Just back from our penultimate game of the season, a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at White Hart Lane.
The first half was absolutely dire - as bad a half of football as I have seen all season. Hopefully Sky didn't lose too many viewers, as the second half was pretty good.
We now need a point at home to City on the last day of the season to guarantee UEFA Cup football next season. Frustratingly, 5th place is now not just ours to win, as Everton can secure that if they win their final match - even if we thump City. But, nice as it would be to finish nestled in behind the Top 4, 6th would be fine - especially in a season where we made the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup and FA Cup and the semis of the Consolation Cup.
Dimitar Berbatov was again just unbelievable. The only other player that stood out was captain-to-be Michael Dawson - well, and Pas Chimbonda who had the silliest haircut of the season. There were a number of fairly average performances, especially in the first half.
But the most unfortunate part of the night, aside from missing out on 3 points, was the substitution of Hossam Ghaly.
Ghaly is not that well liked by Spurs fans, at least not in the East Lower where I sit. I do like him, I think he is a good player with some good skills - but, yes, it doesn't always work and as I have blogged before he can have some truly atrocious games.
Today was not a good game for Hossam. He came on as a sub to replace the ever unfit Steed Malbranque after half an hour. He didn't play well (but nor did most of the team until the last half hour). He was then substituted to bring Keane on.
As he was walking off, he took off his shirt and - after wishing Keane good luck - threw his shirt on the pitchside, before heading down the tunnel (not, actually, storming down the tunnel as BBC say). Clearly, you don't want to see that and the crowd reaction was not good. After the booing, a fair number of the crowd sang a song likening Ghaly to a fairly intimate body part.
He was disappointed to be subbed and he should not have done what he did. He had also played badly on the pitch. It seems a long way back for him - the fans are not going to be too welcoming on his next appearance. But I hope that we haven't seen the last of him. He's still young, he has talent and he has energy. He may never be a great (who knows, he could be... just maybe), but this is the first time he has made a mistake like this.
Whatever my fellow Spurs fans think of his ability, if they look at his efforts over the season objectively they have to admit he has ALWAYS tried his hardest for Spurs. He is not a lazy player, just picking up his paycheck, and he has never shown less than 100% commitment to the games he has played. He might not be Gazza or Ginola, but that's not his fault. He tries, when he's failed he has had a rough ride from the crowd and when he's succeeded he's got grudging applause at best.
I hope he can stay and play a role at Spurs next season - and I hope us fans will accept that people make mistakes and look at the whole picture, not just one minute of the season.
7 comments:
Greetings,
I am a Cairo-based Egyptian who saw the Spurs match against Blackburn.
First of all , definitely Ghaly has shown the worst of character and he had no execuse for what he did. You simply can not throw your club's shirt!
Commenting on his standard and having watched him for the past 7 years, this year is not his best. Can't say that I saw his best at Feynoord too. He simply used to run much more here in Cairo ! I have here to mention that I am totally surprised Martin Jol plays him as a right winger. Ghaly has always been a defensive midfielder and this is where he excells. I just wanted the fans to know that yeah he is not adding much but that is because he never had the skill to play near the lines.
Finally, I think your comments about the incident is pretty much fair. I also think Martin Jol is quite calm and rational. I don't think he has given up on Ghaly. He will be punished but is not like Martin has prepared for Ghaly's end. Yet, it is the fans who may have given up on Ghaly and time will prove if the will accept him as a Spurs player again. This is what would trigger his transfer.
Regards,
Haitham Essam
Thanks very much for the comment - hope that the fans will forgive him for this & that he can get his career back on track (preferably at Spurs)
I didn't think Ghaly was that good but, from what you said, maybe he has some talent. Thursday night (for both mine and your club, unfortunately) was more of a shop window of 2 great strikers of the season, McCarthy and Berbatov.
I was disappointed that Rovers didn't win it but, towards the end, was glad that we drew! I think tomorrow we have to beat Reading by 4 goals! Can we borrow Berba please?
Who knows, for Chel$ki next season it might be McCarthy and Berbatov up front... let's hope not.
Oh, he was pretty awful on Thursday night. But then again the whole first half was pretty forgettable, don't you think? He has had some good games for us tho & has always put 100% effort in.
As for the matches tomorrow... Remember, Watford won 0-2 at Reading, so 4 goals shouldn't be out of the question!
Crikey that was a quick reply!
I dragged my girlfriend to the pub for this one and I *think* she was a bit hacked off! She fancies Morten Gamst Pedersen who, I thought, had one of the craziest hair styles in the Premiership... then I saw Chimbonda (who has been a revelation for you this year)! What was that all about?! Surely if he heads the ball he's got a random trajectory lined up for it!
4 goals is a big ask because it puts pressure on us, rather than Reading. I'll be going to the match. Sidwell is off to Chelsea by the looks of it...
If you have MSN, you can add me at philip.tomlinson@hotmail.co.uk.
Yep, I'm not usually so quick, but you caught me at a good time!
Chimbonda's haircut was a new one - I'm not sure his season would have been so good with that all the time, as you say it can't help the heading.
Well, your girlfriend must have been entertained enough in the second half - if she hadn't stormed out of the pub at half time.
MGP I'm still hoping will come and play for us before too long, always been class (tho he did take one of the worst shots I've ever seen in that match).
Good luck for tomorrow...
what he did is tottaly wrong
butlet's all forgive him and give him achance to do better in this season.he's not that good but who knows?
he may still have plenty to offer
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