It might also be a chance for any season ticket holders who know each other to all sit together at last!
Mind you - look at the problems Liverpool are having. This could still be a long way from happening.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
ha ha ha ah ah weres oi oi ha ha ha ah ha aha ahahahahhahah aha
October 30th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
stead_uk
Good oint mate, oui oui, lah lah, joe pesky & tinky winky… Where are you now, you gob shite
A new stadium, bring it on, it’s the only way ahead, just so long as we keep our soul, which with all us at the place we will keep the faith, heart & soul… And yes, it will not matter what the new place will be called, it will always be White Hart Lane, The Lane.
#We are Tottenham, we are Totenham, Super Tottenham from the Lane. We are Tottenham, Super Tottenham, we are Tottenham frm the Lane#
October 30th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
The RSPCA have acted swiftly after last night.
If you see any ar5ena1 fans walking a dog please call the RSPCA helpline on 42 43 44 as the arse are not very good at holding on to leads!
COYS!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:17 am
Harry. It just feels Right.
And somebody should be giving Jenas some credit for his performance last night.
COYS DOYS !
October 31st, 2008 at 8:13 am
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid958992159?bctid=1887841049
October 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
If anything with this stadium move we shall be returning to our roots, after all, we played around the Northumberland Park area before we moved to WHL: & with Harry Hotspur at the helm im sure we’ll settle in nicely.
Up the Yids.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:07 am
Credit to Jenas, N8 White?
What kind of Tottenham fan are you? ;o)
October 31st, 2008 at 11:32 am
Chaps
I disagree about the stadium. While I completely accept that sentiment will be low down on Levy’s list of priorities when it comes to maximising revenue. The design of the stadium can affect the atmosphere. It doesn’t matter howmany fans you can pack in. Juventus have just recently moved from the Stadio della Alpi, built for the 1990 World Cup, back to their newly refurbished spiritual home, the stadio communale. One of the reasons was because it failed to create any real atmosphere and the fans hated it. Fair enough, it was a bus ride to the outskirts of Turin but it was still a stadium built for football which failed.
Sight lines and acoustics are all major factors in creating a great stadium. I think the trouble with the Emirates and other smaller stadiums like it is that there is no focus for the home fans. Nowhere that the home fans can claim as there “end”. And so those fans who want to generate an atmosphere get spread out all over the place. And no, I am not talking about a fuckin singing zone. Absurd idea. It would be like Vicarage road in the 80’s when they had a seperate terrace for under 16’s. It was like watching the old schoolboy internationals at Wembley with high pitches squealing all round.
So, I don’t think it is as simple as to say that whatever stadium Levy throws up with be special, will have a great atmosphere just because we will be in it.
With good design and attention to detail we can have a new stadium that has all the right elements in making our new home special.
Read the numerous books by Simon Inglis and you will see what I mean. Football grounds should be as unique as the football teams that call them home. We are Tottenham Hotspur after all.
COYS
October 31st, 2008 at 11:42 am
HY, I agree that stadium design is important, and I hear that Juve’s stadium is horrible. But I don’t think thats the problem with the Emirates. I was there for the 1-1 in the CC semi last year, and when they scored the sound was impressive
for about one minute.
So its not the acoustics thats at fault. You’re definitely on to something when it comes to the spread of fans though. I guess fans can arrange themselves a little bit on the internet, and the club needs to work out a way to make it work.
Personally I’d like to be in the “non-booing but not west stand or paxton” section…
Sorry paxton thats a little bit harsh.
The other thing I’m not sure of is - are the stadium plans to be revealed soon? And will they be open to public comment? And will they listen. I read something about there being a ‘display’ in November, and a consultation period but that doesn’t necessarily mean about the stadium itself.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:57 am
Something is being revealed on November 14th but I imagine it will just be some flashy artists impression of what the development might / could / won’t look like.
At present at WHL there are a couple of areas where Spurs fans have the freedom to create a good atmosphere. What I mean by freedom is that the PL and the Shelfside are not overly affected by Boxes or corporare areas. So, the fans there tend to be like minded and more vociferous. It also helps having the banter between the away fans in the PL.
I used to stand on the old shelf and this was always considered the home end (albeit on the side). The Park Lane during the 70’s was also a popular spot for home fans until most of it was given up as the away end. The point I’m making is that we have always have a place in the ground that Spurs fans would understand as our “territory”. This is a key factor in the atmosphere that we still generate at WHL.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Btw, what are you plans for Robbie?
Do you expect him to get applause or boo’s if/when he plays on Saturday?
I’d contribute to the stadium conversation but I’m afraid, if I do, I’d cry salty Stanley Park tears…
October 31st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’ll be applauding Robbie. He gave his all, and in this day and age all you can ask is that players do that when they wear the shirt.
But then again, I find it hard to hate Berbatov too. Will still manage to boo him I’m sure, but I just like skill too much…….
October 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I think a new manager and 4 more points may mean that Robbie gets a half decent reception.
If we were still with the old guard and had failed in our last 2 games then there wouldn’t have been much room for pleasantries.
As long as he doesn’t score, plays shit and gets sent off then he’s welcome back any time.
Red Rum, will pointy shouty bloke play or will Rafa tinker?
October 31st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
HY - will pointy shouty bloke play? Not entierly sure who you mean, after all, Sammy Lee does a hell of lot of shouting and pointing but I dont think even Rafa’s rotation policy at it’s height would consider such a move!
If you mean Carragher then yes, I’d say so but Rafa seemed to revert his worrying policy of rotation against Portsmouth and we only just managed to win (deservedly I’d say tho) there.
Torres should be back so I assume that Kuyt will revert to his, so far successful, position on the right. Possibly Keane and Torres up front but I’d wager he’ll have 5 in midfield at the start with a mind to turn to a more attacking formation as the game progresses.
Care to make predictions? I’m making it 1-2 to us - think it’ll be a tight one
October 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Sorry RR
I mean Robbie. He does do a lot of pointing and a lot of shouting and he does stick his arse out a lot. Apart from that he’s not a bad player
Predictions? Well, before Wednesday I had hoped for 1 point from our next 2 games so I’m already happy with the point against the scum. I reckon we might grab another point against you. Your boys won’t have any problems scoring, it’s just if we can score some too. We should be up for it now that we have our Arry in charge.
Good luck
October 31st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Robbie deserves all the applause he can get from any true Spurs (football) fan before the game.
He supported Liverpool as a boy and was offered a chance of a/ Finishing in the top 4 of the Prem and b/ Playing Champions League football.
Both were not on the cards at Spurs and he gave us 6 years of his career. The way he flew into Eboue (I think) at the New Library a couple of years ago still brings a smile to my face.
For him it was a no-brainer to move on and good luck to him. Anybody who does anything but applaud him before the game is as close to a football imbecile as you will get.
Predictions wise - This has Spurs win written all over it. Modric to get his first goal and MOTM performance.
COYS
October 31st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Funny enough I still have a soft spot or two for keano and Berba.
Always checking and hoping that they do well.
Don’t know what to expect come Saturday,which Spurs will show up?
Liverpool have the winning habbit and thats a hard habbit to break.
I would’nt mind Them winning the league thou as it would be
a break from the usual suspects and I have an irrational hatred for
Manure. Can’t stand their fans!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
HY - He does stick his arse out a lot - Lol you know i actually noticed this of Robbie when we played Athletico, he did seem to have the curious habit of sticking his bum out whenever we was indicating where he wanted the ball. Made him look like he was desperate for a shit all the time.
Block - After Modric’s performance against the arse, I’ll wager Benitez will be instructing MonsterMasch to be keeping a very close eye on him - if he gets going I reckon we’ll be in trouble…
Dude - I have an irrational hatred for Manure - you and me both mate although no hatred of the Scum can be irrational!!
October 31st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
interesting stuff about the stadium - not really thought about it before.
seems true that an oval stadium has poorer acoustics as the noise made all goes into the atmosphere and it’s hard to tell which area it’s coming from - unlike having 4 stands. Advantages are - scope for a great mexican wave! - and probably can accommodate more seating. as a fan I’d lean towards 4 stands as the fans have identity - we all love the singalongs of course.. Our day out at Wembley was of course incredible - I did remember thinking the noise was so overwhelming and hard to pinpoint its origin (I’d had a skinful just before though so that might’ve contributed).
I would definitely vote for a 4 stander than Oval for the simple reason of fans associating themselves to their areas. More crowd participation = more intimidation = more of a fortress WHL = hopefully more points = happy Levy and board!
Other point is that Levy’s recruited the project managers from the Emirates build so they may opt for that model.
Listen up to Levy - the fans know best!
October 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
‘But then again, I find it hard to hate Berbatov too. Will still manage to boo him I’m sure, but I just like skill too much…….’
Agreed oog. I’ll admit I delighted in his unsurpassed skill for ManU’s second on Wednesday - however, it did make me wish he was still doing it for us.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Good work oog,
keep it going, now the torch has been passed keep on running. been really enjoying your views, though ginger wigs and a lot of beer a couple of weeks ago has helped a bit!
October 31st, 2008 at 10:41 pm
oooh by the way, just given up my season ticket sadly after 10 years, obviouslt i still would like to catch as much as I can live etc. Whats the deal on Spurs on line tv - any one know
Pup
November 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
Ah,, today’s the day. Just 6 days and i’m waking way too early on Saturday’s again !
I won’t be booing shouty pointy.. too busy cheering Jenas.
Who knows Oog,, you might have to change your mind about him too.
Saying that.. JJ’s born to frustrate then deliver.
Will be a touch odd welcoming back Robbie. All those long dark Berbatov restless days,, having Robbie there.. Always up for it.. aAways hand on badge.. i was,, We’ve got Robbie, just let Berbatov go if he can not understand The Stadium he scores in.
And then he caps our season with the i’d love to see my days out here stuff. I mean,, you couldn’t ask for more from the man. Hence, Liverpool are calling me - i’m going and that’s final. Did stick a bit.
But hey.. the noise at the moment is sensational. I’ll just be cheering the men in white.
COYS DOYS !
November 1st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Oh my god… I cannot believe it. We won.
Best…. Week… EVER!
November 1st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
There will be more postings here as soon as we can get them up. Good news! Let’s hope Bolton and Newcastle don’t get points on Sun and Mon to stay off the bottom!
We’ve got the strait jacket off!
November 1st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
An amazing 6 days.
#GLORY GLORY TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR!#
November 1st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
JUST BACK.
I LOVE FOOTBALL.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Also just back.
N8 obviously a lot nearer N17 than SW4 is!
fantastic. I had no expectations even when we got back to 1-1. It might be the way to go. How did we get any kind of result from that!!
November 1st, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Lord Knows Sir.
Had a great feeling all afternoon.
Gutted again at half-time. Totally snuffed us.. and couldn’t get outside our half.
Harry made the changes. We finally cranked the stadium right up to how it should sound.. silencing the scousers song.
Had fun on the trip home.. apparently Carragher’s fourth goal.. and his third for Spurs.
Ah,, bottom beats top. What a beautiful game.
Let’s do it all again in the Carling !
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 am
Oh my word, I can’t believe it
Only 2 Spurs fans in my local watching the game, namely Mini Yid & me surrounded by scousers & plastic manure “fans” who have probably never actually been to see “their team” play, but suffice to say we out cheered them
Uncle ‘Arry is surely the reincarnated Harry Hotspur
COYS!
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Amazing game yesterday. We look like so much more of a team after ‘Arry’s arrival, lets hope we can continue the current form!
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Absolutely gutted.
Fair play, you kept yourselves in the game and came away with a win but we should have had it all wrapped up by half time. The Harry factor keeps on going it seems.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Red Rum
We robbed you fair and square.
Spurs against top 4 teams so far;
Chelsea away - draw
Scum away - draw
L’pool home - win
Still, could be bottom again if the Geordies win tonight. C’mon the Villa!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Hornchurch - I’m with you for the Villa, although for slightly different reasons as I don’t think the geordies are going to be in the bottom 3 come May.
Villa, they have always been a team I don’t really like, but to nick Keegans line:
I would love it if they beat Arsenal to 4th place!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
B54D
After our exploits of the last week it would be gutting to be bottom again but at least we have closed the gap with other sides. Only 3 points between 14th and bottom.
Watching the scum fall apart is almost as sweet as watching Spurs win so any side that keeps them out of the top 4 will get my support.
Coys!
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Bugger.
Looking up again.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Loads of games to go so not too bothered now. Of the 11 games played to date, 7 of our opponents are currently in the Top 10 places in the league.
Out of the top 6 we have played 5 of them (man u being the odd one out), and with Harry at the helm I think we can push for a top 10 finish.
We have the belief that we can win games again, if we can go a good run who knows where we can end up.
Looking at the next 4 games is it unrealistic to think we can go 4 games without losing?
Citeh - on the slide
Fulham - Relegation candidates
Blackburn - Robbo’s return! (worse goal difference than us as well)
Everton - Our level of Uefa challengers = the type of game we need to win at home.
Bring on November. Incredible how times change.
COYS
November 4th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Diaz,
I think we should exercise caution when outlining our ambitions for those four games. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say we’ll go unbeaten, but it goes without saying that I (and everyone else too) would take 2 wins & 2 defeats over 4 draws. Hopefully we can push on, but it wont be easy and we need to learn to defend again and quick.
City - they are Jekyll & Hyde and which one shows up depends on where they are playing. At home they are a match for anyone so a defeat would not overly surprise me as Robinho & SWP could inflict some pain on our defence.
Fulham - perennial strugglers, but our record there is poor and after throwing away a 3-1 lead there last season I would not comfortably predict a victory for us.
Blackburn & Everton - both games we must win in my opinion. We have two consecutive league wins at home now and I think we need to make them count. We lost to both last season, so I would hope enough of the boys in our team would remember this and want revenge. It certainly helps that neither team are as strong this year (IMHO) as they were last year.
Like Hornchurch, being bottom does not concern me anymore because the league is so compressed and we are a few decent results away from pushing for the top half. Hopefully we’ll meet 4rsen4l somewhere in the middle and wave at them as we pass them. I can but dream…
November 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
8 points would be a good return. I just worry that when we have our next defeat all the old demons will return and our confidence will take a hit. But then that’s why we have Arry, to keep the boys going.
A good performance on Thursday will keep up the momentum.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
8 points would be incredible, but I feel we might get beat in one of them. 6-7 points should be the realistic target. Less than 6 and we will be looking at other results to help us.
COYS
November 4th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Whyowhyowhy am I so fecking pessimistic?!
I looked at Diaz’s list, but saw:
Citeh - on the slide, under pressure - dangerous time to play them - that’s an away game, isn’t it? They SCORE lots at home. Lots.
Fulham - yeah, fine, we bloody should be good for 3 points from that one. But then, I thought that about Stoke.
Can’t see us beating Everton. A draw would be good - but that’s not enough points.
Blackburn…hmmm. Must, must, must win.
The table may well be compact - but really, NOW is the time to move out of this position, and it will only get harder.
Plus, lots of the teams around us keep winning.
I think 9 points are needed. That doesn’t seem realistic. 6-7 will keep up the pressure on the teams above, and some of them are bound to start feeling the pressure soon. If we go into December in the bottom 3, that really will be squeeky bum time…
P.S. Heard Wenger’s whining? ‘Stoke deliberately tried to hurt us!’
yeah, ‘cos Tony Adams, Ray Parlour and Viera never did that, you sycophantic, hypocritical, talent-faded twat.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hornchurch, GG, Toby. Don’t worry!!
Just view it as a five point deficit - 27 games to play. Over the next seven months we will easily get 5 more points than West Brom, Wigan, Bolton and Fulham to name but a few.
Our form (until last week) has been shocking, but if you look at the table the teams above us have been playing to their usual form and all the way up to 10th place they are averaging about 1 point a game.
So two wins every 4 games will be more than enough.
Looking at the next 4 games I like to think we can get 7-8 points from them.
If we get 5-6 points thats still ok.
4 points or less, I don’t want to consider.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
If we want to avoid relegation, then my rule is we only need 4 points out of every 9. I came up with that before the bolton game so we’re already 3 points ahead of schedule. That would see us on 42 points (or 45 now).
Doesn’t seem that difficult now that we kind of know how to win games again. Although I’d hope we can do way better than that.
Your autistically,
Oog.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Any articles in the pipeline Oog?
The Derby or the pool game perhaps?
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Sorry dude. I definitely want to do more articles but a) I need to know I’m doing them in advance and hadn’t planned on it for those games and b) I don’t know how to post them on the bagel anyway. So whilst the bagel is away I’m locked out!
Anyone else?
November 5th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
So big les is going to join the coaching team. On the BBC website it says he scored 33 goals for spurs from 1997 to 2003. Seems a bit rubbish….was he injured a lot?….can’t seem to remember….maybe he was a bit rubbish
November 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
love it - Big Les coming in to help our strikers
can’t wait for Justin Edinburgh as left-back consultant!
November 5th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Jobs for the boys.
It comes with having ‘Arry in charge. He is a right old wide boy but as long as he does a job for us then no harm done I suppose………until the old bill come calling again.
November 5th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Does anyone know if Spurs are on tv tomorrow? If so which channel?
November 5th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
YOTN
It’s not on the box as far as I’m aware.
Spurs are offering it on Spurs tv but that’s all I know.
It’s live on the wireless (5live)
November 6th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
4-0
not bad =]
November 7th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Just got back! The Hud was quality. Bent needs to get more involved.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
He scored a hat-trick :L:L
November 7th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Adie, explain your comment please - i’m with TFBTFL - how can you get more involved than a hat-trick? Or are you saying Bent needs to get as involved in other games as he was last night?
By the way, feels real good to be a Spur again - after the Udinese shocker, and even with the recent run of form, I was a little bit wary of last night’s game, but another incredible result from Harry’s boys has left me grinning like the Cheshire Cat this morning
November 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
It was a joke, sorry poor delivery
November 7th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
What’s everyones feeling about Sunday?
Would gladly take a point. anything that keeps the momentum.
We should have chances to score but I think they will give our defence plenty to worry about.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Bring on Citeh!
Bentley, Lennon, Huddlestone, O’Hara have all scored recently. Zokora and Modric are due a goal.
(Didi averages a goal every 80 games througout his career so I expect he will score between now and Xmas!)
Modric is keeping my Paddy Power very happy at the moment
Score Goddammit.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Correction - My Paddy Power Account.
I don’t have a Personal Paddy Power. The other half might be a bit confused/alarmed if there was an Irishman hanging around my house giving me in-game odds.
November 7th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Cracking result last night. Mini Yid & I tried watching the game through justin tv on the web, but the bloody thing kept freezing, so we had to settle for BBC Radio London website instead.
Mini Yid & I will be at citeh on Sunday, anyone else from this site going?
November 7th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
YOTN
Sorry to say I won’t be at the game. Too much money being spent on the boys already when I need to save some money to spend on my boys for Crimbo. Have a good one! It’s been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years.
How about a match report from you and MY ?
November 7th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hornchurch,
You flatter me. I will try to compile a match report, but if it’s not meeting the demanding standard I won’t embarrass myself or torture anyone who frequents this site
Yes, citeh has been the source of much joy for Mini Yid & I (& all over us) over the past few years. I see a sterner test this time, potentially, after watching SWP last night. However, I think we can turn on the magic & ‘Arry’s boys could bag all three points. It really depends which citeh turn up on the day
I think we can do it, but it won’t be an easy ride
COYS!
November 8th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Enjoy YODN - Hoping for some transistor listening action down here.
And looking forward to some merry words from you after,, COYS DOYS !
November 8th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hi Oog
Providing my match report is up for public scrutiny… how do I go about posting it on here? Do we have to wait until the Bagel returns from his holiday if so, when does the great man return to these shores?