12^th August 2010 - 2010/11 Season Preview It has been a strange pre-season for the Spurs. The World Cup took over the footballing world for the first couple of months of summer (I won’t dwell on the England debacle – other than to say that I thought that Capello’s treatment of the Spurs boys was a disgrace). Following on from that, for the first time in years we have barely signed or sold a player. In recent summers, there has been a revolving door of players in and out at Spurs Lodge. I guess there is still time for a late flurry of activity, but what is great is that our squad is very settled and the basic truth, is that we don’t require wholesale squad changes. We have a very good team and we finally proved it last season. We have held onto all of our stars to date and that is fantastic. Just think, next season we might have a fully fit Modric and fully fit Lennon playing together for the first time since last August. Even stranger perhaps, is that the players that all seemed certainties to leave are still here. Jenas, Bentley, Pav and Keane –all remain Spurs players. And for Keane perhaps it is the strangest of all – will it be the 3^rd coming of him? I hope so, he has been excellent in pre-season – he finally seems to have got his Mojo back and is now playing with a smile on his face, after returning to us from another one of his footballing holidays. I would like to see him leading the line for Spurs on the opening day and to continue his fine pre-season form. The disappointing thing I suppose is that we have not yet landed the “marquee” signings that would help us compete at the very top. We have been linked with countless players, but the names which remain in the frame, in my mind do not inspire much and are not much better than what we have. Is Bellamy really better than Keane? In my mind No. Is Gallas better than Bassong? – probably five years ago – but not now. And more to the point both of these individuals are two of my most disliked players – I really do not want to pay the wages of these obnoxious, horrible characters, looking for one last pay day before they bow out with shame from football. Other names? Remy? He seems to be being banded around like some cheap whore (sorry Crouchie!) by Nice, except he is not so cheap. The fact that he rocked up at Stoke and is closely linked with West Ham, to me means he is not got the calibre that we now require. Ashley Young? Pretty decent –but expensive and not sure where he will fit in to the team, but I would be happy enough to sign him. I am still hoping we pull off a top signing to add to the squad, but we are not desperate in any area, and we do not need to panic buy as in the past. So if things stay roughly as they are – I expect another very good season. Will we improve? It will be difficult Man City continue to spend, spend, spend. Chelsea and Man U will stay up there, Liverpool will probably be a bit better, but the goons again look vulnerable – defensively unsound, we came close to finishing above them last year, we finally beat them in the league, let’s finally finish above them this year. I think we have a real chance of top 4 again, but equally we could finish 6^th/ 7^th if things conspire against us. In the Champs league we have given a plum draw, against Wenger’s favourite team and baring a disaster, we will be in the group stage, which will be a fantastic achievement by itself. I am salivating at the prospect of playing against one of the European elite as their equals. Finally in the domestic cups? Well the year ends in one – so surely another trip the Wembley beckons! Up the Spurs!

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24^th May 2010 – RBS Season Review

At the start of season, my heart told me we could finally win our battle to qualify for the Champions League, but my head said no. Indeed I predicted in my season preview a top six place and a cup run. In the end I am delighted that my heart was right and there is no question that season 09/10 has been a fine season for Tottenham Hotspur.

Our best position for twenty years, our highest points tally in the Premier League (and highest since 1986’87, most goals scored by us since 1986’87, most wins since 1986’87, most home wins since 1986’87 and if it wasn’t for our last day second half collapse we would have had our best defence in the Premier league, instead they will have to settle for joint 2^nd best.

Although it was a heart wrenching journey, it wasn’t really a rollercoaster as such, we didn’t fall out of the top 6 all season after all and indeed spent the majority of the time in 4^th or 5^th place. This shows great consistency, something missing from the majority of Spurs teams over the last couple of decades. We also beat the top teams, in fact we beat every team at least once, except for Man U, Villa (who we drew with twice) and er...Wolves (but we will forget that!). However the fight for 4^th was certainly enthralling, how many of us thought we would ultimately bottle it and come up short? Guilty as charged.

We also had two cup runs; unfortunately these were our most disappointing parts of the season, as both were missed opportunities. We could and should have done better against a reserve Man U team in the quarters of the League Cup. As for Wembley debacle – well I don’t really want to dwell on it, except to say, that this may have been one of my most enjoyable seasons as a 30 something fan, but that day, that horrible, horrible day, well I would like it burned from my mind.

However, although our boys do deserve lavish praise and although I will continue to celebrate all summer, I will just add a sense of perspective and try to not to get too carried away. We did after all only finish 4^th, we didn’t win anything; we just had a much better season than we have had in recent years. I definitely do not think that Harry deserved Barclays Manager of the Year. This is not to say that I am not pleased he got it, he has done a great job. It is just that hopefully this will be the spring board to success, what will he get if we finish 3^rd next season for example – a Knighthood? Hodgson getting the LMA Manager of year award I understand – it won’t get any better for Fulham – for us though I hope it gets much, much better.

Let’s not forget, that although Sugar did his best to turn us into a mediocre club during his inglorious decade in charge, in the preceding 41 years before he took over (i.e. since our famous push and run team of 50’51 when we rejoined the top flight in emphatic style) we finished in the top 4, 16 times. In other words it was a pretty regular occurrence.

The great thing though, is that there is a really positive vibe surrounding Tottenham, not felt for some time. We have a very young squad (for most of season we did not play any 30+ year olds), the press are eulogising over us (which makes a stark change), new stadium on the horizon and it feels nice being a Spurs fan. We can look forward to next season full of confidence.

Below, in end of season “Shoot” style which I enjoyed as a kid in the 80s, I have rated our players out of ten. I am going to have break from writing now for a few weeks, enjoy the summer and let’s hope our boys do us proud at the World Cup.

PLAYER RATINGS FOR ALL PLAYERS WHO APPEARED IN TEN OR MORE GAMES

Gomes: Has turned from clown into class act. Easily a contender for my player of the year. 9/10

Corluka: A bit like marmite for Spurs fans, but he is definitely our best right back for many a year. I think he had a very good season and was a worthy contributor to our success. 7/10

Hutton: Delighted to see the back of him. He didn’t want to come to us, when he joined us a couple and I wish he hadn’t. Dreadful when he appeared. I hope he does not return from his loan spell. 2/10

Kaboul: Verdict still out on him, a bit part player this season, but a couple of sterling performances at business end, particularly against Man City, bodes well for next season. 5/10

Assou-Ekkoto: Carried on from where he left off from last season, consistent if not brilliant. Don’t particularly like the guy (especially after his Guardian interview) but he had a decent season. 7/10

Bale: One of three players to have come in from the cold mid way through the season. But of the three by far the best. A serious contender for our player of year based on his second half season performance alone. Could be a super star. 9/10

Bassong: A worthy squad member. Due to our unorthodox defensive strategy, he got plenty of minutes, despite probably being only our 3^rd or 4^th choice centre back. Should be happy with his debut Spurs season. 7/10

Dawson: Brilliant season. Injured for first couple of month, but grabbed his chance with both arms when it came. Has shown this season, the potential which he has so often promised. Another contender for my player of year. 9/10

King: The King by name, The King by nature. I love this guy and in my mind, he is already a Spurs Legend. Yes, we only get half a season out of him, but to have a player of this quality, I would take it every time. A class act and another contender for my player of year. 9/10

Lennon: What a shame he was injured against West Ham, was having a stonking season until then. Great to see him back though. 8/10

Jenas: It could be the end for Jenas and Spurs this summer. This has been a hugely disappointing season for him and I can barely remember his contribution despite him appearing in 19 games, he failed to step up. Quite simply we have better midfielders than him now. But with over 150 appearances for Tottenham under his belt, I wish him well if he goes. If he is happy to be nothing more than bench warmer, then I would be content to keep him. 4/10

Modric: Another player, who had his season ravished by injury. However when he played he was excellent. A fellow Spurs fan said to me recently he would swap Modric for Carrick – I couldn’t disagree more. Modric is for me is integral to our success. 8/10

Palacios: A good season, if not brilliant. A lot better than the likes of Zokora or Freund in days gone by, but hopeful that we can get even more out of him. 7/10

Krancjar: Purchase of the season, a snip at 2.5 million. Not quite sure where we will fit him in, when all our players are fit, but it is fantastic dilemma to have. Great year. 8/10

Huddlestone: His best year by far. Like Dawson he has finally shown the potential, that we have seen in fits and bursts over last few years. By end of season he was keeping Palacios on the bench. Tremendous campaign and I think he can get better, another one on the shortlist for my player of year.

Bentley: Got his chance following Lennon’s injury and made a go of it. He has for me done enough to keep him around as a squad player next year. But if Harry decides to let him go, so be it. 6/10

Crouch: Our only player to appear in all 38 league games last year. Didn’t score enough goals, but still a good asset. Not sure I would start him, but would definitely like having him in squad. 7/10

Pavluychenko: A very strange season for the Russian. Two superlative months, surrounded by seven months of disappointment. Overall however not enough goals in the league for me. Pav is a target man, yet has managed just 10 league goals in 43 league matches since he joined us. His cup form has been superb, but we cannot just rely on that. A hard choice, but if we get a taker with a decent offer, I would move him on. Like the guy, but we need someone better, if we are going to challenge at the very top. 6/10

Gudjohnsen: Cameo role for him and just the one league goal, but showed some nice hold up play at crucial moments at the end of matches. If he is happy to be a 4^th choice striker, then ok for him to re-sign for another year. 6/10

Keane: 9 goals in half a season so still made his contribution. Despite not fantastic form, he would have been given opportunities, if he had decided to fight for his place. But he didn’t, he took the coward’s way and missed out on our Champs league qualification and instead, scored lots of goals against joke teams for another of his “dream” clubs. If he is happy to play a role as a backup striker, I would take him back. If he is going to sulk, let’s move him on. There is only one way for him now, if he decides to move on and it isn’t up. 6/10

Defoe: Most amount of goals by Tottenham player for 15 years, our most potent striker by far. Yes, injury and some poor form in latter stages of season. But still a great campaign for him and another contender for my player of season. 8/10

ROBBY BOY’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON: Tom Huddlestone, by a nose (or possibly his stomach) on Gomes and Dawson, with King and Defoe deserving special mentions.

Up the Spurs!

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.