2005-06 record
League 5th
FA Cup 3rd round
Carling Cup 2nd round
PRUDENT STEADINESS IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE come to expect from Tottenham Hotspur but it has nonetheless delivered a feeling of unbridled optimism at White Hart Lane. The present crop of players is not as pleasing on the eye as some of the flamboyant teams of the past, but it harbours a determination to avoid defeat and grind out results.
It is an admirable quality that has been carried over into pre-season, where Tottenham have won all but one of their eight friendly matches after a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday. The objective for this season will be to rid themselves of a poor record against the top clubs. In the league, they have not beaten Chelsea in 16 years, Arsenal in seven and Manchester United in five.
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As positive as their pursuit of fourth place was last season, their grasp on Champions League football should have been secured long before they were upset in a stomach- churning defeat by West Ham United on the final day of the season.
A young team lacked the concentration to see matches through to the final whistle and several costly mistakes by Paul Stalteri have put paid to the defender’s first-team place. With Tottenham and Wigan Athletic no closer to agreeing a fee for Pascal Chimbonda, Lee Young Pyo, the South Korea player, probably will be switched from left to right back should Martin Jol, the head coach, be unable to tempt Zdenek Grygera, of Ajax, or Lucas Neill, of Blackburn Rovers, to join.
Benoît Assou-Ekotto has slotted in easily after signing from Lens and has looked accomplished at left back, but the creative concerns from last season remain. There is a need for a left winger to provide width and crosses for the tall and sharp Dimitar Berbatov, even if then means Tottenham are more open to be attacked. It was disquieting that Robbie Keane, playing behind the forwards, provided the only two crosses in the recent victory against Inter Milan. It makes the unwillingness of the club, flush after the sale of Michael Carrick to Manchester United, to meet Middlesbrough’s valuation of Stewart Downing more baffling. “We will miss Carrick, but maybe he will miss playing with me,” Edgar Davids joked.
Without the promptings of Carrick, it will fall to Keane and Aaron Lennon to unlock defences. Lennon scuttled and twinkled against Real Sociedad, but Jol wants the winger to improve his final pass. It might be a new experience for Tottenham to be touted for a top-four finish, but they are relishing it. “It will be difficult to break into that group, but we must find ways,” Davids said.
Manager Martin Jol has been given some much-needed money to spend and, mostly, he has done this wisely. Another sustained challenge for a Champions League place will keep the Tottenham crowd and hierarchy reasonably happy
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Player to watch Aaron Lennon demonstrated star potential during the World Cup and through the latter half of last season. The 19-year-old has been selected in Steve McClaren’s first England squad and may well assume David Beckham’s position on the right of midfield sooner than expected
In an ideal world Arsenal consistently fail to fill their new stadium and Tottenham go on a winning run that has the press calling them London’s new top team. A Champions League spot is secured prior to Christmas and an unsettled Michael Carrick returns on loan
INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS
Ledley King (knee, one month), Andy Reid (foot, one week), Teemu Tainio (ankle, days)
PRE-SEASON
Martin Jol has been putting his players through their paces with tough games against Bordeaux, Nice, Celta Vigo, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad and they have not disappointed
TICKET SALES
Spurs have sold out their season-ticket allocation of 23,000 — 63 per cent of total capacity — and have a waiting list of another 20,000 applications
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If they were a historical figure they would be...Elvis Presley
Managed by a Dutchman. Trailblazing in the 50s, glamorous in the 60s, tired in the 70s. Sleeping soundly