[Archived] Tottenham Vs Rovers

[philipl]

Mallorca are an interesting case in point. I think you will find their turnover is well under Rovers' and they have a smaller capacity stadium. In La Liga, we would be vying for 7th highest attandance against Espanyol this season and half the clubs have average gates of less than 20,000.

Mallorca incidentaly were bought by an Englishman for £50m!!!

[jim mk2]

As for our away record - it is interesting that a lot of teams have poor away records.

Exactly. Fulham, 4 points ahead of us in the league, have also won one one match away. Everton, 8 points ahead, have won only 3 out of 15.

The problem lies with the Rovers players who are obviously able to follow the manager's instructions in home matches but clearly unable to execute his game-plan away from home.

And for all the best-laid plans the manager also cannot be held responsible for the crass individual mistakes that led to Tottenham's goals yesterday.

[thenodrog]

We were never going to win. The first 45 mins were typical Rovers away stuff; play for 0-0 and on't try to score.

Olsson had a jolly good go at trying not to score in the first half.

As I've said previously I was listening to the radio out side in the yard and the commentators were talking about 0-0 at ht being OK after about 43 mins yet I just knew Spurs would score before half time. The timing was uncanny we seem to make a habit of conceding in the last 5mins of the first half.

[thenodrog]

He also missed a penalty for them, but even so, we came worse off from the ref.

Webb is our best ref and thats that but I think he knew through his earpiece that he'd cocked up with Dunny's pen claim and was just evening things up with Salgado's on Bale. His only real cock up was penalising Kalinic.

[thenodrog]

But, there are only 2 huge clubs guaranteed to finish in the top 4, whereas here it's likely to be the usual suspects (although Rafa's doing his utmost to f**k that up). Therefore the Champs League money is distributed more evenly meaning that 3rd and 4th can go to any one of about 8 clubs.

The quality of football (and by that I mean on the deck, pass-and-move stuff not kick and rush like here - except Arsenal) is vastly superior.

The Prem (and domestic Cups)have been destroyed as competitions by the ludicrously named Champions League. It's also screwed the finances of Man Utd and Liverpool big time.

More competative and enjoyable leagues? Forget La Liga and Seria A I'd go for the Bundesliga and the Coca Cola Championship.

[jim mk2]

The Prem (and domestic Cups)have been destroyed as competitions by the ludicrous Champions League. .

The Champions League has also destroyed the best competition of all ...the knock-out European Cup ... and the Uefa Cup, European Cup-winners' Cup which were both prestigious competitions in their own right.

It has also destroyed the World Cup, because the best players are knackered, and devalued international friendlies because the best players don't want to play in them.

The CL is the worst thing to happen to football since the abolition of the maximum wage..

[Bazzanotsogreat]

So Rovers even as we are today would stand a decent chance of getting regular CL football in Spain.

Absolute rubbish- La Liga is the equal if not better than the Premiership imo. Clubs such as Athletic Madrid, Sevilla, Betis, Espanyol & Deportivo La Coruna have far bigger potential to challenge the big three in Spain than Rovers ever would.

For someone who prides themselves on having a vast knowledge of everything; your knowledge of other European leagues is somewhat lacking. Although turnover is higher in England than Span, the wages that players demand ( outside of Real/Barca) are far lower. Clubs in Spain youth academies are also far more productive than those in UK.

[philipl]

imo--three very important words, never to be confused with facts.

[T4E]

Mallorca (a club comparable to Rovers in size and finance?) are 5th - 1 point off 4th. Hmmm, perhaps we should look at their manager in summer?

Perhaps we should relocate the club to Spain.

[thenodrog]

Absolute rubbish- La Liga is the equal if not better than the Premiership imo. Clubs such as Athletic Madrid, Sevilla, Betis, Espanyol & Deportivo La Coruna have far bigger potential to challenge the big three in Spain than Rovers ever would.

For someone who prides themselves on having a vast knowledge of everything; your knowledge of other European leagues is somewhat lacking. Although turnover is higher in England than Span, the wages that players demand ( outside of Real/Barca) are far lower. Clubs in Spain youth academies are also far more productive than those in UK.

Surely in basic economics that simply means that we would out bid all but Real and Barca and sign the best players once those two are sorted? Therefore Philips opinion is valid to a degree.

[DP]

What the hell has our performance yesterday got to do with the weather in Spain anyway?

Oh, and Theno, if we're not allowed (methaporically!!!!!) to rip Chimbonda's contract up, can we at least stick it up his arse and let him rot in the reserves until the end of the season?

[Montfort]

I think the way that people phrase ideas can tell you a lot.

MOTD stated something like "I think Blackburn had a very good shout for a penalty". On the face of it, quite reasonable and fair. However I thought that it was a clear and blatent penalty. As such, I would have anticipated something along the lines of "How did the referee miss that?" or " Not to give that was a mistake". This reflects my feelings and emotions. I don't think that Blackburn are particularly well loved. ( I know you all know that but I thought this was an interesting example.

[roversmum]

We met some really nice and friendly Spurs fans on Saturday. Some came over to shake our hands and say that they really liked Blackburn, talk about Sam and wish us all the best for the rest of the season. The lady sitting next to us (in the disabled area) was distraught when Robbo went off, she is a huge fan of his. It took us ages to get back to the coach.

On the match - much as I have supported Bert in the past, I don't think he is playing at all well. I also began to wonder if Dunny was angling for a move to Spurs, he gave them most of the balls that he got. It was good to see Di Santo come on, he certainly got things going a bit, am getting rather tired of poor Nikola struggling in isolation. Haven't seen the match on tv yet, I usually find that gives me a different view of things.

[waggy]

i thought saturdays game was like a end of season dead rubber in the 1st half.spurs attacked,we attacked ,i do not think there was a tackle in midfield all the half.SUPER Sam Allardyce got his tactics badly wrong,why he did not but chimbonda at right back against bale only he knows.the tv coverage showed a great clip when samba scored,the corner came over and you could see the whites of sambas eyes light up when he knew he was going to win the ball and score.as for nickola,when will lady luck shine on him

[roversmum]

I wonder, Waggy, we've seen very little of Lady Luck this season, that is for sure.

[Hughesy]

I think we can look forward to Samba being this years Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bentley. Arry's obviously making his move early.

I agree unfortunatley. He looks too good for our defence. He is by FAR our best defender. He looked fed up after his goal line clearance, as if to say 'Somebody else help me'.

He is a quality player - If it was up to me, id make him Captain to try and entice him to stay - otherwise I see a big club trying to pinch him for £10m+.

[den]

Can't be bothered to go into any details about this game, but the bottom line is that Spurs and many other clubs have bought better players over the past few season's, while we have sold ours.

Formations, manager, tactics etc are simply misleading as to the cause of our present struggles. They might make a miniscule difference over a season, but not much. It's about players.

[Rovers_Dan]

pretty grim game and the usual stuff served up away from home. no striker support with kalinic running around like a headless chicken up front. As soon as we went to 2 strikers we instantly became more effective. its become obvious to see now, we are not the type of team to go away from home, nick a goal and hang on for 90 minutes.

getting sick to the back teeth of watching negative away performances and not having a go. barely saw the ball on the ground at any point and when we did we actually looked a threat on the odd occassion.

thought samba was awesome as usual. thats about all.

why no beer at half time? strange one that, some very unhappy folk.

[Amo]

Can't be bothered to go into any details about this game, but the bottom line is that Spurs and many other clubs have bought better players over the past few season's, while we have sold ours.

Formations, manager, tactics etc are simply misleading as to the cause of our present struggles. They might make a miniscule difference over a season, but not much. It's about players.

And yet lowly old Wolves went to Spurs a few months back and earned a 1-0 win.

Spurs certainly had the class to punish us, but I felt much of the defeat was self-inflicted. Salgado at right-back, lack of cover by Emerton, Kalinic fending for himself etc. All of which could have been averted by some managerial tinkering by the manager.

[den]

Spurs certainly had the class to punish us, but I felt much of the defeat was self-inflicted. Salgado at right-back, lack of cover by Emerton, Kalinic fending for himself etc. All of which could have been averted by some managerial tinkering by the manager.

Self inflicted by selling, or replacing with poorer players in all those positions.

This squad needs more than tinkering with.

[CAPT KAYOS]

Interesting comments on here so I thought I would try and go at this from a neutral (as much as it can be from the media bias) angle.

Listened to the game on the radio , which I normally don't do as we always seemt to get beat when I do (irrelevant thsi season though) - just that circusmtances put me in the position on Saturday.

Alot of comments seem to mirror what they where saying on the radio (5 Live) and this post from baz virtually portrays entirely their reflections

#296 Baz

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01-September 02 Location:Leyland Posted 12 March 2010 - 15:50 PM

thenodrog, on 13 March 2010 - 14:35 PM, said:

I continually find it strange that for a Sam Allardyce team we are so brittle.

Absolutely, away from Ewood we are just too soft. We haven't got that drive throughout the team to keep a clean sheet.

The problem to me lies in midfield, where we just don't press the ball high enough up the pitch and drop further and further back until we end up defending the edge of our penalty area. We also create next to nothing from open play, or get anyone not only alongside but also in advance of Kalinic. Given we have 5 in midfield we don't have anyone on the wing.

Comments on the radio seemed to echo this and it was not all entirly derrogatory to Rovers - highlighted the fact that we started brightly but where bereft of any attacking nous and would get nowhere isolating the impressive Kalanic up front and the negative set up. Saying Dunn was trying without any effect and was having to go to deep in order to as no support from any of the midfield and no width. but did not ask any questions of Spurs really until we adopted a more traditional 442 when Di Santo entered the equation.

Also stated it was a an odd game with the poor performance of the ref , for both teams, and that although Spurs showed their strength and superiority they where no way near a 'Champions league' team in the term of things.

What is obvious to the outside world , should be obvious to the expert and although Tris may be on a personal agenda against SAM his comments should not be ignored by those burying there heads in the sand ( I do actually agree with him) - its as if the shamble performances are being accepted by most away from home just because the home form is better.

The irritating thing is that we are continually going with this negative 'nick something' attitude and set up and as all can see virtually getting absolute zilch from it - what is the point?

It must be infuriaiting to the players also (although they do have their own part to play) and need to buck up their efforts - but if we don't take heed the situation with the likes of Samba taking a massive (small ) step elsewhere and the stepping stone that Kalinic (referred?) to could easily become a very springy trampoline.

Just a couple of other pointers

We saw that Kalinic can actually strike a ball from outside of the box and that the link up with Di Santo would appear to show it can work - add to this that somebody needs to advise Nzonzi which way to kick a ball and teach him how to shoot and we may be a little more threatening.

The fans and the club need better ( as has been posted its costing us £££s) and we should expect better or at least a more telling progressive improvement - especially those fans who still attend away games.

Waggy - they way I see it is that luck tends to run for you when things are going right or you are at least trying to do it right (Kalinic apart) - they way we go at things is it any wonder it doesn't appear to knock on his door - poor sod.

[Ozz]

When the added time board went up at the end of the first half, I absolutely knew they would score before the break. When Samba scored for us, I absolutely knew Spurs would get a third.

One of the most frustrating games I have seen this season. I wouldn't say they were there for the taking, but I think we could have got a result on Saturday. Same against Liverpool the match before.

I suspect that a lot of the players will look back and think, Oh well Spurs and Liverpool are better than us, so losing is Ok. Does my head in.

[den]

When the added time board went up at the end of the first half, I absolutely knew they would score before the break. When Samba scored for us, I absolutely knew Spurs would get a third.

Just what I thought as well Ozz. Spurs always looked like scoring goals against us - and when you have the two worst defensive full backs in the PL on show, it's no surprise.

Add a totally ineffective "strike force" and we have to say what a great job Allardyce has done with the current bunch of players. As to who is to blame for those players being there in the first place - well that's another argument.

[CAPT KAYOS]

I suspect that a lot of the players will look back and think, Oh well Spurs and Liverpool are better than us, so losing is Ok. Does my head in.

Not just the players though ozzie (and I wouldn't class it as all of them but the malaise does seem to have spread )

[Amo]

Self inflicted by selling, or replacing with poorer players in all those positions.

This squad needs more than tinkering with.

We're a better team than Wolves and they beat Spurs. There's no reason why we couldn't have closed the gap in class, but decisions like leaving Salgado at the mercy of Bale and Kalinic fighting a one-man war were not conducive to that.