Well truth be told I’ve found this all a little unsettling so far. Top of the league, three wins in three – and looking good value for it too. This is not the Tottenham I grew up with. The Tottenham I know and love would consistently let me down. Capitulate from positions of seeming invulnerability. Turn calamity into an art-form. Naturally then I’m unsettled by our new approach – destroying all challengers, that sort of thing. Been anxiously peering out of the windows of AANP Towers checking for cracks in the sky and the rumblings of four horsemen.Blessings upon the gods therefore, for bestowing upon us the Carling Cup second round, and an opportunity to return to the far more familiar and comfortable surroundings of humiliation. Top of the league; finalists in the last two seasons; team stuffed full of internationals; and Doncaster away on a Wednesday night. Perfect ingredients for a cup upset.
Our glorious leader is almost certain to play our second-string eleven, and quite rightly too, given the rigours of the opening week of the season. However, I hope that any sense of indifference conveyed by this decision does not permeate down to the players. After the blistering start to our league campaign the game against Doncaster is being viewed as a breather from the rigours of the Premiership. I just hope the players, and indeed management, don’t let our Premiership start obscure the fact that the Carling Cup represents a great chance of silverware, particularly as we have no European campaign this year. I’ll only whisper it, but sooner or later we’ll probably be toppled from our perch atop the table. A trophy this season is realistic – but it won’t be that one we saw Rio waving around last May. Therefore, maximum effort in the Carling Cup please chaps, starting tonight.
The chaps in question might well include Hutton, Naughton; Rose, O’ Hara, Bentley, Giovani; Crouch and Pav. Our squad is unusually solid this season, with two decent players competing for just about every position, and this lot ought to be too strong for Doncaster – but then player quality has never really been the problem at Spurs
Transfer Gubbins
Curious transfer talk doing the rounds at the moment, although nothing concrete (’twas ever thus, I suppose).
Modric – Carrick Swap
Pav Back to Russia
I would rather like to see him given a run of games, but the Keane-Defoe thing is working at the moment, and Crouch is evidently ‘Arry’s first reserve. Listen to him field any questions about our strikers, and he’ll lavish praise upon the diddy-men, tell everyone how triffic Crouch is… and then almost as an afterthought add “…and we’ve also got Roman Pavluychenko, so that’s four top quality strikers…”. He doesn’t seem to rate him, and with a World Cup at the end of the season, I’ll stick a rouble or two on Pav taking offski in the search for first-team football. Shame.
Honduran Chap On Trial
Pardon my cynicism. I know nothing about the lad. He’s on trial, he’s a centre-back, ‘Arry’s having a look at him – such are the facts, but I have nothing to offer in terms of opinion. Also eyeing up Sandro Ranieri apparently, a £14 mil defensive midfielder. Seems a lot for a probable Palacios understudy (or maybe occasional partner) but I like the idea of having a ready-made Palacios replacement in our ranks. However, as with all these rumours, official judgements in these parts will have to be suspended until something actually happens.
Chimbonda to Blackburn
The invitation is still open to share your memories of Spurs’ Cult Heroes, for a forthcoming book. This week we’re looking at Clive Allen, so please do share your thoughts– first impressions, favourite goals, crowd chants – as well as any meetings you may have had with the man off the pitch, right here. Memories of Jimmy Greaves here and of Jurgen Klinsmann here…
3 replies on “Doncaster – Spurs Preview; Plus Some Tottenham Transfer Musings”
having 4 strikers ‘top’ strikers is a problem. I would have been happier with 3 and let the youngster Obika get the odd chance. On the whole Spurs have not in the past handled some of its promising youngsters well. To return to the 4 strikers issue, I think Pav is very underrated. His style is deceptive but he is a superb finisher. I would play him when Keane and/or Defoe is tiring and Crouch only when a definite change of tactics is needed. There is a subtle but real difference between these two scenarios.
If we are going to Madrid for players it would be good business if we could bring Van der Vaart back to WHL along with RVN, as he has the ability to open up our attacking potential enormously. Together with the strengthening of our defensive midfield with somebody like Sissoko or someone cheaper like Veloso, Spurs would be well on the way to having a squad strong enough to finish in the top four. Also if we had a genuine, real-life left winger for once in many years, it would be guaranteed.
“This is not the Tottenham I grew up with. The Tottenham I know and love would consistently let me down.”
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of time for that this season.