Spurs' Goals for the New Season

Another summer anticipating new signings at White Hart Lane draws to a close with nothing to show, as yet, but expectations for the new season remain high. It will be difficult to maintain the level of consistency shown throughout the greater part of last year when European games are added to the fixture list but that’s what Tottenham have been striving for over the past number of years. It’s fitting that Tottenham embark on their first season in the Champions League in the year that marks the fiftieth anniversary of Spurs’ greatest ever year and team – the 1960-61 ‘Double’ side. The team that earned Spurs a place in the European Cup and did so much to emblazon the name of Tottenham Hotspur across Europe and worldwide.


As the legendary Bill Nicholson said, “It's magnificent to be in Europe and this club - a club like Tottenham Hotspur - if we're not in Europe, we're nothing.”

Once again Spurs have that chance in Europe’s top competition and the opening matches of the season will go a long way to define the success or failure of the season that lies ahead. Failure and we could repeat the Everton scenario of their Champions League year, while success opens up bold, new horizons. There are the crucial qualifying games against Young Boys Berne to reach the group stages of the Champions League and three vital Premier League games before the end of August. Last year Spurs took nine points from the corresponding fixtures and to maintain a position in the top four that level of consistency is going to be vital. To fail in these games could really dampen the spirit of optimism surrounding the club and spectators as the season opens.

To date, transfer activity for Spurs has been limited to rumours of possible targets and probable departures. Presumably, the Chairman will be activating his usual ‘last-minute.com’ policy once he is aware of Spurs European status in the last week of August – Champions League or Europa League.

Spurs immediate goal for the season must be to reach the group stages of the Champions League with a long term objective of building on last season’s progress by maintaining their top four position. However, that will not be an easy task with Manchester City signing players for fun and lavishing excessive salaries upon them while Liverpool are determined to revitalise their flagging fortunes under Roy Hodgson and are fortunate to have retained their star players. If Spurs are unable to achieve these short and long-term targets Daniel Levy may regret his unwillingness to speculate in order to strengthen the team this summer.

There is much to look forward to this season and there is a great buzz of expectation around the club at this moment in time. Spurs are in their strongest position for many years and it is to be hoped that they will progress to an even higher level and by next May will have some silverware to show for all their efforts.

Spurs' Summer Expectations Shattered Once Again.

Ardiles - World Cup Winner

The early summer expectations of a World Cup that would throw up a host of foreign players who would enhance the Premier League were quickly dashed as the realisation dawned very early in the competition that South Africa 2010 was a rather poor and disappointing vintage to offer to the world.  Tottenham Hotspur have benefitted in the past from World Cup signings - they set high standards when Keith Burkinshaw returned to Argentina to sign World Cup winners, Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa.  In 1984 Alan Sugar pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the unexpected signing of Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann but on other occasions the stars of the World Cup have disappointed when faced with the rigours of English football.  This year there were few who did themselves much good in the shop window of the World Cup.

Every summer Spurs fans hope for an early resolution to all transfer negotiations as the manager, with the Chairman's assistance, endeavours to strengthen the Tottenham team for the following season.  The reasoning being that on the resumption of training all the new players will be in place and the work of preparing for the new season can commence in earnest.  However, sadly, once again, this has proved to be a forlorn and false hope as, to date, no new signings have appeared at White Hart Lane.  The only signing of note has been the acquisition of the young Brazilian midfield player, Sandro, but he remains in his homeland and is not expected to be available until September. 

The rumour mill has once again been in full swing with Spurs centre field for every conceivable target but no-one has signed on the dotted line and held up the lilywhite shirt at White Hart Lane.

For many years as Spurs have chased possible transfer targets, the lack of first, European football, and then Champions League football has always been held up as a reason why players have been reluctant to commit themselves to Spurs.  But now with Champions League football beckoning, players still show a reluctance to come to Tottenham.  In past years all we could do was watch as our star players went off to pastures new to fulfill their dreams of playing for the top clubs in the top competitions - Sol Campbell deserted Tottenham for our closest rivals, Arsenal, Teddy Sheringham, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov couldn't wait to get to Old Trafford while Robbie Keane had to sign for his boyhood team, Liverpool.  Spurs couldn't offer those players the opportunity to play at the highest level so there was nothing the club could do but release them with their best wishes and accept the transfer fees to swell the coffers while we, the fans, felt betrayed and disconsolate.  However, now things have changed, Spurs have access to the Champions League while Liverpool are consigned to the Europa League, that should make a difference.  But No - Spurs are still struggling to make those important signings while Liverpool have managed to hold on to their stars - Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and have persuaded Joe Cole to move north to Anfield rather than move to Tottenham.  So as Manchester City and Liverpool have proved, players aren't just interested in the playing opportunities, they're very interested in the money on offer and will go to wherever they get the best salary.  Perhaps, Mr Levy will have to reconsider his financial restrictions where transfer fees and salaries are concerned if Tottenham Hotspur are going to become one of the big players in the Premier League as well as in Europe.  No-one wants Spurs to spend foolishly or offer extravagant salaries but to achieve greatness there will have to be a loosening of the purse strings to attract quality players to the club.

With less than three weeks remaining of this very quiet transfer window, it is to be hoped that any signings will improve the quality of the team and not just be a signing for the sake of it - in the past Spurs have suffered through Mr Levy's desire to shop at 'last-minute.com'.  Late, hasty purchases rarely achieve great success.  Spurs need better than that if they are to maintain the progress achieved by Harry Redknapp in the past two years.

Spurs in History - 5th April

5th April, 1962

'The End of a Dream'

Spurs 2 Benfica 1 European Cup Semi Final (2nd Leg) (Lost 3-4 on agg.)

Spurs came so close to reaching the Final but they couldn’t pull back the two goal deficit against the reigning European Champions. In the first leg in Lisbon Spurs had two goals ruled out for offside and they were determined to comeback strongly as they had in earlier rounds of the competition.

However, their task became even more difficult when they went a goal behind after 15 minutes. From then on Spurs pounded the Benfica defence, Jimmy Greaves had another goal disallowed for offside but eventually equalised in the 35th minute when Bobby Smith scored. Spurs continued to force the visitors back and in the second minute of the second half, Danny Blanchflower scored from a penalty after a foul on John White.

The supporters roared Spurs on and they threw everything at Benfica, hitting the bar and missing some chances but couldn’t get that extra goal.

Benfica were greatly relieved to hear the final whistle.

Spurs in History - 21st March

21st March, 1999

Leicester City 0 Spurs 1 WORTHINGTON CUP FINAL at Wembley

A day filled with European and Cup drama.

In 1953 Spurs lost an F.A.Cup semi-final tie to Blackpool when an Alf Ramsey mistake saw Spurs concede the winning goal with ten seconds left.

In 1962 Spurs lost 3-1 to Benfica in the European Cup semi final 1st Leg tie in Lisbon.

Alan Nielsen celebrates winning the Worthington Cup and MOTM award

However to mark the last success experienced by Spurs we note this Cup victory thanks to a last minute goal from Allan Nielsen. In a rather dour game, Spurs only came to life when reduced to ten men when Justin Edinburgh was sent off. The game seemed to be heading for extra time when Iversen broke on the right to cross and Nielsen was there to head into the net after Kasey Keller, who later was to join Spurs, had pushed the ball out.

Team: Walker; Carr, Vega, Campbell, Edinburgh; Anderton, Freund, Nielsen, Ginola (Sinton); Iversen, Ferdinand.

Spurs in History - 26th February

26th February, 1962

Spurs 4 Dukla Prague 1 European Cup Quarter- Final 2nd Leg

A goal down from the first leg, Spurs returned to European Cup football at White Hart Lane determined to proceed to the next round. Jimmy Greaves was not eligible to make his European debut for Spurs so Tony Marchi came into the team. The pitch was covered with snow but Spurs attacking flair over-powered the Czechs. The match was virtually decided after fifteen minutes as Bobby Smith and Dave Mackay had scored to wipe out the first leg deficit. At the start of the second half a mistake by the Spurs defence allowed the visitors to score and level on aggregate, but Smith and Mackay continued their domination with two goals in a minute, one each, to see Spurs into the semi-finals.

Team: Brown: Baker, Henry; Marchi, Norman, Mackay; Medwin, White, Smith, Blanchflower, Jones.