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I
thought I would leave an editorial until just before the end of transfer
deadline day, so that I could comment on all the comings and
goings. Jermaine Jenas and Lee Young-Pyo have come in to balance
out the two departures of Fredi Kanoute and Erik Edman. However,
the balance isn't quite right now, with a left back for a left back on a
position where we needed cover and competition, while Jenas adds to our
roster of midfielders and Kanoute has depleted our ranks of
attackers. This means that we are down to three available
experienced forwards (Keane, Defoe and Mido), but with injury to El
Hamdaoui and a suspension looming for Mido after his sending off against
Chelsea, we are effectively down to two, with one untried talent in the
reserves (Lee Barnard). Selling without having a replacement
(definitely) lined up is a situation we have found ourselves in before
and one which I would have thought Jol would have wanted to avoid.
With
the transfer deadline an hour or so away, it looks like we will have to
struggle on with what we have up front. The reserves played a
4-2-1-2-1 formation against Norwich City Reserves, but it did not work
particularly well. Admittedly, it was with different personnel,
but the idea is obviously there in Martin's mind and with limited
options up front, it might be one he will employ in the short term.
With
Jenas coming in, it allows even more flexibility in midfield and appears
to have seen Tottenham take the opportunity to sign up an international
midfielder at a reasonable price while they had the chance.
Jermaine obviously has spoken to the Spurs contingent in the England
camp and also to his former team-mates in the youth set-up at Nottingham
Forest - Michael Dawson and Andy Reid. The fact that Arsenal might
have considered taking him to replace Vieira speaks volumes and while he
is not in the same bracket as the Juventus midfielder, he has the
ability to do a similar job. Spurs do seem overloaded with
midfielders and it appears strange that they fielded two of them who had
been rumoured to be on their way - Sean Davis and Michael Brown - in a
reserve match the night before deadline day, although that might have
been to show they were fit and in the shop window. The way that
Davids is picking up yellow cards, he is a cert to be suspended soon
(and again later in the season) and Tainio is not far behind him.
This necessitates cover in midfield and that we certainly have.
The
question of a forward signing is a thorny one. Dirk Kuyt looked
odds on, but he wanted to stay at Feyenoord, while Cristiano Lucarelli
is a cornerstone of the Livorno
team, so he will not be sold. I am surprised that Jol did not make
a move for £5.5 million rated Nigerian striker Julius Agahowa, who
plays for Shaktar Donetsk. One who has impressed in internationals
and has a good strike rate, he is a big lad, young and athletic (just
check out his cartwheel celebration, which makes Robbie look positively
4.7).
It is odd that the departure of
Kanoute and Atouba came after the failure to show up for the trip to
Mauritius, as selling them for disciplinary reasons is all well and
good, but when one is a left sided player in an area where we did not
have a lot of cover from players felt up to the job (Ziegler has gone to
Hamburg to pick up some experience) and in the forward line, as already
discussed. Will Pamarot be other one who missed the trip who is
outed when he is fit again ?
The squad is taking on a look of
one with quality and not quantity. The major plus this summer had
been the singing of a new contract extension by Paul Robinson.
Then the signing of Edgar Davids. Followed by Martin Jol's
contract extension. The loss of Arnesen does not look so bad now
that Daniel Levy and Martin Jol have negotiated some good deals over the
close season. With a retinue of young talented players already at
the club and now experienced players coming in to add some older heads,
the squad looks almost as Martin would want it (save one big forward).
The start to the season has been
encouraging too. An away win at Pompey followed by a win over
Middlesbrough put Spurs top and although the resting of some players at
Blackburn raised a few eyebrows (and a few dissenting voices) it was
still an away point (which might have been three if he put out a full
strength side). I believe Martin's tactics will vary between our
home and away games, with the collection of points away from home being
a matter for the formation and personnel he puts out. If we can
pick up a few points more than last season, it might put us into a
European place. With Routledge's pace, it will be a potent weapon
to hit teams on the break away from home.
There has been a feeling of
euphoria about the club since the start of the season and the signing of
Davids finally showed the world that the Morientes/Rivaldo rumours that
failed to materialise are in the past and Tottenham are a club that can
attract top players and are a club going places. For goodness sake
... even Alan Hansen is being nice about Spurs on Match fo the Day
!! Whatever next ?
As always with Tottenham, it will
not be a smooth journey and the "match official" in the
Chelsea game proved that. Up until Mido's dismissal, we were
comfortable against the current champions. It was only when
reduced to ten men that Chelsea could make their dreary slow play count
by making the best use of their extra man. It bodes well for when
we manage to get a referee at home, who is a "homer" or one
away who acts as he does at the Lane !!
It is a long time since I felt
this optimistic at the start of the season and I believe this team can
be successful for a few years to come. Success is relative and for
me that would mean getting into Europe on a regular basis to start off
with and then move onto picking up silverware on a regular basis.
There will be hiccups along the way, but, as always ...
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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