The Right Mix
We were hoping for some better news after Thursday night, but not yet? Yes, again it could have been different, but it was more of the same!
I was going to start by asking about the state of the patient? Yes, there’s still a pulse but not that much brain activity at the moment!
OK, so we had a goalie error (we’ve had those before, with other keepers) but when that happens you need 2 goals to turn it round – and where are they supposed to be coming from at the moment?
However, I’m not that despondent – there were some decent players out there, although a number aren’t playing that well, but it needs more effort and belief. I only saw most of the second half and there was one serious effort on goal, I think? I don’t care if there were only 10 men. Darren, don’t look so distraught if the goalie saves a great effort – one isn’t enough. It’s not your fault – I’m looking for more from the midfield or anywhere – can we have a few shots please?
The ovens are ready and we’re in production again. Now, to make a good bagel or anything else you need the right mix. It’s the same with a team. We all seem to be agreed on wanting something like 4-4-2 or even 4-3-3 if we can? There are a number of problems but the main one is a dearth of goals. Even last season we couldn’t keep clean sheets, but we’d all like a few more of those – it may become essential for survival if we’re only capable of 1 goal a game?
If we’re lacking goals, we need to get away from even thinking of playing one striker. Let’s start attacking, but get back and defend when we need to and not get caught badly on the break as we did the other night – that was amateurish.
Supporters differ widely in their acceptance of individual players, but collectively we can’t all be wrong. I think Juande needs some help in team selection? I want to see big Tom in midfield – if he’s good enough for England U21s, he’s good enough for us. He can make goals and he can score them – come on Didier, you are due one – do you want me to show you what a goal is? Come on everyone else, we did it in pre-season so let’s just get on with it, although I know the opposition is better in the Premier League.
We’ve had the carping and bitching from the players – let’s stop that now and start working together to get the right results. We need all the supporters right behind the team. We’re going to get some bad luck, but you have to make your own luck.
We have to start now – the longer this goes on, the harder it will get. Even Lawro’s predicting 2-0 today – he gets some results right!
The Platzel
October 26th, 2008 at 10:35 am
COYS…….Come on Harry…….A great English Manager for a great English Team!
October 26th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I’m in shock. I think we probably all are.
There I was posting these words from The Platzel who sent me this piece yesterday and I’m sorry to him that his fine words are now rather redundant though their spirit and ethos ring true.
Picking up my phone just now to read the text from Jimmy New Dad (nee Five Weeks) I stood aghast and agape while LB asked me over and over what was wrong. I couldn’t speak. I just handed her my phone. It read:
“Crazy. Ramos gone. Redknapp the new manager.”
I was praying he didn’t mean Jamie, but with news like that, anything was possible. Harry seemed as likely to leave Pompey as Jamie would be to take up the job.
But that was only the half of it as those of you who’ve been to the site and seen Daniel Levy’s letter will know.
Juande, Alvarez, Crazy Gus and Damien Comolli all gone in one swoop. Gone. All change.
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/openletterfromthechairmandaniellevy261008.html
I could sit for hours and dissect this one but I’d probably end up missing the game.
I feel sorry for Juande, Marcos and Gus. They seem rather caught in the middle of this one but it’s hard to hold sympathy for Comolli. I remember my mate Charlie, a Yiddo through and through, saying to me as soon as Ramos arrived that if he didn’t work out, our Sporting Director’s head would roll and rolled it has.
Was it he who ousted MJ? Does Daniel Levy regret listening to the poison poured into his ear by his right hand man? Was there a time to take a side in the dispute between the old manager and the Sporting Director? Did he choose poorly; the silver tongue devil over the good honest man? It’s really impossible to tell.
Somehow I want to believe that fairytale. I want to think that MJ was perfect and only scuppered by the evils of Comolli. That he was never bought the players he requested and instead given Darren Bent and Ricardo Rocha, players he just didn’t need, but I don’t know if that’s true.
Daniel Levy’s letter is well composed. It’s easy to be cynical about who wrote it for him and how many boxes he managed to tick but I choose to see its sincerity and even though there’s little new to learn, it’s good to hear our chairman’s pain.
Perhaps the most significant news - aside that of Uncle ‘Arrys appointment - is that the Sporting Director position will not be refreshed. The papers will say the experiment is over and it hasn’t worked, but don’t go believing their blend narrow-mindedness and anti-Tottenham jaundice.
As I’ve said many times, it did work. It worked when we hired them together. It worked when they got on and understood each other. It worked when Frank and MJ were in charge and we jumped from nowhere to a point off the Champions League in one season. So don’t go believing that tripe for a second.
On the other hand, I don’t think this decision is a bad one. Harry would not work well with a Sporting Director while other managers would. Each such decision should be made on its own merit.
So, how do I feel about this morning’s news? I’m sorry for for Jaunde and I’m sorry for Gus. They may have come good eventually but we shouldn’t have gone without a league win since March and today, that’s the bottom line.
Harry’s known for his for getting teams out of a scrape but let’s remember, it didn’t work for Southampton. Mercifully we’ve a better squad to play with.
We’ve been looking for the spark to set our team alight this season and believe you me, any arsenal fan not secretly stacking it that we’d get our first win in their back yard, will be shitting bricks now for sure. They might well be right to do so.
Whether or not Harry can save our souls or even take us to the promised land of the top four is one thing but what really worries me is can he play the Tottenham way. I’m not sure his football is imaginative or creative enough for the fans, for me. I don’t want to play middle England bread and butter football. As Garth Crooks said when I had the strange pleasure of meeting him the other night:
“Gentlemen,” he said with disgust when we mentioned Scott Parker and Matthew Upson as possible transfer targets, “gentlemen, please. We’re Tottenham Hotspur!”
I’ve seen Portsmouth play good football but I’m not sure I’ve seen them play liquid yeast and that’s what we’re about.
I suppose the next question is, will we see the Little Yiddo back at the Lane and will Diarra follow too?
Times are exciting once more.
The Bagel.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:28 am
i’d like to be the first to say (in my state of shock at our club’s goings on) - WELCOME BACK BAGEL!!
i hope you enjoyed writing that as much as i did reading it…
stick around.. you know you wanna!
October 26th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Oi, I thought you were taking a sabbatical - who’d doing the blog now? You’re outblogging me and this is totally out of order! I’m going get my mate ‘Arry (Enfield, that is) to give you a right going over. You’ll be starting with the London Hospital!
October 26th, 2008 at 11:43 am
A little girl was crying and as she went into the police station. The police ask the little girl, why she was crying and where are her parents. The little girl replied, saying that her parents were divorced, and that she is currently staying with her mum. The girl then said that she cried because her mum beat her.
The police officer was astonished and and asked the little girl, why didn’t she go find her dad then? The little girl then replied saying that its useless, because her dad is also of an abusive nature and would beat her as well.
The police officer then, asked the little girl what does she intend to do now… To which she replied the following:
“I would like to go to Tottenham, because they DONT beat anyone!!”
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
October 26th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Sod Redknapp. Sod Ramos. The Bagel he liveth!
I’m still doing the “match report” (match! who cares!) though, sorry guys. The Bagel commands.
October 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
January can’t come soon enough
October 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Just Yell like Bilio this afternoon Gentlemen !!
COYS - DOYS !
October 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Isn’t Redknapp a Mighty Arsenal fan ?
October 26th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I’ve never heard of a club called the ‘Mighty’ Arsenal.
f you’re talking of that group of Frenchmen up in Ashburton Grove that 9 out of 10 London-based glory hunters support, then the answer is ‘yeah.’ I believe Redknapp supported then growing up.
October 26th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Oh Bagel, we’re currently 1-0 up & I’ve just read your comments… What bliss
Platzel, I’m not leaving you out, you’re doing a great job, but I’m sure you’ll understand that the Bagel is the be all & end all of Spurs blogging
Welcome back Bagel
COYS!
October 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Oh yes! 2-0!
Bentley’s cross was pure David Beckham - I know the lad gets tired of constantly being compared to Becks but he’s essentially the same player and I think we all agree that being Beckham is no bad thing.
Modric was on fire the whole game and Ledders played fantastically too. Also great to see Thudd play 90!
Harry has a knack of getting the best from his players and we have some corkers on our teamsheet.
I’d forgotten how sweet it was to watch the Mighty Spurs win a game. I’m going to be happy all week.
October 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
By the way I can’t have been the only person grinning when I heard “Harry Redknapp’s Blue and White Army!” belted out by the WHL Faithful.
It’s a silly point, I know, but trying to make “Juande Ramos’ Blue and White Army” scan was really doing me in.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
“I’ve seen Portsmouth play good football but I’m not sure I’ve seen them play liquid yeast and that’s what we’re about.”
Yes!, Welcome back Bagel. Welcome back Tottenham!
October 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
The Bagel lives! Tottenham lives! It’s a great day!
COYS!
October 28th, 2008 at 2:11 am
3 things that made me very happy on Sunday:
1) ‘Jermaine Defoe, He’s a Yiddo’ !!!
2) Paul Miller at HT: “At least we’ve got a proper football manager now” !!! Hilarious!
3) The result, of course
Not expecting anything from the next 2, even with the ‘Arry effect. Great that we got the points on Sunday though. Everyone seemed to have forgotten our predicament in the pub on Sunday.
And I have to say, having read ‘Levy’s’ essay, the guy should be an MP and whoever wrote that for him should be his spin doctor. Bravo. Clever man though, that’s for sure. Still a cunt though IMO.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Gomes will come good. Man United player in 3 years.