THE TALK.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR. POSTED BY DAN CARRIER.
Peter Crouch pounced like a giraffe, if you can imagine such a thing. It was hardly graceful: but after 82 long minutes, it didn't matter how the ball went in.
And to watch the players and fans celebrating into the night is a memory that will linger, and the perfect way to cap off what has been, in Harry's words, a 'trrific' season.
Harry joined 16 months ago. At the time I was getting bombarded with Facebook emails asking me if I would be attending the 'Tottenham Relegation Party' in May 2009. Very funny, Gooner mates.
It didn't take him long to work his hound dog magic, and while lots is made of his supposed love of wheeling and dealing, it is worth pointing out that much of last night's team were not Harry signings, just players who have had their confidence restored and then super charged by his management techniques. Gomes, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Huddlestone, Lennon and Bale were all in situ. Kaboul and Defoe were brought back tot he Lane having already been there before Ramos, leaving just Crouch.
And while Harry picked what on paper was a Fantasy League Spurs Dream Team, the fact is for all the individual talent on display, this lot won because they played like a unit – something Spurs so often have failed to do in the past.
You only have to look at the way we soaked up the pressure. No one in the middle four of Lennon, Bale, Huddlestone and Modric could be called a defensive player, yet they worked in a strict formation when we lost possession, which was with annoying frequency in the first half. At one point the possession stats read 64 per cent in City's favour, prompting a text from a Spurs wag I know stating: 'Can we have the ball please? Just for a bit.'
Yet City had a wall of white to get through and lacked the wit and verve to do so. Dawson and King were magnificent and the full backs never let the City wingers get the better of them. It was most unlike Tottenham to look so assured at the back. I kept thinking to myself: this football team has a spine! It's been some time since we can truly boast that.
And when we got the ball forward, we always looked like we'd score. Before and after the giraffe did his pouncing, we had chances.
Here's to beating Burnley on Sunday – and (is this being greedy?) Fulham overcome Arsenal to send us third. I can dream – after all, 16 months ago, us in the Champions League was nothing more than that.
Comments
spurs season
I am a man utd fan, but my partner supports spurs hense a soft spot for them, having watched them for seven years,they deserved the fourth spot,on occasions I have felt spurs could beat any team in the premiership, but I still feel that they need a key front striker.They also need to show Arsenal that they are not a one year wonder team,spurs fans stop worring about beating your scum and send the message to your players that winning every game is the key and playing right to the end of 90 mins as you have given so many games away in the last 10 mins of play. I hope spurs do well next year and get some euro games behind you for experience. Good Luck,but still united through and through regards sharon willson
Post new comment