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20^th December 2011 – Dream a little Dream

As the table stands, should we win our game in hand we would only be four points behind Man City at the top of the table, and weren't Man United some eleven points shy of Newcastle many seasons ago before Fergie's mind games got the better of Keegan and the Old Trafford outfit snatched the title?

Stranger things have happened in life, but although on paper the Premiership title looks like it will be contested between the two Manchester clubs, why shouldn't we gatecrash the party and push both all the way? After all, this is one of the strongest squads we've had for years, and boasts players with a wealth of International experience, the only thing that could hold us back is a lack of belief in ourselves. Harry strikes me as the type of boss who doesn't dwell on a players negative traits but would tell them to go out there and play their game. I also doubt he'd fall for Fergie's kiddology in the same way Keegan famously did.

Despite the defeat at Stoke last week, we played very well in the second half and some debated decisions aside, we could have grabbed a draw up there. Yesterday's narrow win against Sunderland showed we can get maximum points even when we are not firing on all cylinders, and Thursday night's clash with that lot from Stamford Bridge will be a test of our mettle.

Lennon is apparently sidelined for a few weeks after the Sunderland game, but Harry expects Bale to be back, so we should at least have pace back on one flank and with a Chelski rearguard that is shaky these days (even Cech has been making some bloopers recently) we are more than capable of exploiting that and getting the three points.

To dare is to do, keep the faith.

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1^st September 2011 - Keeping up with the Joneses

Another transfer window closes and so much happened on the final day in addition to what might have happened, but despite recruiting a very good footballer in Scott Parker, could Spurs look rather enviously at the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Stoke and even that lot up the road who signed four players yesterday.

It's like the scenario that you you buy your brand new Vauxhall and are standing looking at it  on your drive when your neighbour across the street pulls up outside his house in his sparkling just bought BMW. Despite you being proud as punch with your new purchase, you cannot help but make an envious glance across the street. As Jim Bowen used to say "Here's what you could have won".

We were told when the rumours abounded that Crouchy was on his way yesterday with "three or four clubs" being in for him, that we were "overloaded" in that position and that he was too good a player not too play. Very true if the alternative would be him sitting on the bench- from a playing perspective we have Defoe, Pav and the recent addition of Adebayor vying for places up front, and good player though Big Peter is, his goal ratio in the Premier league is not high enough for us to be realistically challenging the top four clubs. My question dear reader is this............

If we are apparently overloaded with strikers in the squad (debatable in my eyes but if Van der Vaart who is really a goalscoring midfielder rather than an out and out front man is included then yes, fair enough) then surely by the same token we are well served at centre back, even if Bassong had left us for QPR yesterday, we still have Gallas, Ledley, Dawson and Kaboul who can play there, so why did we need Cahill? Interesting to read some Bolton fans forums yesterday that they rate him a good footballer, but not the best of defenders. As it turned out, the two clubs were someway apart in their valuations so the deal didn't progress, and the Bassong deal was vetoed as a result.

When everybody is fit I think our squad looks pretty good- Sandro has been badly missed especially at Old Trafford where we could have done with him breaking up those United attacks from deep in the second half. Wolves away on 10th September is a vital game, we need three points and although Molineux is not an easy ground to get a win at (as last season's 3 all draw testifies) we need to have all hands to the pump. The starting XI may be something like this:-

Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Parker, Huddlestone, Bale; Defoe, Adebayor.

I have to admit to still trying to get my head round the Adebayor at Spurs scenario, and it was a bit strange to see him holding up a Tottenham shirt in the paper the other day, but let's let bygones be bygones, and should he score the winner against the Goons then his previous career may well by excused by a lot of our fans....

23^rd August 2011 – Its never simple being a Spurs fan

As we belatedly kick off the Premiership season tonight, buoyed by an impressive performance at Hearts last week (even if the opposition were not of the strongest category), as usual, it's never easy being a Tottenham fan. Irrespective of the riots in the area recently (and it's been good to see the Club get behind re-building the area and pledging their support to this), the Club itself is embroiled in what seems like the annual speculation and strife.

Rumblings are Modric isn't in the "right frame of mind" to face United this evening, the possible signings of Diarra and Adebayor have split areas of the club's support (particularly the Man City player will his head be right, how will the fans take to a player may factions openly dislike, Harry's bet that an individual who is hated by the Arsenal fans will be welcomed with open arms by the Spurs supporters is a tad optimistic I would think?).

On the plus side, Livermore and Townsend look good prospects and Krancjar had a great game at Hearts (though the amount of room he got last Thursday evening to stroke passes round in centre midfield and barely break into a sweat is not likely to be repeated at Old Trafford tonight). We have much to be optimistic about, and as it draws nearer and nearer towards the transfer window deadline date, is Levy going to dig his heels in and not sell Modric, as the circling vultures of Chelsea wait in the wings, or will Arry decide that there is no point keeping a player who (evidently) doesn't want to be at the club and prompt Levy to cash in?

Tune in next time, same Spurs time, same Spurs channel..............

5^th August 2011 – Season Preview

At the time of writing, we have signed Brad Friedel, a promising youngster from Barcelona and a good young prospect from African football. The tabloids have linked to us to Diarra at Real Madrid, Llorente from Saturday's visitors Athletic Bilbao, Chris Samba from Blackburn and even Joey Barton who is not flavour of the month up in the North East at the current time.

Harry has spoken of not wanting to wait until the midnight hour before we seal a transfer (a la Van der Vaart last season), but has pointed out it is not easy finding players better than those already in the squad. We apparently need to sell before we can buy and those squad members maybe surplus to requirements would have to be shifted at a realistic price to interested clubs so that we do not start the campaign with players on high salaries who have no real future with the club still on our payroll. (For example, we would need to take a big cut in price on the money we forked out when we bought Bentley if we are to sell him).

As a supporter, I unfortunately have no say over the comings and goings of the club, but I am remaining positive that we will see a couple of additions before the window shuts at the end of this month. Redknapp has said with the Thursday night games in the Europa league, that he sees these as having a big impact on our League season and expects to use youngsters like Livermore and Townsend quite regularly in the European games. It will be interesting to see what transpires if we have a good run in this competition and end up getting the final whether he starts playing our big guns in it later in the season when the Premiership and Champions league spots start gaining extra significance come April and May.

So............predictions for 2011/12? A lot of this rides on us getting a 20 goal a season front man, whether Modric stays, how well the back four plays, Ledley's knee/groin etc holding out. Sandro was a revelation last season, and I expect him to step up to the plate this year and become a mainstay of the side, Bale will be even more tightly marked this year, with even more sides doubling up on him to nullify his impact on matches, so he will need to adjust his game- the way he and Lennon swap wings during games shows he has already made strides to get round this problem. JD will have a point to prove after what was for him a poor if injury ravaged season last time out and there will be no one more pleased than me if he comes out all guns blazing and scores a hatful. I am going to go for us finishing 5th again (the Man U/Chelsea/Man City and Liverpool quartet being who I see finishing above us), the Gooners will struggle if Fabregas and Nasri jump ship and I think we will finish above them. The domestic cups very much depends on Harrys team selection, with numerous matches ahead of us in the Europa League, and the Premier League a known priority I think he will play our kids in the home cup competitions as well. Us to have a good run in the Europa League but I don't think we'll win it, but I am not going to do a Hansen and say that we'll win nothing with kids...............

23^rd June 2011 – The Summer Lull

Pre season always throws up the inevitable transfer rumours, and with Spurs linked to Pablo Osvaldo, Scott Parker and Gary Cahill amongst others, so far it's about as typical a summer as it gets in the Blue and White part of North London. With the Stamford Bridge club on the verge of confirming the ex Porto coach as manager and (allegedly) making their interest in Modric clear to the footballing and journalistic worlds (despite Levy rebuffing their initial £ 22 million offer) it appears our owners and Arry alike face a bit of a fight to keep hold of one of our most prized players;

Brad Friedel has arrived and Jamie O'Hara is departing for Molineux as I write this; Kyle Walker has had a good few matches for Villa, and my inkling would be that he should return to us, his parent club, as his displays for Villa on loan and for the England U 21's have received glowing reports; Should Palacios depart as seems to be the rumour, we need an experienced ball winner in the side (maybe one who can nurture Sandro who looks a real prospect)-Scott Parker has been mentioned numeroud times as a possibility, though we will have to make sure we get him for a price not over inflated for a player of 30.

If the stories from the January transfer window are to be believed then we were after a number of players whose transfer fee was either vastly inflated (e.g. Giuseppe Rossi) or whose wages were out of our price structure (Diego Forlan). Levy seems capable of playing hardball where the sale of players is concerned (the Berbatov transfer where we got top dollar from United being such an example) so I can't see him paying over the odds for an ordinary player or one who would have little sell on value (such as Parker).

Perhaps a part cash/part player exchange could work- e.g. Jenas and Bassong going to Bolton with Cahill coming the other way? Only time will tell whether such a player would be prepared to move to us, or would they hold out for a move to Arsenal or one of the other top four sides to get regular Champions League football?

Yes who indeed will we see running out in the Club's (latest) new kits come the pre-season friendlies and the curtain opener against Everton? It could be a busy summer of departures and arrivals.........

27 May 2011 – Summing up the season

As the bookies install Harry Redknapp as odds on favourite to take the helm at Chelski (and at the time of writing I am not sure whether this is a rumour or whether there is any truth in the story), I would like to think (July's court case permitting) that Harry will still be in charge come next season, with the Europa league campaign and our trying to qualify for the Champions League via our domestic spot;

I was glad to see Luka Modric get a deserved player of the year after the Birmingham game, true Bale took the plaudits in the early part of the season with fantastic displays in Milan, at Stoke and so forth, but following his spell out through injury, he never quite re-captured those highlights. Modric on the other hand has been (bar a couple of games) excellent all through and let us hope (whether Harry departs or not) that he fulfills his contract and stays with us as the Man Uniteds, Chelseas and top brass in other parts of Europe may try and tempt the Club to sell.

Should Harry go (and as a very much pro Redknapp supporter I hope he doesn't) then the club would need to get the next managerial appointment dead right- in an age where money talks (and let's be honest it always has done whatever walk of life you are from) it may be an issue that needs to be addressed sooner than we may all think? A catastrophic appointment like the Santini fiasco and the Gross regime would send the club backwards, let's all keep our fingers crossed that the vultures don't come circling and offer Harry a carrot he can't resist going after;

This is an issue that if it happens, then we need to corss that bridge when it comes; Immediately, we have had a darn good season, and if the results against the lower ranked teams in the Premier league had been improved upon, who knows what could have happened? (From my personal point of view beating Arsenal and Liverpool away were particular highlights, being two monkeys off our backs- now we need to do the same at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford to alleviate the mental block we've had at those grounds (Pedro Mendes goal being disallowed via what can only be described as " dubious" decisions by referee and linesman alike apart).

Wouldn't it be perfect if the oft used management quote "We need one or two players and we'll be up there challenging for the title" actually came true- and we got those said players (not necessarily the excess of £ 30 million superstars but players that came in for a modest fee- see how well Chicarito has one for Man U for example) who have the winning mentality and move us up those notch or two. Fifty years is a long time not to win the title for, and as Man United boast about their 19th or whatever it is Championship title, I just want to see Spurs win it at least once in my lifetime.

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.