Bale and Lennon set to roll back the years
Tottenham Hotspur fans will know that, for what has seemed like an age, the team has been about as balanced as an obese African elephant walking an unusually thin tightrope. First we had Ginola, but couldn’t defend. Then we had Graham, but couldn’t attack. Then we had Hoddle and Pleat, and couldn’t do either. It’s been hellish. We thought we’d got it right with Jol, but then the club decided Carrick wasn’t worth keeping, and eventually, neither was Jol. SIGHS. Oh well, that’s Tottenham for you. We’re a mid-table club, destined to have great players, but never a great team.
However, what if this time, things are different? What if, in fact, there is nothing false about the new dawn at Tottenham?
Call this an article of faith, call it the rambling’s of a man with too much time on his hands, but a quick glance at the current Tottenham squad is more encouraging than it has been in years. In Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, we have something that we haven’t possessed in the many years I’ve been watching. That is, a genuine threat from both the left and right wing.
In Aaron Lennon, Tottenham had one of the best performers in the Premier League before his injury in December. Lennon was nearly top of the table for assists, whilst also chipping in with the odd goal. Similarly, Gareth Bale has excelled on the left side of midfield, and has consistently been one of our best performers, even when playing at left-back. With Lennon but weeks away from full-fitness, a mouth watering prospect befalls us. Two young, quick and skilful players will soon be playing in the same team Tottenham side, providing Spurs with the threat from both flanks the club has long yearned for.
In the past, Tottenham’s left hand side and central midfield has been akin to our very own Scylla and Charybdis, and yet now we find we have answers to both. Whilst Modric and Bale complement each other majestically on the left, in central midfield, Palacios has given Tottenham the steel and legs we have lacked far too often over the years. Coupled with Huddlestone’s passing,Tottenham might just have one of the best sides in the league next season, regardless of the money Manchester City et al are likely to depart with this summer.
Although Bale and Lennon remain a central source of optimism, Defoe, Modric, Kranjcar, Palacios, and even Huddlestone are evidence of Tottenham’s continued progress. In defence, Gomes is actually starting to look like one of Europe’s best goal keepers, whilst it would be churlish of anybody not to accept that under Redknapp, Michael Dawson has improved beyond recognition. Even without King or Woodgate, Dawson now looks like a player you can believe in.
This sort of blind optimism and hyperbole is perhaps typical of a Tottenham fan, and the picture portrayed here can be easily dismantled. Lennon might turn into the modern day Darren Anderton. Wilson Palacios might decide that he’s ready to make that move to Real Madrid. Perhaps Alex Ferguson will, full of nostalgia, decide it’s time to break Tottenham hearts once more and prise away a prized asset? However, what are we without hope? In essence, without hope, we are 19 years with two League Cups and too many mid-table finishes…
My eyes have seen the glory, and although our injury nightmare might cast a cloud over the rest of this season, you can’t help but feel that the cloud burst can’t last all day…
You can find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mark0turner
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“Arry” is not the reason for Dawson, Bale, Bentley, Pav etc being good players. He (Rednapp) made it quite clear that he did’nt rate any of these players and had the money been right would have sold them in the last window, the offers just were’nt high enough. Circumstance forced him to play them due to a spate of injuries to others. True to his style he now says look how these players have progressed under me. Boy you people are so easily hoodwinked
Regards Baggyshorts
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This is probably the best thing I’ve read this year.
Concise, precise and positive!
I cannot wait to get into the CL. I’m literally shaking with excitement at the prospect.
That’s the platform that will bring out the absolute best in our squad – then who knows..?
Mourinho after Harry? Jol back? We’re a top striker off having the best squad in the league.
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Yes you are right times are exciting but two things worry me Harrys job in the Sun paper and Vultures hovering over us. You forgot to mention our youngsters Townsend is also a left sided player and the prospects of him and Bale operating down the left is mouth watering alsO Huddlestone and Bostock Mason Livermore Rose Caulker and now Kane and Fredericks .
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“He (Rednapp) made it quite clear that he did’nt rate any of these players and had the money been right”
I never remember Rednapp being ready to offload Dawson or Bale and did he not in FACT block Pavs sale ?
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we face the top 3 one after the other soon, i think we can give any of them a game and get points even with injuries we are doing well. In the summer i hope we sign up the iclelandic viking on a 4 year contract, and bring in the brazilian sandro as cover for WP.
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tommo is spot on, we face the top three soon and it will be a measure of how well we wil cope if we manage to finish fourth, in the cl next season.We need to have a side that we feel could beat any of them when that happens you will know that the team is ready to push for honours
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