Spurs triumph overall

Inter 4:1 Spurs. THFC score in extra time to go through, despite Inter pulling one back to make it a nail biting finish as one more from the home side would have seen them through.

Aggregate: Inter 4, Spurs 4. THFC win on away goals advantage.

Live on fs/chan and foxsoccer.tv in USA
Thursday March 14, 2013. Spurs trailed at half time by one goal to nil and it only got worse from there during normal time, but in the 30 min extra time period Adebayor popped up in the right place at the right time to nudge a desperate looking Spurs side through -- we hope -- as Inter get a 4th.

On March 7, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Internatzionale 3:0 to gain a strong position prior to the trip to Milano.

"Well that's more like the Spurs I know and love. The one that makes my nerves jangle, the one that makes me tear my hair out, the one that has me sitting in open-mouthed disbelief at how they can turn a position of comfort into a position of near disaster." - lanespur3, gmb

Spurs in the Europa League

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Inter 0 - full-time result
Two in 1st half, 1 in 2nd
Live on fs/chan and foxsoccer.tv
March 7: Tottenham Hotspur defeat Internatzionale 3:0.

More updates and reactions.

Lazio 0:0 Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs need draw at min in final game
Live on foxsoccer.tv
It's down to the final round, as expected, in the group stages, as Lloris won his Spurs by keeping the Lilywhites in the game with a series of saves that finally showed the talent he has managed to keep so securely hidden from the club Lazio 0:0 Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs need draw at min in final game
Live on foxsoccer.tv
It's down to the final round, as expected, in the group stages, as Lloris won his Spurs by keeping the Lilywhites in the game with a series of saves that finally showed the talent he has managed to keep so securely hidden from the club thus far, other than complaining.

But although getting a point at Lazio under any circumstances is considered an achievement, it doesn't mask the fact that Spurs, even with Demebele and Carroll in the ranks, are not clicking.

There's no flow, no sense of menace, no purpose, no cutting edge. We are a team to watch while multi-tasking, which may not be so bad in the Europa league, as we all have equally important things we should be doing as well as pretending that the Europa is a big deal. It ain't.

The Prem is the only thing that matters, so it's WHU next.

"Whilst I think Brad is great, surely Hugo will be our first choice keeper now." -- capttroytempest, gmb

"these europa games are dull. nice to see gazza looking chirpy bring on the hammers!" -- borris79, gmb

"That's 2 wins in 9 now. I'm a spurs fans (and an exception, of course) and I find my fellow fans baffling. During the summer, my fellow fans:
- cheered the sacking of Redknapp
- cheered the appointment of AVB
- Cheered the signing of Sigurosson
- cheered the signing of Lloris" -- tumble tenner, gmb

"Adebayor's lack of commitment was startling, especially after Saturday." -- token dissent, gmb

"I remember as a child dreaming that one day there'd be a Europa Football League in which reserve teams would play in half-empty stadiums." - Newcastle Utd fan, gmb

Tottenham Hotspur vs Maribor 3:1
Defoe hat trick
Live on foxsoccer.tv
"We're Tottenham Hotspur, we'll sing what we want." AVB playing a 4:4:2 and that seems to be working a lot better at home so far. 1882 supporters bring some vocal life and positivity to the Lane.

An ill-advised pass back by Naughton led to a howler by Lloris -- don't try to dribble round an opponent if you're the keeper: not even Gomes pulls that off every time -- which allowed Maribor to equalize for 1:1 at half time despite Spurs having controlled the game and gone ahead with a pinpoint cross from the left from Bale guided home by the oncoming boot of Jermain Defoe who moved in opportunitisticaly behind their last defender.

Great second half start crowned a 49th minute second goal from Defoe from a delicious Carroll feed.

Around the 58th minute a superb give and go between Adebayor and Bale gives some indication of the potential of this side of talented individuals, even though ultimately Adebayor missed a golden chance to put Spurs out of reach.

It happened in the end, with Adebayor and Bale the key creators in providing Defoe with his hat trick. Another marvelous goal -- if Spurs create this kind of stuff we may stand a chance up at Man City and at Arsenal.

Previously: Maribor 1:1 Tottenham
Third consecutive draw for THFC in this competition.

Panathinaikos 1:1 Tottenham

Tottenham H. 0:0 Lazio

Despite the 0:0 home draw with Lazio and a wobbly start to the season, the sentiments towards Andres Vilhaboas seem to have swung to a largely favorable view.

Welsh Spur on GMB noted: "I've never seen Spurs look so composed & solid for the 90. You can see that they're getting AVB & it's happening quickly. This revolution is just starting to brew & I like it."

The spotlight is heavily on the Premier League for THFC this season. It's nice that AVB want to take the Europa seriously, but the future of the club still lies in whether it can muscle into the Champions League on a regular basis, the only way to retain and sign the talent needed to return the club to the top echelon. It's a brutal but simple reality in the "brave new world" of football, and Arsenal are our main rivals to be the fourth club of England.

Arsenal have held their own in the Top 4 withour the splurging of the three richest clubs, but that's because there's still a fourth spot left to grab by the non-zillionaires, and that's also our window of opportunity. It's a tough ask for THFC as a club with a much smaller ground and, much as it hurts to say, far less of an international imprint, owing to AFC's European presence and their recent team incarnations that captured the imagination of many fans worldwide.

But that's what we've got to do, and it gets harder every season that goes by when we fail to make the top four, or, as last season, make the top four but fail to get into Europe's prize competition.

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The Spur's Premiership
Spurs fall 3:2
Bale and Verto brilliance not enough
March 10, 2013 (Ssn 20012/13)
Liverpool 3
Tottenham H. 2
Anfield, Liverpool
US TV: Live foxsoccer ch and online foxsoccertogo 9am

Disastrous blunders by Spurs playrs cost north London not only a victory but ultimately a defeat for the Lilywhites despite 55% of the possession.

A dive by Suarez earns Liverpool the penalty to make it 3:2. Defoe created the problem by lobbing back into the Spurs penalty area for some bizarre reason.

Awful back pass from Walker ably bungled by Lloris brings Liverpool level via Downing.

I said "there's every chance we can take this one in the 2nd half" and that becomes even more likely with a second for Jan Vertonghen, who subsequently gets booked for handball. Sig hits the post after Bale takes the piss with his speed and sets up Sig.

After sustaining a head injury, Bale soon after provides a perfect cross for Vertonghen to head in at the far post. Great goal.

Tottenham's new never-say-die attitude means that if we go one behind, there's the belief by players and fans alike that we have the ability to bounce back, not capitulate as is the norm for previous THFC incarnations.

They are dangerous on the break. But playing a team that likes to maraud forward, as we also do, it creates a dynamic in which this present Spurs outfit thrives. In other words, it could go either way, but there's every chance we can take this one in the 2nd half.

Change of plans so watching live, unfortunately tuned in to foxsoccer2go/usa (live) to hear the commentator shriek "suarez" and, rushing over to the Macbook screen, saw the reds had scored, Lloris beaten on his near post at the Anfield Road end.

Pre-match: Back on Feb 06 of 2012 the corresponding fixture for the 20011/12 season went to a goalless draw under the headline "Spurs solid at Anfield" and the report is below.

Hopefully there'll be some Spurs goals this time, I'll refrain form the obvious of invoking Bale at this point, but I have to watch on delay when I get home as it's a day of other events so, and it only happens rarely, I have to wait many hours to see my beloved Lilywhites. So don't tell me the score yet, until you see this site updated. Fanks.

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.

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The Spur's Premiership 2012/13
Proved. Spurs do rule norf London
2:1 to THFC just like corresponding fixture last season
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Arsenal 1

March 3, 2013 (Ssn 2012/13)
R¿b F watched live via USA online feed

"Even if we [Arsenal] don't it will be no big deal. Spurs have missed out on top 4 for all but two of the last 16 years and they are still up there fighting this year so I'm not sure why people think it will be so bad." - hugh akston, gmb

OK here's the difference. I remember going to Arsenal way back in the days of standing terraces when they were having a really bad spell -- instead of fans on the North Bank there was just an icy wind blowing over the concrete. Same as when Chelsea did poorly. By contrast, even when THFC were relegated, we were well supported at home and took an army of fans on the road.

AFC and CFC supporters of today are only used to success. They will be even more fickle than their "fans" of the black and white TV days and the Big Match era that followed. That's why it will be so bad for Arsenal.

"Arsenal supporters - Take your decline with dignity." -- sandandres8, gmb

"All season I've felt like our performances haven't really matched our results, but I've not been sure whether to worry about us not playing quite so fluidly or to be happy that we're pulling off wins after poor performances!" -- dantemeetsbosh, gmb

Really agree. This has been my overriding reaction for most of the season. But I was heartened to see a growing fluidity in this, of all games, and that's bodes well for the other upcoming big ones against Pool, Chelscum, and City.

Spurs have some daunting upcoming Prem fixtures but the club remains in match winning form. The injury to Dembele is worrying -- no word at the time of writing how serious.

Meanwhile back to the darkside.......

"He's gotta go," spewed the awful Piers Morgan on Fox soccer channel [who predicted an eight-nil win for Arse on the bbc predictor], adding to the enjoyment of this deserved victory over one of the most disliked clubs in the world.

Actually Arsene as always has a very good side -- the difference is, we now have an equally good squad made better by a manager that, I have to admit, I doubted at first.

But AVB has delivered the goods, and I've never been happier admitting to being wrong.

Let's see what the reactions are on Five Live 606 phone-in.

My first reaction, after the celebration itself at the final whistle, is that I saw moments of Spurs moving rapidly forward on the break that were among the best sequences of THFC build-up play that I've seen in decades, leaving Arsenal at times in dissaray.

In other words, it wasn't just trying to hope for a quick break and a generous dollop of luck to make it work. It was the real thing -- a talented team in full song.

Arsenal inevitably of course had their moments and spells of dominance, but we were not -- and we are no longer -- the sideshow in the north London derby.

"Our commentary box was literally shaking," said Alan Green on 606 call-in, as The Shelf and Park Lane bounced.

"I thought we dug in really well," said a Spurs caller, "In the past we've lost games like at West Ham, and I think AVB has done a great job. We've got the squad to cope [with the upcoming big matches like Liverpool]."

Everton for the Europa League and fifth spot.

"A good spectacle and a great win for Tottenham," said AVB post-match.

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The Spur's Premiership 20012/13
Breathtaking Bale
A winning goal and super brace for THFC wonder lad
February 25, 2013 (Ssn 2012/13)
West Ham Utd 2
Tottenham Hotspur 3
USA on espn2, online espn 3

He does it again. Bale shifts the ball to his deadly left foot and the mighty Lilywhites go one up (see pic) despite WHU coming out of the traps in full flight, inspired by the tribute to Bobby Moore.

Problem is with Bale he's hogging the ball when a pass to another forward running colleague would have been better, in this case Vertonghen unmarked with an easy guide in. Especially costly as Parker concedes a penalty to let his old club to get back into it. ****.

Cole scores 2nd half after Adebayor misses a point blank shot in front of goal. We need strikers. Real strikers. Bad.

Now just hoping for a lucky bounce because we're not creating anything through talent or teamwork. Even Bale's free kicks are now sucking big time. This is becoming difficult to watch.

Hell I don't care how we get 'em, Sigi captalizes in the scrum from Bale's free kick to equalize. Phew!

Bale is truly unbelievable! Back on the left foot again and, like the first one, all eyes to the back of the ballooning net. His sheer and stunning brilliance papers over the cracks the exist in the way we play right now. But it's easy to forgive and forget and hope he pulls another wonder game off against the goons this weekend.

Just amazing.

"Perhaps what was significant was the way AVB and Bale reacted when he scored his second goal. This might be wishful thinking, but the two seem to have gelled perfectly (We never saw Bale this consistent under Redknapp). Maybe, just maybe, AVB might be the reason Bale could stay." -- angryspartan, gmb

Pre-match: Super Spurs looking to do the league double over the Hammers.

After a convincing win at home to West Ham on Bov 25th, sorry Nov 25th -- although there was a bit of bovver there -- last year, it's so important for us to get a win today with Arsenal breathing down our necks and most of the other big clubs winning, plus a Chelsea loss at Man City means that if we keep on nabbing three points we could be on for third place.

All very reminiscent of what The Spur was crowing last year before the big slide hit us as Harry shopped himself unsuccessfully to England whilst battling tax issues.

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The Spur's Europa League 2012/13
Dembele clinches it for Spurs with seconds to go
It all goes Umtitti up for Lyon
Thur, Feb 21, 2013 (Ssn 20012/13)
Lyon 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Spurs win 2:3 on aggregate

Juming in as the 2nd half unfolds with Lyon pressing for a second goal to take the aggregate lead, but they have the away goal advantage so they go through unless Spurs can get one back.

With just seconds remaining on the clock Belgian international midfielder Mousa Dembele unleashes an equalizing goal that gives Tottenham the 2:3 aggregate win.

Up until then it had been immensely frustrating watching the almost complete lack of penetration or imagination by the Lilywhites and you fear that if they show that level of performance against West Ham and especially Arsenal in the upcoming derbies that we could drop most or all of the points.

Yet somebody, usually Bale, but this time Dembele, often produces a pivotal moment that makes up for the overall poor team play.

Please check back for more reactions.

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The Spur's Premiership 2012/13
Never Say Die
Last gasp Demps goal for Lilywhites
Sun, Jan 20, 2013 (Ssn 20012/13)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester United 1
White Hart Lane conditions: snow

The players did Tottenham Hotspur proud and never stopped playing their hearts out against a resilient highly professional United side that thought they had the three points in the bag.

But Tottenham's man of the match, Aaron Lennon, begged to differ, and in a classic never say die finale as regulation time turned to stoppage, he laid on a gilt edged opportunity for Clint Dempsey that the Texan duly dispatched.

Lennon had a field day as United gaffer Sir Alex marshalled his troops and strategy to snuff out Gareth Bale, double tagging where necessary, leaving the Yorkshireman with inviting spaces to exploit with his zippy foraging.

For the first time in 23 years United failed to beat Spurs in a league season, and the Londoners had four and a half times as many shots on target as the visitors.

Even had Spurs failed to eke out the equalizer, for which they pushed almost the entire match since conceding to hated ex-gooner Robin Van Persie, it was a Spurs performance any fan should be proud of. It felt like we had "arrived" under our new head coach. Playing like this [our defending for the United goal excepted] we would be a handful for any team in the world.

"Fergie was practicing for Real Madrid"

A great climax to a riveting game in teeth-gritting winter conditions.

ManUre fan on the Guardian: "Fair dues to Spurs, they gave us a hell of a game, now watch them fold faster than Superman on laundry day when they face City..."

Liverpool fan: "Spurs look like the real deal under AVB. I haven't given up on Liverpool getting into the top 4 but Spurs are favourites right now."

"Walker was totally out of position on the RVP goal. It is pretty elementary that the fullback has to protect the post on his side when the ball is on the opposite wing. Apparently Walker forgot that." -- gmb

More reactions soon.

Pre-match: Spurs hope to do the double over ManUre after a 2:3 win at Old Trafford on Sept 29 earlier this season.

Here's how it was reported under The Spurs' headline "Spurs Exorcize Devils at OT -- "Are you watching, Howard Webb!?"

"To say that Spurs controlled the game in the first half would be unfair on them, as they completely played United off the park like very few teams have done at Old Trafford during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign." Red Rants, Man Utd

"We may have fluked an undeserved win again a very poor and depleted Manchester United side on Saturday, but seasoned observers will not be fooled by this remarkable slice of good fortune. AVB is still a hopeless manager, staggeringly na•ve, woefully out-of-touch, tactically inept, appalling arrogant and destined to fail." spurs vitalfootball.co.uk

"What is Chris Foy playing at? Where is the customary penalty and sending-off? The ghost of Pedro Mendes may now find peace." -- khapelo, gmb

"Stylish first half showing and dogged defending." -- Talksport radio

"Clint Dempsey's first goal for Tottenham earns the club a first victory at Old Trafford since 1989 as Spurs defeat Manchester United 3-2." -- BBC Football

"Jan Vertonghen scored inside the first two minutes and Gareth Bale brilliantly doubled the lead before half-time. Wayne Rooney's introduction sparked the home side into life and they pinned their opponents back during a breathless second half, beginning with three goals in as many minutes. Nani and Shinji Kagawa both scored but in between Clint Dempsey registered his first goal for his new club." -- Guardian

"Spurs played, quite simply, as though affronted that their record on this ground could be so undistinguished." -- Guardian

Sensational win, with the Londoners having 52% of possession at Old Trafford.

However Manchester United battered Spurs with wave after wave to get back from 2:3 down but with a combination of resilience, a massive dose of luck, and a ref that actually leaned in Tottenham's favour for the first time in known history in a United v Spurs match, somehow, somehow, the Lilywhites held on.

But you can't take away from Tottenham that we scored three at Old Trafford, and it was more than they could score, even without a great defence, and a midfield that completely donated their entire domain to be run completely by the Red Devils as they all got behind the ball, dangerously inviting the home side to batter away.

Nani, who has shattered us so may times before, did look like doing us in, but Robin VP thankfully was well off his best, and on another day could have had a brace without blinking.

Man of the Match: Sandro

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Spurs 3, Coventry 0

Spurs beat Coventry in the FA Cup.

The Spur has been on a bit of a break over the holiday and new year season but we'll be back with more very soon, as we reflect on whatever transfer window action occurs, and look towards our visit to Loftus Road and Harry Redknapp's Queen's Park Rangers.

More soon.

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We love you Bradford, we do

Bradford knock the goons out of the League Cup on penalties. Amazing climax to this game. Just wow. Bradford you are the best. The first time AFC have lost to a team in the 4th tier of football in this competition. Beautiful history is made.

"Oh crap" -- morpho, arsenal mania mb. "Save us, Pep", mdg, arsenal mania mb.

"How do you spot an Arsenal fan before the game at Bradford? Anyone holding an iphone in the city centre. How do you spot an Arsenal fan after the game at Bradford? Anyone who says "my phone got stolen". -- death star, daily mail mb

"I guess Arsenal won't reduce their ticket prices to reflect the lower quality of the product...
I reckon i could run a football club, it sounds ridiculously easy. Charge whatever you want and the fans will still buy the product. Fancy paying £100 pounds to watch them." -- save606, bbc mb

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Nice timing Portland coach

Latest world news headlines

BBC Radio Five

BBC Radio London with frequent Spurs match commentaries

Talksport

The Spurs show podcast

Classic Spur Clips

Tottenham tehTrunk and the derby.

tottenhamhotspurs.tv forum.

Glory Glory forum.

That match against Arsenal, also on u tube.

Tottenham Hotspur's famous away support (this one at Fulham's Craven Cottage).

Spurs v Man City 1969 classic footage.

Links to Official Spurs USA Supporters Clubs:

New York City: New York Spurs Supporters Club meet regularly to watch games. Ian Harris at the helm.

Los Angeles: LA Spurs

These official Spurs supporters clubs took over from CAATS, part of The Spur. The CAATS page still exists and will stay on the web for posterity but The Spur -- this page -- is where future updates will occur from this US based Spurs webzine.

A well-updated link to English Premier League matches on US TV is via "EPL Talk homepage" and go to TV schedule. A great way to find out when the must see matches are on.

On the fly and wanna watch a game? usa goals probably has the link to a live feed to save you missing the big match. Brilliant site has allowed me to catch many a game otherwise unavailable to me.

Watch British television live and here, here

Goal highlights at fasthighlights.

For all futbol on USTV LiveSoccerTV is worth a look.

Canada's version of the Park Lane Boys.

football grounds guide great site.

Football Ramble blog.

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Glory days: Jurgen Klinsmann enjoyed two spells at Spurs in the 1990s

'Tottenham is a way of life and I didn't know that until I got there,' he said. 'I signed my first contract and thought, "It's cool to be in London". And then after two weeks I said to myself "Oh my gosh, what is this here?"

'The supporters are very special. They live and breathe for that club. You go to White Hart Lane and there are 36,000 people singing. It's not just one section. It's the whole stadium singing. You go there and think "Wow".'

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The Beautiful Game: Remember when

"Yer havin' a laff......."

"if you get the chance to go to Arsenal, you go. But the deal fell through and Tottenham came in." -- Michael Carrick

Ah the good old days. From a 60's edition of the Daily Mail: "A police officer kicked a man so hard in the face that the sole of his boot came off, it was claimed in Leeds County Court. The man, Mr John Marshall, was accussed of criminal damage to a police boot."

"I don't think Manchester city is a big enough job for Sam Allardyce. There is no club in this area - other than United - who are on the same footing as Bolton." -- Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside

"When you're watching tv and your replacement scores three, that's Zamora!" -- CP, GMB, Fulham vs Wolves prem 2011/12 season.