TOPSPURS

THE TOPSPURS COLUMNISTS GUEST COLUMN (Sunday, 11 May 2003)

 

 

 

 

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THE TOPSPURS COLUMNISTS

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CRACKERS

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GUEST

TOPSPURS - The Manager Poll (Revisited)

 

10th May 2003 – Highs, Lows and Concerns from Season 2002-03, Transitional Season No. 19 (Logan)

And so Transitional Season No.19 has been put to rest. Spurs have been in a state of transition since 1984, when Keith Burkinshaw left having won the EUFA Cup and those parting words, 'There used to be a football club over there!'  Prior to this, the transition from one successful team to the next lasted a few years but we have been in a constant period of transition looking for the right management team, the players and the style that is

Tottenham to achieve success.  At no time during this period have we been able to look at a settled Club. Even with our limited success there was uncertainty, the 'nearly' team of David Pleat played some lovely football, promised much but ultimately failed and circumstances lead to it breaking up within months, the success of Venables was against a background of the possibility of the club going out of existence and the selling of our star player, while GG's success was in a situation where he was never going to be accepted. Neither success led to the brighter future that everyone at WHL sought and so August, 2002 saw us start Glenn Hoddle's second season in charge with the eternal optimism that this would be a better year, we would improve and be setting ourselves up to challenge the top teams.

Well, how did it work out?  The highs and euphoria certainly came in the early days. Before August was out, Spurs had signed Robbie Keane and the team sat proudly at the top of the Premiership, in spite of not very inspiring performances.  But who cared, it was the first time that I had ever left WHL with Spurs at the top of the league and we knew it wouldn't last but we made the most of it and enjoyed the experience.  For ten days and half of the next match at Fulham, it was looking good but then the bubble burst and we conceded three second half goals to start the downward slide.

The success of Robbie Keane cannot be over emphasised.  Without him, I dread to think what we might be contemplating next season.  He brought excitement and goals to the team and he played in a way that showed he was glad to be out there each week. The performance against A****** at WHL was an unexpected high, following the dismal performance a few weeks earlier.  The team played with passion and ability and Zeige's goal was one to remember.  To see them leaving WHL, relieved to have got a draw was something else.  The season needed more performances like that but sadly they didn't materialise.  It was good to manage to avoid defeat in both matches against Chelsea and in both cases, we deserved to have taken all three points, denied only by the outstanding play of their goalkeeper, Cudicini.  The match against Everton brought excitement and Keane's first hat-trick in a 4 - 3 win when the team came from behind to gain victory. That and the game against Sunderland proved to be our highest scoring games with the relegated team being easily overturned at WHL.

Player wise, the high was undoubtedly Keane but Richards showed much improvement from his indifferent first year and he was greatly missed in the second half of the season when his appearances were less frequent due to the call from the Spurs treatment room.  Keller also produced some excellent performances but had an unfortunate knack of making mistakes or conceding crucial penalties.

Wonder of the season 1:  How did he manage to give away so many penalties but not get sent off? Few of the other players can be said to have proved themselves this year - Davies and King have failed to impress as we would have hoped, Gardner's appearances were too infrequent and Carr has nor returned from injury with the same commitment and drive that previously saw him up and down the right wing covering every blade of grass on the pitch.

The lows are many from a disappointing season; even in victory many performances were poor.  Too often the team played pathetically and lacked direction and passion and were a soft touch for teams who were prepared to battle and close them down.  Too many players are past their best and for Sheringham, Poyet, Freund it has been a season too many.  Thankfully, at least, two of them will not be turning out next year and hopefully Poyet's appearances will be restricted to little cameo roles from the bench for fifteen to twenty minutes.  Early exit from both Cups brought a premature end to the season and for the second year in succession our exit from the F.A.Cup has been to the score line of 0 - 4! - Not what you expect from a club with Tottenham's Cup traditions.  How could the players be so demotivated and so under-perform in a match of that importance for their season and the fans?  To play like that in the full glare of national television was a disgrace.

In spite of their indifferent performances and with favourable fixtures in the final months of the season, by mid-February the team was in a position to challenge positively for a European place but that didn't materialise.  The failure to use the transfer window in January left the squad threadbare and thankfully the injury to Robbie Keane was only six weeks and we weren't forced to endure the hard-working Doherty at centre forward for any longer.

Wonder of the season 2:  We all complained that we needed to sign more forwards, but we have scored 51 goals the eighth highest in the League, but if you look at the defenders individually they are all talented and competent but we have conceded 62 goals, only WBA and Sunderland, both relegated, have given away more.  Only five clean sheets throughout the season and a number of heavy defeats show that our defensive strategy is sadly lacking.  This is where the restructuring must begin, creating a midfield that is going to give protection and take pressure off the defence.

From the lows of the past season come a number of concerns for the future well-being of our great club. The media take great delight in 'Spurs in Crisis' stories but the Club does nothing to deny these stories or to put their side of the story either in the press or when the club is being criticised by other managers or Chairmen.  The Public Relations side of THFC needs to be greatly improved.

The management of Glenn Hoddle has come into question with his selection policies, non-use of young players, tactics, man-management abilities, using players out of position and being unable to motivate the team as well as being at a complete loss as to where these poor performances have come from.  Having weathered the storm of this season, it would appear, at present, that he has been given another year, although the final day performance may bring that into question again.  Whatever decision is made about Hoddle's future, then it must be taken quickly and if he stays ENIC have to back him and ensure they sign the quality, pacey, young players that are needed. There can be no excuses or 'nearly' signings this summer - we've had all of that!

Concern is very evident on this board about Hoddle's refusal to give the young players a chance.  From the fifteen minutes I saw of Blondel, he certainly deserved an opportunity through the season to show what he could do.  Yet, in spite of poor mid-field performances this year and injuries, he has not had that chance.  I hope that Blondel will not return to Belgium disgruntled and then re-appear in the Premiership in a couple of years with another club.  Remember Quinton Fortune was getting rave notices for Spurs' youth team before returning to South Africa, only to re-appear later with Atletico Madrid and now at United.  We can't afford to lose any of our talented youngsters.  So next season, Glenn please give the younger players a chance and be prepared to listen to advice from those around you - you can't be right all the time.

Let's finish on a positive note and hope for a brighter future.  During the summer there will need to be considerable transfer activity to improve the quality of a depleted squad.  We are actually in a worse position than twelve months ago as there are more places to be filled but with the removal of some of the high earners and complainers through the year, this is a chance for a new beginning.  Hopefully, we will not have to sell anyone to raise funds for incoming players but if we do I suppose that Carr would be the obvious departure.  I would be disappointed to see him go but you don't win anything with a star right back and I could live with him going. The midfield needs a complete overhaul - a hard-working, combative player with pace to control the game to gain the right for the more creative players to play their football.  Essential is support for Keane, who cannot be left on his own and expected to carry the whole team.  Opponents have already realised that if they nullify Keane's contribution, then THFC has little else to offer.  The Board will have to improve their negotiating skills and provide the funds to ensure that these players arrive in time for the pre-season.

So as the season ends in another pathetic home defeat, its thanks to Teddy and Freund and Goodbye.  Let's hope for a resurgence next year to put our club back where we know it belongs.

Wonder of the season 3: Why is WHL full for every match when the team produces such pathetic performances and are playing for the end of the season from mid - December?

Best wishes to all on Topspurs, have a good summer and I look forward to the first home game in August to see if our hopes have been fulfilled because every year we go with such great hopes and high expectations.

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!  2003 - 2004 WILL BE OUR YEAR.

Logan

 

 

9th May 2003 – A piece on Hoddle from Fanzine veteran (Off The Shelf/CADD) Martin Cloake

This piece on Hoddle was written before the evil Sherwood got stuck in. The irony as far as I'm concerned is that Hoddle is justifiably being criticised, but for reasons that are unjustified by people without a leg to stand on.

 

It was bad enough that, after two seasons as manager, Glenn Hoddle put out a team that conceded five goals against a side that hasn't scored in its previous four games. It was bad enough that this was the latest in a series of humiliations and missed opportunities - let's take last season's Worthington Cup final, the back-to-back 4-0s, Leicester away to end last season, Fulham away this season, Middlesbrough home and away, Arsenal away, Southampton in the Cup and Manchester City at home just as a few examples.

What made it absolutely obvious that Glenn has utterly lost the plot were his ludicrous comments after the debacle at the Riverside. In a nutshell, his analysis was that we dominated the game, were only a goal down when we conceded a penalty and red card that were wrong which put us 2-0 down, then were victims of an unlucky ricochet to go 3-0 down and lost because "circumstances, apart from the first goal, were totally out of our hands." He tells us he will be going on a referee's course "to enlighten them a bit", and also that we've only been operating at 50% capacity.

Throughout this season, and indeed ever since the Worthington Cup Final last season, I've felt the questions being asked about Hoddle were too harsh, too soon. But his performance post-Boro has finally convinced me that, and believe me I never wanted to write this, he has to go. After telling us the squad was fine after the Christmas transfer window, he's now saying we didn't have any depth in the squad and that he needs to spend big in the summer. The fact is that we do have a better squad than we've had for years; they're just not playing for Hoddle. And where does this 50% capacity business come from? Let's look at the players we've had out injured and what difference they would have made.

Richards - brings some organisation to the defence, but susceptible to pacey players running across him - as we've seen in the many games he has been available in. A good First Division defender, nothing more.

Ziege - the one world-class player in the squad, when he can be bothered. Undoubtedly has been missed this season, but you wonder how many games he would actually have turned up to had he avoided injury.

Redknapp - has much to offer but while Hoddle can't be criticised for taking a chance most of us thought was right at the start of the season, it's foolish to rely so much on such an injury-prone player.

Poyet - has actually played too many games, not too few.

Keane - the one we've really missed, partly because Hoddle left us with no cover after flogging Les and Sergei. Signed by Pleat.

It's been argued in Hoddle's defence that he hasn't been backed by the board in his efforts to land his big targets. I'm no fan of the board, but that argument doesn't stand up when you look at the list reeled off. Morientes and Eto'o were never likely to come, Rivaldo was a joke, Klose and Petit weren't really in the running. Kevin Phillips was, but at £11m the board were right to say no. And would Ricketts, even if Bolton hadn't decided to give us the finger over the deal, really have turned Spurs into European contenders?

In addition, Ledley King has gone backwards as part of Hoddle's sorry excuse for a defence - this is the area he had 'sorted' early on, remember - and Simon Davies clearly doesn't want to play for Hoddle as he does for Mark Hughes and Wales. The attitude of a highly paid professional in not wanting to play could be questioned here, but perhaps Davies's attitude has something to do with constantly being played out of position.

It seems that not only has Hoddle lost the plot, he's lost the dressing room too. There may be some scheming, much of it coming from Sheringham if rumours are to be believed. If that's true, it's ironic, partly because Hoddle's insistence that Ted is still worthy of an automatic place up front is as delusional as Ted's own inflated opinion of his current worth. But it's still cause for concern. The summer clearout that's apparently planned could ship the mutineers out, but who's coming in. the top target still seems to be a thirtysomething striker from a team, which has scored the lowest number of goals in Premiership history - obviously the first place to look for a striker when you are blessed with footballing nous. Gareth Barry may just come to Spurs because it's less depressing than Villa, but then again he might not fancy sitting on the bench for Ziege for the next 4 years, or playing in central defence. Scott Parker will surely get better offers, and after that we're back to a bunch of nobodies who Denis Roach has no doubt convinced the tactical genius are the Latvian Vieira, the Liechtensteinian Van Basten and the finest central defender ever to play for Atlantis City - this last one obviously as back-up to the Balkan Beckenbauer.

Hoddle's inability to recognise even the most basic problems confronting him probably suit the board down to the ground - a ground which, incidentally, should be plenty big enough for the future we have ahead of us. They can hide their unwillingness to spend and inability to conduct themselves efficiently in the transfer market behind Hoddle's failings. I'd like to see the Hoddle era end and the reins be given to Pleat as soon after the final whistle on Sunday as possible. I've been critical of Pleat's politicking in the past, but handing the team to him will minimise the disruption and give responsibility to the person who has at least signed some players who can do a job for us. If not, and the rumours that Hoddle has another year are true,

I can only see one word. It begins with rele and ends in gation.

 

 

8th May 2003 – The latest words of wisdom from Colin Ashby

So the clear out has started, Freund we already knew about and speculated about Sheringham, now it has been confirmed, it makes you wonder who else will be on the list.

As many have already said it will save a considerable amount in wages alone, but we should not blame Teddy for what has happened this season. After all he played because he was selected. Mind you the press have had a field day over the Sheringham departure, they really hate Hoddle don’t they? What is such a pisser is that there is no mention about the fact that the majority of Fans are pleased with the decision.

This is so typical of the so-called popular press, sensationalist headlines at the expense of the real truth and facts. All of this old shite written about the wonderful Fergie at Manure! What’s so great about having all that money to spend on some of the best players in the world, over £70million on just three alone? He has to do well with that sort of support at his disposal, for him to fail is to fail big time, the bum licking press should get things into perspective.

Now we have the close season to look forward to, the rumour conjecture and speculation have already started, more so than any other club, and of course with our great PR team at THFC, we know that we are going to be rubbished quite consistently by certain rags.

It is quote amazing when you think about it. We pay a lot of money to watch our team, and a small number of people are paid a lot to watch them for nothing. Yet they don’t like it when we complain? We see the same old rubbish week in and week out, it doesn’t take anyone with real common sense to see that certain players do not give of their best, and should be hidden from the embarrassment of failing to perform in front of so many viewers,

The hard and cold facts are that we will not win the championship next season, in my opinion there are three teams Manure, The Scum and the Barcodes, who have the credentials to be there. This leaves one place for the champion’s league and the rest fighting for UEFA places. We are after all coming into the half way point of the five year plan. Our record of the past few weeks makes us relegation candidates for next season. We have let in more goals than all teams other than the bottom two. WE cannot keep a clean sheet. That has to change immediately

When we played Manure recently, they had a five versus five kick about as part of their warm up. Roy Keane showed as much enthusiasm in this game as he does in the real match. He is a winner! When they played Charlton last Saturday, they (Charlton) had one player who showed the same appetite – Scott Parker. A professed Spurs fan, a grafter, a tackler, a goal scorer and a leader. We should move heaven and earth to get him. He wants to come.

He could be the start of team building to ensure a higher league position next year and progress into the next part of the five year plan.

 

27th April 2003 – Colin Ashby after the ManUre defeat

“The lads battled and worked hard, and I was proud of them today…” Glenn Hoddle post match comments 27th April

“The Tottenham performance was a disgrace and further confirmation that the club as a footballing force is an irrelevance. The only surprise is that their fans continue to turn up and watch this garbage.”  Steve Howard The Sun Monday 28th April.

 

Don’t kid ourselves; whilst Howard’s comments may be over the top, what was written and opinioned is closer to the truth, rather than Hoddle’s.

If it had not been for Keller, it could have been embarrassing. We were just his hands away from a sound thrashing. He did his job yesterday and earned his wages, not many of the rest of the team can say that.

In the guest column on Topspurs, last week the writer said he wants “our Tottenham” back, how right he is. A Tottenham that gives us pride to support, plays with an element of style and panache, competes at the highest level with the best in the land. One that never gets the comments in the press as the one above!

 

Hoddle’s comment is interesting, is it one of a blind man?  Or does he not want to admit that he has a team that is bereft of ideas, pace and commitment? His team!

He is supposed to be in a five year plan, this is the end of year two? When you create a plan no matter how long it is you start with basics, view shortcomings and start to implement the plan. Take on short term contingencies maybe stop gaps, bring in experience for a short while knowing that it is only a short term until suitable replacements can be either found, trained or purchased.

When he started he knew that Freund was not going to be around for the five years, Clemence was waiting, but admittedly constantly injured, surprising isn’t it that since joining Brum he has been an ever present and according to Karen Brady has been a sound investment? Ferdinand another injury prone player not likely to last needed to be replaced; yet he was sold before a suitable replacement was found.

 

Bringing in Poyet, Sheringham, Keller, are short term fixes. While using them recognize why they have been brought in and look for replacements, ready to slot in at any stage. Do not overuse them as their contribution can only lessen with age. If you take on Eastern European mercenaries, ensure they can play at our level, and are not here just for a higher standard of living and better lifestyle.  Recognize that the club has an injury problem second to no other club in the league; we have had it for years going back to when Francis was the manager. If this is the case then research what is the root cause and do something about it, and in addition avoid buying players who are injury prone, to add to the problems. Introduce younger and fitter players into the team as and when the opportunity occurs to give them valuable experience, for the future, but don’t play two players with similar attributes at the same time – Etherington and Davies both wide, both not very fast, both unable to defend.

 

The next two Premier games, team selection will be very interesting, will he give young players a chance? What will his team selection be for the third Premiership game, which will be the first one of the new season? Will Poyet and Sheringham still be with us? If they are, will they start the game? If not who is the replacement earmarked? Is he already a Spurs youth? When will he be thrown into the cauldron of first team football?

So many more imponderables, that with his inability to make sharp decisions, the future certainly does not look bright in my opinion.

I wanted him to succeed; I wanted him to be the most successful manager ever for us. I wanted him to take us to new heights in footballing terms, and give us a team to be proud of and enjoy supporting. Unfortunately and so far he has done very little to give confidence in his man management skills, team motivation and tactical awareness, and the conclusion is that the sooner he is relieved of the burden of management the sooner we may start to get our Tottenham back.

 

 

26th April 2003 - Logan wants his Tottenham Back

This was a familiar call around WHL during the final days of the Chairmanship of Sir Alan Sugar and the detested GG.  With the arrival of ENIC and then Glenn Hoddle, as manager, we, the fans, thought it was only a matter of time before the 'old' Spurs returned.  In one way we did get an 'old' Spurs, but not what we had hoped for.  The signing of players in their thirties, nearing the end of their careers, Sheringham, Ziege and Poyet, to go along with Freund, Ferdinand, Sherwood and Anderton was the first stage of the five year plan to lead the club to success. That strategy proved a 'nearly' success through reaching the Worthington Cup Final but it has held us back over the past eighteen months with high wage earners not performing for the team and being difficult to move on, thus blocking the opportunity for younger players to show their ability.

As the season comes to a close, without European football to look forward to next year, I call again - 'Give us back our Tottenham!'  I'm not referring to the 'Tottenham' style of play that puts such pressure on players and managers alike but the way that the club conducts its business and portrays itself in the football world.

I started to write this prior to the defeat by Manchester City but it brought together thoughts from last summer when we were nearly signing those world-class players. The history of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is illuminated with examples of how the club was respected as a leader, the go-getter of the times, setting the agenda which other clubs followed and tried to copy. How many times can it be said that Spurs were the first club to do something or achieve a success?

The only non-league team to win the FA Cup in 1901,

The club who used numbers on players shirts for the first time in 1939.

Think of the style of the 'Push and Run' team of Arthur Rowe, which won

Promotion in 1950 and the First Division the next year.

The club that set transfer records throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's.

The first cub to win the 'Double' in the 20th century, with a style and performances second to none.

Jimmy Greaves was signed for £99,999 in 1961 so that he didn't have the pressure of being the first £100,000 player

The first British club to win a European trophy,

The club who signed two Argentinean World Cup stars in 1978.

The first club to become a plc.

Even Alan Sugar managed to get into the spirit of the club with his swoop for Jurgen Klinsmann and the other signings for Ossie Ardiles in 1994. (!!!!! – ed)

 

That was a last gasp effort and since then we have been playing catch up and trying to follow and copy clubs who would previously have been following our lead. It is now much more difficult to compete in the transfer market and this season's signing of Robbie Keane has been a big step forward but prior to that, who apart from Klinsmann had been our last exciting young signing? 

Paul Gascoigne, in 1988.  Since then we have had to make do with whomever we could get. We replaced Klinsmann with Chris Armstrong and even David Ginola, while he played well and brightened up many a dull game, was past his prime when he arrived at WHL.

We want our Tottenham back, the club that is respected by other clubs, managers and supporters around the country.  Not a club that is mocked, held up to ridicule by lesser clubs having their season or two in the limelight and making headlines at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur. You all know the examples that I am referring to so they don't need to be aired again.

However, there are other areas where the management need to look at their performances and ideas and decide what is best for this club and not just make decisions in the light of what others have done recently.  We seem to make knee jerk re-actions in response to situations and they may not be what are best for Spurs.  The management needs to have a clear view of what steps they need to take to restore the club to its position of respect and restore the pride that supporters have for this club.

During the Chairmanship of Sir Alan, he became well known for his critical comments and 'rent a quote' mentality so loved by the media and for the past fifteen years much of our business has been splashed across the back pages of the tabloids.  Such comments and reporting tarnished the image of the club and left it open to ridicule from all sides at a time when the club's commercial image was so important. Instead of setting the agenda the club is now constantly trying to follow the path that others have followed to find success.  The introduction of foreign managers was one example that Spurs followed when replacing Gerry Francis.  However, rather than employ one of the best managers, we recruited an unknown who was immediately set upon by the media.  Christian Gross never recovered from this early set back and was soon on his way. Personally, I think that his record since leaving shows that he was a better manager than he was ever given a chance to show at WHL.

The success at Old Trafford based on the introduction of young players from the youth set up has led our Board to propose pending outlandish sums on the development of an Academy to attract the best young players in the country.  Such ideas are long term and do not come with a guarantee of success.  For years Burnley produced successful youth teams and many young players were introduced to their League team - but look where they have been for many seasons. (I know they beat us in the Worthington Cup).  West Ham has produced many good young players and the current team has them on display but it hasn't brought success.  Youth cannot be the only strategy although the 'Tottenham' idea of bringing in younger players with League experience should be continued - and David Pleat should be given some money for another batch of players.

Many clubs have developed new grounds or are in the process of doing so.  Having developed White Hart Lane to an excellent standard there is no need to follow this path - much better to further develop the ground to increase capacity to a sustainable number rather than get into huge debt trying to move to a new stadium.  The same view holds good for ground sharing or becoming a tenant at Wembley, where the club would lose its identity and would always have to go along with the policies of the landlord.  Most of the clubs that moved their grounds, did so because of poor facilities, this is not the case at Tottenham, so there is no need to move out.

The recent move by other clubs into the far-eastern market for players is an interesting strategy that has been copied at WHL.  But have the club simply joined the bandwagon of commercial opportunity for shirt sales for Toda in Japan and possibly Qu Bo in China or do they really think that these players have the ability to have a playing career at Spurs?  It makes sound financial sense to widen the commercial market available to the club but all such decisions should be taken having ensured that the players are of the required standard.

At this time the Board needs to appoint a Chairman/Chief Executive with a vision and a desire to see Tottenham Hotspur move forward and regain the respect of the football world as a forward-looking, progressive club who conducts its business with an openness and a freshness that has long been missing, rather that slavishly trying to copy others.  A successful team would be a good start on that path, so the manager needs to be able to identify the weaknesses in the team and be given the opportunity to make appropriate signings to improve the squad and move the team towards that success.  For too long the club has been rooted in mid-table mediocrity and it needs to take that step forward before it slips into obscurity.  Look how quickly Leeds United and West Ham have slipped this season, and others before them who thought they would always be in the top league.  Every season there are opportunities to make progress and they presented themselves to us this year but once again these have not been grasped and so the club continues to be a long way off the pace.  If action is not taken quickly to restore Tottenham Hotspur to its rightful place among the elite clubs, it may be too late, the gap may become too wide to ever be bridged.

Let's hope that we can move forward this summer and lay the foundations for real progress.  Give us a club and a team that we can be proud of, not one that causes embarrassment to loyal supporters, so that we can all say that we have got our Tottenham back!

Logan

 

24th April 2003 – Another view on Hoddle – this time from Bradley Grant “Glenn Hoddle – The Great debate”

Should Glenn Hoddle go? A large pocket of Spurs fans think so, a situation unimaginable when he joined, replacing Gorgeous George.  Anti-Hoddle sentiment is rising, with speculation over his notorious man-management skills and his motivational skills adding fuel to the fire. Talk of Graeme Sourness being lined up to replace him is rife, and some people are already deciding who should be next in line.  I wanted to give a balanced argument as to whether he is right or not.  At this moment I don’t think it is right to discuss potential replacements, but the question does beg, if we DO sack our ‘Messiah’ after 2 years, with our previous track record of sacking managers, and with our famous problems (living in Arsenal’s shadow, big-club so high expectations), then what top manager would join us? Martin O’Neil? I doubt it.

            I am not blindingly in favour of Hoddle, don’t get me wrong. He has pissed me off with his infuriating use of substitutes for 4 minutes, and with his persistence in poor performers, a la Poyet.  It seems that we all turn up to the Lane on Saturday, sorry, Sunday, knowing the team in advance, as we are predictable and never pick innovative sides.  Some performances just are inexcusable and passionless, such as Man City, Middlesborough, West Ham and Southampton, although against the bigger teams we do tend to perform to our capabilities.  This is where people question his motivation, pointing out the way heads dropped to let Man Utd beat us 5-3 from 3-0 down, and the Tranmere-Southampton comeback.  I agree that this is a big fault of Glenn’s.  I hope it will change but don’t know if it will.

            Glenn’s tactics are another major talking point. Glenn loves the 3-5-2.  He is criticised for being inflexible however I think this is a harsh criticism, as at no point has he been able to play his favourite side (except in the demolition of Arsenal at home), with Ziege and Carr both fully fit and on form, Keane up front, and hasn’t had the chance to play the sweeper system, (which was supposed to be Bunjevcevic’s natural role, rather than a lightweight, powder puff midfield, fill in due to the Tottenham injury curse).  On paper at least we do have a top 4 challenging first team to play the 3-5-2, if not the squad to keep playing it when injuries strike… I’ve outlined what I feel the squad needs to compete consistently at this level bellow:

 

Gardner, Richards, King

Our back 3, all English an excellent mix of experience, youth, pace, strength, technique and height.  I am forever grateful for Glenn dumping Thelwell, who Gorgeous George played ahead of Gardner, and for phasing out Perry, who despite his tackling ability is not a top class footballer of the standard we should be aiming for. This to me is as good as anything in the country, but as we all know, we’ve been forced to play a back 4, and 3 with Thatcher, Taricco, Doherty and Perry, on some occasions all together. He hasn’t been able to play these 3 together once I don’t think, certainly not twice on the spin. I feel that this can be the foundation of a great side.

 

Wingbacks

The crucial part for the system to work, and we have 2 of the best. Carr and Ziege I feel are both top class, and both are good in their positions on form.  However, we have NO cover for those positions, and thus have to play players out of position to fill in for our always injured pair (Davies, Taricco, Thatcher, Doherty), or alternatively, switch to a system which we are not suited to (as we have no real wingers – Etherington is lightweight and predictable, Davies is better in the middle, Anderton is too slow and unskilful after all his injuries).

This situation is ridiculous. If we play a wingback formation then adequate cover is required, or 1 injury to say Ziege could fuck the whole system up.  Marney is being touted as a good prospect, although he hasn’t been given a go. Assuming he is adequate cover on the right then a left sided player (not Taricco) is required. Anyone half-decent, from Chris Powell to Julian Gray to Julia Arca.

 

Midfield

We play with a vacuum in the middle. It’s as if Poyet and Bunjevcevic aren’t there and teams dominate the middle. I’m willing to give Toda a chance, and have been reliably informed that the club expect big things of him, and from what I’ve seen he’s got more potential than just shirt selling.  Marney possibly could play this role, and even Ledley, but this position must be sorted, as we are becoming well known as a soft touch due to a light-weight midfield.  If we do sign a midfielder then I’d personally be in favour of seeing Barry Ferguson (although injury prone), possibly Scott Parker (who Toda could be as good as given a chance) or Owen Hargreaves (a bit optimistic, although few other top English clubs need someone like him, Arsenal have Vieira, Man Utd – Keane, Liverpool – Gerard, Newcastle – Jenas, Chelsea – Lampard, and are also bankrupt). Gareth Barry is too lightweight and slow, exactly what we have in abundance, although ‘he has a cultured left foot’ and is versatile. He seems like another Sharon/Ziege.

We have great players in front of this hole. Davies, Redknapp, Anderton, Blondel, and I still bear some hope Acimovic will prove a decent replacement for Poyet next year, and young Mark Yeates sounds promising.  So talk of signing David Dunn, for me would be an unnecessary use of funds that could be used elsewhere more effectively.  I think Hodd’s built a good ATTACKING section of this midfield, and I’m glad that despite his laughable hero status that Freund is being moved out, in the same way I’m glad Sheringham is being moved out, and Perry, and Sherwood…and Leonhardsen, Clemence and Ferdinand, although he should have had a replacement.  To me he has cleared a large majority of crap out.  This is good for us long-term, although as we all know, big changes leads to an upset camp, particularly if results aren’t instant.  Players like Sherwood, Ferdinand, Rebrov (who never did it even if he was treated like shit, even in the reserves doing poor, when he was on his little feet- and is doing crap in Turkey), Sheringham and Freund are stirring up unrest, but soon they will be gone, and rightly so.  They are all troublemakers, who like to moan to the press.  Hoddle is making the squad his own, but still has Graham players lingering about. Once the likes of Thatcher, Perry, and Iversen are gone and replaced it will be his own squad.

 

Strikers are a notorious problem, not worth dwelling on, seeing how it is so obvious, and the club have all but signed Phillips and Zamora (I hope Zamora) to solve this. Plus Kevin, whose shirt selling skills should be handy.

 

To conclude then, Hoddle in his time has been hampered by injuries and has not worked miracles.  His most infuriating policies are his substitutions and his unwillingness to be bold, chucking the fringe players or youngsters in.  For me next season will be the season where we CAN really judge Hod. He has phased out most of the players he doesn’t want, and has a good first team, although each position lacks depth. If Keane is injured we’re fucked up front. If any of Deano, Led or Gardner is injured, we’re screwed, and we have no cover for Ziege meaning he changes systems without him. This must be addressed, as must the lack of pace in the side.  I feel that we are better than Everton in all departments but 1…up front with Rooney and Radzinski. They have had one good year and I feel are this years Ipswich, Sunderland or West Ham.  We are better than Blackburn I feel, apart from up front too (and they have Duff). Addressing this striker situation, steering fairly clear of a gross injury list, and removing Teddy, Freund, Poyet and Perry will make us a much better team, and I honestly feel we’d be above Everton and pushing teams above that spot.  I strongly feel Everton will be a lot worse next year, and Leeds are no longer a top side, so to make a push up the table is well within our reach.

 

We do need to address consistency against crap teams, but that’s always been the case, as with injuries.

This season we have only had one striker all season, who has occasionally been injured.  Given this, we were never going to achieve great things.  Who’s fault was it we didn’t sign a striker?  Who knows.  As long as we get a decent couple in the summer, that’s all that matters.  If we don’t then…

Although the improvements under Hod aren’t remarkable, we must take into account, we have not gone anywhere backwards; it just appears we are standing still.  Based upon that fact, and also the fact we’d be a laughing stock, Hod should not go yet. Next year if fucked up and big problems continue, should be Glenn’s last, but I honestly feel we can gauge if he knows what he’s doing based upon next year.

I hope Glenn will be the man to lead us forwards, although I honestly don’t know if he will.  We’ve waited so long to turn the corner, 1 more year can’t hurt too much. Also a new manager would mean a new 5-year plan and more transition. A little stability would be good for the players, the fans, and for our reputation as a joke club full of fickle supporters, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving a blinding pledge of allegiance to Glenn.

Cheer up yids; comparing our team to the GG one with Sherwood, Perry, Freund and Leo, things are on the up J!

 

23rd April 2003 - Logan on Glenn the Player - Hoddle the Manager.

 

Glenn the player, is a legend at White Hart Lane.  His style of play epitomizes all that is good about Tottenham Hotspur.  Many spectators today have great memories of seeing him perform for Spurs and younger supporters get a sense of his ability when they watch his goals as they frequently appear on the giant screen at WHL.  How we all long for a player in the present team who could play the ball and score the exciting goals that were Glenn's trademark.  Everyone who saw him, even if it was only on television, has his or her favourite goal.  It is difficult to make a choice because there were so many wonder goals throughout his career.  I remember, in no particular order, his first goal for Spurs against Stoke City, his debut goal for England against Bulgaria, the goal against Manchester United in the League Cup, his goal against Nottingham Forest that went from our keeper,

Aleksic, to the back of the Forest net without touching the ground, the goal at Watford and against Oxford when he ran from the half-way line to score his last goal for Spurs.  There are many others, and he never seemed to score a simple goal.  Glenn played with a confidence and a self-assurance that carried him through every game.  He knew he had the skill and the ability to be the best player on the pitch. In European games he often shone brightly and many speak of the games against Feyernoord, when he outplayed Johann Cryuff and Spurs won what could have been a difficult tie with ease.

Glenn made his first appearance as a substitute as a seventeen year old in August, 1975 at WHL against Norwich.  His first full appearance was against Stoke City the following February when he struck his first goal past England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton.  He made another five appearances that season and then under new manager Keith Burkinshaw, he made the midfield position his own in the relegation season of 1976 - 77. In his autobiography he explained what it meant to him to be a member of a relegated team.

'There is no taste in the game as bitter as relegation.  I felt degraded.  I was always proud to play for Tottenham but after such a disaster I didn't want to face anyone.  I wanted to hide away, above all from the fans.'

Glenn returned stronger from the experience and the season in Division 2 saw Glenn score twelve goals as he orchestrated the team's return to the 1st Division.  The return to the top was not easy for the team and they had many difficult games over the next two years as they tried to re-establish themselves in the top flight.  However, with Ossie Ardiles beside him, Glenn's ability was clear for all to see and in 1979 he made his England debut.  In three seasons from 1979 - 1982 Glenn scored 41 goals in the League as the team grew in stature and achieved success in successive F.A.Cup finals.  Injuries restricted his appearances in the following two seasons but he was an integral part of the teams that challenged for the League in 1984 - 85, finishing third under Peter Shreeve and two years later in the five man midfield of David's Pleat's team that finished as the 'nearly' team - third in the League, beaten finalists in the FA Cup and semi-finalists in the League Cup.  That was Glenn's last season as a player at WHL before he signed for Monaco in France where his skills were truly appreciated and he gained further success and recognition.

He won 53 caps for England and many feel it should have been many more but the England managers were wary of Glenn's skills and demanded he fit into their team pattern and produce the required work-rate rather than fashion a team around him. Glenn was a natural, the game came easily to him.  He was never blessed with fantastic pace but he was quick in thought, had tremendous skill and a vision and ability to surpass those around him.  Superlatives could not do justice to his ability but he received many accolades in his career and was regarded as the jewel in the English game at a time when there was so much emphasis on work rate and effort at the expense of skill and ability.

Glenn, the player is a worthy holder of the title 'legend' which is applied to a select group of star players through the ages who graced the turf at WHL.  Well did he deserve the title of 'King of White Hart Lane.'

 

Hoddle the manager, brings many diverse comments and views.  It was in France, while injured at a time approaching the end of his career, that he became interested in the coaching techniques available and so when injury ended his career his thoughts turned to management.  As a player manager he brought promotion and success to unfashionable Swindon Town.  From there he moved on to Chelsea where he is credited with laying the foundations for the success that was to follow under Ruud Gullit.  His reputation brought him the England manager's post at a very young age and he brought a degree of success to that position, qualifying for the World Cup Finals in France and progressing to the quarterfinals.  His record as England manager stands comparison with everyone else and he could still have been in post had it not been for unfortunate comments reported in a newspaper interview.  As with every England manager the pressure on him was immense but he coped with it well but inevitably difficulties occurred and critical comments were made about his style of man-management and he did himself no favours by producing a detailed diary of events at the World Cup.  Pressure was on him and he had to go.  He returned to club management with Southampton and built on the stability that David Jones had brought to the club and they progressed from constant battlers against relegation to sit comfortably in mid-table.

It was in March, 2001 that he eventually returned to his spiritual home of White Hart Lane.  ENIC removed the unpopular GG and bought themselves some time by appointing the fans favourite. He arrived to a hero's reception and with everyone willing him to bring success to WHL and restore the club to its former glories.  He was Tottenham through and through and he understood the Tottenham way of doing things. His record as a manger, while not being one of success in the form of winning trophies, showed that the teams and clubs under him had progressed and were moving in the right direction and he came with a reputation for being a good coach.  His former club, Southampton, didn't want him to leave and there was considerable acrimony between the clubs before he eventually arrived at Spurs.

It has been a difficult two years.  His first game in charge was an F.A.Cup semi-final against Arsenal and that match highlighted the amount of work that had to be done and just how far off the pace that the club had fallen.  After initial success during the first few months of season 2001-02 and improvement in the style of play compared with the GG era, things started to go wrong in early 2002 and the progress since then has been limited.  Success was so close when the Worthington Final was reached but a poor display by the team and missed chances brought defeat and the opportunity for European football, the modern day gauge of a successful club, was gone.  The second season has proved equally difficult and there have been rumblings of discontent coming from sections of his loyal fan base.  It shows how concerned the fans have become that this is happening to the manager who was welcomed so enthusiastically just over two years ago.  It is with a heavy heart that some of the fans are considering that Hoddle the manager may not be the right person for the job.  Everyone wants him to succeed but there has to be a realism that that alone will not made him successful and that he has to have the ability to produce and manage a winning team. The fans do not want their image of the playing legend tarnished by the possibility of him failing as a manager.

A number of criticisms have been raised about Hoddle's management during his time at Tottenham.  There has been concern about some of his signings, the best Keane, Richards, Ziege and Redknapp, if they could remain fit, are players in the Tottenham mould and have greatly improved the quality of the team.  However, Bunjevcevic and Acimovic have not been a success, Poyet and Sheringham when signed had only a limited shelf life but in spite of their age and indifferent displays they continue to start ahead of younger players.  Blondel and Toda remain unknown quantities.  His failure to strengthen the squad in January severely weakened the team.

Since December, 2001 the team's performances have been liberally littered with very poor displays when the team has been completed disinterested, confused by tactics, disrupted by players playing out of position or simply not motivated which has led to embarrassing defeats against modest opposition and humiliation by the top clubs.  Such a record does not fill anyone with confidence that the team and the manager are moving forward. There have been newspaper articles of player discontent and questioning his man-management abilities and while much of the comment has come from players who were being moved on, the demeanour of the players on the pitch and their subsequent performances suggests that all is not well within the club.  He is unwilling to give young players an opportunity and his team selection and tactics have been questionable.

Hoddle is accused of trying to build a team in his own image with players who are comfortable on the ball and can pass it about, but he doesn't see the need for players to win the ball and for players with pace to make the maximum use of it.  He seems to have forgotten that while he passed the ball artistically around in each game, John Pratt and Graham Roberts were winning the ball and fighting to give him the right to play his football and then players with pace, Steve Archibald and Garth Crooks, were waiting to benefit from his distribution.  A team needs to have balance - skill, workers and pace.

In his early management days as a player-manager, Hoddle was able to come on during a game and use his skills to change the game.  I seem to remember this happening on a number of occasions at Swindon when he scored a goal or his presence created space and inspired others in the team.  As manager, he no longer has this luxury available to him, although you get the impression that he still wishes he could go out and play. Therefore he needs to show greater vision in the use of substitutes and improve his communication skills to get his ideas across to players who do not possess the same level of ability or vision that he had as a player.

On the management side, Hoddle has surrounded himself with former Spurs players who have no other coaching experience.  They come across as 'Yes' men while his working relationship with David Pleat is strained, continuing from his time as a player under Pleat, and that with Daniel Levy is uncertain.  A manager needs to seek advice and be able to accept criticism but Hoddle comes across as being arrogant and unwilling to accept that there is any way other than his own.  Hoddle is still a young manager and he needs to be prepared to learn from others and from his mistakes but this is where the real problem may lie.

In his playing days, Glenn was full of self-confidence about his ability to succeed on the football pitch.  He performed and succeeded at the highest levels in spite of his managers, even Keith Burkinshaw, expressing doubts about his work rate and him being a luxury in the team.  Is it this self-confidence that is now portrayed as arrogance in Hoddle the manager and leaves him open to criticism that he is unwilling to accept advice or prepared to admit that he has made mistakes or unwilling to see any way but his own.

All successful managers must have a touch of arrogance about them but it must be tempered with a realisation that they can learn from mistakes and from those around them.  It was his self-confidence (arrogance) in his ability that made Glenn the player successful and it could be the arrogance (self-confidence) of Hoddle the manager that is his downfall.  If Glenn the player, and Hoddle the manager can not combine their qualities successfully, his managerial career may not reach the dizzy heights of his playing career and he may be leaving WHL sooner that any of us expected and without bringing the success that we anticipated two years ago.

Logan

 

18th April 2003 – Some more thoughts from Colin Ashby

Sad isn’t it? WE beat Birmingham in the dying moments and hold Leeds to a draw, and the manager still thinks we have a chance for European football.

I we get into UEFA and it is BIG IF, it will not be because we have earned the right, we have not played well enough, we have failed when it matters, and because of the best teams winning and earning more than one place, we will get in by default.

Don’t get me wrong, I will still buy my season ticket and will be there cheering them on if there are nights of European Football at White Hart Lane next season, and I will always be anticipating success.

A poll that is being run now shows that over 45% polled think that Glenn Hoddle is arrogant, more than half think that he will fail  even if he is given the budget to buy players, isn’t it a sad indictment of how a person who served and played so well for the club is now considered. The fact that he is considered arrogant is down to his own self-belief in that everything he does, everything he says is right. I wonder if he reads the emails and considered opinions of supporters who contribute to Top spurs. Will he ever have the nerve to explain the continued presence for the full 90 minutes of the slow old timers, will he explain the continued absence of Blondel from the first team squad, when Acimovic is regularly named. Will he finally play the player he watched for over 18months, and signed on a free to sell shirts in Japan, or will he admit that he conned us and the player?

It is not that long ago that we used to groan, when Ronnie Rosenthal, Jose Dominguez, used to come on as sub, yet week in and out these players were there to be played, and were an everlasting embarrassment to us the supporters. If we could see their shortcomings, then why cannot the coaching staff?  Maybe it is because when they train they do not commit to the real test, their touches and abilities belie what they are able to do when they are in a real match, and the other side are up for it. How else can one explain Iverson, Etherington, Poyet or Sheringham? A team defends with all eleven players and attacks with all eleven. If Sheringham is holding the ball, beating his man and attacking he is also defending, once he has given the ball away cheaply by lack of pace, or a bad pass. The pressure is back on the defence. When older players are tiring in the last quarter of the game, more mistakes are made, the odds on a younger fitter side scoring in that period increase, so too do the incidences of penalties!

The final games of this season should see the best young players being given a run out, letting them get the feel of playing in front of a large crowd. If we lose to Man U and they beat Arse to the league then fine and so what, It is how we can do next year that is important, what sort of squad can be assembled of fit and young players who want to succeed. Players who have not won anything yet, have a hunger for success, and are proud to be a playing for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, the kind of player Glenn Hoddle was when he was given his opportunity at the age of seventeen.

 

5th April 2003 – An Essay on Glenn Hoddle- Player and Manager by Max Whitefoot

Glenn Hoddle is a Tottenham legend; he is arguably one of the greatest players this country has ever produced and his reputation as a midfielder is second to none. However, he has built himself an entirely different reputation as a manager; one that no one thought was possible

            Ask any Tottenham fan who is the best player to grace White Hart Lane and many will say Glenn Hoddle, the ultimate flair midfield player. He could split a defence with a single pass, launch a goalwards volley from 30 yards or, as he did on many occasions; flick the ball past an opponent leaving everyone but himself amazed. Having seen Glenn playing on video and DVD footage (He was before me time) I can testify that the man was a footballing genius; on seeing his goal against Man Utd in the 79/80 season I was astounded at his lack of England appearances.  The truth is that the then England manager Ron Greenwood preferred the ‘safe’ option of Trevor Brooking; an average player who lacked invention. This is perhaps the reason why England were never as successful as they could have been, the unwillingness to try flair players; and Glenn was the ultimate example.

He never pretended to be anything more than a luxury player; he was symbolic of Tottenham in that era. Other players looked trim and orderly, Hod’s shirt was untucked and ruffled, his socks were rolled down to the ankle; he was stylish and he knew it. If he were a foreign player sceptics would’ve been accused of having no passion, his brilliance would force even the biggest doubters to eat their words however when he guided Spurs to a number of domestic honours. Hoddle’s status as a quality player was recognised by fellow professionals who appreciated the talent he exhibited, and when Spurs played Feyernoord in the UEFA cup he received one of the biggest compliments of all. Johan Cryuff had previously been critical of English clubs and players and being one of the best players ever to play the game was confident of his side’s chances of progressing against the English. However, thanks to a Hoddle inspired performance Tottenham went through 2-1, this did not go unnoticed with the great Dutchman. After the match Johan entered the Spurs dressing room and offered Glenn and his team mates an apology for his arrogant attitude. He then presented Hoddle with his shirt, requesting the Spurs man’s in return. The fact that Johan Cryuff acknowledged Hoddle’s contribution and requested his shirt confirmed his status as a truly great player. Even now, Hoddle features in many players ultimate line up’s, and many people in the football profession rate him as one of the greats of all time. He is still the only player to make a mullet look fashionable and the only man who has been described as having ‘feet like hands’.

            Even the most seasoned football pundits could not fathom the amount of excitement that was generated when Hoddle was appointed Spurs manager in the summer of 2001. The man who was held in such a high regard that he was brandished ‘GHod’ had returned; the prodigal son all over again. It was a match made in heaven, Spurs were pining for the return of the glory glory days with Hod and co and now he was returning to guide them back. A number of factors made this appointment even more special; the main factor being that Hoddle was taking over from an ex Arsenal man, who was regarded by most as being boring; everything Spurs aren’t supposed to be. Another factor was the fact that he had already established himself as a manager, guiding Chelsea to FA cup success and England to the World cup 6th round. Even the usually critical media were excited by the prospect of a new look Spurs. The Tottenham fans delighted in the excitement, chanting ‘We’ve got our Tottenham back’ at every opportunity, and who could blame them; after years of turmoil GHod was back to save them. Spurs fans have a tradition of being fickle, taking dislike to outsiders and fiercely defending their own.

When the media were critical of Hoddle after the world cup the Spurs fans rallied behind him. The fact that he had made utterly inappropriate comments about disabled people paying for sins in a previous life was generally overlooked by the White Hart Lane faithful. However, the media pounced on this and had him ousted from the national manager’s job. This could have, and would have been ignored however if Hoddle would have treated the media with the respect they deserve. For some unknown reason Hoddle thought it wise to consistently deceive the media with regards to squad selection. In fact, Hoddle had made the very same comments a year earlier, but because England were succeeding on the pitch it was brushed aside to maintain harmony. Spurs fans were caught up in hysteria, so what if he made a mistake, he is a Spurs legend. The first 6 months of his reign in charge seemed to confirm the fans thoughts; Spurs were flying with Glenn’s ‘sunshine football’. He had installed seasoned professionals like Gus Poyet, and brought back Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham to guide the forward line. This had worked well, with Tottenham crushing Chelsea 5-1 to record their first victory over them in 16 years.

The first signs of a Hoddle fault came however when Teddy and Gus continued to play in every match available; when they were obviously too old to continue at the pace that was expected of them. This was emphasised by the fact his lack of confidence in younger players; this is strange for a number of reasons. Hoddle was handed his debut at only 17, this surely would influence him into giving youngsters a chance. Also, the younger players at the club were held in high regard by many and were itching to play a part. There were murmurs of discontent by the fans who kept quiet because they didn’t want to show weakness to the press and show they were fickle. However, when the stylish football began to wane fans became concerned at what was going on at the club. Rumours were surfacing that Hoddle had fallen out with players and the dressing room had been ‘lost’. However, at this stage most Spurs fans were willing to give ‘their man’ the benefit of the doubt; he more than most deserved a chance to do the long term job. More fans became concerned when his handling of one of the star players at the club added to his ever growing reputation as a strange and complex man. Having been signed by a former manager, Sergei Rebrov expected to be treated like every other players at the club; with respect. However, Hoddle froze him out of the first team setup, apparently often going months without speaking to the Ukrainian front man. This angered fans, and baffled many; why on earth would he do such a thing. The critic’s arguments grew when he sold 2 of the clubs strikers and did not replace them, leaving Spurs toothless up front for the remainder of the season. Many Spurs fans were in utter disbelief that not only had ‘GHod’ started making big mistakes and that their dream was crumbling before them. Many Spurs fans tried to turn a blind eye to his faults, claiming that in time he would prove himself as the true saviour; other wished he would leave so that he legendary status would remain.

And so to the present day where Glenn Hoddle is still in charge of Tottenham Hotspur. Rumours are being constantly circulated of how Glenn has fallen out with players and how he is not the saviour after all. Hoddle is putting a typically defiant and stubborn show, rubbishing media stories and rumours. However, with past colleagues like Tony Cascarino, Tim Sherwood and Sergei Rebrov publicly confirming the rumours that he is as stubborn as the rumours suggest; he is walking a tightrope. His reputation as a manager is less than desirable; some think he is an arrogant hypocrite who is failing through his own stubbornness.

Maybe being a Spurs fan I am living up to the fickle tag that has been earned by the White Hart Lane faithful and not giving Glenn enough time; maybe he will come good and lead Spurs back to the glory glory days.

 In conclusion, Glenn Hoddle is two different characters: Jekyll and Hyde, Beauty and the beast, player and manager. Many Spurs fans are deeply saddened that they are having to dislike him for the good of the club, they merely want to remember the genius of a footballer and banish any memories of him being manager, myself included. Glenn Hoddle is two different characters, which one prevails remains to be seen; there is not a single Spurs fan that doesn’t wish for the beauty character to prevail, although few believe it. Maybe a new character of Glenn will emerge, the greatest ever player and manager to grace White Hart Lane, this can only happen if he improves the current situation; which is pleasing no-one. Whatever happens, no one should forget the player in him, a genius who bought happiness to thousands. Glenn will always be Mr. Spurs and if anyone asks me who I regard as the greatest player to wear the cockerel I will always answer in the same way; Glenn Hoddle- Tottenham legend.

 

31ST March 2003 – The thoughts of Brian Enos (aka "San Joaquin") - A View From Afar

We all know that a chill wind blows through White Hart Lane, and it shows no signs of subsiding.  Since the Sunderland game really, all too often our beloved Spurs have stepped onto the pitch with no doubt a collective and determined eye for a result, only to get outpaced and outfought on their way to another disappointing defeat.  With too few exceptions, Spurs now play as if they lace up cement boots.  Still hopeful of a place in Europe?  Please.  If so, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. 

In fact, the further along this season progresses, the more one begins to doubt that Spurs are adequately equipped to challenge the likes of QPR, let alone Manchester United or Liverpool.  Based on this Yank's perception of the breadth of Spurs' fan base, as well as the depth of Spurs' coffers, however, this reality is simply unacceptable. 

Make no mistake about the primary source of Spurs' problems.  It's not Hoddle's tactics, and it's not injuries.  It's age, plain and simple.  Spurs are collectively too damn old.  As the season has advanced, this reality has become clearer and clearer, even from my television here in central California.  While Spurs have intermittently played sound football in the beginning of matches as of late, I cannot think of the last time Spurs have shined after halftime.

Unlike some, however, I do not doubt the commitment of any Spurs player to the cause, nor anybody's effort on the pitch.  I do realize, however, that too many Spurs are too old to produce a side of which we can be proud for an entire season.  I do not doubt the conviction of the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Gus Poyet, Darren Anderton, or even (brace yourselves, fellow Topspurs), Steffen Freund.  They want Spurs to win as much if not more than any of us.  However, thirty-something’s simply cannot compete with the Dyers, Bellamy's or Owens of the Premiership for an entire season.  I wish this wasn't true.  I am in my 30's myself.  Perhaps the lack of pace or agility of one older player can effectively be hidden (see Shearer or Seaman) on a team, or possibly two.  A side with several older players seeing substantive time on the pitch, however, will ultimately be exposed for what it is - one that will run out of gas short of the finish line.  

Not only does an aging side miss invaluable foot speed, it also fails to timely return players from injury.  Where has Redknapp been, for heaven's sake?  I have half a mind that Ziege will more quickly recover.  And where is Richards?  Why the fuss about his having to miss the Liverpool match on a technicality if he wasn't to be recovered by Bolton anyway?  We would have to be the deepest team in the premiership to effectively deal with Spurs' injuries, and we're far from it.

Further, aging players are too often overpaid.  I understand the impulse that management may feel to sign an aging superstar for a top dollar amount.  However, the impulse usually derives from past achievements, rather than a realistic assessment of what that player may do in the future.  Here in the States, our nation's capitol was recently in a fervour over its basketball team coaxing Michael Jordan out of (his latest) retirement.  Where has this team been since?  In the NBA's version of, to quote a certain Topspur, "midtable crap" ever since, that's where.  If age can catch up on Jordan, it can catch up on any of us. 

I know I am not alone in experiencing the difficulty in following Spurs right now.  I read the message board, and I read the websites.  However, despair is not part of this Topspurs' psyche.  Far from it, for I appreciate the beauty in following Spurs, and the gravamen of this beauty is its passion.  How many of you can honestly think of a more tangible, concentrated and available mechanism by which to express your passion, both alone and among friends, than being a dedicated Tottenham Hotspur?  I can't, and I suspect not many of you can either.  This in itself is a privilege, and should not be overlooked.

Here in America, people all too often lose sight of the importance of passion in their lives.  Rather, they drone on day after day until they one day find themselves short on time and long on regret.  In the states, if a typical American's baseball team loses for example, he or she often shrugs it off all too easily, then turns the sports page to learn the status of his/her (American) football team, then basketball, hockey, and so on.  In fact, in California fans often don't even make a point of attending either the beginning, or end, of the games for which they paid admission.  Los Angeles Dodgers fans are renowned for this.  There are simply too many options, and too little passion.

Following Spurs, however, enables one to exercise their spirit by tapping into their passion, regardless of where they live or what they do.  In "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro", Joe McGinness perhaps says it best.  Although he was specifically talking about Italian football fans, his comments apply equally so to those in Great Britain.  Namely, he remarked that these fans" infused the game with a raw, untameable passion which . . . manifested itself on a weekly basis to a degree that was roughly equivalent to the sum total of that produced by all the sporting events, rock concerts, political protest movements, born-again Christian revival meetings, civil rights demonstrations, antiwar rallies, and any and all other public displays of emotion ever to have taken place in America."  Amen, brother.  None of us should take this for granted, and all of us should continue to flex our passion for Spurs in manners helpful to our ultimate goal of a Premiership championship and place in the Champions League.

We can all take a part in advancing Spurs to this goal by not getting complacent, and recognizing that we all have the power to instil change.  Whether it be by way of the pen, the voice, or the pocketbook, each of us can continue to apply pressure to Spurs' top brass.  Like all franchises, Spurs are nothing without the fans' money, and therefore simply must ultimately listen to them.  Accordingly, if any of you have a gripe about Spurs' present management and/or future direction, sound your horns, and sound them loudly. 

This need applies to me as well, despite the fact that I live 8 time zones from London.  I, for one, am frustrated with Spurs' over-reliance on aging players.  I don't care if Pleat finds a South American, Asian, American, or an Orokaiva tribesman in Papau New Guinea - if a footballer has pace, skill and hunger, I say sign him.  As the Chairman says, Spurs have no borders.  Accordingly, I will send a letter to the powers that be at White Hart Lane voicing my concerns henceforth.  Perhaps it'll end up in someone's circular file, then again perhaps it will not.  I buy my subscription to THTV just like the rest of us.  All such efforts will not be disregarded, though, and sooner or later, someone will have to listen.

 

28th March 2003 – The thoughts of Matt in Norway

My 1st Spurs match was in 1970, standing on a box behind the goal at 4 years old, my dad at my side and I was hooked. Every other Saturday meant a wonderful day out at WHL.

Unfortunately at 8 we moved to Leeds and the piss taking started. Even at 8 years old I still defended Spurs  although it wasn’t a particularly successful time for us. And then something happened that would change me for ever (or so I thought). Glenn Hoddle in a Spurs shirt ! When I 1st saw Hodd play, I fell in love with THFC. Before this I had enjoyed the wins and the losses meant nothing to me. But as I was getting a bit older the defeats started to hurt. Can you remember when a defeat would take a week to get over ? Fortunately there was always Hoddle to do something special and my belief stayed strong. I have watched the man do things with a football that I didn’t think were possible, too numerous to mention here.

They were glorious times. Even when I only got to watch Spurs on TV, I would still cheer, scream and shout. A goal would have me dancing round the room ! You know the feeling at the start of every game (even meaningless friendlies) you have a cheer inside you that just has to come out !

But that’s all gone now. I still love Spurs, I know that will never change. But the cheer is gone, "Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory syndrome" I think is the problem. I want to cheer and cheer again but I know its pointless, Spurs will mess up and concede 2. Defeat at Bolton left me gutted for.........about 3 minutes ! and I WANT IT TO LAST A WEEK. I want it to be the 3rd defeat of the season ! something that I’m not used to feeling !

I don’t know where the blame lies, personally I think Hoddle is clueless and it seems fitting that I fell in love with Spurs because of him and now he is ending my love affair with them. Ill be Spurs fo