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As I write just
before the Newcastle game, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New
Year and hope that it is a good one for you personally and for the club,
successfully.
This year of 2002 has
been a good one for the club, despite falling at the final hurdle in the
Worthington Cup. Progress has been made at a steady rate and with
players coming and going, there has been an increase in the quality of
the squad. While, as I keep saying, the team are not quite there
in terms of consistently performing to a level that will challenge the
top four at this time, the addition of a couple more players to the
squad can push Tottenham on to that next step. The important thing
this season, as it has been from the start, is to qualify for
Europe. One road was closed when we crashed out of the Worthington
Cup to Burnley. With the ties after that against Manchester United
(taking the competition seriously this year having played poorly in to
many League games this season) and then Chelsea, perhaps we wouldn't
have got too much further, but then we will never know now.
The squad is big
enough now to rest some players from time to time, but there is still
the need to approach these cups in a manner that will ensure we get a
long way and maybe even clinch a UEFA Cup place. Blackburn did it
after all !! We are not big enough that we can afford to spurn any
chance of qualifying for European competition, although the club think
we are above the InterToto ... and having seen how Fulham have plummeted
like a stone lately, perhaps they are right.
Robbie Keane took a
while to get on the goal trail, but now he is a regular scorer. It
was never in doubt that he would produce the goods for Spurs and indeed,
it is the extra movement and holding up of play that sets him apart from
what we already had. His performance at Manchester City was
excellent, even though he did not score. The problem with his play
is that he needs more support when he does get forward. His
dribbling ability can take him away from defenders, but it also takes
him a distance from our players too. Those of advanced years
cannot keep pace with Keano and it is left to the likes of Iversen (now
he has got back into the picture) and Simon Davies to race to catch up
with him.
Fresh legs are going
to be the order of the day when the transfer window opens. Les'
legs are going to be strollin' down to Upton Park and a possible drop
into the First Division. Teddy must realise that he will not be a major
player for 90 minutes in games these days, especially over the winter
period with heavy pitches and Christmas and New Year, when the games
come thick and fast. Gus battles on, but even he will need to take
time out to allow some more mobile midfielders into the side.
Despite the fact that
we have not dominated games as we would have liked, the results have
been going our way. Take out the defeat at Highbury when Davies
was ludicrously sent off and there is a good run of just two league
defeats since the start of October. It is this sort of consistency
in point gathering that is important when other sides slip up.
Spurs have been in seventh position for a while now and it is a good
place to be in, with the leading pack just above us, but the need for a
resolute showing against the lower teams in the League is needed to make
sure that we don't lose ground. Middlesbrough completely outplayed
us on the day and Sunderland were more up for it than Tottenham, but the
way that we have shown that we can play against the to teams is
promising. As Hoddle said, it is now time to start taking points
off them as well as playing well when they are in opposition.
Away from the pitch,
things are hotting up in the matter of the future residence of the club
at White Hart Lane. The Chairman's comments that the nature of the
area around the ground is not conducive to spending more money on the
expansion of the current stadium means that it is obviously in his, and
the club's, mind to move away. His heretic suggestion of sharing
with Arsenal should be discounted immediately, as it didn't work when
suggested in the 1970s and wouldn't work now. If Arsenal are to
share with anyone, it should be Charlton, back home at the Millennium
Dome !! There is not the land available or the will among fans to
carry such a project through. Yes, we all know that business
considerations mean it is the most sensible thing to do, but
unfortunately, football is not like any other business. And even
though it works in other countries, has it ever worked here ?
Wouldn't Dundee and Dundee United have moved in together already, being
just across the road from each other, if it had been for business
reasons ? The only reason they are doing it now is because
Government money was going to be put into the new stadium because of the
bid for the 2008 European Championships. And it would have
included a new station for the ground too.
Nice to see that they
are being put off the idea by the fans reaction to ground-sharing.
Pity they didn't consult before going live with the notion and then
having to retract it. The sharing of Wembley would only lead to
heartache too. Not owning the ground would mean a significant
amount of revenue lost, although savings would be made on
overheads. However, better to have your own ground over your head
than low overheads in a ground that you could never call home. It
would cost at least the £120 million that the National Lottery stumped
up for the National Stadium, as it would not have a tenant
normally. Anyone playing there would have to repay the gift from
the Lotto.
More importantly, the
next week or so will determine the immediate future of the club.
On the field, we have two games against teams around our position.
A chance to gain ground on them by taking points off them and adding
them to our total. Newcastle United, Everton and SCBC are not invincible, but will
be tough to beat, meaning that top performances will be required once
more. Then SCBC are our third round FA Cup opponents.
Getting past them is the first hurdle on the way along the road to
Cardiff. It means more games, but will also produce an alternative
way of gaining a place in Europe should we win the thing ... or even
finish runners up. With Manchester United and Liverpool still in
the Worthington Cup, they might free up another UEFA Cup place for the
league if they reach the final. But we can't rely on anyone except
ourselves. Therefore, every game is vital and with some injuries
and suspensions looming, the squad will be tested once more.
That is why off the
field, it is important to bring in some fresh faces. Hoddle has
already said he will have to sell before he can buy and there are some
candidates ready to head for the White Hart Lane exit door. The
big deal is who is going to be coming through the "in" door as
they go out ?
Interesting
times. Maybe the League will be our likeliest route for Europe,
but by the end of January, we will have a good ides one way or the
other.
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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