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League Cup Final 2009 – TOPSPURS
VOXPOP Lilywhite McLenin I find myself once again on the outside looking in as we face a Final against one of the iconic teams of the game, the Red Devils of Manchester. It dredges up memories of the days as a boy when I first graced the grand old lady, I know as White Hart Lane. Sitting on the wee white benches while 10 feet - or 3 metres in modern parlance - away the likes of Knowles and Best, Mullery and Charlton, Chivers and Kidd, battled away in those pristine, non-sponsored white and red shirts. It was were I fell in love with the game - where we might have a game - a chance of a trophy - but always the thread of Glory that linked our team to the great Double side. Fast forward 40 years, and our team, weakened by ineligibility, injury and incompetence faces a United team - champions of the country, the continent? and the 'world' - who will pay lip service to playing their 'youngsters' but with the insurance policy of the 'big guns' from the bench. Multinational corporations logos will spoil the shirts of the players, who are already very rich men, always looking to the next club owner to whisper in their ears of how much they can make. The Wembley of yester year was an marque building, it's replacement a sterile folly. But it is Wembley after all. I would love to win - I want us to win every game we play - but I don't like the manager - sorry, he is too dodgy, too non-Spurs, - and I fear that my club will be relegated to the shark-infested waters of the Championship under him. The PRIORITY is staying in the top tier and I feel that points in home games, particularly against teams at the bottom, and scraps away are so much more important. Ferguson is looking for his place in history, a possible clean sweep of domestic trophies and I think we are not in a position to resist them. I so, so want to be wrong and will celebrate like a stupid kid if we win like last year, but I fear a painful lesson from the second richest club on the planet. COME ON YOU SPURS! Diamond White Only Tottenham could reach a final and be a joke in doing so. The shambolic semi-final against Burnley, the current relegation battle and Manchester United blowing away all before them and looking impenetrable, make this the least anticipated final I have known and can imagine. That's not to say I'm not looking forward to it, on the contrary, but a raising of the game and, you never know, retaining this trophy will leave an after taste once the celebrations have died down of why can't this shower of prima donnas play at that level on a weekly basis. It is quite insulting to us as loyal supporters if that is the attitude, if players pick and choose the games they are motivated for. Apologies for the downbeat preview to Sunday's final, of course I want a Spurs win and I go to all games believing we can win. Cup finals, Wembley and such occasions are what it's all about, it's what Tottenham are all about. The heart says a Spurs victory on penalties. The head?...Come on you Spurs! Il Falcone http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-ilfalcone.htm Assuming that a Wembley cup final matters to Redknapp and the club (it’s difficult to tell these days, when the European idealism of Sir Bill is so shamefully discarded), a full-strength Spurs should be taking to the field with a fine chance to redeem an otherwise pathetic season. It’s a one-off game, so the vagaries of form and attitude should not automatically mean a bunch of mismatched, over rated and demotivated players roll over like they did at West Brom, with the consequence that Spurs do actually stand a chance. It’s a two horse race, after all. But the opposition is Man Utd, the only genuinely good side in the increasingly boring Premiership. Even if the playground bully makes good on his promise to field a second string team, there’s more cohesive talent in Man U’s reserves then there is in whatever combination Redknapp decides to pick. Rarely can Spurs have gone in to a final with such expectation to lose. For all that, we’ll make the walk up Wembley Way excited by the prospect of lifting more silverware. If players play to their potential, and the manager picks the right players and sends them out prepared and motivated, then the game is there to win. The team talk will be interesting: let’s hope it’s more a case of Audere est Facere and less of the ‘take it easy lads, we’ve got a big game at Blackburn coming up’ variety. Colston March 1st is St David's Day. The national day of Wales. It is is honour of St David, the patron saint of Wales, who became such during the Welsh resistance to the Normans, the devils from the North. We possess the current Welsh team's full backs. Is the day of St David reason enough for them to take the field to enter battle against the current devils from the North? I think not. There are three issues for me surrounding the final. What team shall we play, how do I restrain my irrational optimism prior to kick off and how am I going to cope with 94,000 noisy bastards after spending the preceding ten days in silent retreat near Hereford? When you kick out Defoe and Hutton through injury, Palacios, Keane and Cudicini as they are cup tied and Campbell because he is crap, oh sorry, because he is a devil himself you are left with a squad of 23. Rocha and Gilberto are crap or don't seem to figure in the shifting sands that are the mind of 'Arry. So onto business with the 21 left. Gomes or Alnwick in goal. Well Mister Gomes, welcome to Wembley. I hope 'Arry remembers to play him a couple of times before. I like the idea of trusting the guys who did it for us last year so my defence would be Chimbonda at right back moving across from his moonlighting appearance on the left in 2008… but having missed out the Sunderland game in an early round in which Pascal played... so Corluka in for him and Dos Santos on the bench giving us more attacking options I hope we don't need. King and Woodgate in the centre and Benoit at left back - a deserved place from one of our most consistent performers this season. This is tough on Dawson and Corluka who have both contributed greatly to our effort to reach Wembley. However Vedran has looked a little shaky of late and Dawson is, well, Dawson isn't a fit Woodgate or a fit King. Our midfield looked strong against the Goons last time out. Of course Wilson is not available but I would bring in one of last year's heroes, Didier Zokora, to fill that gap. O'Hara has played his part throughout and was distraught at missing out last year but I see no more than a place on the bench for him. We play so much better when set out as a 4-4-2 unit. Upfront we are left with Bent and Pavlyuchenko who has six goals in the five Carling Cup games this season. I fancy Roman to be our match winner - more of that later. So who joins Alnwick, Corluka, Dawson and O'Hara on the bench? Huddlestone and Gunter miss out for me along with one of Dos Santos, Bale, Bentley and Taarabt. I think Dos Santois will be the unlucky one. He doesn't seem to have settled and might just be a Portsmouth player now. So maybe we will finally get to see Gareth, David or Adel fulfill their promise on the Wembley turf. That brings me to my unbridled optimism in the face of very good reasons for the very opposite. Despite OWF's stated intention to give Darron Gibson a starting place in midfield I can't see us playing a weak United team and a United team that has forgotten how to let in goals at that - our Roman aside. A United team that will no doubt bring home three or four trophies this season. However it is still there. I believe in Cup stories, in miracles. I remember the last time I witnessed Luka Modric at Wembley... he shone. So... my prediction. United will score. Has to be Berbatov... life is like that. But that will be that and we will score two... in normal time. A Modric inspired piece of genius to rival Ricky Villa to bring us level and then a Superpavlyuchenkoed toe poke to round off Adel Taarabt's mazy dribble. That leaves me restraining this optimism.. which thankfully will be isolated by me heading off for a quiet spot in Mid Wales where I am committed to be silent until the morning of March 1st... and then having to cope with first my emergence into the noise of the world accompanied by a host of excited football fans and secondly the din made by some thirty thousand of Tottenham's finest as King goes up to lift the Carling Cup.... again. And finally... the last words of that long dead Saint.... 'Brothers be ye constant. The yoke which with single mind ye have taken, bear ye to the end; and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfil' And Colston adds (to settle all those pub bets)…. Cudicini - is cup tied for the Carling Cup, but can play in the Uefa cup as now registered Chimbonda - is cup tied for the Carling Cup, but can play in the Uefa cup as now registered Palacios - is cup tied for the Carling Cup, but can play in the Uefa cup as now registered Keane - is cup tied for the Carling Cup and can't play in the UEFA Cup as was signed after registration deadline Defoe - is cup tied for Uefa Cup but can play in the Carling Cup (if he makes a miraculous recovery) Pavlyuchenko - is cup tied for Uefa Cup Corluka - is cup tied for the Uefa Cup Eric Mallia, Hong Kong Spurs What a difference twelve months make. This time last year I was ecstatic Spurs had reached a final at Wemberlee and floating on clouds for weeks after that glorious win. Twelve months on and I couldn't be more under whelmed at the prospect of another Wembley appearance. League survival has become almost a daily worry for me and I'd willingly take a League Cup Final hiding if it means Premiership survival. I guess a positive result at Hull City may change my outlook and appetite for the match, but realistically I cannot see us defeating Man Utd on their current form. But I suppose stranger things have happened. I'm going for a respectable 2-1 defeat in extra time.
On a far more positive note, Spurs in Hong Kong will once again gather at Al's Diner, 27-39 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong. If you can't make the trip to Wembley and find yourself in Hong Kong for the match just come on down and join in the fun. Wear your colours and get the vocal chords ready. Plastic ManUre fans can find another bar. Here's a reminder of last season's Spurs in Hong Kong celebrations at Al's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK22Lf2g7U0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhJklu56byc Sean Morley http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-seanmorley.htm Ok -hands up who remembers where they were on 1 January 1996? It's now over 12 long long years ago, but history will tell you that Spurs beat Man Utd 4-1 in a match on that day, a day when they were not expected to win, nevermind win by such a large margin. This was Spurs against MANCHESTER UNITED. The Sky media darlings. The Man Utd in all their Cantona pomp and glory, the very same now legendary double-winning Man Utd team that was just about to embark on overhauling the 12 point deficit against Newcastle to win the league and consign (yet) another legion of crying Geordies to history- as if the Geordies need any excuse! That Spurs team was not ultimately very good. They lost 7-1 away to Newcastle almost a year to the day later (Allan Nielsen going down in legend for looking at his imaginary watch and asking the ref how long was left after pulling the solitary goal back) as well as losing 6-1 in the same year to the then very much lower division Bolton in the League cup. But still Spurs thrashed Man Utd. Which provides the one useful lesson from football history. No matter what the record books tell you, no matter what the history, there is always a chance for your team, because the game is played on grass and not on paper. I have read some of the other previews and note that a large number of supporters seem to want to concede the final to Man Utd before a ball is kicked in anger. All I will say is, (and borrowing shamelessly from Churchill in 1940) if the team are resolute and show the desire to battle Man United to the final whistle as we saw at the Emirates, and indeed fight them on the beaches if necessary, there is no reason why Spurs can't win this game. We have some class players, players that could walk into most other teams in the premier league, assuming that they could be bothered, when even Jenas is being touted by Mourinho, players who need to prove a point in this dismal season and indeed in some cases are playing for their futures. If Spurs play as they have been for most of the season then we might as well stay at home. But this is Spurs. At Wembley!!! And so invoking the spirit of years gone by and a lot of luck I am going for a Spurs win. Ideally i'd like to go for 4-1 again but 1-0 will suit me. In an ideal world it would be from a Modric penalty, having been conceded by a dodgy tackle by Berbatov or Carrick, or both. But there you have it. 4-1 to the Pride of North London. Come on you Spurs!! Chris Dean http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-chrisdean.htm With Tottenham’s league form woeful and even Manchester United’s reserves looking invincible, surely this can only end one way? Well, not necessarily. Spurs have risen to the challenge of facing the Premier League’s top clubs this season, and quite incredibly are unbeaten against the regular top four. If they can play like they have in those games when they run out at Wembley, there’s hope. Ferguson won’t put out his strongest side, and that too gives me optimism. Maybe that conflicts with the point above, but I think even United’s second string would challenge for the title. This year’s Tottenham have not been the free-scoring side of last season, and a lot will depend on how our creative and goal-getting players perform. We simply must take our chances. But we won as underdogs last year, and we can do it again. Prediction: A repeat of last year’s Wembley scoreline – Spurs 2 Manchester United 1, AET Block 27s Paul Mills I have given my ticket to a friend, on the superstitious basis that I enjoyed last year’s trip to Wembley too much to be allowed the same pleasure in consecutive years, added to the fact that United are the one team I have never seen Spurs beat live (the last time we came close I was turning to celebrate the moment with Mr Duggan in the East Stand, in time to see him taking a premature photoograph of the scoreboard, just as Tevez nicked the equaliser). All of which is to say that I will be watching from the sofa in order to increase the chances of a Tottenham win, though I do wonder if we won’t be trying too hard, in case it wrecks our chances of grinding out a valuable 0-0 v Boro on the Wednesday after. Still, I’m going for 2-1 with Zokora to pinch the winner in the 85th minute. Guy Edema http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-guy.htm Having secured a memorable victory last year over a strong Chelsea side, it is not unreasonable to expect that we may be able to do a job on Man Utd this year. Fergie, as much as he'll want to add to his already impressive stash of silverware, will not consider this a priority and obviously has his eyes on the Premier League and Champions League, so it is fair to expect that his starting 11 will be a mix of experience and youth, but the bench will be packed with talent, just in case..... Wembley will be louder this year than last with the always vociferous Man Utd fans making for a great day out. Spurs fans will be happy that we're in the same end of the stadium as last year and maybe this will add to the many list of good omens. My prediction, 2-1 Spurs and Berbatov getting an unprecedented amount of verbal from the Spurs faithful at the end.... COYS!! Pat Healy – Leader of the Cork Spurs Head and heart Head says that we could be hammered. Maybe not on the scoreline but in reality totally outclassed. I see a final something like leeds v villa in 96. Close enough game early on but it ended up a very one sided 3-0. The heart says that lots of our mob will play above themselves and we'll scratch out a 1-0 win with Bent writing his name in Spurs history as a Cup final winner before heading off to the Spammers in the summer! Slabber http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-slabber.htm I think we're going to lose. Dan Wetzels http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-danw.htm It’s a variation of Groundhog Day for the Carling Cup Final. Two consecutive appearances isn’t a bad return, especially given the rough and tumble of this season. I was delighted to be able to swindle some tickets for me and my Pa last year and like Richard Pymont, I had a gut feeling that day (which as it turned out wasn’t due to the over-inflated dodgy burgers at Wembley’s ‘catering’ outlets). We arrived at our first survey of the new ground to see a throng of Chelski fans, weirdly underplaying their chances and extremely quiet, to the point where we all as one cheered ironically when they scored cos until that point you wouldn’t have known that the Plastics were even there! It will be much different this time round. In a competition which both team’s managers have publicly decried this season, it feels like an irrelevance but is of course extremely important to our ambitions for European football next year. If there is any truth in the rumours of match-rigging in football then surely Man Ure will do the noble thing and let us win so that we can pretend at being a big Euro team for one more season at least whilst they crusade in the CL (oh and Berbatov getting sent off would nice as well!). It’s a glorious one-off and at the very least we can expect to enjoy some good attacking football. No one needs to hold back in this game and despite it being a Cup Final, I expect to see some goals. I’ll stick my ample neck out and say, in my fantasy football land we’ll win 3-2. Of course it all depends on the starting line-ups and which dodgy Ferguson-loving ref we get to officiate the big occasion… Either way, a good day out and hopefully another free flag to wave all the way back home in glorious joyful abandon!! COYS!! Steve Timson I also believe that Spurs need to play with a high tempo from the off and really take the game to Manure considering the bench they may have to call upon. I think Fergie really wants to win all 4 trophy’s and honestly believes his young team (I think they are better than Arsenal’s youngsters) can win with an experienced subs bench. Scorewise I am torn between 3-2 to Spurs and a successful retaining of the Carling Cup, goal scorers I would love to see Bent and Zokora score before they move on in the summer and O’Hara to hit a Gazza’esq free kick. My head however says Man U will win 3-1 with Berbasulk kissing his new badge. I do hope ‘Arry tells them to get stuck in and win us fans a trophy, partly for the p!ss poor season they have given us so far and to finally earn their huge salary’s. Kevin Mayers Ferguson has said he will start a majority of the team that has got the team to the final so with that in mind I expect arry to tell spurs to go at them from the off, We'll need to get at least a 2 goal lead before half time when the big guns get introduced and you know Berbastrop (not the one who works in our office but the sulky Bulgarian!) will get at least one. If this happens I think spurs 2-1 but that is my heart ruling my head. We've got to play Bent and Pavlychenko or only one of them in a 4-5-1 so we will have nothing going forward so our only chances are set pieces so in the real world I'm going Tottenham 0 - 2 Manc United (Giggs, Berbatov) Dublin’s finest, Shane O’Sullivan Apologies but glass is a little half empty regarding this final for 3 main reasons 1. Priority of Objectives: Given our precarious league position it can be argued that this cup final is not very important in the grand scheme of things. Most Spurs fans would agree that staying in the PL is the single most important thing. Some would even suggest that this game only serves as a distraction from the main job in hand. We play only one league game between 8 Feb and 4 Mar, and I fear we could be bottom 3 by the time Boro visit WHL 2. Probability: Last year I predicted a Spurs defeat. I honestly couldn't see any way that we could beat that little rich club from Fulham. This year's final is very similar with 12 months ago. (ie strength of the opposition). We are playing what is probably the best club side in the world. What are the chances of lightening striking twice ?? Very slim I'm afraid 3. Unavailable Players: Given the absence of Keane and Defoe, I imagine we will be starting with big Pav up front with a 5-man midfield supporting. Sadly this doesn't offer anything like the goal threat we had last season through Berbatov and Keane. I'm not sure about Palacious's availability, but if he can play this will help balance the scales somewhat. Prediction: Spurs 0 Man Utd 2 A great day out, beaten (but not embarrassed) by one of the best teams in the world. We dust ourselves down, pick up the pieces and secure our PL survival with 2 games to go. Woodo from the Wirral “To Dublin’s finest, Shane O’Sullivan: surely to a good Irishman a glass half empty is a positive-you’re nearer your next? Us marooned southerners stuck up north of the Wirral Spurs Supporters Club (membership 2) will be following last year’s tried and tested-travel down Saturday for a big night out and a sing song. Off to Wemberlee, nice and relaxed for more beer and sing song, no great expectation until the whistle and then COYS. Previously we have been poor favourites and great underdogs in north west London, so let’s go and enjoy.” Spurs in Budapest, Grahame Howells This year will be a journey more in hope than expectation. While the opposition is another of the media favourites, the manager (OWF rather than Grant) will ensure this time that whatever XI we face will know their roles and their manager’s demands. And, of course, there will be the insurance of a bench valued at “pick a number over 100m” just in case. So, is there any point in our showing up and if so, why? Well the manure kids selected may freeze on the day, the overpaid primadonnas (manure’s not ours) may have loftier goals than the old Milk Cup, ‘Arry may get his selections and formation spot on, and mother luck may smile on us. Logic says that we have to get in among them and at them, but do we have the personnel to do so? If manure score first and we have to chase the game, wile we wonder where our goals may come from, we could get royally tonked. On the other hand if we score too early (and not many have scored at any time against ‘em recently) it may only serve to see the elite make a quick appearance from the bench. Head says that we will again witness the Carrick and Berbatov show to emphasise that we really aren’t a selling club. Heart says we could see a game with 2 sides playing pass and move, more intent on attack and defence, with chances coming and going before we nick a set piece second half goal and survive a late assault. But hey, what do I know, last year I said we had to score first to win …….. Come On You Spurs Micky Sull Hopefully i wont get mangled in the utd end
jim............... & i'd say we'll sneak it alright TOPSPURS columnist Richard Pymont http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-richard.htm When it's the day of a big Spurs cup game I often have a gut feeling on the morning of the match which way things will go. Back in 1993 on the morning of the semi against Arsenal I just thought it wouldn't be our day, and so it proved as Adams got the winner and my Gooner boss (at that time) rubbing the fact in that a "Donkey had won the Derby". Last year when I arrived at Wembley and noticed how muted Chelski's fans were both outside and inside the stadium I just got the feeling we would win. And this year? Man Ure are on form, even without Rooney in recent weeks they seem to be steamrolling all before them. Berbatov at times looks sublime, Ronaldo is obviously one of the best players around, Tevez a gifted and hard working player up front. In fact, man for man, your head tells you they are much better than us. But this being a one off cup game and a final, anything could, and may happen. Due to both the cup tie rule and injuries, we will be without Keane and Defoe- Pav and Bent will lead the line. Bent will have a point to prove after Harry's comments that "his Missus could have put that chance away" recently, and if the two players can prove they can play together what better time to prove it conclusively at Wembley. I think our best chances will be if Ledley is fit for the final (at the time of writing this I have no idea if he will be), and Modric and Lennon are at the peak of their games-the midfield will dictate things. If Carrick is given too much space then we will pay for it, make no bones about it. If Zokora can keep tight to him and stifle his short and long passing game I think we could rattle them a bit. My prediction for the score? I think either they'll beat us 2-0 or we'll sneak a 1-0 with somebody unexpected scoring the winner. Enjoy the game, Fanzine legend Mario Harry has pulled out some good results when his
teams have played man utd. Harry has strengthened the team, but the team is
still looking over its shoulder at the trap door. This game will give the
team a welcome day out and distraction from the league. My crystal ball says one
nil to the boys from white hart lane. Martin Cloake http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-martinc.htm It's a Cup Final, and it is, for the first time in any competition, contested between English football's two most historically glamorous teams. Even this season, with Tottenham a sad shadow of its former self under the blundering leadership of Daniel Levy, the league game between the two at White Hart Lane was as absorbing a game as you could wish to see. And yet… Where's the excitement, the sense of expectation? Is it because of lingering embarrassment over the sheer awfulness of our performance for most of the semi-final ties? Is it because of Redknapp's regular moaning about almost every game being an inconvenience, about the squad not being up to it, about how he is not responsible for anything but success? Is it because of the shameful surrender at Old Trafford in the FA Cup? Or is it because, like the players seem to be, us fans can scarcely be bothered to do more than go through a cursory impression of the motions? It's a very sad state of affairs. Come the day, my bunch of match day stalwarts will repeat last season's matchday breakfast at our mate's house in Kilburn, head off to Wembley and put the effort in. If the players do, and I've simply taken at face value Harry's canny mind games in the run-up to the big day, I'll be delighted. Because even as good as United are, and they are very good indeed, Spurs have the players capable of beating them in a one-off. Despite his own fixture pile-up, you can be sure Fergie will be wanting to win another trophy with every inch of his being. I don't believe either Harry or our players want anything less than a win – they're professionals too. Who gets the result will be down to nous, hunger and the application of ability. Spurs are capable of winning the trophy, Spurs fans are capable of matching United's in what will surely be a special atmosphere. A win would sweep away the criticisms of the players, of the mental state of the club, and of Redknapp. And in the process it would show that our 'Arry really can walk as well as talk. As Danny Blanchflower once said, You've Got To Believe. Herr Jurgen of the Bridge I think in typical Spurs cup tradition they will give 110% in this one-off event and snatch it against Man Utd reserve team before going back to their usual “can’t be bothered often enough” attitude in the Premier League. Harry will fire them up, Bent and Pavlyuchenko will score. Ramon Vega will then buy Spurs instead of Pompey, bring back Christian Gross as Manager and Justin Edinburgh and Stuart Nethercott as Assistant Managers TV’s Rabbi Crackers Its a one off cup final......thats a hope we have
to cling too, and maybe berbatov to be out with man flu or summink!!! JimmyG2 http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-jimmyg2.htm
Oh dear here we go again: head and heart time. Anyone who read my pre-season predictions will be
praying that I tip Man.Utd. to win so disastrously wrong did I get it before the actual season started. However this is a one off game: they might keep
faith with 2/3 youngsters; its not a priority for them; we have played well
against the better teams this year; we beat Chelsea last year and showed more
determination in 90mins. than we showed for the rest of the season. So I'm going to go for Spurs. Sorry everyone but
I always expect us to win and I'm not always wrong. It's our only chance to
salvage something from what has been a disastrous season and that's even if
we stay up Bent to nick it late on; 1-0 to Spurs and Europe
again next year. As Elvis Presley wrote 'All things are possible / If you'll only
believe' I believe brothers, I believe. Stephen Hull “Sod all this prioritisation of competitions, Spurs need to start playing well more consistently if we are to slay the relegation demons for another season. A Cup Final is as good a place to start as any. After paying £35 to watch the youth team last night I shouldn’t be excited but I am. Surely a win would boost confidence which we could take forward to some sort of league run? Hmmm, perhaps. The best I can hope for is that the team don’t spend the next 48 hours on the tiles prior to our relegation 6 pointer on Wednesday… But for now, both ‘Arry and I can park our cynicism and enjoy a visit to Wembley for the second time each in 12 months.” Spurs to win 3-2 (if they don’t score too early) Slabber http://www.topspurs.com/thfccol-slabber.htm We don’t know who Fergie is going to play
tomorrow. He promised to play his youngsters after the semi-final, but he’s a
serial liar so it’s a safe bet that there will be a few stars sprinkled
about. Expect Rooney and Ronaldo to at least make the bench. Even if the likes of Gibson and Welbeck do
start, Spurs will still have the handicap of playing against twelve men. If
it wasn’t bad enough that we got Peter “ManYoo” Walton for the FA Cup tie in
January, we’ve got Chris “ManYoo” Foy, under whose stewardship ManYoo have
never lost a game. They might as well have called the fixture Spurs v Chris
Foy. We always seem to get shafted by the
officials whenever we play ManYoo and expect tomorrow to be no different. Off
the top of my head, in recent years, there’s been three penalties from Peter
Walton when the scores were level, there was Tevez’ late goal last season
long after stoppage time had expired, and of course there was the Mendes
“goal” that even a blind badger spotted had crossed the line… We did manage to get a penalty in last
year’s final, but the referee made up for it by adding five minutes of
stoppage time to a 15 minute period of extra-time. The only crumb of comfort
is that it isn’t Rob Styles. I expect Harry will go with a 4-5-1 of
Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, BAE, Jenas, Zokora, Modric, Lennon, Super
Pav, and one of Bentley or O’Hara, preferably the latter, partly because
O’Hara deserves it, partly to teach the show-boater a lesson and partly
because if you’re not going to play Bentley on the right, you might as well
not play him at all. I can’t see him playing Super Pav and Bent, especially
since that would leave no striker on the bench and no tactical option if we
need to chase the game. I can’t see Spurs going for the jugular,
because if we’re going to trade punches with ManYoo, we’ll lose, and in any
case, Harry is a defensive manager, despite his reputation to the contrary.
Our best hope is to nick a goal in a tight game, or dare I say it, to get it
to penalties. Whatever happens, when we get a chance, we’re going to have to
take it. Super Pav gave the websites some much
needed headlines by revealing to the Russian press that he’d love to play for
ManYoo. This is no Berbatov scenario though, mainly because he’s never going
to be good enough. He more than made up for his slip-up though by calling
Berb an arrogant snob. Don’t worry, Super Pav. You’re still Super Pav in my
eyes. We’re massive underdogs in the eyes of the world and that’s no bad thing. It’s a lot harder to bottle it, as only Spurs know how, when you don’t have the weight of expectation on your shoulders. Sorry if this all sounds a little negative. I fear the worst. But if we could just somehow pull this off, it would be absolutely fantastic. I’d happily trade a 5th place finish for beating ManYoo in a cup final and sending a message out to the world: even if we are a bit shit, never fuck with the Spurs. If he pulls it off, I will hereafter refer to Harry as Sir Harry. Jim Duggan Spurs'll send those norvern’ monkeys away with a flea in their ear, and no mistake! As a good omen, 10 years ago Fergie was also trying for the record books by winning all four... he got three but it was the mighty Spurs led by Ginola who denied him. Sadly the days where the pure magic of Ginola which outshone even George Graham as manager has been ironed out for the pure greed and calamitous decision making of Levy’s zombie of what used to be Spurs but you never know… esp against a weakened ManU team. And don’t get me started on all this “the league is the priority” cobblers… what is our club without cups… the game is about glory and all that! |
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