The Tottenham Thread (Merged)

THFC6061 said:
Alan Hansen on how Tottenham have become genuine title contenders

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Tottenham's win over Everton on Wednesday means they are only three points behind leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, and there is no doubt Harry Redknapp's side are now genuine contenders for the title.

Go back a month or so, and it looked like a two-horse race between City and Manchester United at the top. But they have both dropped points since then, and Tottenham's superb form has helped to ramp up the pressure.

Not many people tipped Spurs to even finish in the top four before the start of the season, but a big reason for that was the uncertainty over whether Luka Modric would stay at White Hart Lane.

If they had sold Modric to Chelsea in August, then Tottenham would basically have been saying they are a selling club and that everybody can come and get their best players.

But Redknapp and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy dug their heels in and said he was not for sale, and I think that was the defining moment for what has turned into a hugely impressive campaign.

You also need to give Modric some credit in this, because he wanted to move to Chelsea when they came in for him and, in the modern game, when a player wants to go somewhere then, 99 times out of 100, they go.

A lot of players in his situation would have sulked and let it affect their performances but Modric has been terrific. He might still leave in the summer, but what he has done is give his best shot for Tottenham this season, which is tremendous to see.

As well as keeping hold of Modric, Redknapp's other transfer business over the summer is now looking very astute.

Scott Parker has added solidity to the midfield, Emmanuael Adebayor gives them a big presence up front, and they have a reliable keeper in Brad Friedel.

Redknapp was quite cute in the way he brought in Friedel. After some of Heurelho Gomes' mistakes last season, he kept saying the Brazilian is a top-class keeper and wouldn't be replacing him. Then he went and brought in Friedel.

Friedel has got years and years of experience and has done exceptionally well. He is rock solid even though he is the wrong side of 40.

It all means that, with the way Spurs play, they have still got power, pace and a potent attacking force but they are also effective defensively - so they have everything in place.

The biggest difference between this season and previous years is that they have allied the quality they have in their squad to that defensive steel and also a burning ambition to do well.

They obviously think they are good enough to win the title, and they seem determined to prove it - which has been reflected in their form since they lost to both Manchester clubs at the start of the season.

Not being in the Champions League this season has helped them too, because it has enabled Tottenham to focus fully on the Premier League.

Redknapp effectively wrote off the Europa League from the start and just played his kids, which was very clever.

On Redknapp's list of priorities, the Europa League was probably a bit like the Carling Cup and FA Cup in that, if Spurs had reached the semi-final, he would think 'great, let's go and win it'.

But, in the early rounds, he was basically not playing anyone who would feature the following weekend. There is no doubt that approach has paid dividends.

There is still a lot of work to do, though.

Redknapp has not been the distance in a title race before and neither have many of his players. That experience can be so vital in the run-in because, if you have won it before, you know what it is like when you come under pressure.

But it is the same for City and obviously everybody has to go out and win it for the first time at some point. There is no better time do do that than the present.

The crunch time for Spurs is going to come when they face City, Liverpool, Arsenal and United in the space of six weeks, starting at Etihad Stadium on 22 January.

Out of those four fixtures, only the United game is at White Hart Lane and, if Tottenham are going to win the title, then they might have to pick up some major points on the road against some of their biggest rivals.

At the moment, though, with the form they are in, Spurs are in dreamland. In the last few weeks, they have been more impressive than any other side but they have to maintain that. It is all very well saying 'what a great run' in January, because they need to do the same again between now and the end of the season.

That is far easier said than done because, as well as the big games, they have to keep racking up the victories in the games they are expected to win too. For example, they face Wolves at home on Saturday, and Mick McCarthy's side are already fighting for their lives.

That is the type of game Spurs simply have to win. If they do get three points, it means that when they go to Etihad Stadium on 22 January a draw is a good result. If they do slip up, they will leave themselves with more and more to do to stay in touch at the top.

Can they win the title? A lot could still go wrong but they don't have any European distractions and they have the strength in depth they need. If they can keep players like Modric, Adebayor, Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon fit, then they have got a real chance.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16516752.stm




The fact that people are even talking about the possibility of Spurs winning the Premier League Title just goes to show how far Harry has taken the club during his tenure.

I still think either of the Manchester clubs are favourites for the Title, but Spurs really aren't that far behind them.

All it takes is for our excellent form to continue through the second half of the season, while the other two clubs continue to have a few wobbles and Spurs could be adding a third Top Flight Championship to the two they won in 1950-51 & 1960-61.


All fair points fella and you are playing some great stuff-but the pressures on you now,City have been top all season,so thats 5 months nearly!

Tottenham have been under the radar but not anymore-how many of your players have ever won a league medal,played in a world cup final or a champions league final?Have they ever played under pressure?

We will have Kompany,Silva and Yaya all back this month and early Feb.


Youve not had your blip yet,which happens to all teams in a season.

Like i say fella we are top on merit,have lost two league games by one goal under controversy,scored far more goals than anybody else and conceded the least,all whilst competing in 4 competitions.
 
Credit not just Twitcher.

You have been competitive for a long time now.
There is no doubt he has improved your team but you were in a false position when he took over but credit where credit is due.

Unlike others I quite like the fact you are in the race.
The monotony of yet another Utd / Chelsea title is bad for our game.

We caught you at your lowest ebb in August and blew you away.Next week will be different and will be fascinating and very exciting for us both as we are in previously uncharted terrortories .

I see similarities between Spurs and 'Old City' in many ,many ways.
One such way is how quickly we go from rock botton to over giddy.

Having said all that I am not surprised but still dissappointed with Rednapps latest PR stunt.

A very Cheap shot and totally uncalled for.

We have been at the top of this pressure cooker league since early October
(over 3 months ).
My son was confronted by the playground gobby rag the morning after our climb to the summit to be told "enjoy it you will only be there for a week".
We proved him wrong and continue to do so.

We are now at our season low and are not getting any luck,making rash decisions and by our own imppeccable standards appear to be struggling.
Twitcher cannot help himself can he.

I hope and pray to the football God's that he has sent an invitation to 'Good old uncle Karma' (fink he was born within the sound of beau bells u know what I mean Harry....)

Insallah
 
Keep hearing this bollocks, "Wait till Spurs have their usual Mid season Implosion" from United & Arsenal fans. Get with the script ffs... This Spurs team are different and deserve all the credit they're getting. If we don't win it love them to. Still think they lack a bit of deapth though and they need to bring a few class players in this month to avoid any prblems if injuries occur to their best players.
 
Bit fed up with Harry tbh in todays papers harking on about how well spuds are doing having spent a fraction of what City have..

The money we spent allowed us to buy Adebayor and his 'loan' to spuds has helped them achieve the position they are in..

can anyone see the irony of Harrys statement ??
 
4 points from 4 away matches against top 10 teams. Only one of the four matches against a top 6 team.

Tough second half for Spurs.
 
quiet_riot said:
So they're currently the 3rd best side in England, and yet they don't have their own forum?

lol Its sad isn't it?

To be fair there are plenty of forums available but as I've said, most tend to be a bit cringeworthy and not particularly self aware imo.<br /><br />-- Fri Jan 13, 2012 3:32 pm --<br /><br />
moomba said:
4 points from 4 away matches against top 10 teams. Only one of the four matches against a top 6 team.

Tough second half for Spurs.

We've had good recent results/performances at the Emirates/Anfield/Stamford Bridge (raped by ref, again last time around/Etihad so I'm well up for it. I think a lot will come down to having King or at the very least Parker available for these games, maybe even Dawson if he gets back to full fitness. We have the quality to win at these places imo but sometimes just lack a natural leader...
 
samharris said:
Bit fed up with Harry tbh in todays papers harking on about how well spuds are doing having spent a fraction of what City have..

The money we spent allowed us to buy Adebayor and his 'loan' to spuds has helped them achieve the position they are in..

can anyone see the irony of Harrys statement ??

Funny how Redknapp goes on like Tottenham haven't spent anything.... They're in the over-all top 5 spenders in the league since the Prem started..

Net Spend 92 - 2011
1 Chelsea £729,240,000
2 Manchester City £655,180,000
3 Liverpool £552,105,000
4 Manchester United £483,150,000
5 Tottenham £407,050,000

Net Spend 03 - 2011
1 Chelsea £592,300,000
2 Manchester City £557,220,000
3 Liverpool £392,980,000
4 Tottenham £303,400,000
5 Manchester United £317,250,000
 
Am I being a moron here, why are we fourth in the 2nd one when Man United's net transfer spend is higher?

Most will know I'm not here to talk money/football but I don't think 5th highest net spenders is bad going, I think we've learnt a lot and will not go throwing 14m at the next David Bentley as we have been burnt in the past. The Likes of Livermore Caulker Naughton Walker Rose (I know they're not all academy products) will hopefully save us from having massive splurges in the future.
 
Rather too much talk about Man City emanating from N17 over the past few days. I realise that much of it is just media stirring to create a story and that they have asked questions and then twisted words and / or taken them out of context. But VdV and Harry should be a bit more circumspect. They know by now how the media works.

I can only see it playing into City's hands.<br /><br />-- Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:31 pm --<br /><br />
spurspinter1 said:
Am I being a moron here, why are we fourth in the 2nd one when Man United's net transfer spend is higher?

Most will know I'm not here to talk money/football but I don't think 5th highest net spenders is bad going, I think we've learnt a lot and will not go throwing 14m at the next David Bentley as we have been burnt in the past. The Likes of Livermore Caulker Naughton Walker Rose (I know they're not all academy products) will hopefully save us from having massive splurges in the future.

I'm sure that there will still be plenty of mistakes. Even the best judges make them. All you can hope for is that the successes outweigh the failures.
 

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