Can't Quite Believe What I Am Reading...

[BigDub]

First off let me say one thing so that we all remember the fact: Today we lost to Portsmouth, a shite team. However, nothing we can say from this moment on will change this fact. Now, to the important.

Folks, I understand how gutted every single one of you is about this game today. Believe me, I am with you 100% in this regard. Not for one minute did could I have ever imagined us losing today to a team already relegated. In all honestly this fact alone is pathetic, sorry, and unbelievable. However, two things have to be remembered: 1. THE SEASON IS NOT OVER! 2. This is still Tottenham, the club we all love.

Allow me to address point 1 first:

Don't know if everyone realizes this, but we play our most important game of the season in 3 days time, a team as scummy as the shit that floats in your toilet. Yet a team, that if we beat, will help us continue the fight for our ultimate goal: finishing in the top 4. Losing tonight is very, very bad and I do not want to distract from this fact. However, WE DID NOT LOSE ANY LEAGUE POINTS FOR THIS LOSS. At the end of the day our top goal is a fourth place finish and a victory in the FA cup semi-final does nothing to help this cause. It is a cause within itself, yet is a completely seperate entity. Point is, folks, the season is not over and I don't want to see people acting like it is. Say what you will about our run in, but as Pompey showed us tonight ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!!!! Sure, we may get 0 points from our next 3 games, but we might also get 9...who knows? The games haven't happened yet!!!! So just remember this as you sleep this evening...because it remains the most important point: THE SEASON GOES ON!

2:

Some of the stuff I've read has been a bit out of line. At the end of the day this is still football and games like today can occur. Personally I wasn't all that disappointed with our performance (more on this in a minute). Regardless of how you feel of the game, remember that you are a Spurs supporter and should stand by the club no matter what...just as Pompey fans have done. Stop dismissing our team, our manager, and our chairmen. What good does that do other than make you look stupid?

It seems to me that we could learn a couple things from Pompey today: 1. Anything can happen in football and 2. No matter how bad things are going, always stand by your club.

Now for the game:

I truly believe our performance was not all that bad. I will begin with the defense. Dawson and Bassong were adequate in the back...not spectacular, but not terrible. They did what they had to do. Dawson's slip on the goal was unfortunate, but it is hard to place too much blame on him...sort of just happened. Charlie had a great game, I thought. He asserted himself in the attacking third and made several nice crosses. Bale had a mixed game, but when it was all said and done finished as one of our best players yet again.

In the midfield things were just sort of meh. Bentley really had a poor game I thought. His final balls were lacking and his intensity seemed to be low. Modric had flashes. Quieted down at points, yet stepped up and showed great skill at other times. Hudd completely went away. Aside from his one shot that was stopped beautifully by James I can't recall one other thing he did...a ghost on the pitch. Palacios was fine, and terribly unlucky to get a booking. It was a bad call and he does not deserve to be suspended.

The forward play was quite poor with one exception...brace yourselves: Peter Crouch. First for Defoe. He played the same game as Hudd...absolutely silent. Never looked dangerous and had very little impact. I don't know what is wrong with Jermain, but clearly something is. Pav was nothing special today either. Didn't make any terrible plays but certainly didn't make any good ones. Now to Crouch. HOW PEOPLE ARE DOGGING HIM AFTER TODAY IS BEYOND ME!!!! I know the response will be "he failed to convert 100000 chances!!!" and to you I say, he actually only failed on 1, the header from the corner which he hit just wide of a clear open net. Aside from that he was excellent. The only thing standing between Crouch and a hat trick was David James...who was absolutely the best player on the pitch today. Crouch was our hardest working player, and the ONLY forward who looked dangerous enough to score a goal. He made several nice knock downs, one which Defoe tapped right at James, which he should have scored. Crouch was our only source of danger from the front lines. Even the commentators mentioned it. Nearly every time we played a ball to him he was either fouled or won a header, passing it down or putting it on goal. He had only 1 significant miss as I have mentioned. Pav and Defoe were way worse than Crouch...THIS IS A FACT!!!! If he had not played we would have had 1, 2, maybe 3 solid chances at most. I would like to hear responses to this because I truly believe that Crouch, along with Corluka, was our best player this evening.

Forgive the length of this post...mad props to you if you read the whole thing. Look forward to some banter here.

I remain behind our club, our players, and our mananger, my friends, and I urge you all to do the same. Until next time, COYS!

[Rated1984THFC]

You get no trophy for 4th & imo we ain't got a hope of 4th because we wont win our next 3 games & City are gonna do what we cant & thats stuff Ar5e the the Emirites!

[BigDub]

So then, rated, pretend its the beginning of the season and I ask you would you rather finish fourth or win the FA cup, if doing both is not possible. What would you say?

[Rated1984THFC]

So then, rated, pretend its the beginning of the season and I ask you would you rather finish fourth or win the FA cup, if doing both is not possible. What would you say?

honestly probably the FA Cup because i like us winning trophys & 4th gets the board extra money & a few games in CL but a FA Cup is remembered forever. i wasn't born when Ricky Villa scored that magical goal at Wembley that is still talked about to this day. if we end 4th will it be remembered in 30 years? no but beating Chavski at Wembley would have.

[BigDub]

Can't argue with that, mate. It's a matter of opinion and if that is yours then fair enough.

[Javi]

Dub I agree with you on the fact that the game that counts for us is later this week so I went in with this match at a blank because I am saving my best support for later this week, I know we should support no matter what but after climbing from the bottom a victory over the scum would really make my day.

But still tho we lost a cup and that's just as important and well people are pissed off and with good reason a good victory over the scum tho would be the icing on the cake for what has happened this season.

[BigDub]

True stuff, Javi. Like I said, the loss is inexcusable....just wish people would take some time to cool off before responding if they can't have a level head.

[HeroesComesandGoes]

I've just got back from Wembley. Yes, I'm disappointed, but, what's done is done. As Dub said, lets focus on the future, big game this Wednesday against a team with injuries. Our players would be up for it, they know mentally that to redeem themselves for today, they must win this Wednesday.

Come on you Spurs...

[Roscono3]

Your right BIG D....you cant change the past but you can change the future.

Wednesday it is then.....COYS!!

[ctw01]

Questions for you Dub, how can we beat the top 3 teams after losing to a bunch of spurs rejects and free transfers who are relegated ?
And who is the better motivator Arry or Avram ?

Er.. sleep tonight I DONT THINK SO !

[BigDub]

Questions for you Dub, how can we beat the top 3 teams after losing to a bunch of spurs rejects and free transfers who are relegated ?

Simple, the same way that Pompey beat us today. They are a team, as you say, full of rejects and transfers yet managed to take care of us today. Yes Arse, Chavs, and Manure might be better than us, but as Pompey showed that doesn't always matter. Couple this with the fact that I know, as you do, what a high level we CAN play at and it seems that victory might not be all that far off....

And who is the better motivator Arry or Avram ?

Er.. sleep tonight I DONT THINK SO !

Have to ask the players, eh? FWIW I don't think it was a lack of motivation that cost us the game today...