After a great performance in the Premier League game here just two and a half weeks ago, it was once again a case of “so nearly?for Spurs, who took a 37th minute lead during a spell when they were clearly on top of the home side, only to be thwarted by an equaliser 11 minutes from time by “World Cup Tourist?Theo Walcott, one of only two Englishmen in the Arsenal side that could be observed by new England manager Fabio Capello. Capello was deprived of the chance to assess his number one goalkeeper, as Paul Robinson had reportedly been dropped in favour of Radek Cerny. There were of course the likes of Dawson and King in the Spurs defence, and Jermaine Jenas in the midfield. Jermain Defoe had a cameo at the end of the game, and had one of Spurs?best chances to secure the win, which would not have been an injustice. As it is, Spurs do take a result back to The Lane for the second leg that most Spurs fans would have been happy about before kick-off.
The "Spursometer" - Spurs Odyssey's exclusive Form Guide
December has been a month of tremendous entertainment for Spurs fans; a month of noticeable progress for the team; and a month of triumph over several cases of adversity for Juande Ramos and his staff.
I went with our reporter Ray Lo to White Hart lane last night. Despite not being part of the Premier League Academy set-up, Chester's youngsters gave Spurs a tough battle right up to the closing minutes when Danny Rose won a late penalty which sorely displeased the Chester coach and his team. However, they conveniently forgot the two clear penalties that the referee had not given early in the half. It wasa deserved win for Spurs who now progress to the fifth round of the Youth Cup.Read Ray's exclusive report here.
Don't worry about the endless speculative headlines on Newsnow! Join the Spurs Odyssey Message Board today! We have our own "ITKs" (In the know members), whose information carries great authority and accuracy. If you want to know what's going on in "Spursland" than have a peep under the surface here at Spurs Odyssey. You will not be disappointed!
If you would like to join in, then please e-mail webmaster@spursodyssey.com, confirming your love for Spurs, and I'll send you more details of how you can join us.
Spurs could and should have scored six goals again against a Reading side that made no less than 8 changes from the team which lost in the 10-goal event of last Saturday. Juande Ramos fielded his best available 11 men, and it is nothing short of a failure on their part, that insufficient goals were scored, and that Reading were allowed two. The most culpable of Spurs players was goalkeeper Paul Robinson who just about managed to catch Steve Hunt’s long range free kick on his goal-line, but then let the impetus carry him and the ball over the line. Late in the game we saw the greatest piece of irresponsibility by Tom Huddlestone, who less than 3 minutes after replacing Steed Malbranque was sent off for head butting Bobby Convey in a fracas in the south-west corner. Malbranque can be added to the list of Spurs villains, as his failure to control a simple ball in the middle allowed Convey to lead the attack from which The “Royals?levelled the scores at 2-2.
Spurs Odyssey understands that Juande Ramos is using his Spanish contacts to try and secure the services of Barcelona's 18 year old starlet inger - Giovanni Dos Santos.
Whether Spurs would be able to secure the winger on a permanent or loan basis remains to be seen, but I understand that a fee of around ?5 million euros has been proposed.?......more..........
For all Ramos’s tactical nous and boldness, and despite a decent second half performance by the away side, Spurs ultimately succumbed to two goals by Villa defenders, both from set pieces, thus destroying any New Year’s resolution that Spurs might have had to defend more effectively. The Villa defence had the better of the day, because apart from scoring, they also quelled any potential threat from Dimitar Berbatov, subject of course to intense transfer speculation..........More........
Where do you begin to give an account of one of the most incredible games of football ever seen at White Hart Lane? When it was 1-1 after a relatively quiet first half there was no inkling whatsoever of what was to follow. Four-goal man of the match Dimitar Berbatov had given Spurs an early lead, but then had to score three more goals, as Spurs fell behind three times, finally committing Reading to a 6-4 defeat.
Spurs v Fulham, 26.12.07
?Spurs 5 Fulham 1 - High Fives for Tottenham!
?Spurs record in recent London Derby matches
Spurs and their fans had two great Christmas presents today! Firstly, skipper Ledley King played his first game of the season, and what a welcome he had. Ledley was sheer class throughout, although it has to be said that we were not up against much today.....................The second of those late presents for Spurs was of course the resounding 5-1 beating that the players handed out to a poor and lightweight Fulham side that has dropped once again into the relegation zone, from which they will struggle to escape.........more.....
Arsenal v Spurs, 22.12.07
?Arsenal 2 Spurs 1 - Be proud of your Spurs!
Spurs can be rightly proud of their truly competitive performance at The Emirates Stadium today, and their fans can be proud of their team. The result was predictable, as Arsenal took Spurs by storm early after the break, then saved a Robbie Keane penalty after Berbatov’s equaliser, before substitute Nicklas Bendtner was allowed a free header to score with his first touch from a corner fifteen minutes before the end. It could have been so different, and arguably, Robbie Keane, who returned from suspension, should have scored two goals to secure all three points for Spurs..........more.....
Ray Lo went to Brisbane Road last night and reports exclusively for Spurs Odyssey on a game where Spurs had theierr one goal lead snatched away in the closing stages..........more........
It was a great day, a great team performance and a great result for Spurs! This was our first away win in the Premier League this season; our first away clean sheet in the league since May, and the first time we have won two consecutive league games this term as well! The achievement was all the greater because it came against a side on top form, who had won their last 6 away games, was on an 11 match unbeaten run, and had not conceded a home goal since 29th September in a momentous 7-4 victory over Reading. It should be noted that home Pompey fans have also not seen their team score since that day either..............more......
Podcasting comes to Spurs Odyssey! Courtesy of Footballfancast.com
After a great performance in the Premier League game here just two and a half weeks ago, it was once again a case of “so nearly?for Spurs, who took a 37th minute lead during a spell when they were clearly on top of the home side, only to be thwarted by an equaliser 11 minutes from time by “World Cup Tourist?Theo Walcott, one of only two Englishmen in the Arsenal side that could be observed by new England manager Fabio Capello. Capello was deprived of the chance to assess his number one goalkeeper, as Paul Robinson had reportedly been dropped in favour of Radek Cerny. There were of course the likes of Dawson and King in the Spurs defence, and Jermaine Jenas in the midfield. Jermain Defoe had a cameo at the end of the game, and had one of Spurs?best chances to secure the win, which would not have been an injustice. As it is, Spurs do take a result back to The Lane for the second leg that most Spurs fans would have been happy about before kick-off.
Spurs could and should have scored six goals again against a Reading side that made no less than 8 changes from the team which lost in the 10-goal event of last Saturday. Juande Ramos fielded his best available 11 men, and it is nothing short of a failure on their part, that insufficient goals were scored, and that Reading were allowed two. The most culpable of Spurs players was goalkeeper Paul Robinson who just about managed to catch Steve Hunt’s long range free kick on his goal-line, but then let the impetus carry him and the ball over the line. Late in the game we saw the greatest piece of irresponsibility by Tom Huddlestone, who less than 3 minutes after replacing Steed Malbranque was sent off for head butting Bobby Convey in a fracas in the south-west corner. Malbranque can be added to the list of Spurs villains, as his failure to control a simple ball in the middle allowed Convey to lead the attack from which The “Royals?levelled the scores at 2-2.
?
For all Ramos’s tactical nous and boldness, and despite a decent second half performance by the away side, Spurs ultimately succumbed to two goals by Villa defenders, both from set pieces, thus destroying any New Year’s resolution that Spurs might have had to defend more effectively. The Villa defence had the better of the day, because apart from scoring, they also quelled any potential threat from Dimitar Berbatov, subject of course to intense transfer speculation..........
?
Spurs and their fans had two great Christmas presents today! Firstly, skipper Ledley King played his first game of the season, and what a welcome he had. Ledley was sheer class throughout, although it has to be said that we were not up against much today.....................The second of those late presents for Spurs was of course the resounding 5-1 beating that the players handed out to a poor and lightweight Fulham side that has dropped once again into the relegation zone, from which they will struggle to escape.........
Spurs can be rightly proud of their truly competitive performance at The Emirates Stadium today, and their fans can be proud of their team. The result was predictable, as Arsenal took Spurs by storm early after the break, then saved a Robbie Keane penalty after Berbatov’s equaliser, before substitute Nicklas Bendtner was allowed a free header to score with his first touch from a corner fifteen minutes before the end. It could have been so different, and arguably, Robbie Keane, who returned from suspension, should have scored two goals to secure all three points for Spurs..........
It was a great day, a great team performance and a great result for Spurs! This was our first away win in the Premier League this season; our first away clean sheet in the league since May, and the first time we have won two consecutive league games this term as well! The achievement was all the greater because it came against a side on top form, who had won their last 6 away games, was on an 11 match unbeaten run, and had not conceded a home goal since 29th September in a momentous 7-4 victory over Reading. It should be noted that home Pompey fans have also not seen their team score since that day either.........
