Match Thread: Portsmouth vs Tottenham Hotspur

[Neil_Vaughan]

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

[hastingsyid]

Im gonna sound like a typical fickle spurs fan but i just cant see us getting anything from this game,hope and pray to god im wrong tho

[JJ]

Tough one, do we have Lennon back for this?

A match we should definately be winning, but Pompey are a form team, and who knows what we will do on the day really.

I would expect a reaction from the players as they should be as ****ed off about the Liverpool loss as we are.

[highlander]

ive got a feeling we can take all 3 here if Berba & Lennon play. i expect Berba to start but i havent a clue about Lennon.

[Chewy]

Berbatov is back for this one. Not sure about Lennon or King.

[JJ]

Berba should be enough to be honest. Class act.

[Welsh Spur]

I'm going 2-1 spurs win, esp as we don't seem able to keep clean sheets even if our lives depended on it. it's been something stupid like 10 games now!!!

[Billywhizz]

This is one we can win but i think a draw will be the probable result.

[nuttyhotspurs]

we have to win this to stay in touch. bolton, scum, pool and pompey are pulling away and teams like everton , newcastle are on the up

i think a clean sheet is a must in this game. lets start the year as we mean to go on!! come on lads!!! lets complete our first double of the season

[Welsh Spur]

Good point, a win represents our first double - and we did it over Pompey last season......

[jrio]

Tough one, do we have Lennon back for this?

A match we should definately be winning, but Pompey are a form team, and who knows what we will do on the day really.

I would expect a reaction from the players as they should be as ****ed off about the Liverpool loss as we are.

You're wrong about "should definitely be winning it". Pompey have only lost to Bolton at home but have drawn with Fulham and Villa. They'd only expect to lose against the CL 4. What weighs against us is the number of ex-Spurs players, mainly Davis and Mendes who will want to bust a gut to beat us, plus Kanu being something of a nemesis. I'm taking no mention of Lennon meaning the best he could do is be on the bench. I'd drop Zokora and bring in Tainio if he's fit. We need to go for all-out attack which I believe could result in a 2-2 draw.

[Welsh Spur]

I don't think he's wrong. I think he means that we are a side who should be pushing on from last year, where we beat them twice, 2-0 at Fratton Park. We can do the double over them, and I think we will.

I also think he means that looking at the two squads, Spurs' is superior, therefore should be winning. In the same way that Chelsea's is better than ours, so they should win. Or Man United's, or Liverpool's.

[JJ]

You're wrong about "should definitely be winning it". Pompey have only lost to Bolton at home but have drawn with Fulham and Villa. They'd only expect to lose against the CL 4. What weighs against us is the number of ex-Spurs players, mainly Davis and Mendes who will want to bust a gut to beat us, plus Kanu being something of a nemesis. I'm taking no mention of Lennon meaning the best he could do is be on the bench. I'd drop Zokora and bring in Tainio if he's fit. We need to go for all-out attack which I believe could result in a 2-2 draw.

Well i didn't really mean that we would win it definately, i was saying more along the lines of where we expect to compete and the positions we expect to be fighting for, a team like Portsmouth is a team we should be beating.

[jrio]

Yeah, I understood what you meant but that doesn't represent the current situation. Despite their improved performances we would have expected to be a place or two above them at this stage. We only beat them courtesy of Zokora's dive at the lane, and whilst we may have a more talented team and squad their players produce far more as a team than their individual parts. None of us would swap Robinson, King and Berb for James, Campbell and Ameobi but their fans are going to expect them to win and probably by more than one goal. Pompey are a far different proposition to last season and it may not be until our next home game against Toon that we start winning again.

[SurreySpur]

Yeah, I understood what you meant but that doesn't represent the current situation. Despite their improved performances we would have expected to be a place or two above them at this stage. We only beat them courtesy of Zokora's dive at the lane, and whilst we may have a more talented team and squad their players produce far more as a team than their individual parts. None of us would swap Robinson, King and Berb for James, Campbell and Ameobi but their fans are going to expect them to win and probably by more than one goal. Pompey are a far different proposition to last season and it may not be until our next home game against Toon that we start winning again.

Ameobi? isn't that pile of shit still at newcastle?

[original v.L.n.]

real test of our teams resolve this one will be (damn i sound like yoda!)

i hope we can scrape through i will go for 1-1 but 1-2 i would take ^^^^^:D

[jrio]

Ameobi? isn't that pile of shit still at newcastle?

Yeah, I meant Lua Lua who was at Newcastle with him.

Latest news appears to be that Lennon is out of today's game and may not be risked against Cardiff next week due to this fluid on his knee.

[shoot_ffs]

i think our slightly lacklustre displays may come back to haunt us with this one.
I think we would expect to beat them in pure footballing terms and i definately think we'll get goals, but like against villa we don't play well for the full 90 mins, and had villa had any quality in their set pieces we would have been in trouble.
I expect an aerial bombardment from them and the 'nemesis' kanu to be too clever for davo. We really need to win this, i thought we made liverpool look poor in the second half, but i think pompey won't be downhearted by how they play, they'll believe they can get something from the set pieces and that's how i see us losing it.

[JJ]

Yeah, I understood what you meant but that doesn't represent the current situation. Despite their improved performances we would have expected to be a place or two above them at this stage. We only beat them courtesy of Zokora's dive at the lane, and whilst we may have a more talented team and squad their players produce far more as a team than their individual parts. None of us would swap Robinson, King and Berb for James, Campbell and Ameobi but their fans are going to expect them to win and probably by more than one goal. Pompey are a far different proposition to last season and it may not be until our next home game against Toon that we start winning again.

Well losing at home to Liverpool didn't exactly represent the current situation either having won 12 out of 12 at home but we all saw what happened there. We're a better team than Portsmouth, and we've beaten them on 5 of the 7 occasions that we've played them in the Premiership.

Granted they're more of a challenge this year, but i still maintain that regardless of their current position and form this is a game we should always be expecting to win against a side like Portsmouth if we're honestly aiming for a top 5 finish.

They've got good home form because they haven't played any of the tougher teams at home yet. Their 7 wins have come against Blackburn, Wigan, West Ham, Reading, Watford, Everton, and Sheff Utd. Let's face it, that's not exactly the cream of the Premiership crop.

We rarely concede good goals, and there have been very few games where we've been completely outplayed. Like the last match, it was a game that we threw away with a moment of terrible defending, we weren't even remotely outplayed, and that is generally what it comes down to with us.

It's ours to win.

[Indianspur]

hope this fling im having is lying about meeting aaon lennon last night in leeds as that means who wont be playing this afternoon with the journey involved. But lying whore if shes just trying to impress me by telling lies cause she knows i met him once in townhouse in leeds and was one of my best days!

[SurreySpur]

Zokora has been benched with Teemu coming in and Berby is back. Slightly worrying that we dont have a striker on the bench.

Spurs: Robinson, Chimbonda, YP Lee, Dawson, Davenport, Ghaly, Tainio, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Berbatov, Defoe. Subs: Cerny, Gardner, Zokora, Murphy, Ziegler.

[Billywhizz]

Zokora has been benched with Teemu coming in and Berby is back. Slightly worrying that we dont have a striker on the bench.


Absolutely, bit worried by the lack of a striker on the sub's bench, Pekhaart should be given ago, 100% agree with Zokora's drop to the bench maybe a kick in the bollox he needs.

[Welsh Spur]

This team looks a bit under par, but the battle will be in the middle, if Tainio and Hudd perform and the DB/JD partnership resumes normal service then we'll be fine. But seriously, Hudd and Tainio are the key to getting a result.

[Billywhizz]

Yep!! they'll be up against Davis & Mendes i assume who will be wanting to put one over us.

[highlander]

Tainio will challenge for everything and win a lot of balls, Huddlestone will use possession well and with Berba being restored we have a good chance at taking all 3 points. should be a good game of football though

[highlander]

Ghaly's gone off needing stitches after only 45 seconds, great start, looks like we'll be down to 10 men for about 15 minutes

[highlander]

turns out Ghaly's lost a few teeth as well

[\jackdaw]

Just woken up and missed first 20 mins...anything worth reporting .. dam this hangover is bad, hope the game makes it better.

[\jackdaw]

Now that makes me feel better straight away, get the bame up and what do i see ... Berbs roasting queer boy .. perfect 8)

[highlander]

and Pamarot went off after about 10 minutes so they've had a forced substitution and reshuffle allready

[nuttyhotspurs]

Berbs roasting queer boy .. perfect 8)

my god that aint a pretty picture. i dont think berby is into that kinda thing....kanu on the other hand

[highlander]

***** hell, 1-0 down. how the **** did we concede to Benjani, awful

[nuttyhotspurs]

lucky ****s. there goes another clean sheet. a goal out of nothing

[SurreySpur]

****ING HELL.................how unlucky can we get!!!!!!!!!!!

[\jackdaw]

****, jammy ****s...bloody deflection

[Welsh Spur]

Campbell walked through midfield like there was no one there, ****ing pathetic, Hudds is not having an impact and I don't think I've seen Tainio with the ball.

[nuttyhotspurs]

I don't think I've seen Tainio with the ball.

thats coz hes a waste of space. last time i said that he scored. so i hope it happens again

[Welsh Spur]

Their goal is so far the only ****ing shot they've had, weve looked better overall but since their goal they look on a high....

[nuttyhotspurs]

81% possession to spurs. ****in hell lads do somat with it

[Welsh Spur]

Zok on for Tainio at half time for me, Hudds is on his own it seems I swear Tainio's not even on the pitch, he might as well not be!

[\jackdaw]

81% possession to spurs. ****in hell lads do somat with it

Patience young Nutty patience

If we carry on like this we *should* get something out of the game, so far Portsmouth havnt looked too thretening ..

[Welsh Spur]

On a higher note the Spammers are getting destroyed by reading, 4-0 at half time!

[nuttyhotspurs]

does this remind u of last season at white hart lane??? we dominated the first half they had one shot from lua lua and went in at half time 1 up, awesome goal tho that time. i think we ended up winning 3-1

[Welsh Spur]

They are defending well, otherwise we would be at least level by now.

[highlander]

****s me right off when the commentators say pompey are deservedly in the lead, what ***** game are they watching if pompey are good value for their lead, they had 1 bastardin shot. what a load of bollocks

[Welsh Spur]

They have had one shot on target, a deflection.

That's it really, our problem is that Hudds is alone, JD and DB are working ok, I swear to god that I have not seen Tainio at all, not with the ball, not supporting, nothing. Is he on the pitch, seriously?

[nuttyhotspurs]

****s me right off when the commentators say pompey are deservedly in the lead, what ***** game are they watching if pompey are good value for their lead, they had 1 bastardin shot. what a load of bollocks

i never heard that! what a pathetic statement

[nuttyhotspurs]

They have had one shot on target, a deflection.

That's it really, our problem is that Hudds is alone, JD and DB are working ok, I swear to god that I have not seen Tainio at all, not with the ball, not supporting, nothing. Is he on the pitch, seriously?

he has been none existent. i have a feeling zokora will be brought on

[SurreySpur]

We'll turn this round and win it 3-1. Defoe will get 2. We need to get murphy on for ghaly and switch tainio wide right, or maybe Zokora if he's up for it. Pompey are there for the beating.

[nuttyhotspurs]

we need a miracle cure for lennons dodgy knee

[highlander]

i never heard that! what a pathetic statement

yep it was said, as the players were walking off the pitch just before the ad break

[neilmcnab]

what is ghaly doing man, gave the ball away so cheaply, he does it too often and i guessd it wud lead to a goal,for a midfielder he is too loose with the ball, also he had so many chancs to deliver, he put in crap balls, get him off...

[Thfc4Life]

We'll turn this round and win it 3-1. Defoe will get 2. We need to get murphy on for ghaly and switch tainio wide right, or maybe Zokora if he's up for it. Pompey are there for the beating.

I love your optimism, but the problem is we will have to create a chance to score and that doesn't look likely with our no existant midfield. :(

[highlander]

i dont think Ghaly's put in too bad a performance so far, it looks like he's off for Murphy anyway

[neilmcnab]

all the possesion and no shots at goal, they had 1 deflected shot and a goal,plus benjani hasnt scored but 1 goal all season,

[Welsh Spur]

I say Zok in for Tainio, Malb and Hudd are fine, Lee is having a good game, as are the rest of the defence no qualms, Ghaly, fair play, has carried on after being booted in the face (why was Pamarot not booked for that - his foot was waaaaaaaaay too high) but I think we need something a bit extra, which he isn't really giving us at the mo.

We just need to break their defence. Mido would be great against these, batter ****ball and Primus out of sight. How bad is it that we can't beat a defence with a 32 year old gaylord and Linvoy ****ing Primus in it?

[neilmcnab]

he gave the ball away man, thet inturn led to their goal, and how many times cud he have created that goal 4 us, and his final ball was poor, he doest shoot, so isnt a threat , his only goal 4 us was a deflection back off himself with the goal gapping, he needs to do a lot more to warrent a starting place, 4 me

[Welsh Spur]

I can't believe Tainio's still on. Ghaly off for Murphy though.

[highlander]

fuk that was close, looks like david james is having a good day today, just our ***** luck

[highlander]

and we're back in business, 1-1 Malbranque

[Welsh Spur]

Tainio's first contribution - A booking!

[nuttyhotspurs]

piece of piss. come on now finish em off

[neilmcnab]

them 2 for them at centre bak look far more acomplished than our 2 jitter bugs, how cud between the two c backs, they cudnt block benjani who aint scored for the whole season, answers on a postcard please.

[\jackdaw]

Why could James never do that for England.. ****

[jrio]

Wasn't that just coming? Great play from Murphy and we look to have shifted up a few gears with him coming on.

[peterc]

we have to win this to stay in touch. bolton, scum, pool and pompey are pulling away and teams like everton , newcastle are on the up

i think a clean sheet is a must in this game. lets start the year as we mean to go on!! come on lads!!! lets complete our first double of the season

COYS 1-1 Malbranque, we need the three points. Watch Berba get us the winner.

[\jackdaw]

Get in there... was only a matter of time .. as I said .. patience.. 8)

[nuttyhotspurs]

Coooommmeeeeeee Ooonnnnnnnnn Yyyoooooouuuuuuuu Sssssssssppppppuuurrrrssssssss!!!!!!!!

[Welsh Spur]

I think my stream is delayed coz it's still 1-0!!!!

[\jackdaw]

I think my stream is delayed coz it's still 1-0!!!!

You find that on some channels .. sometimes 3 or 4 mins behind.

[Welsh Spur]

them 2 for them at centre bak look far more acomplished than our 2 jitter bugs, how cud between the two c backs, they cudnt block benjani who aint scored for the whole season, answers on a postcard please.

Erm, they DID block him it was an unfortunate deflection. ****.

[nuttyhotspurs]

is tainio still on?????????? or r we down to 10 men???

[highlander]

Huddlestones looking quite tired and sloppy today, playing all 4 games is taking its toll on him

[Welsh Spur]

West Ham are getting a right ****ing! 5-0! I ****ing love it, where is that spammer who came on here now eh?

[highlander]

i think we need to go for the 3 points here and maybe bring on Reto to give us more of a wide threat

[Welsh Spur]

Tainio is having a mare of a game. Mare of a season actually.

[Welsh Spur]

i think we need to go for the 3 points here and maybe bring on Reto to give us more of a wide threat

Ziegler is pants.

[nuttyhotspurs]

Ziegler is pants.

i completely agree. wot a sack of shit he is. id sooner have keano bombing up and down the wing in a wheelchair

[highlander]

well Murphy is no wide man, he should be moved central, tainio taken off for ziegler and then we might put more balls in the box

[Welsh Spur]

Malbranque's been picked on the left and he's been playing inside all game pretty much. It is worrying that this team has such a lack of width.

[highlander]

Malbranque has switched to the right and i think he's been our best player today

[Welsh Spur]

Malbranque has switched to the right and i think he's been our best player today

Agree yes, he has had the most influence.

[nuttyhotspurs]

Malbranque has switched to the right and i think he's been our best player today

yea hes on the right now and moving inside is just part of his game. however lack of width is definitely a problem for us

[Welsh Spur]

Hudds with a good effort - James has kept them in it today, we should have 3 at least by now.

[Welsh Spur]

Shit - it's Andy Cole, he loves playing us.

[highlander]

they are putting more pressure on us. we cant just sit on what we've got we need to make a change and start putting the pressure back on them. Tainio is having a poor game and Hudd looks nackered

[Welsh Spur]

Zokora on I said before half time, we need his energy in a game like this.

[highlander]

why the **** is gardner on, i dont like this negative chancge, hopefully it'll pay off in a set piece

[highlander]

Zokora on I said before half time, we need his energy in a game like this.

look again mate

[\jackdaw]

Terrible substition .. should of taken off Tanio

[Thfc4Life]

Malbranque off for gardner wtf is ****** Jol doing?? we need to win, not settle for a point he is so negative!!

[nuttyhotspurs]

the mind boggles

[Welsh Spur]

Well someone said they didnt like that we had no strikers before the game - we should be going for the 3pts not hanging on.

[Thfc4Life]

This type of substitution is exactly the reason we will never break into the top 4, does anyone think either of the top 4 would make this change! and Tainio should have come off he is embaressing :(

[Welsh Spur]

Gardner done some good defending so far, saved a goal definately.

[Welsh Spur]

sean davis - GRADE A TOSSER

Hello, that was a foul mate.

[\jackdaw]

Seems MJ was happy with a point from about the 75Th minute, these are games we need to win not draw.

[nuttyhotspurs]

who here would of taken a point before the game?

[highlander]

not really much of a result i dont think, this was a golden chance to gain ground on pompey & bolton

[Welsh Spur]

I would but only coz of our shite away form.

[highlander]

who here would of taken a point before the game?

not me, i said before the match that we could have won this, a point isnt good enough

[Welsh Spur]

No it isn't good enough, but the fact is we haven't been good enough away from home, so it isn't too bad a result, we've made a point on bolton and are no further away from pompey. You have to remember also that we have Jenas, Keane, Lennon and King out, four guaranteed starters.

[nuttyhotspurs]

I would but only coz of our shite away form.

yes we should of won but a point at pompey isnt the end of the world. not many teams will get a point there this season

[Welsh Spur]

I am saying it's a decent enough result. I'm not criticising it.

[SurreySpur]

Malbranque off for gardner wtf is ****** Jol doing?? we need to win, not settle for a point he is so negative!!

****** jol?????? What the **** are you talking about?

[shoot_ffs]

pompey were dreadful in the first half and stood right off us. unfortunately we stopped believing again half way through and we played like a team of individuals. the game was there for the taking but atleast we didn't throw it away like many times last year. hudds had a stinker and we had no support for the strikers. for all the poor performances, jol's tactics are shit yet again.
after going one down, we put the ball out wide where we only have full backs, and then try and find one striker amongst two giant defenders. then in the second half we start going long ball. there really seems to be a lack of leadership and i think that starts with jol sometimes.

[Welsh Spur]

****** jol??????

Yeah I thought that too what a stupid thing to say - but I just thought he posted that out of heat of the moment type frustration.

[nuttyhotspurs]

not me, i said before the match that we could have won this, a point isnt good enough

i think a few people on here need to realise we dont have a devine right and we aint good enough to win every game we play.
a point at pompey the way the season is going for us and how well pompey are doing, is a good point. regardless of whether we deserved or "should" have the 3 points

[Welsh Spur]

i think a few people on here need to realise we dont have a devine right and we aint good enough to win every game we play.
a point at pompey the way the season is going for us and how well pompey are doing, is a good point. regardless of whether we deserved or "should" have the 3 points

Yep, bang on there. It's all about realism people, realism.

[highlander]

i think a few people on here need to realise we dont have a devine right and we aint good enough to win every game we play.
a point at pompey the way the season is going for us and how well pompey are doing, is a good point. regardless of whether we deserved or "should" have the 3 points

i kno we dont have the right to win games but looking at the pompey squad i felt we could have taken 3 points, remembering their squad is far smaller than ours and has been very stretched over the crimbo period. we should have gone for all 3 points

[JJ]

Well, at least we got a point but another result that didn't go our way.

Robbo had **** all to do, James won them a point.

Onwards and upwards...

Oh, and I'm still yet to discover just what Tainio does.

[Welsh Spur]

Given the situation during the game, yes, we could have won, probably should have as their goalkeeper earned them a point. On paper, yes we are way better than them.

But the fact is this season they have performed more consistently and better (re: League Table) than us, so therefore going to their ground and gaining a point when we are doing terribly away from home, is, therefore, a decent result.

Yes, what exactly does Tainio do? One word to explain his performance: Worthless.

Ok two; Anonymous.

[nuttyhotspurs]

i kno we dont have the right to win games but looking at the pompey squad i felt we could have taken 3 points, remembering their squad is far smaller than ours and has been very stretched over the crimbo period. we should have gone for all 3 points

yes on paper we should of won pretty easily. but on paper we should be above pompey and bolton in the league shouldnt we??? it dont work like that unfortunately.

i think we did go for the 3 points up until 15 mins to go when jol saw that they were starting to push on for the 3 points with 3 strikers on, something had to give and he didnt want to risk losing a valuable point

[JJ]

Yes, what exactly does Tainio do? One word to explain his performance: Worthless.

Ok two; Anonymous.

I'm glad i'm not alone.

[nuttyhotspurs]

Yes, what exactly does Tainio do? One word to explain his performance: Worthless.

Ok two; Anonymous.

another i hear regularly on here is "hes a spurs fan" i couldnt give a **** who he supports. actually i wish he supported the scum if thats the basis for his inclusion, he could then sign for them and drag down their midfield

[Welsh Spur]

Gonna give my player rating:

Robbo 7 (had nothing to do)
Chim 7 (Did well, no mistakes and backtracked well)
Daws 6 (Just doesnt seem as assured without Ledders, but ok performance)
Davenport 7 (Took no risks, defended well and unlucky with deflection)
Lee 7 (Best performance ive seen from him in a long time, did nothing special but put a shift in and NO MISTAKES!)
Malb 7 (Good influence and positioned well for goal, good composure)
Hudd 6 (Left isolated by Tainio's crapness, also looked tired and a bit sloppy)
Tainio 0 (Was he even on the pitch????)
Ghaly 6 (Not his best but brave to carry on after losing 3 teeth, needs more composure on ball)
Defoe 6 (Not as good as recently but still gave his usual 100%)
Berb 6 (Always dangerous but maybe should have taken a chance and some decisions questionable)

Murphy 7 (Came on to great effect)
Gardner 7 (Saved a goal with a diving block, didn't look suspect but then also had Davo and Daws alongside him)

[nuttyhotspurs]

yes thats pretty much how i saw it

[Billywhizz]

TBH, a draw is know more than i'd thought we'd get @ Pompey. I been very disapointed with the results over the festive period with one win a draw and two defeats, if we were going to push for a CL place we needed a least 8 points from 4 games but 4 points from 4 games is totally unexceptable. I for one will be looking for Jol to bring in proven quality players in during the transfer window to help with the push for a CL place paying particular attention to left midfield, left back and centre half positions.

[Shuggie13]

i think a few people on here need to realise we dont have a devine right and we aint good enough to win every game we play.
a point at pompey the way the season is going for us and how well pompey are doing, is a good point. regardless of whether we deserved or "should" have the 3 points

Spot on. Pompey are a more consistent side this season than us, we had no right to think we were due 3 points. A good result for us and reading the reports the only the shame is we caught them on an off day and had the better chances.

[pontypoolyid]

Given the situation during the game, yes, we could have won, probably should have as their goalkeeper earned them a point. On paper, yes we are way better than them.

But the fact is this season they have performed more consistently and better (re: League Table) than us, so therefore going to their ground and gaining a point when we are doing terribly away from home, is, therefore, a decent result.

Yes, what exactly does Tainio do? One word to explain his performance: Worthless.

Ok two; Anonymous.

have a look at mido,murphy gahaly, before having a go at tainio when he's fit he gives his all for the cause more than most so get off his case, he's been out for age's when he's fit he give's his all thats more than i can say about the rest.problem is he has to play when not fit 'couse we have no real cover

[Thfc4Life]

****** jol?????? What the **** are you talking about?

I was just really frustrated at the time because i felt if we attacked them the game was there for the taking. I still can't understand why Tainio didn't come off for Zokora though?

[nuttyhotspurs]

have a look at mido,murphy gahaly, before having a go at tainio when he's fit he gives his all for the cause more than most so get off his case, he's been out for age's when he's fit he give's his all thats more than i can say about the rest.problem is he has to play when not fit 'couse we have no real cover

the problem with tainio is that his "all" isnt a lot mate. hes a squad player at best.

[pontypoolyid]

the problem with tainio is that his "all" isnt a lot mate. hes a squad player at best.

he was one of our best players IMO last year and will prove you wrong this year {i hope} coys:D

[JJ]

he was one of our best players IMO last year and will prove you wrong this year {i hope} coys:D

I hope you're right.

Even though Ghaly underperforms there is visible talent there. At the moment i don't see anything about Tainio that suggests he should play for us.

[pontypoolyid]

today for me ghaly had one of his best games should have been kicked in the head sooner ( joke ) but i still think tainio is the best bet.At the end of the day whoever puts the spurs shrit on we should all get behind them and cheer on the lillywhites COME ON YOU SPURS!!!!!!!

[mjbmedia]

I was just really frustrated at the time because i felt if we attacked them the game was there for the taking.
mate if i was you i wouldnt offer to take back what you said. Mj is a ****** a ****ing overly negative ****** who worries way too much about everything the opposition are/have done rather than making sure the opposition are worrying about us. Many think the sun shines out of his butt cos we nearly got CL and beat the scum last season , well but for his negativity we would have done both but Henry comes on when we're 1-0 up and we go ultra shit ourselves defensive and totally lose all the initiative and lose two points and the CL place.

Now the opposition just have to bring on another attacker and they know (as we have done many times before) that we will settle for a point and go more defensive, rather than do what champions would do and attack more and take advantage of the fact the opposition have one less midfielder/ defender . Considering we were more than holding our own when Pompey changed to an extra striker why did we bring on gardner and make it clear we're happy with apoint, we could have bought on Mido and gone for all three , after all isnt that why Man U ,Chelsea, Arsenal are ahead of us by some distance now , would they have done what we did if they were in the ascendancy at the time . no chance.

Mj shits himself too often for my liking , a similar thing happened against Watford FFS
take that out of his make up and we'll go far, end of the day he openly says the Premier League isnt our priority so why not try to be a bit bolder in it then and find out what your squad is truly capable of , weve dropped so many points being negative this season and its not like we still have Stalts at the back to eff it up in the last few minutes like last season

[jrio]

Don't you ever get disillusioned by the complete lack of reality you get from posts like that of mjbmedia? This idiot doesn't even realise that Mido isn't on the bench because he played on Saturday through injury and even if hadn't still wouldn't have been fit.

"do what champions do" - you moron, how are we even remotely resembling champions? Once again, a fan confuses Spurs with ManU or Chelsavich. We were easily the better side but in the first half were undeservedly a goal down. Once Murphy came on it looked as if we would win it but James pulled off some saves that he can do when not looking like a total f***wit. Jol was being pragmatic bearing in mind our key players with injuries and lack of alternatives on the bench.

mjbmedia - it's not the '60s or even the '80s; there's no Greaves, Mackay, Hoddle or Ardiles. Wise up.

[Welsh Spur]

Don't you ever get disillusioned by the complete lack of reality you get from posts like that of mjbmedia? This idiot doesn't even realise that Mido isn't on the bench because he played on Saturday through injury and even if hadn't still wouldn't have been fit.

"do what champions do" - you moron, how are we even remotely resembling champions? Once again, a fan confuses Spurs with ManU or Chelsavich. We were easily the better side but in the first half were undeservedly a goal down. Once Murphy came on it looked as if we would win it but James pulled off some saves that he can do when not looking like a total f***wit. Jol was being pragmatic bearing in mind our key players with injuries and lack of alternatives on the bench.

Well, blow me down, it's a post from jrio that I actually agree with!
I didn't want to say it, (I've seen the shit choda's had from/given to this guy and didn't want to engage in that kind of shit) but I'm glad you spoke up. His views are I hope unique and if not, of a minute few supporters.

[jrio]

The thing is WS, would you be saying the same thing now as when I posted before the game predicting a 2-2 draw? That's a realistic appraisal in my mind but so often to you it's being "negative", "pessimistic" etc. I won't remind you of my forecast for Liverpool.

I think you have the same mindset as Choda in thinking that this somehow indicates disloyalty etc. This just seems to encourage the kind of posts from mjbmedia. Before a game, everything is sweetness and light, lose and it's darkness and gloom.

Anyway, I thought you weren't reading my posts.

[Welsh Spur]

I wouldn't have been disheartened by a 2-2 result anyway, one which, as I thought before and still think now (obviously) was a fair prediction.

Before a game everything is only sweetness if we're in form, the doom and gloom comes with a truly disastrous result. (Re: Everton at home, Reading away, Arsenal away)

Today my mood is one of indifference, I'm not gutted as it's a point away to a more in form side, but a little disappointed given the chances we should have taken and won the match.

I am reading your posts, as I try to do with everyone's (obviously no-one can read them all) but I always got a sense of pessimism after reading what you'd posted. Sorry if I offended you (I probably didn't) before but I just had to show my agreement as like I mentioned with yours before mjb's post just got me wound up.

[mjbmedia]

The thing is WS, would you be saying the same thing now as when I posted before the game predicting a 2-2 draw? That's a realistic appraisal in my mind but so often to you it's being "negative", "pessimistic" etc. I won't remind you of my forecast for Liverpool.

I think you have the same mindset as Choda in thinking that this somehow indicates disloyalty etc. This just seems to encourage the kind of posts from mjbmedia. Before a game, everything is sweetness and light, lose and it's darkness and gloom.

Anyway, I thought you weren't reading my posts.
oi knobrot ive said this before and after many games this season, weve taken a backward step or two and with the attitude of some that 'we're not Man U or Chelsea ' well we never ****ing will be with that attitude . Look at what they do right and what we do wrong , its not hard to work out why theres a big points difference and its also not rocket science.
using your side of the argument why the **** are Pompey and Bolton up there then???? theyre not Man U or Chelsea and their players are inferior to ours skills wise (supposedly) yet hey they dont settle for draws , they dont set up negative in away games , we do .... or are we only gonna change when we get the team changing super duper left winger that everyone seesm so obsessed with .

Man U Chelsea Bolton Pompey Scum Scouse always appear to have the belief that they will get a win home or away , a few years ago Man U scored two last minute goals in CL final, could you honestly ever see MJs team doing that in any game. we'd maybe equalise then we'd be happy with the point or settle for extra time , and thats the difference and always wil lbe unless we address it

[jrio]

What to say to you, mjb? Bolton and Pompey have old school managers who play in a certain fashion with little style. You know the score with the CL sides. I don't see any great difference now from the Spurs sides I followed in the '80s. Always on the verge of challenging for the title or disappearing into mid-table. Then, the talk was always of getting Clough or Venables in to transform the team. Well, Venners had some effect.

There is just a gulf in quality from the CL sides that wasn't apparent before the CL had such an effect and you have to accept that. Who else has been there? Toon for a short while and Leeds....well , you know what happened there.

[choda]

The thing is WS, would you be saying the same thing now as when I posted before the game predicting a 2-2 draw? That's a realistic appraisal in my mind but so often to you it's being "negative", "pessimistic" etc. I won't remind you of my forecast for Liverpool.

I think you have the same mindset as Choda in thinking that this somehow indicates disloyalty etc. This just seems to encourage the kind of posts from mjbmedia. Before a game, everything is sweetness and light, lose and it's darkness and gloom.

Anyway, I thought you weren't reading my posts.

Well you seem so emotionless. It's like your only attachment to spurs is that you had to pick some team.

And then your predictions are always so lawroesc. Not always, like I didn't fancy a win today either, but I HOPED. You seem to prefer to be right and see spurs struggle, just so you can come on here and tell us all how you are superior because you 'don't let emotion get in the way' and how we all know nothing (especially choda).

You at one stage this season predicted twelfth and said we had no hope of higher. That was also a knee jerk, which I pointed out at the time. Of course I was illogical and not paying attention the 'facts'.

And you've really got to stop looking down your nose at other people.

[choda]

mate if i was you i wouldnt offer to take back what you said. Mj is a ****** a ****ing overly negative ****** who worries way too much about everything the opposition are/have done rather than making sure the opposition are worrying about us. Many think the sun shines out of his butt cos we nearly got CL and beat the scum last season , well but for his negativity we would have done both but Henry comes on when we're 1-0 up and we go ultra shit ourselves defensive and totally lose all the initiative and lose two points and the CL place.

Now the opposition just have to bring on another attacker and they know (as we have done many times before) that we will settle for a point and go more defensive, rather than do what champions would do and attack more and take advantage of the fact the opposition have one less midfielder/ defender . Considering we were more than holding our own when Pompey changed to an extra striker why did we bring on gardner and make it clear we're happy with apoint, we could have bought on Mido and gone for all three , after all isnt that why Man U ,Chelsea, Arsenal are ahead of us by some distance now , would they have done what we did if they were in the ascendancy at the time . no chance.

Mj shits himself too often for my liking , a similar thing happened against Watford FFS
take that out of his make up and we'll go far, end of the day he openly says the Premier League isnt our priority so why not try to be a bit bolder in it then and find out what your squad is truly capable of , weve dropped so many points being negative this season and its not like we still have Stalts at the back to eff it up in the last few minutes like last season

Even Sir Alex was getting hung last year. Okay sometimes his team selections are shocking (like silvestre at cb), but nobody agrees on everything. The point is overall Sir Alex is an awesome manager, one of the best ever and he got slated the last few years.

I think slating Jol is a major knee jerk as well. It's hard building a team with youngsters. But we are sitting okay still for a challenge on mulitiple fronts. I don't see the big problem. It's all a progression. And we will get needed reinforcements in the window.

[shoot_ffs]

i don't think we should feel too bad as we have 4 influential first teamers unavailable, king and lennon being two of our best players. if you took two of the best players out of any team they would not play as well and win games, so you have to put it in context a bit.

i'm disappointed with our midfield and tactics but we're still competitive which is a good sign. hopefully we'll sign a combative mid and a flying lefty, but i fear our injury list has eaten into our for sale list, or made them an essential part of the team for now, and without their cash we'll be stuck. Expect routy to come back, not that he's been playing well.

[MaccYid]

but can routledge come back, is he not on loan till the end of the season with out the option of a call back?? i dont know??

[Spur]

but can routledge come back, is he not on loan till the end of the season with out the option of a call back?? i dont know??

Getting Routledge back would accomplish nothing in my opinion. He just isn't good enough by a long, long shot. There's no place for him in our team. Or squad for that matter. I'd rather be playing Ghaly out there.

Saying that I would like to see him have a couple of competitive games for us. Maybe we should get him back at the start of the window then sell him at the end of it.

[Welsh Spur]

i don't think we should feel too bad as we have 4 influential first teamers unavailable, king and lennon being two of our best players. if you took two of the best players out of any team they would not play as well and win games, so you have to put it in context a bit.

i'm disappointed with our midfield and tactics but we're still competitive which is a good sign. hopefully we'll sign a combative mid and a flying lefty, but i fear our injury list has eaten into our for sale list, or made them an essential part of the team for now, and without their cash we'll be stuck. Expect routy to come back, not that he's been playing well.

That's right. Imagine if Man United lost Ronaldo and Rooney for a lengthy spell, they'd be ****ed. Everything goes through those two players, maybe Scholesy as well. Imagine if Chelski lost Drogba. I'm not going into Liverpool and the filth coz they've been as inconsistent as us. But you get my point.

[shoot_ffs]

Getting Routledge back would accomplish nothing in my opinion. He just isn't good enough by a long, long shot. There's no place for him in our team. Or squad for that matter. I'd rather be playing Ghaly out there.

Saying that I would like to see him have a couple of competitive games for us. Maybe we should get him back at the start of the window then sell him at the end of it.

i have watched routy a fair bit recently, and he beats men well but he does a lot of things badly too. i suspect that inconsistency is the reason he isn't playing for us. having said that i feel a bit sorry for him, it must be tough being touted around. he needs to play in a settled team for a while. as for him coming back, if ghaly is out a couple of weeks then i think we should recall him. i heard coleman saying it's up to us if we want to recall him, whether that's just a january window thing i'm not sure. but we can't afford any more injuries and we have some massive games coming up. i think if liverpool beat the arse in the coca cup, we have to put all our eggs in that basket, as a route into europe. I think we should forget about the fa cup for this year and stick the reserves out against cardiff.

[MaccYid]

. i think if liverpool beat the arse in the coca cup, we have to put all our eggs in that basket, as a route into europe. I think we should forget about the fa cup for this year and stick the reserves out against cardiff.

No way mate, all it takes is someone to do some volleyball practice like Kanoute a few years ago and then it goes out the window. I personally think we should just try and put out our strongest team now and if we pick up injuries then other players come in. We ain't gonna get CL footy this year so the cups are very important

[Welsh Spur]

I think we should forget about the fa cup for this year and stick the reserves out against cardiff.

We forgot about the FA Cup last year, surely we won't do it two years in a row? Maybe the fact we did so well in the league last year is due to the fact that it was the only competition we played in bar two games. Last season we played 40 games exactly all year, we've already played 30 before January this year.

[jrio]

Well you seem so emotionless. It's like your only attachment to spurs is that you had to pick some team.

And then your predictions are always so lawroesc. Not always, like I didn't fancy a win today either, but I HOPED. You seem to prefer to be right and see spurs struggle, just so you can come on here and tell us all how you are superior because you 'don't let emotion get in the way' and how we all know nothing (especially choda).

You at one stage this season predicted twelfth and said we had no hope of higher. That was also a knee jerk, which I pointed out at the time. Of course I was illogical and not paying attention the 'facts'.

And you've really got to stop looking down your nose at other people.
Yes, I've noticed how you "rarely reply to my posts". Glad to see you're limiting yourself to every other day.

You must rid yourself of the bizarre notion that my refusal to always forecast wins for every game somehow hinders Tottenham winning. You still haven't grasped what an internet forum is for. It's a frank exchange of views and opinions. Everyone hopes we succeed but why keep repeating it? If you don't think we'll win, why pretend otherwise? Fear of being called disloyal, not a true fan etc? Thinking that I would rather be right than see Spurs beat Liverpool is just ludicrous. It's that type of statement that makes me treat you with contempt. I suppose you have to take your hurt at the defeats out on someone but your immaturity and self-righteousness is just tiresome. Your recent comments regarding my being "stalkerish" make you look a complete imbecile. It looks as though you're still rattled at my criticism of you advocating Spurs playing like Barcelona, something I took great delight in ridiculing because you were so insistent it was plausible.

I never predicted 12th but I never expect you to rely on anything as trivial as facts. Whilst we were bobbing between 10 and 12th I said we wouldn't finish a great deal higher without something like a seven game winning run. As I recall you were still confident a CL spot was attainable. Someone else even thought 3rd was possible. After Liverpool, SuBerb thinks we will finish between 6th and 8th, pretty much what I was saying earlier. Does this make me cleverer than him, or he a more loyal supporter than me? No, I said what I thought, maybe he thought the same then and had hopes for better, but it certainly shows I was more realistic than you. In the same fashion I don't call for players to be hung, drawn and quartered or the manager to be sacked.

What have your repeated insistences achieved? Everyone thinks you really love Spurs and that I don't really care? You've admitted you don't believe everything you forecast, but you're always quick to furnish us with solutions after the latest defeat, usually some nonsense involving Keane or Davids. You're just afraid of being rejected by the other posters. It's just childish and I've spent too long supporting the club, whatever the results, to indulge in it. If anyone lacks self-esteem it's you, something you conceal with your ill-infomed and verbose bluster, droning on forever about how you love the club, implying anyone who doesn't agree lies in the shadow of your love.

You think of yourself as something of a writer, obviously with no pretensions to produce anything remotely relying on facts or analysis. I think you're best suited to being a fantasy writer, something involving goblins, elves and wizards or drivel of a similar ilk. Others may see you more as a tabloid Glenda Slag, shooting off your half-baked views to all and sundry. Whenever you find an opinion you disagree with but can't rationally challenge, how do you deal with it? You attack the poster personally, insulting their character, conjuring up visions of their inadequacies and making veiled threats that they could be banned. I know you're not a 12 year old boy but that's how you come across.

And it's only you I look down on. You don't have to be super-smart to do that, you just need a regard for integrity.

[olly27]

not to get involved in this difference of opinion (!) but I do recall quite a few saying that we would still finish in the top four before the xmas period started. I disagreed with these assertions given are sluggish start to the season coupled with our dreadfall away perfromances.I always maintained that 5-8 was on the cards this season and to suggest that fans on here are always negative because they see things more objectively is utterly absurd.

[suBerb]

It looks as though you're still rattled at my criticism of you advocating Spurs playing like Barcelona, something I took great delight in ridiculing because you were so insistent it was plausible.

After Liverpool, SuBerb thinks we will finish between 6th and 8th, pretty much what I was saying earlier.


To play like Barca does not imply to play as good as Barca. A Bulgarian team called Levski plays with the system of Barca. Their budget is as great as Berbatov gains for a year here (3 mill euro) but they managed to reach 1/4 final in the UEFA Cup last season and the group stage of the CL this season.

It's my conviction that we won't have a particularly good season in the league after the Reading game, and not after Liverpool. We will have some great victories, perhaps against the scum, manure and why not Chelski away, but we won't finish top 4 imo. Still, I think that we are going to achieve some great things in the cups.

It's a bit annoying that two intelligent Spurs supporters slate each other. Please, burry that "discussion", it's pretty useless.

[Welsh Spur]

Well it's like being in an argument with a ****ing bunch of Indy readers. **** this shit. I understand everyone views, I agree with some and disagree with others but put simply Id just like to say to jrio:

Get off your ****ing high horse you pompous little ****.

[jrio]

Welsh Spur, you've got the manners of a retarded baboon and the eloquence to match. You probably take that as a compliment. Just go back to not reading my posts. No one's forcing you to, so if you don't have anything constructive to say then it's best to stay silent. Your childish abuse just marks you out as someone with very little to say and even fewer ways of saying it.

[hastingsyid]

Jerry Jerry

[JJ]

For the love of god, someone throw a chair!

[RuFuS]

Mj is a ****** a ****ing overly negative ****** who worries way too much about everything the opposition are/have done rather than making sure the opposition are worrying about us. Many think the sun shines out of his butt cos we nearly got CL and beat the scum last season , well but for his negativity we would have done both but Henry comes on when we're 1-0 up and we go ultra shit ourselves defensive and totally lose all the initiative and lose two points and the CL place.
Mj shits himself too often for my liking , a similar thing happened against Watford FFS take that out of his make up and we'll go far, end of the day he openly says the Premier League isnt our priority so why not try to be a bit bolder in it then and find out what your squad is truly capable of , weve dropped so many points being negative this season.

I know i've cut your post about and it don't make for good reading
(thats not why i did it).
I think you could be on to something. What worries me is that he seems to have a 'system' and then a 'game plan' for each team. If the players rely too much on the 'system' and then the 'game plan' dont work cause the oppo's have their own agenda, he seems to be at a loss to be able to change it and the players lack the bottle or ability to change the 'game plan' to suit.
If the premier is not the proirity which i kind of understand then we need to be more flexible on the pitch in cup games as you only 90 mins to succeed. We have the players who can turn games. Against Liverpool He replaced Mido who was havin a mare with Berby. It was better but it didn't work. Then in the last 10 mins we went 3 at the back with Davenport pushed up front to add some height. Well if we were going long ball for the last 10, he sholud have kept Mido on and replaced Ghaly who was also havin a mare with Berby. Long ball may not have been pretty but if your going to do it,at least go 4 it.

[JJ]

I know i've cut your post about and it don't make for good reading
(thats not why i did it).
I think you could be on to something. What worries me is that he seems to have a 'system' and then a 'game plan' for each team. If the players rely too much on the 'system' and then the 'game plan' dont work cause the oppo's have their own agenda, he seems to be at a loss to be able to change it and the players lack the bottle or ability to change the 'game plan' to suit.
If the premier is not the proirity which i kind of understand then we need to be more flexible on the pitch in cup games as you only 90 mins to succeed. We have the players who can turn games. Against Liverpool He replaced Mido who was havin a mare with Berby. It was better but it didn't work. Then in the last 10 mins we went 3 at the back with Davenport pushed up front to add some height. Well if we were going long ball for the last 10, he sholud have kept Mido on and replaced Ghaly who was also havin a mare with Berby. Long ball may not have been pretty but if your going to do it,at least go 4 it.

You have to remember that our squad is stretched by injuries at the moment and taking a midfielder off against a team like Liverpool would be a very bad move as they tend to play all of their football in the midfield.

You can't expect him to know what changes will work, all he can do is try to change it.

[jrio]

Rufus, Mido wasn't fit and only played with painkilling injections because Berb had been so ill.

I had more than a wry smile on my face when I saw Benitez's comments regarding Spurs' pressure in the second half: he regarded it as good practice for Bolton yesterday. Judging by our first half against Liverpool and Bolton's display yesterday, I thought that was probably better preparation. Benitez makes me groan, though. If I didn't know what he looked like I'd swear he has only one eye. Liverpool always deserve to win, they're never boring, they never get all the penalties they should.

Probably the aspect of Jol I most admire is he hardly ever indulges in the traditional manager bullshit. I still remember being incredulous when Dalglish, as manager for Liverpool against ManU, claimed there were another 3 clear cut penalties they should have got besides the one they did. I know people will claim it was yet another example of his dry wit but I still think he really meant it. Anyone able to remember when we last got a penalty at Anfield? I've seen plenty against us there but not the game where Jennings saved 2 and we still lost 3-2.

[laspur]

Look fellas, i'm a frustrated fan like the rest of ya, but i wont diss. ya over difference of opinion like i see happening. This board is used for opinions, i understand that, but when someone is locked only on their opinion and **** the rest of everyone elses, i have a problem with that. After all we all want the same, which is success. Anyway, am i the only one who thought Spurs would grab 4th easily with the signings of Berbs and Zokora. You would think i'm an idiot with those ambitious thoughts considering what some think.

[Spur]

Look fellas, i'm a frustrated fan like the rest of ya, but i wont diss. ya over difference of opinion like i see happening. This board is used for opinions, i understand that, but when someone is locked only on their opinion and **** the rest of everyone elses, i have a problem with that. After all we all want the same, which is success. Anyway, am i the only one who thought Spurs would grab 4th easily with the signings of Berbs and Zokora. You would think i'm an idiot with those ambitious thoughts considering what some think.

I'm still very much into the idea of finshing 3rd or 4th so don't worry about it. It's there for the taking, although admittedly it's getting harder every game we don't win.

We are 7 points of 4th now, 8 from 3rd. Bolton have generally over the last few seasons always had a point in time where they won't win for 6 games, as for Arsenal they are very inconsistent. Portsmouth I have a lot of doubt as to whether they can continue up there, both Pompey and Bolton are playing above themselves.

Absolutely certain that the top four will be Chelsea, Man Utd, and 2 of Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Our goal difference is terrible, we need to start banging goals in, but then this is all about players taking their chances again.

[RuFuS]

Rufus, Mido wasn't fit and only played with painkilling injections because Berb had been so ill.

Fair enough, but it was not fair on Mido as he was made to look an idiot with crowd just stopping short of having a go at him.
If players are not fit they should not play. We must have couple of fit kids that would relish a game.

[JJ]

Fair enough, but it was not fair on Mido as he was made to look an idiot with crowd just stopping short of having a go at him.
If players are not fit they should not play. We must have couple of fit kids that would relish a game.

Mido would have had to agree to it before going ahead. He must have thought he was fit enough to play.

[jrio]

Fair enough, but it was not fair on Mido as he was made to look an idiot with crowd just stopping short of having a go at him.
If players are not fit they should not play. We must have couple of fit kids that would relish a game.

Jol obviously doesn't think they're up to it as he hasn't even had Barnard or any other striker on the bench. Barnard looked enthusiastic when he came on against Bolton last season but has been given no openings this season and if Jol prefers Ziegler et al that tells it's own story. Jol stated afterwards the circumstances in which Mido played and Berb was on the bench so you have to rely on the fans to absorb that afterwards. Unfortunately it's not something you can advise the crowd of beforehand.

[mjbmedia]

too many games we've been too negattive this season. its no knee jerk or any other reaction except long term analysis .

Pompey bring on an extra attacker, the super duper Andy (well passed my sell by date) Cole so we 2 minutes later bring on super defender Gardner (you know the guy who's not good enough to be on the bench when Kings fit) so we've got a third rate defender covering a has been forward . what a waste of a man.

ok mido werent there but someone more attacking then Gardner was, bring them on and make Pompey think hang on maybe Pompey cant be quite so attacking, theyll have to be a bit careful else Spurs will overpower them in numbers going forwards . So instead of us defending the point and living on scraps and breaks (which if it werent for James may well have been enough on this occasion) we could have taken or kept the initiative and pushed Pompey back and piled the pressure onto them. As it was with the small amount of pressure and field position we had we still nearly won it but for some good keeping, so imagine what we could have achienved with a more attacking 9lets try to win this rather than settle for a point) attitude.

this isnt the first time and it wont be the last that our dire attitude costs us points , costs us position at the end of the season and may well cost us European place .

the only games we have even attempted to control as id like us to are Charlton and UEFA ones and then we looked the doggys danglies

[hastingsyid]

Look fellas, i'm a frustrated fan like the rest of ya, but i wont diss. ya over difference of opinion like i see happening. This board is used for opinions, i understand that, but when someone is locked only on their opinion and **** the rest of everyone elses, i have a problem with that. After all we all want the same, which is success. Anyway, am i the only one who thought Spurs would grab 4th easily with the signings of Berbs and Zokora. You would think i'm an idiot with those ambitious thoughts considering what some think.

Aint all americans stupid lol,only kidding my friend,well said there fella and i also still believe that we can finish 4th,the way things are at the moment id be happy with top 6 but lets try and stay positive.....COYS

[highlander]

the crimbo build up is the perfect time to give some young players a go in the prem. these players would have been well up for the challenge of the prem, this was proved when Marney was brought in for the New Years day game against Everton the season before last, we won 5-1 and Marney scored 2. i thought O'Hara would have been given some game time and was suprised we kept basically the same midfield for all 4 games

[laspur]

Aint all americans stupid lol,only kidding my friend,well said there fella and i also still believe that we can finish 4th,the way things are at the moment id be happy with top 6 but lets try and stay positive.....COYS

Your right hastings, a large percentage are dumb with some exceptions(me). Those darn avators of yours constantly leave me pitching a tent, keep em coming. :p

[neilmcnab]

Erm, they DID block him it was an unfortunate deflection. ****. erm a block means someone stops the ball goin thru... that was not a block it was them turning their backs to the shooter, resulting in a deflection,

[JJ]

erm a block means someone stops the ball goin thru... that was not a block it was them turning their backs to the shooter, resulting in a deflection,

They got in a block, which due to the conditions, skidded horribly off the pitch.

It was unlucky, there were millions of places it could have gone and Robbo would have had it.

[jrio]

Aint all americans stupid lol,only kidding my friend,well said there fella and i also still believe that we can finish 4th,the way things are at the moment id be happy with top 6 but lets try and stay positive.....COYS
Alright, how is that possible when last season we were 4th since December but still couldn't manage it even when we were regularly winning away games? You might as well say we could win the Premiership. It's not impossible but so improbable as to be. I don't for a moment think 4th is possible. 5th is but would still require a massive improvement in away results.
As I type this Arsenal are 4 up against Charlton with a goal difference 24 above Spurs, essentially leaving us 8 points behind. How far behind where they on a game for game basis last season at this stage when we failed?

Anyone who thought we would "easily" get 4th is hopelessly naive. Remember our record of not beating a CL side until Chelsea this season(followed by the capitulation to Reading). I thought we could get 4th because we bought quality players(Stalteri and Lee being identified as far too poor), particularly Chimbonda who was a proven performer in the Prem and Berbatov who arrived with an incredible scoring record from the Bundesliga. Quite unlike what Moyes did when Everton finished 4th and bought players with question marks against them and largely proved to be something of a fiasco. Still, 5th was most likely and there was something of a consensus from sports writers and pundits on this. Unless we get some kind of fluency with away results then not much will change and even 5th will prove to be well beyond us.

[laspur]

jrio, honestly you knew all along we would be mid-table all season and would definitely not finish in the top 6 ? I may not have been a fan as long as you but in the last 8+ years i've been supporting Spurs, i've never had a better feeling of actually competing for some silverware or finishing in the top 4 since Jol has arrived. I know you have stats etc. to back-up your replies but i find it bizarre not to have at least a little faith in what the gaffer and boys are trying to accomplish. Perhaps year after year of disapointment leaves old school fans no other alternative but bitterness. What we need is a change of mentality my friend, we all need it sometimes.

[Spur]

Pompey bring on an extra attacker, the super duper Andy (well passed my sell by date) Cole so we 2 minutes later bring on super defender Gardner (you know the guy who's not good enough to be on the bench when Kings fit) so we've got a third rate defender covering a has been forward . what a waste of a man.

In the right circumstances this would be true. But not when you've only won one away match all season. You can't go alll out you have to be sensible. I expected a point from the two games we have played (Pool and Pompey), but I expected that point to be against Liverpool rather than Portsmouth.

They are well above us at the moment and with our away record look like they will stay there. Had this been against Watford or Reading or Sheffield United or Fulham i'm all for agreeing with you. But going into a game with a loss or two from previous weeks and an embarrassing away record going all out attack is just asking for trouble.

Against Watford and Reading we did make attacking subs, or at least not defensive, even with the shabby defending in both games, so I feel that says alot.

[jrio]

Laspur, of course I don't know, how could I? I don't have psychic powers but it doesn't take supernatural powers to confidently state that we wouldn't easily be in the top 4. Didn't you think 9 games into the season that your prediction was misplaced? Surely you looked at the away performances and could see it would take something drastic to change that? Faith is for religious zealots and 12 year old boys. Judge by the evidence of your own eyes. I don't doubt everyone on this forum can see what I see and draw similar conclusions but somehow you all think you're being disloyal by not saying the obvious. We're nowhere near good enough to be in the top 4 and if we had qualified last season we'd have been crushed in a similar fashion to Everton(think Spur has previously stated this).

[laspur]

Laspur, of course I don't know, how could I? I don't have psychic powers but it doesn't take supernatural powers to confidently state that we wouldn't easily be in the top 4. Didn't you think 9 games into the season that your prediction was misplaced? Surely you looked at the away performances and could see it would take something drastic to change that? Faith is for religious zealots and 12 year old boys. Judge by the evidence of your own eyes. I don't doubt everyone on this forum can see what I see and draw similar conclusions but somehow you all think you're being disloyal by not saying the obvious. We're nowhere near good enough to be in the top 4 and if we had qualified last season we'd have been crushed in a similar fashion to Everton(think Spur has previously stated this).

I guess a neutral fan could see this in the 1st 9 games while I keep thinking "we can't be this bad, we'll turn it around" definite tinted view from me. I guess i can't stomache the obvious sometimes jrio, you speak alot of truth and point out the deficiencies of the club, where most of the time I don't want to be bothered with it. Nothing personal, it's just consructive criticism coming from ya and i respect that. I still think we'll get to a final though.

[Spur]

We're nowhere near good enough to be in the top 4 and if we had qualified last season we'd have been crushed in a similar fashion to Everton(think Spur has previously stated this).

Indeed, and it's something I still believe now. Maybe missing out on CL once more won't be a bad thing, perhaps only if Portsmouth and Bolton don't get it too though. Of course they could be crushed ala Everton, with Bolton that is nearly a certainty, but Portsmouth can just go out and buy a new squad.

We have still got the best years ahead. Look at the age of our team, add to that it has constantly changed over the last few years, give it time, and let us keep the majority of the players at the Club that we have at the moment, don't lose key players like Lennon, King, Robinson and then we will see. I'm more than happy to have 2 or 3 years winning or at least challenging for the UEFA Cup.

Whilst saying all this I am fully aware that actually our window of opportunity could be getting smaller and smaller by the season. Maybe by each transfer window. New investors have made Portsmouth better, others are linked with Newcastle and Villa and West Ham haven't reaped the benefits yet but in time they will. We are the only Club who will actually have to work for success now. And as it goes Arsenal. The only recognised teams I would say now to be without a blank cheque for any and every player.

The Premier League is fast becoming a joke, but that's a story for another thread.

[choda]

Jrio,

You really need some help mate, seriously. I don't have the time or the inclination in getting in a long no win verbal ping pong about nothing.

If I really wanted to I could verbally feed your liver to the pigs, but what's the point. Like you probably spent two hours polishing up that post. Your a sad **** in more ways than anyone can shake a stick at.

Welsh Spur is dead right with his post.

As Adrian Croynour put it in Good Morning Vietnam, 'You're in more dire need of a blow job than any white man in history'.

I never thought I'd use the ignore list but I'm adding you to it, as I don't want to read your posts or talk to you again. And I'll be missing nothing. You add absolutely nothing to this site, except pissing people off with your nerd filled egocentric droning.

I don't like seeing good guys like Welsh spur being ****ed out of it and called a retard. And I don't always agree with mjb but he's good guy as well. For merely stating his opinion that Jol can be negative (which he has every right to do, and there is a grain of truth in it) you called him a moron and an idiot.

And you'd do well to remember welshie's a young man of twenty one. Immature? You're the immature one. Welshie is ten times more mature than you. You've used your signature now for three months as a dig at other posters. Get a life.

You were damaged as a child, get help.

[mjbmedia]

In the right circumstances this would be true. But not when you've only won one away match all season. You can't go alll out you have to be sensible. I expected a point from the two games we have played (Pool and Pompey), but I expected that point to be against Liverpool rather than Portsmouth.

They are well above us at the moment and with our away record look like they will stay there. Had this been against Watford or Reading or Sheffield United or Fulham i'm all for agreeing with you. But going into a game with a loss or two from previous weeks and an embarrassing away record going all out attack is just asking for trouble.


yeh i see your point and i aint arguing, you know me :p

i didnt request all out attack did i???? i request not to sit on what we already have cos sitting on a point isnt good enough and at the end of the season ,as with last one, these points will cost us.
just that i think the way and time we subbed ie as a direct response to Rednapps move, proved that MJ was more concerned about pompeys strengths than about using our strengths and making them worry about us whcih sends out totally bad vibes to all concerned. at the time those subs were made we had more control of the game than they did, we were creating the chances and James was saving them, sure we had some chances after the subs but we'd lost the ascendency and it looked like pompey were more likely to nick it with the pressure they had on us in the closing 10. now if this was just a one off game then fair enough, but as has been pointed out before , thats not the case, its fast becoming the norm . how many goals have we scored in the first 20 minutes of games, how many in the last 20 minutes of games, not many on either count im sure , sio that shows that we are looking at the opposition first too often and maybe too hard, and then at the end we are happy with what we have already or we are incapable (mainly) of salvaging anything late on.

i just feel that motivation and a positive attitude can go a long way and we and MJ seem to be lacking somewhat in both at the moment.

wait for Feyernoord games and see the difference we play with .

[Welsh Spur]

Welsh Spur, you've got the manners of a retarded baboon and the eloquence to match. You probably take that as a compliment. Just go back to not reading my posts. No one's forcing you to, so if you don't have anything constructive to say then it's best to stay silent. Your childish abuse just marks you out as someone with very little to say and even fewer ways of saying it.

Take it you're enjoying the altitude up there O Holy one?

Can I ask why you have Liverpool's record as your signature? Are you not a Spurs fan, if so then why the need to display other teams superiority?

Because I took the opportunity to say what everyone is thinking for once and not, like you, typed a ****ing essay, it means I have nothing to say?

Obviously YOU don't read MY posts....

I'm going to go back to playing with my childish LEGO set. That I had for Christmas....from Santa. (yes he does exist!) ****ing imbecile.

[Spur]

OK, ok I know you didn't request all out attack but i'm sure you catch my drift. And your right about the no goals with ten minutes to go or ten minutes in. In fact it's only the Portsmouth goal that is the exception.

In the last 20 Premier League games we have scored 3 or more goals in a game twice. I mentioned this when we scored 5 against Charlton, that we haven't scored 4 or more for roughly 2 seasons, stretching waaay back to Villa at the Lane.

Our goalscoring problems earlier on in the season made us all laugh and cry at our finishing and i'm still going to give that as an answer. We had 3 or 4 good chances against Pompey (that's from the highlights though, and I missed the Liverpool game altogether as I was gearing up for New Years Eve), that we should have been scored.

It's the same for every game, and it's not just Defoe being selfish, it's Berbatov mis-hitting the ball, a keeper pulling off a great save, or a bent shot from whoever is trying to slot it away. Add to that our back line is looking so suspect now it's unreal and your going to see some bad stuff.

Like I say I watched on Football First, so I can't exactly give a great review, but I was just arguing a point and stand by what I said.

[hastingsyid]

Take it you're enjoying the altitude up there O Holy one?

Can I ask why you have Liverpool's record as your signature? Are you not a Spurs fan, if so then why the need to display other teams superiority?

Because I took the opportunity to say what everyone is thinking for once and not, like you, typed a ****ing essay, it means I have nothing to say?

Obviously YOU don't read MY posts....

I'm going to go back to playing with my childish LEGO set. That I had for Christmas....from Santa. (yes he does exist!) ****ing imbecile.

****ing right santa is real,lol

[mjbmedia]

****ing right santa is real,lol
YEH AND HE WEARS A BIG BLUE COAT NOT SHITE RED

[Welsh Spur]

In the last 20 Premier League games we have scored 3 or more goals in a game twice. I mentioned this when we scored 5 against Charlton, that we haven't scored 4 or more for roughly 2 seasons, stretching waaay back to Villa at the Lane.


When was that thrashing of Everton when Marney hit a brace? NYD I recall, can't remember what year though. Can't have been that long ago though can it?

[JJ]

When was that thrashing of Everton when Marney hit a brace? NYD I recall, can't remember what year though. Can't have been that long ago though can it?

New Years Day 2005

[Welsh Spur]

What did we do last NYD? Who did we play and what was the result?

Bit of trivia for you all!

[mjbmedia]

Newcastle i beleive result - home win

[Welsh Spur]

Yep, 3-1, a game in which i believe Owen wrapped his foot bad.

Ok, next one - in which year did Spurs beat Manure 4-1 on NYD?

[mjbmedia]

Ok, next one - in which year did Spurs beat Manure 4-1 on NYD?
ehhhhhhh ............1886

[SurreySpur]

1996 i think. Armstrong scored two. God that seems like a LONG LONG time go.

[hastingsyid]

YEH AND HE WEARS A BIG BLUE COAT NOT SHITE RED

Absolutely my friend;)

[hastingsyid]

1996 i think. Armstrong scored two. God that seems like a LONG LONG time go.

I think ur right there fella....heres one what year was Hastingsyid born:p

[JJ]

Yep, 3-1, a game in which i believe Owen wrapped his foot bad.

Ok, next one - in which year did Spurs beat Manure 4-1 on NYD?

Ah, i remember that game.

Was it around 93/94? I remember a young Beckham being in their side, before his long range Wimbledon effort.

[MiloMinderbinder]

1996 i think. Armstrong scored two. God that seems like a LONG LONG time go.

it was 1/1/96 holy crap, eleven years ago, I was talking about this game the other day (during the drenching vs. Liverpool, anyone else get pissed on in the East stand? great roof!) probably in my top 5 games of all time, twas an evening to remember- Armstrong scored twice after all and I am not talking £10 baggies from some dude in the pub.

Hastings is it 1066 - it sounds familiar ;)

[Welsh Spur]

it was 1/1/96 holy crap, eleven years ago, I was talking about this game the other day (during the drenching vs. Liverpool, anyone else get pissed on in the East stand? great roof!) probably in my top 5 games of all time, twas an evening to remember- Armstrong scored twice after all and I am not talking £10 baggies from some dude in the pub.

Hastings is it 1066 - it sounds familiar ;)

Yes 1996 is the correct answer.

[Thfc4Life]

Hastings is it 1066 - it sounds familiar ;)

:eek: Tough crowd, huh mate!

[MiloMinderbinder]

:eek: Tough crowd, huh mate!

nothing I can't handle :)

[Thfc4Life]

nothing I can't handle :)

Good to hear. :) Your obvious comical talent is wasted on this forum ;)

[MiloMinderbinder]

Good to hear. :) Your obvious comical talent is wasted on this forum ;)

ah thanks for the moral support mate. I have to try and laugh otherwise I start thinking of things that'll get me into trouble.

[singapore spur]

regarding jol and his tactics , negative or otherwise , i would agree that he tends to react to the opposing team rather than being proactive but this may well be down to his better knowledge (or just more realistic) of the abilities of our squad and what they can or cannot achieve at their present form levels .
i cant really comment on the portsmouth game as i have seen nothing of it so far . but match reports that i have read says that james kept them in the game and on one of his "england " days we would have had 2-3 scored , thereby winning away from home against a confident relatively high flying team , which would have been a good result for anyone .

also read that despite having several teeth knocked out , having stitches , and then loosing a further tooth during play , ghaly was up for carrying on , i love that so big ups for him even though he can infuriate a lot of the time

and regarding premiership positions , after finishing 5th without a win against the top 4 last year (i think we played better against them than the results show ) and with a stronger squad than last year it was not unrealistic or improbable for us to finish 4th .

[Welsh Spur]

regarding jol and his tactics , negative or otherwise , i would agree that he tends to react to the opposing team rather than being proactive but this may well be down to his better knowledge (or just more realistic) of the abilities of our squad and what they can or cannot achieve at their present form levels .

Good post. This is spot on, MJ knows the players better than we do, their strengths and weaknesses, he's done enough to convince me he knows what he's doing. I trust his decisions have a good worthy logical reasoning behind them.

and regarding premiership positions , after finishing 5th without a win against the top 4 last year (i think we played better against them than the results show ) and with a stronger squad than last year it was not unrealistic or improbable for us to finish 4th .

Again, correct. We had every reason to expect a better challenge, however, and I still maintain this as the reason our league form has suffered, we will have had to play 10-15 more games than last season by this season's end. And it is no coincidence.