Topic of the day: coin throwing and crowd problems
Rio Ferdinand was lucky not to lose an eye, but he was unlucky that of all the coins, lighters, plastic bottles and whatever else the moronic football 'fan' can lay his or her hands on, one actually hit him. Earlier on in the game Wayne Rooney was pelted with items while caught in the heinous act of taking a corner, and recent racist and anti-Semitic chanting indicates a problem with football crowds that no doubt speaks of our wider society.
What can be done? Netting has been proposed to stop objects hitting players, but how tight will the netting need to be to stop coins? Will the objects rebound and hit innocent supporters? Did the nets at the Camp Nou stop a pig's head? And what will netting do to stop abuse emanating from the crowd?
The answer is to punish the majority to eradicate the minority. It's always a minority (every bad thing in life is always perpetrated by a minority despite the impression you might get from the media. Your average person is a decent, law abiding person) but this can no longer be an excuse. As the Football Ramble's Luke Moore says, when a rugby team at his school wrecked a minibus, all the sports teams were suspended. Something similar needs to happen in football.
Take the Serbia -England U21 game. Again, another mindless minority - albeit an uncomfortably large minority - spoiling it for the rest. The West Ham - Spurs game, more morons. Investigations have been launched, action already taken, but will all the culprits be caught? The Swansea 'fan' who shouted racist abuse towards Norwich's Sebastien Bassong was apprehended quickly and it is great credit to Swansea and the authorities that the villain was caught and done so speedily, but that was the exception. A large proportion of those who drag football down are not caught.
Finally, let's look at the coin throwing incident at the Etihad on sunday. There is CCTV, which was was being tracked live and can be checked after the event, but the likelihood is that there culprit, and those who through objects at Rooney earlier, will not be caught, and if so they will get a slap on the wrists, a banning order for a couple of seasons at most, and probably sneak in for City's next game.
When Police or stewards move into the crowd they receive abuse and a 'them and us' attitude. However, if the fan(s) they were looking for were affecting their fellow fans rather than just trying to antagonise the opposition, supporters may be more willing to point out the miscreants.
So how about you make the fans stay behind? Tell all the City fans they can't leave for twenty minutes, then those in the relevant blocks have to stay behind an hour until the Police have picked out the people they want. Now suddenly its not the image of this corporate conglomerate that the bad apples are tarnishing, but the day of all their fellow fans. Now you can't go home until that dickhead has been caught, and the next time you see someone throw something or start a racist chant you do something because that guy is going to directly affect your day. It is not the police that fan has to worry about but the hundreds of fans in his block, the thousands in the stadium, and if he goes to games regularly then it will become a very uncomfortable experience for him.
Away fans are often kept behind after European games (for their own safety rather than for punishment) and if it means people miss trains or get home late then so be it. It will just mean they are more likely to act by their volition to root out the trouble makers at our grounds.
Showing posts with label Spurs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spurs. Show all posts
Monday, 10 December 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Has Capello helped Spurs keep Redknapp?
Fabio Capello's resignation has come as a shock. I am disappointed the man lacked the balls to continue with the England job. What would he have done if John Terry had picked up a season ending injury? Talk about man on a ledge....
Anyway, sod Capello, let's think about the man who is the bookies and media's favourite to take the England job. The man who was acquitted of tax evasion this morning. The only English manager to experience Champions League football since Howard Wilkinson or something daft. The man named Harry Redknapp.
Spurs fans were naturally worried that the man who rescued them from the calamitous reign of Juande Ramos, had built a stellar squad including Rafa van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric et al and achieved Tottenham's best Premiership finish would leave for the England job after Euro 2012. Who would replace Harry? How would the players deal with the loss of their adored manager?
Rumours are already sprouting that Redknapp will take temporary charge of England in Poland and Ukraine. This could be the best scenario for both Spurs fans and Harry. Redknapp could fulfil the dream of managing England at a major tournament. With only four months until the tournament starts he will avoid most of the hassle of being England manager, the media will not have any matches or performances to sink their teeth into, and England could walk into Euro 2012 with the media (save Rob Beasley) on their side. Then when it all goes tits up Harry can return to Spurs, content in the knowledge that he gave it his best shot but international management just wasn't his cup of tea, and the England team lacks the skill that his Tottenham team contains by the barrel load.
Spurs fans meanwhile will keep their successful manager, the players will have that continuity, and with England only playing one friendly before the end of the season (the home game against the Netherlands at the end of February) he will not be absent from the Tottenham training ground for long.
Conversely, what if the FA appoint another caretaker manager and that mean takes England to the semi finals or better? The clamour will be for that man (likely Stuart Pearce) to stay in charge, and Harry stays at White Hart Lane.
Or Redknapp may well turn the temporary job and the FA, feeling burned by that rejection, my not offer the job to Redknapp in the summer.
Either way, Capello's resignation could be the best news Tottenham fans have heard since this morning.
Anyway, sod Capello, let's think about the man who is the bookies and media's favourite to take the England job. The man who was acquitted of tax evasion this morning. The only English manager to experience Champions League football since Howard Wilkinson or something daft. The man named Harry Redknapp.
Spurs fans were naturally worried that the man who rescued them from the calamitous reign of Juande Ramos, had built a stellar squad including Rafa van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric et al and achieved Tottenham's best Premiership finish would leave for the England job after Euro 2012. Who would replace Harry? How would the players deal with the loss of their adored manager?
Rumours are already sprouting that Redknapp will take temporary charge of England in Poland and Ukraine. This could be the best scenario for both Spurs fans and Harry. Redknapp could fulfil the dream of managing England at a major tournament. With only four months until the tournament starts he will avoid most of the hassle of being England manager, the media will not have any matches or performances to sink their teeth into, and England could walk into Euro 2012 with the media (save Rob Beasley) on their side. Then when it all goes tits up Harry can return to Spurs, content in the knowledge that he gave it his best shot but international management just wasn't his cup of tea, and the England team lacks the skill that his Tottenham team contains by the barrel load.
Spurs fans meanwhile will keep their successful manager, the players will have that continuity, and with England only playing one friendly before the end of the season (the home game against the Netherlands at the end of February) he will not be absent from the Tottenham training ground for long.
Conversely, what if the FA appoint another caretaker manager and that mean takes England to the semi finals or better? The clamour will be for that man (likely Stuart Pearce) to stay in charge, and Harry stays at White Hart Lane.
Or Redknapp may well turn the temporary job and the FA, feeling burned by that rejection, my not offer the job to Redknapp in the summer.
Either way, Capello's resignation could be the best news Tottenham fans have heard since this morning.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Spurs get lucky with Young Boys
Young Boys 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
As a Spurs fan, that was horrendous. Never mind the first thirty minutes that found Tottenham three goals down, the entire game was a defensive shambles. And whatever happens, do not blame the pitch.
The AstroTurf pitch simply exacerbated fundamental flaws in the setup of the London team which were not helped by some very poor individual decisions. Young Boys started at a very high tempo, but were very compact and did not use the flanks. Spurs on the other hand went with a traditional 4-4-2 formation with wingers hugging the touch line. This was the first mistake, and is a lesson that needs to be learnt.
- 4-4-2 does not work away from home in Europe
Villareal and an under-cooked Fiorentina gave Spurs a few lessons at the Lane. Tottenham's away record at the top teams has been terrible for many, many years. And yet Harry Redknapp went with an offensive 4-4-2 against the team from Bern. He, and the players, showed a lack of respect and awareness. For that first thirty minutes Spurs could not get on the ball. Young Boys' 5 man midfield were far more fluid, and Tottenham did not press as a team.
- Pavlyuchenko and Defoe should not play together against strong teams.
Neither player was impressive. Neither player showed a good enough touch in build up play nor in front of goal. Neither player worked hard. Nor did they get back and close down the holding midfielder, stopping Young Boys from progressing their play up the pitch.
The Russian, apart from the movement and finish for his goal, was woeful. Defoe still looked a little off pace. The half chances that did come their way did not manage a meaningful effort on goal. If they are not scoring, they offer nothing. However....
- Keane is the key
I'm not saying he should start every week. But when the opposition has men behind the ball, and more men in midfield, the Irishman's ability to drop deep and get play going motivates the rest of the team to increase their off the ball movement. Keane did not hesitate to come to the half way line and take the ball of the centre backs and get involved with the central midfielders. His markers did not know whether to stick or twist, and his lay-off for the second goal was excellent, and was the first link up between any of our strikers.
- Huddlestone is a giant
Palacios and Modric were out numbered, but the Honduran did not help his game by being wasteful in possession and poor in defence. The holding role does not suit him as he wants to step up and press the ball and ends up caught in a no-man's land that contributed to the second and third goals we conceded. Only when Huddlestone came on after thirty minutes did Spurs look assured on the ball, slowing the tempo when needed and providing good positional awareness when needed.
He is not yet vocal enough to be a midfield general, but his game has improved to the extent that others now take their lead from him.
- You cannot play high and not press.
The second and third goals also exploited a lack of pace at the back. Even if Spurs had Usain Bolt at the back, it's easy to out pace someone when they have to turn 180 degrees. However, when there is pressure on the ball it is harder for the opposition to play the perfect ball for the runners to run on to.
As said above, Spurs were out numbered in midfield and the strikers were not helping out. The back line should have dropped, therefore, keeping the play in front of them. Instead they tried to push up and were exposed. Once again a lack of respect and awareness saw Spurs concede two unnecessary goals.
- The Internationals did not help.
Some players are still suffering from a World Cup hangover. With an early start to the Premiership season, plus mid week internationals before the season had begun, some players are lacking the sharpness needed. This was Spurs' second competitive game - Young Boys are on 7 already.
- Hurry Up Sandro
Tottenham's only summer signing, Sandro is due to arrive after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores. The defensive midfielder would be the perfect addition to a three man midfield and would have cut off the two through balls for the Swiss team's second and third goals. When Spurs make the switch to 4-3-3/4-5-1, he could be key
All is not lost. Pavlyuchenko's late goal makes Spurs favourites at a packed White Hart Lane. With a more traditional surface and the crowd behind them, you would expect Spurs to win, maybe by a couple of goals. However, if they cannot address those defensive issues and the naivety of manager and players, this season will be anything but Glory Glory.
As a Spurs fan, that was horrendous. Never mind the first thirty minutes that found Tottenham three goals down, the entire game was a defensive shambles. And whatever happens, do not blame the pitch.
The AstroTurf pitch simply exacerbated fundamental flaws in the setup of the London team which were not helped by some very poor individual decisions. Young Boys started at a very high tempo, but were very compact and did not use the flanks. Spurs on the other hand went with a traditional 4-4-2 formation with wingers hugging the touch line. This was the first mistake, and is a lesson that needs to be learnt.
- 4-4-2 does not work away from home in Europe
Villareal and an under-cooked Fiorentina gave Spurs a few lessons at the Lane. Tottenham's away record at the top teams has been terrible for many, many years. And yet Harry Redknapp went with an offensive 4-4-2 against the team from Bern. He, and the players, showed a lack of respect and awareness. For that first thirty minutes Spurs could not get on the ball. Young Boys' 5 man midfield were far more fluid, and Tottenham did not press as a team.
- Pavlyuchenko and Defoe should not play together against strong teams.
Neither player was impressive. Neither player showed a good enough touch in build up play nor in front of goal. Neither player worked hard. Nor did they get back and close down the holding midfielder, stopping Young Boys from progressing their play up the pitch.
The Russian, apart from the movement and finish for his goal, was woeful. Defoe still looked a little off pace. The half chances that did come their way did not manage a meaningful effort on goal. If they are not scoring, they offer nothing. However....
- Keane is the key
I'm not saying he should start every week. But when the opposition has men behind the ball, and more men in midfield, the Irishman's ability to drop deep and get play going motivates the rest of the team to increase their off the ball movement. Keane did not hesitate to come to the half way line and take the ball of the centre backs and get involved with the central midfielders. His markers did not know whether to stick or twist, and his lay-off for the second goal was excellent, and was the first link up between any of our strikers.
- Huddlestone is a giant
Palacios and Modric were out numbered, but the Honduran did not help his game by being wasteful in possession and poor in defence. The holding role does not suit him as he wants to step up and press the ball and ends up caught in a no-man's land that contributed to the second and third goals we conceded. Only when Huddlestone came on after thirty minutes did Spurs look assured on the ball, slowing the tempo when needed and providing good positional awareness when needed.
He is not yet vocal enough to be a midfield general, but his game has improved to the extent that others now take their lead from him.
- You cannot play high and not press.
The second and third goals also exploited a lack of pace at the back. Even if Spurs had Usain Bolt at the back, it's easy to out pace someone when they have to turn 180 degrees. However, when there is pressure on the ball it is harder for the opposition to play the perfect ball for the runners to run on to.
As said above, Spurs were out numbered in midfield and the strikers were not helping out. The back line should have dropped, therefore, keeping the play in front of them. Instead they tried to push up and were exposed. Once again a lack of respect and awareness saw Spurs concede two unnecessary goals.
- The Internationals did not help.
Some players are still suffering from a World Cup hangover. With an early start to the Premiership season, plus mid week internationals before the season had begun, some players are lacking the sharpness needed. This was Spurs' second competitive game - Young Boys are on 7 already.
- Hurry Up Sandro
Tottenham's only summer signing, Sandro is due to arrive after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores. The defensive midfielder would be the perfect addition to a three man midfield and would have cut off the two through balls for the Swiss team's second and third goals. When Spurs make the switch to 4-3-3/4-5-1, he could be key
All is not lost. Pavlyuchenko's late goal makes Spurs favourites at a packed White Hart Lane. With a more traditional surface and the crowd behind them, you would expect Spurs to win, maybe by a couple of goals. However, if they cannot address those defensive issues and the naivety of manager and players, this season will be anything but Glory Glory.
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