Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Arsenal

[funster]

The regulars will know that I've not been around much lately. Work is nuts. Its hampered my ability to get onto the forum as much as I'd like lately, but even that wasn't going to stop me getting to the North London Derby!

After a massive curry and several beers the previous night, the early start was not exactly appreciated! The snow was still lying pretty thick around Boringstoke, but the trains were running fine so after the customary couple of pints in The Coach and Horses before the game, we were set.

Snow north of Boringstoke


Actually, just remembered a comedy moment on the train from Liverpool Street to White Hart Lane. Group of four supporters sat just in front of me, talking about travel, one of 'em goes - get this, hilarious:

"For some reason, I don't like malaria"!!!

One of the blokes with him responds - quite rightly:

"Well, have you ever met anybody that does?!"

Well, I thought it was funny anyway! Right, back to the match report.....

The return of Robbie Keane, and the visit of an Arsenal team far from the imposing side that we've seen in previous seasons. I had a sneaky feeling about this one.

The team sheet made for good reading. Reasonably strong, although a bit of a question mark over Jenas and Palacios both playing along with Modric who had to shift out to the left to make way. Or did he? More on that in a bit.

The first five minutes was all Spurs. Totally. Then out of nowhere the Goons found a chance and slid the ball all the way across the six yard line. Lucky for us there was nobody there to apply any kind of touch.

The better chances, though, were certainly looking like being ours. First Lennon was played in only to shoot straight at Almunia. Then Palacios - who looked impressive, but still seemed to be finding his feet - hit one wide, but not by much.

One of the best chances fell to Pav. Robbie moved down the left, but the ball fell to BAE who pinged it in first time, and Pav really should have done better but managed only to fire wildly off target.

Jenas then demonstrated why he frustrates so much. A really strong run followed up by one of the most pathetic passes you're likely to see. Rivals anything Huddlestone manages from short range!

We were easily the better team. There were shouts for a penalty. To me it looked clear that Keane (I think it was anyway) was clipped. I've seen them given, but nothing doing.

Action from a corner with Keano back in the Spurs shirt


Was this going to be one of those days? Well, the chances were still coming, and mostly they were coming to us. Modric won a lovely ball in the middle and slotted in Lennon who took a super first touch to make space but shot wide.

Modric then had a decent chance himself after we won the ball deep in their half. It looked to be going wide but Almunia took no risks in pushing it wide for a corner.

It was about then, probably about half an hour in that the Goons created their best chance. Nothing doing though. Saved and cleared. Easy enough.

With fifteen minutes to go I summarised my thoughts of the formation. Modric had started left wing but was actually drifting constantly into the middle. What was actually happening was that Keane was mostly playing left wing, Modric drifiting inside to link play with Pav who was pretty isolated up front. It was OK. I mean, we were certainly creating a few decent half chances, but the reality was that this couldn't possibly be the formation we'd pick when we were at full strength. Although, saying that, what do you do with Keane, Modric, Jenas and Palacios in the team? More questions than answers, eh?

Sadly, the Goons then lost Adebayor. He pulled up chasing a ball over the top that Woody won easily. My sympathies. Looked nasty. At the time I could easily see he was out for a while. The stretcher came on and proceeded to walk him all the way around the East Stand, past the Paxton, and then onward to the tunnel. Bender came on in his place, and not long after, more bad news for the Goons.

I couldn't tell exactly what went on, but there was a tussle and a break in play in front of the dugouts. Modric was booked, and Eboue received his marching orders after also picking up a yellow - his second. Ha ha ha ha ha! What a shame. So, the best part of sixty minutes to play, no Adebayor, ten men. Surely, we could not have hoped for a better chance to beat the Goons?

From the free kick - yes, it was awarded to them because I assume Modric committed the first foul - van Persie went for the most outrageous goal ever. Probably sixty? Sixty-five yards out? Missed by a mile and made himself look a tit in the process.

Another chance once again fell to us, but Pav shot wide again.

Seemingly the Goons hadn't learned much from Eboue's red card. Clichy I think this time - for a bad tackle on Lennon - saw a yello. Its a good way to stop the lad, particularly as he was really getting stuck in. This has been Lennon's best season by a stretch I think, and against ten men it was an ideal opportunity for us to spread the play and get him to use his pace.

Didn't quite work out that way.

The last real chance of the half was for Palacios. He picked up the ball in the middle, snicked it right and let fly. It was on its way over, but Almunia again opted for safety first and tipped it over the bar.

Half-time, and a chance to collect thoughts.

Well, we were certainly the better side. No doubt. More chances, generally speaking, better chances, although the Goons had managed a couple of decent ones of their own. Down to ten men though, and with no Adebayor, this was a case of getting the boys really up for it to come out second half all guns blazing and take the battle to them. We were desperate for the three points, and not just because this was the arch enemy.

The second half started well enough. Pav made a good break down the left and cut into the box but fired wildly - again - when a square ball was by miles the better option.

Lennon was really getting involved though. Maybe not exactly stretching play as I'd thought he might, but he had a little interchange with Charlie that led to a shot from the Croatian that was too soft. Then he did superbly and showed great commitment to cover a lot of ground, at pace, from the right wing right back in the heart of midfield to win the ball when we lost possession.

Then, posisbly the best most move of the game. Super play down the right after we worked the ball the full length of the pitch and a tremendous cross - and I mean tremendous - from Lennon. Robbie looked odds on to hit the target and break the deadlock. Oh so close! The ball skimmed over the top. With every chance that frustration was being ratcheted up.

With an hour on the clock I was beginning to feel a bit disappointed. Despite the reasonable chances it was looking increasingly like we weren't going to score. I just couldn't see where the goal was coming from. It reminded me a lot of the game at Eindhoven last season. We dominated, we had some decent chances, but we just didn't look like scoring. Until right at the end and a piece of magic.

Question was, who was going to supply that today?

By now Robbie had adopted a position as a second striker and Modric had retreated to a proper left wing - well, I say proper, as proper as left wing can be for Modric because he loves to roam inside! - position. It wasn't really working though. The Goons were defending well, but we were just lacking that bit of incisiveness that would cut them open. The team of a season ago had managed it five times in one night and could easily have managed it five more! I dunno.

The cold and beers finally got to me and I had to make a hasty run for the toilet, during which time I was told I missed Keane going very, very close.

With fifteen minutes to go the Goons started to get right into it. No doubt sensing that the scores were level and that we didn't look like we were going to score, they probably thought the game was there for their taking. We unfortunately, looked increasingly like a team with no plan.

It required brilliant cover from Woody to chase down the left wing when BAE was well beaten. Then, down the same wing, Bender got past BAE and played a silly little ball in that almost somehow beat Cudicini. It would have been very embarrassing. Seemed to catch the keeper by surprise, but the lack of pressure from the Arsehole front line meant even his initial fumble was easily recovered.

Cudicini then really earned his wages with a great save to tip over and keep us in the game very late on. It was goal bound.

Taarabt was thrown on with very little time remaining and I wondered whether this would be a performance like the one at Turf Moor or OT? With so little time on the clock it probably wasn't going to matter, and by now I thought to myself that I'd be happy taking the point. Especially after the Goons had been the ones applying most of the pressure late on.

One final chance though, and it really should have settled the game in our favour.

Taarabt had taken up a position in the centre and picked the ball up deep. Ran..... and ran..... and ran..... at pace, easily beating the Arsehole midfield and defence and slotting in Modric with the most well weighted of well weighted passes. It was odds-on a goal. I was ready to do some serious damage to my lower legs - again! It just needed for Luka to nip in and dink it over the advancing Almunia.

Wrong option. He had a go at squeezing it under the keeper and it was smothered. Best chance of the game. By a stretch.

The whistle blew and the Scum supporters celebrated as though they'd won. No doubt they'd be the happier. After having to play for as long as they did with ten men, and minus their best attacking threat, to keep it 0-0 was an achievement of sorts.

For me, it was massive frustration. This was a game we really should have won.

We had enough decent half chances in the first half - Pav squandering a few - to go in ahead, but the real disappointment was the second half.

With ten men to play against I really wanted us to go at it. It was there for the taking. We'd been good enough playing eleven to merit really stretching them in the second half, but we just didn't.

It was strange. It was as though we didn't have a plan for how to break them down. Despite Lennon's best efforts, despite the great chance he created for Keane, despite Palacios getting into the swing of things..... it just didn't click. The lack of killer touch from Modric at the death just summed it up, but ultimately we were thankful to Cudicini as well.

Another season with no win against the Arsehole in the Premier League. Another season to wait.

Of course, Whinger had to have a go after the game. Somehow he could clearly see that there was no infringement for the goal disallowed in the first half from Eboue. What? Sixty yards away? Yet he didn't see the same player kicking up at Modric near enough the touchline. What? Ten? Maybe twenty yards away? Get a grip.

So, what do I come away thinking? Well, this view is likely to be unpopular, but I'm going to state it.

What was said at half time? Whatever it was, it didn't have the desired effect. I don't want to question the tactics or formation or player selections. They were all right. We do, however, now have a fair squad. Look at it on paper. Its really pretty good. Almost all the teams around us would probably kill for it, maybe with a couple of players as exceptions - say the likes of Downing. There is this niggle that's growing inside me though. This strange little niggle that just won't go away. You can probably guess where I'm going with this.....

Is Harry the right man to lead us away from the relegation zone and maintain our top flight security this season?

Well, there's probably no man better qualified, although he did succeed in taking Saints down.

Longer term? I wonder. For the moment, that longer term question is too far away to answer. There are plenty of games to come, even though the next League game isn't for another two weeks. I'll have been to Donetsk and back by then.

The niggle's still there though. I just hope I see enough in the next couple of weeks to dispell some of it.

[kevfball63]

Thanks for the insight - but the saints is not a place i like to be equaled to - Harry has never in his managerial carreer had money to spend . He has picked up a team of so called players that although individually have great talent cannot play as a team . Thanks to Ramos and Commoli . We would still be rooted to the bottom of the table if that clown was still here - i know our winning streak or purple patch was short lived but it got us to where we are. I dont go for quick fix anymore , or you might as well fit a revolving door on the managers office . Can we just take our seat , strap ourselves in and enjoy the ride for once . This is not Christian Gross , Ossie Ardiles or Gerry Francis = its Harry Redknapp - the person that said he wanted to stay at Portsmouth but didn't divulge our interest . It was on our second calling that he came because it was he who put us on to Ramos . If the unthinkable happens i will gracefully eat humble pie . But this is Harry's one personal touch that will go down in history - and they dont call him Harry Houdini for nothing . Palacios was like a one man war against the scum , and i think the negativity has started to disperse now that Keane is back .Dawson the one person i thought would have his nose put out of joint by Harry appointing Keane Captain has gone public and said "His leadership skills are exceptional" . This says to me that we had no leader, but now we have . "BUT NOW WE HAVE"

[belondon]

1. happy with the point, we need the draws and the wins to say up.
2. Though the performance was good
3. some individuals shined bright...
4. And... as for Weng*r saying that the goal was not allowed to to stand. F him. The whistle went well before the ball was struck. Therefore it is not disallowed... it NEVER was. Period. (shouldv'e booked the git for kicking the ball away.)

Thanks for the view-from -the-stands.. still miss it every week

[RiverWire]

Great read as usual mate, you had some good seats there too ! luck git.

Know exactly what you mean about work, its absolutly killing me at the moment in london this week , dartford next week then hopefully a couple of weeks working from home which will be good.

lets hope we get a result at hull coys

[mountakhab]

Great post from a great member, you really wrote it better than many professional journalists. you made us re-live the match!
thank you mate.

[thfcshady27]

excellent report mate u summed up our whole season in 90 mins.....im not blaming harry tho we had the chances to win it and should have done so....if we had a predator up front then he would have sunk pavs keanes or modric's chance! it wasnt to be and we just arent meant to see out this season without a struggle! but we will see it out!

[berby999]

Thanks for the report Funster. You really make me feel like im reliving tha match, Great write up mate.

[Bedford_Yido]

I sat about 5 seats down & a couple to the left of you pal!

Easiest Arse*al team we have ever played, in my opinion.

Modric at the end

[paul turner]

Spurs was the better team on the park we had all the chances but we didnt punish arsenal i thought it was a good team performance .we need to take that performance in to the rest of the season and turn draws in to winsand get up that table to safety