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Saturday 6th
April 2002, 3.00pm |
FA Premiership, Scumbury |
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ARSENAL 2 (Ljungberg 25, Lauren
pen 86)
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Semen, Luzhny, Rsol, D Adams, Lauren, Wilturd, Vieira, Emu,
Ljungberg, Henry, Bergkrap. Subs: Dicksplat, Monkeyhead, Pikey Parlour,
Wright, Gnu. |
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Sheringham |
Iversen (Rebrov 52) |
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Ziege (Etherington 78) |
Anderton
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Sherwood |
Anderton |
Gardner
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Perry
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Richards
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King
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Keller |
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Subs not
used: Hirschfield, Thatcher |
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (Sheringham pen 81) |
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Referee: - M Halsey (Welwyn
Garden City |
Attendance: - |
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For the second time in three years Spurs left Scumbury sunk by a penalty, this time a dodgy looking one, after getting an equaliser which looked likely to give us a share in the points in match where we battled and scrapped for everything. Another win for the Scum at Scumbury takes them nearer the championship and possibly the double - an almost unbearable though in Rsol’s first season there.
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The pre-match meet for this
pub was my local; the Nelson in Wood Green and it was good to see it packed
with Spurs, all cheering on Man U against Leicester. There was a good showing of topspurs there – Lynford, Scooby, Ray of the Terry Naylor Fan Club, Chiefy, Jacob, Lee and of course the awayday Jonah. Perhaps we should have known… With expectations lowered over the last few years, maybe this time, when no one gave us a hope, we might just nick it. |
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The players unavailable to Spurs included Sully, Carr, Bunje, Doherty, Treacle, Clemence, Freund, Leo, Sir Les and Armo. Spurs lined up without Sully, who is still in the middle of off the field problems as well as having a slight injury. Ziege and Ledley retuned to the team, but Thatcher could only make the bench as a result of a fever during the week. Anderton never looked that fit, but with Poyet returning, there was no room for Davies, which is a great shame, surely there must be somewhere he could play. The goons had no such worries and on the back of a couple of 3-0 wins in which they had destroyed the opposition, fielded the usual ragbag of scumbags, gypos and assorted undesirables.
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Many people slagged
Scumbury off and while they are correct to point out the pre-war facilities
more suited to a conference ground – it is part of Arsenal and I will miss it
when the caravans roll down to Ashburton Grove. |
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On a bright, but cold in the West Stand, afternoon, Spurs kicked off attacking the North Bank. The support was generally excellent, but I had the misfortune to be near the terrace moron who was slagging Spurs from the first minute and his subjects included everyone on the pitch in a white shirt and of course Hoddle. Those with a brain could see that Hoddle had chose defending deep with a 4-4-2 formation as the best way to combat an Arsenal side which had run through just about every domestic team to play them in recent months using Bergkamp’s through balls and Henry’s pace. And to a large extent this, along with some tough tackling in the midfield worked. The goons were reduced to a couple of attempts on goal in the whole half and even more credit should be given to the back 4 when you consider that both King and Gardner were playing out of position at full back as we had no fit alternatives.
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While Spurs had a fair bit
of the ball in midfield, incursion into the final third were rare. A Ziege free kick saw Sheringham find some space but unable to get on the end of the ball, which ended up going just wide of Semen’s post. Poyet had a shot from the edge of the box and Iversen
raced thro a couple of times only to be thwarted by the sad looking bloke in
goal, the second of which managed to injure Ivo and even though he played on
beyond half time, he was never moving freely. |
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One of the few times the goons did break thro, Mr Ed, doing what he does best steamed back and dispossessed the skunk as he closed in on goal. Midway through the half things were looking ok for Spurs but all the good work was about to be undone. For once, Spurs back line gave Bergkamp sufficient space between them and the penalty area for him to send the skunk away on the right hand side. Fortunately, Keller produced a blindin one handed save down to his right and Spurs got the ball away – or so we thought. Still disorganised from the last attack, Anderton gave the ball to Edu, who passed it on to Bergkamp. He prodded another through ball, this time on the left hand side between Gardner and Richards. Again the Skunk was on it, and although Keller spread himself well in front of him and got a bit of the ball, it bobbled its way into the corner. A real nightmare.
Spurs had defended well and everything had pretty much gone to plan before this – but the one time we deviated from the plan, we got caught and were made to pay for it.
The way they scored the goal and the rest of the Arsenal performance showed just what a one-dimensional team they are. Defended with a load of cloggers at the back and in midfield, rely on one player with a bit of vision to play a through ball through to one of the pacy forwards to finish. Simple – but surely a one trick pony like this cannot be champions? It does not say a lot about the “best league in the world” where only 6 teams have positive goal difference. This is the reason why they get found out in Europe. And yes, I am aware where we are in that league and how long it has been since we have beaten them!
Despite the setback of the goal, Spurs should have been back on level terms soon after when an Iversen flick did the fat wanker Rsol and left Ted clear in the box with only Semen to beat. He controlled the ball but somehow contrived, as only Spurs strikers seem able, to blast the ball over the bar and into the North Bank who gave him loads of stick. Fortunately for him, the lino gave if offside so it did not really matter, but TV replays showed that he was onside.
Keller did another decent stop, this time from a Bergkamp curling shot from the edge of the box, but otherwise, much of the match was played out in the midfield where Spurs got their tackles in, notably Sherwood who had another decent match and were reasonably comfortable if lacking a bit going forward.
One thing that did piss me off was Anderton. When he is asked to play right midfield, he always ends up in central midfield, leaving his full back exposed. He does this all the time and it unbalances the team – one of a number of times he as done this and it has cost us was at Blackburn in Aug when Duff started his run where Anderton should have been on our right touchline. Add to this the fact that his passing was pretty ordinary, and it was not the sort of performance you need when you are away at one of the top 6.
Half time brought the agony of Ad Hoc getting brought down in the National 4 out when going well and the race going to one of the others I short listed Bindaree, which at least made topspurs regulars Chiefy and David Etere happy men at 20/1.
With Iversen struggling before half time, I expect a change and was delighted to see Davies ready to come on but to my surprise it was Ledley, who had suffered a recurrence of his injury who had gone off and Spurs switched to the much-maligned 3-5-2. Iversen hobbled on for a bit, but was soon replaced by Rebrov. The introduction of Davies proved that it is just as much about having good players on the pitch as systems when his brightness was a constant problem to the Goons down our right.
In a moment that we can laugh about now but at the time was terrible, Richards played the ball along the back three but behind Perry. This was a shite pass but not one that should have caused a problem to anyone, even Mr Ed, but with the ball going dangerously near his left foot, he tried to adjust himself to hoof it clear as the Skunk closed in on him but the ball hit his standing foot and his hoof was to fresh air. The ball rolled on to the skunk and Perry, completely off balance by missing the ball took a couple of faltering steps before going over. The Skunk sent his shot wide and everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began to laugh at Mr Ed who also saw the funny side of it after the danger had passed. One of the reasons we love him at topspurs – Mr Ed our hero!
Spurs were much more in the game in the second period, although we did not create much in the way of chances; neither did the goons at the other end. One odd incident occurred midway thro the half. Ziege bent a corner in, which Semen caught above the crossbar before being nudged over the line by Poyet. Probably a foul and not a goal in the modern era, but whatever it was, it was not licence for the sad one in goal to dribble the ball halfway to the halfway line before hoofing it up field. It was a free kick or a goal but nothing was done about it.
Just as when Sully did well to save from Grimandi at the Lane, Keller had to be alert to get to a swerving effort from another Gooner embarrassment Luzhny. As time ticked away and it was only 1-0 hopes began to rise. We’d weathered what little they had to throw at us and were getting our confidence.
With 10 minutes to go, Sherwood played an angled ball into the box. Poyet raced onto it. Semen came out and Poyet swung and missed but was clattered soon after by Semen with the ball still in play.
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Halsey confused everyone in the ground for a while, before an animated Poyet ran over and plonked the ball on the spot. Fuck me we had a penalty – Shit, Sheringham is taking it! This is nothing personal against Ted, who has scored all of his penalties since his return but long memories and all that. Eventually order was restored and Sheringham stepped up and blasted a perfect penalty right into the inside of the side netting beyond Semen’s dive to his right. |
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The fans went mad and I could hardly stand up as my knees were shaking. 9 minutes to hang on surely we could manage that. After a minute or so when the celebrations had died down did it dawn on me that Semen should have been sent off – professional foul in the box? If it was a foul, it must have been at least a yellow, and if we are on Treacle justice – a red (or is that only man u rules?). Not a sausage, and I wonder if the last minutes would have been any easier against 10 men?
The Tottenham supporters who had been magnificent throughout started up “We’re going to fuck up your season” and all the goons to my left looked pasty faced and miserable. Just 9 minutes to hang on for a point. It might not be a lot in the scheme of things, but if they do win the title and god forbid the double, at least we can say we did out bit, as we did in both 98 and 91 when all games between the sides were drawn.
It was not to be as a result of a cruel penalty given to the goons with just 4 minutes to play. A ball was played into the box, and as Richards stuck his leg out to get the ball, both he and Henry went over as Richards clearly made contact with ball. Halsey, a man who cannot tell two Chelsea players apart from 10 yards, created another agonising 30 seconds of confusion before it was obvious he had awarded a penalty. Lauren, a bloke with a girls name stepped up, and as Keller jigged about on his line before diving to his left, rolled the ball slowly down the middle of the goal. This was cruel and Sherwood, directly behind the kicker collapsed with his head in his hands as he saw all of his and Tottenham’s hard work given away.
This was the second time Keller has been faced with a penalty in the closing minutes of a match in his short career at Spurs, and while I am at pains to stress I am not criticizing him for this – both times the penalties have been poorly struck in the middle of the goal (the other one was the latest ever goal scored in the Premiership at Villa Park this season by Angel to tie things at 1-1). If only he’d have stayed on his feet and watched the ball. In every sport and every other aspect of football, you are always coached to watch the ball at all times – why does this not apply to penalties?
The goons hung on like a hungry dog protecting a bone in the last few minutes – something we need to learn to do. There was still time for one sweet moment, when Teddy and Rsol clashed in the box and Sheringham got a decent kick in at the Judas bastard’s head. Bad feeling between those two goes back years, and Sheringham got the approval of Spurs fans every (a standing ovation for the replay of the incident in a pub in Norway where the game was shown live). Not as good as winning or even drawing, but some consolation in defeat. The ref blew and it was all over and we were left choked as a load of rabid Gooners celebrated. Bollocks to that.
At our current stage of revival, a draw was about all we could have hoped for at Scumbury against a Goon team on a run of 8 straight wins in the League and good tactics and spirited play nearly got us the point we probably deserved. It hurts and it will be a lot worse if they win the title or the cup or god forbid both, but we should not be distracted by them, we need to get our own show back on the road in our own time and it will not be done over night. In saying that, in a couple of years if not next season, I want to travel to Scumbury (and to Old Trafford, Anfield etc) knowing that we are in a position where we can genuinely give them a run for their money rather than hanging on for a point.
This summer – Levy as Chairman of the PLC needs to put together a package which will see top players come to Spurs to give Hoddle the resources he needs. That is the challenge, only for so long will we put up with players, who although they give their best, are hindered by being below the best in their position within the game in England, while we are charged some of the highest prices in the League.
There have been many tragedies and tales of misfortune as we have slipped from the top table of English football over the last 10 years – not giving Hoddle the financial support would be the greatest of all and just about end all chance we have of getting back.
The
Word of Hod
"We changed
into a three at half-time and we played better with the ball. I felt in the first
half we weren't getting out with the ball. In the second half we definitely did
that, went to three at the back and that gave us more options on the ball. We
were chasing the game so we wanted to go more offensive and take a bit of a
risk. We thought we'd got back into it at 1-1 and with six minutes to go we
should have weathered the storm and come out of it. That was disappointing."
Keller (7/10) – A couple of fine saves and looked good in goal.
Gardner (7/10) – A solid match with no errors – a top performance and a bright future beckons.
Perry (6/10) – Generally played well apart from 10 minutes at the start of the second half when he was all over the place and did his party trick fall over the ball routine.
Richards (6/10) – Did ok, but was involved in the penalty which cost us the game.
King (6/10) – Had a decent first half despite getting patch cover in front of him in the midfield and being troubled by an injury.
Ziege (5/10)
– Becoming a bit of a home player, where he is excellent at the Lane but a bit
lost away. In saying that he was just coming back from injury
Sherwood (7/10) – Had a good match getting stuck in the middle of the park with Vieira and put the ball thro for Poyet for the penalty. If only we had two like him, but with a bit of pace and aged 25!
Anderton (5/10) – Pissed me off by drifting infield leaving Tottenham lopsided and although he gave his all in terms of effort, was short in quality with too many passes going astray
Poyet (6/10) – The usual Poyet match where you don’t notice him for 80 minutes before he’s bearing down on goal unmarked, winning the team a penalty. We cannot afford to carry any players if we are to seriously challenge next season, and while I’m sure Poyet is more than willing, his old legs are not, although he will be valuable from the bench next season.
Sheringham (6/10) – Scored his third in three when holding his nerve to take a perfect penalty and capped a decent display by giving Rsol a crafty kick in the head.
Iversen (6/10) – Got clattered by Semen in the first half and we just have to hope he is fit for next week.
Subs:
Rebrov (6/10) – Did ok without ever looking likely to score
Davies (7/10) – As ever had a decent match and gave us some much needed forward momentum in the second half
Etherington (6/10) – Does not really convince me at this level – a winger that does not use his pace to stretch defences or go outside his full back. Still young and time to learn, but another loan period in the lower league his probably his best chance of first team football.
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