| Writing during an international
weekend, when Tottenham have no players in the England squad due to injury
and a spat between KK and GG, there is much to look forward to, but also
much to fear.
The much heralded four players that Graham
has mentioned that would make our squad complete have failed to
materialise. Is the money there ? Is GG willing to spend it if it is there
? Are our scouts filing good reports and is Pleat the stumbling block when
it comes to wages ? The value of signing layers can only be assessed after
they have been doing their stuff on the park for a while. The value
of a striker who can convert chances into the sought after currency of
goals is worth his weight in gold, so why can't we find one who is willing
to come and do it for us ?
The UEFA campaign got off to a good if
unspectacular start. Zimbru are the sort of team Spurs used to hit for six
in the sixties and seventies. I'm afraid I don't hold with this
"there are no easy games anymore" nonsense. After winning 3-0 at
home the away leg could have been killed with an early goal and the
procession could have begun. Instead the professional approach of ensuring
victory was ours took priority and a 0-0 saw Spurs through safely to the
next round where we face the tough task of German side
Kaiserslautern. Better performances will be needed to progress
further, but a forward who could get a goal from a half-chance would do
that and wipe of some of his transfer fee into the bargain. Tottenham
could beat Kaiserslautern, but will need to have a full strength side out
and also play very well over the 180 (plus) minutes of the tie.
Next week we begin our domestic cup programme
with a tie at home to Crewe Alexandra. This is no forgone conclusion, as
our last two home games have shown. 3-0 up v Coventry and then letting
them back into it to finish 3-2, then 2-1 up against Leicester and then
losing out 2-3 after Ginola was substituted. There has been a lack of
resolve in closing the game down when we are in the lead and it is
something Tottenham have never been good at. The worrying thing is that
George Graham sides are supposed to be good at it and therefore, we should
be. I hope that things will right themselves when Sol returns, but that is
as long as he returns with Spurs and not Manchester United as rumoured. We
have heard strong evidence from a reliable source that Campbell will be
gone at the end of the season, which is no great surprise, but if he is to
go anywhere, I hope it is to the continent. At least there he will be out
of sight out of mind and won't come back too often to haunt us.
The tougher games to come will again show
what progress has been made by the side. Although injuries are still
hitting the squad, the acquisition of new players would make that
irrelevant. When and where those players come from is a $62,000 question.
Let's hope they arrive soon though. Keep the faith.
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF
THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
AND THE SPURS GO MARCHING ON !!!
BRUCE CASTLE |
