It is tricky to decide where to begin when reflecting upon Tottenham’s season. Should the emphasis be upon the first trophy in 9 years and European qualification, or the mid-table finish and lethargic end to the season?
Football is a tumultuous game and football fans can sometimes have short term memories. The recent run of results for the last 2 months have been disappointing. Not exactly poor, but flaccid, inconsistent, disinterested. A string of 1-1 draws against Middlesboro, Blackburn, Wigan and Bolton epitomised this mediocrity. The heavy defeat at Birmingham may have been put down to overblown Wembley celebrations taking their toll, but the second-half mauling at home to Newcastle was inexplicable and surely unacceptable in all Lilywhite eyes. Wins over Portsmouth, Reading and West Ham, and a thrilling 4-4 draw with Chelsea complete a run since lifting the League Cup of Won: 3, Drawn: 5 and Lost: 3. Not good, but certainly not terrible.
This run of results has frustrated many and left sections of Spurs’ support questioning the team’s chances next season of returning to the 5th place finishes achieved under Martin Jol. The press and blogosphere are abuzz with rumours of whole-sale changes amongst the playing squad and murmurings that the players don’t connect with Juande Ramos.
But let’s step back and look at the whole season to provide a little more perspective. Spurs got off to a terrible start, universally attributed to the board’s undermining of Jol and not-so-private courting of Ramos. The manner of this farce was shameful, but whether the ultimate decision to appoint Ramos was correct will be seen next season. The League Cup win and securing a UEFA cup place again were obviously positives, but so too was the team’s league form at the beginning of the Spaniard’s tenure. Underperforming ‘favourites’ were dropped, Spurs began to win matches and Jermaine Jenas played himself into the England team. Taking the team from the relegation zone to comfortably mid-table was an achievement of sorts, and there is every reason to expect a much higher finish when Ramos has a full season, and pre-season with which to work. Ramos’ league results are W:10, D:9, L:7. Compare that to Jol’s contribution this year of 1-4-5 and the argument is strengthened for what a full season under Ramos could achieve. Ramos’ form extrapolated over the full season would amount to 57 points, suggesting that it’s a fissure to be bridged to reach the top 4, not a canyon.
The calls for replacing whole swathes of the team and squad also seem alarmist. This is the same group of players that finished 5th last season minus Jermain Defoe and bit-part players such as Mido, Hossam Ghaly and Danny Murphy. Few would disagree that Alan Hutton, Jonathan Woodgate, Luka Modric and a fit-again Gareth Bale clearly improve not only the squad but also the first XI.
Some signings are needed to push on beyond 5th place, not least either keeping Dimitar Berbatov or securing one of the high-calibre forwards being touted, such as Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o or Valencia’s David Villa. A goalkeeper is also a high priority, along with an experienced central defender to cover the assumption that Woodgate and King won’t always be available. The other ideal signing would be a central midfield player in the Edgar Davids mould; a player who disrupts the opposition without sacrificing too much creativity, such as an audacious bid for Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso, who may be available following the Rossonieri’s capture of Mathieu Flamini. Three or four key signings like these would strengthen the team sufficiently for a strong campaign next year.
There are several other reasons for optimism. Tottenham are one of the richest clubs in England (in fact the richest club in the world not playing Champions League football) and have the transfer kitty to attract the necessary personnel, as well as the attraction of being London-based. It would appear that the board are also becoming more flexible with wage structures if there is any truth in Woodgate’s reported salary and the new contract on offer to Berbatov. Daniel Levy has shown business nous in many transfers and sponsorship deals
The club still have a large number of followers both in loyal supporters filling White Hart Lane each week and a global fan-base purchasing the merchandise and demanding the television coverage that now, like it or not, provides significant funding and an enhanced brand.
Crucially, the man running the team seems to possess the leadership and coaching skills to drive the players towards success. Ramos’ Spurs destroyed Arsenal and outplayed Chelsea to win the Carling Cup, as well as dominating the home game against Champions Elect Manchester United. With Liverpool due to visit White Hart Lane this Sunday, Spurs may have got results against all four of England’s current Champions League representatives. This must surely instil confidence and belief.
Spurs’ 07/08 season is ending in mediocrity, not disaster. There are plenty of signs to suggest that 08/09 could see Ramos’ new Tottenham hit the ground running.
