2^nd February 2010 - Robbie keen for starting role Robbie Keane has departed Spurs for a second time, and again!, for a club he always dreamed of playing for. On both counts Robbie may have been telling the truth, but in fairness this time round the move seems more about getting some form back, rather than joining a team capable of Champions League success. Since Robbie arrived back from Anfield, his form has been less than spectacular and it just hasn’t worked out…they always say never go back. This initial loan spell may be just that, but at 29 years of age and if this short period at Celtic works out, then it might be a good time to say goodbye to Spurs and it would probably benefit both parties. With Defoe and Crouch seeming to be Harry’s bedrock choice and Pavlyuchenko seeming to be going nowhere, Keane must’ve thought his chances would diminish and with the loan arrival of Eidur Gudjohnsen, it became a no-brainer. Whatever the pros and cons of Robbie’s second coming, it must not be forgotten that he has joined an elite bunch of 15 Spurs legends (him included) who have scored over 100 goals in total for the club and you can’t knock that. If you judge his overall Spurs career, he has contributed fantastically, yet the jury remains out on his more recent efforts. Usually when you look back at a players career you think fondly of what went well and gloss over those moments that weren’t great. I do believe that for most fans, they will look back fondly at the contribution made by one Robbie Keane. I say look back, as I truly believe this will become a permanent move and it will leave a space for someone else to become a terrace hero. Hopefully Defoe can take on the mantle, as long as he learns to finish penalties like Keano. He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy Personally, I don’t care for John Terry or his personal life and there are some who would say that what anyone does away from their day-to-day job is their own affair…quite literally. As a person, his first responsibility is to his wife and family, yet in some walks of life you find yourself in a privileged position that comes with added responsibilities. He is only a footballer, but one that is held up as a role model, especially to young and impressionable minds. This isn’t the first time he’s been caught with his shorts down…a few years ago he romped in his Bentley with a teenage fan. Recently he got secret cash for privately organised trips of the Chelsea training facilities and now his latest fall from Grace (no not the name of another woman!). His club have already made the decision to stand by their man, but whilst we wait for the England manager Fabio Capello to return to grill rather than roast the current England Captain, it is believed, by many media pundits, that many sponsors will be looking to end their relationship with Mr Terry. Some have been cynical to suggest that John Terry’s main reason in trying to obtain a court injunction against newspaper articles, was to stop any real damage to his earning power, rather than the hurt and humiliation caused to his wife and children. Sadly, I think this is the case. Terry’s Not-All Gold career might receive a sudden reality check rather than cheques. Maybe his mum might have to resort to shoplifting again. In May 2009, the Premier League unveiled a ‘fit and proper’ persons test, which was brought in to keep a check on who was buying into clubs…maybe this evaluation process should also apply to footballers. If John Terry was anything like a decent human being, he would have come forward and apologised to his wife and children and stood down as Captain of the England team. What he has done is to dig his heels in and cling on desperately to the captain’s armband, which has done himself and the game a huge disservice.

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14^th December 2009 - Spurs have to rekindle their belief in race for fourth

Like many others on Saturday, I trudged away from the Lane thinking how could we not have beaten Wolves. Well, obviously the main reason was we hadn’t played well enough. The visitor’s certainly worked hard, but they are a limited side and considering we had plenty of time to come up with a rescue act, it was all the more galling. Credit is due to Wolves for at least being professional, but did we test them enough?

This is the second time this season that we have struggled to breakdown a spirited, hard working team, albeit that against Stoke we did create the chances. Did we believe in our own press too much and could complacency or laziness have got the better of us against Wolves.

There were several below par performances on Saturday and when you are chasing a spot in the top four, you simply can’t carry passengers. This is why the position of Captain is crucial and sadly I think Spurs have the wrong player wearing the armband at present. Robbie Keane has not been the same player since he left for Merseyside and returned ‘home’. Over the years we’ve seen many captains come and go. The good ones always leave their mark. What Spurs require is someone who is going to cajole and motivate the team and that is why I was happy when Dawson got the nod in some recent games. He may not go down as one of our best defenders of all time, but no-one can criticise his effort and whole hearted performances for the team. If Spurs are to rekindle their pursuit of a top four spot, then it might be that the manager has to pick the right man for the job of leading the team, even if it risks aggravating the ego of one of our main players.

Reaching the promised land of a top four spot has been near impossible for a clutch of premier league sides and this year there are three potential. With Villa getting into the groove and Man City fine tuning their game plan, Spurs need to wake up sooner rather than later.

The ability and ambition of any squad must be matched with the mental strength that fights for every yard and resists all comers with tenacity and fortitude. There are many occasions in a season, when any one of the big four gets severely tested, but their experience sees them through. They have all mastered the knack of winning, even when not playing at their best. This gives them the consistency required to pull away from the also-rans. With Liverpool stuttering, this might be the year for someone to break in…so let’s hope Spurs can recover their self-belief and make that push.

20^th November 2009 - Fair Play is cheated at the Stade de Farce

Even a few days after ‘The Event’ of the play-off between France and the Republic of Ireland, there is still the stench of injustice. Many have called it the Hand of God part deux, but however it is dressed up, a team are going to the World Cup in South Africa on the back of blatant cheating.

The culprit of this handiwork was Thierry Henry, a player that even the most ardent of Spurs fans must agree has been a talent for many years. So even more sad that a player of his stature should decide to cheat. I’m not naïve in thinking that every player is as pure as the driven snow, but when you have a player that is respected by his fellow pros and is a role model to many impressionable youngsters, and then you have to be better than the rest. I’m not condoning Henry’s actions, but you can see that in a split second he made up his mind…it was in the seconds that followed that he had the even bigger decision to make…go with the obvious crime and smile like the Cheshire cat or make it know to the ref that you had committed an act that went against the ideals of fair play. Sadly it was the former that occurred.

Comparisons have already been made with Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal. Maradona was the street kid with an unbelievable talent, who decided that win at all costs was better than being a loser who could entertain. There may also have been some kind of pay back for the Falklands Conflict of a few years earlier, with Maradona seeing an opportunity to stick two fingers up at the British nation…either way the episode tainted Maradona’s reputation and his subsequent career path has been littered with controversy.

So why has a seemingly intelligent player like Henry risked the potential stain on his reputation? France was facing elimination from the World Cup and this may have been his last chance to play at a major tournament. Was he trying to prove that this current French team could live up to Les Bleus of the late 90’s…With Domenech in charge that would have seemed an almost impossible task!. Henry’s ‘hollow’ apology on his (appropriate) twitter feed, seemed a futile and empty gesture; "I'm not the referee...but if I hurt someone I'm sorry,". Because a referee doesn’t see the incident or decides not to act, doesn’t make it right to cheat.

The Irish players gave their all. It was a splendid display considering they were starting from a goal down away from home. Trapattoni had instilled a sense of belief in his players that has made them a decent international side, in terms of results. Some of the Irish squad knew this could be their last chance to play at a World Cup Finals and it showed in their endeavour. So for all that effort and commitment to be denied by blatant unsporting behaviour must be hard to swallow.

There have been calls in the last few days for the game to be replayed, and whilst FIFA can’t really back down, as it would cause countless claims for replays whenever a game didn’t go your way, the French Football Federation (FFF) could take this opportunity to act morally and in the good name of Football. If Henry wanted to seek redemption maybe he could even start the process. Rather than the hand of a cheat, the FFF could offer the hand of friendship. As the nation in whose name the modern World Cup was invented, they could show how much the ideals of the tournament still matter.

The irony would be rich if France were to bow out of this summer’s tournament on the back of a terrible decision…C’est la Vie.

14^th November 2009 - The 39^th Step

Earlier this year there was much talk of carting premier league clubs around the globe for a 39^th fixture, which was being ‘pushed’, I mean promoted, as giving the world the premier league on their doorsteps.

The brainchild of Richard Scudamore (Premier League Chief Executive), who was seeking to rubber stamp the global branding of the world’s, supposedly, most watched league. Some club chairman were probably rubbing their hands with glee at another opportunity to try and bleed more revenue out of an already battered product. Manager’s and player’s were probably thinking that an extra game on top of an already packed season would be a game too far, quite literally in some cases…unless of course they got suitable remuneration.

The whole road show was derailed by the Football Association, who wouldn’t sanction the radical move. So no 39^th league game. But this weekend, there is the small matter of an England friendly in Qatar against Brazil. England with no qualification game scheduled have arranged this mid-season fare on neutral ground. Where the premier league has failed, the FA might succeed. There is no need for England to go all the way to Qatar, unless the oil barons are paying for the ball. Could the FA not have staged this friendly outside of London, yet still on British shores?. I live in London and even I think it would be fair to have some England games moved around the country, so that fans can cheer on their national side. Not everyone can afford to travel down to the big smoke and pay Wembley’s prices. It also seems unreasonable to ask supporters to travel overseas, when the financial capacity of most people is dwindling.

This weekend the FA seems to be testing the water for possibly more games on a global stage. And if the England v Brazil friendly works, then it might be that the 39^th game is not a league game, but one for the national side to participate in. I’m sure the fixture is also a nod towards the 2018 World Cup bid and an attempt to gain some much needed support. The FA need games like this to pay off their debts, but maybe they should take one step back rather than 39 steps forward.

8^th November 2009 - Flankless task for Tottenham as they edge to victory

The premier league appears to most, to be a three tier league. There are the haves (the big four), the have-nots (those fighting against relegation) and the would likes (all those with aspirations higher up the table). Spurs and Sunderland are two teams trying to reach the parts that other teams cannot reach.

In a reasonably open beginning it was Spurs who struck first. A ball was played over towards Crouch who nodded back across goal for Robbie Keane to bundle home. Keane looked to be in an offside position, and if it had been given there wouldn’t have been too many complaints. In fact this was the first piece of many bits of luck that Spurs would call on today.

Sunderland teams are normally, at this stage of a season, trying to get going and win hard earned points to try and stay up, but Bruce has got them playing very well and tactically seems shrewd. Very early on he was getting his fullbacks to push forward and support, with Spurs having a shocking lack of width in their side. With Kranjcar and Bentley on the bench, it did seem a strange tactical set-up. Crouch was playing alongside Defoe and Keane….well, where was Keane playing…was it behind the front two or down the left flank….in all fairness, not even sure he knew.

As the first half went on, Sunderland kept applying the pressure. A ball across the Spurs penalty area created a chance for the visitors that they wasted. This was followed by what looked to be a very decent shout for a penalty. Gomes appeared to touch Bent’s feet rather than ball, but the referee decided against awarding a spot kick. Even with this wake-up call, Spurs were still struggling. Another former Spur, in the ‘shape’ of Andy Reid, executed a cracking attempt from distance. With goalie beaten it was down to Spurs only real width on show to save the day, as the post stopped the ball’s progress. Gomes was called into action yet again and bravely dived in to stop Richardson from getting the visitor’s back on level terms. Apart from the rash challenge on Bent, Heurelho Gomes was playing well and was Spurs best player in the first half. This said it all. The half-time whistle was greeted with more whistles from some sections of the home support. Even though Spurs went into the interval 1-0 to the good, most could see that we had been fortunate and that the balance in the side needed urgent attention.

Most games have a turning point and in this encounter it was a penalty given, when maybe the forward was already ‘falling’ before challenged. If Gomes was somewhat lucky with his first half challenge on Bent, it seemed harsh that this time round the ref gave a penalty, after it appeared on replays that Darren Bent was already reaching for the ground before Gomes made his attempt to get to the ball. But Spurs luck was in again…sometimes a ref would send off Goalkeepers for challenges in the box that don’t come up with the goalie collecting the ball, but Gomes got the benefit of the doubt. It might also have been doubt that weighed on Bent’s mind prior to his kick. Former strikers have a habit of coming back to haunt their previous clubs, but Bent’s spot kick was expertly saved by Gomes, who may have felt that justice was served after the original decision to award the penalty. Steve Bruce must have started to feel this wasn’t to be Sunderland’s day.

Finally, Redknapp made the decision on the hour to introduce some width, by bringing on Kranjcar to replace the out-of-sorts Keane. And it didn’t take long for the move to effect a match changing outcome. Kranjcar’s sheer presence forced Sunderland to shift their tactics and this allowed Defoe to collect a ball out wide, which he then teed-up for Huddlestone to stroll on to and dispatch a shot into the roof of the net. The body language of the Sunderland players said it all. They had been the better team, had created more chances and had not been under loads of pressure…So to be 2-0 down seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and they seemed to give up. Spurs came alive, finally, and played well enough in the final quarter of the match, but if they’d have got a third it would have made the scoreline very flattering indeed.

If you have a depleted squad, you can understand why your formation has to adapt, but when you have players who can fill the wide positions, it seems almost unbelievable, especially when playing at home, that you have no real options down the flanks. Kranjcar should have started the game and the other option in Bentley, may have been an easier omission to make, but if he was all we had, then it still would have made sense to play him. Spurs had the luck today, which probably deserted them against Stoke. Funny how sometimes you lose the games you deserve to win and win the games you deserve to lose. Hopefully, Spurs are going through their bad patch and will soon rediscover their true form, which may coincide with the return of Lennon and, hopefully, the soon-to-be-fit Modric.

29^th September 2009 - Keane repays Redknapp faith

Not many teams beat Man United or Chelsea, so for Spurs there was a desire to bounce back to winning ways after two straight losses in the league.

In a bright opening, both sides showed their intention to ‘keep it on the deck’. It didn’t take Spurs long to get their noses in front. Robbie Keane scored his first goal of the game after Defoe was brought down in the penalty area by Andre Bikey. Burnley showed last season that they are prepared to take on Premiership teams in terms of attacking philosophy, and here they were pressing for an equaliser. They must have thought they had pulled level after Steve Fletcher had fired past Cudicini, only to see the effort flagged offside. Spurs nerves were calmed somewhat near the end of the half, after a Jenas strike, already on target, got a helping shin en route. 2-0 and Spurs were strongly placed.

Burnley hadn’t yet got a point away from home and Spurs were playing with renewed confidence, so the omens did not look good for the away side. Spurs would also have been mindful that they had yet to record a clean sheet in the league and one goal for Burnley here would have caused some unease in the home ranks, especially as Spurs can sometimes appear too complacent. From a free-kick Burnley nearly got a goal that might have sparked a revival. Cudicini gathered the free-kick and then proceeded to drop the ball, but the Burnley player following in could only hit the upright. A let-off for Spurs, which was quickly followed by Defoe having to leave the field of play with a suspected dislocated finger, sustained after Defoe was hit by a blocked shot of his own that was repelled by Jensen in the Burnley goal.

Crouch came on for the departing Defoe and Spurs again began to get their game together. With a little over 15 minutes left to play, Lennon picked up the ball on the wing and eventually slipped the ball to Robbie Keane inside the area, which Keane fired clinically into the roof of the Burnley net. 3-0 quickly became 4-0 as Keane latched onto a Huddlestone pass and completed his hat-trick and in the process became the third Spurs player this season to register a hat-trick (Defoe and Crouch having already chalked up their marks). Spurs were now flying and Keane would add a fourth to his day’s tally before the 90^th minute. This seemed remarkable because Keane had seemed out of sorts recently, but sometimes when it goes for you, it just clicks.

Spurs could and maybe should’ve scored more against open opponents, but Redknapp will probably be happiest with the first clean sheet this season. Burnley for their part will win lots of admiration for the way they play, but if they want to avoid a return ticket to the Championship then they must be more clinical upfront and less open at the back.

Usually the man of the match award would automatically go to a hat-trick scorer, but I felt that Niko Kranjcar excelled. His work rate was top notch, his ability to stretch the Burnley ranks allowed others to find space and he showed some genuine class down the left flank. Modric will still be first choice once fit again, but Kranjcar could give Redknapp a selection headache, if he continues to play in this manner.

14^th September 2009 - Tottenham given lesson by thoroughbred United

During half-time, David Ginola came on during a presentation. He stepped onto the field of play…pointed to the turf and decreed “This is my garden” and what a gardener he was. Unfortunately Manchester United proceeded to tramp all over it during a dominating 2^nd half display.

Spurs started explosively, scoring in the first minute. A fine “assist” by Vidic set up Defoe for a finely executed overhead kick. The thing about great teams is that they don’t panic from early setbacks. It didn’t take long for United to get a couple of chances, but Cudicini was in fine form. Spurs were very much in the game, but the tactical switch of operating Robbie Keane in the channel vacated by the injured Modric, wasn’t working. How a Ginola in his prime would have helped.

The ref was try to let the game flow, but was getting increasingly inept. Palacios was penalised 4 a “foul” on Berbatov, which also earned the Honduran a yellow card. Replays seemed to suggest that Palacios had got the ball and that maybe Berbatov had made the challenge look more reckless. Giggs’ resulting free-kick was a master class in finishing. Spurs started to misplace their passes and United were growing in confidence. Spurs continued to dig in, but desperately needed to get to half time level. A Nani shot, around a congested penalty area, beat Cudicini and it was 2-1 to the Champions at the break. Real problems for Spurs.

Jenas started the second period and tested Foster, who had to claw away a decent curling shot from Jenas. Crouch then got a chance from the following corner, which hit the crossbar. Two chances to drag the game level went begging. United decided this was enough of a warning and displayed signs they were in the mood to take over.

On the hour mark Scholes saw red for a second clumsy tackle. With 30 minutes left could Spurs press home their apparent advantage? Berbatov made way for Carrick, in a switch that did little to weaken United’s structure. You don’t win 3 Premier League titles and 1 Champions League trophy, without skill and mental toughness. United were able to resist Spurs and indeed looked the more likely to score, as Spurs were resorting to too many long balls. Rooney was running his socks off (he seemed to relish the challenge) and United’s well drilled tight-line meant United were on top. Carrick was making precision passes that covered for the absence of Scholes. United’s third goal was the very definition of how to play with one man down. Quick interchanges and a direct counter attacking. Fletcher received a pass from Carrick and played in an exquisite pass to Rooney, who turned Hutton (who should’ve shown Rooney to the outside, but allowed him to cut back), and Rooney then nutmegged Cudicini. No way back for Tottenham.

Spurs have skill, but need to shown mental toughness more consistently and be more intelligent with the ball. There are days when you have to respect your opponents when they are deserving and say that they were better than you. On the day, Cudicini was the best Tottenham player and that says it all. Although it is a shame a team that are that good still need to resort to haranguing match officials.

30^th August 2009 - Last gasp Spurs maintain momentum

Every team has aspirations at the outset of each season. For some it is defined by their ambitions and for others, it might purely be for survival. Spurs have been buoyed by the way results have come so far and may now have higher ambitions. Harry Redknapp is a seasoned campaigner and will know better than most, to keep the targets realistic. I do not mean any disrespect to Birmingham, but they will be looking to be professional, work hard and be difficult to score against, as their squad is not blessed with the same amount of talent as other teams. This can be a punishing league if you aren’t up to scratch.

It must’ve been years since Spurs dominated in the way they did here in the opening twenty minutes. There was pace in attack, a desire to win the ball when without and clearly the confidence that has been gained from a 100% start. Modric was again prompting and probing, ably assisted by the pocket rockets of Defoe and Lennon. Even though Spurs were over the Birmingham ranks like a rash, they couldn’t be complacent. You couldn’t say that Birmingham were awful, but they were being outclassed and yet still had their moments. Redknapp will need to find the right formula to keep Spurs attacking in such style, whilst keeping it tight at the back.

Towards the end of the half, Ledley King appeared to sustain an injury when stretching for a ball. Play carried on, but as the ball was again heading for the Birmingham half, King could be seen rubbing his calf. Half-time came and Spurs were doubly frustrated…no breakthrough for all their dominance and King would see no further action today and possibly for a few weeks. The saying ‘You wait for one and then three come along at once’ was very apt today, as Spurs were hit with two more withdrawals. Defoe going off, looked more precautionary than long term. Sadly for Spurs, Modric would leave the field with what initially appeared to be a slight knock to his leg, but has now been confirmed as a fracture to his right fibula. He will be out for sometime and will be sorely missed.

With Modric departing, it meant that Crouch would get most of the second half to try and bring his presence to proceedings, with Keane dropping back to fill the void left by Modric. Spurs were still pressing and creating good chances, but they were not being taken. As the frustration levels rose, Spurs seemed to get a bit sloppy and whilst Birmingham’s game plan was always to come for a point, they sensed the possibility of nicking a valuable away win. Crouch though was having an excellent spell which saw him hit the crossbar with a looping header and have another effort palmed away by Joe Hart. With 18 minutes left on the clock, Huddlestone sent over a free-kick and Crouch got on the end of the delivery and looped the ball past Hart in the City goal. One-nil to Tottenham and the relief was palpable.

The new Spurs have proved they are in fantastic form and are prospering from their positive approach play, with many players having improved considerably. But there are still enough signs of the old Spurs, to mark them down as very much a work in progress. This was highlighted by the way they allowed the visitor’s back into the match and then had an attack of the collywobbles. Birmingham being behind had to change things and brought on another attacking option in Benitez. This seemed to cause confusion in the Spurs backline. A ball into the penalty area caused Hutton to dither, and whilst he could have averted danger, Cudicini should have taken command of the situation and smothered the ball. Bowyer seized on the opportunity and brought the Blues right back into contention. For the next ten minutes Birmingham gave it a real go and Spurs seemed powerless to avert their slide. A goal now would probably have turned out to be the winner. Somehow Spurs did manage to get back on the front foot and deep into injury time, gave this spectacle a grandstand finish. Former Spurs fullback Stephen Carr, lost possession on the halfway line and Huddlestone fed Pavlyuchenko. The Russian moved up field and made a crossfield pass that found Lennon. The nippy winger cut inside and fired hard and low past the despairing Hart. The White Hart Lane faithful erupted in joyous celebration, whilst there was disbelief across the faces of the Birmingham players. The referee blew up almost immediately after the restart and Spurs had squeaked over the winning line to maintain their 100% record.

For most of this match Spurs had battered their opponents, yet Birmingham had dug in and weathered most of the storm, even having some moments of their own. Spurs have shown a mean streak this season, again pouncing on an opponents error (as they had at West Ham a week earlier) to set up the win. There have been times when Spurs have played less well and had more resounding scorelines, but sometimes the art of winning is making the most of your opportunities. Spurs are creating plenty of chances of their own, but they are also, ruthlessly, punishing the opposition when they are kind enough to supply us with a chance. There is still the best part of a marathon to go, so Spurs need to stay focused and hope that their injured players are not gone for too long.

25^th August 2009 - Spurs march on as they hit top gear

With Fabio Capello watching from the stands, it was a game for two England colleagues to battle it out for top billing, in what was to be a ding-dong derby.

King was back in for Spurs and had an easy opening to the match, as Spurs continued to have good possession football in the sweltering conditions. There seems to be a good balance to the side, especially now that Palacios has established himself in the middle. The confidence gained by Spurs opening two league wins was evident in their general play, but gradually West Ham got going.

It is somewhat surprising given their tradition for ‘Academy’ football, that West Ham were resorting to long ball tactics. Then again, their attacking options were limited and Carlton Cole had to shoulder the responsibility and just hope his team mates could add support where possible. For their part Spurs were prodding and probing, but it was West Ham who would have the first real chance. Cole broke through Spurs high defensive line and Cudicini did well to stay on his feet and cause Cole to have a moment of hesitancy, which ultimately saw the chance go begging. In order to press and have forward momentum, Spurs were continuing to defend high up the pitch, but thankfully West Ham weren’t able to exploit a few spaces that did appear behind King and Bassong. Due to Bassong’s recent arrival and the policy of resting King due to his recurring knee problems, it might be a few games before Spurs’ defensive formation settles down.

Spurs had a few chances of their own, with a King header hitting the top of the crossbar, a Huddlestone volley being saved by Green and Bassong pushing one just wide…but again, it was West Ham who would have another clear chance. Stanislas managed to break free from the attentions of Corluka and hit a low cross which evaded Cole, who might have tried harder to reach the ball.

Immediately after the break Cole redeemed himself by hitting an unstoppable shot that left Cudicini with no chance. The watching England coach would have been impressed. Harry Redknapp must have been plotting a Spurs rescue plan, when Cole inexplicably played a pass back towards his own penalty area. Defoe accepted the invitation from his England colleague and duly dispatched his shot past Green. Cole buried his head in his shirt, as he sensed this moment could be pivotal. Cole is starting to prove he can be a good player, but his error here and his missing of a couple of good chances show that he isn’t the finished article yet.

Spurs seemed revitalised by this ‘gift’ and started to play with renewed confidence. Although Spurs would still need to resist a couple of moments of danger, they were looking more accomplished. A draw away from home would’ve been creditable enough, but Spurs were still pressing the home side and Lennon cut inside Jonathan Spector and angled his shot past Robert Green, who did manage to get a hand to the shot but not enough to stops Spurs from scoring and in the process maintaining a 100% start to the season.

Harry Redknapp is too canny to get carried away with bold statements about what the season holds for Spurs, but he will be very pleased that they have given themselves the best of possible starts.

A word about the performance of the referee. Mark Clattenburg should be applauded for trying to keep the game a spectacle and generally he didn’t miss much. You could argue that he showed too much leniency on certain tackles, but he was fairly consistent to both sides. Sometimes Ref’s can be over zealous early in the season, so a common sense approach here helped make for an entertaining spectacle. Long may it continue.

Spurs on song as Bassong seals it

It is very likely that Liverpool will finish the premier league season above Spurs in the table, but Spurs thoroughly deserved their victory over last seasons runners up.

Prior to kick-off their was a team selection poser for both managers. For the visitors it was Gerrard carrying a knock…but did anyone really think their talismanic Captain would be missing from the season opener. Gerrard’s withdrawal from the England friendly of a few days before was not a shock, and it still amazes that Manager’s try the ‘kidology’ tactics. For Spurs fans the talk before the game was which of the tall and small combinations was it to be, with most seeming to favour Crouch and Defoe. The surprise then, was that Redknapp went for Defoe and Keane. After his brace for England in midweek, Defoe’s selection was not a hard choice, but Keane’s starting spot caused more ripples. A few seasons back, it appeared that Defoe and Keane could not play as a cohesive partnership. The suspicion is that Redknapp favours Keane and won’t drop him, but then as team captain that may be a factor. Redknapp may have thought a pacey strike force of Defoe and Keane would unsettle Carragher and Skrtel. The worry though was that with Lennon and Modric not being blessed height wise, that it would require Huddlestone or Palacios to try and get forward to bring some presence to the attacking options.

Early on it seemed that Spurs were showing the greater ambition, even though Liverpool were passing well with no real penetration. Gerrard had a long range effort go past the post, but it wasn’t long before Spurs had their first chance. A cross coming in from the right wing found Modric who controlled the ball and deftly knocked it back for Keane, whose header was well saved by Reina, even though it was straight at him. Had Keane been able to direct his effort to the left or right of Reina, then it would probably have been the opening goal. Keane would have two more chances to give the home side the lead, but both went begging (one another smart save from Reina and the other an early taken shot when composure was called for). As half time approached, it might have been Spurs who regretted not making the most of the glorious chances that fell to Keane, but from a free-kick they would take the lead a minute before the interval. Benoit Assou-Ekotto picked up the ball after it came back off Emiliano Insua and he unleashed a shot that sailed past Reina and into the roof of the net. Spurs were on top and leading at half-time.

There was more urgency from Liverpool in the second half, but still no major chances. As the match approached the hour mark, some smart passing put Johnson into the Spurs box and Heurelho Gomes came way off his line and conceded the penalty. With Spurs players back in the area, it seemed a misjudged decision. Gerrard coolly despatched the ball and brought Liverpool level. Would this be the moment for Liverpool to wake from their slumber and establish a grip on proceedings?. The answer was quick in coming and it was to be for Spurs that the goal would arrive. Modric sent in a delightful ball from a free-kick and debutant Sebastian Bassong connected with the ball and placed a purposeful header past Reina. Back to the drawing board once more for Benitez.

Liverpool tried to press but King and Bassong shackled Torres and Kuyt wasn’t getting involved enough. With Modric and Palacios performing superbly in midfield, Spurs were still the side that posed more threats. Indeed Palacios nearly got on the scoresheet, but Reina again showed that on the day he had been Liverpool’s best player. Benitez would be infuriated with a couple of penalty decisions not given, and whilst one looked more giveable, it would have been harsh on Spurs if they hadn’t won the match. Spurs were the better team over the 90 minutes, they showed more ambition and they created the best chances. Even Alan Hansen on Match of the Day 2 praised them!.

13th August 2009 - How not to live your life

If you follow these 3 principals, you should remain a wise and contented individual:

Don’t expect Spurs to get off to a good start

Don’t expect pre-season games to mean anything come first game

Don’t believe we will buy all the players we are linked with

I’m not saying that we are destined to have a crap start, but sometimes we go too far the other way and believe we are ready for a push into Big Four territory. After three consecutive seasons with below average starts, it might be nice this season to just be undefeated after opening 4 or 5 games.

It will be interesting to see how Crouch and Bassong settle, and hopefully Palacios will continue to shine in the middle. Will be interesting to see who exactly will be first choice up front, but more importantly, if Harry Redknapp can utilise our one genuine world class talent in Modric.

I think most fans would sacrifice cup runs for a good season in the league, but it would be good to be more consistent in the league (especially away from home), and maybe we are due an FA Cup run.

As always watch this space for the rollercoaster ride that is Spurs. It just remains for me to say;

Unlike a former player who was bitter

And voiced his thoughts like a twitter

The rest of the team can’t wait

For the points to accumulate

At least ‘Arry’s wife wouldn’t miss a sitter!

Disclaimer: Please note the words on this page are the opinion of the topspurs columnist and are just that, opinions, not facts and are nothing to do with Tottenham Hotspur Football club PLC. Just a supporter having his say nothing more nothing less. Any commentary on betting is meant for discussion purposes only and does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation.