- Jun 5, 2004
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[banner by the quite fantasmic chrissivad]
I've always liked City away. It's always a fixture that I think will yield a result. I remember Lennon getting to a ball on the touchline when he shouldn't have been allowed to, and squaring for Mido to plant firmly in the bottom corner. I remember Davenport twisting his head like that Mexican guy from World Cup 2002 (Borgetti, a quick google tells me) and of course I remember Huddlestone's fantastically timed volley that assaulted the back of the net. Much like his midweek effort in our European win.
This led me to believe I should expect a result here. Now this is a dangerous thought for any football fan, especially a bottom of the table Spurs fan, so I didn't let myself get carried away. I set my pre-match mode to "Ecstatic with a point; continuing unbeaten run".
So with a line-up that virtually picked itself, I was pretty happy with my pre-match mode. We even started the game well: knocking the ball about on the deck, Modric floating around the place seemingly swapping wings with Bentley on occasion and Bent making some interesting runs.
A couple of possession-surrenders later though, and we had Robinho running at us. I still think it's a bit funny he plays for them really. As somebody in the Match Day Chatroom (*plug plug plug*) said, "I heard he moved to Manchester City so that he could play with Richard Dunne". Hehe.
So anyway, the ball finds itself on the edge of our area just minutes after Assou-Ekotto had tried to play offside with the other three of our back line 5 yards behind him and then ran back to poke the ball to BigNoseGomes in a non-pass-back kinda way. As the ball was struck goalwards by Ireland (I think it was?), my pre-match mode setting quivered over "oh well, I'll take a good performance" and then BigNose parried dangerously into the middle and if I'm honest my gut instinct was "muppet".
Robinho slammed home the rebound whilst Woodgate did his best impression of a flamingo. Damn and blast. My gut instinct of "muppet" directed towards Gomes now seems a bit harsh, and I think I'm a bit too harsh on him generally. I think this is mostly due to a lingering heart string I have for Paul ENOEENO Robinson and his clear love of playing for us. Despite Gomes' (BigNoseGomes) jumping up and down before a half kicks off, I haven't been as drawn to him as I have previous keepers and I include Sullivan, Keller and Baardsen in that. Even ol' Curtains Mcgoo (Ian Walker). It could be due to him being the main Ramos input into our team, it equally could be his big nose.
I digress. (You love it really).
So we were one-nil down, and City, on Remembrance Sunday after all, decided to withdraw a man from the battlefield and not replace him. This was very charitable of them – and I think it was a red card for Gelson – both tackles were easy yellows for me and the lad had to go. Not only that lifeline but Richard Dunne, whom we courted quite severely over the early parts of the Summer, decided to let Darren Bent have a run at Joe Hart. Bent cut in neatly and finished with aplomb. Now I've never finished with aplomb, I don't even know what a plomb is – is it some kind of fruit? (*I hear boos from the audience, I thought puns were back in this year? :-( Sorry*).
And so without too much fuss, we were back level – and quite frankly in my mind we were the only team going to go on and win this.
Oooh before I get too carried away and skip into the second half, I must just remind you of that terrific turn and shot by Luka Modric. That was Schoolboy's Own Stuff™. A gorgeous dummy and turn, and only denied his account opener by a fantastic save by Joe Hart's extended arm. Gorgeous football t'was.
And the second half began: it was cagey to say the least. You would expect us to dominate the possession and we eventually did, and time was on our side too. It took a Huddlestone Hoddle-pass and some nimble work from Jenas before Bent could angle in a precise side-footed effort that not just kissed the post, but had a quick fondle of its breast too before stroking the back of the net and allowing Bent to sprint off, fist-pumping all the way, to claim his 11th of the season. Not bad eh for our supposed "reject" striker.
Bent has come into his own in the last fortnight, he looks an 'Arry type of player or at least a player who will prosper under a good ol' fashioned English manager who knows his strengths are playing on the shoulder of the last man. I still think he can fashion a partnership with Pavlyuchenko too. It's false to declare that "these two can't play together" – that's not how any partnership has ever started. It takes serious pitch-time before you can declare that, just because it didn't work in minute 1 of game 1 doesn't mean that it won't flourish. It's a soundbite that I was always confused about.
Anyway, I'm drifting again, much like our play did in the last 15 minutes. Whatever determines Spurs players to sit back on a one goal lead needs to be viciously eradicated. Not to Arsenal two-goal-lead levels
wink but to some level of calmness which doesn't involve me pacing my bedroom floor willing the clock to turnover quicker. And then after Dunne had tried to give us more breathing space by getting himself sent off for a ridiculous push on the Bentatron, Mr Assou-Ekotto (who I thought could have had a better game) decided to lunge in recklessly and earn himself a second yellow; the first of which was earned by kicking the ball away. "We'll 'av a word" says Harry. "Good" says Stoof.With Gomes having to make good saves from Ireland and Robinho, as well as Benjani, we managed to hold on and take 1 minute to take a corner before the ref blew up. Our first away win of the season (coming earlier than the last couple of years) and a 5 game (4 wins, 1 draw) unbeaten streak since Harry joined us late one Saturday night.
It's all looking a bit better isn't it lads?
Admittedly this piece isn't as good as the others, and I only have my nerves to blame: a wreck they were in those last 10 minutes, and they've cost me my memory too! Next week I'm at the Fulham game so expect a much more detailed Shout, with such favourites as "low bender" and BigNoseGomes featuring prominently.
Until next time!
