Spurs News 24/7Writer: OxfordSpur 
Date:Tuesday December 15 2009
Time: 12:42PM
UK time is: 00:14:07
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Travelling without moving.
Let`s forget about the weekends result and put that and any other poor result down to a blip or bad day at the office. The good news is that the other 19 clubs are equally as bad.
After just finishing a question and answer thingy for Vital Man City, the decline of our premiership hit me again and perhaps we are not getting better, but the others are in fact getting worse. Sure this season we are battling the top three instead of fighting for our lives at the bottom, but for all the optimism, have we really improved that much this time round from last season.
I think it goes without saying that Harry is turning things around and the players remain behind the clubs manager, but with Harry they are at least not trying to stick knives in, so there are many positives to suggest that we are at least heading in the right direction.
To compare our best eleven of this season to last is probably not ideal, as last season`s best was probably better than the side of this season, partly due to injuries to key players, but I guess every Spurs fan would take King and Woody over Dawson and Bassong, while is Crouch really head and shoulders above Pav?
The squad is probably better, but still there are a few who need to move on for everyone`s sake and this is easier said than done with player contracts no guarantee of the right buyer at the right price. But the facts remain that we like several others are hardly any better that last season and many are worse.
Forget the league positions, we can take a look at corresponding results from the two seasons and if we compare our form in games last time to this we are actually one point better off than last season. But anything other than a win tomorrow and we will actually be worse than last year. The only bonus is that the majority of the Prem are just as bad.
This isn`t a go at Spurs, but perhaps says more about the Prem than anything else. Take a look for yourself and honestly tell me who are playing better or are stronger than last season? City for sure, Sunderland probably, but who else?
Man United are probably good enough to win the league, but do you really think they have moved forward. Chelsea are better organised, but are they better, Arsenal are still flat track bullies and Villa are doing about as well as last season, whilst Liverpool...
In many ways the Prem has become a game for the fan again, as you really expect there to be shocks at every level. Who would have picked Wolves to beat Spurs? Burnley to beat United or Wigan, yes the Wigan that lost 9-1 to thrash table topping Chelsea 3-1? Great for football in terms of entertainment and excitement, but sadly the quality has dropped from the top, but not improved at the bottom sufficiently for those teams to overtake.
Credit where it is due, Spurs are heading in the right direction, but this is more in terms of stability and mindset than consistency of performance and comparing this with last year, results are no better so is any development smoke and mirrors as opposed to actual on pitch progress???
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Your Comments
The league is a lot closer than last season as everyone predicted but that is not due to the fact that the League has dropped in quality. if anything i feel the league has gotten better. i feel chelsea and arsenal are better than they where last season and the teams in the bottom half i.e Hull,stoke,wigan have improved a lot. As regards to Spurs, we have been very good since harry took over. if the league had started since harry took over last season, we would have ended last season in 5th. where are we now? 5th. So our performance is not a surprise to me.
Yid_from_India
The league is a lot closer than last season as everyone predicted but that is not due to the fact that the League has dropped in quality. if anything i feel the league has gotten better. i feel chelsea and arsenal are better than they where last season and the teams in the bottom half i.e Hull,stoke,wigan have improved a lot. As regards to Spurs, we have been very good since harry took over. if the league had started since harry took over last season, we would have ended last season in 5th. where are we now? 5th. So our performance is not a surprise to me.
Yid_from_India
have to say that I disagree YFI and I think the Prem isnt as strong, but certainly better from a fan perspective. We all want competetive games and if the league remains with something toplay for at the top CL places and relegation it has to be good for the fan.
oxfordspur
have to say that I disagree YFI and I think the Prem isnt as strong, but certainly better from a fan perspective. We all want competetive games and if the league remains with something toplay for at the top CL places and relegation it has to be good for the fan.
oxfordspur
I mentioned on the last topic that if you ignored the first 4 games, we prob havent been any better than last year. Our summer trading maybe added to our squad strength, but not radically. We have lost King and/or Woody for most of the season, and Wilson/Keane have been off key, so its hardly surprising we havent progressed. If we want to do better we must improve the squad in Jan, whatever Harry/Levy are saying
suspiciousminds
I mentioned on the last topic that if you ignored the first 4 games, we prob havent been any better than last year. Our summer trading maybe added to our squad strength, but not radically. We have lost King and/or Woody for most of the season, and Wilson/Keane have been off key, so its hardly surprising we havent progressed. If we want to do better we must improve the squad in Jan, whatever Harry/Levy are saying
suspiciousminds
Its a tought league and we are playing better, enjoy it!
4721archer
Its a tought league and we are playing better, enjoy it!
4721archer
Still the best league in the world
schweini_to_spurs
Still the best league in the world
schweini_to_spurs
Is is because all the other teams have seen how Everton, Bolton and Blackburn keep getting results and performing well by kicking the s41t out of everyone and not by passing it and playing the game how it was meant to. Last year everyone said West Brom, Newcastle and while we were at the bottom, Spurs, were playing nice football ball but not getting the results. The teams mentioned on the other hand, play rugby compared but do not get relgated. Unfortunantly the game is going downhill as it is more important to stay in the league then entertain your fans. Every club that comes up from the Championship will play hard. Even Harry had to come in and add steal! Lets be honest the team we had should have strolled over the other teams in football terms but they couldn't in a fight!!!!
chappers
Is is because all the other teams have seen how Everton, Bolton and Blackburn keep getting results and performing well by kicking the s41t out of everyone and not by passing it and playing the game how it was meant to. Last year everyone said West Brom, Newcastle and while we were at the bottom, Spurs, were playing nice football ball but not getting the results. The teams mentioned on the other hand, play rugby compared but do not get relgated. Unfortunantly the game is going downhill as it is more important to stay in the league then entertain your fans. Every club that comes up from the Championship will play hard. Even Harry had to come in and add steal! Lets be honest the team we had should have strolled over the other teams in football terms but they couldn't in a fight!!!!
chappers
Ox, define what you mean by the saying " the league has gotten weaker". you say that you agree that the league has gotten closer and become more competitive. isn't that the indication of the strength of the league?
Yid_from_India
Ox, define what you mean by the saying " the league has gotten weaker". you say that you agree that the league has gotten closer and become more competitive. isn't that the indication of the strength of the league?
Yid_from_India
While I understand where YFI's coming from, I have to say that smaller teams beating the bigger teams, i.e the league being more competitive, isn't an indication of a stronger league. It's possibly even an indication of a weaker one. Wigan beat Chelski 3-1. Does that indicate Wigan's strength, or does that mean Chelski's gotten weaker? IF Chelski's gotten weaker, then while the other teams may rise to fill the ga left by them, they aren't going to be as competitve as Chelski in Europe, not for a while, anyway. This reflects negatively on English football, and tarnishes our reputation. Then the league gets weaker and foreign players leave to more competitive European teams. It's a cycle.So the league being competitve cuts both ways, you can't judge for better or worse.
DubaiSpur
While I understand where YFI's coming from, I have to say that smaller teams beating the bigger teams, i.e the league being more competitive, isn't an indication of a stronger league. It's possibly even an indication of a weaker one. Wigan beat Chelski 3-1. Does that indicate Wigan's strength, or does that mean Chelski's gotten weaker? IF Chelski's gotten weaker, then while the other teams may rise to fill the ga left by them, they aren't going to be as competitve as Chelski in Europe, not for a while, anyway. This reflects negatively on English football, and tarnishes our reputation. Then the league gets weaker and foreign players leave to more competitive European teams. It's a cycle.So the league being competitve cuts both ways, you can't judge for better or worse.
DubaiSpur
*gap, 7th line, fifth word. Sorry.
DubaiSpur
*gap, 7th line, fifth word. Sorry.
DubaiSpur
I could be wrong, but in the exact same matches last year, we got 2 more points than we have done this year. Or did you mean what we had gotten after the first 15 matches? But I still think we have made some progress. We've had one lucky victory (Sunderland), 2 unlucky losses and 2 unlucky draws....last season we really struggled to get some of those results. And we have a lot more of the ball, and chances, I think. And like I told in the other post, tomorrows game is really a typical game we win. First of all we have the statistics with us. Second, a win is not expected of us (takes off some pressure). Third, Man C is interested in playing football and getting all 3 points - we are much better when both teams try to create. So wish us luck for tomorrws game :) COYS!
NorwaySpurs
I could be wrong, but in the exact same matches last year, we got 2 more points than we have done this year. Or did you mean what we had gotten after the first 15 matches? But I still think we have made some progress. We've had one lucky victory (Sunderland), 2 unlucky losses and 2 unlucky draws....last season we really struggled to get some of those results. And we have a lot more of the ball, and chances, I think. And like I told in the other post, tomorrows game is really a typical game we win. First of all we have the statistics with us. Second, a win is not expected of us (takes off some pressure). Third, Man C is interested in playing football and getting all 3 points - we are much better when both teams try to create. So wish us luck for tomorrws game :) COYS!
NorwaySpurs
Lets not forget about Saturdsy...HA HA HA
We8Spurs
YFI, o thought it was quite simple, in that I dont think there are too many teams who are actually stronger that they were last year. Clubs like Spurs and Villa have stayed pretty much as they are in terms of quality, while others like sunderland, stoke, fulham have added quality and polish, but can you honestly say that the established top four are better? in the main I think that a more competetive league is good for the fans, but thta doesnt make it stronger overall.
oxfordspur
YFI, o thought it was quite simple, in that I dont think there are too many teams who are actually stronger that they were last year. Clubs like Spurs and Villa have stayed pretty much as they are in terms of quality, while others like sunderland, stoke, fulham have added quality and polish, but can you honestly say that the established top four are better? in the main I think that a more competetive league is good for the fans, but thta doesnt make it stronger overall.
oxfordspur
Lets not forget about Saturdsy...HA HA HA
We8Spurs
I think we have improved and the difference is that the results of late have been a blip rather than par for the course as they might have been in previous seasons. Tomorrow is a massive game and a true 6 pointer considering Cities game in hand. I agree with Norway that cities attacking game will suit us more than some of the "park the bus" teams we've played of late and if we can keep them quite up our end (thats a big if) I am pretty confident we can come out with 3 pts.
MJBSpur
I think we have improved and the difference is that the results of late have been a blip rather than par for the course as they might have been in previous seasons. Tomorrow is a massive game and a true 6 pointer considering Cities game in hand. I agree with Norway that cities attacking game will suit us more than some of the "park the bus" teams we've played of late and if we can keep them quite up our end (thats a big if) I am pretty confident we can come out with 3 pts.
MJBSpur
Both the season's league results up till now, and the CL group results involving last years top 4, particularly Liverpool's, suggest that the league may be getting closer, as the quality diminishes. This may be good for fans of the smaller no hoper clubs, and neutrals, but not the purists, which I would hope Spurs supporters still are. I think it is somewhat spurious to call the EPL the best league in the world, when it contains the likes of Stoke City (the Rory Delap show), Blackburn who try to kick anything that moves, as do Bolton, and Wolves who resembled gladiators against us. One thing that can be said for the likes of Burnley and Wigan is that due to their managers Coyle and Martinez footballing philosophy, they at least try to play properly. Apart from our top 5-6 clubs, the general standard is not up to La Liga, where every club at least tries to play football rather than clogging and hacking their way through the season, anyone who watched the Barcelona v Espanyol derby, which was top v nearly bottom could see this. Both teams playing football. One thing I think is affecting PL quality is the poor standard of the newer generation of referees coming in, Atwell, Jones, Probert amongst others are not up to it and affecting games by making poor decisions or not making any decisions as the case may be.
Frank
Both the season's league results up till now, and the CL group results involving last years top 4, particularly Liverpool's, suggest that the league may be getting closer, as the quality diminishes. This may be good for fans of the smaller no hoper clubs, and neutrals, but not the purists, which I would hope Spurs supporters still are. I think it is somewhat spurious to call the EPL the best league in the world, when it contains the likes of Stoke City (the Rory Delap show), Blackburn who try to kick anything that moves, as do Bolton, and Wolves who resembled gladiators against us. One thing that can be said for the likes of Burnley and Wigan is that due to their managers Coyle and Martinez footballing philosophy, they at least try to play properly. Apart from our top 5-6 clubs, the general standard is not up to La Liga, where every club at least tries to play football rather than clogging and hacking their way through the season, anyone who watched the Barcelona v Espanyol derby, which was top v nearly bottom could see this. Both teams playing football. One thing I think is affecting PL quality is the poor standard of the newer generation of referees coming in, Atwell, Jones, Probert amongst others are not up to it and affecting games by making poor decisions or not making any decisions as the case may be.
Frank
Agreed Frank, I wonder where Spurs would finish in the Spanish League and where Sevilla and their world class DM Zokora lol (currently 3rd) would finish in the prem..I guess we would find it easier playing against teams who play the game in the so called "right way"
Guyver
Agreed Frank, I wonder where Spurs would finish in the Spanish League and where Sevilla and their world class DM Zokora lol (currently 3rd) would finish in the prem..I guess we would find it easier playing against teams who play the game in the so called "right way"
Guyver
dont realy know what you are trying to say? to be honest. please dont tell me you are even companring this season to last because we are 100 times better than we were at this time last year! although there is still some work to do before we are a top 4 team
stuboi10
dont realy know what you are trying to say? to be honest. please dont tell me you are even companring this season to last because we are 100 times better than we were at this time last year! although there is still some work to do before we are a top 4 team
stuboi10
Well, Villa have improved. We're 4 points up on the same fixtures last year, so that's got to be an improvement, right?
heathfieldroad1874
Well, Villa have improved. We're 4 points up on the same fixtures last year, so that's got to be an improvement, right?
heathfieldroad1874
while is Crouch really head and shoulders above Pav? Well yes but the real question is... Is he any better? Sorry cheap joke!
stu_u2k
while is Crouch really head and shoulders above Pav? Well yes but the real question is... Is he any better? Sorry cheap joke!
stu_u2k
AGREE totally Frank although give Wolves credit for their performance on Saturday. The league has DEFINATLEY gone down hill slightly. Liverpool (arguably the best team in the league last season losing only twice) look awful. Chelsea still look good but imo not a patch on Mourinhos machine. Utd are lacking quality, Arsenal are now in the title race despite not improving and infact in my opinion declining slightly in the last 5 years with the loss of their few remaining invincibles. Its why Birmingham are 8th with a hard working yet technically lacking side. Its why anyone can beat anyone it seems now. Its why a team like Wigan can outplay and comfortably beat Chelsea 3-1 then a few weeks later lose 9-1 to Spurs. Its possibly a good thing for Spurs too as well as teams like Villa and City as we can really challenge for that 4th spot now. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule - City being the most obvious, but looking how the whole seasons panned out its obvious in my opinion.
HuddersfieldYiddo
AGREE totally Frank although give Wolves credit for their performance on Saturday. The league has DEFINATLEY gone down hill slightly. Liverpool (arguably the best team in the league last season losing only twice) look awful. Chelsea still look good but imo not a patch on Mourinhos machine. Utd are lacking quality, Arsenal are now in the title race despite not improving and infact in my opinion declining slightly in the last 5 years with the loss of their few remaining invincibles. Its why Birmingham are 8th with a hard working yet technically lacking side. Its why anyone can beat anyone it seems now. Its why a team like Wigan can outplay and comfortably beat Chelsea 3-1 then a few weeks later lose 9-1 to Spurs. Its possibly a good thing for Spurs too as well as teams like Villa and City as we can really challenge for that 4th spot now. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule - City being the most obvious, but looking how the whole seasons panned out its obvious in my opinion.
HuddersfieldYiddo
I didn't really see Wolves playing like thugs on saturday or "like gladiators", they just closed down well in their half of the field and spurs couldn't break through. Good for them. maybe it's just that the "smaller" clubs are finding a way to play against the "bigger" clubs and the big clubs need to find new ways of beating them. There are no rules in any sport that say you have to adopt a certain style of play or else the other team has the right to take their ball and go home. it may not be pretty but they're getting results. Or maybe spurs just need a stubborn fighter, like that Kevin Prince guy on Portsmouth, who plays really decent football and doesn't get pushed around very easily and would help spurs win games like those against wolves. I for one am enjoying the close table this year and not knowing what will happen next.
americanspur
I didn't really see Wolves playing like thugs on saturday or "like gladiators", they just closed down well in their half of the field and spurs couldn't break through. Good for them. maybe it's just that the "smaller" clubs are finding a way to play against the "bigger" clubs and the big clubs need to find new ways of beating them. There are no rules in any sport that say you have to adopt a certain style of play or else the other team has the right to take their ball and go home. it may not be pretty but they're getting results. Or maybe spurs just need a stubborn fighter, like that Kevin Prince guy on Portsmouth, who plays really decent football and doesn't get pushed around very easily and would help spurs win games like those against wolves. I for one am enjoying the close table this year and not knowing what will happen next.
americanspur
........and the 2009 award for the dullest, most ungrammatical, pointless article goes to......................
soulofbillynic
........and the 2009 award for the dullest, most ungrammatical, pointless article goes to......................
soulofbillynic
Americanspur, Wolves got 5 yellows on Saturdayand with a half decent referee, Atwell was a joke might have had more or even a red.
Frank
Americanspur, Wolves got 5 yellows on Saturdayand with a half decent referee, Atwell was a joke might have had more or even a red.
Frank
birmingham have just signed a new kickboxer he had to do the take wondo do brick breaking first pack of ****s
Uskok
birmingham have just signed a new kickboxer he had to do the take wondo do brick breaking first pack of ****s
Uskok
Why, of why, do we Spurs fans overeact in the way that we do? Just because we lost a game to a bunch of absolute no hoper jokers who threw a lucky punch, we go ballistic. Wolves and Mick Mcarthy will be relegated. Don't read too much into it. I absolutely think Harry should improve his squad by shipping out the inveterate losers who are a waste of space, (five players at the last count) but it's still very early days
jinkin jimmy dimmock
Why, of why, do we Spurs fans overeact in the way that we do? Just because we lost a game to a bunch of absolute no hoper jokers who threw a lucky punch, we go ballistic. Wolves and Mick Mcarthy will be relegated. Don't read too much into it. I absolutely think Harry should improve his squad by shipping out the inveterate losers who are a waste of space, (five players at the last count) but it's still very early days
jinkin jimmy dimmock
Travelling without moving,sounds like a good way of describing Harry's brain.Yes Mr Contradiction is at it again but this time two contrasting coments within 24hrs. Firstly when talking about David "I'm so ***** it's unbelievable" Bentley, he says "He's a very good player and there's nothing to say he can't get back in the team" Then he says "David would like to move,there is no doubt about that" Make up your mind Harry,FFS!!
shelfside65
Travelling without moving,sounds like a good way of describing Harry's brain.Yes Mr Contradiction is at it again but this time two contrasting coments within 24hrs. Firstly when talking about David "I'm so ***** it's unbelievable" Bentley, he says "He's a very good player and there's nothing to say he can't get back in the team" Then he says "David would like to move,there is no doubt about that" Make up your mind Harry,FFS!!
shelfside65
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