TOPSPURS COLUMNISTS WLHatWHL COLUMN
			Email your thoughts to Logan at: wlhatwhl@hotmail.com last updated 15 Aug. 05
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		Logan’s TOPSPURS Column 2004/05		Logan’s TOPSPURS Column 2003/04		Logan’s TOPSPURS Column 2002/03

9^th August 2005 – Thoughts on the new season

There's always a sense of optimism and anticipation at the start of the season. But this year it is even more evident and there's a buzz about the club similar to when Klinsmann arrived - the signing of Davids has brought it to a climax. The success and performances in the pre-season friendlies against quality opposition has everyone eagerly awaiting Saturday's game at Portsmouth.

Will we all come down to earth with a crash of disappointment or will we move forward to bigger and better things? Only time will tell.

It's looking good for the season - Jol has assembled a good squad of players- there's quality throughout the team with cover in every position. A win on Saturday to keep this optimism high and to move forward - with Europe and Cup success as our goal However, to make improvement we must start to take points in those London derbies, home and away, score more goals away from home and turn draws to wins and narrow defeats into draws. To show that Spurs are on their way back, they must take points from the top teams and make it very difficult for them. With Davids at his best, that can certainly happen.

It's been a good pre-season for Spurs - the players and manager seem to be working together and there's a sense of young players eager to prove themselves and hungry for success.

It's a long time since we've been able to be so positive about Spurs.

COYS.

Logan

4^th August 2005 - Edgar Davids - signed at last!

August, 3rd 2005 now sits alongside those other unforgettable dates, 10th July, 1978 when Spurs signed Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa and 29th July, 1994, for the signing of Jurgen Klinsmann. A superstar and top class footballer has once again arrived at White Hart Lane in the form of Dutch International, Edgar Davids. The signing has raised the profile of the club, has people talking about Spurs and will strengthen the team by improving the midfield which has missed a dominant figure for many years.

It took a long time to complete the signing and doubts were starting to set in as negotiations became protracted. Spurs fans were only too mindful of previous disappointments as attempts to sign quality players failed to come to fruition. As Spurs had announced the signing over a week ago many sections of the football world were waiting eagerly to mock the club if negotiations were to collapse. The delay gave opportunities for conspiracy theories to grow and the detractors to question Davids’ age, his attitude, his motivation, the value for money, his form over the past two seasons and his fitness and they were quite happy to put down anyone who spoke favourably about the player. However, the pieces of the intricate jig-saw that makes up today’s transfer negotiations were gradually put in place. Those in the know insisted it would go through in its own time, Davids appeared for his medicals last week, he attended the friendly at Reading on Saturday with Directors and responded to the calls of the Spurs supporters. Martin Jol insisted that the deal was 99% certain of completion but still we waited. The announcement finally appeared on the club web-site in the early hours of Wednesday morning – the wait was over and once again Spurs had signed a world class player, in the true Tottenham Hotspur mould.

For years Dutch football has produced players with amazing talent and skill who would have fitted very admirably into the Tottenham style. Somewhat surprisingly the club has signed no-one directly from Holland and our experience of Dutch players at White Hart Lane has been limited to Metgod and Korsten, neither of whom enjoyed a successful time at the club.

Now we have a world-class player playing for Spurs. He will bring skill and passion to Spurs game. He is a winner as his success at previous clubs and at international level demonstrates. He is combative and can be a driving force in midfield to encourage and bring on the young players who have been signed in the past and his experience should be invaluable to their development. The spirit at the club is the best it has been for many seasons with the players working together for the manager.

Optimism is rife among Spurs supporters at the moment and expectations are high for the coming season. At last Spurs have an opportunity to try to bridge the gap between their mid-table mediocrity of past years and the clubs who are clubs who are striving for success at the upper end of the Premiership. An exciting squad of talented players has been assembled and with the addition of Davids, much will be expected this year.

Only time will tell how successful Davids will be at Tottenham but encouragement can be taken from the opinions of three Dutch reporters questioned over the past week about his transfer to Tottenham. In spite of the first two being interviewed by sceptical reporters, all were certain that the transfer would be completed and that he would be a successful signing for the club. They had no doubt that he would be motivated to perform for the team and that he would be eager to do well as he would want to return to the Dutch national team. Regular appearances in the Premiership would guarantee him a place in the team and a return as captain.

It’s an exciting time to be supporting Spurs and looking forward to Davids’ home Premiership debut, hopefully against Middlesbrough, I trust that he will receive a welcome similar to the one provided for the arrival of Ossie, Ricky and Jurgen. If Edgar Davids is as successful at Tottenham as any of them, we can look forward to a very exciting season.

24^th May 2005 - There is Hope! Review of Season 2004 – 2005

The season past has been described in various reviews as ‘bumpy’, ‘roller-coaster’ and that old faithful, ‘transitional.’ Certainly it has not been an uneventful year but ultimately it ended as an anti-climax with Spurs being unable to secure a place in the EUFA Cup next year.

Twelve months ago, Spurs’ season ended on an up-beat note with two wins to lift the team to fourteenth place in the Premiership. That put a slight gloss on what had been a truly awful year as relegation had seemed a distinct possibility in early spring. The spirits of supporters may have been lifted slightly but in reality but there was little certainty for the future as the club remained without a managerial appointment after almost nine months. In contrast, while this season ended with disappointment, the club and the team are in a much stronger position than twelve months ago.

The pessimist would say that it was a season of ‘seen it all before, the same old story’ with inconsistency, missed opportunities, two managers in the season, lack of commitment and failing to perform at those critical moments. However, the optimist will see beyond those disappointments and acknowledge that while a final Premiership position of ninth is not earth shattering, there has been genuine improvement and that for the first time in many years the club is moving forwards with the right people in control and that there is a chance that they could make serious progress.

At the end of last season the changes started immediately with the departure of David Pleat and the appointment of Frank Arnesen, Jacques Santini and Martin Jol. Players moved on and new signings arrived throughout the summer to completely overhaul the team and provide new Head Coach, Santini, with players who were not steeped in the acceptance of failure and under-achievement that has enveloped White Hart Lane for the past decade.

The new season opened with apprehension as no-one knew how a team composed of so many new players would re-act to the pressure of the Premiership. The pre-season performances had not been encouraging and there had been rumours that the triumvirate of Arnesen, Santini and Jol had not been in total agreement about signings and team selection. However, all those difficulties were set aside as the team put up a commendable performance to earn a point at home to Liverpool. The team showed an early commitment and unity, building on this confidence with a win at Newcastle and were undefeated in the first six Premiership games, including a well-deserved scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge. Santini built his team on a solid defensive base with Robinson, King and Naybet developing a good understanding in defence with support in central midfield from Davis and Mendes who were looking good until injury disrupted their partnership after four games. Defoe was the main striker to snap up whatever chances came his way.

Despite the initial good start to the season, deficiencies were still evident – a lack of width and creativity in midfield, the inability to defeat two of the promoted teams and a defensive approach unfamiliar to Spurs supporters. Defeat at home to Manchester United was the first set-back but it was followed by a solid win at Everton and it was looking promising as Spurs went fifth at the beginning of October. That was as good as it got for Santini and Spurs as cracks started to appear. The signing of Michael Carrick seemed to have caused a problem. It would appear that Santini didn’t want him and in fact may never have heard of him and so didn’t play him. After the October international break the team lost its resilience and went on a run of six defeats. On the morning of the home game against Bolton, it was announced that Bill Nicholson, the club’s greatest manager, had passed away. The match was a sombre occasion and the players were unable to produce a performance worthy of the great man. A sense of despondency descended upon the club at the loss of this legend but they conducted the tributes and memorial service in a most fitting and appropriate way allowing everyone the chance to say their last farewells.

Another very disappointing performance at Fulham, a return to the bad old days, and Santini was gone. He unexpectedly resigned the following Friday, on the eve of the Charlton game, leaving Martin Jol in temporary charge. Another derby defeat to Charlton but his appointment was confirmed the next week and his first match in control saw him lose 4-5 to Arsenal. October and November were bleak months for supporters but the last game of the month saw Jol’s team win their first League game against Middlesbrough and commence a run, the reverse of what had previously occurred. Eight League games undefeated, six wins and two draws. Good wins at home to Southampton and Everton, 5-1 and 5-2 respectively, with the victory against Everton showing the team playing exceptionally well. The disappointments in this sequence were the inability to overcome Palace at home to make it six successive wins and the draw at Old Trafford which would have been a well-deserved victory had Mendes ‘goal of the season’ been allowed. With a weakened team Carrick and Mendes controlled the midfield and stifled United’s play.

Defeat at home to Chelsea after the Cup win against Brighton brought the winning run to an end and for the rest of the season results and performances were a bit hit and miss – some good performances and some poor showings especially away from home. At the end of February, a home win over Fulham gave Spurs their only success in a London derby and defeat at Newcastle in the Cup was particularly bitter as Spurs dominated the game and were denied two late penalties for handball.

However, as the season’s end approached Spurs were still in touch with a European place. Spurs’ position was strengthened in the penultimate home game with a convincing 5-1 victory over Villa. With two games remaining Spurs needed a point at Middlesbrough to deny them a place and a win at home to Blackburn.

The Boro game was regarded as the team’s most important game for many seasons but the team that had performed so well the previous week were disappointing and having conceded an early goal, never looked likely to overcome the experienced Boro side who were now in control of the European place. Spurs had to hope that Boro would lose to Manchester City, while defeating Blackburn themselves by two goals more than City scored. On such mathematical thoughts did the last games start but it soon became evident that Spurs were not going to score the necessary goals against a resolute Rovers team. The curtain came down on the season with Spurs finishing ninth, missing out on Europe but with a positive goal difference for the first time in ages and looking positively towards the next season where with a few additional quality players, a European place must surely come.

So close but still not there. Viewing the season in hindsight, it so easy to see where points were lost and how the opportunities were missed. To make improvement next season, there are obvious areas to be targeted:

· an increased return from London derbies, the players must be as committed as the other teams and be prepared to fight for their dominant position.

· an ability to take points consistently from the newly promoted teams and from the teams in the relegation zone. Too often Spurs give those teams too much respect and allow them to dominate and grow in confidence.

· a greater number of goals on away trips would hopefully produce more points. Midfield players need to make a goal-scoring contribution to take some pressure off the strikers.

The summer signings will be important and one week on, it would appear that Simon Davies is off to Everton, so the wide midfield positions need strengthened as does the creative ability in the team. Another crucial role is that of leader – someone to set an example on the pitch, take control and ensure that no opportunity is missed to take Spurs as far as possible. There is a nucleus of players with the ability to progress at Spurs, they need to come together and bond as a unit with the determination and desire to bring success to White Hart Lane. For the first time in many years that is possibly within Spurs’ reach. There is hope of better times ahead and so we await the news of new players arriving at White Hart Lane and trust in the knowledge of Arnesen to make this happen and that Martin Jol will have benefited from his year’s experience to ensure greater consistency next season.

6th May 2005 - Robinson’s Out for Season but he MUST Stay at White Hart Lane!

The news that Paul Robinson’s injury sustained in the game against Villa is worse than originally reported is a big blow to Spurs as they approach the final two games of the season. Looking for at least four points from their games at Middlesbrough and at home to Blackburn to ensure qualification for Europe, Robinson would have been expected to play a major part in those two games. His injury now places the spotlight on Radek Cerny who made his debut for the club when replacing him for the final twenty six minutes of the game against Aston Villa last weekend.

After the disappointment of defeat at Highbury last week and slipping a couple of places in the Premiership as the battle for the final European position intensified, things had taken an upward turn for Spurs with the unexpected announcement of Jermain Defoe’s decision to sign an extension to his contract. This was good news, demonstrating the club’s intention to retain their best players and build on this season’s progress. The feel good factor increased with the exciting performance against Villa on Sunday. The players showed the commitment and belief needed for such games and many of the players produced their best performances for some time. Confidence must be high among the players and a similar effort will be essential in the final two games of the season.

Paul Robinson has established himself as England’s Number 1 and Tottenham’s Number 1 and that’s the way it must remain. Reports in the papers over the past months suggesting that various clubs are planning approaches for the goalkeeper who signed for Spurs last summer are a concern as he again showed last Sunday why he has been so important to the team’s success this year. His early save was vital as the defence took time to settle in the opening exchanges and enabled the team to go on and dominate the game. Later, in the second half his important saves quelled Villa’s comeback and ensured an emphatic victory. Without that performance from Paul Robinson, the win may not have been so convincing and Spurs may not have moved above Boro in the League.

Regardless of which clubs come in looking to sign Robinson, it is essential for the future of Spurs that he remains at White Hart Lane. Spurs must build on this season’s improvement and that means keeping all of the star players and the club should reward Robinson for his performances this year by offering him an improved contract.

The Sunday Times when reviewing his performance for England after the recent international against Northern Ireland referred to him as Tottenham’s goalkeeper, ‘the goalkeeper that Manchester United and Arsenal wish they had.’ Both clubs have struggled to find adequate replacements for their former goalkeepers and have looked covetously towards White Hart Lane and Paul Robinson. Suggestions that United have been put off by Spurs’ reported figure of £8 million are good but the club needs to show further resolve by securing an extension to his contract. It would be foolhardy of the club to take the millions offered and see one of their rivals become stronger at Spurs expense. Spurs must stand firm and resist all offers for one of their top players.

For too long Spurs have had to make do with goalkeepers who were adequate without being top class. Now that they have signed an excellent goalkeeper they must ensure that he remains at the club.

Robinson has taken to the role of Tottenham’s Number 1 and has developed a close affinity with the fans from the very beginning. For many season’s the supporters have waited for a goalkeeper who could follow in the footsteps of some of the famous players who have filled that position for the club. Now they have found one and want to keep him for as many years as possible so that a successful team can be built around him. His importance to the improvement at the club can not be over emphasised as he has brought a confidence to the defence and pulled off important saves to keep the team in the game, enabling them to go on and earn vital points. He has shown his ability at International level and in the last game against Azerbaijan, while England dominated the game, vital late saves from Robinson avoided any embarrassment for his country. A top class goalkeeper is able to remain inactive for long spells and then produce those vital saves at important times during the game.

It is not surprising that top club’s, including Barcelona, have been linked with Robinson but Spurs must show resolve in this matter and retain his services for the coming seasons.

For Saturday, Radek Cerny will have the task of replacing Robinson and it is to be hoped that he will be equal to the task. He is experienced and has made three international appearances for the Czech Republic team. He appeared confident and composed in his short time on the pitch on Sunday but there will be increased pressure on Saturday with the game being heralded as Spurs most important game for many years and could be described as a ‘play-off’ for a European place although other clubs are still in contention. For Spurs to keep European qualification within their own control a point at the Riverside is essential. A victory would be excellent and almost certain to ensure European qualification while defeat would leave Spurs at the mercy of other clubs’ results.

Spurs last revival in the mid-nineties came to a spluttering end when Jurgen Klinsmann departed after one season. This season has shown the first sustained signs of recovery since that time and as Paul Robinson, undoubtedly, the ‘Player of the Year’, has played a very important part, he must not be allowed to be a one season ‘star’ of White Hart Lane. His early departure from the pitch against Villa must not be his last appearance for the club – he has a vital role to play in the continued progress of Tottenham Hotspur.

Logan

COYS

5^th April 2005 - Spurs’ Season’s Over?

Spurs’ season is finally over. At least it stretched into early April unlike recent years when it had finished by mid-January or early February. It hasn’t finished because we dropped two points against a mediocre Birmingham side at St. Andrews but because we look like a team without any belief that anything is going to be achieved this year. Spurs will not qualify for Europe – mathematically, it is not impossible but realistically the team are not going to achieve that target. I have stopped looking at the League tables to work out what position a win would take Spurs to – there have been too many missed opportunities and that just brings greater disappointment.

I would love to be proved wrong and have someone e-mail me on 15th May, after the Blackburn game and tell me that there’s a party going on at White Hart Lane as the fans celebrate the Spurs’ victory that has brought the three points necessary for another European adventure. But somehow I don’t think so. If the players did get to that final game of the season requiring a win to secure that goal, I don’t think they would have the nerve to go for it. We could be left with another disappointment as with the Newcastle game in 1996 – the last time Spurs had a realistic chance of European qualification through their League position. It will be a matter of so near and yet so far as we are left with the promise of wait for next season and better things to come.

Recently, the team has played a sequence of games which should have given them the opportunity to progress to a finishing position which would have ensured European qualification for next year. As each game came along it was regarded as a crucial match in the challenge for Europe – Southampton away, Charlton at the Valley and on Saturday against Birmingham. But as each opportunity came, so it passed with only one point to show for the efforts. These were not games against top class opposition or teams in especially good form but the games that any club hoping to achieve European qualification would expect to win. Southampton had improved at St. Mary’s but in their next game Manchester United showed the necessary commitment and class that Spurs had lacked to comfortably win the Cup match. Similarly, Charlton have not been playing well but managed to do enough to beat Spurs but their next two games have underlined how poorly Spurs performed as Charlton lost 4-1 at home to relegation threatened West Brom and struggled to a fortunate point against Manchester City. Against Birmingham, Spurs took the lead which should have been enough against a poor side but within a few minutes they had conceded an equaliser through poor defensive play. In spite of being in control and having the greater share of possession through many of those games the points were squandered and the chance gone. All of those games were there to be won but there was no-one in the team to show the leadership and fight that would have taken control of the game and put in the extra effort required to ensure that the points were won. Instead, the players just seemed to accept whatever came along and were satisfied with a – ‘we played quite well and were unlucky; it was just one of those days’ attitude. How the current team needs a player with the leadership qualities of Mabbutt, Roberts, Perryman or Mackay.

Now, I hope that Spurs win against Newcastle on Saturday but I can’t see that being the catalyst necessary for a successful run to gain a European place. Over the past months they have been unable to build any momentum and I expect that will continue through the final seven games of the season which sees them facing a number of difficult games, especially the away matches at Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Arsenal. Only the inconsistency of the teams around Spurs has kept them within touch of the European place. We are told constantly that playing in European football is the ultimate challenge for every footballer and so they want to be at a club which can offer them that opportunity. Why can the Spurs players not see the opportunity that is currently within their grasp and put together the collective response necessary to achieve it? If that is their goal, then they should be prepared to give everything they can towards that cause – but it’s not happening at Spurs. However, if the club fails to achieve European football in the very near future some of the players will use that as their excuse to move on to other teams offering the prize of Europe so as they can achieve their life’s ambition of playing for a team in Europe.

However, Spurs failure to make Europe next season is not down to the fact that they didn’t beat Birmingham at St Andrews at the beginning of April.

Their failure is due to a number of factors:

· their inability to score away from home. This season has seen them score only nine goals on their travels, only Norwich have scored fewer. Surprisingly, eight of those goals have earned them seventeen points. Only once have they scored twice, in a 2-0 win at Norwich and one goal has secured victory at Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City and Blackburn with draws at West Brom and Birmingham. Two credible scoreless draws were achieved at Chelsea and Old Trafford. However, in other games their inability to score has seen them lose games that they were capable of winning but once they had conceded a goal they were unable to recover – at Portsmouth, Villa, Southampton, Fulham, Palace and Charlton.

· their inability to win London derbies. For a London club to be unable to gain points from their local neighbours is creating an impossible situation for the team. To date, Spurs have managed to secure five points from nine games against London clubs. Twenty two points have been lost in those games. With a record like that it is incredible that Spurs have actually managed to amass forty three points this year. The London teams have shown greater fight and determination when they have faced Spurs and been more eager to win those games, so until Spurs overcome this jinx they will they not have the opportunity to move forward.

· their inability to take points from teams around them. To date, only Middlesbrough have yielded points to Spurs – Bolton and Charlton have both gained maximum points while Villa won at Villa Park. It will be interesting to see what success Spurs achieve in the return matches against Boro and Villa.

· their unwillingness to enter the Intertoto competition. Across Europe it is regarded as an acceptable route into Europe but Spurs continually shy away from it. Their first foray into the Intertoto was a choke as they didn’t take it seriously but with the large squad of players Spurs have available, they should consider it as an alternative way of achieving their aim of European football.

the two points denied them at Old Trafford could still prove critical. If Mendes ‘goal’ had been awarded, think of the boost that it would have given to the players’ confidence. The records show that Manchester United remain unbeaten in the League since the beginning of November, although we know the true situation but if Spurs had brought that run to an end the players would have grown in confidence and belief in themselves. Two additional points would have made that European dream that bit closer in a very tight contest.

Spurs’ season is a vast improvement over recent years as twelve months ago there was the distinct possibility that the final home game against Blackburn could have been a vital contest in a fight against relegation. In the end it wasn’t as Spurs had reached safety with a few games to spare. This year the climax to the season is again against Rovers but with an outside chance of European football still being on the agenda. Martin Jol has taken Spurs forward but the players don’t seem to believe that they can achieve the ultimate prize of European football and so have been unable to win matches that were there for them to win. It would be disappointing if the season were to end in that way but being realistic I fear that it will all end in tears – Spurs will have to wait patiently for another year while other clubs compete in the European competitions. If Spurs miss out on European football, the club will again find it difficult to attract the class of player who would be able to take the club forward and close the gap on those clubs who have dominated the Premiership for the past decade.

Logan Holmes

30^th March 2005 - Case for the Defence

Martin Jol has done much that has been good in his short time in charge at White Hart Lane. He has brought pride and unity to the team and the players have responded with a team spirit, determination and fight that have been missing for some time. He has spoken as he finds things and not hidden behind football speak which has endeared him to the fans and has brought him respect in the media and from other managers. He has raised the profile of Tottenham Hotspur and has shown an understanding of the history and traditions of the club. His recent comment in a newspaper article, ‘Tottenham Hotspur is the most beautiful name in football,’ could have come from the lips of our greatest ever manager, the late Bill Nicholson. Jol has endeavoured to produce a team that plays with some style and is aware of where he wants to take the team and the task that is involved.

However, one area where I would like to see greater consistency is in defence. All great teams have a strong defensive unit as the basis for their progress. They develop an understanding over a period of time having played together consistently, getting to know each other and how each will react to certain situations.

Every Spurs fan will be able to name the defensive units of the successful teams because they played week in, week out unless one of them was unavailable through injury. In the early 1950s the ‘Push and Run’ promotion and League winning team had:

Ditchburn

Ramsay Willis

Nicholson Clarke Burgess

as the mainstay of their defence.

The ‘Double’ team was:

Brown

Baker Henry

Blanchflower Norman Mackay

This defensive line–up served Spurs successfully for many years, winning all of the top honours and was only disturbed when injuries occurred.

The 1967 F.A.Cup winning defence went on to bring success to the club in the early seventies as well.

Jennings

Kinnear Knowles

Mullery England Mackay

The successful team of the 1970s saw Phil Beal replace Dave Mackay at the centre of the defence and when Mike England was injured for the League Cup victory over Aston Villa in 1971, Peter Collins, a young reserve, replaced him. However, when England recovered from injury he reclaimed his place at the heart of the team.

Similarly, the success of the early eighties was founded on the strong defensive unit created by:

Clemence

Perryman Roberts Miller Hughton

It was only injury that disturbed this line-up; the manager knew his strongest team and played it on every possible occasion.

This season the club has signed an extraordinary number of players and the manager had had to create a new team from scratch. It has taken time to assess individual players - how they play together and how they have reacted to joining a new club with the pressures and rigours of Premiership football and for many how they have adapted to living in a different environment. This has taken time but through time Jol seems to have settled on his best formation in attack – Defoe or Keane alongside Kanoute or Mido, and is prepared to work a rotational system to keep all of them involved. In midfield he seems to have decided on his best formation from the players available, unfortunately, in my opinion, without the skill of the currently injured Pedro Mendes. The midfield still lacks creativity but the proposed targets for the summer should rectify this deficiency.

However, in defence there is no indication of the best combination and the constant change and rotation prevents any understanding developing between the individual players. At the start of the season, Jacques Santini played a more defensive style but he had identified his best defensive set-up and they played together through August and September.

Robinson

Pamarot King Naybet Edman

Phil Ifil played the first two games prior to the signing of Noe Pamarot who was immediately introduced to the team. This defensive line-up appeared for the first eight games of the season, conceding only three goals and having five clean sheets. The injury to Edman in the Everton game created the first disruption to the defensive line-up but since then Gardner, Atouba, Ziegler and Edman have all played at left back. Who is the best player for that position? No-one seems to know. Erik Edman’s recovery from his head injury took longer than anticipated and on his return he seemed to have lost a degree of confidence and did not play as well as in the opening games. His current success with Sweden may boost his confidence and with Atouba facing possible suspension he may again have an opportunity to re-establish himself in the team.

At right back Pamarot had first claim to the spot but now Steven Kelly has made a number of appearances with Ifil playing for the reserves and youth team. Who is the best right back? We don’t know – there is more uncertainty in this position.

The centre back partnership is easier. There is general consensus that the best combination is Ledley King and Noureddine Naybet. Naybet brings experience and authority to the defence which seems calmer and more controlled when he is playing while King who has played well throughout the season is much more assured with an experienced player alongside him. However, injury and the manager’s desire to rest Naybet has seen Anthony Gardner playing on a number of occasions. This has created uncertainty in the defence as King and Gardner do not play well together. Paramot played there in the cup-tie, is that an option? In the background there are players for the future but with Dawson injured and Davenport at Southampton there is no opportunity to assess their potential alongside Ledley King, an option which would be more worthwhile than playing Gardner who has had frequent chances but has proved to be lacking in consistency and that crucial competitive aspect of his game. With talk that Naybet may not be at the club next year, there is a need to identify a possible successor and give him experience in partnership with the other players.

The changes in defence have resulted in only six clean sheets in the nineteen Premiership games played since Jol took control. In general, the defensive set-up has been more secure than in previous years but there have been a few lapses and misunderstandings that have led to unnecessary goals conceded. Such occurrences could be prevented if the defence was more settled.

In the final eight games it would be beneficial if Jol would, injuries and suspensions permitting, select what he regards as his best defensive line-up and give them an opportunity to play as a unit to see if they can produce some consistency which would be a useful guide for the planning for next season. All of the players available are competent defenders but in order to establish a settled defence some tough decisions must be taken. With a large squad it is difficult to keep all of the players happy but for the future success of the club a well established defensive set-up is required with players available in reserve to cover for injuries or loss of form.

Paul Robinson has had an excellent season and is worthy of the Tottenham and England No.1 title. He has given the defence confidence with his saves and his command of the penalty area. He can only improve if he knows that he has a sound and confident defence in front of him. He should also find it beneficial to have consistent team selection through these final games and it would signal to the supporters that the Head Coach knows what his best team is. Martin Jol has shown his thoughts in midfield and uses rotation to keep the strikers fresh and on their toes but some insight into his defensive thoughts would be useful. It might also provide that extra consistency necessary to push on for the European spot that is within reach, the benchmark for a successful season at White Hart Lane after so many false dawns and so many years in the doldrums.

Logan Holmes

COYS

12^th February 2005 - Spurs need to Learn from Previous Experiences.

‘Football is basically a simple game made difficult by players and managers.’

Before the F.A Cup replay against West Bromwich Albion there were a number of comments that could be made about Spurs on the evidence of their season so far.

• Playing Defoe, Kanoute and Keane together does not work.
• The team has struggled through much of the season because of lack of width especially without a natural player for the right side of midfield.
• The defence looks decidedly shaky and more suspect when Naybet is not playing.
• Many of Spurs’ best moments this year have been due to the inspiration provided by the three England internationals – Paul Robinson, Ledley King and Jermain Defoe.

The 3 – 1 victory achieved by Spurs to progress to the F.A. Cup 5^th Round tie against Nottingham Forest next weekend can certainly be attributed to the inspirational goalkeeping display of Robinson in the first half and the goal scoring instinct of Defoe in the second half. Robinson made three outstanding saves to thwart West Brom as they took control in the first half and threatened to finish the game by half-time while Defoe scored two excellent goals to wrest the initiative away from the visitors. Credit should also go to Robbie Keane who held his nerve to score the equalising penalty, having had to wait for some considerable time while the goalkeeper received treatment and was eventually replaced by the substitute goalkeeper. To have missed the penalty then could have been detrimental to Spurs whole season.

However, Martin Jol who has done excellently to turn the season round and produce a team which has achieved results while playing some entertaining football, chose to ignore the evidence from previous matches. He made it more difficult and complicated the game by starting with a line up that most supporters would have found unbelievable. The evidence from the past twelve months is that Defoe, Kanoute and Keane can not play together and to put them together unbalances the team. Within the first few minutes this was evident as Albion took control and Spurs failed to get into the game. In the first half Defoe rarely touched the ball, Keane worked hard but to little effect while Kanoute looked lethargic and lacked passion. On BBC television, Alan Hansen commented that Robbie Keane was unlucky to be replaced at half-time and that is true, while he insisted that Kanoute shouldn’t have been on the pitch in the second half because of his first half lack of effort and that is also true. However, what Hansen fails to understand is that Spurs need Kanoute or Mido to play alongside Defoe or Keane as the two small players together has not been successful – they can’t play together.

The manager has praised Simon Davies for his wide play since his return from injury and last week’s success against Portsmouth was based on two wide players Davies and Reid playing an important part. With Reid cup-tied and unavailable, the fit again Ziegler had to return and Davies would have been the obvious selection for the wide right position. However, a diamond formation was used with Keane playing behind Defoe and Kanoute. This resulted in the team playing in a very narrow formation and Kelly, Atouba or Ziegler had to overlap to create width while Kanoute was required to go out wide on the right to create space. This tactic had little success early on and the players seemed uncomfortable in this formation. Kanoute created one chance on the right, while Kelly overlapped to win the penalty but it was little reward for a first half performance that saw Albion create a number of clear chances to increase their lead.

Naybet gives confidence to the defence and to the defenders he plays alongside. Ledley King has shown outstanding form this year but has not been as assured recently with Gardner beside him in central defence. While acknowledging that Naybet is unlikely to play in every game, if he was fit enough to be on the bench then he should have started the game to ensure that the team made a solid and confident start in a game which was important to ensure the continuation of Spurs’ season.

However, it all turned out right in the end but not without frequent jitters in the first half. Martin Jol rectified the first half difficulties by introducing Simon Davies at half-time and this had an immediate effect with the players showing more confidence and creating two goals for Defoe in the first ten minutes of the half. Throughout the second half the players showed more confidence and Kelly and Davies combined well on the right with Atouba and Ziegler being equally effective on the left. Kanoute became much more involved and set up the final goal. Overall the team was much more balanced and confident and in the end deserved to win with their domination of the second half.

A large and growing squad of talented players, as more return from injury, is going to give the manager added problems over selection. Mendes is reported to be unhappy about playing on the right, Robbie Keane can’t be happy not to be selected for every game, Kanoute and Mido will be competing for the role alongside Defoe and young players need experience to develop their talent to the full potential. Competition for places is vital as each player must fight for the right to pull on the white shirt of Spurs and ensure that Tottenham Hotspur continues to move forward in pursuit of success.

Spurs season is still alive as they endeavour to progress to the 6^th Round of the F.A. Cup next weekend and as they try to earn a place in Europe through their League position. Robbie Keane is reported as stating that he does not think that the team will qualify for Europe this season. I hope that view is not prevalent throughout the team and that they will show full commitment to that cause until it is achieved or at the very least until it is mathematically impossible for them to do so. For so many reasons, European qualification is an important step in the progress of the club and the team and they really can’t afford to wait for yet another season to achieve it.

May I remind the players of the club’s motto – ‘Audere est Facere’ and hope that they will go into each game determined to achieve the maximum success for the team and that Europe will be the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.

Logan

3^rd February 2005 - The Tottenham Hotspur Rollercoaster!

On that sunny Saturday morning in mid-August as the new season opened, the Spurs stewards should have been out on Tottenham High Road encouraging supporters to step inside for the Tottenham Hotspur Rollercoaster ride. The excitement and anticipation of the new season was already high with the added mix of a new management team and a summer of new signings. The expectations for Spurs were not as high as those of Liverpool whose new manager was highly regarded and it was anticipated that he would have them in a challenging position. However, after so many years of disappointment the Spurs faithful were hopeful that they would witness a season of improvement and encouragement.

After steady progress through the early games, at the beginning of October, as Spurs fans celebrated another three points won at Goodison Park, little did they realise that the season was about to take a dramatic turn on the rollercoaster ride. Under Jacques Santini, the difficult early games had been negotiated satisfactorily, although without the flair so often associated with the club but which has been absent for the past number of seasons. With the team in fifth place in the Premiership, having achieved results where previously they would have lacked the required resilience and with only one defeat in the opening eight games while remaining undefeated away from White Hart Lane there was the suggestion that the foundations had been laid for a season of progress.

If that had been the steady upward climb, the descent came rapidly in the coming weeks. After the break for the Internationals in early October the players’ early season commitment had evaporated and one disappointing performance followed another. The club was shocked by the passing of its greatest ever manager, Bill Nicholson, and the sombre feeling of the fans was also displayed on the pitch against Bolton. The defeat at Craven Cottage against a Fulham team which had been going through a difficult time was a return to the bad old days of the last few seasons. The team was disjointed, the manager seemed bemused by it all and the early season determination and competitiveness had evaporated. This brought about the resignation of Santini and having waited ten months for the new manager he had gone within four. In spite of the immediate appointment of Martin Jol the season continued to career downwards as six consecutive League defeats were amassed. It was at the end of November that the slump bottomed out with a home victory over high flying Middlesborough. A further blip was the Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool Reserves but from that point the upward turn commenced.

Having lost six in a row they proceeded to win five in a row with well earned victories at Blackburn, Manchester City and Norwich and a 5 – 1 victory at home to Southampton. The chance to match six defeats with six wins was missed as Palace took a point from White Hart Lane but then the upward climb to the summit continued as Everton suffered when Spurs showed some excellent play to win 5 - 2 against the team in contention for a Champions League place.

The next two games would determine how much progress had been made – a visit to Old Trafford and Chelsea at home. The rollercoaster ride would have reached its highest point had the assistant referee noticed that Mendes ‘goal’ was a metre over the line but unfortunately he didn’t and Spurs had to settle for a point. Another refereeing decision in the award of a first half penalty to Chelsea ensured their continued success and brought Spurs rise to the peaks to an abrupt end.

The greatest disappointment about those two games was that Spurs didn’t get the rewards their performances warranted and the controversy over the refereeing prevented the team getting the credit they deserved for their performances against two of the best teams in the Premiership. Going to United without Kanoute and Defoe who were injured made the task even more difficult but the team played in a very controlled way and would have deserved the three points. Playing without Kanoute restricted the striking options against Chelsea while the penalty decision changed the course of the game and the after match discussion centred on that rather than the fact that Spurs had forced Chelsea to fight all the way for their victory. Those two games have shown how far Spurs have come in a short time but having reached the peak in early January, the slip in form and recent results leaves us asking the question – Which way is the rollercoaster heading now?

The defeat at Palace was one of the worst performances of the season and with the Cup display and subsequent defeat at Bolton has brought a downward turn in the season’s progress. Once again Spurs have shown an inability to overcome teams in mid-table and it is obvious to all that the next few games are crucial to determine how successful a season it is going to be. Will the rollercoaster take us back to the summit or plunge us down to the depths and another early season finish by mid-February.

Throughout January, injuries to key players showed the limitations of the squad and while the last few days of the Transfer window have been busy, it will take time for the new recruits to develop an understanding in their new team, especially where all the players are untried in the Premiership.

Only time will tell what the future holds but for any success to be achieved Martin Jol must utilise the new signings to bring added creativity to the team. A few good results in the coming weeks and Spurs could be reaching for higher peaks than anyone anticipated in early August. European football is there as the ultimate prize - hopefully the players have the desire and ability to reach for it and match the aspirations of the supporters.

This is one the small step that is needed to propel Tottenham Hotspur into a much bigger arena where they can then attract the type of ‘superstar’ player that created so much anticipation on message boards in the past fortnight. It has been a long wait but could it finally be achieved in the next four months? It is what every Spurs supporter is waiting for.

COYS

Logan

7^th November 2004 - Questions but NO Answers.

For the second successive home game, Spurs supporters arrived at White Hart Lane in a state of shock. Last time there was sorrow at the passing of Bill Nicholson, the club’s greatest manager and the man who did most to make the club famous around the world. This time, it is probably more surprise and disbelief, than shock, at the departure of Jacques Santini, the most recent occupant of the poisoned chalice that is the manager’s chair at Tottenham Hotspur.

The high days of August and September are in the dim and distant past as the rumours and rumours of rumours gathered momentum throughout October. Having won at Goodison Park on the second day of October, it has rapidly gone downhill for the manager and the club. From a team which had shown passion and commitment, although lacking creativity, during the early games to accumulate a higher than expected number of points in a difficult set of opening games, it quickly lost its way. The performance against Fulham last weekend was the most obvious indicator that all was not well at White Hart Lane. Criticism had arisen about the lack of style that Santini’s team was producing but while the results were positive, there was an acceptance from the fans that the new regime was building from the back, tightening up in defence where Spurs have for so long been vulnerable. The players had shown a fight not normally associated with Spurs and were producing committed performances but that went out the window last weekend when the players seemed bemused by the tactics and were definitely not playing for the manager. Team selection, tactics, lack of creativity and background tensions were becoming serious issues.

It was always going to be difficult for Santini at Tottenham. New to English football, he had to quickly revamp the team and cope with the management structure that had been put in place while learning English so that he could communicate with the players, coaching staff, management team, directors and the media. As performances started to deteriorate, Santini’s limited grasp of English became more critical. He could only talk to the press about injuries, tired players and his young team, which became an irritation to the fans. He must have found it difficult to convey his views to the players in training and if there were tensions among the background staff, he must have felt increasingly isolated, with no one to turn to for support and advice. Communications with the Chairman and directors must also have been limited, making it difficult to conduct any meaningful discussions.

It’s a disappointment that Santini has left so soon after the high hopes that were generated in the summer. He was heralded as the bright future with the support of Arnesen and Jol. From the outset he conducted himself in a very dignified manner and restored a sense of pride in the club and the players. However, his leaving has probably come about due to a combination of all of the reasons and speculation put forward to explain his sudden departure after only four months and thirteen games in charge.

After supporting Spurs for forty years nothing should be a surprise but as usual there are so many questions but no answers.

How can Tottenham manage consistently to appoint a manager who is unable to produce a team worthy of the great club and the fantastic support it receives season after season?

Since the departure of Keith Burkinshaw in 1984, Spurs have had nine different managers plus various people in a caretaking role. All have failed to produce a successful team, the only successes during those twenty years have been a solitary F.A.Cup victory against all odds and a Worthington Cup success. There have been short periods when the club appeared to be on the road to recovery but it floundered rapidly as normal Tottenham service resumed.

How can managers at Tottenham continue to select players who the fans can see have consistently failed to perform at an acceptable level?

How can a squad of players, many with International experience, who on paper are individually so much superior to players of other teams in the Premiership, fail to produce performances worthy of their ability, either individually or as a team, and so are regularly outplayed by lesser teams?

How can a team that performed adequately in the opening weeks of the season and with some pride, become a team devoid of pattern or method or commitment in the following weeks?

How can a team be so inadequate for an hour against another very poor team and when three goals behind suddenly come to life for the last thirty minutes?

Disillusionment is setting in for so many supporters – there have been so many false dawns, so many promises of a new beginning and yet every time we just get the same old, same old rubbish. Supporters really can’t take much more! The next game could be another opportunity for embarrassment in front of the Sky watching football nation and then we await the North London derby with trepidation.

Over the past two years committing thoughts on Spurs to paper, or the internet, has proved very difficult. During the first eighteen months everything was doom and gloom as Spurs lurched from one disappointment and crisis to another. However, this season in trying to take an optimistic approach, supporting the management structure and Santini for his efforts to raise Spurs from the depths has proved foolhardy as Spurs have returned to type. Another false dawn to set alongside so many others and the usual wait to hear what remedy those men in dark suits can produce as another season passes us by and Tottenham Hotspur slips further from the pinnacle they once stood upon.

The day’s events and the events of the past years are a sad indictment on the club, taking the spotlight from Bill Nicholson who will be so fondly remembered at the memorial service at White Hart Lane. He loved Tottenham Hotspur but does anyone who is there now have any feelings for our great club?

Logan

Come On You Spurs! (We have to have hope)

‘Sir’ Bill Nicholson of Tottenham O.B.E. (26th January, 1919 – 23rd October, 2004)

Bill Nicholson devoted his life to football, serving Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for the greater portion of that time as a player, coach, manager, consultant and President. Only a ridiculous decision by the Directors in 1974, on Bill Nicholson’s resignation as manager, caused him to walk away from his beloved Tottenham Hotspur for a period of just under two years. Thankfully Keith Burkinshaw had enough confidence in his own ability and realised that Bill Nicholson still had much to offer the club and invited him to return to White Hart Lane as Consultant. He later became President in 1991. Bill Nicholson was a real gentleman and played football in the true spirit of the game. His teams played to win and to win in style. This was so evident in the play of the ‘Double’ team who brought such skill and excitement to the game. White Hart Lane was packed in the early sixties and away grounds were full to capacity as the whole country clamoured to see the exciting play of his great Spurs team. As manager, Bill Nicholson set the standard when in his first game in charge in October, 1958 Spurs defeated Everton 10-4.

He started on a high and said that he couldn’t promise such excitement every week but as the years passed it got even better for Spurs fans – the ‘Double’, successive F.A.Cup wins, success in Europe with the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963 to become the first British club to win a European trophy and the E.U.F.A. Cup in 1972, the first club to achieve two successes in Europe. A third F.A.Cup victory in 1967 and double League Cup successes in 1971 and 1973 were all testament to Bill Nicholson’s ability as a manager to build successful teams. He was the most successful manager in the history of Tottenham Hotspur thus ensuring his right to the status of ‘Legend’.

Bill Nicholson came to Tottenham in 1936, joining the ground staff and being groomed at Northfleet before becoming a professional in 1938. He made his League debut the following October at left back. With eight appearances that year he started the next season as first choice but the outbreak of the Second World War meant that like all other players of the time, his football career was put on hold. Having served his country he returned to Tottenham after the war and played in the team as a centre half. In August, 1947 he claimed the right half position that was to became his own for the remainder of his playing career.

As the Spurs team developed their ‘push and run’ style under Arthur Rowe, Nicholson was an important member of the team that won the 2nd Division in 1950 and then went on to claim the 1st Division championship the following season. His play was about commitment and endeavour and he made his only appearance for England in May, 1951 when he scored with his first touch against Portugal. Although selected the following November he had to withdraw through injury and wasn’t selected again. While a player he became involved in coaching and acquired his F.A. coaching qualifications. In total he played 318 League games for Spurs including the three games in 1939 and an abandoned match – a very credible record considering he lost six years of his playing career because of the war.

On retirement he took up coaching responsibilities in 1955 and became manager three years later. In this capacity he had full responsibility for all matters concerning the team. Today’s managers have so many coaches and assistants but Nicholson did his own coaching, scouting and spying on opposition teams. He spent long hours at Tottenham and by his own admission he devoted so much time to Tottenham that he missed much of his family growing up, leaving these responsibilities to his loyal and supportive wife, Darkie. He gave everything to Spurs and brought so much success to the club but he still lived close to the ground and wasn’t attracted by the trappings of success. He was a private man but was passionate about football and always wanted what was best for Spurs.

As manager he brought together players who would play with passion and skill. He had a great relationship with his captain, Danny Blanchflower, and he knew how important Dave Mackay was to his successful team. He was innovative and was prepared to spend money on transfers frequently breaking records when bringing new players to White Hart Lane. He showed ingenuity by signing Jimmy Greaves for £99,999 so as to avoid him becoming the first £100,000 player. Every team that he produced had players who brought skill and excitement to the game and who would play with passion and commitment– Tommy Harmer, Cliff Jones, John White, Bobby Smith, Pat Jennings, Cyril Knowles, Alan Mullery, Steve Perryman, Alan Gilzean, Martin Chivers and Martin Peters to name just a few. He was a st