Tottenham: Earning their Spurs
In the shadow of the success of their North London rivals, fans in the white half of the capital are yet again wondering whether their promising start to the season is the beginning of a new golden age or just another flash in the pan beginning.
Martin Jol’s team finished one point outside the European places last year, had it not been for a shocking decision at Old Trafford in February, their season might have panned out differently. The Dutchman and his backroom staff decided to decline the route offered to Europe by the FA through the Intertoto cup and this season many believe that Spurs are at the head of a band including Middlesbrough, Bolton, Everton and Manchester City who could break into last season's top four dominance.
With strength in depth coming from both youth and experience it seems the problems which have dogged Tottenham over the years of inconsistency will finally disappear. A quality trio of International strikers, Mido, Robbie Keane and our very own Jermaine Defoe provide the attack with different options and pairings combining, pace, skill, strength and creativity added to by the passing skills of Michael Carrick and the dogged and tenacious addition of Edgar Davids give Spurs a real blend of flair and steel.
The midfield areas are backed up by the impressive Tanio, Sean Davis, and Pedro Mendes and potential England International Wayne Routledge who was signed from Palace in the summer.
At the back goalkeeper Paul Robinson may turn out to be one of the greatest bargains in transfer history signing for 3 million two years ago he has turned into England’s number one and on the club and International stage has impressed all with his aerial ability, judgment for danger situations and shot stopping.
With confidence in their stopper the defense has more confidence to go and player, marshaled Ledley King the loss of Sol Campbell seems to be well in the past. The captain has been joined by youthful Michael Dawson, Callum Davenport, Tom Huddlestone to add to the quality and experience of Edman and Naybet.
The manager himself has brought a different dimension and style of football to the club, last season Santini’s start at Spurs was blighted with criticism that his team played terrible defensive football before he left over poor performances; however Jol has been praised for bringing back style not seen at the Lane since the likes of Ardiles, Hoddle and Gascoigne. Finally the team been playing football to excite the crowd and bring back a phenomenally intimidating atmosphere during home games.
Whether Tottenham can build on the two wins they have achieved already this season and avoid needless home defeats which have seem them falter in recent season’s remains to be seen. But there is no question that they are building a team for the future in the style of Manchester United in the early 90’s and sooner or later they are bound to reap the rewards of this policy and trophies will be making their way to the opposite side of North London for a change.
Martin Jol’s team finished one point outside the European places last year, had it not been for a shocking decision at Old Trafford in February, their season might have panned out differently. The Dutchman and his backroom staff decided to decline the route offered to Europe by the FA through the Intertoto cup and this season many believe that Spurs are at the head of a band including Middlesbrough, Bolton, Everton and Manchester City who could break into last season's top four dominance.
With strength in depth coming from both youth and experience it seems the problems which have dogged Tottenham over the years of inconsistency will finally disappear. A quality trio of International strikers, Mido, Robbie Keane and our very own Jermaine Defoe provide the attack with different options and pairings combining, pace, skill, strength and creativity added to by the passing skills of Michael Carrick and the dogged and tenacious addition of Edgar Davids give Spurs a real blend of flair and steel.
The midfield areas are backed up by the impressive Tanio, Sean Davis, and Pedro Mendes and potential England International Wayne Routledge who was signed from Palace in the summer.
At the back goalkeeper Paul Robinson may turn out to be one of the greatest bargains in transfer history signing for 3 million two years ago he has turned into England’s number one and on the club and International stage has impressed all with his aerial ability, judgment for danger situations and shot stopping.
With confidence in their stopper the defense has more confidence to go and player, marshaled Ledley King the loss of Sol Campbell seems to be well in the past. The captain has been joined by youthful Michael Dawson, Callum Davenport, Tom Huddlestone to add to the quality and experience of Edman and Naybet.
The manager himself has brought a different dimension and style of football to the club, last season Santini’s start at Spurs was blighted with criticism that his team played terrible defensive football before he left over poor performances; however Jol has been praised for bringing back style not seen at the Lane since the likes of Ardiles, Hoddle and Gascoigne. Finally the team been playing football to excite the crowd and bring back a phenomenally intimidating atmosphere during home games.
Whether Tottenham can build on the two wins they have achieved already this season and avoid needless home defeats which have seem them falter in recent season’s remains to be seen. But there is no question that they are building a team for the future in the style of Manchester United in the early 90’s and sooner or later they are bound to reap the rewards of this policy and trophies will be making their way to the opposite side of North London for a change.