SKY GAME OF THE WEEK - MATCHDAY 15/17

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ............. 0
NEWCASTLE UNITED ................. 2

The north of London is home to two of the biggest clubs in the league. Arsenal are known as the biggest and most successful while Tottenham Hotspur are a club that want to win things but are too inconsistent to do it. Tonight for the SKY game of the week we are at White Hart Lane for an intriguing clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Tottenham started 279 as one of the bigger clubs and are one of the few clubs that have had a manager from day 1. The first season seen Spurs hoping to earn a place in European competition but they finished in 9th place which was a disappointment for the club and fans alike. The following season seen a slight improvement and although they were now harder to beat, too many draws seen them finish 8th. Season 3 and it all went wrong. Victories were hard to come by and they only won 9 league games all season. Naturally, they were involved in a relegation battle and in the end they escaped the drop by just 1 point, finishing 15th in the table. The fans were angry at the lack of activity in trying to improve the squad but things headed in the right direction in Season 4 when they finished 14th without being in any danger of going down. The climb continued into Season 5 and in January Spurs appointed current manager Scott Brown, known as Broon, hoping he could bring some success to Spurs. That season Tottenham finished 10th and things were looking up for the London side. This season, Spurs have made great strides under Broon and going in to tonight's game they lie in fourth position and have lost just 2 games from 14. Spurs fans have been starved of success, could this be the season that they, at minimum, qualify for Europe.
Newcastle United are a club that also have demanding fans. They have often been the nearly club and have a habit of failing at the final hurdle. When 279 was established, Newcastle were set up for success. A good squad with plenty of potential and they also had a manager from Day 1 in the shape of  Dave Walker. In Season 1, although they never came close to challenging for the title, they still finished an excellent 6th in the table and the fans were able to celebrate an FA Cup win. The club were on a high and in Season 2 they once again fared well. They added the English Shield to their trophy room and finished 4th in the table to qualify for the Champions League. Season 3 brought new pressures as Walker tried to juggle the league, the Champions League and the domestic trophies. There was to be no success in the Champions League or either of the two domestic trophies but another good performance in the league seen them finish 5th and qualify for the Euro Shield. Season 4 brought a major change in the dressing room. It started well with Newcastle near the top of the table and a first title was in a lot of people's minds. They had cruised through their Euro Shield group winning 5 and drawing 1 of the six games. Everything was rosy until on July 19th, Dave Walker resigned after reports of beastality with numerous farm animals appeared in the press. The scandal rocked Newcastle to the core  but the performances on the park stayed at a high level. 10 days after Walker resigned Newcastle appointed a manager, a high profile manager who had no short of controversy following him. Prince Michael William was paraded, naked, in front of the press as the new Newcastle manager by Mike Ashley and the club was fast becoming a circus. PMW was used to this sort of stuff and he used all his experience to steady the club once more. Some good results mixed with some not so good seen Newcastle finish 4th and earn another shot at the Champions League. However, the Euro Shield was where PMW made his mark and he guided Newcastle all the way to the Final where they were unlucky to lose out to FC Zurich on penalties. The nearly club were back. Season 5 was PMW's first full season and there were four competitions to deal with. A decent run in the English Shield seen Newcastle reach the quarter finals but the pressure of competing on so many fronts seen Newcastle go out to Ipswich in the 2nd Round of the FA Cup. The Champions League was tough but they still managed to qualify for the knockout stages after finishing second in a group that included Barcelona. Unfortunately the first knockout round seen Newcastle hammered 9-2 on aggregate by a very good Juventus side. The league seen Newcastle attain there best ever finishing place as they ended up runners up to champions Manchester United. PMW was doing a great job but again they were the nearly team. This season had a disastrous start with only 1 win in 7 games and Newcastle were at the wrong end of the table. They have started to recover now and 3 wins and a draw has seen them move up the table and they lie 13th going into tonight's game.
White Hart Lane was a sell out with 36,285 fans inside the stadium. 3,000 fans had travelled down from Newcastle and they were situated in the South West corner of the stadium. The teams were yet to appear but we had been given the team sheets and broon had decided on a 3-5-2, a formation that PMW had matched on for this one. The teams were emerging from the tunnel still leaving time to give you the teams:

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:  Navas; Kaboul, Luisao, Aogo; Martinez, Jorginho, Poli, Giovinco, Rosicky; Sow, Dempsey

NEWCASTLE UNITED:  Krul; Caulker, Song, Radu; Debuchy, Tiote, Lucas, Dzagoev, Tadic; Cisse, Okazaki

It was Newcastle to kick off towards the Paxton Road end and Cisse and Okazaki got us underway to the roar of the crowd and the ball was played back to Lucas, who played it all the way back to Krul. It was a slow start with both sides sizing each other up. Spurs, defending their unbeaten home record, tried to play the ball forward to Sow but Song was right on top of him and headed clear. The game was expected to be feisty but there had been no evidence of this so far. Spurs had the edge and were looking to go forward whenever they got hold of the ball with Newcastle content to let them do most of the running early on. There was 10 minutes on the clock and there had not been a chance created as Aogo brought it out from the back for Spurs. He played it forward to Giovinco, who was under pressure straight away from Okazaki. Giovinco tried to go by the Japanese internationalist but was brought down for a free kick. The referee, surprisingly, decided to show the first yellow of the game to Okazaki. The only thought there could be the referee was letting the players know that he would not be standing for any nonsense. Giovinco took the free kick himself from just inside his own half and switched the play over to the right to Martinez. Martinez pushed forward and was looking dangerous as Newcastle tried to close ranks at the back. Martinez had Radu in front of him but rather and try get down his outside, he played the ball in towards Sow's feet just outside the box. Song came forward to try and get the tackle in but Sow stepped quickly to his left before getting a shot in that was heading towards the top corner only for Krul to dive to his right and get a hand to it to push it away.

Spurs having the best of the early play

Caulker was handy to complete the clearance but that was the closest we had come to a goal with Krul showing some top class goalkeeping. The game sparked into life as the Spurs fans sensed that this could be a good spell of pressure for the home side. Spurs were trying to come forward again but this time the defence stood strong and Radu brought the ball away before slipping it to Lucas in the centre of the pitch. Lucas looked up and could see Tadic in space but before he could release the pass Poli came in with a crunching tackle that left Lucas in a heap. The referee had no hesitation in levelling the bookings up by showing the yellow, after what looked like a stern talking to, to Poli. The free kick was played forward by Debuchy but it was too long and the ball ran through to Navas. There was 14 minutes on the clock and the last few minutes had definitely brought the game to life. Navas cleared the ball down the middle where Luisao got his head to it to knock it through to Martinez. Spurs players were flowing forward but it looked a dangerous game they were playing as it left them short at the back. Martinez went down the right with support from Kaboul. Martinez tried to go down the touchline but had to double back under pressure from Radu. A chip towards the edge of the box found Kaboul who headed it back to an advanced Luisao. The big Brazilian centre back didn't think twice and hit a first time shot that went fizzing low towards Krul, with the keeper having to look smart to dive down to his right and get his body behind it to make the save. Again Spurs were looking the most likely to break the deadlock with Newcastle not having a sniff of a goal so far. Prince was out his dugout urging his players on and in particularly the midfield who were losing the battle in the centre of the park. To be fair, with both sides stringing five across the middle it was looking a bit crowded but Spurs were coping with it better. Newcastle started to hold on to the ball a bit more, playing it across the back while the midfield tried to find some space. Jorginho and Poli were looking the best on the park so far with some neat passes bringing the wide men into the game. The game hit a lull with neither attack able to find space up front while the midfield probed for an opening. On 25 minutes we got the biggest roar of the day so far when an attempted pass from Tiote was too long and it bounced off the linesmans head, almost knocking him to the ground. With half an hour gone there was still no goals and little goalmouth action with some passes starting to go astray. The game was needing someone to put their foot on the ball and play a couple of passes in behind the defence but there was no one even making a run to try pull the defenders out of position. On 38 minutes, Newcastle created their first opening of the match. Lucas had the ball in his own half and played the ball out towards Debuchy who ha came in from the touchline. Debuchy took one touch before playing the ball towards Tiote who was a couple of yards outside the box. Good movement up front created some space for Tiote to be able to carry the ball to just inside the box. Luisao looked unsure whether to go to Tiote or stay with Okazaki. The indecision allowed Tiote to slip a pass through to Okazaki, who used quick feet to get a shot in at goal that Navas could only save with his feet. The ball was cleared and the break was on for Spurs. Giovinco sped forward with the ball with Rosicky supporting and only Caulker and Song back for Newcastle. Giovinco then released a pass out towards Rosicky who knocked the ball forward making it a straight race between himself and Caulker. The winger got there first and took another pace forward before firing a shot in at Krul but it was a weak effort and Krul saved comfortably. What a chance for Spurs as Rosicky held his head in his hands and a let off for Newcastle who had committed too many players forward.

Action from White Hart Lane as Spurs come forward

There were signs now that the midfield was getting stretched and this could bring a few more openings for either side. With a couple of minutes to go until half time, Tiote had the ball in midfield with Lucas looking for the pass across the middle but Tiote seen Cisse making a great run between the defenders and played a perfect through ball in behind Luisao for Cisse to run on to. Cisse took two strides forward before hitting a sweet effort that screamed goal all the way but Navas leapt to his left and pulled off a superb save, tipping the ball over the bar for the corner. Cisse looked on in disbelief but afforded a small clap for the save. Tadic swung in a dangerous corner that was headed clear by Aogo from almost his own goal line. Danger cleared and you could almost feel a collective sigh of relief from the Spurs fans. A minute later the referee put the whistle to his lips and blew for half time. The players headed for the dressing room with broon and PMW already halfway up the tunnel as they prepared their half time talk. A reasonable first half that started and finished with some excitement but the middle of the half had developed into a battle for midfield supremacy that failed to produce any clear chances. The second half should be better.

HALF TIME:   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR   0   NEWCASTLE UNITED   0

The teams came out for the second half and there were no changes by either side with both managers seemingly happy with the way the first half  had went. The first half had been edged by Spurs but Newcastle were certainly growing into the game the longer the half went on. broon and PMW were in their dugout with their right hand men with the substitutes looking eager to get on the park. Spurs kicked the second half off and we were on our way again. If anything, the game had been not too bad but looked in need of  goal to step up the pace. Jorginho brought it forward for Spurs and side stepped Tiote before trying to play it out to Rosicky but it was too high and the ball went out for a throw. There didn't seem to be any change to the shape of the teams meaning the midfield still looked crowded. Newcastle were getting on the ball now and worryingly for Spurs, Dzagoev was starting to look more dangerous after a quiet first half. On 52 minutes it was Dzagoev who tried to push forward but as he tried to cut outside to the left he was brought down by Jorginho. The kick was out to the left, about 30 yards from the goal but it was a chance for Newcastle to throw one into the box and put the Spurs defence under pressure. Cisse and Okazaki were in there and Song had came up from the back. Tiote was the man to take the kick and he sent a teasing ball high to the far post where Cisse was lurking, marked by Kaboul. Cisse timed his jump perfectly and managed to get above Kaboul and head the ball back across the face of the goal. With the Spurs defence looking motionless Okazaki got in front of Luisao and headed the ball past Navas into the net. Okazaki turned away as his team mates chased after him. Up in the corner between the two stands, the Newcastle fans were going wild with delight as their team went 1-0 ahead of an unbeaten home side. Spurs defenders looked at each other looking for someone to blame but to be honest, they all seemed to have been caught flat footed by Cisse's header back across the goal. PMW was sat in his dug out emotionless, knowing there was still a long way to go. broon talked to his assistant as they worked on plan B, although what the singer was doing in the Spurs dugout nobody knows.

Newcastle players congratulate Okazaki on opening the scoring

With everything settled down again, Spurs got us back underway. A venture forward from Martinez looked promising as he made his way down the right side but Caulker got across to knock it out for a throw. Prince was now out into the technical area barking instructions with broon only a few yards away, also shouting instructions to his players. There was no sign of any change in personnel as play raged on. The Newcastle midfield looked to have moved back, inviting Spurs onto them and maybe now relying on the counter although they still persisted with the five man midfield, using the middle three to protect the three centre backs. Spurs were trying both wings but Newcastle were doing well in snuffing out any danger. With over an hour gone, Spurs were starting to look frustrated at their inability to get in behind the Newcastle defence. When Newcastle had the ball they were holding onto it well with some accurate passing. The Newcastle fans were enjoying the play of their team while the home fans were starting to get on their players backs, a bit rich considering they had not lost at home all season in the league. A lack of goalmouth action suited Newcastle who now looked in full control of the game. On 73 minutes Newcastle's Song came out from the back with the ball and played a nice pass through to Tiote. The man from the Ivory Coast held the ball up as the forwards tried to find space. Giovinco tried to come in with the tackle but Tiote sidestepped him and moved forward with the ball before spotting Okazaki making a run from left to right outside the box. Tiote, in his stride, played the ball through to Okazaki who had a quick look up before sending a shot in that flew over the diving Navas and into the top corner of the goal. It was a cracker of a shot although Navas did look suspect, being too far off his line. The Newcastle players celebrated and this time PMW was out his dug out with hands in the air. That was surely the goal that would win the points and hand Spurs their first home defeat of the season. The Newcastle fans were singing from the stands while the Spurs fans sat silently.

Okazaki's shot flies past Navas to make it 2-0 Newcastle

Spurs kicked off again now needing two goals to save their unbeaten home record but there had been no sign of them scoring one goal never mind two. The Newcastle backroom team had done their homework and had organised their team well to snuff out the Spurs threat. The Spurs top scorer, Dempsey, had hardly had a look at the ball and had been well marshalled. It was Newcastle who continued to look the most threatening and on 83 minutes they came forward again looking for a third goal. Tiote fed Tadic out on the left and the wide man went down the touchline before cutting inside and sending a curling cross towards the far post that was met by Cisse, once again, who tried to beat Navas from a very tight angle but the keeper grasped the ball with both hands. It was a bit ambitious from the striker but when you are 2-0 up and inside the last ten minutes then you are able to try your luck from anywhere. Navas cleared the ball but it went straight to Lucas who immediately came forward supported by Dzagoev. A short pass to Dzagoev was returned as Lucas reached just outside the box. Lucas then laid the ball back into Dzagoev who hit it first time only to see Navas pull off a good save. It was quick reactions from Navas who made the save look a lot easier than it was with his good positioning. Spurs refused to lie down and refused to accept the game was a lost cause as they tried to break forward once more. A run down the wing by Rosicky ended with him being fouled by Caulker. Caulker, in trying to save time, took the free kick himself and swung it to the far post where Dempsey headed it back to the the penalty spot perfectly for Aogo to volley a shot towards goal that brought out an unbelievable save from Krul. The volley was hit as full force and sped towards the top corner but Krul's reaction to turn the ball over was almost a miracle. It was the final nail in Spurs' coffin with Aogo shaking his head at being denied a goal. That was to be Spurs final chance as Newcastle ran the ball into the corners and seen out the clock. The referee brought proceedings to a close with a blow of his whistle and Spurs unbeaten home record had gone. Newcastle players were looking delighted as they made their way to the tunnel with PMW giving them all a pat on the back or head as they went past.

FULL TIME:   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR   0   NEWCASTLE UNITED   2

So a great result for Newcastle to go to a very tough venue and come away with all three points. Overall it was quite a tight game but Newcastle took their chances well and in Tim Krul had a keeper that seems to be in great form. Dzagoev came into his own in the second half and caused Spurs all sorts of problems. For Spurs, they failed to deal with a lively Newcastle side and struggled in the second half when PMW moved the midfield back a couple of yards. They will have better days for sure but they shouldn't be to downhearted about this game.

We managed to get hold of the two managers after the game and here is what they said. First of all Tottenham boss broon.

Broon, a disappointing result tonight. How do you feel about the performance?

It was disappointing, yes but I was actually pleased with the performance to be honest, although I will say that Navas & Dempsey were poor and should have performed better, but that’s football and we certainly cannot blame Dempsey because without him we would not be where we are as he is the top scorer in the league!


You had a couple of good chances early on. Do you think if one of them had went in we would be talking about a victory tonight?

I am not too sure but we realise in football that goals change games so that may have been the case, but the score is what it is and we got beat AND failed to score into the bargain.

You seemed to run out of ideas in the second half. Were you surprised Newcastle played as well as they did?

I was not surprised in the slightest, Newcastle are a great side, have a BRILLIANT manager and have the players to hurt the best of teams and today was their day. Going on the statistics of the game do I think we deserved to lose? The answer has to be no because we were pretty even but Newcastle got the goals and goals win football matches.

A trip to the league leaders on Wednesday. How will you get the team lifted for that one?

We will just have to dust ourselves down and hope that today was just an off day. We are confident that with today’s performance and a few tweaks, we will get a decent result against our closest rivals on Wednesday

Thanks broon and good luck for the rest of the season


Newcastle boss Prince Michael William:

Prince, first of all congratulations on the win, you must be happy with that performance?

Very pleased, I'd love it, LOVE IT, if we could play like that every week.


Okazaki played a big part with the two goals. Was that his best game in a Newcastle shirt?

Okazaki was on fire today.....I mean really, on fire! we had to put him out before kick off, maybe that inspired him, we'll try it again next week. But seriously, He's been amazing for me since I took over last season and showed today what he can do.


After a poor start that's now 16 points from a possible 18. Still very much in the title race?

We've turned it around after a terrible start, honestly we over achieved last season, finishing second. With the added Champions League games this season our squad will be stretched to breaking point and that tight ass mother.... Ashley wont put his hand in his pocket for anything other than scratching his nuts!! so a top 6 finish would be an achievement this time round and more realistic.


There was talk earlier in the season that Mike Ashley wanted a trophy this season or a new manager for next. Any truth in that?

yes................I told him if he wants a trophy then enter 'Britain's Got Talent'......I'd love it, LOVE IT!!

Thanks Prince, good luck with the rest of the season and the medication


So that's it for another Game of the Week. A 2-0 win for Newcastle that moves them up to 12th in the table while Spurs drop to 7th. Newcastle host Reading on Wednesday while Tottenham travel to face leaders Derby. Until the next time its bye bye.


Fannie Licker @ White Hart Lane, North London