Beef Bagel

We’re alive again, although not firing on all cylinders.

Seven wins in the league before mid-November – I don’t think that happens very often. Let’s hope there are many more to come this season.

Eventually, a clear win yesterday although again a bit streaky. Crouch winning in the air – not like last week – and a nice finish from Big Tom. We want more of those, but he’s another guy who probably wouldn’t frighten my Mum!

Also, the win against Everton in the League Cup was good but the draw isn’t good although could be OK if we play their third team.

The game against Stoke was an aberration this season. Apart from that blip it’s only been the big playground bullies who have put us in our place. They normally wear red or blue so you should know who to avoid if you see them coming your way.

We’ll sort them out one day!

COYS.

The Platzel

Great, another win and now 6 out of 9. Still third and remember a year ago, we were bottom.

Two decent goals yesterday against Portsmouth and an unstoppable reply from Prince Kevin.

Hopefully the squad will be stronger with key players returning from injury soon.

Top 4 would be nice, but realistically the top six should be reached at the end of the season and the FA Cup would be nice for a change.

I’m sorry if you’re all fed up with no exciting news, but where are you? I’m told you might be reading this, but not commenting? Some of the comments went against earlier blogs so I hope the site is still working properly

Listening to Harry yesterday about his time at Pompey when they flew out to meet Avram Grant, since the Chairman thought he really understood the diamond and needed to bring him in above Harry was priceless. Maybe the Chairmen should do Level 5 coaching, then they might know what they’re talking about.

COYS.

The Platzel

That’s better. A good win and a draw, in a match that would have been nice to win. I know they were 2 tough games before that, but I think we could have done better.

Anyway, five wins and a draw and looking quite good without being good enough to muscle in to the big boys club yet.

At the time of blogging we’re up to third again. Got to tighten up at the back and in goal.

There’s never a dull moment. A story breaks about Harry going, which appears to be nonsense. Let’s hope so! Keano on the move – not yet, we hope.

I sometimes wonder whether there’s a curse on this club to prevent us regaining our rightful place at the top of the league (at the end of a season) and amongst the cream of Europe? We’re well out of the woods but can we find that elusive path to the top avoiding all the predators on the way stealing our jewels.

What I do know is that in the grand scheme of things, there’s probably no one with the aura of Real Madrid – certainly in this country.

By the way, the Bagel may be moving out of the bakery – it’s OK, he’s looking for larger premises.

COYS.

The Platzel

Would you believe it? I know it was Birmingham at home for number 4, but I wasn’t confident and thought they might make it difficult.

Someone tell me the last time we won 4 league matches on the trot because I don’t think it happens very often. Yes, I know about 1960.

Surely Harry can be Manager of the Month now – no-one expected this.

I saw the Bagel yesterday and he was happy and a birthday today – hip, hip…

I told him I’m not as popular as he is and would he make a comeback or give us a match report – we’ll see.

The next two look a little tougher – just a win in the next one would be nice!

Sounds like something will be completed before the window closes – one or two have gone (usual merry-go-round). I like Pav, but what do I know?

What a wonderful Chairman? If you can deliver what we want, we’ll forgive you, but we can’t wait forever and it’s nearly 50 years!

COYS.

The Platzel

Well, you still couldn’t make it up!

So we signed Bassoon and the window isn’t over (I hope that doesn’t mean any trouble).

We eased past Liverpool to give us a points total higher than that after 8 games last season. We cruised past Hull to go clear (well, almost) at the top, although it’s slightly too early to talk of title hopes. We’ll take one match at a time, as we do loaves in the bakery.

We’re now beyond our points total reached by November 2008 and we’ve got the Premiership’s top scorer. Well done Ramos, I mean Harry!

I’m still hopeful for the next match, but after that it’s going to get a little rarefied. Wait a minute, we did win the first ten or eleven matches in 1960!

It’s nice, but we can probably predict the future. Spurs, Champions; Wolves and Burnley challenging – back to a 60s future – Everton relegated. I doubt this will all come true and think the top 4 (or 5 big spenders) are now destabilising their nearest challengers.

It can’t go on like this – it has to be interesting for the non-neutrals to make it work.

We’ll enjoy it for now.

COYS.

The Platzel.

Yes, we’re still here in the bakery. What happened to June and most of July? Well they came and went.

I was frustrated by the last game at Liverpool (our last chance of Europe for at least one season). Others helped us, but we didn’t put our heart and effort into trying to beat Liverpool again.

So, a season with the worst start ever finished ever so slightly disappointingly.

Then we had to endure most of another close season with the big fish going to the whales and the rest just watching (didn’t mean it to sound Cantonish, cos I’m not looking for him). Then instead of us having our new season squad in place early on, we’re still scrabbling over the last few pieces. We’ve bought a couple of right backs (you never know when another might come in handy), a beanpole who could make a good centre back who can come up for corners (we don’t seem to have many others available at the moment) and just working on those other gems to complete the set! I’d have been happy with Michael Owen.

Dear Daniel, you’re trying hard and a new stadium will be good as soon as this can ever be built, but in this daft football world I’m not convinced you’re the man who can ever take us to the promised land?

I hope you can prove me wrong before I’m in my dotage!

COYS.

The Platzel.

Two bagels at Everton. What? Two bagels – 0-0! Not bad, it would have been a bonus to get the win, but there didn’t seem to be many chances?

We beat one half of Manchester yesterday at least – should have put away more of those chances.

Almost certainly we won’t be lower than 8^th – fantastic really, in case you’ve forgotten that start? Just for those who are still worried, we won’t be relegated unless we go into administration.

Newcastle let us down badly – it would still be good to overtake Fulham, but it’s not easy now. Maybe the Europa League is a bit of a poisoned chalice, but you’ve got to be in it to win it!

You still couldn’t make up this season – a few more home goals would have been to the crowd’s liking but to finish with the fewest conceded at home in the Premiership and probably Spurs history is baffling! Defence seems to be better for once – let’s keep it this way, it’s gone pear-shaped before. Now to add more quality and start the push for better things next season.

Fingers crossed for Saturday. Calm down! Calm down!

COYS.

The Platzel.

Another streaky win, but they all count. You know I like more goals, but amazingly I read that we have the best home defensive record in the Premiership? I like good defences as well. Since our strikers have dried up a bit again, it’s good to see the midfield chipping in –well done, JJ!

Still hanging in there, but a difficult finish.

I’m not feeling so happy when I read transfer talk. I’m not like many of you who comment on here. I don’t think Arsenal are the real enemy – yes, they’re local but where I grew up they weren’t the most local rivals in London. They don’t seem to be a real threat in terms of wanting our players – it’s other teams, up North, that make me see red.

We are not a feeder club for them and we’ve got to stop this. I don’t want to read about a sale being good business, because if it’s not good business on the pitch it’s not good business. As for being a ‘dream move’, I want to see players dreaming of success and then achieving it with Spurs.

We have to avoid administration, but after that the finances don’t make sense – the club may have to go private? Dave Whelan (Wigan Chairman and JJB founder) on Sports Report told it as it is – don’t expect to make money out of football clubs.

We’re going to have to be a bit patient, but something’s going to have to change for a break up of the stranglehold the top four have on things at present. Andy Burnham’s right!

By the way, if the funding is there and planning consent is given, when will the new stadium be ready?

COYS.

The Platzel.

Good news to you pessimists who still think we might be relegated – we won’t be! It’s been a successful season, after the worst start ever and, as before, anything more than survival will be a bonus.

Oh, by the way JohnnyB, where is the Bagel? He’s there, but he doesn’t say much these days.

The win against Newcastle was good – again, a bit close at the end.

Two things went wrong yesterday – well more than two really? First, the bookies had us as favourites for 7^th spot – I think we’ve eased out a bit, but it’s still possible. Then poor Jermaine’s sad news – it had to happen yesterday, didn’t it. Then, I can’t ever remember being in that position at half time, or at any stage in a match, there? Of course, bring your own referee – you usually do. Not the whole story, but there’s often a helping hand for reasons not known. Yesterday, I wasn’t going to discuss this. Just finally, another point – did that ball cross the line or not – yes, I think Pedro Mendes’ shot just crossed the line. Which was ‘The Damned United’ – I know which one I think it was.

Now, we put that behind us. Four matches to go – let’s see what we can do?

COYS.

The Platzel.

Bye, bye Chelsea, Chelsea bye, bye! Another great win, although we might have lost it at the end. So, off we went to Blackburn with hopes raised once again. It was all going well and then we know the rest – I was hot and cross. The damned Rovers!

It could have been different and I know it doesn’t always apply, but that’s when you need a second goal – at least it would have made a point. It could easily have been a win and although we deserved to beat Chelsea, that could easily have been a draw.

It really seems silly to think about Europe, but here we go again. Another win today and up to eighth – for now, at least. Well done, Pav!

What a crazy season! 2 points from the first 8 games, 16 from the next 8, 6 from the next 8 (and heading back towards the bottom) and now 17 from the last 8…and it could have been more! 6 matches to go.

Survival is clear success after that start – anything else will be a bonus. Here’s to a good finish, a sensible summer with an understandable transfer window and a better season next.

No more false starts, please – long-term planning now for the short and long-term. We’ve all had enough rubbish to last a lifetime!

COYS.

The Platzel.