A foo thoughts on yesterday and how brilliant we are in general

This will all no doubt have been said below so slight apologies but not too many as its the type of morning when you just want to have an outlet to spout about how great our Club is right now.

Up until nnow I haven't really subscribed to the notion that the lack of a victory over any of the big (or in spurs case biggish) clubs has dampened our season in any way but it does feel like yesterday's win was something of a culmination of the journey we have all been on since Sir Paul joined our great club at one of its lowest ebbs three seasons ago. From an utter shambles in league 1 with barely any decent players under our ownership we have been transformed to (for the time being at least) a bright, confident unit, managed by the best young manager around and with a team/squad crammed full of motivated and gifted players. The likes of Howson, the Bennetts, Pilks, Ayala, Whitbread, Ruddy mean we are well set for several years to come. Yesterday was no smash and grab, we matched one of the best teams in the country and deservedly beat them. Had Oliver not been in charge we would have had 3 penalties and it could have been more comprehensive. It truly has been a remarkable achievement and I don't know how long our upward curve will continue but we should enjoy it whilst we can. Perhaps unfiar to single out any of the players really as it was a fantastic team effort but thoughts on the game and certain players:

1. Have to hold my hands up and admit i had a bit of a blub when i first saw the team. For me it appeared to similar to the team we put out at Stoke and I was concerned we would not retain possession and would come under heavy pressure. I didn;t realise at the time that Fox was injured but Johnson in the centre concerned me. However, as is often the case Lambert got it right and i was wrong and much of the credit for that must also go to Bradley Johnson who i thought had the best game he has had since the first few weeks of the season. Much, much better and (his miss aside) didn't really put a foot wrong.

2. In contrast to Lambert's genius i can;'t help but feel that Harry Redknapp showed once again why he is a limited manager and why i will continue to have doubts about him as the next England manager. Spurs have some fantastic players going forward, particularly down the flanks but they basically played with one central/defensive midfielder. i know Parker was missing and perhaps Redknapp also thought we would play Fox and Wes in the diamond but once it became clear we were playing Howson and Johnson in the middle and Livermore was being slightly overrun I can't believe he didn't put another proper CM in there to help him out. As it was Spurs never had any kind of platform to exert pressure on us and spent virtually the entire game playing on the break.

3. The new boys. I thought Howson and R.Bennett were both superb. Howson is really growing into his role at the club and i can see him being captain next season. He has an excellent all round game and a fantastic engine. R. Bennett did not put a foot wrong, won virtually every header and his reading of the game is superb. He is young and will no doubt make the odd mistake but with Ayalya and Whitbread to come back we are in great shape at CB.

4. Pilks - had forgotten how good he is during his recent absence. Gives us a different dimension when he plays plus a goal threat. His set piece delivery yesterday was also superb.

5. E Bennett - if ever a player needed a goal it was Elliot and I think he will now go from strength to strength. Great goal and great all round performance. Has been playing well recently anyway but missed chances have clearly been weighing on his mind. We look much more solid defensively with him halping out the full back as well. As well as the goal one truly world class moment a few minutes later when he received a long ball out on the left, turnd Walker and played a magnificent 40 yard cross field ball to Howson. We really should have scored from that berak as well.

6. Martin & Drury - both excellent. What great servants these guys have been, Drury has not let us down once this season. As for Martin I was quite critical of him a few weeks back after a run of iffy performances and felt that he was rightly dropped but the last 3 weeks he has been back to his best and yesterday dealt well with Bale. Perhaps those sleepless nights after his baby was born had more effect than we all realised.

7. Fans - theirs seem to have almost given up and are expecting to not make the top four. Barely a squeak from them all game which was a bit of a shock as have always found White Hart Lane to be one of the more vocal grounds. Great banter and for once a bit of variety from our fans with the chants.

8. Ref - this guy really seems to have something against us. Have not seen the highlights yet but appeared to me there were three stonewall penalty shouts.

All in all a great weekend. Two proper games against two proper premiership teams and we emerge having matched them both and with four points. Whereas i was fearful we might end the season with a bit of a whimper i am now really looking forward to trying to further screw up Man City and Liverpool's seasons in the next couple of weeks and think we can. For me victory over the Murderers is all I want now to top off what has been a magnificent season.

Posted By: Jim, Apr 10, 10:16:58