allygold
19th April 2006, 08:55 PM
Saturday brings with it the biggest North London league derby in recent memory. Ninety minutes will probably decide which team secures Champions League qualification, a pot full of gold and bragging rights for at least a year.
It could be argued that the massive encounter may just eclipse recent FA Cup semi-final clashes for enormity. It’s entirely apt that the last Spurs-Arsenal derby at the Library, before it is pulled down and rebuilt in Paris, should be one that will truly judge how far Tottenham Hotspur have bridged the gap with their bitter rivals.
I can feel the thud of my heart in my chest each morning as I read the latest quotes from either side of the fence. It’s only the middle of the week and various family members have already expressed growing fears for my health when Saturday comes. My brain and heart haven’t quite adjusted to what they’re seeing yet.
There’s only two weeks left of the season and we’re sitting in fourth place, not ninth or 14th. No languishing, drowning in the depths of mediocrity for us anymore. We can tell our boasting grandfathers, who ram the double down our throats, that our Spurs side is finally starting to crow again up there with the best of them.
I say starting because Saturday is the time for the Jolly Babies to make the next step up and become a top-four beater. Our sum total of points from games against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal so far this season is a measly three points. We just can’t seem to beat any of those elite band of clubs despite our rise. What better place to finally throw off those shackles than the drafty old, no-cornered place up the road?
I read with interest today Oliver Holt’s column in a certain tabloid commenting on how the Goons deserved Europe more than Tottenham. To me it seemed like a piece churned out on the advice of an editor to fuel debate and sell papers. It must have quadrupled the paper’s website hits for the year with disgruntled Lilywhites gnashing their teeth at it in their thousands.
I would be shocked if Mr Holt didn’t write the article with at least a slight portion of his tongue resting in his cheek. Arsenal are playing a Champions League semi-final today so why not trot out a piece saying that ‘its desperately important for English football’ that Arsenal qualify for the competition again next season.
He can’t seriously have meant that English football needed foreign talents such as Fabregas, Reyes and Eboue to flourish in the competition. Could you only find three decent youngsters there, Oliver? Try walking up the road and discovering some talented British youngsters in Defoe, Dawson, Jenas, Lennon, Carrick, Huddlestone and the only slightly older Robinson, King or our Irish Keano.
Wouldn’t the British public prefer our own country’s talent flourish in the world’s foremost club competition? Martin Jol had made sure Spurs play with the sweeping, exciting passing style you crave from your sides, Mr Holt. With the added experience and confidence from playing in the Champions League, that style will only get better and better with even more destructive power.
Hopefully, Jol will photocopy the column and hand it round the dressing room as the boys sit there, preparing themselves for the game. I can see the big Dutchman standing in the middle of the room, letting them all digest it, before saying: “You go out there and you show this tosher who desherves fourth playsh. If you do, I will pershonally bring Holt down from the stands and shove the Uefa Cup where the shun don’t shine.”
Just the thought of the game is sending shivers down my spine. We played well against Manchester United without reward and only two moments of indiscipline let the performance down. Most pundits, journalists and even Sir Alex have admitted since that we matched United and deserved something from the game.
The coaching team have got five days to reenergise the players and analyse what we did right and what we did wrong on Monday. Arsenal will only have Thursday and Friday to concentrate on the derby after tonight’s action. Barring injuries, I don’t expect too many changes from the Spurs side which started against Fergie’s men.
Davenport and Dawson were both excellent on Monday and it was clear they had played together before for the England Under 21s. Dawson picked up a knock, but hopefully he’ll be ready for the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davenport kept his place even if Anthony Gardner regains fitness in time. While Gardner has played well in recent games alongside Ledley King, he is far from assured when playing next to a less experienced colleague.
If Teemu Tainio overcomes his injury then Edgar Davids may return to the bench. While the Dutchman brings experience to the table, his recent form has not been impressive and we just don’t seem to lose with the Finn in the side. If anything he reminds me of a younger version of Davids with the ability to keep up with opposition players. He’ll also want to play a proper part in a North London derby after Sol Campbell’s bony elbow ended it all for him in October.
The strike pairing could provide Martin Jol with the biggest headache if Mido is passed fit. Jol likes using the Egyptian in tough away games, but the big forward’s form has been shaky for a while now. Jermain Defoe has been playing well, creating without scoring. We also proved against Everton that we can terrorise a tough side away from home without a towering striker. Defoe or Keane take the majority of corners which brings Carrick’s height into the box. However, Mido may have a point to prove after his absence and recent newspaper reports about his ‘behaviour’ which have since been strenuously denied by Jol and the club.
I’m watching the Goon game now, as they escape with dodgy decisions and overlooked Villarreal penalty claims, and I can’t wait for the grandeur of European nights like this to return to White Hart Lane. How cool is it that a man waits at the sideline on Champions League nights ready to tell the referee when to blow his whistle because all the television companies across the world have to finish their advert breaks? The eyes of the world are watching your side. You can’t beat that exposure in club football.
So much is riding on Saturday, it’s ridiculous. I can’t get to the game, so I’ll be going through all my silly match-day superstitions at home before watching it on television. I’m sure everyone has got their own habits, but mine currently are wearing my only pair of navy and white socks, not shaving and wearing my Spurs shirt with the sleeves folded over Mido/Carrick style. They’re dumb to most people, but tweaking a few of them coincided with our recent upturn in form so I’ll claim total responsibility for Spurs fortunes. Sorry Martin.
So here’s to Saturday and our meeting at high noon. Here’s to Lennon skinning Flamini repeatedly on the right wing, Keane weaving his magic and Carrick smashing a 30-yarder past the sprawling Lehmann. Here’s to the pounding chants of the Spurs supporters, big Martin holding Arsene in a headlock and the biggest North London derby ever.
It could be argued that the massive encounter may just eclipse recent FA Cup semi-final clashes for enormity. It’s entirely apt that the last Spurs-Arsenal derby at the Library, before it is pulled down and rebuilt in Paris, should be one that will truly judge how far Tottenham Hotspur have bridged the gap with their bitter rivals.
I can feel the thud of my heart in my chest each morning as I read the latest quotes from either side of the fence. It’s only the middle of the week and various family members have already expressed growing fears for my health when Saturday comes. My brain and heart haven’t quite adjusted to what they’re seeing yet.
There’s only two weeks left of the season and we’re sitting in fourth place, not ninth or 14th. No languishing, drowning in the depths of mediocrity for us anymore. We can tell our boasting grandfathers, who ram the double down our throats, that our Spurs side is finally starting to crow again up there with the best of them.
I say starting because Saturday is the time for the Jolly Babies to make the next step up and become a top-four beater. Our sum total of points from games against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal so far this season is a measly three points. We just can’t seem to beat any of those elite band of clubs despite our rise. What better place to finally throw off those shackles than the drafty old, no-cornered place up the road?
I read with interest today Oliver Holt’s column in a certain tabloid commenting on how the Goons deserved Europe more than Tottenham. To me it seemed like a piece churned out on the advice of an editor to fuel debate and sell papers. It must have quadrupled the paper’s website hits for the year with disgruntled Lilywhites gnashing their teeth at it in their thousands.
I would be shocked if Mr Holt didn’t write the article with at least a slight portion of his tongue resting in his cheek. Arsenal are playing a Champions League semi-final today so why not trot out a piece saying that ‘its desperately important for English football’ that Arsenal qualify for the competition again next season.
He can’t seriously have meant that English football needed foreign talents such as Fabregas, Reyes and Eboue to flourish in the competition. Could you only find three decent youngsters there, Oliver? Try walking up the road and discovering some talented British youngsters in Defoe, Dawson, Jenas, Lennon, Carrick, Huddlestone and the only slightly older Robinson, King or our Irish Keano.
Wouldn’t the British public prefer our own country’s talent flourish in the world’s foremost club competition? Martin Jol had made sure Spurs play with the sweeping, exciting passing style you crave from your sides, Mr Holt. With the added experience and confidence from playing in the Champions League, that style will only get better and better with even more destructive power.
Hopefully, Jol will photocopy the column and hand it round the dressing room as the boys sit there, preparing themselves for the game. I can see the big Dutchman standing in the middle of the room, letting them all digest it, before saying: “You go out there and you show this tosher who desherves fourth playsh. If you do, I will pershonally bring Holt down from the stands and shove the Uefa Cup where the shun don’t shine.”
Just the thought of the game is sending shivers down my spine. We played well against Manchester United without reward and only two moments of indiscipline let the performance down. Most pundits, journalists and even Sir Alex have admitted since that we matched United and deserved something from the game.
The coaching team have got five days to reenergise the players and analyse what we did right and what we did wrong on Monday. Arsenal will only have Thursday and Friday to concentrate on the derby after tonight’s action. Barring injuries, I don’t expect too many changes from the Spurs side which started against Fergie’s men.
Davenport and Dawson were both excellent on Monday and it was clear they had played together before for the England Under 21s. Dawson picked up a knock, but hopefully he’ll be ready for the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davenport kept his place even if Anthony Gardner regains fitness in time. While Gardner has played well in recent games alongside Ledley King, he is far from assured when playing next to a less experienced colleague.
If Teemu Tainio overcomes his injury then Edgar Davids may return to the bench. While the Dutchman brings experience to the table, his recent form has not been impressive and we just don’t seem to lose with the Finn in the side. If anything he reminds me of a younger version of Davids with the ability to keep up with opposition players. He’ll also want to play a proper part in a North London derby after Sol Campbell’s bony elbow ended it all for him in October.
The strike pairing could provide Martin Jol with the biggest headache if Mido is passed fit. Jol likes using the Egyptian in tough away games, but the big forward’s form has been shaky for a while now. Jermain Defoe has been playing well, creating without scoring. We also proved against Everton that we can terrorise a tough side away from home without a towering striker. Defoe or Keane take the majority of corners which brings Carrick’s height into the box. However, Mido may have a point to prove after his absence and recent newspaper reports about his ‘behaviour’ which have since been strenuously denied by Jol and the club.
I’m watching the Goon game now, as they escape with dodgy decisions and overlooked Villarreal penalty claims, and I can’t wait for the grandeur of European nights like this to return to White Hart Lane. How cool is it that a man waits at the sideline on Champions League nights ready to tell the referee when to blow his whistle because all the television companies across the world have to finish their advert breaks? The eyes of the world are watching your side. You can’t beat that exposure in club football.
So much is riding on Saturday, it’s ridiculous. I can’t get to the game, so I’ll be going through all my silly match-day superstitions at home before watching it on television. I’m sure everyone has got their own habits, but mine currently are wearing my only pair of navy and white socks, not shaving and wearing my Spurs shirt with the sleeves folded over Mido/Carrick style. They’re dumb to most people, but tweaking a few of them coincided with our recent upturn in form so I’ll claim total responsibility for Spurs fortunes. Sorry Martin.
So here’s to Saturday and our meeting at high noon. Here’s to Lennon skinning Flamini repeatedly on the right wing, Keane weaving his magic and Carrick smashing a 30-yarder past the sprawling Lehmann. Here’s to the pounding chants of the Spurs supporters, big Martin holding Arsene in a headlock and the biggest North London derby ever.