A rather strange one this one. Nothing too spectacular about the performance, but the result is something to be mighty pleased about. Three against Spurs, clean sheet, no real need to get out of 3rd or 4th gear. Perfect. Especially fine after all the shite that spewed from the collective arses of Harry Redknapp and Robbie Keane. Just perfect.
Really, we could and should have done much better. The first half was pedestrian until Sagna managed to get a ball through for RVP to sneak it in with his right toe. Right or left, toe or instep, the man seems able to score with just about anything right now. Everyone looked kinda unaware that it had gone in, until RVP started celebrating.
And then right after the kick off, Cesc decides to go walkbout straight through the Spurs defence and put those sorry losers to sleep. Great solo goal, and Cesc doing what Cesc does best. All in all, we really didn't do too much that first half, and took the two chances that came our way. While we were not at our best, Spurs did not come close to even threatening. Only blemish in the first half, though, was Bent Nick's injury. Dude had to be taken off after little more than half an hour, which led to the introduction of Eduardo.
I must say I'm beginning to really like Bent Nick - his industry and his improving finishing especially. We'll miss him, as Le Boss thinks the groin has been seriously had.
Second half was much better in terms of our play, and we were dominant without really really punishing them. Eduardo was the main culprit, and should've added at least two very get-able goals. Shocking by his standards. Didn't have one of his better games, and looked strangely out of sorts.
Our third was quite amusing. Sagna pauses to stop play after Ed gets bundled over, realises there was no need, puts in the cross, its gets through sorry Ledley King and Gomes, and bounces off RVP for the goal. Heh.
So it was 3-0. More realistic score for the second half would've been 6-0. Add in two from Ed, and one more right at the death when Ramsey should've done better when straight through on goal as well. No wonder Le Boss was less than pleased at times during the better second half.
On to the player ratings:
Almunia 7 - Easy enough first day back at the office. He should keep his place for Alkmaar on Wednesday.
Sagna 8 - Great day out there on the right. Two assists, a few more threatening runs. Good show, boy.
TV 8 - Another commanding performance. At all the right places, at all the right times. Together with Billy, one hell of a central partnership.
Billy 7.5 - Ditto, but for a few dodgy challenges at the beginning of the second half. But looked comfortable all day long, keeping the inept Crouch-Keane comic duo at bay.
Clichy 6.5 - Nothing too spectacular, and again once or twice let people get past him way too easily. Gibbs is on yer, mate!
Diaby 5.5 - Easily the laggard of the team right now. Didn't offer very much at the back or going forward, and was invisible for large swathes of the game. Le Boss should've put Ramsey on for him much earlier on.
Song 7.5 - Another solid performance. Injuries aside, he should be a real monster by season's end.
Cesc 8 - Captain Cesc showed up today, thank god. His goal was probably easier than at first sight, but still. Nice slap in the face for Topfour Hotspurs.
Bent Nick 7 - Looked up for it until his untimely injury. We'll miss him.
Arshavin 7 - Dangerous as always, but not his best. The Spurs defence were crap today, and he should've had a field day.
RVP 8.5 - 6 goals in 5 league games. Nuff said. RVP's the man right now. His first goal was typical. Faster than anyone else.
Ed 6 - Poor Ed. He'll probably have to start against Alkmaar, so hopefully that'll be good opportunity to get some confidence back. The goal he missed when one-on-one with Gomes was truly woeful.
The highlights:
Harry Redknapp talked about "suicide" in describing his team's performance. Well and good, but the next time, before you commit suicide, just shut your gap. Now you and Keane go off and stick your collective heads up each other's arses. (Now they're complaining they were getting too muck stick from the Arse fans seated near the Spurs dug out. Aw. Poor things. Maybe that teaches you a lesson on how to keep it in when things threaten to sneak out from your trap).
Elsewhere, Pool are really coming good. What a joke. Some may say Rafa has to go, but methinks everyone else should also go - save you-know-who and you-know-who. Truly awful stuff which I enjoyed immensely. You know you're really up shit creek when Voronin starts, and you gotta take Torres off.
On to Wednesday. Next weekend will be fun too: Chelski - Man U on Sunday. Any result will be fine, so long as we do the business against Wolves late Saturday. Can't wait.
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