The flu has taken hold of the 1882 offices this week which accounts for a lack of updates and today’s short match preview. I should quell any rumours before they start, I may have the flu but I’m not Luka Modric. It’s purely coincidental that we’ve both been suffering this week and while we’re both similarly talented at kicking a spherical ball about I’m not Croatian or a hobbit.
So what’s been going on in the world of Tottenham recently? We’ve qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League at the first time of asking and we did so topping the group with a typical spurs performance away to FC Twente. We didn’t need to win in the end thanks for Inter Milan appointing Rafa Benitez and therefore making them not as good as they were last season. When we look at the history of Spurs, Benitez won’t get a mention but how he’s managed to turn around two clubs fortunes in such a short space of time for which we’ve benefited shouldn’t go unnoticed. The man’s a genius.
It was great to see Defoe get on the score sheet once again and hopefully that’ll be the start of many goals to come. If he can match last season’s tally in the next 6 months it might be enough to get us back into that top 4 spot. He’s suitably happy of course, so happy in fact, he’s even claimed today that if Barcelona came knocking he’d stay at Spurs. Thankfully, or not, depending on how you look at it, the chances of JD playing in the Nou Camp are about as good as me doing the same. I’m not saying I’m terrible at the football thing but I’m realistic to know my big chance might’ve gone now. JD’s return also brings back the debate of whether he’s good enough. Personally, the guy scores goals so he’s alright with me but I do understand people’s opinions that he gets lots of goals in a few games when we need a striker who scores the odd goal in a lot of games. The trouble is we don’t have that striker either. Hopefully, the hunger he’ll have from missing the start of the season will prove those doubters wrong.
We’ve once again been linked with Scott Parker and Steven Pienaar. Pienaar in particular is just the sort of player we need. A creative midfielder who gets his fair share of injuries. Oh, hang on, we’ve got some of them already. Parker seems to split opinions. I sit on the side that says he’s not needed and we’d be better off looking to buy a proper defensive midfielder, but while I won’t say this too often, I can’t argue with any of the signings he’s made so far, so in Harry I trust.
Finally (I told you this would be short), it’s Chelsea this Sunday. A chelsea side who 8 months ago were 11/10 to win at White Hart Lane but are now 8/5. That’s a massive swing in odds in such a short period of time. It just shows how far we’ve come in 2010 and also highlights the poor run of form they’re currently going through. I do hate it when we’re “expected” to win games though, which is why I don’t think we will. I’m always the pessimist and as such I’m really happy this game is a late Sunday kick off purely so if we do have a shocker I would’ve had the majority of my weekend so it’ll only be Monday morning that’s ruined. There’s still enough quality in that team to cause us major problems, especially with the likes of Drogba looking like they could be starting to hit form again.
On a positive note, Gareth Bale hasn’t had a particularly good game for a while now so is due one, and with Chelsea’s defensive frailties Sunday could be his day. I’m sure we all remember what Robbie Keane did in 2006 (I think), just imagine what an in form Bale could do to their right hand side. Win and we’re only 1 point behind them and are most definitely in the title chase. Lose and we can forget about that and much like last season just concentrate on the “will we get 4th” mantra.
I’ve just heard Redknapp has also got the flu, wasn’t at training today and might miss the game on Sunday. I better confirm I’m not Harry Redknapp either.
COYS
Submitted by THFC1882
