[blues_for_ever]

2 back to back loss for Spurs, not the best form but hoping you will get back to winning ways soon..

[craguuscool]

treva: Tell me about it, it all started so promisingly and now it's going downhill rapidly. Hopefully I can recover, eventually. Thanks for commenting.
blues_for_ever: Me too. Thanks for the comment and for reading.

27th February
Sven: "I don't know how much more I can take."

Tottenham Hotspur manager Sven Goran-Eriksson today spoke exclusively to Sky Sports about his managerial status at under-performing English Premier Division side Tottenham Hotspur. The Swede who took over at Tottenham from Mexico in August came in to the club with huge fanfare and everything started well for him but soon after a huge victory over Arsenal, Tottenham began dropping more points and after being at the dizzying heights of fourth place they were reminded of last season under Juande Ramos when they slipped down to mid-table.

The odd win here or there is keeping Tottenham out of the relegation battle but the story is following the same pattern as last year as Tottenham sat around this stage last time and barely survived relegation come the season's end.

Over the past few months Tottenham have exited the Carling Cup in the semi-final round and just yesterday were surprisingly knocked out of the UEFA Cup First Knockout Round by HSV.

Hello Sven, firstly we would like to thank you for taking the time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to talk with us today, especially during what is a tough time in your managerial career.
"That isn't a problem. I want to discuss things, get things off of my chest because a lot has been bottled up you know, coming here is a lot tougher than I actually expected and not how I remember my times in England."

First of all, you left Mexico's national team after what was described as a misunderstanding and then soon after you were announced as Tottenham Hotspur boss, what made you take the job?
"I have believed for a long time Tottenham are a club full of hope, ambition and determination. They want to succeed, the fans want the team to succeed and I wanted the team to succeed and I wanted to do that first-hand by coming the new manager of this football club. I wasn't prepared to leave Manchester City, I wasn't prepared to leave Mexico and right now I'm not prepared to leave here."

You started of really well bringing in the likes of Obafemi Martins and Andrey Arshavin, two highly-rated players, the fans thought this would be a great season. What were your ambitions at the beginning of August?
"To take this club as far as physically possible, I knew that winning the Premier League immediately was unrealistic but I really wanted to aim for fourth position and that Champions League spot. Tottenham have came very close before to it so I thought it was possible."

It looked entirely possible, from August until around December you played very well, attractive football was on show and you were picking up points. It was during that run of consecutive games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal that your run started to falter. You played well against United and Liverpool and deserved a draw as with Chelsea and you beat Arsenal but after that you dropped points on a regular basis.
"I don't know to be honest, during this spell it was very frustrating because we had people like Andrey Arshavin getting injured and then we'd get a huge boost by him coming back and then on his comeback game he'd pick up another knock and also, we'd get the late goals scored into us such as the one at Aston Villa a few weeks ago and Manchester United back last year and it just knocks the confidence right from you. I don't know how much more of that I can take."

Over the past few weeks, due to dropping these points coupled in with the fact you didn't reach the Carling Cup Final and were, according to some 'humiliated' by your London rivals in the semi-final and because you were knocked out of the UEFA Cup last night, people have began to slate your performance as manager and are calling for you to be kicked out from the club or to resign yourself. What is your response to this?
"As a manager, you want all the support you can get from the fans even if the team isn't playing well because it's not motivation for a turnaround when you have your performance slated. I am trying my hardest but they can keep dreaming about me resigning because it won't happen. I am not going to resign from this club and I will wait until Daniel Levy decides that I should leave. We have played poorly and that's a fact but we can turn it around."

Do you think that if you play poorly the remainder of the season, your time at the club could end?
"Well, I'll be frank just like you are - yes."

Is there fear that if you continue with this poor form that your reputation as a manager will go down and bigger clubs will no longer be interested in your services as a manager in football?
"That isn't something I want to discuss, right now my reputation... my worldwide reputation doesn't concern me because I just want this club to succeed. This isn't about upping my reputation to gain interest from other clubs."

Also, a third scenario if you continue to play poorly is that bigger players such as Arshavin and Martins who may have came here believing this club could be the next big thing in England, could leave because the club isn't progressing to match their ambitions. The only silverware you can still win this season is the FA Cup.
"That's not entirely true, we can still win the league, however unlikely that may seem right now. It's up to Andrey and Martins, they made a commitment to me, to this club, to the fans to see out their contract. I am honouring that commitment by not walking out even in the poor performances so I would expect similar commitment from those players."

Sven, we wish you the best of luck and hope you can turn Tottenham around, once more thanks for the interview.
"Thanks."

Under Pressure

This post has been edited by craguuscool: 05 June 2009 - 02:16 PM

[craguuscool]

Wow, I'm playing terribly at the moment.

1st March 2009
English Premier Division
Fulham 3-0 Tottenham

More misery was dealt out to Tottenham Hotspur and it's fans today following a terrible performance against a Fulham side that only a few weeks ago they had defeated comfortably in the cup and it seems after this defeat the banners urging Sven-Goran Eriksson to leave are intensfying as are the scorelines in the defeats for the London club in the League.

Although neither side played particularly well in the first half, Fulham controlled the game and finally got the breakthrough in the fifty-ninth minute due to Erik Nevland's strike. Nevland was given the ball my strike partner Andrew Johnson, Nevland dribbled past Bale and slotted it underneath Gomes to put Fulham on the road to victory.

In the seventy-first minute, Fulham added to their tally through Englishman Andrew Johnson. The former Crystal Palace and Everton frontman showed skill and finesse that we haven't seen from him in quite some time. Johnson dribbled past Woodgate this time and Gomes couldn't match up to Johnson who put it in the back of the net.

The game was wrapped up in the last minute of normal time by Erik Nevland, known for his scintilating shots, the Norweigien received the ball from well outside the area, he took a touch laying it off for himself before slamming it high into the top right corner leaving Gomes to watch it fly into his net.

Tottenham did manage a chance or two but every intercepted pass or slack play was met with a round of boos and only Roman Pavlyuchenko looked likely to make something happen.

At the end of the game, the fans were holding up their 'Sven Must Go' banners that have been on show in the stadium in recent weeks and the fact that Daniel Levy personally attended this game may have encouraged him to take the plunge by sacking Eriksson.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "I let my feelings known about everything in an interview a few days ago. It was a very poor performance by all accounts."

Erik Nevland: "It was a good game today and it was nice to get two goals, Tottenham have hit a bad spell at the moment and we capitalized on that."

[treva]

Ouch, that defeat has to hurt. Fulham are a good team but Tottenham really should be beating them. Rough times for Tottenham fans. It's been the complete opposite of what happened in real life where Tottenham started badly and picked up.

Hope you get back on track soon mate.

[Ana_Garcia]

You will pick your form up, i am sure of it!

[craguuscool]

treva: Thanks for the support mate, hopefully this update starts the long road to recovery.
AC/DC: Thanks Adrianna. As I said above, hopefully I've turned things around.

4th March 2009
English Premier Division
Middlesbrough 0-1 Tottenham

Tottenham fans and well fans all around the world, your eyes don't deceive you, Tottenham have won. Having not won a match in almost two months in the league, Tottenham came out on top against a Middlesbrough side struggling against relegation. It was a much different performance from the side compared to those previous and many are hoping including Sven-Goran Eriksson that this marks a turnaround in fortunes for the club.

It was a solitary goal in the thirty-second minute from a surprising start, nineteen year old Adel Taarabt. The Frenchman managed to make a blistering run through the Middlesbrough defence, he had options to his right and left but instead went himself and put it into the back of the net. This is the first time Tottenham have taken the lead in a game for quite some time.

Mido had a chance later on in the game for Middlesbrough, the Egyptian striker was played through by Alfonso Alves and he slotted it into the net but the referee judged that it was offside and that the goal would not stand to the disbelief of the Riverside supporters.

Roman Pavlyuchenko laid of Luka Modric for what should have been a goal for the Croatian. Pavlyuchenko played a short pass, Modric weighed up his options and then struck a curling shot towards goal but it cracked the post.

Tottenham sit tenth, one point behind Bolton and nine behind Manchester City in eighth.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "That was a much-needed victory, I won't say the pressure is off as we need to build on this but I think there is a sense of relief that we won around this club today."

Matteo Brighi: "Disappointing for us."

[craguuscool]

8th March 2009
FA Cup Sixth Round
Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham

It felt like they had went back in time for the Tottenham fans as their team's performance today mirrored that of the side who struggled in the majority of their games. Today's performance wasn't as good as the one against Middlesbrough and they were lucky to draw and six minutes from time it looked like they might win but Sunderland had a different viewpoint. This game will now be replayed.

The first goal came very late on in the eighty-fourth minute through Jermaine Jenas, Jenas received the ball out wide, he cut across and was right outside of the box, he stopped the ball and faked a shot before slamming it high into the corner to give Tottenham a pass to the next round, or so it seemed but another late goal propped up.

Two minutes into injury time, Julio Cruz ensured the tie would go to a replay at White Hart Lane with a stunning header. The ball was crossed in and Cruz who was tussling with Woodgate managed to get the better of him, he ran and then propelled himself into the air to nod the ball into the back of the net.

Sunderland fans had original caution of El-Hadj Diouf just two minutes before Sunderland's goal as he was taken off but it seems that he is fine and will not miss any action.

Roman Pavlyuchenko missed a glorious chance for Tottenham during the game when he latched onto a high ball, he hit it on the volley but the ball skimmed the post and went out of play to his disbelief.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It wasn't a defeat but still very disappointing."

Julio Cruz: "We should've won easily today and if we play poorly and lose in the replay, we can only blame ourselves."

[craguuscool]

14th March 2009
English Premier Division
Tottenham 2-1 Wigan

It was all Russians on the scoresheet today as Tottenham Hotspur picked up another English Premier League victory by seeing off Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane. The London club who have been under a lot of scrutiny lately because of poor performances and results have began the road to rebounding from these results having secured victories over Middlesbrough and now Wigan as of late.

It took only five minutes for Roman Pavlyuchenko to open the scoring for the club who play at White Hart Lane, the Russian who hasn't been scoring in the past few games got on the scoresheet after he was played through by fellow Russian Andrey Arshavin, they linked up well and Arshavin played him through, Pavlyuchenko then smashed an effort towards the top corner.

It only took until the twelfth minute mark for Wigan Athletic to respond through Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Russian charged through the defense and linked up with Oliver Kapo much like his fellow Russians Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko had done before putting it into the net.

In the sixty-sixth minute, the goal that would seal the game up for Tottenham was scored by Andrey Arshavin. Arshavin who has recently been hampered with a few injuries returned to action with a vengeance, his curling free-kick effort beat the wall and the goalkeeper and he showed off his new celebration too.

Wigan did give Tottenham a scare late on through Kapo when the player struck the post.

Tottenham came close also when Jermaine Jenas' effort went fizzing by the post to the relief of Kirkland.

Tottenham have moved themselves up to ninth position whereas Wigan lay in ninteenth position, six points from safety.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "People will say we only won because we were playing relegation battlers but I'll take this victory, it was the best performance I've seen from the lads in sometime."

Andrey Arshavin: "We want in Europe next year and I knew that I had to perform today as did the team, this victory is so vital and we can only build on it."

[treva]

Unbeaten in three, that's more like it. You should be able to make it into the next round of the FA Cup at home to Sunderland. Keep it up mate

[craguuscool]

treva: Thanks for the comment man, I seem to be picking up form eventually. Please keep reading and commenting.

For those wondering, Gomes did actually score in the game below, it came up saying he kicked it upfield and then that Tottenham had scored and that he didn't even mean it.

18th March 2009
English FA Cup Sixth Round Replay
Tottenham 3-1 Sunderland

Tottenham Hotspur today continued their new found winning ways after a terrible slump by advancing to the semi-final stage of the English FA Cup by defeating The Black Cats, Sunderland by three goals to one. Although they didn't have all of the ball they were clinical in front of goal.

It seemed that things wouldn't go the way of Tottenham just three minutes in when Sunderland scored from a corner, the ball was whipped in and Anton Ferdinand threw himself at the ball scoring a wonderful diving header that had eveyone beat. Ferdinand celebrated at the Tottenham end and was lucky not to receive a yellow card.

Four minutes later, Tottenham responded through star player Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russian was played through by Croatian Luka Modric, Obafemi Martins was waiting for a pass but Pavlyuchenko decided to go himself and added to his tally sliding it past Scotland's Number One goalkeeper, Craig Gordon.

The game then progressed and the full time whistle blew meaning that extra time was needed.

In the ninety-seventh minute, it was super sub Henrik Larsson who set Tottenham on the road to Wembley with a header. The Swede, who replaced Obafemi Martins at half-time, the Nigerian can't seem to score, managed to get his head on the end of a corner and Craig Gordon was left with absolutely no chance.

The game was wrapped up in bizarre fashion three minutes into stoppage time of the first half of extra time through Tottenham goakeeper Gomes. In a goal that was reminiscent to one scored a few years ago by former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Gomes kicked the ball high up-field and it bobbled on the ground catching Gordon out.

Cisse had a chance to add some consolation but his shot went by the post.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It was always going to be tough but we've picked up another win and we are going to Wembley!"

Gomes: "I played well today and I think the goal really helped towards getting this."

[craguuscool]

19th March 2009
English FA Cup Semi-Final Draw

Today at Wembley Stadium in London the draw was made for the English FA Cup Semi-Final matches which we be played at Wembley on the eighteenth and nineteenth of April respectively. The draw proved to be a real slobberknocker as only one team out of the big four remains and it has thrown up a derby tie. The draw is as follows:

Manchester City vs. Aston Villa or West Brom
Arsenal vs. Tottenham

The pick of the tie is understandably Tottenham vs. Arsenal, the two teams will meet in the semi-final stage of a competition against having faced each other in the semi-final of the Carling Cup which was won over two legs by Arsenal. Both teams have managed to defeat each other this season, Tottenham doing it in the league and Arsenal in the aforementioned cup, they did draw also on leg one of the cup competition.

Manchester City have secured a spot at Wembley and Aston Villa or West Brom will fight it out for that lucrative place at Wembley.

Manager Opinions:

Mark Hughes (Manchester City): "To me, at this stage, no game is easy and that is a testament to the quality of this cup competition. We'd obviously like to do well as realistically it's our only silverware option this year, I firmly believe we can get to the final if it's Aston Villa or West Brom and to get to the final itself would be a huge achievement for everyone involved with the club."
Tony Mowbray (West Brom): "It's not been an easy season, we just wanted to re-affirm our status in this league, ensure we'll be in this league next season and anything else was a bonus. Currently we're out of the relegation zone in fourteenth but nine points is the gap between us and Fulham so we have that to but the cup run is great and if we get to the final it'll be fantastic for the club and fans. We want to get here to have a great day out and hoping we can win the cup while knowing that we are a Premiership club still."
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): "I think it's pretty common knowledge that this stage throws up some interesting ties. We certainly haven't got the easiest of draws because Tottenham have defeated us before this season away from home and we have defeated them in the cup, we can only try and win the match and get to the final."
Sven-Goran Eriksson (Tottenham): "To reach this stage, after all the pressure that has and still is on me is big for me and the club. It'll be a huge tie because it's the London derby taking place at Wembley, it should be a huge occasion."

[craguuscool]

21st March 2009
English Premier Division
Tottenham 1-0 West Ham

It was by no means a textbook performance by Tottenham in their one nil victory over West Ham United, but you know what they say, a victory is a victory. Tottenham continued their good run of form picking up their third victory in a row stretching their unbeaten run to five games. An early goal was enough to seal the tie for the Spurs and despite not being the better side, they managed the victory.

The one and only goal of the game came from that man again Roman Pavlyuchenko in the fourth minute, Pavlyuchenko, who has been put on a number of clubs rader's was played through like he so often is, he skipped past Etherington and slid it into the net leaving the West Ham fans and Gianfranco Zola in disbelief at the start.

The Hammers tried to mount a comeback, the decision of Zola not to play Craig Bellamy was met by discontent by the Hammers fans as Dean Ashton, the man put in, in his place failed to make an impact. The Englishman, once rated as the 'hottest property in English Football' has fallen to the wayside a little and that was only proven further when his effort went by the post from short range. That wouldn't be Aston's first miss.

Another howler of a miss from Asthon came when the ball was crossed in along the ground, he flung himself at it but somehow managed to blast the ball over the crossbar to everyone's disbelief. Ashton wasn't having a great game.

Tottenham nearly added to their goal several times, one clear-cut chance came from Luka Modric who was one on one with Robert Green who was also one being watched by many clubs a few years ago but Modric's effort was saved by the former England Number One.

Tottenham remain in ninth, nine points behind Manchester City. West Ham United occupy twelfth place nine points behind Tottenham.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "We didn't play the best I've ever seen but we've picked up a very crucial three points."

Matthew Etherington: "I think the full team feel they could've contributed more, I mean Dean missed chances, I missed chances and it was a disappointing day for us and the fans."

[Ana_Garcia]

I knew you would turn it round!

Well done and good luck!

[craguuscool]

AC/DC: Thanks for the comment and I was actually surprised that I started turning it around, was playing so poorly. Thanks for being the reader who has commented most, it's much appreciated.

Okay, forgot to do the league table after the West Ham game so it isn't really the end of March it's more the start of April so the table is after the first game of the month.

4th March 2009
English Premier Division
Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham

Tottenham seem to have turned their form around drastically in the past few weeks as they now go five games unbeaten. Newcastle put up one heck of a fight and in the end a draw was probably the deserved result for both teams as neither one deserved to lose this enthralling encounter at St. James' Park. Both teams had to come behind once at different points in the match which just showed how equal these teams are.

The first goal came in the twenty-fourth minute through Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Tottenham striker, Tottenham's top scorer this season didn't pass up this chance to fire Tottenham into the lead early on. Pavlyuchenko, a strong favourite for fans player of the year was played through by Luka Modric. He declined to pass to Henrik Larsson and instead slotted it into the back of the goalmouth.

It didn't take to long for the Magpies to respond when on the twenty-seventh minute, Newcastle's top scorer, England international Michael Owen got on the scoresheet. Owen, who has recently been plagued with injuries was played through by Xisco, he dribbled past Caceraes and then put it past Gomes.

Michael Owen then doubled his tally after a dreadful error from Martin Caceraes, the former Barcelona had the ball passed out to him by Gomes, he turned but standing in his way was Michael Owen who took the ball, the former Real Madrid man was one-on-one with Gomes and the keeper had no chance as Owen slid it past him.

Six minutes was all it took for Tottenham to reply as Luka Modric scored a late equalizer in the eighty-fourth minute to cancel out Michael Owen's seventy-eighth minute effort. The Croatian who has got himself amongst the goals this season laid himself off and then drilled an effort towards goal which beat Shay Given.

Henrik Larsson who has been filling in for Obafemi Martins as of late due to the lack of goals from the Nigerian missed a huge chance early on in the game. The ball was whipped across goal and Larsson got a head to it but unusually it went over the bar, usually pinpoint with his accuracy many were surprised by this.

Exciting striker Xisco who replaced Obafemi Martins at St. James' Park this season and who is the second placed top goalscorer at Newcastle burst through right on half-time and it was heart in your mouth stuff for the Tottenham fans as he rounded Gomes but lost his footing as a grateful Gomes pounced on the ball.

Tottenham remain ninth and Newcastle are now in eleventh place.

Final Thoughts

Sven-Goran Eriksson: "We played some decent stuff today, a point is better than nothing and it was a fair result for both teams."

Michael Owen: "I'll be speaking for the majority but today was an even game, we didn't deserve to lose and I'll be honest, nor did Tottenham. You know, I thought my goal had sneaked it but they showed great determination."

[saladguy]

Woah, what a great semi-final draw! Spurs-Arsenal. That will be an epic encounter! Your form has turned around lately, I hope this mini revival can continue

[Euan]

Congrats, things seem to be going well now.

[shan0811]

Looks like thinks are going good under Sven,..

[Fola]

I've never seen this before, i just read it all and i like it :thup:

[craguuscool]

Just to let everyone know, I'm taking a break from this, don't really feel like writing at the moment. I will return soon.