From: bocmunro@bnr.co.uk (Bruce Munro)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Spurs News - 25th Jan
Summary: Spurs stuff Norwich
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:21:03 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe, New Southgate, London.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bnsgs179.bnr.co.uk

Haven't done a report for a while, for various reasons including a badly
broken news server, and rampant apathy.

As you should know Spurs beat Norwich 2-0 on Sunday to progress to the
fifth round of the Cup. Unfortunately, thanks to Norwich's feeble
allocation of tickets for away fans, I was unable to procure one for
myself and had to watch the game on telly. Pretty galling to see acres
of empty seating in the Norwich sections too I might add! Luckily one
of the junior members of the r.s.s Spurs ranks, Dave Haskoll
(dch@doc.ic.ac.uk), was able to see the game, so I've decided to use
his report of the match instead of reviewing the game off the telly.
For those who don't know, Wingnut is Justin Edinburgh, Shaggy is Darren
Anderton due to a likeness to the Scooby Doo character.

\begin{daves report}

It was probably the most fun I've had on an away trip. We were quite
lucky to get to Norwich in the first place - my navigator (my Mum) sent
me down the wrong turn off on the Norwich ring road and we were in
Acle, some ten miles away, before we realised what had happened. Then
followed a rather interesting manouever which involved driving through
a petrol station at 50mph in order to turn round and then heading
towards Norwich again at an indicated 90mph!!!

We got to Norwich in two hours forty mins, including coffee break and,
ahem, diversion, which involved throwing the car round Norfolk country
lanes at 70 - excellent fun! There was a huge car park literally a
minute from the ground which cost 30p for the whole day. As we walked
round the ground the Spurs coach pulled up, so we hung around and
wished the players luck.

In we went, to find our seats were half a mile above the corner flag!
Despite this the view was excellent, mainly due to the frightening
incline of the stand.  I was sure that if I celebrated a goal in more
normal manner I'd plunge to my death. Looking around the (all-seater)
ground I saw vast areas of empty seats while the Spurs seats were
packed. The Spurs seats were above a Norwich section, which proved
handy later!

The teams came out: Durie, Barmby *and* Sheringham were playing, with
Paul Allen playing the holding role. Almost immediately from the
kick-off the Norwich goal was undersiege, with Samways hitting a post
and later trying to walk it in when Barmby was unmarked in the middle.
Anderton was having a great game, his crosses though were being flicked
by Sheringham or Barmby out of each other's path. His early cross lead
to Barmby's volley which was well saved. We were all singing our hearts
out, with no apparent reply from the Norwich fans. Gradually Norwich
came into it more - forcing loads of corners but not really threatening
- as Spurs began to go off the boil.

Half time and we were happy, but the general opinion was that we should
have been at least two up. And then came the second half.

Barmby's interchange with Durie, rolls the ball across the goalmouth
and not even Ted could miss from there. With his confidence restored he
promptly applied his bonce to Shaggy's excellent free-kick and it's
2-0! Everyone was going absolutely f***ing mental, and stunned that
Sheringham had scored two! From then on it turned into a right old
Cockney knees-up. We never stopped singing as Teddy went close again,
then Samways and Barmby, even Wingnut went one on one with Bryan Gunn!

Elsewhere, Ruel Fox was playing about by the corner flag unable to get
past Deano who wouldn't commit himself - Paul Allen then slammed into
Fox to great applause and the ref waved play on. Megson chased a
through ball that he'd never reach, Erik came out to collect and Razor
stepped in front into the path of Megson who bounced off and rolled
head over heels. Norwich just came under greater and greater pressure.

Below us the Norwich fans were queueing to get out which amused us no
end. We sang, they gestured, we laughed, Razor unleashed a shot from 30
yards, we 'ooh'ed, they turned round looking disconsolate and then
shuffled closer to the exit. It was certainly the best second half I've
experienced for a while.

The final whistle went, and Erik wondered how he'd get his gloves to us
- he gave up and handed them to someone down there, the players
celebrated, we celebrated and were locked in for ages but we didn't
care...

As we walked tround the ground, we encountered some of the players
getting onto the coach, Erik then Paul Allen and then Vinny and then
Wingnut. We waited a bit but it was bloody cold so we jumped in the car
and set off home.

This time the traffic was pretty bad and it took us almost three and a
half hours to get back! On the way back from Southampton we were
driving alongside Gordon Durie for about ten minutes (I nearly crashed
when I saw who it was!), this time the players' coach somehow overtook
us (we got caught behind a Lada!) and my Mum was reluctant to chase it
on an unlit A-road. I fell asleep in the back (good job I wasn't
driving!) as I was so bored - I never took my Discman as I've had my
Walkman considered 'an offensive weapon' before now!

Got back home, opened a bottle of champagne and watched M.O.T.D.

What a day...

I don't see why they couldn't have given the whole of that stand to
Spurs and put the Norwich supporters in the empty areas... makes
perfect sense to me. A policeman told me before the game that they
didn't expect a big crowd...

Oh well, f*** the away fans seems to be the motto.

\end{daves report}

I too have to say that I thought Spurs performance was as good as I've
seen since winning the Cup in 91. They passed the ball beautifully, made
chance after chance, and were guilty only of being wasteful in front of
the Norwich goal. We really should have scored 5 or 6. I was distinctly
worried before this game, but now feel we can put a good challenge in for
the Cup if we play like this. Remember, the Chinese Year of the Cockerel
has just started, and last time round we were treated to Ricky Villa's
spectacular winner in 1981. One billion Chinese can't be wrong!

Other news is that Andy Gray has recovered from injury and is on loan
to Swindon. David Tuttle has been loaned out, but I've forgotten who to.

Back to the Premier League tomorrow night (27th) with a visit from Ipswich
Town.

-- 
Bruce Munro.  <B.O.C.Munro@bnr.co.uk> (Note new address)
BNR Europe Ltd, Oakleigh Rd South, London N11 1HB. 
Phone : +44 81 945 2174 or +44 81 945 4000 x2174
"There are no strangers, only friends we don't recognise" - Hank Wangford