It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

Apart from the first 1/2 hour Burnley did quite enough to take the pts away at Millwall, with Arfield smacking one against the post late on... Still top 1 point clear.

0-0 at Ht from the match abroad...Gawd was that booooooooooooooooring -):

The Carduffers Cup Final is over... Well thank Christ for that -):

From my seat: Spurs (H)
By Ken Buckley :: 03/11/2013
Comments (4) jump to end
Arriving at our Walton ale house soaking wet due to torrential showers, we were a bit deflated to start the day and, as things turned out, us and many more Blues would be a bit deflated at the conclusion of the day.
The room of nonsense soon filled up and most were of the opinion that, if we started as we left off at Villa, then second spot would be ours and just the Palace to come before another unwelcome International Break. Surely there is a better way of organising them? I suggested caution as Spurs had spent big and indeed, like us, a win for them sees them go second and threaten the Sky order. The day had a good start as one of our number won £20 on the card and, by the time came for the walk up, the sun was out and blue skies... an omen?

As we topped Spellow Lane, you could just tell this was a near sell-out. Queues at every outlet and none bigger than the queue to collect tickets. The Martinez effect is working to date. Our group dispersed to all sides of the ground and in our seats in plenty of time for a chat re all things Blue before Z-Cars rang out, after the ritual nonsensical handshake all gathered in the centre circle for the tastefully arranged ceremony which allowed us all to honour our armed services and the moment's silence was observed impeccably by both home and away fans.

The ref, Mr Friend (since his elevation to the Prem, he is anything but a Friend to us or many others — I wonder if this is why he doesn’t do Champions League games?) got us underway.

The Spurs fans were vocal and right away informed us and the authorities they will sing what they like and gave us a strong rendition of ‘Yid Army’. Their team started fast and soon had us pressed back and more than a touch nervy. The 10-minute mark arrived and sadly the ‘Chant for James’ didn’t materialise in any noticeable way. Shame that.

In that first 10 minutes, Sandro had a shot gathered by Howard. It was becoming clear early that Spurs had the upper hand and were pressing high and fast and forcing us into hurried actions which saw some gifted players making poor decisions and hasty passes that were just not finding another Blue shirt.

A look down on proceedings and it was clear that our line up translated into a 4-3-3 to try to counteract a big pacey Spurs outfit. It was starting to look grim for us as Spurs dominated proceedings but I was able to sense a ray of light as Barry started to calm our jitters with some good vocal work and some excellent work off the ball in closing down avenues available for the crucial pass that for those of you watching on TV may have missed.

Secondly, for all of Spurs' possession, they rarely looked like breaking our back-line down and getting anything meaningful on our goal. Where we were deficient in many areas, fast last-ditch closing down and throwing bodies in the way wasn’t one of them...

Vertonghen went down in the box from a Coleman challenge but, as you have to commit murder in the box to get a pen these days, our fears were allayed as our Friend (!) waved play-on. The next shot was again from a Spurs attack and the Evertonian Holtby caused Howard to safely gather in.

The half hour mark arrived and at last we had a meaningful effort when Osman found space and fired narrowly over. Next, the misfiring Mirallas took a free kick that favoured a right footer but it hit the wall and we got a corner that came to nought. As the last knockings of the first half were upon us there was a feeling that we were at last starting to get a bit of a hold due mainly to the astute play and vocal work of Barry. Nothing eye-catching but the sort of stuff that is invaluable when half the team are out of their usual form. It seemed some found it difficult to pass accurately over 5yds.

Half-time arrived and, whilst it had been virtually all Spurs, we were still 0-0 and all to play for. During the half-time break, we had the official announcement and applause for James. I admit to a tear as I pondered on a life so cruelly taken and, at the same time, my heart went out to a bus driver.

Second half and from the off we looked more up for it. A ball over the top had Lukaku using strength and pace to feed Mirallas who set off toward goal only to be thwarted by the excellent Spurs No 6. Having noted him in the first half, and he was continuing in the same vein this half, I referred to my proey to find he is a Romanian by the name of Chiriches. "Pity we didn’t find him," I mused... then back to the game.

More of the same was going on and as I had just used my proey I got to thinking that the club had announced that if I bought a proey I could buy the ‘programme Book’ for just a tenner. Guess what – they didn’t have any! Back to the play in time to see Pienaar have a strong shot from the edge of the box, hit a Spurs defender and floor him.

The game was becoming more open now; after that turgid first-half display, we were now looking more likely to nick it. It was Spurs now using the counter-attack method but Jags was having one of his better days and "Thou shall not pass" was his byword. A goal was looking less likely for either side as the minutes ticked so the Manager swopped Osman for Barkley and right away the move provided more impetus to our game.

He settled quickly and fired one just too high and just too wide but it was positive and galvanising. Coleman raided down the right and burst into the box and was hauled down by I think Vertonghen... "Penalty!!!" yelled the faithful, nailed on pen I thought but as he had left his man alive then Vertonghen got away with it.

Barkley’s benching seemed to have wound him up as he became more and more a force with surging runs and passes to players in the same colour shirt as himself but still a goal looked far away for both sides. McCarthy was now coming to the boil and he got in a whipped cross that Lukaku got too little on and glanced the ball across goal and wide Meaningful play was in bursts at best so Spurs made a sub and the sub at last gave Howard something to do when he punched away a cross.

Lukaku was put through on goal, the keeper ran out at speed, they both reached the ball simultaneously and collided in 50/50 fashion, both stayed down, our Friend booked Lukaku whilst he was on the ground getting treatment... why and what for? The keeper lay prone as medics and stretcher bearers appeared, sub goalie was readied but suddenly the keeper got up and waved away the stretcher and was being led off. Three times he stopped to argue with all and sundry and then trotted back to his goal to take the free kick — bizarre!

The mood of the faithful was now incandescent — especially as Lukaku was booked and the clown no action. "You’re not fit to referee" came rolling down the terraces as Lukaku was subbed due to a knock on the knee in the farcical episode. Deulofeu was on and Jelavic replaced Lukaku. The crowd again roared disapproval as the supposedly injured keeper punched away a shot from the Barca loanee with aplomb and distain.

Time ticked down as the game was now end to end but end-product from either side seemed as far away as ever. Sort of half chances and moves that broke down before a roar could leave a throat occurred up until the 90-minute mark and then the board went up with nine mins added — nothing of note happened until our Friend blew his whistle. Many stayed just to boo him off. Not the best of EPL refs but he wasn’t to blame for lack of serious goal threat from either team.

My MotM – Barry >

Overall, a match that will have many opinions proffered but I enjoyed it. We may not have been at our best but, even after disjointed stuff and poor passes, we still stuck together and made it hard for Spurs. We stayed positive and by the end I thought Spurs would have been more pleased with a point than us. I also got the feeling though that, even after a very good start to the season by both teams, winning or qualifying for anything may be too far for both of us unless more of a goal threat is found in games against other top teams that are tight.

It would be great to see off Palace and then find the necessary goal scoring touch to see off those from over the park...
Hopeful as ever.
UP THE BLUES
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Mike Doyle
952 Posted 03/11/2013 at 22:19:44 Agree with you Ken. Spurs are no mugs and, despite several below par performances (mentioned on the main match thread) I thought a decent game. Despite Spurs pressure in the first 30 mins, I didn't think we looked in danger of conceding - in fact Villa posed more of a goal threat last week. Conversely we didn't pose much of a threat to them either - a timely reminder that Lukaku needs a bit of support. Today's was a game crying out for a Tim Cahill. If only.
Steve Barr
953 Posted 03/11/2013 at 22:25:53 Ken,
I share your thoughts and summary in the penultimate paragraph.

I suppose my elated feeling at the final whistle was more down to the expectation of a thrashing based on the first half performance...or lack thereof!

However, I note there have been qute a few comments on this site regarding the GBP200million plus Tottenham has spent on bolstering their team this season versus the miserly spend that our illustrious board/shareholders has mustered in support of our challenge.

It would be nice if they could proportionately spend what we do as fans, but there you go.

Anyway, it is apparent that big spending doesn't necessarily equate to success, nor does it reflect the actual ability of the players who actually cost bucket-loads of money.

I concede that Man City has spent a fortune but seem to have acquired genuine top class players. Not so sure about Tottenham having seen them play a few times this season.

Haven't got a major point to make here other than outside the top 3 or 4 teams, good management, the right blend of players/skill sets, good coaching and a positive approach and great team spirit will put you right up there.

What I see so far from Everton puts us right up there, in spite of the misers controlling the purse strings!

COYBs

Julian Wait
957 Posted 03/11/2013 at 22:54:03 Thanks Ken.
We've seen a few of these "game of two halves" against Spurs in recent years. I also thought it was an absorbing game, albeit somewhat masochistic first half.
It was indeed hard to see what Barry was doing from TV, not that he did much wrong or went missing, but he was it seems stemming the flow. Not surprised to see him MOTM though as by most accounts almost everyone else had multiple moments of dodginess.

I would have taken a point before the game, begged you for one at half time, and yet remained disappointed with the point we got after the second half revival. All in all a microcosm of life as a blue :-).

Julian Wait
961 Posted 03/11/2013 at 23:14:22 And a question for those of us not privileged to be there; how much of a factor was the wind? Was it blowing to the Street End, and hence the relative dominance of each team each half (going with the wind...)?
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Where is he... Still in the boozer?

As if we were gonna get beat by those Gypo's !!!

Can't understand Cardiff's let them have the ball tactics we employed first half. We have done that most games this season but when we changed them half time and decided to have a go we looked the better team.

Can't wait to give Arsenal and Man U a trouncing later this month.

"Can't wait to give Arsenal and Man U a trouncing later this month."... Confirmed, only a Carduffer who has spent most of the day in the boozer would come out with something like that -):

You are now having a laugh Dil. Man U yes, Arsenal NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Ramsey , Cardiff born and bred and a life long supporter ... he'll throw it :-)

"only a Carduffer who has spent most of the day in the boozer would come out with something like that"

I'm guessing, but probably slightly longer! :-)

Well, if Carduff do "actually" win a game now and again it is time to celebrate I suppose Skinny, so we mustn't be to hard on the lad -):

Unbelievable!! United playing shite, Dithering Davie at his best takes Rooney and Little Pea off 64th minute.

What a persie. lol

Twenty seven million pound Fellaini sees RED, laugh? I'm on the floor. Barcelona must be shitting themselves watching this.

We probably already got more points than Burnley did last time they wangled their way into the PL.

Wasn't just me confident before Sunday's match , maybe we should ask these guys for some share tips Caulker to score , Cardiff to win 1-0

Chris .........we'l be back.

Dil, Why have you put up a video of a Manu game? Oh excuse me... it's the Carduffer Reds

Can't see much red in the crowd Stan , must be the gypo's cheering :-)

What a good result by Arsenal last night http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24747790