Pav paves the way for Spurs rebirth

Roman Pavlyuchenko has always been a popular man with Tottenham fans, he is a player with a touch of class.

The languid style, good first touch and, let's admit it, occasional lack of focus and commitment, make him a Spurs man in every sense.

This is why his supposed sulk and stand-off with the manager - himself a popular figure - has been excused. His schoolboy mope has been indulged. Few other vocally want-away players on the fringes of the team are supported to the same extent. Just ask Darren Bent.

Pavlyuchenko might now have a future at the club, an inconceivable thought only a matter of weeks ago. He has taken his recent goals well, giving Harry Redknapp food for thought. He deserves his chance and everyone, including his fellow players who so evidently enjoyed his return to goalscoring form, hopes he takes it.

Redknapp has said he has trained well, in much the same way David Bentley's improved attitude coincided with his return to the team. However, it is other players' poor form that is the main reason the pair have got another chance.

Peter Crouch has been short of goals, as have the whole team. Aaron Lennon needed replacing and with Niko Kranjcar in need of a rest, Bentley had to play.

Pavlyuchenko is a valid alternative to Crouch and Jermain Defoe, who needs a break to stay fresh in the run-in. Four goals in a week do not make a Spurs career, but for Pavlyuchenko, it might just be enough to save one.

For his part, Defoe will be hoping he is in England's plans for the Football World Cup 2010.

Meanwhile, in horse racing news Kauto Star continues to be a popular Cheltenham bet and his is the stand out favourite in the Gold Cup.


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Are we going to win tonight, or what?

Gazza, after Tottenham's 1991 F.A. Cup Final win

It looks as though Harry's got the lads practising their penalties, although I have a feeling the game won't be stretched that far. We've got to beat them, right? Well, not exactly. Believe it or not, Coyle has got them playing. We saw that for ourselves in the first tie. The question is, do we have the passion, the desire and above all, the bottle to win?

You would think we do, after all, we are a cup team aren't we? Harry seems to think so, for he picked a weakened team against Wolves (what a miserable evening that was) so that the players needed against Bolton, would come in and do the trick. We sort of missed the boat in that game, so here's to hoping we can finish the job tonight.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty confident that we're going to go to town on them. There just always seems to be something special about midweek home cup ties, isn't that right Arsenal?

Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Bolton

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What's up with Harry?

Is it just me, or did Harry not look too impressed yesterday? When we've scored goals in the past, Harry's looked a bit more animated, yet, when Pav scored his brace yesterday, he looked like a lost Hush Puppy.

I've got a feeling that he didn't like the players surrounding Pav in the way they did either. After each goal, all the players celebrated with Roman in a way, that to me, looked as though all the comments he's be mumbling to the media recently, were justified. It was a bit of a slap in the face for Redknapp.

I personally didn't expect that kind of reception from the players, not when their boss is supposed to their mate. When goal number two went in, an even greater triumph on the players faces was evident.

Well done to the Spurs faithful that sang their hearts out, prior to, during and even after the game. We've found a soft-spot for our Russian.

Sky Sports picked up on the obvious too, following each and every player going up to congratulate Pav.

Sky continued their media coverage by interviewing Harry after the match. Even though Redknapp did answer some of the questions fired at him, he still managed to put his heel in, by adding that Pav doesn't really put in a proper shift, oh, but when he does, he's quality. And I thought you didn't hold any grudges Harry.....

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The Groin of Lennon

Even though Lennon's felt discomfort in his groin after returning to light training, let's not get carried away.

The little fella has gone for a scan after he felt it again. Having suffered a few groin issues myself, I am fairly confident that Azza could be back sooner, rather than later. I'm no doctor, but I know a media pot-shot when I see one.

It's not always easy coming back from a muscle injury, especially one as sensitive as a groin tear, or pull. The fact that Lennon felt "discomfort", didn't surprise me at all. Hopefully this setback is a minor one, God knows we miss the little guys pace.

I'd also like to congratulate Pav for his two goals, although I did think the pointing to the badge antics weren't too necessary, but there you go.

Here's to hoping Harry picks him in either the replay against Bolton, or Sunday's very important match, at home against Everton.

COYS!!!


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Cole to Spurs?

I recently read that Harry's interested in bringing Carlton Cole to Spurs in the summer. He wouldn't be a bad signing, in fact, I'd take him over Peter Crouch at the moment. Both are similar players, although Cole is better at holding the ball up.

Thing is, I've got a feeling that the media have got the wrong Cole.

We all know how much Harry loves Joe Cole and you've no doubt read the stories doing the rounds in relation Cole's contract problems at Stamford Bridge? It's in situations like this that Harry comes into his own. If anyone can pull off a deal like this, then Harry's our man.

Question is, do we really need Joey Cole? His knee isn't what it once was and his struggling at the moment. Also, where would we put the little guy? In the hole behind a lone striker? On the left?

If we had the choice between Carlton and Joe, I know who I'd sign.

C Cole.


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Let your skills do the talking

"Sometimes I have a feeling that Redknapp jeers at me", "I told him that it cannot be this way any more, since I wouldn't help my team with sad thoughts in my mind", "I need to play football", "I think only about my move from Tottenham".

Listen up sunshine, here's a bit of free advice; stop the chatter and let your skills do the talking.

Does Roman have a point? Of course he does. Do I think Harry should give the lad a run in the side? Of course I do. Anyone who reads this blog knows what I think of our Russian's skills.

Do I think Pav needs to keep his thoughts to himself and stop spurting every two secs to the media? Too right!

I want to give Harry the benefit of the doubt on this one. Do I believe that Harry vetoed the deal to take Pavlyuchenko to Lokomotiv Moscow, just because he wanted to intimidate the lad? No, not entirely.

At the end of the day, maybe the Lokomotiv Moscow deal wasn't good enough, who knows? What we can be sure of, is that if Roman applied the same amount effort in training, as he does towards his media open days, Harry wouldn't have a choice but to pick him.

I'll try not to contradict myself, so here goes; Harry says that he doesn't hold grudges. If you believe that, I'll see you in Santa's quarters next Christmas. Harry's human, so of course it bothers him when one of his players goes ranting off to the media. But I can't see that being the main reason why Harry would not allow Roman to move away.

The fact is, we only have three and a half strikers in our squad. Eidur will take a bit of time to adjust, and let's face it, he's never been an out-and-out striker.

Pav is needed, end of. Whether Harry gives him a run in the side, is another question.




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The Crouch Conundrum

When we first went in for Peter Crouch, I can honestly say that I did feel the pit of my stomach turn in on itself. After mulling over the deal, I thought I should at least give the player the benefit of the doubt.

The decision to like the lad came along when a large portion of my family (a fair few of them are Liverpool fans, true Kopites), told me that Crouchie would be an asset; a player we could count on.

Well, that was in August of 2009. We are in February of 2010 now and I am still waiting to see "the asset that we can count on". I know, I've got my Tottenham Hotspur head on and nothing is ever good enough, but let's be honest, can anyone truly tell me that the signing of Crouch has improved our squad?

Maybe that's a bit below the belt. Crouch has improved our squad, as he offers another dimension. But has the lad offered anything in terms of skill, graft and goals towards the starting eleven? If he has, please let me know, for I have watched him play home and away this season, yet, I have seen nothing that has made me think "wow, what a player!".

I get that feeling when I see Modric play, yet with Crouch, I feel nothing, nada, zilch. In fact, we've now been labelled "long-ball merchants". Fair enough, as Harry says, we play to our strengths, but if you remember just a while back, we were starting with Keano and Defoe up top, and we certainly weren't playing the long-ball system.

Therefore, if anyone can let me know what Peter Crouch has brought to the table, please do.

Some Yidites have said that this blip is down to us losing the pace of Lennon. "With Aaron in the side we really do come on leaps and bounds, and that includes Crouchie". But if we've come to the point wherein Crouch plays better only when Azza is around, then we need to rethink our tactics.

Let's be clear about something, I do think Peter Crouch could do a job for a Premier League side. God knows a large contingent of my family wish he was still up at Anfield, yet, I don't think he's a Spurs player. Trust me, I hate saying that; after all, what is a Spurs player? You tell me. It's just that whenever I see Crouchie play, I sort of know what's coming; a weak shot here, a tame header there, an 80 yard diagonal from either Dawson or Corluka, etc. Am I being too tough on the lad?

One player I have been tough on in the past, is Roman Pavlyuchenko. I am, though, one of the Pav faithful. Those of you who visit The Lane, can hear us singing Pavlyuchenko's name out when he warms up. Harry recently has given Bale (what a player!) and Bentley (very much improved) a run in the side, and look at how that's turned out! Why can't he give The Pavmeister a run in the side? Let's see what the lad can do. Like many of you who watch him play, you can sense that there's more to this player than meets the eye. If only he put a bit more into it. It's like you can sense that there's a zest of skill trapped in his Russian frame, dying to get out, yet, we wait.

The difference with Pav and Crouch is that both have given us ample proof of their tame shots and pointless headers, yet with Crouch, I sense that's all I'm going to see, while with Pav, I expect more from him. Is it because he's got a fanciful foreign name? Who knows?

With the transfer window closed, Pav is going to be a Lilywhite until the end of the season at the very least, and possibly even beyond that. So, come on Harry, give the lad a run in the team. We've all seen what Crouch can do, now let's be having some Pav!


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"Sack Redknapp!"

Here we go again.

Before I get into the crunch of this article, I would like to ask a question. Why is it that we Spurs fans, seem to turn on our manager the second something goes wrong?

Anyway, that's something for you to mull over...

In the meantime, somewhere in the City of London, a conversation broke out amongst my fellow Yidites. Being a Spurs fan, you too will know that we've always got something that we need to get off our chest. If it's not discussing how bad of an excuse Jenas is, it's either acknowledging, or putting aside the long-ball tactics we've been using.

Today's topic was slightly different though. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was out in search for Harry's blood.

"He was brought in to stop us getting relegated, so we don't need him any longer". And comments to the tune of "Harry's got no plan B; he's tactically inept!".

This is normally the point in which I lambast everyone in the office. But something held me back. Could this lot be onto something? Fair enough, Harry was brought in to make sure we never got relegated, and he accomplished that brilliantly.

But it's in games like the one I witnessed on Wednesday night that make my blood boil. We're battling for 4th, yet it looks as though Harry and his backroom staff have put the F.A. Cup tie with Bolton, as top priority!

I am a Harry Redknapp fan. I am also a believer that managers need to be given at least 3 to 4 seasons. This allows them to bring in their own players and philosophy. If by the end of that stint, the players and club haven't moved forward, then of course the manager should be given his marching orders.

As it stands though, we need to be a bit more patient. We're not going to win the league, neither are we good enough to challenge the top clubs. We are what we are; a club with aspirations of playing in the Champions League.

Let's give Harry, and the squad, more time.

One thing I will demand though is a win up at Bolton on Sunday. Seeing as the league isn't that important, let's make a go of it in the cup.



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It just wasn't our day

It's days like this that allow me to reminisce over the simple fact that I had a choice to make when I was 7; Support Tottenham Hotspur, and dwell in the joy that bubbled up on dad's face, because "at least one of his sons followed in his stead", or support Manchester United, and allow my older brothers to put one over on the old man.

As you know, I took up option 1.

I wrote out that last sentence with a weighted glumness, not because I envy every glouting trophy my brothers have thrashed before me over the years, whilst we have had to contend with a cup here and there. I'm not even that miserable over all the false dawns that have been put before us. I am livid, because of what it meant for me and my son to get to yesterdays game, and witness that dross.

I won't go into details as all that will do is depress me, and possibly you even more. "If", "buts’" and "maybe's" is all I can think about at the moment; like, for example, "if only the Spurs players out on display in last night’s freezathon, put in as much effort as I did, in order to get to see them, to support them?" "Maybe, if they had done, we would have won 0-5".

You see, getting up to away games in midweek is not as easy as one thinks. I am sure the several thousand disjointed, angry and exhausted Spurs fans that were with me last night, can attest to that.

Apart from getting into a massive argument with the missus, having to explain to my boss why I had to leave at 11am, even though I had put in a holiday request, and also having to deal with a broken fan-belt, which led to me calling out for help on a freezing M1, everything was just fine and dandy.

Oh, did I mention that it was freezing? Damn, it was cold. At least the AA man put some effort in, and he was a Gooner!

When are we going to learn? You gain points by putting in effort!

I was comforted today though. My boss (a Matt Harding Season-Ticket Holder), explained to me that "all this is due to the inexperience of the players, as they push for a Champions League finish". I suppose he's right.

Maybe next year, we can live the dream, until our inexperienced players moon us in the freezing cold...

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A Must Win!

If there ever was a "must-win" game, tonight's tie against Wolves, is it! This time round, there can be no faffing around, no "it just wasn't our day" and certainly a big no to 33 shots on goal, but no goals scored.

Make no bones about it; we have to win. If we are to keep up the challenge of securing a top four finish, we need to win. To be honest, at the moment, I'd take any kind of win. I wouldn't care if the ball bounced off Bentley's bum and trickled in over the line in the 93rd minute, as long as it was the winner.

Skipping aside our cup-tie against Bolton on Sunday, our next tricky fixture sees us pit our wits against Wigan, away. I am pretty sure that the boys from the DW won't want to be on the end of another 91 bus route from Crouch End to Trafalgar Square.

Put it this way, the Red Tops will give Martinez the team-talk he needs to gee up his players, therefore, there can be no excuses; we need to remain solid against Wolves and Wigan.

THBN Prediction: Wolverhampton 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur






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Jonathan Woodgate

Right then, let's get to the crunch of it. Can anyone tell me, or the rest of us, what the heck is up with Jon Woodgate?

So far, we've been told that the recurring groin injury that has plagued the defender since his Real Madrid stint, is back, but this time, it could be here to stay.

Last I read, our centre-half was in the States, in an attempt to get it sorted, but I've not read anything since. Some forums have said that he'll be back in light training pretty soon, whilst the news in and around the Shelf Upper, are that if this current treatment doesn't work, Woodgate is seriously thinking about retirement, hence Harry bringing back Kaboul.

I don't know what to believe. If there's anyone out there that is up to date with the players injury info, do let us know.

It would be a great shame to lose the lad.


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"Boring, Boring Villa"

Those chants echoed around White Hart Lane during yesterday's draw with Villa and to be honest, I couldn't agree more.

I won't go into the technical aspects of the game, but instead, will comment on Villa for a moment.

Now, let's just say they manage to break the top four; do we really want to see a team like that playing in the Champions League?

They were boring, one dimensional, long-ball merchants. I hate to have to agree with Wenger on things like this, but the man got it spot on. What a terrible display!

Yes, I've heard it all before; "but we defended brilliantly". Oh, do me a favour.

Anyway, that's enough of the rant for now. At the moment, I'm watching the Arsenal Hobbits getting torn apart by the Chelsea Orcs. Come on the Orcs!





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When was the last time this happened?

There's no doubting it; Jermain Defoe is on fire at the moment. His 3rd hat-trick this season against Leeds proves that.

So, my question is; which Lilywhite-wearing striker managed to notch up 3 hat-tricks in one season?

In other news, Ledley has been talking up the re-signing of Kaboul. To be honest with you, I agree with him. Kaboul will definitely be a better player upon his return, than when he was first with us.

Only thing is, Harry kept on about the headache he encountered when having to select two strikers from Defoe, Crouchie, Keano and Pav. What's he going to do when all our centre-backs are fit?

Fair enough, King can only play once a week. But what happens when Dawson (who should go to the World Cup in my opinion), Kaboul, Bassong and Woodgate are fit?

Five, definitely doesn't fit into two.


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