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Thank the good Lord for Spurs. They always try to play decent football when they come to OT. And they always lose.
It’s 21 years since they won at OT. I was there. They were at Old Trafford in 1992, the last game before the old Stretford End was pulled down, and of course they lost. It was Gary Lineker’s last game in England and a strange thing happened when he scored, as he inevitably would. The crowd applauded him. But United fans know their football, and they know their footballers.
But Spurs expect to lose when they come to OT. I reckon they expected to lose last season even when they were 2-0 up. They certainly expected to lose yesterday, despite their recent heroics. On paper United were there for the taking. Spurs had just beaten the team that had just beaten us. The two best English footballers were injured. But they were beaten before they walked on the field. You could see it in the half-hearted challenges, in giving the ball away without being screamed at by a teammate, in not even having the heart to complain about either of the penalties.
(And before any outraged Spurs fans put out a contract on me, yes I do know that they were the last team to win a league game at OT after United went 2-0 up. 4th September 1976).
It’s a psychological old game is football.
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Posted by Disgusted Utd fan on 04/25/2010
How about we try beating Spurs without needing the help of referees
It is no wonder Tottenham don't bother trying because when they do they get screwed by the ref anyway
I apologise to all Spurs fans for the disgraceful decisions of referees throughout the years
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Posted by The Grimace on 04/25/2010
But the foul on Evra was the most comprehensive penalty in the history of football. And Evra thought he was going to score. No wonder he puked up.
The one four or five years ago where the ball was five yards over the line was, ahem, a slight refereeing mistake, I grant you.
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Posted by 31millionlol on 04/25/2010
You're right to the extent that we know we won't win because United will have a 12th man on the pitch in the form of the referee (which lets face it counts for at least 3). While I don't disagree with the result yesterday (last penalty aside) the number of times we've been robbed at Old Trafford is frankly farcical. 04-05 there was 'that' goal by Pedro Mendes, 07-08 Berbatov was fouled by Vidic in EXACTLY the same manner as Nani was fouled by Palacios and surprise surprise no penalty, followed by a BRILLIANT save by Wes Brown's outstretched palm which any goalkeeper would have been proud of. And of course last season: Tottenham in full domination of the game and then Howard Webb decides it'd upset the status quo if Spurs got a deserved victory and so gave United the game. God don't you love impartial referees!
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Posted by paul on 04/25/2010
the trouble with spurs when they meet top sides away they always fold they do not have the drive and guts to complete this is why they will never become a top four side Redknapp says this and that about us but we will never have the players to go that one step further
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Posted by Sean on 04/25/2010
Thankyou 'Disgusted United Fan'. 'Mendes-from-the-halfway-line-Gate' was disgraceful, and the decision last season to award a penalty against Gomes not only totally altered the flow of play, but also psychologically dameged the Spurs players...like their was a feeling that they wouldn't be allowed to beat United. And almost every game in the lat decade I have been screaming that Paul Scholes had been 'excused' for about five obvious yellow card tackles per game.
I would have to add that add WHL this season Scholes WAS sent off and theere were no dodgy reffing decisions, and you won fair and square; and yesterday, the first pen. was a nailed on, and the second, well if it had been a challenge on a Spurs player I woulda felt hard done by not to get the decision.
I would have to
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Posted by chirpy on 04/25/2010
As your official feeder club, what else can Spurs expect?
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Posted by Pete on 04/25/2010
Quote from the Telegraph today: "They are the essence of Englishness. They play not a long-ball style, but a direct one, in a traditional 4-4-2, one striker physical, one quick. Their central midfield sits deep and flat, Wilson Palacios seeking and destroying, Tom Huddlestone conducting and directing. Around them, Luka Modric and David Bentley roam from their wide positions to allow their full-backs to raid forward.
And they are good at what they do, despite the result at Old Trafford. Winning by two goals flattered United, while Spurs found their system disrupted by the absence of a natural right full-back and the Bentley's lack of pace. It was no surprise that once Aaron Lennon was introduced, the visitors looked infinitely more dangerous." Why is it that the British Media always want to knock this team down. Surely it would be good for ENGLISH FOOTBALL that spurs get a champions league position rather than city or Liverpool! Yet this team just gets slated CONSTANTLY! WHY?
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Posted by SamSpurs on 04/25/2010
The reason they did not complain about the two penalies is becasue they were blatent, whats the point in arguing with the ref when it's obvious, it makes to look stupid like when O'Shea clashed with Lennon then ran up the pitch to the linesman to moan.
I admit Spurs never do look up to it when playing against Man U and this time was no different, Harry didnt help by changing the team around (Ekotto at RB). But last year when Tottenham were 2 0 up Man U got another Dodgy penalty then got the upper hand and a few years back the goal that never was so dodgy referee's have never done us any favours.
No complaints about the game yesterday the better team won, and some poor defending led to all three of Man U's goals.
Always next year haha!
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Posted by James147 on 04/25/2010
I'm a Spurs and I agree. Though we played pretty well we definitely lacked bite. There was none of the passion and belief that we showed against Arsenal and Chelsea.
I was really disappointed to see Harry change the team that beat the two teams mentioned... Bale was ineffective at left back and Palacios has been over-praised in my opinion this season. He had a stinker at Old Trafford.
Huddlestone and Modric in the middle with Bale left-midfield was working wonders. Was disappointed to see Harry shift the team around to accommodate a below-par Palacios.
I believe Man Utd are now favourites and I hope they go on to win it. I think Chelsea are stuttering... so no doubt by the time everyone reads this they will have put 5 past Stoke :-)
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Posted by the 12th man on 04/25/2010
how about 0ne-yard-over-the-line-and-no-goal?
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Posted by Yiddo on 04/25/2010
Yes- it's easy to be cynical when Spurs have to play against 12 men at Old Trafford. What can you do?
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Posted by Yid on 04/25/2010
@ Disgusted Utd fan - thanks, at least yur honest :)
@ Mark Payne - ******* so yu know what yur on about! And of course you 'didnt see' when Utd lost to the Mendes goal. It hasnt been anything close to 21 years
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Posted by Cautiously Optimistic Spurs Fan on 04/25/2010
Can't complain really, would have taken 4 points from the 3 games. And it was less Spurs expecting to lose, more Redknapp's bizarre team selection. Assou-Ekotto at right back and Bale at left back. As soon as we put Bale in the midfield we gained a brief but crucial foothold in the game. Maybe it's just Redknapp that expects to lose; but certainly no manager goes out of their way to reassure their team that they will lose.
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Posted by Chuma on 04/25/2010
Lol. More like disgusted chelsea fan! Good analysis Mark
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Posted by dan on 04/25/2010
This year was fair and square. thank the lord howard the cheat webb aint reffed us this week
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Posted by mike buckley on 04/25/2010
Even when Spurs do win they lose. Remember the Pedro Mendes strike in 2005 that Roy Caroll clawed back from a yard over the line?
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Posted by big stu on 04/25/2010
It so happens both incidents that lead to penalties were genuine even if it hurts to say it.
We had a great opportunity to beat a Man U. team on its way down and we blew it!!
We will be a lot tougher next year and with a few additions to our squad we will be in the top three. We are on our way UP!!
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Posted by Nash on 04/25/2010
Although it's hard to say those challenges were remotely legal.
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Posted by Nash on 04/25/2010
Although it's hard to say those challenges were remotely legal.
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Posted by Tim on 04/25/2010
We should stop even trying to beat Man Utd at Old Trafford. When you knock the ball three foot over the line and the ref still doesn't see it, how can it ever be possible to win there?????
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Posted by Charbel on 04/25/2010
To: Disgusted Utd Fan
I guess you should apologize to yourself first cos that is not a real fan attitude! Referee's mistakes happen in every game, Chelsea are ahead cos of an offside goal from Drogba... A red card for rafael was too harsh for 2 fouls committed in a big game like this but still we live with it and move on!
You wana apologize, feel free, but may i suggest you become a spurs fan! By no means of disrespect to the Spurs, they deserve to win the league one day cos with the resources they have vs the results, they are doing great!
Again, United's history is built on Glory made by hard working players on the field not refereeing mistakes. Refereeing mistakes don't make u win zillion of titles...
I rest my case and Glory Glory Man Utd!
For the record, i will be a liverpool fan for 2 hours next Sunday! :-)
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Posted by scholsey forever on 04/25/2010
even though we beat spurs all the time at old trafford and i think its a physcological thing more than quality, they are one of few teams who i feel least confident and nervous when playing as they are that good. I would happily admit to spurs being my guilty pleasure as they are a great footballing team and they have never had a team full of players you hate. e.g comparing king and dawson to a terry or carragher, or a bellamy to modric.
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Posted by Angus Bennett on 04/25/2010
I can't stand arrogance, neither can I stand freelance journalists ( in other words unemployed!!) getting their facts wrong..
Spurs drew 1:1 in 05/06 and also 0:0 in 04/05 which for me doesn't quite mean Spurs always lose. Pedro Mendez might have a point (or 3 as it should have been) to make as well ...how far over the line does the ball have to be..could only happen at Old Trafford
I bet you've got that annoying voice like that other annoying arrogant manc ..you know him Terry Christian
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Posted by anthony david gerber on 04/25/2010
Spurs should have won a few years ago with an absolute fantastic goal of Mendes.... but that was denied by the referee! He was the only one who didn't see it!!!
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Posted by Brian on 04/25/2010
You are both right. Spurs were a beaten side before the game started. They know that every time they hold Utd goalless for a large part of the game they end up conceding a penalty. Usually a combination of an engineered situation and/or a bad ref decision.
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Posted by Y!D on 04/26/2010
Yeah well we won there 5 years ago, dont you remember 1-0, think it was Pedro Mendes who scored!
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Posted by Bob Johan on 04/26/2010
Well, that's football. With or without the aid of the referees doesn't matter. It's part of the game, how many penalties that MU won throughout the years regardless whether valid foul or not, how many off sides traps and fouls that the referees didn't got it right whenever MU versus other teams which leads to the opponents victories. Well again, it's part of the game. No need to apologize. I'm very sure as football fans regardless what team we are giving our support to but acknowledge the art and game of football, we should know better to accept the outcome during 90mins + stoppage time.
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Posted by simo on 04/26/2010
I tend to agree with you. The spurs-not-winning-away-to-big-four in 66(?) matches is not about talent, its psychological. which is odd - i mean there are none of the same starting players in the current match as in the first of that 66 - meaning it outlasts the personnel. Its a fact of spurs football club that they cannot break this psychological hold. United i think is the worst/most enduring example of this.
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Posted by Wayne on 04/26/2010
Bad tackles in the box thats what did it for Spurs nothing else.
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Posted by Raizzen on 04/26/2010
But its not like the penalties rewarded were blatant misjudgments by the ref. And they equalized on the first. Nani's 2nd, a superb chip over Gomez was enough to win the game.
But Nani had to go and do his thing again - while Spurs players, still in awe of what he had done just a while ago, needlessly shove him off. Needlessly. (he was alone) Its a clear call. Both penalties were clear calls.
We were were bound to score anyway, Spurs weren't themselves. And I have loads of respect towards the Spurs team.
Quit smoking whatever you were puffing on you phony Disgusting Utd fan.
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Posted by steven79w on 04/26/2010
@disgusted utd fan: the help of the referees??? I think it is clear penalty and everbody else in the world would think the same.
Utd should sign james milner i think he is the future paul scholes and he is very versatile, and we need to sign a striker and pure left winger with good left foot.
any idea who will be good for man utd?
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Posted by Shimo on 04/26/2010
lmao - for once there wasn't a doubt about the penalties, not a one, not a single Spurs player protested either - not even from the ABU commentators like Andy Gray . Good try there whoever you are ... definitely not a Unite supporter ;)
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Posted by red devil 4 lyf on 04/26/2010
NANI!!!!!MAN UNITED ALL THE WAY!!!
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Posted by essex yiddo on 04/26/2010
Thank you disgusted united fan, on saturday we wernt gd enuff expecially certain people like palacios. But over the yrs amount of times we have been robbed at OT is unbelieveable, 2 nil up last yr and you didnt look like scoring, suddenly u get a penalty that shouldnt of been given and the game changes and players get nervous. 2nd was pedro mendes goal over the line clearly and in extra time so you would of had no chance of an equaliser. So mark payne, stop bull****ing on this blog please!!!
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Posted by Enyap on 04/26/2010
Massive win yesterday, Spurs are the form team and Bale is the form player of the movement, so to nudge ahead, then get dragged back by King (what a player that lad is by the way) heading his equaliser, but still winning made us all beleive the title is still on. We'll find out next Sunday, and I for one, cannot wait!
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Posted by Rishi Dayal on 04/26/2010
@Disgusted Utd fan,
Disgraceful decisions of referees? As far as I remember, the only disgraceful decision was that penalty decision last year in the 5-2 win which sparked the United comeback. These two decisions were incredibly obvious penalties.
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Posted by Abbey on 04/27/2010
Whatever anyones says concerning the penalties,they were clear spot kicks. it unfortunate that spurs had to give two away in a crucial match.Hope Liverpool will do Man U the favour of winning the league
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Posted by Urmstonian on 04/27/2010
Let's just hope that Spurs beat City with a dodgy penalty. Then we can all celebrate together.
Seriously, though, it's impossible being a referee isn't it? How many times do you see something on TV and then when it's played back 50 times in slo-mo it looks quite different. I reckon Howard Webb is an honest referee. He made a mistake with the penalty at OT last year, but at least he was big enough to admit it.
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Posted by Samuel Carl Arthur on 04/28/2010
i don't know why u spurs fan tolking about, r u tell the whole world dat, dat two penalties is not a penalties oh pls come again.
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Posted by Eddie G. on 05/01/2010
Well Mark,
Looks like fans at the Kop will be going through a major dilemma. They know that a loss at Anfield is the best way they can ensure that Man Utd do not overhaul their trophy count. I'm quite willing to bet that there will be some Scousers who'd be cheering for their own team to lose come this weekend. xD
How the mighty have fallen.
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Posted by julio on 05/01/2010
undoubtedly nani is at his best, him staying for 4 more years is great and once again he'll put up a good show 2morrow against sunderland
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Posted by Eddie G, on 05/01/2010
I don't know why everyone keeps harping on the Pedro Mendes goal that wasn't. Yes, it was a goal. Yes, Spurs should have gotten the win that they thoroughly deserved. But it's over now, and I daresay we can all expect bad referee calls to continue in this game.
What Mark is trying to say, and this is something that I agree with, is that if Tottenham wants to be a team that wishes to challenge the Big 4 on a regular basis, then the lads really need to develop some steel and resolve, and not crumble at the first sign of setback. I say this especially with the 0-3/5-3 and 0-2/5-2 comebacks in mind.
In all honesty, I sincerely believe that this current Spurs team under Harry Redknapp does have what it takes to be right up there with the big boys! Here's wishing all Spurs fans a good result over the Nauseating Neighbours xD
Posted by Lakeisha on 05/25/2011
It was dark when I woke. This is a ray of suhnsine.
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About
Mark Payne writes about football for a variety of media outlets. He reported on the 2010 World Cup for Australia’s ABC network and worked at one of the FIFA fan sites. He has been ESPN’s Manchester United correspondent for four years. His writing attracts a worldwide following and in 2011 this blog was nominated for an award. To contact Mark for football discussion e-mail him on markpayne.editor@hotmail.com at any time. He wears lucky socks on match days.
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