By Kevin McDonnell, Spurs fan, 6th February 2002
Will Sven take Ledley King to the World Cup? - Have your say in the footieNews chat room

Well what can you say? Unexpected, unbelievable, unlucky, are all words that spring to mind, but I'm going to choose another one, gutted. Everyone has a bad day at the office, but unfortunately too many of the spurs team did on Sunday. To take nothing away from Blackburn, who I think arguably wanted it more than us (or that's how it appeared anyway), they did themselves proud, I just felt that we had enough major chances that had Lady Luck even glanced at us let alone smile we would have eased to victory.

Looking at the players I think Key people didn't perform on the day, I can honestly say that it was the worst performance I've ever seen Teddy put in. I don't expect miracles, but even the basics like a first touch were missing and it showed. I'm not trying to have a dig, after all everyone has an off day, it's just typical that our main man had his on Sunday.

I thought Anderton was unusually quiet also, but for this I give credit to a Blackburn midfield that battled and fought for everything. I did feel sorry for Ledley King for the winner, only four minutes earlier, he's charged up the pitch, taking part in one-twos and showing class that is extremely rare in a centre half, it was very unfortunate to be so harshly punished for what was a split second of indecision.

However I'm sure that Sunday was one of many big games this young man will play in, and it's best to learn early, it'll only make him stronger. Well that's my whinging out the way, we have to look forward now, and try and rescue something out of this season.

I still have faith in the lads and no better place to start than by beating Sunderland on Sat.

Come on you Spurs!!!

Cheers,

Kevin McDonnell

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By Kevin McDonnell, Spurs fan, 6th February 2002
Where will Spurs finish in the Premiership this season? - Have your say in the footieNews chat room

Well what a mixed week once again for the boys in white. We lose to what has been all season a dire Derby team (admitted by Derby Journo Chris Clarke), and then trounce a Bolton side for the third time this season!! I can understand Glenn Hoddles frustration, as I feel it myself, we either completely whitewash teams or don't score at all.

Going firstly to the Derby match, I agree with Hoddles comments that this was not a good time to go to Pride Park, what with the managerial change that always seems to bring a buzz to a club. Before this game Derby were struggling to win a throw in let alone a game! Fair play though, Derby hung in there and for all the good passing, and possession we enjoyed we couldn't break them down. Maybe we just lacked that killer instinct up front on the day?

So then we come to Tuesday night, playing Bolton at home for third time this season. Although we had beaten them soundly in the previous games, I always think it is hard to beat a team three times in one season. Mainly because they've seen what you've got and have more chance of knowing how to stop you from playing. I suppose it can work both ways though, and thankfully on this occasion it favoured Spurs once again.

I would like to send a special congratulations to Darren Anderton, who scored on his 300th appearance for the club. I, along with all spurs fans, (and especially Darren himself I would imagine), wish it could have been his 400th appearance last night, but no-one can deny that when he is fit for us, he's awesome!

Ok looking ahead to Leicester at home, I will expect and take any victory from this game. After all, I feel they are down already, but after Derby on Saturday you can't take anything for granted. It's about time we put our bad spell in the league behind us, and start a final push up that table.

Come on you Spurs!!!

Cheers,

Kevin McDonnell

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By Kevin McDonnell, Spurs fan, 25th January 2002
Can Spurs beat Bolton in the FA Cup? - Have your say in the footieNews chat room

Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspurs!!

What a night!! Twelve years in the making and finally we beat the jinx of Chelsea. It wasn't just the result that pleased me, but the fashion in which we achieved it. Such flowing football that had the neutrals applauding, and the Chelsea players bemused. It wasn't as if they played bad, rather they were prevented from even getting started. Such was our commitment, confidence, and desire form the start. I thought the whole team was outstanding, and the defence in particular was as solid a defence I've seen all season.

However, I feel the real difference from the game at Stamford Bridge was the ageless Teddy Sheringham. Absolute class! Had the defence nervous all night and his movement, retention of the ball, and quick decision making stand him out from the rest. Congratulations boys we're all proud.

Ok that out of my system I would also like to say that I am refraining from getting over excited here, after all people call it the worthless cup! But how you can call any route to Europe worthless confuses me? What really makes me laugh is these fans from teams sitting in bad shape in the premier league, struggling for survival, who turn and mock the Cup. (no names mentioned Chris Clarke!) So while we're at the Millenium Park, Cardiff, in front of a capacity crowd, they're struggling to sell tickets for their do or die games in the premier league. Which would you rather? I don't think the choice is difficult!

Finally, we have a tough game on Saturday, I know on paper especially on present form Bolton look easy to beat, but with so many games played against them this year, they know all about us, and thus how to potentially stop us playing! It's easy to follow up a great result one week, with a shocker the next, (just look at Cardiff after beating Leeds) But I think with Glenn at the realm, we'll be ok. He has been fantastic this year, and I would like to say you're not forgotten in Wednesday nights result!

Come on You Spurs!!!!!!

Cheers,

Kevin McDonnell

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By Kevin McDonnell, Spurs fan, 16th January 2002
Where do you think Spurs will finish in Premiership this season? - Have your say in the footieNews chat room

Well I think we've reached the stage of the season where we either sink or swim! We have been hit by some very discouraging results and worse than that some nightmarish injuries, notably to the old war horse, Steffen Freund.

While in the past these set of circumstances would certainly cause a slide down the table, I believe this year may be different, after all we are still playing attractive, attacking football that with the run of the turf would have led to three points. I always believe that when a team is playing well, even if sometimes the results go against you, the confidence of the players remains. As anyone who's played the game knows confidence is an extremely important factor!

Well looking forward now, it's crucial that we beat Coventry tonight, and get back to winning ways in the Premiership against Everton on Saturday. It'll be interesting to see what system the manager decides on playing, Rebrov and Iversen perhaps in a 4-4-2? Or maybe the defensive 4-5-1? We'll have to wait and see.

All I know is that a good run in the F.A. Cup could boost the fans and players morale and at the same time give us another shot at Europe (although I'm still positive about the return leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final.)

Finally I would like to say a quick thank you to fellow Spurs fan Steve for his eye-witness report of last week's game against Chelsea, and fair play for not standing up mate!

Come on You Spurs!!!!!!

Cheers,

Kevin McDonnell

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By Kevin McDonnell, Spurs fan, 12th January 2002
Can Spurs turn it around against Chelsea in the second leg of the Worthington Cup? - Have your say in the footieNews chat room

A happy New Year to all the Spurs fans out there. I spent much of Christmas and the New Year abroad, hence lack of attention to my column. However I am now back, and to start off the new year, I have a guest report from a fellow Spurs fan who attended what was our most important game of the season to date.

On the Pitch

I won’t dwell on this aspect, as you’ve probably all seen the game live or on the box anyway, and have your own opinions on the game, along with the controversial decisions from the man in black. However, I will state the ‘bleeding obvious’ in that we desperately missed Teddy in and around the area, and that we appeared to buck up when Tim Sherwood came on – will he be making a regular first team comeback? And what a second goal from JFH, you have to admire it whatever side of the fence you reside.

Off the Pitch

Alan, a Chelsea supporter who had three tickets for the match, kindly invited Huw (another Spurs fan) and myself to the match. What Alan failed to mention beforehand was that the seats were right in the middle of the most vociferous and hostile Chelsea supporters.

These supporters spent most of the game singing spiteful songs, and several or more of them spotted the ‘enemy’ within their ranks very early on, when Huw forgot where he was for a moment and shouted ‘Handball’ against a Chelsea defender before he realised that such comments were life endangering.

And then I unfortunately failed to look glum when Sir Les equalised (I leapt off my seat in fact), which resulted in even more venomous looks in our direction. Another Blues fan behind me shouted ‘YOU SLAG’ to the now celebrating Mr Ferdinand, whilst the fans nearer the pitch offered Sir Les some bottled light refreshment by airmail.

I don’t know whether this provoked the later coin throwing by the Spurs fans at JFH, but personally I find all such incidents as inexcusable and moronic. We got even more wary later in the game when two other Spurs fans had to be escorted by stewards from seats they had obtained in the adjacent stand otherwise 100% occupied by Chelsea supporters. And then the real test. Thousands of Chelsea supporters stood up around us as they sang the amusing ditty, ‘If you all hate Spurs stand up’. Huw and I both could not bring ourselves to betray the faith, and stayed rooted (smiling like condemned men who are prepared to accept their fate) in our seats, whilst Alan implored us to convert to an upright stance. Sod them!

Anyway, at that moment, Chelsea thankfully advanced on the Spurs goal (I never thought I’d say that), and Huw and I were forgotten. Another incident that distracted our newly found friends from their hostility towards us was when a Chelsea supporter, who was previously sitting two rows in front of us, performed a unilateral pitch invasion, which the TV cameras unfortunately refused to film. This athletic man managed to run three-quarters of the length of the pitch and back again, performing a very impressive body swerve to avoid a rugby tackling steward (none of the others managed to get near him), before leaping straight into the fourth row - no mean feat, I can tell you. Whilst all this was going on, half the Chelsea fans were cheering him on whilst the other half were booing him off. And when he returned to the fold, one of the anti invasion fraternity lumped him one, and tried to drag him back to the Stewards. This caused shouts of ‘You fat Grass’ and other selected expletives, which incited someone else to introduce his fist to the face of the ‘Grass’. As much as I hate violence, this fracas enabled Huw and I to remain relatively anonymous and therefore safe.

After the match, Alan said he had never known such a hostile environment at the Bridge, and admitted that he honestly thought that it ‘was all going to go up around us’ at various stages during the game. But we survived, and eagerly await the return leg. No reason why we can’t break the jinx and turn them over.

Come on you Spurs !

Cheers,

Kevin McDonnell

Ends

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