Tottenham Hotspur FC 2013/14

[fallenangle]

Yes, the game yesterday did indeed come over as a snooze fest even just the 'highlights' on MotD.

Just hope that those injuries to important players don't affect the B/G game too much. A Kulu back on form would help but he generally puts in a hard shift whatever the case.

HK and ED finally getting trophies - congrats to both who deserved something tangible to mark their careers after serving Spurs so long without similar reward.

Also should mention Spurs women in the WSL yesterday against new crowned WSL champions Chelsea at the Spurs Stadium which was shown on BBC2/IPlayer. The team Chelsea put out because of their FA Cup final game later this month was not quite a B side, more an A minus, so still quality.

Unfortunately Spurs did lose thanks to a clumsy penalty that was given away although they had a glorious chance of a breakaway equaliser which was fluffed because the Spurs player, despite appearing to be left footed, decided to shoot at the smaller target on the advancing Chelsea (and England) goalkeeper's left. Baffling decision.

But what I wanted to say is that I've not seen the Spurs women play better football this season than they did yesterday. Dominating for quite long periods there was a genuine 'Spurs quality feel' in some of their attacks and build up play which belies there lowly ranking in the WSL table.

[EJG1980]

Get iiiiiinnnnnnnnn!

I'm almost amazed at how professionally we saw out that match, with not even a sniff of any drama. Made sure they got nothing in the first half so they didn't get any momentum from an early goal, and then killed them off in the second. I think Vicario had one very routine save to make all night, iirc. Made the plastic pitch and Bodo's home record non-factors.

Some top notch performances tonight: The whole defence, excellent, switched on for the whole night. Just like the first leg Bissouma was top notch, as was Bentancur, excellent partnership tonight. Solanke working his socks off and getting rewarded with his goal, he's been great in the Europa knockouts. Tel looked good and improved our attack when he came on in the second half.

Spurs in a European final, come on!!!

Also, as Harry left Spurs to win stuff, it'd be quite funny if in the season he finally achieves that aim, Spurs end up winning something anyway. Make it happen Spurs, make it happen!!!!!

One step closer

Considering our long term form (44 points from the last 39 league games) I can only assume that Ange is still here because we haven't yet been knocked out of the Europa League. I think though that we'd have more chance of winning it if we brought in a new manager with the possible new manager bounce / shake up that would bring. I don't rate our chances of getting past Frankfurt, let alone putting in enough good performances to go all the way.

I'm sad about feeling that way because I really like his outlook on football and was desperate for him to succeed.

Fair play Ange, I was totally wrong on this. Of course we might not win the final, but as I said I wasn't confident of even getting past Frankfurt. Ange got that tie and the semi-final tie spot on, especially the away legs which I thought were the kind of performances we just wouldn't see from one of his teams.

Just one more win, come on Ange, get that trophy!

[fallenangle]

Yes, great result and properly professional approach to the game after the hard work done to get the win in the first leg. Not fancy but effective.

Now 'only' MU to deal with.

Loved reading Ange's response to Arsene Wenger's criticism of the so called 'free' pass into the Champions League next season for winning the Europa League. A nice bit of lingering Spurs versus Arsene(al) verbal argy bargy which will particularly please Ange's Spurs' critics I think.

Ange still has to prove himself in the Premiership; we can't have another season like this one again whether we beat MU in this cup run or not. But such matters should be put on the back burner for now and indeed let's concentrate on getting that trophy.

Sunday Edit
Spurs mostly B selection team.............................................. ..and we're back to bad Spurs again and an embarrassing 20th Premiership defeat. Only mildly encouraging thing is that MU weren't much better than us today against WH either.

[EJG1980]

With Maddison out the only other real option in his role is Kulusevski, who was playing brilliantly there earlier in the season, but he's looked well off it since returning from injury a few matches ago. We really need him to rediscover that early season form or the team will be bereft of creativity.

https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/may/kulusevski-undergoes-surgery/

Well, it looks like we're gonna have to come up with another idea. FFS.

[hudson]

Cmon Spurs. I believe even if you don't.

[EJG1980]

Welllll it's our worst ever Premier League season for losses, our most losses in a 38 game season since 1913, and it's a worse season in loss percentage and points per game than when we got relegated in 1977...

Such circumstances tend to dent one's confidence and bravado a tad

As fallenangel said though, Man Utd have had an equally shambolic season, so who can predict how the final will go? It's gonna be like two incoherent drunks fighting it out, with whoever can achieve that one fleeting moment of sobriety likely to take home the prize.

[hudson]

Well, I really hope yous win, coz I just want to see more United misery I'm such a tw4t Football!!!

[EJG1980]

I wasn't really expecting anything else with the EL final less than a week away, and putting out a B team to the point that even Reguilon started a match, but that's now 21 defeats for the season with Villa's 2-0 win. A record number of defeats in a 38 game season.

Man Utd have played a full strength team for their past couple of matches, so let's hope our strategy of wrapping up all our most important players in cotton wool is the one that pays off in the final.

As he's played there in the last couple of matches and done okay, maybe Odobert will get the nod in the James Maddison role in the final. Especially with Sarr possibly being injured now too, and I'd rather play Odobert there even if Sarr was fully fit; Sarr would work hard but it's a much more natural position for Odobert and I think he's more likely to come up with a game winning moment than Sarr would be.

Ah well, only a few more days of feeling sick with anticipation and keeping every possible body part crossed COYS!

[fallenangle]

We have to think positive despite yesterday's result against AV. I'd forgotten they were playing it then and so watching the highlights at midday on Football Focus was a depressing surprise.

Think positive and carry on regardless..................