Spurs in History - 12th November

Manager Bill Nicholson's Spurs lost at Sheffield Wednesday but as a player he had happier memories of defeating Sheffield United 7-0.

12th November, 1960

Sheffield Wednesday 2 Spurs 1 (1st Division)

Hillsborough has never been a ‘happy hunting ground’ for Spurs. Their last win on the ground had been in 1937 and that had been their only success in twenty five League and Cup visits.

Wednesday were second to Spurs in the League and in a full-blooded game brought Spurs’ undefeated run to an end. Both teams had chances to score in the first half before Wednesday went ahead after forty minutes but Spurs levelled two minutes later when Maurice Norman scored after a free-kick.

Spurs threatened to take control in the early stages of the second half but Wednesday went ahead at the mid-way point and Spurs were unable to come back again in spite of some intense pressure in the closing moments, losing their unbeaten run in the seventeenth game.

So by mid-November, Spurs' record was:

P 17 Won 15 D 1 L 1 For 54 Ag 20 Pts 31 (2pts for a win)

Team:

Brown, Baker, Henry, Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.


12th November, 1949

Spurs 7 Sheffield United 0 (2nd Division)

Spurs, under Arthur Rowe in his first season as manager, were striving for promotion from the 2nd Division, and had only suffered one defeat in the season to date, having lost the second home game to Blackburn Rovers. They won 10 of the next twelve games and Sheffield United had no answer to Spurs' fast, flowing football and were comprehensively defeated.

Spurs scored through Sonny walters (3), Len Duquemin (2), Les Medley (2).

The attendance was 54,193.

Spurs record was:

P 16 W 14 D 2 L 1 For 41 Ag 10 Pts 30

Team:

Ditchburn, Ramsey, Withers, Nicholson, Clarke, Burgess (Captain), Walters, Bennett, Duquemen, Baily, Medley.

Spurs v Southend United (Carling Cup Q/F Draw)

Carling Cup Draw:

Having defeated Port Vale 3-1 after extra time in the 4th round of the Carling Cup, Spurs have been drawn at home to Southend United in the Quarter-final tie to be played in the week before Christmas.

This will be part of a very busy month for Spurs who will play, weather permitting, ten games between the 2nd December and 1st January, 2007.

Southend United who are currently bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship had a great win over Manchester United in the last round. A Freddie Eastwood goal was enough to give them a 1-0 win at Roots Hall. The Southend team includes Mark Gower who made two substitute appearances for Spurs before his £32,500 transfer to Barnet.

Spurs and Southend have met on one previous occasion in the League Cup. In 1989-90 Spurs won the home game in the two legged 2nd Round tie by a single goal scored by Terry Fenwick. However, in the 2nd leg Spurs lost 2-3, but qualified on the away goals rule. The important away goals were scored by Paul Allen and Nayim.

Having rested regular players for the previous two games in the Carling Cup, Martin Jol will need to be wary of Southend who showed their capabilities against the Premiership leaders, while Jol's squad players struggled to impose themselves against a hard-working Port Vale team. Spurs were grateful to Tom Huddlestone for his two goals to ease ther passage to this stage of the competition.

The other games are:

Liverpool v Arsenal

Newcastle v Chelsea

Charlton v Wycombe

Spurs in History - 11th November

John White (far left) and the 'Double' team

11th November, 1964

In Memory of John White

Spurs 2 Scotland XI 6 (John White Memorial Match)

This game gave Spurs’ fans the opportunity to pay their respects to a 'Legend of White Hart Lane', the late John White, the Scottish International who had so tragically died when struck by lightning while playing golf during the summer.

John’s brother, Tommy who played professionally both in Scotland and England appeared as a guest player for Spurs, scoring one of the goals with the other coming from Tony Marchi.

Over 29,000 spectators attended the game which had been postponed from the previous night because of fog. Two of the Scotland XI’s goals were scored by Alan Gilzean who was to sign for Spurs from Dundee a few weeks later.

John White had been a very important member of the ‘Double’ team and his death at the age of twenty seven was a tragic loss. The programme for the game contained many tributes to the player from respected managers, players and journalists.

Spurs in History - 10th November

10th November, 1998

Liverpool 1 Spurs 3 Worthington Cup (4th Round)

'Spurs are on their way to Wembley.'

Having defeated Brentford and Northampton Town in the previous rounds, Spurs were drawn away to Liverpool.

Going to Anfield is always a difficult game but the ground was only half full as Liverpool were in poor form and in some managerial disarray.

Spurs’ fans enjoyed the game, taunting Liverpool, as they watched their team under George Graham continue their Cup progress with a comfortable and deserved victory.

Spurs scored with goals from Steffan Iversen after two minutes, John Scales on twenty and Allan Nielsen in the second half. Spurs spurned other goal scoring chances and Liverpool’s goal was a late consolation following a mistake from goalkeeper, Espen Baardsen.

Spurs in History - 9th November

9th November, 1988

Blackburn Rovers 1 Spurs 2 (aet) Littlewoods Cup (3rd Round Replay)

Apart from defeating Notts County in the earlier round, Spurs previous victory had been in the League in late September. Six games without a win and four successive League defeats preceded this game.

The first game at White Hart Lane had been scoreless but in the replay Mitchell Thomas gave Spurs the lead but a late equaliser took the game into extra time where Paul Stewart scored a deserved winner, Spurs having shown resilience and determination to progress to the next round where they were drawn to meet Southampton at the Dell.

March Report - Spurs v Port Vale

8th November, 2006
Spurs 3 Port Vale 1 (aet) Carling Cup 4th Round

Spurs lost their perfect home record agaunst Port Vale over ninety minutes but proved too strong in extra time for the Coca Cola Division 1 side. Spurs had won all of their previous seven home League and Cup games against Port vale but had to come from a goal down and be satisfied with a 1-1 scoreline at full-time to take the game into an extra half-hour.

Martin Jol only selected Michael Dawson from the team which had played so well in the last two wins over Brugge and Chelsea - the others were either out through injury or rested. Cerny returned in goal and Ifil and Lee were the full backs with Dawson partnered by Dorian Dervite making his debut. The midfield was Davids who captained the side, Murphy, Huddlestone and Steed Malbranque who made his long awaited debut following his operation, having signed from Fulham in August. Defoe was partnered by Barcham as Mido was injured in training. Jol had experience in reserve with Lennon, Ghaly and Berbatov on the substitutes bench.

Spurs exerted most of the pressure throughout but in spite of winning a number of corners and creating half chances, they were unable to score through a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Mark Goodlad. Spurs were troubled little in defence but were unable to rais ethe game sufficiently to really worry Port Vale who worked very hard throughout.

Eventually, it had to happen. Port Vale scored, after 64 minutes when their leading scorer, Leon Constantine prodded the ball through Cerny's legs. Spurs were stunned and a packed White Hart Lane thought they were going to be looking at another giant-killing act to match Southend's victory over Manchester United.

Would the euphoria of the Chelsea win be swept away by Port Vale? Martin Jol was taking no chances - he immediately sent on Berbatov and Ghaly to join Lennon who had come on just before the goal. Spurs looked livelier but still couldn't score that vital goal. Time wore on and with only ten minutes left Tom Huddlestone put in a free kick which evaded everyone and ended up in the net. His first goal for Spurs was so important and gave Spurs the breathing space and confidence they needed.

Two minutes into extra time, Spurs went ahead. A Spurs' attack was cleared, Berbatov picked up the ball and rolled it out to Huddlestone who fired home from thirty yards. A late goal by Defoe from an Ifil cross secured Spurs path to the quarter finals, having overcome a very hard working Port Vale.

Spurs in History - 8th November

Darren Anderton gave Spurs an early lead

8th November, 2003

Arsenal 2 Spurs 1 (Premiership)

Very much a case of what might have been.

Spurs went into this game having lost at home to Bolton the previous week but were ahead after four minutes when Darren Anderton scored. Spurs had two opportunities to increase their lead in the first half when Helder Postiga was clean through on goal but he lost his composure and was unable to score. Postiga, restored to the team and starting only his fifth game of the season had a real chance to make a name for himself at Spurs but the opportunity was gone.

In the second half, Spurs were comfortable until Arsenal scored a debatable equaliser, looking offside, and with a deflected shot.

Spurs left Highbury deflated and frustrated at not getting anything from all their effort.

Match Preview - Spurs v Port Vale (Carling Cup)

W W D W W W

Spurs go in to the Carling Cup tie with a perfect home record against Port Vale, played 7 – won 7 (1 League and 1 FA Cup). The clubs haven’t met at White Hart Lane since the 4th Round Cup tie in January, 1955 but the last occasion they met saw 3rd Division Vale humiliate Spurs in 1988. Terry Venables’ team lost 1-2, thirty three years and one day after the previous meeting.

The two most notable players who have played for both clubs are Anthony Gardner who signed from Port Vale in 2000 and Eddie Baily who was transferred to Port Vale in January, 1956 after ten successful years at Spurs.

Following Spurs’ two exciting wins last week, Martin Jol will surely rest many of those players with important games coming up in the next fortnight. Injuries are also causing concern so some of the younger players may have an opportunity – Ifil, Dervite, Charlie Lee and Barcham are in the squad which also includes Steed Malbranque, now recovered from his operation and Lee Young-Pyo who is also fit. Spurs’ strength in depth will be tested with squad players like Davenport, Gardner and Stalteri injured but Mido and Defoe will probably start after their enforced rest and should have the opportunity to remind the manager of their goal scoring talents.

L D D* L W L (* Won on penalties)

Port Vale are currently 13th in Coca-Cola League 1.

On Saturday they lost 1-2 at Crewe to a twice taken injury time penalty. In three home ties, Port Vale have defeated Preston, Q.P.R and Norwich, on penalties, to reach this stage of the competition. Port Vale started the season brightly, winning their first four games but since then, apart from the Cup games, their form has slipped and they have won only three of thirteen games, two of them away from home.

Their leading scorer is Leon Constantine with 10 goals (9 league and 1 Cup) followed by Akpo Sodje on 5 (4 +1). Port Vale can call upon experienced midfielder, Danny Sonner and have Nigerian international defender George Abbey in their team. Vale striker Nathan Lowndes and midfielder Robin Hulbert are both doubtful but defender Mark McGregor could return. Michael Husbands and Luke Prosser are both in the squad.

It is important for Spurs to maintain the euphoria of Sunday’s win and with the right attitude and application will be in the draw for the next round and Spurs would be looking to add to their goal scoring record against Port Vale.

Home League record v Port Vale (2nd Division):

Nov. 1919 Won 2-0

Feb. 1929 Won 4-1

Nov. 1930 Won 5-0

Nov. 1931 Won 9-3 (1st time Spurs scored nine goals in a League game)

Nov. 1932 Won 4-0

Sept. 1935 Won 5-2

FA Cup:

Jan. 1955 Won 4-2

Spurs in History - 7th November

7th November, 1999

Spurs 2 Arsenal 1 (Premiership)

This is the last occasion when Spurs were victorious over Arsenal who ‘suffered a day of shame as they crashed against arch-rivals Tottenham.’

In an explosive game Spurs were two ahead inside twenty minutes. Steffan Iversen scored after six minutes with Tim Sherwood getting the second. Arsenal pulled one back just before half time but in the second they had Ljungberg and Keown sent off and a total of six players booked as the ‘red mist’ descended on them.

Spurs had played with passion in a game that was described as ‘brutal and unremittingly ferocious.’ It was a good win for Spurs who displayed a new level of commitment and determination.

Spurs in History - 6th November

6th November, 2002

Burnley 2 Spurs 1 Carling Cup (3rd Round)

The wheels were starting to come off the Glenn Hoddle management roller-coaster.

It was to take another ten months but serious questions were being asked about his managerial ability and the attitude and commitment of the players. Doubts were being raised in the minds of the fans who idolised Hoddle and wanted him to succeed at Tottenham.

On a wet winter’s night Spurs took the lead through Gus Poyet but once Burnley went ahead in the second half there was only going to be one winner.

An inept and very disappointing display as Spurs went out of the competition to a lower Division team without showing any fight or pride.

The clock was ticking for Glenn Hoddle as manager of Spurs.

Aaron Lennon's Goal v Chelsea

Match Report - 5th November

Glorious Spurs Triumphant

Spurs Goal scoring Heroes - Aaron Lennon & Michael Dawson

Spurs 2 Chelsea 1

What a match! What a performance! What a result!

Spurs thoroughly deserved to take the three points against Chelsea - the first time they have achieved that in a League game at White Hart Lane since Nico Claesen's winner in August, 1987. (Gary Lineker had scored the last winning goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a 2-1 win in February, 1990).

At last, three points from Chelsea - the jinx has been broken and also that of not defeating one of the top four clubs, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. Spurs can now move on - they showed today that they are capable of taking on and defeating the top sides. Previously, this season Spurs had kept their best displays for European games but today they matched Chelsea, took all that they could through at them and came out triumphant.

Martin Jol selected the same team that had played so well on Thursday evening against Brugge, so he does know his best team.

Both teams started brightly at a high tempo which was maintained throughout as the game flowed from end to end. Chelsea took a slight initiative after Chimbonda was injured and while he was off getting treatment, Chelsea started to exert more pressure. Spurs defended strongly but while Chimbonda was recovering, Robben broke clear and only a last ditch tackle prevented him from scoring. from the corner, Chelsea scored through a rare goal from Makelele struck from the edge of the box.

Spurs took time to recover but through time they started to exert more pressure and from a Jenas free kick, Michael Dawson scored his first goal for Spurs. A deserved equaliser as Spurs showed they weren't going to lie down for Chelsea.

After half time the game continued from end to end and withg Keane taking up positions wide on the left he put in a crosss which Aaron Lennon controlled hit home to put Spurs ahead with over forty minutes remaining.

Two superb goals to put Spurs ahead and as Chelsea became more frantic John Terry was sent off for two bookings and played the last half hour with ten men.

Chelsea continued to build up the pressure but Spurs held firm and again Keane created havoc on the left creating an opening for Berbatov who missed his chance. While Chelsea attacked, Spurs still took the game to them and put them under pressure from set plays. Chelsea's best chance came with minutes left when Ronnen's shot hit the outside of the post. It would have been very harsh on Spurs if they had conceded so late on.

Spurs deserved to win and it was no backs to the wall performance - they competed with Chelsea throughout the game and created chances themselves. Chelsea played well but Spurs did better. There was a belief in the Spurs' players that they could win and they were rewarded for all their hard work. This win should be a great morale boost for them and give them the confidence for future games.

Well done to Graham Poll who refereed very fairly - he wasn't intimidated by Chelsea players pressurising him a nd he allowed the game to flow but booked players as was required.

Congratulations to Martin Jol - the team were prepared and motivated for the game and tactically they matched Chelsea and went on to record a great win.

Heroes - every one of them.

Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Ghaly, Jenas, Zokora, Lennon, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe).

Spurs in History - 5th November

5th November, 1960

Spurs 5 Fulham 1 (1st Division)

Spurs’ best start to a season continued with their sixteenth game undefeated and only one point dropped. Spurs were sitting comfortably at the top of the table and started the game six points clear of their nearest rivals, Sheffield Wednesday. Fulham were seventh but had no answer to the goal scoring power of the Spurs forwards.

Les Allen and Cliff Jones (Pic: Cliff Jones double goal scoring hero) had Spurs two ahead at the interval. Fulham scored early in the second half but further goals from Jones, John White and Allen in the last fifteen minutes sealed Spurs victory.

5th November, 1994

Blackburn Rovers 2 Spurs 0 (Premiership)

Following the sacking of Ossie Ardiles, his Assistant Steve Perryman took charge. He restored David Howells to the team and while they produced a workmanlike performance but had been demoralised by the events of the previous week and so were unable to contain Blackburn.

Perryman's time in charge lasted for only one game - by the time of the next game at home to Aston Villa, Gerry Francis who had resigned as manager of Queen's Park Rangers a few days earlier, had been appointed manager.

Spurs in History - 4th November

4th November, 1999

FC Kaiserlautern 2 Spurs 0 UEFA Cup 2nd Round (2nd Leg)

Not so Happy European Memories

Spurs’ last adventure into Europe ended in great disappointment. Having won the first leg thanks to an Iversen penalty following a foul on David Ginola, manager George Graham decided to omit Ginola from the team. This gave the Germans a psychological advantage and they immediately changed their team, having submitted it to the referee, omitting the player designated to mark the Frenchman.

However, when the game reached the ninetieth minute scoreless, it appeared to have worked for Spurs who seemed set for the next round. Then the Germans scored in injury time to bring the aggregate score to 1-1 and immediately they got a second when Stephen Carr (Pic: Stephen Carr the villain for Spurs - late, late own goal) put through his own goal in the dieing seconds.

There was great disappointment at the nature of the defeat and much criticism for Graham’s defensive approach and his decision to omit Ginola from the starting line-up.

Spurs’ appeal over Kaiserlautern changing their starting line up once they realised that Ginola was not playing was unsuccessful.

Graham's days at White Hart Lane were numbered - the dissatisfaction with him was growing rapidly and Spurs fans simply could not accept someone with such strong links with Arsenal, former player and manager, as manager at Tottenham.

Spurs in History - 3rd November

3rd November, 1951

Spurs 4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (1st Division)

As League Champions, Spurs continued their good home performances with a sixth win and only one defeat in eight games.

However, early season injuries had disrupted the team and they were finding it difficult to produce the football that had become characteristic of the ‘push and run’ team of previous years.

Over 61,000 spectators watched as Spurs scored through Alf Ramsay (pen), Sonny Walters, Les Bennett and Len Duquemin. In spite of a poor run in mid-season Spurs managed to finish as runners up four points behind Manchester United but ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.

Spurs in History - 2nd November

2nd November, 1971

Spurs 1 FC Nantes 0 UEFA Cup 2nd Round (2nd Leg)

Spurs had achieved a scoreless draw in the first leg, a game which Hunter Davies covers in great detail in his book ‘The Glory Game’.

In this return game Spurs dominated and created many chances especially in the first half and should have had the game won by half-time. However, being unable to convert the chances created, the game remained on a knife edge.

The winning goal was scored early in the first half by their Captain, Martin Peters but Spurs were unable to add to it. At one point after confusion over an injury and a substitution, Nantes had twelve players on the pitch.

Team:
Jennings, Evans, Knowles, Pratt, England, Beal, Neighbour, Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Gilzean (Pearce)

2nd November, 1983

Feyenoord 0 Spurs 2 UEFA Cup 2nd Round (2nd Leg)

Spurs were 4-2 ahead from the first leg but the two second half goals that Feyenoord had scored at White Hart Lane had encouraged them that all was not lost.

However, Spurs gave a masterly performance and a goal from Chris Hughton after twenty five minutes silenced the home support and a second goal from Tony Galvin, five minutes from the end gave Spurs a very convincing and deserved 6-2 aggregate win.

Team: Clemence, Hughton, Thomas, Roberts, Stevens, Perryman, Mabbutt, Archibald, Falco (Brazil), Hoddle, Galvin.

Spurs in History - 1st November

1st November, 1893

Spurs against Authority

The Ernie Payne Affair

Even in the earliest days Spurs found themselves facing the wrath and judgement of the football authorities. They had been reported by Fulham for poaching a player and for alleged infringements of the amateur laws. They were found not guilty of poaching by the London F.A. because while Payne was on the Fulham books he had not played for some time. However, having given Payne ten shillings (50p) to buy a pair of boots when his went missing, Spurs were found guilty of a breach of the rules as it was regarded as an unfair inducement to the player to play for the club.

For this misconduct Spurs were suspended for two weeks and Payne for one week. Spurs appealed but lost. The club had been considering the possibility of turning professional but this incident was probably the catalyst for them to make that decision in 1895.

[See also Spurs in History - 13th October]

Match Preview - Spurs v Club Brugge UEFA Cup

Spurs: WDWWWD Club Brugge: DWWWDW

Club Brugge, second seeds in the group, come to White Hart Lane in 3rd place in the Belgium League with 20 points from 10 games, six points behind the leaders. They lost their first two away games including a match against second placed Anderlecht (0-1) but are undefeated since then and last Friday they recorded a comfortable 5-1 home win over Exc. Moeskroen. Their goals were scored by Vermant, Yulu-Mantondo (2), Clement and Baloban and will be feeling confident of getting a result.

UEFA Cup:
2nd Qual. Round: won both games against FK Suduva from Lithuania - 2-0 in the first leg, and 5-2 at home.
1st Round: Brugge defeated Ruzomberok (from Slovakia) 2-1 on aggregate, winning the first away leg by a single goal.

Their first group stage game was a home draw 1-1 with Leverkusen, the top seeds, and reports indicate that goalkeeper, Stijn Stijnen, kept them in the game with a string of outstanding saves. Their equalising goal was scored at the start of the second half by Clement, following a corner.

Their team from that match was:
Stijnen, Clement, Gvozdenovic, Maertens, Pedersen, Blondel, Daerden, Englebert, Vermant, Ishiaku, Balaban. Friday’s two goal hero, Yulu-Matondo was among the substitutes.

Brugge appear to have a full strength squad available with a few players, strikers -Ibrahim, Ishiaku, and Balaban and defender, Gvozdenovic, all available having recovered from minor injuries. Names to note are Blondel who had a short spell at White Hart Lane and will be remembered by many for his short cameo debut appearance against Southampton. His other appearances were rare and being unable to settle in London he returned to Belgium. Other players with experience in England are Clement at Coventry and Balaban at Aston Villa.

Brugge have a poor record on English soil in European competitions – from eight trips their best result is 1-1 at Nottingham Forest, while Liverpool have twice denied them in Finals, defeating them in the UEFA Cup Final in 1975-76 and again in the European Cup Final three years later.

Spurs have played Club Brugge on one previous occasion – they met in the UEFA Cup in the 1984-85 season. Spurs lost the away leg 1-2, Clive Allen scoring and Glenn Hoddle sent off, but won 3-0 at home in the second leg – Roberts, Allen and Hazard scoring. Their other European encounter with Belgian opposition was in the previous year’s UEFA Cup Final, defeating Anderlecht on penalties in that never to be forgotten final at White Hart Lane.

Spurs are undefeated in seven games since losing to Liverpool in late September and have saved their best performances for European competitions, especially the away game against Besiktas. The Spurs team should be as previously in Europe with Huddlestone retaining his place for the recovering Zokora and probably Berbatov and Defoe as strike partners. Berbatov was outstanding in Turkey but having been rested for two games was disappointing against Watford. He is clearly more suited to the tempo of European football and will have another chance to show his class. Defoe has shown a return to form and deserves to start. Lennon will start with either Ghaly or Murphy on the opposite side.

Reports suggest that the Brugge coaches were not impressed by Spurs’ performance at Watford so hopefully Spurs will surprise them and get the three points which, with three teams qualifying, would all but guarantee them a place in the next knock-out stages of the tournament.

Group B: P W Pts
Spurs 1 1 0 0 2 0 3
Leverkusen 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Brugge 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Besiktas 1 0 0 1 0 2 0
Din. Bucharest 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[First posted on COYS Messageboard]

Article: Time to Ditch Striker Rotation at Tottenham

Time to Ditch ‘Striker Rotation’ at Spurs

[Article from Topspurs Column)

Is Jermaine Defoe's form suffering because of 'striker rotation'?

At school I learned in the history classes about crop rotation. In fact, I have even taught about its importance for early farmers and how they allowed fields to lie fallow for a year to improve their crop yield. However, the striker rotation employed by Martin Jol at Spurs is not having the desired effect of producing a bumper crop of goals for his team.

Surely, the time has come for Martin Jol to reconsider his policy of rotation of the strikers. For the two years he has been in charge, he has persisted with this policy, initially rotating Kanoute, Defoe and Keane and then including Mido into the equation. Now Dimitar Berbatov has been added to the mix and there is no indication that the strikers are going to become regular goal scorers, the MK Dons game apart. The rotational policy is explained as a way to keep all of the players happy and ensuring they get to play regularly but is it actually being used because he doesn’t know which pairing is the best? In his first season, his use of double substitutions – taking off Mido and Keane to be replaced by Kanoute and Defoe, or whatever combination of players he was using, seemed to be effective as tiring defenders were suddenly facing a fresh strike force who on occasions turned the game around. However, of late, no such rewards have been forthcoming and which ever partnership has played they have looked out of sorts and ill at ease, neither producing individually or linking as a partnership.

It is well known that Jol prefers to play a tall striker alongside a smaller one and so for much of last season he played Mido and rotated Defoe and Keane. That at least gave some consistency but this season, the partnership changes from game to game and none of the players have shown their true goal scoring ability. Individually, with good service, each of the strikers is capable of scoring regularly in the Premiership – all three from last season have shown that, while Berbatov was a leading goalscorer in Germany. However, collectively, their performances have not been equal to the sum of their parts – the fans have been waiting since April, 2005 for Spurs to win a Premiership game comfortably. Aston Villa at White Hart Lane, while Kanoute was still around, were the last team to be beaten by a large score while Spurs only scored three goals on six occasions last year and their highest margin of victory was two goals – even in games they controlled they were unable to make their dominance count.

Strikers need a good service with goal scoring opportunities created for them from midfield and certainly early in the season, with Lennon injured, Spurs’ football was very mundane and pedestrian. However, recently they have created more chances but have not managed to take them. The strikers also need to develop an understanding for it to become a goal scoring partnership, and this can not be helped by the constant rotation. Confidence plays a big part in any strikers’ game so being omitted from the team, even after scoring, must play on their minds – knowing that even if they get a goal, or two, it is no guarantee of a place in the starting line up for the next game.

Through Spurs’ history there have been strong striker partnership on which success was based – Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann, Steve Archibald and Garth Crooks, Martin Chivers and Alan Gilzean, Gilzean and Jimmy Greaves, Greaves and Bobby Smith, Smith and Les Allen in the ‘Double’ team – all developed an understanding and a goalscoring partnership. At other clubs the same is evident – the great Liverpool team had John Toshack and Kevin Keegan, while an earlier generation had Roger Hunt and Ian St.John and Leeds United had Allan Clarke and Mick Jones.

For the benefit of the team, Martin Jol would be advised to re-consider his thinking and look at the possibility of deciding on his best partnership and settling on it for a period to give the players an opportunity to gel and develop an understanding which should lead to an increase in the number of goals scored by Spurs. It would probably be appreciated by the midfield players as well, as they would develop a better understanding of how the strikers want the ball played and so be more able to develop the game accordingly.

While the strikers are rotated from game to game, the same policy does not apply elsewhere in the team – the manager knows that his best central defensive partnership is King and Dawson, so they appear every game unless either is unavailable through injury or suspension. Similarly, in midfield there is less rotation. While more players are used – it is mostly trying to make the best use of those available to overcome the deficiency of a left sided player capable of making the position his own.
The changes in selection for the Carling Cup game are understandable and gave members of the squad an opportunity to play. With so many games, there will be a need to call on these players because of injury or wanting to rest someone who has played a number of consecutive games or in preparation for an important match but it shouldn’t call for the strikers to be alternated in every game.

Who will the strikers be against Club Brugge? On his lacklustre and frustrating performance against Watford, Berbatov probably shouldn’t play but his display in Europe against Besiktas suggests he is more suited to the style of play for Europe than the hustle and bustle of the Premiership. To partner him, Defoe may get the opportunity ahead of Keane who has yet to show the inspired form of the second half of last season.

Farming has moved on from that early rotational policy so perhaps after two years as manager, it is time for Jol to dump the rotation of his strikers and give them the chance to develop the understanding and partnership required to score goals. Rafael Benitez’s persistence with a similar system at Liverpool isn’t proving any more effective. The success or failure of this season for Spurs may depend on how Martin Jol resolves the conundrum of the team’s inability to score enough goals. The goal scorers are there – but can they be blended into a successful goal scoring partnership capable of challenging for honours?

It’s over to you Martin – now is the time to act – it’s time to make that decision as to who will make the best striking partnership at the club.

Spurs in History - 31st October

31st October, 1962
Spurs 5 Glasgow Rangers 2 European Cup Winners’ Cup 1st Round (1st Leg)
Spurs second European started against Glasgow Rangers and this England/Scotland clash gave Spurs a comfortable lead to take to the second leg at Ibrox Park.
John White, a Scottish International, (Pic: John White and Maurice Norman show off the Cup at Wembley)was the star of the night in a hard fought game which was all about pride. He headed Spurs first goal after four minutes from a Jimmy Greaves corner but Rangers equalised five minutes later. Another Greaves corner enabled White to head his second before Les Allen made it three. The Rangers defence were under pressure and conceded an own goal for 4-1 but almost immediately Rangers managed to score a second. Ten minutes from time another Greaves corner saw Maurice Norman score the fifth and final goal.

Team: Brown, Baker, Henry, Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay, Medwin, White, Allen, Greaves, Jones.

Att: 58,859

Ossie Ardiles was sacked as manager of Spurs on this day in 1994.

[See: Spurs in History - 29th October, 1994.]

31st October, 1992

Spurs 2 Liverpool 0 Premier League

Nayim and Neil Ruddock scored the goals to defeat Liverpool to give Spurs only their third League win of the season.

With Terry Venables in his executive role, Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence were joint 1st team coaches and the results were disappointing. This win brought their points total to 15 from the first 14 games but they had now gone five League and Cup games undefeated.

However, it was not until the new year when Venables started to take a more active role in team affairs working alongside his two coaches that results started to improve. A young team, playing exciting football showed improved League form and progressed to the FA Cup semi-final where they were unfortunate to lose to Arsenal.