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With the season now
behind us and a nondescript 12th place assuring us freedom from
relegation worries, but no hope of a European place, as Spurs fans, we
all look ahead to August and the nine months beyond.
What has happened
since I last wrote ??
Well, the season
petered out, but there was possibly the best home win (Manchester United
- even though they were under-strength, you could see they were hurt by
losing) and the best away win (coming back from behind at Sunderland) in
the League in that time. The most important thing, I suppose, is
that the team were exhibiting signs of playing a bit more
football. It is obvious from what has been said recently, that
this is the way Glenn sees as taking the club forward. The goal
finished by Clemence at the Stadium of Light was a prime example.
Good movement and some excellent first time passing made the ball do a
lot of the work to undo the Black Cats. Again, against Manchester
United, Simon Davies direct running with the ball caused the Red Devils'
defence problems and led to two of our goals. The future will
feature the "New Tottenham" Hoddle has said.
That "New
Tottenham" will be starring Gustavo Poyet and Teddy
Sheringham. Both are older players, but who performed to a high
level in the Premiership last season. Indeed, the signing of the
current double Footballer of the Year on a free transfer is very good
business. And getting Poyet for just over a million (or even
£2.25 million if that is the figure you believe) is a bit of a snip in
today's market. Chelsea will say that with Lampard and Petit coming in,
there was no longer a place for Poyet, but then they are at a stage
further along the line than us. Not necessarily winning more
trophies now, although they have had a successful few years of
silverware procurement. The Uruguayan's presence in the midfield
will undoubtedly help the youngsters (particularly Davies, who's game is
similar to Poyet's) and also provide chances and goals from this area of
the pitch.
Sheringham we all
know about. Whether you are for or agi'n' him, you have to say
that he is a very good player and that he will add a dimension to this
team that is probably missing since he left. With him, it is not
about frantic running around - he let's others do that. It is
about speed of thought and that will not dim for at least a few
seasons.
Sheringham's arrival
does coincide with the departure of Sol Campbell though. It is a
rich irony (and in Campbell's case very rich), that Sol is off to seek
medals at a time when the person he criticised publicly for the same
action returns. Lack of ambition, loyal service, loving the
club. Do these things sound familiar from the time just before
Teddy went to Manchester ?? Alright, Ted was pushed out in the
end, but Sol has not come out of this smelling of roses. Whoever
he goes to play for, he has said that the club have treated him badly
and that he cannot return. He has said that his 10 years at the
club counts for nothing with some people and that he appreciates what
how the "good people of Tottenham" have supported him over the
years. If anything has come out of all of this, I would suggest
that he has been ill-advised all along. If he intended to leave,
he should have said so. It would have given the club the option of
what to do knowing he was not going to be at the club after this
summer. They were not likely to drop him, as the squad was thin
enough already. They would have been able to sell him, although
there was no guarantee that Sol would have agreed to a move as he would
have lost out on a big signing on fee. He wasn't hanging on to see
if we qualified for the Champions League was he ?? We could have
told him that wasn't on. All the talk he has put out lately seems
to be paving the way for a move to Arsenal. Saying he could not
return in a few years time because of the way the Tottenham board have
handled the talks can be translated as "you won't have me back as I
am going to Highbury". If that is where he sees his future
then good luck to him, but I wouldn't like to be in his shoes when (or
should I say if) he ever plays against us again.
The whole saga has
left a bad taste in the mouth, but this season he ahs played a minor
role in the team due to his injuries. Spurs have coped without him
and in the past got on with with without a lot better layers than
him. He is in the past now and we no longer need to concern
ourselves with his "will he go, will he stay" nonsense.
The future of "New Tottenham" will be determined by those who
WANT to play for the club. I have always stood by the idea that if
players don't want to be at a club, then let them go. Spurs are
going to be on the up in the next few years and while the South London
Wanderers are a good team, they are all getting old and it will remain
to see who they buy in to try and bolster their challenge at the top.
The young players are
Tottenham's future and some are the present. It was heartening to
hear that they will play a big part in the club's development in the
next few years. That is not too say that big money will not be
spent, but it must be spent on the right players. That means not
necessarily the top names, but players who will knit into Hoddle's team
pattern. Bunjevcevic could be just such a player. No-one has
really heard of him, but he has been described as the "Beckenbauer
of the Balkans". If that is true then he will be a real
find. He has said that he is excited about his move to Spurs and
to attract players like him, Sheringham and Rebrov, who could have been
playing Champions League football, is a major coup.
I feel that there
will probably be four more players arriving this summer, as the two that
have been mentioned will be supplemented by two more to replace some
outgoing players. Should one be Ziege or Juanfran, then Thatcher
could have a very short Spurs career. To his credit he has said
that he will welcome the challenge of a fight for his place (not
literally, I hope) and that is good as we do need strength in that
position. He has been unfortunate to receive a serious injury in
his first season, but maybe Glenn can work with him to make him a better
distributor of the ball. He seemed to be very over-awed by the
move to the club last summer.
The injuries are
another aspect that Hod wants to work on. A back specialist is
being introduced after he found the results of bringing one in at
Southampton very beneficial. While it wouldn't hurt to do so, at least
it is less likely to attract the "nutty" headlines that would
have accompanied Eileen Drewery being added to the medical staff.
But personally, I don't care who is there if they can get our sick-list
down to single figures instead of counting them in teams !!
The only thing that
is a bit suspect at the moment, is the board's policy towards season
ticket holders. The furore over the season ticket containing two
less Cup matches is one that has been swept under the carpet
somewhat. There is no price rise, but effectively you will have to
pay upwards of £50 more for the same number of games last year.
Do you remember when they made Mars Bars smaller and charged the same
price ?? Well, it's the same concept and it is one that hasn't
been disguised very well. The other reduction in Members and
season ticket holders benefits is the removal of the 10% discount in the
Spurs shops. From September this will cease, so get down there
quick to make the most of it. This is a short-sighted move and I
feel will lead to sales in the shop dropping. While fans would be
more inclined to buy through the club shops, the prospect of having to
pay prices way above High Street stores could put a lot of people
off. The new Spurs Store is not as good as the old one. Nicer
design, but there is less stock there and that is the only option you
have if you don't arrive on a matchday. The Paxton shop is only
open then. This is a move that is designed to raise more money
through the merchandising, but although the brand may be strong, the
place you buy it might not have such an attraction.
The next few weeks
and the next couple of signings will form the course of next
season. I trust that they will be significant enough to give us
all enough optimism for the new campaign ahead.
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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