Unjust defeat
Spurs fell at Newcastle today, after taking 61% of overall possession and having 7 shots on target compared to the magpies two, to a Kluivert goal after only 5 minutes. It was difficult to watch at times as Spurs laid siege to Given's goal but could not find the breakthrough the performance deserved.
Spurs started slowly and Dyer made a mockery of Atouba's defending against pace on two or three occasions. The goal we conceded was soft, a King mistake allowing the ball to be put across for Kluivert to slot past Robinson. I thought that Pamarot could have come across earlier to put the pressure on but he didn't as he wasn't sure what was behind him. The following 84 minutes saw Spurs run the game, so much so that Newcastle's second effort of the game on target came in the dying minutes when we were caught on the break.
Spurs really went for the throat in the second half and Given pulled off a fantastic double save first from Keane and then Defoe. Kanoute impressed once again and was strong on the ball when he needed to be and worked well with Defoe. However our little gem looked out of sorts today with his first touch. Twice he miscontrolled which is most unlike him and it allowed Newcastle to clear the ball away. Gardner finally came on as a last throw of the dice and it actually worked. He won a header and was able to knock it down for Keane to score. However Styles, sensing that Spurs may equalise, decided to blow his whistle for a "foul". Where the foul came from was anyones guess but the home ref decided there was one. He also missed a handball by Bowyer for a blatant penalty. He may have been unsighted on this occasion but the linesman should have had a clear view. However, Styles would probably have ignored him like he did earlier on. Idiot.
Enough about incompetent referees. On another day we would have won 3-1 but we just didn't get the little bit of luck we needed. Every rushed clearance or knock down just didn't quite go to a Spurs player and was always cleared. The season is not over yet. If we continue to play like yesterday we have a good a chance as anyone to make sixth spot and if Manchester and the filth make the final then the UEFA spot could go to 7th spot. We must beat Charlton on Wednesday.
One more note, great support once again from the traveling faithful, twice as many going to Newcastle today than Arsenal could manage to Bolton! Well done lads.
COYS!
posted by Paxton Road at 8:39 PM
37 Comments:
if the ref was such a homer why did he rule out a kluivert second which would have sunk you ?
9:21 PM, March 13, 2005
We can't blame it all on the ref. How did we not score with all tha t possesion. Defoe has gone off the boil of late and another thing that bothers me is Ledley King, should he be captain? He is a good player and I'd hate to see himleave but where was the passion and commitment shown by Brown and why did Keane have to get between the ref and Naybet?
9:27 PM, March 13, 2005
Got to be positive about performance. Was just not meant to be on the day. Got to think ahead to next couple of weeks as the next few games are massive in deciding the finishing position in the league. Great support today at the game, lets really get behind the boys for last few games and get the european place we deserve.
10:08 PM, March 13, 2005
I cant help but think if Mr Jol, had pulled a Funguson/Wenker, and reminded every one before the game, that although the whole nation of neutrals might want to alan shearer to lift the fa cup, its up to the referee to be neutral, then maybe some of the very bad refereeing decisions might have gone the right way.
10:21 PM, March 13, 2005
I think had they played on for an extra 90 mins, Spurs still wouldnt have broken down the Newcastle's defence. Its mentioned that on another day Spurs would have won 3-1, yes Spurs could have scored 3 today but did you see the chances Newcastle had on the counter? Had they not had the gruelling away midweek trip to Olympiakos, those chances would have been buried with ease. Newcastle took their chance when it came to them and they settled for that result. 1-0 was a fair result and the better team went through on the day.
10:39 PM, March 13, 2005
ha, dont blame the ref . .
10:40 PM, March 13, 2005
Oh dear NUFC fans, when your own manager says the better team won perhaps you should try and be gracious in victory?
10:47 PM, March 13, 2005
Newcastle had 2 shots on target all game so talk of chances on the counter is bollocks.
11:00 PM, March 13, 2005
Kluivert had a perfectly good goal ruled out and to be honest for all the huffing and puffing ,and yes the majority of the ball, Given really only had two saves to make. Perhaps we would have had more shots on target if we had not been chopped every time we broke through -6 yellow cards?
11:19 PM, March 13, 2005
does chances necessary mean shots on goal?
11:24 PM, March 13, 2005
Newcastle we're outplayed bya very impressive spurs today - BUT the one chance we had was converrted with ease before spurs got going. dont forget we were absolutley shattered fromthe thursday game in greece and a round trip 10 hour flight in just under two days. I think the lads did the Geordie nation proud. And yeah I hope Shearer lifts the cup not just for the newcastle fans but for himself - he deserves it - after all if he had signed for the scum that is man u most trophies would have gone old trafford way for a lot longer than they did mid 90s. they would have been untouchable. I hope spurs get the UEFA place if we dont pull our finger out and get oursleves up the league - i like your style of play and i like your manager. Jury is still out on souness for me i know we have won 7 on the bounce but four of them were in europe - BUT if he wins a cup he will be forever remembered as a god up here - ok im finished!
11:25 PM, March 13, 2005
Given only had 2 shots to save? Well seeing that spurs had seven attenpts on target doesnt that infer that he made one or two more saves?! Good luck to Newcastle but please concede that spurs outplayed you and but for some woeful defending in the first 10-15 mins, we battered you but just couldn't score.
11:26 PM, March 13, 2005
Go on newcastle beat the red scum of arsenal in the semis and stuff man u in the final --- you beat us so you deserve the cup - shearer - still englands no1!!!!!!
11:28 PM, March 13, 2005
Typically blinkered view from a spurs fan - you lot were better but not good enough - wasnt as though you dominated the game throughout. When we looked dangerous, we looked more dangerous than your lot. Youe defence was worse than ours, thats why we won. could have easily been different though....
11:30 PM, March 13, 2005
We played Olympiakos on Thursday then travelled back from Greece. Lost 2 centre backs before the game and one during. Played Jenas at left back and still won 1-0. (Some comment now due about whining cockneys).
11:35 PM, March 13, 2005
We can all have the last laugh , and wait another 38 years for a trophy when they get knocked out in the next round , and justice comes quick on the 100405 at the lane
12:00 AM, March 14, 2005
Spurs huffed and puffed and still couldn't break down a fairly mediocre defence. Souness has been preaching the value of nicking 1-0 results since he came here, but a half-decent side would of won comfortably.On the day, Given was our man of the match, but Spurs problem is that the best player in their squad is their goalkeeper. Jol will be gone within a year, and you'll be scrabbling around for another manager (Hoddle anyone?)
12:13 AM, March 14, 2005
Can some sections of the Spurs' fans stop mis-interpreting statistics? Shots on target doesn't necessarily mean chance and not all shots on target requires a 'save'. In 'save' meaning ones with great effort (ones which Roy Carroll doesn't have the abilities to make). Nevertheless shots on target doesn't win you matches. Perhaps the one statistic that you should reflect upon is the 1-0 scorline.
12:33 AM, March 14, 2005
the last laugh? Will you be laughing if Arsenal lift the FA cup?
12:35 AM, March 14, 2005
you barcodes can say what you want about being the better side (you were - for about 15 minutes) but let me tell you, you've got f*ck all chance of winning the cup if you play like that.
what's this rubbish about whinging cockneys? hey, we're out. you won. good for you. but souness is the biggest whining, moaning git i've ever seen. he's a crap manager. what were you boys thinking when you signed him up? it won't be jol who leaves spurs. you lot will get rid of sourface by the end of next season. if not before. he's had a f*cking lucky run of late and he knows it.
nice stadium though!
12:40 AM, March 14, 2005
It's good to see a comments section degenerate in to a slagging match between two moaning sets of fans. Newcastle fans - You were not particularly good today, you cannot honestly say you deserved the victory but as you point out you took your chance and we failed to do the same. You know as well as we do that you won't beat Arsenal or Man U playing like that but you're through, good luck and beat the Scum if you can.
Tottenham fans - We were a might unlucky, Given was extremely good and although we lacked the composure in front of goal we can take a lot from that performance. Our season isn't over, Newcastle have the cups and we have the league - 7th is attainable.
As for the comment that Robinson is our best player is interesting - King and Defoe might argue differently, in fact i'd take any of those over kluivert, boumsong or Given for that matter. And to the comment, made by the same moron, Jol will be out in a year? The same Jol who has turned down Ajax, the biggest club in his home country guarenteed Champo League football yearly? Yeah he's got one foot out the door you f*c..........
1:22 AM, March 14, 2005
luck may win you 1 or 2 games but not 7 in a row. and when you consider liverpool, chelsea olympiakos and now spurs in that 7 then how can you say thats all down to luck (do i detect a hint sour grapes?). we won today because we defended well, you lost because you didn't-thats it. from the attacking point of view you also lost, we had maybe 3(?) chances and we converted one, whereas you had several and couldn't find the net, maybe thats why mido was brought in. given, boum, carr, bramble, hughes was solid. king made a hash out of that tackle, atoubu might aswell not have turned up and i can't even rmb the other 2!
anyway thanks for the comments by 'super spurs' although i'm hoping for a semi tie against blackburn! =)
1:27 AM, March 14, 2005
there was me thinking the whistle went before the ball got bundled in. makes up for the game at st james at the start of the season where we had 20 odd shots to your one and had two blatant penalties turned down - but well done to your fans its the only time ive actually ever heard yous do more than a mutter.
8:40 AM, March 14, 2005
Interesting postings by Maggies suggesting we lost because we couldn't put the ball in the net. We did put the ball in the net!!
The influence of referees on the outcomes of games is starting to become a highlight of the Premiership. For example, with the other 2 points from Old Trafford we would be in very diferent shape wrt UEFA Cup qualification.
I have no idea whether, on balance, we have been on the upside or downside of these decisions, but the number of wrong decisions in games for all clubs is astonishing.
I am sick of hearing how difficult the job is. I say, if it's too hard then sod off and let someone competent do it. Unfortunately the Premier League/FA don't suffer with the degree of intraspection of normal mortals. They will never look objectively at that game to see whether Stiles did a good job or not (and take action if it's not), but they will look at the video footage to see if Martin criticised him. Consequently standards never improve.
Currently, the standard of refereeing is truly appalling and getting worse!
10:21 AM, March 14, 2005
A few points I'd like to make:
1. This game showed how far we've come. Earlier this season we were basically outplayed by Newcastle (but we were delighted to come away with a 1-0 win thanks to Atouba's beauty). On Sunday we dominated a Newcastle side that has been strengthened since those days AND has been on a fine run of form (but, ironically and sadly, the result went against us). Clearly, we've got much, much better.
2. This ref truly sucked!
3. For the umpteenth time this season, we've started playing much too slowly. In only two games have we scored within the first half-hour, against Southampton and Everton, and both times we went on to get five! There's a lesson there and Jol MUST sort this out.
4. I read a rumour once that Lee Bowyer could be coming to Spurs. I hope not. He's a good player but also an unsavoury low life and a coward, not the type of person wanted at WHL.
5. Congratulations to Newcastle, and good luck in the semis.
1:19 PM, March 14, 2005
iv gotta ask can any 1 of u geordies be impressed by the way u played yeah yeah i no u went through good for u lot but the way u played u must be praying 4 blackburn!
i would like to see shearer lift the cup he deserves it but doubt he will get the chance if u dont up your game
also if given gets injured u can put bowyer in goal wat a shot stopper'!
and 1 last thing no 1 can complain about a hard game in greece the other night cos if u paid me 30 grand a week plus then i would play 7 days a week and then some ...
3:03 PM, March 14, 2005
If we'd have played for another 5 minutes the geordie defence would have crumbled, they we're breached once in the 90 mins but mr rob 'why aye man' styles decides that challenging for a header is a foul, and then the offence of practicly catching a ball is not handball. where did u learn to ref mate?? On the whole we stuffed newcastle, we're gonna destroy them at the lane and alan shearer will be bitterly disappointed to have an empty trophy cabinet again this year. Spurs will get 6th spot!!!!!
3:23 PM, March 14, 2005
ha ha deluded cockneys! bitter? spending too much time in your neighbours shadows? boo hoo! suffer in your usual mediocrity! as for bragging about beating - sorry getting beat off a team with only three fit defenders at the club well done!
3:34 PM, March 14, 2005
I think Mr Jol and the rest of the idiots thinking we were very fortunate yesterday should look at the facts. 1) Kluivert's 'Goal' in the first half was onside and would have put us 2-0 up. 2) We started the game with 4 defenders and lost a key one early on. 3) We'd had a hard game in a hostile environment on Thursday night and Spurs had the week off 4) Their 'Goal' may well not have been a goal at all as Carr had the opportunity to clear it but had already stopped playing as the whistle had gone. 5) Other than his wonderful double save, what else did Shay have to do? Nowt. Not one other save of note. 6) They should have had a penalty - their one bad piece of luck. However, Brown could have been sent off on three seperate occasions - don't hear them whinging about that. The media love to make the toon a drama, but fact is we look solid at the back now and have won 7 in a row. Providing we get defenders out on the pitch I think we'll make it 8 wins next game. HTL.
3:39 PM, March 14, 2005
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
3:51 PM, March 14, 2005
Glad another debate has kicked off on The Shelf. Newcastle fans, well done your through but the dirt git Shearer won't be getting anywhere near the cup as Man U will beat you at Cardiff.
You can say what you like about other games and so and but if it wasn't for the ref there would definetly be a replay at the Lane.
6:55 PM, March 14, 2005
Firstly, Good luck to Newcastle. You will need it to get past Man Utd or the Highbury Filth. If you happen to get past Man Utd in the semi's and play The Filth in the final, I hope Shearer scores the winner while simaltaneously breaking Campbells leg and ending his traitorous career.
Don't kid yourself though. You were lucky to beat Spurs and Given and Rob Styles were the difference. Rob Styles is a blind wanker.
Just on another note. Is there a Geordie fan out there who is bagging Spurs, old enough to remember the last time you won ANYTHING. I doubt it because those old enough to remember such ancient history, don't have access to or like using the internet. Spurs Forever
11:35 PM, March 14, 2005
the difference yesterday wasn't just the ref and the goal keeper. to be fair, given only had 2 saves to make with great effort. the 'hand ball' when bowyer was on the floor would have been harsh don't you think? it was more ball to hand than anything which could be said the same for the other 'hand ball' incedence. the disallow goal...well the whistle went long before the shot, so it wasn't so much a 'disallowed goal'.
anyway spurs did well, the differences was the finishing. defoe was misfiring, anyone noticed the change of boots at half time? his first touch yesterday was pretty poor, maybe hes feeling the pressure of the competition for places. spurs are doing well and are obviously on the up but lost yesterday because they could not take their chances. newcastle just sat deep and let spurs attack.
this reminded me of the england argentina world cup game, which we won 1-0. had newcastle tried to play more attacking then they would have lost. i think their plan was to get the early goal and defend, which worked. they could have even had more on the counter.
just goes to show that attacking isnt the only way to win, the end of an era for 'sexy football'!
12:06 AM, March 15, 2005
shearer is dirty? how about michael brown then - should have been sent off.
shearer is a true sportsman and is fair in his game. have u ever seen him dive? did u see him roll around when he got cut on his chin? he is a very experienced player and can win many fouls, but he wins these fouls because he forces denfenders to commit themselves and make these fouls not by using the act of simulation!!
12:23 AM, March 15, 2005
Whether the bloke dives or rolls around says zero about his being dirty. Have I have ever seen him leave his foot late in a tackle when the refs not looking? Hundreds of times! That's why he's dirty.
That having been said, he's prepared to take the same punishment and just get on with it, which cannot be said of many of the garlic-breaths down the road, and IMO he's arguably the best English centre-forward in the last 40 years.
Shame that that dick Ericsson was not prepared to beg, which was all that was required to get him to stay on for England. We could still use him today!
9:02 AM, March 15, 2005
The only reason Brown might have been sent off on sunday is because the refs feel that they must book every foul. Brown did not commit a single serious, dirty, or dangerous foul in the entire match that would have warranted a yellow card 10 years ago, and football is a lot poorer as a consequence IMO.
10:41 AM, March 15, 2005
well there were a few lates ones and one or two tackles from behind, I think it more to do with passion than dirtiness i suppose.
4:03 PM, March 15, 2005
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