Beef Bagel

We did! Great bonus of 3 points at Villa and that doesn’t happen very often, even in better seasons. This made up for the draw at Sunderland which could have been better.

It’s a good run. No point in getting carried away, but let’s just carry it on.

Parts of the team are working better and apart from makings things happen – Lennon twice – Jenas was well forward, where players should be more often, and putting his head in where it hurts. Of course, against some teams you’d also get your head kicked in!

Robbie’s doing nicely now but actually that shot wasn’t going in, so well done Darren.

Still some way to go but it wasn’t premature to talk of next season. We have to finish this one as best we can, but have to plan a short-term and a long-term future – something that’s clearly been missing for the last couple of seasons. Sell a number of players and then buy three back the same season or the one after?

We’ve seen enough changes in recent years. There’s only one more necessary in the future, apart from seeing Spurs at the top that is, and I don’t think I need to spell that out, do I? We’re hopefully going to change the ground, we’ve changed a bus load of managers, players, directors of football, even bakers – now what hasn’t changed? A bit of stability would be a nice change.

COYS.

The Platzel.

…roll? Bagel? You may ask where we have been – well, there wasn’t much to write about for most of February!

We didn’t score a goal until late in the month, although we didn’t play much in the first half. The window closed and Robbie came back, which must be a good thing, even if he was ineligible for a lot of the matches that came up? Now, he’s scored his first since his return maybe we can start to show some improvement. We have a better squad than we started the season with, but not very helpful for the later stages of cup competitions if cup-tied.

A draw with Arsenal was better than nothing, but all we are saying is give us a …

We needed goals in Donetsk, but they didn’t come and then we didn’t defend well in the last 10 minutes. The win at Hull was great, but a bit shaky! We perked up for 5 minutes in the second leg against Shaktar, but that was the end of that! It was welcome novelty to be back in Europe for 3 years after quite a gap – almost like the old days – but barring a miracle that’s it, at least for more than another year.

We did the hard work in the Carling Cup Final against…oh, I can’t remember who we played (some provincial team, I think?)…but not the easy part. Penalties are easy to take, except in the head – a bit of hypnosis wouldn’t have gone amiss – Harry, give Derren Brown a call?

We can’t score goals, yet amazingly our defence has held up pretty well this season? We’re on course for some record low totals at home this season, I’m sure…so what happens 4-0 against an in-form Middlesbrough! As Fred Trueman might have said, I don’t know what’s going off out there?

We want survival or just work your socks off to see how far we can get in the league and I guess it will be two seasons in the bottom half following two in 5^th place! Progress will be a top half finish next season and certainly qualification for Europe as a bonus!

We can beat Sunderland, of course, if we’re up for it!

COYS.

The Platzel.

Yes, I still think we are, rather than in the soup? The transfer window or Christmas sales period is nearly over and, as things stand, we have Cudicini (Gomes looked a better bet yesterday?), Defoe (currently crocked), Chimbonda (good attacking play) and Palacios (‘Crystal’, who also looked sharp). Is that it? Not long to wait now. As for Benitez, he can shut up since he doesn’t seem to want Keane?

I think the squad looks better than at the start of the season and we’re in the pack.

So, the last 8 league games have yielded 6 points – not enough! The first 8, 2 points and the next 8, 16! Consistent, we’re not. We’ve won 6, drawn 6 and lost 12. It won’t be easy to climb clear but we really will need to work our socks off to the end. Our strikers have scored a few, our midfield not enough and our defence must tighten up.

I guess we want 16 points from the last 14 games – more would be nice, plus the Carling Cup for Europe next season? Here’s hoping. We’ve got everything crossed – even hot buns!

COYS.

The Platzel.

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.

Now you remember that I was Manager of the Month in November (and the Bagel was Assistant Manager of the Month – he spent most of it out of the country!). Well, sadly, Harry wasn’t but should have been. They gave it to Gary Megson? What for…I can’t really tell you. I’m asking for a full public inquiry into this rigged (or megged) result!

I didn’t write after the point against Man United: 3 would have been nice, but rare, and 1 was OK.

The comeback against Moscow was good and they played well. It may be a case of how well the other team allow you to play, but at least Spurs played well. A third goal would have been good to confirm first place, but the draw is reasonable.

Today was a bit of a let down and we’re in a bit of a rut. We really need 6 points from the next 2 games to give us a nice end to the year.

The midfield has contributed a few goals which is good, but we have got to find a spark in the next few weeks since it’s still dog eat dog at the bottom.

Anyway, a Happy Christmas to our millions of readers and we’re better placed than we were in late October.

The Platzel.

I like Mondays – this one, at least.

I’m now going to tell you about the 2008-2009 season – of course, this will never happen. In the first 8 games in the league, Spurs will get 2 points – their worst ever start! They will also lose their first UEFA Cup game.

In the next 8 games, they will get 16 points – not Spurs usual form and ease up to 15th. Along the way, they will win 2 League Cup games, reach the semi-final and win 2 UEFA Cup games, all in the space of about 6 weeks.

Have you stopped laughing yet, ‘cos this is the best bit. The manager who took them to the rock bottom of the Premiership was then appointed manager of Real Madrid! Tune of Laughing Policeman starts up…

What’s going to happen next? I can’t tell you. I think Harry might accept the appointment as the next manager of Manchester United because he just couldn’t turn down that challenge, but I could.

Well, in the next 8 games…

The Platzel.

Well, nobody likes Mondays from a work point of view, but thinking about it although the weekend was devoid of any important football, it gives us something to look forward to after the weekend – as long as we win!

We’re still waiting for the awards for November (I couldn’t even trace those for October?), but December started OK at Watford. Not the best of jobs but we’re through and most of the difficult obstacles are out of the way – but not all of course. At the moment, we could still win all 4 trophies this season (have you been at the bottle again?), but yes I’m quietly confident about the London Senior Cup! Of course, the old League Cup is still our most likely passport into Europe next season so it’s also very important, for money if nothing else. The team’s still a bit fragile but maybe we’ll improve – still quite a way off the top four, as is everyone else.

We still want a couple of wins or three on the trot to give us real lift but waited all season last year and it never happened. The next few weeks look good on paper so let’s see if we can make it look good on grass! COYS.

The Platzel.