Not as easy as it being out of our own hands. And not as easy as gifting it to others. Ah, the Spurs’ way, as seen at White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge over the last few days.

The abject performance against Southampton at home pretty much guaranteed Spurs wouldn’t lose away to Chelski. Gifting the home side two goals ultimately meant Spurs didn’t come away from there with the required three points to keep Champions League qualification in their own hands.

Two simple, unremarkable goals, brought about by slack play. It’s one thing when a moment of greatness costs but when it’s handed on a plate.

No surprises from the boss in the line up. Big game so you knew Demebele wouldn’t be fit and that Parker wouldn’t stay unfit long enough. But a trio of Parker, Huddlestone and Holtby were going to have their problems with Oscar, Hazard and Mata – no surprise either that two of the could have been playing in white shirts on the night, to go with the navy shorts which were thankfully used.

Defoe hadn’t done enough to keep his place in the last game, so it meant he return of Adebayor. Now here was the surprise. From the off he looked interested. Put himself about, was actually trying not just appearing to try.

While there was a few good touches Spurs struggled to get hold and keep hold of he ball, Lennon and Bale uninvolved, lot of Parkeresque sideways and backwards passing.

The form a corner the first gift. Dawson completely misjudges things letting Cahill nod the ball on freely to scar who just saunters away from the inept Parker. Glenn Hoddle in the studio said Parker was looking at the ball and not the man bu hen if he was looking at the ball why didn’t he do something about it coming towards he Chelsea player? Again e modern footballer was too busy trying to hand off the player than play football.

Slackness at set pieces would carry on all game. As soon as the ref blew the whistle the Spurs players were just milling around no paying particular attention to anything. Of course unsurprisingly the ref generally blew in favour of the home side. Spurs denied nailed on fouls and on the wrong end of the usual inept linesmen’s offside flag.

The one time Spurs got a break from the officials he ref played the advantage after some nice harrying from Holtby as Adebayor picked up he ball in his own half and ran towards goal. Chelsea just backed off, you can see why on his past performances this season – helped somewhat by Lennon’s run distracting them. But something strange happened a few yards from the box the lanky striker struck. A beauty into he top corner over Cech in no man’s land.

Where the bloody hell did hat come from?

The situation didn’t last long as Chelsea came back. Spurs defence all seemingly dragged to the left while Parker, far too far up he pich again, just not up to the job of covering someone like Ramires. The Brazilian’s early toe-poke beating Lloris.

Things needed changing for Spurs and AVB did and again they changed things for he better but again you felt he left it a little later than he should and he didn’t quite go far enough with the changes. Sigurdsson again came on to make the difference for he rarely seen Lennon but an hour gone seemed too long to wait. Dempsey was brought on for Holtby. The latter was all over the place and 100 miles per hour and did some good stuff just unfortunately a number of times those in white weren’t bright enough to be on the same wavelength. So step overs, dummies, flicks just didn’t come off.

One flick did. Again from hat surprising source. Benny chips into the box to Adebayor with another good run, his back heel finds Sigurdsson who coolly curls it round Cech.

Two cracking goals compared to two gifts. And the one man in Spurs team had barely appeared.

Yes Chelsea could have finished it off, Ramires luckily slipping and planting his face into he turf when clean through. Benitez also helped removing Oscar and Hazard for two inferior replacements. Unfortunately AVB didn’t use his last change to remove his inferior man and so Spurs had chances butchered by Parker.

But then hope started to appear. One last chance. The ref actually giving Spurs a foul in the Chelsea half. And Bale. Done very little all night but could grab all the headlines with one kick. One kick that softly looped into the ‘keeper’s arms.

Normally you’d be happy with a 2-2 at their place. Them full strength, you missing important players, while others being unfit. A battling performance, coming back from behind twice, with he greater amount of possession and equal number of chances – god hat sounds Brendan Rodgersesque. But this. Well it all means we’ll be Wiganistas at he weekend.

Now I Tweeted last after Adebayor’s wonder goal that Do I take it all back?. After that and the assist there was a lot of I told you so and we should support the player in the shirt about. But that performance showed what the player had been doing to the fans, he club and the shirt during the season. Pissing on the lot. That performance was obviously there just he couldn’t be arsed putting it in. Now there’s talk of offloading him in the summer what better shop window than a top four battle against Chelsea. How convenient, all of a sudden he thinks he’ll bother.

Chelsea 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

click to play

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

Someone needed to get a cab round to Inter’s hotel last night, because they didn’t turn up. There was just some useless mob trying to be Arsenal in red that were thumped at The Lane.

On the 35th minute of the Champions League group game at the San Siro, Samuel Eto’o scored to make it 4-0 against the 10 man visitors. Since then Spurs have beaten last night’s Europa League opponents 9-1. For the third straight game they put 3 past the team that just 3 years ago were champions of Europe.

But this wasn’t the champions of Europe. This wasn’t the Inter anyone expected and not just because I Nerazzurri were wearing some horrible red kit.

This also wasn’t the same Spurs we’ve seen so far in the Europa league. Previously there’s been a seemingly going through the motions, lacklustre approach to this competition. Whether it was visit of the famous name from Italy or a realisation that winning this trophy would be a good place to start I don’t know but this looked like the Spurs who lit up the major European competition just a couple of years back.

From the off Spurs looked interested in this one.

And this wasn’t a one man team. Even if he did open the scoring. Scoring early, it’s never too early these days is it, helps a lot, it might have set the campaign on fire if they’d done so against Lazio in the first group game.

Six minutes in it started here. Gylfi Sigurdsson playing a nice little pass to himself then swinging in an excellent cross onto Bale’s head for the “winger” to glance the ball into the bottom side netting. Un-savable.

Little over 10 minutes later the Icelander turned from provider to scorer. Dembele in majestic form played a nice little dink through two defenders to Lennon, a little scamper then he cut it back to the onrushing Sigurdsson. But the ball was cut out by Defoe who proceeded to do what he does so often, no, not what the media tells you he does so often but what he really does. Makes great room for himself and then hits the ball straight at the ‘keeper. He’d already done it once before on the night.

Luckily Sigurdsson had kept on onrushing, jumped out of the way of Defoe’s attempt – not block it Adebayor style – and put the ball into the net. Twenty minutes in and 2-0 was beginning to flatter the visitors.

But it wasn’t looking like being enough as shortly before the second goal Bale was shown yet another yellow for simulation and so will miss the second leg of the tie. This time unlike the other’s he’s picked up this season it was probably deserved – media keep telling you the numbers not how many were actual dives. Yes there’s contact but caused by Bale dragging his leg not the type to justify going down.

So without Bale for the return leg two nil just wasn’t enough. Though the most important thing was to keep that clean sheet.

Back to the scorer though, all of a sudden those decrying his signing are now singing his praise. Yes he now looks like the player we thought we were getting. Well that’s the we that thought we were getting a decent player, not the muppets that think he isn’t good enough for us. Not a big enough name for some even though it’s 10 letters. Yes he wasn’t at his best at the start of the season but is now showing his value. Excellent work for both goals and great all round performance including a number of tackles.

There was a little slack period by Spurs just before the break but even though they got one player clean through he didn’t actually trouble Friedel enough for him to have to make a save. After the break there, fortunately, wasn’t a continuation of that slackness but rather something new from Spurs. Potency from set pieces.

Following on from Bale actually scoring from free-kicks there was Caulker’s attempts from corners against the Spam. From a free-kick Bale won he found Vertonghen at the back post, who just missed. This seemed to be the plan, Jan at the back stick. From a corner moments later Vertonghen moved unmarked from the back post to the middle of the goal to meet Bale’s cross with perfection.

He was pretty much untouched. This isn’t an Italian side defending surely. Where was the grabbing, the pulling, the smothering, the hugging, the sly nudge? They weren’t even watching the man but the ball. Does that happen these days? Well it just did.

Unfortunately that’s where the scoring stopped, though it could also be said fortunately as Inter had a great chance later on. Taking a quick free-kick, Spurs were found napping but Friedel saved excellently with his foot, especially considering what little had to do previously.

Three nil was flattering the visitors. It could have, should have been more. Bale, Defoe, Lennon all missed good chances. Lovely little nutmeg by Lennon on the edge of the box, he should have hit it straight away but went n a little run. Charge out by all the Spurs’ speed merchants, Lennon, Bale, Walker and Defoe was butchered by Defoe being greedy.

Typical Defoe. Yes he hit the ‘keeper, yes he was greedy. But he looked bothered, far more bothered than Adebayor has looked of late. All that was missing was a goal, because we know he’s streaky and needs to get that streak started.

Sigurdsson was my man of the match, followed quite quickly by Dembele, Lennon, Vertonghen and Bale. Others gave it to Parker because he ran around a bit. He was given plenty of space and time to move forward with the ball because Inter were far more interested in the host’s dangerous players, tactics shown to be right by his butchering nearly every forward move he was involved with. Usual ponderous pirouettes were there, while we saw on Tuesday Modric turning away from his opponent and creating plenty of space for himself, Dembele was doing it last night as well, Parker just creates trouble for himself and others.

But he ran around they screamed, almost as if ‘Arry told to. Back to his England form. But you watch how many times he does that running without actually doing anything. The appearance of doing something. Running behind someone running with the ball, never quite interfering with their run, then slowly fading off to mince about in an area of no influence.

After the substitutions things became more fractured and not so fluid. Downer on the night, far worse probably than Bale’s suspension considering the 3-0 lead was Lennon going off with a hamstring injury. AVB apparently had asked the winger, and Bale if they wanted to stay on. Hindsight.

Three goal lead to take to Italy is a strong position, especially as Spurs are the only ones who can get away goals now – score once and they need five – and the away form has been good this season. Spurs playing Inter at their ground and everything is optimistic. Something wrong here.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 Inter Milan

click to play

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

Seven and a half years, 202 games, four managers – with one caretaker – plus a number of better midfielders he either blocked from playing or hindered while being an automatic first team selection.

I’m pretty sure after putting up with all that I’m allowed a smug “told you”.

Posted after that fateful August day in 2005 that it was a waste of money, posted numerous times after that that it was a waste of money. Actual fact, just looked back in the archives and leading up to that deadline day transfer I posted about not wanting him at the club. And I was right all along. Couple of goals against the scum don’t justify the rest of the crap that player put us through.

Scared of his own shadow, is a phrase I’ve seen said about Jenas. Well he certainly wasn’t scared of the shadows of others. He spent a lot of time amongst them. Especially those of players in other teams.

Daniel Levy’s folly didn’t pay off.

Old Danny liked the idea of buying young British talent then selling them off for a big profit while still staying competitive and gaining that Champions League place.

Well it’s no coincidence that while Spurs were knocking on the door during Jenas’ presence at the club it wasn’t until the first season he wasn’t an automatic first team player that the latter goal of 4th spot was achieved. And Jenas was never even talked about by other clubs will to splash big cash – but… but Jose Mourinho picked him in his fantasy team.

While the lure of trophies and more than likely more cash on the hip would have played a factor in Michael Carrick’s departure to Man Utd. – and Levy wanting to cash in – I’m pretty sure the thought of having to play alongside Jenas played the biggest part in Carrick’s move to Old Trafford.

Murphy never given a chance, though he ran Charlton before and Fulham after his stint at Spurs in a manner Jenas just didn’t have the bottle to do. Pedro Mendes, shunted out wide to accommodate Daniel’s favourite. Zokora looked a beast at the World Cup, before his arrival, few games next to the Jenasite and he looked hopeless. Palacios the same. Modric wouldn’t pass to him, preferring to attempt something outrageous than just giving the ball away with a simple pass to Jenas.

Top class players know where everyone is on the field and what they are going to do when they receive the ball. Jenas knows neither. So his second touch is played in panic after he’s had to look up before the first touch and then try and think, all a bit complicated, leading to the ball not exactly being under control.

Modric knew this much like the Croat knew it and was reluctant to pass to Parker. Thankfully Sandro wasn’t contaminated by prolonged match exposure.

QPR, it’s about his level. The only problem with the move is it seemed to be only done on the basis that Andros Townsend would move there on loan. Well if they wanted Townsend, they had to take Jenas or Bentley. Now with Falque out on loan to Spanish second division side Almería – not a good sign for his future at Spurs – and now Townsend off that doesn’t leave any cover for Bale or Lennon. Now both of them have picked up injuries over the last few seasons.

Is it a price to high to pay?

Shame the club couldn’t offload Bentley as well. Another of Levy’s follies. Went up to Blackburn and bought the wrong winger. While the team desperately needed a left winger to balance the side. So Morten Gamst Pedersen would have been ideal. But no a huge wad was spunked on another right footer. And while we had a nippy speed merchant on that wing in the form of Lennon Levy wanted the next David Beckham. Yup, an overrated, slow, one trick, show donkey. Again a player who lived off a goal against the scum and dumping a bucket of water over ‘Arry in his pants – Bentley that was not ‘Arry in his pants..

Oh and there was no striker signed in the window. What are the chances of that happening?

Funny, seen a lot of people saying they’re happy that no striker was signed if it meant splashing too much money and risking the financial stability of the club. Funny that while Liverpool and Chelsea required more fire-power up front the both signed players who wouldn’t have exactly put Spurs in the poorhouse. Is that the problem? Not just seemingly leaving things to the last minute but consistently going for unrealistic targets that are financially out of reach when there are probably as good cheaper options out there that aren’t “names”.

They can do it with the likes of Holtby, why not a striker?

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

I’ve pretty much given up on Scottish domestic football – well they never came to see me when I was crap – it’s bad enough with England but watching teams that make Roy’s boys look like Barcelona is too much to ask.

So it’s funny that the club that are responsible for the dire state of the game in Jockland have finally destroyed themselves.

A couple weeks back I was talking about all this stuff to do with Rangers’ financial woes and said that they killed Scottish football back in 1986 and it’s all their fault because it lead directly to where they are now. Bizarrely an article appeared on Sabotage Times a few days later, so no I haven’t just ripped that off – honest guv.

Of course they had some help, namely from the Liverpool fans who went on the rampage in Brussels resulting in the death of 39 fans at European Cup final at Heysel Stadium in 1985.

After that English teams were banned from European competition for an indefinite period – would be for the rest of the decade and only fully lifted nearly half way into the 90s. So with no European football on offer the newly installed Rangers player/manager Graeme Souness had a nice juicy carrot to dangle in front of England’s top players. The only option, other than staying put, would be a move abroad and well for many who struggle with the English language one of them foreign ones would be asking quite a bit. Saying that it ain’t exactly the Queen’s English over Hadrian’s Wall.

But with that carrot plus the even juicier incentive of a blank cheque from new chairman David Murray plenty of them reversed the usual trend of British footballers moving south of the border. Rangers won the title that season – 86/87 – for the first time in nearly a decade and bar one slip up in 87/88 they would keep it for the next decade.

Since that first season under Souness no team outside the Old Firm has won the Scottish title – Rangers 17 times and Celtic 9 times – and the domestic game has died. Since 95/96 only one other side has even denied either of them a place in the top two – Hearts in 05/06 finishes second with Rangers 3rd.

Could have been oh so different if Aberdeen had just got that draw or better they needed on the last day of the 90/91 season at Ibrox, bloody Mark Hateley, bloody Mark Walters

While, bar a run each to the UEFA Cup final from both Glasgow teams, the European outings have been laughable.

But before the revolution Aberdeen had been winning the title, Dundee United won it, the “New Firm” were on the up. They even looked the part on the continent, Aberdeen defeating Real Madrid to win the Cup Winner’s Cup. United getting past Barcelona 3-1 to reach the UEFA Cup final where I don’t know how they lost to IFK Göteborg.

Aberdeen kept it up somewhat during the early period of Rangers domination, finishing second a number of times but this was mainly due to Celtic’s own implosion when they were moments from going under trying to compete financially with their bitter rivals.

All the teams tried to compete but none of them really could and most nearly went over the edge splashing the cash. Rangers were out spending the lot. The problem being that 92/93 first season of the Champions League where they beat the last English champions before the introduction of the Premiership/Premier League, Leeds United. Leeds were pretty woeful that season finish just above the relegation places without a single away win I seem to recall. So beating them counted for nothing more than usual Scottish inferiority bragging rights. This was followed by the thought that with them finishing second in the group, the winner of which would go to the final, they’d effectively reached the semi and the good times were here.

Unfortunately even though more and more money was splashed on more big names, they would be an embarrassment and a new revolution was taking place south of the border which they thought they could compete with. But with the billions pumped into the Premier League as it became the biggest league in the world, money wise, the financial rewards in Scotland just weren’t there. TV didn’t want to pay for a dying uncompetitive, two team, product. While the Premier League are talking billions, £3.018 billion over 3 years, the SPL is talking millions, £80m over 5 years.

But the money kept being spent and now Rangers are a new company and enough of the SPL don’t want them back in the league. Which makes you ask what are these teams going to do for money now? Will broadcasters want a one team league. The money seems to break down for the other teams in the league in thirds. One third from games against Celtic, one third against Rangers and one third the rest of them.

Will Rangers’ expulsion turn round Scottish football or is it just the dying days of a game with no hope or real future?

What for Rangers? Well the bloke I was talking to way back at the beginning of this post said if he was in charge he would be shopping round to join a league in England. He said no matter how far down you went in the English leagues, even none league, it would still be higher up than any of the possibilities north of the border. And the pot at the end of the rainbow is a hell of a lot bigger.

Now I don’t know if that’s even possible but by christ it wouldn’t half put Celtic’s nose out of joint if a few years from now Rangers were in the English second flight aiming for promotion to the Premier League all through their financial incompetence and destruction of the Scottish game.

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

Making ultimatums to Daniel Levy, touting yourself around anywhere, everywhere behind Levy’s back, making no secret he’d have jumped ship if the F.A. had even looked at him – did he turn down a contract extension when Fabio resigned from England? – slagging off the fans.

It might have worked, contrary to what ‘Arry said hanging out his car window, for Levy to keep him on. Pissing away that lead, losing third spot and therefore Champions League football next season after Cheatski’s final victory and losing so miserably to said scumbag outfit in the Cup semi, made sure it didn’t.

Yes Levy wanted rid, many of us did. But don’t blow the end of that season in the way ‘Arry managed and you can see it not happening.

As I said a few posts back during his stint on the BBC for the Euros whenever the boy Lineker mentioned the club old ‘Arry’s face sagged even more than you’d imagine is possible. He knew it was over. He just knew Levy was going to play hardball, would he walk or will he have to be pushed. Te death of Levy’s mother played a part in the timing but I do feel that Levy waited until the Cheatski job had been given to Di Matteo before saying enough’s enough, he was fed up dealing with a two faced, two timing, tart.

His media chums are of course up in arms, where will they get reddy quotes, from someone hanging out a car window outside training grounds now? Of course they won’t be honest about why things soured and hypocrite that is jovial genial ‘Arry.

Even when he contradicts himself to them. Back at the end of March when everyone was using the England job as excuse for the club’s poor run, ‘Arry was stating…

Absolute nonsense, that is the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever heard in my life.
The players don’t care whether I’m the manager next year.

The players wouldn’t lose any sleep over that. That’s football. Footballers are footballers. They play the game, they come in every day and train, somebody else walks in here tomorrow, the king is dead long live the king.
They don’t worry ‘Harry’s going to England’ or ‘he’s going to go somewhere else’. They don’t think about that, I don’t think about it. ‘Arry Redknapp

Yet when it comes to his contract negotiations a few days ago he’s saying…

If they don’t extend it and I go into my last year, it’s not an easy one when players know you’ve only got a year left.
It’s not a case of me looking for security. What it’s about is players knowing you’ve only got one year left on your contract and knowing that it doesn’t work, basically. I think it’s a situation of ‘well, he might not be here next year’. ‘Arry Redknapp

He’s hanging out the car window today saying the fans are great, little over a year ago they, we, were all idiots.

This time last season ‘Arry was contradicting the club and chairman over the sale of Modric, ‘Arry wanted the money to spend on the likes of Anton Ferdinand and Phil Neville, Levy wanted to keep our best midfielder. This time he’s saying the club would be finished if it sold it’s best players. Oh, he brought Bale through and made him a wanted player. Well no. He was ready to dump Bale off for a few quid to Forest up until Assou-Ekotto picked up an injury and his hand was forced. Then when finding Bale was the best left winger about he was happy to let the Welshman wander all over the place, which bizarrely coincided with the loss of team form.

Look at another situation where his hand was forced, Sandro. ‘Arry never played him, didn’t seem to want him until he had nothing left and the Brazilian was his only choice in the Champions League. He performed brilliantly, looking like the quality player he is. But then straight away he was sidelined as ‘Arry brought in Parker and again Sandro didn’t get a look in until injuries took over, where Sandro put in performances far better than anything Parker had done. But that’s ‘Arry, happy to waste and then possibly lose the talents of a young, foreign, player for a far inferior English one.

His one real success on the player front at Spurs, buying and bringing through, is Kaboul. But then in a recent French interview the player stated that at his former French club he was trained unlike at his current one. Yes he got something out of Adebayor but I feel he’s just playing for a contract and things’ll be different.

And OK the arm round the shoulder trick did work for Assou-Ekotto but surely something more than that and just facking run around a bit are required.

He did the job required when hired, I was quite happy for his appointment, got the side out of the relegation mire Levy’s latest brainstorm had got them into – though of course Juande walked away having won a trophy, unlike ‘Arry’s final and two semi-final losses which brought no silverware. Then he was in charge through two 4th places and a fifth. But then he’s had the best group of players at the club since the 80s. Martin Jol got close to Levy’s holy grail of top four with an inferior group.

And while Martin left with tears in the eyes and his name ringing around The Lane, ‘Arry leaves with a range from meh to good riddance. Yes some are saying it’s the wrong thing to do but it’s done, time to move on, ‘Arry wasn’t Spurs, we were just a stepping stone for him. Will he find as good a job, there wasn’t many big teams after him before, what chance many will look at him now.

And who does Levy have an eye on for the job? Moyes, Martinez, Capello, Benitez, Deschamps, AVB, Bilic?

Shame the plug wasn’t pulled last year, Ancelotti would have been ideal, of the above why would anyone want Pugwash (Benitez), or Capello. Moyes and Martinez, it’s a bit underwhelming. The latter tries to get his team to play nice football and who knows what he can do with better players. The former, more pragmatic, but again is that due to what he’s had to play with. Also he did sign Phil Neville but again he’s somewhat restricted cash wise.

AVB will have the media after him as they were at Cheatski, like Gross at Spurs they wouldn’t want him to succeed and would be undermining him from the off. Again he would have a better group of players to work with and wouldn’t have the added hassle of the owner wanting him do phase out the old guard while playing good football and still winning.

Had a sneaky feeling for Bilic, before he took the job in Russia, figured would help keep Modric on board. I wonder about Jürgen, would he leave the easy confines of the US or even his former number two with Germany, now number one Joachim Löw.

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

Only the team from Tottenham could scrape fourth after having 3rd and guaranteed Champions League theirs. And lose out on a place in next season’s competition, taken from them by a game this season in which they weren’t involved and the bloody Germans lost at home on penalties.

So all those that are happy at Spurs demise, as that loathsome Terry lifted the cup, think on after Citeh bought the title, now Chelski have finally bought their holy grail for £1bn, while totally distorting the footballing landscape with outrageous transfer fees, wages and binning of managers that won doubles and the like. Next season you’ll have to watch them park the bus again against any decent side while humping long balls and hoping to nick it. Whereas Spurs last season entertained.

Boring all to score one hell of a header from their only corner in 120 minutes of anti-football. They were always trying to find alternatives to penalties a few years back, so we had the golden goal, the silver goal but one of the suggestions that sounds rather good was that the team with the most corners wins. Bayern Munich 20 – 1 Cheatski. Looks better doesn’t it, little more representative.

So who to blame? Those bloody Germans, bloody French or the damn Dutch?

Damn Dutch. Why the hell in a team of Germans why is a Dutchman, Arjen Robben, taking penalties in normal time, well extra-time? As a nation they haven’t exactly got the best record of them, even if Robben does. Why was Schweinsteiger hiding not being able to look just outside his own penalty area?

Maybe some time later we found out as his miss in the shootout handed it to Chelski. Bloody Germans, though at least he had a half decent game unlike that useless lumper they had up front Gomez, who took striking ineptness to a new level, in-between just standing there doing bugger all.

Then the bloody frogs. Ribéry, another flatter to deceive performance of nothingness, from a rather overrated player. Dithering indecisiveness capped by his ineptness in letting the ball run out for a goal kick in the dying seconds that allowed those in blue one last hump up the park to win the vital corner for the equaliser. Then his fannying about injured after being tackled by Drogba for the Bayern penalty in the opening minute of extra-time, which took long enough for everyone to know Robben was going to miss. With Mikel in his lughole.

Oh and Di Matteo has done a pretty decent job but he didn’t revitalise the club. Read Ruud Gullit asking what Villas Boas was playing at, when his chum Robbie could do this with the same squad. Well it wasn’t exactly the same situation. AVB was told to revitalise the club, get rid of the old guard, get rid of the old way of playing, bring in new players with a new exciting, possession, style all while winning. It didn’t happen. Whereas Di Matteo was told to just win, anyway possible, get into next season’s Champions League. So the old guard were brought back and told to play the old way, so we saw the bus parking and long ball game that brought success. Now one of the old guard might be off anyway but if the caretaker gets the job will he have to change things the way the Portuguese was expected to?

Bitter? Mir? Moi? Me? Of course I bloody am, but all in all it was all rather predictable…

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

As Spurs sweat on the top line it wouldn’t surprise to find out that means I’m a doughnut.

Munich of the Bayern – © Alan McInally (Only An Excuse – Broad sword calling Danny Boy) – now have to do us all – and that really is all, I mean is there anyone out there that wants Chelksi to win the Champions League? – a favour or it’s back into ‘Arry’s favourite European competition next season. Thursday nights Channel 5.

Thank you Márton Fülöp. A great exhibition in dicking your old team where you struggled.

A day that started so brightly, dipped then rose finally petered out into a real end of season occasion, leaving everything in others hands as to whether Spurs have won the chance to qualify for the Champions League. All done in typical Spurs’ fashion. The quick strike, 90 seconds in, a lovely one-two between Adebayor and van der Vaart and the striker netted his 17 league goal of the season, with a strike that was well placed.

The Lane was buzzing but then Spurs reverted to the sublime and ridiculous routine. One minute slick, fast passing the next sloppy and overly casual. As news filtered through of goals for West Brom, things lifted but Fulham were seeing a lot of the ball and those in white seemed happy with a one goal lead. Obviously forgetting their usual post half-time slump when coming back out with a small lead.

They were lucky to go in at the break with that lead as Friedel had to make a couple of decent saves to preserve it. All the criticism he’s got over the season from being to old to never coming off his line. Well he hasn’t thrown teh ball into his own net and didn’t flounce about, leaving himself in no-man’s land, coming for balls he was never going to get to, taking his own players out in the process. And well if you didn’t vote Kaboul the player of the season then you’d be the type of idiot that thought it was Parker probably. But the defender is vastly improved and it can’t help having a ‘keeper behind him that the whole defence trusts.

Kyle Walker was caught just before the break. ‘Arry doesn’t seem to trust his players when it comes to injuries so while he was hobbling around a complete passenger the bench seemed happy to let it be for the final minute to half-time. Christ alone knows what was said during the break but here he came hobbling out after it. Just go out there and fuckin’ run around a bit, you’ll run it off. Luckily Fulham chose to attack Spurs’ left rather than target the weak link.

An hour in and ‘Arry decides that one of the players that was making Spurs actually tick should come off. So van der Vaart was replaced by Defoe. Now is it better to lucky or good. Because yet again ‘Arry struck lucky three minutes later as Lennon had a blast that fortunately rebounded of a defender for Defoe to stick his foot out at and have ‘em all screaming about the most natural finisher in the country.

From then on it was a cruise with the score coming through from the Hawthorns it just died out into the anticlimax we should have all been expecting. At least Martin Jol didn’t dick us over. Still like BMJ.

If there was one thing that came from the game it was what would we give for a team of 11 Sandros. Again he was a beast in the middle of the park. Unfortunately there were many who just weren’t on his wavelength. He was constantly pointing to where the ball should go, where a player should go, he was constantly right but so often he was constantly ignored. He was reading the game better than anyone else out there. Alongside him Livermore was again showing that Parker isn’t required and is a hindrance rather than an asset.

So now the hope. Hope that Bayern do the business. Then that with the qualification hope that Levy gets his finger out quickly and decisively. Does the deals that need to be done straight away, doesn’t repeat his usual routine of lowball last minute deals. While keeping those that need to be kept and offloading those that need shifted on.

Given all that then ‘Arry can’t have any excuses as he’s had these last two seasons. Though of course he’ll find some…

Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 0 Fulham

click to play

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

As soon as it was announced on Sunday night that the F.A. have made their approach to the man they want to take over as England boss the knives were out because that man was Roy Hodgson and not ‘Arry Redknapp.

Now I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Spurs and England fan. Club versus country. Do I want the best man to take the England job – well best man of those available as Guus Hiddink is the best man for the job – or do I want ‘Arry out of Spurs with a load of compo for the club.

So yes I’d like Roy to get the job, should have been his many years ago. Thought he was the right man before Svennis took it, Hodgson with Peter Taylor as the number two with a view to the latter taking over was the best option back in 2000. But then he was the best option but a year earlier and we could have saved ourselves from the embarrassment of the last people’s choice, Keggy Keegle.

And there’s the rub people’s choice. For that read media’s choice and player’s choice in ‘Arry’s case.

The media love ‘Arry. We all know that if the F.A. had announced that his name and not Roy’s the first thing they wouldn’t have brought up is the current state of Portsmouth or the relegation of Southampton. But with Roy it’s straight into his stint at Blackburn – who were in the mire before he arrived, he saved them from the drop when he took over but they were a doomed side whoever was in charge. And most importantly than that to most of the media types his time at Liverpool.

Beloved of so many on TV, radio and in print. They don’t mention his record was about the same as their hero Dalglish after the latter took over and he hasn’t done much better with over a hundred million quid splash out. No they tell us he struggled with the star players and ask how he’ll manage with those in the England set up. Well, why should he have to bother with them? It’s the best opportunity to bin them, after all what have they actually achieved for England? Certainly haven’t won anything. If this is the chance to finally get rid of the likes of Gerrard, Lampard etc etc then the F.A. have finally got something right. I mean you just know that with ‘Arry in charge it would have been a middle four, right to left, of Beckham, Parker, Lampard and Gerrard. Dear god, have we been saved from that?

Roy talks too much, he’s a tactician not an arm around the shoulder go out there and run around a bit kind of manager. The players will get bored as he goes over the tactics. Well bin those players, if they’re that stupid that they can’t see if they listen there’s more chance they’ll overachieve like Fulham and West Brom, than fail like Liverpool if they don’t, then good riddance. Let’s not forget Sir Alf wasn’t exactly the chummy type now was he but then of course neither was Fabio but he’s a dolt.

Then we’re told Roy doesn’t like criticism of his methods because ‘Arry just loves that. Haven’t you heard over the last year or so? Every boo, every question posed, dear old ‘Arry laughs them off with a smile and a jaunty quip. Why just mention to him that he’s a wheeler dealer and see in what a jovial manner he reacts.

What the media wouldn’t have mention if Roy was overlooked for their man, was Roy’s extension work in foreign leagues and in international football. While they’d big up ‘Arry’s one F.A. Cup success and getting Spurs into the Champions League – once, any chance on twice? – they would have overlooked Roy’s seven titles and two cups in Sweden. One title and cup in Denmark. Taking Inter Milan – where he’s revered even though it was only one year – and Fulham to a European cup final – though of course the McClown managed that feat.

So from the very start if he takes the job – and why would he turn down something he wants badly – Roy is going into a loser. If the first game isn’t a blinding success the media will be all guns blazing and ‘Arry’s stock will be on the rise again. But if he’d let ‘Arry take it, Spurs would be rid, ‘Arry would Keggy Keegle it and we could all be ‘appy.

Because as the people’s choice ‘Arry is more Kevin Keegan than Brian Clough…

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

As ‘Arry serenely Keggie Keegle’s the season is it the the two games against Norwich that are going to be the major factors in what should have been a cruise turning into a battle?

Forget all the England talk, it didn’t seem to bother the players that ‘Arry wouldn’t be around because he might be banged up so why should it bother them that he won’t be about because he’s England manager. Nah it was that away game at Norwich after struggling to create chances for about an hour until Bale scored a brace coming through the middle.

From that point someone has become obsessed with Bale playing where he wants and not sticking to his best position on the left wing. As I said in one of the last posts I don’t know if this ‘Arry or the player himself either way this has cost the side more than confusion over ‘Arry’s future.

There’s been 16 league games since that second last one of 2011 most of them have been struggles, with only the games against Newcastle, maybe Swansea at home and at home to Everton standing out as the Spurs we’d seen before the turn of the New Year.

All matched by ‘Arry’s downgrading of SpursCon. It was at SpursCon 1 after the Everton game when ‘Arry was talking titles It’s not impossible for us to win the league – we have a chance, this was slowly downgraded to SpursCon 3 as third became the goal That’s what we’re capable of doing and that’s where I want us to b, it’s been further revised to SpursCon 4 We’d settle for finishing fourth. When will ‘Arry hit SpursCon Europa as Newcastle increase the pressure?

And there’s a notable comparison of two teams now fighting for that final Champions League spot, while Newcastle have been outplayed in their last couple of games over Easter they picked up two wins, 6 points, whereas Spurs walked away with 1 point.

Norwich at home, banker wasn’t it? All those that would be happy with 4 points over Easter with the draw at Sunderland. That went well didn’t it? Shame no one told the visitors.

Well I said at the time bar Adebayor for Defoe I was quite happy with the team. Others and now ‘Arry slagged off the 4-4-2 formation problem being with the wandering Bale in what sense was it 4-4-2. Now if Bale had stuck to the left wing it would have been and it would have had a better chance of working. Because the best we’ve seen from Spurs during this bad trot has been when Bale plays most of the game on the left, it even helps him when he switches centrally or to the right – though that on the right cross with the outside of the left boot is really pissing me off every time it hits a defender.

It may also have worked if the striking pair could work together. Where was Team Defoe yesterday. Yes he scored but he did bugger all else and he just doesn’t fit with any other striker at the club, especially not Saha, who amazingly was even worse than Defoe.

Others blamed it on the lack of Parker. Livermore wasn’t at fault for the shambles at the back, Ledley just had a horrible day. Unfortunately it’s one of a few he’s had recently but the reaction was imbecilic. Calling for his retirement, saying he shouldn’t be playing. All seem to forget his early season performances where he hardly put a foot wrong. Remember after the initial shambles of the season it was when Ledley came back into defence, not the arrival of Parker, that things started going well.

He and Kaboul were all over the place for Norwich’s opener. Ledley should have penalised for the haul down of Holt before Defoe’s equaliser – great through ball by Livermore, far better than any pass Parker has mustered all season. They were all a shambles at various other times and let the player have a bang for the winner but in reality it wasn’t just the defence it was the whole team in a lackadaisical malaise.

One exception as against Sunderland was Assou-Ekotto. Benny gave it all again, which puts pay to any talk of tiredness as he’s hardly missed any game time in the league – should have scored with the best bit of play of the day. Bale showed some moments, one cross – where from the left? Yes of course that’s why it was dangerous – that should have been finished off and then hitting the bar with a shot. Modric was totally off the pace and Lennon well a week after showing exactly what he should be doing week in week out – beat the fullback, get to the byline, stand a cross up for the strikers – did exactly what he shouldn’t do time and time again. Cut inside.

So with Bale in there and Lennon cutting in there how exactly was this 4-4-2 and how exactly were they overrun in the middle? It was more they expected to just roll over Norwich so they approached it in the same casual manner and are now paying the price. If they’d have actually played well then formations don’t matter, they didn’t it was Norwich that came to play and so deserved to walk away with their win.

So ‘Arry said it required 5 wins from the remaining fixtures. Well there’s only 5 left… really think they’ll go unbeaten? Let’s be ‘aving you…

Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 2 Norwich City

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →

I just couldn’t be arsed, after I switched on the PC to watch the Vuelta a España – another brilliant mountain stage by Brad Wiggins – bar a cursory glance at the digitext/digiceefax I never bothered.

Jim White could have finally exploded, I wouldn’t have known.

Why? Well when earlier it was announced that Spurs had signed Scott Parker earlier in the day, I figured this is as good as it’s gonna get and that was too depressing to hang around for anymore.

I Tweeted earlier in the week that Spurs are that bloke you know standing on a petrol station on Christmas Eve at 11pm with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a bag of charcoal briquettes in the other. In reality they seem to be more just a club in a holding pattern. Giving ‘Arry enough to quietening him up a bit, adding bits needed, while not spunking a ton of money on players that whoever is going to replace ‘Arry next season probably won’t want.

Saying that Scott Parker does look like a bag of charcoal briquettes.

And the kids all seem happy when opening this Chrimbo present. Colour me somewhere between pessimistic and undecided. What a surprise eh? One decent season with the relegated Spammers doesn’t have me convinced. Ah but look at the leadership and goals. Well the goals, 7 out of the 30 he’s scored lifetime since the end of 1990s as for leadership easy to do with the dolt of a manager he was under last time around. I’d have taken him when he first came to prominence with Charlton. Looked decent enough back then but between his move to Chelsea and last season, didn’t give him a second look. Six seasons of mediocrity at Chelsea, Newcastle and the Spam. A player that looked OK bossing it at Charlton and the abortion of yet another Avram Grant relegation fun time. Couldn’t hack it at Chelsea, nowt at the Toon.

As one little hairy Toonite put it…

… he’s the worlds best at running round in circles… He only looks good when placed alongside other West Ham players… Seriously overrated. Nige Wibble

When I asked…

@toxic_web Parker. We thought (ok wrongly) Jenas might have some some potential somewhere. We know Parker is as good as he’ll ever be.

— nige wibble (@yawnerddn) August 31, 2011

He laughed at us buying Jenas. He was right to do so, pretty sure he’s laughing again. Saying that though he’s not always right. I can remember him being overjoyed at beating us to the signing of Damien Duff for a snip. When I replied that I was happy and didn’t rate the player at all he said itw as sour grapes when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Seriously overrated player, the very poor man’s Ryan Giggs, only rated because at the time England were desperate for a left footed player, so media clung to any player that had one. Have you ever seen a player look so knackered seconds into the start of a game?

So that’s all the transfer window amounted to along with an old bloke on a free and the loan of a striker that people are pinning a lot of hopes on.

Going out. Well it’s goodbye to Crouch. £10m/£12m is not bad, getting the wages off the book. And while it’s Crouch that got the brickbats from the fans it wasn’t his fault for the way the team played when he was on the park it was those that kept lumping it up to him. We won’t forget the goal at Citeh to get Champions League and the goal in Milan, against AC, that kept it going.

So he joins Palacios and Woodgate at Stoke. No doubt Woodgate will have a full season in the potteries, no injuries. Would be very telling if that happens. Something just not right with Spurs with regards injuries. Wilson, a sad story really. Was happy when he signed, it was exactly what Spurs needed, after years of a soft centre someone to be able to put his foot in and stop the other buggers playing. But after the murder of his brother back in Honduras it just turned things and he wasn’t the same. Again though he played his part in Milan but tellingly alongside him was Sandro, who really shone and from then on was first choice for that stopper role.

And that’s one fear about ‘Arry and Parker. We know ‘Arry likes a good old honest pro, in other words a second rate English player, while having his little trouble with the more international types. Parker presence will give Sandro a proper chance to get fit, something others don’t seem to get – van der Vaart, Bale etc – but will it stifle the big Brazilian’s progress and get cheesed of at being permanently on the bench.

So to the two real main areas it seems Levy planned out for this window.

One keep Modric. Well that worked to plan for the chairman, if not for Modric, his agent, ‘Arry and his chums in the media. We have to see if the little Croat’s head is in the right place now.

And two, get rid of the deadwood. So Jenas and Hutton off to Villa and Bentley off to the Spam. Unfortunately it’s only loan deals. Is this the first window that Mourinho hasn’t been in for his favourite player Jenas?

One major plus was dodging the Joe Cole bullet. Ah ‘Arry was after him luv ‘im, triffic boy. God that would have been torture watching him slow everything up with his tongue permanently sticking out. Scouse are still paying the majority of £60k a week wages Think he’ll know much French by the time he returns to these shores?

The minus was not strengthening in other areas, central defence mainly. Cahill was the one to go for but it seemed an afterthought left to the last seconds as per usual. Money plus Bassong was the right move but why not steal a march, get in there. Like ManUre and to some extent Citeh get it all over with as early as possible then things can bed in sooner and easier. Citeh though left it late for one surprise new comer, Owen Hargreaves. Always like the player, if his fitness could be guaranteed or as guaranteed as any normal player than I’d have far proffered him at The Lane instead of Parker. A far better player. One of the few things Svennis got right during his England tenure.

So a window to do enough to keep things ticking over before major changes?

Read the rest of this crap at Toxic Web →