Real Madrid Vs Tottenham Hotspur: Match Thread

[ItsBoris]

I can't believe people are knocking Harry. If JD hadn't lost his goal scoring boots we'd be top four now. We lost tonight to one of the biggest teams in the world, in one of the best stadiums in the world, and that team just happens to be managed by one of the best managers in the world. They also happen to have the two most expensive players in the world - one of whom can only make their bench.

Are you kidding? People keep saying that 2 points from 8 games stuff but it doesn't mean we can't be critical of the past few weeks.

Why was VDV brought off at half time? And even more baffling, why did Defoe replace him instead of Pav? We needed someone to hold the ball up, give us time to move forward, instead it was just depressing watching long balls fly up to Defoe just losing the ball for us.

When Lennon was ruled out why on earth would we move our two best players out of position so that Jenas could play in the center?

It was just bad tactics (again) and no excuses for it really. Saying that I give Harry massive credit for developing our team and helping turn Bale, Modric, Sandro, etc, into great players but this is a different level where "just go out there and play your best" doesn't work, you need to know your opponents strengths and weaknesses and have a good strategy.

 

[full-frontal-nudity]

It was probably picked up long before had and no doubt Jenas was on stand by the whole time but Redknapp and Lennon wanted to wait as long as possible to see if he could shake it off and be up to playing the game.

It seemed worse/more dramatic to us at home because we were blissfully unaware of the situation until the late announcement but i am certain everyone within the Spurs came knew the deal for some time and previsions had been made as soon as Lennon woke up this morning not feeling his best (or even last night)

We were no doubt just taking advantage of the Uefa ruling knowing that putting Lennon on the team sheet would give him the longest possible time to recover and see if we could play him and if he was still unable to play we simply make the switch and lose nothing because he would have been too ill to play any how.

The only way this scenerio can be seen as an error is if making him a sub from the start would have enabled us to potentially use him as an impact sub if he recovered at all later in the match. It seems obvious he was in no shape to play because otherwise nothing would have stopped him.

Right if true.

"When Lennon was ruled out why on earth would we move our two best players out of position so that Jenas could play in the center?"

 

[Matt C]

half brother. don't get it twisted. i swear down his half bro died from a punch. no stabbing was involved.



Talking them up then weeks later talking it down.
Would be no detriment to the players belief system?

I can't speak for everyone and I have no idea how old Defoe's grandad was but mine were 84 and 87 when they died and death is just expected at old age so it is not like someone being taken in his prime so I would not have thought an elderly man reaching the end of his natural life should have that much effect on Defoe compared with the death very sudden and very young of his half brother

 

[full-frontal-nudity]

I can't speak for everyone and I have no idea how old Defoe's grandad was but mine were 84 and 87 when they died and death is just expected at old age so it is not like someone being taken in his prime so I would not have thought an elderly man reaching the end of his natural life should have that much effect on Defoe compared with the death very sudden and very young of his half brother

defoe was shot of confidence in front of goal before hid pops died.
what was the thinking in redknapps decision thinking he'd break that duck after that happened... ?


I don't know about you but from a black perspective when my grandad died it was a massive thing as he was seen as the chief of the tribe.

 

[DiscoD1882]

Never a yellow? :rofl: Two of the most needless and ridiculous challenges you will see for quite a while.

Running away from goal in his own half and crouch was sliding across him not into him so yes no yellow card. Watch it again and stop believing the Andy grey intention shit! It was NOT a yellow card or a sending off!

 

[The Apprentice]

A number of things contributed to our downfall tonight.

The omission of Lennon. Fair enough if you're not well but it didn't suddenly spring itself on him a minute before kick off.

Bale and VdV still only half cooked.

Crouch having an absolute clusterfuck moment.

Who the fuck organised our defensive marking at set pieces?! Why was Dawson not on Adebayor?! Anyone but fucking pussy willow Jenas himself. Might as well have stuck VdV on him, at least he'd pull his shirt or something.

Redknapp freezing on the big occasion when Crouch got sent off. Leaving VdV up front on his own was alwys going to result in the ball coming straight back. But then to take him off and put that complete nancy Defoe on was plain dumbfounding. He can't hold the ball, doesn't compete and offered fuck all outlet. Baffling.

Playing Jenas at all.

The most frustrating thing for me is that we will never know if we could have mixed it and beaten Madrid. It will always be pie in the sky and what ifs and maybes all thanks to Crouchy/Redknapp losing their marbles.

Madrid aren't that good.

A shame, a real fucking shame.

 

[OmarsComing]

A number of things contributed to our downfall tonight.

The omission of Lennon. Fair enough if you're not well but it didn't suddenly spring itself on him a minute before kick off.

Bale and VdV still only half cooked.

Crouch having an absolute clusterfuck moment.

Who the fuck organised our defensive marking at set pieces?! Why was Dawson not on Adebayor?! Anyone but fucking pussy willow Jenas himself. Might as well have stuck VdV on him, at least he'd pull his shirt or something.

Redknapp freezing on the big occasion when Crouch got sent off. Leaving VdV up front on his own was alwys going to result in the ball coming straight back. But then to take him off and put that complete nancy Defoe on was plain dumbfounding. He can't hold the ball, doesn't compete and offered fuck all outlet. Baffling.

Playing Jenas at all.

The most frustrating thing for me is that we will never know if we could have mixed it and beaten Madrid. It will always be pie in the sky and what ifs and maybes all thanks to Crouchy/Redknapp losing their marbles.

Madrid aren't that good.

A shame, a real fucking shame.

Are you being serious? Their squad is only 2nd to Barca and they have the best manager in the world. Not that good compared to Barca, better than every other football club in the world.

 

[danielneeds]

Are you being serious? Their squad is only 2nd to Barca and they have the best manager in the world. Not that good compared to Barca, better than every other football club in the world.

:clap: They would win this year's piss poor PL at a canter

 

[ibbz]

:clap: They would win this year's piss poor PL at a canter

Who gives a toss, they haven't won the European Cup for a while, and if they meet Barca in the Semi (IF they don't lose 5-0 to Spurs) , their hearts will be broken in more pieces than ours were tonight. And I'll laugh at Cristiano Ronaldo's tears!

 

[roosh]

Talking them up then weeks later talking it down.Would be no detriment to the players belief system?

I'd say he says more behind closed doors though. He probably tried it, saw it wasn't having the desired effect and then changed tack.

We've still had a great season.

 

[ItsBoris]

Are you being serious? Their squad is only 2nd to Barca and they have the best manager in the world. Not that good compared to Barca, better than every other football club in the world.

I don't see how they are any better than Utd and Chelsea tbh, Barca is the best team in the world and those three teams are all about the same imo.

 

[ibbz]

5th for me is not a great season.
A visit to the Champs League for 1 solitary season is not good for me.

I want trophies, I want 3rd place, fuck it, I want the Title!

We've spent enough, have some excellent players but lack the manager to take the team forward - we seem to be going backwards with this tax dodging clown.

We're lucky the other teams have also been pretty poor - otherwise we'd be left for dead.

 

[OmarsComing]

I don't see how they are any better than Utd and Chelsea tbh, Barca is the best team in the world and those three teams are all about the same imo.

I agree that there isnt much in it between Chelsea, Man U and Real Madrid, but what i think is undeniable, is that Real have the best manager and they have - by far imho - the strongest squad out of the teams aforementioned.

 

[Spurger King]

Just got back from my night out of fun.

Well...that went well.

For me there were three big factors in this game:

1) Crouch deciding to fuck us.

2) Harry deciding to replace the one player with the most to prove with the one player that has proved he has the least to offer.

3) Mourinho getting his tactics and motivation spot-on after the interval.

Personally I'm not going to sit around and cry about this. I just hope we send out a full-strength team against Stoke, and send out a skeleton team against Madrid at the Lane. It's over. Getting a respectable score when going out means nothing compared to trying again next season.

 

[ItsBoris]

I agree that there isnt much in it between Chelsea, Man U and Real Madrid, but what i think is undeniable, is that Real have the best manager and they have - by far imho - the strongest squad out of the teams aforementioned.

Disagree on that too, Ferguson is a slightly better manager and Man Utd have as strong a squad, Chelsea don't on either count.

I think it's quite amazing that United can put out a team of 7 defenders many of whom were "backups" and still win comfortably 2-0 against Le Arse. And when they need a goal Ferguson can throw an extra world-class forward on and make decisions like moving Giggs to left back that actually work. Would be an interesting final between United and Madrid imo, I think Barca would beat both of them though.

 

[nailsy]

Are you kidding? People keep saying that 2 points from 8 games stuff but it doesn't mean we can't be critical of the past few weeks.

Why was VDV brought off at half time? And even more baffling, why did Defoe replace him instead of Pav? We needed someone to hold the ball up, give us time to move forward, instead it was just depressing watching long balls fly up to Defoe just losing the ball for us.

When Lennon was ruled out why on earth would we move our two best players out of position so that Jenas could play in the center?

It was just bad tactics (again) and no excuses for it really. Saying that I give Harry massive credit for developing our team and helping turn Bale, Modric, Sandro, etc, into great players but this is a different level where "just go out there and play your best" doesn't work, you need to know your opponents strengths and weaknesses and have a good strategy.

I should have been clearer. I've got no problem with people saying Harry got his tactics wrong, but to say he's a rubbish manager, or that he should be sacked is ridiculous.

 

[tobi]

Obviously it was always going to be a tough game but actually starting that idiot just played into their hands. Its not rocket science to decide to play a high line against us when he is in the team, especially when its VDV that's playing off him. Mourinho isn't like the other managers we have come up against in the competition, he actually does his homework.

 

[Wsussexspur]

A number of things contributed to our downfall tonight.

The omission of Lennon. Fair enough if you're not well but it didn't suddenly spring itself on him a minute before kick off.

Bale and VdV still only half cooked.

Crouch having an absolute clusterfuck moment.

Who the fuck organised our defensive marking at set pieces?! Why was Dawson not on Adebayor?! Anyone but fucking pussy willow Jenas himself. Might as well have stuck VdV on him, at least he'd pull his shirt or something.

Redknapp freezing on the big occasion when Crouch got sent off. Leaving VdV up front on his own was alwys going to result in the ball coming straight back. But then to take him off and put that complete nancy Defoe on was plain dumbfounding. He can't hold the ball, doesn't compete and offered fuck all outlet. Baffling.

Playing Jenas at all.

The most frustrating thing for me is that we will never know if we could have mixed it and beaten Madrid. It will always be pie in the sky and what ifs and maybes all thanks to Crouchy/Redknapp losing their marbles.

Madrid aren't that good.

A shame, a real fucking shame.

I disagree Madrid arnt that good! They are probably 2nd best club team in the world have the best manager in the world at the moment!

 

[ItsBoris]

I should have been clearer. I've got no problem with people saying Harry got his tactics wrong, but to say he's a rubbish manager, or that he should be sacked is ridiculous.

True, I agree with that. But he also has a lot to learn and it's frustrating that we keep making the same mistakes.