Tottenham Memorabilia

Everyone is talking about Tottenham for the second season running, last year it was how we were expected to challenge for the top four, this year it is the Ramos revolution.

Having already signed playmaker Modric, Spurs have reportedly agreed a fee for another midfield playmaker, one Giovani Dos Santos, a Mexican playing at Barcelona.  What else do they have in common, well they both chose Spurs over Chelsea.

Two more players have expressed their interest in coming to Tottenham namely Manchester City central defensive rock Richard Dunne and 21 year old Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, regarded as the best young French keeper around.

Brazillian club Cruzeiro want £6 million in one lump for Bolivian striker Marcelo and Seville are considering Spurs offer for wide man Diego Capel.

And lets not forget Jonathon Woodgate also chose Spurs over going to Newcastle to win trophies and Alan Hutton left Rangers UEFA cup run to join Spurs. Two great signings who have picked up Carling Cup Winners medals already.

What does all this tell, Spurs have ambition, obviously, there will be departures from White The Lane, definately, but more than that, it tells us players know Tottenham are on the brink of Champions League football.  They are showing they want to come here and be a part of the fight, the journey, they are as excited as we are.  It matters not who comes in for our targets, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United or clubs with money like Manchester City and Aston Villa.  The Ramos revolution is a powerful lure and a selling point to entice.

Take heart fellow Lilywhites, we are going to be putting in a serious challenge for 4th spot next year, start looking forward to it. Let me ask you all a question, if these signings and more materialise, do you think this might just convince a certain Dimitar Berbatov to stay? Is that beyond the bounds of possibility?

The longer the break drifts on, the more stars we sign, the greater the lure becomes, will he or won’t he, dare we Spurs fans start to believe?

Tottenham next season will have more new faces who may need time to gell together. We have seen it before when they don’t click straight away results suffer.

A new keeper will have to form an understanding with his defence. He is in charge and the back four need to have total confidence in him or it affects their play. Keepers tend to settle quickly so whilst their may be the odd misunderstanding this is not an area of concern for me. Cerny is off to QPR and Robinson will go so we will need to sign two keepers.

A new centre back. Yes we need another but I am a fan of Dawson, who last season was fantastic carrying the defence in King’s absence. He made the England squad but has not had such a good season this time around. He has looked as though he needed a rest after christmas but with no cover has had to continue playing or maybe a lack of confidence in Robinson and Cerny affected his performances. Whatever the reason, we need him back to his best next season. There are so many games in a season now that he is important to our squad, if he went we would have to sign two or 3 centre backs and I can’t see that happening. Kaboul and Rocha will surely both go and how many games will King be fit to play? Spurs need Dawson.

Left back. Spurs have been looking at left wingers which suggests to me that Gareth Bale will be playing left back and not in midfield. Ramos signed Hutton and he loves to attack on the right so Bale will suit the style Ramos wants us to play, quick passing and movement. Having him back will be like having a new signing and a good one. Gilberto is another who loves to attack, presumably he is the cover for Bale so Lee Young Pyo may go together with Chimbonda. Who will be our cover for Hutton? Stalteri signs for Fulham on a free transfer on 1st July.

In midfield Spurs will have Modric pulling the strings, I expect Lennon to be on the right, a new signing on the left, leaving the holding midfielder role. How many games will Modric and Huddlestone play together? Young Huddlestone can only get better and to have him spraying long balls to the flanks with Modric and Keane interchanging at the sharp end would be a very attacking option.

Zakora has improved as the season has gone on and gives us another style in the holding role but will he be at Tottenham or are we chasing someone already?

Malbranque is a hard working player who seems to dribble past players,  keep the ball, tackle back, ghost in for chances and miss them, another miss against Reading, will he stay? His downside for me is lack of pace and his finishing.

,Jenas turned up against Reading, he never stops running but if you remember the comment from Andy Townsend that he is a player who has to know he is loved, a confidence player, will his nose be put out of joint at the arrival of Modric? If so should Spurs let him go?

Berbatov is going for Champions League football so a top class striker will be arriving. Refusing to pose in the new kit and not ordering any for next season tells us he won’t be here. Thank you Dimitar for two seasons of sheer class, you have improved Robbie as a player as a result.

Ramos has said the area of the game we need to look at is our finishing, we create chances the chances, so whoever arrives will be a proven finisher and will therefore cost money. According to some reports Villa has told his agent he does not want to go to Spurs so doubt that it will be him.

We can look forward to more top signings over the summer, let’s hope they gell quickly because if they don’t we may not be challenging for the top 4!

Another game Tottenham take the lead, create chances and fail to put them away.

Spurs lead only lasted 6 minutes after Berbatov struck with his left foot after 6 minutes, the chance being created by Lennon.

Aaron Lennon never stopped taking people on today which was a welcome sight after what has to be considered a poor season for him. He made one cross into the 6 yard box in the second half which would have been a tap in if Keane or Berbatov had anticipated and taken the gamble of attacking space.

Over the last few months press speculation suggests Lennon may be part of the clearout but Ramos has stated he has the potential and needs to improve his end product. On the form of today I can’t see Tottenham selling Lennon. He went on runs, had close control and was beating players on a dreadful surface.

Radek Cerny showed again he just is not good enough when in the second half Bent was through and should have scored. His positioning was wrong (not by far, but enough) and went to ground too early. With a bit of composure Bent should have lobbed it over him, instead he blasted it against the bar.

Jamie O’Hara has been a midfield find, I am not convenced about him as a left back yet though. Still, with Bale to come back and Gilberto we at least have 3 left footed players.

Who is the full back cover for Hutton who has been an excellent buy? Who will be the 4th centre half? Who will be the left back if Bale plays in midfield?

Which of these 11 will still be at Tottenham next season: Jenas, Zakora, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Chimbonda, Lee Young-Pyo, Bent, Kaboul, Tanio, Boateng and Rocha?

At last someone has admitted it, Spurs prolific strikers do not score enough goals.

Don’t be daft some will say but stop and think how many chances Tottenham create. Often Spurs are all over teams but do not tuck the ball away. This has to improve.

There have been over 100 goals at White Hart Lane, but not enough of them scored by Tottenham. Attack is the Spurs philosophy now, that’s great, but you have to back it up will goals aplenty, 4 - 4 draws are not good enough.

Look at the Chelsea game, Spurs could and should have won 5-4 in the dying moments. This is exactly the type of chance that Tottenham have missed to many of, the type Spurs must score more of.

During the summer Ramos must be ruthless with under achievers and buy quality. Tottenham after the sale of Defoe have 3 strikers, Bent will surely go, Berbatov might be tempted by the Champions League, leaving Spurs only with Keane. To try and find 2 quality strikers is difficult, 3, well I just can’t see that much money being available when you consider the need for a central defender, a full back and a new creative spark in midfield.