Well, in the time we’ve been
away there have been wholesale changes, but unfortunately
not for the better and not at wholesale prices. No longer
does the name of Tottenham Hotspur provoke fear in their
opponents anymore (the odds on a Tottenham win at Old
Trafford in the League game were the longest ever). Just
a perfunctory snort and the idea that the three points
are already in the bag. And who can really blame them.
The team are a collection of individuals who do not
always perform as a unit. There is no question that the
talent is there to produce good displays, but where is
the heart, the pride, the passion. I do not suggest that
the players aren’t trying, but there appears to be a
lack of realisation of the current position and the
consequences of the poor results that are being achieved.
The number of games left is dwindling and the other teams
around us in the table are picking up points here and
there, but Tottenham seem to be going along under the
illusion that we are “too good to go down”. A
big mistake, because we are, at the moment, not too good
to go down. People have been working out how many games
we will have to win or how many points we need to stay
up, but why has it come to this. A crop of bad buys,
mainly by Francis under pressure to get some flair into
the team, have led to the current state of affairs. The
aspects of the side that all the fans can see that need
addressing (i.e. the full-back positions and a creative
midfielder in Dazza’s prolonged absence) have not
been dealt with. Indeed, despite the rumours surrounding
imminent transfer moves for Hinchcliffe and Dimas, all
has come to nought. While Clive Wilson does his best in
the left back slot, surely there is somebody at the club
or somebody that we could go and get, to fill the
position with some confidence. Why didn’t the club
try harder for Le Saux in the summer ?? He may not have
wanted to come to Tottenham, but a concerted effort may
have persuaded him. And even now we are linked with Rob
Jones (who we know would not be among the team’s
goalscorers), Jason McAteer (yet another former transfer
target) breaks a leg, so Liverpool will be reluctant to
let Jones go. I have in the past advocated a dip into the
lower leagues, something that Francis was supposed to be
adept at and which Pleat has an encyclopaedic knowledge
of, and particularly Seth Johnson of Crewe. Despite the
fact that he has recently been playing in midfield (or
indeed because of it), he can play in the left wing back
position and has the admirable qualities of pace, hard
tackling and speed of thought. Having been raised in the
Crewe youth team, he could well turn out to be another in
the long line of excellent youngsters they have produced.
I sincerely hope that our fortunes take a turn for the
better very soon (and fortune is something we
haven’t had a great deal of recently) and now that
the side has been knocked out of the Cup, can pull away
from the nether regions of the League. The loss of
Klinsmann through a broken jaw and Clemence’s
sending off just add to the problems surrounding the
club. And a welcome 3 points at Ewood Park have come in
handy, but I don’t suppose that everyone will be fit
for a while and the continued rumours around the Lane of
Gross being sacked and Sol’s possible departure to
Man U do nothing to engender much optimism. In fact, the
rumour factory is working flat out at the moment with the
sublime (Pannucci from Real Madrid) to the ridiculous
(Neil Ruddock coming back again !). However, should the
team get together to play with some passion and play to
the best of their ability I’m sure that we will all
be a lot happier.
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 CASTLE
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