Champions League musings and 9-1 memories

On the Champions Leage draw wishlist for the vast majority of Spurs fans would have been a huge, prestigious club from pot one, a team of similar, if not lesser, ability to us from pot two and a side both beatable and not too far away geographically from the final pot. The drawing of Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente would certainly tick all of those boxes.

Let's begin with the obvious question: is it a group Spurs can get out of? By no means is it an easy ask. Reigning champions Inter will be extremely difficult to beat both at the San Siro and at the Lane, although they'll hopefully be given a good game in the latter fixture. Bremen, bereft of German World Cup superstar Mesut Oezil, remain a highly competitive outfit but one we are certainly capable of beating. On first glance, one suspects that our match-ups with them could turn out to be the crucial ones. And FC Twente are the Dutch champions so should not be written off, even though they've lost the services of one time England manager Steve McClaren. They're a team we should beat if we play to our absolute highest potential.

So, the prevailing answer to the aforementioned question is yes. Yes we can, as that bloke in the White House used to say when everyone still liked him. It's a hard group, make no mistake. One of the hardest going around. But barring any Young Boys type collapses and provided we bring our A-Game, there's definitely chances going. No team will relish a trip to Tottenham - one suspects poor Rafa Benitez is already dreading a visit to the country he's only just escaped. If we can match the intensity of home performances against Chelsea and Arsenal last season, then we'll be in with a shout. And at the very least, a trip to Milan to play the European Champions is pretty darn appetising - a true indication that, for now, we're back amongst Europe's elite. And isn't that what we all wanted?

But back to matters Premier League and Wigan come to the Lane on Saturday, no doubt nursing the pains of a truly catastrophic start to the league campaign. 4-0 to Blackpool, 6-0 to Chelsea - lest we forget the record breaking numbers JD and co. put up against them last November. Whenever we play Wigan, memories are bound to be of that breathtaking day. Defoe's five-for, Lennon having the most fun he'll ever have on a football pitch, Bentley's free kick 'goal'. T'riffic stuff, as Harry will say in his match preview (probably). And with the away side having made such an appalling start, shipping ten goals in two games, there's reason to believe that a confident Spurs could stick another few past them.

Defoe's involvement is in doubt as the confusion over his potential surgery goes on. Speaking after the Young Boys game, the striker claimed he may not even need the operation having felt fine during the match. But 'Arry was less confident in his appraisal of the situation. To be fair, Redknapp has a point. If Defoe needs to go away and have this operation, he may as well go now, what with the two week international break coming up. Sure, he'll miss an England game or two but he'll then be fit for the Champions League. Not a terrible sacrifice, in all honesty.

Missing out for certain will be Heurelho Gomes and Luka Modric. Gomes' injury during the Young Boys game has ruled him out, giving Cudicini another opportunity between the sticks and Modric is still getting over the groin injury sustained on the plastic pitch in Switzerland. New signing William Gallas (shudder) is still regaining match fitness and is unlikely to feature.

A few interesting stats to finish on, courtesy of BBC Sport:

- Of the eight goals Tottenham have scored so far this season, Gareth Bale has either set up or scored seven of them. Creator.

- Spurs haven't lost at White Hart Lane since Wolves visited and snatched all three points in December 2009, 17 games ago. Fortress.

- Wigan are the only side in the Premier League not to have scored this season and have lost their last six away games. Hapless.

Now that the mockers have well and truly been put on, expect a disheartening 0-0 draw. And feel free to flood this site with violent comments.

3-0 to Spurs. No more injuries please.

Tottenham do it the easy way

Tottenham 4 Young Boys 0

What was all the fuss about? Whatever fears and apprehensions there were amongst the Tottenham collective were soon eased. In the end there was never any need to panic as Spurs, led by the all-scoring, all-action Peter Crouch, progressed calmly into the group stages of the Champions League and banished the horrors of that nightmare start in Switzerland a week ago.

As ripostes go, last night's was pretty emphatic. Spurs had been dogged all week by allegations of complacency and arrogance regarding their 3-2 reverse in the first leg and, although, the tie appeared to be balanced ever so slightly in their favour, there was a weight of expectation and pressure hanging over the side, so heavy there was almost an unspoken expectation that events would not go to plan.

Billed as one of the biggest games in Tottenham's recent history, the anticipation surrounding the match was as heavy as the pounding rain that battered North London. Win and Spurs would progress, vindicating the back-breaking effort put in last season to secure fourth place and confirming our return to Europe's elite competition. Not to mention the significant financial reward for achieving such status. Lose and face ignominy - not only would the accomplishments of last season be irrelevant but the subsequent demotion to the Europa League and lack of a significant transfer war chest would doubtless have left the club demoralised and out for the count. So fans could have been forgiven for having a few butterflies.

But, eventually, it was Young Boys, the team who had stunned the watching world with their lightning fast start last week, who imploded and Tottenham who came to the fore. The rip-roaring, end to end game that had been expected was quickly exterminated and as Spurs continued to increase their lead, the game fizzled out into something of a damp squib. Not that the home fans would have minded. Their nerves were audible early on - for a ground that always produces a deafening roar, there were more than a few blatant periods of quiet. But once the goals started flowing, the familiar 'European tour' chants were in full force.

Redknapp had wanted Spurs to 'swarm all over' their opposition, as they had done to us the week previous. And, if there was one thing to settle down both the team and the home fans, it was an early goal. Bale, who was once again at the top of his game, found his corner sent back out to him and having appeared to over-run the ball, he found just enough space to squeeze in a deep cross which found both Dawson and Crouch in acres of Swiss territory. Crouch called, Dawson left and the beanpole striker directed the ball expertly past the keeper to set the ball rolling. From 3-0 down in 30 minutes, Spurs had wiped out the deficit.

It wasn't exactly flowing football for the next half an hour, as Young Boys sought to get back in it and Spurs tried to balance defence with the desire to get forward. But, just as the nerves were starting to build again, Defoe was found by another Bale pass and, despite the ball blatantly striking his arm on the way down, he spun and fizzed a glorious left-footed drive past the keeper. Defoe and 36,000 Spurs fans all looked straight at the linesman, as if the handball had to have been seen. But, unfairly for the away side, the goal was allowed to stand and Spurs led in the tie. The next time a shocker goes against us, we're in no position to complain.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Gomes was trying his best to make a nuisance of himself, having sustained an injury whilst making a regulation clearance. He beckoned desperately to the bench to be taken off but was given short shrift from Redknapp, who wanted his man to push his pain barrier and last until half time. Thus, a few shaky moments beckoned: neither Dawson or Gomes wanted to come for a high ball and almost allowed Bienvenu to head home. For a home crowd that was still fairly apprehensive, the confusion was not healthy. But Gomes did get his wish at the break and the motorbike-crash-recovered Carlo Cudicini took his place.

Cue the second 45 and Crouch's header from Bale's corner quickly made matters more straightforward and the fear was slowly being replaced by joyous optimism. Spurs, although hardly flawless, were moving the ball around productively and were in complete control of their overawed opponents, who resulted to kicking out as often as they could. Then, as if to put the proverbial icing on the cake, Bale went scurrying away down the left, was brought down inside the box and Crouch duly netted the resulting penalty for his hat-trick and the completion of a fabulous night at White Hart Lane. Bale, who had provided the assists for all four goals, was given a heroes ovation as he was taken off and Spurs cantered home.

All in all, a thoroughly superb evenings work. The horror show in Bern can be attributed to many reasons: nerves, the pitch, complacency, etc. But whatever the reason, to bounce back from such a deficit away from home takes one hell of an effort. The critics, Arsenal fans and general naysayers who were vocal in opinions about Spurs last week have suddenly lost their voice and for proving that last season was no fluke, Redknapp and the team deserve all the credit available.

On the night, the majority of players delivered. King was again a calming presence at the back, further demonstrating his immense value to the side when fit. Assou Ekotto was excellent in possession and refused to panic, seeming completely unfazed by the scale of the occasion. In midfield, Palacios continued his cumbersome form, giving the ball away too many times for comfort and displaying a touch equivalent to that of a lower league journeyman. Thankfully, the languid Huddlestone was on song alongside him as he produced another breathtaking passing display. The left footed, outside of the boot pass he produced in the first half was just obscene. He's started the season brilliantly.

Bale, with his litany of assists and general awesomeness, once again takes the plaudits but the man with the match ball will have gone home one of the happiest players on the night. Crouch was penalised one too many times by the whistle-happy ref for simply challenging for the ball in the air - to be expected in Europe - but his all round game was sublime. The two headed goals were the mark of a man who is ready made for our Champions League odyssey and he even produced a remarkably assured penalty that banished the memories of last season's 12 yard travails. Talk of him being sold is so far wide of the mark it's not even funny. The new Berbatov is here to stay. Deal with it, Stoke/Everton.

It'll take a particularly ardent Gooner to admit that this isn't a fine achievement from the Hotspur. Last season's celebrations were always slightly tempered by the reality that we'd have to face a taxing qualifier and at 3 down last week, it looked like it had all been in vain. But just over a week later, we're in Monaco for this afternoon's group stage draw. Hairs on the back of the neck stuff. Spurs will now be dining out at the same table as the likes of Inter Milan, Barcelona and CFR Cluj. Who saw that coming when were we bottom of the league two years ago?

Last season is finally over. The new one begins now. Drama and excitement lies in waiting.

Brilliant Bale

Stoke 1 Tottenham 2

Now that'll do very nicely. In months to come, when we look back over the season and see that we entered this game with only one fit striker and a slightly weakened side, it'll look all the more impressive. Hell, even Jenas played and we still won. As warm-ups for crucial Champions League games go, this was a highly successful outing.

With a selection of Spurs fans happy to see Redknapp ring the changes and wrap key players in cotton wool, the boss did just that and left the likes of King, Bassong and Modric out. In came Kaboul and Jenas and a considerably inexperienced bench. Crouch plowed a lone furrow up top but wasn't called up to provide a goal threat - that responsibility was left to the magnificent Gareth Bale.

His first strike had a touch of fortune about it but was the culmination of a fine attacking move. Lennon and Bale had seamlessly swapped flanks and the former showcased his often overlooked final delivery skills to play in Bale with a brilliant weighted pass over the top. A couple of rebounds later and the Welshman's face was bearing the brunt of the ball's impact, though any pain he may have experienced was quickly replaced by elation as the ball fell into the back of the net.

Stoke levelled quickly, however, courtesy of some trademark poor defending from set plays from the away side. A corner came in, Gomes didn't claim, Jenas lost his man (sigh) and Huddlestone couldn't get ahead of Fuller. Conceding from corners and free kicks is a worryingly common occurrence with Spurs, especially away from home, and might be worth Messrs Redknapp, Bond and Jordan paying extra attention to.

But, just as quickly as Stoke had levelled, Bale had put us back on top with a goal that will be remembered for a long time. Lennon was again involved in the build-up, this time using a burst of pace from his customary right side, dashing towards goal and lifting a delightful high ball across the area to the waiting Bale. With time to think, the Welshman went against bringing it down, as many would have expected and instead unleashed a brilliantly controlled volley and sent the ball on a glorious arc into the top corner. In the space of ten minutes, Bale had managed to score goals at completely different ends of the aesthetic spectrum.

And we held on until the end. Sure, there was intense Stoke pressure. Gomes was required to make a number of important saves, signs that he hasn't forgotten his magnificent form from last season. It's been said before a million times but the Spurs of old would have crumbled and conceded at least once. But Dawson, Kaboul and co were able to cast off the shackles of last Tuesday's appalling defensive catastrophe and produce some old fashioned resilience. And, though the home team were livid at the failure to award the late 'goal' that DID cross over the line, the Huth foul on Gomes just before was also missed. It's not nice when your team misses out in situations like that and if it was Spurs on the receiving end, we may be towing a different party line, but with a neutral hat on, one has to say that given the foul on Gomes, the right decision was made.

Before the game, this blog proclaimed the importance of a win, believing it would kick start our season after a couple of indifferent results and put us in the best possible stead for Wednesday night. And that it has. Bale is playing like a being from the heavens and has now added goals to his repertoire, making him an even more tantalising prospect. And Lennon has also looked back to his dangerous self in the last two games, for the first time, perhaps, since his injury last December. Spurs can now go into Wednesday night's game with the confidence of a win and a good performance behind them. And, what's more, we're off and running in the league as well. Tidy.

Time to start getting nervous about Young Boys yet?

Stoke v Spurs: Time to get on a roll

One of the less heralded but equally important moments of last season was the tremendous, fighting 2-1 win away at Stoke. It went down as a result which summed up our new found grit and determination - few teams go to the Britannia Stadium and enjoy themselves. Eidur Gudjohnsen muscled his way through for his first Spurs goal and then produced an obscene stepover to release Niko Kranjcar for the winner after we'd been pegged back by a penalty. If that was a performance that epitomised the new Spurs, then the season before that was something similar. A truly nightmarish day, we went down 2-1, had two players sent off, conceded two penalties and lost half our defence through collisions with our own keeper. It was a game that heralded the beginning of the end of Juande Ramos' reign in charge and left us with a miserable (and often repeated) two points from eight games.

Two games away at Stoke. Two definitive results. Will tomorrow be any less dramatic?

Stoke away is never an easy fixture yet tomorrow is both a good time to play them and a bad one. Bad because we've gone through a slightly mixed start to the season and may not have gotten over the drama of Tuesday night's Swiss fiasco. To overcome a powerful Stoke side takes a clear and focused mind and it's not outlandish to suggest that Spurs may not be 100% tuned in right now. That said, you'd rather be playing them at their ground early in the season than deep in the middle of winter. And all we need do is repeat the confidence of the performance against Man City last weekend and we'll have what it takes to succeed.

Repeating that exuberant display may not be that straightforward however. Despite it only be early season, Spurs have an unenviable casualty list, particularly up front. Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko and dos Santos have all been ruled out by Redknapp meaning Peter Crouch is the only fit striker in the squad. Even Jon Obika was today loaned out to Crystal Palace. It does, however, present the opportunity to try out this fabled 4-2-3-1 formation that Harry tinkered with during the pre-season. Provided Modric is available, he could join Bale and Lennon in the supporting three man midfield/attack behind Crouch with Palacios and Huddlestone sitting deep and protecting the defence.

It's probably an ideal game in which to deploy such a formation. Midfield strength is a premier and Hudds and Palacios will provide just that. With Stoke's pacey, physical forwards, the area between the defence and midfield will need to be marshalled and the aforementioned duo will have a massive role to play.

A win is pretty crucial for Spurs and, as much as they may loathe to admit it, they go into the game under an ounce of pressure. Failure to win would see us already losing precious ground on the league leaders and we could do with a strong start to the campaign to dispel any doubts over our credentials for the season. Stoke are no mugs and it'll take another brave performance to edge past them. Take a result for granted at your peril. One senses that Spurs need momentum at present and a win will do all sorts of wonders ahead of Wednesday's gigantic European tie.

Prediction? Stoke lost their own opener last week and will be desperate for a win. However, this suggests their not in great nick themselves. Spurs will be eager to rectify the mistakes of Tuesday night, if anything just to put themselves in their manager's good books. 2-1 to Tottenham. But it'll be anything but easy.

Thoughts, comments?

Spurs blushes saved but still a long way to go

BSC Young Boys 3 Tottenham 2

In today's Evening Standard, Jermain Defoe commented on how he believes it's our 'destiny' to make it to the Champions League group stage. One must wonder whether he thought the same half an hour into last night's game. The biggest European occasion for this proud old club in years and with a seemingly routine path laid out in front of us, Tottenham contrived to produce a performance of trepidation, inability and woefulness.

Make no small bones about it - this was a painful watch. As if all the worst parts of Halle Berry's Catwoman were fused with the acting in Green Street and soundtracked by The Hoosiers. Spurs were insipid and paid the price as they shipped three early goals to a side that was in no way as gifted, either collectively or individually. But, on a troublesome pitch that they had at least had to opportunity to practise on, they fell to pieces. Defenders who had spent all of last season forging a strong reputation for themselves were suddenly reduced to roaming the field like chickens bereft of a head.

If Defoe's prophecy is ultimately fulfilled and Tottenham squeeze into the group draw, then it must not be forgotten how fortunate we will have been. For, despite Bassong's header and Pavlyuchenko's rasping game-changer, Young Boys could and should have added to their goal tally. Having come to grips with the opposition, the surface and the event itself, Spurs still presented their hosts with ample opportunities to further increase the pain. That we woke up this morning with the glorious sound of two away goals and a marginal deficit to our names is in no small part a gift from the heavens.

Only Tom Huddlestone really looked as if he belonged on the stage. His introduction after the 36th minute as a replacement for the hapless Assou Ekotto was indictment of the mistakes Redknapp had made in his team selection. Huddlestone was assured, skillful and, most of all, classy. His progression from heavyweight also-ran to core member of the midfield is one of the great joys of Redknapp's tenure.

Pav, for all the glory of his late strike, which could turn out to be the defining strike of the whole contest, was utterly woeful for the preceding 82 minutes, loping around with the enthusiasm and drive of a disinterested Heskey. With Defoe and Modric hauled off with niggling injuries, Spurs badly needed a creative outlet as they struggled to break down the stubborn but hardly wall-like Young Boys defence. They managed it in the end - Pav's finish was simply glorious, striking the ball with ferocious accuracy - but it was a decidedly hard ask.

For all the criticism of Spurs, and there will be plenty, to fight back from the depths of a 3-0 reverse scoreline deserves a lot of credit. At a noisy away ground, on unfamiliar terrain and with a seemingly insurmountable deficit, they fought hard to ensure that last season's efforts would not dissipate on a summers evening in Switzerland. For that reason, there is certainly cause for cautious optimism ahead of the return leg. Tottenham will know they have to go out, force the pace and score at least once. One gets the feeling that the longer it is before the goal goes in, the more apprehensive they will become. But they should be confident of banishing the misery of last night's performance and responding like we all know they should. Needless to say, 'Arry will be having more than a few stern words during training over the next week.

So, what's the good word, Spurs fans? Should we be confident going into next Wednesday? Won't that inevitably bring about another Spurs-esque collapse? Is anyone else getting a bit worried that we've had two rather unsatisfactory games so far this season?

0-0 to the Hotspur

Tottenham 0 Manchester City 0

Is it possible to win a game 0-0? Probably not. But going by our performance on Saturday, it's fairly clear who, out of big-spending, high-rolling Man City and the mighty Spurs, is the superior team at present. If the game were a boxing match, the judges' points would have surely gone to Tottenham. They battered their opponents time and time again, landing a succession of blows upon the frail City defence. Yet, for all the knocking done by the men in white, it was to be in vain. England number one elect Joe Hart didn't so much as come to the party but turn up fashionably early and bring all his best tricks and chat up lines. The end product was a scoreline of Tottenham 0 Hart 0.

In the end, the stalemate reflects something of an anticlimax. The build-up to the game and the exhilarating manner of the first half suggested that a score result was on the cards. But Spurs failed to capitalise on their plethora of opportunities to open the scoring and after the break City tightened up and we lost much of the spark that had seen us produce some scintillating first half football. Frankly, the result must be considered as a disappointment, especially when you consider a) our attacking supremacy and b) City's miserable record both against us and at the Lane.

Yet, in the midst of the deflated feeling of two points dropped, there is still much to be impressed by. It's difficult to put into mere words just how well Spurs played in that opening 45 minutes and the performance flies in the face of anyone who had thought City and their new signings would automatically outdo us. Bale was back to his magnificent best right away, employed in a more attacking left wing position and giving Spurs target Micah Richards a torrid time. Perhaps that'll have Harry rethinking his transfer ambitions.

Bale created many of our best openings but was perhaps guilty of the worst miss of the afternoon when he squandered a right foot chance with the goal gaping. When he, of all people, fluffed that chance, one sensed that it wasn't to be our day. The miss aside, the Welsh Wizard was utterly sublime. City's defence criminally backed off him, giving him the space that he flourishes in, and he was a constant menace with his pace and movement.

In the middle of the park, Huddlestone and Modric were also busy earning themselves a good mark. The former was on hand to display his extraordinary passing range on more than one occasion and he looked combative and up for the occasion, which is more than can ever have been said of the underwhelming Jermaine Jenas. Modric was also hovering around, always looking for the ball and searching for an opening. He's an enthusiastic play-maker and it's that enthusiasm that marks him out from the rest. He'll keep buzzing around, causing problems, all afternoon long.

Harry started with Defoe and Crouch up top, the combination that had served us so well towards the end of last season, and they played nicely together again, linking and feeding off each other impressively. Crouch utilised his height to good effect, winning the vast majority of aerial battles (as you'd expect him to) but they pair lacked the killer touch, as reflected by the lack of goals. They were both ruthlessly subbed by the boss having failed to prise out an opening, with the man-in-form Keane and Pavlyuchenko brought on to have their chance. Pav fashioned two reasonable chances but didn't have what it took to beat the formidable Hart.

However, on a day like this one, you'd challenge most strikers to find a way past him. Despite being frustrated at Tottenham's inability to force the result, one has to give as much credit as possible to the young England keeper, especially considering the drama concerning his selection. To keep a rampant side out repeatedly takes a lot of courage and no little skill. Where City failed to live up to their billing, Hart did no such thing.

So, what next for Spurs? It's tough to escape the feeling that we haven't exactly made a flying start to the league and that was what we were all sincerely hoping for. This time last year, we'd put ourselves nicely on the crest of a wave by dispatching Liverpool and it set us up brilliantly for the fixtures ahead. Whilst a scoreless draw is nothing to be ashamed of, little momentum has been created and should the goals not come quickly, this will only continue. Still, it's no time to wallow in grief. We have a Champions League fixture on Tuesday, don't you know.

Ah yes. Tuesday night. A game of epic proportions that won't be matched until... well, the return leg. A good start to the European campaign and a positive result is of the utmost importance. We can comeback from a deficit at the Lane, sure. But let's not have to. Let's do it the simple way and let's make sure that our name is in that draw for the group stages come the end of August. Or whenever it is. Never really cared too much about it before. Amazing how things change.

And, after the mighty Young Boys on Tuesday, we've an equally slippery away trip to Stoke the following weekend, where the points should not be assumed. Everyone remembers how difficult the battle was last year and it'll take something similar to take the spoils this weekend. A good result on Tuesday night will help that. Momentum, you see. It's a wonderful concept.

So a slightly muted start to the season, maybe, but perhaps that was to be expected given the quiet summer we've endured so far. At least we were treated to a performance of confidence, bravado and attacking quality. Keep going Spurs. And hit the back of that net.

2010/11 Season Wishlist

It's been 50 years since the famous Double winning season of 1960/61. Not sure about you lot but this blog reckons that's reason enough for the current generation to make sure this campaign is a good'un.

Here's The Boys From White Hart Lane's wish-list for the season:

1) More Gomes brilliance. The Brazilian was in superlative form last season and went a long way and more towards erasing the bad reputation some had of him after a blunder-filled opening to his Spurs career. His triumvirate of world class saves against Arsenal in April was enough to take the breath away and he ended the season being hailed by many as one of the best keepers in the division. If Spurs are to continue on their long road of progression, a solid and dependable last line of defence is crucial and Gomes is certainly capable of providing that.

2) Consistency from Defoe. JD began last term like a train on fire. Or something. He had many notable moments throughout the season: the blistering hat-trick away at Hull, his historic five-goal haul in the 9-1 mauling of Wigan and his clinical poacher's hat-trick in the cup at Leeds. But towards the end of the season he had trailed off. He bagged a crucial penalty against Chelsea and worked incredibly hard during the season-defining win against Man City but having set a new personal record for goals in a season, he was unable to push past the 30 mark which had looked a certainty. Defoe is a brilliant goalscorer and a touch more consistency will go a long way to ensuring no more blank days in front of goal for Spurs.

3) Huddlestone goals. When Tommy hits 'em, they stay hit. See his thunderbolts against Sunderland, Everton (Carling Cup) and Bolton for evidence. But for all the ferocity of his shooting boots, there were precious few efforts that hit the back of the net last term. With Palacios sitting deep and protecting the back four, Huddlestone has the remit to push on and try and create goal chances. Not all of them have t be for others, though, and the next level of his development is surely the addition of regular goals. He should aim for around 8-10 this coming year.

4) Positional definition for Bale. Many are still torn on where Bale's best position is. On the one hand, it would be brilliant for him to develop into a top left back in the long term and he can still attack from the back. The other end of the argument is that his most defining displays have come from left wing. The jury's out, to be honest. Redknapp has stated that he sees him as a left back and maybe that's the best option for now. A lot of it depends on whether Modric plays in the middle or on the left. Either way, for our sake and for his own, it would be wise to properly define Bale's position.

5) More away day guts. Traditionally, Tottenham sides of old would go to places like Blackburn, Bolton and Stoke and crumble miserably. No longer. Spurs were able to grind out results away at Ewood Park, The Britannia and Fratton Park, three places where we've never really had much success. The secret? The addition of the strong, physical Palacios will have certainly helped. We're no longer soft, Southern pushovers. As David Pleat once said, 'we like a tackle here at Tottenham'. Of course, there was the 1-0 reverse at Wolves to blight said progress. But more hard working away wins are certainly on the agenda for this season.

6) A win away at Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool. Liverpool shouldn't really count because they're a bit rubbish these days. But we haven't won away at a big four ground in far too long. Beating them at home is certainly welcome too. But when we visit Old Trafford, we crumble - usually assisted by the ref. When we visit Stamford Bridge, we offer little. When we visit the Emirates... well, the less said the better. If we're ever likely to be taken seriously as one of the better teams in England, we need to address this problem sooner rather than later.

7) Redknapp to still be our manager at the end of the season. This is brought up for a number of reasons. The first is that typical Spurs predicament - early season optimism combined with a few disappointing results equals board overreaction and manager termination. As unlikely as it sounds given Harry's success so far, it's an outcome that shouldn't be totally scoffed at. And should the FA buy into the current We-Hate-Capello bandwagon then there's a real chance the Italian could be out of a job in a few months. And we all know how eager Harry would be to land the England position. Ah well. We'll just have Martin O'Neill.

8) A trophy. Any Trophy. This is something of an every-year wish. But it's just as important. Carling Cup is acceptable. FA Cup is much better. Champions League is beyond our wildest imaginations. But the point is that a bit of shiny silverware would look a lot better in 10 or so years time. Might as well take advantage of our current squad strength and muscle our way to a final.

Is that asking for too much?

Let's go to war

England? Schmengland. The World Cup farce has long since passed, the phony war ahead of the real show has been building for weeks and now, finally, the real spectacle is upon us. Season 2010/11 begins with a bang for Tottenham on Saturday morning and we should all be mightily grateful that our beloved Premier League is back, like a faithful pet that keeps coming back for more.

The dust has settled on last season which unfortunately means we can no longer bask in the glory of our fourth place finale. It's a new start and a clean slate so any dwelling on how good things were last year must now cease. This is traditionally a time of great optimism for those of a Spurs persuasion, with the promise that things must get a little bit better from the previous years' offering. But the problem for Tottenham this season is how do you better what was achieved last term? 'Arry has publicly talked us up, claiming, somewhat outlandishly, that we're in shape for a potential run at the title. But, whilst he isn't exactly declaring that we've finally made it back to the glory glory days, most at the Lane would be satisfied with a season of continued improvement and anything around 4th or 5th should be acceptable.

With the gigantic spending of last season's nemesis Manchester City meaning that they'll be even more of a threat than they were last term, our stay in the top four of English football appears like it may be a brief one. One may argue, however, that the fabled 'top four' no longer exists and we are left with a top six or seven. Our place in that elite is hopefully secure for the time being. But, back to matters on the pitch, and it looks increasingly tough to predict another fourth place finish, simply down the strength of others around us. There does remain, however unlikely, the possibility that City and their new signings will implode, Liverpool will continue to flounder and Arsenal will slip even further from the top. But, it's remarkably difficult to see all three glorious possibilities materialising at once.

So what would represent a good season for Spurs? The overall tone coming from the club so far this summer has been one of cautiousness, which is something of a relief after the years of overblown hyperbole. With the exception of Redknapp's title claims and Jermain Defoe's mouth-before-brain statement that we've got better Champions League chances than our neighbours Arsenal, most quotes coming from the players, staff and fans have been fairly muted. There is very much the feeling that we cannot afford to get carried away with last year and expect the world this season. Whilst it was a phenomenal achievement to burst the top four bubble, doing it again will be mightily difficult and the best thing for us to do might be a season of keeping our feet on the ground.

Our participation in the Champions League, play-off qualifier depending, will also make matters more complicated, schedule-wise. We'll have extra commitments this year, commitments that will require our utmost focus and attention. It'll be a hard ask to juggle the demands of a Premier League season with the riches of Europe's premier club competition but it's something that Redknapp must learn to do if we're serious about remaining one of the top clubs in England. Throw into the mix any potential Carling Cup or FA Cup streaks and you have a seriously crowded calendar. But the glory of this Spurs generation in is our squad depth and strength and there should be ample opportunities for fringe players to make their mark and get some appearances under their belts. We're looking at you, Bentley.

Key players for the season? One suspects that if we are to have any kind of success then it'll be crucial for Messrs Modric, Bale and Dawson to repeat their heroics from last year. Dawson was a superhuman at the back at times and with uncertainty over who his partner will be (King has a perennial question mark over his head, Woodgate faces missing out on the 25 man quad altogether), he'll need to produce much more of the same. Bale has a great opportunity to prove that last season was no flash in the pan and Modric is slowly winning over many of the critics who claimed he was too lightweight for the Premier League. He's Tottenham's one genuinely world class player (others are still at the 'potential' stage) and could do wonderful things should he fulfil his potential.

There are question marks over the attack with Robbie Keane's future up in the air, Crouchy getting more attention for his after hours affairs than his football skills and Pavlyuchenko going pretty much unheard of. None of the strikers linked to us have materialised thus far (Forlan, Huntelaar, Cavani, etc) leaving our strikeforce looking just a tiny bit undercooked. More firepower is certainly needed from somewhere, be it a new forward or more contributions from the middle of the park. The last thing we want is a repeat of the nightmare Stoke/Wolves/Hull home games from last season where we knocked and knocked and couldn't break down the door. Defoe could do with recapturing the form he showed at the start of last season - having a striker who can pretty much score from anywhere on his day is worth it's weight in gold.

The eerie lack of transfer activity so far this summer means we could go into Saturday's opener with Man City with a strikingly similar team to the one that saw them off at Eastlands in May, which is potentially no bad thing. Rumours have abounded that Redknapp has been working on a new 4-2-3-1 system for Europe and certain away games and it has a nice feel to it, particularly with Huddlestone and Palacios providing the defensive midfield cover. Lennon, Modric and Bale/Kranjcar can roam forward with abandon and support whoever the front man may be, be it Defoe, Crouch, Keane or even Pav.

It'll be interesting to see who, if anybody, Harry gets his hands on in the transfer market. Ashley Young is the latest name to be touted for a move but it's hard to see where he'd play. Spurs fans aren't really used to a summer of muted transfer activity and you'd put your money on at least one new face before the end of August. But if rumours that Harry is interested in the former Arsenal pair of William Gallas and Emanuel Adebayor prove to be true then expect more than a few disgruntled supporters.

So, it's very much as you were for Spurs going into this new season. The club is riding on the crest of a wave following last season's ground-breaking success but they'll have to be careful to make sure that wave doesn't come crashing down too soon. Qualification to the group stages of the Champions League is fairly important otherwise the team could become deflated - as if last season's efforts weren't even worth it. It's important, also, to learn the lessons of the past. Wins over Chelsea and Arsenal were magnificent but defeats to Stoke and Wolves were anything but and the removal of those infuriating results could well see Spurs maintain a decent run in and around the top four. For all the talk of keeping our feet on the ground, it's still crucial to keep looking up and aiming high, if we can.

Prediction time, something this blog has a notoriously mixed record with. Taking into account everything (Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, no transfers, Champions League, etc), 5th is probably a safe bet. Staying in fourth shouldn't be completely ruled out but considering the added pressure and shed-load of extra fixtures, 5th place seems like quite a reasonable finish and, along with a decent showing in the Champions League and another possible trip to Wembley in the cups, would represent an good season. For all of last years euphoria, the party line for this season should be consolidation.

We've an excellent test on Saturday morning against Man City - the first game of the new season and two very evenly matched sides with a point to prove. City will want to flex their muscle and prove that they should be taken seriously. Tottenham are aiming simply to remind the watching world of just how far we've come. It should be a cracker of a contest and a humdinger of a season. All we're required to do is sit back and watch. And try not to lose any hairs.

COYS.

The Champions League draws tantalisingly closer

Almost there now. Of the five teams we could have been drawn against for this Champions League qualifying play-off (Auxerre, Dynamo Kiev, Sampdoria, Braga and Young Boys), we've probably landed the best possible tie. Young Boys, conquerors of Fenerbache in the previous round, are no mugs but represent, on paper, the best possible route for us to ascend to the group stages, where the real big boys lie in wait.

And, what's more, we're at home for the second leg so if we do manage to make a hash of things in Switzerland then we'll have the opportunity to make amends in front of a rocking home crowd. In all, there's much to be excited about now that it's finally here. It's been a strange pre-season. No signings, no big name departures, some mixed results in friendlies. Almost as if nothing was really happening. But now that the draw has been made, the time for planing can now begin.

Young Boys cannot and should not be taken lightly. To go to Istanbul and win, as they did in the last round, takes a lot of cajones and they'll be keen to cause an upset. But Tottenham have made something of a habit of fulfilling expectations recently and should they play to their strengths and get back into last season's groove quickly, we should have enough to see off the challenge. An away goal or two away would be nice. And then wrap it up back at home. It won't be plain sailing, by any means, but the vast majority of noises coming out of the club have been of cautiousness, which is brilliant. We all remember getting too far ahead of ourselves when we drew Pompey in the FA Cup semis last year (this blog included) so best to do our talking on the pitch. Be confident and believe in ourselves, yes, but don't be arrogant. We're not Arsenal.

Speaking of, Jermain Defoe's had words in the press this morning which completely fly in the face of the sentiments from the last paragraph:

"If we can get past the play-off qualifier, I honestly think we will go further in the Champions League than Arsenal. No disrespect to Arsenal, because they have a good record in the Champions League and for them it’s become part of the furniture, part of their regular season, it’s the norm. But I can’t wait to experience the buzz around White Hart Lane on European nights, the place will be absolutely rocking."

Do be quiet, Jermain. It's comments like that that make those of a non-Spurs affiliation dislike us. It's all well and good being confident and outspoken but do it within reason. As funny as it is to see them beat a few weak teams on their way to losing in the quarter finals, Arsenal's pedigree in the Champions League is far better than our own and to even contemplate us going further than them is a touch naive. Would be best if JD did his talking on the pitch next week.

So it's all scarily real now. We've an actual Champions League game to play and we've an actual chance of winning it. Time to deliver now. Last season is in the past.

Cancel the open top bus

Stumbled across a great site called The Gaffer and found a particularly humorous piece at the expense of our neighbours. Have a read it here.

It seems the Arsenal picked up a bit of 'silverware' at the weekend and, always one to mock, The Gaffer's quick-witted editorial staff have homed in on the nature of their celebrations. We've all got Arsenal supporting friends/acquaintances - you'll have probably been informed of their success by now. Equally those same friends will have laughed at you for Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Villarreal last week. Maybe they've forgotten that these games were actually friendlies. Oh well, ours is not to reason why and all that.

Having said that, did we all not celebrate wildly when the Premier League Asia Trophy was lifted last summer? Did we not clear a space in the cabinet when Martin Jol's boys picked up the Peace Cup in 2005? What's that? We didn't? Oh good. Arsenal - always on hand to prematurely blow their own trumpet, so to speak.

Kudos to The Gaffer. Check out the rest of the site too, it's guaranteed to raise more than a smile.