Match Report: Spurs 1 Newcastle United 2 (oh, Dear!)

 

Match Report: Spurs 1 Newcastle United 2 (oh, Dear!)

A year ago (last season), the Arab-owned Geordie team, struggled at the bottom of the Premier League (fearing relegation). A year later, with a new manager in charge, they became the first team to defeat us (2-1) at our stadium this season. They are now fourth in the league, with only one defeat to their name.

We have now suffered three defeats, Woolwich, United and Arab's United. Lucky for us, our game against City was postponed, otherwise, it might have been four.

Apart from City, all the others in the Premier league swamp of dreams are bobbing up and down. On the positive side, we are still third in the league, five points behind league leaders Woolwich. The other thing that is working in our favour is that Liverpool got beaten by the Forest, Woolwich drew with the saints, and Yankee-Chelski was held to a draw by United.

Conte has only been in the job for less than a year, and he did say it would take a few years to be in a challenging position. So, is it time to panic or put our faith in the Italian stallion? I say it is too early to panic but get behind Conte. We are still in all competitions and third in the league. No team – apart from City – have shown anything spectacular this season, and even they have suffered a defeat and, yes… are only three points above us.

After our game against Sporting Lisbon this Wednesday, we travel to Bournemouth while Yankee-Chelski face Brighton, the Scousers face Leeds United, and Woolwich take on the winners of Liverpool, Forest. As for United, they face the bubbling-blowing Spammers at Old Trafford. All can change on the head of a pin.

Saying all that, Conte does need to sort things out to stop any chance of a further decline. Yes, we need other editions to the team, but at the moment, we've got what we've got… so buck your ideas up, get your fingers out of your arses and focus. For fuck say, let's get it on, starting with Sporting Lisbon, which we need to win if we hope to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Then back to the Premier League, where we face Bournemouth on Saturday.

On a personal note; I am normally calm after a defeat, but our loss against United really rattled my cage… we were terrible. You would have thought we would pick ourselves up and kick some arse when we faced Arab's United, but no, we allowed them to get the upper hand with a few of our own calamities thrown in (mentioning no names, Hugo!). I couldn't bear the last few minutes of the Arab's United game as I buried my head in my hands… luckily for us, Hugo didn't do the same thing, as I have no doubt he would have dropped it.

That Wednesday, I took Janette to Spurs while Mel took his children in his car. A good meal and drinks in the lounge, while Mel turned up halfway through our wait in the lounge time before the match. This proves he needs my guiding (and gentle) hand to push him in the right direction. And that is what friends are for!!!!!!!

… anyway, to the game… oh, no!

Arab's United (or Arab Money bags) impressive early season form continued with their humiliation of us (two in a row), which lifted them into fourth place.

Callum Wilson found the net with a lob from outside the box after colliding with Hugo Lloris. That goal was awarded after a drawn-out VAR check for a foul and handball, but there was nothing controversial about the second goal before half-time.

Sean Longstaff intercepted a poor clearance by Lloris before Almiron beat one opponent, went around another, and fired under our hapless keeper.

We did manage to pull a goal back when Harry Kane's downward header went into the net. Another long VAR check before it was given. But that goal wasn't enough, and when the final whistle went Newcastle, their fans, manager and travelling Arab board raised their hands in triumph.

Thanks to us, it was the first time Newcastle have been in the top four of the table, with 12 games played since April 2012.  

We have lost our last two and are in danger of going backwards.

Thoughts

We started positively with Son and Harry Kane, both denied by their keeper Nick Pope.

As we watched the game, thunder and lightning rattled around our stadium; rain was pouring down… while all this was happening, we struggled to get the upper hand over our opponents.

After the game, we slunk off while Newcastle's players and staff celebrated on the pitch in front of their jubilant travelling fans.

Six months ago, Eddie Howe's side crumbled to a 5-1 defeat at our Tottenham stadium, but they are now in a different proposition this season, and their campaign continues to go from strength to strength while we dither.

After this game, I bet Howe and his players have their fans dreaming of a return to the continent after another efficient performance while our fans look on in wonderment and trepidation.

Attention now switches to our game against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, and I have no doubt Conte will be demanding an improved performance from his players (well, I hope he is!).

We shall leave it there…

COYS!

Glenn