2010-11 Season Review: Player Ratings Part Two

And now the second half of the squad up before the firing line:

Wilson Palacios
Last year: 7
This year: 6

A frustrating season for Palacios, whose form continued to plummet as it had started to at the back end of last season. Opportunities were limited for the tough tackling Honduran and when he was presented with a chance to start, he invariably fluffed his lines and conceded possession far too often. Time was when Palacios’ bite and hunger was crucial to our success as he patrolled the middle of the park and shielded the defence but now that role has been passed on to the talented young Sandro, who looks more at ease on the ball. Palacios, it must be said, was excellent in Milan as Spurs won 1-0 against AC but that was a solitary moment of success in what was a season of ill-fortune. Time will tell whether he has a role to play next season.

Jermaine Jenas
Last year: 5
This year: 6

Last year, TBFWHL suggested that Jenas’ time at the Lane had come to a definite end but he stuck around and was rewarded with another spell in the first team, as injuries took their toll on the squad. To his credit, he impressed in patches, putting in energetic displays and generally seeming a touch more urgent and hungry for the ball than he once might have been. He was involved in our big success stories of the year - beating Inter and Arsenal - so it was hardly a poor season for him. But he didn’t do nearly enough to convince that he’s worthy of a starting spot in our strongest XI. Jenas has had plenty of opportunities at the club and is a loyal servant but the simple truth is there are better players in his position. Good squad player to have around but if he wishes to leave, he should be allowed to.

Niko Kranjcar
Last year: 7
This year: 6

Poor Niko. An underrated component of our success last season, he was completely shut out of the side this year as the number of quality players in his position stacked up. To be fair on the management, it’s tough to find opportunities for a player like Kranjcar when you’ve got Gareth Bale in his position but, even when Bale was injured, the feeling presided that Niko was being hard done by. When he did make it onto the pitch, it can be argued that he took his chance. A last minute winner against Bolton after months of neglect was swiftly followed by another winner the following week, this time at Sunderland. Yet Kranjcar was then ignored for much of the remainder of the season, with Steven Pienaar being preferred. A great player to have around the team and an extremely undisruptive influence (he could have whined wholesale about not getting picked but he didn’t), he should be found the best deal possible and allowed to leave, if that is his choosing.

Steven Pienaar
Last year: N/A
This year: 6

A January signing for just £3 million, Pienaar arrived at the Lane to beef up the squad and provide depth out on the wings. Yet, in the games he played in, he struggled to make that much of an impact. His one impressive foray came in the win over AC Milan, as it did for many players, but aside from that night, he seemed to find it tough to impose himself. Perhaps this was a result of the natural ‘settling in’ period a player experiences when moving from one club to another. It’s not as if Pienaar is lacking Premier League experience, having played successfully for Everton for a few years. Many fans saw this as a bizarre signing, especially when Kranjcar was already at the club, and it’ll take a lot of impressive performances next season, should he get the chances, to convince that this was a worthwhile signing.

Luka Modric
Last year: 8
This year: 9

TBFWHL's Player of the Season

What more needs to be said about the magnificent Luka Modric? He seems to get even more outstanding with every passing season and he’s still underrated by the vast majority of the country in the eyes of this blog. The vision, the touch, the passes, the movement, Modric is the archetypal modern day footballer. Not especially powerful or deadly in front of goal but a creator. A magician. Drop Modric into Barcelona’s midfield and he’d fit right in (not that that’s an invitation to make an offer, Pep). Whilst Bale and van der Vaart stole the initial plaudits this season for their eye-catching displays, behind it all was Modric, quietly pulling the strings and dictating terms. There was widespread excitement when he first arrived and the feeling was that we had a genuinely superb player on our hands. But it took him a few months to settle into Premier League life - not helped by Spurs’ shocking league form at the time. But Modric quickly rose to the top and his performances this season, much like last year, have been nothing short of brilliant. His one blemish was perhaps the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid but this should not detract from another top class season - it should, hopefully, serve as motivation to get Spurs back into the Champions League. Definitely the one player we need to move heaven and earth to keep hold of. Spurs could and should build their team around him for the next five or more years.

Danny Rose
Last year: 7
This year: 7

A late addition to this list, Rose gets a rating having been surprisingly shoe-horned into the side at left back for the last few games of the season. Shipped out on loan to Bristol City at the beginning of the year, Rose struggled to make as much of an impact as many had hoped after that wonder goal against Arsenal last season. The raw talent is there - pace, control, delivery - but whether he has the stones to see it through when the going gets tough, as it did this year, remains up for debate. It must be said that he looked comfortable in the last few games for Spurs and his surging runs from left back were almost Bale-esque. Redknapp has claimed he sees left back as Rose’s future position so perhaps there is a future for him at the club. One to keep an eye on, perhaps.

Aaron Lennon
Last year: 9
This year: 7

Difficult to appraise Lennon’s season. One doesn’t to be overly-critical and say that he was a disappointment because he still looked dangerous, created plenty of chances and popped up with a couple of last minute goals that were of the utmost importance. But he lacked the game-to-game genuine threat that he possesses last season before his injury. Back then, he was the key man, taking on and beating his man with alarming regularity and providing tons of goals for the strikers. But this season, at times, something seemed to be missing. Lennon has been with the club for six seasons now since that blistering debut in 2005. He should be at the stage where he is the key contributor in crucial games - a player that can be trusted to perform. He was exactly that man at the San Siro in February, when his brilliant slaloming run down the length of the field set up Crouch for the winner. But at Arsenal in November, he was a disappointment and, after he was substituted, his replacement Defoe set up the goal that started our comeback. Rumours of a falling out with Redknapp, however true or false they may be, haven’t helped matters. He remains a valuable asset but might just be in need of a bit of competition for his place to regain his best form, as happened when David Bentley arrived in 2008. Still, do we really want a player who only performs when his place is under threat? Like so many others, next season could be crucial for him.

Gareth Bale
Last year: 9
This year: 9

When Bale was crowned as the PFA Player of the Year in April, it was met with derision in some quarters and that, along with a season deflating injury in January, took away from what was a fantastic campaign for the young Welshman. Beginning in August with his solo demolition of Stoke and encompassing both his Champions League heroism and continued Premier League excellence, Bale was, in many eyes, the story of the past year. Fans outside of Spurs will claim all he did this season was destroy Internazionale twice but there’s so much more to his season than that. Bale provided pace, penetration and electricity to a Tottenham attack that was lacking in such qualities. Time and again he was the chief source of danger to the opposition goal along side Rafael van der Vaart and, though the statistics might not support him, he was Spurs’ talisman. A key factor in wins over Blackburn, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle to name just a few, Bale continued where he left off from last season. But, admittedly, his best work was in the Champions League. Bale was a menace against Young Boys in that playoff second leg as he gave a glimpse of what was to come. And what followed was spectacular: a scarcely believable second half hat-trick when Spurs were 4-0 down to Inter at the San Siro and then a 10 out of 10 perfect performance as Inter were humbled 3-1 in the return game. He also schooled Werder Bremen at home (finding the time to also miss a penalty) and his displays made him one of the most talked about players in the world. A Spurs player, one of the world’s most refutable players? Imagine that! Injury in January curtailed his progress and after he returned he wasn’t quite at his lethal best before a sickening challenge from Charlie Adam ended his season weeks before everyone else’s. interest in Bale is phenomenal and spurs face a challenge to keep hold of him. He’s a sensible young lad, however, and has made the right noises about staying put for now. Time will tell whether he’s bombing it down the wing for us in a few months time.

Rafael van der Vaart
Last year: N/A
This year: 8

Javier Hernandez will rightly be regarded by many as the signing of the season in 2010/11 but, for much of the campaign, it was van der Vaart who many suspected would have such a title. Snaffled by Spurs for a bargain price of just £8 million in the final minutes of the transfer window, VDV made an instant impact. It was quickly apparent that his class level was a cut above many others on the field as he began making and scoring goals for fun. In fact, given the problems encountered by the strikers all season, van der Vaart’s early blast of goals left him as the club’s top scorer come the end of the season. Several performances stand out: the two excellent goals against Aston Villa in October to deliver victory from the jaws of defeat; his manic 50 minutes against FC Twente where he missed a penalty, scored, went mad in celebration and was then sent off for an enthusiastic challenge; his calmly taken penalty at the Emirates to take us level at 2-2; another two goals against Aston Villa, both expert finishes; his excellence in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal at the Lane; the brilliant half volley against Liverpool a few weeks ago. VDV’s season was packed with highlights, though he did suffer from fatigue a lot of the time and his form trailed off slightly towards the end. VDV’s exuberant celebrations, particularly against the Arsenal, and general professional demeanour make him a big favourite of this blog and it is hoped that he can continue to deliver next season (if we can stumble upon a formation that suits him, Modric and the strikers, that is).

Roman Pavlyuchenko
Last year: 7
This year: 6

There’s not much glory in the following phrase but Pav was probably our best striker this season. He was the only one to get into double figures for league goals, though 10 goals is hardly a season to scream about for a forward. Much like last season, Pav frustrates and delights in equal measure. When he’s on song, he’s unstoppable, as his final day brace against Birmingham perfectly showed. Not lacking in intelligence, technique and power, he can be lethal in front of goal and has scored some real stunners this season (Young Boys, Bolton, Wolves, etc). But he’s only in said mood once every month or so and spends the rest of the time looking lazy and complaining about Redknapp to the Russian media. If consistent effort and hard work can be chiselled out of him, then there’s a real player in there and it’d be a shame to lose him. But if he’s not going to perform on a regular basis, then we should politely show him the door. A constant enigma.

Peter Crouch
Last year: 8
This year: 4

Sorry Peter, but enough’s enough. It was brilliant when you scored that goal at Man City last year. One of the greatest feelings this blog has ever had as a football fan. It was also great when you grabbed that hat-trick against Young Boys. We were really rooting for you at the start of this year. But a return of four Premier League goals from countless starts is unforgivable. As was that red card in Madrid. Crouch offers something different from most strikers and he did at least provide van der Vaart with plenty of early season assists. But strikers are in the team to score goals and Crouch didn’t do that this season. It’s possibly the most frustrating thing in the world to watch him lumber around up front for 90 minutes, looking clueless. From his interviews and his apparent commitment to the club, Crouch comes across as a fairly decent guy (alleged affairs aside). But his presence in the side is more of a hindrance than it is a bonus. Put simply, if we ever get close to chasing the title or at least the top two or three, then Crouch isn’t going to be the man to get us there. Something new is needed.

Jermain Defoe
Last year: 9
This year: 4

There's a temptation to go easy on Defoe for his awful season, mainly because it's his first really shocking season for us and he can usually be relied upon to stick the ball away, as last season proved. But a return of four league goals is, as it was for Crouch, unacceptable. He was injured for two months, admittedly. But re was back in the side from November onwards and only managed four between then and the end of the season. And, what’s even more infuriating, they were all brilliant goals, showcasing his incredible eye and outstanding technique. How Defoe had the front to complain to the press about being on the bench a couple of times and poor Niko Kranjcar kept his mouth shut all season is nothing short of remarkable. Defoe’s always been that type of player, mind. A bit cocky, a bit selfish perhaps. And when he’s scoring goals, it’s okay. But this season he hasn’t been doing his job. Simple as that. This blog isn’t saying that he should leave - there’s every chance he’ll hit the ground running next year. But he should not be guaranteed a starting place and if we sign a new, better forward, then that player should get the main billing. Sorry Jermain but you’ve brought this on yourself.

Honourable mentions:

Stipe Pletikosa, Kyle Naughton, Steven Caulker, Jake Livermore, David Bentley, Giovani dos Santos and Robbie Keane have all worn the Spurs shirt at times during this season. Some (Naughton, Caulker) have potentially bright futures at the club. Others (Bentley, dos Santos, Keane) will probably leave this summer. TBFWHL would like to commend them all on their efforts but suspects that Keane wouldn’t hear, as he’d be too busy choosing his next boyhood team.

Part one here.

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2010-11 Season Review: Player Ratings - Part One

Rating and slating the players can be the best part of a blogger's 'job'. When your strikers have scored just 18 Premier League goals between them all season, however, it's more of an annoyance than anything else. Still, without further ado, presenting TBFWHL's official player ratings for 2010-2011:

Heurelho Gomes
Last year: 9
This year: 5

For every outstanding performance, there was a match-costing clanger. Gomes was on top of the world after last season, his acrobatic saves playing a vital part in helping us into fourth spot. But, whilst the physics-defying heroics were still on display at times this year, there was too much eccentricity. Too many rushes of blood to the head. His mistakes seemed to multiply in the closing months of the season as he gave Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard and Charlie Adam goals they never should have had. The latter was perhaps the worst offence of the lot: having saved a penalty from Adam, Gomes got overly-excited, flapped twice at a corner and rugby tackled a player to the floor to concede another spot kick, which was subsequently scored. Add to this the constant histrionics and injury melodrama. Gomes is capable of being one of the best keepers in the world but he simply isn’t calm enough during games to cut out the major errors. Dropped by Redknapp for the last few games, he could well be off in the summer.

Carlo Cudicini
Last year: No rating
This year: 6

Gomes’ able deputy on quite a few occasions this season, Cudicini’s recovery from a career (and life) threatening motorcycle crash last year is nothing short of miraculous. And he was called into action more than many would have guessed. When Gomes managed to injure himself taking a goal kick against young Boys, Carlo stepped in. When Gomes got himself sent off minutes into the game with Inter Milan, Carlo stepped in. He excelled against Inter in the return game at the Lane and, when Harry finally decided to drop Gomes from the first XI in April, Carlo manfully filled the void again. He’s just signed a one year contract extension and is a loyal servant to the club in the autumn of his career.

Vedran Corluka
Last year: 7
This year: 6

Never a real fan’s favourite, Corluka’s lack of pace was cruelly exposed by Werder Bremen’s Marko Marin in the Champions League and, for the first time in his Spurs career, he was dropped. His place taken by Alan Hutton, Corluka bided his time on the bench for a few months and, when Hutton inevitably lost his place again by being inadequate, Charlie was back in business. He links up excellent with Aaron Lennon on the right flank and is a calm character who’s given nothing but his best over the past three years with Tottenham. He’s still not every fan’s cup of tea, however, and his place in the side could be taken by the promising Kyle Walker next season. A good man to have in the squad, however, if he is to be deposed.

Alan Hutton
Last year: No rating
This year: 4

Was given a run in the first team after Corluka’s patchy early season form and looked solid enough for a few games, even grabbing a fortuitous goal against Wolves. A much better strike followed against Bolton later on a few months later but, by then, Hutton’s form had tailed off completely. He was the one weak link during the 3-1 win over Inter at the Lane, as he was tormented by Samuel Eto’o and Wesley Sneijder all night. He somehow stayed in the side until January, until an alleged bust-up with Redknapp after the 4-0 FA Cup humiliation at Fulham. Reports had it that Harry had singled out Hutton for criticism after a woeful first half. However much truth there is in that remains to be seen but Hutton was seldom selected after that. Not really good enough for the standard Spurs are trying to achieve. And he had a fight with his own dad.

Younes Kaboul
Last year: 7
This year: 7

His heroics from right back at the back end of last season showed us that Kaboul was a player reborn after his nightmare first spell with Spurs. And he continued that form this season, slotting into centre back alongside William Gallas during the prolonged absences of Michael Dawson and Ledley King. Kaboul flourished in that partnership, performing excellently during the win over Inter. He will always be remembered for scoring the dramatic late winner against Arsenal in November, leaping above the static Laurent Koscielny to head home a famous goal. He’s even been called up into the France squad. Still quite young, he looks to have a bright future if he can continue to eradicate the silly errors that occasionally creep into his game. He could plausibly form a long term partnership with Dawson at the back.

Benoit Assou Ekotto
Last year: 7
This year: 8

BAE continues to thrill one section of fans and frustrate the other. Alan Hansen felt the need to single him out for particularly harsh criticism after a January defeat to Everton but that display was a mere blip on what was otherwise an excellent season for the mercurial left back. Commanding displays against all of the big sides proved that he would not be cowed into fear of reputations and that he could mix it with the best. Few right wingers can say they successfully got the better of him. His attitude may still have question marks over it but anyone who saw one of the 1,500 media features of him would have seen a man who is million miles away from the stereotypical playboy footballer and this can only be a good thing for both him and Spurs. Ignore the critics, Benny. We think you’re brilliant.

Sebastien Bassong
Last year: 7
This year: 5

If Bassong took great steps forward as a footballer last season, then this year he took a few backwards. His position at Spurs was marginalised by the good form of Gallas, Kaboul and Dawson, meaning that when everyone is fit, he’s probably 5th choice centre back behind the aforementioned three and Ledley King. A promising defender he may be, it’s tough to see him getting many starts when there so many talented players in front of him. On his best days, he reminds this blog of a young King himself - quick, strong and with a good eye for a tackle. On his more lackadaisical days, however, he’s clumsy, error-prone and positionally unaware. Would be nice to keep him as he seems a good enough lad but if he wants to leave, as he has indicated, then we should not stop him.

William Gallas
Last year: N/A
This year: 8

There were big questions marks over Gallas’ signing from the fans, mainly because of his ties with both Chelsea and Arsenal and his questionable attitude in the past. But what the fans didn’t consider was his talent. A superb performer, Gallas added much needed stability and class to the defence, at a time when it was crying out for such attributes. Gallas didn’t crave the limelight or the attention. He simply got his head down and worked hard for the team. When he was called upon by Harry to captain the side at Arsenal (a tactical masterstroke in the eyes of this blog), he responded with a marvellously authoritative display. Putting to one side the emotional of the occasion and his well-publicised spat with Samir Nasri, he led Spurs to a famous win. And then there’s that goal-line clearance against AC Milan. Pure, unbridled heroism. Gallas has commented at the end of the season that he was disappointed with the outcome of the campaign and that he thinks we can do much better. That’s exactly the kind of attitude we want and need. Plus there haven’t been any tantrums (yet). An excellent acquisition.

Michael Dawson
Last year: 10
This year: 8

Dawson spent last season giving his everything to lead us into the Champions League and what did he get? An injury on his first start for England, ruling him out for three months and the entire group stages. Football, in this instance, can be a real son of a bitch. But, little did everyone know, Spurs would storm through the group and give Dawson an opportunity to lead his team out at both the San Siro and the Santiago Bernabeu. He was simply magnificent in Milan, playing brilliantly alongside the equally effective Gallas. On the domestic front, he was his usual committed self, throwing himself into the breach on more than one occasion. He still makes the odd mistake at times and does seem to benefit hugely when King plays alongside him but he’s getting better and better each season and is now a candidate for the England centre back slot. How he’d love to get us back on track next season. The full time club captaincy awaits.

Ledley King
Last year: 9
This year: 6

Barely stepped foot on the pitch this season but because he was so ridiculously good in the games he did, he earns a rating, although the lack of games is taken into account. We never expected King to play a large role in the team but at least in the season before he was active for a fair number of games and played his part in the crunch matches that decided our fate. This season he was limited to just nine appearances, not playing at all between the 2-1 win over Fulham in October until the win at Anfield just the other week. The curtain may be slowly falling on his playing career but when he does make it onto the pitch, he’s in a class of his own. His display against Liverpool, his first game for over six months was of the highest calibre. If he’d not been dogged with constant injury problems, he’d be the best centre back in England. As it is, he’ll hopefully take up a coaching role within the club once the decision is finally made for him to hang up his boots. If it isn’t already, add his name to the pantheon of Tottenham Hotspur legends.

Tom Huddlestone
Last year: 8
This year: 7

A frustrating campaign for Hudds, which saw him elevate his status in the club with the captaincy on a number of occasions before an injury brought a premature end to his campaign - he made it back for a few games towards the end of the season but his absence had already been strongly felt. Before that, he was leading the side for both Champions League games with Inter, presiding over both the tale-of-two-halves rollercoaster in Milan and the barnstorming 3-1 win at the Lane. His exquisite passing game continued to flourish as he immediately looked at home on the biggest stage of them all. Doubts still persist over his pace and size and neutral fans are yet to be won over but, if he can stay injury free, his intuitive partnership with Luka Modric could blossom even further. Needs to add more goals, also. Next year is a big one for him.

Sandro
Last year: N/A
This year: 7

Was starved of opportunities for much of the season until injuries presented him with the chance to shine. And boy, didn’t he do well. His initial brilliance was in Italy as a makeshift combination of himself and Wilson Palacios defied to odds and performed excellently in the face of heavy AC Milan pressure. With the injury to Huddlestone, Sandro kept his place in the side and continued to look a class apart with his work-rate, energy and tackling. His discipline in sitting back and protecting the defence was the most notable asset to his game and it was amusing to watch Redknapp remonstrating with him to remind him of his defensive duties after his 30 yard screamer against Chelsea. Definitely one for the future, perhaps even one for now.

Part two coming soon...

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Seven candidates to transform Tottenham's attack

Thumbs up if you'd probably score more goals than Crouch

Ultimately, it all comes down to goals. In 2009/10, we scored a lot of them and were able to finish fourth as a result. In 2010/11, we couldn't hit the proverbial barn door with a banjo. End result? No fourth place. Disappointment.

So it seems that this area of our game is the one that is in most urgent need of reform. Sure, the defence is as creaky as a 4000 year old door at times but that's more of a mental problem than one of personnel. Spurs desperately need a new striker, possibly even two. For too long over the past year have we seen Defoe, Pav and Crouch wander around aimlessly, packing about as much goal threat as a white flag. Something has to change.

It seems likely that one of that trio will leave the Lane this summer. Defoe's lack of form has only really been a problem this season so he'll probably stay. Either or both of Crouch or Pav, however, look set to depart. Pav doesn't really see eye to eye with Harry and often bemoans his lack of starts. Here's an idea, Roman: Play like you actually give a toss in more than just the odd game every few months and you might get a change in fortune.

Crouch was a hero for scoring the winner at Man City last season but this year his form has been woeful. A goal or two in Europe can't hide the fact that his scoring record domestically has been pretty atrocious. Whilst he'd be a decent player to have around if possible, a decent bid for him should be accepted without hesitation.

TBFWHL presents seven candidates to take on the challenge on livening up Tottenham's strikeforce and then asks Goal.com's resident Spurs expert Jamie Dunn to rule the roost over the likelihood of each player joining:

Dimitar Berbatov

Why: Before you all stop reading in disgust, let's have a little think. Remember Berba at Spurs three years ago. Remember how utterly sublime he was in everything he did. That first touch, that movement, that finish. Was he a bit lazy or disinterested? Sure, sometimes. But it mattered little because he was scoring goals for the team. Four in one game against Reading. A crucial penalty in the Carling Cup final. Berba offers guaranteed quality, goals and experience. At Spurs, he was king. At Man Utd, he's nowt but a common citizen. He may have enjoyed an excellent season in this campaign but they're still not taken by him up north. If Berba could regain an inkling of the form he showed at Spurs then that, allied with his Premier League winning experience, would make him the mother of all strikers at White Hart Lane. Plus, Harry's resigned both Defoe and Keane before. Why not Berba?

Jamie Dunn: "Despite being the first player to break the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League this season, Berbatov's position at Manchester United has been marginalised by the excellent partnership Chicharito and Wayne Rooney have formed, and the Bulgarian's situation is up for review this summer. Berbatov's departure from White Hart Lane was unceremonious though, and while fans and players alike have short memories in football, I can imagine the striker would sooner ply his trade somewhere like Germany than return to Spurs. The only way I could see it happening is if Sir Alex Ferguson threw Berbatov into the bargain in an attempt to sign Luka Modric, but it goes without saying that Harry Redknapp should fight tooth and nail to keep the Croatian above all else this summer."

Diego Forlan

Why: Because he's just brilliant. TBFWHL has been championing Forlan's case for months now, both at the start of the season and in January. He may be slightly old but what he does have is absolute, bona fide class. Did you see him in the World Cup last summer? Incredible. He did things to that ball that no-one else was capable of. That might have been a year ago but he's been putting them away in La Liga for years now. Sure, he was an abject failure in the Premier League with Man Utd. But that was eight long years ago. Times have changed and Forlan is a superb striker at the top of his game.

Jamie Dunn: "Had a fine World Cup and put together a string of successful years at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid in Spain prior to that, but has only scored nine goals this season and turned 32 a few days ago. Forlan still has plenty to offer and is definitely looking to move and Harry has openly said Spurs are interested, but his wages are a stumbling block, and that's not just Redknapp trying to bring the player into the bargain; they really are miles apart. Besiktas have shown an interest and flexed their financial muscle recently, so the Uruguayan may well end up there. I think his best chance of getting a big move was immediately after South Africa and his value has depreciated somewhat in the months since, so unless he adjusts his unrealistic wage demands, I wouldn't expect him to join Spurs."

Gervinho

Why: 25 goals in 54 appearances for current side Lille paint the picture of a young striker with bags of potential and scoring ability. Gervais Yao Kouassi, or 'Gervinho' to us, comes from the same Ivorian youth academy that produced Didier Drogba and the Toure brothers and, at 23, he is one of Europe's most sought after players. Rumour has it Spurs are interested along with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus and an impressive 2010 World Cup allied with a healthy scoring record makes the interest in him no real surprise. He's young, raw and has no Premier League experience so it may be a bit of a gamble. But a decent transfer fee (anything around £10 million) and it could be a gamble worth taking.

Jamie Dunn: "Lille wrapped up the French Ligue 1 title last week, thanks in no small part to the contribution of Gervinho, who along with Eden Hazard and Moussa Sow, has been heavily scouted by English clubs this season. The Ivorian has scored 15 goals this campaign, but I wouldn't say he's the complete striker Tottenham need, especially if Rafael van der Vaart is to occupy a similar role behind the front man next season. Even so, Spurs should be looking at more than one new forward in the summer and Gervinho is a good option, given his age and value, especially relative to some other inflated sums that will be associated with players who will have had worse seasons than the 23-year-old."

Daniel Sturridge

Why: Seemingly frozen out at Chelsea by a lack of first team opportunities, Sturridge has impressed everyone with his goalscoring feats on loan at Bolton - he netted for them at White Hart Lane back in February. With so much focus these days on English strikers and whether or not there are any decent ones knocking about, Sturridge represents a degree of optimism. With Fernando Torres looking set to lead the line for Chelsea next season, it may well be that Sturridge chooses to leave the Bridge in search of first team football and Spurs may well be the place to go - the club are never too shy when it comes to signing English strikers.

Jamie Dunn: "Hats off to Owen Coyle, who produced one of the finest bits of business of the January transfer window when he signed Sturridge on a loan from Chelsea. The England Under-21 has scored eight goals in 11 games for Bolton, adding to the four he bagged in cup competitions for Chelsea prior to the move. Sturridge has conceded he may have to move if he does not figure in Chelsea's first team plans, which will depend on who is in charge at Stamford Bridge next season, their transfer strategy in the summer and the future of Didier Drogba. Coyle would no doubt love to keep him, but Sturridge's head may be turned by a club financially better off, such as Spurs, who would also allow him to remain in London if he so wishes. Sturridge's fee would be inflated by the fact he is English and quality home grown strikers are at a premium, but Spurs could do a lot worse than move for the former Manchester City man."

Fernando Llorente

Why: Llorente was one of the many subjects of our scatter-gun approach to landing a new striker on the last day of the transfer window back in January. And, if you believe the reports coming from La Liga, he's the one we should have bagged. Known as 'El Rey León' or 'The Lion King' (cheers Wikipedia), Llorente has played his football at Athletico Bilbao since 2005 and was a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup winning squad. His scoring record is strong - he's often amongst La Liga's top scorers come the end of the season. He's linked with Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and all sorts of esteemed European names. The question is: will we be able to lure to the Lane?

Jamie Dunn: "Llorente has bagged 20 goals once again this season and you can't help but feel that, if Bilbao are willing to sell this summer – which they weren't when Daniel Levy bid around £26m in January – he is bound for only the very biggest clubs in Europe, most likely Real Madrid or Manchester United, who have been linked with the Spanish international for several years. You'd expect Levy would have to bid beyond £30m to tempt Bilbao and, should the offer be unrivalled and Bilbao accept, Llorente would obviously have to be prepared to leave. Exactly the sort of striker Spurs need, it's not an impossible one but there needs to be a lot of movement for it to happen."

Didier Drogba

Why: Rumour has it Didier is on his way out of Chelsea this summer - as are a number of their ageing stars - and he'd be a fantastic addition to our squad, should we be able to tempt him away from other, shall we say, shinier offers. He has one things that few others on this shortlist have and that's a proven excellent record at Premier League level. Ever since a dodgy debut season or two for Chelsea, he's been smashing them in for fun from nearly every angle possible. We should know, most of of them have been against us. Drogba is reportedly keen to stay in London (who wouldn't be?) but his wage demands might be an issue with Spurs employing a strict wage structure. Definitely worth keeping an eye on, this one.

Jamie Dunn: "This one seems right up Harry Redknapp’s street, doesn't it? Advanced in years and coming off the back of a season in which he was recovering from malaria, it has been suggested Drogba could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian knows the Premier League inside and out and could still be a valuable asset for someone, while a pairing with Van der Vaart is an appetising prospect. The Ivorian has also expressed a desire to move to MLS in the future, though, and his departure from Chelsea this summer could just speed up that process instead. Plus, with his wages no doubt being a great deal higher than Tottenham's top earners, coupled with a minimal transfer fee and other contract add-ons, Drogba doesn't represent excellent value for money in the long-term. Despite all that, and the bitter rivalry between the two clubs, bizarrely I can still see this one happening. William Gallas II, anyone?"

Connor Wickham

Why: Wickham's been linked with every club from here to the other side of the world and he's only 18. According to reports, Spurs have even had offers turned down by Ipswich and that was a year ago. All a bit too much for such a young talent? Probably. But if Spurs are to sign more than one new frontman this summer, and that's entirely likely, then perhaps getting in a younger player with an eye on the future might be the way forward. Obstacles? Well, there's bound to be a heap of competition for his signature what with the incessant stories linking him with every side under the sun. And then there's the price. Wickham recently signed a new contract at Portman Road and Ipswich will demand top dollar for a player they don't need to sell. Still, with pundits everywhere claiming this kid is the future of English football, maybe he's worth the trouble?

Jamie Dunn: "At 18 years of age, Wickham is a raw talent but one with a rare blend of skill, power, strength and technique and is undoubtedly going to be the subject of a bidding war this summer or next. Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked to the teenager, while Newcastle are looking to replace Andy Carroll, so there would be plenty of competition. The signing of Wickham would be one more for the long term – you can't expect a player in the infancy of his career to go from scoring nine Championship goals to 25 in the Premier League without a period of adjustment – but one I can imagine the Tottenham hierarchy would be keen on, even if it isn't the immediate solution to the club’s problems this season."

It only seems fair to leave the final(ish) words to Jamie:

"It's going to be a difficult summer for Tottenham and Daniel Levy in particular, there's no question about that. Scouring the market for a striker who represents value for money and offers an immediate return is going to be near impossible, so Spurs may end up having to smash their record transfer fee to get a player of the very highest calibre. Tottenham are going to be linked to all the top names, including the aforementioned seven, Hulk, Falcao, the lot. But I expect more players to leave than arrive this season as the wheat gets separated from the chaff, with probably only three or four players coming in, and those players have to be the very best. This summer could shape whether Tottenham are going to challenge for the top four again, or drift back into the space between sixth and tenth."

Whatever happens, it's clear Levy and co need to avoid the mistakes made over the past two transfer windows - i.e. not signing a new striker. It might not be unrealistic to suggest that Spurs fan will take just about anyone at this point - as long as they're effective.

**The season may be over but the chat never stops. Link up with TBFWHL on Facebook and Twitter**

End of season thoughts

The prospect of a trip to Slavia Prague next season hit Huddlestone like a slap in the face

What shall we say about that season then? Rarely in Tottenham's recent history has opinion been so polarised at the climax of a campaign. There are those who plant their flags in the failure camp, claiming that dropping down to 5th and losing so many points in draws is unacceptable and that the current regime is stalling. But is 5th place, wins at both the Emirates and Anfield and a thrilling run to the Champions League quarter finals really a reason for such despondency? And in a division where the competition for places is so intense? The verdict is out.

Both sides of the argument are perfectly plausible. Here's the negative appraisal:

We've dropped out of the top four, meaning we've effectively gone backwards from last season. Our strikers have been unacceptably poor. We've had to rely on Bale and van der Vaart for goals and, as hard as they've tried, they couldn't keep it going all season. We lost so many points in eminently winnable games such as Wigan at home, West Ham away, West Brom at home and Blackpool away. We put too much into the Champions League and were left short in the Premier League. We underused players such as Kranjcar and Palacios. Our manager hasn't got a clue about tactics. He doesn't care about the club and the fans enough. He's only out to take care of himself. His signings are terrible. We still haven't won at Old Trafford. We flunked out of both the cups far too early. We're in the Europa League next season, meaning we won't be able to fully concentrate on the Premier League.

And here's the positive retort:

We've dropped out of the top four but were still in with a shout with just a few games to go. The strength of teams around us was always going to be stronger this season than it was the season before. We have to accept that fitting five good teams into four places is tough and this season we just weren't clinical enough to make one of them our own. We won games at Arsenal and at Liverpool for the first time since 1993. We've been talked about as one of the best sides in the division. We were mere points away from the top for much of the middle of the season. On our day, we pose a giant threat to any of the teams above us. We have top class players in our midst, such as Bale, Modric, van der Vaart, Dawson and Gallas. We were taken on the greatest ride of our lives in the Champions League and, though it ended on a low, it was a remarkable achievement. We've got European football next season which might prove a distraction but might help us lure some decent players to the club. Our manager may have a few tactical faults at times but he's gotten the best out of players like Sandro, Bale and Assou Ekotto. We have an opportunity now to clear out a lot of the deadwood in our squad and replace them with some fresh, exciting and effective players. We're at a stage where only coming 5th and not winning the Champions League is regarded as a bit of a disappointment - could we have dreamt of that two years ago?

It all comes down to how you, the fans, see it. This blog, all the others and all the football pundits in the world can't tell you whether Spurs have had a good season or not - only you can make that decision. For the record, this blog thinks the following:

We haven't had a bad season at all. But it could have been better. All of the top six teams struggled throughout the year and dropped points where they didn't expect to. The best of those sides managed to scrape enough together to win the title or come second. Those sides had title-winning experience and a winning mentality to help them achieve that. Unfortunately, as good as we may think we are at the moment, we still lack that belief at times and that may be the reason why we've found ourselves on the outside looking in.

But we've had moments to savour. Beating the Arsenal, Bale destroying Inter Milan, the first leg performance against AC, van der Vaart becoming the signing of the (first half of) the season, Modric's continued excellence, etc. There are so many good things happening at this club at the moment that all the talk of negativity and changing managers seems daft to some fans and utterly baffling to those outside of the club. Sure, things could have been better this year, but are we really such a ruthlessly demanding set of fans that we have to sound the alarm bells as soon as we don't finish 4th?

The strikers have been poor. Gomes has been poor. They, along with a few others, are more than welcome to depart the club this summer should they wish too. There's too many passengers in the squad and a summer of clever transfer deals will, hopefully, now take place.

TBFWHL won't look back at this season and say it was a failure. A missed opportunity, maybe. A slight drop in standards, sure. But are our prospects for next season bleak? No. With the right signings, do we have a shot at getting that fourth spot back? It'll be tricky but yes. Are we still one of the most exciting teams in the country with some of the most eye-catching players? Yes (maybe that's a biased view but so be it).

But, as mentioned, it's not for this blog to tell you what to think. The floor is yours, Spurs fans. Good or bad year? Is Harry a ****, as many have intelligently tweeted in recent months, or is he still the man for the job? And who on Earth is going to play up front for us next season?

**The season may be over but the chat never stops. Link up with TBFWHL on Facebook and Twitter**

Late season fight at Anfield

Rafa and Glen were taking the concept of blind football a little too far

There's still a team in there then. Sunday's excellent 2-0 win over Liverpool may have come too late in our season to salvage anything worth shouting about but it was a timely reminder to both the rest of the league and to Spurs themselves that we're not about to slip back into the dull reaches of mid-table mediocrity. Those dog days are over.

In many ways, it was a frustrating victory, in that we've proved again that we can match and beat the better sides in the division but it's the countless dropped points against the Blackpools and the West Hams that have cost us a shot at more glory this season. Winning at Anfield for the first time since 1993 and performing a similar feat at the Emirates is great and all that but is diminished by the failure to win the regulation games that the very best teams pride themselves in rarely slipping up in.

But to poke holes in the nature of a victory is perhaps typical of the mentality of the Tottenham fan. This should be celebrated simply for what it is: only a second win in 14 games, a first league win at Anfield in light-years and a significant victory over a team who had assumed they were better than us again on the back of a few high-scoring wins. Redknapp may say he doesn't want Europa League football due to the added strain it places on an already congested fixture schedule but for the club to finish 6th would have unrepresentative of our season and our standing within the English game at the moment. Much credit to Liverpool for their recent resurgence but we've spent the last two years getting ourselves ahead of them. We're no worse than 5th place.

The game and result didn't really throw up any new questions but reinforced some theories that we've long since held: our strikers continue to look ineffective, our defence is around 200% stronger when Ledley King plays and that Sandro is the new Wilson Palacios.

Crouch was given the task of spearheading the forward line yesterday but, as is natural when you play one striker (and when that striker is Crouch), he looked isolated and forlorn. That the two goals we managed were down to a speculative moment of genius from van der Vaart and a debatable penalty was no real surprise.

King returned for his first Spurs game in around seven months and immediately looked the world class defender that he is on the rare occasion his knee allows him to play. Dawson is a fine, if sometimes error-prone, defender but the presence of King seems to have a magical effect on him as he raised his game to Ledley-like levels. Put them together and they're arguably the finest centre-back pairing in the country. The problem is King can't be relied upon to play very often. Once Dawson takes on more of King's self-confidence and ability to control a defence, then the transition would be fully complete and King can finally retire to a coaching position, safe in the knowledge that his legacy has been passed on.

Sandro was again highly effective as a midfield enforcer, roaming around the park making challenges and protecting his back four. He still has much to learn about his own game and life in the Premier League but, if the progress he was made in the past few months is anything to go by, it won't be a long lesson. A midfield pairing of Modric and Sandro has a nice feel to it but what of Huddlestone?

So, after weeks of painful results and slipping from what was once an impregnable top five bubble, we're back in the box seat for 5th place. A win over Birmingham on the final day will wrap it up - should be a formality but definitely won't be because, well, this is Spurs.

**Join the revolution on Facebook and Twitter**

1960/61 remembered

Man City away. Forever this fixture will be synonymous with that magical night in May 2010, when Crouchy headed us into the Champions League, Bentley poured a tub of water over an only-slightly-amused Harry Redknapp and thousands of Spurs fans across the nation danced the dance of joy long into the night.

Tonight, the stakes are monumentally different. Fourth place belongs to City and deservedly so. We're holding on to fifth place and the Europa League for dear life, trying desperately to kick away the reaching hands of Liverpool below us (they're actually ahead of us on goal difference but we've a game in hand). We're fatigued, plagued by end of season injuries and finding it harder to score than Crouchy has ever done in Chinawhites. Even if we pull off a win tonight, it'll be but a small ripple on the Richter Scale of success.

Feeling gloomy? Well, here's something to cheer you all up. The wonderful people at Philosophy Football have come up with some more excellent Spurs attire to remind you of the good old days:

So say them: "Fifty years ago, an unforgettable year for any Spurs fan. The Double won in the Spurs way, beautiful passing football. A superb T-shirt featuring the Double squad and the pair of trophies. Strictly unofficial available from www.philosophyfootball.com".

What are you waiting for? Grab 'em while they're, erm, hot. And remind yourself of a simply glorious period in our club's history. Hell, a new striker, goalkeeper and defender and we might be on the verge of bringing those days rushing back... Too optimistic?

Who do we blame this week?

Wary of his status as the biggest tosser on the pitch, Adam decided on a low key celebration

How many times must we dance this same dance?

Home game against supposedly weak opposition and an opportunity to gain ground on Man City after their earlier slip up and what do Spurs do? Labour to an unhelpful 1-1 draw courtesy of a host of missed chances and more goalkeeping histrionics from the hapless Gomes. Our stuttering season encapsulated in the space of 97 agonising minutes.

Who to blame this time? Well, if you have 11 shots on target and none of them stick then you've probably got a faltering attack. But then we've known that for months. And though Defoe managed his fourth Premier League goal of the season (all of them absolute peaches, by the way), it was rendered nothing more than a point-saver as, 15 minutes earlier, Gomes had decided to increase the challenge of breaking down a stubborn Blackpool defence by handing the opposition a penalty seconds after heroically saving another. The mind boggles at his ineptitude.

The key villains of this latest piece are surely Gomes himself and the utterly disgraceful Blackpool captain Charlie Adam, who was allegedly moments away from joining Spurs in the January transfer window. Adam's despicable challenge on Gareth Bale in the second half required the young Welshman to leave the field via stretcher and, though nothing has been reported yet, it will take a miracle of modern medicine to see Bale take the field again this season.

The raised studs and the malicious intent in Adam's eyes were only ever going to add up to a cruel injury for Bale. Astonishingly, Adam didn't even receive a booking. He even had the bare-faced temerity to complain to the referee in the immediate aftermath that he had been tripped. If retrospective action isn't taken against this appalling act of thuggery then there is something seriously wrong with the game.

Gomes then took centre stage for his latest moment of madness. After Dawson's handball from a corner, the Brazilian brilliantly tipped Adam's penalty around the post. But, from the resulting corner and with his adrenalin running on dangerous levels, he flapped not once but twice at a high ball and then crashed into Taylor-Fletcher, handing Adam a second bite of the cherry from the spot. How Gomes got the idea that he should turn to the ref and proclaim his innocence is a complete mystery.

Adam, not to be outdone in the 'who's got the least brains' competition of the afternoon, walloped the penalty home and strutted off to the away fans, pouting and pointing to the Blackpool crest on his shirt with faux dedication. Yes, Charlie, everyone's definitely going to believe that you're fiercely loyal to the Tangerine cause when you handed in a transfer request in January the second a bigger club signalled their interest in you. One wonders whether he'll remember the celebration when he's on the way out of Bloomfield Road on June 1st? Adam represents everything TBFWHL loathes about modern football. Insincere acts of loyalty and not a hint of remorse over his disgusting actions in removing Bale from play.

Defoe's equaliser rescued a modicum of dignity but a point was still nowhere near good enough. Our results against the bottom four this season are probably the main reason we're finding ourselves battling with Liverpool for 5th place and not Man City for 4th. A draw and a loss against each of West Ham, Wigan and Blackpool and a draw away at Wolves. Just the solitary win. Out of what should have been 24 points, we've gained 7. Good effort lads.

So, as if it wasn't over after last week, our season is effectively done and dusted. Sure, there's 5th place to fight for but a lot of fans aren't that fussed by a season in the Europa League. It'd be pretty galling, however, to finish behind Liverpool in 6th place when, in spite of our shortcomings this year, we've at least been better than the 6th best side in the league.

But the truth is that we haven't been good enough this season. Too many draws, not enough goals. The anti-Redknapp brigade can bleat about tactics all they want but collectively we've been under par all year and we'll be missing out on the Champions League next season. That's what you get when you can't beat Wigan, West Ham, West Brom and Blackpool at home.

Attention should now be turning to next season and a simple question: which players are we going to need to sign to get ourselves back in the big time? Answers on a postcard please.

**Join the Facebook and Twitter bandwagon and share the despair**

Out of luck at the Bridge

Gomes' new goal-line stretching routine was starting to become detrimental to Tottenham's cause

The footballing gods refused to smile on Tottenham yesterday to the point where they were almost focusing an imposing frown upon the away side. Buccaneering Spurs held a precious 1-0 advantage over title-chasing Chelsea in the minutes leading up to half time but fate and the officials had a different idea for those who harboured faint hopes of a first away win at Chelsea in 21 years. Another Gomes error, an faulty decision from the linesman and then similarly poor decision contrived to consign Spurs to a morale and season crushing defeat. That glorious week this time back in 2010, this certainly isn't.

Firstly, a word on the reaction to the defeat. It's plainly obvious that both Chelsea goals were fortunate, to put it extremely politely, and an absolute disgrace, to put it in a more bitter context. Pictorial evidence proves that Lampard's shot, fumbled embarrassingly by Gomes, did not cross the line fully and that Kalou was offside, however marginally, for the last minute winner. Even Carlo Ancelotti, the embattled Chelsea boss, conceded that both goals were contentious and that his side had got lucky.

Yet, Chelsea fans, true to their nature, have reacted to the controversial nature of their win with typical lack of grace and a plain refusal to acknowledge the facts. From the streams of comments on Twitter and various Facebook statuses, one could be forgiven for thinking Spurs were kicking up a fuss about nothing. Example:

Kevin Pietersen on Twitter: "Lampard's goal was a clear goal & Kalou was definitely onside.. So stop all the moaning..."

This blog is a massive fan of KP normally but it might be best if he leaves football alone and focuses on switch-hitting. And we thought Arsenal fans were difficult to reason with. Chelsea have always displayed a lack of decorum when it comes to controversial decisions, both for and against their side. When Barcelona sent them out of the Champions League in 2009, it was the biggest injustice since Watergate. Yet, when the shoe's on the other foot, they cry innocence. The mind boggles.

Still, the furore would have been non-existent had Gomes not made his 184th game-changing mistake of the season. For all of his heroics at times over the past 3 years, there is now a prevailing feeling that his time is up. Those who would have previously defended him to the hills are even coming around to the point of view that whilst he does pull off incredible saves at times, he makes too many costly errors. If there's a decent alternative available in the summer, and one suspects there probably will be, it might be worth thanking Heurelho for that Arsenal match last season and bidding him farewell.

The decision to award the goal was slightly baffling - it's difficult to see how the assistant could have been so sure of the ball crossing the line despite his proximity to the event. Redknapp was magnanimous in his comments towards the officials after the game but it's galling to have a decision go against you that changes the course of the game.

Chelsea were predictably domineering in the second half - Spurs were resolute enough but there was always the sense that if one side was going to score, it was going to be them. Which would have been fine had their last minute winner not been offside. Not by much admittedly but offside he still was. Offside decisions can go for you and they can go against you. They happen to all teams in favourable and unfavourable circumstances - this blog remembers Defoe's goal at Wigan last season to be miles offside and it paved the way for a 3-0 win. But when the goal is a last minute winner and it comes after such a contentious goal in the first half, then it leaves one feeling royally aggrieved.

The furore over the legitimacy of Chelsea's 'goals' overshadowed a first Tottenham goal for the Brazilian genius Sandro. And what a ferocious strike it was too. Bale's quick-thinking picked out van der Vaart, whose cheeky back-heeled flick moved it on to Sandro, suddenly finding himself in alien conditions - actually involved in an attacking move. One touch, look up, beautiful, dipping volley - 1-0. As Joey Essex would say, 'reem'.

Amusingly, Sandro's celebrations were curtailed by Redknapp as he ran over to the dugout. Clearly delirious with his first goal in English football, the Brazilian was keen on celebrating with his manager yet Redknapp was having none of it, bringing Sandro back down to earth quickly and reminding him of his defensive duties. The ridiculous Redknapp critics, who poke holes in absolutely everything he does or says, will doubtless flag the event up as poor man-management from the boss but this blog thinks it was quite nice to see. At least it shows that Redknapp at least has a tactical plan for Sandro - sit back, protect the defence and DON'T MOVE.

The defeat coupled with City's win over West Ham has increased the gap in the race for fourth and effectively ended it. Spurs still travel to Eastlands but it'd take a miracle swing for things to change now. We can't really complain - when you drop so many points in silly little draws all season then what do you expect? We're even down to 6th, thanks to Liverpool's resurgence. There's a chance we could miss out on European football altogether next season, which may end up being a blessing in disguise in that it'd free us up for a proper tilt at getting back in that top four. But it'd also be a pretty disappointing fall from grace.

Season over? It's looking that way. Time to start thinking about changes for next season, probably.

**Things might seem bleak at the moment but do join us on Facebook and Twitter for a few moments of light relief**