Rip Gordon or Champions League/FA Cup?

So what went wrong on Saturday? The first thing was the absence of a ton of key players and just a poor team selection. I wanted to see Bale at left back and Modric in the left midfield. BAE just seems to be a liability right now. Every time someone gets in behind him, I hold my breath because it looks like he is going to trip them up everytime. He reminds me of Silvestre in that respect. What a terrible player Silvestre was and still is. I can't think of a more overrated player. In the middle, I wanted Krancjar and Palacios with Crouch and Pav up front. The team put out in that first half played terribly and were severely outplayed.

Many people have been asking who Walker is. Harry bought him in the summer from Sheffield United and then loaned him back to the club for the first half of the season. I felt he has put in respectable performances for being thrust right into the starting lineup after the loss of Corluka to injury. The boy tries to get forward and works hard getting back. You can tell that he isn't comfortable yet though. Corluka's positioning is what Walker needs to learn. I'm going to reserve more judgment on him until he gets a few more games in. He was awfully unfortunate to give up that penalty by the way. Can't fault him for being unlucky.

I have a theory on why Tottenham lost this past weekend that doesn't involve the actual team, but rather my own brother, Rip Gordon. He has spent the past month and a half in the Orient helping train other squadrons for their upcoming deployment. Anyway...his departure was aligned with a run of good performances that doesn't come around very often. He arrived back in the States on Friday afternoon just in time to be fresh for the Saturday match against Sunderland. After five straight league wins, what happened? A loss, and not just a little loss. It was a loss in which we were badly outplayed. Coincidence? I think not. I don't know what kind of negative mojo he has, but when he couldn't follow Spurs, the club couldn't perform better. He returns, and the team gets demolished. This situation puts me in a very awkward position. Do I insist on him leaving again? After thinking it over for the past day and a half, the answer is yes, at least until the end of the season. All I'm asking for is a month and a half. A month and a half and we would have a Champions League spot next year and the FA Cup title. Don't be selfish Rip, do the right thing. Take Becky on a long vacation and I'll let you know when you can come back.

Clinging On, For Now at Least

I can't remember a Spurs team that has been so ravaged by injuries. Typically any team will lose 3 or 4 guys at any given time. Unfortunately, Tottenham now has Woodgate, King, Jenas, Huddlestone, Lennon, Bentley, and Defoe all out. We just received a boost today with the news that Pav suffered from muscle spasms as opposed to a muscle tear so he might be back for the weekend match against Portsmouth. We needed that badly. I really wish we had Keane and O'Hara back now, but hindsight is 20/20. Harry understands the transfer market and loaning out those two kept their transfer value high. The importance of a deep squad cannot be understated at the end of a season when each game is so important. We have fourth place and a date in the FA Cup semifinal in our sights. Without the immergence of Bale, Krancjar, Pav, and most recently Gudjohnsen, this wouldn't be possible.

Not all is sunshine and flowers at White Hart Lane however. There was a sight last weekend that was very troubling to see. Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Charlie Corluka got into it during the second half against Stoke that needed Stoke's forward Ricardo Fuller to break things up. It almost reminded me of the Dyer-Bowyer Newcastle fight from a couple years back. In my opinion, BAE is crazy to begin with. He got into it with a supporter earlier this season, and now this. How can you possibly get angry with Corluka? He seems like the nicest guy on the team. Then he gives up a penalty minutes later! Rip him a new one, Harry.

I'm taking a nap now. I'll finish this up later.

The Fight for Fourth and Advice for Palacios

How about them Spurs? Despite all of the injuries, we have managed yet another win. I would have been extremely disappointed had we lost at home to Blackburn. Pav just keeps on scoring. Joe Jordan, our assistant, has come out and said there is still a spot in the squad for Keane and that he will definitely be returning next season. I can tell you how this is going to play out in one of two ways. Defoe will be sold for upwards of 30 million pounds or Celtic ends up ponying up the transfer fee we demand for Keane. There is just one too many roosters in the hen house. I don't even want to think about Pav being on the way out. He is quality. I love his left footed finishes. He always seems to create just enough space for himself to get off an accurate shot. Harry...sell Keano, keep the others. You hate drinkers, and despite what you said, you hate that he corrupted everyone on the Christmas party to London. By the way, who doesn't allow a team Christmas party with a little booze? I would want to leave Spurs, too. Harry claimed that "you don't put diesel in a Ferrari" when asked why he is so against his players drinking. You are paying them upwards of 60,000 pounds a week and they are surrounded by babes. Why not just ask them to quit masterbating while you are at it. Try telling an 18 year old sailor not to buy a BMW. It's just not happening.

In other news, Palacios has come out and said he would love to play for Real Madrid at some point. Here is a piece of advice, Wilson. Never leave a good time looking for a good time. You are cult hero at Spurs, and you would never be fully appreciated there. Look at how they ran Makelele out after everything he did for them. You are basically a spitting image of Makelele. They want superstars and flash, not hard working midfielders who send too many errant passes downfield. Stick with us, buddy.

Tottenham Going Forward

Huddlestone kind of looked like fat Ronaldo last season. What an amazing gut! Un-fucking-believable. All I had to do was search "fat Tom Huddlestone."

Earlier in the season I wrote about moving Bale into the left midfield when Assou-Ekotto came back from injury. I can't tell you how much it pleased me to see Harry do just that in the Fulham game. I understand we were fortunate to pull out a scoreless draw and didn't create many chances, but I feel this is something that can work. You can't pin the lack of offense on Bale. Even Harry went so far as to praise his efforts and commented that he could become one of the premier left-sided talents in the world. Give this another go and let Bale get accustomed to the position, Harry.

So where exactly can we improve? I just don't think Tom Huddlestone (yet) or Jenas can take this team to the next level. T-Hudd has come a long way over this season. I have seen him work harder and his passing is top-class. He has a cannon for a right foot, but he is just too slow still. If only we could give him Jenas's athleticism, then he would be the player we could revolve around. Jenas has a knack for playing uninspired and the fans obviously feel he hasn't put in the effort to reach his full potential. How else can you explain him not having a song despite his long service to the club and heroic moments against Arsenal? You need a player that is totally committed to giving his all. I will always remember that goal against Arsenal in the Carling Cup semifinal second leg two seasons ago. If it was up to me, I would have given you 3 songs in memory of that epic run and finish at the far post, Jenas. Overall though, I like Harry's selection of T-Hudd. Just make his ass run off 8 lbs. before next season. That has to help his quickness, right?

I would like to see Modric or Kranjcar play more in the center role before ruling them out. Modric is so crafty, but also so lightweight. Niko appears to have the T-Hudd syndrome of big feet. He did play the role well at Portsmouth, but again, it doesn't prove he can take us to the next level. Shit, Jamie O'Hara is doing a commendable job over there right now. The team isn't nearly on the same level as it was when Kranjcar played, but you get my point. As for Palacios, everyone knows where I stand. Never leave Wilson, never leave. Your effort alone is capable of taking this club anywhere. Let me see more of Modric or Kranjcar in the center mid spot while T-Hudd and Jenas recover. Here is the formation I want to see in the upcoming matches:

Gomes

Corluka--Dawson--Bassong--BAE

Modric--Palacios--Kranjcar--Bale

Pav--Defoe

Palacios would play deeper in center midfield allowing Kranjcar to venture farther forward.

Just a quick story from the Fulham game: Dawson tries to lead the team out of the tunnel onto the pitch to warm up. Most likely Gomes holds the rest of the team back and Daws ends up running out by himself not realizing everyone else hasn't gone. He runs over to the supporters a good 50 yards trying to pump them up, then turns to celebrate with the squad, only to find them doubled over in the tunnel laughing. Not bad at all...

My Apologies and an Ode to Donovan

I must apologize for my lack of posts recently. The Navy has decided to put me at work flying twice a day for the past couple of weeks and I took a cross country this weekend to the West Coast. I have neglected my most important job, bitching about Tottenham. A funny thing happened when I stopped posting however...we started winning. Do I feel bad posting and possibly ending the streak? Not really. This streak isn't going to end any time soon. I can see the FA Cup final and Champions League football on the horizon. Half of our team had the flu in the Everton game, and we still gutted out the win. This is an omen. It has been several seasons since the infamous Lasagna gate incident where we needed a win against West Ham to secure fourth and crack the Champions League and our squad was poisoned by someone. All fingers point to the scum, Arsenal, who somehow managed to sneak into the fourth spot we left open. My conspiracy theory places Osama bin Laden as the main culprit. How in the hell can you support a team that has bin Laden as a supporter? I mean, shit, you might as well root for Mexico and Virginia Tech while you're at it. Back to the subject at hand....Spurs are headed for great things. Not even sneaky viruses can keep us down anymore.

I want to take this moment to send an ode out to Landon Donovan. I felt that the US wouldn't have even qualified for the World Cup without him. While the rest of the squad was inconsistent, he was a rock and offensive genius throughout qualifying. This alone would have put him on my Mt. Rushmore of favorite people, but after missing the wide open goal against Spurs, he has now deified himself. All the guy does are things that benefit me. How in the world did he miss? I've looked at it from every angle and it's just puzzling. It was his dominant foot at the far post without a defender providing pressure on his back. This is the type of miss that could just send Landon reeling. Everyone knows he is sensitive and has a tough time when the heat is turned up. He didn't do much in the Netherlands game today, which was his first game since the miss. It's a bad sign. Keep an eye on this fragile little boy just crumbling under a lack of confidence. Just so you know, I hope he doesn't fall apart. I'm all America people.

Onto Super Pav...The last time I can remember a player so far in the doghouse, only to prove all the doubters wrong on his return, was David Beckham at Real Madrid. Capello had completely written him off when Beckham turned Madrid's season around and led them to the La Liga title. Like Beckham, Pav was being shown the door earlier in the season but somehow managed to pull a 180. The signs were there that Pav would be given a chance when Harry let Keano head to Celtic, but no one could have foreseen Pav's rich vein of form. It's always difficult to judge how much other players like each other, but it is obvious Pav is not only a fan favorite, but a fan in the locker room. When someone scores, the team is excited for obvious reasons, but pay attention a little closer to the celebration. Pav is absolutely mauled every time he puts one in. Bale and Corluka nearly ran him over in the Wigan game. The players celebrate his goals as if they scored. I have watched a lot of goals and celebrations this season, and Pav's are easily the happiest and most fun to watch. He has become the catalyst the team needed to kick start the second half of the season. Keep scoring you Russian.

Here is the picture of Wayne Bridge's dirty pirate hooker of an ex-girlfriend. As an American fan, she should be commended for tearing apart the English dressing room. Only a woman can have such a negative impact on morale...

New Guest Blogger- Lukas

I wanted to introduce a new guest blogger to the many readers of the blog. I have brought in Luke Winter to bring a new outlook into the Premiership and life. Luke and I played on the club soccer team at UVA together and was also my big brother during my brief stay in the fraternity which shall not be named. I am honored to present the first of his many contributions below:

Greetings fellow bloggers, soccer fanatics, cool people, and Rob Gordon. While contemplating the topic of this finest guest appearance, I decided why limit myself? This is the world of sports as I see it…in 3s.

3 things to stay to NBC executives about their coverage of the Olympics. 1. You have vastly overestimated my willingness to watch curling and women’s ice hockey. Curling is OK for 30 mins every 4 years. Women’s hockey is never OK. 2. No matter how many times you tell me that an ice skating couple are a couple outside of the rink, I will never believe it. 3. Women’s hockey is NEVER OK!

3 worst dressed Premier League players. 1. Roman Pavlyuchenco – who ever wears long sleeves with thumb-holes cut in them? Goths wearing fishnet shirts and Spurs rejects. 2. Pascal Chimbonda – am I the only one tired of seeing him prance around in ballet tights under his shorts? Is he really not man enough to expose the middle 6 inches of his legs to the 30 degree England winter? 3. Fabien Barthez – This spot is reserved for any player who pulls his socks up over his knees. Barthez just happened to be the first that came to mind (Henry too, though neither play in Prem. now).

(No, it was not a coincidence that two of the aforementioned players donned Spurs jerseys.)

3 worst off field decisions. 1. Tiger…nuff said. 2. John Terry – that underwear model may look good with the airbrush of the magazines, but she’s got some great “but-her-face” potential. 3. John Daly – even though he lost over 100 lbs and isn’t drinking as much and may actually have added 20 years back onto his life, I can’t help but notice that he is decidedly less funny. Nobody cares if a skinny white guy goes onto a golf course and hits the ball hard. It’s only entertaining if he’s fat, swearing, smoking a cig, and drinking a beer.

3 predictions for rest of season. 1. Liverpool will take 4th . I know Rob disagrees, but the squad is just too deep and Man City has no defense. When Torres and Gerrard are back playing well, they’ll shoot back up. Though I hate to admit it, status quo will stay. 2. Someone on Real Madrid will speak out publicly about how selfish Ronaldo is…big shocker. He’d rather take a left footed backheel on goal from 30 yds than pass to a teammate. 3. An Englishman will be the leading scorer for the first time since Shearer. This will only heighten the level of cockiness coming from the potbellied English fan with yellow teeth in time for England to make their traditional World Cup exit in the Quarterfinals because he’s too tired from playing every game for Man U…while the USA march on!!!

-Luke

Negrodamus

I shit you not, this was Bobby Zamora's girlfriend. The blog has needed a babe on it for a while. This is really overdue.


A certain reader of the blog has recently come out with some outlandish statements concerning the end of the season Premiership table. His comments have forced me to make some predictions of my own: Tottenham will take home sixth and lose in the FA Cup final to Manchester City. You may ask why I don't have us finishing any better or taking home the Cup. Let me explain...I would love to predict us finishing in the top 4 and bringing another trophy back to White Hart Lane more than anything. I would also like to make sweet, sweet love to Miley Cyrus, but I have to be prudent. She's seventeen until November so I must bide my time. This same theory applies to Tottenham. I must wait until Harry has had at least one more summer transfer market to make the necessary moves for this team to crack the top 4. We just aren't ready yet. The push this season has been exciting and brought me more joy than I can remember, but it just isn't going to happen. Liverpool and Manchester City will finish above us. Man City will be the ones to claim the final Champions League spot with Liverpool finally dropping out. This could be the beginning of the end for Liverpool. Without the Champs League money, Gillette/Hicks will be in an awful position financially and I find it hard to believe they won't be forced into selling a few of their best assets. After watching our two games against Aston Villa, we are easily the better squad. The results didn't show that, but it's true. They will take seventh with Everton and Fulham behind.

My cousin predicts Everton and Fulham to climb ahead of Tottenham. Let me counter that almost insane prophecy. Both clubs are in the Europa League. What does that mean? It means a lot of traveling to far away places and playing more matches with squads getting thinner and thinner. Everton just lost Fellaini and will soon lose Donovan. Both players have been instrumental in their recent success. Everton is better prepared to handle injuries than Fulham. Fulham is still alive in the FA Cup as well. You know you are in a bad spot when you are hoping Danny Murphy stays healthy. How in the hell are they doing so well with him pulling the strings in midfield? Is Fulham where former Spurs flops go to revive their career. Zamora, Murphy, Davies, Kelly???? Shit, even Konchesky suited up for us for a brief time. I digress...Both clubs are too far down the table and both have European matches hanging over their heads. They don't have the squads to make the huge push it would take.

So here it is, my top 10 at the end of the season. It looks almost identical to how the table looks now:

Chelski
Manure
ARSEnal
Money Bags Man City
GoodbyeTrophiesAndChampionsLeaguePool
Tottenham
Aston Villians
Donovanton
Tottenham's Second Squad
Just Plain Boring as Shit Birmingham

A Brother's Rant on Champions League

Not to be bitter about our latest string of results but here is some food for thought. I am not really sure I want Spurs to be in the Champions League if it means I have to listen to that damned Champions League song when I watch them. What an asinine song! This must be a European thing but they don't even play their national anthems before games...they just play that stupid song that is some boys' choir repeating the word "champions." I don't particularly reach for a Heineken when I need my thirst quenched but when I was in France on business, I actually found it to taste better than the import we get over here. No mas! I am going to boycott Heineken until that get that f'ing song off their commercials. Hmmm, now that I think about it, that Heineken commercial with the walk-in closet full of beer was actually pretty good but I don't think I am going to drink Heineken anyway...unless it is the only beer available wherever I go. As I watch Sky Sports News I see that Everton's Fellaini just got the same ankle injury that Robin Van Persie has...I wonder if Fellaini is going to rub horse placenta on his ankle!

One more Spurs thought...Ledley King needs to be put down and Sebastian Bassong needs to come back. One more thought...I do think Arry's current tax problems are affecting his coaching decisions. Discuss...

-Royal Polk Gordon IV

Official Censure

After jinxing the team, I have now placed myself on official censure for the next 4 days. I blame myself for the team's performances of late and my comments have only fueled the other teams' fire.

Wolverhampton

Ok ok, I was wrong about Palacios scoring but let me explain what went wrong. I revealed my relevation about Palacios to my cousin Will around 9:30 am. It was a full two hours before the Aston Villa match. I received a text back a few minutes later declaring that he would rather have Jozy Altidore score. Within the next 10 minutes, Altidore buried one. So...instead of Palacios obliging Will, Altidore stood up and stole Will's request. I can't be faulted for that.

As for the game tomorrow, Spurs 3-1. The odds of us using a sub: 1 to 1.

An Engagement and a Prophecy

I know this might seem like a crazy thing to say 2 hours before kickoff, but Wilson Palacios will score this afternoon against Aston Villa. I had this epiphany three days ago but I didn't know whether to release it to the world or not. After getting a call late last night from my cousin Will announcing his engagement, I now know my hunch is a certainty. Palacios will know about this engagement because he is one of my biggest readers and also knows he will be letting me down if he doesn't deliver. Palacios always delivers...

I am actively trying to bring cousin Will on board to make some guest posts. This is my first mention of him on the blog, so I will give a quick introduction. He was a former starlet of the Richmond Strikers, who opted to play other sports instead of focusing on soccer around age 13. He is famous within the family for producing a moment of magic during Christmas 2008 with the "Knuckler Heard Around the World." It is common for our family to break out a volleyball before Christmas dinner and fire set pieces at each other. I don't remember the exact buildup because I was the victimized goalie but I do know the ferociousness of the drive. It was pretty much a carbon copy of Benoit Assou Ekotto's strike against Liverpool earlier this season. The strike was a glimpse of the type of player he could've been had he stayed focused on the beautiful game. Will currently resides in DC supporting Fulham in the Premiership, Reading in the Championship, Charlton in League One, Macclesfield in League Two, and VT-22 in La Liga Kingsville. I am now expecting a guest post within the next two days Will...

Right Back Questions and Answers

Yesterday, I was shocked to discover Spurs had loaned out Kyle Naughton (21 years old) after loaning out Alan Hutton. I had initially said Naughton would be Corluka's cover the rest of the season, but that apparently isn't the case. Some of my questions were answered and others raised today though when Redknapp recalled Kyle Walker (19 years old) from Sheffield United. He has made 28 appearances in the Championship and FA Cup this season at right back and will now slot into the backup role. We bought Walker and Naughton together from United, but then turned around and immediately loaned Walker right back to them. Naughton on the other hand played a couple games for us, but didn't do enough to see more time especially with the quality players ahead of him. Sheffield United had wanted us to loan Naughton back to them all season since he was riding the pine, but in the closing minutes of the transfer market, we turned around and loaned him to Middlesbrough. Not only that, but then we exercised our option to recall Walker back for the second half of the season 50 minutes before the deadline. It certainly sounds like a slap in the face to Sheffield. They end up losing out on both Naughton and Walker.

I obviously haven't seen much of Walker, but I am thoroughly confused by Harry's dealings. Naughton is listed as an attacking right back but can also play centrally. It could be a case of Walker being a more natural right back and with the addition of Kaboul, Naughton would be pushed down the center back pecking order. It could be that Harry wants to see Walker's talent mix in with our current squad or that Naughton's progress was being hampered by not seeing first team action. The logical thing from my standpoint would be to retain Naughton and let Walker finish out the season with Sheffield United. I would love to start a rumor that Kevin Blackwell (United's manager) lost a bet to Redknapp, won't pay up, so Harry has begun retribution. Harry has taken both of their prize defensive prospects away from them to end their push for promotion to the Premiership. Is it really that far fetched?

Thoughts on Birmingham and Huge Moves

I've taken the necessary amount of time to cool off and give some game analysis. I was extremely disappointed at throwing away two points in stoppage time. The biggest difference between Tottenham and the Chelskis and Manures is the fact that those teams grind out the wins and put scrappy teams like Birmingham away. I have a lot of trouble watching Birmingham play with their organized, compact defensive style. I hate them, but Goddamnit do I respect them. Alex McLeish knows the team and has them play to their strengths. Their league standing is not a fluke. If you can be sound defensively, you can stay in games and scrap points against anyone especially with the pace of their two strikers in Chucho and Cameron Jerome. Mark my words, if Chucho finds some sort of scoring touch, he could become a hell of a striker. His nickname in his home country is Chunky which I love even more. Keep eating those Shepards Pies fatty. As for our squad, Gareth Bale was again the most impressive player on the pitch. He helped create the goal and his runs down the left caused trouble all day. Bentley and Palacios worked hard and played well. Our goal was vintage Defoe. He sees the ball, he smashes the ball. He didn't do shit for 68 minutes and then pops up to blast one home.

There was a lot of moaning from a certain family member of mine about Harry's substitutions. I will counter his view. Bringing on Keane for Defoe was the right move. Defoe had already picked up a yellow card and has a penchant for losing his mind. Keano works harder defensively and adds more grit to the team. We didn't need another goal. We needed possession and hard work up top which Robbie always brings. You can say what you want about his form lately, but you can never question his work ethic on the pitch. As for Jenas, I would have liked to have seen young Danny Rose come on instead. The kid is quicker than snot and would be pumped to run around for ten minutes. Jenas is pissed coming off the bench. The youngster would do everything in his power to show Harry he was an asset. Just watching Jenas lately, it looks like he has already checked out of a Spurs uniform.

For the first time in a while, I actually agreed with the commentator's reasons for giving up the goal. Fact is, we sat too deep, invited them in, and then paid a cruel price for it. We lost two points and now teeter on the brink of a Champions League spot.

Onto the future....Keano is gone for the rest of the season on loan to Celtic. I had mentioned last week that I had been tipped off about a possible Robbie move, but I am still surprised. What does this mean? It could very well mean Pav stays. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing more of him. His finish in the Leeds game last week and the finish against West Ham last year showed his quality. I think Harry felt obligated to play Keane at times this season. It's obvious Harry doesn't have that problem with Pav. We knew one striker would head out with the acquisition of Gudjohnsen but it wasn't the one I expected.

Tottenham also sent Alan Hutton on loan to Sunderland. One thing Harry doesn't appreciate is boozers. By getting rid of Hutton and Keane, our alcohol consumption has been cut by 83%. Of the 83%, Hutton was responsible for 75%. This was the same guy who got plastered with his family in a pub in Scotland, got into a verbal altercation with his father, and then proceeded to punch his father in the face while his father was wearing glasses. If Sunderland wants a psycho, they got it. We have another young right back to fill his back up spot in Kyle Naughton, so its not a big loss. Corluka will remain our first choice.

We picked up Kaboul again. It seems like we get rid of players only to buy them back at a higher price. It's not exactly what we call good business tactics, but fuck it, its Tottenham, and normal doesn't apply to us. My brother is furious with this, but I'm not so downtrodden. Woodgate is out for another decade. King has a left knee that looks like a 36C cup after a game. We don't have any consistently healthy center backs except Dawson and Bassong (knock on wood). If one of them went down, we are proper fucked. We paid a high price for insurance essentially. Shitty insurance to be exact, but it still plugs a necessary hole. I don't want to see Corluka or Huddlestone at center back again. You see my point.

If any other transfer moves go down, I'll be sure to keep you posted. As always....COYS.

Guest Blogger

I want to introduce everyone to a new guest blogger who has written his first post today, my very own brother, LT Rip Gordon. He is six years older than I am and is the reason I became a Hotspur supporter in the first place. He taught me everything I know about the game. Unfortunately my brother has real life obligations with a wife and a new house so he can't devote as much time to the rumors and gossip as I can, but his passion runs deep and I am honored to have his input as he finds the time. As you will see, his first post is somewhat depressing, which is the same way every Tottenham man felt this morning, but I assure you he normally views the glass half full. I am going to wait a day to give my insight so my anger and frustration does not get the better of me. Enjoy his post below.....

Why I am Depressed

A Guest post by my own brother and fellow Hotspur fan, Royal P. Gordon IV:

The woes of being a Tottenham supporter are well documented but I feel compelled to explain why life seems a little bleaker after today. Birmingham are dirt. Nuff said. Birmingham is the Hillary Clinton of the Premier League...uglier than sin and for some reason people still seem to like them. Now lets discuss ole' Arry. I liked the starting 11. Very fluid with many attacking options. The game was going very well and I liked our style of play. It all went to hell when Harry subs out Defoe and throws out Robbie "Geritol" Keane. He has no legs anymore, he can't play in the midfield much less up top, and just bitches at the referee. He would be a good fit at Burnley right now. Jermaine was feeling it...don't ever sub Jermaine when he is feeling it! Why would you also sub Bentley when he is playing the game of his life? He hasn't played like that since he arrived and I think he has a decent chance of giving Aaron Lennon a run for his money! Harry, please don't ever use Jenas as a sub ever again! He is not a game changer.

Now let's discuss old Eidur Gudjohnsen. He is one lazy mother and we already have too many strikers. I have no idea what we are thinking. Gylfi...you know I speak the truth. Here is another piece of madness: Younes Kaboul!!! Sure he is doing OK at Portsmouth but that is because he is king of the retards there. We have more kick ass defenders right now than we know what to do with (even though they love to give up goals in f'ing stoppage time!). Younes can't attack either.

Hmmm, Tottenham has me down and it is snowing like a Head and Shoulders commercial outside. I am going to get drunk. I had a couple of glasses of wine with lunch and it felt European and quite relaxing. My wife gave me a weird look but she is cool with it...I think. If it ain't broke, don't fix it I say so I will try to ride the buzz out till the snow stops. This is what Spurs does to me. I like to treat depression the old fashioned way...no Zoloft or Cymbalta for me, just a couple of fingers of bourbon sprinkled over 3 or 4 rocks (doctor's orders). One more talking point...I think bourbon gives me IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I really love bourbon but am I willing to struggle on the john for it. I'm out. Come on you Spurs!!!

Iceland's Greatest Export at Tottenham

We have been hearing the rumors swirling on the internet about the move for Eidur Gudjohnsen for about a week. My own good Icelandic friend Gylfi Gylfason even gave me the heads up on it. By good friend, I mean he left me to rot in an Icelandic jail overnight a couple years ago, but that's neither here nor there. I digress. I didn't put much thought into the move, but now it has come out we have landed him on loan until the end of the season. We managed to beat out West Ham, who is apparently steaming over our late involvement. Two nights ago, it looked certain Gudjohnsen was heading to the Hammers. He even went in for a medical, but wily ole Harry swooped in to steal them. This is a huge blow for an underwhelming team in a huge need of offensive creativity. You can always count on Harry making a sly transfer move during January. Here are his comments on Gudjohnsen:

"I just thought he's a good player and he can play several positions for us, he can play in a midfield or attacking-midfield role if we want to change our system. We've lost Aaron Lennon [to injury] so we haven't got a great deal of width. We can play a diamond formation if we want to and he can be a big player in that system. So, yes, we took him on loan until the end of the season to see how it goes."

I remember watching Eidur when he was at Chelsea and his creativity on the ball was mesmerizing. The other thing I remember was how absolutely lazy he was. After my last ode to Palacios, Eidur is pretty much exactly the opposite. It will be very interesting to see if he actually gets time and how he will fit in with the rest of the team. I just hope to see a little more hustle out of him. Despite the laziness, I like the move for a proven, decorated club player. The last couple of seasons he hasn't seen much time for his clubs, so he also has a great incentive to make an impression and prove the doubters wrong that he isn't over the hill. This move could very well signal the end of Pav's time at the Lane. It is rumored he is heading to Birmingham. This would signal Birmingham's intention to try and really make a full push for a European spot. Pav is not heading out on the cheap so Birmingham would be making a statement that they want continued success.

There is a strong rumor out there that Spurs are shopping Robbie Keane. I caught wind of it on a Spurs podcast I listen to and the source said he got it from someone on the inside. Oh how I love the January transfer proceedings and ridiculous rumors!

Ode to Wilson

One of my many readers thought this could be a tribute to Edgar Davids (pretty good memory by the way). In a way it is, Sam. Wilson Palacios plays the game much like the Dutch bulldog. It's unfortunate we caught Davids so late in his career, because he was a true terror in his youth. As for Palacios, we have him in his prime, and I've never had so much respect and admiration for a Spurs player as I do him.

Palacios is a Honduran international who was bought by Harry Redknapp from Wigan shortly after Redknapp was appointed manager. At first I couldn't believe the transfer fee of around 14 million pounds, but it has been money very well spent. Despite being about the size of Jermaine Defoe, Wilson has become one of the most feared hardmen in the game. If you gave me an odds on bet whether he would get a yellow card in any given game, I'd take it. He never even receives a yellow for dissent, but purely for mistimed challenges, repeated fouling, or professional fouls. His work ethic has rubbed off on everyone and even has big Tom Huddlestone working his socks off. Not an easy feat mind you. If you watch him just casually, you will notice he often gives the ball away. If you pay closer attention, watch how he hustles his ass off to win the ball back. That is a true teammate and work horse. It has been said that Tottenham has not had a true hardman in recent times. We do now.

There was a play against Fulham where someone gave possession away in a really bad spot. The Fulham attacker was running full bore down at our two central defenders and out of no where Palacios came in with a perfect slide tackle to dispossess him from behind. It was a play that won't show up on a highlight reel or receive much attention from the pundits, but it typified Wilson and the kind of all out effort he gives every match regardless of the score. I remember my good ole playing days. I can't tell you how many times I watch Stephen Berlucchi get stuck in within the first five minutes of a match. Immediately the intensity of the entire team would spike up a couple of notches and get everyone in the mood to give full effort. I imagine the same feeling must run through the Spurs team watching Wilson track down any attacker no matter how far away. They must think, "If he is giving maximum effort, then I must as well." At least that was what ran through my mind back then. Again, watch Hudd runs his fat ass up and down the pitch and close down defensively with Wilson around. Go back and watch Hudd when he was paired with Jenas and you can see the difference clear as night and day. You can't put that mentality and motivation on a score sheet, but it is priceless.

Palacios became an immortal Spurs hero in my mind after this story last year. His younger brother was taken hostage in Honduras and there was a ransom put on the brother's head. Wilson ended up paying up the ransom, but the attackers still killed the boy. At 1 a.m. the night before a big Premiership match, Palacios was informed that the police had found his brother's body. I think most people would just pack up their things and head for home, right? Instead, he waited up all night so he could personally tell Redknapp he needed to leave in the morning. He has so much respect for his coach that he didn't want to disturb his sleep. It's absolutely unbelievable. It is a sad personal tragedy, but even in his toughest personal moment, he still put others above himself. That quality is easily seen on the pitch.

Tottenham went from relegation all the way up to eighth this season. That change happened when Redknapp and Palacios both arrived. A coincidence? I think not. His unselfish nature and work ethic has rubbed off on the entire team. The hardman we once craved for is finally here in Wilson Palacios. I will end this with a quote from the gipper that accurately sums up my favorite player:

"Palacios has made a massive difference to this club. He gets on with it, he's strong, he's aggressive - he's what Spurs haven't had. You get a little group who have seen Palacios come in, work his socks off and close down opponents, and it rubs off on people. He's not a big-time Charlie, you need people like that to be successful." Spurs boss Harry Redknapp

Back on Top of Fourth

Recently, the Navy has been very kind of my support of Tottenham and today was no exception. It was one of the few times I was pleased to be off the flight schedule. Spurs battled Fulham at the Lane and two somewhat fortunate goals saw us take fourth place in the Premiership outright. The Little Engine that Could (Luka Modric) somehow out hustled Riise from Fulham to send a half volley into the Beanstalk (Peter Crouch) who nicked it past Schwarzer for the first. It was the type of hustle goal we needed badly after being held scoreless in the last two League fixtures. We dominated the half hour and Fulham was lucky not to be down more than one at the half. Our second goal came from the most unlikely of sources in David Bentley. A set piece deflection off of Riise's head saw the ball go past a helpless Schwarzer. The last half hour was largely uneventful as we cruised to a 2-0 win.

"I couldn't more surprised if my head was sewn into the carpet." That famous quote in Christmas Vacation pretty much sums up my thoughts on seeing Bentley in the starting eleven and then actually scoring a goal. Bentley has been a primadonna off the field and every time he seems to be on the cusp of breaking into the lineup, he ends up pissing off Redknapp. With an injury to Lennon and Krancjar sick, the bastard actually took his chance. Am I happy that he scored? Hell yes! Was I even more excited that everyone rubbed his head and tried to mess up the silly haircut he's carrying? Yes I was. The past four days have seen two members of the squad who seemed to be out the door actually deliver for the Lily whites. First Pav, now Bentley. They both could be saying farewell, or they could be gaining some favor in Harry's eyes. The next fifteen or so days will likely determine their futures.

Tomorrow, I will be writing an ode to a player I feel has been the most responsible for the turnaround at Tottenham. We went from the depths of relegation to challenging for a Premiership place. Who can it be? I'll leave you guessing....

Thoughts on Leeds

I woke up just in time to catch the Leeds game this past Saturday. At the end of the game, I was pretty morbid. Giving away a last second penalty to offer Leeds a lifeline in a replay hit me almost as hard as the previous night's bourbon. I spent a day of reflection however to give my honest thoughts.

First of all, Gareth Bale is an exceptional talent. His attacking prowess as a left back is unbelievable. I would keep Benoit Assou-Ekotto as the first choice back, but I would give serious contemplation towards moving Bale into the left midfield slot. He runs at defenders fearlessly and the balls he whips in are top class. His defending is still slack at times which is why he doesn't play ahead of BAE.

Another thing that shocked me was how Roman Pavlyuchenko somehow produced a moment of brilliance in the first minute he was on the pitch. How sweet that must have felt for him! Pav has been an afterthought all season long with rumors constantly swirling about him moving on to another club during this January transfer window, yet he still has that striker's instinct. It was a lovely step-over and classy finish. It really makes me wonder if we should be shopping him around so vigorously with Keano's dip in form.

Leeds' striker Jermaine Beckford is the real deal. I didn't buy into the hype surrounding him after the Man U game, but he proved me wrong. He was putting himself into great positions and harassed our center backs all game long. Why in the world did Dawson have to lunge at Beckford in box in the last minute? Stay on your feet son. It almost reminded me of the Australia-Italy World Cup game in 2006 when the Australian defender left his feet to make a challenge and ended their World Cup dream. It was a clumsy challenge by our young captain, but you have to tip your hat to Beckford. He played a great game and his penalty showed the confidence he has. I think it is safe to say that we will see this youngster in the Premiership sooner rather than later.

On Tuesday, Spurs play Fulham at White Hart Lane in what I consider a must-win. Fulham is missing Zamora and Dempsey, so their attack is severly crippled. Now is the time to jump on them and get back to our winning ways. My prediction: 3-1 Spurs. Come on you Spurs.....

Why I am a Tottenham Supporter

My brother once asked me why in the world we were Hotspur supporters. It is so much easier to be a fan of a team that has had prolonged success or a team that has low expectations. If you support Manure, Chelski, ARSEnal, or Liverpool, you have become too accustomed to winning. You no longer appreciate the wins over the Birminghams and Boltons or battling Aston Villa or Everton away and getting a point. It is expected to do well anytime you play, home or away. Now, as a Spurs supporter, you take nothing for granted. The beauty is that we spend a ton of money, just as much as the Woolwich Wanderers (Arsenal), and yet can't seem to regain the glory of the past. It creates so much promise and hope at the beginning of each season to spend the money on big name players, and then so much despair when we can't rise to that promise. As a result, I end up appreciating every win and taking nothing cheaply. I want to watch every game because I don't expect any result against any team, but I long for success. The club will never be held down by low supporter expectations or giving up on the dream of Champions League qualification. What fun is constant success? Even after the terrible result against a weakened Liverpool today, I still have a craving to watch the FA Cup game this Saturday at noon against Leeds. We had a great opportunity to end Liverpool's season and couldn't take advantage. Such is the life of a Tottenham supporter. I will continue on...Come on you Spurs!

There is good news for the other team I support though. The United States has seemingly dodged a huge bullet in regards to Clint Dempsey's injury. It looks like he won't need surgery on that knee and could possibly return to play again this season for Fulham. Even Oguchi Onyewu gave positive news concerning his injury. I am still holding my breath, but for now, the outlook for our stars is positive. I'll take the positive news about the United States injury report for the loss to Liverpool. I'm an American before a Spur supporter. Country over club and never the other way around.

Dempsey and Donovan

It looks like we aren't going to find out any more news about Dempsey's knee until tomorrow. As we like to say in the Navy, stand by to stand by...

It has been revealed today that Landon Donovan has hinted that he would like to stay in England longer than the current loan deal. Major League Soccer has dealt with this before with David Beckham and so they had to expect this kind of comment to be made. Everton's manager David Moyes has inserted Donovan right into the starting line up and has helped them get two great results at the Emirates and at home against Manchester City. Put yourself in his shoes for a second. Landon comes over, immediately sees playing time in the best league in the world, and more importantly, has played a role in turning around Everton's season. You can easily see why he feels pumped up at Everton. He has lived a fairy tale so far. Donovan has been known to be emotional, so the report is nothing unexpected in my eyes.

From a business prospective, the MLS was very smart to sign him up for four more years and then loan him out where he could raise his value. The longer you have a player under contract, the greater the potential transfer fee. If he can continue to shine and impress at Everton, you can bet on Everton or another club approaching the league with an offer. If Altidore went for ten million dollars, how much would Donovan go for? My best guess is that Donovan would be able to leave at a minimum fifteen million. He means a lot to the MLS and is a big part of its marketing.

Boaz Myhill and Dempsey Make for a Terrible Weekend

I didn't need the heroics from Myhill. It was always going to be tricky encounter especially with the Liverpool game on the horizon. The players had to have had that in the back of their mind. This is the type of game that seems to always trip us up. We have had a lot of trouble against teams that pack it in and this was no different. I am too depressed to further comment on that....

I am worried that this blog very well could have resulted in a Sports Illustrated cover-like jinx on Clint Dempsey. I had just named him one of the top 5 players in CONCACAF and then he blows out his knee. If Donovan rips his Achilles in Everton's next game, the blog is done. I can't have American blood on my hands, especially considering its a World Cup year. Without Charlie Davies and Dempsey, the US offensive outlook is bleak. I was underwhelmed by our performances in qualifying and if it wasn't for Donovan's Herculean efforts, I'm not so sure we make the top 3. Let's pray this scan tomorrow comes out with positive news.

Dos Santos Loan, Joe Cole Coming in?

Those of us in the States know Giovani dos Santos all too well. He pretty much single-handedly won the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup for Mexico. I can't stand seeing him on the pitch for the Mexicans, but I would love to see him get more time at Spurs. He is dangerous on the ball and will run at defenders all day long, but the big knock on him is his lack of defensive prowess. He has been listed as an offensive midfielder and when he suits up for Tottenham, he normally plays on the left. If we sell Pavlyuchenko over the transfer period, everyone assumes Harry will be forced to bring in someone to replace him. I have a crazy idea...look within the team you have. Dos Santos can easily play up top and is one of the top 5 players in CONCACAF alongside Wilson Palacios, Landon Donavon, Clint Dempsey, and Kenwyne Jones. He is the best player on the Mexican team and will be a handful in the upcoming World Cup. Why can't we give him a chance to become the 4th striker on our team? Since he's not a strong defender, put him up top and let him create. We have seen how dominant he can be in the international game when given a run in a team. I understand his game is different from Pav and Crouch, but you can't tell me Dos Santos can't hold up the ball.

If Redknapp brings in a replacement, send Dos Santos out on loan. Let him develop and raise his value at another club. Portsmouth is dying for a player like Giovani, and the most recent rumor has him going there. He would greatly benefit from playing in the Premiership rather than going into the lower leagues again. Whatever you do Harry, do not sell him prior to the World Cup! Harry is obviously too smart in the transfer market to allow that though. On another note Harry...you can swindle other clubs, but the tax man is not to be messed with.

As for the Joe Cole rumors, I think he is a fantastic talent. You are also messing with a player who has seen great success at Chelsea and probably wouldn't enjoy seeing the bench. His addition would create some serious competition for a place on the outside midfield. Modric, Lennon, Kranjcar, and Bentley (at least for a little while) would all be in the running. I would be very careful with this pickup. His wages would be high as would his expectation to start. Chemistry is a tricky thing and the last thing Spurs need is drama.

David Bentley, A Bust?

As a Tottenham supporter for many years, I have seen my share of flops at the club. From Rebrov and Postiga to Hossam Ghaly, the previous decade was littered with players that arrived to the club with high expectations only to deliver performances that were far below the hype. There is one player on the current Spurs side that most supporters have already labeled a flop, and there is no debate that he has not played to the 15 million pound transfer fee we paid for him back in July 2008. David Bentley looked the part during his time at Blackburn, but the move to the Lane has sent his career into a tailspin. I think the DUI most recently just about sums up his time so far. I take a different look into the transfer however, and feel the 15 million pounds has actually partially paid itself back in a different sort of matter. And in a round about way, I wouldn’t consider the transfer a total bust in the eyes of a supporter.

While Bentley hasn’t played to the high expectations, his arrival did light a spark under Aaron Lennon. Lennon’s form faded towards the end of the 2007-2008 season and many were worried he wouldn’t be the same after the Euro 2008 snub. The purchase of Bentley was another sign that the young lightning-quick winger might have lost the confidence that made him so dangerous. Fast forward to the 3-0 drubbing of Manchester City where he terrorized Sylvinho, and what you are seeing is a player brimming with confidence and a much improved final ball. What changed? You could possibly point to Redknapp’s appointment as manager or a better supporting cast. I think it has to do with one thing, Bentley’s arrival.

In horseracing, the great ones have a competitive fire that drives them on when they go neck and neck with another horse. It is that intangible quality that makes them winners. Rather than shrink at the sight of an opponent, they rise to the occasion and raise their performance. In a sense, Bentley was the horse brought in to challenge Lennon on the right wing. It would have been easy for Lennon to give up or feel disheartened. Instead he fought to keep his place in the team and has found the form of his life. I say that Bentley’s threat brought out the best in Lennon. Now, Lennon has raised his value at least 15 million pounds. While Tottenham will no doubt lose money on Bentley when he is finally sold, I think we have ended up with arguably the most dangerous right winger in the game. A winger, I hope, that does not see the pitch on June 12th against the United States.

Obviously I am not in the locker room or even in England for that matter. This is merely a theory and an effort to take the positives from the Bentley Experiment. No matter what his form has been attributed to, his resurgence has been a major reason why Spurs are in the top 4 race. Now that the injury bug has hit him, let’s hope he comes back as strong as he left and that Spurs can continue the momentum.

Welcome

There are very few things that I am absolutely sure of, but one of them is that I am the only Tottenham Hotspur supporter in all of Kingsville, TX. As a US Navy pilot flying the British made T-45C Goshawk, I feel like I finally have the connection necessary to start releasing my ideas to the world about the British game. This blog will likely be focused on responding to the rumors and activities surrounding the mighty Spurs. Yes, it will be biased. I'm not going to try and convince you otherwise. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the roller coaster ride of a THFC supporter stuck in south Texas....