What was very disturbing was the sight of Ledley and Anthony Gardner at the back, surely our future defensive partnership, but on that display we're doomed at the back as well as in attack ... I know that rhymes, but I'm hardly gonna start that up as a chant from the Park Lane !

The most galling thing was, before the game, outside the ground and even during the warm up, the general feeling was good.  Maybe it was the sunshine getting to us all, and distorting our sense of anticipation, but I genuinely felt that, if we won, with Man Utd to play Blackburn today, and Liverpool seemingly stuck in 6th, having already qualified for Europe, our chances of actually going for a UEFA Cup place seemed almost genuine ... How wrong you can be ...

From the first 10 seconds of the game we were second best.  Even when they scored, I thought that might've been them just getting their consolation goal out of the way ... with 88 minutes left to play, we had plenty of time to not only get back in it, but really give them what for, in the "footballing lesson" sense of the phrase. A high scoring, entertaining thrashing dished out by Spurs seemed the obvious outcome ... How wrong you can be ... again!

In my last rant a few weeks ago, I mentioned typical Spurs scripts ... this was another.  Add "No wins in 2003", "291 minutes without scoring," and "no clean sheet in months" to that, will you !  We were spineless, pitiful, appalling, slack, laboured, awful, laughable, disgraceful, clueless, painful... the Thesaurus is getting a good work-out this weekend ...

We chose the wrong Manchester team to be crap against didn't we ?  Knowing us, we'll put all our energies into proving everyone wrong against Man Utd next home game, beat them, give Arsenal the title, and really make our season complete ... Then again, on THAT display, Arsenal can forget about winning the league on goal difference, 'cos if Man Utd can put four and six past Liverpool and Newcastle, they'd better start dreaming up a brand new number, 'cos the amount they could score against us hasn't even been thought of yet ... maybe after infinity comes the new number;   (x)=THFCAGAINST

It was the BADDEST Good Friday performance I can remember, I thought Easter games were supposed to be enjoyable? A bit of end of season fun ... then again, 1988, Bobby Mimms away at QPR  was Easter wasn't it? Maybe it's our much publicised Jewish roots ... Easter isn't meant to be a good time for Spurs ... I know we crucified their Saviour and all that, but MUST we still be paying for it, and getting crucified ourselves some 2000 years later ?

It just seems that the team really don't care any more.  Unless they are genuinely trying to get Glenn sacked? In which case they're doing a great job!

As much as it pains me to see it, I can hardly imagine any of our players slapping the badge on their hearts, "Thierry Henry" style, when they score.  It means no more to them to play for Spurs than it does to Judas right now.  And dammit I'm going to say it, I know it won't be popular, but WHO CAN HONESTLY, DEEP DOWN BLAME CAMPBELL FOR LEAVING ?  Imagine the scenario, "Hello, Sol, it's Arsene here, how do you fancy playing regular Champions' League football, and winning everything there is to win domestically, without having to move house?"  What do you honestly reckon he was going to say ?  "Nah, I'll leave it thanks, I've got a much better chance of trophies here, what with the winners mentality and fully fit squad we're famous for ... Plus the set up is second-to-just about everyone and the overall running of the club leave other clubs in it's wake ... On yesterdays shambles he won't be the last, Carr's mind was clearly elsewhere, probably wondering where he put his passport, 'cos he hasn't needed one for a few years now ...  but he soon might.

The lack of young players all season has also been a sore point, I know Blondel has been injured and Etherington was also carrying a knock ... But not ALL BLOODY SEASON.  I don't think Glenn realises that if he ever gave them a decent chance, not only would the fans be more forgiving for the odd defeat, but long term, surely they would benefit.  As it is, they'll be mid-twenties before they get a decent run, but still with the experience of a teenager ... that can't bode too well can it ? 

But as for the players he DOES think worthy, enough is really enough with the old guard now, Sheringham and Anderton remind me more and more of Cannon and Ball trying to make a comeback.  No one is interested any more, all they know are the same old crap jokes, the best chance they have of employment is panto in Bridlington ... and NO I don't mean Cannon and Ball  !  In the second half, when Anderton adopted his somewhat familiar role on the turf, clutching his latest injury, I couldn't help but picture some lame old horse, long since gone to grass, and time for the Vet's gun and the Glue factory. If I'm honest, I've never been convinced of his true ability, a good cup game for Pompey against Leyton Orient does not a Premiership career make. Maybe a little unfair, but I'm feeling a little unfair at the moment.

As for Teddy "It's out of my hands" Sheringham, what about DOING something worthy of a new contract ?  I know he's 36, but so is Zola.  Whether we qualify for Europe is not some other distant event you are powerless to do anything about ... If you played and led like a true captain, instead of getting the hump when it doesn't go your way, maybe we would've been in a better position to challenge, instead of watching it all go wrong at home to Man City.  Your ability on the pitch IS what you can do to get us there, it's so IN YOUR HANDS it isn't true, it certainly isn't in OUR hands, is it?   If we could do anything about it, believe me we would.  And anyway, we HAVE been doing our bit.  The home atmosphere these past two seasons have been unlike anything I've experienced at WHL since the '80's.  We HAVE done OUR bit.  2-0 down after 20 minutes to Man City a few years ago, and there wouldn't have been a peep inside the ground.  We carried on singing well into the second half, it seems the team gave up long before the supporters did.  If Teddy is going to take the money in Dubai or wherever, as now seems likely, I hope he can look himself in the mirror, knowing he gave EVERYTHING to the club while he was here.  If he honestly cannot see that as captain, his stinking attitude during some games this season (getting subbed at home to WBA, and his appalling attitude in his interview after last weeks Leeds' game come to mind) might well  rub off on other players, then he doesn't deserve to be here.

Aaaaaanyway, there's Mr. Angry again ... back to the game ... 
The introduction of the Japanese Freund seemed like the last actions of a desperate man. Whatever multi million Japanese funded scheme is financing the deal, it seems that Hoddle only really wanted him to warm the bench until we were five up in a game, and he could come on for a bit of amusement, and to satisfy the money men.  To win us a game from 2-0 down, regardless of his undoubted enthusiasm and the weakness of opposition was never gonna come off, was it?  Maybe for another teams' scriptwriter, but not us.  

I really hadn't given up hope on this season until yesterday, I, and quite a few around me, it seemed, believed there WAS still something to play for in the last few weeks of what is now a truly awful season.  It's a shame the players didn't share our belief ... How wrong can you be?  

May the Spurs be with you...
Matthew Lyons
Park Lane Lower