Actually it's VERY full! :))

Apologies to anyone I might have had wobbling with my nervous rants of the last few days....I truly believed we were going to lose that game.....wanted to close my eyes at the end of the first half, I know some will disagree with me but I thought we were lucky to not be at least 3 down at half time.....1 substitution later and a diffferent team are playing!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Answers

Heyyy Alan Shearer.

OH AH

I wanna kno-o-o-o-oh

When you score that goal

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Hoddle also thought we sould have been 3 down.

Glad to see that "There is NO Gav jinx"

Don't forget that the managers "inspired" substitution was only possible because he f*cked up the original team selection and it was also what everyone on hear was shouting for.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Might as well do a little match report eh :))

Meant to leave work at 5.15 to get to the appointed meeting pub in Liverpool street for 5.30....instead I was off at 4.45, excitement and nerves getting the better of me...I needed a pint! the lads (Min, Terry and Pete M) all turned up in fine time and we had another quick one before we left (very quick if you're pete! damn that lad can drink!)...

Anyway...it's about time something goes wrong isn't it? step forward Gav and his clever ideas for getting to the ground quickly! now anyone who has been unfortunate enough to have ever listened to my suggestions on getting to/from a ground will know what's going to happen next.....Train leaving in 9 minutes from liverpool street up to Northumberland Pk (where we're due to pick up Mins ticket)...nope that's not good enough for me, surely it'll be quicker getting a taxi? 15 mins later and we haven't actually gotten past the pub we've just left.....50 mins later and we still haven't gotten there! this absolutely disrupted our ticket collection and drinking plans and I apologise totally to those involved...I also promise i'll never offer suggestions again :)))

Right...tickets collected in different pubs and it's off to the ground...the players run out and it seems all my fears are confirmed, no Dyer...Robert on the bench and we're playing 3-5-2 again....we're gonna get turned over.....match starts fairly slowly, we look to be containing them down the wings, Solano is TACKLING like a god....*rub eyes*...they however are passing the ball around very well, some slick moves and lots of good movement....it's starting to look ominous....Corner to Spurs, Sheringham is fouling O'Brien? at the near post really badly (can't believe it's not called!)....ball isn't cleared successfully and bounces around in the area before falling to Iversen who puts it away very well indeed....

Spurs start to take an upper hand in the game....they're turning it on a bit and it's getting uncomfortable for us...they could have another 3 in the following 20 mins, somehow it doesn't happen and for the last 10 mins of the first half it starts to even out again, we're getting back into and starting to believe that if we can keep it down to 1-0 then we might get back into it....half time 1-0...

Second half Robert on for Elliot and we're playing 4-4-2 again....looks like all the players have been offered million pound bonuses cos they're playing out of their skins! too many good performances to mention...Distin was my pick of them, McClen who'd looked very out of his depth in the first half was starting to look more sure of himself in the 2nd half...Robert, Bellamy, Solano and Shearer were also excelling....

Bellamy chases a lovely through ball from McClen? through the centre.....2 against 1 with Robert free and unmarked in the centre, all it needs is a simple pass and it's a certain equaliser...instead Bellamy shoots and misses by miles! Robert and the crowd are going nuts.....Bellamy seems to realise he fucked up and apologises to Robert...

We're piling the pressure on now....cross in from Robert and Acuna heads in at the far post...1-1, gone is the earlier depression and acceptance of certain defeat...we're going to win this!

They can't live with us now....they've got nothing in midfield or up front that can damage us...the back line is mopping everything up nicely.....Bellamy chases a lost cause, wins it and crosses in for Shearer...2-1....get in! up go the stadium shattering Alan Shearer songs...we're having a party now :))

Bellamy's goal is almost incidental, it finishes the game, tottenham give up and there is no way back for them.....

Leave the ground, meet back up with Terry, Pete and Min and head off to find a pub that's open....we find one with uncomfortable ease! :)) a few quick pints and a phone call to Screach and then it's a mission to get home....with Gav trying not to offer any suggestions on how best to do it! :))

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Duplicate posting, original on wrong thread, so apologies to anyone who's reading this for the second time. Shakespeare I ain't! Right, here's my sixpeneth. First half, so-so, Spurs probably worth their one goal lead, but only just. Still thought we would score second half, but I'm a half full bloke, at least where the Toon are concerned. Solano playing a blinder, attacking and defending. McClen looked nervous, Distin was outstanding, Bellamy was Bellamy, and unfortunately Elliot was Elliot. He was okay for the first 10 minutes, then the real Elliot took over. I'll keep on saying it until he goes the way of Barton - he was total pants. Please make this his last game. Second half was a different game. I told Pete Miller that we should take Elliot off, have Distin drop back into that spot, and bring on Robert. Fortunately both YBR and I have ESP, and he picked up my tactical masterstroke through the ether. The rest you know. Robert, brilliant. Distin, outstanding. Solano, brilliant and outstanding. McClen, suddenly started to enjoy himself and relaxed. Bellamy still Bellamy, but this time with Robert running with him. Shearer looked majestic, and enjoyed his goal almost as much as we did. When Acuna scored there was only gonna be one winner. To be honest we could have scored 4 or 5. Spurs terraces were half empty with 10 minutes to go, they knew they were stuffed. Enjoyed the 'are you Arsenal in disguise' chorus nearly as much as 'we always win in London'. Toon Army were awesome, just like at the Arse. Never stopped all night, especially when we went one down. Acknowledged by Al, who went mental when he scored. Ditto young Craig. Even the Spurs fans in the pubs (yup, Pete Miller, Min, Gav and I thought we should have one or two to celebrate - did you get home okay lads?) admitted we were superb second half, and all wanted to see us win the Premiership. So we're back to being everyone's second favourite team. It only took 5 years. Oh, and the salt beef bagels up there are great/cheap, so it's not so much of a sh.thole as we thought on the way up there. Glad I'm typing this, I've lost my voice. Three of us in the office here. one Manure fan (from Devon!), and yes, you guessed it, one Spurs fan who was actually there last night. He's not in yet, but I can wait. I've got all day. And no, I won't be magnanimous in defeat. Cockney wa..ers. My son taped the footy for me, so I've got that to look forward to tonight. But he gave me a real bad time this morning for not taking him last night. He said something about preferring to go with my mates rather than him. Not true, but it is a bit difficult to sneak a 14 year old in and out of Cockney pubs, even if he is considerably taller than me. I'm off for a gloat now. Bye. TOON TOON.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

I'll keep it brief after Gav and Terry rambling on for 20 minutes a piece.

Distin man of the match, McClen and Bellers not far behind. Bliddy awful first half bliddy brilliant in the second.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Thanks for the reports guys.

Here's my report after watching our standard 45 seconds on the Man Utd Show on ITV last night (they weren't even playing last night, so they had to show the highlights from their previous game!!) - Craig Bellamy, made two, scored one - outstanding!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Terry, what are you talking about? You told me in the first half that Bobby should take Bellamy off, play Eliott upfront and Barton left back :-)))

Hope your son doesn't give you too much of a hard time over the ticket. I'm feeling guilty now..

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Thank you Gav and Terry: wonderful stuff.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

You're probably too knackered to type Dave. Saw you jumping around like a nutter last night. Or maybe me and Gav are from the Bellamy school of gobby. My man of the match was Solano, who worked his balls off, won tackles and then collected the ball before ditributing it serenely, with Distin very very close behind. Think Gav went for Distin over Nobby. And Robert was class, never had one sulk/walkabout, even when young Craig decided to shoot at the corner flag instead of pass to him for a certain goal. Still, mustn't grumble.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

I won't add a match report as it's all been said with DISTINction. Distin oozed class, Hughes played the unglamourous role perfectly to make sure DSS lost his bet, Bellamy must be hated by defenders - if not goalkeepers (if you get the drift), Shearer mastered the art of energy conservation but had a few gems (including a fantastic lay off for Bellamy) and I wish I wouldn't keep accepting nips of Terry's flask of Southern Comfort during the game - I hate the stuff :-))

I'm at a conference the rest of today, so won't be on here again. Happy wallowing everyone.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

I had a quid on Poyet first scorer and a quid on Poyet last scorer then felt guilty and put a quid on Bernard first scorer too.

Anyone need any gambling tips?

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Hahaha nice one! :)) I'll remember to ask for your predictions before Bolton ;))

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Thanks for the match reports, all! Sounds the perfect night to put last year's WHL misery out of the mind once and for all. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

he game was not on USA tv, so I had resigned myself to listen on the Internet -- if metro behaved. At 12.30 I received a panic call from the pro shop asking if I would make up a foursome on guest day -- otherwise the others wouldnt be able to play. I thought for two seconds, and decided that as the Toon was not going to win I would play. Surprisingly I shot a good round. When I returned, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the result. Have read the accounts, with so many players nominated as MOM, it is obvious that every one of them deserves the accolade.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Tough duty, floridian - but hey, someone has to do it!

Hope it wasn't too hot on the course! I was walking up on the NE coast today. The sun was shining weakly when I started: when I finished the rain was horizontal and it was bloody freezing. Feel great now; really enjoyed it!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Just to say a big THANKS to Gav - for the ticket, taxi, blowjob and generally being a top lad. ;-) good to see you again mate.

and also 'Big Up!' to Windy [he really DOES drink like a fish!] and Mysterious - who, had I not met him before, i would've sworn was on something other than the Budweiser he was drinking. Like a hyperactive schoolkid on Cola.

Cheers lads!

min

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

Clarky. Weather report from Florida. Sunny, high 84, but expected to drop to the high 70s during the next few days. Soory I can't share it with you. But you not I will be at the match on Saturday. Cheers.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2002

"Big Up yourself" min

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Not sure I like the reputation I'm getting here! If I recollect I only had 5 pints at most over the whole evening from 5:30 onwards - quick one at the Hamilton Hall. Another swift one at the ground, and maybe 3 at the pub afterwards. That's not even William Hague standards ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

A very swift one at the ground, if I recall Pete. I went for a pee and when I got back you'd finished your pint. Yeah, and before you say it, it was a very quick pee. Seem to remember you looked at your glass and said 'don't suppose there'll be time for another one then?'. With hindsight, given that there was about three minutes left 'til kick-off, I should have bought you two more. And for a bloke who doesn't like Southern Comfort you fair demolished the contents of my hip flask. Remind me not to put something in there that you do like, else I won't even get a smell of it. Reputation richly deserved, and probably hard earned :-)

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Probably lucky we spent 50 mins in a taxi then, so I at least maintained some semblance of sobriety. ;-P

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

So you're kinda saying that my taxi decision was a good thing then? ;)) hohohoho.....

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Did the taxi's boot shut?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

Sounds like Gav didn't get his usual 4-pack for the taxi ride then

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002

No I didn't Geordie and I wasn't happy about it....I was going to jump out of the taxi and into an off license at one point! :))

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2002