Article by Mark French…and a Happy New Year to all my readers…..
Following on from Graeme Clarks excellent article posted today….
Whilst I never like to lose against Le A, I also think this is a blessing in disguise as I couldn't see us winning the FA Cup this year and we could do without the extra matches. Whilst I love the FA Cup I'd rather we took a big shot at winning the Europa League and making the top 4 of the PL. Both of these will be more lucrative for us and also higher profile with regard to attracting players to the squad.
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Let’s face it we did not play well on Saturday and I thought Rose was especially poor, dwelling on the ball too long all of the match and allowing himself to be caught in possession and putting his team mates into trouble. Watching the game I had the feeling that maybe Tim Sherwood wasn’t too bothered about it either and he actually looked happy in his post-match interview. You have to prioritise and we have to get PL results first and foremost. Both he and Levy will clearly recognise this.
You can argue all day about team selection but other than a couple of tweaks I don’t really see what difference it would have made. Even though we looked out of sorts we weren’t that far behind them and, when the ball was pinging around between the teams, it always ended up at the feet of an Arsenal player. You know your luck is low when that happens the entire match.
Finally on this, the FA Cup draw also suits us as they now have an easy game next but winning it will put them another round on and add matches to their schedule. In my opinion I seriously don’t think they have the squad to cope with being in the Champions League (though they won’t beat Bayern), the FA Cup and fighting to win the Premier League too. Winger might Le Prof but he is not Merlin.
For us the result is that our schedule eases. We now have Palace at home on Saturday after a week off, then Swansea away after another week off, then Citeh at home after a further 10 days off. This should not be taxing for our players. By then (and before the bun fight starts in earnest) we shouldhave a settled squad, know our best team and have developed a playing style under Tim that suits the players we have. Who knows, we might even have an addition or two in the transfer window – though I personally doubt it.
With the Europa League not re-starting until February 20thwe should have plenty of time to get our injured players fit again (except Younes who is this squads ‘Sicknote’) and we can look forward to moving on and up. All this will be at a time when most of our top 4 competitors will be facing two games a week.
For all of you doubters out there, please refer to our win at Old Trafford to see what can actually do with this team.
Last, but by no means least, I’d like to thank everyone who read my article “AVB agrees to join Barca” as it made me a double Award winner (yes I’m bragging OK?) and I hope that you read it as it was intended and understood the message I was trying to get across. I know Spurs supporters to be an intelligent bunch so I’m guessing you did. Cheers and come on you Spurs!
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I like you my friend , feel going out of the FA cup is a blessing in disguise (even if it does put that trip back home from Santa Monica to watch the final off for another year). However I am a little more skeptical about Mr Sherwood , you mention luck so lets look at the games we have had so far under Tim. West Ham enough said. Southampton a great result but only three shots on goal and the Saints missed some sitters . there was a tad of good fortune with two of our goals , if the ball doesn't roll our way we lose. Stoke at home they had just played with 9 men 3 days before looked jaded and up umtil the penalty we looked a lot like the same team that has lost 1-0 at home to mediocre teams (which has been going on under Rednapp and AVB over the years) Man U away our best performance we grinded out a result , With some luck Man U could of been 3-0 up after 15 mins , if they had been it would of been Man City all over again, they still could of got a draw , when do United not get that penalty shout . Against ARSE stats sais we were equal , reality is they beat us quite easily. Dont want to hear about fatique a game to far or how many players we were missing, they were in exactly the same boat as us. Anyway only time will tell, if Spurs batter Palace (which we should) it will make me more of a believer I can't see it happening and feel we will be in for one of "those games" which I for one have been sick of seeing over the years oh and one last thing don't tell me the pitch is to small didn't seem that small when we scored 9 against Wigan and wasn't to small for Liverpool the other week
ReplyDeleteI understand Sherwood is on only £200 k a year (high by normal standards but tiny in football terms).
ReplyDeleteI also understand that he will be replaced in the summer by Klinsmann although again he is an unproved manager
What a load of old rubbish, who doesn't beat Yannited at OT these day?! as for the Europa, spurs will be out of it before you can say Timothy's soiled shorts! By sacking AVB Spurs have set themselves back by at least 4 years, welcome home mid-table mediocrity just like when Timmy played!!
ReplyDeleteMan I have no idea about pitch size, these guys should be able to play on any pitch. I make no endorsement yet of our Tim, I hope the luck we had at OT continues - in some ways you need a lucky Manager. We have also had our share this year of poor fortune with chances (I refer to the Toon & WBA matches) & I understand what you're saying about the first three games under TS but (& it's always a big 'but' - & that's one 't' OK) we were going through player and system changes (yet again mind you) so I'm prepared to cut him some slack until we see the results from the next two games and then what points we get against Citeh at home. Le Arse did beat us fairly easily tho' if the Eriksen chance had gone in...ah if wishes were...whatever....Like you say we should batter Palace but yes, it could easily be 'one of those games' for which we have become famous for. Let us hope not. Mark F
ReplyDelete@ comment #3, who doesn't beat United at Old Trafford these days? Er ummm let me think....Arsenal. That's who doesn't. Check your facts first before putting us down. Trolling muppet.
ReplyDeleteFinally an article worth reading..
ReplyDeleteSo many negative comments after the FA cup loss.. taking a swipe at TS
But it was just the opposite after we beat Manure, everyone was singing his praises..
Just get behind him already..
I really like the new look Tim is bringing about. Watched the game against Le A* and i dont think we did too bad either. It wasnt the tactics.. all our blokes were a second or two slower then the goons in red. We looked lethargic from the back 4 right up to the front 2. One thing which really stood out though was the way every one of Le A* pressed us when we were in possesion. We didnt do the same. I think its down to fitness im not sure why no one is talking about that.. every one seems to be focusing on 4-4-2. Tim's the Manger, he's managed the youth team, hes won the Premiership as a player..
Half the idiots writing articles have not kicked a ball even.
AVB never played football..
Spot on about Rose too. Spent too much time dwelling on the ball.
I honestly think, we will come good in the next few weeks once our lads get used to the new system. Left back is a worry though.. thats the one position we need some quality urgently.
COYS