Reflecting on another poor performance against London rivals Spurs
Hope everyone is safe and well.
I am monitoring my blood pressure. I have one of those little machines at home and place the band around my upper arm in the mornings to take 3 readings, making a note of them on my iphone.
I recently went to the doctor for something else and taking my blood pressure he said it’s just too high so as a risk management he wanted me to record these readings for 7 days and come back to review what I can do to keep my blood pressure down. Probably need to start taking medication. Although he did say for my age, I am very healthy and doing well but he suggested annual health checks from now on.
I would say I am relatively fit, cycling 4 days a week and I do a lot of walking, I run regularly and just finished a half marathon and I am starting to train again for the next one in February next year, I don’t eat meat nor dairy and I don’t consume alcohol nor smoke. So, obviously concerned about my blood pressure as the normal risk factors are not there.
You are given a list of things to do to help reduce your blood pressure, such as reduce coffee intake – I love my coffee! – maintain healthy weight – I need to lose a few pounds for sure, but one thing that is definitely not on the list is ‘avoid watching West Ham Utd’! And the Spurs defeat definitely raised my blood pressure!
It’s not the losing, although losing to any of our London rivals is a kick in the teeth – but it’s the way we lost. A first half performance, although highlighting Spurs plan to use set pieces such as corners to utilise our weakness in goal and defence, we seemed to be holding our own and with a few good performances thrown in, I actually thought Mavropanos was doing quite well.
Managing a football team is like solving the Rubik’s Cube – bare with me here – where you use different algorithms to quickly put all the pieces of the cube back in their right place. My boys are very good at this and laugh at my fumbled attempts to solve the cube myself, and after a few misplaced twists and I’ve undone the cube again!
But when you progress onto a 4×4 cube, there are some barriers to quickly solving the cube like in the 3×3. Basically, you turn it into a 3×3 by putting 4 centre pieces on each of the sides into 2×2 of each colour, then you pair up the 2 side pieces on each edge. But, once you have done that you can get to the final layer and then you can get what’s called a ‘parity’ and then you need to use a different algorithm to solve that. You have to use a different method to avoid getting the parity in the first place so that you can continue solving the cube quickly. Hope you’re still with me!
My point is that you have to be ready to use a different way to solve the cube, but you use all these unique moves as and when you need to, just like in football, you have a number of different team formations and tactics that you deploy strategically to give you the advantage and to be able to win the game.
So, against Spurs we had no striker in the starting line up and two goalkeepers on the bench, and although we had four at the back, in midfield we had Soucek and JWP. That’s like knowing you’re going to get a ‘parity’ and not allowing yourself to solve it! What was Potter thinking? Spurs had done their homework and they focused on getting the ball into the 6 yard box and by the second half we collapsed after 1 goal and Soucek seeing red! Blood pressure well and truly too high!
I managed to take both of the boys to this match as my brother was away fishing – jealous that he got to miss this sorry performance – and we were excited about the game beforehand. I left early arranging to meet them both later by the security point near our turnstile and had some time to wander around the outside of the stadium.
Clouds were looking ominous and despite some sun earlier, rain was coming. I think this photo really captures those dark clouds rolling over the stadium as I walked down from the Greenway towards the road.
The signs still hidden slightly by the leaves on the trees, clinging on as summer fades into Autumn.
As is always the case, there is a larger police presence for these London derbies, and this was only part of the line of police vans along the road.
Walking around along the road towards the community football pitch and running track, I was looking between the bollards that greet visitors and captured these fans chatting to the police on their horses.
I had time to wander around to the other side of the stadium, and walked up Marshgate Lane, this scene reminded me of THAT Beatles album cover, haha. It was still early so not many fans had arrived as yet to the game.
I was up for a bit more walking and exploring with the camera, this time walking away from the stadium and I wanted to follow the theme of fans walking in line. The recently opened V&A and UAL in the background as I capture a juxtaposition of fans and flag poles with architecture in the background and those clouds.
And it poured down! By this time I was around by the Aquatics Centre, where many of us took cover as the torrential rain soaked those fans still making their way to the stadium. Then the sky cleared and I captured these two fans walking down with just a few spots of rain as the sun started to break through.
Wasn’t sure whether to post this in colour or note, as the green of the grass and leaves after the rain really popped but I think it still works here in monochrome. Despite the recent development of the area, there are still plenty of green spaces around the stadium and within the Olympic Park itself.
I stood for ages trying to get a decent shot of fans going through the barriers towards the ground and I think this one works well, with these three guys all looking at their phones.
The boys had gone to the security check and were waiting for me to go around and greet them so they can come through, as I walked around the stadium I grabbed a few shots as fans were now arriving and filing to get through the turnstiles to take their seats of the match.
They have changed some of the murals around the perimeter wall of the stadium and I tried to get a shot of Sir Trevor looking at the fans walking past.
Into the stadium and we grab our coffee and crisps and make our way to our seats, walking past the entrance to Block 104. I do love these contrasting shots with the shapes of people barely appearing from the dark shadows against the light of the stands beyond.
Walking through the concourse and in and out of groups of fans chatting away before they make their way to the stands. I want to capture the relaxed atmosphere here as if you’re there in the moment.
Fans were taking their seats and catching up with friends and familiar people who sit around them in the stands. I always find it strange that just before the match, there seem to be many empty seats, but it always fills up by the time the music starts and the bubbles float above our heads as the teams start to come up, with the chanting and signing, raising the hairs on the back of our necks. I like looking between the fans heads in front of me as I capture the players entering the pitch.
I was focusing on the fans and the atmosphere, it felt great as the sound of the collective voices of us all filled the stadium and spilled out onto the field as the players start to wave to the fans in response.
The atmosphere in the first half was good. Throughout the first 45mins Spurs pressed and knew what to do – get the ball down to our end of the pitch and whip balls into the area because even if they don’t get a shot on target, force the corner. Kudus, who took the right sided corners, got a lot of grief and for good reason. His video taunt to us fans about Spurs being the only club for him and it’s where he always wanted to be means he will always get grief. It’s just that you know it will come back to bite us!
But there was some banter from the stands, fans chanting and creating a fantastic atmosphere that added to the feeling we could have got something from this game.
Then there was THAT disallowed goal from Cristian Romero, which brought out the best in the fans, but despite any positives from the half, the alarm bells were there for all to see as the visitors tactics were obvious to all of us watching from the stands.
I do love capturing the emotions of these moments and expressions on fans faces as they express themselves from the stands.
Paqueta had a chance to put us in front but his effort was tame and in all honesty, Spurs were in firm control of the game and we ended the half lucky to be 0-0.
Hearts began racing as the half closed out and Spurs managed to get a free kick from the corner flag into our area, causing panic and showing how exposed we were at the back. But it came to nothing and the whistle blew to end the first 45mins.
The second half was barely 10mins old and we found ourselves 0-1 down and then Tomas Soucek goes in heavy in a tackle on Joao Palhinha and the ref had little option by to show the Czech international a red card. Now we knew the game was lost, not because losing Soucek as much as seeing how the players heads went down, with what little fight they had suddenly gone. The atmosphere was very different now that’s for sure.
I actually really like this image. This time of year, weather permitting, you can capture the orange glow of the sunset hitting the roof of the stadium, which was mirrored by the orange bids of the subs at the corner flag watching the game. The blue sky helps to set this image off adding some depth. Having the camera flipped to take a portrait view means I was able to get in quite a lot – the fans heads, subs, pitch, fans in the opposite stands, roof and sky.
It was good to see Soungoutou Magassa and Luis Guilherme but the subs from Potter baffled, not as much as the starting line up though! We had nothing to offer in response to the visitors strategy which exposed us again and again.
By the third goal, fans had had enough. Spurs were cruising and the team had basically thrown in the towel and I honestly wondered why I was still sitting watching the match. I’ve never left a match early, but games like this make you question why go through this again and again? Losing isn’t the issue as much as the performance and the fact that we seem to be well beaten so often at home. I truly do not remember being beaten like this so often when we were at Upton Park!
Bowen tried to find a gap, but it was too little too late and even he couldn’t raise his game to make any noticeable impact on our performance.
Clapping the players was very generous and after the final whistle, seeing the empty stands and placing again at the final score, it was a throughly miserable afternoon of football. The boys did really well to stay behind with me at this point! I could tell they were itching to head off home.
I headed out of the ground and decided to hang around for a bit, leaving the boys to skip off via the the chippy in Roman Road market. There wasn’t many fans hanging around either to be honest and I switched my camera to auto, flipped up the flash and took this shot of the Champions Sculpture dropped in England and Union Jack flags, some sense of pride after watching the players capitulate in a match that should have meant more to them that it did.
Walking round the stadium, I captured a few shots of fans drinking and eating and making their way towards Stratford station. But I longed to head off, realising that my earlier excitement at a home London derby had been misplaced. Potter, under pressure and with rumours of potential successors swirling around like a group of Dementors, needs to be brave and make the big decisions if our season is to get started at all. One of then, I would argue, is to put Fabianski in goal, put Wilson, or Fullkrug up front and utilise some youth in midfield – bench Prouse at the very least. He is suffering form the same affliction that infected other managers in recent times, rely of HIS favourites, regardless of their form on the pitch.
It’s not a bad day at the office, it’s how it is in this current era of the club. Promises made and broken from the owners, players who seem to have given up and deep rooted issues from the top of the club down.
There are planned protests at the Crystal Palace game and I’ll be there capturing fans anger and emotions and joining the call of no confidence in the board, hoping that our voices will make a difference.
Take care everyone!
Dawud
From the Stands 