Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Manchester United Vs Liverpool 14 march 2009
This is almost the same time when I wrote last year and in my last post :) I was critical of negative tactics of Sir Alex Ferguson in last year's champions league semifinal against FC Barcelona. Now we all know that United were the champions and I enjoyed the victory over Chelsea like any other hardcore United fan. It was ultimate drama as Ronaldo missed his penalty and we were one kick away from losing it. Thanks to viva Terry we are the European champions as well as word champions. Now I can thank Sir Alex Ferguson for his tactics against Barcilona.
Coming to this years campaign , we were almost there till we saw off Inter Milan in Champion's league pre-quarter final. Sir Alex has chosen different teams and they all have delivered. All the midfielders have been doing commendable job. Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs have been outstanding. Scholes , Anderson have done their job with Scholes being brilliant in some matches. Darren Gibson has been very promising.
So when came Liverpool match we all were very excited , bring on anyone we will see. I guess same feeling crept in Sir Alex Ferguson's mind. When I saw the team sheet I was happy that for a change Tevez is palying with Rooney which was such an exciting partnership last year. Also I got a bit bored of Berbatov. He is a nice bloke , good player but he slows us down. He is a good passer but lately he has started overdoing it with the ball. When there are through passes he doesn't seem to be reaching to them. An striker should be fast with Berbatov like skills. I so dearly wanted Torres to come to Manchester United but he Joined his fellow Spaniard. I can understand that. But Torres is a complete striker. Ok so I was happy with Berbatov's absence but I was amazed that Anderson and Carrick were there in the midfield. I can imagine from where it might have come. The last performance of Anderson against Gerrard was outstanding and Carrick has been marvelous. But Anderson has just come out of injury and Carrick has played with Fletcher and Scholes who are so much hardworking and technically better than Anderson. This selection would have made sense if Anderson has played a few games more. So before the game itself I had a doubt and I so dearly wanted myself to be proved wrong but my instincts were right :(
Saying all that still it was a good match till Nemenja tried to play some football against his characteristic. He would never have imagined that any striker can molest him and take the ball away the way Torres did. It was painful to see our rock being dismantled but on the other side as a football neutral it was wonderful to watch Torres. Vidic must be wondering what the hell. But it is good for his game as he came against someone so good. I am sure Nemenja will learn a lot from this game and will be aware of the danger next time, hopefully in Champions League semifinal.
Whatever Nemenja was thinking about Torres's molestation same happened to Patrice Evra. When Torres played that ball Evra must have thought it was his as Gerrard was behind enough to be confident. But it was Gerrard with his long legs and full throttle running who rounded Evra and reached to the ball just split second ahead of Evra. It was nightmare but again Evra will think that there are men who can overrun him. Mind you these are all personal battles and these are good reminders to our heroes Evra and Vidic to learn and take all care while defending. Never be overconfident with good players. None other team's players have troubled Evra and Vidic the way Torres and Gerrard did at least in my memory. Vidic was taught lessons by both Gerrard and Torres. So Three mistakes three goals , game over. Had it been any other team or instead of Gerrard and Torres any other strikers we would have definitely won 1-0 at least .
Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out after Inter Milan's match that we were poor but inter was not able to capitalize but Liverpool did. Torres and Gerrard were the difference between the teams. On the other hand our midfielders were pedestrians, neither they covered our defense nor created enough. Height of it all came when we were four against three and Carrick overhit the pass to Ronaldo and Evra for a throwin on a conter attck. Had our midfield performed I guess Gerrard and Torres would have been busy helping their midfield. I expect a lot from Carrick but against Inter and Liverpool he looked pale.
I was Ok after the defeat as it taught a few lessons and good goals were scored against us. Hopefully we will learn our lessons and do better next time. Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez are not doing enough as they did last season. Tevez runs a lot fine , but very little end product. Tevez and Rooney's first touches are a bit poor, ball doesn't stick to their legs. But I would prefer them over Berbatov. He has not done enough.
As Sir Alex and Sir Bobby said , let this win be a blessing in disguise for red devil's season.
Coming to this years campaign , we were almost there till we saw off Inter Milan in Champion's league pre-quarter final. Sir Alex has chosen different teams and they all have delivered. All the midfielders have been doing commendable job. Carrick, Fletcher and Giggs have been outstanding. Scholes , Anderson have done their job with Scholes being brilliant in some matches. Darren Gibson has been very promising.
So when came Liverpool match we all were very excited , bring on anyone we will see. I guess same feeling crept in Sir Alex Ferguson's mind. When I saw the team sheet I was happy that for a change Tevez is palying with Rooney which was such an exciting partnership last year. Also I got a bit bored of Berbatov. He is a nice bloke , good player but he slows us down. He is a good passer but lately he has started overdoing it with the ball. When there are through passes he doesn't seem to be reaching to them. An striker should be fast with Berbatov like skills. I so dearly wanted Torres to come to Manchester United but he Joined his fellow Spaniard. I can understand that. But Torres is a complete striker. Ok so I was happy with Berbatov's absence but I was amazed that Anderson and Carrick were there in the midfield. I can imagine from where it might have come. The last performance of Anderson against Gerrard was outstanding and Carrick has been marvelous. But Anderson has just come out of injury and Carrick has played with Fletcher and Scholes who are so much hardworking and technically better than Anderson. This selection would have made sense if Anderson has played a few games more. So before the game itself I had a doubt and I so dearly wanted myself to be proved wrong but my instincts were right :(
Saying all that still it was a good match till Nemenja tried to play some football against his characteristic. He would never have imagined that any striker can molest him and take the ball away the way Torres did. It was painful to see our rock being dismantled but on the other side as a football neutral it was wonderful to watch Torres. Vidic must be wondering what the hell. But it is good for his game as he came against someone so good. I am sure Nemenja will learn a lot from this game and will be aware of the danger next time, hopefully in Champions League semifinal.
Whatever Nemenja was thinking about Torres's molestation same happened to Patrice Evra. When Torres played that ball Evra must have thought it was his as Gerrard was behind enough to be confident. But it was Gerrard with his long legs and full throttle running who rounded Evra and reached to the ball just split second ahead of Evra. It was nightmare but again Evra will think that there are men who can overrun him. Mind you these are all personal battles and these are good reminders to our heroes Evra and Vidic to learn and take all care while defending. Never be overconfident with good players. None other team's players have troubled Evra and Vidic the way Torres and Gerrard did at least in my memory. Vidic was taught lessons by both Gerrard and Torres. So Three mistakes three goals , game over. Had it been any other team or instead of Gerrard and Torres any other strikers we would have definitely won 1-0 at least .
Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out after Inter Milan's match that we were poor but inter was not able to capitalize but Liverpool did. Torres and Gerrard were the difference between the teams. On the other hand our midfielders were pedestrians, neither they covered our defense nor created enough. Height of it all came when we were four against three and Carrick overhit the pass to Ronaldo and Evra for a throwin on a conter attck. Had our midfield performed I guess Gerrard and Torres would have been busy helping their midfield. I expect a lot from Carrick but against Inter and Liverpool he looked pale.
I was Ok after the defeat as it taught a few lessons and good goals were scored against us. Hopefully we will learn our lessons and do better next time. Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez are not doing enough as they did last season. Tevez runs a lot fine , but very little end product. Tevez and Rooney's first touches are a bit poor, ball doesn't stick to their legs. But I would prefer them over Berbatov. He has not done enough.
As Sir Alex and Sir Bobby said , let this win be a blessing in disguise for red devil's season.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
If Ferguson is doing to Machester United what Ericksson did to England?
I have watched Barcelona Vs Manchester United and Chelsea Vs Manchester United in last four days and eagerly waiting for Tuesday ( 29th April) for Manchester United Vs Barcelona.
United have drawn with Barcelona in Nou Camp 0-0 and lost to Chelsea at Bridge 2-1.
Both the games united played very defensive very much like a bottom of the league team plays the top of the league team to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Till now Manager Ferguson's tactics hang on a balance. United can still progress to Champions league final and win the premier league. He has also been able to rest the players he wanted , barring Hargreaves who was forced early into action at bridge with Vidic being injured.
Ferguson wanted two draws and he ended up with one draw and one loss. We as supporters of the club are patient till now but if the result goes wrong against Barcelona and they bottle up at Wigan you would say it was all down to Ferguson's tactics. The same tactics applied by Seven Goran Ericksson, the manage or England in FIFA World Cup 2006. He restrained Rooney and company till the 60th minute of the game and then england ran out of their luck. He never went full throttle in that game against Portugal. He never allowed his players to express themselves in that game.
These negative tactics have cost England in the World Cup . Will these tactics help Manchester United. Only time will tell .
But we would have been happier if United have played both these games as they know to play, People would have loved them more. I hope United play good attacking football against Barcelona come this Tuesday. Let us see how might United are. Or how good Sir Alex Ferguson is. This time he has no excuse in Europe.
United have drawn with Barcelona in Nou Camp 0-0 and lost to Chelsea at Bridge 2-1.
Both the games united played very defensive very much like a bottom of the league team plays the top of the league team to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Till now Manager Ferguson's tactics hang on a balance. United can still progress to Champions league final and win the premier league. He has also been able to rest the players he wanted , barring Hargreaves who was forced early into action at bridge with Vidic being injured.
Ferguson wanted two draws and he ended up with one draw and one loss. We as supporters of the club are patient till now but if the result goes wrong against Barcelona and they bottle up at Wigan you would say it was all down to Ferguson's tactics. The same tactics applied by Seven Goran Ericksson, the manage or England in FIFA World Cup 2006. He restrained Rooney and company till the 60th minute of the game and then england ran out of their luck. He never went full throttle in that game against Portugal. He never allowed his players to express themselves in that game.
These negative tactics have cost England in the World Cup . Will these tactics help Manchester United. Only time will tell .
But we would have been happier if United have played both these games as they know to play, People would have loved them more. I hope United play good attacking football against Barcelona come this Tuesday. Let us see how might United are. Or how good Sir Alex Ferguson is. This time he has no excuse in Europe.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
How Manchester United think that they are the Best Club
First of all let me tell you that I am Manchester United fan. But sometimes it baffles me when either players or manager or CEO of Manchester United comes and boasts they are the best club. As a fan i have always hesitated in boasting this thing.
What is the criterion of being the best club? You should have the best players around. You should have the most number of audiences. You should have the highest turnover and profits. You should have the best football ground. Or above all you should play the best football possible. For me the last one is the criterion. Because many of you will argue that Manchester United has the best Manager, best players, best stadium and best turnover and profits. But the brand of football you play should be the sole criterion. And for me Manchester Uinted have lacked in there, not by far but yes no can say for sure that Manchester United plays the best football. They are there , their brand of football is better than the most but unarguably "The Best Football" , we can not say for sure.
Why I am saying this, because I am not happy the way Manchester United performed in Lyon. Based on this performance I can not say for sure that the club the club I support is the best in the world. They are near to that but they are not "The Best". I am sad to see that players and manager are satisfied with this performance. One such example.
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=595001
I watched the match live and got the feeling that Manchester United does not want to get beaten thats all. There was no desire to win or to score. I could have accepted this attitude if it was Real Madrid , Barcelona , AC Milan or Inter Milan but Lyon. The team which has lost its last league match and when you yourself have trounced your nearest rival in your league 4-0 three days back. I like the way Manchester United play in English Premier League, Its all out attaack. But in Champions league Sir Alex Ferguson has always been defensive. I was able to digest his attitude prior to this year when we always had substandard squad with only one or two world class players. But this season you have one of the best teams possible. All the players are attack minded and then you ask them to restrain. This allows the other team no matter what their stature is to attack you and then one of your players makes mistakes ( Rio Ferdinand is good at that). Everything was going fine and then suddenly you found yourself 1-0 down. Why in the first place you allow the other team to that to you? Why don't you burry them in first 20 minutes and remind them to be in their own half or have the risk of knocked out in the first tie itself. The goal you scored was not your brilliance, it was a lucky break as the ball bounced of Lyon defender and Tevez was there to pounce but will you be lucky every time? Assume the situation when you woul dhave got the 0-0 draw you so desired and then in the home leg at old trafford against all your expectations Lyon takes lead at 60th min and then your luck runs out and Tevez doesn't get that chance. You are out of the competition. Who do you blame for that? You didn't try hard in the first 90 minutes played in Lyon and the 30 min you had here were not enough to revert the damage done. Plus when you start with negative mindset it is difficult to come all out and firing all guns suddenly when you find yourself behind. Then the manager and players will come out and say we were the better team but we were unlucky.
I have gone a bit far now. The tie is at 1-1 with one away goal advantage but please for God sake don't try to preserve this slender lead, because they just need to score one goal.
Sir Ferguson please believe in your boys and allow them to express freely. Please play Hargreeves when your ass is against the wall and your team is not able to defend. Because he contributes in negative to the attacking football. All the promising movement gets killed when some one gets the ball in midfield and instead of looking for runners he looks up to find Scholes and if he doesn't find he passes that back to Edvin Van Der Sar. With all due respect to Hargreeves he is no good when comes to attack. Preserve him to defend the 2 goal cushion whenever you have . 1 goal cushion is no cushion as Manchester United plays always for win draw is equal to defeat.
So the bottom line if you want to say that you are "The Best Club" then you should play such football that teams fear to face you and no one dares to say something like this http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=79863
What is the criterion of being the best club? You should have the best players around. You should have the most number of audiences. You should have the highest turnover and profits. You should have the best football ground. Or above all you should play the best football possible. For me the last one is the criterion. Because many of you will argue that Manchester United has the best Manager, best players, best stadium and best turnover and profits. But the brand of football you play should be the sole criterion. And for me Manchester Uinted have lacked in there, not by far but yes no can say for sure that Manchester United plays the best football. They are there , their brand of football is better than the most but unarguably "The Best Football" , we can not say for sure.
Why I am saying this, because I am not happy the way Manchester United performed in Lyon. Based on this performance I can not say for sure that the club the club I support is the best in the world. They are near to that but they are not "The Best". I am sad to see that players and manager are satisfied with this performance. One such example.
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=595001
I watched the match live and got the feeling that Manchester United does not want to get beaten thats all. There was no desire to win or to score. I could have accepted this attitude if it was Real Madrid , Barcelona , AC Milan or Inter Milan but Lyon. The team which has lost its last league match and when you yourself have trounced your nearest rival in your league 4-0 three days back. I like the way Manchester United play in English Premier League, Its all out attaack. But in Champions league Sir Alex Ferguson has always been defensive. I was able to digest his attitude prior to this year when we always had substandard squad with only one or two world class players. But this season you have one of the best teams possible. All the players are attack minded and then you ask them to restrain. This allows the other team no matter what their stature is to attack you and then one of your players makes mistakes ( Rio Ferdinand is good at that). Everything was going fine and then suddenly you found yourself 1-0 down. Why in the first place you allow the other team to that to you? Why don't you burry them in first 20 minutes and remind them to be in their own half or have the risk of knocked out in the first tie itself. The goal you scored was not your brilliance, it was a lucky break as the ball bounced of Lyon defender and Tevez was there to pounce but will you be lucky every time? Assume the situation when you woul dhave got the 0-0 draw you so desired and then in the home leg at old trafford against all your expectations Lyon takes lead at 60th min and then your luck runs out and Tevez doesn't get that chance. You are out of the competition. Who do you blame for that? You didn't try hard in the first 90 minutes played in Lyon and the 30 min you had here were not enough to revert the damage done. Plus when you start with negative mindset it is difficult to come all out and firing all guns suddenly when you find yourself behind. Then the manager and players will come out and say we were the better team but we were unlucky.
I have gone a bit far now. The tie is at 1-1 with one away goal advantage but please for God sake don't try to preserve this slender lead, because they just need to score one goal.
Sir Ferguson please believe in your boys and allow them to express freely. Please play Hargreeves when your ass is against the wall and your team is not able to defend. Because he contributes in negative to the attacking football. All the promising movement gets killed when some one gets the ball in midfield and instead of looking for runners he looks up to find Scholes and if he doesn't find he passes that back to Edvin Van Der Sar. With all due respect to Hargreeves he is no good when comes to attack. Preserve him to defend the 2 goal cushion whenever you have . 1 goal cushion is no cushion as Manchester United plays always for win draw is equal to defeat.
So the bottom line if you want to say that you are "The Best Club" then you should play such football that teams fear to face you and no one dares to say something like this http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=79863
Sunday, February 10, 2008
People like Yuvraj and Ronaldo are double edged sword
Manchester United have just lost to Manchester City by Two goals to One. The occasion was anniversary of Munich disaster and tributes to those who lost their lives. In the current context Manchester United are trailing Arsenel in the 2008 league title race by two points. So on all accounts this was a must win game. But there was one problem, United were missing the best team player WAYNE ROONEY due to suspension for his ten yellow cards through out the season till now. United never looked like scoring against two beast of the defenders in Micah Richards and Richard Dunne. There is no chemistry between Tevez and Ronaldo the two players who were in most advance roles. Chemistry developes between those who like each other , I doubt Tevez and Ronaldo have same bond as Tevez and Rooney. That was not helped when Ronaldo snatched the ball from Tevez in a game where Tevez had already scored two and would have got the hattrick had ronaldo allowed him to take the penality. In all a below average day for Ronaldo. Sometimes i feel he has been hyped more than he deserves. But I guess Sir Alex is showing the same leniency towards ronaldo that Sir Matt Busby showed towards George Best. I fear Manchester United may not have to pay for this. Manchester United have lost all games this season when Rooney has been missing. Wes Brown and Jhon O Shea as fullbacks can defend but they can not do anything going forward. Their crossing ability is a shame on the team of the calibre of United. Manchester United is badly missing a Torres like striker who can play upfront and is qucik. Giggs is too old and fllashy at times. Rio Ferdinand was in his worst passing form today. Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves can never score from midfield. I doubt they dream themselves scoring forget about realy scoring in a match. Carrick's shooting is horrible.
India won the one dayer against Australia. Ishant Sharma today again showed what a bowler he is. I can say he is worth watching. I am delighted that we can give some of the things back to ausssy batsmen what indian batsmen have been receiving. I have become fan of this guy. Sreeshanth and Pathan also supported well. Yuvraj is a big match winner but like ronaldo he also plays for himself instead of team and more often than not he has started disappointing. He has yet to score something worthwhile in australia in this tour. Thank GOD india was having its ROONEY in Mahendra Singh Dhoni , and thats why India won.
India won the one dayer against Australia. Ishant Sharma today again showed what a bowler he is. I can say he is worth watching. I am delighted that we can give some of the things back to ausssy batsmen what indian batsmen have been receiving. I have become fan of this guy. Sreeshanth and Pathan also supported well. Yuvraj is a big match winner but like ronaldo he also plays for himself instead of team and more often than not he has started disappointing. He has yet to score something worthwhile in australia in this tour. Thank GOD india was having its ROONEY in Mahendra Singh Dhoni , and thats why India won.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
No One is Perfect
I have been away for cricket for last two three years but have been following the scores and highlights in all the news channels you can get any time unlike before when we had to wait for some particular time on any particular channel. I am prompted to write this post due to the recent Indian one day team selections for the Commonwealth Bank triangular series involving Srilanka and Australia. The most furore arose due to exclusion of Saurav Ganguly. I think its fare , Dada is no more a match winner as a complete package. With Complete package I mean someone who gives a distinct edge when he plays well. Dada used to be a few years back. When he used to score big centuries with strike rate more than hundred. He usually started slow at 70 strike rate then in the later part of his innings used to slog and get beyond hundred with taking his strike rate more than 100. Thats an edge created by a player if in any match a player scores a century with strike rate more than hundred then the team got a chance to win the match. But now a days Dada scores a 50 with 70 strike rate and then mis fields 10 for the opponent team. Thats not an edge created.
So Dada should just not keep playing for the sake of playing. He should think about whether he is still the match winner he was, if yes then he should win at least one match on his own. Its not good to score half century and then cement your place in the team and argue with everyone that I scored yet I got dropped.Unless everyone in the team is a match winner on his day that team can never achieve the consistency. In Todays cricket when australia has set such high standards we can't do just enough . We have to do more than them . Dada Should look at hayden how much he contributes. He is the most consistent player. Now a days we can predict Dada will fail in at least two matches after scoring a half century.
I have great respect for Dada, I can't forget his hammering of srilankans in Taunton in world cup 1999. Or the win in dhaka in 1998 when he combined with Robin Singh and chased down 314 runs scored by pakistan. We want that Dada who had hunger now Dada seems content in doing just enough. Thats not good enough. We need to search for match winners like yesteryears dada.
Looking at the one day team I fear there is lack of experience in batting. Except Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag I doubt everyone else. Gambhir, Karthick,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Raina,Rohit Sharma,Robin Uthappa they are all good names but as I explained earlier they are not match winners on there own yet. I dare include Yuvraj in that list but he hasn't looked good at all in the first two tests he played and yes he seems to be distracted with Deepika Padukone flirting with him and Dhoni both. Dhoni is a strong man he can handle but i doubt about Yuvraj. I would have loved Dravid and Laxman in there as Dravid may provide solidity as in australia batting collapses very easily and Laxman for his record in australia against australia. But then Laxman falls in Dada's category and Dravid has not looked convincing enough to be solid enough in this tour. One Day series india will do well to reach in the best of three finals.
Lately I have watched Test cricket and didn't get bored , surprise. But this is due to some good bowling by Indians. I loved watching the spell of Ishant Sharma bowling to Ponting in Perth. He was marvelous. It was like watching our batsmen struggling against Macgrath. I am not comparing him to Macgrath but the fear we used to feel when our batsmen played Macgrath .
I would compare Ishant with Pakistan's Mohammad Asif. I hope Ishant improves and takes more than one wicket when he is bowling so well. Today also in fourth test he got hayden, But was not consistent in his line to get more wickets.
So Dada should just not keep playing for the sake of playing. He should think about whether he is still the match winner he was, if yes then he should win at least one match on his own. Its not good to score half century and then cement your place in the team and argue with everyone that I scored yet I got dropped.Unless everyone in the team is a match winner on his day that team can never achieve the consistency. In Todays cricket when australia has set such high standards we can't do just enough . We have to do more than them . Dada Should look at hayden how much he contributes. He is the most consistent player. Now a days we can predict Dada will fail in at least two matches after scoring a half century.
I have great respect for Dada, I can't forget his hammering of srilankans in Taunton in world cup 1999. Or the win in dhaka in 1998 when he combined with Robin Singh and chased down 314 runs scored by pakistan. We want that Dada who had hunger now Dada seems content in doing just enough. Thats not good enough. We need to search for match winners like yesteryears dada.
Looking at the one day team I fear there is lack of experience in batting. Except Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag I doubt everyone else. Gambhir, Karthick,Yuvraj,Dhoni,Raina,Rohit Sharma,Robin Uthappa they are all good names but as I explained earlier they are not match winners on there own yet. I dare include Yuvraj in that list but he hasn't looked good at all in the first two tests he played and yes he seems to be distracted with Deepika Padukone flirting with him and Dhoni both. Dhoni is a strong man he can handle but i doubt about Yuvraj. I would have loved Dravid and Laxman in there as Dravid may provide solidity as in australia batting collapses very easily and Laxman for his record in australia against australia. But then Laxman falls in Dada's category and Dravid has not looked convincing enough to be solid enough in this tour. One Day series india will do well to reach in the best of three finals.
Lately I have watched Test cricket and didn't get bored , surprise. But this is due to some good bowling by Indians. I loved watching the spell of Ishant Sharma bowling to Ponting in Perth. He was marvelous. It was like watching our batsmen struggling against Macgrath. I am not comparing him to Macgrath but the fear we used to feel when our batsmen played Macgrath .
I would compare Ishant with Pakistan's Mohammad Asif. I hope Ishant improves and takes more than one wicket when he is bowling so well. Today also in fourth test he got hayden, But was not consistent in his line to get more wickets.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Tottenhem the entertainers for neutrals
Today is Monday and I generally don't watch league matches during the week. I only watch champions league matches when Manchester United is playing. But somehow I had a feeling that today’s match would be good to watch. I seldom watch league matches of other teams, but for last one year whenever I have watched spurs playing they have always been entertaining. I will explain the way spurs entertain. Since tomorrow being a national holiday I decided to give a chance to me to get entertained by spurs. And here I am so much filled with gratitude that I have again started my laptop and thought to write only my second post. Sorry Mitesh I said I am going to sleep but couldn't resist watching Martin Jol and his team. And now I am feeling like calling and telling you the story what happened. Anyway let me try to write what I witnessed.
Pretext of the match , Tottenhem is a good team, they finished 5th last two years in the league and they had a few good players added to their team and looked very formidable during the preseason. But as always they have started dreadfully in the league and have won only one match against the bottom of the league team. They are in the relegation zone i.e. bottom three in the league of twenty teams. Their manager Martin Jol looks to be a good manager but has been under pressure of being sacked by the Tottenhem board due to the poor results. His cause has not been helped by the long term injury to his center back and captain Ledly King. Statistics says Spurs have only managed 3 clean sheets in their last 35 games. So going into this game Spurs are supposed to beat Astan villa at
Anyway so score is 1-1 curtsey Robinson. At around 40th minute Astan Villa get a freekick on the left side , Young takes it , he observed Barry's run towards left corner place and passes the ball to him, Barry has acres of space and no Tottenhem defender bothered to track his run. Barry sends in a superb cross in front of Tottenhem goal. Ball misses two Astan Villa players at near post and reaches to Chimbonda on the far post, It hits his knee and rebounds in the center where Larsson scores the second between the legs of Robinson. The guy had scored only one goal in the last five years and here he has doubled his tally for his club within 45 minutes, courtsey Robinson. Tottenhem 2-1 down and supporeters feeling it.
Just before half time Abangalhore gets the ball just outside the penality box of spurs and very easily beats Dowson and shoots low shot towards far post. Robinson is not able to do anything and Astan Villa is 3-1 up. Its half time and Spurs are 3-1 down , where they were supposed to win this match and ease the pressure on Martin Jol. I guess if it was any champions league team all three goals against Spurs would not have been scored.First one was sure saught Robinson howler, Second one was defensive organisational mistake and third Dawson gave too much space to Abangalhore. But here only comes the entertainment value for neutrals. Spurs is a team which let you score the goals and scores the goals.
After half time Spurs kept on attackin in search of goals. Against the run of play Astan Villa gets a free kick just outside the penality area. Within the wall there is One Astan Villa Player and he turns and makes gap for a ferocious shot by Gardener. Robinson's initial movement is wrong way and then its too late to recover , Spurs are 4-1 down and some fans are not able to bear, they have started to leave. Beofre Martin Jol changed I observed it, Tiano was not playing well he went out came in Defoe. Then Berbatov's body language didn't give any hint of him even trying anything to reduce the margin, Jol reacts and Off goes Berbatov and in comes Darren Bent.
In the midfield zakora is playing like a lion and Gareth Bale who was lively in the first half seems to be getting nervous . But then it was his burst down the left which allowed Tottenhem to score their secong goal. Bale runs towards the goal line and then pulls back the ball into the penality area. Defoe is quick comes back and hammers a left footed shot against the post which rebounds and goes towards Chimbonda on the right , He took a shot and score is 4-2. I was hoping for spurs to score and they were not letting me down , thats why I call them the entertainers, they let go lots of goals and they score also lots of goals.
Anyway score is 4-2 Spurs are trying hard and then incomes Marlon Hayword . At one point ball is harmless but inside the Astan Villa penality area , Bent is on it and Hayword comes and pushes him on the floor and referry whistles for the penality. Robbie Keane steps up and slots home a cool penality and score is 4-3. Stadium is buzzing and people are expecting something special, me included. And as the good script is written Spurs level the score in the goal mouth bhasad (harakiri) in the last minute of the stoppage time. Whole stadium is standing and they all are singing as if they have won the league.But yes looking at the situation 4-1 down and then level the scores at 4-4 , It was quite incredible stuff . I was spellbound, what I wanted has happened. Long live Jol. I am impressed and I think I have utilized my time .Commentators said this is a premiership classic and in the end Football Won.
It is very rare when a team is three goals down and comes back strongly. I wathced the champions league 2005 final between AC Milan and Liverpool. There Liverpool were 3-0 at half time and then came back in the second half to level the scores 3-3. There AC MIlan were better team so that was more outstanding feat. Spurs are better team than Astan Villa, but they were down 4-1, they kept attacking no matter what Robinson was doing in their goal ad thats what we fans like, attacking football at all costs.
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