Jermain Defoe - A Disappointing Season?

Many will argue that Jermain Defoe had a poor season for Spurs and so missed his opportunity to establish himself in the England squad for the World Cup in Germany. It was a bitter disappointment to Defoe that Theo Walcott had been included in the squad while he had only been put on stand-by. The news that Wayne Rooney would be fit to play some part in the tournament, heralded Defoe's departure prior to the opening game against Paraguay.

However, a look at the statistics for last season shows that while Defoe lost his place to Robbie Keane and had to take his chance from the bench, he still made a significant contribution to Spurs' success.

Portsmouth (a) Assist – through pass deflected for opening goal
Goal – scored second Won 2-0
Middlesbrough (h) Goal – scored first
Assist – pass to Mido who scored Won 2-0
Villa (a) Assist – caused defenders difficulty – poor clearance to Keane who scored Draw 1-1
Fulham (h) – Goal – only goal of the game Won 1-0
Charlton (a) – Assist – pass to Keane for winning goal Won 3-2
Everton (h) – Assist – cross for Jenas to score second goal Won 2-0
Manchester United (a) – Assist – fouled for free-kick from which Jenas scored Draw 1-1
Portsmouth (h) – Goal – scored third Won 3-1
Birmingham (h) – Goal – scored second Won 2-0
Charlton (h) – 2 Goals – scored first and third Won 3-1
Sunderland (a) – Assist – cross for Keane to score Draw 1-1
Wigan (h) – Goal scored second Draw 2-2
Birmingham (a) – Assist – revitalised Spurs with second half performance and set up Lennon’s goal. Dispossessed Melchiott, evaded his rugby tackle and put in the cross for Lennon to score. Won 2-0
West Brom (h) – Assist – Harried and dispossessed goalkeeper for penalty - Keane scored Won 2-1
West Ham (a) – Goal – scored final goal of the season Lost 1-2

As the England manager struggled to find a striking partnership in the second half against Paraguay, he may have regretted his decision to leave Defoe out of the squad.

With talk of Spurs receiving offers for Defoe and looking to sell, I trust that Martin Jol will resist the temptation to sell him because Spurs could come to regret such a decision next year.

[Taken from an article on wlhatwhl column on www.Topspurs.com]

Spurs and the Football Authorities

The events surrounding Spurs’ final Premiership game of the season against West Ham United highlighted the chequered relationship the club has had with the football authorities. Tottenham Hotspur is a club respected around the world but when it comes to its dealings with the football authorities, it is invariably treated and dealt with like a naughty schoolboy.

The history of Spurs is littered with examples of how the authorities have acted in such a way as to make an example of the club, whether Spurs have come to the regulators for redress on an issue or over some misdemeanour. The Football Association, Premier League, the Football League before them and even the European authorities invariably found against Spurs.

The list below chronicles the altercations between Spurs and officialdom over the years - from heir earliest days to the present day. Some had major repercussions on Spurs' history while others were most infuriating, especially when Arsenal were involved.

October, 1893 – ‘Ernie Payne’s Boots’

June, 1908 – Entering the Football League

May, 1913 – The Invasion of the Woolwich Nomads

May, 1919 – Spurs Manoeuvred Out of 1st Division by Arsenal

Spurs slipped into the Second Division in 1928 and apart from a two year spell in the early 1930s, they remained there until gaining promotion in 1950 when they began to establish themselves as a power in English football. There may be incidents when Spurs and the authorities didn’t see eye to eye during this period but it is in more recent times that the uneasy relationship again comes to the fore.

May, 1984 and May, 1987 – Fielding a Weakened Team

May, 1994 – Irregular Payments

January, 2005 – Mendes’ ‘Goal’

May, 2006 – The Viral Infection

June, 2005 – Frank Arnesen’s Defection to Chelsea.

In light of Spurs’ record and association with the authorities over the years, it is perhaps not surprising that in this incidence, Spurs decided to go their own way, rather that seek retribution through the Football Association or Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur has received much respect for the way it has handled its business in recent years – it has not gone down the line of shouting the odds and blaming all and sundry – it has acted with dignity and while at times we have felt let down and annoyed at the authorities – that is the Spurs way and the men who did so much to create and establish this great club’s reputation would approve. It was the John Ripsher way, the John Oliver way, the John Cameron way, the Arthur Rowe way and the Bill Nicholson way.

The full article and the details of each of the problems encountered over the years can be read on the wlhatwhl Column at www.topspurs.com

5th June - Spurs in History

5th June, 1909

Spurs 2 Everton 2 (Friendly in Palermo)

Spurs embarked on a close season tour of Argentina and Uruguay where they played seven games in twenty days during the month of June. They travelled with Everton and the two clubs played each other twice during the tour.

This was the first game of the tour and Spurs goals were scored by Walter Tull and Bert Middlemiss.


5th June, 1957

Manitoba All Stars 0 Spurs 12

Spurs tour of North America continued with an emphatic win over the local side. 12,000 people turned up for the game and saw goals from Alfie Stokes (5), Terry Dyson (3), Micky Dulin (2), Tommy Harmer and Dave Dunmore. Spurs were 7 up at half time.

5th June, 1968

Alan Mullery became the first player to be sent off playing for England. He was dismissed in the European Championship game against Yugoslavia.