HE’S GOT NO HAIR AND WE DON’T CARE: First Impressions Count At Tottenham
First impressions count. Whether you are going for a job interview, watching the latest movie or looking across the dance floor for your latest conquest, first impressions really do count. People think it is romantic when people say ?it was love at first sight? but in reality, that first impression cannot determine your compatibility over the course of a lifetime. It is the same for a job interview, that moment you walk through the door and the first words out of your mouth cannot guarantee how good or bad you will be at a job. It is also true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. All that being said, after three games, three points, two goals scored and four conceded, I feel able to give my first impressions of Tottenham in the 2006/2007 season.
When last season ended and Spurs had finished 5th, I was probably one of the few supporters that actually had a sigh of relief that we did not reach the Champions League. Just in case you think you have read that wrong, I will say it again. I had a sigh of relief that we did not reach the Champions League. Yes, it would have been fantastic to finish above Arsenal and gain entry into the elite competition for European clubs but I felt it would have been a step too far. I don?t believe you can go from midtable obscurity to Champions League football in one step without feeling the consequences. Everton were a prime example the season before. An excellent fourth place finish and then they struggled throughout the 2005/2006 season. Therefore, I felt it would be a better transition to (hopefully) regular European football if we played the UEFA Cup first. I also knew in the back of my hand, after last season?s excellent performance, it was going to be much harder this time around.
After a winning start at Portsmouth last year, Tottenham did not drop out of the top six for the entire season. This time around, it is going to be much more difficult. The opening day defeat at Bolton was poor. I have heard many fans say the first goal was a foul, it was, and the second goal was a fluke, it was, but it does not hide the fact we were very poor. If we were to improve on last year?s performance, we need to get points from games where we did not get points last year. So a 1-0 defeat at the Reebok last year turns into a 2-0 this, immediately we are off to a bad start. In saying that, it is going to take time for Zokora, Berbatov and Assou-Ekotto to get used to the Premiership so perhaps we write off the defeat, to one of our bogey teams, and the season starts Tuesday against Sheffield United.
If the Bolton game had never been played or you had only watched Tottenham v Sheffield United, you could have been forgiven for getting wildly optimistic and expecting Spurs to challenge for the league this year. It was simply superb. The only down side was we should have had four or five but ended up with just two. Yes, Sheffield United are not a team of world beaters and they may well struggle this season, but all you can do in football is beat what is in front of you and we did that, comfortably. This is the springboard for great things and next up is a team that have not beaten us a White Hart Lane for 21 years.
Records are there for a reason, to be broken. If we go back to my formula that we have to improve on last year?s results, it was 2-0 at the Lane last year and we need to equal or build upon this. This looked likely after Kevin Kilbane was sent off but it just did not happen and the suddenly we fine ourselves on the wrong end of a 2-0. After not falling out of the top 6 last season, we seem unable to get out of the bottom six this time around. Three two nils in a row, yet we are only on the right side of one. A more than disappointing start.
The first impression I had of Tottenham in 2006/2007, forgetting the transfers or sale of players over the summer, was the team lineup at Bolton. I immediately raised an eyebrow and shook my head. I just could not understand why Edgar Davids was again in the side. For me, in the latter stages of last season, Davids was awful. Carrick and Jenas had established themselves down the middle and Davids was thrown in as a makeshift left-winger. Obviously, being a central midfielder, he kept drifting in and that exposed Lee Young-Pyo numerous times. Tottenham were left with very little balance and at times, it meant switching play to the right and Lennon was the only option.
That is exactly what happened at Bolton. Everything had to go through Lennon as there was nothing on the left and conversely, Bolton only had Assou-Ekotto, on his debut, to get past down their right hand side. It also had an impact on Jenas and Zokora and they clearly could not gel with Davids invading their space. Jol saw sense against Sheffield United and brought Davids inside leaving Tainio, replacing Zokora, out on the left. We got away with it although again, Davids does not seem to be the star he was at the start of last season. Against Everton, the same happen, Davids was awful, failed to influence the game and we were turned over, against ten men. Next up Manchester United, we cannot make the same mistake again, can we?
I has been gut wrenching watching the results come through thus far but I do not expect it to get better any time soon. So many Spurs fans have been singing from the rooftops at the prospects of another assault on Champions League football this season but for me, I see trouble ahead. A lot of clubs look stronger this season and I think the whole Premier League is looking better. Villa?s appointment of O?Neill is a masterstroke. Everton look likely to push for Europe with their signings. Newcastle are likely to challenge. It is going to be a lot tougher and also, because Tottenham are a top six club, everyone will be trying harder. If Spurs are to progress, it is not just about new signings, it is about the likes of Jenas, Dawson, Lennon, King, Keane, Defoe, Tainio and all the other players that were here last season taking their game to the next level. Thus far, only Callum Davenport has improved for me. I also feel we need to fill the troublesome left side problem.
I thought Martin Jol was extremely unprofessional when he announced to a Sky News Reporter that Spurs had made their ?highest offer yet? for Stewart Downing. Like most fans, I think he would be a welcome addition at the Lane, even if he does cost c.?10-12m, but for Jol to come out and talk about another clubs player like that, I was not impressed. I think there are too many situations where clubs ?speak? to players via the media. Ferguson did it with Carrick while in South Africa and I did not like that either. Although hopefully, as with Ferguson and Carrick, the result is the same and the player does sign. We desperately need a left winger. I thought this might have been the year for Andy Reid but trust Jol?s judgement when he sold him to Charlton. I just feel without a decent left winger, we may well struggle. Teemu Tainio is an excellent player and I really like him but I do not think he is the answer. If we are unable to get anyone, maybe allowing Lennon to play over there and giving Wayne Routledge a chance is the answer. I have not read that Routledge is injured and he had an excellent pre-season but he again does not seem to be getting his chance. I do not mean to be doom and gloom, but without one, maybe two, players down the left hand side, I can see us struggling to make top ten.
After a poor start to the season, you need some easy fixtures to regain the winning mentality, if only! The next five games see us travel to Manchester United, Slavia Prague and Anfield while we host Fulham and Portsmouth. If I am being optimistic, eight points and a one nil win in the UEFA may be possible. However, I struggle with optimism and any I had before the season has evaporated. I therefore, go for the pragmatic view that really says four points and a draw. Lets hope I am wrong!
One final note and it is not related to Tottenham. I would like to use this column to wish Sir Bobby Robson a speedy recovery in his fight against cancer, again. Sir Bobby is one of the nicest men in football I have ever met. At a recent book signing in Newcastle, Sir Bobby was more than happy for every fan to shake his hands, get a book signed and then get a photo. To be honest, I am not sure who got more pleasure out of the event, the fans that met their idol or Sir Bobby meeting his fans. A true gent and I hope he beats the cancer again and is soon back in football.
About the author Gareth Johnson
good article, my sentiments exactly. I’m worried as we have not beaten a premiership team yet, sheffield utd are not prem yet but will get better.why o why o why does jol not give routledge a go with lennon and keep swaping them over, I think they would scare the crap out of defences and a partnership that could last for years, ronaldo and giggs are quite effective at it so why can’t they?COYS
Totally agree exactly, things are obviously not working at the minute so why doesn’t he try something different. Davids seems to be finished in the middle and Jenas is lacking the bottle that we require, maybe a youngster with something to prove could fare a little better. After all whats to lose, doesn’t get much worse than the start we’ve had.
Well written indeed. I’m not a fan of the square pegs in round hole thing either- for example playing Jenas from Right Back- or Davids on the left. We will not be able to get Downing as we are not a big enough step up for him to hand in a transfer request, Boa Morte would be nice as he can play up front or on the wing, but I honestly think that Huckerby would be worth a try too– he’s down to earth and full of heart/stamina. He’s torn us apart before too and can play left or right. He may not be the most talented ever but he never stops trying and his pace is difficult to handle in a Bellamy sort of style. Before you slate it, have a think and drop the idea around a few other sites.
Cracking article, brilliantly written, with lots of well judged points in there. I thought Jol blew all hope of signing Downing the minute he announced it, and was really fustrated as he is exactly the kind of player we need. If he does move to WHL, I can see him and Lennon turning into a brilliant partnership, and take that up to international level.
Not a bad assessment Gareth but I totally disagree with your assessment of Edgar Davids. We need his passion and his tackling skills and I cannot concede that he is to blame for the poor form of the whole team. I acknowledge that you are not alone in your assessment but he would be the first name I would put on the team sheet.
Yes, I would like to see Routledge fitted in somewhere, he deserves a chance to prove himself. It was a pity he was not on the bench against Everton. With Lennon marked so closely, he could have been brought on to give more width.
What we seemed to lack was the tactical nous to change things around when things were not going our way. The Everton midfielders were brilliant but after the (dubious) sending off we should have moved the ball about and tired them out but we failed to do that.
As for Andy Reid, he was never a winger. He might have been a fairly good central midfielder but there was no chance of him getting that opportunity.
I’m amazed Routledge hasn’t even made out bench yet, I too think he and Azza could terrorize defences on either wing swapping round every so often. Good shout on the “get well soon Sir Bobby” too.
spot on, would rather throw Zokora and/or Hudd in at the deep end than presevere with Davids. Even on Tuesday I thought he was chasing the game rather than dictating play.
Thanks for all your comments. I have added a thread called “Drop Davids” on the discussion forums, lets generate some debate on their!
Gareth
Great article – very similar to what I feel . I am a 46 year old Spurs fan thus seen a few good times in the Cups and a few 3rd place finishes in the Leauge . Like you I was one of the few who was almost relieved that we missed the C.L. In truth we were lucky in many games last year – Bolton , WBA , Blackburn , Wigan at home to name just 4 . Losing King injured and Carrick to Man Utd was a blow and I looked at the first 8 fixtures and thought this is not an easy start . So it has proved . I am worried by signing Zokora – did not see the need for another central midfield player we have Huddlestone Murphy Jenas Davids Tainio that is 5 people for 2 positions . I would have started Tainio / Jenas then Huddlestone / Jenas if Tainio was not fit . Would always play 2 wide men be it Routeledge/Lennon or Lennon/ Ziegler . I was disappointed Davids did not go to Ajax as I felt he instilled a new mentality to the side in his one year here but not very much more to offer on the playing side . That he agreed to stay I hoped it would be as a squad member and not a regular starter . Like you I think a number of teams in the Premiership have strengthened and with Europe also to think about a poor start will leave us playing catch up like Newcastle and Everton did last year . I am not optimistic about the league I feel if we lose at Man Utd and Liverpool we will be always playing catcdh up and top 6 willbe very very hard . I do think we will have a run in the Cups and Europe but I did want us to make top 6 again . We need to make a good league position that being a top 6 a regular occurence not once in a blue moon . I
yes, i agree if jol drops jenas,davids and tainio(better sell these players).give chance to murphy,routledge(loan to fulham),hossam or ziegler to play in the first team.