Is the AC victory a landmark?

[walworthyid]

Thinking back over the past 4 or 5 years of relative success, certainly our most sustained period of success in a generation, I see a number of landmark moments, games that on reflection have been significant in terms of our development.

I think back to the first time we beat Chelsea. What a game that was, Dawson and then Lennon. That tackle from Ledley. Robben hitting the post late on. The euphoria we all felt when the final whistle went, we had finally done it. As a club, we all began to believe, the fans, the manager, the players and even the media. Spurs could win big games. Yet there was still a lingering doubt, spurs will always let you down.......

Then there was the victory in the Carling cup final. We played well and deserved to win. But it was only the Carling Cup, could we do it in a really big game?

So we beat Chelsea at home again. Yeh but what did it really mean? It was certainly a bigger deal to us than it was to them. It was just 3 points dropped for them, they would move on to the next match while we would bring out a dvd!

On to last season, I honestly believe that although we were consistent throughout the season, that something happened in those magical 4 days in April when against all the odds we bounced back from the defeat against Portsmouth to deservedly beat Chelsea and Arsenal. We looked like a decent side, we looked like a team that could see out a game. But more importantly, we won when we really had to, when the points meant as much to them as it did to us.

We did it again at the City of Manchester stadium, the pressure was on, everything was at stake, yet we produced a masterful and dominant performance that in the end was comfortable.

Finally we had come of age, not just in one off games but across an entire season. We could do it when it mattered. We were good enough.

We've gone on to build from those victories. We took the CL by storm, we're even better in the league. Every time we are down, under pressure, we produce. Have you noticed that just when you think we are going to buckle, that the pressure is too much, the injury list too great, that this team comes back better and stronger. Is it any surprise that we are the comeback kings? Had the game in Milan against Inter been 10 minutes longer, who would bet against us winning? Not many.

So what will the AC game mean long after the dust has settled?

For me I saw a very different team. This wasn't the swashbuckling, rampaging team of pace and power. This was a mature, patient, sophisticated team that wasn't fazed by the occasion. Just another big game to go and win. Another scalp to claim. It was a performance where we had to show so many qualities as it ebbed and flowed, but at no point were we in disarray. At no point did we look like we didn't belong.

I think we will look back at that game and think; that is when it happened. That is when we became a proper team. A team that can really produce on the big occasion.

Yet, one more thing remains. The holy grail that constantly eludes us, that the gods conspire to keep from our grasp, always over the next hill or around the next corner. Can we finally beat Manchester bloody utd?

When we do, we'll win the league!

 

[andyw362]

Good post but lets not get carried away. One game at a time.

 

[StartingPrice]

Time will tell.

If it turns out to have been, it won't have been the only one in the last season and a half.

 

[Spurger King]

Enjoyed that post. We've had some massive results in the last few seasons. You missed the 5-1 against Arsenal, which I think was actually hugely significant in terms of the psychology of the fans and the players.

The Man City game was huge, and we triumphed.

The Inter game was where we proved our worth in Europe.

But the result in Milan was something else altogether. I said in the match thread that this was a "turning point" and I stand by that. As you say, we showed a maturity that we've lacked in the past. When Souness said "I don't think any of us thought Spurs had that in their locker" I knew exactly what he meant. It was an intelligent performance, and should banish any last vestiges of insecurity in our squad.

I'd been concerned that the media were trying to turn us into a one-man team, after Bale's exploits. Instead, we went to the San Siro without King, Bale, Hudd (and Modric on the bench), and still beat them.

I'm still struggling to believe what I've seen over the last two years.

 

[StartingPrice]

Funny, though, but that one-man seems to be oscillatingand multiplying with regularity (like, everytimewe play:grin.

The one-man-team os Spurs of the week is Sandro:rofl:

p.s. not laughing at anyone thinking that Sandro is a good player, but that he is ostensibly so far down our pecking order (not for long, I don't think), and THudd was top of United's list (joint top along with Modric, and, er Bale, and er, VDV and, er, Lennon, and er...well, you gt the picture). And now all of a sudden, after one Euro start by the young-un, all of a sudden Inter want to buy him, because the footballing World has, apparently, just noticed that we buy good young players:hump:

 

[walworthyid]

Enjoyed that post. We've had some massive results in the last few seasons. You missed the 5-1 against Arsenal, which I think was actually hugely significant in terms of the psychology of the fans and the players.

The Man City game was huge, and we triumphed.

The Inter game was where we proved our worth in Europe.

But the result in Milan was something else altogether. I said in the match thread that this was a "turning point" and I stand by that. As you say, we showed a maturity that we've lacked in the past. When Souness said "I don't think any of us thought Spurs had that in their locker" I knew exactly what he meant. It was an intelligent performance, and should banish any last vestiges of insecurity in our squad.

I'd been concerned that the media were trying to turn us into a one-man team, after Bale's exploits. Instead, we went to the San Siro without King, Bale, Hudd (and Modric on the bench), and still beat them.

I'm still struggling to believe what I've seen over the last two years.

I agree. Some of the results we have produced since Harry took over are amazing. I also missed out beating the scum away which I think was yet another massive game. The key thing is that despite our insecurities as fans, the players don't seem to share them They just seem to turn up and play. Yes we get beat, and yes we're not the finished article, but we really aren't that far away imo.

I also think that the belief side of things is not some sort of mystical quality, it comes from having good players who produce winning football.

In all honesty, we never beat the scum or Chelsea for all of those years mostly because they were simply much better than us. But they aren't anymore and when we play them and both teams are really motivated to win, we are more than good enough to do so.

 

[Spurger King]

Funny, though, but that one-man seems to be oscillatingand multiplying with regularity (like, everytimewe play:grin.

The one-man-team os Spurs of the week is Sandro:rofl:

p.s. not laughing at anyone thinking that Sandro is a good player, but that he is ostensibly so far down our pecking order (not for long, I don't think), and THudd was top of United's list (joint top along with Modric, and, er Bale, and er, VDV and, er, Lennon, and er...well, you gt the picture). And now all of a sudden, after one Euro start by the young-un, all of a sudden Inter want to buy him, because the footballing World has, apparently, just noticed that we buy good young players:hump:

I was actually thinking of mentioning that in my previous post. Just the fact that a recently peripheral figure like Sandro can suddenly become catapulted into the spotlight really underlines the strength of the squad.

Kranjcar is another one that emphasised the ability running through the entire team. It's quite incredible to think that our second string team of today is probably better than our first string teams from most of the last 10 seasons.

 

[StartingPrice]

I was actually thinking of mentioning that in my previous post. Just the fact that a recently peripheral figure like Sandro can suddenly become catapulted into the spotlight really underlines the strength of the squad.

Kranjcar is another one that emphasised the ability running through the entire team. It's quite incredible to think that our second string team of today is probably better than our first string teams from most of the last 10 seasons.

Really. I thought I was rambling a bitEek

The funny thing is, we are now taking about teams like Liverpool wanting our more peripheral players (I like Kranks, and hope he stays, but you would have to describe him as such ATM).

The players mentioned as being 'expendable', to some degree or another, would pretty much have been regular 1st eleven players two years ago.

I don't want to jump the gun but I really think we can keep all of our big players this Summer...and add.

 

[mumbles]

Great post walworthyid

 

[Aaron140]

This thread makes my balls tingle with excitement :lol:

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I said in the ratings thread that that was Redknapp's finest hour as a spurs manager. I think it was his finest hour (and a half) as a manager full stop.

I've been banging on for months about pressing the ball and our work ethic. Tuesday night he made hard decisions, but got every single one of them right. But most importantly he clearly sent them out pressing the ball up the pitch and all over the pitch. Having finally got round to watching the recording of the game what was really interesting was to actually hear Redknapp explain his thinking, and selection process re Pienaar/Kranjcar, and tactics.

During the game you could clearly hear our bench barking at various players to push up and press the ball. I want to hear that every game from here on in.

He sent us out to press them all over the pitch and we did and against all the odds, we ended up outplaying and he ended up out thinking a great team and a very astute (tactically) manager respectively.

My big hope is not just the confidence and belief that the players take from that game, but the lesson Redknapp learns. That he can get that kind of work rate from the players every game as a minimum requirement not a bonus on top of great attacking flair moments, and that sometimes what's best for the team isn't playing all your supposed star players at the same time.

We have seen some articles written in the press alluding to the fact that Redknapp clearly does "do" tactics. We all know he does. He hasn't always got them right, and he won't always get them right in the future, but if he now instills the "Milan" work rate and pressing as standard DNA in our ethos, then the tactics will always be of secondary importance anyway.

There have of course been good performances and bursts this in the past under Redknapp, but, as I said in my original ratings post, that was a proper footballing performance tuesday. We grew up. We earned the right to play, and it was us that were playing the football in the last 10 minutes because we'd taken what they could throw and spat it out.

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

I agree with what's been said here, and all praise to Harry and the players. Milan was a coming-of-age game where we looked like a grown-up team.

 

[philbcn]

good thread, hopefully so. But we've got to get trough the home leg for it to count. We're only at half time v Milan

 

[worcestersauce]

Agree with the sentiment but I'd expand it just a little, I'd say the last month has been a landmark, since losing Bale & Modric for the last three league games and even VDV for half of them we have taken maximum points winning all three.
I think this is most significant in that they were not big games against teams we would raise our game for but we had to grind out the results and that's what we did and what that means is that the AC Milan game was not a one off in fact they may have made the AC game possible and that is why the original post is right, we really have come of age.

 

[walworthyid]

I said in the ratings thread that that was Redknapp's finest hour as a spurs manager. I think it was his finest hour (and a half) as a manager full stop.

I've been banging on for months about pressing the ball and our work ethic. Tuesday night he made hard decisions, but got every single one of them right. But most importantly he clearly sent them out pressing the ball up the pitch and all over the pitch. Having finally got round to watching the recording of the game what was really interesting was to actually hear Redknapp explain his thinking, and selection process re Pienaar/Kranjcar, and tactics.

During the game you could clearly hear our bench barking at various players to push up and press the ball. I want to hear that every game from here on in.

He sent us out to press them all over the pitch and we did and against all the odds, we ended up outplaying and he ended up out thinking a great team and a very astute (tactically) manager respectively.

My big hope is not just the confidence and belief that the players take from that game, but the lesson Redknapp learns. That he can get that kind of work rate from the players every game as a minimum requirement not a bonus on top of great attacking flair moments, and that sometimes what's best for the team isn't playing all your supposed star players at the same time.

We have seen some articles written in the press alluding to the fact that Redknapp clearly does "do" tactics. We all know he does. He hasn't always got them right, and he won't always get them right in the future, but if he now instills the "Milan" work rate and pressing as standard DNA in our ethos, then the tactics will always be of secondary importance anyway.

There have of course been good performances and bursts this in the past under Redknapp, but, as I said in my original ratings post, that was a proper footballing performance tuesday. We grew up. We earned the right to play, and it was us that were playing the football in the last 10 minutes because we'd taken what they could throw and spat it out.

Watching the Barca game the next day the thing that struck me first was the work-rate of David Villa and Messi, they didn't just amble across to close down like our strikers do, they literally sprinted to close down every single time a defender got the ball. This not only makes it difficult for teams, especially the better teams, to find space to play, but it also helps you to impose yourself on the opposition.

In the early part of away games at places like Wolves, Blackpool, Sunderland or Stoke, the home fans and players are up for it and come out firing thinking they can take a big scalp, if we come out and let them know we'll match them, it completely changes the nature of the game.

We were doing it for a while last season, but as you say, this should be the blueprint for every game. As a very minimum, players should be working their socks off to provide the platform for the pretty football.

 

[mattwilson]

Watching the Barca game the next day the thing that struck me first was the work-rate of David Villa and Messi, they didn't just amble across to close down like our strikers do, they literally sprinted to close down every single time a defender got the ball. This not only makes it difficult for teams, especially the better teams, to find space to play, but it also helps you to impose yourself on the opposition.

In the early part of away games at places like Wolves, Blackpool, Sunderland or Stoke, the home fans and players are up for it and come out firing thinking they can take a big scalp, if we come out and let them know we'll match them, it completely changes the nature of the game.

We were doing it for a while last season, but as you say, this should be the blueprint for every game. As a very minimum, players should be working their socks off to provide the platform for the pretty football.

It's the 7 second rule that Barca play - if you lose the ball you work your ass off for 7 seconds to win it back, if you fail you drop back into position.

 

[Gilzeanking]

I can see where the OP is coming from .

I think the next hurdle is for the players to show the AC level of effort away to ..er..Blackpool or other similar matches .

Against these teams we are often slow out of the traps.....until they score
THATS the thing that wakes us up and gets our team up for it . Hence we become the 'comeback kings' .

So the next target is to get us motivated enough to tear into these 'smaller'
teams from the off ...Then we win the Prem !

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Watching the Barca game the next day the thing that struck me first was the work-rate of David Villa and Messi, they didn't just amble across to close down like our strikers do, they literally sprinted to close down every single time a defender got the ball. This not only makes it difficult for teams, especially the better teams, to find space to play, but it also helps you to impose yourself on the opposition.

In the early part of away games at places like Wolves, Blackpool, Sunderland or Stoke, the home fans and players are up for it and come out firing thinking they can take a big scalp, if we come out and let them know we'll match them, it completely changes the nature of the game.

We were doing it for a while last season, but as you say, this should be the blueprint for every game. As a very minimum, players should be working their socks off to provide the platform for the pretty football.

I've taken a lot of shit for criticising Redknapp's ability as a coach, but two years ago after we played Barca in a friendly, Redknapp paid lip service to this "pressing" from the front, but has never coached it into us since. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the style of football you want to play, it is what separates top drawer side from the rest.

Our CM's have taken so much flack, but how can you shine in CM when your strikers and wide man make half arsed attempts to close down, which drags CM's all over the pitch, in turn exposing huge spaces in front of our defenders and making their job harder.

It's so naive to talk about being "open" and just an excuse for a lack of work on the training pitch.

But hopefully we have learnt this lesson on tuesday, and one that sticks with us.

 

[kcmei]

the players must keep improving. If you stand still you will be overtaken...

 

[Such Small Portions]

It's the 7 second rule that Barca play - if you lose the ball you work your ass off for 7 seconds to win it back, if you fail you drop back into position.

I've never heard of this? Is it quite a well known thing? Interesting.