*** ARSENAL v SPURS *** Official Match Thread

[rez9000]

It points to the fact that the depth of our squad needs looking at. We have one, proven, top-drawer CB. And he's injured. The rest are all laerning. They will probably come good in time, as there's a lot of talent, but it needs developing. We have no top-drawer, real match-beater in the centre of midfield. No direspect to JJ or Malbranque (who to be fair has been absolutely fantastic this season), but for all their strengths, they're not top of the tree.

Only in attack have we real quality AND depth. Any club in the Premiership would be happy to have our forward lineup.

So the question of rest is relevent, but only in the context that for every game, we have to rely on our strongest team, because the backup isn't quite up to standard (yet), whereas the Scummy Bastard Scum can field a second-tier team against weaker opposition.

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

No i am not sour that we lost i thought it was one of the better performances i have seen against the scum.

What i was trying to say was their was a total look off do i have to be here?? we have payed alot of money for this guy he could at least show a bit of passion in a crucial (to the fans game):shake:

Fair enough :up:

I only read this earlier:

Source: Guardian 22.12.07
Darren Bent Interview

'People go on like I've been here two years and it hasn't worked. I'll turn it around'

The problem with football these days? Everyone is so damn impatient. Managers live in fear of the sack if they go three games without a win, supporters boo as soon as someone misplaces his first pass and, as Darren Bent can testify, new signings can forget about the old theory that they should be allowed a year or so to settle in. Nobody seems to have any time any more. Everyone wants success to be instantaneous

Bent has heard all the mocking chants of "what a waste of money". He has grown wearily accustomed to being derided as a £16.5m white elephant and, in the interests of self-preservation, he has had to develop selective hearing at certain grounds. It has been a difficult six months since joining Tottenham Hotspur and, if he plays in today's north London derby - "if" being the word, given that he has started only seven league games this season - he knows he will be an easy target for the Arsenal fans and maybe a few in the Tottenham end.

"It's the way of the world," he says. "People are always going to pick out someone who cost a lot of money and, so far, it's fair to say Tottenham haven't seen the best of me. But it's been only six months. Some people go on like I've been here two years and it simply hasn't worked. But it will work and I will turn it around."

If he wanted to argue the toss, he could cite that some of Arsenal's more celebrated players - Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires to name two - hardly pulled up trees in their first seasons or, widening the argument, that Cristiano Ronaldo flickered only sporadically when he first arrived at Manchester United. Yet Bent comes across as remarkably laid back for someone under such close scrutiny.

This is his first interview since signing from Charlton Athletic and he is acutely aware that many of the questions might have a negative slant. Yet nothing is out of bounds and he does not insist on vetting what is written. His only request is that he is sent a copy of the photograph for his mother, Shirley. And the only flicker of anger is when the conversation turns to Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager who selected Theo Walcott ahead of him for last year's World Cup. "I saw him when we played Manchester City recently but I wouldn't even look at him," he says.

Otherwise Bent is calm and relaxed and, unless he has been taking acting lessons, he does not seem overly fazed by his return of five goals in six months. "I'm not overconfident or arrogant but I do believe in my ability," he says. "I'd like to have played more and it isn't nice sometimes to be left out. It's difficult when you find yourself in and out of the team all the time. But I knew this might be the case because there were fantastic strikers here already in Robbie [Keane], Jermain [Defoe] and Berba [Dimitar Berbatov].

"It was always going to be difficult to get a regular place but, ultimately, it will make me a better player being in this kind of competition. I could have gone to a few other clubs and been playing every week but it was Tottenham I wanted to join and I don't regret that one bit. I still believe in myself. I'm still working hard because I know the minute I stop doing that is when it all goes to pot. But I don't think that will ever happen with me. I'm still convinced I can have the same impact for Tottenham that I had for Charlton. I'm still convinced it's only a matter of time."

He is encouraged by the fact that the club's new manager, Juande Ramos, seems to have more confidence in him than did his predecessor, Martin Jol. But that, in itself, throws up more questions. Why would the man who believed Bent was worth a larger transfer fee than Thierry Henry cost Barcelona seem so reluctant about putting him in the team?
"It was surprising for me," says Bent. "He bought me but then he didn't really want to play me. I used to find it frustrating and I can remember speaking to my mum and dad about what to do. I'm not the type to go knocking on the manager's door but I was starting to wonder, 'What is going on here?' Thankfully the new guy has come in now." Note the 'thankfully'.

We are talking at North Middlesex Hospital, where Tottenham have a tradition of sending players to deliver Christmas presents to the children. This year's volunteers were Bent, Berbatov and Younes Kaboul and occasions like this put everything into perspective. "Listen," says Bent. "Away fans are always going to throw my price tag back at me but it wasn't me who thought of that figure. Charlton made it up and I'm just happy Tottenham paid it. People are going to aim it at me but it's really nothing to do with me."

He sounds as if he means it, although Trevor Francis used to say the same thing after becoming England's first £1m footballer, then admitted after he had retired that it was actually the bane of his life. "Not me," Bent reiterates, shaking his head. "I don't even think about it."
He is, however, bemused by some of the attention that comes with costing so much. "There was even one story about me going to a private gym for some extra fitness lessons," he says. "I was just there because my girlfriend was a member."

And so the talk turns to Eriksson and, specifically, Bent's omission from the World Cup. Bent has never expressed his anger before but it is clear the resentment is still eating away - perhaps understandably, after figuring in every England squad for the two years running up to the tournament, as well being the leading English scorer in the Premier League. "On the last day of the season Curbs [Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager] took me off at half-time," Bent remembers. "He said, 'You're going to the World Cup this summer and I don't want to risk you getting an injury here.'"

When his mobile rang and Eriksson informed him he had been left out, the first person Bent rang was his father Mervyn, a former player himself. "He started effing and blinding down the phone. My mum was the same too. I rang some of my friends, team-mates, Richard Murray [the Charlton chairman] and Curbs. Everyone was fuming.
"I was in shock when I spoke to Sven and it was only after I heard the way my mum and dad were talking that I thought, 'Hang on a second'. I had so many things I wanted to say to him but it was a withheld number. Smart guy. It's nothing against Theo Walcott because he's an outstanding young player but after working my nuts off all season that was a big disappointment and, in the end, it was proven that Sven didn't take enough strikers."

An interesting side note: Bent responded to Eriksson's snub by "using it to score even more goals" last season - in total 15 in 35 appearances for a Charlton side doomed for relegation. In other words he has previous when it comes to proving people wrong and, listening to him, it is something he intends to put into practice again. The 23-year-old grew up in Tooting as an Arsenal fan - "Ian Wright was my hero" - and some critics might joke that, yes, he has been playing like a Gooner. But all he wants is a bit of patience.




Can't help but like the lad with interviews like that.

 

[chrissivad]

I know I would much rather have someone with a track record of missing all their penalties previously.:roll:

i agree, but it doesn't mean that he didn't bottle it today. and thats the way i read it.

It sounded like because he scored pen under pressure before that wasn't the reason for the miss today :shrug:

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

I know I would much rather have someone with a track record of missing all their penalties previously.:roll:

What he said :up:

 

[PLTuck]

I may have been reading the wrong threads as I've not seen anyone use this 'excuse'.

What I have seen posted is that a very, very depleted Spurs first XI gave the full strength gooner XI a very good, close run game.

 

[eaststand upper s/ticket]

Personally i was more pissed off with taarabt pissing himself laughing with Adebayor 30 seconds after the final whistle.

I had already turned the telly off by then , but yes it is wrong and kicks you in the bollocks
:evil:

 

[theShiznit]

Keane was still the right choice for me; defoe ran about like a little boy looking for his mummy in the supermarket :shrug: (and if you look at past posts i am not pro Keane or anti Defoe

at least Keane pulls players out of position, looks up and passes the ball, and runs his socks off. sure i've called him a few names today and berbatov (who did not start running until he scored, and flattered to deceive, meekly giving up possession on numerous occasions with no desire to chase back)

If you're unfortunate enough to know some scum don't even wait for them to mention the game, just punch them in the ear (women and children included) and inform them how they were lucky to beat our reserves, and that we had more reserves in that team than they played in the carling cup.

and that we had 99.9% possession, and they only actually touched the ball 7 times in the whole match and warm-up; two kick offs, lennon set up their first goal, corner taker and header for 2nd.

we'll rinse 'em in the cup.

 

[Babylon22]

Defoe is such a shit player in these type of matches. but Keane didn't do much better. so i dunno.

 

[Juande_Ramos]

Hard luck. Spurs deserved a draw after an excellent perfomance at the Emirates with a depleted team. The fact that Wenger had to bring in Gilberto tells the story. Had Keane scored the penalty the result may have been completely different.
The only way is up for Spurs.

 

[General Levy]

People have to start using the BBC player rating because Cesc, Adebayor, Almunia and Bendtner all have higher ratings than O'Hara.

Who cares?:shrug:

There Are more Arsenal fans than Tottenham and they are always going to be manipulated in their favour.

 

[Babylon22]

Off topic: How sad did Martin Tyler sound when the ref gave us the pen?....sounded like he was close to tears.

 

[bomberH]

Off topic: How sad did Martin Tyler sound when the ref gave us the pen?....sounded like he was close to tears.

Yeah i noticed that. There was no excitement in his voice whatsoever, despite the fact we had come from behind at their place and were just about to go 2-1 up (doh). But in his defence, he does that sometimes. Just a bit annoying that he did it today.

 

[inegve]

I agree that the guys should be wiser when deciding who will take the pens.I'm not gonna talk shit bout Keano, but it was clear today wasn't his day, missing that volley, so he could've said "Here Berba take it".And yeah, what the hell was Taraabt doing with Adebayor.Proves for me Adel is not a team player and only plays for himself.Don't rate him at all.We should beat them for the CC.

 

[whendayearendsin1]

just back from the game. Good display took the game to scum and just feel short, O'Hara was impressive.

Seen spurs play at Pompy, city and scum in the last week. I have to say even with a patched up team we moving in the right direction.

special mention for Kaboul, he has recicved loads of stick in recent weeks. Today he was again excellent.

COYS

 

[BoringOldFan]

Gus sums up.

Denies the substitution affect their winner. Says it was down to a player not picking up Bendtner "we know who it is".

I think we all do, Gus!

 

[ChRiStOpHe]

special mention for Kaboul, he has recicved loads of stick in recent weeks. Today he was again excellent.

COYS

Well said buddy.

I've been one to stick up for his big time recently. He reminds me to much of a young Rio Ferdinand.

If he turns out to be anything but top class, I will put my hands up and admit my mistake... I'm still convinced though :up:

 

[Babylon22]

Gus sums up.

Denies the substitution affect their winner. Says it was down to a player not picking up Bendtner "we know who it is".

I think we all do, Gus!

ooooh, don't think we'll be seeing anymore of huddlestone after that response.

 

[PT]

ooooh, don't think we'll be seeing anymore of huddlestone after that response.

He may have cocked up on his defensive duties, not withstanding the inadvertant block as he tracked Bentner but he looked good when putting the ball forward and that is his main asset.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Kaboul is still cool in my books - where that puts him in a footballing context i have no idea, but he's cool, nonetheless :up:

I thought Teemu didn't do badly in that right back slot, tackled as he always does, didn't stop closing down, so kudos to him for filling in there when he doesn't appear to be in Wendys midfield plans so far.

Berbatov looked distinctly bored for most of the first half, scored a cracker, but otherwise looked like his mind was elsewhere. O'hara worked hard, but Boateng was all but invisible, not backing up O'hara or Lennon, so eager was he to break forward.

We didn't look bad, especially considering our random defence, but we still let ourselves down when we got within the last 20 yards of the pitch, going forward. The supply to the strikers is poor and when three midfielders are playing further forward than Berbatov we need to wonder if we should be concentrating on that holding midfielder role as urgently as we need cover in defence. The gap infront of our defence was obvious and gave them a lot of room to pass it about - i think Teemu would be a better candidate in that slot, with Salty at RB, but Wendy chose otherwise...

Not a bad show against a seriously in form Woolwich.

 

[Babylon22]

Seriously.Can we give up on Stalteri please.Ramos obviously doesn't rate him at all. He played a CM at RB ahead of him. After signing gunther,wouldn't surprise me if he left in january.