What had started out as quite a promising campaign has definitely turned into a topsy turvy year for Tottenham Hotspur, and this week has been no different as we backed up a poor performance against Arsenal in the North London Derby defeat with a quite incredible performance that saw Dinamo Zagreb fight back from a two goal deficit to unceremoniously dump us out of this season’s Europa League competition.
Opinions amongst Spurs fans have always been torn when it comes to manager Jose Mourinho and this last week has done nothing to temper those thoughts, and it probably feels even more frustrating as ahead of Arsenal it looked like we were again playing ourselves into some good, attacking form and leaving the more defensive and pragmatic approach behind us.
We will be missing Erik Lamela after his sending off, and Son Heung-Min continues to be out. In other potentially good news, there’s mixed talk about Jack Grealish returning so he might miss out for them, but in any event, we know we have the firepower to take all three points, it just again comes down to how we play and, well, how we play.
The question that no one can bet on ahead of a match this season.
As you know, HT I was somewhere ahead (or behind) PY in my thoughts, I was just prepared to give it a go and see how it panned out, I thought he could tighten up our defence, and whilst we wouldn’t be as free flowing in our play, I thought we would be efficient and workman like in our performances, much like the German sides, I even gave him a “by” in some defensive games early on against Man C and the like, as many of the team were getting used to each other and a new style of play.
I even saw why even in his relative demise why Mr Levy appointed him, if we could get what he did for Man U……
But a few things happened to turn my “concientous objector” stance to against Mourinho.
How he treated certain players:
For me it actually started with Sess, then went to N’Dombers,Aurier, Dave, Dele, now I think its Bale, Dier and Winksy.
I’m not saying that these players didn’t need to be spoken to or their attention drawn to the fact that they weren’t pulling up trees, by all means, but much of it was happening (sometimes clandestinely) in the public eye being dropped, being loaned out, or out right public criticism.
The other reason I moved from neutral to against was the god awful performances in and around Christmas and early 2021, we were atrocious to watch, we showed too much respect (fear) of other clubs around us, we were listless, cluess, passion less, pedestrian, leaderless, there appeared to be no tactics or end game nor was there any definitive “way forward”.
My next issue was player recruitment, now JM must’ve had input into who came in, Whilst Regs and indeed Hoj were great purchases, Doh, Bergs, we’re definately not, Gedson wasn’t great and Bale can be great but only on a bad hair day. The Jury is still out on Rodon (Havnt seen enough)
I will say in his defence that he didn’t come to Spurs at the best time, we had lost most of our back bone, and wanted (and still want) away. Some players simply aren’t good enough.
I do feel there is a malaise at the club and some players have downed tools now and aren’t giving their all for our club, I feel that is down to his “blunt, egoistic, narcissistic, egregious, management style.
But with that said in my mind I gave him enough time to turn us around and progress the team.
A euro quarter final and a possible “Mickey Mouse” trophy ain’t going to do it.
Like HT I’m sort of torn between relative success and keeping JM or relative failure and hopefully getting rid.
Unfortunately I think it will be even more of the latter, we will lose the final, we will finish top six and we’ll still have him encumbent next season.
Hope I’m wrong, I can hand on heart (IMO) say that I have given JM a fair time to turn us around and apart from flashes of “the old Spurs” in games as, I think DH said have been against pretty lower class opposition, we have actually in many ways regressed under JM, that is why I want him to leave Tottenham.
Hope this helps m8.
Hot Toddy n’ Ham sandwich,
Sorry to have bored you with my consistency in not wanting José Mourinho at our club, but I do not want José Mourinho at our club. I opposed his being given the job from the moment I heard the news. Haven’t changed my opinion. He stands opposed to all that is Spurs. All that has made our club worthy of our support is anathema in Mourinho. I’d prefer that the person who picks up the dirty clothes from the floor of the training grounds over JM.
earl grey tea, whiskey, lemon, and a dash of cinnamon. with a side of ham sandwich. Too bad my doctors told me not to drink alcohol after a kidney cancer some years ago.
Has anyone else felt as lousy as I have over Gareth Bale’s lack of respect for his return year to North London? His performance in the match at Arse the other day was reflective of his lack of commitment here. He lollygagged about the pitch most of the time he was on it. I’m really disappointed by him, truth be told. Better he not be here next season. The club should concentrated on building, no on providing a nostalgia tour for someone who seems semi interested.
Let him be unpopular in Spain. What a waste of incredible talent he has made of himself. He had it in his talent to be one of the greats in the history of the beautiful game, but it just wasn’t in him to care enough.
Thoughts? Can someone convince me I’ve got this wrong?
Hi TK,
I thought there may have been more response to this on the site.
Bale basically used Tottenham as an expensive gym and physio.
He showed in a couple of games just what he can do, which at times was fantastic, then took “the huff” at being hauled off against Arse, he was poor that day, and needs to remember that the days of a luxury player are over, he needs to put a shift in “every game” not just the ones he feels like.
I thought his comments were disingenuous toward Tottenham, if it is an issue with Mourinho then he needs to make himself “undroppable” much like Kane, Sonny and Hoj.
Like I said I thought the posters would be all over it.
Taj Mahal used to play in the early 60s at the Club 47 in Harvard Square in Cambridge Massachusetts. The same club that “discovered” Joan Baez and brought in lots of old blues players from Mississippi and Tennessee. He had moved from Springfield, MA, where he lived as a youth and made his bones in the early “folk revival.” I didn’t know him except in passing in the neighborhood, but a true gentleman. Great performer. Then he dropped out of the scene and moved to California and then Hawaii. Guess he got addicted to warmer climates, like I did in moving to Brazil, where I still spend half the year. Great music there, too, by the way. A pretty decent futebol. lol. Saw Taj Mahal play several times before he was know outside the neighborhood. Always good music and a good show.
Niall, count me as not being in the Bale fan club anymore. He’s been abusive to us. His attitude is not acceptable. A player can think of playing as just a job, but when you accept the job and step on the pitch you need to put some pride into your work.
You can’t go home again, as the expression has it. Thomas Wolfe had that right, at least when it applies to Bale. He left for big money in Madrid, acted like a git there–in spite of his moments of brilliance–and largely is hated by supporters there. Real Madrid is not a decent place in many ways, but his unpopularity there is largely earned. I don’t appreciate his attitude here. I won’t cry when his mini-return here ends. Let him go and forget he was here. Talented disappointment in the end who never worked to fulfill the fabulous potential he had to be remembered as a football god. Talent largely unfulfilled, even considering what he has accomplished. He accomplished little in comparison with what he could have done. If he had Kane’s attitude, imagine what could have been.
And Bale knows what it means to us to put in a real effort when playing the North London derby. He let himself and us down badly.
A “big up” to Taj Mahal. A “don’t look back” after you leave this time to Gareth Bale. He’s shown as much interest in us as any Prince of Wales has shown to Wales.
he needs to put a shift in every game and not just the one’s he wants to is the complaint Real supporters have made for years.
I’m more sad than angry over this, as I thought he was coming good, and that the Spanish had got it wrong. I thought he had something about him. Certainly more than what has been said in his recent comments.
Niall,
I’m extremely disappointed, both in his recent words and in the obvious indifference that alternates with the brilliance in his play. Someone who is blessed with such skills ought not to squander them in this way. At times I can find no other explanation for his indifferent play than a personal indifference. Frankly, I would be ashamed if I had such skills combined with what appears to be an attitude of indifference. When you look at the amount of money he’s being paid, in a world in which so many have so little and who struggle so much, well, we ought to wonder about the man’s spirit. From my perspective he’s let us down massively and he’s let himself down even more so. If he were broke I’d buy him a mirror.
100%TK.
I saw a headline that said Bale using Spurs as stepping stone. I wanted to edit it: more like a door mat. But the part about Bale using Spurs surely go it right. Stepping stone. Doormat. Either way, he’s been stepping on us. Not a nice thing to do to the club that catapulted him into superstardom. Remember when he was a LB spending most of his time sitting?
Here’s a dictionary definition of Bale, the second entry after a bundle of hay:
bale2 | bāl |
noun archaic
evil considered as a destructive force.
• evil suffered; physical torment or mental suffering.
LOL
Ship him back to Real Madrid where he can feel the lack of love.
okay enough from me on the Bale topic. I’ll soon go back to dissing JM as manager.
But there’s one thing I’ll ever have to do: slag either HK10 or Son for lack of caring or interest. What a world of difference.
that should be “never have to do”
Just listened to Alister Golds comments on the Bale interview, it shows that his comments may have been taken out of context, the question was really to do with his international career and what was to happen after the Euros, so the question of Spurs didn’t really come into it and I suppose no one would hardly disrespect the club that’s paying the bulk of your wages. So really a different slant on things. But that’s not to say, he still didn’t put a shift in in the Arsenal game.
there’s the point: He played like a man who didn’t care in the match vs. Arsenal. For a Spurs player that’s close to an unforgivable sin. Even if we erase his words, the man played like he was being forced to play against his wishes. What was that about? How can we overlook at effortless performance in the North London derby? Something is still drastically wrong here and it’s making me re-think zouzou’s disgust with Bale.
But thanks for the report, Niall.
This started as an article but ….
There is always speculation about Harry Kane moving on. There’s really little point in such speculation. Harry Kane is not Gareth Bale. Harry won’t be going anywhere. He will remain at Tottenham until he has overtaken Jimmy Greaves …. and he won’t leave then. He will stay at Tottenham until he retires …. and he won’t leave then. He will stay at Tottenham as the ‘strikers’ coach …. and he won’t leave then. He will eventually die (seems to be something that happens to all of us) …. and he won’t leave then. He will be immortalised in the annals of THFC history …. so he will never leave. Harry knows this. He knows that he may obtain trophies at some stage if he changed his paymasters but he will never achieve the same ‘legend’ status that he will be eternally blessed with in North London, and for his country. And ‘eternity’ is a huge motivator.
Geof, If I read you right, there is somebody else in agreement with me, that is the LEGEND to be Harry Kane, always remembered and loved. COYS