Match Thread: Tottenham Hotspur vs Port Vale

[Neil_Vaughan]

Talk about the game in here before, during and after.

[stoopadity]

theoritically... its a sure win!

however, i hope we dun end up like MAN-U incident last night...

[Spur]

A sure win...?

Just like we smashed Grimsby last year then followed it up with a rout at Leicester.

[Welsh Spur]

I don't think we're complacent enough to allow it to happen at home. The Carling Cup - no matter how mickey mouse it is - is worth winning just for the fact that the more this current side wins the more they are going to want it again, and again, and again. The cups are looking really good for us this year.

[PaulSpursfan]

I must be a win, we're on the way back to the top.

i think they end of the 90 minutes its 3-0

[nuttyhotspurs]

i hope your right coz i work with a load of scummy Vale fans!!! I'm pretty confident at the minute though, we've been playing some good stuff

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!!!!!!!

[hastingsyid]

If we go into the game thinking it will be easy then its bye bye tottenham,approach the game like the last two games with steed hoping to show what hes capable off then we should win 2-0/3-0.The lads are very confident now so in truth i would"nt want to be a soppy port vale fan tonight.....COYS

[nuttyhotspurs]

Cerny
Ifil
Dawson
Dervite
Lee
Huddlestone
Murphy
Davids
Malbranque
Defoe
Barcham

SUBS
Berbatov
Lennon
Ghaly
Ziegler
Fulop

[highlander]

its a good team, im quite suprised that Mido didnt even make the bench. ill be interested to see how Dervitte & Barcham fair

[nuttyhotspurs]

so whats going on with mido? injured? or has he thrown his toys out of the pram again recently

[suBerb]

Mido is for 5 days out due to injury. He misses also the Saturday game.

[highlander]

with berba being rested and Mido being injured, it leaves me wondering why Barney wasnt given a chance

[Spur]

Barney's just made it back from 2 months out.

[highlander]

that would explain it then

[Spur]

It would. Barcham very quick. And Dervitte seems ****ing immense as well.

[Spur]

Oh dear. Not very good.

[Chewy]

****ing excellent! :mad: 0-1 Port Vale. **** sake!

Lennon just on and berbatov coming on now.

[SurreySpur]

I dont know if anyone has sky sports on 2nite but when Paul walsh was reporting on Port Vale going ahead, Paul Merson laughed his head off. ****ing Prick.

[Chaydle]

WTF 1-0 down, this could only happen to spurs, beat chelsea then lose at home to vale

[Spur]

Merson's a junkie aclhy knob. Let's all laugh at that.

Murphy's off for Ghaly.

[Chewy]

Ghaly on for murphy.

Come on SPURS!!!!!!!

[\jackdaw]

Last time we beat Port Vale was 1955.. 8(

[SurreySpur]

Thank **** for that............DERVITTE

[Chewy]

Yesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-1!!!!!!!!

[Spur]

Huddlestone from 35 yards!!!

[\jackdaw]

Get in there... Huds been given it

Berby and Lennon beginning to click a bit so lets keep fingers crossed

[SurreySpur]

Is it Hudd or dervitte? not sure if dorian got a touch

[Chewy]

I don't think I could cope with extra time. Lets finish it!

[Spur]

Defo Hudd. I think it may have hit the post but it hit the defendaers arm on the way down and that directed it in.

[Chewy]

Hudds got the goal.

[Chaydle]

The Huddmeister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Spur]

Dervite is very comfortable on the ball. Quality in the air as well. Is he better than Gardner and Davenport for the back-up slot?

[Chewy]

Defoe - Put the ball in the net!

[SurreySpur]

How many chances does Jermain Defoe need? Does he need to thrash at every chance he gets?

[JuicE]

Does this go extra time then penalties or is there a replay?

[Spur]

Extra time.

I can't sit through another 30 minutes of this can I?

The things I do for my Club...

[JuicE]

Is it bad? :(

[SurreySpur]

This extra time will be a piece of cake

[Spur]

We're about to go into extra time against a Division 3 side of course its bad.

Their keeper is having a blinder. Or is it just our strikers doing poorly?

[JuicE]

Have we used any subs yet?

[SurreySpur]

Yeah, all three, Berby, Lennon and Ghaly

[JuicE]

We're about to go into extra time against a Division 3 side of course its bad.

Their keeper is having a blinder. Or is it just our strikers doing poorly?

The 5-0 drubbing of the MK Dons was an unusual result for us, we generally like to do things the hard way! Extra time seems fitting.:eek:

[JuicE]

Yeah, all three, Berby, Lennon and Ghaly

Oh well! Sorted, we should run a muck. 4 -1 at least.:D

[Spur]

Their keeper is better than Robinson. How can he play for a League One side?

[JuicE]

Their keeper is better than Robinson. How can he play for a League One side?

He has been lifted by the presence of the WHL Stadium!

[Spur]

He has been lifted by the presence of the WHL Stadium!

He's been lifted by something, i'm gonna say drugs.

[\jackdaw]

Why get one when you can get two... Huds with his 2nd

[JuicE]

2 more to go!

[MarlowSpurs]

Spur are you watching the game or listening to it?

[\jackdaw]

3-1 ... Defoe ..at bloody last

[Spur]

I'm watching on FLFooty. Not very good quality at times. could hardly miss that he was about two yards out keeper's first mistake and defender wrong sided. Good cross from Phil.

[JuicE]

1 more? Come on!:D

[Indianspur]

I wanna c hudds 30 yard second goal...seems to be playing well. i also want to kno how steed went on. he seemed to be creating a couple in the first half according to spurs website

[Spur]

I thought Steed played well. Well but not great. At times his distribution was not too good but at times it was excellent. One blinding cross sticks in my mind. Running with the ball he is quality. And he got stuck in as well which was good to see.

[JJ]

I wanna c hudds 30 yard second goal...seems to be playing well. i also want to kno how steed went on. he seemed to be creating a couple in the first half according to spurs website

Hit very well but it deflected.

He's got fantastic technique.

[\jackdaw]

When he gets match fit I am sure we will see what MJ can get out of him, just a question of being patient.

[JuicE]

It all turned out well in the end! :D

[Spur]

Yea this is Steed's first match for ages so it was good in that sense. Davids has lost it now. Not a first teamer in my eyes but he is still good to have at the club.

Dervite looks blindin' on the ball, throwing stepovers and running at defenders and hitting a shot when he was up the field. Must have started out as some sort of an attacking player but being good in the air and strong sent to the back. Barcham is quick, nothing much else to say as he didn't get the ball very much.

Other than that it was pretty ordinary. Their keeper played quality and it was Dawson's mistake for our goal, not getting enough power on a header surprisingly. Very unlike him.

All that matters is we're through...when's the draw for the next round?

[Spur]

The draw is on Sky soccer saturday at 12pm.

[choda]

Yea this is Steed's first match for ages so it was good in that sense. Davids has lost it now. Not a first teamer in my eyes but he is still good to have at the club.

Dervite looks blindin' on the ball, throwing stepovers and running at defenders and hitting a shot when he was up the field. Must have started out as some sort of an attacking player but being good in the air and strong sent to the back. Barcham is quick, nothing much else to say as he didn't get the ball very much.

Other than that it was pretty ordinary. Their keeper played quality and it was Dawson's mistake for our goal, not getting enough power on a header surprisingly. Very unlike him.

All that matters is we're through...when's the draw for the next round?

Davids lost it? Did you watch the last hour where he was superb when we really needed somebody to step up?

He and Hudd won us the game.

[Spur]

If he can't keep the ball against a League One side what do you want me to say? He ran well. He hustled well. His control was again poor and so was his passing.

It sounds exactly the same as Jermaine Jenas in that sense. In fact I just described Jermaine Jenas.

I love Edgar Davids. And if we need him in a game where we need someone to be constantly pressuring then he's the man. He looks ten times better actually playing in the middle as well, so much better. But the simple things still aren't there, just the same as Jenas really.

[laspur]

Thanks for the input everybody, i really don't know much about the 2nd team players. These type of games are never aired out here, so i can never watch any of the young guys we have. Sounds like there are some promising players, any info. of these guys is always appreciated. Oh and **** CHELSEA!

[Ginola's Son]

I was there tonight, the extra time was pretty cool actually, an extra half an hour was ok by me. I had no doubt that we'd get the win in the end. I was glad when they scored as we had been pretty lacklustre up to that point.

Playing the kids was a poor move, we have always taken this competition seriously and I didn't see the need in playing Ifil, when Stalteri could have come in and done a better job. Dervitte did pretty well for his first game. Dawson was as usual his imperious self while Lee did fine, but perhaps overdid his attempts to emulate Lennon's surging runs. In the midfield, Huddlestone was again showing lashings of class, especially with that excellent second goal, Davids had probably his best game in ages, Steed didn't look match fit at all but it was good to see him in the shirt, more to come from him definitely. Murphy had an average game. Barcham looked quick but not much else, but he's young, he has time. Defoe has had better games but a nicely taken goal in the end. Cerny looked a tad shaky at times.

The subs changed the game, with Lennon and Berbatov bringing their obvious class to proceedings. Ghaly on the other hand offered nothing. He really needs to improve, he's dangerous at times with his slackness.


But, all that matters is that we are in the hat.

[jrio]

The first half from Spurs was as poor as I've seen in a long time. Numerous overhit passes, players dithering on the ball and a general lack of energy. We couldn't get much worse in the second half but it was the appearance of Berbatov that really got us into the game. His touch was superb and he was a focal point for our attacks. Lennon playing on the left halves his effectiveness. Vale had at least 2 players to cover him and he usually got pushed across the defence. We had much better balance when he switched with Ghaly. I don't agree that Ghaly offered nothing. He supplied a lot of dynamism in midfield but his through balls lacked accuracy.

Ifil was truly dreadful. He looked nervous and out of his depth. In the first half, under no pressure, he was several yards in from the touchline and managed to let a pass run across him and out when he had more than several seconds to just touch the ball and control it. Davids did as many bad things as good but Choda is right that his commitment was important in the latter stages of the game and he was always looking for the ball.

I was fearing penalties as we went into extra time and had no intention of staying for them if it had come to that. Hudd's first goal did get a touch off the defender and actually looked as though it ran across the line off the post and went in off the keeper. The second was a fiercely hit drive but did take a significant deflection off a defender.

What chance we get Chelsea in the quarters? That was the feeling on the train from WHL and after Sunday, one fan said he couldn't face that again.

[SCIFIN17YID]

Awesome stuff, was looking for touts all day, decided to go to the ticket office, and guess what, we got 2 restricted view tickets east upper block H for £20 thats £10 pounds eatch, hehe, I did not like the way we was playing first half at all, second half we got in there a little bit, also I saw a couple of strange aditions to our squad "Ilfup" this guy looked ok for like hmmm 20mins, then I noticed that after that 20 mins non of our team decided to pass to him, and it was almost like he was just drifting on the pitch, yike's, then there was divit, yes the number 50, bloody heck the guy is awesome done a good job at the back with dawson, also I was happy to see steed malbranque, finally plat he was ok too, well it was a good day at the white hart lane, also I noticed huddlestone score 2 goals for us to bring back our hope's and the crowd does not chear him on, but there chear dawson pfffft, I think we should motivate our players better then that, also ever notice defoe, just did not seem like he had any passion in winning for us, imo he was just shoot and hoping, also a funny one, davids done a deilibrate hamball hehe and he got away with it, used both hands/elbows that was funny, anyway we won 3 - 1 and kicked there butt, i was happy that we did not get knocked out, had a great time at the lane, found it frustrating in the first half, but overall another come back from us yids............. w00000000t.

*NOTE* Who saw that class from Berbatov fu"ck me w0w he got 1 pass directly to him and done a one touch strike with style if that went in which it almost did, w0w that would have been the goal of the day it looked awesome.

[Gino Ginelli]

I remember saying on a thread a while back that I hadn't been convinced by Huddlestone yet, mostly due to the fact that I hadn't seen much of him and I thought he was just another big strong defender with little ability.

Last night finally showed me what the fuss is about, his second goal was outstanding. Although I still rate Carrick much higher, he never finished like that!

[DonJolSpurano]

I was there tonight, the extra time was pretty cool actually, an extra half an hour was ok by me. I had no doubt that we'd get the win in the end. I was glad when they scored as we had been pretty lacklustre up to that point.

Playing the kids was a poor move, we have always taken this competition seriously and I didn't see the need in playing Ifil, when Stalteri could have come in and done a better job. Dervitte did pretty well for his first game. Dawson was as usual his imperious self while Lee did fine, but perhaps overdid his attempts to emulate Lennon's surging runs. In the midfield, Huddlestone was again showing lashings of class, especially with that excellent second goal, Davids had probably his best game in ages, Steed didn't look match fit at all but it was good to see him in the shirt, more to come from him definitely. Murphy had an average game. Barcham looked quick but not much else, but he's young, he has time. Defoe has had better games but a nicely taken goal in the end. Cerny looked a tad shaky at times.

The subs changed the game, with Lennon and Berbatov bringing their obvious class to proceedings. Ghaly on the other hand offered nothing. He really needs to improve, he's dangerous at times with his slackness.


But, all that matters is that we are in the hat.

stalteri is injured!

[SCIFIN17YID]

ahhhh I forgot to mention did anyone see that mad DDT move the port vale player did to one of our players ? seriously it looked like a DDT from jake the snake roberts, the ref clearly saw that and did nothing. please tell me some one saw that DDT move.

[shoot_ffs]

but dawson was again imperious, letting himself down with a rash booking though. I thought defoe played quite well, as vale defended and marked them well. he had bugger all support from the midfield in the first half and ended up on a personal crusade to get us through on his own. On that showing ifil isn't good enough, he looked uncomfortable on the ball and made too many mistakes. For the second half i would have switched lee there and played ziegler at lefty.
dervitte played ok, bound to be nervous. he's certainly not 6'4" though so i don't know why they said that. I thought hudds was pretty poor last night, he had nobody marking him and was still largely ineffective, the introduction of ghaly giving us some drive and purpose. he also looks like one of those that can't finish and too often takes the wrong option despite getting in some excellent positions. When's the next round of the draw? I'm not too sure how it works, but would semi-final with the other big guns give us a euro spot?

[matthius23]

As nerve wrecking as it was, looking back now it could have been a complete rout if it wasnt for their keeper. He was phoenominal. Defoe could have bagged 5 or 6, he didnt do much wrong.

Davids did not play well... he ran with the ball well, and did a lot of running back, but his passing was atrocious.

Ghaly did not have his best game... far from it.

Malbranque looked good... was all action for first 25 mins, then faded.

Dervitte was immense... great prospect.

Berbs was a different class when he came on.

Ifil played well, put some great crosses in, especially for Defoes goal.

Did anyone see MJs reaction to Cerny after he gave the ball away to a Vale striker after exchanging 10 passes with Dawson and Dervitte?!?! Tut tut Radek.

Southend or Wycombe at home next round would be nice ;)

[Spur]

ahhhh I forgot to mention did anyone see that mad DDT move the port vale player did to one of our players ? seriously it looked like a DDT from jake the snake roberts, the ref clearly saw that and did nothing. please tell me some one saw that DDT move.

That's exactly what I said when I saw it!!! I thought the ref was running over to start the pinfall count.

[choda]

I remember saying on a thread a while back that I hadn't been convinced by Huddlestone yet, mostly due to the fact that I hadn't seen much of him and I thought he was just another big strong defender with little ability.

Last night finally showed me what the fuss is about, his second goal was outstanding. Although I still rate Carrick much higher, he never finished like that!

Keep watchin then my friend. Little ability? Don't know where you got that out of.

Carrick never in a million years had the same presence and influence on games the way Hudd is doing at the same age.

Overall at the minute Carrick is still ahead of him but Hudd's a kid. He's an AWESOME prospect. I can see him being MILES ahead of Carrick in the not too distant future.

Ghaly in the last two games has had two very sloppy twenty minute spells but I like the look of him. He's dynamic and he's got vision and skill. I can see him being a real player for us.

All three subs added quality and pace.

To those blindly criticising Davids:

Davids for the last hour passed the ball majestically. He hussled and harried. He was everywhere and competitive as ever.

He was playing badly up to that but when we needed him he came back to his best. If you don't think he played fantastic in the last hour then I'm sorry but you don't have a CLUE about the game.

[Ginola's Son]

I think David's was class, he was often doing the defence's job for them by running back and making challeneges. He also had a couple of good efforts on goal, I'd say from the players who played the full 120 mins, Davids or maybe Huddlestone was the best out there. David's was also yanked to the ground by his pony tail at one point.

stalteri is injured!

Yeah, I didn't know that, I just found out and realized someone would tell me that on here. Was there really no-one else in our squad other then Ifil? Thank god Dawson was on the pitch or we really would have been out.

Who saw Cerny do a few mad moments with the ball instead of clearing it.

[Spur]

To those blindly criticising Davids:

Davids for the last hour passed the ball majestically. He hussled and harried. He was everywhere and competitive as ever.

He was playing badly up to that but when we needed him he came back to his best. If you don't think he played fantastic in the last hour then I'm sorry but you don't have a CLUE about the game.

Passing majestically. You must be confused Davids is the small dreadlocked one not the big brute. That's Tom right there your talking about. Just to give an example of this 'majestic' passing picture this.

Edgar has the ball about 30 yards from goal, a hardly a packed penalty box but a few bods forward, all three - one left, one right in front of him by ten yards, and one right - were calling for the ball, he could have even turned around and played it to the left back or square to Tom. Instead he tried crossing the ball in when it was the worst option. The ball was blocked and it fell back to him. So what does he do? This time he does exactly the same thing but overhits it and it goes out for a goal kick.

There was another when he had three options but tried to play it through a Vale player. Of course the ball was blocked.

He loses it far too often. His passing, his losing the ball, it all becomes too much at a certain time. This is that time.

Like I say, I love Edgar, on here i'm one of his biggest defenders. But when it comes to the pitch he shouldn't be on it unless we need him.

Other than the passing he drove the ball forward well at times, was always in space and in the middle looks ten times better. But he loses it too often. Granted he might win it back on a few of those occasions but it only takes one for the opposition to score. He's one of the best at hustling for the ball, something that with every game Huddlestone shows signs of doing, and getting his foot in to start a breakaway. But he loses the ball far too often. Can't be having that in a game where keeping the ball is key.

Of course I could just be clueless, wandering around without a clue.

[Thfc4Life]

Passing majestically. You must be confused Davids is the small dreadlocked one not the big brute. That's Tom right there your talking about. Just to give an example of this 'majestic' passing picture this.

Edgar has the ball about 30 yards from goal, a hardly a packed penalty box but a few bods forward, all three - one left, one right in front of him by ten yards, and one right - were calling for the ball, he could have even turned around and played it to the left back or square to Tom. Instead he tried crossing the ball in when it was the worst option. The ball was blocked and it fell back to him. So what does he do? This time he does exactly the same thing but overhits it and it goes out for a goal kick.

There was another when he had three options but tried to play it through a Vale player. Of course the ball was blocked.

He loses it far too often. His passing, his losing the ball, it all becomes too much at a certain time. This is that time.

Like I say, I love Edgar, on here i'm one of his biggest defenders. But when it comes to the pitch he shouldn't be on it unless we need him.

Other than the passing he drove the ball forward well at times, was always in space and in the middle looks ten times better. But he loses it too often. Granted he might win it back on a few of those occasions but it only takes one for the opposition to score. He's one of the best at hustling for the ball, something that with every game Huddlestone shows signs of doing, and getting his foot in to start a breakaway. But he loses the ball far too often. Can't be having that in a game where keeping the ball is key.

Of course I could just be clueless, wandering around without a clue.

If you're clueless then that makes two of us! because i think you're spot on there mate, his workrate and hustling are first class but he sadly has the passing ability of a non league player :( But his experience is still valuable to the squad and it is his last season with us anyway.

[jrio]

Spur's view is an accurate reflection of Davids' performance. Several fans at the game described it from mixed to shit. His commitment and energy isn't in question but the other past strengths show no signs of returning. As always Choda can't detach himself from his worship of Davids. Even when he agrees Davids has played badly he counters it with a claim that he redeemed himself later when we were under pressure with a superheroic display. I didn't see any majestic passing; he was majestic in chasing a player who threatened to be clear on goal and tackling him.

Hudd tends to be very static in midfield but when breaks were on he moved forward with the ball very quickly, evading defenders but not playing a sharp final pass. He's always had the ability to whallop the ball, perhaps not always accurately. I saw him score one for Wolves from over 20 yards last season and although the 2 yesterday both took deflections, I fancy the second would have beaten the keeper anyway such was the power behind it.

Ifil was so poor there's a kind of perversity that he's signed a new contract today. Jol's praise for yesterday was very at odds with his display which made Stalteri look world class. This contract may keep him as long as Kelly's last one did.

[Ginola's Son]

Contracts mean squat anyway.

Hate to be a killjoy, but it'd take a miracle to keep Lennon at this club.

[Gino Ginelli]

I'm just going to defend Davids, as he has been one of the best midfielders in the world for a long time, and his sheer experience and energy has been one of the most important factors in our recent revival. Maybe not so much on the pitch now he's reaching his mid 30's, but on the training ground and in the dressing room certainly.

[jrio]

He's been a factor but not one of the most important ones. The shrewd transfer policy and Martin Jol have been the keys, along with a strong management structure, whilst Levy has done a number of things to redeem himself after the poor timing of replacing Graham with Hoddle. However, for every several good decisions he makes(new club badge) there tends to be one howler(the hysteria over the "food poisoning").

[Gino Ginelli]

The shrewd transfer policy and Martin Jol have been the keys, along with a strong management structure.

Well yes. Davids has also been influential on the development of the younger players, especially Lennon.

I only wish Levy had kept Sheringham around to be part of this as well.

[Ginola's Son]

Teddy just will not retire though, and he'd be insisting he should start games. Do you see the moods he gets in when he's taken off?

[Spur]

Teddy will be back in some coaching role.

And hopefully Edgar will be there next to him.