Super Sunday, or..A Bad Day All RoundThere have been several horrific sets of circumstance in Football this year that remind one of the fragility of life, from Gary Speed's untimely death, through Fabrice Muamba's life changing circumstance at this very ground so recently, and it was honestly life affirming to see so many people re-tweet Shauna Magunda's posting of a recovering Fabrice, her partner, sitting up in bed on Friday.
Let's hope his future progress goes along the same positive lines - and then, of course, I heard the awful news that Aston Villa's captain, that top class professional Stiliyan Petrov had been diagnosed with acute Leukemia. Needless to say, this outlet and all within football wish him the very best in his fight against the debilitating condition. Stay strong Stan.
There is something, and I confess I don't know what, that sees the "Football Family" react with a better side of human nature, and it's odd, since we'd all, I suggest, react this way, even if we weren't "football fans".What ever, it's one of the nicer aspects of our sport, and long may it continue.
A percentage of people reading this report will know that I'd been hoping to travel to the game, but due to unforeseen circumstance, eventually settled in to my sofa and letting Sky Sports do the honours instead. My preview, for what it's worth, had pointed out (and thank you for reading if you did) that we were facing one of British Football's best clubs, so to come away from White Hart Lane as we did was not really that surprising.
The other gutting factor is that as I'd not been able to go to the game, I let people know on various Swansea City GB's and my disabled/pensioner + carer ticket went to a fellow age and status qualifying SCFC fan for cost price.
Imagine my embarrassment but more seriously his hurt when 9m into the game, this very same fan phoned me to let me know that THFC stewards had refused him admittance along with his partner because he "wasn't me", although he was both qualified by age and disability. I will be contacting both Clubs and the unfortunate fellow Swan to try to resolve something. I still feel bad as I write this and I will be contacting him to at least explain that it was down to the "stick to the rules" ethics of the local stewards (as I believe it to be) and to try to make some recompense. Profuse apologies all round.
The other gutting factor is that as I'd not been able to go to the game, I let people know on various Swansea City GB's and my disabled/pensioner + carer ticket went to a fellow age and status qualifying SCFC fan for cost price.
Imagine my embarrassment but more seriously his hurt when 9m into the game, this very same fan phoned me to let me know that THFC stewards had refused him admittance along with his partner because he "wasn't me", although he was both qualified by age and disability. I will be contacting both Clubs and the unfortunate fellow Swan to try to resolve something. I still feel bad as I write this and I will be contacting him to at least explain that it was down to the "stick to the rules" ethics of the local stewards (as I believe it to be) and to try to make some recompense. Profuse apologies all round.
My mood darkened from then on in.
The other thing worth mentioning is that subsequent to a report in that journalistic beacon of reporting probity (Friday's Sun Newspaper), our Manager, Brendan Rodgers, was being touted to take the reins at Tottenham subsequent to Harry Redknapp's coronation in the England national team hot seat. Having mentioned the source of the story, which is misguided and rude on so very many counts, I feel sure you too will agree that the Currant Bun is a somewhat discredited source, so we'll leave that in the gutter, where it belongs.
And that's the other thing this weekend - I hope all Swans who wanted to have renewed their Season Tickets (as I have) and those who haven't are replaced by people who have as much fun next year as we've had this. Be lucky, and enjoy. I suspect you will.
Both of these teams had some interesting choices to make in team selection, and Harry Redknapp's choice reflected the importance he placed on the fixture, with nothing resembling a "rested" or "weakened" line up. Similarly, BR for Swansea had hinted pre-match that with Nathan Dyer available after his suspension, it might not be the case that he went straight back in.
And that's the other thing this weekend - I hope all Swans who wanted to have renewed their Season Tickets (as I have) and those who haven't are replaced by people who have as much fun next year as we've had this. Be lucky, and enjoy. I suspect you will.
Both of these teams had some interesting choices to make in team selection, and Harry Redknapp's choice reflected the importance he placed on the fixture, with nothing resembling a "rested" or "weakened" line up. Similarly, BR for Swansea had hinted pre-match that with Nathan Dyer available after his suspension, it might not be the case that he went straight back in.
The teams matched up this way..........
Tottenham Hotspur
24 Friedel, 04 Kaboul, 13 Gallas, 28 Walker, 32 Assou-Ekotto, 03 Bale, 08 Parker, 11 Van der Vaart, 14 Modric, 30 Sandro, 10 Adebayor
Substitutes
23 Cudicini, 33 Nelsen, 07 Lennon, 25 Rose, 29 Livermore, 15 Saha, 18 Defoe
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 16 Monk, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair, 15 Routledge, 24 Allen, 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 12 Dyer, 17 McEachran, 27 Gower, 18 Lita, 19 Moore
Ref: Marriner
After not unsurprising early season remarks that compared us to Blackpool and such like, the bulk of the lazy journalists were forced to take a closer look when we started to look a little more durable, and one of their noticed features was that we have a habit of keeping "clean sheets", the better to allow our expansive forward momentum to thrive when this is the case. Much easier to beat a team 1-0 or 2-1 even, rather than pull out a 3-2 or 4-3 miracle. How surprising is that ?
As it happened on this occasion we were outscored, but that was down to Tottenham's excellence as much as our own carelessness. Be assured, this is a top 4 side, so no disgrace there.
The early part of the game saw Swansea give as good as they got, with both sides competing robustly, but what was immediately noticeable was that Tottenham had upped both the tempo and pace of their usual game to press and compete for every ball, with both Sandro and Parker snapping and tackling at City's Mid Field, and Assou-Ekotto and Walker at FB squeezing high and tight at the wingers, compressing the space.
This , in turn, pushed Rangel and Taylor back more than usual, and with Bale turning in a high octane performance and running at Rangel constantly, both in and out, it was putting the Swans in an uncomfortable position to be able to retain possession in the foreshortened space.
Despite the lightning fast pace, Taylor put in an excellent run that took him into the box where he was clipped by Walker as he shaped to shoot, but he honestly stayed upright when we've seen many players "go down" and the danger was snuffed out.
Bale, as I've said was testing Rangel to the limit, and a dangerous whipped cross from another driving run saw Adebayor touch just wide.
Swansea then put in a decent attack, but from Danny Graham's cross, Spurs broke at speed to claim the game's first goal.
Quick distribution from Friedel saw the ball transferred eventually to Bale via a Modric cute pass, and from a further rapier thrust on the left his deadly cross stretched Ash Williams to the full. From his lunging interception the ball ran free to van der Vaart, some 15 yds out and central. This fine technician didn't even check his run as he side footed it thumpingly wide of Vorm's right hand.
Tottenham Hotspur
24 Friedel, 04 Kaboul, 13 Gallas, 28 Walker, 32 Assou-Ekotto, 03 Bale, 08 Parker, 11 Van der Vaart, 14 Modric, 30 Sandro, 10 Adebayor
Substitutes
23 Cudicini, 33 Nelsen, 07 Lennon, 25 Rose, 29 Livermore, 15 Saha, 18 Defoe
Swansea City
01 Vorm, 02 Williams, 03 Taylor, 16 Monk, 22 Rangel, 07 Britton, 11 Sinclair, 15 Routledge, 24 Allen, 42 Sigurdsson, 10 Graham
Substitutes
25 Tremmel, 05 Tate, 12 Dyer, 17 McEachran, 27 Gower, 18 Lita, 19 Moore
Ref: Marriner
After not unsurprising early season remarks that compared us to Blackpool and such like, the bulk of the lazy journalists were forced to take a closer look when we started to look a little more durable, and one of their noticed features was that we have a habit of keeping "clean sheets", the better to allow our expansive forward momentum to thrive when this is the case. Much easier to beat a team 1-0 or 2-1 even, rather than pull out a 3-2 or 4-3 miracle. How surprising is that ?
As it happened on this occasion we were outscored, but that was down to Tottenham's excellence as much as our own carelessness. Be assured, this is a top 4 side, so no disgrace there.
The early part of the game saw Swansea give as good as they got, with both sides competing robustly, but what was immediately noticeable was that Tottenham had upped both the tempo and pace of their usual game to press and compete for every ball, with both Sandro and Parker snapping and tackling at City's Mid Field, and Assou-Ekotto and Walker at FB squeezing high and tight at the wingers, compressing the space.
This , in turn, pushed Rangel and Taylor back more than usual, and with Bale turning in a high octane performance and running at Rangel constantly, both in and out, it was putting the Swans in an uncomfortable position to be able to retain possession in the foreshortened space.
Despite the lightning fast pace, Taylor put in an excellent run that took him into the box where he was clipped by Walker as he shaped to shoot, but he honestly stayed upright when we've seen many players "go down" and the danger was snuffed out.
Bale, as I've said was testing Rangel to the limit, and a dangerous whipped cross from another driving run saw Adebayor touch just wide.
Swansea then put in a decent attack, but from Danny Graham's cross, Spurs broke at speed to claim the game's first goal.
Quick distribution from Friedel saw the ball transferred eventually to Bale via a Modric cute pass, and from a further rapier thrust on the left his deadly cross stretched Ash Williams to the full. From his lunging interception the ball ran free to van der Vaart, some 15 yds out and central. This fine technician didn't even check his run as he side footed it thumpingly wide of Vorm's right hand.
1-0, and a classy composed finish from a classy composed player.
It was a body blow for the Swans, but some would say just reward for Spurs as they had begun to to confirm that even with slightly lesser possession they were creating more dangerous threats, one of which just 5m after the 19m goal strike saw Williams clear another deadly Bale cross.
No matter, Swansea's confidence saw them fight back to earn a corner on the half hour, taken this time by Sigurdsson not Allen, and his pacey out swinger was met by Ash Williams at the back post who headed down into the ground only for the bounce to take it over the bar. An encouraging riposte from the far from quelled visitors.
Vorm saved well from a decent Younes Kaboul header and the breathtaking pace of the game didn't let up until Mr Marriner ( oh yes, it was he again) blew for half -time with the game interestingly swaying from end to end but leaving Tottenham probably just deserving of the lead at the break.
The pace of the game had been such that on a wonderfully sunny afternoon a legitimate question for the break was whether this significantly increased and energy draining high fast tempo press from Tottenham could be kept up, or was any decrease in that effort going to lead to Swansea getting back into the game?
It was a body blow for the Swans, but some would say just reward for Spurs as they had begun to to confirm that even with slightly lesser possession they were creating more dangerous threats, one of which just 5m after the 19m goal strike saw Williams clear another deadly Bale cross.
No matter, Swansea's confidence saw them fight back to earn a corner on the half hour, taken this time by Sigurdsson not Allen, and his pacey out swinger was met by Ash Williams at the back post who headed down into the ground only for the bounce to take it over the bar. An encouraging riposte from the far from quelled visitors.
Vorm saved well from a decent Younes Kaboul header and the breathtaking pace of the game didn't let up until Mr Marriner ( oh yes, it was he again) blew for half -time with the game interestingly swaying from end to end but leaving Tottenham probably just deserving of the lead at the break.
The pace of the game had been such that on a wonderfully sunny afternoon a legitimate question for the break was whether this significantly increased and energy draining high fast tempo press from Tottenham could be kept up, or was any decrease in that effort going to lead to Swansea getting back into the game?
We would soon find out.
There had been some delightful football played in this first period, and some genuinely serious tactical variances. Deserving of mention for Tottenham, one can't fail to be impressed by Luka Modric, the Croatian playmaker having led the Swans a merry dance by consistently and regularly taking the right option in feeding Bale into the game, testing the CB's by probing to Adebayor, switching back and forth with van der Vaart, and drumming the beat that Tottenham
marched to. What a player. Hey you Spurs, tell Chelsea it's £50mill + nowadays.
For Swansea Sigurdsson confirms he's the bargain of the season, and the battling Britton and Allen were really competing with Sandro and Parker's forays into dogs-of-war territory. An excellent game in this excellent league.
The second period saw Tottenham pause to take breath - no wonder, they'd burned off more calories than sweat-suit devotees, and Swansea started to look threatening.
The first chance fell, inevitably, to Sigurdsson, who unleashed a left footed shot that Brad Friedel miraculously clawed for a corner. See, that Yoga-stuff he does works!
There had been some delightful football played in this first period, and some genuinely serious tactical variances. Deserving of mention for Tottenham, one can't fail to be impressed by Luka Modric, the Croatian playmaker having led the Swans a merry dance by consistently and regularly taking the right option in feeding Bale into the game, testing the CB's by probing to Adebayor, switching back and forth with van der Vaart, and drumming the beat that Tottenham
marched to. What a player. Hey you Spurs, tell Chelsea it's £50mill + nowadays.
For Swansea Sigurdsson confirms he's the bargain of the season, and the battling Britton and Allen were really competing with Sandro and Parker's forays into dogs-of-war territory. An excellent game in this excellent league.
The second period saw Tottenham pause to take breath - no wonder, they'd burned off more calories than sweat-suit devotees, and Swansea started to look threatening.
The first chance fell, inevitably, to Sigurdsson, who unleashed a left footed shot that Brad Friedel miraculously clawed for a corner. See, that Yoga-stuff he does works!
A fine save, but it mattered little, as Swansea's increasing confidence in possession, often channeled through Routledge, led to them putting pressure on Tottenham in their own defensive third, and on 59m they got their deserved equaliser.
Joe Allen cut in from left, and hit a deflected shot which spun to Routledge, and his touch to Sigurdsson led to the Ice-Man volleying a right footed drive goal ward and into the ground with enough pace and accuracy for the bounce and trajectory to take it beyond Friedel's right hand to nestle satisfyingly into the corner of the goal.
Joe Allen cut in from left, and hit a deflected shot which spun to Routledge, and his touch to Sigurdsson led to the Ice-Man volleying a right footed drive goal ward and into the ground with enough pace and accuracy for the bounce and trajectory to take it beyond Friedel's right hand to nestle satisfyingly into the corner of the goal.
1-1, and it really had been coming, as the vocal JackArmy reminded the Tottenham faithful.
The next 15m would prove crucial, and perhaps highlight the difference between the 2 Clubs - one, a long time PL resourced citizen, the other a relative crash-the-wedding guest albeit one who might well turn out to be invited to say.
Whilst both teams battled for territorial and tactical supremacy, Redknapp's first change on 71m saw him replace Sandro with the electric Aaron Lennon (more of him later) and the Swans swap Dyer for the tiring Routledge.
Shortly after it was as if Tottenham having weathered the real Swansea threat for a crucial period were able to edge ahead in the most cruel of manners, namely, with a header from a corner.
We Swans all know how crucial Steven Caulker's presence has been this year, since his aerial prowess is such that he will compete with the best, since he is a vital 6ins taller, and an excellent header of the ball to boot.
From a disputed corner won, Rafael van der Vaart drove an in swinger over to the edge of the six yard box, and Adebayor rose to deliver a majestic header won over Neil Taylor (the flight of the ball having taken Gary Monk out of the equation) and into the corner of the City net.
Aaaargh! 2-1,and we Swans slumped. 74m gone- a hard task now.
Still, the team did not lie down.
They continued to press, compete and play football in an energetic and competitive way, but Tottenham were now putting on the squeeze for home, and in the energised Lennon possessed a player who would finally apply the dagger to our hearts.
From yet another of his tricksy, mazy dribbles, he cut outside and found a dream of a delivery that gave Adebayor, yet again, an obliging chance to head home the final nail in the coffin on 86m. The Togolese International did not disappoint, as he out jumped the defenders and rose majestically to power home the goal .
Still, the team did not lie down.
They continued to press, compete and play football in an energetic and competitive way, but Tottenham were now putting on the squeeze for home, and in the energised Lennon possessed a player who would finally apply the dagger to our hearts.
From yet another of his tricksy, mazy dribbles, he cut outside and found a dream of a delivery that gave Adebayor, yet again, an obliging chance to head home the final nail in the coffin on 86m. The Togolese International did not disappoint, as he out jumped the defenders and rose majestically to power home the goal .
3-1, and he's as good in the air as he is on the ground, and as good as 180k per week (reputedly) demands that he be.
For Tottenham, Livermore relieved van der Vaart, and Danny Rose gave Benny A-E a rest, whilst the Swans saw Luke Moore for Danny G, and, right at the death, BR send on Mark Gower (ex Tottenham) for Allen, decently rewarded by warm applause from the home fans.
Both teams left the field to greetings from their own, and we'd seen one of the better quality EPL matches on display this weekend, even if it didn't turn out to be the result we wanted.
So, let's be objective, and think about what we saw.
Sometimes in football you just have to tip your hat to a team that's played better than your own. No shame in that, unless your own hasn't tried a lick, and nobody can anytime accuse us Swans of that. Tottenham are one of the very best teams in the Division, managed moreover by the man widely acknowledged as the right one to get the next England gig, and a team put together at a different level to ours.
For Tottenham, Livermore relieved van der Vaart, and Danny Rose gave Benny A-E a rest, whilst the Swans saw Luke Moore for Danny G, and, right at the death, BR send on Mark Gower (ex Tottenham) for Allen, decently rewarded by warm applause from the home fans.
Both teams left the field to greetings from their own, and we'd seen one of the better quality EPL matches on display this weekend, even if it didn't turn out to be the result we wanted.
So, let's be objective, and think about what we saw.
Sometimes in football you just have to tip your hat to a team that's played better than your own. No shame in that, unless your own hasn't tried a lick, and nobody can anytime accuse us Swans of that. Tottenham are one of the very best teams in the Division, managed moreover by the man widely acknowledged as the right one to get the next England gig, and a team put together at a different level to ours.
We can, and at Home particularly did, try to put a spanner in the works, and there was enough in place at the Lane yesterday for us to realise that we're on the right track, despite the disappointing defeat.
Well done to Tottenham, who performed exactly as I'd expected a team of their level and ability to do .Bale, Modric, Adebayor, Friedel, van der Vaart...I could just as easily name the rest, but have a look at the line up shown earlier.
Well done to Tottenham, who performed exactly as I'd expected a team of their level and ability to do .Bale, Modric, Adebayor, Friedel, van der Vaart...I could just as easily name the rest, but have a look at the line up shown earlier.
Good luck to them in their quest for CL football and the FA Cup. See you next year.
Realistic reactions, from both managers, are here.
So please, anyone who wants to single out individual performances that "let us down" needs to get a grip on reality.
So please, anyone who wants to single out individual performances that "let us down" needs to get a grip on reality.
By all means make points about areas of weakness where me might improve - that's constructive criticism - but give this team of ours a powerful big up for going to the Lane and performing like a worthy opponent for Tottenham Hotspur - and then tell yourself, no, you're not dreaming- we'll be back doing it, as I said, again next year.
Onward, Swansea City.
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