Not Good Enough

‘WE hope they enjoyed it while they could – because Tottenham’s brief spell at the top of the Premiership is over and Glenn Hoddle is likely to be collecting his pension before the chance comes again.

Rock solid

Spurs’ fall from grace is made all the sweeter by the fact that they were leading Fulham 2-0 at half-time and 2-1 with barely five minutes to go. But goals by Steed Malbranque and Sylvain Legwinski robbed them of the points and assured hated north London rivals Arsenal of the top spot.

”Title Chumps,” says the Mail, as it also watches Manchester United slip up at home to Bolton, Liverpool let slip a 2-0 home advantage over Birmingham and Newcastle fall to Leeds.

Those results may have more of a bearing on the destination of the Premiership title than that at Loftus Road, but there is no doubt which the Gooners will have enjoyed most.

Afterwards, Hoddle told the Mail: ”I don’t think it was complacency – just a lack of ability.” Seasoned Hoddle watchers will know that translates to a complaint that he does not have a team of 11 G Hoddles.

At Old Trafford, Bolton recorded their second successive win over Manchester United – and it was David Beckham who was to blame.

Goldenballs became Goldenballs-up after his blunder gifted Wanderers the three points.

”I have to apologise to the fans because they pay their money to come and watch us and one silly mistake from me has cost us the game,” he told the Mirror.

At the other end of the table, West Ham lost at home to West Brom in what manager Glenn Roeder had said was a ”must-win match” and stay rooted to the foot of the table, but just above them are Newcastle after what the Sun calls ”another St James’ Park disaster”.

With just a fortnight to go until the start of the Ryder Cup, Europe are themselves looking at disaster with loss of form and injury threatening to make the biennial match as one-sided as it used to be 20 years ago.

But there is a glimmer of better news for home captain Sam Torrance in the not insubstantial shape of Colin Montgomerie who tells the Sun that his back injury has eased so much that he is capable of playing in all five rounds of matches.

”Sam has told me he regards me as one of his key men, and I want to assure him that the rock he describes me as is as strong and solid as ever.”

And if not a rock, then at least 18 stones.

‘

Posted: 12th, September 2002 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink