- Feb 23, 2007
- 13
- 4
A big headline. So, let me state my credentials. I have coached youth football for 4 years, from U7 up to U10. I am an FA qualified coach. Impressive huh? Hmmmm. On top of that, I've been watching football - no, studying football - avidly, everywhere and anywhere, for 37 years. From the Stoke "glory years" of the early 70s as a nipper on my Dad's shoulders, via any local pitch on any spare weekend or evening, to my two sons' beloved Spurs through recent times. Impressive huh? Hmmmm. Well, not really either, but that last bit makes sort of gives me the right to comment (if only as a "shareholder").
What the hell was that team selection last night? Was Ramos doing the team selection with a blindfold using folded pieces of paper? Honestly, I really really want to trust him, and let me make clear that whatever happens on the pitch does not alter one iota our feelings for Spurs (a club is for life, no divorce, period), but I finally fell about laughing when I saw our team-sheet last night.
I remember John Beck's Cambridge United, the Crazy Gang, George Graham's Arsenal, even McClaren's England or Ardiles' Spurs and somewhere, if I scratch my head and really try to put myself in their shoes, I can somehow sort of see what they were trying to achieve (ok, maybe not McClaren), even if I hated the aesthetic. Yet last night was the most fascinatingly grotesque, inept, unfathomable team selection I have witnessed in any part of this daft, beautiful game.
I heard once that Ramos famously subbed a player in his time in Spain without replacing him - to make the remaining 10 try harder. Well, that was sane. Last night was madness.
We're playing youthful, effervescent Aston Villa. Organised by an astute (if somewhat verbose) manager. They have pace to burn. They have Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. They have a very fine central midfield heartbeat too. But, on the plus side, their fullbacks are questionable and their midfield looks a bit lopsided. Psychologically, the last time they came here they through away a big lead. Oh, and we're playing at home and need a win. So, what do we do? We:
Stifle the simply wonderful Bale by playing a lightweight out of position in front of him.
Select a worthy but ponderous centre back, whose tackling and turning is known to be hugely suspect. His judgement simply crap. Against that pace.
Throw in a right back making his debut, when actually he's a very passable centre back with outstanding heading abilities (see above). Against those runners and points of attack.
Put the slow, thoughtful, "give me a few seconds to pick the killer pass" Mr Hudd (turning circle and speed of an oil tanker) in the centre of the pitch. Against that energy.
Put Didier Zokora with him, who can't pass for toffee, so even if he breaks up play, he gives it straight back rather than to the creative Mr Hudd (see above). Opposite Gareth Barry.
Play Darren Bent with the new multi-million pound new signing we are presumably looking to motivate. A man who spent the summer playing international football of Arshavin.
Leave GDS on the bench (see point about Bale).
Drop Gunter completely (see points about youthful, effervescent Villa, and Corluka above).
Play Modric completely out of position (see points about Mr Hudd, Zokora or Bale above).
Leave Jenas on the bench (don't dare criticise him, his importance to THIS team cannot be overstated - see performance when forced on due to injury upsetting Plan A. If you choose to pick on him, you are completely deluded about the quality of the rest).
I haven't even mentioned Bentley, who seems to be dividing so much opinion but mark my words is a very fine player.
Now, the selection above is insanity - it's not even GCSE tactics - but to then throw in the fact a completely different team got a very creditable point a Chelsea, that we are trying to find a settled system (the season has STARTED), that we're getting the players used to one another etc - well, it defies belief.
I bet Martin O'Neill rubbed his eyes, rubbed them again, then feel about laughing when he saw Ramos' team-sheet. Then he would have put a friendly, encouraging arm around Young, Agbonlahor, Barry, even bloody Reo-Coker and said "it's your game tonight, boys".
I hope I'm wrong, but something's badly wrong. Our loss ratio under Ramos is woeful, our summer "business" was woeful (boy oh boy how our brinkmanship backfired), but last night's team and tactics - for me - were the scariest thing yet.
So I say finally "in Ramos we trust" only because, in times of extreme desperation, religion and blind faith always flourish.
What the hell was that team selection last night? Was Ramos doing the team selection with a blindfold using folded pieces of paper? Honestly, I really really want to trust him, and let me make clear that whatever happens on the pitch does not alter one iota our feelings for Spurs (a club is for life, no divorce, period), but I finally fell about laughing when I saw our team-sheet last night.
I remember John Beck's Cambridge United, the Crazy Gang, George Graham's Arsenal, even McClaren's England or Ardiles' Spurs and somewhere, if I scratch my head and really try to put myself in their shoes, I can somehow sort of see what they were trying to achieve (ok, maybe not McClaren), even if I hated the aesthetic. Yet last night was the most fascinatingly grotesque, inept, unfathomable team selection I have witnessed in any part of this daft, beautiful game.
I heard once that Ramos famously subbed a player in his time in Spain without replacing him - to make the remaining 10 try harder. Well, that was sane. Last night was madness.
We're playing youthful, effervescent Aston Villa. Organised by an astute (if somewhat verbose) manager. They have pace to burn. They have Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. They have a very fine central midfield heartbeat too. But, on the plus side, their fullbacks are questionable and their midfield looks a bit lopsided. Psychologically, the last time they came here they through away a big lead. Oh, and we're playing at home and need a win. So, what do we do? We:
Stifle the simply wonderful Bale by playing a lightweight out of position in front of him.
Select a worthy but ponderous centre back, whose tackling and turning is known to be hugely suspect. His judgement simply crap. Against that pace.
Throw in a right back making his debut, when actually he's a very passable centre back with outstanding heading abilities (see above). Against those runners and points of attack.
Put the slow, thoughtful, "give me a few seconds to pick the killer pass" Mr Hudd (turning circle and speed of an oil tanker) in the centre of the pitch. Against that energy.
Put Didier Zokora with him, who can't pass for toffee, so even if he breaks up play, he gives it straight back rather than to the creative Mr Hudd (see above). Opposite Gareth Barry.
Play Darren Bent with the new multi-million pound new signing we are presumably looking to motivate. A man who spent the summer playing international football of Arshavin.
Leave GDS on the bench (see point about Bale).
Drop Gunter completely (see points about youthful, effervescent Villa, and Corluka above).
Play Modric completely out of position (see points about Mr Hudd, Zokora or Bale above).
Leave Jenas on the bench (don't dare criticise him, his importance to THIS team cannot be overstated - see performance when forced on due to injury upsetting Plan A. If you choose to pick on him, you are completely deluded about the quality of the rest).
I haven't even mentioned Bentley, who seems to be dividing so much opinion but mark my words is a very fine player.
Now, the selection above is insanity - it's not even GCSE tactics - but to then throw in the fact a completely different team got a very creditable point a Chelsea, that we are trying to find a settled system (the season has STARTED), that we're getting the players used to one another etc - well, it defies belief.
I bet Martin O'Neill rubbed his eyes, rubbed them again, then feel about laughing when he saw Ramos' team-sheet. Then he would have put a friendly, encouraging arm around Young, Agbonlahor, Barry, even bloody Reo-Coker and said "it's your game tonight, boys".
I hope I'm wrong, but something's badly wrong. Our loss ratio under Ramos is woeful, our summer "business" was woeful (boy oh boy how our brinkmanship backfired), but last night's team and tactics - for me - were the scariest thing yet.
So I say finally "in Ramos we trust" only because, in times of extreme desperation, religion and blind faith always flourish.