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The last time I
wrote, Spurs had just lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup. Since then,
there have been a number of games that we should have won, but let
points slip away. That really is the story of our season.
With only relegated Leicester City left to play (and how good that
sounds), we have to win to secure seventh place, which was about what
MEHSTG reckoned we would achieve last August. The lack of killer
instinct has been recognised by Hoddle and the fans alike, so hopefully
there will be some movement on the transfer front to secure the services
of a deadly striker to put us out of reach of teams when we are ahead.
He has already moved
to improve the service further from midfield by snapping up the free
transfers of Jamie Redknapp and Milenko Acimovic. Redknapp we know
about - injured, but a good passer of the ball who might be used in
front of the back four to hit long passes for forwards to run onto ...
if we get someone like that. Acimovic we will find out about in
the summer's World Cup finals where he will star for Slovenia.
However, it appears that he is a maker of goals, as well as a
taker.
And this is where the
real bonus this season for Tottenham has come from ... the contribution
of goals from midfield. While Poyet struggles to keep up with the
pace of the game at times, his 14 goals are more than we have had from
this part of the team for a long time. Add to that Davies' haul
and even a goal from Sherwood, the midfield have made a significant
addition to the goals scored this term. All we were missing was a
25-30 goal a season man up front !! I'm sure he will come, but
where from I don't know. Phillips and Zamora are the hot tips,
with Maccarone, the Italy Under-21 forward another. However, the
lack of money available to the manager for buys will probably exempt him
form making a bid for the Golden Boot winner in Japan and Korea.
It is a sure bet that few foreign stars will be heading for White Hart
Lane after the tournament, as they will be out of our price range.
Local talent will be the order of the day and they can be only forwards,
unless there are some classy defenders who come up for grabs. The
back division is fairly well stocked at the moment, with some
experienced and some younger players coming through. I am sure
that David Pleat might be out and about getting the up and coming lower
league starlets to come to Tottenham. Matthew Taylor is one big
headline player who has been mooted as a Spurs signing and his
goalscoring record for a defender is very good.
But then, look at
what Hoddle has done to some of the players already at his
disposal. Thatcher has been a revelation on his return to the side
and shows why £5 million was splashed out on him in the first
place. Perry has been a more effective defender this season and
always looked like that when S. Cumball was out. He has reverted
to his style which formerly earned him the nickname of "The
Rash". His distribution is still not the greatest, but if he
is not there for that, then as long as he gets the ball out of harm's
way, who cares.
One great plus has
been the way some of the younger players have progressed this season
too. Davies is a star who the side cannot really do without ...
the Worthington Cup Final proved that. Etherington has come on
since his spell at Bradford City and could develop into a useful winger,
while Ledley has moved to within a whisker of a World Cup finals
appearance. Anthony Gardner has been hit by injury but he has done
really well wherever he has been played and Stephen Clemence (who gets
it in the neck from some Spurs fans) is showing he is capable of turning
it on.
The move to a back
four stabilised the defence after a ragged run and the thinking of
Redknapp in front of them is more likely than him being part of a
midfield five. He could take Sherwood's place if Freund is fit to
protect him and win the ball. However, the player who will be most
important for Tottenham could be Stephen Carr. A fit Carr would be
like a new signing (as they always say) and despite the rumours
surrounding his commitment to the cause, he would be a risky signing for
any other team after being out for a whole year.
As far as the rest of
the team are concerned, there will be some players surplus to
requirements and after what has been said about the wage bill at the
club, some of that will be cost-cutting measures. However, that
hasn't stopped the club upping the season ticket prices by a hefty
amount. As always, it is the fans who have to fund the excesses
that go on in the striving for glory. And where are those
"Exclusive Offers" available only to season ticket holders to
make up for the removal of the 10% discount in the Spurs stores ??
They didn't turn up ... and the club should be wary that the same thing
doesn't happen with the fans one day. Yes, there is no option
about going to support another club, but there is an option not to go
and watch Tottenham. Some long suffering fans told me at the
Liverpool game that this would be their last season at the Lane as they
had been priced out of watching the team they love. Despite years
of loyalty, the club's decision to raise prices by up to 33% in some
cases, has led to them having to forsake their support of the club in
person. Not that the club would worry about that as they have a
long list of people willing to pay the prices they are asking and they
will not miss the money from a few people. However, when the
novelty wears off for these newcomers, those who were here before will
not be able to come back. Other things will fill their time and
other things will have taken their money. Diehard supporters can
only take so much before turning their back on the club.
Whatever their fine
words and good intentions when they came to the club, ENIC are in danger
of alienating the people who they are supposed to be some of ... Spurs
fans.
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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