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After the Blue Moon Rises....

jimtheyid

T'riffic
Apr 16, 2005
13,497
7,235
This started off as a review of the season… It turned out to be a rant. Enjoy!

Well, that was fun wasn’t it? There really has not been a season quite like it in living memory. My favourite part was losing 4-0. But then you knew that already. I was thinking, the other day, about the range of emotions I go through supporting my (our) beloved Tottenham Hotspur. And I must say the emotions are generally now unbridled joy. Markedly different to the never ending feeling of dread that I went through during the nineties. I remember once praying that Moussa Saib had recovered from injury. He hadn’t, and we lost.

I am sure I am not alone here. I don’t think I have ever looked forward to a season as much as this one. The main reason I suppose was that it was going to be our first step into UEFA’s elite club. ”Look at us, we are here and we are here to stay.” We would say as we smashed through the saloon doors. It wasn’t quite the case… But we came bloody close. There are not many things that I would change from our Champions League campaign. Save maybe a ludicrous lunge from our loveable lurch. It was fantastic. It has left me longing for more, and I am pretty sure… Near positive that we have two men at our club who will stop at nothing to make it happen.

One of them is small, bald and Jewish. Mr Daniel Levy has run our club fantastically. The way in which he has turned this club around is criminally under rated by many a fan. A good chairman should be seen and not heard whilst doing whatever he can to strive for improvement and that is what Mr Levy has done. Some fans are unhappy with his penny pinching. I will say two words to those fans. “Leeds United” So Daniel, on behalf of the fans that appreciate everything you do and will continue to do. I thank you.

“But you said two men Jim” I hear you cry. That’s right I did. Now wait for it, I will whisper the name of the second one…I don’t want to alarm people….His name is Harry Redknapp. What? Stop shouting, turn off the caps lock. At least use some grammar! I shall explain.

Harry Redknapp has infuriated me this year. At times I have expressed an unhealthy amount of anger in his direction. In spite of the fact that we failed to score one of sixteen thousand chances against West Ham. I still think Redknapp is the best man for the job. Now, I may be wrong, but I don’t think Harry is a stupid man. He will see where we have fallen down this year and move to correct these issues. . Yes, we missed an opportunity to really step up. However, we learn and we move on.

The crux of the issue is this. Time and time again I read how poor we are on this site. It would seem to me that those with the least to say shout the loudest. You know who you are. I will let you into a secret… There are only so many ways to say the following. “Harry is a useless ****” It’s an absurd sentence I know. But some of you will hold it close to your heart. You may reword it slightly. But you want him out. Let me tell you something. You are wrong. The last time the fans hounded out a successful manager look what happened. That’s right, two points from eight games. Is that what you want?

In my opinion the thing that Spurs have lacked most for the last twenty years is stability. Look at the successful teams in English football over the last two decades. They have all had long standing managers. (you can exclude Chelsea as they are the footballing equivalent to satan) During the nineties and noughties we longed for the stability of a Sir Alex or even a *gulp* Arsene Wenger. We have a chance for this stability now. I personally am not convinced that Harry will get the England job due to his alledged “accounting misdemeanours” And I personally and somewhat selfishly hope he does fulfil this ambition of his.

I may be alone, but I want Harry to build a dynasty. I want to look back in twenty years and say to my kids “Let me tell you about the greatest era in Spurs’ history” and be talking about Redknapp’s team. I want the man to succeed and I want Spurs to succeed. Yes he pisses us off with his media rants and yes he pisses me off with the way he refuses to accept criticism. But he is a proud man. If someone called in to Adrian f**king Durham just to say that you were shite at your job when you had just posted the best figures for three decades you would be angry too. We play fantastic ‘push and run’ football synonymous with our past. It’s what we all yearn for. Yet people are still not happy.

Let’s get behind him. Let’s get behind the players and let’s build. Next season will be our season. With a small few tweaks this squad is easily on a par with the best in the Premier league. I accept all are entitled to their own opinion and many will differ from mine. But with Redknapp at the helm I am sure we can eat at UEFA’s elite eatery once more. The blue moon has risen, but when the night is over the cockerel will crow.

Come On You Spurs.
 

onlyonekeano

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
198
283
Agreed. Let's get behind Harry.

I think it is a sign of the job he has done that a season where we finish 5th, lose 1 match at home in the league, beat Arsenal away for the first team in my lifetime, beat Liverpool away for the 4th team in the last 100-odd years, and reach the quarter finals of the Champions League (beating Inter and AC along the way) - all with Dawson, King, Huddlestone and Bale missing for large chunks of the season - is seen as such a disappointment by so many.
 

Yidownunder

Member
Sep 25, 2009
268
0
Nice post, we've all been p1ssed off with Harry and the team this year but we were only two wins off 4th and not far behind 2nd. Draws cost us, the in ability to finish lower teams off, something Harry failed to correct from the start of the season. That aside we were very unlucky too, missed pens, sitters going begging and opposition player scoring wonder goals. We were literally 2 or 3 goals for or against from finishing in the top 4 so lets not be too hard on the stubborn old git.
Hopefully he will work this out over the summer or bring in the personel / system to do it. I can't remember the last time we smashed someone so looking forward to a few 3-0 results next season.
 

Yidownunder

Member
Sep 25, 2009
268
0
Overall i'd give our season an 8-10, the team and Management 7-10 "must do better"

Best players Modric, BAE & Gallas
 

gusrowe

Well-Known Member
Feb 20, 2005
836
809
I also enjoyed this season.I did hope for better and at times we played fantastic football but we were not consistant.
In my view we were very unlucky, naive and the e timing of some the injuries did not help regardless of the size of the squad.
But we are moving forward in my opionion. We just lack that fighting spirit and experience.
Looking at the squad we do need to tweek in some area's but its not that bad. This is my view and its upm for debate:
Goalkeeper
I am prepared to keep Gomes. When we have been under the cosh he has pulled off some amazing saves and saved us at times.
However when we have been on top in games and he has not had that much to do he lacks concentration and has made big costly mistakes. You saw the best and worst of him in the Blackpool game.Needs coaching on his mind set. Please to see Cudachi back and another years extension.He played well in the last 3 games.
Sell: Alwick and if he wants to go Gomes
Buy: Foster
Defense
I think this is a strong area. Charlie, Naughton,Hutton, Gallas,Kaboul,King Woody,Caulker,Bassong,Walker,Benny, Rose. There are problems with Kings and Woodys injuries but I would hold onto them for one more season.
Bassong & Gallas can also play at full back and Charlie can play at Centre Half if called on and so can Huddlestone.We have options.
Sell: Hutton and Bassong if he wants to go.Put Woody on a play per pay basis.
Buy: No one just allow Caulker and our new South African signing to deveop (sorry but the name escapes me)
Midfield
Another strong area. Bentley. Lennon,Van The Man, Modric,Jenas,Palious,Sandro (in my opinion a potencial Club Captain) O'Hara,Pineer,Bale,Di Santos,Huddlestone,Kranjar.
Sell: Bentley,Di Santos,Jenas, Palious,O'Hara and maybe Kranjar if he wants to go
Buy: Adams or Parker as we do need more steel.
Strikers
Keane,Pavy,Crouch & Defoe.Our biggest let down this season. Last year they were all on fire.Lost for words on the loss of form. They have had more chances to score this season than last but at times could not hit a barn door. They have all been bad and inconsistant. We do need fresh blood.
Sell: Keane & Defoe.(Crouch gives us height and due to that another option whether we like it or not) and Pavy is skillful and appears to overcome his lazy ways.
Buy: Ba & Ashley Young
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,730
5,431
Well done on nicely written article. One of the main highlights is the perspective that stretches for longer than just 2 or 3 seasons. I think any reasonable interpretation of how we're doing would compare the past 10, 20 or 30 years with nowadays and conclude that we're doing pretty well. I can understand some frustrations with the manager, but it seems a nonsense to me that some want him out.
 

reidar

Long time lurker
Oct 7, 2006
51
27
this.
I want to look back in twenty years and say to my kids “Let me tell you about the greatest era in Spurs’ history” and be talking about Redknapp’s team.
this is also what i want.
 

rupsmith

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2006
1,714
2,328
By far and away the most reasonable, well thought out, yet infused with an awesome amount of passion write up I have read in a long time.

Well done sir.

While I am a tad disappointed with our performances this season, I often think back to the dark dark days of the early 2000's and can only be positive about the football being played currently and the team.

Come on Harry.

Come on you Spurs.
 

doom

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2003
2,368
1,338
it shows how far we have come when we finish 5th and had reached the quarters of the Champions League and yet we are not satisfied. This is the attitude we need.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Nicely written, the passion tinged with a smidgeon of disappoinment shines through but in the longer context we've done very well.
Agreee overall with your points but the altenatives are not wise Levy style investment or 'Leeds United' type oblivion. There is an ocean in between.

Liverpool went for it by appointing Dalgleish and spending their Torres money and damn near pulled it off.

I truly think we could have and should have made 4th this year, if not third, and to say we did better than we have done in the past doesn't quite cut it.
A bit of investment, shrewder handling of the squad might just have done the trick.
Loking forward to next season very much.
But then I always do.
 

2bearis2do

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2006
3,820
2,317
Nice read.
Though whilst I agree with the ideal of stability and in an ideal world would have granted that to Harry a year ago......things have changed and I don't believe Harry wants that stability or indeed to create a Spurs dynasty.

If he is offered the England job - he will go. That simple. (I also note today that the bookies have stopped taking bets on him becoming the next Chelski manager!) I also believe that his squad making and player buying decisions reflect this personality. He likes the older tried and trusted premiership player, Gallas, Neviile, Henry, Van Nistleroy are names he likes, names he wants.

He is not in it for the long term and that is the shame.

Martin Jol on the other hand could have, should have and maybe still could be offered that chance - he loved Spurs more than anything else and still does. It's that passion for the club that creates the dynasty over time, not a man like Harry Redknapp.

In short....

Fergie = Man Ure
Arsne = The Ar$e
Dalglish = Pool
Harry = Spurs ?!?
 

Spurs_Bear

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2009
17,094
22,286
Nice read.
Though whilst I agree with the ideal of stability and in an ideal world would have granted that to Harry a year ago......things have changed and I don't believe Harry wants that stability or indeed to create a Spurs dynasty.

If he is offered the England job - he will go. That simple. (I also note today that the bookies have stopped taking bets on him becoming the next Chelski manager!) I also believe that his squad making and player buying decisions reflect this personality. He likes the older tried and trusted premiership player, Gallas, Neviile, Henry, Van Nistleroy are names he likes, names he wants.

He is not in it for the long term and that is the shame.

Martin Jol on the other hand could have, should have and maybe still could be offered that chance - he loved Spurs more than anything else and still does. It's that passion for the club that creates the dynasty over time, not a man like Harry Redknapp.

In short....

Fergie = Man Ure
Arsne = The Ar$e
Dalglish = Pool
Harry = Spurs ?!?


:rofl:

What about when he whored himself out to Newcastle while he was our manager????

The homo loving for Martin Jol still makes me fucking laugh :lol:
 

2bearis2do

Well-Known Member
Apr 22, 2006
3,820
2,317
I thought he was linked with Newcastle after he left and not while he was at Spurs - that was never proven by anyone other than the gossip bandwagon.
He had a chance in Dec 2010 to join them after CH was sacked but refused. WHam also wanted him - but he refused.

You either think he did a great job at Spurs and think his work was cut short or you don't. I'm in the former camp... (so to speak!)
 

Spurs_Bear

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2009
17,094
22,286
I thought he was linked with Newcastle after he left and not while he was at Spurs - that was never proven by anyone other than the gossip bandwagon.
He had a chance in Dec 2010 to join them after CH was sacked but refused. WHam also wanted him - but he refused.

You either think he did a great job at Spurs and think his work was cut short or you don't. I'm in the former camp... (so to speak!)

No mate it's one of those things that people don't want to believe about Jol because he was a big cuddly bear.

I loved him, as a bloke, but it would be a massive backward step to get Jol back.

Christ the people who say Redknapp is tactically rubbish must forget the days of big Martin :lol:
 

JoeT

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2005
3,813
935
There doesn't have to be two camps '2bear...' Nobody is totally one thing or another.
Our Manager has done some very good things in the past year...and has screwed up on some things as well.....they don't need discussing again, and again, and again.
My take on our management has always been: go about re-building those parts of the squad that are so obviously weak, and then move on to hopefully be more competitive next season and I will be behind you all the way.
Right now the early signs are good; let's move on.
 

Paxtonite

Active Member
Nov 28, 2004
1,956
32
Fair enough (OP) but whilst we cry for stability it is highly unlikely that we will get it. Even if Arry doesn't jump ship to chelski now, it seems that he may well likely be England manager at the end of next season in which case bang goes stability again. That aside the guy is into his sixties and who knows how long he will carry on anyway.

I have been infuriated by him at times, but i dont think we need to replace him. I just wish he would learn from his occasional tactical mistakes and his verbal gaffes, but then can you really teach an old dog new tricks?

There can be no question of what he has achieved for us. I think most fans frustrations lie in the fact that the squad was primed to achieve so much more domestically this season despite what Arry says. Regardless of where we were in previous years etc, the fact is that all you can do is live in the moment and at this moment we have a squad to compare with arsenal, chelsea, liverpool and even city despite their spending. Whether that will be the case next season no one knows right now and i think that fear of maybe not being able to have the same chance to compete domestically next season compounded the frustration of the fans.

Anyway, roll on next season. Missing it already.

COYS
 

frosteye

Member
Nov 2, 2004
798
0
There can be no question of what he has achieved for us. I think most fans frustrations lie in the fact that the squad was primed to achieve so much more domestically this season despite what Arry says. Regardless of where we were in previous years etc, the fact is that all you can do is live in the moment and at this moment we have a squad to compare with arsenal, chelsea, liverpool and even city despite their spending. Whether that will be the case next season no one knows right now and i think that fear of maybe not being able to have the same chance to compete domestically next season compounded the frustration of the fans.

COYS

I think that paragraph sums it up pretty well.....

(for info I want Harry to stay!!)
 
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