Breaking Hearts

Playing arm in arm was never going to be anything other than annoying for all concerned

If every Thursday night in the Europa League proves to be as entertaining and one-sided as that, then TBFWHL won't be complaining one jot.

For all the pre-match talk of Spurs being rusty after their delayed start to the season and Tynecastle creating an intimidatory atmosphere to knock a patched up Spurs off their stride, Harry Redknapp's men put their north-of-the-border opponents to the sword with a swashbuckling 5-0 win that effectively killed the tie off as a contest, much in the same fashion as Tottenham's last European game was over by the end of the first leg.

Yes, the opposition were pitifully poor. And, yes, the Europa League is hardly the best test of a team's talent. But this blog would go so far as to say that's the best Spurs have looked in a game for a long, long time. The goals scored were of the highest quality, with slick, one-touch moves creating ample space for the flair players, and it also shouldn't be ignored that we managed five goals in the game - for a side that was hamstrung by a lack of cutting edge last season, a return to goalscoring ways is indeed a welcome sight.

Pretty much all aspects of the performance were extremely pleasing - the only possible straw to clutch at for the pessimists was a typically nervous performance from Heurelho Gomes. Kyle Walker, significantly chosen at right back, performed well in what must have been an audition for the first choice full back slot this year. There were one or two minor lapses, as you'd expect from a young player still, to a degree, learning his trade, but on the whole he looked extremely useful, showing the pace to be able to get forward as well as a good eye for a tackle. His sprint back and recovery challenge in the second half was a joy to watch.

Lennon and Bale on the wings were fairly close to flawless, both scoring and having a hand in pretty much every Spurs attack. Bale took the ball on a trademark 60 metre journey in the first half, reminding many just what he's capable of in case his stuttering second half of the season had led them to forget. Lennon was equally as quick on the right and his low pass into Defoe for the second goal was majestic. (turns to critics) What's that? He's actually got a decent final ball? Erm, he has done for a while now.

Van der Vaart slotted in just behind Defoe and found acres of space - space he rarely finds in the Premier League in that position. His opening goal owed in part to a touch of fortune but his assured finish and class in all other aspects of his game were hugely satisfying. With question marks over Modric's future and commitment, van der Vaart has it in him to step up and become our talisman this season. Bale may provide the fireworks from out wide but van der Vaart is a leader and his example is closely followed by the rest of the side. Simply put, when he brings his A game, we're in business.

Defoe looked very eager to impress and his movement was excellent, as it was in the friendly with Bilbao last weekend. He's got so much to prove this season that it might just bring out the best of him and if he starts banging them in, the failure thus far to bring in a new striker won't be as much of a crisis. He'll need support though, which is why it's so critical we get someone who can provide regular goals as well and take the burden off him. Adebayor might just be the man.

Jake Livermore was given the nod in midfield alongside Kranjcar and capped off a lively display with a goal. His ease on the ball belied his lack of experience and he showed promising awareness as he joined in on several superb passing moves. It's nice to see a midfielder attempt to play the ball forward and get involved further up the field, rather than seeing Jenas string together 300 consecutive sideways passes in his own half.

And Andros Townsend, talked about by so many as a future Tottenham star, gave an extremely good account of himself in a 20 minute cameo. He showed extreme confidence on the ball and wasn't afraid to shoot from range or try one or two neat flicks and turns - the hallmarks of a Spurs player? And it was he who instigated the brilliant fifth goal, racing out of the box on the counter and slotting through a sumptuous, outside of the boot through ball for Defoe, who fired it across for Lennon to finish. The three young players who had it all to prove (Walker, Livermore, Townsend) will all head back to the training ground in extremely high spirits.

So, 5-0 up at half time in the tie and the chance to field even more fringe/youth players next week at the Lane. Do Thursday nights get any better?

How the 2011-12 season will pan out

TBFWHL has seen into the future. Everything that's going to happen in this season has been foretold and, hold on tight, you're about to find out how it all pans out. Remember to look surprised when this all actually happens...

August

Spurs finally get their season under way at Old Trafford and the 2011/12 incarnation of Tottenham look good. Sir Alex Ferguson is clearly rattled as Redknapp's men dominate the first 70-odd minutes but just as the nation senses an upset, referee Howard Webb fails to notice Wayne Rooney holding Brad Friedel in a headlock as a corner comes in and Ryan Giggs marks his 218th season in professional football with the opening goal. Spurs have a marginally credible appeal for a penalty turned down when Patrice Evra shoots and kills Aaron Lennon in the area but Webb waves away the screams before a sweeping counter United counter attack is turned in at the far post by Webb himself. Jermain Defoe blasts a 93rd minute penalty wide.

Tottenham recover to see off the challenge of Hearts in the Europa League qualifier and then beat Man City 1-0 at the Lane the next weekend, with Kyle Walker notching the game's only goal. City immediately tender a bid of £65million, which Redknapp labels as 'an insult'.

September

Redknapp is adamant on transfer deadline day that no further deals with be made for players coming in to Spurs, yet at 11.40pm, the club announces the signings of Emmanuel Adebayor, Joey Barton, Ian Wright and Peter Sutcliffe. Defending the signings after a wave of criticism from home fans, Redknapp says of all four: "It's all cobblers really, isn't it? What have they done wrong? It's not like I'm signing the Yorkshire Rip... ah."

On the pitch, the team drop points away at Wolves and Wigan but manage a sterling 2-1 win over Liverpool at home. The away fans sensibly scale back their hopes for the season from Champions League winners to merely genuine Premier League contenders but still maintain they're 'quite clearly better than Spurs'.

October

The first North London Derby of the season is typically packed full of drama and intrigue. After debutant Kudus Oyenuga opens the scoring with a volleyed effort from 80 yards (he later admits he was simply trying to clear a corner), Arsenal hit back through goals from Robin van Persie, who later denies having a half-time phone conversation with representatives from Barcelona, and Robert Pires, back in Arsenal colours at the tender age of 37 and still managing to find the net against us. Spurs have the last laugh, however, and win the game through two late goals from Rafael van der Vaart, who ceremoniously burns an Arsenal shirt by the corner flag in celebration, which everyone agrees is a bit over-the-top. Defoe has a chance to seal the win but fires his penalty straight at Szczesny.

Spurs go on to win tough games away at Newcastle and Blackburn but the momentum is lost when QPR snatch a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane, where the faint sound of boos can be heard as the team walk off. Redknapp claims in his post match interviews that "this is as good as it's going to get for Spurs", constantly refusing to associate himself with the club by using the term 'we' instead of 'us'. Undeterred by the earlier rejection, City come in with an improved bid for Walker - £70million plus the principality of Luxembourg. Daniel Levy continues to pay hardball.


November

Three wins from three in the League are allied with progress in the Carling Cup and youth-inspired success in the Europa League. Before everyone knows it, Spurs are top of the league on goal difference. Redknapp says on Football Focus that "these are great times for the club - they can go really far" and is promptly slated on Twitter, with the #harryout hashtag becoming a trending topic within 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Benoit Assou Ekotto is featured in another video interview on BBC Sport, with Leon Mann once again playing the role of cool, friendly questioner as the two drive around in Benny's smart car and eat together at Nandos. Fans up and down the land praise BAE for his attitude towards football and life and wish that they had a player like him at their clubs. BAE's month is ever-so-slightly marred by an awkward moment against Aston Villa where he attempts a pass to Younes Kaboul but over-hits it straight to Michael Dawson, forcing the skipper to quickly readjust his position. Alan Hansen dedicates 15 minutes on Match of the Day to slating the Spurs left back, labelling him as 'probably the worst person in the world'.

December

In the midweek clash against Chelsea, Spurs win a penalty early on. Defoe hands the responsibility over to van der Vaart, who promptly scores, has to retake due to encroachment, scores again and then has to retake again due to the ref not looking when the kick was taken. His third attempt is blazed over the bar. A point is secured at the end of the 90 minutes, though replacement Heurelho Gomes, in for the injured Friedel, makes a horrendous error, flapping at the ball despite it being safely already in his arms with no-one around him. Despite fumbling it into his own net, he still finds reason to turn and protest to the referee that it wasn't his fault. Arsenal fans, seemingly unaware of  their own motley crew of error-prone keepers, have a field day on Twitter.

With Euro 2012 and the end of Fabio Capello's tenure as England boss fast approaching, media speculation surrounding Redknapp and the vacant position is rife. Harry refuses to comment on the matter, insisting he's committed to Spurs 'for now'. But at the next home game, he takes to the dugout wearing an England tracksuit and with Stuart Pearce at his side instead of Kevin Bond, leaving everyone quite confused.


January

The transfer window re-opens. Liverpool sign Jermaine Jenas for £28million, taking their tally of midfielders to 26. "We got him on the cheap," says Kenny Dalglish. Spurs are once again linked with every striker from North London to the Galapagos islands. Redknapp and Levy insist that 'everything is being done behind the scenes to ensure the right players are signed' but nothing of note happens until January 31st, when it emerges that Tottenham have launched a three-pronged bid for Guiseppe Rossi, Karim Benzema and DJ Campbell. Neither transfer materialises but Spurs are able to pull off the utterly pointless signing of Gareth Barry. They also manage to finally get rid of Giovani dos Santos, after the talented but wayward Mexican is seen drunk at Sugar Hut Nightclub, in the background of a scene of The Only Way is Essex. Redknapp offers to pay any club to take him off his hands. Man City bid £40million.

Gareth Bale is once again the subject of plenty of newspaper gossip and The Guardian causes controversy with its back page splash: "BARCELONA TO MAYBE BID £30M FOR BALE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE". Bale remains dignified and brushes off all speculation but the cat is once again amongst the pigeons when Gary Neville remarks on Sky that Bale 'has a big future in the game', leading to an 8 page exclusive in the Mirror detailing why Bale is destined to leave play at Old Trafford next season. Jack Wilshere tweets: "Dnt understand the fuss about bale leavin spurs. he need 2 play in the Champs league like all top players", perhaps forgetting Arsenal's current 9th place and Champions League group stage elimination just a few weeks earlier.

February

Spurs are flying in the league and spirits are lifted when Ledley King makes his first appearance of the season at home to Newcastle. The veteran defender looks like he never went away in a resolute and determined 30 minute spell before having to leave the field after celebrating Huddlestone's opening goal a little too vigorously. Further surgery on his troublesome knee is scheduled, with a 62 week recovery period, but Redknapp is publicly optimistic that he'll be back before the end of the season.

Spurs go to the Emirates, determined to prove that last season's 3-2 win wasn't a fluke. They come away with a 1-1 draw after Arsene Wenger, with his team 1-0 up and absolutely coasting, completely loses the plot: he removes van Persie, his side's most dangerous player, brings on Carl Jenkinson, instructs his team to completely avoid the middle of the pitch, giving Spurs a clear path to goal and then dons a Spurs shirt and sprints on to score the equaliser. "Sanest thing he's done all season," comments a club official. In his post match interview, Wenger slams the performance of the referee and rejects the notion that the club needs new players, claiming that the £127million made from the sale of Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy, Arshavin and Vermaelen won't be spent on new recruits and will instead be put into an investment bond.

March

Some traditionally iffy results over the winter period stall Tottenham's title charge but, despite the side still clinging on to the very healthy position of 3rd, it's not enough for some fans. "Harry keeps picking the wrong players," says one internet forum user. "He's too friendly with the media," claims another. "If Harry had a better relationship with us fans, we'd have definitely won the Champions League this season," says a disgruntled Twitter user. Helpfully, TBFWHL decides to sit on the fence throughout and refuse to comment either way on the issue.

Spurs lose the Carling Cup final on penalties to Manchester City, after Defoe, who sensationally volunteers to take every Spurs kick, misses four on the bounce. Quite why the referee allowed him to take all of them remains a mystery but his profligacy from the spot renders Friedel's save from Mario Balotelli useless (admittedly, the Italian had decided to take the penalty blindfolded and with a backwards run-up). In the league, the Lilywhites go down 3-2 at Stamford Bridge to a resurgent Chelsea, under the command of Guus Hiddink, their 3rd manager of the season. Celebrity Chelsea fan Tim Lovejoy claims that Spurs fans should 'get a life and stop moaning' after Frank Lampard taps in the winner despite being several lengths of the pitch offside and appearing to pick up the ball and throw it in the back of the net.

April

Jermain Defoe begins the month by lamenting his lack of first team starts to the media and anyone else who's listening. The fact that he's only been on the bench three times all season and has returned only five league goals seems lost on him. Despite Peter Crouch's goal record being only marginally better (six league goals but 14 assists for van der Vaart), Redknapp insists the pair are 'great lads' and that he's not looking to move either of them on. Summer signing Adebayor has managed the small total of 22 goals in just 15 starts but still can't get a game.

Luka Modric, having heroically remained at the club on increased wages of £80,000 per week, releases his long awaited autobiography. Surviving My White Hart Lane Prison is a gut-wrenching tale of the Croatian's dignity in the face of adversity - staying at Spurs, withstanding Joe Jordan's back-breaking training sessions, putting up with Vedran Corluka's appalling banter, etc. Sir Alex Ferguson, in the middle of a press conference, laments that football is "all about bloody money these days". The following day, United leak to the press a £30million bid for Modric.

May

Spurs are ending the season very strongly: A place in the top four is very much within their grasp thanks to some excellent performances from a suddenly interested Modric and the flying Bale, who is measured as officially being able to run faster than the speed of sound. 3rd place is secured with a win away at Villa in the penultimate game of the season. The match lacks the spectacle of the famous Man City fourth place shootout of two seasons prior but Spurs typically make things uncomfortable for the fans by gifting their opponents a two goal lead. Brad Friedel, the 14th different penalty taker of the season, then misses from the spot. Thankfully, breakthrough star of the season Massimo Luongo begins the fightback with a dazzling solo effort (he's promptly loaned out to Exeter the following season) before Crouch belies his reputation for poor technique and rifles home a staggering volley from 35 yards, causing seismic activity across the country and several members of the away crowd to lose consciousness. Pavlyuchenko notches a late winner and Spurs are back in the Champions League. The Guardian's Barry Glendenning derides Tottenham's celebrations as 'laughable for such a small achievement'.

But before the season is out, there's the small matter of the Europa League final to contest. Fiercely loyal to his young charges and risking the contempt of the fans who demand he takes the final seriously, Redknapp names a ridiculously young side for the final against Schalke. Spurs take the lead through Soulemayne Coulibaly but then Raul decides to play and scores a first half hat-trick, winning the game for the Germans. Within moments of the game ending, Chelsea lodge a £25million bid for Coulibaly, who complains to the press back in the Ivory Coast that he had a 'gentlemen's agreement' with Levy and that Spurs should let him go.

Season 2011-2012: The Hotspur Strikes Back

The impending season would be tough but the mere mention of Anthony Gardner was comic relief for Redknapp

Here we sit, dear friends, on the verge on another Premier League season. The players have had their break, we've had ours, pre-season has come and gone and now it's time to deliver. It may seem like we say this before every campaign these days but this really is a big year for the Hotspur.

Beating Internazionale, Arsenal, AC Milan and Liverpool amongst other fine achievements should have made last season one to cherish. Yet a raft of bitterly disappointing draws against bottom half sides, constant linking of our best players to other, more prestigious clubs and the inevitable percentage of fans who decided to turn against the management at the first sign of a poor result left a bitter taste in the mouth.

Spurs fizzled out last season, rather than the great big final crescendo of success the year before and, subsequently, there's little 'buzz' about the side. We're no longer counted amongst the elite. We're no longer thought of as almost-equals to nations best sides. We've been dropped down a bracket and we have it all to prove again. Even Liverpool, despite having not actually done much at all, are now thought of as a superior side. Title odds: Spurs 50-1, Liverpool 10-1. B-b-b-but we beat them twice last season and have finished above them for two years running!? Obviously these things matter little in the face of King Kenny and his shrewd multi-million pound signings of Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing.

But before this turns into a rant about how bitter this blog is that we're not rated as much as them Scousers (an 'inferiority complex', according to the therapist), let's move on. This time last year, TBFWHL wrote:

"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."

Lo and behold, a correct prediction! 5th place? Done. A decent showing in the Champions League? Done and then some. A trip to Wembley in the cu... you know what? We'll leave it there. Whilst we're on a prophetic theme, this sentence was also written before the season kicked off: "None of the strikers linked to us have materialised thus far (Forlan, Huntelaar, Cavani, etc) leaving our strikeforce looking just a tiny bit undercooked." That might just have come true as well. But that's neither here nor there.

Except that it is. Tottenham's endless search for a dashing new striker to supply to firepower to reignite our surge up the Premier League table is, well, it's still endless. Forwards from all corners of the world have been suggested and linked; all have failed to sign on the dotted line. Leandro Damiao, Mirko Vucinic, Emmanuel Adebayor, Fernando Llorente... all have been imagined wearing the famous Lilywhite and scoring the winner past Arsenal but none have materialised. Dame fortune has yet to smile on White Hart Lane

One rather grimly suspects that Tottenham's fortunes this season, much as they were 12 months ago, are directly linked to whether a new frontman can be acquired. For all their individual merits, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and Crouch pack as much combined punch as a gun that shoots out a flag saying 'BANG!' and, as last season painfully showed, a team that wants to be among the best in the country has to be able to score goals and beat sides like West Brom, West Ham and Wigan at home (yes alright, West Ham are no longer in the Premier League, you know-it-alls).

But before we completely write off our chances this season, let us not forget that this is still a fine Spurs team - the most accomplished, perhaps, of the last twenty years. The defence, thought hardly watertight, is superbly marshalled by the excellent Michael Dawson and should Ledley King be able to play a few more games this season then we'll be more than competent. If the King of White Hart Lane is restricted to the physio's table then Spurs have the ageing but throroughly impressive William Gallas and his protege Younes Kaboul waiting in the wings. It would be nice to forge some defensive stability this season - perhaps we should plump for a preferred pairing of Dawson and Kaboul?

Assou Ekotto continues to do all that is expected of him and more on the left flank. And, on the right, there's naughty rumours going around that Redknapp has decided the time is now to go with young Kyle Walker, in place of the the lumbering Corluka and the hopeless Hutton. Walker is quick, strong and has been slowly working his way up the experience food chain. TBFWHL still rates Corluka but, if pushed, would give the position to Walker.

There are decisions that need to be made in midfield. Squeezing Lennon, van der Vaart, Modric (boooo) Huddlestone, Sandro and Bale all into the middle of the park will take some doing, though the burden is temporarily eased by Sandro's injury. If Modric is selected, how will he play? Will his performance suffer as a result of his very public desire to leave the club? Or will he play it like a consummate professional, very much in the same manner as how he's acted throughout his Spurs caree... ah.

One thing's for certain, a fit, flying and, erm, fantastic Bale would make a huge difference to our early season form. It's not a coincidence that our form last season tailed off after Bale's injury problems kicked in - his presence doesn't guarantee us a win but it gives us that extra bit of spark and we simply look like scoring more often, even with those lot up front. Last season, the Welshman started the campaign excellently and we'd all be mightily grateful if he could serve up a repeat dose.

Whichever way you look at it, however, it's a minefield of a start to the season, with minefields in this case being massive games against those really rich and really good teams from Manchester. Everton on the first day of the season is definitely winnable (we're at home, where we hardly ever lose, and Everton are often slow starters) but failure to pick up three points there and the pressure is immediately on. Old Trafford the following week will bring a grand total of zero points. Negative? Maybe so but when Rooney bundles home the opener on 40 minutes after Howard Webb physically holds down Brad Friedel, you'll all be thinking back to this blog and chuckling along in agreement. If you haven't committed homicide by then (Note: this blog does not condone the taking of another human being's life, no matter what the circumstances. Not even Modric's agent).

And then it's another symbolic clash with Man City, where the press can make merry with their comparisons of rich club with huge power to attract players and not rich but still quite well off club with far less power to attract said players. Our games with City have tended to mirror the shape of our seasons in recent years - 2009/2010 we battered them and scored plenty. 2010/10 we battered them and didn't score a single goal. A positive result here could be three of the most important points we'll register all season.

But that's not for another few weeks yet. Predictions? TBFWHL hates this part. But perhaps taking into account the aforementioned success, there should be less trepidation. With that said, let's go for 5th again and you'll now listen why. In spite of the lack of buzz around Spurs at the start of this season and the (so far) failure to really strengthen, we're still a mighty good side so we are. Dawson, Bale, van der Vaart, Lennon... these are some seriously talented players who, on their day, can beat pretty much anyone (not United at Old Trafford, mind).

Getting back into 4th will prove a staggeringly difficult task but 5th is well within our reach. Everyone seems to be bigging up Liverpool for some kind of title challenge which, to this blog, is inexplicable. Fair enough, Suarez is a seriously threatening player. But Carroll? Decent, yes. Better than our lot, maybe. But is he going to score 20 goals this season? And Henderson/Adam/Downing? These aren't spectacular signings. These are more David Bentley than Luka Modric. Maybe they are the real deal this year. But this blog still reckons we'll put three points on them come September at the Lane. Who knows - we've been wrong before.

Spurs have it all to play for this season and have a reputation to win back. There's talent in that squad but, at the moment, it lies dormant and underrated. Now would be a brilliant time to unleash it. And so begins another riveting chapter in the incredible Tottenham story.

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