What a cracking afternoon's entertainment. Today was well worth the 3 hour journey up north to see the team I love and adore play.
I have just arrived back, well about an hour or so ago, and after gathering my thoughts in my mind I decided to come on here and right my weekly essay.
Tottenham Hotspur football club, the greatest club in the world. The club so bad for my health but the one I will always treasure. The game today was almost so typically Tottenham with the odd exception.
After a very reasonable journey up, taking me just over 3 hours, I arrived in Smoggie land at about 12:15. Parked my car in the local car park and went to get a bite to eat. I preceeded to sitt in the car for an hour and a half or so, listening to the Man U vs Everton game. That was enough stress for the day for me but alot more was to come as the day progressed. After a satisfying listen to the ol' wireless I set off on the short walk to the stadium at 2:35 and was in my seat byt 2:45. This, surprisingly, was my first ever visit to the Riverside and I was very impressed with it. Great views, nice seats with plenty of leg room and decent entry/exit. However their support leaves alot to be desired but I will get onto that later.
The game started with Spurs on top. Berbatov was causing havoc in the defence and they just couldn't cope. With 12 minutes gone we had already squandered several good opportunites when Berbatov gets the ball at the back stick. After teasing the defender on him he cut the ball back for Robbie to cooly slot the ball home. One nil to Spurs which sent the strong travelling Spurs contingent into celebration.
That was his 20th goal of a prosperous campaign and again him and Dimi linked up extremely well.
The half passed with Spurs on top throughout. Boro had about one shot during the half and that was a close range shot at Robbos near post. The Spurs fans that had come to support the lads were fantastic throughout the first half. The singing was constant and the support the players recieved was immense. The full repature of songs was heard by Yids and Smogs alike. Boro "were" converted to Spurs songs. By this I mean the music played whenever Boro score was sung by the mighty Yids. Unfortunately the smoggies did not sing a single song throughout the whole of the first half which disappointed me somewhat.
After a little read of the programme, Red Square, which is excellent by the way, One of the better programmes I have read in my time, I was ready for the second half to begin.
With just a few minutes gone in the second period, our wonderboy struck again. Dimitar Berbtaov with a sensational volley from the edge of the area. Hossam Ghaly was released down the right hand side and with only Dimi for support he decided to look for him. Hossam chipped a ball back to the edge of the area where Dimi was waiting, surrounded by several men. He took it on the volley from the left hand side of the penalty area and curled it inside the left hand post. A cracking finish from our star man. There is not much this guy can't do. He is too good for us, but we need him to improve. His celebration pleased me. It showed his love for the club and the cried from the faithful of "You're Spurs and you know you are" echoed this.
2-0 up, away from home, after 50 minutes. All is too good to be true. The Spurs supporters continued their strong dominance in the vocal battle and continued to strenghten our argument as one of the best away supports in the country. Everyone knows about our fans and the passion they show, even if they do not admit it. We brought 3000 at least up to Middlesborough which is great support as usual.
Unfortunately though, the usual Spurs began to come out of the closet. We started to get deeper and deeper, we invited pressure and although Middlesborough were not very creative eventually our lack of activity around the pitch told. Mark Viduka got a typical goal for him. Muscling in between our defenders to power the ball home.
The goal was typically Spurs. Dawson tried to be too clever with his passing and gave the ball away. The marking was slack and we just let them get a goal.
Still not a song sung by the Boro faithful although they did manage to celebrate when their song came on the tannoy. The amusing thing was our support again. As it was played on the tannoy and the middlesborough fans were dancing to it so were we. The spirits were still high within the away section and taking the piss out of the lack of Boro songs was amusing to say the least.
2-1 and we started to look slightly shaky. Any team that pulls a goal back will have the momentum and that was true in this game to an extent. 'Boro kept on pushing for the equaliser and they got the chance to do it, just two minutes after scoring. Luckily for us Robbo pulled off the save of the season. He came up with a quite simply remarkable reaction stop to deny Viduka from grabbing a second.
Spurs this season have been punished in the league due to our hectic cup schedule. This week though we had a full weeks training and managed to get the rest needed. This really did show. In weeks gone by we would have tired. Players such as Steed Malbranque and Didier Zokora would have taken their foot off the gas and given up. Today was different. MJ introduced Azza in place of Hossam and although this could have backfired on us, we reeped the rewards.
With 7 minutes to go we were knocking the ball around with ease. About 10 passes were completed in the centre of the park when Lennon was found and unleashed. He managed to get right to the ball and cut it back for Robbie to put away his second of the game and 21st if the season.
This sent the Spurs fans behind the goal in raptures and the game was seemingly over. It was another fantastic goal and one that we much deserved.
As with Spurs we couldn't make this entirely comfortably and let in another sloppy goal. This time from a corner. It was almost identical to the one we conceded last week against Wigan and 3-2 was the score with 2 minutes to go plus 4 minutes of additional time.
We held on to take a valuable 3 points back down the A1 to WHL. The support today was absolutely terrific and we got a performance to match. At times this season we have flattered to decieve but today 3-2 flattered Boro.
The march into Europe continues. 3 games to go, 9 points on offer, and 9 we should take. If we win those 3 games then 5th place
will ours. It is the position that a club of our stature should be getting at a minumum and so that has to be the aim. I was proud to be a Yiddo today and wouldn't have it any other way.
Ratings:
Robbo 9- Two fantastic reaction saves. Kept us in the game at a crucial time. Englands number one.
Chimbonda 8- Very solid as usual, kept Downing at bay.
King 9- The King of the lane. He is back
Dawson 7- Not his best game, at fault for the first goal and maybe second
Rocha 7- Wasn't comfortable. Distribution was very poor.
Ghaly 8- teamed up well with Chimbo, threat going forward.
Zokora 8- Another good game from him. Showing his true colours now.
Jenas 7- Better than last week...
Steed 7- Creative, needs to get his head up more.
Keano 8- Two goals, showed passion, true yiddo
Berbatov 9- CLASS!
Overall an absolutely fantastic day. From start to finish I enjoyed myself. They only started singing after 80 minutes and that was one song. Our away support did us proud today and we continued to march on. My eyes have seen the glory and lets hope it returns soon. MJ is leading us to great things and I'm so glad to be part of it.
COYS keep it up, lets get into Europe and set the Prem alight next year.
I LOVE YOU TOTTENHAM
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