Tottenham Hotspur: Where to now?

     As pre season gets underway it's difficult for me to know where Spurs are going next. The last two seasons have been something of a resurgence for Spurs. I have watched this once proud club stagnate during the late 90's and early into the next century (sounds long when you say it like that...It felt longer) and I thought that the club I loved was lost forever. But it seems that fate had other plans.

     Martin Jol, the board, and the backroom staff have transformed Spurs back into a force to be reckoned with. They have taken a neglected club and revitalised it. No longer do I look at the back of the newspapers and wince. No longer do we sell our best players. Instead we are attracting the best players. Instead of being on the brink of bankruptcy, or penny pinching by telling people to bring their own milk into the club for their tea we are spending big money, but sensibly.

     European football is also back at the Lane. To be honest I don't consider our brief foray into Europe in 1999/2000 anything worth noting. An early and humiliating exit that is best forgotten. The last time we needed our passports past September was back in 91/92. Fourteen years ago. It was too long. In Jol's first full season in charge he took us back to the European stage we belong on. Without being in Europe we would not have attracted Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zokora, Darren Bent and Gareth Bale. Without the European stage we would have surely lost Paul Robinson, Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon. Without being on that European stage life at Spurs would have sunk us back to the pitiful years of early cup exits live on BBC 1 and our season being effectively over in January.

     Only two years ago the talk was of the ‘Big Four'. Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal dominated English football. They towered above everyone else to the extent that live football after Christmas was solely the domain of the big boys. Now they talk of the ‘Top Five'. Spurs have once again attracted the attention of the media. And they see this as a good thing. The English Premier League was in real danger of becoming a closed shop. Teams would enter the season hoping for a finish anywhere between 5th and 7th. That was the extent of teams ambitions. Everton broke the mould a couple of seasons back only to spectacularly fail the following year. They went out the Champions League at the first time of asking, and a UEFA Cup exit soon followed. Their league season crumbled because of this and that season they flirted with relegation. It was easy to do. And for this reason it was important that Spurs at least matched their achievements of the 2005/06 season.

     This they did. Sure it looked dodgy for spell. Whilst Spurs marched on in the UEFA Cup their league form faltered. No away win until December took the gloss off a decent home form and it was looking increasingly likely that a cup win would be the only route back into Europe. Defeat in the Carling Cup to our ‘nearest and dearest' (look up sarcasm) set us back a touch, but this was followed by exits to Chelsea in the FA Cup and Sevilla in the UEFA cup. Things looked a tad grim. But the troops rallied and a superb run of form saw us re-take fifth again. Things were never always rosy in the garden at Spurs last term but Jol and his players never gave up even if some supporters did.

     And that brings us to the 2007/08 season. We have strengthened our squad. Darren Bent and Gareth Bale are excellent acquisitions and Koboul is, from what I've read, a good signing too. Some supporters believe we need one or two midfield players to come into the squad and I agree. Jemaine Jenas and Didier Zokora were both on excellent form towards the end of last season and it was no surprise that their individual run of form coincided with the teams but we cannot rely on just those two to be our engines in midfield, not if we hope to play 50 plus games again. Murphy and Ghaly are expected to leave the club leaving us Tainio and Huddlestone to hold the fort. Taarabt will surely make more appearances this season. Skilful player that he is though he is not the tough tackling player we need for the centre of the pitch.

     So as things stand we are looking good. All the talk has been of a resurgent Spurs pushing the declining Arsenal out of 4th spot and claiming it for ourselves. The mood is buoyant. But I have my doubts. Arsenal are always at their best when their backs are too the wall (no Campbell jokes please. This is a family site). Like a cornered animal they will come out snarling and snapping. I don't expect them to set the world alight goals wise now that Mr Vroom Vroom has departed but I don't think they will concede too many either. Liverpool have bought some exciting players too, no more so than Torres. How long it takes him and his colleagues to settle in could be the defining factor of Liverpool's season. Chelsea have been quiet but considering that they have done most of their buying over the last two years then it was to be expected that sooner or later they would settle on a squad. Manchester United have bought big. Nani, Anderson, and possibly Tevez to come United going forward are going to be awesome. Yet Ferguson's problem last season was his defence. Nowhere was this demonstrated better than in the champions League semi final when Kaka and his chums ripped Ferguson's team a new A-hole and stuffed it full of footballs. The top four is looking as difficult to break into as it has always been.

     And then we have the chasing pack. Everton will expect to be up there again with pretty much the same set up as last season. Always difficult to beat. Newcastle and Big Sam will be looking to make an immediate impact. After all he has to satisfy "The Best Supporters In The World". I can't say that I agree with all of his buys but time will tell. West Ham also have been splashing the cash around and expect to challenge for a European spot (despite the fact that they should not even be in the EPL), and lest we not forget the superb job Mark Hughes has done in transforming the dour Blackburn Rovers into European challengers.

     So Tottenham are being squeezed from both sides. This season, more than any of the last three seasons, is a bigger challenge. A challenge not only to hold our own but to see off either Liverpool or Arsenal. It's a big ask, no doubt about it. Is the squad ready? Not quite would be my assessment. It's not that I don't trust or believe in Martin Jol it's just something feels slightly off to me. I've been here at the pre season stage many, many times and always my feelings have been one of (blind) optimism and (nearly) always I have been let down. This year it's different. I feel slightly unsure. I can see the ‘Big Four' in front of us but they are still on the horizon. Like when you used to play catch as a kid. The big kids would let you get right up close and then sprint away at the last second laughing as you wheezed and tried to catch your breath in the hot summer sun. And I can feel the likes of Newcastle, Everton, Blackburn, Villa and maybe even Manchester City nipping at our heels. I can feel their breath on my neck. And in the case of Newcastle United it smells of onions. Don't know why, just know that I don't like it.

     I have faith in Spurs. I have faith in the players. I have faith in Martin Jol. I think Spurs are capable of breaking into the top four, I don't doubt that it will happen...just not this season at least. If given the chance I will happily take fifth place now, if you are offering, and a cup would be nice (and whilst your at it would it be too much to ask for at least three points off of ‘them lot'. You know who I mean). Keep the faith. Be patient. Spurs are not the only team strengthening this summer. And more importantly SUPPORT the team. Without the supporters they is not Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.  We need them but they need us. Let's be there for them when that time comes. The plight of Leeds United football club has been written about more times than I care to mention and I don't intend to add to it now, but there is a lesson to be learnt. They did not build for the future. They spent money they did not have. They assumed that they would be in the Champions League year in year out. They mortgaged their future because they simply could not wait. Sadly it is not Peter Ridsdale that suffered, not was in David O'Leary. Those two are still living life to the full. No, the ones that suffered and that continue to suffer are the Leeds United supporters. And all because of the impetuous nature of those that were running the club. I believe that we have the right people running our club. I believe that they have our best interests at heart (along with their own and those of the shareholders, naturally). I also believe that our club have learnt the lessons of Leeds United. Getting into the top four of the EPL is worth a lot of money, but it's not worth selling the club's soul over. If you don't believe me ask a Leeds fan.

Enjoy the season and UP THE SPURS!

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Spurs - May 18th 1991 (changed my life)
• Spurs Article - Jols Gamble
• Spurs, Can Martin Jol take Spurs to the next stage

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS