Match report: Spammers 1 Spurs 1 (… the positive is that we are third and undefeated)
There has been a lot of criticism over our tactics, substitutions etc., by the fans and some critics. But we must remember this:
- We are 5 Premier League games in.
- We have played 3 away and 2 at home.
- We are 3rd in the table.
- We are 8 points up on the same fixtures last season.
- We scored 10 and conceded 4.
- We are unbeaten.
- What are the fans moaning about?
Before the game:
Mel came to my house at 1.45 pm, we arranged flights for the Portugal away game etc. and then made our way to London. Arrived at about 5.30ish, then Mel dropped me off at the stadium. Between the stadium and where he parked was about a half-hour walk. Not that easy when you are disabled.
Once in the stadium – through bag checks etc. – I went to the Spammers shop to find a toilet; after that, I met up with Mel, and we went for a burger.
Even though I have a disability, they wouldn’t let me have a bottle of water because of Health and Safety, only a cup of water, which I couldn’t carry because I had crutches. The Burger van owner compensated for this by giving me a free burger. They said it was a category A game (and health and safety). But it is still wrong; rules trump disability, it seems.
Once in the ground, somebody from Spurs gave me a bottle of water (mentioning no names). Then we made our way to our seats. I swapped seats with a couple of Spurs fans so I could be on the end of the seating row, however, a Spammers Steward offered me a seat in the disabled seating area. Which meant I could sit down and watch the game in comfort.
Seven forty-five, the game started:
The Spammers hit back from a goal behind at their Meccano-London Stadium to claim a point against us as we maintain our unbeaten start to the 2022/23 campaign. Personally, I think we should have won it. We had 62% of the game and should have done better. I couldn’t understand why we only brought on Richarlison with 20 minutes to go. We should have brought him on earlier. And taken off Son, not Kulusevski. Or keep both on and take somebody else off. And why only use one sub? I thought we needed a greater change. But ours is not to reason why, just do and die… as we have faith in Conte!
We have won three, drawn two of our five games so far, and stayed in third place, but we saw the two sides above us, Arsenal and City, win.
Thoughts
We thought we had a penalty when Peter Bankes pointed to the spot for an Aaron Cresswell handball. Still, after a lengthy check by VAR and having watched the incident on the pitchside monitor, the referee overturned his decision.
We did break the deadlock in the first half through Thilo Kehrer’s own goal, following Harry Kane’s low cross.
The Jellied eels levelled in the second half.
We have enjoyed a decent start to the new season, but it will be games like this that we will feel we should be winning to be considered real title challengers.
To be fair, even though we took an accidental lead in this London derby aided by Kehrer’s own goal, we were pegged back by the Spammers and could not find a way to grasp all three points. There was also too much back passing and playing from the back; to what end, I don’t know! We should be getting the ball forward as much as possible.
Emerson Royal’s long-range drive and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s effort were both kept out by Fabianski.
We could not push on after taking the lead, and the form of Son is worrying. His confidence seems to be shot. He has yet to score this season and saw a wide shot deflect in the second period. Why, I don’t know… last season, he was a joint top scorer. Maybe he should start on the bench and give Richarlison a chance. That might buck his ideas up.
Richarlison came on with 20 minutes remaining, once on, he got stuck right in, but nothing changed; the game stayed drawn.
Some good news, Southampton beat Yankee-Chelsea, but the jammie bastards Liverpool managed to get a goal in extra time to win their game against Newcastle.
During and after the game, the Spammers steward who offered me a disabled seat came over and checked up on me, to see if everything was ok. Shook my hand twice.
Mel and I spoke to Janet, Stef, and a few others, then left, found a taxi, and got to our parking space. Finally arriving home at 1.30 am.
Our next match at home will be against Fulham.
Up the Spurs!
Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
Good write up of your day and the match. Nice to read that the stewards took care of you. COYS
Thanks.