2009-10 Season Review: Defying Gravity - The story of our season - part three

It all changed when the ball came out to Rose. We’d looked hungry in attack so far but hadn’t really created much. Bale’s corner was punched out high and Rose was on the end of it. With minds all over the stadium willing him to bring it down and send it back in for the strikers, the little left winger took matters into his own hands and connected beautifully with the ball, sending it on a glorious, swerving arc straight over the defence, straight over the keeper and straight into the back of the net.

It was as if the Arsenal defence were forced to strain their necks to look upwards to see the ball sailing over them. It was a euphoric moment and a stunning goal, one that’ll be replayed for years and years to come. Rose’s impudence had seen us into an excellent lead and when the sublime Bale grabbed his first Spurs goal for two years early in the second half, we had a 2-0 goal cushion with which to defend. Defoe punched threw a wonderful, defence-splitting pass and Bale was on hand to roll home and take the home fans' acclaim.

Defend the lead we did, with a little help from the outstanding Gomes between the posts. Three times he made jaw-dropping, world class saves to deny the Arsenal attack, each one more unbelievable than the next. He was wearing his heart on his sleeve and the home crowd dived with him every time. Dawson and King were phenomenal at the back, calmly repelling everything the Gooners had to throw at us. We held on, by the skin of our teeth at times, and finally, we’d beaten Arsenal in the league. For all the pain of Wembley days before, there was now the utter ecstasy of seeing off our arrogant neighbours. We’d ended their strangled title attempt and, more significantly, we’d reignited our attempts for fourth place. It was a famous, historic and all-round terrific night and there was more yet to come.

Man City suffered a last second defeat to Man Utd and we had the chance to claim back fourth when we took on league leaders Chelsea. Surely another miraculous win would be beyond us. Surely we couldn’t recreate the fervour of Wednesday night. Well, Tottenham’s performance wasn’t the same as their one against Arsenal days earlier - it was better. From the off, Chelsea, the league leaders, were outplayed and outfought. Defoe slammed home an early penalty before Bale scored a beautiful solo effort giving us a 2-0 lead at half time. And we'd hardly been threatened. It wasn’t that Chelsea were playing poorly - rather that we were playing superlatively well. John Terry, that unfavoured son of the White Hart Lane crowd, was sent off and only a late consolation had us looking nervous. We’d produced yet another season defining display and in a run of games where we’d been expected to take nothing, we’d snatched six crucial points.

We couldn’t repeat the trick at Old Trafford a week later, that familiar haunt of disappointment. King’s header looked like it may have earned us a point but, in truth, we were unable to replicate the intensity of the last two performances and were good value for our 3-1 defeat. City drew with Arsenal later on that day and, with both teams winning the week after, all eyes were on the penultimate game of the season - a midweek humdinger between both sides at the City of Manchester Stadium.

And, after days of media build-up, plenty of column inches detailing the significance of the clash, hordes of pundits giving their expertise and about 80 minutes of tense, nerve-wracking football, Peter Crouch scored the goal that put us 1-0 up and unassailably in fourth spot. We couldn’t be caught. We had a big enough lead. It was ours. We’d finally achieved something of great significance - we’d finally grabbed our opportunity and not choked. It was an amazing feeling, especially in the wake of the FA Cup defeat and subsequent miracle wins. In what had been a rollercoaster of emotions, Spurs had delivered in grand style. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

On the night, we’d been simply flawless. Dawson and King produced a defensive performance of such calm and brilliance that it was difficult to praise them any higher. Kaboul played at right back and was superb, setting up the winner with a determined run down. Huddlestone and Modric were in complete control in the middle of the park, making a mockery of the fact that they were playing for the away side. Bale and the returning Lennon were sprightly and lightning quick up and down the wings. Defoe worked harder than he had done in ages. Crouch was simply everywhere. Spurs were far and away the better team and looked so much like Champions League elect it was hardly funny.

A final day defeat to Burnley was immaterial. Modric scored an unbelievable goal but, even though for a time third place was on the cards, Redknapp’s men took their foot off the gas in the second half and threw away a two goal lead. But it mattered so, so little. The final league table of the season said it all. Tottenham. 4th place. 70 points. The Champions League. The promised land.

We’d deserved it too. Throughout the season, we’d played with a confidence and assured nature that befitted teams at the top of the pile and we’d come through the toughest tests with flying colours. It was a team effort in the grandest sense but a few individual performances stood out. The bravery of King, the skill of Modric, the acrobatics of Gomes, the youthful exuberance of Bale, the bloody-minded determination of Dawson - the deserved player of the season. But standing tall above them all was Redknapp, who deserved the lions share of the credit. He’d taken a struggling outfit with unrealistic pretensions of the big time and turned them into an honest, hard working, highly skilled team who firmly believed in themselves, for the first time perhaps since Martin Jol’s 2006 side or maybe even Terry Venables’ side of the early nineties.

It was a season worthy of critical acclaim and one that established Spurs as a force to be reckoned with once again. Champions League football will depend on a qualifier in August but there’s no reason to assume that’ll be beyond us. As Redknapp and his brave, brilliant men have proved this season, nothing is beyond this team.

The good times appear to be back at White Hart Lane and all it took was the high quality performance of a few good and great men. No matter what next season brings, we’ll always have this one. We’ll always have this memory.

The Spurs go, well and truly, marching on.

2009-10 Season Review: Defying Gravity - The story of our season - part two

January began with the cold hard reality that maybe we weren’t as ready for a crack at the big time as we thought we were. A routine win over Peterborough began our run in the FA Cup before we were brought to our knees once again by a poor home performance against a weak opposition. We managed to at least scrape a point against Hull but our profligacy was becoming something of an embarrassment. 0-0 wasn't good enough.

The disappointment was confounded in midweek with a defeat at Anfield - a game we’d been expected to at least make a decent fist of. Whilst it could be said the luck wasn’t on our side (Defoe had a clear goal ruled out), we weren’t really coming across as a side with bags of confidence and ability. To make matters a whole lot worse, Lennon was ruled out for several months with injury. At the time, he was expected to make a reasonably swift return but he wouldn’t appear in a Spurs shirt again until the end of April.

Perhaps the FA Cup would turn out to be the catalyst for an improvement in form. Leeds came to White Hart Lane and ITV spent 90 minutes trying to cram as many uses of the words ‘brave’, ‘underdog’ and ‘plucky’ into their hideously one-sided coverage. An obstacle, however, Leeds did turn out to be. Spurs wasted another host of chances - Defoe was responsible for another penalty howler - but we led 2-1 with seconds to go, thanks to the surprising but no less entertaining introduction of the forgotten Roman Pavlyuchenko, who scored a delightful goal. However, ITV were to get their way as Dawson, who had been imperious, lunged at the much talked about Jermaine Beckford, conceded a penalty and then watched as Beckford slotted home for a heartbreaking 96th minute equaliser.

We did at least end January on something of a high with a easy win over an uninterested Fulham and a point at high-flying Birmingham, even though we were, again, seconds away from victory. On the transfer front, we were also typically involved. Eidur Gudjohnsen, he of lengthy Chelsea and Barcelona based experience, was snapped up on loan in a move to provide a wise old head on the pitch and in the dressing room. Surprisingly, Younes Kaboul was brought back to the Lane from Portsmouth. And, as Spurs fans were struggling to comprehend that one, Redknapp acted again, offloading the off-colour Robbie Keane to Celtic on loan. Keane had struggled to make an impression and had been reduced to bench appearances. It wasn’t clear whether he’d return or not. When he trotted out his now traditional line that he was ‘joining his boyhood club’, his stock fell rapidly in N17.

The cup replay at Leeds looked like a great big banana skin but Spurs produced a brilliant display, winning back several neutral fans with an assured performance. Defoe grabbed himself another superb hat-trick and Bentley, given a go in the side in Lennon’s absence, was effervescent on the right, sending in some spell-binding crosses. Gareth Bale was also starting to look the business. He had been playing at left back because of injury to Assou Ekotto and had looked very much at home, both in defence and when bombing forward. But, once again, any momentum we may have gathered was swept away as we went down 1-0 away at Wolves on a freezing February night. It was another performance of general insipidness and we seemed set on throwing away all the good work of the majority of the season.

Our love affair with missing penalties continued at Bolton in the cup where a strong second half comeback was spoiled by Huddlestone’s missed attempt. But a trip to Wigan was to be the kick-start our second half of the season was in dire need of. In what was labelled by a few as a must win game for Spurs, we went and did just that. Wantaway striker Pavlyuchenko came off the bench and grabbed two, increasing his price tag just a little further, and we ran out 3-0 winners. On a disgraceful pitch, Spurs had performed with a great deal of class and guile and they looked a much smoother outfit than the one that had laboured at Wolves. Bolton were thrashed in the cup replay - Pav grabbed another brace - and Everton, traditionally tricky opponents, were sent packing 2-1, in a game that featured a delightful Modric goal involving both of his Croatian counterparts in the build-up.

The FA Cup continued to threaten to steal attention away from our top four race but we battled to another away day draw in the quarter finals with Fulham and immediately focused our attentions on the Premier League once again. We were in terrific form and Blackburn were hardly given a chance as we blew them away at the Lane, Pavlyuchenko scoring yet more goals and Bale looking every inch a superb winger. He’d been moved into a more advanced role with the return of Assou Ekotto and the superlatives were flowing. He was once again brilliant as we stormed past Fulham to reach the FA Cup semi finals, where a date with Portsmouth awaited at Wembley. At the very least, our ongoing relationship with the home of football would continue.

The wins kept on coming. Stoke away was always going to be a horrid task but we emerged with a manful 2-1 win as we laid our top four credentials down plain for everyone to see. Gudjohnsen grabbed his first strike for us with a wonderfully powerful effort before an extravagant dummy helped Kranjcar add the winner. The win was marred only by an on-field spat between Assou Ekotto and Corluka, the former taking exception to the latter’s suggestion that he wasn’t tracking back fast enough. It didn’t derail us as much as some may have thought, however, and with a routine over Pompey at the Lane, we were all set to head into the defining two months of our season. We’d won five games in a row and were looking formidably poised for fourth spot. But a horrendous run of fixtures was awaiting at the end of the campaign. The triple header of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United looked like it would have a large role to play in determining our fate and Spurs fans held on with baited breath.

And it started terribly. Defeat away to Sunderland was Tottenham’s worst performance in some time. Limp, uninspired, underwhelming… even Gomes saving two penalties from former striker Darren Bent couldn’t liven things up. Spurs headed into the cup semi final with suddenly desperate hopes of a win due to the apparent fading of our top four charge. It was Portsmouth. Relegated Portsmouth. It should’ve have been a walk in the Wembley park. It wasn’t.

On a troublesome pitch and against spirited opposition, we threw away the chance of a first FA Cup final since 1991. We tried and tried and sometimes looked like we had something going. But we couldn’t score. Extra time loomed large, tired minds tried desperately to lift tired bodies but fate was not with us. Dawson slipped on the appalling surface at a crucial moment, allowing Pompey to take the lead in extra time. Crouch immediately slammed home a perfectly legitimate leveller but it was ruled out for a foul. The smug smile on David James’ face afterwards told the millions of watchers what he thought of the decision and as we pressed forward, they hit us on the break and forced a late penalty. It was an utterly heartbreaking way to bow out of the competition. It had been the greatest opportunity to have a crack at the cup final in years and we’d fluffed our lines at the crucial stage.

Spurs heads dropped all over the land. This blog predicted a complete downfall from then on. No FA Cup, no top four, no progress. Arsenal were coming to the Lane that week and it appeared that the heavens were to have no mercy for us. With hopes fading all across the club, Harry sent out a beleaguered team to take on our bitter rivals on that balmy Wednesday night, unaware that our season was about to undergo the most amazing transformation. He included young Danny Rose in the side, a left wing selection in both senses of the phrase, and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club braced itself for more disappointment.

Part three coming soon...

2009-10 Season Review: Defying Gravity - The story of our season - part one

When you look back in years to come, you may well be able to point to this season as the one where it all changed. Where it all started looking a little bit brighter. Where the years of turgid mediocrity suddenly started to have a greater meaning. For too long have we looked towards the future as a source of comfort, in hope that things are surely going to improve. That time could well be over now. The future, whilst admittedly still being a cause for untainted optimism, isn’t the only thing worth thinking about. Now, in this moment, in this season, is a time for joy and celebration.

There’s a whole new host of men for legions of Spurs fans in both the present and the future to be thankful for and to herald. Harry Redknapp, the man-managing genius at the helm of it all. Michael Dawson and Ledley King, the centre backs who, at different times of the season, put everything on the line in order to help their side succeed. Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, who tormented an entire division of full backs with their unwavering wing wizardry. Jermain Defoe, whose goals were an impossibly crucial ingredient in the recipe for success. Luka Modric, Tom Huddlestone, Heurelho Gomes, Peter Crouch. Everyone connected with the club deserves a gigantic pat on the back.

It’s not entirely clear what next season holds for us. But for once, it hardly matters. In 2009 and 2010, Tottenham did what they had been struggling to do for years. They achieved and they accomplished. They consistently punched above their weight. They confounded all of the criticisms and produced a team effort of outstanding quality and heart. Logic, expectation, injury and opinion all threatened and tried to drag them down but Spurs kept their heads above water, fighting hard for every point, overcoming setbacks, sometimes self-inflicted. They defied everything that tried to bring them down. They defied gravity itself. This, briefly, is how they did it.

The start of the season contained the usual rich promise but no-one foresaw the start Spurs were about to make and the season of joy that was about to unfold in front of them. The honour of the last game of the first weekend fell to Spurs and they hosted Liverpool in a game that, unbeknown at the time, was to predict to order of things to come. Liverpool arrived, as always, with great stature and reputation but they were played off the park by an exuberant Tottenham side, energised by the impressive Modric. All went to plan, with the exception of Steven Gerrard’s penalty equaliser, though that was immediately cancelled out by a debut and winning goal from Sebastian Bassong. Redknapp’s men had hit the ground running and they were destined to keep going and going.

August saw us briefly top the table after a 5-1 win at Hull, notable for Defoe’s scintillating hat trick. Late wins over West Ham and Birmingham ensured a 100% start to the season and certainly demonstrated that perhaps we had a slice of fortune on our side. Defeats to highly fancied Manchester United and Chelsea brought us back down to earth, as did a heart-breaking long term injury to Modric, but we’d already laid down our credentials for the season and we looked a stronger, more tight-knit unit than we had in previous years. Defoe’s goals had shot us up the table and our players were flying high at international level. Lennon was given a start by England boss Fabio Capello and he immediately looked liked he had a big part to play.

We started to pick up points at destinations where we would normally struggle. Our ship came in at Portsmouth where we registered a nervy but deserved 2-1 win. Goals from Croatian duo Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka brought us a point at Bolton, a ground where the word defeat was almost synonymous with us. But where we were doing well in games where one wouldn’t expect us too, we fell on an annoyingly placed banana skin in the form of Stoke at the Lane. Despite peppering the away goal with efforts, we ran out 1-0 losers. All eyes were on Spurs to see how they’d react to the first genuine setback of the season.

We didn’t respond all that emphatically. Whilst it’s harsh to use the phrase ‘surrender’, we didn’t offer too much by way of threat when we took on Arsenal at the Emirates. The premature and over-zealous gloating of their fans was testament perhaps to how much more seriously they were taking us. But as we limped to a slightly embarrassing 3-0 defeat, it didn’t look as if they had much to be afraid of. Robbie Keane, despite a four goal salvo against Burnley in September, was looking worryingly toothless and it was clear we needed more bite in attack if we were going to achieve anything worth writing home about.

Then, one afternoon in November, Defoe decided to show the other forwards how to put the ball away and then some. Against Wigan at half time, the score was a sedate 1-0. A solitary Crouch goal had put us in the lead but it didn’t prepare anyone present for the subsequent carnage. Defoe came out in the second half, possessed by the desire to see his name on the scoreboard as many times as humanly possible, and before anyone could catch their breath, we’d won 9-1. And their goal was a handball, too. Defoe notched up an incredible five goals for himself - all clinical, well taken finishes that you’d expect him to finish off every time. Lennon gave former Spurs left back Erik Edman a torrid time on the flanks and grabbed a goal for himself. Even perennial sub David Bentley got himself in on the act with a classy free kick, albeit via a fortunate deflection off the keeper, as Spurs broke records left, right and centre.

It was a historic afternoon at the Lane, even if it was just a poor Wigan side. Defoe made himself only the third striker to score five goals in a Premier League game and raised his profile another couple of notches. Confidence seemed to be flowing from every pore and we travelled to Villa Park for a crunch game with fellow high flyers Aston Villa looking every inch a top four chasing team.

And so it proved in the Midlands. Despite conceding early, we took charge of the game as Villa sat back and we played with supreme confidence at a ground where we’d traditionally struggled to impose ourselves. Stand-in captain Dawson grabbed a brilliant equaliser and, hard as we tried, we couldn’t force the win our game had merited. Whilst the result wasn’t perfect, the performance was significant in that we had outplayed one of our closest rivals, to go along with our first day efforts against Liverpool.

The next game saw us put in an equally fine performance away at Everton only to throw it away and settle, begrudgingly, for a draw. Goals from Defoe and, again, Dawson, saw us supposedly romping away but two late home strikes pegged us back before Defoe began a trend that was to afflict much of our remaining season and fluffed a last minute penalty opportunity. And it only got worse as Wolves visited N17 the following week. In a carbon copy to our defeat to Stoke, we pummelled the away goal and came out with only a 1-0 defeat to show for it. The attack was again wasteful and the media came out with knives well and truly sharpened for the kill.

Assou Ekotto was accused of assaulting a fan after the defeat and things appeared to only get worse when details came out of a rebel group of Spurs players that had taken a trip to Dublin against the wishes of Redknapp, who had banned a club Christmas party. Dubbed the ‘Keane 16’ (Keane was thought to be the instigator), the group were understood to have actually behaved themselves in an extremely orderly manner but that didn’t stop the tabloids pouring scorn over the professionalism of our players and the word on the street was that Spurs were in freefall.

But Redknapp got his team in order and December turned out to be an extremely profitable month. A hard fought and impressive win at Blackburn, where Crouch scored an excellent brace, came immediately after a 3-0 home demolition of Manchester City, a result that made it a hat trick of wins against top four competitors. Lennon once again took centre stage as he dominated the contest and Spurs were worthy winners over their big spending opponents. We took a Gomes-inspired point from our traditional Boxing Day clash with Fulham before claiming a routine win over West Ham, in which Modric made his return from injury and scored a sentimental return goal. We’d recovered brilliantly from the setbacks of the start of the month and were looking in healthy shape.

2009 ended on something of a high, though we had been dumped out of the Carling Cup by Manchester United in the quarter finals meaning no Wembley appearance for this season. Or did it? We were in pole position for fourth, even though at the time many, including those at Spurs, were perhaps expecting Liverpool and Man City to make their comebacks. If 2009 was a year of progress, 2010 was about to become a year of success. And it all began in relatively muted fashion. As Spurs were going down at Wolves on that freezing January night, how many of us could have predicted that we finish up in fourth place come the end of the season?

Part Two coming soon...

2009-10 Season Review: Awards

Good evening. And welcome to The Boys From White Hart Lane's end of season awards spectacular. Admittedly, these are just the ramblings of one man but their surely indicative of how Spurs fans everywhere are feeling. Surely? No? Well, okay. Read, enjoy, comment. Debate is, as always, encouraged. Here we go:

Goal of the Season

Without a shadow of a doubt, it has to be Broadway Danny Rose and his incredulous rocket from the edge of the box against the Arsenal. For sheer impact, it’s a shoe-in winner. Debut. Massive game. Indeterminate punch clear. Why not have a go? Lady Luck may have played a huge part - how many times do you think he could do it again? - but take nothing away from the quality of the goal. It rocked the Gooners to the very core and, while we have Gareth Bale and Heurelho Gomes to thank for the win itself, Rose’s strike set us up brilliantly.

Special mentions must also go to Luka Modric for his final day spectacular against Burnley, Jermain Defoe for his thunderbolt hat trick strike up at Hull in August and Tom Huddlestone’s twin rockets against Sunderland and Bolton at the Lane. But because many jaws are still rooted to the ground, Rose wins this one.

Unsung Hero

Could be a number of players. In a season where we had big name, big game performers, picking out a player who went about his business brilliantly but quietly is tough. Names that spring instantly to mind are Vedran Corluka, Niko Kranjcar, Seb Bassong and maybe even David Bentley. In a surprising move, we’re going to give this one to Corluka, who is admittedly a big favourite of this blog.

Corluka is a player that receives very little coverage and it’s this reason that he wins this award. Tidy, solid, capable but, mainly, unspectacular. He gets on with his job with a minimum of fuss but with a maximum of end product. His partnership with Lennon on the right wing is also very much unheralded. Corluka is a player who could easily slip through the nets should we go on a spell of bad form and it’s imperative we hold on to him. For too long, Spurs have chopped and changed their full backs but in Corluka we have an extremely capable player and one who looks as if he could fit in to the rigours of the Champions League very easily.

Game of the Season

Again, quite a number to choose from. Liverpool. Stoke. Arsenal. Chelsea. But because of the indescribably huge windfall, it has to be the Man City win. It was billed as a titanic clash, a game that would have epic ramifications for either side. A game that would decide the fourth place debate that had been running for so many months. And we did not disappoint one bit. We looked every inch the better side. For too long Tottenham have choked in the biggest games or failed to give a proper account of themselves. This was not to be one of those nights.

Redknapp’s men played with skill, courage and temperament. And it was the most nerve-racking yet wonderful thing to watch. Crouchie’s late goal sent millions into euphoria but looking back at the game, there was a strange kind of inevitability about it. Like we were always going to score. It certainly didn’t feel that way for the first 80 odd minutes. A superb game with a superb atmosphere topped off the a superb end result. Lovely.

Moment of the Season

Forget Crouchie’s winner at Eastlands, there was a moment weeks before that set up the entire occasion. We’d been knocked out of the FA Cup but had bounced back to record a morale-boosting win over Arsenal. But our top four charge would surely stall with defeat at home to Chelsea, our champions elect, all-conquering neighbours? A sublime performance put paid to that notion and when Gareth Bale, the star of the second half of our season, toyed with Paulo Ferreira before putting the ball on his right foot and blasting home, one sensed that our time was coming. All of the frustrations of the past and of the season were coming to a grinding halt. We were comfortably outplaying the soon-to-be best team in the land and our push for fourth was alarmingly back on.

It was a perfect moment. Going 2-0 up against your bitter rivals isn’t something Spurs fans are too accustomed to, unless we’re playing West Ham. Bale’s celebration - the annoying finger heart shape thing that seems to be spreading round the squad like a virus - was perfectly captured by the cameras and White Hart Lane slowly vibrated to the sound of success. We love you too, Gareth. Many thanks.

Most Improved Player of the Season

Could be Defoe, for his glut of goals. Could be Dawson, for his newfound confidence and leadership in defence. Could be Gomes, for his logic-defying acrobatics and loveable, Robinson-esque rapport with the crowd. Could be Huddlestone, for the extra spring in his step and his desire to actually improve (take note, Jenas). But, in spite of all these feats, it can only be Gareth Bale.

And to think we almost got rid of him in January. Bale’s rise from zero to absolute, unequivocal hero is something of a fairytale story. One only hopes that this story doesn’t end happily ever after at Old Trafford. There was always going to be a slot open at left back for a month with Assou Ekotto expected to play in the African Nations. But Bale moved in and made the entire left side his own domain. Be in hurrying forward from left back or probing the opposition defence from the wing, he was awesome. Spurs fans should be positively quivering in excitement at the prospect of him in tandem with Lennon next season.

Player of the Season

Arise, Sir Michael Dawson. From the shadows of being a backup centre half to the glorious heights of leading our club with unimaginable courage and determination. This season, Dawson was the embodiment of a sporting hero. He put his body, his soul, his everything into the cause and was richly rewarded with a new contract, a crack at the Champions League and a potential appearance in the World Cup. It’s some turnaround for a player who appeared lost without Ledley King next to him. Dawson became the leader of the defence and when he was fortunate enough to play alongside Ledders, our defence was nigh on impenetrable (see Man City 0 Tottenham 1 for evidence).

He is now an invaluable part of Tottenham’s future - a player with immense heart and amazing ability. A fans favourite and now something of a media favourite, the future only looks to be bright for Dawson. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke. One of footballs nice guys. Until he gets drunk and kicked out of a club for fighting the bouncers. If Ledley invites you out, say no, Daws.

2009-10 Season Review: Player ratings - Part Two

Following on from yesterday, the rest of the squad - rated and reviewed:

David Bentley - 7

Thrust into action by injury to Aaron Lennon, Bentley finally got his chance to prove his worth after months on the bench and whilst he wasn’t electric, he was a capable deputy. His one stellar performance came away at Leeds in the cup, where he was simply superb, but a tendency to slow play down and always attempt one trick too many didn’t endear him to Redknapp too much. Nevertheless, he’s a fine player and one definitely worth holding on to, if he’s happy to not be an automatic starter. Bentley is the kind of player who can come off the bench and turn a game and with the need for a big squad coming next season, we should try and keep him around. A good effort from the perennial show-boater.

Niko Kranjcar - 7

A steal for the price we got him for. Kranjcar chipped in with goals, assists and generally excellent play wherever he was deployed in the midfield. Very much a squad player, he had the ability to score crucial goals - see Burnley away and Man City at home. He had the tendency to go a little bit missing at big moments, such as in the FA Cup semi final. But he can’t be faulted for effort and ability and he is a huge part of our near future. A brilliant purchase.

Luka Modric - 8

Missing a great deal of the first part of the season, Modric came back and made an instant impact, scoring against West Ham. Like his countryman Kranjcar, he occasionally got muscled out of a few games but when he was hot, he was smoking. He was a menace against Arsenal in April, constantly finding gaps and players with incredible runs or passes. He continued that excellent form in the win over Chelsea where he was almost everywhere on the pitch. It’s a measure of his ability that the big guns are lurking in the wings waiting for his signature. But if Modric has any sense, he’ll realise that he’s part of something big at Spurs and he could very well make himself a legend with another few seasons of excellence. A player who is born for the Champions League, he has an excellent chance of playing it next season with a club that utterly adores him.

Danny Rose - 7

Only played a handful of minutes for the first team but gets a mention, and a generous score, for that goal against Arsenal. Need we go into it again? Okay. It was a screamer, a belter, an absolute beauty of a strike and all the sweeter given that it rubbed so many Arsenal fans up the wrong way. It set us up on our way to a huge win that, in turn, set us up for one last stab at fourth place. It could be argued that Rose got us into fourth. But, despite his lack of playing time, Rose has earned himself a place in fans hearts for a long while yet.

Aaron Lennon - 9

Many forget that before his injury, Lennon was our best player. Between August and December, he destroyed opposition defences with his extreme pace and increased confidence on the ball. His late winners against Birmingham and West Ham in August were a direct result of his newfound confidence in taking on his man and having a go at goal when in the clear. He elevated himself to England’s first choice right winger too, before injury cut his season painfully short. There was a brief cameo at the end of the year, however, and against Man City, he looked dangerously close to his best. A jaw-droppingly important player for us, both now and in the future. Should tear it up in the Champions League.

Eidur Gudjohnsen - 6

A solid acquisition rather than a spectacular one, Gudjohnsen was undoubtedly signed with the intention of providing some much needed experience to the dressing room. As a player who has seen and done it all, his presence amongst some inexperienced players would have been invaluable. On the field, he didn’t cover himself in too much glory but was an important figure. His wonderful goal at Stoke set us on our way to a crucial victory and Redknapp often threw him on in order to calm things down or to hold the ball up top. It’d be nice if a permanent deal could be arranged but one suspects both parties will call it a day.

Robbie Keane - 6

Remember those four goals against Burnley? Not many do. Keane may have gone off the boil and fallen into Jermain Defoe’s shadow somewhat but he was a big part of our early season form. His days at Spurs may not necessarily be over either, with few teams willing to pay his doubtless extortionate price tag and wage demands. It’s important to remember the quality of player Keane is before all these transfer shenanigans and if he could ever recapture that, we’d be getting a brilliant player. But, this season, he was very much below par, and was rightly behind Defoe and Crouch in the pecking order. Must do better. Or go elsewhere.

Roman Pavlyuchenko - 7

From nowhere to cult hero. Pav’s rapid rise from nothing player to goal machine was as spectacular as his volley against Fulham in the cup. He ended the season on a bit of a whimper and could well still be sold. But he provided a number of moments of genius in our late surge to fourth and must be given a ounce of credit. Despite a limited grasp of the English language, he appeared to integrate well with the rest of the team and his goals were cherished by all. His partnership with Defoe wasn’t all that - both players were perhaps a tad too selfish to both be playing. But for the way he went from zero to hero, Pav gets a good score. Will be sad to see him leave if that is his fate,

Peter Crouch - 8

Gets an extra point for the goal against Man City. In fact, for the whole game against Man City. Put simply, he was f*cking superb. Holding the ball up, working it to support players, looking threatening every time he went close to the goal, Crouch delivered a superb performance that delivered us safely into the Champions League. His lack of goals at times was a touch frustrating but on the whole Crouch can be happy with his season. He was an excellent player to have away from home, exemplified by his solo destruction of Blackburn in December. Crouch is a key figure for us in years to come and the Champions League is the least he deserves. Great effort.

Jermain Defoe - 9

If his early season form had been matched throughout the year, he’d have ended up with 40 goals. But alas, he’d have to settle for merely the best goal return of his career. In the early months of the season, Defoe was simply electric. Scoring goals for absolute fun, he made a mockery of those who labelled him as predictable. And then there was that five goal blast against Wigan. Never has a player looked more at ease with his surroundings or with the level of the opposition. He may have trailed off towards the end of the year but he still remained something of a livewire and stepped up excellently at Man City after being encouraged to by Redknapp. His England form has also improved and he looks set to have a huge role to play at the World Cup. It’s the least he deserves. An impossibly crucial player.

Honourable mentions -

Carlo Cudicini, Alan Hutton, Kyle Naughton, Kyle Walker, Jonathan Woodgate, Jamie O’Hara, Giovani dos Santos. All had something of a part in our historic season, to varying extents. It’s difficult to say which ones will have a role to play in this bright new Tottenham future. Woodgate had a cruel season of injuries and bad luck but remains an integral part of our defence, should he stay fit.

The likes of Hutton and O’Hara could find themselves at another club soon as they appear to only be minor fringe players in the eyes of Redknapp. But that’s for the management to decide. They may not be able to claim to be a part of the success story this year but some of them could still enjoy futures in N17.

Kitted out

Go on, drool. It's okay. We all have.

Whether these below pictures are indeed our new kits for the coming season or not, you have to admit they're pretty sensational. We have it on good word that the images before your eyes are indeed photoshopped. But, subtract the sponsor logo, and you're left with what everyone is pretty certain is our new, Champions League playing attire.

Aren't they nice? Just imagine wearing one. Not you, Jenas.

2009-10 Season Review: Player ratings - Part One

Season review time. What fun this always is. Usually, we're lamenting another season of non-progression from Mr Jenas or claiming that King's injuries will definitely clear up for the start of next year. Not this time. Jenas has been firmly rooted to the bench all season and we know what we get from Ledders. And the biggest difference between this and most other seasons? This year has been beyond brilliant. Fourth spot. Champions League. 2006 memories erased. A rampant English goalscorer. A world class goalkeeper. A host of players set to represent in the World Cup. Lovely.

Time to rate the players. Whilst it's hard to be critical of anything Tottenham these days, there were, believe it or not, one or two bad words to be said. But they're hidden amongst a glut of positives. Here's the first half of the squad, with the second half to come soon:

Heurelho Gomes - 9

What a player. From the moment he defied gravity to repeatedly keep out Arsenal in the North London Derby in April, Gomes had secured his place in the hearts of Tottenham fans forever. From a player who was so scrutinised and so lamented at the beginning of his Spurs career, Gomes has turned things round in an almost biblical manner. A calm, commanding presence and a phenomenal acrobat when called upon, Gomes is one of the best keepers in the league and it’s a reputation he fully deserves. Brilliant season.

Vedran Corluka - 7

Never spectacular and never lets you down. Corluka is a brilliant right back and the very fact that his performances go unnoticed is testament to this. He may have lost Liam Ridgewell at the back post in the last minute in Birmingham but, apart from that blemish, he’s been one of the more consistent performers you would ever wish to see. There are few right backs in the Premier League better than him. Deserves more credit than he actually gets.

Younes Kaboul - 7

Many were sceptical, some disbelieving, when he returned to the Lane in January. And his first outing in the 1-0 defeat at Wolves seemed to consolidate those feelings of negativity. But when called upon in the final month of the year to deputise for Corluka, he performed above and beyond himself. Fantastic against Arsenal, even better against Chelsea and he had a stormer against Bolton. But he really delivered in the season defining 1-0 win at Man City, bossing the right side and setting up the winning goal. Top effort.

Benoit Assou Ekotto - 7

Another season of progression from the curious left back, although his year is tarnished slightly by the on-field spat with Charlie Corluka, his confrontation with a fan at the Lane and a couple of shocking attempts at tackles that resulted in opposition penalties. Still, he runs a tight ship at left back and managed to keep his position in the side despite the rapid rise of Gareth Bale. Not really a fan’s favourite but a capable player nonetheless. His future may be slightly unclear.

Sebastien Bassong - 7

Stepped up to the challenge of being Ledley King’s replacement admirably well. His performances were no doubt improved by the presence of the amazing Michael Dawson next to him but, despite appearing to be the weak link at the back, he did a sterling job. His debut goal against Liverpool made him instantly popular with the fans and, although he was outshone by messrs King and Dawson, he had a good season and deserves to be playing Champions League football next year.

Michael Dawson - 10

Captain fantastic. Awesome Dawson. There are few superlatives left in the English dictionary that can be used to described him. He was simply outstanding in a season where he finally stepped his game up a level or two and became the leader of the defence. His reward was the captaincy (when Ledley King was unavailable) and a possible shot at the World Cup. Be it the morale boosting goals at Villa and Everton or his fearless courage in taking on Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City at the end of the season, Dawson has become one of the finest defenders in the country and is deservedly our player of the season.

Ledley King - 9

He didn’t play all too often but when he did, he was habitually world class. King’s uncomplicated, no nonsense defensive style would have certainly made him one of the world’s best defenders were it not for his troublesome injury struggles. But the world’s loss is our gain and he delivered a series of master class performances for us in our biggest games at the end of the season. Against Man City, along with Dawson, he was simply perfect. Spurs fans wouldn’t have wanted any other human on the planet at the heart of defence. He also looks like he may be rewarded with a slot in England’s World Cup squad. The word ‘legend’ is used far too often in sport but King is far and away a Tottenham legend. Deal with it.

Gareth Bale - 9

For a player who only came into the side in January and was constantly rotated between defence and midfield, Bale was a sensation. His progression was steady; he was surprisingly good in February, eye-catching in March and downright brilliant in April. His impact on the side was evident for all to see. With the absence of Aaron Lennon on the right wing, Bale provided attacking width and penetration down the flanks and reminded Spurs fans what it was like to have a fast winger bombing it down the side of the pitch. His goals against Arsenal and Chelsea were richly deserved and had he played all season, he’d have been in with a shout for player of the year. Whether his future lies in defence or midfield is a conversation for another day - for now, let’s just bask in his greatness.

Tom Huddlestone - 8

Gets an extra point for improvement. Huddlestone, very much a player who would frustrate fans in years gone by, took his game to a new level this season, mixing his superb passing and use of the ball with added commitment and determination. The goals were still slightly sparse, even if when they did come they were spectacular. But Huddlestone’s elevation to automatic starter in the middle of the park was indicative of his progression and showed how highly rated he was by Redknapp. Fabio Capello was also clearly impressed and called him up to his provisional World Cup squad. A talented player who still has a way to go, Huddlestone could be the future of Tottenham’s midfield.

Wilson Palacios - 7

Sgt. Wilson set himself high standards in the second half of the last season and, despite playing well this season, probably didn’t hit those same heights. But he still played a huge role. He added much needed steel and bite to Tottenham’s occasionally weak midfield and was our only notable ball winner. His absence from the side was always strongly felt and he made sure Spurs were no soft touch, especially away from home. A player who is only set to get better, Palacios is a source of huge comfort when thinking back to the Jenas days.

Jermaine Jenas - 5

Hardly played, in part due to injury and in part due to him not being good enough. Spurs fans have been constantly annoyed with Jenas’ inconsistencies and this season he was kept out of the side by Palacios and Huddlestone. Will he leave in the summer? If the right price comes in then why not. He’s a fine squad player but we must have realised by now that we can do better. Sorry JJ, but your time appears to have passed.

Done and dusted

Was it greedy to want third place? Perhaps. In any case, when Redknapp's players came into the dressing room 2-1 up at Burnley and found out Arsenal were leading 3-0, there was probably a collective foot being taken off the pedal. End result? A meaningless 4-2 defeat. Annoying, yes, as it messed up accumulators up and down the land. But in the grand context of our entire season, it matters little. We came fourth. We achieved the impossible.

Modric's goal at the weekend was phenomenal. Beyond description. A beautiful step-over (take note, Bentley) and a rocket into the back of the net. Shame it couldn't have set up a win. Also, nice to see Lennon's contribution to Bale's opener. He looked very similar to that nifty little player who tore it up on the wing for us in the first half of the season. Good for us? Yes. Good for England? Yes. Take heed, Fabio.

Things to come very soon:

- End of season review. Probably spread into different sections. How do you sum up that season just gone? With great difficulty, probably.

- Player ratings. This should be fun. Will be tough to say bad things about any of them. Even Keane.

- Potential signings discussion. Who do we need? Do we need anyone at all? Why are we ALWAYS linked with Joe Cole? All this and more.

- World Cup focus. JD, Crouchie, Azza, Sgt. Wilson, BAE and maybe even Daws and Ledders will all be flying their respective flags at this summers big event.

So stay on the edge of your seats, Spurs fans. Just because the season's over, doesn't mean the blogosphere will shut down.

Thank you, good night, much love.

Redknapp named manager of the season

This blog went and got very drunk on Wednesday night. Why not. It's not every night your team qualifies for the Champions League (qualifiers). In something of a rarity, there was a plethora of positive Spurs comments and 'neutrals' were coming out of the woodwork all over the place. Still, it wasn't enough to win them all over. In the midst of a rousing Yid Army sing-song at the corner of the bar, one girl intelligently chimed in from the back with 'Spurs are sh*t'. Cheers love.

But such matters are purely inconsequential. Spurs have broken the top four bubble and to place the giant cherry on what is certainly a ridiculuosly oversized cake, Harry Redknapp has been named as Barclays Premier League Manager of the Season. T'riffic.

After Wednesday night's celebrations had died down, this blog felt the need to tweet about Redknapp and why he wasn't even being mentioned in Manager of the Season talk. It was 3 am but the point still got across. See below:

'Huge praise for Redknapp. Not everyone's cup of tea but how he isn't at least talked about for manager of the year is a mystery.'

Yet, little did we know that the powers that be were pencilling his name in already. It's a wonderful acheivement by the man and testament to the superhuman job he has overseen at White Hart Lane over the last year and a half. Redknapp is only the second manager to be given the award despite not winning the league title. Portsmouth fans everywhere will be spitting feathers.

The man himself: "I'm delighted to receive the award but it's a team effort with Kevin (Bond), Joe (Jordan), Clive (Allen), Tony (Parks), Tim (Sherwood), Les (Ferdinand) and all the coaching and fitness staff. Really, I'm just part of the team. It's all down to the players and what they've achieved. It's down to them really and a real honour to receive it." (quotes courtesy of goal.com)

What more can the man do this season? Become knighted? Have his Sun column nominated for the Pulitzer? I'll settle for 3rd place. But even the great Redknapp does not have the power to control that one. Well played boss.

Dreams

The promised land. For months, it’s been lurking on the horizon, stalking our wildest dreams like an unruly predator. Pushing us on to the end of the season. Giving us hope of a better tomorrow. Providing us with a dream to cling on to.

Last night, that dream was realised in one of the most historic nights for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of the last twenty odd years. The top four. An place in the elite. A seat at the Premier League’s most exclusive party. The promised land. Done and dusted with a game to spare.

Cast your minds back to October 2008 and the doldrums of a 2-1 defeat away at Stoke. Both Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson were sent off, we’d conceded two penalties and had been outplayed by a team who had spent the previously year punching above their weight in the Championship. We’d reached the deepest trench and there was little hope of respite. Enter Harry Redknapp and an initial recovery. Lovely.

Now fast forward to October 2009. It’s full time at The Emirates and after an extremely strong start to the season, we’ve been outclassed and outplayed to the tune of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Arsenal. The media pour collective scorn over our credentials and it seems, despite the strength of our squad, we’re being given no hope of any progress.

The euphoria and wild celebrations of last night, and no doubt the next few days, are not to be enjoyed without a brief recollection of just how far we have come. From relegation candidates and Soccer Saturday comedy fodder to top four gatecrashers in just a year and a half. Truly, it’s an absolutely magnificent achievement and ranks up there with the finest of our recent history.

There’s not a word that can be uttered that can detract from the magnitude of our accomplishment. Bitter Arsenal fans, Harry-haters from Portsmouth, West Ham supporting media scribes, all of those who have written us off at any part of this season - they can all take their misguided opinions and stick them where the sun don’t shine. Tottenham fans have taken a reasonable share of abuse for voicing opinions on our top four chances all season only to be less-than-politefully told that we’ve no prospects. Without wishing to sound to like this blog is gloating too much, who’s laughing now?

As for the Champions League, we may still effectively be on the periphery. A tricky qualifier may await come August and with UEFA’s new seeding rules, we could be drawn with some pretty good sides. However, with a game to play, we’re only two points behind Arsenal in third. We’ve slowly and silently caught up with them and a defeat to Fulham for them coupled with a Spurs win at Burnley on Sunday would see us, incredibly, finish third and qualify automatically for the big one. Stranger things have happened. There’s a good chance the Gooners could be bricking it. Wonder what excuse they’d find for that one.

But, Champions League group stages or not, we fully deserve this fourth spot and it’s a testament to the fact that we’ve been the best team for it.

Last night, we were outstanding. As the nerves gripped every player on the pitch, only one team played as if they belonged in the top four. As City we crumbled after a relatively bright start, we took control of the game and whilst the result was up for debate fro much of the game, there was just a hint of inevitability when we scored.

Gomes was terrific, the occasional chances he was called upon to deal with. The back four deserve a knighthood. Younes Kaboul had an absolute blinder, simply dominating the right hand side of the pitch in tandem with Aaron Lennon. Kaboul, a player whose return wasn’t exactly heralded, has earned himself a slice of the big time after deputising for the injured Vedran Corluka superbly. Assou Ekotto was solid and put in some amazingly timed tackles on the marauding Adam Johnson.

But for pure heart, determination and unwavering commitment to the cause, look no further than the mind-blowing partnership of Michael Dawson and Ledley King. Both played as though their lives depended on it. Dawson was simply everywhere, throwing himself into tackles and diving headers. Words cannot describe how much he deserves the player of the season award. King’s performance was truly miraculous, especially considering the fragile state of his beleaguered knee. He was simply brilliant last night and led the team with such grace, confidence and, most of all, ability.

Lennon was effective on his return and looked very dangerous when he ran at his man. He wasn’t 100% and understandably so. But he was committed and hard working. Bale, on the other flank, wasn’t able to dominate as he has done against certain other sides but he still gave a damn good performance. He backed his ability to beat his defender and repeatedly took him on. His deliveries into the box were simply heavenly. He deserved the assist for the goal, at the very least, but had to settle for a nonessential role. Like it mattered.

Modric was at his sublime best in the middle of the park, pulling the proverbial strings and dictating as much as he could. His movement and ability to find space mark him out as one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League. Anyone who still doubts his ability must be either blind or watching Jermaine Jenas. One saving grace of us coming fourth (as if we needed to hand pick them) is that it should entice him to stay at the club and keep him out of Sir Alex’s evil reach, for the time being. Huddlestone was no less committed but was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a petulant stamp. But he played his part and his ball distribution was of the highest order.

Up top, Jermain Defoe, who Harry singled out as one who needed a good game, did his best and whilst he wasn’t able to constantly threaten the keeper as he likes to, his control and link up play was extremely effective. He also formed a superb partnership with Peter Crouch, the newest hero of the Spurs faithful.

Crouch, out of the side for a few games due to a perceived lack of threat, was far and away the best player on the pitch. He was simply everywhere - winning high balls for Defoe, jinking in and out of space with the ball at his feet, bravely clearing defensive lines when under attack, having the audacity to go on a mazy solo run which left everyone speechless. In a season where he has shone at times and looked anonymous at others, Crouch delivered an outstanding display, confounding his critics and driving his side into the Champions League. He can have the freedom of Haringey now, should he want it. The man played like a genius.

His goal was a moment certain to be crystallised in the memories of Tottenham fans forever. Kaboul’s fierce cross proved too much for the City keeper to hold on to and Crouch utilised his massive frame to nod in and send the visiting fans into an ecstasy rarely felt as a Spurs supporter. It was a mammoth moment - the financial and morale-boosting ramifications of Crouchie’s strike could be felt for years to come. What a man.

The final whistle brought celebrations like you wouldn’t believe. First team players, squad players, fringe players, forgotten players - all who had played a part in this historic and magnificent triumph gathered themselves on the pitch and deservedly took their bow in front of the excellent Tottenham fans, who were simply grateful for the chance to say ‘I was there’. Bentley and Jenas (!) even thought it necessary to drench Redknapp, mid interview, after the game as the celebrations continued long into the night.

Even now, this is difficult to come to terms with. After the utter despondency of losing to Pompey in the FA Cup semi final, this is beyond the wildest dreams of any Spurs fan. At the start of the season, we looked good. Damn good. But could anyone have honestly predicted a top four finish, with the established powers and cash-laden Man City lurking around? It makes this so much of an accomplishment - no-one thought this could happen.

It’s a dream all right and it’s one that could have a significant impact on the renaissance of this grand old football club. The top four means the Champions League (qualifier first). The CL brings money. Money brings the ability to lure higher quality players, players that will be enticed the prospect of CL football. The number of doors that this could open is beyond realistic.

Without wishing to dampen spirits, it’s important we keep our feet on the ground, as much as possible. It’s not completely outlandish to say that just because we’ve got fourth now, we’ll definitely finish there next season. Targets for next term should remain realistic - fifth place should be set as something of a minimum and anything above can be seen as progress. Whilst we’ve beaten off the competition this year, it was mightily close and there’s nothing to suggest it’ll be any easier next season. But that’s a problem for another blog. Now, it’s time only to celebrate, revel and bask in the glory that is our season.

We’ve done it. We’ve done it the Tottenham way, too. In style. We’ve a brilliant squad, with young, eager players who play exceptional football and, at times, make the game look absurdly easy. We’ve got an ambitious, shrewd, capable coach with a brilliant support staff who can get the best out of players and also get players performing better than they even believed possible themselves. Truly, it’s been the season of a lifetime and all it took was a bit of belief.

And it’s belief that will see us continue to grow as a team. Belief that we can take on the best and win. Belief that we can go to Stoke, Blackburn and other traditional cauldrons and win. Belief that we have the players, the staff and the fans to make this club great again. Belief that despite what anyone says, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club will stand tall, confound critics and play beautiful football.

Tottenham should take a long, hard look in the mirror and be immensely proud of what is staring back at them. The moral of the story?

Believe that dreams do come true. Because they do.

To Dare Is To Do

'Are you hoping for a miracle?' - Bloc Party, 2004

It all rests on this. Gomes and King doubtful. Lennon ready to start. Pavlyuchenko and Defoe short of goals. Bale facing his biggest test yet. Dawson ever imperious.

If the sole purpose of the double derby wins of last month was to cruelly raise our hopes only to have them viciously slashed right at the death, then someone up there has a grudge against us. This amazing season has to be following some kind of path of destiny. Is it our destiny to finish fourth? Answers on a postcard please.

Our physical and moral hold on fourth has fluctuated all season. After losing to Arsenal in October, the scribes has us as having no chance and we were a nothing team. After dominating against Everton, Aston Villa and Man City in November/December, we were back to being the best of the rest. Losing to Liverpool at Anfield saw our halo slip but a five game winning streak, including a defining 2-1 win at Stoke, hauled us back into everyone’s good graces yet again.

Sunderland away and that Pompey cup semi final seemed to be a giant nail in our coffin but then came April and those amazing wins. The magnificence of Bale, the injury-defying technical ability of King, the genius of Modric, the heart and passion of Dawson. It was a four days like no other. Let’s not look back on those games as simply anomalies. Let’s see them in years to come as the moment we grabbed on to fourth place and never let go. Let’s see them as the building blocks of further success. Let’s go to Manchester City and consolidate what we’ve so far achieved. Let’s f*cking batter them.

It promises to be a painfully nerve-wracking 90 minutes of football tomorrow night. If the cup semi was a hard watch, this’ll be twice as tense. One has to pray that the players aren’t afflicted by the nerves being felt by the majority of fans. A nervous touch or pass and the anxiety could spread through the team like wildfire. Spurs need strong characters and leaders on the field tomorrow night. They need men who can rise above whatever adversity may be befalling them and deliver the performance and the result that’s needed.

Do we attack or do we sit back? Frankly, it’ll need a bit of both. City need more out of the game than we do. A draw is more beneficial to us than it is to them, although we should be aiming for the win. If we let them come at us and attempt to hit them on the break, there’s the chance we could let them steamroller us. On the other hand, if we attack, we leave ourselves susceptible to conceding. And with the lack of goals coming from our strikers of late, we may not take the chances that such an attacking approach would cultivate. Bottom line? It’s Harry’s decision, let him wrestle with it.

It’s games like these that make supporting our magnificent club worthwhile. With seldom domestic success in the recent era, it’s a game that could very well shepherd in a new dawn of relative supremacy. That’s not to say we’ll be gunning for the title anytime soon. But a fourth place finish, whether it brings with it the riches of the Champions League group stage or not, is no small feat and should be heralded as one of the finest achievements in our history. In modern football, breaking into the elite isn’t as easy as it would have been twenty years ago and whilst, historically, it may not compare with the FA Cup wins of the Eighties or the League Championships of the middle of the last century, it’ll be an accomplishment for the modern age.

Having said all that, defeat and subsequent failure should not be seen as the end of the world. It’ll be a bitter pill to swallow for sure. The pain will be all the more in knowledge that we’ve been top dogs nearly all season only to throw it away come the end. Those defeats to Wolves and Stoke will resonate long in the minds of all connected to the club. But it shouldn’t signal widespread change. It shouldn’t render Redknapp as a failure and be the catalyst for a squad overhaul. It’ll just be an extremely painful kick in the groin. One that we have the capability to overcome.

Needless to say, there’s a lot resting on tomorrow night. The last thing anyone wants is a repeat of the cup semi. The nerves. The bad luck. That f*cking pitch. We need heroes. Champions. Lion hearts. Conquerors. Leaders of men. Senior players need to stand up and show why they’ve got such a reputation. Younger players need to demonstrate some steely courage and produce a performance beyond their years. We’ve a good record against City, both home and away, and that’s why we should retain optimism ahead of tomorrow night. But records and form count for nothing and it’ll eventually come down to who wants it more.

As ever, hold onto your seats. It’s about to get exciting.

To dare is to do.

90 Minutes in Manchester

By such margins are the greatest of footballing prizes determined. A season of mostly good work can be undone in a single game. A years worth of toil and labour can be rewarded with the ultimate prize. The light is at the end of the tunnel and it’s laden with the promise of top level European football. Manchester City versus Tottenham Hotspur. Winners takes all. Well, mostly all.

The various permutations of all results have been calculated and it needs to be said that should we win at Eastlands on Wednesday night, fourth spot is ours. Wrapped up with a game to spare. Finished. Should the game end in stalemate, it’ll still be advantage us but we’ll have a nervous 90 minutes up at Burnley to make sure City don’t better our result. If we lose, it’s out of our hands come the final day. It’s as simple as that.

It’s by far one of the most crucial games in our recent history, from both a football and a financial point of view. The cash windfall from Champions League qualification would be music to Daniel Levy’s ears and the elite status of a top four finish, however transient it may turn out to be, would be a major accomplishment for the club. To sum up: it’s a massive game.

How did we get here? It’s slightly galling to think that had we perhaps hung on to three points at Everton in November or maybe found the extra quality to score against Hull at the Lane in January we might be secure in fourth already. But surely we cannot have accounted for the double derby wins of last month to carry us to such a high position. Saturday’s win over Bolton was certainly nervy but was significant only for the crucial points gained rather than the manner of our performance.

Huddlestone’s goal was a thing of beauty. A thunderbolt from the heavens. The man possesses the most glorious strike of a football you could ever wish to see and when one of his sweetly timed connections flies into the back of the net, you know it’s worth looking at again. Odd that it was a wonder goal that separated the teams when we had about a million regulation chances to kill them off. Bale. Defoe. Pavlyuchenko. Gudjohnsen. Crouch. The number of times we fluffed our lines when on the verge of delivering the killer speech was ridiculous.

Still, 1-0 was all that was needed and we maintained our firm talon-like grip on fourth, wrestling it away from the chasing pack (the chasing pack being just the one team, in this instance). Once again our strikers were empty handed. Pav was dire and seriously needs dropping from the first team. He offers about as much goal threat as a disinterested Nicklas Bendtner. And that’s saying something. Bale was back to his sprightly best after his Manchester comedown last weekend and should have had a goal to reward him. Profligacy has been something of a bug spreading through the Tottenham camp all season and it’s something Harry might need to bear in mind.

There’s been a lot of praise for Younes Kaboul in the right back slot and, credit where credit is due, he did a fine job, considering it’s not his natural forte. He linked nicely with Bentley and his overlapping was a constant threat. He also did well at the defending part, which is good, seeing as he was playing in defence. We looked a whole new level of dangerous when Aaron Lennon came off the bench as he steps up his comeback and it’d be worth a cheeky tenner on the impish winger starting in Manchester on Wednesday night.

Gomes was limping at the end. Time for an emergency loan? Don’t be silly, we’ve got reserve keepers. Just like Man City did. Harry’s post match dig at our Wednesday opponents aside, one has to pray to Gomes’ fitness. Ben Alnwick just doesn’t inspire much confidence and Gomes is, well, Gomes. He’s f*cking brilliant.

So Wednesday night it is then and there’ll be chewed fingernails up and down the land. Knowing Harry, Tottenham will attack from the off and try to take the game to City. This could result in heroic glory for us or a swift counter attacking win for City. Either way it’ll probably be entertaining. Emphasis on the probably. The great thing is, even if we lose (IF) we can still make a fight of it on the last day. Not that that’ll be much consolation when City go three up against West Ham on the last day. Still, hope springs eternal.

Two games to go. One of them huge. The other one potentially huger. A season will be defined on this very week. Time to keep our heads, keep our eyes on the prize and deliver. All the journalists, pundits, Arsenal fans and general naysayers can finally be put back in their rightful place if we just give it our all and accomplish. Nothing else matters. This is everything.

It’s been a season of incredible highs. What’s the prize at the end of it going to be?

We’re about to find out.