*** SPURS v SLAVIA PRAGUE *** Official Match Thread

[Zuben]

I can't believe I lost 600v on that, buzzards.

1500v here. Knew it would be a draw too.

 

[Kendall]

Didn't think Berbatov was any better than Bent tonight.

tbh, I know it seems like I'm making excuses for him, but whenever Bent plays it's always because we're reasting players and other players don't try so hard. For example, Lennon & Huddlestone were poor tonight, as was O'Hara's assing in general so Bent gets no service, Berbatov got no service either.

it's just a shame that bent doesn't play when we're in full flight.

 

[miles_64]

Really want Bent to succeed but he simply struggles to work his way into our game-plan. And he is MASSIVELY low on confidence. As for the game - just like last week's really. I think O'Hara may well have a decent shout for left back against Chelsea; Chimbonda just hasn't put the effort in and only genuinely did when Hutton came into the side. Overall, a horribly complacent performance but delighted we're through and can focus on Wembley. Which is where I'll be on Sunday!

 

[nicdic]

Didn't think Berbatov was any better than Bent tonight.

tbh, I know it seems like I'm making excuses for him, but whenever Bent plays it's always because we're reasting players and other players don't try so hard. For example, Lennon & Huddlestone were poor tonight, as was O'Hara's assing in general so Bent gets no service, Berbatov got no service either.

it's just a shame that bent doesn't play when we're in full flight.

Completely agree, and its incredibly infuriating.

 

[Sally_G]

Job done tonight.

Wembley here we come!

 

[Zapsta]

but better than our LB

Tainio got nuttsed! I was like... "lol".

 

[Mullers]

That was too close for comfort. I didn't enjoy that at all. Eek

 

[camaj]

Just got back.

What a load of rubbish, if we play like that on Sunday we'll get thrashed. At least we won't be able to say the players were knackered, they barely moved tonight!

I haven't read the thread but Bent was fine tonight, at least he managed to hit the bar (twice!) WTF did the other two do? Bent bashing is become the new sport on SC and it's completly unjustified. He did well against Derby but twice he was open only to be ignored by Lennon and Steed. Tonight Lennon ignored him again and even took a (crap) shot that he probably would have buried.

It's one thing to have a pop at Bent but if he's not getting any service it's hardly his fault. I don't think we can say he doesn't fit in the team, if he gets the ball he'll put it away. If I were Ramos I'd be having words with Lennon and telling him to sort it out.

 

[SpurSince57]

We were shocking. No purpose, no decisiveness, no passion. Completely uninspiring, and really deflated my optimism for the final.

Cerny has to play in goal for the final, Robbo seemed very flat footed, and inspires no confidence to the defence.

Tainio was woeful, and Chimbonda wasn't much better. Kaboul was Ok, and Woodgate looked solid as ever. Lennon just wasn't there, O'Hara started brightly, but faded. Zoko and Huddlestone just never went for it.

I feel sorry for Bent because if the team had gone for it tonight he could have had a few more chances. That said he hit the bar twice, and made good runs. You just know he's got goals in him. Unfortunately he needs a run in the team, but with Keane and Berbatov playing as they have he has no chance.

Silver lining is that we're through, and we have a huge game on Sunday. They have to get fired up for this. And Ramos has to start getting them to turn up for every game. It's well and good valiantly drawing to Man United, but whats the point if you don't build on that, by not even bothering to turn up against Slavia, or Derby etc.

Sorry, nic, but—:rofl:

Pretty much agree with the rest.

 

[Berbati]

Didn't think Berbatov was any better than Bent tonight.

tbh, I know it seems like I'm making excuses for him, but whenever Bent plays it's always because we're reasting players and other players don't try so hard. For example, Lennon & Huddlestone were poor tonight, as was O'Hara's assing in general so Bent gets no service, Berbatov got no service either.

it's just a shame that bent doesn't play when we're in full flight.

You are right imo. Spurs could not keep the ball long enough due to the crap performances of the Hudd, Zokora, O'Hara and both FBs. It seems that Ramos and the team have underestimated the game, especially after the early goal of O'Hara. But if Spurs win the final no one will remember about the game against Slavia.

Even though strikers lacked good service Bent could score twice. He wasn't that bad as some fans think.

 

[camaj]

It seems that Ramos and the team have underestimated the game,

Ramos did nothing wrong and we have to stop blaming the manager for the players being complacent

 

[guy]

Or the fact we had a CM at RB and a RB at LB that got changed for a CM/LM at LB?

i had less confidence in the back 4 tonight than i did in Robbo, who i thought played well.

Fair point!

But there were a few times still he easily couldve come and collected balls but he didnt move. One especially when the prague player headed in straight at him, but before robbo had an age to come catch a high ball about 10yds from him

 

[haxman]

Just got back.

I haven't read the thread but Bent was fine tonight, at least he managed to hit the bar (twice!) WTF did the other two do? Bent bashing is become the new sport on SC and it's completly unjustified. He did well against Derby but twice he was open only to be ignored by Lennon and Steed.

Is it though? At £16m, he really should be better than this. I thought he was shocking against Derby, the worst team defensively in the league and he couldn't make an impression. FFS if your getting no service drop deeper and pick up the ball, go find it, demand the fcuking thing. The guy looks so unlike a top notch forward at the minute.

To be fair to him though, he wasn't the only one tonight, the rest of them were shit too, we got lucky tonight, play like that on Sunday we'll get hammered.

 

[wojch]

Just got back.

What a load of rubbish, if we play like that on Sunday we'll get thrashed. At least we won't be able to say the players were knackered, they barely moved tonight!

I haven't read the thread but Bent was fine tonight, at least he managed to hit the bar (twice!) WTF did the other two do? Bent bashing is become the new sport on SC and it's completly unjustified. He did well against Derby but twice he was open only to be ignored by Lennon and Steed. Tonight Lennon ignored him again and even took a (crap) shot that he probably would have buried.

It's one thing to have a pop at Bent but if he's not getting any service it's hardly his fault. I don't think we can say he doesn't fit in the team, if he gets the ball he'll put it away. If I were Ramos I'd be having words with Lennon and telling him to sort it out.

I think that I had underestimated Bent before. He played well tonight and yes - he was ignored by rest of the team.
However, he still has to work on fitting into our game plan.

Robinson? I think he made couple of world class saves. Didnt have a chance with the conceeded goal.

Lennon - cant really say a good thing about him tonight. I just hope that he (and rest) will play on 200% of what I saw today... Otherwise it will be one of the worst finals for Spurs.

Last thought - we didnt play our key players tonight from beginnig. Jenas has got to be in first XI on Sunday. Same as Ledley King, Hutton and Steed Malbranque. (btw, Woodgate played good in my opinion).

Lets just hope that Sunday will be our day... Like it was on 22nd Jan... !!!

come on you SPURS. just be yourself!

 

[SpurSince57]

You are right imo. Spurs could not keep the ball long enough due to the crap performances of the Hudd, Zokora, O'Hara and both FBs. It seems that Ramos and the team have underestimated the game, especially after the early goal of O'Hara. But if Spurs win the final no one will remember about the game against Slavia.

Even though strikers lacked good service Bent could score twice. He wasn't that bad as some fans think.

I thought Bent (and Berbatov and Keane, for that matter) did as well as he could have done, given the lack of service. He won virtually every header that came his way, tried to play others in and might easily have had two goals. Just what do some people expect of our strikers? They can't do anything if there's no service from the midfield. Ramos might as well have instructed Robinson to hoof the ball as long as he could—we'd have been no worse off.

Unless you're totally delusional, Bent is no Berbatov when it comes to playing the provider. But there is no reason on earth that he can't become an extremely effective foil for Berbatov and/or Keane, which I assume was the reason for signing him.

 

[N10toN17]

Did anybody seriously expect anything different? We played in first gear, players have sunday on their minds, probably not going in for tackles as they should and trying to conserve as much energy as possible and imo understandably so, beating Chelscum is going to be a big ask.

Slavia gave it there all and still got knocked out, Everton were playing a poorer side and don't have a final on sunday, we'll be a different team come sunday. Good sides often win and get results when not doing an awful lot, in fact Chelscum have won many games this year playing just like we did tonight, so just relax ladies and gentlemen and wait for the real Spurs to turn up.

Best player tonight for us was Woody.

 

[haxman]

Din fact Chelscum have won many games this year playing just like we did tonight, so just relax ladies and gentlemen and wait for the real Spurs to turn up.

Best player tonight for us was Woody.

I seriously doubt Chelsea have been outplayed by anyone this season like we were at times tonight.

Agree with you that Woody was our best player tonight, we need to keep him fit, him alongside King in defence is some prospect :up:

Edit : The bookies aren't reading anything into the performance tonight as they've brought us in from 6's to 4/1 second favourites, and they're usually not too far off the mark so I'm happy with that.

 

[N10toN17]

I seriously doubt Chelsea have been outplayed by anyone this season like we were at times tonight.

Agree with you that Woody was our best player tonight, we need to keep him fit, him alongside King in defence is some prospect :up:

err did you watch them against pompey recently, should have been well beat but they nicked a draw.

 

[haxman]

err did you watch them against pompey recently, should have been well beat but they nicked a draw.

Pompey are a quality Premiership side. Slavia aren't.

 

[SpurSince57]

I seriously doubt Chelsea have been outplayed by anyone this season like we were at times tonight.

Agree with you that Woody was our best player tonight, we need to keep him fit, him alongside King in defence is some prospect :up:

Rosenborg gave them a hard enough time.

Having said which, I was less than whelmed by our performance tonight; I can't escape the feeling that, unless we have our strongest possible XI playing, we have a lack of understanding, or something. It was the same last season.