5 Reasons Why The Blades Can Beat Spurs

[The Bohemian]

I reckon we will beat Spurs on Wednesday.

Having travelled to the first leg feeling a tad apprehensive that we could be outclassed - after all, our victories over PL teams last season and this came at home, or against teams struggling near the foot of the table. I came away feeling robbed of a draw and now see us as slight favourites to overturn a one goal deficit on Wednesday.

Here's why:

1. The Blades were far more up for the challenge than Spurs in Leg One. We won most 50/50s and second balls simply through greater commitment. The influx of rich foreign players has undoubtedly improved technique in the Premier League but seems to have commensurately reduced desire. Most seem to play well within themselves - almost as though it would be 'uncool' to give everything to the cause. This is probably not surprising if you are a foreign player worth tens of millions with no connection, beyond a fat contract, to your employer. Contrast this with The Blades: a combination of home grown talent and players with a point to prove - who all still need to work for a living.

2. If the Spurs players didn't really fancy it last Wednesday, they will not know what has hit them at The Lane. Last week's events, capped by the return of The Bearded One has returned optimism and expectation to fever pitch levels. The faithful smell a killing and Bramall Lane will not be 'beautiful' for the faint-hearted on Wednesday.

3. We not only outfought Spurs - as expected - in the first leg, but we were also strong in possession, with quick transitions allowing JCR and Murphy plenty of 1 v 1 situations against their opposing full back. Both wingers did well enough to feel confident of having a real go again on Wednesday.

4. With rain and snow forecast don't be surprised to see the Spurs foreign contingent run out wearing gloves, scarves and ear-muffs. Doyle, meanwhile, will have a pre-match meal of raw liver and stinging nettles, before his customary ice-bath with Morgs to ready himself for combat. They will hate it, we will love it!

5. The prize is a Wembley Cup Final! For most of our team, it won't get any better than that. For all of our supporters, it's never been any better than that. We want it more!

COYRAWW!!!

 

[Darren]

I reckon we will beat Spurs on Wednesday.

Having travelled to the first leg feeling a tad apprehensive that we could be outclassed - after all, our victories over PL teams last season and this came at home, or against teams struggling near the foot of the table. I came away feeling robbed of a draw and now see us as slight favourites to overturn a one goal deficit on Wednesday.

Here's why:

1. The Blades were far more up for the challenge than Spurs in Leg One. We won most 50/50s and second balls simply through greater commitment. The influx of rich foreign players has undoubtedly improved technique in the Premier League but seems to have commensurately reduced desire. Most seem to play well within themselves - almost as though it would be 'uncool' to give everything to the cause. This is probably not surprising if you are a foreign player worth tens of millions with no connection, beyond a fat contract, to your employer. Contrast this with The Blades: a combination of home grown talent and players with a point to prove - who all still need to work for a living.

2. If the Spurs players didn't really fancy it last Wednesday, they will not know what has hit them at The Lane. Last week's events, capped by the return of The Bearded One has returned optimism and expectation to fever pitch levels. The faithful smell a killing and Bramall Lane will not be 'beautiful' for the faint-hearted on Wednesday.

3. We not only outfought Spurs - as expected - in the first leg, but we were also strong in possession, with quick transitions allowing JCR and Murphy plenty of 1 v 1 situations against their opposing full back. Both wingers did well enough to feel confident of having a real go again on Wednesday.

4. With rain and snow forecast don't be surprised to see the Spurs foreign contingent run out wearing gloves, scarves and ear-muffs. Doyle, meanwhile, will have a pre-match meal of raw liver and stinging nettles, before his customary ice-bath with Morgs to ready himself for combat. They will hate it, we will love it!

5. The prize is a Wembley Cup Final! For most of our team, it won't get any better than that. For all of our supporters, it's never been any better than that. We want it more!

COYRAWW!!!

One reason why Spurs will beat United

1. Their players are far better than ours

Seriously, I really, really do hope we win, but the reality is we probably won't :-(

 

[The Bohemian]

Of course you're right Darren. However, I believe Performance = Attitude x Ability, and that's why I'm confident.

 

[Darren]

Of course you're right Darren. However, I believe Performance = Attitude x Ability, and that's why I'm confident.

Having re-read your post, with all due respect point 1 is xenophobic nonsense. If home grown players performed better than overseas players because they had greater desire, the top teams would never employ the latter.

 

[IOM Blade]

I think a few people are underestimating Spurs' desire a little. With a Wembley final at stake they will be up for it no doubt, Jonny Foreigner or not.

 

[Rossb123]

One reason why Spurs will beat United

1. Their players are far better than ours

Seriously, I really, really do hope we win, but the reality is we probably won't :-(

Cant help feeling the same. I just can't see us breaking them down. Murphy probably our best player struggled against Walker, I can't really see this improving. McNulty battled hard but again struggled against Spurs centre halfs they are both strong and quick.

Hopefully JCR can get at them again down the flanks and cause them a few problems. Last week will have been a harder game for spurs than this week will, everyone saw the game I think Real Madrid would have struggled at times to break us down how defensive we was (not a bad thing at all and I agreed with the tactics). This game has to be different with us having to score and not just sit back it could leave us exposed and they are very quick on the break.

Erikson can pick a ball out of no where and they have first team players returning like Chadli.

They play at some of the most hostile grounds so the atmosphere shouldn't be a problem either.

Negative but hopeful Blade here, think I need a few more reasons to why we can win before I feel optimistic Bohemian.

 

[grafikhaus]

...and if we win, don't begrudge a few lads invading the pitch. Better than sat at home with a cuppa watching TV like Wednesdayites will be.

...and forgive United for the 'giant foam hands'. Jim Phipps may approve - we don't!

...and hope Sinclair plays suitable music as we wend our way out of BDTBL. No 'Star Wars', 'Da Rude' or 'Que Sera,Sera'. This will do:

​

 

[The Bohemian]

Having re-read your post, with all due respect point 1 is xenophobic nonsense. If home grown players performed better than overseas players because they had greater desire, the top teams would never employ the latter.

I'm surprised you see it that way Darren, I see it more as balanced and reasoned - though clearly provocative.

My explanation implied there are exceptions and in the Premier League - dominated by technically brilliant foreign players - it's not such an issue. However, when pitted against teams with a different mindset (as described), attitude can trump ability. If you don't believe that, ask Koeman, Mourinho and Pellegrini.

The most successful UK manager ever built his teams around a core of homegrown talent - why do you think that was? Was it because he was xenophobic?

My point about "desire" was also in the context of money, which I see as an influencing factor, for players of all ethnicities - but not all players. Most rich Premier League players are foreign. Most lower league players are not.

 

[Darren]

I'm surprised you see it that way Darren, I see it more as balanced and reasoned - though clearly provocative.

My explanation implied there are exceptions and in the Premier League - dominated by technically brilliant foreign players - it's not such an issue. However, when pitted against teams with a different mindset (as described), attitude can trump ability. If you don't believe that, ask Koeman, Mourinho and Pellegrini.

The most successful UK manager ever built his teams around a core of homegrown talent - why do you think that was? Was it because he was xenophobic?

My point about "desire" was also in the context of money, which I see as an influencing factor, for players of all ethnicities - but not all players. Most rich Premier League players are foreign. Most lower league players are not.

The top players are paid large sums of money because they are the players who are most likely to help their clubs win games. If they played in a way that suggests they didn't care whether their team won or lost (i.e. showed a lack of "desire"), they would soon find their earning power diminsih rapidly.

Yes, sometimes less skilled players can beat more skilled players, but does anyone doubt that if Tottenham played United 20 times they would win the vast majority of those games? We are just hoping for an exception tomorrow.

As for the FA Cup shocks, the reality is that the top teams don't view the cups as a priority and probably do try less hard than in the PL in the early rounds. However, when it comes to one step from the final, I doubt that point applies. I suspect we will see a full strength Tottenham team playing at their best tomorrow.

 

[stringjunior]

.... Doyle, meanwhile, will have a pre-match meal of raw liver and stinging nettles, before his customary ice-bath with Morgs to ready himself for combat.

Beautiful.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

One reason why Spurs will beat United

1. Their players are far better than ours

Seriously, I really, really do hope we win, but the reality is we probably won't :-(

Luck , fate , rub of the green will play the major part in this semi , as league position , form , goes out of the window. If it is written in the stars , then we will be going to Wembley.

The first 15minutes will be the barometer.

UTB

 

[Kyle Walker]

A huge boost for United is that Hugo Lloris will not be in goal tomorrow.

 

[RogerNilsen]

Be nice to be singing Que Sera at 21:30

 

[Esablade]

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

The top players are paid large sums of money because they are the players who are most likely to help their clubs win games. If they played in a way that suggests they didn't care whether their team won or lost (i.e. showed a lack of "desire"), they would soon find their earning power diminsih rapidly.

Yes, sometimes less skilled players can beat more skilled players, but does anyone doubt that if Tottenham played United 20 times they would win the vast majority of those games? We are just hoping for an exception tomorrow.

As for the FA Cup shocks, the reality is that the top teams don't view the cups as a priority and probably do try less hard than in the PL in the early rounds. However, when it comes to one step from the final, I doubt that point applies. I suspect we will see a full strength Tottenham team playing at their best tomorrow.

Spurs will want the win as much as we do .The Blades need the rub of the green , as i can see Spurs turning out there first eleven.

The harder we work , the luckier we will get. Mr Clough will be working on under promise , over deliver , which will work for us . 100% concentration is the key , with the first 20 minutes being critical , for keeping a clean sheet.

Both good footballing sides , but we all have to remember the Spurs players will not just be turning up for the sake of it.

Match to enjoy , but don't let us underestimate the opposition , never mind how cold it will be , or how much money they earn .

UTB

 

[Jehovah]

I fear for us being counter attacked to death with superior pace, but I am confident we wil give them a game.

 

[kop_blade9]

The top players are paid large sums of money because they are the players who are most likely to help their clubs win games. If they played in a way that suggests they didn't care whether their team won or lost (i.e. showed a lack of "desire"), they would soon find their earning power diminsih rapidly.

Yes, sometimes less skilled players can beat more skilled players, but does anyone doubt that if Tottenham played United 20 times they would win the vast majority of those games? We are just hoping for an exception tomorrow.

As for the FA Cup shocks, the reality is that the top teams don't view the cups as a priority and probably do try less hard than in the PL in the early rounds. However, when it comes to one step from the final, I doubt that point applies. I suspect we will see a full strength Tottenham team playing at their best tomorrow.

Logically I have to agree.
BUT its the cup and as we saw last weekend strange upsets happen.
Did you expect Man City to go out?
Did you expect Bradford to win after going two goals down?
We are still in the cup and we can still dream.
Live the dream!
UTB

 

[FTPE]

We do realise, foreign countries have bad weather too?
Obviously France aside, most countries have tough guys, and just because you're a good player doesn't mean you're a wuss

 

[Revolution]

Reasons 1 and 2 are nonsense, as people have pointed out above, but I also think we can win.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I fear for us being counter attacked to death with superior pace, but I am confident we wil give them a game.

That will only happen if we play further up the field.

We didn't against Fulham/Forest/Charlton last season and Southampton this season on our own patch, and even QPR /Spurs away.

We decided to have a go at Hull in the semi and we lost..............if NC had stuck to the formula it could have been different.

There is no reason to change what is a successful cup winning formula - we will probably sit deep as usual, and not allow Spurs to break...........BUT, just when we think we have worked Clough out, he can come out with something completely different. What odds on 4-4-2 with Higdon and Mcnulty?

UTB

 

[HillmortonBlade]

The top players are paid large sums of money because they are the players who are most likely to help their clubs win games. If they played in a way that suggests they didn't care whether their team won or lost (i.e. showed a lack of "desire"), they would soon find their earning power diminsih rapidly.

Yes, sometimes less skilled players can beat more skilled players, but does anyone doubt that if Tottenham played United 20 times they would win the vast majority of those games? We are just hoping for an exception tomorrow.

As for the FA Cup shocks, the reality is that the top teams don't view the cups as a priority and probably do try less hard than in the PL in the early rounds. However, when it comes to one step from the final, I doubt that point applies. I suspect we will see a full strength Tottenham team playing at their best tomorrow.

I don't doubt that if we played Tottenham 20 times that they would win the majority. Probably. But for me, that's the issue, week in week out then technically superior teams should win as it settles down (theoretically, some sort of league element going on). But in a one-off Cup match situation, that's when passion and desire are disproportionally important. I am not saying that players not from Britain don't have the same passion and motivation for the FA Cup.... but do they? It's whether the differnce in class can be bridged by the passion.

I won't sleep tonight.

 

[Sheff de party]

The top players are paid large sums of money because they are the players who are most likely to help their clubs win games. If they played in a way that suggests they didn't care whether their team won or lost (i.e. showed a lack of "desire"), they would soon find their earning power diminsih rapidly.

Yes, sometimes less skilled players can beat more skilled players, but does anyone doubt that if Tottenham played United 20 times they would win the vast majority of those games? We are just hoping for an exception tomorrow.

As for the FA Cup shocks, the reality is that the top teams don't view the cups as a priority and probably do try less hard than in the PL in the early rounds. However, when it comes to one step from the final, I doubt that point applies. I suspect we will see a full strength Tottenham team playing at their best tomorrow.

I see the OP's point. I'm not sure I would have expressed it in the same way, but despite what they say in the media, I doubt many of Spurs' foreign players came to play in the League Cup.

I think if the ref is letting things go, it's pissing it down with rain and the tackles are getting out of hand in their minds, some of them will be intimidated and less up for it because they're not used to it. They are paid more highly because they are better technically.

Lots of things need to go our way, but I think we will do it. I know we'd lost most games out of 20, but I think we'll do it.

 

[bladesman3]

One reason why Spurs will beat United

1. Their players are far better than ours

Seriously, I really, really do hope we win, but the reality is we probably won't :-(

I hate to say it but that is true...I hope it does not turn out that way...i dread an early goal for Spurs.....in any case, win or lose, we have done fantastically well, no reason to beat ourselves up if we lose..

 

[HillmortonBlade]

This is why I love football and LOVE TRAWWssssssss.

 

[groveblade]

I hate to say it but that is true...I hope it does not turn out that way...i dread an early goal for Spurs.....in any case, win or lose, we have done fantastically well, no reason to beat ourselves up if we lose..

It's important that IF we do concede first in the first half that we (fans) don't give up..... 1 goal back and it's 1-1 and everything to play for again...

COYRAWW!!!

 

[RealMcCoy]

We can be heroes!
Good shout.

...and if we win, don't begrudge a few lads invading the pitch. Better than sat at home with a cuppa watching TV like Wednesdayites will be.

...and forgive United for the 'giant foam hands'. Jim Phipps may approve - we don't!

...and hope Sinclair plays suitable music as we wend our way out of BDTBL. No 'Star Wars', 'Da Rude' or 'Que Sera,Sera'. This will do:

​

[/QUOTE

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

We do realise, foreign countries have bad weather too?
Obviously France aside, most countries have tough guys, and just because you're a good player doesn't mean you're a wuss

Mmmm... France has no tough guys? Stupid sport aside, try this:

This guy had the All-Blacks shitting themselves before they'd finished their own silly war dance in 2007. Rather have Seabass at my side then any of the English team in a sticky situation.

Pity he can't play football, he'd be the midfield bastard we so desperately need to protect our boys and soften up league 1's less cultured cloggers (and Spurs softies obviously).

 

[Lawrence]

Cant help feeling the same. I just can't see us breaking them down. Murphy probably our best player struggled against Walker, I can't really see this improving. McNulty battled hard but again struggled against Spurs centre halfs they are both strong and quick.

Hopefully JCR can get at them again down the flanks and cause them a few problems. Last week will have been a harder game for spurs than this week will, everyone saw the game I think Real Madrid would have struggled at times to break us down how defensive we was (not a bad thing at all and I agreed with the tactics). This game has to be different with us having to score and not just sit back it could leave us exposed and they are very quick on the break.

Erikson can pick a ball out of no where and they have first team players returning like Chadli.

They play at some of the most hostile grounds so the atmosphere shouldn't be a problem either.

Negative but hopeful Blade here, think I need a few more reasons to why we can win before I feel optimistic Bohemian.

United can certainly win, but a 2-1 win won't take us through, hope I'm wrong but I can't see Surs not scoring - so that means we would need to score 3 :/ So 3-1 to the Bldaes then

 

[bornablade]

Our famous old ground has a history of hosting so many different sporting events and in a few months it will be celebrating its 160th anniversary.

I have seen us lose semi finals at the old Wembley, Old Trafford (twice), the new Wembley and Anfield.

5 reasons why the Blades can beat Spurs? Well 5 semi final defeats on other grounds but this one is different. I doubt BDTBL has hosted a deciding semi final game involving the Blades. Is this another first for our grand old ground?

History repeating itself with a final against Chelsea at stake we have been presented with a great opportunity.

Every single one of us have a job to do tonight. It's not just about the management team and players.

I know all Blades will play their part on the terraces. It's this desire from the fans to see us win a major cup competition that convinces me we can beat Spurs tonight.

PS I hope all three sides are full well before kick off

 

[shorehamview]

4. With rain and snow forecast don't be surprised to see the Spurs foreign contingent run out wearing gloves, scarves and ear-muffs. Doyle, meanwhile, will have a pre-match meal of raw liver and stinging nettles, before his customary ice-bath with Morgs to ready himself for combat. They will hate it, we will love it!

Not all of the Spurs players are from tropical lands. Some of them may be familiar with being a bit cold now and again...