25^th February 2008 - Juande-ful Spurs triumph and a new dawn beckons On Saturday night I didn’t know what I was more nervous about seeing…Spurs folding against a Chelsea onslaught or that tackle against Eduardo. By the end of Sunday evening all thoughts had turned to celebrating not just any old win, but a thoroughly deserved victory over one of the ‘Big Four’. Our record against Chelsea has been something of a sticking point for many seasons now and whilst we did halt the sequence last season, I always wanted a big win against the Blues to really matter. League games are important, but come and go…winning trophies stays with you forever. You could sense from the Spurs end that this game meant a whole heap more to us than the ‘just another game’ mantra at the Chelsea end of Wembley. We gave everything on our first appearance back at the remodelled Wembley and Chelsea knew they had a fight on their hands. Without going over all the minute-by-minute action I will summarise by saying that we never stopped going, even when behind. Once we equalised there was a very real sense that we had all the momentum and ideally we would see the job through before the 90 minutes was up. Zokora broke brilliantly giving himself a one-on-one against Cech. Sadly he didn’t read the script and got stage fright. Many a Spurs fan must have thought ‘Was that it, was that our chance’. We started extra time like we did the first 90 minutes and got into Chelsea. We didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough. Woodgate getting on the end of a Jenas free kick to nod past Cech. The rest of extra time seemed to be a real test of nerve for both Spurs players and supporters alike, but we held firm and cemented our place in the new foundations of Wembley Stadium. There may not be the Twin Towers at Wembley anymore but Spurs had their own twin towers in King and Woodgate. Both have had their injury woes over recent seasons but their tenacity and application gave Robinson the shield required to limit Chelsea. To be fair all the Spurs players made some sort of contribution but the architect is Juande Ramos. In a short period of time he has made us fitter, tactically more alert and given us the will to battle and not become brittle in the face of a stiff challenge. This victory is hopefully a launching pad for more success. We have been here before of course, but we believe that this time our optimism is made of better material. If Ramos can make a few useful additions and clear out the deadwood this summer then next year we have a chance of taking things a notch or two higher. But before the hoped for new dawn, lets savour the present. The atmosphere at the end was incredibly electric, as our supporters sang and danced in equal measure, matched only by the jubilant scenes on the Wembley turf. It was noted by Sky Sports that this had been the best atmosphere at the new Wembley and most of it was down to the Spurs fans. It took a while before the terraces emptied and people headed off for a much needed victory drink. Our first appearance back at the new Wembley was a triumphant return which saw us beat a strong side. It also gained a trophy in our 125^th anniversary year and booked our passage back to European competition for a third successive season. Whatever happens in the next few months, nothing will take away the wonderful memory of this very special day.

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22^nd February 2008 - Final Thoughts This sunday's final will hopefully show how far we have come in terms of both fitness and tactical acumen since Ramos has taken charge. I can't offer any predictions in terms of scoreline, but hope that the Spurs players go into the game expecting to win, because mental blocks can defeat you before you even start. Yes, Chelsea are a strong team, but it is a two-horse race and anything can happen. In a way the press could help give us a platform by writing off our chances, especially as we don't always handle being favourites that well. We are definitely second favourites, but we have a better chance of winning it than Arsenal (Ha, ha). A win takes us back into Europe next season, gives us a trophy well before the end of term and can mark the 125th year in style. We as supporters have been through the ups and downs already, and here's hoping we are very much on the up. Come on You Spurs

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October 10^th 2007 - Marathon not a sprint

So the season is now in its third month and Spurs are hovering just above the relegation zone. We have been here before and it looks like we will have to pick ourselves up from familiar territory.

It is only the Spurs faithful that have kept Jol in his job and if the boos had already been raining down from the terraces, then he would surely be in search of employment elsewhere. So what is letting us down, tactics or players? It may be a bit of both, as we have certainly been in positions already this term to gain at least double our current point’s haul. We haven’t kept many clean sheets in the last 40-plus games, but defending doesn’t just begin and end with the back four. Zokora does not seem to be strong enough to control affairs in Premiership games, but does have more success in the less intense environment of our Carling Cup and UEFA exploits. Huddlestone can pass the ball in exemplary fashion, but seems to have stopped “bumping” players off the ball. What we need centrally is a battler and someone who can break up play.

Now it is not Darren Bent’s fault that we signed him, and if it is to be believed he is not a Jol signing, but our real target this last summer did need to be a commanding midfielder. Maybe Scott Parker should have been our target, or a similar style of box-to-box player who could have held our midfield together. In the absence of this I would suggest a compromise, but sadly it would require Ledley King to not only come back from injury, but to stay fit and healthy. Some reports are even suggesting that Ledley will never play a full season again, which would be a tragedy. Let’s be positive and hope Ledley can make a recovery, so partnering Dawson once more. If this situation can happen, it might be plausible for Younes Kaboul to move forward into midfield and anchor operations in a good old-fashioned sweeper role. He seems to possess ability on the ball so could perform this role and offer more of a buffer in front of Paul Robinson and the much maligned back four.

Maybe alongside Kaboul, you could play Adel Taarabt, who may at times seem like a gamblers role of the dice, but if you look at teams that achieve, they all have players who are difficult to defend against and whom occasionally frustrate even their own managers. If Lennon avoids injury you could even trial the idea of Taarabt down the left wing, with Malbranque on the bench able to replace either. Ultimately, our need for a certain kind of central midfielder may facilitate the sale of a very popular player in the January sales. Of course I mean Jermain Defoe, whom I have a lot of time for. He does possess lots of natural ability, but the management at Tottenham seem to feel he is not first choice in our striking ranks. I’ve read that in some quarters his attitude has been questioned, but whenever I’ve seen him play for Spurs, even in one of his many cameos, I have always felt something might happen. It would be a real shame for him to leave, especially as he doesn’t seem to want to, but he would raise considerable funds for us to acquire that midfielder we so desperately crave. I’d rather we sold several other players, before we sold Defoe, but ultimately we do need to sort out the central positions.

The damage already inflicted this season is obvious, but as we have proved in the last couple of seasons, we can recover. Top five may require a level of performance we are not currently reaching, but top six or seven could be achievable and if this year we missed out on 5th but gained a trophy, well that would please many of us. At the time of writing Jol’s future is being described as that of a “dead man walking”. Who knows Jol may even spring a surprise and walk into another job before he is pushed, which would be rich irony on the Spurs board. The 125th anniversary season is not over yet and with a bit of repair could still yield a happy conclusion, but it does require the players to start learning how to close games out. If this can be achieved, sooner rather than later, then Martin Jol may still have the final word.

Laurence Coss

Topspurs columnist

Infamy, Infamy, they’ve all got it Infamy (21/08/07)

The above phrase comes from Carry on Cleo, and you could say that Carry on Spurs is the latest farce. Jol’s head is on the chopping block and whilst I don’t agree with that, the shame is that once the media has someone in their sights…well you know the score.

Yes, we have had a less than good start to our current premiership campaign, but are a few games at the start of the season enough to merit sacking talk. It would appear that the board are manoeuvring in the background to line up a replacement. You have to think that, because Levy hasn’t gone on record as saying that Jol is safe.

Maybe Jol has some faults, but we’ve had two top five finishes (one which was nearly a champions league spot), more than we’ve had in the previous 15 plus seasons. We have a pretty decent home record and could improve away from home, but again the squad has taken time to assemble and maybe the time to judge is some months from now. I hope Jol survives because I genuinely think he will get it right this term…but typical of Tottenham would be to get rid of the manager without having lined up a replacement. It would appear that Britain’s press have already “stopped taking bets”, and whether the spate of stories are true or just being fed for malicious reasons, a rolling stone sometimes gathers too much moss for even the strongest of individuals to withhold.

Give Jol £30m-plus to spend on players, some of whom haven’t even kicked a ball in anger yet, and then wait three-four games and give the manager the sack, replace him with another manager who will no doubt have his own ideas about the playing staff he requires and another splodge of cash goes southwards. If Jol, Comolli and Levy don’t get on that’s one thing, but I’m sure Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp, et al, have people at their respective clubs that they don’t get on with, but can see past that for the better of the club.

Sadly my gut feeling is that Jol will fall on his sword, but like a Shakespearean tragedy there may be more skullduggery to come “Et tu, Brute?”.

Laurence Coss

Topspurs columnist

Season Preview 2007/08 - Can Tottenham be HOT Spurs

As every season comes round, Spurs fans near and far ask the perennial question ‘Is this the year when it all comes together?’. Well, first things first, I don’t know the answer to that one, but all the signs are at least pointing in the right direction.

The acquisition of Bale, Bent, Kaboul and Boateng, have certainly given us a shot in the arm, but it is keeping hold of prized asset Dimitar Berbatov that will have gladdened all the White Hart Lane faithful. With a forward line of Berbatov, Keane, Bent and Defoe, we should be amongst the goals. Hopefully we will also prove more of a challenge on the road this term, as both Berbatov and Bent have the pace and ability to take the play to the opposing defenders.

Bale should give us options on the left and will hopefully slot a few free-kicks away, which has been an area of concern for more than a couple of seasons now. Kaboul should also add to our central defensive wall, especially as Ledley is worryingly injured again.

So if Jol can solve the away day blues and he can resolve the porous and sometimes brittle midfield, then and only then we might be in for a season to remember. Europe again looks like the best bet, but a cup win is long over due and if we can crack the consistency code, we might even nip into the Champions League, but a couple of teams above us would have to have an absolute stinker of a season…Here’s hoping.

Whatever happens, lets enjoy the ride….Come on you Spurs, make our 125^th anniversary one big old party.

Laurence Coss

Season 2007-2008

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