The Tottenham Thread 12/13

Yes, what a brilliant job Rafa's done at slowly edging Chelsea out of a scrap to finish 4th that HE got them into in the first place....

What was it when he took over, 4 points from top? To roundabout 20 now, give or take?
I personally thought he'd do well there once he was given the gig but he's been distinctly average at best. For all the creative players they have, they play some incredibly boring, overly-cautious football. He's dropped points against the likes of Southampton home AND away, Reading after being 0-2 up in like the 85th minute, QPR at home, Newcastle, etc., all relegation teams that, had he managed to mastermind wins over them, Chelsea would even be above us right now. He's crashed out of 2 Cups that should have been foregone conclusions that would have helped his own CV as well, one against a Brazilian scrub and the other to a mid-table side over 2 legs. He got to the FA Cup semis by beating Third Division Brentford (whom he needed a fucking replay to overcome), Middlesbrough who have been in freefall since the turn of the year, and the rags who shut off after 20 minutes in the first leg, and got to the Europa League Final by beating Sparta Prague, Steaua Bucharest, Rubin Kazan, and Basel - all teams any idiot and his mother could get past with that squad Chelsea have, and they even came pretty close to being dumped out by those on several occasions ffs.

RDM being "twice the manager" as the waiter is a bit of a stretch, but I think he was a better Chelsea manager than Rafa has been. I cannot possibly think De Matteo wouldn't have accomplished at LEAST what Rafa has had he not been canned plus much more.
 
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Matty said:
I assume the 2 cups you should have won are the League Cup and the World Club Championship?

I'm no Rafa fan but at Inter he inherited a squad Mourinho knew were aging and needed a complete rework, he didn't do very well at it. RDM did indeed win 2 cups, but he also was sacked by West Brom for not being good enough. All managers have their ups and downs.
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Which is why I'm talking in the context of Chelsea for both of them. RDM at West Brom doesn't concern me; neither does Rafa at Inter, Liverpool or Valencia. Fact is he's been, as mentioned, distinctly average and has underachieved.

I credit player motivation with the management and RDM motivated us into full blown heroic mode to win the CL. There is no denying fate conspired with us, but the motivation of our team last year was unlike anything I've seen since Mourinho (and perhaps Hiddink). He motivated them again to knock United out of the league cup and he was at least making good team selections and substitutions on a weekly basis. Rafa isn't even doing that.

Against Swansea and Corinthians were were flat and unmotivated, as if we couldn't be arsed. These aren't huge prestigious cups but not being arsed at all is unforgivable and you don't get to compete in the WCC very often. RDM wasn't a perfect manager, I'm under no disillusions. I doubt he could have rebuilt a great team. But he did the basics well. He motivated players and he made sounds decisions - something Rafa has yet to demonstrate. Look at our team selections and substitutions against Liverpool a few weeks ago and try to understand the logic. This is the norm with him.

He was sacked after losing to Juventus where he played Hazard as a false 9 and dropped Torres. That took balls. He told the board that our £50m goldenboy was so useless that he'd rather play without a striker than 10 men and that was the last straw. Perhaps if he'd won it would have been a stay of execution for a few weeks. I have no doubt that if RDM had Demba Ba from day 1, he'd still be here and our season would be going a whole lot better.

The team will pull together and finish in the top 4 like they usually do and may even win in Europe. But I've watched how our play has dramatically degraded since RDM left and you'll see how it'll improve if Mourinho comes in next season - then it'll be a bit more clear just how average he is. I gave him a fair chance when he got here. I didn't take it personally. He's just a mercenary with a common short term goal. But he has been average at best here. The only credit I'll afford him is stoicism in a hostile environment.
 
Castiel said:
Matty said:
I assume the 2 cups you should have won are the League Cup and the World Club Championship?

I'm no Rafa fan but at Inter he inherited a squad Mourinho knew were aging and needed a complete rework, he didn't do very well at it. RDM did indeed win 2 cups, but he also was sacked by West Brom for not being good enough. All managers have their ups and downs.
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Which is why I'm talking in the context of Chelsea for both of them. RDM at West Brom doesn't concern me; neither does Rafa at Inter, Liverpool or Valencia. Fact is he's been, as mentioned, distinctly average and has underachieved.

I credit player motivation with the management and RDM motivated us into full blown heroic mode to win the CL. There is no denying fate conspired with us, but the motivation of our team last year was unlike anything I've seen since Mourinho (and perhaps Hiddink). He motivated them again to knock United out of the league cup and he was at least making good team selections and substitutions on a weekly basis. Rafa isn't even doing that.

Against Swansea and Corinthians were were flat and unmotivated, as if we couldn't be arsed. These aren't huge prestigious cups but not being arsed at all is unforgivable and you don't get to compete in the WCC very often. RDM wasn't a perfect manager, I'm under no disillusions. I doubt he could have rebuilt a great team. But he did the basics well. He motivated players and he made sounds decisions - something Rafa has yet to demonstrate. Look at our team selections and substitutions against Liverpool a few weeks ago and try to understand the logic. This is the norm with him.

He was sacked after losing to Juventus where he played Hazard as a false 9 and dropped Torres. That took balls. He told the board that our £50m goldenboy was so useless that he'd rather play without a striker than 10 men and that was the last straw. Perhaps if he'd won it would have been a stay of execution for a few weeks. I have no doubt that if RDM had Demba Ba from day 1, he'd still be here and our season would be going a whole lot better.

The team will pull together and finish in the top 4 like they usually do and may even win in Europe. But I've watched how our play has dramatically degraded since RDM left and you'll see how it'll improve if Mourinho comes in next season - then it'll be a bit more clear just how average he is. I gave him a fair chance when he got here. I didn't take it personally. He's just a mercenary with a common short term goal. But he has been average at best here. The only credit I'll afford him is stoicism in a hostile environment.
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Overall Benitez has done okay in my opinion and if he wins the Europa league then has done well.

RDM's start to the season is overrated, because he was playing the same team every weak and not changing anything. I think he knew he was on borrowed time and was not taking into account what would happen in the long run. The players were going to crash and burn from exhaustion. Benitez came in and it took him time to find the best team. Losing the World Club Championship was especially bad, but he found the right balance for him and is having a strong end to the season.

I would not go as far as to say the quality of your play has dramatically degraded. Especially comparing the last few months with RDM's. There is no doubt RDM's Chelsea were more enjoyable to watch, but they aways looked like conceding goals. The Benitez is able to grind out results more efficiently

Motivation was always going to be a problem since Rafa is loved in Liverpool and the Chelsea/Liverpool rivalry is a strong one. I think it was a poor appointment from Roman and he should have kept RDM till the end of the season.
 
This thread quickly turned into a Chelsea discussion lol! So, after our win yesterday I can't wait for tonight's game to see if Spurs have what it takes to make it into the top 4. I reckon Chelsea will win narrowly but still I expect a very good game for all of 90 minutes. Anyways good luck to both teams!
 
Syth said:
This thread quickly turned into a Chelsea discussion lol! So, after our win yesterday I can't wait for tonight's game to see if Spurs have what it takes to make it into the top 4. I reckon Chelsea will win narrowly but still I expect a very good game for all of 90 minutes. Anyways good luck to both teams!
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Haha, that's what I was thinking. It went from avb being poor, to rafa being poor, to di matteo being lucky etc.

Now everybody on here will be eating jelly and ice cream watching the match.

Bale,Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Dembele, Lennon, ramires, obese frank, I look forward to the game. Shame there is no sandro
 
I thought Azpilicueta locked Bale down nicely today. Anonymous all game.

Though Spurs managed to play as more of a team than I've seen all season.
 
Crouchinho said:
Syth said:
This thread quickly turned into a Chelsea discussion lol! So, after our win yesterday I can't wait for tonight's game to see if Spurs have what it takes to make it into the top 4. I reckon Chelsea will win narrowly but still I expect a very good game for all of 90 minutes. Anyways good luck to both teams!
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Haha, that's what I was thinking. It went from avb being poor, to rafa being poor, to di matteo being lucky etc.

Now everybody on here will be eating jelly and ice cream watching the match.

Bale,Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Dembele, Lennon, ramires, obese frank, I look forward to the game. Shame there is no sandro
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I am actually eating ice cream :)
 
That 'heart' celebration of Bale's (note, not observed this evening...) makes me want to throw things at the telly. But it just got worse:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10042652/Gareth-Bale-plans-to-put-heart-goal-celebration-on-clothing-after-filing-trademark.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... emark.html</a>

Supporters could be seeing a lot more of the hand gesture after the Welsh star applied for a trademark. According to the filing at the Intellectual Property Office, he wants to put the logo, along with the number 11 (his squad number), on shoes, hats, bags, umbrellas and jewellery.

The trademark was filed on March 26 and under "list of goods" it states: "Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments, parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. "Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery. Clothing, footwear and headgear."
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Hmm. A Gareth Bale whip. The mind boggles. As for the Intellectual Property Office...
 
Chelsea were marginally better for me, but I expect that from the home side. Apart from the two goals they didn't test Lloris too much, same with us testing Cech. I expected Chelsea to boss the midfield considering there isn't a Sandro or Dembele, and Huddlestone and Parker isn't the best combination in the world

Kyle Walker was excellent and Adebayor was absolutely brilliant, why hasn't he played like that all season? He was like a man possessed. It's a shame he's left it this late really.

I thought we looked the most likely at the end to grab the winner, but overall it's about fair I say. Strange subs by Rafa I must say.

It's out of our hands now, we just have to hope Wigan or Newcastle give us a lifeline. I'll just shake my head if Arsenal are in a competition for the 18th time in a row without even showing decent displays. I know we'd give it another good go and it'll be a fun ride!!
 
Crouchinho said:
Chelsea were marginally better for me, but I expect that from the home side. Apart from the two goals they didn't test Lloris too much, same with us testing Cech. I expected Chelsea to boss the midfield considering there isn't a Sandro or Dembele, and Huddlestone and Parker isn't the best combination in the world

Kyle Walker was excellent and Adebayor was absolutely brilliant, why hasn't he played like that all season? He was like a man possessed. It's a shame he's left it this late really.

I thought we looked the most likely at the end to grab the winner, but overall it's about fair I say. Strange subs by Rafa I must say.

It's out of our hands now, we just have to hope Wigan or Newcastle give us a lifeline. I'll just shake my head if Arsenal are in a competition for the 18th time in a row without even showing decent displays. I know we'd give it another good go and it'll be a fun ride!!
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No mention of Adebayor being offside for the secon goal, OK then.
 
They were better first half, we were better 2nd half. Overall a fair result imo.

Though we did play with a second string midfield and they played their first choice 11, I'll just throw that out there. ;)

We've been unlucky against Chelsea this season that we've been missing a number of our best players each time we played them. They played more Europa league games than we did but haven't suffered the same injuries to their squad that we have had as a result, which is kind of annoying.
 
Chelsea could have easily finished off the game sooner, but just couldn't. Still a fair result in my opinion, now I just hope Wigan get something out of Arsenal so they can lose that precious 4th spot of theirs.
 
another generation said:
That 'heart' celebration of Bale's (note, not observed this evening...) makes me want to throw things at the telly. But it just got worse:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10042652/Gareth-Bale-plans-to-put-heart-goal-celebration-on-clothing-after-filing-trademark.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... emark.html</a>

Supporters could be seeing a lot more of the hand gesture after the Welsh star applied for a trademark. According to the filing at the Intellectual Property Office, he wants to put the logo, along with the number 11 (his squad number), on shoes, hats, bags, umbrellas and jewellery.

The trademark was filed on March 26 and under "list of goods" it states: "Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments, parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. "Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery. Clothing, footwear and headgear."
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Hmm. A Gareth Bale whip. The mind boggles. As for the Intellectual Property Office...
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Yet ear muffs don't get a mention surprisingly.
 
Can't see Wigan getting anything at the Emirates, not 2 years in a row. I think Newcastle will be the game where Arsenal have the potential to drop points, especially if Newcastle lose to QPR this weekend. If Newcastle are safe going into the Arsenal match then Arsenal will walk it however.
 
Matty said:
Can't see Wigan getting anything at the Emirates, not 2 years in a row. I think Newcastle will be the game where Arsenal have the potential to drop points, especially if Newcastle lose to QPR this weekend. If Newcastle are safe going into the Arsenal match then Arsenal will walk it however.
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Do wigan play the cup final before the Arsenal game? Fingers crossed harry can not concede after 20 seconds again! lol
 
Crouchinho said:
Matty said:
Can't see Wigan getting anything at the Emirates, not 2 years in a row. I think Newcastle will be the game where Arsenal have the potential to drop points, especially if Newcastle lose to QPR this weekend. If Newcastle are safe going into the Arsenal match then Arsenal will walk it however.
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Do wigan play the cup final before the Arsenal game? Fingers crossed harry can not concede after 20 seconds again! lol
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Yeah, the FA Cup Final is Saturday evening, Wigan don't play Arsenal in the league until the middle of next week.
 
I'm more than a little worried that Sunday's game coincides with the brouhaha surrounding Stoke City's 150th Anniversary celebrations.

You simply couldn't pick a worse day for Spurs to be facing them.
 
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