Had Draw Written All Over It

My pre-match ritual was slightly different yesterday. Due to the on-set of what can only be described as a life threatening case of man flu my warm up for our quarter final tie was less beer and banter more tea and a nap.

So positioning myself on the sofa, blanket in hand, my outlook was bleak. The only thing sicker than myself happened to be the Spurs squad. A lot as been made of our injury crisis but despite all that we managed to put out a very decent looking line up.

Benny was introduced at left back with our in-form man Bale shunted further up the pitch. Moddle skipped into centre mid to combine silk with Honduran iron. Fulham had a couple of their own injury issues most notably the talismanic Danny Murphy absent.

I had previously avoided the idea of breaking up partnerships that are working so was disappointed to see the promising Bale - Modric duo split. My thoughts on midfield selection can be found on a previous post as my head can't comprehend trying to remember what I think...

The match started with a lot of possession from Spurs. Delicate passing designed to flirt with Fulham with the hope of dragging them out of their set positions. We batted our eyelashes and flashed some thigh to entice Fulham, but found our rivals unmoved from their two banks of four. Such an approach to football is normally derided by our fans as being negative but the organisation and disciplined skill of our opponents is something to be admired. There should be no surprises as to why their home record is so good.

Bale looked our most promising attacking outlet (again) however by having him further up the pitch saw him often being double marked by Duff and Baird. He still caused them problems to his credit with purposeful bursts of pace but often found himself isolated. Would have liked to have seen more from Niko on the opposite flank however he remained largely anonymous.

In the middle Palacios was indomitable, snapping into challenges, considered distribution and basically a brick wall. The only way Fulham managed to find their way past him was over him and even then he tracked back and chased them down like a rabid dog. Modric again looked lost in the middle where he doesn't have the creative freedom to roam as he does when drifting in from the left.

Particularly impressed with Bassong who stuck to Zamora like a clingy ex-girlfriend. A mature considered performance from the young defender who, as opposed to attempting to rough Bobby up was willing to allow him to take possession before dealing with him. Fulham's main source of attack would have been through set pieces usually earned by Bobby. Bassong conceded very few which showed great promise from the Frenchman. He seems a lot better when given the task of handling one big striker than having to track runs from numerous different attacking outlets.

'Super Pav' showed us his form of last season. First touch of a rapist is probably the best description of an untidy, headless performance. Pav has shown he's better than this in recent games and whilst I avoided going over the top with expectations of him I still believe he will be better than that for us.

Our main problem with the game yesterday was a lack of penetration in midfield and attack. We were comfortable dealing with possession and carrying the ball for long periods of time but we missed the clever through balls of a giant man named Tom and the jinking runs of a man named Jermain. We often curse these two players but their importance was highlighted yesterday. We neither had the threat from a clumsy strike force nor from a lackadaisical midfield.

In the end the game was probably the most suitable for my disposition. A high octane, proper cup game would have killed me. We should paste them back at WHL where our home form is good and their away form is awful.

Also well done to the 4,000 Spurs fans at Craven Cottage. In full voice and good spirits they done us proud and raised a wry smile from me for your endeavour. Good show lads.

The Year Kind Of Ends In 1

Tomorrow's away tie is going to be tricky. Fulham away is always tricky however we are (in typical Tottenham fashion) in a mother of an injury situation at our most crucial point in the season.

I love the FA cup and really want us going balls out to win it. Considering our prestigious history in the competition 19 years since we last won it really isn't good enough. Also a quiet show from the big boys leaves us with a massive opportunity to win it again. The year does end in one... kind of, which means it’s fate and we are going to win tomorrow.

Fulham, under the affable Roy Hodgson, hold the grand title of my 'least hated team'. This isn't because half of their players are ex-Spurs but from a general fondness for a well run club. They also have made the best managerial appointment seen in the Premiership for quite some time. A lot is made out of Spurs' progress under Redknapp however Hodgson’s influence over an ailing Fulham team has been immeasurable. Also he has done it without the benefit of £50 million to splurge.

Hodgson runs his club in a way that demands the most out of the players at his disposal. This quality is something Spurs have lacked for years. There has been massive improvement in former Spurs players such as Zamora and Konchesky which is of great credit to Hodgson. He has also revitalised the stagnating careers of the likes of Duff and Murphy who have flourished under his tenure.

So to quote the obvious we are going to be in a battle tomorrow. We currently have seven wounded soldiers (King, Dawson, Huddlestone, Jenas, Bentley, Lennon, Defoe) and two unavailable comrades (Kaboul and Walker) due to them being cup-tied. Such is the extent we are calling in the kids back from their foster clubs to make up the numbers.

I can't see how Harry is going to play this so am entering it with an open mind and leaving it in the hands of the man paid to do it. Whatever he does decide to do my opinion will depend on the result. Win and he's a genius and the team I would have selected would have been exactly the same as his. Lose and he's a dick. I'm getting the hang of this blogging lark you think?

It will be interesting to see also the line up for Fulham considering their monumental clash with Juventus. Will it effect how Roy sets his team up and also how they will play? One hopes they may rest a few individuals and also have one eye on a far more glamorous away tie in Italy. Can't see it happening though and I reckon they will be at full strength.

Still reckon were a match despite all our injuries but can only see a draw from this. Zamora's bound to score and go mental at both sets of fans in his own unique brand of goal celebration and Crouchinho to equalise with a typically uncoordinated effort working in polar opposites to his England form. 1-1 for me and a replay at WHL.

Last word to ITV. Although their coverage is shit and Townsend's a knob, playing every quarter final on terrestrial TV is a valiant effort and sorted my weekend out for me, much to 'er indoors'' dismay. Credit where it's due however one request would be to quiet down when the games playing so as not to ruin it for everyone, OK Mr Pleat?

Gareth Bale Appreciation Society

2010 to date has been a bit of a stutter with regards to Tottenham's form and performances. Dropped points and constant accusations of long ball tactics saw our charge for Champions League football reduced to embers from the trail blaze we set in our early form

Whilst our form has stuttered and spluttered one man has risen above and comfortably been our player of the calendar year to date. Sit down Pav...

Gareth Bale has been nothing short of sensational. Since the turn of the year many were panicking at the prospect of Benny leaving us for a month for the African Cup of Nations and leaving our left hand side in the hands of a Welshman... that can't defend... and can't win.

Cries of 'great going forward but can't defend', 'defensively weak' and inexplicably linked with a move to Nottingham Forest let’s just say the omens were not looking great for the young man. Many chose to pick his poor half at Everton as the basis of their argument. Failing to see that a young player, who hasn't had a consistent run of games, may be prone to be making mistakes when being dropped into the volatile atmosphere of Goodison Park in an exposed position.

Bale is a true example of how fickle a section Spurs fans truly are. He has had severe criticisms aimed at him whilst a player of more exotic nature, Giovani Dos Santos (he played for Barca, he must be good innit) doesn't receive anything near the same level.

Opportunities were always going to be hard to come by for Bale considering the consistency of Benny makes him very difficult to drop. So Gareth knew what he had to do, roll up his sleeves, fix his hair and put on some brightly colours boots and get down to it.

I'm not sure how far he runs per game but the lad's got energy to spare akin to a small child who has had too many E numbers. He buzzes up and down the left flank with direct purpose and attacking intent. His bursts from deep see him as a valuable asset when hitting teams on the counter and catching static full backs off guard.

With or without the ball at his feet he displays strength and balance at pace which makes him so difficult to stop, especially as he's 6" plus. How often have we seen him muscling in between two defends with the ball at his feet.

His dribbling skills display a deft touch and he has the ability to not only take players on the outside but to create openings for himself with a bit of skill. His Robinho approach to stepovers against Phil Neville probably still exhibits his inexperience however he is damn exciting to watch.

One aspect of his game that has been a joy is his crossing ability. He can hit balls with accuracy deep or near post, can spot a pass in the box and strike the ball with power into dangerous areas whilst running at pace. Considering the lack of width and penetration our midfield shows without Lennon, Bale has provided the antidote to slow, lumbering build up play.

It's easy to get carried away at how good he is offensively, but he has easily become our most exciting player to watch in the absence of our resident rude boy Azza. Going forward has always been his strength but has always been susceptible to being caught out defensively whether it be through poor positional sense or selling himself short he has always had this in his game.

No serious complaints can be levelled at him currently. Considering his young age small mistakes have been kept to a minimum. He probably has too often backed off his attacker when they are running at him allowing them into the penalty area. Maybe he finds himself tucking in too much when the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch catching him out when the ball is switched quickly. However the demons of that game at Everton seem to be put behind him as he strides on.

He has not only proven himself an able deputy but must have overtaken Benny as first choice such has his stature grown in this small space of time. Credit must be given to Harry and his coaches for preparing him well and showing continued faith in him. Whatever your thoughts on Harry, the improvement in players like Azza, Gomes, Dawson and Bale has come from him gifting them faith even if their opportunities may have only come up though injury or lack of options.

I still worry about his fragility such has his injury problems in the past but if he stays injury free he will not only steal Benny’s starting spot but also claim his 'Most Improved Player' award at the end of the year too.

Then he will probably fuck off to United.....