Spurs Need To Show Some Fight

[Electric ~soul~]

In a weekend full of fools, fighting, feuds and farce, one thing became crystal clear for fans of Tottenham Hotspur. The club’s first exciting Premiership run-in in years is only going to deliver something tangible if the players are prepared to go to war.

 

The eyes of the nation’s media were focused solely on Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer slapping each other silly with Burberry handbags. How many second chances will Bowyer get before someone at the FA suggests he’s strapped to the next Mars bound probe?

 

A far funnier sight in the match against Aston Villa was the first sending off of Stephen Taylor. Women screamed and children began crying incessantly after an assassin shot the 19-year-old at exactly the same time as he dived dramatically to palm away Darius Vassell’s goal-bound shot.

 

As the crowd fell silent, anticipating a gushing fountain of blood, the young Englishman nodded at the ref and walked off the pitch to a round of applause from his fellow award nominees. Think Willem Dafoe’s iconic death in Platoon only better.

 

Over at St Andrews, Robbie Keane was fighting his own personal battle trying to look angry yet cool getting out of the visitor’s dugout without tripping over team-mates’ legs. He stared at Martin Jol’s back like a child praying for the big Dutchman to react to his insolence, only for the manager to turn around and mouth the words “You. Me. Later.” Unsurprisingly there have been reports of the Irishman getting changed in record time and being caught by speed cameras topping 100mph down the M6.

 

Yet there is something admirable within Keane’s petulance in that he has a burning passion to play for his team. Can you imagine Michael Carrick clenching his fists in anger at being an unused substitute let alone flying off down the tunnel in a blaze of fury? We need 25 times that Keane passion. A squad of men demanding to get on that pitch is a dangerous weapon. Any chance those players get will be their audition for a regular part.

 

There’s no doubting there’s excitement building around White Hart Lane for the first April in many seasons. Despite only taking a point from Birmingham, Bolton’s loss against Liverpool and Charlton’s point mean that Spurs are still only three points from sixth place with others’ goal differences equal or less. One healthy win and the team will move up the table faster than you can say “Nice move Stephen Carr.”

 

Will this be the year that Tottenham finally discover the phantom C word? No not Carrick, consistency. The remaining seven games are all winnable. A full strength Spurs side playing at the top of its games need not fear any of our upcoming opponents. Not even a certain trip across North London when the chance will arise for scores to be settled and the balance of power to be shifted back towards N17.

 

For me the home matches demand to be won against a depleted Newcastle, a relegation-threatened West Brom and Aston Villa and Blackburn sides likely to have nothing to play for by the time they come to White Hart Lane. The away matches will be tougher and the tie against Middlesbrough at the Riverside could prove to be a decider. If Manchester United and Arsenal secure an FA Cup final place then the race for seventh is definitely well within our sights despite most fans’ lower expectations at the season’s start.

 

Sean Davis’ return to the squad could prove to be something akin to a new signing for Tottenham Hotspur. His arrival on Saturday brought power and authority back to the midfield. Carrick’s passing ability is not in question neither is Michael Brown’s impression of a randy Jack Russell humping every opposition midfielder’s leg in an attempt to win the ball. Davis however is something else and is the kind of player the term ‘engine room’ was invented for. Who will be left out by Jol remains to be seen as its no secret he has a slight crush on his little Michaels.

 

Despite my liking for man-mountain Noe Pamarot and my sadness at his cruel long-term injury which was confirmed today, it does force Jol’s hand in that he has no choice in the final games but to play the more attacking Stephen Kelly or Philip Ifil if the Irishman is injured.

 

I’m all for going into these games in a blaze of glory. Too many times in the past have Spurs sides limply held onto a 1-0 lead until the dying seconds while the fans around the stadium and in their armchairs at home watch the ensuing onslaught waiting for the predictably lame equaliser. Darren Carter’s strike on Saturday was an early addition to the rule.

 

When you’ve got the attacking prowess of Defoe, Kanoute, Mido, Keane, Reid, Carrick et al then you’ve got the ability to overwhelm opponents when they are down. Perhaps that’s been Tottenham’s problem over the years. We’ve never had that ruthless streak. Too often have opponents begged for mercy and we’ve dutifully obliged. Kevin Keegan and Sir Alex Ferguson will testify to that in previous seasons.

 

So what I want to see in these seven remaining games is a new Tottenham Hotspur. Not George Graham’s defensive plodders, not Glenn Hoddle’s ageing tricksters and definitely not David Pleat’s square pegs in round holes team. I want to see a Jolly Babies side moulded in the image of the current boss with Dutch flair and creativity combined with power and a will to win.

 

So roll on Shearer, your assistant manager Souness and your brawling barcodes. Spurs are in their best position in ages and like a coiled snake are ready to strike. A year ago the club was in disarray and despair and the future was clouded. Now the way forward couldn’t be any clearer.

 

 

squarefootball.net again.

[Electric ~soul~]

That is such a quality article!

 

I feel optimistic once more now!!

[Eastside Urchin]

and the clock end sing

are you tottenham in disguise