Match Report Man Utd (League), Ferencvaros (Europa) & Brighton (League) & Preview Spammers (League).
After my last report on our European adventures (Qarabag), in which we saw a sending-off but still a good display and result, we then moved on to United (where we humiliated them on their home ground; 3-0); after that, back into the Europa League and sustaining another good result against Ferencvaros (away)… After those games, we all thought that the next game, back to the League and against Brighton, would be just a formality. It was in the first half. Then disaster struck. It was called the second half. We just capitulated. Two up in the first half only to lose 3-2….
What happened… apart from capitulation? We thought we had finished what we were sent out to do in the first half and that we needn’t turn up… and we fucking didn’t (excuse my French). What a good 5 game streak… only to end by letting the Spursy gremlins take over the team and allow the Seagulls to get all the glory! Anyway… let us start with United and how they capitulated in front of us (what we did when we faced Brighton… at least in the second half) …
Manchester United 0 Spurs 3
We produced a magnificent display to outclass 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford and pile renewed pressure on their hapless manager Erik ten Hag.
Even without injured Son, we tore Manchester’s poorer half (United)apart as we set the stage for victory with a magnificent first-half display. The only anonymity was that we only had Brennan Johnson’s third-minute goal to show for our overwhelming dominance.
Johnson’s easy finish was created by Micky van de Ven’s whirlwind run from his own half, and then we went on to create chance after chance without adding to our advantage – Timo Werner being the biggest offender when he allowed their keeper Andre Onana to save when clean through… never mind… things can only get better!!!
United’s captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off three minutes before the break for a lunge at James Maddison – but Ten Hag’s side was overrun by a disciplined team well before they had a mathematical disadvantage.
Finally, we extended our lead two minutes after the interval when Dejan Kulusevski lifted the ball over Onana after a fine break by Johnson.
Dominic Solanke got the goal he deserved and gave the scoreline a more realistic appearance 12 minutes from time, turning in Pape Matar Sarr’s headed flick at a corner. By then, the Old Trafford crowd sparked a mass exodus, which left our fans waving goodbye to a sorry end for United. Lovely jubbly! Now to our next victim… this time a trip abroad… in particular… Budapest, Hungary.
Ferencvaros 1 Spurs 2 Europa League)
Mel—and all credit to him—planned our trip to Budapest like a fine military display. We left Old Blighty on Wednesday afternoon, arriving about 5ish. We took a taxi to the hotel (which Janet organised) and then to our hotel rooms. We had a meal and then returned to the hotel. It was too late to do anything else.
The next day, we went to Budapest and did a bit of sightseeing, followed by something to eat and then to the stadium. Once there we had to sort out our tickets (we had a voucher on our phones), showed them to the Tottenham staff and were given a paper ticket. Then a coach ride to the stadium. All smoothly so far…
We – not me personally – made it two victories from two Europa League games as our youthful side skirted past Ferencvaros.
Our bush baby Kangaroo Ange Postecoglou included four teenagers in our starting line-up; Mikey Moore, 17, Lucas Bergvall, 18, Archie Gray, 18, and 19-year-old Will Lankshear, who was making his senior debut.
Goals from Pape Sarr, 22, and Brennan Johnson, 23, gave us the win, with our teenagers playing key roles.
“I thought Mikey was outstanding,” said Postecoglou. “It’s brilliant for a 17-year-old to play 90-plus minutes in a European away tie. He handled it superbly. I kind of knew he would and it’ll help his growth as a footballer. If you look at the Premier League, how many 17-year-olds are actually contributing and Mikey is already, which shows he’s got something special – but we’ve got to be really careful how we develop that.”
Postecoglou was also pleased with how the other youngsters performed and added: “They’re part of our first-team squad, not because I want young players, it’s because they’ve earned that spot. We can’t discount the fact Archie is 18 and Lucas is 18.”
Thoughts…
Six points out of six for us.
Moore’s bright run from the right touchline before the loose ball fell to Sarr who scored with a low effort from inside the six-yard box.
The goal came after the Ferencvaros thought they had taken the lead as Barnabas Varga headed into the net, but was judged offside.
Ferencvaros ended strongly but Kady Borges and Cebrail Makreckis wasted good opportunities to equalise.
Substitute Johnson, who had earlier shot against the crossbar, doubled our’ lead, collecting the ball from Moore and shooting low, with the ball bouncing in off the post for his fifth goal in five games.
Varga finished off a left-wing cross to pull one back for the hosts in the 90th minute, but it was not enough to deny us victory.
We now have six points from six after we began our crusade with a 3-0 home win over Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
Brighton 3 Spurs 2
Janette was with me for this game, while Mel went separately because he had his son with him for this game. Janette and I got to Brighton, caught the bus from Brighton Racecourse, and arrived at the stadium in full hope. We ended the day cursing what we witnessed.
The Hungary game was the fifth victory in a row. Now, it’s just a little matter of some little local obstacle before the international break, then it will be six in a row. How we were up for it… God! We started dreaming of League titles, Europa trophies… FA and League Cups… Oh, how the Gods smile upon Tottenham and our fans…
…Yes, we were looking to be heading for our sixth successive victory in all competitions as we deservedly led 2-0 after 37 minutes. We were smoking! It seemed the footballing world was our oyster…
Brennan Johnson opened the scoring with his sixth goal in six games when he timed his run perfectly to run onto Dominic Solanke’s through ball before slotting past Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton’s goalkeeper should have done better with a curled shot from James Maddison, who got two hands to the low strike but could not keep the ball out as we doubled our lead.
We were dreaming of a couple more after the break, but Brighton were a side transformed by then. We just hid… capitulated, in other words.
They pulled one back early in the second half when Destiny Udogie was unable to clear the ball from Kaoru Mitoma’s cross, and Yankuba Minteh capitalised… but not to worry, we thought, we’ll get another one back… then… they got their second… followed by a third… but we knew we could come back, we have done it many times before… but this time around we were a different side… then we were in injury time… but again, not to worry… but the whistle went, and we all just looked nonplussed… like a cat caught in the headlights. It was like we were in a boxing match and suddenly were hit by a sucker punch while our poorer hosts (obviously not that poorer) … danced the jig of happiness… what the fffuuuccck? It was over…
Thoughts…
Ange Postecoglou seemed shocked at the final whistle, as he should be, unable to comprehend how his side had managed to lose a match we had complete control of. His response was: “It’s a terrible loss for us – as bad as it gets.” You think!?
We could have been sixth in the league, but instead, we started the international break in ninth position… while the other top teams (Bin Dippers, City etc) are running away from us at high speed. If that isn’t a sobering thought, we are six points above third-from-bottom Palace; scary!.
Some people are asking, “Are we just a Fairweather team?” Well, since Daniel Levy took over, we have had the tag “Spursy” foisted upon us, and now we can add the “Fairweather” title to our list of abusive terms. In that time, we’ve only won one trophy (the League Cup in 2008). Before that, we were a cup-winning side, and now we are a joke to our opponent’s fans and media; nobody is really taking us seriously. One minute, we are on a high; the next, we come crashing down. I appreciate that Daniel Levy and Tottenham have bigger fish to fry; such as building a money-making machine Empire, and that the football side is just part of that Empire… but please… just throw us a few tiddlers to at least show we have the ability to compete with the Bin Dippers, Utd, City and Arsenic and Old Lace’s of the world.
Some are saying it is in Tottenham’s DNA. I have supported the club since my dad first took me in the late 50s! Since those times, it has been the worst it has been since I first viewed great teams that have graced White Hart Lane and world footballing stages all those years ago.
I am sure the team will pick themselves up and do better. It is still a great club (just without the trophies), and yes, we’ve got a long, long way to go to be champion material, but we must look on the bright side…
So… as I mentioned the bright side of life… let us just do just that by quoting that famous Monty Python song…
Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
And
Always look on the bright side of life…
…Yes, the bright side of life, and that will probably be Daniel Levy either dipping deeper into his pockets or he sells the club to those who believe in it and want to strengthen us to be proper fighting cockerels that challenge everything with the hope of winning something, or we, the fans, continue believing that shit can really turn into nuggets of gold as other teams look down from their high branches laughing in sorrow at what was once a great club… anyway… and moving on… hopefully back on track is our home game against the Spammers.
Spurs v The Spammers.
Team news
At the moment, we seem to be healthy, with our injured players starting to come back into training. According to some reports, all players will be back in contention, but I am not 100% sure about this. Last season, fitness was one of the biggest issues that we faced in our quest for success, and we will be hoping that our fortunes change in that regard.
Spurs will start the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with James Maddison once again tasked with providing the imaginative spark and coordinating the attack. Son will be hoping to capitalize on Maddison’s chances.
My predicted lineup: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van De Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison, Johnson, Kulusevski, Son.
My predicted score
3-1 to us.
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”
