xzander
10-08-2007, 01:29 AM
This summer has driven me mental. On even-numbered years the big tournaments mean the seasons merge into one another and the fun never ends. On odd-numbered years–regardless of whether they end in one or not–time stands still.
My girlfriend has had to suffer my progress through this barren hell. Ceaselessly checking the internet on holiday in Rhodes to see “if anything’s happened”. Compulsive purchasing of old 'Review of the Season' videos from years long past on eBay, and watching them till late into the night. Getting Sky. The collapse of normal conversations, so simple questions such as “Do you fancy a weekend with such and such a friend this week?” elicit a blank stare followed by the absent-minded response, “I think you’re right, three up front with Keane playing in the hole might be the way to go, especially at home”.
The insane conclusion to all this is that on Saturday I’ll be rising early at my girlfriends’ parents’ house near Chester and driving to Sunderland for a difficult away game at 12:45. To be fair, she’s taken it rather well (she was probably half expecting it). So what am I up to?
I think this is the first season since we last won the Cup that I’ve actually looked forward to a new season with an expectation that we could achieve something. The last few seasons have been positive in that continuous improvements have been made. The squad is much stronger than it was when Jol took charge, and the progress made has been visible. First we challenged for UEFA Cup qualification via the league. Then we achieved it. Then we added cup runs to that achievement.
Following on from that, the natural progression would be UEFA qualification while actually winning a trophy, or qualifying for the Champions’ League (I’m not greedy enough to hope for both).
Either way, it’s a bloody sight better than being presented with Allan Nielsen as the major summer signing, or watching the club attempt to convince us that a back line containing both Gary Doherty and Dean Richards will be impregnable against the Arsenal attack, or having the manager tell us that once Chris Armstrong is fit everything will be OK again.
This is a side which can not only beat teams, but which can move players around without being noticeably weakened. The players we’ve signed this summer can be switched in and out of the side without the team’s ability to beat class opposition being compromised. That’ll really help us avoid being weakened by fatigue or injuries through the season.
It is however very important to get points on the board–preferably a win–against Sunderland this weekend. Last year we started badly, two bad goals in the first half conceded against Bolton, barely a shot on goal, and a demoralising defeat which led to a total loss of confidence right at the start of the season. We didn’t register an away league win until December and lost to Everton while recording costly draws against Fulham and Watford. Spurs cannot afford to start so slowly again. But Sunderland are a different proposition to the shell of a football club which was bitchslapped out of the Premiership in 2006.
In many ways I can respect what they’ve done; a forward thinking chairman with a passion for the club who’s chosen a manager of real class and given him the strongest backing they can. Roy Keane exudes power, confidence and authority, and he gets the best out of his players, dragging a team which by rights should have been too traumatised by recent drubbings to think about football back into the big time at the first attempt. The positive, stable structure they have in place reminds me of what Spurs began to build a few years ago.
You’ve got to assume Roy Keane’s target this season would be first and foremost to stay up If I was him (I’m not), I’d probably be thinking that I’d want to make a habit of winning home games and getting points out of big teams there. So we can probably expect a well–organised, highly motivated team in front of a large, fired up crowd.
So who are we facing? The most expensive Scottish keeper ever (possible humour there) in Craig Gordon will be between the sticks. Through the team, some veterans from the 2005-06 team survive. Kieran Richardson–he of the moronic loudmouth cousin–and Carlos Edwards will presumably be on the wings supplying the ammunition for Michael Chopra and Daryl Murphy. They’ve also got Dwight Yorke in reserve. Spurs are likely to string out the Mido negotiations just too long for him to play against us (he’s probably unfit anyway). From our point of view, we don’t have any left backs left so Rocha will probably deputise, and Kaboul will be in for King. Lennon’s also out. You’d assume Ghaly won’t be his understudy this year.
I’m hopeful of a win here, given the disparity of the squads in terms of probable ambition and quality. That said, we all thought that two years ago, and ended up conceding a last minute equaliser on a bog of a pitch following what many would describe as “a Paul Stateri moment”.
In the circumstances – first day of the season, fired up crowd, early kick off miles from home – I wouldn’t be disappointed with a draw. Whatever the score though, I’m looking forward to it with bated breath!
My girlfriend has had to suffer my progress through this barren hell. Ceaselessly checking the internet on holiday in Rhodes to see “if anything’s happened”. Compulsive purchasing of old 'Review of the Season' videos from years long past on eBay, and watching them till late into the night. Getting Sky. The collapse of normal conversations, so simple questions such as “Do you fancy a weekend with such and such a friend this week?” elicit a blank stare followed by the absent-minded response, “I think you’re right, three up front with Keane playing in the hole might be the way to go, especially at home”.
The insane conclusion to all this is that on Saturday I’ll be rising early at my girlfriends’ parents’ house near Chester and driving to Sunderland for a difficult away game at 12:45. To be fair, she’s taken it rather well (she was probably half expecting it). So what am I up to?
I think this is the first season since we last won the Cup that I’ve actually looked forward to a new season with an expectation that we could achieve something. The last few seasons have been positive in that continuous improvements have been made. The squad is much stronger than it was when Jol took charge, and the progress made has been visible. First we challenged for UEFA Cup qualification via the league. Then we achieved it. Then we added cup runs to that achievement.
Following on from that, the natural progression would be UEFA qualification while actually winning a trophy, or qualifying for the Champions’ League (I’m not greedy enough to hope for both).
Either way, it’s a bloody sight better than being presented with Allan Nielsen as the major summer signing, or watching the club attempt to convince us that a back line containing both Gary Doherty and Dean Richards will be impregnable against the Arsenal attack, or having the manager tell us that once Chris Armstrong is fit everything will be OK again.
This is a side which can not only beat teams, but which can move players around without being noticeably weakened. The players we’ve signed this summer can be switched in and out of the side without the team’s ability to beat class opposition being compromised. That’ll really help us avoid being weakened by fatigue or injuries through the season.
It is however very important to get points on the board–preferably a win–against Sunderland this weekend. Last year we started badly, two bad goals in the first half conceded against Bolton, barely a shot on goal, and a demoralising defeat which led to a total loss of confidence right at the start of the season. We didn’t register an away league win until December and lost to Everton while recording costly draws against Fulham and Watford. Spurs cannot afford to start so slowly again. But Sunderland are a different proposition to the shell of a football club which was bitchslapped out of the Premiership in 2006.
In many ways I can respect what they’ve done; a forward thinking chairman with a passion for the club who’s chosen a manager of real class and given him the strongest backing they can. Roy Keane exudes power, confidence and authority, and he gets the best out of his players, dragging a team which by rights should have been too traumatised by recent drubbings to think about football back into the big time at the first attempt. The positive, stable structure they have in place reminds me of what Spurs began to build a few years ago.
You’ve got to assume Roy Keane’s target this season would be first and foremost to stay up If I was him (I’m not), I’d probably be thinking that I’d want to make a habit of winning home games and getting points out of big teams there. So we can probably expect a well–organised, highly motivated team in front of a large, fired up crowd.
So who are we facing? The most expensive Scottish keeper ever (possible humour there) in Craig Gordon will be between the sticks. Through the team, some veterans from the 2005-06 team survive. Kieran Richardson–he of the moronic loudmouth cousin–and Carlos Edwards will presumably be on the wings supplying the ammunition for Michael Chopra and Daryl Murphy. They’ve also got Dwight Yorke in reserve. Spurs are likely to string out the Mido negotiations just too long for him to play against us (he’s probably unfit anyway). From our point of view, we don’t have any left backs left so Rocha will probably deputise, and Kaboul will be in for King. Lennon’s also out. You’d assume Ghaly won’t be his understudy this year.
I’m hopeful of a win here, given the disparity of the squads in terms of probable ambition and quality. That said, we all thought that two years ago, and ended up conceding a last minute equaliser on a bog of a pitch following what many would describe as “a Paul Stateri moment”.
In the circumstances – first day of the season, fired up crowd, early kick off miles from home – I wouldn’t be disappointed with a draw. Whatever the score though, I’m looking forward to it with bated breath!