Portsmouth (A): Stoof's Shout

[Stoof]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/Stoofspur/stoof2.jpg
[Banner by the genius chrissivad]


25 years ago today I emerged from my moist, warm 9-month home in a suit of red. My father, I expect, would have been disgusted. His own son, not born of blue & white blood, impossible! As the sole addition to the family, he got to work on teaching me the ways of Spurs and today I hope he's proud that he did his job as any good Tottenham Supporting Father should. This paragraph, by the way, is nothing but a chance to tell you it's my birthday today, and also to serve as a history lesson. That season I was born, I managed to encourage the team to win the UEFA Cup for the second time. Me, all me. This paragraph is also to give you a nice, warm fuzzy feeling as the memories (and YouTube videos * which I will plug in when not at work *) play out Tony Parks' saves in your heads and in front of your eyes.

This paragraph here, though, tells a different tale. It speaks of woe, disgruntlement and fear. It talks of Tottenham Hotspur, Class of 2008-2009. We're not in great shape lads, are we, to be fair? I foolishly thought that our victory of Newcastle (who are eventually going to find it impossible to come up with a more ridiculous script to start a season with) would kick start our lackadaisical beginning to this season. And I doubt I was alone in thinking that: Pavlyuchenko scoring his first, settling his nerves, O'Hara showing his desire to be Mabbutt II – it was all there.

Then came Portsmouth. 10 goals in 2 games, Portsmouth; conceded. We started well, I thought, the ball was knocked around sideways … and backwards … and sideways … sideways … oooh forwards! … backwards :cry: … backwards … hoof … Portsmouth goal kick. Damn. This was a running theme to our play and Didier Zokora, as much of a mentalist he is, was doing his best to lead the charge forward. O'Hara was bustling about and Pavlyuchenko was running sideways, waiting for the perfect ball. Or even a ball.

Bentley wasn't particularly great, the odd moment of inspiration but his delivery again from set-pieces asks more questions than answers. The questions usually consist of: how the hell have you hit the first defender, again! But there are more words in the forums on that particular topic, and as is a penchant of mine, I try to look for the positives.

We weren't as bad as we were at Newcastle, but again decisions relating to the selection of the starting XI are baffling everyone, still. Journalists and fans alike are filling column inches and message board databases with words of confusion. Why is he playing him there?

Jenas then hand-balled inanely and Gomes parried wrong-wayily and we lost. There we have it, a match review in a sentence. What followed was semi-positive from us, we should have had a penalty, true and it would have been 1-1 if successfully converted having been given. But all in all, I hate to say it but we didn't deserve anything out of the game. And another to add to Juande's strange decisions: Pavlyuchenko off, Bent on – surely not when we're chasing a game JR?

"But but but, there has to be a Masterplan", says a troubled Stoof to no-one in particular. This guy, Ramos, is no mug surely? He's got a new squad, he's in his first full season, he needs time. Granted, that's fair enough, I will give him that time. But at this early stage, for players showing (in my eyes) that they aren't too fussed with it all, it only spells bad news. Or does it?

See, if Juande is using our actual season as his barometer for his eventual First Choice XI (we can only hope he wants one) then he's being given several indicators of who he can trust to perform, and who he needs to work with. This is not an ideal situation and is very dangerous, obviously, as we're into the Big League now; we're playing for points. As others have said though, there is still a positive line between level of performance and games played. We're better than we were against Middlesbrough [Chelsea is our anomaly] and slowly but surely, we're going to hit that one (home) result that will let the fans celebrate and let them roar into life after we score a goal. It just needs that one moment of unbridled joy to convince us, the fans, that all is well with our Tottenham, I'm sure of that and I'm still booking up tickets like nobody's business and I hope the rest of you are too. Because as we've seen with Newcastle, a football club is nothing without its fans – and as much as the players owe us a performance, we owe them our support. That's just the way we're born, even if not in a blue & white bloody mess.

[spurdownunder]

Happy birthday mate and good shout as usual.

[Thmsdonaghy]

Excellent. I too believe we a shown steady progress, Ramos as you quite rightly said is no mug. He is a very talanted manager with an awesome reputation, he will lead us out of this mini bad run and take us to the Champions League. Looking forward to the Hull game and our first 3 points.

[Evolution]

Good read Stoof mate and happy birthday

[Jonesey]

Good shout as usual Stoof. But I will have to disagree on us making progress; the decisions from the management were just as baffling in that last game as they were in every game this season except the Chelsea game where, I think we'll all agree, the starting XI was one which we would actually gladly see most games.

The result is we still looked toothless up front with very little to offer in the way of threat to the opposition goal. Just like we have all season so far.

Progress will be when we are having more than 3 shots on target every game (yes, 4 or 5, that's all I'm asking for) and converting more chances than the other mid-table teams (ie: winning) at home.

And I'm no mathematician but, until that starts happening, we're going down; fact.

[guate]

First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY STOOF and I sincerely hope that you have a wonderful day with friends and family.

Regarding our present situation, I now firmly believe that Juande, knowing that we now know that he didn't get the players he asked for during the transfer window, nor on time, has already accepted that this season is basically over.

Of course I'm quite sure that he wants an acceptable mid table position, similar to last season, but, as we all know he has already stated that this team needs 15 games to gel and that means we're still several games away from this happening.

Consequently his target this season is another successful cup run, Carling, F.A. EUFA, enabling us to participate, once again, in Europe next season. Also, provided he's still with us he can then choose the players he really wants come January or when this season's over, due to both Commolli and Levy being discredited for what happened during this past transfer period. If he get's his players then definitely a 4th place finish in 2009/10 is a real possibility.

This way he covers himself with us, the fans, and to a certain extent the board who, after the Jol fiasco will be reluctant to fire another manager 3 months into the new season.

Then of course Spurs could also be bought out in the very near future by this Oriental consortium we keep hearing about and they then decide to bring in "The Special One"

[Coyboy]

Regarding our present situation, I now firmly believe that Juande, knowing that we now know that he didn't get the players he asked for during the transfer window, nor on time, has already accepted that this season is basically over.

No, we don't know that. And if Ramos didn't get the players he wanted in the summer (which would have totally counter productive of the board to do), how do you know (using that word as lightly as you do) that he will going forward?

Either way, it is not as if our squad is full of mugs. Our squad here and now is far better than that of Bolton, Stoke, West Brom, Hull, Boro, Newcastle, Sunderland and probably every other team's in the league bar the top four and two or three others. But where are we in the league? How well (badly) are we playing? Who is responsible for how the team performs on the pitch?

I didn't see the game on Sunday but can someone explain how it was better than before?

[JimmyG2]

I too keep my optimism though as you accurately describe each individual game there is not really any good reason.I think its more a state of mind than an actual response to whats happening on the pitch.
Chelsea was a spirited and encouraging performance. Newcastle showed some signs of cohesion;Ohara showed spirit,Lennon made an accurate cross,Pavlyuchenko scored his first goal,but each time we make some progress we slip back.We dont seem to build on the positives and put them all together.
I'm sure we will and probably quite soon. We will go through tomorrow but we will then all hold our breath for Hull on Sunday. I lived in Hull for many years and know just how they are thinking and hoping,but they can't beat Arsenal and Spurs in consecutive weeks surely.
Theres no rule book for this as they have never been in the top flight. But Spurs will get a grip for this one and win two games running to start their comeback. The presence of King and the return of Modric will help.

[yiddotilidie]

Depressed...

Happy B'Day blue man.

[riversmonkey]

"But but but, there has to be a Masterplan", says a troubled Stoof to no-one in particular. This guy, Ramos, is no mug surely? He's got a new squad, he's in his first full season, he needs time. Granted, that's fair enough, I will give him that time. But at this early stage, for players showing (in my eyes) that they aren't too fussed with it all, it only spells bad news. Or does it?


I've noticed in a lot of newspaper reports they are using Ferguson and Wenger as examples of clubs maintaining stability by sticking with their managers through thick and thin. Ferguson struggled in a time where there were very few trigger happy chairmen and Wenger inherited a very stable back four and goalkeeper in order to slowly build his brand of Football so really those two examples are almost redundent when made in comparison to todays high pressure results based climate.

Ramos may have inherited Jol's squad but even after the club made a variety of signings under his tenure and the best part of a year in charge he has been unable to channel his own free flowing footballing vision to the players.

Speaking of the players, some of the recent performances have been abysmal, particularly from midfield. Also all this talk of instability from squad rotation is rubbish, I don't see any of the players playing so well that it makes it impossible for the manager to drop you.

[rupsmith]

Happy birthday Stoof. Good shout as always.

I agree 100 %. This may not be our season. But this is going to be Ramos's team. Guys like Bale, Hudd, OHara, Dos Santos, Bentley, Hutton, Woodgate, Corluka, Modric are going to be our future. This is the nucleus of a strong squad. Some key additions over the next year and we will be definitely challenging for honours.

I think Ramos is doing the right thing. He knows the league is tough but he fancies his chances in a one off cup tie. Tomorrows game is crucial. We make the UEFA league round, I beleive we will rip into Hull on Sunday.

[thfcsteff]

Great piece of writing Stoof, really enjoyable...well, 'enjoyable' but not so far as the actual content if you know what I mean...
Happy Birthday,
Best,
Steffan

[ackie]

Happy birthday mate and here's to a happy spurs day too (SOON)

[southlondonyiddo]

Mug :wink:

Happy Birthday mate, good read

[Thesoccershrink]

Happy Birthday, Stoof!

Couple of points.

I'm not sure that the two main stressors in my life at the moment -- Spurs and the economy -- have leadership that inspires me to believe that there's an effective plan in place to resolve obvious problems. Although I do have a whole lot more faith in Ramos than Bush, Paulson, Bernanke, etc. However, I do have to thank those three gentlemen that as a US taxpayer I now "own" part of Manusa's shirt sponsors! Damn good use of taxpayer's money, if you ask me.

The only logical explanation of RP's substitution is that his English isn't good enough yet.

[grittyspur1]

Feliz cumpleanos, Stoof- watching Berbs and Keano score this week has sent me into a tailspinning depression, and my wife is at this very moment hiding all the sharp objects in the house...
COYS!

[bill]

This article made it onto NEWSNOW

I did not know the site was linked to that engine.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4712/picture3oa8.png (http://imageshack.us)

(http://g.imageshack.us/img139/picture3oa8.png/1/)

[bill]

Feliz cumpleanos, Stoof- watching Berbs and Keano score this week has sent me into a tailspinning depression, and my wife is at this very moment hiding all the sharp objects in the house...
COYS!

Blunt instruments leave less mess! Use those instead!

[Midostouch]

Happy `birthday Stoof - you and all of us loyal yids deserve better than this. Let's keep the faith.

[C0YS]

All I can say is the banner is great. Yeah give it time. Pompey was a nigntmare but lets mkove on!!! Are biggest prob. is we didnt even attempt to scare there doggy back four. If we did that we could of got something. When Lennon and we needed to start Lennon and Giovani and Modic too. However on the latter I give him the benifit of the doubt on the presumption that he is comming back from injury

[TutanKlinsmann]

:clap:Happy birthday mate

[alextheyid]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/Stoofspur/stoof2.jpg

[Banner by the genius chrissivad]


25 years ago today I emerged from my moist, warm 9-month home in a suit of red. My father, I expect, would have been disgusted. His own son, not born of blue & white blood, impossible! As the sole addition to the family, he got to work on teaching me the ways of Spurs and today I hope he's proud that he did his job as any good Tottenham Supporting Father should. This paragraph, by the way, is nothing but a chance to tell you it's my birthday today, and also to serve as a history lesson. That season I was born, I managed to encourage the team to win the UEFA Cup for the second time. Me, all me. This paragraph is also to give you a nice, warm fuzzy feeling as the memories (and YouTube videos * which I will plug in when not at work *) play out Tony Parks' saves in your heads and in front of your eyes.

This paragraph here, though, tells a different tale. It speaks of woe, disgruntlement and fear. It talks of Tottenham Hotspur, Class of 2008-2009. We're not in great shape lads, are we, to be fair? I foolishly thought that our victory of Newcastle (who are eventually going to find it impossible to come up with a more ridiculous script to start a season with) would kick start our lackadaisical beginning to this season. And I doubt I was alone in thinking that: Pavlyuchenko scoring his first, settling his nerves, O'Hara showing his desire to be Mabbutt II – it was all there.

Then came Portsmouth. 10 goals in 2 games, Portsmouth; conceded. We started well, I thought, the ball was knocked around sideways … and backwards … and sideways … sideways … oooh forwards! … backwards :cry: … backwards … hoof … Portsmouth goal kick. Damn. This was a running theme to our play and Didier Zokora, as much of a mentalist he is, was doing his best to lead the charge forward. O'Hara was bustling about and Pavlyuchenko was running sideways, waiting for the perfect ball. Or even a ball.

Bentley wasn't particularly great, the odd moment of inspiration but his delivery again from set-pieces asks more questions than answers. The questions usually consist of: how the hell have you hit the first defender, again! But there are more words in the forums on that particular topic, and as is a penchant of mine, I try to look for the positives.

We weren't as bad as we were at Newcastle, but again decisions relating to the selection of the starting XI are baffling everyone, still. Journalists and fans alike are filling column inches and message board databases with words of confusion. Why is he playing him there?

Jenas then hand-balled inanely and Gomes parried wrong-wayily and we lost. There we have it, a match review in a sentence. What followed was semi-positive from us, we should have had a penalty, true and it would have been 1-1 if successfully converted having been given. But all in all, I hate to say it but we didn't deserve anything out of the game. And another to add to Juande's strange decisions: Pavlyuchenko off, Bent on – surely not when we're chasing a game JR?

"But but but, there has to be a Masterplan", says a troubled Stoof to no-one in particular. This guy, Ramos, is no mug surely? He's got a new squad, he's in his first full season, he needs time. Granted, that's fair enough, I will give him that time. But at this early stage, for players showing (in my eyes) that they aren't too fussed with it all, it only spells bad news. Or does it?

See, if Juande is using our actual season as his barometer for his eventual First Choice XI (we can only hope he wants one) then he's being given several indicators of who he can trust to perform, and who he needs to work with. This is not an ideal situation and is very dangerous, obviously, as we're into the Big League now; we're playing for points. As others have said though, there is still a positive line between level of performance and games played. We're better than we were against Middlesbrough [Chelsea is our anomaly] and slowly but surely, we're going to hit that one (home) result that will let the fans celebrate and let them roar into life after we score a goal. It just needs that one moment of unbridled joy to convince us, the fans, that all is well with our Tottenham, I'm sure of that and I'm still booking up tickets like nobody's business and I hope the rest of you are too. Because as we've seen with Newcastle, a football club is nothing without its fans – and as much as the players owe us a performance, we owe them our support. That's just the way we're born, even if not in a blue & white bloody mess.

i couldnt find an emoticon for whiping a tear from my eye.... i love you stoof..get a shirt with your name on your back so i can hug u on a match day!

great article and fantastic optimism!

[Gosport Yid]

Happy (belated?) birthday brother! :beer:

That was a thouroughly good read. Our only job really is to get behind the team through thick & thin and support them. It can't be a Carling Cup final win every weekend, after all.

Being a local guy, I ended up with a seat in the Pompey end last sunday & thought that my fellow fans were brilliant up the other end..At least the fans didn't give up after the second one went in, unlike most of the team!

I've taken the afternoon off work today to come home & watch on TV, I hope I at least see some pride in the shirt, and some more desire in their play.

Ps. Thanks for winning us the UEFA cup in '84. You were magnificent, ha ha!