As I watched Tottenham’s Peter Crouch stick out that spindly leg of his in tuesday night’s game and divert the ball into his own goal, effectively handing Manchester City Champions League football next season a thought announced itself in my thinkbox; out of the two, who will be the more entertaining in Europe’s premier competition? Of course there’s no means of comparison for City so I’ll have to take their performances this season into account, but can the billionaires of Eastlands really match the feats set by auld ‘Arry this season?
There’s no other way about it, prior to their fully justifiable prolapse against Don Mourhino and his collection of near-deities Real Madrid in the quarter finals, Spurs have been an extraordinarily entertaining side in Europe this year. Their displays at White Hart Lane were those of a team who looked to have been playing Champions League football for years, and despite a stuttering away form they knuckled down and ground out the results that they needed. The culmination of this obviously was the ‘against the odds’, standing up to the bullies, Rocky-style win at the San Siro over AC Milan, the only thing missing from the showpiece was an intense training montage to the tune of ‘Survivor’.
Despite Gennaro Gattuso seemingly intent on violently taking someone home with him that night, and Matheiu Flamini duly giving Vedran Corluka a knew kneecap where his shin belongs, Spurs remained professional and dug out the away goal they needed and ultimately won over the tie. It’s this sense of professionalism that appears to have won the European sides over and allowed Spurs to become an accepted side amongst Europe’s elite. However, much like my own Leeds United side of ten years ago, I only fear now that Spurs will now remain on the outside with not so much as a look in owing to the relentless buying of City, and the sudden resurgence in form in the red half of Merseyside.
Contrast Spurs in the Champions League this season to Man City then; whilst City have been undoubtedly a very good side this season, I think they’ll struggle in a proper European competition. By all intents and purposes with the side that they have, City should have strolled to the Europa League final in Dublin this year however there’s just something not a-foot within Mancini’s men. Numerous theories have been raised as to why they are such a hit and miss team; fallouts in the dressing room, an overly defence-minded approach to playing, but I think it boils down to the simple fact that they’re a team of naught but incredible individuals.
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Easy to write negative pieces on City isn’t it??
You call DeJong which I presume is based on the world cup final and Newcastle game.
Take it you don’t watch a lot of the blues otherwise as DeJong along with Kompany has been IMMENSE this season.
Maybe Spurs could do with those to and would stop conceding goals.
They do play good football but win nothing and are probably going to finish 6th.
Keep up the negative articles though it’ll make things all the sweeter when we win something!
As usual, arrogant patronising prats from Spurs trying to justify their crap team’s performances in the league by knocking everyone else. Last year there was one point between City and Spurs. It was that close. But the City fans held their hands up, myself included, congratulated Spurs for their deserved fourth place and wished them well. Wouldn’t it be nice if anybody from Spurs could do the same but nope, from the manager downwards we’ve got why City will fail, Spurs are as good as City etc etc etc despite the fact that they are nine points off the pace and that may well be 12 or 14 by the end of the season and they got hammered by an average Madrid team. I could go through every point you make one by one but the over riding two that stand out are that City aren’t as good as Spurs which is arrant nonsense and that City are a bunch of individuals which means a) you know sod all about football b) you know sod all about City and c) until you learn you should keep those thoughts that occur to you occasionally in that tiny little head of yours because reading snide comments from Spurs fans about City when they should be questionning the squad, the tactics and the management of their own club is doing my head in. A little bit of magnanimity would be nice but not since I left Wembley stadium about to congratulate any reasonable Spurs fans who walked past only to have dozens of them running up in my face and lauding it like never before have I ever heard a Spurs fan do anything other than big their own side up and trash everyone else. It’s pathetic. Will they qualify for Europe next season at all, cos they won’t this season. No chance. Modric will go, Krancar wants out, Van der Vaart is CL quality, not mid table mediochrity. The keeper is a nightmare. The defence is always injured. Lennon is inconsistent. Bale is a flash in the pan. Crouch is past his best. Defoe is dis-interested. Keane is off. So is Pavlyuchenko. Corluka too slow – that’s why we sold him to you. YOu can have SWP if you like too! How pathetic to have a go at Tevez’s face. What a dirty cheap typical Spurs trick. Tell you what, pop round here, we’ll burn half your face off with parafine and a match, get what’s left repaired and then see how you like it when people ridicule you for your looks. Spurs are a busted flush and just like at Portsmouth, having spent all the money, as soon as Spurs start to sell to balance the books, Harry will be out of that door faster than you can say second hand car salesman. I predict that Spurs will be mid table next season and struggling in a relegation battle season after! City, meanwhile will still be at the top table. Something flash in the pan Spurs were never going to achieve with flash Harry in charge.
Errr …it was written by a Leeds fan you numpty
A Leeds fan makes it even worse!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s got sod all to do with him! Should concentrate on Leeds and sheep worrying.
Re read the article my friend and you will see the author states he is a Leeds United fan. As to what you have put perhaps you need some Valium?…”As Spurs balance the books?”…Dont you hear factual reports of Spurs and Arsenal(yes i know!) being the best run clubs in terms of balancing the books?…I wish City all the best in the CL next year but when you say flash in the pan after only 1 year it makes me chucle..Lets talk in 5 years when the financial fair play rules are in force!!
This is just an anti City story how pathetic can you get. City have scored more goals than Spurs and conceded fewer. Spurs scored 1 goal in the knockout stages of the champions league how is this entertaining and slag Mario Balotelli when he has scored on average almost 1 goal in every 2 games which is fantastic for a twenty year old in a new country playing new style of football. To say they should have walked to the Europa league final just sums up how poor this story is! Were Liverpool not in the same competition they never walked it. Maybe you stop playing a football manager game and get a grip on reality….idiot
You haven’t watched much Manchester City this year, have you? Only read the tabloid headlines it seems.
Take a closer look at de Jong, for instance – midfield enforcer with real flair who hardly ever mis-places a pass. He is one of the rocks that the team is built around, along with Kompany, Hart, Richards Silver and Barry. Spuds are a busted flush who’s lack of investment has left them trailing – it was THEY who didn’t have a squad to compete on all fronts this season.
If you City fans read the article properly you would see the author is actually a Leeds fan. “However, much like my own Leeds United side of ten years ago, I only fear now that Spurs will now remain on the outside with not so much as a look in owing to the relentless buying of City, and the sudden resurgence in form in the red half of Merseyside.”
To all you Man Citeh fans. You were the 2nd best team to Spurs again this season Home and Away. The possesion stats show that and cannot be argued. You were lucky to walk away from WHL with 1 point and not be hammered 6-0 in August of last year. We handed you 4th place this season because of our disappointing form. If we took 6 from Blackpool and 3 from Wolves which we should have done it would be a different picture. Our performances have been week since Xmas but we will be back and I wish you all the luck in the CL next season and enjoy the competition as much as we have.
“The possession stats show that!” Show what? That Spurs can create chance after chance for 45 minutes and fail to score? “2nd best to Spurs” – City 65 points, Spurs 56. Some people may think you are really stupid and they would be right but we would all love to know why you think Spurs, nine points behind, are better than City! “We handed you……” Rubbish. You didn’t hand us anything. You’ve played crap for fourteen games and got one win in that time. We could say we would have been way ahead of Spurs if we hadn’t drawn all those games we should have won when Hughes was in charge but we didn’t. Spurs were the better side last season over 38 games. We are the better side this season. I may have called the team he supported wrong with Aaron, but you’re very presence and comments prove everything right that I said about Spurs fans. “If we took 6 from Blackpool and 3 from Wolves….” Fine. If we hadn’t had two dodgy refs home and away against Everton we’d be almost level with Chelsea. But we didn’t and we lost. Get over it. Ifs buts and maybes don’t win a damn thing and neither does possession. You’re attack couldn’t score this season like they did last. Your midfield faded badly after Xmas and your defence has conceded almost as many goals away from home as we have home and away! Last year, despite your good attack, the thing that got you over the line was your defence. This season it has cost you big style. You are not sixth for nothing. Move on!
Just because the author SAYS he is a Leeds fan, it doesn’t necessarily follow that he IS a Leeds fan…we have had our fill of wind up merchants this season, mainly from the dark side at Owe Trafford (Salford by the way) and hardly a mention of Leeds (a team he purports to support) but knows a great deal gushingly about Spuds!!
Delboy I can wholeheartedly assure you that I AM in fact a Leeds fan and have been since my paps started taking me to games when I was knee high to a grasshopper.
What ever way you look at it, Spurs have been in the Champions League and did themselves proud. We struggled in the league this year, because we couldn’t get a settled defence and because our ‘strikers’ failed to achieve respectable goal scoring figures. We entertained, with our style of play. Goals are not the only enterainment. Against the top six this season, in the league City have been an anti football tactical side, lacking in any excitement what so ever. City as yet have never made the Champions league, they still have to qualify and us Spurs fans know how tricky that can be. City have assembled a cast of heroes at great expense, but they do not play attractive football. I blame the manager. If.. IF, Spurs buy the right two strikers, CB and maybe GK this summer we will be back and better than ever. Good luck in the CLQ, because it nice that the ‘Big 4’ have been a ‘Big 3’ for two years running now.
City scored more goals at home than Spurs
City scored more goals away from home than Spurs
City conceded less goals at home than Spurs
City conceded less goals away from home than Spurs
City won more games at home than Spurs
City won more games away from home than Spurs
Is that why you are above us? Could be…. Its rare that a fan of their club would be so bitter and defensive when qualifying for the CLQ for the first time.. In the two matches between us this season, a spurs player was the only person to score. Home or away. In the Champions League this season City didn’t geta point or score home or away. Spurs won more games than City Home and away in the CHampions league this season. I think, I think that was because we finished higher than City last year and Qualified for the CL proper this season… You can prove anything with facts..
Just proving City were and are better than Spurs.
I’m not in the slightest bit bitter just sick and tired of the same old rubbish coming from Spurs fans. City are better than Spurs (in every way) the league doesn’t lie. Here is a fact for you City will be in Europe next season!……… Will Spurs????
City Were not and have never been better than Spurs. This (Current/Present Tense) season they have got better results, but it was down to our failings not Man City’s improvements. You scored more goals last season. We on the other hand have scored less, conceded more but we have not lost as many, but with twice as many draws. If we had improved our goal scoring things would be different. Oh and you forgot to mention you have lost more games than us at home this year… What is simple is your club and team were never as good , let alone better than spurs. A ridiculous cash injection meant you could attract the mercenaries for ridiculous wages and build a team of talent. We have spent a net £71 million in the last four years.. You guys?? £380 million.. And you still can’t get one of your players to score against us?
1. You dont get points for defeats.
2. I meant this season we were better and currently we are better
3. Mercenaries? Does your club not pay its players?
4. I can understand why i boast about more wins (home and away) and more goals (home and away) but why on earth are you boasting about games lost haha how bitter are you…. clown.
4. COULDA, SHOULDA, WOULDA! but Spurs never did they? City beat Spurs to 4th and you will be lucky to be even playing in the Europa league.
Mark when did possesion win you anything you plank. Could shoulda woulda….. Also how many saves did Hart have to make against Spurs on Tuesday last i checked it was one and how many did Cudicini have to make??? Think before you comment. (another) Idiot.
For Sale Gents Bike £20…..Oh yeah, Citeh….where were you when you were *****
Spurs fan here… first of all congrats to Man C, you deserved 4th this season. FACT. I do agree with some of the authors points though. City need to gel as a team, this is true. Its happened in stages this season but i think it will probably come sooner rather than later (Which is worrying for any fa of any other club). Finally to all the Man C fans who commented, slating Spurs…. hush your gums i mean Modric will go? eeerrr no he wont, he has stated many mny times before that he is settled here loves the club, and feel we can win major trophies with this team (this is not 100% nailed on he will stay, but there is nothing to suggest he will leave) 2. “Spurs are a busted flush and just like at Portsmouth, having spent all the money, as soon as Spurs start to sell to balance the books” Im not to sure if you realise how much City have spent and whos in the worse position with this rule….. City have to win the Prem and CL in the next 2 years to even think about balancing the books not to mention sell half the squad. Ok so rant over good luck to City in the CL next season, im glad its you and not Liverpool 🙂
your owner wont be able to use his wealth, so how are you going to pay all them huge wages, for players , who simply would never have gone to city, you have spent nearly 1 billion pounds, to get where you are, and you wont be able to sustain it, enjoy it while you can, youre another portsmouth waiting to happen, which is a pity, because before you went chelsea loadsa money atittude, you were an alright club, and you had a good young team coming through, now you have mercenaries, who will jump ship, when your club really struggles, is it really worth it, yes, you love it now, but will you, in a couple of years, example, liverpool nearly went bankrupt, through spending without care, and you are not as big as them, and the guy above is right, you havent qualified yet, and it isnt a formality, as young boys, showed spurs.
Mercenaries?? So the players at your club play for free??
Another Portsmouth?? Going bankrupt?? I don’t know if you know but last i heard the owners of Man City were the richest in football and have just purchased and invested £1 BILLION in the surrounding area of Eastlands so i dont think there going anywhere for a while.
You are right about one thing i suppose we did have a good young team…now we have a great young team :).
I think they have a plan for the financial fair play rules coming in it would be pretty stupid (of you) to think they never.
Hmmmmmmmm City Vs Bayern in the qualies could be interesting tie if both clubs dont improve thier league standings, and remember there are no seedings for this tie, its pot luck.
this is what man city and chelsea fans must realise, you are not rich, your club is not rich, but your owners are, but when they cant bail you out, and its up to your club to sustain you, you wont be able to do it, and if they leave, youre near enough bankrupt, and these two clubs, will be rueing the day the premier league, had no rules in place , to keep football teams, safe from themselves and their greed.
listen to this interview from uefa spokesman, and listen to his words, on what he calls rich owners, and what they feel for our clubs.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2011/05/11/2478867/how-will-10-of-europes-biggest-clubs-cope-with-financial
we dont pay players 200.000 a wk, these are mercenaries, we do have some players, who could be mercenaries, the difference is the players came to us, for the club and the money, whereas players are going to city for the money only, you suddenly sprung onto their radars, because of one thing, you can pay them ludicrous money, and they are mercenaries.
if you have to lower your wages to our structure, which is about 60.000 a wk, your star players will leave, and you know it.
listen to the interview, it explains the new rules, and that clubs have been banned already for failing uefa rules, this isnt me talking, its the uefa representative.
anyway good luck in f a cup against the anti football pub team.
I think City an win it by using the tactics they used against Spurs – bore the opposition to death and get one of them to score your goal for you. Dull as ditchwater!
Something to think (worry) about for all you Man City fans out there……you are not in the Champions League YET!!!! You’ve got a qualifying round first, lets hope it doen’t go pear shaped for you there, because your ever growing egos (presumably to match the over paid players you have purchased) will take one hell of a hammering!!!
Plus, if your owners can’t find a loop hole to still allow them to plough there billions in to the club when the financial fair play rules take full affect, this trip won’t last too much longer anyway.
COYS!!!
1 spurs are nearly there, with balanced books.
2 man city are nearlyish there, with expenses, you cant sustain, it doesnt take rocket science, to realise, your wage outgoing expenses is about 150.000.000 a year, possibly more, players , coaches, manager, execs, ground staff, etc , etc, your club just will not be able to afford it, your clubs income will not cover it, nowhere near, wake up guys, this is fantasy football, and the only place it should be in, is in the papers, or online competitions, not in a real football club.