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...