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Tottenham Till Half Time

4 min read
by The Fighting Cock
The anger and disbelief that swept over me at the end of 45 minutes took me totally by surprise. I had just witnessed mass mediocrity, a gigantic void of intelligence, a cataclysmic lack of faith and the inability of individuals to stand together in moments of difficulty. It had been 45 minutes of pure unadulterated […]

The anger and disbelief that swept over me at the end of 45 minutes took me totally by surprise. I had just witnessed mass mediocrity, a gigantic void of intelligence, a cataclysmic lack of faith and the inability of individuals to stand together in moments of difficulty. It had been 45 minutes of pure unadulterated nonsense from those sat in the North Upper. Yes the team was bad, but the few hundred Spurs fans around me had been worse.

The man to my right turned up seven minutes into the first half carrying a hotdog, bottle of coke and a packet of crisps, the two older gentlemen behind me were apparently founders of the Redknapp fan club, and directly below me, a man who obviously seeks comfort in food hurled abuse at Gareth Bale, Sandro, AVB and any Lillywhite player who dared to pause on the ball.

For a nano second the urge to walk out and leave these supporters to their self inflicted misery nearly won, but instead I cheered, clapped my hands and encouraged.

Nothing on the pitch convinced the people around me that they’re beliefs were incorrectly held, and as Bobby Zamora tucked the ball away the vitriol that cascaded down towards the pitch made me flinch. This isn’t Spurs; this isn’t White Hart Lane, what happened to the place that I could take my girlfriend to experience the Spurs vibe we are so proud of?

The team played like strangers, but a large portion of the support around me watched like complete strangers. Instead of suffering together and helping to pull the team out of the tactical quagmire they found themselves in, they bickered and shouted at each other. The Park Lane tried to lift the mood, but gloom was settling quickly at White Hart Lane.

As the half time whistle sounded a chorus of boos broke out around me. I couldn’t bring myself to look at these people; so instead I wandered off to the Ice Bar where I stood for 15 minutes without service. I felt a bit like Jermaine Defoe.

[linequote]For a nano second the urge to walk out and leave these supporters to their self inflicted misery nearly won, but instead I cheered, clapped my hands and encouraged.[/linequote]

Thankfully the second half was better. The ball was moved quicker and Jan Vertoghen repositioned at left back changed the game.

The Belgian is fast becoming a favourite of mine and with the freedom bestowed on our full backs he blossomed. Vertoghen was a major factor in Defoe’s goal and provided quality from deep on the left, reminiscent to Assou-Ekotto circa 2010. The former Ajax man linked well with Gareth Bale and Mousa Dembele, his quality on the ball for someone deemed a centre back is Gerard Pique-esque.

To claim that AVB’s emergency tactical adjustments solved all our problems, would be like stating Sandro had a 100% pass completion rate, but I take solace from the fact that he has the nous and the ability to change things before the 60th minute mark.

Fundamentally the issue at Spurs is that we still lack a central midfield metronome, a player who can control the tempo, the positioning of the team and from where we attack.

Dembele has many qualities, but in a deeper role his skills and comfort on the ball are wasted. The ease in which he drifts past players needs to be utilised further forward, committing players on the edge of the area, forcing them either to give away a foul or penalty or even better, getting out of the way completely.

Tottenham are also struggling to unleash the quality in Icelandic international Glyfi Sigurdsson. The former Reading man has a deft touch as well as power in his boots, but the first 45 minutes passed him by. He was sacrificed at half time for Steven Caulker and a tactical change, but in all honesty it could have been anyone.

The only option for Spurs to change the worrying lack of creativity in central positions is for AVB to use Tom Huddlestone alongside Sandro. The Thudd may lack the mobility that AVB craves in his central role, but he is the only one of our central midfield contingent that can orchestrate cohesive attacks. His vision and quality on the ball are of far greater use to Spurs than merely another set of legs.

Andre Villas Boas seems determined to continue with his preferred formation of using three central midfielders; therefore I would like to see a trio of Sandro, Huddlestone with Dembele at the point.

However, should AVB decide differently at the next home game against Aston Villa, I won’t castigate his decisions from the Shelf and boo the players (I will never sit in block where I sat on Sunday again.) I am Tottenham till I die, not just to half time.

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

10 Comments

  1. Steve
    24/09/2012 @ 7:59 pm

    Well said, I just wish these sort of (so called) supporters would stay away unless they are fully committed to sticking with the team through thick and more importantly thin. They all seem to think A.V.B has came in and wrecked everything, just remember although Redknapp did an excellent job we won nothing, never looked like getting important results when it mattered (semi finals, last 15 games of prem season = 2 wins) and not to mention how he led spurs up the garden path while courting the England job. Forget fleet saysstreet and BACK YOUR TEAM.

  2. Disco Dave
    24/09/2012 @ 8:19 pm

    I have been a season ticket holder in the Paxton upper for nearly Twenty years and this season I am embarrassed to be sitting there.
    The people around me are the same old faces that have been there for much of that time, but this season they seem to think that we should be outplaying all opposition and winning games at a canter.
    If the team can turn around a half time deficit after an an atrocious chorus of boos, just think what they might achieve with a bit of old school support.
    GET BEHIND THE TEAM OR STAY AT HOME!

  3. DarrenJackson75
    24/09/2012 @ 8:43 pm

    After the 1882 night against Barca I was encouraged to try to south stand lower, where the best atmosphere is. Im usually east lower and do 8-10 games a season since the early 80’s. I was half disgusted, half perplexed by the atmosphere. I stood (like everyone else) in block 33, the silence was deafening, you could hear peoples conversations. How many times can QPR say they have out sang the home support, they’re hardly known for the fanaticism?

    During the first half I tried to get a few songs going, the tried and tested COYS, with next to nothing in response, as did 1 or 2 people in ear shot. Its probably the worst atmosphere ive heard in 30 years. I dont get it, if the lot around me are all arry fans, are they showing their displeasure by standing in silence. How many of those in the same block as me have called the Woolwichs ground the Library? some what hypocritical eh?

    Im not suggesting we should follow the club blindly like LOL’pool fans, but for Christ sake, get behind your club. If i were Defoe or Bale that were getting moaned at, i think I would have turned to the crowd and said, “at least im trying to do my bit what about you”

    The players from last season must be thinking, whats wrong? the new players and AVB,must be thinking, what the hell have i done? until we scored, there was nothing. its not a coincidence, that we scored, the crowd started to get behind the team and the team started to rampage forward, which culminated in another goal.

    Come on Tottenham we’re better than this

    Come you Spurs

    • wiltshirespur
      24/09/2012 @ 9:29 pm

      darren jackson I don’t know where you were in the park lane but there certainly wasn’t nothing… yes our fans did the traditional thing of going quiet around half time but there were moments of good atmosphere in the south lower at least. Not saying it was the best atmosphere I’ve seen but it wasn’t the worst either. You want to see how different our stadium is to the emirates or stamford bridge be in the park lane against chelsea in a few weeks… we will blow the fecking roof off.

      Having said that the booing was unacceptable, we need to get behing the team!!!

      • Darrenjackson75
        25/09/2012 @ 8:04 am

        Wilshirespur, the first song was in response to QPR asking us to, as i said there were a few people trying, but the quietest ive heard. I’m usually in the corner of the east next to the park lane so know this isn’t the usual level of support in that part of the ground.

        I’m sure the roof will come off against the likes of chelski, but we’re not known for being a fair weather team.

        The point I’m trying to make is, what’s causing it? Is it the arry fans showing their unhappiness at AVBs appointment or the performance?

        Either way this can’t continue, it’s going to start affecting the team

        Not once did i hear AVBs name sung, we need to get behind our team and the manager, however much we’re unhappy about the appointment.

        • wiltshirespur
          26/09/2012 @ 3:56 pm

          ah, you were at the east end, which I though was quieter than usual, along with the shelf. The west end, round me, was fine. not great, but fine. We sang songs at the beginning, before QPR started goading us, and they couldn’t talk because half their fans were sat down!!!

          Although then again, because I’m young maybe I have a low expectation of home games, but in my experience, apart from the booing, these first few home games had better atmosphere than some at the end of last season…

  4. Tottenham Tone
    24/09/2012 @ 9:35 pm

    Some 2 seasons ago I wrote a blog with the headline ” Ssssshhh its so quiet at the lane ” about the same subject and pleaded with our fans to raise the bar in the singing / supporting department as in my opinion we as a set of supporters were not putting in the effort in getting behind the team . It has definately got worse , its as if the fans c’ant be bothered , and it makes me ….ck…g angry !!! I sat in the lower paxton road with my blood boiling at all the muppets around me who barely raised a voice in support of the team but boy did they moan . Sad to admit it , but we have become another library which is why I love the away games all the more . You lot ( and you know who you are) should be ashamed of yourselves pathetic plastic fans !
    TTID !

  5. Harold
    24/09/2012 @ 10:27 pm

    Thanks for a very good read!
    Many valid points there.

  6. peter
    25/09/2012 @ 9:17 am

    v good points indeed…..especially about dembele,like you say an obvious talent but really looks like he is being played far too deep and out of his natural position to be effective, and huddletone, exactly what we have been missing this season, someone who can thread a decent pass to our front players?

    COYS

  7. Rob
    25/09/2012 @ 1:20 pm

    I was in Paxton lower behind the goal, it was shameful the booing at half time. These so-called fans are making Tottenham home games so miserable I feel like selling my ST except that would mean my seat being taken by some other part time boo-boy.

    “If you’re booing Tottenham Hotspur, you’re a cunt!” – that didn’t go down well with the boo boys.

    Gonna sing your thread title to them next time they boo at half time.

    Tottenham till half time
    You’re Tottenham till half time
    You boo your team, you boo your team
    You’re Tottenham till half time

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