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Who would have
thought that Spurs would have made it to the Sixth Round of the FA Cup
?? Especially at 0-2 down at Charlton Athletic, with a recent
history of not having scored since Alan Shearer was a lad. We were
all getting ready for the end of season party !! But then to go
and follow it up with an away win in the League was almost fantasy
football !!
Not getting too
carried away now, but realistically looking at what has been achieved,
there are signs that things are coming together despite the injury
situation. The enforced use of the younger layers has paid off and
the fact that Gary Doherty has blossomed in whichever position he has
been played in has helped GG string together a run that still sees us
unbeaten this year at the end of February. Simon Davies was the
latest to show what he is capable of when coming on for the injured
Leonhardsen against Stockport County. While we all want to see big
name signings arriving, it is just as satisfying that our own reserves
are able to produce the sort of performances that warm your heart.
Not that the weather nor some of the showings lately have done
that. But that is only to be expected. Even if we were
playing the flowing football that Spurs are noted for, there would
be times when it doesn't come off. What the team showed at Maine
Road was that even when they are not playing particularly well, then if
they can keep a clean sheet, they might be able to nick something on the
break. Not always pretty, but sometimes pretty effective.
Sergei Rebrov's
reawakening as a goalscorer has come just at the right time too.
Spurs needed him to show the qualities that we bought him for and his
goal against Charlton in the Cup has sparked a revival in his
fortunes. However, that has come about because Tottenham are now
playing to his strengths and it will only continue if they do so.
A long high ball is not his preferred method of service and it appears
that he does not link that well with Les, although he does play better
with Gary Doherty. Whoever is to play alongside him, it needs to
be someone on his wavelength. His passes are incisive and
perceptive, so his partner should be someone who knows where they should
be when Rebrov gets the ball. Obviously, he struck up an early
understanding with Stephen Carr and his absence has made it painfully
aware that he is our main attacking option. Anderton's recent
whinge about playing in Carr's vacated space has made it perfectly
obvious that he is more intent on his England future than perhaps one at
Tottenham and any contract talks could hinge on him getting the role
that he wants within the side.
The only thing about
the unbeaten run at the moment is that although Spurs are not getting
beaten, there is little movement upwards in the League table. We
are sitting in the zone out of reach of the real relegation strugglers
and far enough adrift of a European place as not to matter. Single
points gained form draws are not good enough for any progress to be made
in terms of placing in the League. Wins are what is needed to jump
them a few places nearer the top of the table. The fact that
Tottenham nearly have enough points for safety in terms of relegation
means that the run-in to the end of the season should be used to develop
further for the future. The final few games are not the easiest,
but it will act as a measure as to how the team might contend in coming
seasons.
The matter of new
signings is influenced by the two people involved in their choice -
Pleat and Graham. With neither sure if money will be available
form ENIC once they take over at the end of this month and the UEFA
transfer fiasco dragging on and on, it must be doubtful if anyone will
be brought in before deadline day in March. That means that GG
will have to work with what he currently has at his disposal and that
includes the walking wounded. There hardly is a game go by without
someone getting a knock that keeps them out for a few weeks. This
means that the depth of the squad becomes stretched to it's limits and
that the players who are brought in must immediately do the business. It
is a pressure that can make or break players, but Chris Hughton has
prepared the reserves for their moment and his endeavours have paid
dividends so far. Thank goodness that someone has the best
interests of the club and the players at heart.
Should the club be
looking for a new manager, then perhaps they wouldn't have to look too
far.
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
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