Match Report: Spurs 4 Leeds 3 (and the show goes on)
After our seven-goal fiesta, we now take over a month off so we can bow to a country that has no respect for human rights, but putting that to one side… we finished on Saturday in fourth spot. A point behind Arab-led Newcastle Utd, who are in third, three points behind City in second, and eight points behind Woolwich Mugswampers. But we are still in a healthy position.
I am sure the Gunners will get their comeuppance once League football resumes.
Yankee-Chelski and City lost, while all the other pretenders to the throne won (Glazer’s United, Woolwich, Arab United & the Scousers). Of course, and as I said, we won, which keeps us in contention. Hopefully, Conte can buy and replace players in vital positions in the January transfer window. But that will be one for discussion in January.
What concerns us now is our victory over Leeds United. A friend texted me before the game, saying, “we will go two down and end up winning”. Close. Well… we won. But both defences were shot to pieces. I said that we would win it each time we went behind (three times). You could see it! Leeds wasn’t good enough to hold on to their lead. But we need to sort our defence out… Keep going behind in the first half, then miraculously coming back in the second half; it isn’t good enough, especially for a team with aspirations. And, of course, it doesn’t always work… just think of our four defeats (Woolwich, Glazer’s United, the Scousers and Arabs United).
Conte said his players “need to rest, then work” after coming from behind three times in a remarkable victory over Leeds. Arrrrrrrrh… needs a rest for coming from behind… well, don’t come from behind, then!
Rodrigo Bentancur fired us level for the third time in the match via a wicked deflection off Luke Ayling before he tapped in Dejan Kulusevski’s low cross to earn us all three points. So, Rodrigo pulled us out of the fire by our nuts… Good on him… It shows you that if we have the determination and ability (and we should have), we can challenge for everything (except for the League cup, which has passed us by this season). Granted, Leeds are two-bit wannabees. But even wannabes have their day; Just look at Brentford at Manchester City’s ground. They won 2-1.
First half…
In an exciting first half, Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring (which was expected… in other words, we could see it coming… as per usual) before Harry Kane shot in an equaliser from close range.
Then it was Leed’s turn again, then Ben Davies got into the act and snuck a shot beyond Illan Meslier and the retreating Rasmus Kristensen to restore equivalence for the second time.
Then back to Leeds (“To me, to you!” and “Oh dear, oh dear!”) for them to get their hopes up… Another Rodrigo strike left us staring at the prospect of a third straight home league defeat, but Bentancur’s late double turned the contest around.
Conte said after the match, “I think it’s better to see the positive side. If you ask me about the game, when my team concede three goals, I’m never happy because it means you need to improve.” Really? Well, thank you for that bit of Wisdom. We are all that bit more knowledgeable now that it has been explained to us.
And he went on and said, “This period has been difficult because of preparing for games every two to three days.” Yes, and we were the only team in that predicament!
“I’m really happy to have this break [for the World Cup in Qatar] because we arrived today very tired, with a lot of stress.” Probably as much as all the other players in the Premier League. He then said, “I think for sure we have to continue to improve.” Really? Not go backward? Not sit on our laurels? And here is me thinking the opposite. He has left us Spurs supporters plenty to contemplate—the Wisdom of a football genius. To be fair, on Conte, put somebody in front of a camera, they’ve got to come up with some sort of bollocks.
Have you noticed that he (Conte) speaks in such a way – slowly – that he seems to need a starting handle put up his arse to speed him up… but we love him, don’t we? Our hopes and dreams are on his shoulders… and Levy’s.
The victory strengthens our place in the top four, while Leeds drop two places to 14th.
My thoughts…
Slow starts have become a theme in recent weeks for us, and the Leeds game was no different. But we soon started to cause Leeds problems. Particularly down the right-hand side, where Pascal Struijk struggled to keep the imposing Kulusevski in check.
Our Kane’s goal, seventh in as many home league games, made it 1-1, only for Rodrigo to capitalise on some questionable defending by us from a corner to put the visitors back ahead.
The walk of the maze or twilight zone madness continued into the second half as Davies squeezed a long-range effort into the net before Rodrigo’s second of the game put Leeds close to a third straight league win.
But we rallied once again as Bentancur netted his fourth and fifth goals of the campaign to send us home on a high.
We have won 13 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.
Well, that is that… we are in a healthy position before the World Cup, and hopefully, with the help of the transfer window, we can rattle a few more cages and come away with some silver.
We must do well, especially with the Scousers and Glazer’s United on our coattails. Both have one game extra over us. At the same time, we are on the coattails of those above us. Then there are the likes of Brentford, Leeds and the rest of the strugglers who can throw surprises at us. It is all a topsy-turvy world that is called the Premier League. Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to be like Celtic, to have won the League even before their opponents have even faced them… and handed a trophy, and they really didn’t have to get out of bed to put a sweat on…. Ok, no, it wouldn’t be…
Enjoy the World Cup, and see you all – well, some of you – at Brentford on Boxing Day.
COYS!
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, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
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