Wembley recovery key for Tom

[Geez]

Source: Official Site

Tom Huddlestone believes the spectacular response of the team to the FA Cup semi-final agony at Wembley was vital on our way to fourth place in the Premier League.

Dreams of returning to the national stadium for the showpiece final for the first time since 1991 were ended by Portsmouth on April 11.

The defeat hit everyone hard but the lads had just three days to recover and prepare for a season-defining spell of three matches in the space of 10 days against Arsenal, Chelsea and United.

Most pundits felt this run of matches would end our hopes of finishing fourth - many predicted we'd get two or three points maximum from the three games - but instead the lads produced back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Chelsea to take pole position in the race for fourth.

"To come back in the way we did against Arsenal and Chelsea after taking such knockback at Wembley was massive for us," said the midfielder who made more league starts (33) than anyone else last season.

"It was the way we played as well. The results were amazing but the performances were outstanding, especially against Chelsea. That was the best performance of the season.

"The main objective at the start of the season was to finish in the top four and we've done that, so that's a massive boost."

[BringBack_leGin]

First time I've seen anyone from our club say that top 4 was actually an objective at the start of the season. Until it actually happened, it was always played down as something that would be hard to achieve (which it was, of course) and even afterwards it seems to have been made out to be a bit of a nice surprise.

I must say, Huddlestone was key as well. The guy still has 3 or 4 more years in which he's only going to get better, and though he still has the odd shocker, this season his performances were as consistant as they've ever been. He thoroughly deserves to be in contention for the World Cup squad.

As for the comment that the semi final defeat gave us the kick up the arse we needed, I think there are few who would disagree. I think that result might have been our most important result of the season.

[Paxtonite]

Was it really the semi final defeat that gave us a kick up the backside or was it the fact that in the very next game against our bitter rivals, just 9 mins had passed before young Danny Rose hit that wonder goal and immediately gave the whole of WHL and every spurs fan in the country a massive lift?

Just a thought.

[davidmatzdorf]

But then Gomes was a wall before it was 2-1.

The team wasn't going to throw that game away.

Too many players have said that they felt especially determined to keep it going after the semi-final defeat for it to be moonshine or hindsight.

[millsey]

i dont think we would have got 4th had we got thru to the semi final.it ended the argument what was more important and they could put everything they had into getting something out of the season