Match Report: Sheffield United 1 Spurs 0 (FA Cup 5th Rd)… a poor showing. What is going on, Daniel Levy?
My first question was; why send out such a changed (weakened) team? When you are in the 5th Rd of the FA Cup, one would expect a strong team to challenge for that trophy… but no, Cristian Stellini or Conte decided to send out a weaker team… giving the impetus to Sheffield United… and they took it. Another season under Levy where we won’t see a trophy lifted by a Spurs player. Unless we win the league or UEFA Champions league… (oh, don’t make me laugh!)
One problem is how European managers see trophies like the English FA or League Cups. Their main focus is winning the League and/ or a top-four place/ Champions League. Not some “minor” trophy that will get in the way of challenging for those trophies. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying they wouldn’t like to lift such a trophy, but it isn’t their priority. Only English managers and players know such trophies’ significance in English football supporters’ minds/ culture. Sadly, such prestigious competitions over the years have been devalued.
Managers under Levy (and there are quite a few):
- George Graham
- David Pleat
- Glenn Hoddle
- David Pleat
- Jacques Santini
- Martin Jol
- Clive Allen & Alex Inglethorpe
- Juande Ramos
- Clive Allen & Alex Inglethorpe
- Harry Redknapp
- André Villas-Boas
- Tim Sherwood
- Mauricio Pochettino
- José Mourinho
- Ryan Mason
- Nuno Espírito Santo
- Antonio Conte
… Yes, there were 17 managers (some temporary), but only one won a trophy, the lowly League cup, in 2008. Since then, nothing… Out of all of them, only 6 were English. And three (David Pleat Mason and Clive Allen) were temporary until a “proper” manager could be found. That is a poor showing for a club of Tottenham’s standing.
Concerning Conte… we don’t even know whether he will stay or go… a total fiasco on Levy’s part. He needs to take a grip.
But we are where we are… another season with nothing…
And what about poor fans like us? It took Mel and me over 3 hours to travel to Sheffield (3 hours back… I arrived home at 2.30 in the morning, Mel an hour later). There was no commitment by the team (unlike us)… Sheffield United were up for it… and got their just rewards for their patience.
To the game…
Their Iliman Ndiaye scored a late winner as a Championship team humiliated us to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
The game looked like it was going into extra time… but substitute Ndiaye had other ideas… as he weaved past a couple of our hapless defenders before beating Fraser Forster with a low strike at the near post. That was in the 79th minute… which left 11 minutes, plus 4 minutes added on for us to fanny around.
After beating Yankee-Doodle-Dandy Chelski at the weekend, we were on a high but quickly brought down to earth by conceding to a team that isn’t even in our League. I bet the Sheffield supporters laughed all the way home… while we walked back to our cars, heads dangling down in embarrassment. Yes, we looked off pace as we struggled to test Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
Richarlison blasted a shot over the bar from close range but failed to make an impact, forcing us to turn to Harry Kane as the second half wore on, but even he was unable to really test a plodding Sheffield United team.
And what does Cristian Stellini say? He has ‘No regrets’ over benching Kane.
Once the goal went in, United held firm to secure a famous win.
And who will they face in the next Rd? Blackburn at home. Bastards!
Yes, lacklustre Spurs fail to carry Premier League momentum.
Thoughts…
We had a heavily rotated side, with six changes from our 2-0 win against Chelsea at the weekend; our second successive Premier League victory that boosted hopes of a top-four finish. Maybe that was the whole point of our lacklustre performance (not significant to get in the way of Conte’s League and Champions League ambitions).
Even though Kane was named on the bench, we still had plenty of quality in our first XI (you would have thought!), with £60m-signing Richarlison and Son in attack. But we struggled to trouble Sheffield United’s disciplined defence, with Son and Richarlison wasteful with our few chances. Once our opponents realised what they were up against, they grew in confidence as the game wore on and were not unnerved by the introduction of Kane just after the hour mark.
Not testing Forster for 78 minutes, it felt like a moment of fairy-tale magic they needed to boost their chances… and they got it when Ndiaye showed superb footwork to evade challenges inside the box to fire home the winner…
…another disappointing season – trophy-wise. But at least Daniel Levy is boosting the profits at his new stadium with formula one go-karting or whatever they call it. That will also boost their own profits/ wages.
Next up… Wolves away.
It is better to leave this sorry mess… and look forward to winning the Champions League and/ or Premier League… or at least dreaming about winning both. Football trophies are far away in Levy and the board’s minds… other than, as I said… boosting stadium profits…
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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