Spurs vs Goons Preview

[Electric ~soul~]

Quite long but worth a read... from www.topspurs.com ...

 

Its all very well being logical and saying the only thing that really matters for Tottenham this season is what is achieved in May and that this game is just another three points etc, but its not. It’s Arsenal.

 

Its Arsenal at White Hart Lane and for the first time in ages, Spurs fans go into this game knowing the Spurs players are at least a match for their Arsenal counterparts. And given a fair rub of the green we have a decent chance of grabbing a victory which has been denied in the twelve matches and six years since a 2-1 win back in 1999. Lets win the battle, and let the war take care of itself.

 

Spurs may go into this game above Arsenal in the League for the first time since 1995 but it will not be easy, and we should not be duped into thinking that this Arsenal side will be any less difficult than any of the sides in their recent past. Having lost away to WBA last time and three times in the League already – are they likely to get rolled over again, esp. with Henry in the side?

 

If they are, it will require the best Spurs performance of the season. Spurs may have had a good start to the season and Arsenal a poor one, but an unthinkable defeat would see Arsenal go above Spurs in the league and its essential at the very least we do not lose this match to sustain the momentum, knowing there will be easier pickings after this up until Christmas.

 

Spurs need a continuation of the second half performance against United and then some to see off Arsenal but its definitely possible and the realisation of a win against Arsenal (on top of a point at Old Trafford) really would add substance to the rumour that Spurs are on the way back.

 

I should add that I am not one of these Anti-Arsenal before Spurs people - I cheered Ferdinand’s goal at Old Trafford and for most of the time I’d don’t give a fack about Arsenal. All I really want out of football is to see Spurs be a decent team again, but its been too long since we as Chas n Dave put it “put them Gunners away”, I want some more, its a great feeling.

 

But I want it in the present, not a fading memory. Its been too long with boot on one foot, the wrong foot, and it would be lovely to have something akin to the Arfa game against Chelsea to augment the 5-0 in 83, the 91 Semi and pretty much any win against them.

 

Just as we did the last time Spurs won the NLD at WHL, an important part of the midfield was missing. Ok so it was only Freund back then and he was more than adequately replaced by young Clemence jnr, but the parallel is Davids suspension this time round is a cruel blow as he has been the lynchpin of the renaissance which has seen Spurs unbeaten in the League against all but Chelsea.

 

Davids influence has been as much off as well as on the pitch, and while he won’t be prowling around ready to ‘Parlour’ a goon and help Spurs win the midfield, Spurs could do worse than have him in the dressing room before and at halftime, driving everyone on.

 

With Carrick and the re-launched Jenas automatic picks in the middle, and Lennon despite a quiet game at Man U, ready for battle on the right, it only leaves who slots in on the left. Tainio would be the percentage call for his all-round game and ability to handle the big occasion but if Reid is chosen, we can only hope that this game is the making of him.

 

At the back, Robinson will be looking to make up for a rare poor game against Arsenal in the fixture last season to reward his devoted fans, and a back line of Stalteri, King, Dawson, YPL looks sufficient to deal with most of what Arsenal can throw at Spurs, but the threat from Henry and his pace will be a worry from the first minute to the last.

 

With Henry out of the Goon team, you could really fancy Spurs to turn them over, but while he bails out their otherwise mostly ordinary side, confidence always has to be tempered. But at the other end, I’m sure the Goons are just as worried about Defoe, esp. after his cracker in the 4-5 last season and it is essential that the rest of the team give him good possession so that he can hurt the goons, something which has not always happened against the lesser teams so far this season.

 

Arsenal have a habit of playing against 10 men and getting a few penalties, so hopefully we’ll get a proper ref who can officiate fairly and not have the usual G14 bias. Early rumours suggest its Bennett, just as long as its not Styles or Riley or some wannabe Styles or Riley.

 

On paper, the Arsenal team are not all that – pony keeper with a dodgy temperament which should be worked upon whenever possible. Unfortunately cheatin Ashley ain’t playing, the worlds most ridiculously over hyped player ever who can’t defend or attack with any great distinction and owes his caps to the threat Phil Neville, which means they will probably have a proper left back for Lennon to embarrass. Lauren was n’t a bad player when he joined em, but like Bergkamp has picked up some decidedly anti social habits that do not appear on WengerVision.

 

In some ways it would be lovely to put Arsenal away with Rsol in full view (and hopefully culpable for a few) but four years on, a bag full of medals and £100k a week, I don’t suppose he gives a [****!!****] anymore what Spurs fans think. Flamini and Fabregas sound like a couple of Chav holiday destinations in the Med and are certainly no Vieira.

 

Although Pires has a great scoring record against Spurs and is still not a bad player, he’s not the player he was before his injury, which leaves the fate of Arsenal pretty much in Henry’s hands. We don’t want to be in the situation where we need to score five to equalise again and if we can stop Henry, we should be able to stop them. Job for the man of the moment Ledley.