As ever - a profoundly honest and common sense appraisal from our top man.

But identifying the problem is only half the battle - we really have to do something about it and that means deciding best starting team and sticking to it for a bit. esp. central mid and up front.

Good news from last night - Steed's best performance for us yet- swivelling off his marker and drawing team mates in very well on ocassion. Still only flashes, but a taster of what we can hope for

We dont seem to be dominant enough in midfiled i remember watching so many games last season where the opposing team couldnt get out there own half, we seem to miss that. Hopefully we can start to put some fight back in to our team.

Blimey, our manager really talks sense. So glad he's ours.

"We have hundreds of thousands of supporters who were very disappointed and I could feel that. I don't want it again." I love this man.....

Nervous about the "medial ligament strain", but have to wait for the full prognosis I guess.

Otherwise, got to say that BMJ fills me with more confidence than any manager since Tel. Never ever leave.

Martin always speaks the truth - legend!

Good performance last night, think the Hudd needs to be starting from now on, he can be to us what Fabretwat is too the scum! Him and Zoko together seems the best cm pairing, steed and lennon on the wings and now JD gets a run of games, maybe get to see Pekhart on the bench with Mido and Keane both out, he's been bangin em in for the ressies and u18's!

Will be good to see Reidy back at the lane, he's impressed me immensely since he got into the middle for Charlton, always rated him and wish he'd played there for us! Should still win the game tho, 2-0 or 3-1 I think.

COYS

Afternoon all,

new to this board and as a Dutch Spursfan lurking for some time to read all about the footballnews.

This story is self-explanatory I think but I hope to add some comments in the future.
:razz:
COYS!

with zoko gone for three games i hope jenas is fit to go into the middle with thudd as i really do feel that when they have lpayed together this season they have been our best midfield combination because jenas' amazing work rate allows hudd the space on the ball to do the beautiful things while hudds ability to hold onto the ball with strength and technique as well as his ability to pass allows jenas to make all the right runs! i hope we start with the exact same team against charlton but with jenas in for the suspended zokora, who, lets face it, at the moment is a flop with a stinking attitude problem!

You must have been watching a different game to me last night! Zokora was nearly back to his best...surging runs, battling for the ball....and a will to win.

His sending off had nothing to do with a bad attitude, he was trying to protect his team mate...and he was rightly applauded from the pitch by all 34,000 in attendence...Even MJ shook his hand!

Agree with the man above...one mans misfortune is anothers fortune. Hope Jenas is fit to partner Thudd in the centre. Watching him again last night he showed his class, he makes it look so easy and gives himself so much time on the ball and is such a good passer of the ball, also great striker of the ball with both feet. Jenas can feed off that and drive forward more and hopefully be more consistent.

Gutted for Keane but happy for Defoe as want him and Berbs to have a run in the team together. Defoe had a few good chances last night which Schawzer (spelling?) did well to save, unlucky not to score. Steed did well and hopefully more things will come off as he gave the ball away a few times but the positive is that he was trying them and more importantly he was tackling back. Lennon seemed to be drifting infield too often but did well especially when he went wide. Hoping for a clean sheet and a couple of Defoe/Berbatov goals. COYS. Oh and Lee also did very well tonight so all good!

Dissapointing to see keane get injured yet as long as it is not to serious this may prove to be a slight blessing.

For me the Berbatov Defoe partnership has looked the most dangerous and this will give them a chance to play together on a more regular basis. I feel a settled strikeforce may help the midfield in providing better service for the strikers as they become more familiar with the front two.

However i hope Keane is not out for too long with Mido sidelined aswell and seeming to be picking up regular injuries we are low on cover.

ps Martin jol = best spoken manager in the PL :bowdown:

It's disappointing to lose Zokora for three games but if he deserves it there's no point in appealing. The FA has charged Spurs and Boro for the fight. What is the worst that can come out of that.
As for Keane. I suppose a strained medial ligament is better than a torn one.

Zokora alongside the scud (love the fact that everyone seems to have their own nickname for this boy...) seems our best midfield to me.

Huddlestone sits in the pocket and distributes which frees Zokora to dribble forward. pls there is plenty of tackling between them.

Let us hope that they (MJ and Players) are aware of an unknown quantity called LLoyd Sam.

He is an 18 year old Charlton striker who made his debut last night and looked awesome.

Players and teams usually make their records against Spurs, lets hope he doesnt get his first goal against us.

Stinking attitude? You mean like putting his neck on the line for a Lennon?

Shame bout Keane but happy as now it will finally be Defoe's time! Come on Defoe, get your place nailed and stay at Spurs for the rest of your days. We are wasting the lad big time!

Top performance last night, but as others have noted - at home against teams that let us play that is hardly surprising. And again we lacked the ruthlesness to kill the game off and it nearly cost us. My view is that it is the lack of this hunger, this killer instinct at home that is the same cause of our problems away. We need, as BMJ has perfectly put it, to "grow up".

For me, although I think JJ and Huddlestone is our most talented and balanced midfield - neither has the mentality/maturity necessary to bring that ruthlessness to the side. Zokora seems to have it.....at times, and less so since his illness - but then who can blame him, he's in a new league in a new country and recovering from a bad illness.

I would like to see Davids/Huddlestone tried together. Old hand and young gun. I know Davids has been a bit off the pace at times, but I think his mentality was key to our success last season (even if not his personal performances at times) and it is no coincidence he has played less. I think he could teach Hudd a lot in a short time, and the team would grow collectively with him on the pitch.

Just a thought.

Bit worrying that he kept saying Wednesday! Ha ha.

Big blow about Keane, but on the up side at least Defoe can have a decent run out with Berbatov. Who knows, they might link up enough to form a strong partnership and score a shit load!