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22nd November 2011 - Not Just a Pretty
Face Clearly having left a posting up for a few months about how big a mistake bringing in Adebayor could be, it is time I return to more positive pastures. History and bitter experience ensures that I am loathe to get too carried away with us but likewise it is important to enjoy the moment and getting a verbal slap off my mate Gaz last night during the Villa game, when I dared to suggest that we should be more clinical, was timely; these are indeed happy days at the Lane. Watching us play at the moment is a genuine pleasure and as Jim’s stats show, we are witnessing something not previously associated with many Tottenham teams down the years; excellent attacking flair combined with uncharacteristic resilience. This is partly due to our ball retention that is limiting the chance we give the opposition to play but also with The King and an increasingly impressive Kaboul, flanked by the reliable BAE and ever improving Walker means that we have a consistent and strong defensive unit. With a keeper behind them exuding calm, for probably the first time since the days of Clemence, Gough, Mabbutt and Hughton (sorry Mitchell Thomas but I was never sure), we have a defence that provides a strong springboard for attack; which is how Pleat had us playing back then and boy were we close to glory that season-let’s conveniently forget we actually won nothing when we had the treble in our grasp! What excites me most about the current Spurs though is the depth of the squad that has been assembled and this could make a real difference as winter comes and the fixtures build up with the FA Cup and hopefully progress in and taking the Europa a little more seriously. Previously we have had big squads but there has been a lack of real quality for each position. Things have however changed, try the following for size: Cudicini Charlie Gallas Dawson Rose Kranjcar Sandro Huddlestone Livermore Pienaar Defoe Ok, it may be lacking the pace the current first pick has but not a bad outfit nonetheless and bar Man City, it has to be as good a 2nd string as is out there and this is what I think has given us all genuine hope that we can really produce a season to remember. So where can we go from here? The fixture list has that run of games that can make or break us-the sort of opportunity to put points on the board that previously we have not taken advantage of, so let’s hope the form continues and we grind the away victories if necessary and walk into 2012 in a strong position on a number of fronts. This really could be a season to remember. PS. I may have got it wrong about Adebayor-so far so good; he has worked hard, linked well and created space and opportunities as well as scored...............................but cor, can he also miss a sitter................ Woodo
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TOPSPURS COLUMNISTS
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Please don’t expect to read anything all of you don’t already know; I just needed a little TopSpurs therapy to get this off my chest. Now I know times are tough, I know there is only so much money to go around and I know that we haven’t shifted many of our fringe players to pay for new ones but is Emmanuel Adebayor really the answer to the ongoing plea for a consistent, goal scoring centre forward? Liverpool buy Suarez, Man City Aguero, United Hernandez; busy, irritating, hard working goal scorers who belie their size and offer for every minute they are on the pitch. We already have two centre forwards who can give us moody and inconsistent and another one who is keen as mustard but isn’t physically equipped to buzz about and finish chances. I’m sorry it isn’t the Arsenal thing, (I thought Gallas had a decent season for us last year and they seemed happy enough with Big Pat all those years ago) and to be fair there’s probably a readymade song for him there somewhere if a terrace lyricist can be bothered to rework that frowned upon refrain. No it’s purely him and his £175k/week attitude to his job and I just don’t want him at our place. Woodo PS Clearly if he signs, scores twenty plus goals and the winner in a cup final, can that terrace lyricist drop me a copy of the words............................ 10th August 2011 – Season Preview Shortish and sweetish, my hopes and fears for the season: Hopes: Modric stays, we buy a striker who scores, we take the Europa seriously, we have a go at getting back in the top four, we win a cup and Harry doesn’t think we’re all stupid for not being happy with standing still. Fears: We leave it all until the last minute in the transfer window to get a bargain and end up with nobody (please explain how we had £35m in January to buy a centre forward and now we need to offload first?), Bale turns out to be the softest Welshman in the country’s history and spends the season injured, anymore players get the Defoe and Lennon whinging affliction, any of those feral toe rags running around at the moment torch the Lane!! On the QT, I think with a settled squad we will do ok if we can consistently convert chances........................ Woodo 29 Apr 2011 - Controversial?I know this article runs the risk of an editorial slap
from Jim given his (mostly deserved) support of Redknapp, but I just wanted
to share the following thoughts when deciding on progress. Yes we have had some fun in the Champions
League and until West Brom looked as though another
trip to Eastlands for a CL play-off beckoned, but I
have a feeling things are slightly unravelling and perhaps our run in the CL
has papered over a few faults that we should consider when trying to
determine whether this is actually looking likely to be that good a season. In Europe we have had a rollercoaster; getting away with
it against a second rate Swiss team, playing some decent football in the
group games (particularly the first half with Werder
Bremen) and the comeback against Inter with ten men, but the wins against the
Italian sides have been somewhat put in perspective with Schalke’s
demolition of Inter in the Quarters and the subsequent stroll by Man U
against them on Tuesday. Our
participation ended likewise with a whimper against Real. In the league there
have been some fantastic games and results, not least the win at the Library
and the basketball style return fixture against them last week. We have however contrived to draw too many
games and lose some which we really should be putting away. Now I can hear you all accusing me of pointing out the bleedin obvious and that this happens to all teams, but
actually it doesn’t. Not to TOP teams
and that is what I thought we were considering ourselves to be. Last weekend, Man U with half an eye on
Europe, kept going and going until they beat a stubborn Everton and Chelsea
comfortably beat the Hammers and added to their goal difference when all we
could manage against both was a draw. Meanwhile we let more points slip
because we don’t finish chances and make the most of periods of dominance and
this is my frustration with this season bearing in mind that the consensus is
that it has been relatively low in terms of quality and we (Man U and City
aside) are supposed to have the best squad of players in the league. So, what is to be done?
Well I like to think I don’t just come to you and have a moan, so
here’s the plan. If we don’t beat
Chelsea on Saturday, 4th place is not probably an option. Is 5th what we really want? I
know it sounds defeatist and negative and that we have a famous history in
European competition but hear me out. Back in the day the UEFA and Cup Winners Cups were great;
top teams in both competitions and about six rounds to win it. This ludicrously
formatted competition of the Europa however is a nonsense, a very poor relation to the CL so why not give
that to the Scousers by finishing 6th? We then spend the summer moving heaven and
earth to keep Modric, Bale, VDV etc, pay some
serious coin on a centre forward who consistently scores and aim for domestic
glory and a proper crack at the top 4 or why not even the title next
season? It’s worth a thought or at the very least gets the excuses
in early............................................ PS. Just remembered that my two wishes in the Season
Preview were to win away at one of the Sky Four grounds and get out of the CL
group so perhaps I’m just an ungrateful bastard after all. Woodo
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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. |