Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Getafe, Match Highlights

Here are the match highlights of the game against Getafe at White Hart Lane.

Martin Jol Leaves Spurs

Spurs lose at home 1 - 2 to Getafe in the UEFA Cup group stage. However, Martin Jol has left the club.



You don't need me to tell you that our defending was bad, and miserable at times, but there was a slight change in the atmosphere. The story broke during the game that Jol had agreed to leave the club, and that this home game against Getafe would be his last. The fans were singing his name, ever more so than usual, and it was obvious that a special bond was coming to an end.


A true Spurs man, who genuinely loved the club and wanted what was best for it, is leaving in a bad way. Ever since the terrible PR disaster that saw club officials contacting Juande Ramos for the job earlier this season, Jol's tenure at the club has been undermined to a ridiculous state. Every day it was a more untenable position, and it seems that it is indeed Juande Ramos who is in pol position to take over the club. Fans at the final whistle were left bemused, upset and shocked - shaking their heads at what this had come down to. A glorious club feeling heartache tonight, but soon, several very important issues must be addressed.

• Who will be our new manager?
• Who will be our caretaker manager until the new man has arrived?
• Can our performances get worse during this interim period of uncertainty?
• A real problem is the Sporting Director role of Damian Commolli - will this continue?
• Daniel Levy has sickened me in his actions, but unfortunately he won't sack himself.
• Martin Jol has been undermined to oblivion, yet he still leaves with some dignity. Some players did not give 100% to him and the poor performances of the team, however much blame can be laid at the manager, some inept showings have cost him his job.
• What will be the look of our new squad?
• Where can we finish this season? Will it be a write off?

So many things to ponder, but it must be left for another day. My head is churning and my stomach is spinning.

Newcaslte United 3 - 1 Tottenham Hotspurs

A miserable display from Tottenham Hotspur at St James Park. They were defeated 3 - 1. But it was the manner of the defeat that will leave fans seething. Gutless, passionless, effortless, clueless.


There wasn't a single Spurs player that can hold their head up high after that defeat.


The view of the touchline summed it all up. One manager was screaming at his players. He wanted passion, effort, closing down and no nonsense defending. The other manager looked puzzled, out of ideas and occasionally slumped in his chair.


Here are the goals....





You thought the result was bad...?

• Gareth Bale injured
• Jenas had a stinker
• Dawson at fault for two goals
• No 'keeper errors, we still conceded three
• Berbatov wasn't happy about being on the bench
• NEWS FLASH : We have wasted rather a lot of money on Bent
• Spurs have decent players, but play nowhere near decent
• Jol's tactics, pre-match talk and post-match excuses are anything but assuring
  

Getafe : Sounds Familiar

Spurs entertain Getafe in the first game of the UEFA Cup group stage at White Hart Lane on Thursday 25th October.


However, Getafe are in a bad situation in La Liga. Sitting 19th before the weekend, they have yet to win a game. And recently, the Chairman of the club has stated that he would support resting players in Europe to help improve the clubs league position.


We wait to see what happens, but the chances are they won't be fielded a much weakened side, despite some injuries in defence. However, the Getafe side have yet to gel after some new signings, and are not firing on all cylinders. They are struggling for form and points at the wrong end of the table.


Sound familiar?


Spurs should still have the firepower, and home advantage, to overhaul the Spanish side next week. Newcastle first though....

Come On You Spurs!

Thursday Thoughts

It seems like a while since anything has actually happened at Tottenham, but that's not strictly true. A few things of interest have popped up....

• Pascal Chimbonda is on the edge of securing a new deal
• Paul Kemsley has left his position at the club
• Paul Robinson, undergoing continual criticism for his performances for club and country, is injured and will miss the next league game at Newcastle.

Some fans aren't exactly jumping with joy about the news of Chimbonda's impending new contract. His attacking style is fun to watch, but is occasionally left wanting at defending crosses at the back. If only he could jump as high and as vigorously as he does when attacking the ball in the opposition box when defending, there wouldn't be much of a problem. The Torres equaliser at Anfield is the latest one that comes to mind. However, I think Chimbonda is one of the top right-backs in the country, and I just hope that Jol and the coaching stuff can urge him to stay solid at the back.


Paul Kemsley was Tottenham Hotspur's vice-Chairman. Until Wednesday. That was when he quit. Said Daniel Levy :-

"It is with regret that I announce the resignation of Paul Kemsley.

"Paul has recently expanded his property business interests in the United States and feels that inevitably his time spent overseas will impact upon his ability to fulfil his role with the club.

"Paul has worked with me for the past six years at the club and I thank him for his advice and counsel during this period."

Said Paul Kemsley :-

"To be honest, I had outgrown the position. I am not a number two any more, and it was becoming a distraction.

"My number one appetite is for Rock (his property company), and I am spending a lot of time in America.

"With all the time I was spending at Spurs as well, I was running out of time with my kids."

Kemsley was said to be the man behind the Ramosgate affair, and flew to Spain to meet Juande Ramos himself. However, it's not this PR disaster that forced him out. Apparently.


Paul Robinson had (yet) another night to forget in Moscow. In the biting cold he was beaten by a penalty to square the game at 1 - 1 and palmed another shot to a rather delighted Russian forward, who duly tapped the ball home. It is agonising watching game after game after game, sitting, knowing, that Mr Robinson WILL eventually mess up AT LEAST ONCE in the game. It happened again. He could possibly have caught the ball, but he didn't try and catch. He palmed it. If you're going to palm the ball, you make sure it goes away from goal. Far away preferably. But he just let it hit his hands and softly placed the ball in a 'who wants it?' manner to the side of him. True, he should have had more help from Campbell and Lescott, so the blame is not all on the 'keeper, but he's far from blameless. Anyway, anguish aside, because Paul Robinson's injured. Now, I know it's not nice to say that, and I don't wish injury on any player, except Robert Pires, but it's the only way.

1. It's the only way Spurs and England defences can be rebuilt around solidity, without the wracking fear of calamity behind them.
2. It's the only way Paul Robinson will be replaced by Radek Cerny (Ben Alnwick is out on loan) in goal.
3. It's the only way Paul Robinson can possibly rebuild his own confidence. He is clearly a brilliant 'keeper, but at the moment, he is playing awfully, at best.

A calf strain forces Robbo to be out of the Newcastle game on Monday night. Lord knows how Radek Cerny must feel. Finally, a chance for the Czech man to play in a league game. A big one, in front of a big crowd. He's performed brilliant when he has played competitively, and brilliant in friendlies too. As long as his nerves don't get the better of him (he has all weekend to worry about his big chance), he'll perform well. A strong commander of the box, good reflexes and a safe pair of hands. Hopefully, if he does perform really well, Martin Jol will have the balls to let him stay between the sticks.

UEFA Cup Group Draw

The group stages have been drawn for the UEFA Cup. Here are the fixtures :-

• Spurs v Getafe Thursday 25th October
• Hapoel Tel Aviv v Spurs Thursday 8th November
• Spurs v Aalborg Thursday 29th November
• Anderlecht v Spurs Wednesday 5th December / Thursday 6th December

Should be an interesting group for Spurs, but I think they will progress to the Knockout stages without too many problems. It'll be important to start off with 3 points against Getafe, who are a reasonable side. But with the game at the Lane to start off with, we should be able to overpower the Spanish side, and hopefully use it as a platform to complete the rest of the fixtures without too much aggravation.


It's Bolton Wanderers that had the unfortunate luck to be drawn in a group with Bayern Munich, so our luck isn't that bad.

Liverpool 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur, Match Highlights

Spurs drew another game, this time with Liverpool at Anfield. However, it was only Fernando Torres' stoppage time equaliser that stopped Tottenham claiming all the points.


Spurs are specialising in stoppage time goals this season.


THE GOALS
And yes, there was also a another bad moment for Mr Paul Robinson, before you ask. His spillage left Mr Andrei Voronin with a tap in. Mr Robbie Keane finished off Mr Dimitar Berbatov's header before half time, and did it again in the second half. Which left Mr Fernando Torres to ruin the party with a stoppage time header.


A draw at Anfield is hardly a bad result. Also considering that Liverpool had plenty of chances to score, but due to luck, misfiring, and some decent defending from our centre halves, we kept them at bay.


Shame we couldn't hold on for the win. I don't know what happens to our players in the last few minutes of a game.


Anyway, the goals can be seen by clicking on the links above.


Next up is an international break, followed by an away game against Newcastle. Which should be interesting....

Anorthosis Famagusta 1 - 1 Totteham Hotspur, Match Highlights

In an academic game in Cyprus, Famagusta and Spurs played out a pretty tame 1 - 1 draw.


We went 1 - 0 down in the second half, after some poor defending. Then Jol put on Gareth Bale and Robbie Keane, who actually put some effort in, to score a goal to avoid a rather humiliating defeat.

Here are the highlights....



The game was always going to be a pretty drab affair. A dry pitch, very warm conditions and the lack of any chance of Spurs losing the tie meant it was a pretty poor game. However, some positives came out of it. Robbo didn't drop any clangers, despite conceding a goal, and Kevin-Prince Boateng got his first game for the club and looked pretty decent.