The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
Swantastic, Spurs
Van der Vaart 1 & Adebayor 2
"Does anyone else think we are better under the radar?" -- amuntv
April 1, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Swansea City 1
White Hart Lane, London N17

In the twentieth minute Tottenham Hotspur score on their first on-target, non-deflected shot at goal, and absolute corker of a pass from Luka Modric to Bale whose center set up Van der Vaart whose responsibility was to guide it between the keeper and the goal, which he did with pinpoint precision (screen shot right).

2nd HALF: Swans early 2nd half equalizer.

But in around the 74th minute Spurs, who must have recently discovered the joys of practicing corners on the training ground, as witness the Cup goal against Bolton, scored from the first league corner in 133 attempts, with a great feed from Van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor just needed to stand where he was, stay cool, and nod confidently into the Paxton Road End goal.

Ex-Gooner Adebayor took the nerves out of the White Hart Lane crowd with a second headed goal in around the 86th min with a quality cross from Aaron Lennon, just on the pitch as a sub and back from injury, and almost immediately showing what he can do. Most excellent stuff from Super Spurs -- with Lennon and Bale providing two live wire outlets on the sides, there are often problems for the opponents, as we know.

"Does anyone else think we are better under the radar?" -- amuntv

Pre-match: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian: "This should be a mouth-watering match though, at present, Tottenham would gleefully accept even the scrappiest success to reignite their league campaign. Harry Redknapp will point to the defeat of Bolton in the FA Cup, and the second-half performance at Chelsea last Saturday, as evidence that form is creeping back into his charges, but theirs is a five-match winless streak in the Premier League and they could go into this fixture six points adrift of Arsenal and only two ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle. Swansea, their manager Brendan Rodgers admired at White Hart Lane, will hope to reproduce their display in victory at Fulham rather than that of the home defeat to Everton last week."

In the reverse fixture played on Dec 31, Tottenham Hotspur earned a 1:1 draw in Wales at the Liberty stadium, and though Spurs were decent, the Swans were equally up for it, and equally sure of their ability to get a result. Here's The Spur's reaction:

Well a draw seemed disappointing especially as the only result I knew about for a while afterward was the expected Arsenal win at home to QPR also shown on foxsoccertv online.

However, when this evening I finally got around to seeing the other results, suddenly things didn't seem so bad at all: Chelsea losing at home to a team that has been at times abjectly poor this term, Aston Villa, and ManUre losing at home to rock-bottom no-hoper crisis torn Blackburn Rovers. Just effing wow!

Add that to the fact that although Liverpool won a day earlier it was at the expense of Newcastle, it meant that although two of our deadliest top four spot rivals 'Pool and Arse made a significant gain and now lurk right in our shadows, we distanced ourselves from CFC and the Geordies, and equally encouraging we see that Cheslea, Man Utd, and even Man City are very far from invincible, indeed, they seem just as frail, if not frailer in some cases, than we can be.

So a lot more good news than bad so far over this holiday season despite Scott Sinclair's late equalizer against us at the Liberty after Van der Vaart had put us ahead with a bundled, frankly ugly goal, but they all count, from an Assou-Ekotto feed that was made better than it was by bouncing off a defender to the Dutchman, and even then, he in turn needed a deflection to see it go in.

As another sign that the playing fields seem to be levelling is that our hosts and potential relegation strugglers Swansea flowed with style and created just as fluently and poetically as we, lauded and praised from every rooftop these days, can play at our best.

Pre-match: Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur travel to Wales on Saturday to take on Swansea as we continue the quest to ensure a top four spot to ensure a champions league berth next season.

After beating Norwich City 2-0 on Tuesday, Spurs are now the top London club but Chelsea and Arsenal are right behind and both absolutelty hell bent on not being eliminated from the top European contest, where the money is, next year.

The good news is that Newcastle and Liverpool, who play on Friday prior to when this was penned, are off the pace a bit, but it would be foolish to deny that it's still a five horse race for the two spots remaining after the two Manchester teams fight it out for champions of England and runners up of the Prem.

The Swans just got held at home 1:1 a few days ago by Queens Park Rangers, however the partisan home crowd and the fact that Wales' top side are doing way better than expected since being promoted into the top flight, combines to make them a potentially tough proposition.

BBC Football: "Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp may bring Ledley King into the team after he was rested against Norwich.

"Jermain Defoe is again a doubt with a hamstring problem, while Aaron Lennon is not yet fit to return.

"There will be plenty of attention focused on Gareth Bale ahead of the match. The Welsh international's second goal at Norwich on Tuesday was magnificent - his double strike at Carrow Road meant that Tottenham have won the last 10 Premier League matches in which he has scored.

"Swansea have the best home defensive record in the division with just three goals conceded.

"Victory for Spurs would equal their record total away wins in a Premier League season (seven, set in 1993-94, 1995-96, 2009-10 and 2010-11)."

Eurosport Yahoo: "The last six meetings in all competitions between Swansea and Spurs have all ended as home wins.

"Swansea have won only one of their last eight league games."

View from a Swansea fanzine: "On Saturday, Harry Redknapp brings another of the genuinely iconic Clubs in English football to our Home patch, and that feels good in itself. First club to do the double in the 20th Century, first club to win a UEFA sponsored trophy etc. Another Club with a justifiably proud history.

At Norwich: "the feeling you got that they (Spurs) were always in total control.

"Bale, (does he have three lungs?) , is in imperious form, also has a license to roam. Oh, and Adebayor, his Arsenal and Man City languid days long behind him, nowadays works his socks off for the team. They all do, really. And they score goals too, regularly, often of the great goals variety."

Glowing stuff from pierre91.

All the build up and post-match reactions here at The Spur. Please check back soon.

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The Spur's FA Cup 1/4 final 20011/12
Spurs v Trotters 3:1 full time
New game. Spurs are on their way to Wembley
March 27, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Bolton Wanderers 1
Rob Francis watched online foxsoccer2go USA

Thoughts out to Fabrice Muamba, alive and in recovery thankfully, as this quarterfinal is replayed, with the winner playing Chelsea at Wembley in the FA Cup Semifinal.

Match opening with Spurs pressing. As we've seen in so many THFC games recently, all of our offensive efforts seemed to be adding up to no breakthrough, but then in the 2nd half Spurs score two in quick succession from Ryan Nelsen (pic), yes a goal from a corner for Spurs!, and Gareth Bale to put everything right for the beleagured fans of late.

A nervous 3 mins of injury time followed a goal back from Bolton's Kevin Davies, however the Tottenham goals just kept getting better, with a swivelled shot from Saha into the Paxton goal as the final kick of the game.

What a way to finish. Excellent end to a game that was, other than our top draw three goals, often lacking in action.

Now, with the Cup still up for grabs, for another massive match in the Prem, an absolute must win home to the Swans on April 1st.

The original abandoned match [on March 17] reaction is here.....

Spurs 1 Trotters 1 - match abandoned

Awful developments on field and the game was abandoned just before half time, with Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba taken to hospital. The stunned looks on the faces of the players indicated the seriousness of the situation, and apparently the player was not even breathing when he was taken off.

At the time of writing The Spur does not know whether attempts to resuscitate him have been successful.

Concerned fan as Muamba lies motionless

Credit to both sets of fans for their obvious shock and concern and the supportive chanting of his name. Let's hope he's OK, but it didn't look good, to put it mildly, at the time of writing. Heart failure perhaps? Apparently no player contact or collision.

Bale, whose deflection put Bolton ahead, was the provider for Kyle Walker's superb header to equalize for Spurs in two very early goals. All square with the bulk of the match to play.

UPDATE: Good to hear he is still alive at the time writing, though in critical condition. To be alive after such a period of non-breathing is in itself massively gratifying. Fingers stay crossed.

Although Wanderers have mentioned pulling out of the Cup, it's unlikely they will. If they did, how could we just take a "bye" and saunter through -- that would be unthinkable of course. Anyway it's not going to happen.

What might happen, and this seems like a good idea, is to play the match at a neutral venue.

---

The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
0:0 full time
Meanwhile Arsenal crush Sadston Villa
March 24, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Chelsea 0
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Stamford Bridge, SW London
US TV live: ESPN2/3 5.45am Pac time.

The highlights show clearly that Spurs were all over Chelsea as far as goal scoring opportunities were concerned, but watching live as as a Spurs fan it was more like "can we get a point out of this without being robbed by bad luck, a defensive howler, or bad officiating".

Spurs retain a five point advantage with the nil-nil draw at Chelsea. Though it was a relief to get out of that dump with a point, on reflection and in the calm of knowing we did it, actually we could easily have nabbed all three points and deserved it.

Not that we were great, but Chelsea truly are the shell of the team they once were. Like City, it seems money doesn't guarantee success. The big stars at CFC aren't really trying hard enough in most cases, thankfully. Give them a raise!

The Prem match between Spurs and Chelsea on December 22, 2011 was a match of equals ending 1:1. Will it be the same at the Bridge? As it happened at the Lane:

A beautiful dash down the wing and an inch perfect cross for Adebayor to bundle home gives Spurs an early 9th minute lead as the Lilywhites started in top gear, a tidal-wave momentum that lasted for about fifteen minutes but petered out dramatically for the major mid part of the match, so that towards the end many home supporters were more than happy to get a point.

It's still the case against a team of lavishly accumulated world class talents like Man City and Chelsea, that a point earned for us, home or away, is not to be considered shabby, and given our 5 point margin over them, it would be almost like a win for us to hold them, and then, in theory, we go on to excel in the remaining "easier" fixtures!

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The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
Last gasp equalizer from Rafael
1:1 as Spurs batter ineffectively
March 21, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Stoke City 1
London N17
US live: Fox soccer2Go online 12.45pm Pacific.

"Sigh. At the risk of sounding patronizing (and I couldn't really care if I sound patronizing right now, to be honest), well done Stoke. You came with a game plan; to set up camp outside the penalty box and put faces in front of shots, along with the proud English 'thump, bosh, hoof, big man, put it in the mixer, mark your man, go in early doors, let him know you're there' method for nicking a goal. It's not a pretty plan by any means, but at least you had a plan.

"Our endeavors seem to stem from the great and noble dictate of 'fackin' run around a bit.'

"It's great when the team is fluent and focused, but in such disastrously distracting times, fluency and goals from open play are the last thing you expect. Therefore, most teams fall back on practised moves from the training ground and good set-pieces to nick and defend a goal.

"Not Spurs. The number of times our free-kicks or corners hit the first man was appalling, and it's abundantly clear we don't care about practising them.

"Additionally, Bale continued to wander uselessly down the middle or down the right instead of giving us some width on the goddamn left. No tactical consistency, so that's another fall-back thrown away.

"So, we don't practise set-pieces, we don't defend them very well and we have no tactical shape when just one (Lennon) of our players is out injured. Hooray.

"Just let the Chelsea game be over, and let's get back to trying to do the simple things right. This horrifying run of games has gone on for too long.

"Oh, and sorry, Stoke fans. I was overly harsh. Well done." -- Dubai Spur, GMB

Spurs battered away at the Stoke goal but for all that were completely ineffective in breaking down the sturdy Potters, who, predictably, snatched a goal at the other end, from Cameron Jerome, against the run of play.

Then, in injury time, a sensational cross from Gareth Bale allowed Rafael van der Vaart to head home a stunning equalizer (pic right) to save Spurs from failing to score at home in every game this season.

Tottenham's movement off the ball, and the finishing, was well below par, and the home side are finding it hard to build any momentum since Capello's resignaton as England manager with Harry's name associated with the job.

So Arsenal move above us in the table with their win at Everton, however as a consolation we now increase the gap between us and 5th placed Chelsea, our next opponents. So, even if we lose at the Bridge we still stay two points ahead of them, at least for one more round. If we can nick a point at Stamford Bridge it would be a massive boost to stay 5 points ahead of them.

A further consolation, even though Liverpool were pretty much out for the count anyway as top four contenders, was QPR's amazing comeback from two down to beat the 'Pukes at Loftus Road, ending any glimmer of hope of a realistic revival from the Reds.

Newcastle are also quite a way behind us, so unless we continue to implode, it's really us versus Cheslea for the final Champions League spot: Arsenal are on fire and I can't see them stuttering now, with nothing else in their season to play for.

A mighty blow against Spurs to not win this crucial home fixture, but given that we were trailing in injury time, the Lane erupted in celebration despite a less than impressive home performance.

In the away fixture at Stoke back in mid December, Spurs fell victim to two goals from ex-Spur Mathew Etherington to lose 2:1, with Adebayor scoring from the spot for the Lilywhites.

We have so many former club payers playing for opponents, owing to the merry-go-round of managers we had in previous years, that there's a lot of ex-Spur talents understandably looking to prove something against THFC, and that's life.

For us, it always provokes the question, are our current players really better than the ex-ones if the old boys keep sticking it to us? The answer is probably so, by a hair, but the former Laners usually exhibit far greater hunger and motivation than our own present day stars.

Call me Ms Optimist but we'll get this one!"

That's always been been a problem at Spurs since I can remember. In fairness, even in our loss at Everton, you could see most of our players were totally committed, so I'm not saying that even under Harry we always lack sufficient application, but the old saying of "soft touch Tottenham" is more than just a cliche.

With the talent in our squad, the fact is we should be closer to Man Utd, and not so easy to surrender ten point leads over our arch rivals, if we had that elusive "ingredient X." You could say Man City also don't have ingredient X, but their squad is even more talent-laden than our own, so they win matches here and there even on off days, though not with the same consistency as their neighbours.

So United is the classic example of where we could be, since we have commensurate talent. They have stars, but less than in previous years, but the sum performance level is greater than the parts, not less, as is the case with us, even with Harry's overall success so far.

Alex Ferguson has shown over and over again that you can get players, whether world class stars or up and coming newbies, to play with courage and conviction almost every time they hit the turf, and to play as a team that will work and whatever it takes to win, almost every single time. I know, Bilbao and Blackburn were surprising, almost bizarre, exceptions.

Even under the super successful guidance of Harry, we still do not have that, so as Spurs fans we look at a home match against Stoke more in hope than confidence.

Well, here's hoping, not just for a win, but the luxury of the old Spurs swagger of Bill Nich's era. Now he knew how to get the best out of those stars of yore.

"Our season will be decided by winning the winnable games." -- noddy, GGMB

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The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
Everton beat THFC 1:0
Last season at EFC: Spurs struggled after Bale injury
March 10, 2012 (Ssn 20011/12)
Everton vs
Tottenham Hotspur
Goodison Park.
US TV: Fox Soccer ch. Live 9.30am Pacific

UPDATE: Another very frustrating day for Spurs fans as Everton, far more up for it than us, ended up fighting a late Tottenham onslaught including a post rebound from Saha. "Simply not enough," said the Asian version of ESPN commentator about the Londoners: "not enough chances created." No kidding.

In their last three league matches Everton beat Chelsea at home, and drew away with relegation strugglers Wigan and QPR. Their last two home league games put the Toffees fans in ecstasy: the aforementioned win over the blue racists, and a victory over league leaders Manchester City, not conceding a goal over both those home fixtures.

So while they may not be impressive on the road, at home their recent form has been stellar.

Prior to this weekend's results they lie 13th in the table, 19 points short of Spurs. Their home record this season in the Prem is 5-3-5. Spurs away are 6-3-4.

On those stats, a draw seems the favourite outcome by many of the pundits and fans of both clubs - for what that's worth. In reality, it could of course go either way and while a draw would be acceptable to the Toffees, it probably won't help us keep our current points margin over Arsenal and Chelsea, whose challenge to overhaul us will amost certainly come another step closer if we falter yet again and they win their home matches against highly beatable Newcastle and Stoke respectively.

A coupla match stats from the Beeb: "Spurs last beat Everton at Goodison Park in February 2007. Tottenham are aiming to do the double over Everton for the first time since 2005/2006."

Goodison Park, like the Lane, can fluctuate noticeably between a morgue and a cauldron depending on who the opposition is. Both sets of fans are picky about what they get themselves 'up' for.

Generally, the Toffees regard the visit of Tottenham Hotspur as one of their marquee home fixtures, partly because both clubs have a long history of big time success when this was traditonally one of the showpiece clashes of the English footballing calendar, so the crowd, including their chanting end at the Gwladys Street, can be one of the most vociferous in the nation.

Possible THFC line up:
Friedel
Walker --- Kaboul --- King --- Ekotto
V de Vaart -- Parker -- Modric -- Bale
Defoe -- Adebayor

In the corresponding fixture last season at Goodison Park, Spurs lost 2:1 to the Toffees. Here's some stuff from The Spur's match reactions:

Spurs started off in an almost comatose state allowing Everton to score very early with a Louis Saha goal. So we bought Saha. Haha! Erm, ok, as I was saying....

Everton started for the first time thus far last season with two strikers, Beckford and Saha. Meanwhile Alan Hutton avoided a penalty after a blatant push in the box.

The goal wakes up the Lilywhites and the proven goal scoring combination of Crouch and Van der Vaart works its magic yet again with the giraffe heading to the Dutchman, who in turn rose to nod into the Gwladys Street goal. American keeper Tim Howard was caught diving before he knew where the ball was going to be headed. Ooops. A well constructed equalizer with the match still young.

72nd minute a brilliant build up engineered by Modric gives Van de Vaart a great opportunity in front of goal but Howard redeems himself -- twice, as moments later he denied Peter Crouch. This effort helped Spurs out of their second half shell when Everton looked like overwhelming us in the early stages after the break.

But the brief respite was not to last, in the 76th minute Seamus Coleman poached a strong headed goal with the Spurs defence looking ragged, and, in the midfield and up front, flat after Bale's injury enforced substitution.

Tottenham failed to put any real pressure on the hosts to seek out a second equalizer, and thus gave up rather tamely any chance of picking up even a point.

Pre-match: Tottenham Hotspur, for all our supposed firepower, sometimes fail to create or convert sufficient chances against Everton. We are on a roll in the league, and despite their Merseyside derby victory, Everton are there for the taking if we play the kind of creative, marauding football that we are capable of. But so often if it's not the big guys like ManUre or Chelsea, we don't get into gear and Everton have had a way of neutralizing us with all too much ease on most occasions.

Thoughtful, motivational, David Moyes has done a good job over the years at Everton, a big club with not enough money, on a limited budget. We have far outspent the Toffees on talent over the years, but the Merseyside club has made good management choices, in particular, the club's decision to stick with their manager through thick and thin, an alien concept to our ownership and management.

They could easily have panicked and dumped Moyes when the club went through a number of rough periods in the past five or six years, including this season's unconvincing first half of the season, but they didn't. And Moyes is likely to reward them yet again.

Spurs suffered from a European champions league hangover when we hosted them earlier this season. We struggled and ultimately failed to find a way to beat Everton who continued their mini-run of success after beating Liverpool. OK at 1-1 we got a point, and temporarily moved up to third place, but to challenge for another top four place at the end of the season clearly calls for home wins. Similarly, you would expect a top four contender to get something from Goodison, even though it really is a tough place to visit and Everton, who run hot and cold, are a talent laden side.

Bale was one player who was clearly feeling the effects of too much intense football in too short a time when we played the Toffees at hoe.

Leighton Baines scored with a top shelf free kick, and only a rare howler from Everton's American keeper Tim Howard let Spurs bounce back in the form of Van der Vaart to take a measly point.

Given that Harry is way over reliant on the same players to perform in two consecutively running leagues, the domestic and the European, it was really pre-scripted to end this way and there was an air of predictability about the whole thing that failed to ignite the pulse.

An OK game with an OK result. After the bizarre seven goal caper at the San Siro three days earlier, this was destined to be an anti-climax.

Nobody will remember our home match against EFC for very long, let's hope today's (Wed) encounter is both more absorbing and more important, gives up the full three points.

MAN OF THE MATCH FOR THIS WEEKEND: To be decided.

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Spurs only 4pts clear of Arsenal
Ref & winning mentality make it too easy again for Man U
March 04, 2012 (Ssn 20011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester United 3
White Hart Lane, London N17
US TV: Live on Foxsoccer chan. 8am

No Bale (virus), V der V (injury) or Parker (being a wally against Arsenal) and United with only one main player out, it's already stacked against us. Minutes to go before kick off.

21 league games without a win against United apparently, and the pundits and bookies heavily favor the ManUries.

Harry picks Sandro and Livermore to fill the missing players in midfield, lining up in midfield with Lennon and Modric.

Match kicks off. A.Arneson: "Lennon and Modric will be cutting in from the wings so its okay to have either Livermore and Sandro covering when need be. Both central midfielders will have to be disciplined and keep the game simple , playing it quick to the four players ahead of them."

Blackburn beat them at Old Trafford.    shaney

Early part of game, no side in ascendancy. Spurs attempting to shoot on sight, not working. United yet to show their stuff.

Arount the 36th min Adebayor "scores" but denied as handball by a referee clearly charged with the duty of ensuring ManUre wins this match.

Last minute of first half Rooney casually heads home for a one nil lead totally against the run of play to the chants of "one nil to the referee", including ludicrous booking of Sandro and decisions against Adebayor when he comes into contact with the ball.

But would United's players, defending a corner kick, just stand around and allow the opposition's star striker a free header, whilst standing frozen like traffic cones? Answer: no. One of the differences between them and us, unfortunately.

Marcospur: "If we play like that 2nd half, and utd like they have then we surely have to get something out of this game. But this is about mentality and character. We switched off that last minute and were punished but that doesnt take away from fact we are capable of cutting them open. Please spurs prove that we can come back in a massive game like this."

Ringo: "So Man U have a couple of chances and score. We have the possession the whole half and we don't. Just shows that possession means nothing unless you stick the ball in the net."

2nd half Spurs caufght napping gain as Ashley Young makes it two for ManUre from a feed by Nani. A combination of biased refereeing and Tottenham's psychological block when it comes to playing the Red Devils. A second goal from Ashley Young and the 3rd for Man United kills off the game. Once again, the truly top teams grind out results even when they're not playing well, and add to that United have a winning mentality.

Plus play Modric in the middle.

Oh, and where's Defoe and Super Pav when you need 'em? Defoe comes on, bit late for that.

Despite almost 60% of possession, questions have to be asked about having a manager who's got one foot out of the door. We can't just slide into oblivion after all that's been achieved up until the Emirates debacle.

Oh, Spurs scored a consolation goal thanks to Jermain Defoe, but nobody was around to see it. At least the lads didn't give up. It's a glimmer of hope.

Pre-match: Daily Mail preview: "Chris Smalling is Manchester United's only doubt for Sunday's trip to Tottenham." Response by Utd fan: "Referee: Martin Atkinson. Are you kidding me? I suppose there's going to be a game sooner or later where he doesn't shaft United and maybe this will be the game where he gets all the big decisions right. I think I said that the last time he refereed a United game, so I'm not holding out much hope that United won't get a player sent off and/or Spurs won't be given a penalty." As for us, we're glad it's not Howard Webb. Or are we?

Awful to see Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield without even having to get out of first gear, so the pressure is on. On the plus side, Liverpool get no points and Chelsea flopped to a loss at WBA. So we should be good for a top four spot, however it hurts to see AFC looking good to get back into the Euro champs league and even nicking top three.

At the time of writing Harry Redknapp seems optimistic on getting Rafa van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Kyle Walker back for the big Sunday game.

In the reverse fixture ealier in the season, United played a young side that seemed hungry and fit. They had a team spirit that was all too lacking with Spurs. Let's hope being at home changes all this.

Possible Spurs line-up for Sunday:

----------Fridel-----------
Walker-Kaboul--King-Benny
Lennon-Modric-Sandro-Bale
----------VdV------------
-----------Ade-----------

If Ledley and Sandro end up playing, let's hope their showing at Arsenal was a glitch.

"All this giving Bale a free role malarky is all well and good but we play our best football with Lennon and Bale on the flanks." -- Naija Spurs, GGMB

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Wenger for England!
Arse cackle at comedic Cockerals
Arsenal 5
Tottenham H. 2

Feb 26, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
London. Live on USA TV: Fox Soccer

TAX-i for Harry. "Where ya goin', mate?"

Glumly: "England."

"Right 'o, mucka. Anywhere but norf London, eh?" Cackle.

"Yeah well, least I got the England job, know wot I mean?"

"Sorry mate. Just 'erd that whiny frog bloke from the filf got it. 'E's gonna do bofe jobs!"

"Blimey. Where's me accountant?"

If Harry were to swap his back four on Sunday against Man Utd for his legal team he would have the best defence in Europe!    Old Tim, London -- TTMB

I apologize. We were 2:0 up when I finally found a feed that was carrying the game live. As the screen materialized, they had an attack and the frame froze. I looked at the position of the attacking Arsenal players and where our boys in white stood. I thought, when the frame unfreezes, they've got one back. I also had a terrible premonition of how the game would unfold. It wasn't pretty. It happened.

And then I woke up. Reality. I support a rag tag team of individuals who like to play a second or two of good football so long as nobody tries to interfere with what they are doing. And then when someone rudely intercepts one of the passes they get very upset and wave their arms around.

One of them gets sent off so he doesn't have play against more nasty people like Manchester United.

The other team's manager got so sick after trailing 0-2 in a game that would have cost him his job, heard that his team won 5:2 after all. He became healthy and happy again and his team made it back into the Euro Champs league and expanded their stadium to over a million capacity, where they play three teams called United, City, and Chelsea in a Supernational league that doesn't include Spurs, who go on to play in the Enfield, Herts, and Scottish Axel Grease League with a big upcoming match against AFC Glasgow Rangers at the QE2 Stadium. Extra police have been called in.

Arsenal supporter "crazyfatguy" on The Guardian: "First goal conceded through a deflection. Second goal, a penalty, from a blatant dive. Koscielny was even shown a yellow card for being shoved from one player to another, one of the most ridiculous bookings I have ever seen. That's a lot of bad luck, really. Yet Arsenal managed to come back from behind and win the game convincingly. It gives me hope that I too can turn all the bad luck in my life around and find some success again. Thank you, Arsenal."

Dream on, gooner. You'll always be crazy, you'll always be fat, you'll always turn to glory hunting to cover up your sad life, and your posts will always be shite. That's the nature of being a gooner. And odds are that AFC won't make the top four. Unless we implode along with Chelsea.

Martin O'Neil's resurgent Sunderland got tonked even worse at usually abject West Brom the day before. We weren't the only victims of what is hoped to be a freak result! Yeah?

Pre-match: A win for Spurs would be crushing for Arsenal, effectively eliminating their last glimmer of a title challenge, putting Wenger's tenure at severe risk, and allowing Chelsea pole position for the 4th Euro Champs spot at the gooners' expense. Luvverly.

However a draw would do us, keeping the margin between us and the others vying for third and fourth spots wide enough for us to remain very upbeat our chances of qualifying for the top Euro league at one of our hated rivals' expenses. Luvverly.

And a loss, whilst ot disastrous, would really suck.

As I said when we won the hom encounter of this derby earlier in the season: "For Spurs, we've rebalanced the power in north London." This time, a win or draw goes further, the balance tilts unquestionably in our favour.

We weren't great in that game at the Lane, and it could have gone either way, but unlike previous years, prior to Harry that is, we usually looked like we were clinging on for dear life against our bitter rivals. That inequality is over. It seems to hard to believe it, but our squad is now perhaps better than Arsenal's, at least, well on par.

And, as has been noted by others, it was us that were shrewd enough to land the likes of Parker, Van de V., Friedel, hold on to Modric, and borrow Adebayor, whilst Arsenal have lost some top players recently.

For Arsenal, their focus has now turned onto whether they can hold on to, and attract, future world class level talent without life in the Champions League.

Further, many of their fickle fans won't stick around long if they are not doing well. Even back in the 70's and 80's during those periods when they were struggling Highbury was a desolate place, giving rise to the Spurs chant: "One, two, three, four, listen to the Norf Bank roar, Peanuts for Sixpence!"

And that was when fans were a lot more loyal and open-minded than they are now.

The Emirates will look a forlorn and eerie place with swaths of empty seats. It won't be a venue to set the pulse racing of would be future signings, and will help accelerate a downward spiral.

In the match at the Lane, Arsenal could have gone ahead, and we scored the winner with the type of wonder goal that nobody can legislate. But it was a dramatic portrayal of how the gap is narrowed so dramatically in such a short time. Prior to Harry, the gap seemed not only insurmountable, but widening to the point of no return.

But that result was excellent, presaging a stellar season for us so far, and a struggle for the rubbishy reds. The big picture, even beyond this game alone, looks bright for us, and dim for Arsenal. Evenly balanced we may be in north London, but the momentum is with Spurs for now.

More soon.

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The Spur's FA Cup 2011/12
FA Cup on Sunday, US TV Live
Spurs are on their way to Stevenage
Feb 19, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Stevenage 0
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Stevenage, Herts
US TV and online: Fox Soccer Ch. 6am Pacific.

Just like at Watford, this was an amazingly uninspired performance by the bigger team. The only consolation is that Arsenal and Chelsea were even more embarrassing. However Liverpool look to have taken control of their destiny and whopped poor Brighton, so they could be a problem for us in the Prem as we hit the home straight.

But this the FA Cup and we are still very much alive and kicking as S(B)FC now have to come to the Lane.

The Lilywhites head over the green belt north of London to visit the overspill ex-urb of Stevenage. Early rising required for United States West Coast residents for what will hopefully be more engaging than our laboured win at nearby Watford.

This is our chance to get through the 5th round of a competition dear to our hearts, before facing some gigantic Prem battles against Arsenal at the Emirates, Man United home, and Everton at Goodison Park.

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The Spur's Premiership
Spurs solid at Anfield
Spurs hold rival Euro champ contender at bay
Feb 06, 2012 (Ssn 20011/12)
Liverpool 0
Tottenham H. 0
Anfield, Liverpool
US TV: Live online @ espn.3 -- 12noon/PT

The star of a stalemate first half was a cat invading the pitch. Our keeper Brad Friedel had little to do, as Ian Darke commented, with both defences in control. Liverpool started the stronger but as time went on in the first half Spurs, without Van der V or Lennon tonight, grew in confidence nonetheless.

Both sides very evenly matched in the first half, this could need a moment of individual magic, hopefully not from Luis Suarez ("Are you Terry in disguise?" -- Spurs contingent's chant) off the bench which is garnering all the media attention, but from one of our own, like Gareth, Krancky, or Luka, yeah? Or maybe Adebayor, whose lost the ball many times, can find something, or at least, start working with teammates more. Bring on Ryan, I say. Well, the other new one, Saha, will do.

Half time twott: "Liverpool is like our squad from last year. Can get to the final third but no one to knock it in. I call either a draw or a counter-attack goal for us in the closing 10 minutes." - US Spur, th.tv mb

Second half underway. Around the 59th minute a rare piece of action sees Liverpool hit the post. 66th minute sees Uruguayan racist Luis suarez on for the 'Pukes, and promptly gets booked for kicking Scott Parker.

71st minute Louis Saha makes his debut for Tottenham Hotspur. Meawhile for LFC Downing and Carroll both fluff great scoring opportunities, with Bale on a mazy run at the other end but marked heavily for three defenders and only able to shoot wide. Thereafter 'Pool players trying to nobble Bale, while Suarez is gifted a free-kick header with oly Friedel to beat, but straight to the USA keeper. Two close calls, one with Bale completely loose one on one, and one where Carroll had a glorious chance but the ref deemed him to have backed into a defender as the ball was bouncing around in the Spurs penalty area.

In the end, a solid away performance by Spurs against one of our biggest rivals at a gorund which has seen Liverpool draw far too many times at home, much to the advantage of THFC who still sit proudly in third place holding the margin against Chelsea and Liverpool (and Man Utd above us), but with City and Arsenal winning.

Preview: Even somewhat timorous Tottenham Hotspur supporters like myself can actually entertain the concept that we now stand a damn good chance of making it into the European champions league next season if the lads keep playing to their level, keep up the spirit, and if Harry stays out of jail, though one gets the sense that, like a gang kingpin, he could direct operations from his cell block just as well. So shall we keep the hated CFC, AFC, and, for that matter, LFC at bay.

But with Liverpool on a roll it's another daunting away fixture, as was our recent visit to the Lancashire area at City in Mancland.

Check back for more on Monday's mega match.

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Tues, Jan 31, 2012
Tottenham Hotspur 3:1 Wigan [Prem]
LIVE espn3.com -- 11.45a Pacific.
A potential banana skin home encounter with Athletic but the Lilywhites didn't choke and secured the 3-1 triumph, with a brace from Bale, whilst Chelsea only drew and Man City lost.

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The Spur's FA Cup 2011/12
Van der Vaart makes the difference
Spurs are on their way to Wembers, well Stevenage, anyway
Jan 26, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Watford 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Vicarage Road
US TV and online: Fox.

A lacklustre performance by the Lilywhites but enough to see us through to an away match at another northerly satellite overspill suburb of London, Stevenage, in the 5th round.

The exciting part of the Cup weekend was seeing Villa go 2 up at Arsenal, but, as I've said before, the Villans can be truly abject at times under their current manager, who surely will not last, and they managed to capitulate, no other word says it so well, capitulate in the second half. Ugh! I lost another 50 mins of my valuable life (I skipped thru some of it) watching that awful team raise our hopes and then fall apart. Did I say ugh?

The Flying Dutchman winds up to shoot the 1st half goal

Pre-match: Tottenham Hotspur, the third most successful club in FA Cup history, make the short trip through the north-west districts and suburbs of London to Watford in Hertfordshire and a place generally considered the last outpost of not just London, but the south-east of England. Or maybe that's just because I grew up somewhere between south London and Gatwick airport.

Word is Harry will be there to play The Hornets, well not personally on the pitch, but back in person to oversee Tottenham in action after being absent owing to his tax trial.

Daily Fail: "Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is relishing the prospect of returning to the dugout for the FA Cup game against Watford, according to his assistant Kevin Bond."

The 64-year-old will resume his place on the Spurs bench on Friday night, however, for his team's fourth-round clash at Vicarage Road."

BBC: "Centre-back Adrian Mariappa will line up for Watford in their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham despite speculation linking him with a move.

Ten-goal striker Marvin Sordell, who has also been linked with a transfer in January, will lead the line.

Tottenham's Gareth Bale (thigh), Scott Parker (hamstring) and Younes Kaboul (groin) are doubts.

Kaboul sat out Wednesday's training, Bale and Parker came off with strains, while Ledley King is set to be rested."

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Denied by Stampio
Head & hand stomping Balo the undoing of brave Spurs
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Foulchester City 3
Tottenham Hotspur 2
USA TV LIVE: fox soccer, usagoals.com

Spurs bounce back as 4 goals go in, in a 10 min spree, then a penalty in stoppage time decides it.

Match on. English commentary from yy live. It's a game I can't take my eyes off, yet it's hard to watch us play away against what is in effect a World XI paid for by money beyond our wildest dreams, and we're not a poor club.

"Cagey opening" says commentator. Both sides playing well but it's a great build-up from City culminating in Silva brilliantly creating the opportunity for Nasri which he scores well. Hate to say it, but that's what the world's most expensively assembled side can do to you.

Less than three minutes later, Lescott bundles a Dzeko flick over the line.

Within the same minute, Defoe pulls one back, pouncing on the up and under from Kaboul. 2:1, game back on.

Then comes the wonder goal, the fourth in less than ten minutes. Great run from Lennon cutting in to provide Bale who unleashes the sensational goal that shows why he is now considered beyond monetary value -- he simply is irreplaceable.

Friedel playing a solid game so far, as is Ledley. 20 mins to go, can we get the point? 71 st minute, Lennon still causing City lots of problems, feeds Modric who drives it well over. Spurs now on the front foot after getting pegged back for a while. 15 mins to go -- gotta stop clock watching, way too early. Spurs are not sitting back though.

79th Balotelli booked, his 16th yellow since being at City. A dirty player, he deliberately stamps on Scott Parker's hand and then head, the camera spots it but the officials don't see it, and he gets away with what should have been I think his fourth red card since "playing" for City.

In injury time Bale provides Defoe a sitter which he just couldn't steer into the far post in front of the mesmerized Spurs traveling faithful.

In the final act Ledley King, up until now so solid at the back, "professionally" fouls Balotelli and concedes the penalty that loses us the match.

My soft spot for City has almost completely eroded however after this -- with hideous fouls by Lescott and Balotelli that truly sickened. Balotelli's was delierate but well faked as if he didn't know exactly what he was doing. A nasty piece of work that player. Gruesome individual.

A glimmer remains because proper City fans are also embarrassed and ashamed by what they saw today from the dirty element of their team.

Pre-match: As far as media attention it's turning out to be the biggest match of the upcoming weekend eclipsing the goons hosting Manchester United, and deservedly so, this is the #1 vs #3 match-up, not #2 vs mid-table mediocrity, OK, #5.

Tottenham Hotspur are five points behind City at the top, six points points ahead of Chelsea, with a currently sizeable ten point gap over the Arse, and that's the latter which is the most important based on our realistic goal of making it into the champions league, preferably at their expense.

We hope to thwart City from completing their first double over us since the 1991-92 season. It's a tough ask, they have won every home league game so far, and they're knocking in goals at home just for fun.

In a mixed scenario of the past, the BBC site points out that "Spurs have lost just two of their last 11 league visits to Manchester City (W7, D2), but Manchester City won the last two (1-0 in May and 5-1 in August)." So the trend is not good, and a report of the August match appears below this article.

Anyway, we won what The Spur dubbed the "watershed" match against EFC to see if we were the real deal as far as being a top four act was concerned, and the answer was YES. So then many people said, well, what about the prem title? We saw from the Wolves game the answer is NO.

Now, against the odds, we need to take at least a point at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium to keep up a decent gap between us and Arsenal, and to not let the gap disappear between between us and Chelsea.

City are beatable at home by a side with the potential creative abilities and killer instinct that we do possess, if only sporadically.

But please discount their cup match losses -- what they, and we, really care about is the prem. And agreed they played poorly at Wigan, but they ground out another result, away from home, and although they have somewhat of an injury problem, to get even a point at their place this season, irrespective of their home cup losses, is something any club will consider a massive achievement. This is not the "old" Citeh of even last season when it comes to the current prem season.

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
City hit their stride
Spurs give space for City showmanship
Aug 28, 2011 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester City 5
Rob Francis watched on USA TV delayed

Well on the positive side, I watched both Spurs v City and United v Arsenal and although we were comprehensively beaten, our bitter local rivals were completely humiliated 8-2. Not just that their scoreline was worse, they were ripped to shreds. We still looked like a football team, albeit outplayed, at the end. Arsenal were mentally on the bus well before the middle of the second half.

And we may have also been beaten by United a week earlier, but again, not humiliated. Not destroyed.

Last season's corresponding fixture saw a nil all draw but edge of the seat stuff with both sides showing big potential. This time the potential of one of the teams, City, was realized.

Manchester City, parading an ever more expensive line-up of heavyweight talent, look set to battle for champions with United, and, possibly, Chelsea, who despite the uninspiring way they play whenever I watch them, albeit sporadically, seem to know how to notch up lots of points.

Man City have just done to us what we done to Hearts 1st leg. Completely different resources.    wv1

City seemed to create so much space around the park, or did we give it to them? A bit of both perhaps. Either way, players of their calibre are going to punish such generosity, and they did.

Both Manchester sides today had players flying very high in terms of form. It wasn't that we were awful, but our player's talents seldom shone through, City's were on display almost every time they got the ball, plus their movement was fluid and relentlessly forward surging.

Now we are going to face teams other than "the big two" (there, I coined a new one) and, if we can emulate what we've seen from the opponents in our two first league games, there's still reason to believe we could have a decent season.

After this, and I've turned into an optimist?

I said it last season, and it's even truer this season: it's gonna be very tough for anyone to beat Man City this campaign. You could already see how their passing and possession game will, as they start to become even more familiar with each other, give them a big edge over teams (like us) who have a harder time keeping the ball.

And where can we get us a Dzeko? On our side, the man we seemed to be pinning all our hopes on before the season, and whose arrival at Spurs was such a breath of fresh air, Rafa Van der Vaart, seems to be on the wane.

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The Spur's Premiership
Denied! [Get in there Swansea!]
Awful officiating denies Tottenham
Jan 14, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Wolves 1
White Hart Lane, London N17
US Online live: foxsoccert.tv

Wolves' goal was from a corner that should never have been awarded. Spurs "equalized" through a Bale shot that was tucked away by Adebayor but wrongly given offside, there was a visiting player at the far side playing the the Bad One onside.

The Lilywhites did finally pull level, but awful decisions by the officials, culminating in that bizarre drop ball incident near the end, which although it was at the expense of Wolves, was the epitome of this laughable attempt at officiating, badly influenced this game.

This is not just a partisan fan's view. Anybody who watches the footage will see these decisions for the shambles they are.

Please check for further updates for Tottenham Hotspur vs Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Stat	Spurs	Wolves
Shots On	10	3
Shots Off	12	2
Possession	59%	41%

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Spurs make full use of game in hand
Lennon & AEK blasters win watershed showdown
January 11, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Everton 0
WHL
11.45am Live USA: Fox soccer ch.

One of the few matches where I was not on tenterhooks wondering if the Lilywhites would hold on or claw back -- it just seemed we were clearly the better side with too much for an OK but not especially worrying Everton outfit. This was impressive for precisely this reason -- we really just looked better. Wish it was like that every week!

1:0 after about 35 mins, a superb run inside from Aaron Lennon and pummeled on the turn into the Park Lane goal.

Spurs started with a roar, now getting pretty even, though Friedel had nowt to save in the 1st half. The co-commentator's script: "He puts it into an area. It's a man's game. He puts it into an area. It's a man's game. He puts it into an area. It's a man's game."

Landon Donovan booked for nailing Assou-Ekotto just before the break in frustration at the home side rolling the ball around as the clock expires on the first half, or maybe because AEK supplied the quality cross for Lennon's goal. Swedish commercials on LiveView365 as Spurs fans seem to rate VderV as first half man of the match.

Second half and a 35 yard screamer from Benoit Assou-Ekotto to give us the safety goal. 2-nil.

Pre-match: Welcome back to England, former San Jose Earthquake Landon Donovan. Just stay quiet against us!

Postponed by the riots in August of last year, it's now time to play the Toffees. Spurs v Everton. So much hanging on this one. Are we for real? We are about to find out.

In the corresponding match last season, played on October 23rd 2010, Spurs and Everton drew 1:1 with a goal from Rafael Van der Vaart assisted by Peter Crouch.

Check back for post-match updates and reactions.

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Defensive Baggies throstled by Defoe
Sometimes you gotta grind 'em out
January 3, 2012 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham H. 1
West Bromwich A. 0
USA Live: Fox soccer ch.

WBA get men behind the ball, lots of 'em, but in around the 64th minute, four Baggies players around Jermain Defoe failed to prevent him swivelling and scoring in his classic striker's style to break the deadlock as boring boring Baggies came to park the bus.

It wasn't until the 82nd minute from what I recall that our keeper Brad Friedel was forced into a save to keep us ahead.

But Spurs remained very nervy allowing Albion a number of gilt opportunities, Kranjcar in particular making some dodgy moves. Heart in mouths time right to the end. Even in stoppage time WBA had a flurry of corners, but somehow THFC eked out the narrow but crucial 1:0 win.

Back on May 2, 2009 in the corresponding fixture Spurs nicked it 1:0 with a goal from Jermain Jenas. Albion were strictly second best that day.

They are perhaps even more negative and "behind the ball" nowadays, despite some talent up front that tries to score on the break. It may be a way for their manager Roy Hodgson to keep them up, but other "also ran" and so-called relegation fodder clubs, like the attractive Swansea style and plucky Norwich City, have done better by being far less cynical and way more adventurous.

It hurts to say that about West Brom because they are an honest, likeable, old school type of club who deserve better. But life is what it is and they feel their current boss is the best they can get. I like "Woy", but I have to say Albion have been hard on the eye under his leadership so far.

West Brom didn't look too impressive against Everton. Their away record is pretty good though.    soccerkowboy, bsmb

Soccerway: "Injuries are biting for both sides but would appear to be about to hurt the visitors more given Spurs' strength in depth and with their momentum remaining intact.

"A draw away to Swansea City didn't appear as damaging as it could have been given other results and although West Brom will be obdurate and organised under Roy Hodgson and come for a point, there would appear to be too much to Spurs' attack for anything but a home victory."

Anyway, here's how that previous encounter panned out:

Jermain Jenas powered Tottenham Hotspur into the lead just before the interval with a twenty yard side-stepped curler from the edge of the box, and the Londoners created most of the chances.

West Bromwich Albion failed in what was effectively their last ditch attempt to avoid relegation. They have simply run out of ideas and talent to stay up. They are one club that everybody seems to like (apart from Brum and Villa), and they have tried to play good football this season. So it sad to see them go down again, and it will hard to get back up. One hopes Tony Mowbray keeps his gig.

Spurs, completely safe from relegation and with an outside chance of a Europa Cup place, did enough to win the game, and the score could have been higher.

But with other Europa Cup contenders also victorious, a spot in that potentially lucrative international competition remains an increasingly longer shot.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Wilson Palacios, becoming the anchor of Tottenham's on-field resurgence under new manager Harry Redknapp.

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The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
Tottenham's professional performance
Brace for "outrageous" Bale
December 27, 2011 (Ssn 2011/12)
Norwich City 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Carrow Road
US TV live: Fox Soccer channel.

It's all over, with a two nil win for the Lilywhites courtesy a brace of goals from Gareth Bale, the star of the show.

In the 35th minute a brilliant Spurs construction of quick perceptive passing leaves Bale one-on-one with the Canaries' keeper but the shot is blocked.

Second half starts, still no score until the 54th minute another nifty Spurs build-up with Van de Vaart involved, as so often, and Adebayor unselfishly passes to Bale to create the space for the Welsh gem to find the net.

Spurs fans in great voice with a rendition of "Grand 'ol team to play for."

Runaway goal in the 67th minute from Bale who turns on the jets leaving City players in the dust. "This is just outrageous, frightening pace," types the insta-report BBC online guy.

With Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Chelsea faltering, a victory here crowns an excellent 'phase one' of the holiday fixtures.

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The Spur's Premiership 20011/12
Super Pav gives Spurs victory
One moment of collective magic breaks deadlock
Dec 18, 2011 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Sunderland 0
White Hart Lane, London N17
Rob Francis watched on foxsoccer.tv online

Friedel; Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Parker, Sandro, Modric; Van der Vaart, Adebayor. Final result: 1-0 Spurs.

Half time. No score. Not much action, except Aaron Lennon with a probable hamstring joins Bale on the injury list. Not good with this game to win and Chelsea coming up.

What else. Adebayor constantly getting caught offside.

One moment of collective magic breaks deadlock as beautiful support work from VdV and Modric gives Pav a moment to shine, and he does.

Check back for more reactions soon.

Last season's corresponding match was played on Nov 09, 2010 and finished 1:1 under The Spur's headline "V de V's goal gives THFC brief lead". Here's the report:

Succeeding so far in the European Champions League has come at a hefty price for the Lilywhites, with mediocre performances in the Premiership likely to cost us our place in Europe next year and effectively put Spurs out of the running of turning back into a big club. In a nutshell, reasons to be alarmed so soon after our greatest victory in a generation taking Inter apart.

Van de Vaart scored what seemed like a superb goal provided by Peter Crouch but the replay showed a clear handball.

Seven goals in his last nine games and he's scored at every home Spurs match he's played, this man is a revelation. I never much rated him prior to joining us mainly because the few times I saw him before he did not stand out of the crowd. He does now!

Barely had Spurs gone ahead when, in the 67th minute, both Gallas and Kaboul tangled to allow Sunderland the equalizer.

What's more is that the Wearsiders looked the more likely to win this game. They looked hungry, we looked tired.

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The Spur's Premiership 2011/12
Lane Fortress for Spurs
Tottenham talent too much for QPR
Oct 29, 2011 (Ssn 2011/12)
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Queen's Pk Rangers 1
Rob Francis watched on foxsoccer.tv usa delayed

Although this was live in the USA on fox soccer TV, my schedule meant I had to watch it much later, as if live, online at foxsoccer.tv.

We came out of the traps on fire, and although there was a moment of doubt when Rangers pulled one back to make it 2:1, in the end it was a comfortable win for the Lilywhites with very little for Friedel to do.

As most often, our midfielders Scott Parker and Luka Mordric were impressive, Gareth Bale showed many moments of his unique brilliance, including a goal so brilliantly taken it even seemed lighting fast even in slow motion replay, Van der Vaart continues to roam around in fine fettle, and if Adebayor had been sharper with his shots -- his mere presence and loping, drifting swerve is enough to put most opponents on the back foot -- this could have been a scoreline similar to the thrashing Fulham handed out to their west London rivals a fortnight ago.

This is not one of those brutal derbies like when we play the scum, the spammers, or the blue scum. In fact, the ref didn't even have to reach for a card a single time.

Both sides tried to play good football, but with all due respect to The R's they simply don't have the level of individual talent, and, equally important, they changed their personnel so much after gaining promotion, that they were at a disadvantage playing a Spurs side that mostly has a lot of experience working together and where this is not the case, like Scott Parker, they've meshed superbly in no time at all.

And QPR are the kind of team we like to play against, because they like to play, too.

We are a team that, at home, enjoys its football and feels empowered at the Lane, fast becoming a fortress.

Pre-match: Tottenham Hotspur could be boosted by the return of William Gallas for the visit of QPR in the Premier League on Sunday.

He has yet to feature for us this season because of a calf injury and he will be given a fitness test before manager Harry Redknapp decides whether to call him into his team.

A long-standing groin problem has kept Steven Pienaar sidelined but the former Everton player is in line to make his first appearance of the campaign.

There is also a chance that Ledley King could start but the defender will have to pass a late fitness test before he gets the all clear to play.

While the trio are in line for a return, Redknapp must plan without Michael Dawson (Achilles), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Vedran Corluka (foot).

The West London side Queen's Park Rangers, flush from beating their bitter local enemies at Loftus Road by 1:0, could go with the same starting XI that defeated the Chelscummers last weekend, although manager Neil Warnock has hinted that he could bring in Danny Gabbidon and Armand Traore for the trip to the Lane.

We are better at grinding out results these days, not a typical Tottenham trait, so though it may not be as spectacular as some of the matches on Saturday or last weekend, we just need to win to take advantage of CFC's loss, and to keep up with the leading pack, and stave off Arsenal's revival.

Spurs did the double over The R's in the last season that Rangers were in the Premier League, winning 1-0 at home and 3-2 at Loftus Road in the 1995-96 campaign.

Lilywhite Army (from): Gomes, Friedel, Cudicini, Bale, Kaboul, Bassong, Gallas, King, Walker, Assou-Ekotto, Rose, Parker, Modric, Livermore, Townsend, Carroll, Lennon, Falque, Sandro, Pienaar, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Dos Santos, Adebayor, Van der Vaart.

Check back for more.

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