Season Review - Tottenham Hotspur. Part Two.

Continuing our new series of articles reviewing the past season's fortunes of teams from across the footballing world, here's the second and final part of Guest Writer Lewis Buckler's Season Review on his team Tottenham Hotspur.

By Lewis Buckler @YidoBuckler

Luka Modric continues to be a key part of the Tottenham side.

The league campaign didn’t really have the same glitz and glamour as the wonderful run in the Champions League Tottenham endured. 

The highlight has to be coming from 2-0 down away against Arsenal to win 3-2, the 1^st win at the Emirates Stadium and the 1^st win away at Arsenal since 1993. It looked bleak when Nasri and Chamakh had put Arsenal 2-0 up within 20 minutes and they threatened to run riot. A half time switch from Redknapp changed things. Spurs were full of energy and running when an early Bale goal got them back in it. Fabregas conceded a needless penalty, confidently buried by the dutch master Van Der Vaart. Game on. The key moment came when Bale was cynically scythed down just inside the Arsenal half. The free-kick was swung in, Younes Kaboul, of all people, got up highest to glance a header into the far corner. Pure elation from the 3,000 Spurs fans inside the Emirates. This victory was probably sweeter for William Gallas more so than anybody else in the Tottenham line-up, especially as he was controversially made captain for this match.

Younes Kaboul celebrates his winner against Arsenal.

Eventually, Tottenham finished with 8 defeats in the league, the same as Arsenal and actually less than Chelsea and Manchester City, both of whom eventually finished above Spurs. The downfall of this side was the lack of a potent goal scorer and too many draws, especially at home. There were other bright spots in this season, including a 2-0 win at Anfield in May against an in-form Liverpool side. This result, coupled with the away win at Arsenal, could suggest the tide is turning after such a long run without an away win against any of the ‘SKY4’ teams. This was the stand out result in what was ultimately a poor 2^nd half of the season. 

Up until Christmas, Harry Redknapp’s claim that his team could win the title didn’t seem that far-fetched after all. The Champions League though, despite the brilliant run, ended up being more of a hindrance to Spurs than a help. The squad seemed to lose form in the league matches during the latter stages of the Champions League which cost them the chance to return to the competition next season. I saw a different side to Tottenham at times this season, signs of a mature Tottenham. I’m used to the naïve Tottenham who would go out all guns blazing and get ripped to shreds at the back. On many away days we played a controlled, intelligent game and came away with victories. This was our most successful season away from home in the Premier League, picking up 26 points. Only Manchester City (28) and Arsenal (31) picked up more.

Harry Redknapp believes Spurs are capable of pushing
 for the Premier League title.

It is hard to sum up whether the season for Tottenham could be deemed as a success or a failure. High points and low points aplenty, the aim for most fans would have been to finish in the top 4 and establish the side amongst Europe’s elite. But 5^th position and a run which defied the odds in the Champions League will be difficult for Tottenham to top in coming seasons. It is important that the club can keep the nucleus of the squad together for any chance of future success. Selling the likes of Modric, Bale & Van Der Vaart would obviously weaken this team and hence weaken any chance of at least competing for the Premier League title in coming seasons. Keeping these players at the club whilst fine tuning the squad with the quality that is needed to take us up that one more level alongside the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea could see Tottenham challenge for the title in the next season or two. It is a pivotal transfer window for the future of the club. I will keep believing though. Some of the stats provided show we really are not that far away from the likes of Manchester Utd and Chelsea. The gap is closing.

The future is bright, the future is lilywhite.

Up the Spurs!

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Season Review - Tottenham Hotspur. Part One.

In the first instalment of a new series of articles reviewing the past season's fortunes of teams from across the footballing world, Guest Writer Lewis Buckler gives his thoughts on his team's performance in 2010/11.

By Lewis Buckler @YidoBuckler

Rafael Van der Vaart proved to be a revelation  for Spurs
this season.

Highs and Lows. Ups and Downs. What seems like a permanent rollercoaster ride. Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

I’m not sure too many teams could outplay the European champions, beat the Serie A winners AC Milan away from home and yet manage to lose vital points home and away against the ‘poorer’ teams in the Premier League. But this was the problem for Tottenham this season. Was it a success? In many ways yes, but ultimately Spurs flattered to deceive in the Premier League and failed to at least maintain a place in the top 4, thus missing out on joining Europe’s elite for a second successive season.

1 Point against West Ham. 1 Point against Wigan. 1 point against Blackpool. Two of those sides ended up getting relegated. In the 6 games against said opposition, Tottenham managed just 2 goals, both against Blackpool, in the last minute of each game. This is obviously not good enough for a team wanting to challenge for titles and major trophies. In comparison, Manchester City won all 6 matches against those 3 opponents and scored a hatful of goals to go with it. It could be seen that ultimately, these poor results have cost the lilywhites their place in the top 4 come the end of the season.

Gareth Bale scored a memorable hat-trick at the
San Siro in the Champions League against Inter Milan.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The 4^th place finish the season before brought back European football to White Hart Lane and boy did we witness some of those famous ‘glory glory nights’! Lets not forget though the opening game; 3-0 down against Young Boys on their artificial pitch in the playoff after 30 minutes. Things did not look rosy at all. A great Bassong header and a wonderful finish from Pavlyuchenko brought it back to 3-2 however, then the business was finished off in style in North London a week later. A 4-0 drubbing, including a Peter Crouch hat-trick, the catalyst for Spurs to go from strength to strength.

The group stage started with an encouraging 2-2 draw away at Werder Bremen, before FC Twente were blown away by a brilliant 2^nd half performance on English soil. Up next was the ‘big one’ in Milan, European Champions Internazionale. Thirty minutes in. Four goals & a man down. This could have turned into one of Tottenham’s most humiliating European nights ever. Until Gareth Bale intervened. Three brilliantly executed 2^nd half goals made the scoreline more than respectable in a game that looked all over after just 10 minutes. The return game at White Hart Lane was just as spectacular. An early Van der Vaart goal, racing onto a brilliantly executed through ball from Modric set the tone. Spurs, with Bale shining again, tore into the Milanese. They could not handle the pace and tempo. Eto’o briefly managed to put some nerves into the Tottenham faithful, but in the last minute Bale again showed his quality in setting up the clinching goal. Tottenham 3-1 Inter Milan. A true ‘glory-glory’ night.

The remainder of the group stage was pretty unspectacular. An under-strength Bremen team were dispatched 3-0 to clinch qualification to the knock-out stages and a thrilling 3-3 draw away at FC Twente confirmed Tottenham’s place as group winners. The reward? 7-time European champions, AC Milan.

Brazilian 'keeper Heurelho Gomes made a high-profile
mistake in Spurs' Champions League Quarter-Final
 tie against Real Madrid.

The return to the San Siro proved to be much more successful. Tottenham played a composed and clever tactical game against the Italians. Sandro in particular impressed in shackling the attacking quartet of Milan. Gomes made two fantastic saves. Flamini assaulted Corluka. Gattuso went mental (standard) and then, Aaron Lennon skipped past Mario Yepes, raced towards goal and slotted the ball to Peter Crouch. AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur. The result was labelled one of the best in Tottenham’s rich history. Milan were not dispatched with the same style that their neighbours were in the group stage, but this victory was just as impressive.

It all went a bit sour though in the quarter-finals pretty early on. A trip to Madrid was always going to be a tough ask. Conceded a sloppy goal within minutes and then having Peter Crouch sent off didn’t help. After holding out for an hour with 10 men, Adebayor silenced the Spurs fans that travelled to the Spanish capital and made it 2-0. Di Maria made it 3 not long after with a great finish and then Ronaldo topped off the win late on. It was all but over before the return leg in London. Madrid eventually won that game to inflict only the 3^rd home defeat in Tottenham’s European history on a night to forget for Heurelho Gomes.

Make sure to check back tomorrow for the second and final part of Lewis Buckler's Tottenham Hotspur Season Review.

These Swiss Don't Roll Over

By Harrison Page

Euro 2012 Qualifiers

England 2                    Lampard 37, Young 51

Switzerland 2              Barnetta 32, 35

Second half substitute Ashley Young made all the difference for England.

England missed the chance to go three points clear at the top of Group G in the Euro 2012 Qualifiers after coming from behind to earn only a draw with Switzerland at Wembley.

In front of a sell-out crowd in North London, Fabio Capello’s side looked lacklustre in attack without the suspended Wayne Rooney and failed to ever get going against a Swiss team who have so far only beaten Wales in the European Championship Qualifiers.

In what was the final competitive match of the season, the England players seemed to have their minds firmly set on their summer holidays rather than the game in hand. The first half an hour was dominated by the Swiss, who despite failing to really threaten Joe Hart’s goal, were nullifying England’s intentions to press into the Switzerland half.

Tranquillo Barnetta scored a brace
for Switzerland.

On 32 minutes, the realisation that this was in fact a competitive international and not the end of season runabout it was being treated as by many a England player, was underlined by Tranquillo Barnetta. His sumptuously curled delivery from a free-kick outside the area bypassed everyone including England ‘keeper Joe Hart to see the Swiss move into a deserved 1-0 lead. Rio Ferdinand, presumably still lightheaded after his club side's footballing lesson from Barcelona on the very same Wembley pitch a week ago, mistimed his jump in an attempt to head the set-piece away leaving Hart helpless to react and England a goal behind.

Three minutes later, Switzerland were 2-0 up. It was double trouble from Barnetta as once again the winger scored from a set-piece, leaving Joe Hart with the job of simply picking the ball out from the back of the England net. With everyone except Barnetta seemingly expecting another cross into the box, the Swiss international fired a shot through a conveniently created hole in the wall, courtesy of the side-stepping James Milner, to double his side’s lead at the near post. It was another mistake from a dead-ball situation and the Three Lions looked to be losing their grip on the top spot in Group G.

Two minutes later however, England were offered a reprieve after Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was brought down in the box after the first real piece of attacking intent from Fabio Capello’s men. Frank Lampard stepped up and scored the resulting penalty, albeit fortuitously under the body of Swiss ‘keeper Diego Benaglio.

Frank Lampard scores a penalty to give England
a lifeline at the break.

England went in at half-time to a resounding rendition of jeers from the Wembley crowd. The formation was clearly not working with James Milner and Theo Walcott failing to create a single clear opportunity for Darren Bent. The start of the second half saw Lampard replaced by Ashley Young and England immediately looked a completely different outfit thanks to the instinctive attacking nature of Aston Villa pair Bent and Young.

Just six minutes after the break, England were level thanks to their half-time substitute. A clipped ball in from Milner on the left was chested down by Leighton Baines into the path of Ashley Young who curled the ball beyond the Swiss ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net. Minutes later Bent’s primary asset was finally utilised by the Three Lions’ midfield, as Jack Wilshere played a lovely ball behind the Swiss back four, but Benaglio was quick off his line to deny the onrushing England striker.

Darren Bent almost sealed what would have been an extraordinary comeback with 20 minutes to go, but uncharacteristically side-footed his finish over the bar after the impressive Ashley Young had his shot saved by Benaglio.

All in all, it was a disappointing result for Fabio Capello’s team, albeit for their two-goal comeback and missing regulars Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard through suspension and injury respectively. Undoubtedly calls for a winter break will come back into question as John Terry complained of England being tired in their last match of the season, but the fact of the matter is the Three Lions will have to perform to a much higher standard if they wish to qualify for next year’s European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

United’s Second String Stroll to Champions League Final with 4-1 Win over Schalke

A considerably weakened Manchester United side romped home to a 4-1 victory over German side Schalke 04 in their Champions League Semi-Final Second-Leg encounter at Old Trafford last night, setting up a clash with Spanish giants Barcelona in the Final at Wembley later this month.

In a match in which the outcome had virtually already been established through United’s 2-0 First-Leg victory in Germany last week, Sir Alex Ferguson made nine changes to the side that won at the Veltkins Arena. Although the United boss admitted to being slightly anxious about taking such a risk in what was still a Champions League Semi-Final encounter, his nerves were to be proved unfounded as his team easily overcame what must be the weakest Semi-Final opponents in the history of the competition.

Antonio Valencia celebrating his
goal against Schalke last night.

United scored with their first real effort on goal after 26 minutes through Antonio Valencia, who latched on to an alluring ball from Darron Gibson before finishing calmly past the onrushing Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer. The Red Devils doubled their lead just five minutes later when Gibson turned from provider to scorer. The Republic of Ireland international fired a shot at Neuer from just inside the area, with the German number one demonstrating after last week’s heroics that he is human after all, fumbling the shot and allowing the ball to cross the line at his near post.

Four minutes later it was Schalke who responded with arguably the goal of the game from Spanish midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado. Picking up the ball from a ricochet off a United defender, he rifled home a shot past United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar in the top corner of the net, sending the visiting Schalke fans into raptures. However, the muted celebration from the Spaniard said it all; the goal was all too little, too late from the German side who despite having the majority of the possession at Old Trafford, failed to truly test the United goal.

United have the prospect of
facing the seemingly
unstoppable Lionel Messi
in the final at Wembley. 

The second half was a fairly uneventful affair; with both sides realising the outcome of the game had long before been decided. On 72 minutes, Manchester United restored their two-goal lead on the night thanks to another mistake by Neuer. United’s impressive Brazilian midfielder Anderson was rewarded for his persistence after his initial shot following a ball from Nani was blocked by Schalke defender Atsuto Uchida, before turning and striking a left-footed shot through the hands of Neuer and into the Schalke net. Four minutes later the rout was complete, with Anderson again on the score sheet. Dimitar Berbatov was set free on the right-hand side before powering into the area and sliding the ball unselfishly to Anderson who passed the ball home from just inside the six-yard box.

Schalke did have a goal ruled out for off-side in the closing stages – a correct decision it has to be said – but the German side lacked the quality to ever really cause a threat to United and over the two-legs, the Red Devils’ 6-1  aggregate victory was justly deserved.

Manchester United will now face an undoubtedly tougher challenge in the shape of Barcelona in the Champions League Final at Wembley on May 28; in what will be a rematch of the 2009 Final in which Pep Guardiola’s side eased to a 2-0 win. The match will mark 43 years since United won their first European Cup at the old Wembley stadium and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side may just need that sense of destiny in order to overcome a Barcelona team described as one of the best in the history of the game. 

Norwich Hammer Ipswich in East Anglian Derby

Norwich City sent a strong message to their promotion rivals last night as they hit five past local rivals Ipswich Town.

In a game in which the Blues hoped to earn revenge for their 4-1 humiliation in the reverse fixture at Carrow Road earlier in the season it was Norwich who came out on top, gaining a valuable three points and subsequently moving back up to second in the Championship table.

Andrew Surman sets Norwich on their way with the
first goal in a 5-1 rout at Portman Road.

With a fantastic atmosphere inside Portman Road, complete with the equally fantastic glittered costumed Suffolk samba band, the home side looked to snatch an early lead when Jason Scotland fired a shot towards goal after just eight minutes, but the low drive was saved comfortably by Norwich ‘keeper John Ruddy at his near post. Five minutes later however, it was the visitors who were in front. A low cross from the left hand side by the impressive Wes Hoolahan was tipped straight into the path of Andrew Surman by Town stopper Aaron Lee-Barrett, with the Canaries midfielder driving the ball home into an empty net.

With Ipswich trying to press but all too often lacking any vision or creativity in the final third, it was Norwich who doubled their lead in the 24^th minute. A corner from David Fox into the six yard box evaded three Town players, as well as goalkeeper Lee-Barrett, before striking Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley and rebounding into the Ipswich net. For all of the Blues possession, it was Norwich celebrating a two goal lead courtesy of two horror shows from the Ipswich back line.

Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley stands helpless
as he diverts the ball into his own net to make
the score 2-0.

With both sides continuing to create few clear opportunities in front of goal, the half-time whistle blew with the visitors in front and the Canaries supporters celebrating the prospect of their team’s first league double against the Tractor Boys since the 2003/04 season.

The start of the second half saw a change for Paul Jewell’s side, with the hugely ineffective Jason Scotland replaced by Andy Drury. The substitution certainly seemed to spring a new life into the home side, with Town’s creator-in-chief Jimmy Bullard firing a volley just wide on 47 minutes. Ipswich continued to dominate possession in their opponents half and had a number of opportunities to reduce the deficit, but the Blues’ efforts were repeatedly too far out to cause the Norwich ‘keeper any real problems.

For all of the Tractor Boys domination in the second period, it was the Canaries that scored the game’s third goal in the 73^rd minute. City striker Grant Holt held off Town defender Damien Delaney before crossing in low at the by-line to Simeon Jackson who finished well at the Ipswich near post. It was a bitter pill to take for the Blues who had looked a different side in the second half and certainly could have got something from the game if their pressure had indeed created a goal.

Ipswich's Jimmy Bullard to
manage to pull one back for
Paul Jewell's side. 

Town managed to pull a goal back in the 78^th minute thanks to a thunderous 25 yard strike from Jimmy Bullard – ironically the goal of the game despite the Londoner being on the losing side – picking up the ball up from David Norris before unleashing a shot into the top corner of the net. Town’s goal was all too late to spark a comeback however and Norwich reinstated their three goal lead just two minutes later. With Ipswich caught short at the back, Russell Martin found himself on his own at the far post and fired the ball through a ghostly Lee-Barrett to make the score 4-1.

Clearly unhappy with simply matching the score line from earlier in the season at Carrow Road, City substitute Daniel Pacheco lashed home a rebound from close-range after Simeon Jackson hit the bar as the Canaries sprinted three-on-one towards the Ipswich goal. Pacheco’s first goal for his loan club signalled a record 5-1 win, the Norfolk’s side biggest ever victory over their East Anglian rivals.

The 27,000 Town supporters left Portman Road dejected, losing at home to Norwich for the first time in three seasons and ending their already slim chances of reaching the Play-Offs. Paul Lambert’s men on the other hand are now safe in the knowledge that they will at the very least finish in the top six this year and could even go one better and win automatic promotion to the Premier League.  

What are your views and opinions on Norwich City's resounding win over Ipswich Town and how do you rate their promotion chances this season? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

There’s Nothing Quite Like Derby Day

Every year when the forthcoming season’s fixtures are released, the two matches that you first go looking for are those against your local rivals. In terms of the league, they may not be the most important fixtures when it comes to hunting at the top for promotion and the play-offs, or indeed scrapping at the bottom to avoid the dreaded phrase of relegation, but for pure excitement, nerves, passion and exhilaration, there’s nothing quite like derby day.

Norwich City striker Grant Holt
scored a hat-trick last time out
against Ipswich Town.

Many of you will have seen last night’s thrilling North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane. It was a game that had just about everything, as you can read about in the match report below, and epitomised the very essence of a contest between two bitter rivals. The work rate and commitment of both sides was there for all to see and the atmosphere inside the stadium was incredible, it was certainly a real feast for the neutral football fan. However, when it is your own team that it is participating in a derby, as it will be for me tonight, you will be hoping for a match far less strenuous on your blood pressure.

In just a few hours time my team, Ipswich Town, will take on local rivals Norwich City in the so-called ‘Old Farm’ derby. It will be the 97^th time the two sides will have faced each other and the game at Portman Road is set to be a cracker. But tonight I am not really interested in the quality of the game. I am not really interested in the goals. I am not really interested in anything to tell you the truth. The one thing that I am only interested in is the result, and that is a positive result in Ipswich Town’s favour.

Ipswich Town youngster Josh
Carson will be looking to keep up his
good run of form against local
rivals Norwich tonight.

For years fans all over the world boast that their team’s derby is the greatest in the world. El Classico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Milan derby between Inter and AC, the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers. Yes, undoubtedly all of these are fantastic rivalries and produce some fantastic matches for neutral supporters to observe, but the only derby that really matters is the one that consists of your local team.

A local derby is unrivalled in the football calendar and victory in such a match rewards you with the delight of bragging rights for the next six months. Yes tonight’s ‘Old Farm’ derby may not be the most glamorous in the world of football, but it does not matter. For the supporters of Ipswich Town and Norwich City, tonight is their cup final, just as last night was the cup final for the fans of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. There truly is nothing quite like derby day. 

What are your views and opinions on tonight's game between Ipswich Town and Norwich City? Share your thoughts on that and great football rivalries in the comments box below.

North London Thriller as Spurs Come From Behind to Draw with Rivals Arsenal

A true spectacle of English football was served up at White Hart Lane last night, where Tottenham Hotspur came from behind twice to earn a 3-3 draw against North London rivals Arsenal.

A derby game held at night and under the lights always adds to the atmosphere and occasion, and players form both sides certainly lived up to the expectation of the excitement that a match played between two great rivals should display.

The visitors got off to the best possible start after just five minutes, with Theo Walcott timing his run to perfection to latch on to a ball from Cesc Fabregas, before calmly slotting the ball past Spurs ‘keeper Heurelho Gomes and into the corner of the net. With the Arsenal fans celebrating their side’s perfect start and subsequently closing the gap on title rivals Manchester United to just four points, Tottenham immediately drew the scores level. Spurs’ Croatian international full back Vedran Corluka passed a low ball into the area to Rafael van der Vaart who rifled home a shot past Wojciech Szczesny at his near post.  With two goals after just seven minutes, the White Hart lane crowd knew they were in for a cracker.

The pace of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was often
too much for the Spurs defence to handle.

Five minutes later, it was this time the Spurs supporters whose celebrations would be short-lived. Samir Nasri picked the ball up from Abou Diaby 20 yards out from goal and fired past Gomes, albeit with a slight deflection off Tottenham defender Michael Dawson. Arsenal winger Theo Walcott looked dangerous throughout and after being inches away from making it 3-1 on the half-hour mark, he was influential as the Gunners finally got a two-goal lead five minutes before half time. Walcott looped in a delightful cross to the unmarked Robin van Persie, whose initial headed effort was saved excellently by Gomes, but the Spurs ‘keeper could do little as the Dutch striker smashed in the rebound from close range.

The goal scoring action was not yet over however, with Spurs’ midfielder Tom Huddlestone pulling one back just before the half-time break. After a Tottenham corner was only partially cleared by Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, Huddlestone displayed fantastic technique to score what was to be the goal of the game, drilling a 20-yard rocket hard and low into the Arsenal net before Szczesny could even move. It was a lifeline for Spurs, who at 3-2 had every chance of earning some valuable points from the match in the second half.

Rafael van der Vaart scoring from the
penalty spot to level the scores at 3-3.

With Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp forced into a double substitution at the start of the second period due to injuries picked up by Gareth Bale and Vedran Corluka, it was Bale’s replacement Aaron Lennon who was handed the task of injecting some much needed pace into the Spurs attack. Just as Walcott had done to the Tottenham back line in the first half, Lennon’s pace was causing problems for Arsenal’s defensive counterparts and it was the 24-year-old who won the penalty that led to his side’s second equaliser of the night in the 70^th minute.

With Lennon rushing onto a through ball, he was brought down by Arsenal ‘keeper Szczesny just inside the box, the Gunner’s stopper having no complaints about the decision. Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart stepped up and slotted home the resulting penalty to Szczesny’s left, with the goalkeeper diving the wrong way.

It was a deserved equaliser for Harry Redknapp’s side, who could have gone one better if it had not been for Szczesny’s fantastic point-blank save from Luka Modric late on. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will no doubt be disappointed that his team threw away a two-goal lead and a valuable three points in the Premier League title race, where as Redknapp will be undoubtedly delighted by the character shown by his Tottenham side to come twice from behind and take a point to close the gap on their rivals for fourth place – Manchester City – to just two points with six games remaining. 

What are your views and opinions on Tottenham's comeback against Arsenal last night and how do you think it will affect both teams' chances in the title race and in the race for the top four? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.