Talk about setting yourself up for a fall!!! My preview for this game was a rabid, raving rant representing my revulsion of 'Arry Redknapp and his roller-coaster ride of redemption since replacing Ramos. I spouted off about wanting us to burst his bubble, blah, blah, blah. We'll I've been put in my place.
Spurs played well, attacked well, closed down well and their fringe players really wanted to give a good account of themselves. Our mob seemingly weren't interested in increasing their chances of regular first team football; they were abject, a disgrace, I wanted to slap many of them in the face a call them "a swine". Full Back really is Benitez's blind spot when it comes to signings, Degan was free but I can't see what Benitez saw in him to get rid of Steve Finnan. £7 million Dosenna "the Doorman" hit a new low; his positioning was wretched, his pace was pedestrian and his work rate was student-like. Our two experienced centre halves played like incompetent misfits who had never clapped eyes on each other. Ryan Babel clearly thought that this game was beneath him so he just ran with the ball until he was surrounded by 3 Spurs players. On the right wing, El Zhar was the only player, apart from subs Alonso, Insua & Darby, who could hold his head up, he showed skill and a desire to get on the ball and a bit of drive. Torres visibly wasn't match fit and didn't fancy pushing himself too hard and alongside him David Ngog was a calamity. We lost the game in centre midfield; Lucas & Plessis were downright awful. Neither of them could pass to a red shirt, they seemed to look at a Spurs player and nonchalantly roll the ball to him. On numerous occasions they were so unaware of what was going on around them that they were robbed of the ball in their own half. I've never understood Rafa's insistence on playing Lucas so much, he must really rate him. Well if the future is Lucas, the future is worrying...