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Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

Our next game is home to Newcastle United which, until the January window closed, we may have considered a very good prospect for 3 points. But the bar codes have been busy in the transfer window spending £28,569.200.00 and receiving back from transfer revenue £13,024.000.00

There is no doubt that Moussa Sissoko is a great find and at just 22 he looks like a prospect for the future. But whilst his fingerprints were all over the Chelsea result the Bar codes have acquired some other strong players like Centre Back Mapou Yanga Mbiwa, only 23 years of age from Montpellier, Centre Forward, Yoan Gouffran from Bordeaux, Right Back Mathieu Debuchy and left back Massadio Haidara from AS Nancy.

Newcastle come to the Lane on the back of two straight wins 2-1 away to Villa and last weekend a stunning 3-2 victory over Chelsea. The Newcastle team will probably be the same as the team that beat Chelski, with Debucy, Colloccini, Santon and Perch across the back, Cabaye, Goufran, Gutierrez across the middle with Sissoko sitting in just behind Cisse. AVB will have to think carefully how he sets his team out for this one as both Cisse and Sissoko are powerful forwards. Hugo Lloris will have to be at his aerial best as Newcastle will be good in the air especially at set pieces and if we are going to play a high line we will have to make sure we can get back to defend if play breaks down whilst we are in possession. That could mean AVB dropping Dawson, who isn`t the quickest of our CB`s, and maybe consider pairing Caulker and Vertonghen instead.

If ever there was a game to have Kaboul available it would be this one but unfortunately Kaboul`s long awaited return is not until the 25th February. Another absentee that we will surely miss is Sandro helping us break up play higher up the pitch, that means Parker will have a job to do on Saturday. We are a bit light in terms of DM now Sandro is out so Dembele will need to go back to help Parker and possibly build attacks from deep.

The most interesting aspect of this game will be to see if AVB puts Dempsey in behind Adebyour or takes a gamble and puts Lewis Holtby in the VDV role. That would allow Dembele to play deeper and might bring that link between the front man and midfield that we have been missing in recent games. Against West Brom Defoe looked isolated for much of the game he played and it was only when Bale went back to the left, after the Defoe injury that Dempsey started to see some service.

This is going to be a difficult match. Chelsea were said to have not been on their game, whilst Newcastle went into the match with a Cup mentality. Newcastle will be on a high and their new pairing of Cisse and Sissoko look like a potent weapon that will surely start to see the Bar Codes climb up the table. Newcastle, like Spurs, have Europa League duties this month, whether that reflects on the two teams that are selected remains unclear but our 25 man squad is looking a bit thin in some areas because some players, like Walker and BAE have not really found their form yet.

There will be some key battles, especially in defence, how will Debuchy and Santon deal with Lennon and Bale. How will our CB`s deal with Sissoko and Cisse? The battle for midfield will be another key area. Will Dembele see enough of the ball and will Holtby get a start over Dempsey?

Of course no one really feels that Newcastle should be where they are in the Premier League especially as they finished 5th last season. The irony is that Newcastle could yet have a big bearing on us finishing fourth or higher this season, especially if the points difference is 3 points or less for 4th spot, as Les Toons D`Army`s last match of the season is at St James`s Park against.....Le Scum!

So how would you set Spurs up against a rejuvenated Newcastle and do we have the players to keep Sissoko and Cisse quiet?

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Writer: OyVeh Maria

Date:Friday February 8 2013

Time: 3:42PM

Your Comments

Booooom

JattYid

Simple Bale up front with an all out attack supporting him. I suppose we will have to play Ade just to give him a chance Benny can surge up the left to supply the crosses and Mr. Lennon can go out on the right. As for the rest of the team it virtually picks itself.

chrishove123

Oh Holtby in a supporting VDV or Modders role. Dembele and Parker.

chrishove123

Oh Holtby in a supporting VDV or Modders role. Dembele and Parker.

chrishove123

Finally,At last! :D

SilwalYid

HA HA well done Jattyid

chrishove123

Holtby and sigi to come off the bench again. Dempsey/Bale and Ade up top. By the time Le Arse come to town Holtby should be a starter, but for next couple of games ease him in. Reckon it be a cracker jack 2moro...hopefully Bale and Lennon be on song 4.2 spurs COYMFS!!!

JattYid

If Ade and our 2 wing backs BAE and Walker find some form now to end of the season 3rd place is ours. Holtby providing the link to Midfield and Attack. Ade being a Nuisance up top and not in Africa and BAE and Walker bombing forward we onto a winner COYMFS!!

JattYid

Thanks SilWalYid didnt realise you wanted me to finish first so bad ;)

JattYid

Holtby to start ahead of Dempsey!

SilwalYid

i think due to the signings they made having an instant impact, as spurs fans, we could easily be forgiven for sensing an implosion of some kind. fact is they beat the villa just lke everyone seems to be this season and a chelsea side that doesn't know whether they are coming or going and probably under estimated them. i fully expect AVB to out smart the muppet on the other side of the duggout and send the team out with a clear game plan and dominate the game as we do most gams these days and win reasonably comfortably. if holty hits it off with ade we could easily see this one out 3 or 4 to nil or 1 at best for them.

shelf88

JattYid-Nexttime Maybe I'll press the submit button 10 seconds faster!LOL Lets win and get 7 points ahead of lescums and 6 ahead of Everton!Everton,they have a tough trip bound to lose!

SilwalYid

-------------------------bale------------------------ ---Holtby-----------sigurdson----------lennon---- -----------------Dembele--------------------------- ---------------------------------Parker------------- --BAE-------Vertoghen-----caulker----Walker--- --------------------- Lloris-------------------------- Sub Dempsy,fridel,dawson,kane,livermore/huddlestone Ade is exhausted....dempsy should have said to stay at usa and return completing all national games...

Navaneeth

Bar the bebate over Dawson versus Caulker and the three way battle between Dempsey, Holtby and Ade (if he turns up) the team picks it's self. Which speaks volumes about the amount of cover and depth of squad we really have!

Slurms McKenzie

Navaneeth

Exactly Slurms

Ossie

--------------------------------------bale--------------------------------- ---Holtby--------------------------sigurdson-----------------lennon---- ----------------------Dembele------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------Parker----------------------- --BAE------------------Vertoghen---------caulker-----------Walker--- -------------------------------------- Lloris-------------------------------

Navaneeth

Getting there Navaneeth go on give it one more try ;)

JattYid

I think it is important AVB starts holtby. he is a livewire and will help get the team off to a fast start which will in turn get the fans buzzing and singing their hearts out for lads. once this process has kicked in the rest will take care of itself...hopefully. COYS

shelf88

Holtby should absolutely start. His work rate is infectious. If he can get Adebayor working and scoring then we'll have the Dempsey/Defoe option that can be brought on late in games. Defoe running at tired defences and Dempsey with his timely goals could prove huge. It all depends on Adebayor getting his form back, and fast. We need a solid defence and a packed midfield at the back end. Don't concede and we will win more often than not. We need the FB's to create the width and the overlap. Huge game. 3 points sets the tone as everyone around us in the table will feel pressure to perform. We are getting to the business end of things and the more wins we get, the better. 8 more wins and CL is ours. COYS

peterballb

If Ade is too tired to play bless him then we have to go for it: 4-1-3-1-1: Lloris, Walker, Daws, Verts, Ekotto, Parker (DM), Dembele (CM), Lennon (RM), Siggy(LM), Holtby(AM), Bale (S). 4-1 Spurs! Bale Hatrick! COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TornadoYid

I must admit to feeling a bit nervous this game. We have a great opportunity to put pressure on the opposition but must stop them scoring goals. Pity Kaboul wasn't fit. Will be cheering like mad in Belfast anyway

Big Ron

I'm feeling confident that we'll beat Newcastle, if they sit on there goal line they will get beat, if they come at us they will get beat. Keep the pressure on there midfield, providing our guys turn up 3 points in the bag!

coys1717

Police have warned that there will be trouble getting to WHL with an excess build up of overweight shirtless Geordies blocking the way. Considering their team is made up of a load of French and we now have a German player I expect they'll surrender about 10 minutes into the game 50-0 to us!

Spursnoob

Haha!

Moscovite

Newcastle have let in 23 Goals in their last 10 games so we have a chance especially if Bale gets his head down and goes route one!

OyVeh Maria

If Ade has not shown for training today as rumoured, he should never play for us again, whatever the cost.

tophobunty

Told you he was exhausted lol!

Moscovite

tophobunty NO NO NO No you`re so wrong ,take that back .
.Adebayor needs tender loving care , the good old TLC ,,cuddles ,a bed time story to help him sleep & a nice hot water bottle .
Don`t upset him or he won`t play well when he returns .Tippy toes remember

big cockeral

yes alright BIGC.

tophobunty

Please let Holtby start!!

mattspurs1982

His country were eliminaed Sunday. He should have had a day off, then a day of travel, another day off and then two days of practice in preparation for the Saturday start. Basically this will be the second leg against Newcastle that he has not been in the squad for his own agenda. If true, he cannot even be allowed on the bench or in the stadium tomorrow. He should be suspended until the club can talk to him on Sunday. COYS

peterballb

"Oh Holtby in a supporting VDV or Modders role. Dembele and Parker," wrote chrishove123.

Interesting observation about Holtby, because one wouldn't have thought about playing VDV in the Modders role, nor the Mo Fo in the VDV role. But one doesn't laugh at the suggestion of putting Holtby into either role.

Total knobhead

Total Knobhead, I guess the question is where is he best in the lineup given the opposition. Against Newcastle, I'd want him just behind Bale with Sigurdsson and Lennon out wide. If we need to up the offence, Sigurdsson off, Dempsey on and Bale out left. Parker and Dembele have to start in front of the back four to make it nigh impossible to play through. Modric could have played the VDV role, but we had VDV. VDV could not have played the Modric role which is why he was allowed to go back to Germany. Holtby looks a very versatile player. COYS

peterballb

peterballb " VDV could not have played the Modric role which is why he was allowed to go back to Germany " please don`t say such things .
V.D.V went back to Germany for his wife & his family .They split up anyway but c`mon

big cockeral

Leave the strikers on the bench tomorrow. Start Holtby in a 4-6-0. Hold the ball in the middle of the park and spring Lennon or Bale centrally at their CBs. Teach Lennon to shoot. Possible loss tomorrow but in AVB I trust. COYS

Arky

I'd play Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Ekotto, Parker, Dembele, Bale, Holtby, Lennon, Dempsey. But have the front four interchanging throughout.

Jantheman

Van der Vaart's 1 goal and 4 assists (nothing since the end of October) would beg to differ. He went to work on his corners and free kicks. COYS

peterballb

big cockeral loving your sentiment, LOL, but he never played that well in the first place, lousy first touch because of his octagonal boots which are specially made to fit his octagonal feet. HA HA, therefore terrible at shooting. He could have got 20+ if his first touch was good, which, in turn, would have allowed him to shoot accurately.

chrishove123

peterballb VDV really did go back to Germany for his wife and kid. Seems like some people actually like to put family before career, unlike others would. Good on him and shame they split up afterwards.

chrishove123

chrishove123, I don't doubt that there is a degree of truth to that, but the fact was that he was not going to have our offence built around him any longer and it was going to impact on his playing time. His move to Spain was for the family too. Perhaps the move to Germany was to salvage the marriage. The point I made earlier was that VDV could not have played the Modric role where Modric could have performed the VDV role. Regardless of all else, he should have worked on his corners and free kicks more and he most definitely should not have hit his wife. COYS

peterballb

Oh Veh - Your prediction. "The Newcastle team will probably be the same as the team that beat Chelski, with Debucy, Colloccini, Santon and Perch across the back, Cabaye, Goufran, Gutierrez across the middle with Sissoko sitting in just behind Cisse." I disagree. I think Newcastle will play with 11 men :-)

muttley

I agree with Big C, if it is true that Adebayor did not arrive for training, it only goes to prove what many of us suspected, he is taking "the aunt ciss". He needs a hearty kick up the arse, and read the riot act, nobody is bigger than the club, if he isn't prepared to pull his weight he should be told to "Foxtrot Oscar". This season, with one thing and another, he is becoming a waste of space, and has contributed little.

Frank

Totally agree Frank, and fined 2 weeks wages. I just don't get the mindset of the guy. Most of us would see Defoe's injury as our chance to win the shirt and keep it for the rest of the season. Anyway, the recent stats would tell us we've got a couple of players contributing 1 in 2 at the moment. Their names are Dempsey and Bale so my feeling is they should play with Holtby and Lennon making up the attacking 4. Who cares if we haven't got a player that says "Striker" on his CV. I'd rather have the ones scoring all of our goals in the side.

muttley

Getting back to the game v Newcastle, I fear this will be a very very difficult game. They have done excellent business in the transfer window, with 5 more than decent players coming in for a net spend of some £15M, laying to rest the myth that you have to pay £20M for the "Red Top back page players" to do any good in the market, maybe there is a lesson in their for some chairmen, no names no pack drill. In particular their signing of Sissoko was a steal, he wasn't a find, he was there for all who bothered to look to see, and Newcastle went in and nicked him, business that will prove excellent in the future. I think we will need to play well to get anything from this game, particularly given our absentees, some unavoidable, some not.

Frank

I still cannot see how a bid of £2.5M for Sissoko to see off Newcastle, and taking the £10M offer from Reading for Sigurdson was not seen as a good option for us. It would have ticked all the boxes, firstly a £3M profit on Sigurdson's original fee, getting a better player, and £7.5M into Lewis's back pocket, job done, everybody happy, and our squad stronger.

Frank

Frank, I can only presume that Sigurdsson is a player AVB wants - he blocked any move and we have not yet played a style of football that can really be considered "AVB-ish". 4-4-2 was borne of Defoe's inability to do the job of the up top lone striker and Adebayor's lack of presence (either meaning) this year. As for Sissokho, I'd have done that deal in a second, though I'd have preferred Belhanda. Given how we were still in for Willian and Leandro, I suspect (just a guess) that Moutinho is still going to be the man. They are up against Malaga and must surely believe they can advance to the round of 8, so there was never going to be any movement from the player at this time. Myself, I'd have gone the 2.5M route (sell Hudd to cover costs) and, if Moutinho was available in the summer, still gone in for him and sold whomever didn't fit thereafter. I would not have sold Sigurdsson though. I really liked what I saw in pre-season and believe, once he hits his stride, he will be a very valuable member of the squad. COYS

peterballb

Every game is super important. COME ON YOU SPURS & WIN WIN WIN. Good decent watching time this game, 11.45 pm. See you guys then . Cheers.

Madaboutspurs

Sissoko has had 1 very good game v Chelsea but if u ask his former club what they think about his ability you will be surprised by the answer. He did diddly squat for them hence why they sold him. Check the opts stats they don't lie. Granted he was mesmerising b Chelsea but he still has everything to prove. I don't expect him to do anything tomorrow and I certainly don't think we need to pay any special attention to him. Average player.

TornadoYid

I'll just say the same thing that I have said before every match in 2013. The team needs to realise the game starts at 12:45 and NOT in the 2nd half or when we are one down. Get an early goal and 3 points are ours. COYS!

Critical_Spur

Tornado, 2 years ago he was being considered a 20M player and a future star. Me certainly is better than M'Vila, IMO, although I agree, 2 goals is not the norm with him. Belhanda is better, but 2.5M is a steal as would 3.5M for Diambe. Doesn't mean they are the bees knees but they are not average. We need to pay attention to whoever is on the pitch if we are to win. COYS

peterballb

TBH, I don’t understand why peeps are constantly feeling nervous when we face the likes of barcodes, or for that matter, anyone else. Get those positive vibes going and get that positivity flowing throughout the fan base. And those that are lucky enough to attend the match, relay that to the team. For me, if we are considered to be serious top-4 team, then the likes of Newcastle and their fans who should be nervous facing us, especially when WE are playing home. They had Ba last year and we took them to cleaners. Also, let’s not get carried away by their new signings. They all played at home and put on a good show for the fans. Let’s see how they handle the WHL atmosphere. OK, we have a niggling concern about our lack of genuine strikers, but they’d be worry about our other talent and the unity in the team. Their win against Chelsea was as much about their efficient goal scoring as it was of poor Chelsea defending. I personally think AVB and the lads will be well up for this, wanting to consolidate our position in the league. A lively start would go a long away in removing any apprehension. Need to get the ‘win every game’ mentality bedded in. That’s where we have to learn to emulate the like of Man Utd. COYS!

Critical_Spur

Peterballb, the other day you claimed Sissoko was more defensive than M'Vila, which suggest you havent seen much of either player in the last 2 years to have an opinion of their abilities. 2 different players with Sissoko being the more attacking of the 2 and M'Vila winning more caps for France despite being a ****.

Guyver

Sorry to bring his name into this but i had to share this little piece of irony on here. Let us hope we can at least emulate what we did last year. ..... A year ago this week Harry Redknapp was cleared of tax evasion and Tottenham celebrated by thrashing Newcastle 5-0 to go 10 points clear in third place.

chrishove123

peterballbn I fully agree with you ref. VDV not being able to fill the Moddfers role, but the reason he went back WAS to salvage , or try to salvage, what was left of his marriage. I think the playing time that he would have had came in as a very poor second at that particular time to his family.

chrishove123

Critical Spur, our recent form brings about the nervous feelings, we won only 1 from our last 4, drawing 3, and this was largely down to a guy getting sent off. We are struggling for goals. What we need to ease the nerves is a convincing win, a re-run of last year's 5-0 would do fine

Frank

Frank and Muttley, I said a while ago Ade needs a good hard kick up the arse, but I was derided and told the way to do it is an arm around the shoulder. That won't work. He needs to be shown who is in charge and to suffer the consequences of his extraction of the urine from our beloved club.

chrishove123

Lets hope the barcodes play their new full backs as they won't have seen anything like Bale or Lenny before. They do not travel well usually so expecting 3 points, keep the ball as usual and stop Cabaye and we can win this well. Ade to start whatever as he will remember this from last year and Coloccini will be having nightmares. Holtby in behind as Dempsey will be jet lagged. He should be on the bench. Retain Daws and Vert. Assess Benny bu he should be OK as no lag issues there. The rest as our last win.

CoysRus

I recall Santon playing against us for Inter, when they won 4-3 in the CL. He played on the left and made Alan Hutton look like an SPL player, which isnt difficult to be fair.

Guyver

Frank, Re nervousness because we are struggling for goals.... My take on that would be that we have had TWO hyped up strikers this season. One who finished his purple patch in 2012 and the second never really got started!. For that reason everyone else is attempting a shot at the goal from all over the place. IMO, Defoe and possibly Ade out, it may well be a blessing in disguise. Allows AVB to deploy Bale/Dembele/Holtby/Dempsey/Siggy (any one or more of those) in a different role and we may just discover a new hero! Also, Obika/Kane may just come of age. We have been too reliant on misfiring strikers for too long. Apart from Bale, I hope AVB discovers a gem from within the squad and we can stop having those sleepless nights! I am expecting a pleasant surprise tomorrow. With Mr Selfish and Mr Lazy out of the way, I expect others to excel. COYS!!

Critical_Spur

Adebayor told AVB he was delayed due to snow in South Africa, well i don't believe that for one minute, the airport he was flying from was covered in a light dusting of white stuff, sounds more like a drugs bust that went wrong?

spu 4 life

Reports suggest that Adebayor WILL start DESPITE missing the training today. WTF is going on out there?

Moscovite

Ade's been out with the homies smoking some ***** and forgot what day it was. Bumbaclot!

Jantheman

W'ere going up against decent opposition and I'm bloody well looking forward to it cause THAT"S what it's all about when you follow a team... if Ady needs a smack and it's NOT just the media trying to create a story (and they never do that do they?) then it's AVB's job to fix it, try for once just enjoying the journey guys, it ain't that hard!.... also looking forward to the match starting before midnight for a change (see ya then Madabout!)

Underspur

Madaboutspurs - Good decent time for you but bad decent time for me :( Hope we win but I will miss it. For those involved, Happy Chinese New Year Eve :)

what_sux

A couple of days ago I let vent at Adebayor, and I apologise for going over the top. One poster said I "hated" him. That is not true but like many on here I get extremely agitated by his attitude. Yesterday he failed to make training, which will surprise the apologists more than it did me. Today is another day, its match day, and AVB will pick the team he feels will get us 3 valuable points. If Ade starts or comes of the bench he will have my full support. I believe he has the skill and charisma to solidate our claim to 4th place, getting CL football, retaining Bale, and being our hero. This is a perfect opportunity to show the doubters like me what he can do. Will he get the chance? Well we dont know all the goings on with his delayed trip, nor what condition he is in. Either way I get the feeling we are already at a X roads in his Spurs career. COYS.

jacobslad

what-sux...happy CNY to you to. I am in Taiwan and mum-in-law is already preparing what looks like its going to be a delicious dinner!

jacobslad

Adebayor will be struggling with jet lag from the huge time difference between South Africa and England. They are about 25 years behind us :-)

muttley

one of Dempsey/Ade"IDontCare"bayor should start from bench,and Holtby should be given full home debut!

SilwalYid

If Adebayor, failed to do anything at the training ground yesterday, for assessment. Then i would only consider him for the subs bench for Newcastle. Depending on his Reasons, if he was late. I'd make my judgement from there. But....if they are poor, then i would continue with him as best as possible this season.....But 100% sell him in the summer....and buy 2, maybe 3 strikers. In the mean time.......I'd Put Siggurdsen up top, main striker, with Holtby behind...and keep Bale primarily on the left, for Newcastle. Dempsey would also go on the bench alongside Addy, for this game. We wait to hear the full story on Addy'...and "COME ON YOU SPURS".....for Newcastle. No predictions on this one, from me...but no doubt, it will be another rollercoaster....lol

82spursdebut

All this talk of Newcastle signing good players cheap prices... remember who their chief scout is...Yes.. the same guy Harry sacked FFS..!!

Block D Spurs

I genuinely think if Ade is going to play. He has to start. Coming off of the bench to try an change a game won't work for him. It's not his style or way. If AVB feels he is okay to play then gamble an start with alongside Holtby an hope it clicks from the off. If Ade has his usual game of this season I feel it will remain that way for the whole season. If he starts alongside Dempsey I feel there is greater chance of this happening

BrooksySpurs

whatever the reasons for adebayor's behaviour, and perhaps it has something to do with the alleged falling out with AVB before the african cup, it certainly seems absolutely inexcusable. On the other hand we do need him right now, so perhaps AVB will take a softer approach and try and bring out the best in the striker. if he does, he will be easier to sell in the summer if his attitude is still problematic, in the mean time further ostracising him will only likely make things worse.

Guernman

Adebayor is on the bench. I believe this is a beginning of the end for him. AVB is not happy with his attitude and commitment to the club. But then who is?

Moscovite

Ade's on the bench.

rahn DMC

Selfish ********. Always was always will be.

Moscovite

For all those celebrating Chinese New Year, have a great reunion dinner tonight.

Madaboutspurs

Vertonghen, BAE and Adebayor all on the bench

Madaboutspurs

no vert, dont think we will get the result we want with this XI

topspur53

why is vertonghen and BAE not in the team??

lillywhites101

I don't understand the back-line that AVB has picked? No Verts and no BAE? It also looks as though Bale will be deployed as a striker. We are officially playing 4-6-0.

Fanman

Apart from Parker, it's a young and energetic team. In AVB I trust. COYS!

Critical_Spur

Apparently he is saving BAE and Verts for EL %)

Moscovite

strange line up. still AVB should know what he's doing. just worry that the new players the barcodes have might give them a lift. agree with the 4-6-0 comment.wonder how ade feels at the moment.if we score first we should be ok

topspur53

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton; Dembele, Parker, Lennon, Holtby, Bale; Dempsey Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Cabaye, Perch, Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse

spu 4 life

Kerb kicker Toite not playing, Steven (shorts under your arm pits) Taylor, back for the bar codes, COYS GOOD LUCK LEWIS HOLTBY, scores today and we win.

spu 4 life

AVB always suprises us with his team selection!

SilwalYid

looks like Bale is playing uptop and Dempsey behind him,Holtby leftwing!

SilwalYid

Adebayor is a disgrace .Not to himself because he`s win win

big cockeral

We are playing 4-6-0

Madaboutspurs

I wonder how highly AVB rates Vertonghen at the moment, he was dropped in our last big game against Man Utd as well.

Guyver

anyone got a good link to stream?

micky58

what a great great GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL

spu 4 life

Bale is a monster!!!!!

Madaboutspurs

New Ronaldo!

Moscovite

i'm not sure if others share my sentiment but i think this is a very interesting line-up,shades of barca/spain.granted it could fail,but at least AVB has the gonads to try something different and its sends a message to ade.very brave...........i did suggest a few weeks ago that he would go awol for a before the acon,so he possibly thought he could just walk back into the team now defoe is out.i'm not sure if i agree with this 'support ade' ideology for reasons which i won't go into just yet.my main concern about ade is that we may have another winston bogarde/chelsea situation on our hands in the future.........someone here wrote 'play him now then he would be easier to sell in the summer'. just ask man city how easy it is to sell this guy....anyway,lets see how we crack on this afternoon.......COYS!!!

g. roberts testes

MAKE THAT 80MILLION BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE BALE

spu 4 life

80 million he is worth now!!

E17YID

sorry *after the ACON*

g. roberts testes

http://cricfree.tv/sky-sports-2.php

E17YID

Some of the best ball movement I've seen for a while

Madaboutspurs

Evening Mad, warm night huh! Foxtel is so great watching it live!!!

E17YID

who needs strikers when you have Bale!

SilwalYid

great to see us out of the blocks so promising the early goal means we can attack as newcastle need to score and cant put 11 men behind the ball 5-0 please!!

E17YID

Hello E17YID, open the windows, that'll help. Super, fast dipping goal from Bale.

Madaboutspurs

Holtby is a gem!

SilwalYid

Caulker burst! :)

SilwalYid

newc look up for this,we need to put this to bed

ghulamville

lol, have the Air con on better!! Knaughton got left standing pooring defending there Lloris no chance!

E17YID

I'd feel better if Vertonghen was in the backline

Madaboutspurs

WTF is Krul on

E17YID

Oops! Evening Madabout

Underspur

What's wrong with our supporters? I can only hear Barcodes making any kind of noise.

TQ2Spurs

I don't think that we're going to win this one lads, but I hope we can at least get a point. Newcastle's purchases have made them very strong.

Fanman

adebayor should be kicked out the club. the man is a waste of space

Cape Town Spurs

Good evening Underspur. If only Holtby or Dempsey converted their chances.

Madaboutspurs

where is the home support?!?

Guernman

Levy's lack of purchases have made him very rich

Cape Town Spurs

Just your typical Spurs game ..utterly unpredictable and no idea whats coming.

Underspur

Fanman, believe in our team, we will win this, Newcastle are riding there luck we are just not converting the chance Adebayor can ***** off waste of space fine him teh maximum we can no respect for our team

E17YID

Newcastle are parking the bus and playing us on the counter.

Fanman

kyle naughton.. really

Cape Town Spurs

see play a right footer at Lb and he wants to cut in all the freaking time no natural width on left at mo

E17YID

dempsey needs to retire

ghulamville

Wonder what sort of reception Ade will get if he comes on?

Underspur

E17YID, hopefully you're right, but they have the players capable of beating us on the counter-attack.

Fanman

dembele having a strange day, parker playing well though. we need adebayor on unfortunately, right now too many players trying to play the same role

Guernman

Dembele is looking poor again this week, same as last. Is he carrying an injury or not fit?

philbill

Fan, you are quite right, we are falling away at the moment AVB needs to kick them up the arse!!! Under he should be shot showing disrespect to our club the penis

E17YID

Aarron Lennon is so $hit

big cockeral

Lennon,Dempsey and our fans are non existant!Dembele is losing the battle.Should have really converted those early chances!Lets win this game.COYS

SilwalYid

Adebayor on for Dempsey and BAE for Naughton for the second half. That will give us better width on the left and more chance of holding the ball up top. Adebayor owes us so it's time he delivered.

SpuriousLife

This defence will leak more goals. Need to bring on Verts at LB and Ade up front. Get Lennon into more too.

Love totty

would hardly say newcastle have parked the bus, they like to attack and that's what they have done, when they lose the ball it's called defending. we are moving the ball around quicker today and must continue in that, more chances will come just hope we can put them away and they don't score 3-1 SPURS.

spu 4 life

It seems that parking the bus and playing us on he counter is the blueprint of how to play against us? Even United did it at WHL. WBA did it last week, as did Norwich, Swansea, and Reading. I think that we are taking the game well to Newcastle, trying to play and pass the ball about; they are just playing very direct football. I won't be too peeved if we lose this one, as we have to lose sometime, but as long as we put in the effort, that is important, and we're doing that at the moment. Ade for Dempsey second half.

Fanman

Dempsey is just not a NO:9. Never has been never will be. And when He plays there if he doesn't score then he doesn't add anything to the team. Dembele also seems like he could do with taking off, I think (as much as I feel he has let us down) Adebayor needs to come on and I think Sigurdsson for dembele as a deep lying playmaker to link up with Holtby would help us. The main blame for me goes towards Levy. What a grade A****. It was so obvious what we needed and he didn't get it for us... Time for a DOF system again I think.

rahn DMC

spu 4 life, I haven't watched the whole game, but they look to be defending alot, then counter-attacking, with direct balls into their strikers. I think they'll be up there next season.

Fanman

Aaron Lennon is NOT so *****e Big C... He has become one of our better, more passionate players. Why do you not see this?

Cape Town Spurs

Another note... Lennon doesn't seem to take players on and beat them as much as he used to. Hopefully he can step it up in the second half.

rahn DMC

cant agree with the parking the bus comment,

ghulamville

Dembele has faded a bit it seems, but he is still our strongest player in midfield, we can't replace him. I don't think that Sigurdsson offers anything defensively.

Fanman

ghulamville, fair enough. I haven't watched the whole game so I'm probably wrong.

Fanman

The team selection is all about the fatigue they have had on International duty. Dempsey apart as we had to choose Ade or Demp and he made it ttarining yesterday. AVB has obviously looked at the fitness levels. No doubt will bring Ade on for Demps to share the minutes in that role. We are playing good quick layoffs but not quite the cutting edge.... YET. We had a tougher International week than the barcodes as not one was outside Europe.

CoysRus

Fanman - Perhaps he could add an attacking element... Attack's the best form of defence and all that

rahn DMC

We desperately need a goal scorer. Dempsey has not done anything since the United game.

Fanman

Ade must be the most unprofessional professional out there. Levy should have did what he needed to, to get Damiao. Why are Verts and BAE on the bench? I am fckd off.

asherthesmasher

Fanman You`re very wrong ,a good open game .

Dempsey & lennon need to do more . Do teams park the bus or do we just not attack well enough ? i say the latter .This game could go either way as both teams playing for 3 points .Look better without Defoe surprisingly .Holtby looking mustard & Bale again doing it all himself in the final 3rd ,other players need to contribute as we`re looking a one man attacking team .

big cockeral

reading these comments I'd say we are a bit phecked... thanks daniel... you never will build a stadium because you are a liar and major BS artist.... i, for one, do not trust in DL, though I do respect and accept he has done some good work for us. he seems to have lost the will however

Cape Town Spurs

this all reminds me of a joke... how do you know when daniel levy is lying? his lips move

Cape Town Spurs

why will parker not shoot at goal ffs

E17YID

This game is being played at some pace!

Fanman

Why is BAE on the bench? If AVB wants squad rotation then play Naughton RB and rest Walker, if Bale is playing a more inside role then we need BAE crossing the ball.

iwear#10

cannot see us scoring again

E17YID

******** really hate dempsey hope we sell him in the summer

E17YID

Get Dempsey off!

Fanman

hope its ade for demps, need a natural left footer verts or bae in place of naughton might help bale more

spu 4 life

Ade just has to come on, why is AVB persisting with Dempsey?

Fanman

Adebayor & Siggurdsson for lennon & Dempsey

big cockeral

looks like a fractured lower leg

spu 4 life

To be honest, I think that we're playing well. We're just playing a very good side. Dempsey is the weak link IMO, shooting from 35 yards, when he has options left and right? Not even Defoe would do that.

Fanman

Very impressed with Newcastle, Pardew has bought well. Are you looking Levy?

Fanman

It was a 50/50, hope he recovers soon.

Fanman

leave Levy be, we need a striker not a whole team ... right player not there for right price tough we have to deal with it.

E17YID

E17YID, you're too kind methinks. We desperately need a proper goal scorer.

Fanman

Get well soon dude

the attitude of Parker is inspiring ,brilliant professional that a certain somebody could learn from .

big cockeral

another fantastic pass from parker, he is showing a whole new creative side to his game today

Guernman

e17- you mean right player not there for levy's price.lol

topspur53

dempsey seems absolutely knackered, time for adebayor

Guernman

Ade on for Dempsey and Sigurdsson on for parker... Ade will add presence up front and Siggy will be able to play the ball better from deep. A bit of a risk yes but "to dare is to do" ... ;)

rahn DMC

Lets see not playing in his natural position, played 90 minutes then flew home from Sth America Ok, I agree Dempsey needs to be taken out and shot.....

Underspur

GET DEMPSEY OFF!

Fanman

if he gives a damn rahn dmc

Cape Town Spurs

oh great! were naffed with out bale

E17YID

We're playing well apart from Dempsey.

Fanman

Parker is having a stinker!!!

mattspurs1982

Apparently Holtby's coming off, not Dempsey :'( Oh for ***** sake

rahn DMC

Holtby off and dempsey left on what the ***** is AVB doing

E17YID

phucking hell, what a pointless decision

spu 4 life

Top, its a recession come on a tenner is hard to come by for Levy

E17YID

It would be much eider to follow if latest messages were added to the top and not the bottom when posted. Very difficult to follow on iPad or iPhone.

iwear#10

Holtby off?!? Wtf is AVB doing? DEMPSEY OFF ffs!!

mattspurs1982

Now lets see if Dempsey benefits from having adabayour on the pitch.

iwear#10

only see one team winning and they dont wear white today

E17YID

We would be ahead if holtby took his chances instead of blazing over.

iwear#10

time waisting coming into playfrom the barcodes

spu 4 life

I would bring Sigurdsson on now a long with BAE.

rahn DMC

ffs, parker is poor today wasting a lot we do not deserve to win at all today

E17YID

Another f ing stupid decision from our clueless manager. A&E should have started. Waste of a sub

mattspurs1982

AVB, is not clueless

E17YID

Dawsons had a really good game I think, I would take off parker for Siggy now and go for the win.

rahn DMC

Dempsey is not fit to wear that shirt a disgrace

E17YID

Dempsey has to go off and now!

E17YID

if adebayor could only get a goal it could change our season

Guernman

100 million minimum

Guernman

BALEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

E17YID

BALEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

E17YID

120 million**

E17YID

Bale is just a different class. We have to keep him this summer. And get some star players around him.

rahn DMC

GET IN...Now lets see if the basrcodes waist time

spu 4 life

i salute you gareth bale, we all should. daniel leavy should be marched out of N17 and strung up.... levy is a disaster

Cape Town Spurs

Great finish Baleeeeeeee

iwear#10

poor first touch from lennon was that an assist from ade?

E17YID

ENIC OUT ENIC ENIC OUT ENIC OUT DANIEL LEVY OUT DANIEL LEVY OUT

Cape Town Spurs

AVB is so lucky we have bale that's all i'll say

mattspurs1982

Bale is having his best season ever, is AVB not a factor in that?

Guernman

Guernman - I think so!

rahn DMC

this has been parker's best game this season, that is great news, he is getting his game back on top form

Guernman

If only we had a willing quality number 9 to get on the end of his crosses as well!

rahn DMC

Great play from Bale, incredible save!

rahn DMC

Walkers delivery needs work

rahn DMC

What a ball from BAE!

TQ2Spurs

Why do we bother taking corners,

iwear#10

TIOTE's on the field then dirty ba$tard

spu 4 life

Daniel Levy is a doess

Cape Town Spurs

They've been told to take out Dembele.

Fanman

these commentators are so useless and boring

rahn DMC

Bale has "baled" Levy out again!!!! On the whole I think AVB has done pretty well..... Strange team to put out from the start but looks like it has paid dividends???? COYS!!!! IN AVB I TRUST and in BALE.......I fecking BELIEVE!!!!!!!

Phil-Spurs

Nasty!

Durbanspur

That's a red card tackle, he went straight for his ankle! No choice, but to take him off.

Fanman

They're really going in hard on Dembele, some really dangerous tackles with studs up everywhere.

rahn DMC

OH in a phucking hurry now w@nkers

spu 4 life

great play from adebayor, at least he is showing some intent out there and we really do look good with him leading the line. should have finished the game off though

Guernman

Pity, deserved a hat trick!

Durbanspur

Krul is quality

rahn DMC

BALE!!! pure world class!!!!

E17YID

bale has the belief now, he is on a different level

Guernman

he deserved a hatrick, shame, still something for him to do next week ;) great three points

Guernman

THOSE WHO CARE WINS, UP THE SPURS, 3 points in the bag, Newcastle my arse........

spu 4 life

Yes! Baled out again! Very good team performance today. We should of scoured 3 or 4 though. Not sure who missed the goal when it was wide open, but that was disappointing. Dempsey has to go.

Fanman

salute bale... shake avb's hand... kick levy in the gonads

Cape Town Spurs

no rest bale against wet spam and have him fit for the scum play townsend no wait we cant they *****ed him off on loan oh well we have the world class jackass dempsey to rely on

E17YID

We deserved to beat Newcastle. Revenge for undeserved defeat on opening day.

iwear#10

5pts behind Citeh - c'mon BaleHotspur!!!

mattspurs1982

Great win, Bale is a legend, LLoris top class. Who needs strikers anyway!!!

Cleveland ARTSPURS

goodnight guys have a great one

Underspur

Yes we have BALE, that run le arse had last season was down to Van Persil, man u goals down to Van Persil, who cares we won and that's what counts, now for the slagging off of levy, enic, the tea lady.

spu 4 life

levy must be rubbing his hands together at the thought of how many sheckles he can sell Bale for next summer... he can then promise to invest the profit ti back his manager and the club only to learn he forgot to change the time on his watch and we missed out once again. LEVY IS A PARASITE

Cape Town Spurs

Brilliant result and we could have had so many more. Bale was brilliant and is increasing in value each match

Big Ron

Was Dempsey at WHL today?!!

mattspurs1982

not pretty but got the job done .bale will get the platitudes and deservedly so but lennon tackled back,lloris saved us at the death,dembele broke up the play.i expected ade to amble around with his shoulders hunched but he didn't.as for dawson:absolute rock.....3rd place for now?the chavs have to beat wigan.......COYS!!

g. roberts testes

Who was man of the match ? 3 hard choices ......

Gareth Bale ? or

Gareth bale ? ....or

Gareth Bale ?

Massive credit also goes out to AVB ,really doing well with this squad & whoever has a pop at AVB is ******** idiot ,we`re punching above our weight so really well done to AVB & the team .Gareth Bale you are something else ,sheer class .Only criticism today was the average Dempsey & lennon ,both need to raise their game in the run up to 4th .

big cockeral

I just want to throw out this question to all you guys out there.......Is AVB doing things right judging by the results we are getting? He's been going around his job very quietly (under the radar so to speak) and getting the job done with a lot of strange decisions on team selection (I am fantastically clueless guys) but hell.....I am loving the results thus far!!!! COYAVB and COYS!!!!!!!

Phil-Spurs

Bale is playing amazingly at the moment. I felt he could have passed right at the end, but he did miss a sitter moments earlier and probably wanted to make up for that. Assuming Everton don't pick up 3 points away to Man Utd and hoping Arsenal drop points away to Sunderland, this win was vital.

Guyver

My God, it is an unique experience supporting Spurs...it seems there won´t be any 2-margin goal wins this season...Bale saved us again. Man of the match, no doubt but we have to have scoring options. Gotta be more clinical as well. Though I think Lennon is a real dedicates team player (except for not passing the balll to Dempsey at all), but he is clearly showing the limitations the lack of competition brings. Didn´t understand AVB taking Holtby off rather than Dempsey...I was looking forward to see him partnering Ade. Maybe his "gratitude philosophy", who knows ??

AlexSpur

When Lennon had a similar opportunity to Bale after Ade, put him through, his touch completely let him down.

Fanman

We certainly looked better when Ade came on. Would not finish top four without Bale. Third best player in the world right now imo. I don't think Holtby was having a great game and was not surprised when he came off. The only gripe i have with AVB is why BAE and Verts were on the bench. Not sure if that is good rotation.

asherthesmasher

why all the negativity about Dempsey. He has only just flown back and he worked hard for the team today - get off his back - true supporters wouldn't be so negative at a guy who has flown all those air miles, playing out of position and still put a shift in even though he didn't look like scoring today.
,br>We have more belief throughout the team and that is down to AVB and his team who are obviously working on the psycological aspect as well as the tactics, fitness and technical ability. We are WIP and doing fine. yes we need a striker but hey good on AVB and Levy for not caving in to stupid demands and waiting for the right striker, we are building a foundation here and come summer we will see some players go and some come in.

Yes a gamble not to bring in a striker but sometimes you have to take a gamble and we will see if it pays off at the end of the season. Today was a huge result to stay among the top four and as our home form is not as good I think that was a good win against a confident Newcastle side.

Now we could do with Chelsea, Arsenal and even City to drop points.

Well done lads and well done AVB for using the squad and keeping players fresh and ready.

thfan

congrats avb to take bold decision on benchig vertoghen and bae...caulker though no as good only good managers rotate players without going for same fixed winning combination...do more rotation...

Navaneeth

A good result but Dembele and Parker is not a top 4 MF. Neither of them move the ball quick enough and Parker simply cannot pass forward with any accuracy. Weird decisions by AVB in terms of substitutions but it worked although only because Bale is so good. Ade once again found good positions but was ignored but maybe he will get a run with Holtby to pick him out. We played some good football against a physical team who also played football but somehow I don't find us convincing. Anyway, a win is a win. Upwards and onwards.

Harry-Kari

Valuable win but you surely can't keep depending on the Welsh wizard for the points.

SFC Forever

Jamie Redknapp is some **** on Sky Sports...

dcruzer

BTW, will be a huge loss if Dembele is out for even one game. Parker was ok today, but i just think but i just don't think we get enough from him anymore. He has absolutely nothing going forward.

asherthesmasher

It warmed my heart to see how committed Dempsey was when he was switched out to the left (which is his best position). I was critical of him earlier but I think I'm beginning to see why AVB rates him. I don't expect him to play off the striker again though because Clint doesn't carry a blatant goal threat which a no. 10 must, and Clint prefers to ghost into goalscoring positions from the left. With Bale discovering a new dimension to his game cutting in from the right or starting from a more central position, I suspect this could help Dempsey as he should now start more games from the left.

BlackStar Spur

big cockeral, I think that Lennon needs to have more confidence in himself. I think that he did well today. To be honest the only player who let me down was Dempsey. He's quite useless when he isn't scoring. Maybe I'm being to harsh?

Fanman

dempsy has missed some good chances...if it was ade he would have got.......how many times dembele lost ball in mid...really must troubled our cb.....avb may chose caulker and dawson to treat the aerial attack and use the physical power of both cbs....right decision to play caulker who played some good crosses...bale should have got hat trick...unlucky thogh...

Navaneeth

Phil-Spurs AVB imo is doing everything right with what he has got. players are obviously wanting to play for him and are obviously being kept involved with rotation which is vital because when injuries and fatigue happen we need players to be sharp and psychologically ready.

I can see why he gave Naughton and Caulker this game. Newcastle are dangerous and I think he wnated to be less attacking to begin with and Naughton is more defensive than BAE. However, when we needed a goal he changed it and brought on BAE to give us more of an attacking style down the left. As for Vert being rested, I think AVB has seen Vert has not been absolutely great in last couple of games and with the speed of Newcastle forwards maybe he though Caulker suited this game as again Vert is a more attacking CB than Caulker. To be fair to Caulker he played well today just a couple of times he got caught out but all defenders will get caught out at some time. We need to keep Caulker involved so I have no problem resting Vert and playing Caulker.

My only thoughts against AVB substiution was Dempsey staying on thought Siggy would have been worth a punt towards the end but otherwise AVB did well today and is doing well.

We will have some upsets from now to end of the season as other teams will because imo there are no easy games in the PL now days.

thfan

Great 3 points. And just to remind everyone its CNY, the Year of the Snake. When was Gareth born? 1989, a Snake year. Confucious say "Man of Snake, in year of Snake, Top 4 take".

jacobslad

Great win this is. Absolute vital. Bale is so good.

Madaboutspurs

BlackStar Spur, maybe I missed Dempsey's good play today, but to me he just looks useless out there.

Fanman

Dembele not top four player? My god!

asherthesmasher

Good to see Ade working hard, he did well today. If super Bale wasn't so greedy he might of had a goal?

Fanman

right decision to play naughton who played some good crosses...dempsy to play on left mid...

Navaneeth

Our rivals are calling us "Gareth Bale FC" and who could blame them? I hope that we remain "GBFC" for another couple of seasons.

Fanman

Our rivals are calling us "Gareth Bale FC" and who could blame them? I hope that we remain "GBFC" for another couple of seasons.

Fanman

Thought Dempsey struggled today Fanman, would have perfered to see Ade come on for him and Hotlby(who was far more energetic and mobile) stay on.

Slurms McKenzie

jacobslad - :-)

thfan

And the world class footballer makes the difference. Sheer brilliance by him. He got us out of jail, we wouldn't have won that without him. Simple as. Few worries but we won, we'll take the 3 points and move on. Two matches now against Lyon. AVB will go for it and with no match in between and watching Lyon lose to AC Ajaccio last weekend I fancy our chances. COYS and All hail Gareth Bale!

TopSpur13

Good performance's all round. bale was exceptional. Don't understand some of the criticism of our players by some on here!. The battle for 3rd is ON! COYS!

LongTimeSpursFan64

Yes and they all know what Gareh is going to do - stopping him doing it seems to be where they are struggling! Still we are no different from RVP Utd

Slurms McKenzie

Id Dempsey is to continue playing while Holtby finds his feet, it would be nice to play on the left side. Leaving Bale to have more space central and anywhere else he wants to go. He is clearly too good now to be stuck on the wing.

asherthesmasher

Fanman, I think Dempsey is quite a crude hardworking player and is not at all draped in silk like Dembele and Bale. That said, when he got moved to the left he worked hard, helped out defensively and generally looked more comfortable. Like I said, he's not dripping in quality but he has his uses as his goals against Man U suggest.

BlackStar Spur

Dembele hasn't looked fully fit at all in recent matches. Nothing like he was before he got injured. Something must be at him, maybe they're delaying a surgery until the summer especially now with Sandro out. However, It's nice to have the points in the bag before the others play. Let's hope Wigan and Sunderland do us a favour.

TopSpur13

I still feel Bale should play on the left hand side. His cross early in the match for Dempsey was sublime and a quality centre forward would have scored that. I think he would be great as an inside forward, someone who can cut inside and outside when he feels like it.

rahn DMC

The team played well controlled everything in the second half again we should have won by three or four goals, Caulker's header, Bales last couple chances. Dempsey struggled but kept trying. Noughton has developed into a viable option on the left and nice to see Ade back!

Slurms McKenzie

Should have had his hattrick!I think he tried too hard to find the net,the whole team intended to pass the ball to him.That's 7 points solely won by Bale!Where will our goals come from?

SilwalYid

Should have had his hattrick!I think he tried too hard to find the net,the whole team intended to pass the ball to him.That's 7 points solely won by Bale!Where will our goals come from?

SilwalYid

Perch's foul on Bale goes unpunished and not a word about it, Bale was lucy he didn't get booked for "diving". Cabaya should havegotten red for his rash and reckless tackle on Dembele put him out of the game and was no worse then Ade's against Arsenal!

Slurms McKenzie

Lyon (H) Lyon (A) West Ham (A) Arsenal (H) Liverpool (A) Huge next five fixtures.

TopSpur13

lennon worked hard and was also great defensively, don't understand the criticism. best game for parker, ade also looked good. dempsey was knackered but choosing to move him left were he likes to play and keep gareth central was the right call. lloris is fantastic and only beaten by a crazy deflection. dembele still doesn't look 100%, goodness knows how is now after they barcode bullies went all rasputin on him, real sportsmanship that. all in all a great display and we do look good with adebayor on so well done AVB, just hope dembele okay because he would be a much bigger loss than defoe

Guernman

Come on Sunderland! Can't see Wigan doing anything to help us today!

Slurms McKenzie

Slurms McKenzie, agreed.

Fanman

Guernman, agreed. They were probably told to stop Dembele because he's our main man in midfield. First Tiote, then Cabaye. I was surprised by how much effort Ade put in. He was excellent today.

Fanman

We look much better with Ade on, we have a ppoint up-front.

Fanman

Lennon needs to get out of the shadows & start doing more .
Gareth bale is making us look a one man attacking team because lennon does next to nothing in the final 3rd .Bale & lennon both got put through with a run to goal in similar situations ,but with completely different results .

big cockeral

Imagine what a player Lennon would be if he had the same finishing ability as Bale. Has been a consistantly briliant performer for us in three quarters of the pitch! I think Walker trying to expand his game a bit has slightly hampered Lennon this season.

Slurms McKenzie

Nice ball by Dempsey to set up Bale for the winner!!!!!

iwear#10

It was very impressive how we closed down Newcastle in the second half, we never gave them a chance to settle on the ball, our lads are very fit. I hope that we can keep it up.

Fanman

BlackStar Spur, fair enough on Dempsey. I'm very thankful for his goals, I just don't rate him. His game is just too slow. I'd be delighted if he proved me wrong though.

Fanman

Dembélé was very poor, constantly losing the ball.

Tottenham Hotcore

Arsenal and Chelski winning...

Fanman

big cockeral, yes. Lennon's touch let him down on that occasion. However his overall contribution to the team is good. He needs to work on his ffinishing and composure.

Fanman

Leave Demsey alone and support the team as a whole. 2 ASSISTS FRO BALES GOALS. IT IS A TEAM GAME and he has linked the play well. And prob jet lagged at that. Another 3 points so what more do you want. Bale the star, yes, but we pressed the ball great after we went ahead at 2-1. quality team thats started to know how to win.

CoysRus

CoysRus I'm not slating Dempsey but the team is playing beyond his ability, his workrate can't be faulted and his commitment either but his technical ability and vision just doesn't seem to be on the same level as that of Bale, Dembele, Holtby, Lennon, Sandro, BAE, Verts etc.

Slurms McKenzie

Great result, once again "The Gareth Bale show", very important win especially if Everton come unstuck at OT, although both Chelsea and Arsenal winning, although if we keep winning Arsenal can't catch us. Seriously though we really must be giving Bale some support, we just can't expect him to score all the goals. I see Adebayor has graced us with his presence at last, very kind of him.

Frank

Swansea schooling QPR!

Slurms McKenzie

I like Dembele as a player, he's one of my favourites in the league, but I just wish that he'd pass the ball earlier, or play a through ball when he has an opportunity. He hangs onto the ball for too long at times IMO.

Fanman

I'm going on a bit today sorry, but with Ade we have good precence up-front. If Bale actually passes to him, he might get a few goals!

Fanman

I was surprised by how much better we play without Defoe .Seem to play more as a team & look more easy on the eye .
Dembele our unsung hero today imo .Controls the middle of the pitch with such ease ,doesn`t get the credit he deserves ,i think he`s brilliant & despite bale grabbing the headlines ,Dembele goes about his business superbly ,should be captain imo .

big cockeral

dembele is great but he losses ball more today at a vital position

Navaneeth

Very good day for us Spurs supporters!!!!! Team showed very good team work. It's just so hard to predict AVB's team for each game. Maybe so those video tapes / cds that he watches is of good use? He has worked wonders with the team / squad he has.......Anybody wants to venture a guess what team he puts out against Lyon? I am feeling much better now than I was this time last year!!!! Congrats to the team, Wonder Bale and a super duper job by THE MAN: AVB!!!!!

Phil-Spurs

arsenal have such an easy fixture list, damn them. we really need to beat them at WHL.

Guernman

Dembele looks like he's playing at about 80% at the moment, maybe we can rest him for the Lyon game and play Holtby deeper and keep Bale behind adebayor.

Jantheman

Happy Chinese New Year guys :) Back to topic, managed to get to watch the game (Thought I will be late after my dinner), but Bale was outstanding, but likes Lloris too for his contribution, we are near to conceding a couple of times but he saves us, he done his job quietly and steadily and get much less praise. Understands he cannot save the deflected goal today but I dare to say he was probably the best keeper in our kit in more than 10 years! 3 points won and YEAH~!

what_sux

The best way for us to play for the rest of the season is with Bale in the hole behind Adebayor. Plenty of goal threat there for us. COYS.

SpuriousLife

So not every player was at their absolute best today but what absolute *****e I'm reading here. Newcastle posed a real threat and our great team responded brilliantly in the 2nd half. Every player did their bit, Dempsey especially put in a real shift despite being played out of position. I've been critical of AVB's subs but keeping Dempsey on was a credit to both of them. COYS.

Love totty

Had to leave for a while but back now to add my tuppence of thoughts: The first 10 minutes were superb. Spurs were playing with a fluidity I haven´t seen since 1st half at OT and Dempsey could have scored at 1min30s, which could have been great for the whole team, specially for him who is a great player, team player but needs to raise his own bar because some of his team mates had already did it. As I wrote earlier, Lennon shares the same situation. He seems an improved player when it comes to defensive duties but apart from his magic goal against Sunderland he is now narrowing himself to one or two same kind of efforts. He had two great chances to give Dempsey and Ade the ball and went to an unnecessary wide movement. Silly. Another point, for as much I really admire AVB sense of fairness to his players by not dropping anyone immediately when a better player comes around, I think Holtby must be deployed behind Adebayor because he is a fast-one-touch player, exacly what we need to break defensive teams like Stoke. Maybe we can see how it works next EL match. Finally, though rotation is needed and I´m positive no one here would be agaisnt it, I have some reserves rotating Verts and BAE at the same time...that makes our left defensive sector too young and sometimes too naive. Again, Naughton was poorly positioned and opposition equalised. Bale ?? What do say about him ?? 5 goals in 4 matches (Whales included)...

AlexSpur

(Whales included).. ?? that made me laugh

big cockeral

SpuriousLife, not a bad idea, but where would place Holtby and Dempsey (or Siggs) ??

AlexSpur

Sorry, Wales included...

AlexSpur

Hopefully, Dembele is not seriously injured. He should get a rest against Lyon though. We should play Holtby in his position?

Fanman

Michu is the one that got away

big cockeral

big cockeral, for sure. Quote from score centre: "In the meantime, the ineffective Jenas has come off, to be replaced by Wright-Phillips." Soooo glad to be rid of JJ. I wonder if they actually paid us for him, or if we paid them to take him off our hands. I wouldn't mind if Levy did the latter.

Fanman

AlexSpur - I'd play a midfield of Dempsey or Siggy on the left, Parker or Dembele with Holtby in the middle and Lennon right with Bale behind Adebayor.

SpuriousLife

Fanman yeah JJ is shocking .Mind you £12 million & 100 grand a week for Samba is even worse .Harry really doesn`t mind spending someone elses money .

big cockeral

Lampard again, 3-1 Chelski. They have just been too powerful for Wigan.

Fanman

Looks as though all of our rivals are going to win today, but we by far had the toughest game, and did well to get the three points.

Fanman

big cockeral, yeah his spending is outragous. There's going to be a fire sale when they go down, I don't think there is any way that they can stay up. It was silly of their chairman to take such a gamble on players. They must of put a relegation clause into Samba's contract.

Fanman

and yes, Harry doesn't mind spending, but they go down he'll be gone before they can blink! That's Harry...

Fanman

Anyone who doesn't believe that we need a striker check out out goal difference... +14. The lowest of the top 4. Arsenal have more goal difference than us in 5th.

Fanman

Happy Chinese New Year to one and all!!!!!!!! And on the lighter side of life: MOTM vs Newcastle = 12% for Livermore? Anybody can share some light on this? COYS! Thanks for the 3 points today.....Good way to start my Chinese New Year!!! Cheers or should I say it the Chinese way.....YYYYYYAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM SSSEEEEEENNNGGGG!

Phil-Spurs

Phil-Spurs, Happy Chinese New Year mate, have a great one!

Fanman

Surely Holtby is cup tied in the EL for Thursday as he played for Shalke in the CL, another UEFA competition. Anyone confirm ??

CoysRus

Love totty Fully agree with you on this one mate, Dempsey played very well and needed to be kept on, there is a load of ****e on here, what is important is that we won, it doesn't really matter HOW we win it's just that we DO win. Great result against a very dangerous resurgent Newcastle team who have a very good manager as well. I thought Lennon had a good game as well, tracking back and defending like a real trooper today and as for Mr. Bale well what a free kick and what a goal. Superb player. I remember last season I was saying he was very one dimensional and unless he upped his game and changed his ways he would just be a one trick pony, I am so glad he has done so and now become one of the best in the world. I still say that at the time he was a one trick pony but NOW he is just brilliant. Well done that man. Thought Ade looked a bit lost out there today, I can't see him figuring in our run out that much if he doesn't buck his ideas up and get his finger out. He needs a good kick up the arse and his first touch is still pretty abysmal. he could have scored if he'd been able to control that first touch of his. I can see him becoming more of a a squad player and being used as an impact sub soon.

chrishove123

chrishove123, I disagree. I think that Dempsey was poor, and that we looked alot better when Ade came on. I think that Ade worked hard and could of scored if Bale was less selfish. I'm not saying that Dempsey doesn't work hard or doesn't try his best, but I think that he lacks pace and technique. He's more of a squad player than Ade IMO. Ade gives us a better shape and a point up-front.

Fanman

@Fanman: Thanks mate, appreciated! Cheers!! Make it to the next round of EL and win the next 3 games: SPams, Arse and Pool......Wow! I was told dreams do come true!!!!! COYS!

Phil-Spurs

Apparently Dempsey did some good work on the left, unfortunately I didn't notice it.

Fanman

No favours from either Sunderland or Wigan, I thought Sunderland might have turned the scum over, they had a bloody player sent off and still struggled home 1-o, consolation was that Wilshere injured.

Frank

Fanman So now it has gone from Defoe being selfish to Bale being selfish. I would take bale being selfish over giving the ball to old octagonal boots Ade any day because HE is the one who is going to score not Ade. Ade SHOULD have scored and would have IF he didn't have strange shaped feet with the boots to fit leaving him with an atrocious first touch. He is such a let down now he's got his contract. We were warned by all and sundry that this would happen and it is no surprise that it has..

chrishove123

Phil-Spurs, you're welcome. I was born in 78, year of the horse.

Fanman

ˇFanman I thought Dempsey played well and worked damn hard as did Lennon but we all see what we want to see I suppose because we will all always support and defend our favourite players no matter what

chrishove123

@CoysRus: I think Holtby can play for us in the EL. Something I read about Willans (winger we wanted to buy) who left his team (CL) for Anzhi (spelling) and will play for them in the EL.....Dont quote me on that but that was the impression I got from the article.. That's all I know maybe somebody else can confirm this. Over to Big C, Frank, Peterbalib or CoopsieYid.

Phil-Spurs

Chrishove123, what impact is Adebayor likely to have as a sub. The way he is going, both with his form and his attitude, the opposition will clap their hands if we take someone off to send him on. In fairness, this season for one reason or another, he has become an expensive waste of space.

Frank

Very good win an performance an good subs an tactics from AVB. Bale?? What more is there to say. Centre halves were awesome, Holtby was okay, was better last week but still did well. Dempsey was nowhere near as bad as people are saying. When he went tithe left he was very good am played the game perfectly. He is a left mid, Holtby isn't. Well done Spurs well done AVB well done Bale. He's been my fav player the minute he joined an knew he'd something special I might like to add :p

BrooksySpurs

Of the top 12 teams we have still to play 9, only west brom and man u played already. I think that must be the worst run in. In other words it's all in our own hands. We have no favours having los tor drawn to bottom clubs. However after todays result I am not too pessimistic

Big Ron

Just spent time reading the comments during the game and just after and aim just so thankful that is our AVB manager and none of you whiners are. Wow do you guys ever see anything off the ball? One child even called AVB clueless! Wow Dempsey is crap, really? Why did he pick this team? OMG we're gonna lose! And then the inevitable Levy bashing. All the while Spurs were playing great football making chances, wide open game in first half. Great football.

AVB made some tactical changes at halftime and we began to take over the game. Bale a constant thorn, Ade came on and played WELL, good flick on to Bale to get the winner. Last 10 minutes all Spurs, apart from 1 good Newcastle chance. We had at least 4 excellent chances to score. Problem as I see it is that many of you want us to play patsies so we always win 4 - 0. If that's the case you need to support Barcelona. Well done AVB! Well done TEAM!

jvd

chrishove123, Bale is selfish so is Defoe. Bale will always go for goal, just like Defoe, when he gets the opportunity. Its just a good thing that Bale is such a great finisher. If he gets his head up instead of swinging at it with his right boot, there is an assist on the cards. Same for his other chances that were saved IMO. I don't think that Ade had a clear opportunity to score, I remember his touch being poor on one occasion, when he could of been through. He gave the Newcastle defence something to think about and act on, which opened up the game as they were always so tight on him. I thought Ade would be as poor as Defoe, but he did quite well today. Once he gets a few games under his belt I think that he will make a good contribution. He's certainly offers more than Dempsey IMO. He has more technique, pace and better link-up play.

Fanman

@Fanman: '70 Year of the Dog....supporter since '80.......Now everybody knows our age!!!! Hahaha! Cheers mate and have a good one!!! Looks like it's going to be a great season for us!!! Hopefully......COYS!

Phil-Spurs

Phil-Spurs, Cheers! If we can keep up the form we showed today, it should definately be a great season for us. COYS!

Fanman

jvd One good flick a good game does not make, most of the time he looked out of it and lost, he SHOULD have scored but as usual his first touch let him down and his work rate was negligible, I don't see how that equates to having played well. He did ONE good thing whereas players around him worked their arses off as he looked on as a spectator.

chrishove123

coysrus, Sky Sports | English clubs name squads for latter stages of UEFA Europa League Tottenham have added new signing Lewis Holtby to their squad for the UEFA Europa League knockout stages.. Holtby has been included in Andre Villas-Boas's squad for the latter stages of the competition - starting with their round 32 game against Lyon - .. 06/02/13 19:10

ledleygomez

Frank I was trying to be kind about the guy. He obviously isn't in the right head space at the moment and I think a spell as a sub or even in the reserve team will show his true colours. It all depends on how much he wants to play 1st team football. Push him really hard to make him fight for his place and then we will see if he can be bothered, if not then get rid of him somehow, maybe Colchester might want to buy him for a fiver, or a tenner if we are lucky.

chrishove123

There should only be one name in the MOTM poll. Gareth Bale.

ItalianYiddo

Bale and Holtby are getting a really good understanding going on now and long may it last and improve. Even bale is saying how well Holtby is slotting in and how they have a good understanding between them. All looks good in the garden of White Hart lane.

chrishove123

City 1 nil down! second place opening up?

Fanman

chrishove123, like you say, I think that we will defend the players that we like.

Fanman

I don't think that City have any width, or pace on the wings. Looks like the title will be United's long before the season finishes. Sad really. If only we didn't conceed those late goals.

Fanman

Great result today but it did raise a couple of worrying questions.
Without Bale are we honestly a top 4 side?
Is Dembele fully fit (hip injury still playing up)?
Was it the jet lag or is Dempsey getting slower?
There were times today when we looked very good but there were also times when we looked like there were only 9 men on the pitch. The sooner Adebayor is gone the better, he has offered nothing this season and is turning into the player that many of us feared he would.
I slate Levy a lot but I must give him credit for his appointment of AVB, whatever his reasons, cheap with no compensation to another club I suspect. He has unearthed a real gem who if properly backed could create a team capable of something really special. What AVB has achieved so far this season with so little support from upstairs is remarkable. He has created a team that is greater than its sum of parts, just imagine what he could do with even better players that he had selected.
In my mind what AVB has done is equally as valuable to THFC as what Bale has done this season. I just pray that Bale can remain fit during the run in.

thfc1882whl

Very pleased SWANSEA WON as well, never had much faith in wigan or sunderland, i hope man u & aston villa win tomorrow. Soton 1-0 man city latest, keep that up

spu 4 life

good win,shame about arsenal grinding a win,i am still feeling very uneasy about our team performance,well done gareth now do us a favour and declare your undying love for us and state you intend to finish your career at whl

ghulamville

City losing two nil

thfan

22 mins 2-0 Soton

spu 4 life

some thing that has bothered me for a few months now , are we really that good or are the other teams that bad , we have not played well for a long time now yet were still getting the results , are we punching above our weight , we have not been dominant in a game for ages, if we didn,t have bale/Lloris ( world class) would we be an ordinary team , just a thought

ledleygomez

Fanman I really do hope you are right ref Ade, I would love to see him come good within the next couple of games and I so hope he does, more so to give us more options up front than for Ade's sake. but it would do him a world of good to have scored today.

chrishove123

It is going to be a difficult run in for all teams chasing top four just as it will be for those at the bottom. I feel more confident in AVB this second half of the season that I did with HR last two seasons. I think the players don't want to take their eye of top four and crumble and miss out again, they are all working hard. regards Ade who bloody knows what is going on with him. not back in time - why? Mmm can't see him with us next season, just hope Bale continues to score and Dempsey chips in with a few goals and one or two other players chip in with a goal or two.

thfan

so'ton 2 : 0 ManC!!!!!!! This is getting interesting!!! COYS keep the pressure on them by playing as a team and winning!!!

Phil-Spurs

Chrishovel123 re your comment on Ade, nonsense mate, absolutely nonsense. He was very involved for the time he was on. You guys just want perfection every touch must result in brilliance, or a goal. Give the constant criticizing a break. The team played WELL. I can't think of anyone who had a bad game. For once stop being negative and see the positive of the season. We are 4th, we played and beat a solid team that is going to beat a few for us as the season goes on. We have a manager who knows the game and can ROTATE! See the positive!

jvd

Must admit, I didn't see Adebayor do anything good or bad but did feel we looked better as a team with him up top. I wouldn't be unhappy to see him start in the next game. I just hope Bale and Dembele don't suffer from those painful tackles when they wake up tomorrow.

muttley

Thanks LedleyG. That is good news indeed. Thought he did enough today to link the midfield well and short sharp passing early on was a problem for the barcodes. Looking forward to being at WHL on Thursday night. Oh those special European nights.

CoysRus

Might as well ask the same thing of ManU and RVP. Listen if Bale wasn't playing today the tactics would have been different and may very well have worked. Maybe Lennon would have been the star. Why ask what if, if we already have an answer? This isn't a two dimensional game played on paper. It's a blood and guts game played with real life players, if one is out another will step up and the manager will play to the strengths of that player.

jvd

thfan. The difference will be this year is that we are out of most of the cups and mainly concentrate on the PL with good rest periods. We can sustain a challenge for top 3-4 on this basis. When we first made 4th with Harry I think we went out of the cups early. Same as when we made 5th under Jol. Very rarely will we have 2 - 3 games in a week till the end of the season like some of our rivals. AVB though seems very good at assessing his players, knowing who needs a rest and we still are getting results.

CoysRus

jvd I AM seeing the positive. As a TEAM we played well but I still feel that Ade is letting the side down by not trying to his fullest. Dempsey was playing out in searing heat the same as ADE and he co0mes back plays a FULL 90 MINUTES and plays damn well with a high work rate, unlike Ade who comes on as a sub and doesn't do much. As Muttley said he did nothing good or bad, to my mind that equates as he did nothing which is pretty much what he did, nothing apart from one flick on for bale and the odd pass. NO tracking back and tackling NO running for the ball or off the ball to create even more gaps, he is lazy now he doesn't have to play for his contract. Last season he would have worked his socks off, and the excuse of fatigue or tiredness doesn't wash, as I said Dempsey did it and had to travel across time zones with a long haul flight so if he can do it then so should the world renowned Ade be able to.

chrishove123

thfc1882whl, in my honest opinion, we are mot a top 4 side without Bale. I say this because we have no other regular goal scorers. I think we would be a top 4 side without Bale if we had more goal scorers. chrishove123, we'll have to wait and see regarding Ade. His first touch isn't so great, but he has good technique I think. I think he could of scored today if Bale had looked for him. If he doesn't score, hopefully he can provide alot of assists for the team, which he did last season. I hope all of our players can do well for the rest of the season. We need them all to be in good form. In the heat of the moment I slated Dempsey, but perhaps I was wrong?

Fanman

AVB's brother is doing well at soton, 3-1 to date 72mins gone

spu 4 life

chrishove123 - it's a difficult one. When he played with VDV, Lennon, Bale and Modric I felt Ade was everywhere BUT up front. He seemed to spend too much time down the wings or deep in midfield and I for one was critical. In effect we were playing with 6 midfield but because it said "striker" next to Ade's name nobody was really going on about it. Whilst I agree that we need him working for the team he needs to do it in the right areas in the next few weeks and that is up top. That's probably what I noticed most today was that for once he looked like a striker and that changed us when he came on. For all his huffing and puffing, i don't think Dempsey did. He seemed to operate best when he had battering rams like Zamora or Pogrebnyak leading the line with him tucked in on the left channel at Fulham. Actually, so did Dembele who definitely run forward more with the ball at Fulham than he does for Spurs. Fair play to AVB though. He is playing the tactics that work best for the current players he has. Over time, I think we'll see the players switched out and he'll bring in the players that fit his football philosophy.

muttley

2nd place is up for grabs this season.

SpuriousLife

There's something satisfying when you hear a commentator saying that Manicini picked the wrong team and should have played Milner. All that money they've spent and a hard working, average footballer is the best excuse the commentator can come up with.

muttley

Manchester United league champions 2012 -2103 season

big cockeral

Five points off second place!

Hotspur 1882

big cockeral, yep. Looks like it. Hopefully They don't bid for Bale. I reckon he'd force a move to them, if they were interested.

Fanman

muttley, agreed. All that money spent and Milner is the best option they have from the bench. They're not even in europe.

Fanman

You just know that Fergie wants Bale more than anything in the world!

Fanman

Fanman yeah as Mourinho will be the City manager come the summer .Mankini don`t know it yet but it`s his last season .

big cockeral

I don't think that United could afford him though. Hopefully when Bale leaves he'll go to Spain.

Fanman

big cockeral, agreed. He's spent too much much to be totally outplayed by Southampton. I think that the problem with City, is that they don't have any decent wingers. They're very narrow.

Fanman

There is no chance Levy would let Bale leave for under 80million pounds... he has him tied down on a long contract...

Levy is no mug... Modric had to go.. Bale dont...

Yidmarks

Little old Luka Modric is blaming his poor form for Madrid on not having a pre-season? He chose not to have a pre-season with us, the little rat! Read this! http://m.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2009257.html

Fanman

City was completeley lost tonight at St Mary. Truly deserved to lose which brings an interesting scenario to the fore. At some point, lots of pundits were saying that Manchester clubs and Chelsea would be playing CL for sure and there would be only a single spot for Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and even Liverpool to battle. The way I see now, maybe there are 3 CL spots open for grabbing.

AlexSpur

Yidmarks, I reckon that Levy would take 60 million for him.

Fanman

Modric who ??????

AlexSpur

AlexSpur, hopefully. It would be great if the top 4 was United, Spurs, Everton and Arsenal. 4 teams run the right way. Giving young players an opportunity.

Fanman

Fanman, I´d love to see Chelsea and City implode this season or next. Enough of these rich guys that use football as a toy. They cannot state they are businessmen if they keep recording huge losses for year (nearly a decade for Chelsea).

AlexSpur

AlexSpur, Lol I was thinking the same thing. We have moved on since Modric. I didn't think we'd be able to do without him.

Fanman

muttley I can see where you are coming from, and as I said I really do hope he can be can part of the team rather than a squad, or a bit player as when he is at his best Ade IS world class, but it is a matter of how the fu(k do we keep him motivated to keep playing at the top of his game week in week out. That is the problem I see with Ade.

chrishove123

it will be interesting to see what happens to city if united seal this early, could they freefall once it becomes clear they will lose the title? we have a really tough fixture list compared to arsenal though. don't see where they drop many points TBO, so we will really have to beat them

Guernman

I can see Arsenal dropping points away to us (I HOPE) away to Swansea after a tough trip to Germany where they would have faced Bayern, home fixture vs Man Utd and away to Newcastle last day of season. Away to Fulham and West Brom are potential banana skins for them, but in the premiership anyone can beat anyone on the day.

Guyver

AlexSpur, agreed. I don't see how City or Chelsea will be able to comply with the new FFP Rules. How are they going to be able to reduce their wage bills? There is no way that their players will accept a pay cut. I don't see how they are going to increase their revenues, unless they increase ticket prices and merchandise? And they won't be able to keep on Spending 30 to 50 million on players. They could be in trouble.

Fanman

Dont get the anti-Modric stuff,OK he had differences with Levy,but he would fit brilliantly in to the style of football we play now.

matt hoten

matt hoten, its not anti-Modric as such. Its just that he refused to go on pre-season training with Spurs, so he could force a move to Madrid; now he's complaining because he didn't have a pre-season!? Well who's fault is that? Personally I wouldn't have him back, as he would replace Dembele, who offers much more defensively. He's really flopped over there. a few weeks ago he was asking bale to join him in Madrid. I'm surprised that he hasn't blamed us for his poor form. He probably will when things get worse. I wonder where he will go next?

Fanman

Great result.Sensational Bale.Give him anything he wants.He IS Spurs.Without him we are mid-table.Please don'tget injured.Lennon is good but just wish he had more guts and confidence and could kick a ball.Today howed how much we miss a number 9 (YET AGAIN).With a decent front man we would be up there challenging Man You who have no opposition now.Fel sorry for Dembele today.He couldn't get anything right but he does need to deliver quicker and like Lennon have a pop at goal.Dempsey is only a bench player really.Ade...can't make him out at all.Really like Holtby ....fit,keen,two good feet,can take corners(!),passes well,enthusiastic,chunky,tough,un a lot,covers wll,links well......looking forward to his celebration when he scores.....and Freunds!!!

wentworth

Matt Hoten i agree 100% we would be so much better with Modders pulling the strings and moving the ball quickly in the middle.

tophobunty

I must say I am becoming more uneasy at AVB's team selections and substitutions. Why no Verts at the back? Surely he is our best defender while Kaboul is out. Why oh why play a right footed left back when you have a better left footed one on the bench? Instantly BAE came on we looked a much better balanced side (after 73 minutes!!!!!!). Why Dempsey? Why start with him? He slows everything down, doesn't work hard enough, doesn't win too much in the air, WHAT does he offer? Why keep him on when he brought Ade on? Why take Holtby off instead? I think Bale is keeping AVB from looking at least a tad foolish right now.

tophobunty

I don’t know if I was watching a different game to many here, but reading some of the comments during and post match, I am in full agreement with the minority (jvd and handful of others). It was a great open game and I was impressed with the team’s performance and the tactics. One minor thing, I would’ve left Ade out altogether. Was glad he didn’t start as he hardly arrived in time for the training/tactics brief for this match. I am sure AVB starts working towards formation and tactics for each game a few days in advance and hence his apparent ‘surprise’ selections for this match. Another change around in the defence had many panicking!. Also as someone said, if Bale had not been in the team, AVB would still have made a selection to suit the occasion.

I personally couldn’t criticise ANYONE on today’s performance. It was refreshing to see Holtby start and I was slightly disappointed that he didn’t open his scoring account today as he had 2-3 great shots. I am sure he will be another star of the future and would love him to score soon to really get buzzing. I can see a bit of a bond building between him and Bale (as per Lennon/Defoe). We need more such bonds in the team. On the whole there is definitely a ‘team’ spirit developing here. If Ade fits in then CL will be assured imo.

Just balance things, I was a wee bit disappointed with the way they got so much room to score the deflected goal. Seems we vacated that area too much. But all is well in AVB/Spurs camp. Long may it continue! COYS!

Critical_Spur

Chrishove.... Dempsey played "damn well"? He was pants, easily the worst player in our team today. He offers little to nothing. Ade made quite a difference when he came on because he tried to go forwArd, Dempsey can't because he is the slowest footballer since Winston Churchill.

tophobunty

topho, I made the same comment during the match. The missing link today was Modric pulling the strings in front of the back four. We also had a better shape once Ade came on, Dempsey looked lost in that role.

ItalianYiddo

tophobunty, AVB clearly sees more in Dempsey hence having him start and giving him full 90 mins. Dempsey does seem to flag over the distance. But, as he has shown in the past, and imo, he is a good 45 mins player and can pop up with a surprise goal, 1 x Everton, 2x Man U for example. I am sure if Ade was firing on all cylinders, both Defoe and Demps would've had impact subs roles. Today, Dempsey over Ade to start was right imo. I would also have subbed Dempsey for Ade and kept Holtby on. That's why I don't manage Spurs!!!. But, as usual, (re Hotby) AVB is working another player in. I like that approach. COYS!

Critical_Spur

BTW, regarding working another player in......in contrast, Harry has put all his new signings straight in at the deep end....a big mistake imo. A total change in team without a pre-season!

Critical_Spur

topho, I was surprised to see Verts on the bench at the game today but on second thoughts he has been poor the last couple of games. Maybe we should give AVB some credit to stick his neck out and make decisions that may backfire.

ItalianYiddo

agree with you there mate. I wouldn't have brought Ade on but then again we did win and AVB seems to know what he is doing and is doing it right. In the post match interview bale was saying about the way he and Holtby are getting an understanding and how easily he has slipped into Spurs way of playing. tophobunty Maybe Verts has a slight knock and we are not privy to that knowledge and it was decided to give him recovery time for Thursday and the next Prem game, Benny won't be fully fit yet

chrishove123

Italian, I was at the game today, which is quite a rare event for me these days. I thought Dempsey was pants, actually not too many played well, Lloris did well with the little he had to do, Parker worked so hard and Bale was light years better than anyone else on the pitch. I don't understand the Naughton at left back thing, as easy to read as a 2 year olds book. And yes with Modders we would have been better today as would be the case most weeks. That's hardly worthy of a discussion. Struggle to understand some people on here ref Modders, he left us to play for a bigger club after being bloody great for us for a few years, so what?

tophobunty

Yes Dempsey was poor today, you must have heard the groans from the crowd when Holtby was taken off when everyone was expecting it to be Dempsey.

ItalianYiddo

Critical dempsey flaw from the first minute. He is a road block for us. Clearly AVB likes him and that is the most worrying thing. I was at the game today and the groans of pain around me almost every time Dempsey had the ball told the story, he simply isn't good enough. And Critical there is no day when Dempsey to start as the lone front man over Ade.....never, never, never. Bale will not keep digging him, AVB and us out of an average performance.

tophobunty

Chrishove i don't see Verts being injured and on the bench.

tophobunty

Italian yes. I think that substitution took everybody by surprise apart from AVB, he needs to kick this favourites habit with Dempsey asap or it will cost us top 4 for sure.

tophobunty

http://www.socceram.com/story/0,21644,13873_8483132,00.html

Well worth a read!. Kyle's Team-Mates - Walker chats about his Spurs colleagues at Match Attax event

Critical_Spur

topho, I agree. I too was dismayed seeing Hotby subbed as I would've had my money on Dempsey. We needed another goal, so I guess AVB chose to put out BOTH of the ONLY strikers we had!

Critical_Spur

No1 can have a pop at Dempsey today. He played in bloody Hondura 52 hours b4 kick off. Ade didnt deserve to start after ******** about going awol so Demps was our only choice. He's a good player when fit and gives us options. He still contributed more than JD has been as well. As for the AVB bashing, some people need to get a grip, 10 unbeaten. COYS

liamyid

And BTW, taking Holtby off was inspired. He drifts a lot which I like but would have crowded Bale to much. Dempsey will hold his position better. If Holtbu would have stayed on, we may not of won, so how u can question the sub is beyond me.

liamyid

liamyid i can have a pop at who i like, so can anyone else on here, Dempsey might as well have been in Honduras today, what's his excuse every other week then? He was crap. What was the exact factual circumstance around the time taken by Ade in getting from Africa back to england in time for selection liamyid? I am guessing you are very well informed on this matter?

tophobunty

Critical the problem is mate Dempsey could still be on the pitch now all alone lights on and he wouldn't find the back of the net, often he really is that much of a liability.

tophobunty

Topho...nice one. made me chuckle!

liamyid, mate, it's a lot easier to make those arguments (Hotby crowding Bale) with hindsight. If Bale hadn't scored, we'd be cursing AVB for taking off our enrgetic terrier in Hotby. TBH, I expected Bale to take the stage all on his own today with Defoe out of the picture. Hope other players will also rise to the challenge if we are to maintain our challenge on two front. Again, with hidsight, leaving Verts out and also not involving Siggy, gives us at least two fresh players for the Europa. COYS!

Critical_Spur

Liamyid. you take the award today as you often do mate. Well done. You describe Dempsey exactly as he is; a statue. Static, the easiest player to mark on the pitch, a defenders dream. And yes Holtby is very mobile and difficult to pick up for the oppo. And as you mention getting in Bale's way, I TAKE Bale's view on Holtby over yours, as he has been saying what a good understanding he already has built up with Holtby. You are a genius you must have Redknapp blood in you my man.

tophobunty

Taking Holtby off was inspired... peeeees myself........ho ho ho and a bottle of rum.

tophobunty

Guys, 22:22 here and Dempsey is still on the pitch. He was facing the East Stand when the whistle went and is still turning around so he can head for the tunnel.

thfc1882whl

tophobunty I posted an article which explained all about why Ade3 didn't get back earlier and it was all down to his over inflated ego. He was getting a flight for himself rather than take the official flight and offered to take a load of others with him. He screwed up and didn't get it sorted. Just the way he thinks he is a better coach than the tog coach. Well this shows that we do know a bit about what happened because it is here in black and white. I have the link here for you AGAIN because you obviously didn't bother to read it when it was up on the which team for newcastle posting............................. http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/awol-emmanuel-adebayor-and-his-two-week-trail-of-african-strops-a

chrishove123

By the way

chrishove123

By the way

chrishove123

By the way

chrishove123

By the way

chrishove123

Sorry for all those repeat posts of part of what I was writing I have no idea what on earth happened just then.

chrishove123

By the way WHY ALL THE AVB BASHING????? We are 5 points off third and are in with a bloody good shout of third if things carry on the way they are with citeh looking like they are about to implode. He has done us proud with a depleted squad at the start of the season and now with no recognised strikers fully fit we are STILL WINNING so what is the problem? OK we have to grind out the results but if this were last season we would have capitulated and fallen apart when Newcastle scored and gone on to concede a losing goal at home in the last minutes of the game. THAT isn't happening now so all praise to AVB and long may he keep this going. I really do not care who he plays as long as the players on the pitch give their all for the team and we keep on winning. SO COME ON YOU SPURS.

chrishove123

Modric was silly leaving without giving AVB a chance. Would prefer to have Modric here than Dembele but we have coped well without him but we still haven't got anyone in midfield as good as him Dembele is nowhere near as good for us as Modric was. I can see Dembele fighting for his place next season when AVB brings a CM in and Ade will be gone and we will get that striker.

thfan

thfan I think Holtby will be a great one for the future, specially with his link up play with Bale.

chrishove123

Several things to address. Verts, Benny, Ade all had tough Internationals away in the last week. AVB assessed them and rested them for the good of them and the TEAM. Dempsey was the only one risked as he trained yesterday. 2 assists by him and linking the play JUSTIFIED his inclusion. We would not have won without him. All of those saying we are a ONE MAN TEAM (Bale) are they saying the same of Madrid (Ronaldo) and Barca (Messi) ? No of course not because the team around him are all good too. WELL JUST MAYBE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ARE A GOOD TEAM TOO, better with GB in it granted.

CoysRus

chrishove123.... You are 100% right, Holtby will be a great one for the future. We should not expect miracles from him this season, adjustment into the squad is the realistic target. Pinning too much expectation upon him is the last refuge of the desperate supporter. Don't worry though, once Holtby reaches his full potential, Levy will sell him for a massive profit.

thfc1882whl

CoysRus.... Yeah we're all saying that mate, where else other than Bale do we compare with RM or Barca?
Now

thfc1882whl

last line meant to finish with, Nowhere

thfc1882whl

Bale is obviously sonething special, but he is too greedy. On a couple of occasions he could of played in Ade for almost tap-ins, but he chose to go alone, and the keeper saved it. AVB needs to talk to him about being less selfish, football is a team game.

Fanman

Coys what two assists from Dempsey, he was total PANTS....

tophobunty

Chrishove. do you remember members of Ade's team being murdered on the team coach during the last African Cup? Do you think he and others might just have want to make their own arrangements to get in and out as a result of this? Would you grant them some leeway because of this? I guess not it's only bullets. Was he back in time to play this week? iF YES AND YES WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?

tophobunty

Chrishove if this was last season we would have a pikey in court and courting the england job and being tactically inept. so its this year.

tophobunty

liked dempseys game today...y is he being slated,,,,,we won and thats the thing we want

rovinella62spurs

Of course I remember but as AVB said how hard is it for a world renowned international premiership footballer to get a charter flight, and I would say not hard at all yet he managed to fu(k that one up as well. OR he just couldn't be arsed. Either way it shows a disregard for the team that pays his wages. He made NO attempt at communication with AVB or Spurs regarding his situation and AVB was left wondering if he would make it back on Friday. Even so he was back too late to take part in any training sessions. His attitude is a disgrace to Spurs and himself. It has nothing to do with what happened back then, he is just an arrogant arse who needs to be brought down a peg or two. IF he performed as well as his own hype suggested then his attitude would still be a disgrace towards AVB and Spurs. He had a ;phone or internet access out there in Africa I am sure so he could so easily have let someone know what was happening, but NO he just couldn't be bothered and that is a sign of pure ignorance.

chrishove123

tophobunty Ade WASN't back in time for training THEREFORE he WASN'T back in time to play THAT IS WHY HE WAS ON THE BENCH IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE. WHEN HE he was supposed to have been BACK FOR TRAINING so THAT IS THE PROBLEM HE JUST CAN'T BE ARSED AND THINKS HE IS BETTER THAN HE ACTUALLY IS.

chrishove123

rovinella62spurs Most people including the commentators thought Dempsey had a good game. Just that there are some on here who can't see past that he has had a slow start so they are now blind to whatever he does. Same as some people are blind to what JD and AL give to the game and are also blind to the fact that Ade needs a huge wake up call.

chrishove123

tophobunty I don't understand the relevance to your ramblings about last season and pikeys and court cases. The only time I mentioned him was in an IRONICAL manner, but maybe you just can't understand IRONY for some reason. But if you want to go down the route of saying things are in the past so was the attack and yeah OK it was bullets but I know a lot of people including my brother who have been shot at in major conflicts and who have lost a lot of friends in said conflicts, Bosnia to Afghanistan to Pakistan, but none of them act like a prima donnas the way Ade does and uses that as an excuse for skiving off. If they did that they would be out of their jobs soon as. I'm not talking about soldiers either I am talking about your average Joe Blogs civilians who go into these places as a job and deal with the fact that they are shot at and have friends killed almost every month. My brother has a death sentence set on him by the Taliban who are out to get him big time because of his work but he still does it albeit under armed guards and escorts.

chrishove123

Oh and by the way Topho I have had to deal with people who have been shot in the military as part of my work in the army so yeah I do have a bit of an idea of what it was like for him.

chrishove123

By the way my brother also had to stand in line to be executed by the Tamil Tigers and watch as his fellow workers were executed. He was next in line to be shot in the head by a pistol but they sent him and the other few who they didn't shoot out to tell the world what happened to show what they were capable of. He and the others had a rest to sort their heads out but were back at work and didn't flinch from it shortly later. Just showing you that there is a comparison to be made and that Ade's behaviour is unacceptable.

chrishove123

Everyone lets look at the bigger picture here. WE WON THE GAME. Who cares if dempsey was poor, Bale Greedy, Demebele slow in possession, Parker woeful with his distribution, Naughton wasteful, Holtby drifted too much, Benny was rested, Naughton didn't start, Defoes injuried, Modric left, We didn't buy a striker in jan, We didn't get moutinho in in the summer...............WE WON, we are 4th in the league. 5 points off second. 1 point behind 3rd 4 points clear of 4th. Surely that is the bigger picture here. See in despite of all these moans we are in a good position in the league. If we had been offered to be 5 points of second with 12 games to play at start of the season we would have bitten who ever was offering this hands off. Last Year Arsenal were a one man team. Who cares. Chelsea and City play each other and we play west ham. We could be 3rd or 4th and 2 points of second. Glass half full people. Lets be happy and embrace it. We rested players who played midweek and we won. thats the important thing the 3 points. IAVBIT

Chirpystheman

Chirpystheman...... Good point mate.

thfc1882whl

Great battling display from the lads! AVB has got them well pumped up, and the team now attack until the final seconds of matches. AVB has got over that final 10 minute fear factor that haunted him in the early part of the season. The big question of course, is whether this almost down to the bare bones squad, in terms of attacking wide and central options, can keep battling without further major injuries occurring... Levy and Lewis have certainly made it as hard as possible for AVB with their penny pinching approach, with no cover, or players to rotate with either Bale or Lennon and we all know how light we are up top... Of course this won't worry Levy and Lewis in the slightest, with their main focus on the increasing weekly value of one Gareth Bale. Danny Boy is going to have his most exciting summer in 13/14 seasons, with his Ebay fantasy football, summer auction of Gareth Bale... Hopefully CL qualification and the Europa League trophy is in the THFC trophy cabinet, before Levy/Lewis cash in on our star player??? The best of luck AVB! Your going to need it!!!

pelebro

ChrisHove, wow mate football is not so serious mate calm down, I was merely trying to defend one of our players for being late back...calm down dear

tophobunty

topho...I am sorry mate, I don't get it. What has Ade's late return from South Africa got to do with the terrorist attack 4 years ago in Cabinda, Angola?

jacobslad

Jacob, he could be somewhat paranoid at the very least about travel around Africa, can you not understand that? I would have thought it was simple to understand.

tophobunty

Topho mate it is so blatantly obvious to anyone who cares to see, that the REAL reason/excuse Ade wanted on another plane WASN'T because he was scared because otherwise he wouldn't have spent three days EXTRA over there, plus he wouldn't have gone on an unsanctioned and unguarded flight. It was because he didn't want to travel on the same 'plane as his coach, especially after what he said and thinks about him. He also wants to undermine the coaches position by taking fellow players with him to plan to get him out. Nothing more nothing less.

chrishove123

Every situation this season involving Ade has been complicated, nothing is ever straightforward with him. A game of noughts and crosses would end up complicated and messy if he was playing it.

Big Chiv

how do ou know this chris? or do you just blindly argue based on hearsay? I am out of this one mate, I cant communicate at your level sorry

tophobunty

i agree Big Chiv, he has always been a problem wherever he has been these facts are clear for all to see.

tophobunty

tophobunty You`re roller skating uphill trying to defend Adebayor .Adebayor is not worth defending & his attitude should not be tolerated .Defending players like Adebayor is not club loyalty ,it`s being a mug .I don`t even think Adebayor likes being a part of the Spurs set up ,& wants to be somewhere else ,summer get rid .

Spurs need players who are willing to fight for the club & wear the shirt with pride .

big cockeral

totally agree BIGC, I was one of the few that didnt want to sign him in the first place, but this kind of blind arguing when not understanding the facts is stupid

tophobunty

tophobunty Maybe if Adebayor wasn`t so disrespectful he would get more sympathy .I didn`t want us to sign him either & IMO he is our most naive signing ever .He played Levy for a mug ,we shouldn`t make that same mistake .

big cockeral

Save our sympathy & love for people like Tony Parks & Paul Gascoigne ,who both are going through a bad time .

Spurs legends & i wish them all the best .

big cockeral

big c thats all clear, but the fact remains he was back in time to be selected for the match and fit and came on when asked. all this crap this week is a total waste of breath. We should be focussing our energy elsewhere.

tophobunty

topho...I hear what you say about Ade's state of mind. But Africa is a big place. We are talking maybe 1500 miles away, and SA is comparatively safe. He knows that. Its like comparing what was going on in Bosnia in the 90s to what was happening on day to day in the UK. If anything scrapping the official route and opting for private travel arrangements probably put them more at risk.

jacobslad

Jacobs, enough on this one mate, we agree on Ade I am sure, read my comment of the thread about him this week. What I disagree with is blindly arguing when peopele really dont have the full facts to hand.

tophobunty

OK, mate. There's more important things to worry about. Which reminds me why are you here, you should be out helping Lewis with his house hunting!!

jacobslad

Topho.. 1st assist spin and turn past Coloccini,brought down for Bales Free kick goal. 2nd assist was a clearance from defence that brushed Ade/defender that Bale ran onto and slotted. As I say without him we wouldn't have won. FACT.

CoysRus

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