It's a popular belief that Wednesday's England friendly against Ghana serves no purpose other than to disrupt teams at an important stage of the season but Fabio Capello has to have some time with the players at some stage.
If the nation really wants an improvement on our World Cup performance at the Euros in 2012 then we've got to accept that the manager needs to spend some time with the players.
Most fans appear to be united in the opinion that yesterday's 2-0 win over Wales was like watching paint dry but it was a solid, professional performance and probably a necessary starting block as Capello tries to regain his grip on a coaching reign that seems to be slipping through his fingers.
It is in Tottenham's interest that England keep winning because much more press criticism and the FA will be slithering up Tottenham High Road with a juicy red apple for Harry Redknapp.
It's nice to see Capello cooperating with the clubs and releasing a group of players who have a busy schedule coming up; it's a common-sense move that will not only please the clubs that benefit but should recieve some rare praise in the media - although that's not taking into account the potential shitstorm if someone like Jack Wilshere or Joe Hart suffer an injury.
You could also question why he's kept Aaron Lennon and Peter Crouch when he seems so confused as to how to employ them or reluctant to use them at all.
On the whole, the squad the Italian is now left with is much younger and impressionable than previously and if there was ever a time to concentrate on practising a new system and fashioning some much-needed team morale then this is surely it.
It's relatively early days in the England careers of Wilshere, Ashley Young and even Lennon and Darren bent but it's important that they form an understanding and, above all, become mates.
The so-called golden generation suffered so much from celebrity and massaged egos that bonds between team-mates went out the window.
It really is back to basics for Capello but if this new look England team is to have any hope of settling in a rhythm, then they need to spend time together..
That said, if Lennon and Crouch get injured on Wednesday then I reserve the right to change my tune.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Friday, 25 March 2011
Top 4 On Friday - Tottenham's England players
With it being the international break, and Spurs having no fewer than five players in the England squad (Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Kyle Walker, Aaron Lennon and Michael Dawson) this week's Top 4 On Friday looks at Tottenham's most influential England players down the years...
4. Glenn Hoddle - 1979-1988
Hoddle scored 8 goals in 53 appearances but is associated more with the England manager's job than pulling on the shirt in his playing days. As a coach, his World Cup campaign in 1998 came to an explosive finish against Argentina in the second round. In fact, Argentina proved to be a bit of a curse for Hoddle. The twinkle-toed midfielder was one of the players left in the dust cloud of Diego Maradona's devastating run in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which led to one of the greatest goals of all time in the World Cup.
Despite his popularity at Tottenham, Hoddle never really settled into an England role; coaches are thought to have struggled to accept his technical, creative game, opting for hard graft and work-rate in the midfield instead. That said, he was greatly admired on the continent; Dennis Bergkamp idolised him and Arsene Wenger described his game as "ahead of his time".
3. Gary Lineker - 1984-1992
Younger Spurs fans will obviously know him as the face of BBC's Match Of The Day but Gary Lineker was the winner of the Golden boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup and the only English player ever to do so, he retired with 48 international goals to his name and just one short of Bobby Charlton's record.
There was never any debate about who started up front for the national side during Lineker's day, he also scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and famously gestured to Bobby Robson to keep an eye of Gazza's trembling bottom lip (more about that later).
Lineker was never booked or sent off for England or Spurs and is renowned as being the model professional. Although, he has recently "soiled" his squeaky clean reputation by admitting he was caught short during a 1990 World Cup game... If the video isn't proof enough for you, then here's a recent news story detailing Lineker's say on the whole sordid matter. Sorry Gary.
2. Jimmy Greaves - 1959-1967
James Peter Greaves remains England's third-top goalscorer of all time, behind Gary Lineker (48 in 80 caps) and Bobby Charlton (49 in 106 caps) but his scoring record far exceeds both, having taken only 57 games to notch his 44 goals. Greavsie's record is similarly impressive for Spurs (220 in 321 appearances).
The striker's impact on England's history books was sadly hampered by a leg injury during the 1966 World Cup, Geoff Hurst took his place in the team and held it all the way to the final, despite Greaves' recovery. In Greaves' absence, Hurst used the chance to write his name as one of England's greats with a hat-trick in the final. Due to not being on the pitch in the final, our prolific forward was denied a World Cup winners medal until his work was finally recognised in 2009.
1. Paul Gascoigne - 1988-1998
There really is no picture in football quite like it; of 23-year-old Gazza mopping his tears with his England shirt in the 1990 World Cup semi-final after a yellow card proved to be an onion in the eyes for the unpredictable midfielder. His impact, good and bad, is written all over England folklore; from dazzling performances to painful controversy, such as the famous dentist's chair night out prior to Euro '96. Some people even go as far as crediting the sight of a young man in tears with reigniting the nation's passion for football.
Gazza only scored 10 goals for the national team, but his exploits and his attitude ensured his impact is long-lasting. At Euro 96, during the group stages and in front of a home crowd at Wembley, Gazza again captured the nation's heart as he looped the ball over Scotland's Colin Hendry before volleying home, mocking the dentist's-chair scandal with his celebration.
4. Glenn Hoddle - 1979-1988
Hoddle scored 8 goals in 53 appearances but is associated more with the England manager's job than pulling on the shirt in his playing days. As a coach, his World Cup campaign in 1998 came to an explosive finish against Argentina in the second round. In fact, Argentina proved to be a bit of a curse for Hoddle. The twinkle-toed midfielder was one of the players left in the dust cloud of Diego Maradona's devastating run in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, which led to one of the greatest goals of all time in the World Cup.
Despite his popularity at Tottenham, Hoddle never really settled into an England role; coaches are thought to have struggled to accept his technical, creative game, opting for hard graft and work-rate in the midfield instead. That said, he was greatly admired on the continent; Dennis Bergkamp idolised him and Arsene Wenger described his game as "ahead of his time".
3. Gary Lineker - 1984-1992
Younger Spurs fans will obviously know him as the face of BBC's Match Of The Day but Gary Lineker was the winner of the Golden boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup and the only English player ever to do so, he retired with 48 international goals to his name and just one short of Bobby Charlton's record.
There was never any debate about who started up front for the national side during Lineker's day, he also scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and famously gestured to Bobby Robson to keep an eye of Gazza's trembling bottom lip (more about that later).
Lineker was never booked or sent off for England or Spurs and is renowned as being the model professional. Although, he has recently "soiled" his squeaky clean reputation by admitting he was caught short during a 1990 World Cup game... If the video isn't proof enough for you, then here's a recent news story detailing Lineker's say on the whole sordid matter. Sorry Gary.
2. Jimmy Greaves - 1959-1967
James Peter Greaves remains England's third-top goalscorer of all time, behind Gary Lineker (48 in 80 caps) and Bobby Charlton (49 in 106 caps) but his scoring record far exceeds both, having taken only 57 games to notch his 44 goals. Greavsie's record is similarly impressive for Spurs (220 in 321 appearances).
The striker's impact on England's history books was sadly hampered by a leg injury during the 1966 World Cup, Geoff Hurst took his place in the team and held it all the way to the final, despite Greaves' recovery. In Greaves' absence, Hurst used the chance to write his name as one of England's greats with a hat-trick in the final. Due to not being on the pitch in the final, our prolific forward was denied a World Cup winners medal until his work was finally recognised in 2009.
1. Paul Gascoigne - 1988-1998
There really is no picture in football quite like it; of 23-year-old Gazza mopping his tears with his England shirt in the 1990 World Cup semi-final after a yellow card proved to be an onion in the eyes for the unpredictable midfielder. His impact, good and bad, is written all over England folklore; from dazzling performances to painful controversy, such as the famous dentist's chair night out prior to Euro '96. Some people even go as far as crediting the sight of a young man in tears with reigniting the nation's passion for football.
Gazza only scored 10 goals for the national team, but his exploits and his attitude ensured his impact is long-lasting. At Euro 96, during the group stages and in front of a home crowd at Wembley, Gazza again captured the nation's heart as he looped the ball over Scotland's Colin Hendry before volleying home, mocking the dentist's-chair scandal with his celebration.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Rafa van der Vaart - the sweet and sour sorcerer
Picture the scene...At 23.59:59s on August 31, 2010. Harry Redknapp pulls off one of the biggest shocks of any transfer window and immediately it looks a match made in heaven.
Rafa Van Der Vaart arrives at Tottenham for a ridiculously cheap £8million and hits the ground running. He's banging 'em in all over the shop, links up with Peter Crouch, fights for every ball and plays the Tottenham way. An instant hit.
Fade out.
Fade in; it's Saturday and Rafa's trudging moodily down the tunnel and towards the dressing room with about 70 minutes on the clock - it's getting to be a familiar sight, only this time it sparks waves of concern and debate in the papers and around the forums.
The difference being that Harry Redknapp publicly criticised the Dutchman in the press and there are maybe the first murmurings of discontent between the man in charge and our too-good-to-be-true deadline-day coup.
Opinion seems to be divided among Spurs fans. One fan on Planetspurs.com says, "If I was subbed every game like Vdv, I'd be getting pissed off. He has hardly completed 90 minutes since we signed him."
Whereas on BBC606, someone else says, "The more I know about the guy the more i'm convinced he's just not a team player."
Personally, I think that if you want to play the last 20 minutes, then first you need to impress in the first 70 minutes and Rafa has gone off the boil a bit lately. Maybe he's a victim of his own success in that he's set our expectations high but he can't argue that his impact on games isn't what it was, be it due to injury or lack of fitness etc.
Van Der Vaart has a history of reacting to substitutions and depending on your views you can take it one of two ways; either that he's acting spoilt and is a danger to team morale, or that being so desperate to play indicates a hunger and drive that should excite us.
Rafa himself said after the West Ham game, "Often I like to play 90 minutes, but at Spurs that hardly ever happens. I read that Harry Redknapp wanted to talk with me, but I did not see him before I left for Holland."
Redknapp does have a tendency, when he finds a player's weakness, to start poking it with a stick, in some cases until it bleeds. He famously upset Darren Bent by claiming his missus could have done better than an open goal he missed. Admittedly, Bent's weakness was that he couldn't hit a cow's arse in a cattle farm, which is a pretty big problem.
Pavlyuchenko complains about not starting, so Redknapp leaves him on the bench, and now Rafa starts storming off and spitting his dummy out, so Redknapp keeps taking him off. Maybe it's to test their reactions, or just show 'em who's boss. Who knows?
Different players need treating differently and a club is always going to have a few egos, it can be the price of having players who are explosive on the pitch, they tend to be live wires off it.
The one thing that does royally irk me about the situation is that Van Der Vaart said he did not see Redknapp before he left for Holland. Sorry, but why the **** not? That means not only did he not watch the rest of the West Ham game, but he left the stadium.
There is no situation in which that can be seen as acceptable and it should put us firmly in the picture of who's in the right here. If your manager wants a word after the game, you have a word after the game. End of story.
Rafa has said it will "all have blown over" by the time he returns from international duty. At the end of the day, Redknapp is the boss and he hasn't got us this far by pandering to the players' demands.
Hopefully, the Dutchman wants a long and successful run at Spurs but if that's the case, it's him who will have to fit into Redknapp's ideals. Not the other way round.
Rafa Van Der Vaart arrives at Tottenham for a ridiculously cheap £8million and hits the ground running. He's banging 'em in all over the shop, links up with Peter Crouch, fights for every ball and plays the Tottenham way. An instant hit.
Fade out.
Fade in; it's Saturday and Rafa's trudging moodily down the tunnel and towards the dressing room with about 70 minutes on the clock - it's getting to be a familiar sight, only this time it sparks waves of concern and debate in the papers and around the forums.
The difference being that Harry Redknapp publicly criticised the Dutchman in the press and there are maybe the first murmurings of discontent between the man in charge and our too-good-to-be-true deadline-day coup.
Opinion seems to be divided among Spurs fans. One fan on Planetspurs.com says, "If I was subbed every game like Vdv, I'd be getting pissed off. He has hardly completed 90 minutes since we signed him."
Whereas on BBC606, someone else says, "The more I know about the guy the more i'm convinced he's just not a team player."
Personally, I think that if you want to play the last 20 minutes, then first you need to impress in the first 70 minutes and Rafa has gone off the boil a bit lately. Maybe he's a victim of his own success in that he's set our expectations high but he can't argue that his impact on games isn't what it was, be it due to injury or lack of fitness etc.
Van Der Vaart has a history of reacting to substitutions and depending on your views you can take it one of two ways; either that he's acting spoilt and is a danger to team morale, or that being so desperate to play indicates a hunger and drive that should excite us.
Rafa himself said after the West Ham game, "Often I like to play 90 minutes, but at Spurs that hardly ever happens. I read that Harry Redknapp wanted to talk with me, but I did not see him before I left for Holland."
Redknapp does have a tendency, when he finds a player's weakness, to start poking it with a stick, in some cases until it bleeds. He famously upset Darren Bent by claiming his missus could have done better than an open goal he missed. Admittedly, Bent's weakness was that he couldn't hit a cow's arse in a cattle farm, which is a pretty big problem.
Pavlyuchenko complains about not starting, so Redknapp leaves him on the bench, and now Rafa starts storming off and spitting his dummy out, so Redknapp keeps taking him off. Maybe it's to test their reactions, or just show 'em who's boss. Who knows?
Different players need treating differently and a club is always going to have a few egos, it can be the price of having players who are explosive on the pitch, they tend to be live wires off it.
The one thing that does royally irk me about the situation is that Van Der Vaart said he did not see Redknapp before he left for Holland. Sorry, but why the **** not? That means not only did he not watch the rest of the West Ham game, but he left the stadium.
There is no situation in which that can be seen as acceptable and it should put us firmly in the picture of who's in the right here. If your manager wants a word after the game, you have a word after the game. End of story.
Rafa has said it will "all have blown over" by the time he returns from international duty. At the end of the day, Redknapp is the boss and he hasn't got us this far by pandering to the players' demands.
Hopefully, the Dutchman wants a long and successful run at Spurs but if that's the case, it's him who will have to fit into Redknapp's ideals. Not the other way round.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Glass half-empty, glass half-full
Frustrating isn't it. Being a Spurs fan, I mean. Other people can speak with authority on their team and their players, but after 20 years of supporting Tottenham Hotspur I still look like a muppet if I try to comment how we'll do from game to game. All I really know is that we're unpredictable.
Many Spurs fans have always had a glass-half-empty stance, although, with our recent successes, I know a few (me included) who are becoming glass-half-full kind of guys. In an attempt to please everyone, here's our current situation from both sides of the glass philosophy.
Half-empty
Three games without a win against three Premier League strugglers; if we can't even beat Wolves, Blackpool or West Ham, how can we get into the Top 4? Jermain Defoe missed three good chances against the Hammers, and Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are hardly firing. Goals from midfield are drying up so we might regret not buying a striker in the transfer window.
Teams seem to have worked out how to play against us. If they keep eleven men behind the ball it frustrates us; our wingers can't get in behind the back line and we have to rely on pot shots and goalmouth scrambles.
Our run in's worse than last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, and the distraction of a massive tie with Real Madrid. Pplayers will want to be fit for both legs, so they won't put their all into the Wigan and Stoke games.
If we don't finish in the Champions League spots, we could lose Rafa Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and, with City in the Top 4, they'll buy the world's best players and we won't have a chance of getting back in.
Half-full
We've actually only lost one of our last eight Premier League games, and with all our injury problems, we've still only conceded one goal at home in 2011. We had 24 shots at goal on Saturday, and played some great football. We just need to start finding the net.
We've consistently played good football throughout the season, albeit with a few off games, but largely, we're coming out of bad results saying, "How did we not win that game?" rather than wondering where the form is going to come from.
As for our run in, our best performances have come against the better teams, so our boys will hopefully rise to it. We have a game in hand on City, which if we win, and beat them, then we'll jump into 4th, so it's all still in our hands. City have an easier run of games but off-pitch dramas could cause a few problems.
We all want to qualify for the Champions League, but if we don't it's not a crisis, we're still headed in the right direction. Gareth Bale's signed a new contract, so he certainly has no immediate plans to go anywhere and Redknapp made it all sound very simple after the Hammers game.
"If we don't make it this year, we'll have a go next year. I really do think I can win the Premier League with Tottenham."
Many Spurs fans have always had a glass-half-empty stance, although, with our recent successes, I know a few (me included) who are becoming glass-half-full kind of guys. In an attempt to please everyone, here's our current situation from both sides of the glass philosophy.
Half-empty
Three games without a win against three Premier League strugglers; if we can't even beat Wolves, Blackpool or West Ham, how can we get into the Top 4? Jermain Defoe missed three good chances against the Hammers, and Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are hardly firing. Goals from midfield are drying up so we might regret not buying a striker in the transfer window.
Teams seem to have worked out how to play against us. If they keep eleven men behind the ball it frustrates us; our wingers can't get in behind the back line and we have to rely on pot shots and goalmouth scrambles.
Our run in's worse than last year. Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool, and the distraction of a massive tie with Real Madrid. Pplayers will want to be fit for both legs, so they won't put their all into the Wigan and Stoke games.
If we don't finish in the Champions League spots, we could lose Rafa Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and, with City in the Top 4, they'll buy the world's best players and we won't have a chance of getting back in.
Half-full
We've actually only lost one of our last eight Premier League games, and with all our injury problems, we've still only conceded one goal at home in 2011. We had 24 shots at goal on Saturday, and played some great football. We just need to start finding the net.
We've consistently played good football throughout the season, albeit with a few off games, but largely, we're coming out of bad results saying, "How did we not win that game?" rather than wondering where the form is going to come from.
As for our run in, our best performances have come against the better teams, so our boys will hopefully rise to it. We have a game in hand on City, which if we win, and beat them, then we'll jump into 4th, so it's all still in our hands. City have an easier run of games but off-pitch dramas could cause a few problems.
We all want to qualify for the Champions League, but if we don't it's not a crisis, we're still headed in the right direction. Gareth Bale's signed a new contract, so he certainly has no immediate plans to go anywhere and Redknapp made it all sound very simple after the Hammers game.
"If we don't make it this year, we'll have a go next year. I really do think I can win the Premier League with Tottenham."
Friday, 18 March 2011
Top 4 On Friday - European nights
With today's European draw bringing Tottenham back to the forefront of the European limelight, we take a look back at some of our most memorable European nights. This is obviously open to debate...
4. Spurs 8 - 1 Gornik Zabrze - September 20, 1961
The first ever European Cup game played at White Hart Lane and, similar to Young Boys this season, the stadium proved to be a fortress.
Having lost the away leg 4-2, we looked in danger of an early exit. But, in front of a huge crowd, we hit back against accusations of being dirty in the away leg and blew the Polish side off the park - a Cliff Jones hat-trick amongst the eight goals.
This narrowly pipped the quarter-final home leg against Dukla Prague, a 4-1 victory in snowy conditions, where Dave Mackay and Bobby Smith helped themselves to two goals each - but Gornik was the game that started it all.
3. Spurs 1-1 Anderlecht - May 23, 1984
An English team winning on penalties? Surely not. Yes, it really happened. Spurs drew the first leg 1-1 and brought Anderlecht back to White Hart Lane for a huge night. Conceding after 60 minutes, we looked to be headed for defeat until Graham Roberts popped up six minutes from time with an equaliser.
The game headed towards penalties and the shootout looked won as Spurs converted the first four kicks but a Danny Thomas miss had the fans' hearts in their mouths - until keeper Tony Parks saved the next one to win Spurs the UEFA Cup and give Keith Burkinshaw the perfect send-off.
2. Spurs 3-1 Inter Milan - November 2, 2010
Well, something from this season had to be in there or there was just no point in doing a rundown! This was the night that Spurs proved they could mix it with the big names. Gareth Bale tore Maicon apart for the second time and attacking football won the day. The sound of White Hart Lane singing "Oh, when the spurs" in unison after Bale had raced down the left to square for Pavlyuchenko to score the third will live long in the memory.
1. Spurs 5-1 Atletico Madrid - May 15, 1963
The Benfica semi-final was difficult not to include, but at the end of the day we lost it, so we went for the original glory, glory night instead.
Jimmmy Greaves and Terry Dyson helped scored two each, to add to John White's goal as we turn out one of our most memorable performances of all time. Beating the defending champions at Feyenoord Stadium, we became the first English team ever to bring home a European trophy.
4. Spurs 8 - 1 Gornik Zabrze - September 20, 1961
The first ever European Cup game played at White Hart Lane and, similar to Young Boys this season, the stadium proved to be a fortress.
Having lost the away leg 4-2, we looked in danger of an early exit. But, in front of a huge crowd, we hit back against accusations of being dirty in the away leg and blew the Polish side off the park - a Cliff Jones hat-trick amongst the eight goals.
This narrowly pipped the quarter-final home leg against Dukla Prague, a 4-1 victory in snowy conditions, where Dave Mackay and Bobby Smith helped themselves to two goals each - but Gornik was the game that started it all.
3. Spurs 1-1 Anderlecht - May 23, 1984
An English team winning on penalties? Surely not. Yes, it really happened. Spurs drew the first leg 1-1 and brought Anderlecht back to White Hart Lane for a huge night. Conceding after 60 minutes, we looked to be headed for defeat until Graham Roberts popped up six minutes from time with an equaliser.
The game headed towards penalties and the shootout looked won as Spurs converted the first four kicks but a Danny Thomas miss had the fans' hearts in their mouths - until keeper Tony Parks saved the next one to win Spurs the UEFA Cup and give Keith Burkinshaw the perfect send-off.
2. Spurs 3-1 Inter Milan - November 2, 2010
Well, something from this season had to be in there or there was just no point in doing a rundown! This was the night that Spurs proved they could mix it with the big names. Gareth Bale tore Maicon apart for the second time and attacking football won the day. The sound of White Hart Lane singing "Oh, when the spurs" in unison after Bale had raced down the left to square for Pavlyuchenko to score the third will live long in the memory.
1. Spurs 5-1 Atletico Madrid - May 15, 1963
The Benfica semi-final was difficult not to include, but at the end of the day we lost it, so we went for the original glory, glory night instead.
Jimmmy Greaves and Terry Dyson helped scored two each, to add to John White's goal as we turn out one of our most memorable performances of all time. Beating the defending champions at Feyenoord Stadium, we became the first English team ever to bring home a European trophy.
Making a 'Real' go of European football
Real Madrid. What a draw. Whatever happens, this is the best possible way to continue an amazing season; a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, followed by a memorable night at White Hart Lane.
This is the stage we've always wanted to see Tottenham on but a younger generation of fans just couldn't see it happening. Our history crows loudly about the big European nights at White Hart Lane. Well this is about as big as they come.
If the quarter-final is to be the end of a brilliant journey then, let's be honest, losing to Shakhtar or Schalke would have been a disappointment, as would going down to an English team. In Real Madrid, not only do we face the most successful European team of all time but also the more beatable of the two Spanish sides - and I think we can give them a real go.
In an effort not to tempt fate, I switched off before the draw for the semi-finals was made . Now I learn that the path we have plotted it the most difficult but therefore also the most glamorous.
This draw is exactly what European football is about, it is exactly what we've all been dreaming of for so many years and, if our future does lie away from White Hart Lane, it is no less than the old place deserves.
Now, I hate to ruin the starry-eyed party, but West Ham tomorrow anyone?
This is the stage we've always wanted to see Tottenham on but a younger generation of fans just couldn't see it happening. Our history crows loudly about the big European nights at White Hart Lane. Well this is about as big as they come.
If the quarter-final is to be the end of a brilliant journey then, let's be honest, losing to Shakhtar or Schalke would have been a disappointment, as would going down to an English team. In Real Madrid, not only do we face the most successful European team of all time but also the more beatable of the two Spanish sides - and I think we can give them a real go.
In an effort not to tempt fate, I switched off before the draw for the semi-finals was made . Now I learn that the path we have plotted it the most difficult but therefore also the most glamorous.
This draw is exactly what European football is about, it is exactly what we've all been dreaming of for so many years and, if our future does lie away from White Hart Lane, it is no less than the old place deserves.
Now, I hate to ruin the starry-eyed party, but West Ham tomorrow anyone?
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Where to start on a truly mouth-watering menu
The quarter-final draw is, essentially, the printing of the menu for a potential three-course meal at Europe's top table. For the seasoned Champions League sides, the last eight is the least that is expected; the "business end". For Spurs, well, we've already proved we're not just here to make up the numbers but who do we want as a starter?
Bill Nicholson quite famously said, "It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."
If that is the Tottenham way, I'm unsure how to apply it , does it mean that we should hope for Barcelona and, if we go out, then getting to the quarters is an achievement in itself? Or does it mean that we aim to win the competition, and therefore hope for as kind a draw as possible?
First things first, it's a totally open draw, so we can draw anyone from; Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Man United, Real Madrid, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk - so I'm going to try to whittle them down to one ideal opponent.
Seeing as our European campaign thus far has been such a magical mystery tour, it'd be nice to avoid the English teams. I'd fancy our chances against Chelsea, but we play them at least twice a season and that's enough for now.
Spurs have raised their game for the top sides in the Champions League and certainly benefit from being the underdogs. Drawn with Shakhtar or Schalke, the English press will almost certainly paint us as favourites, which could work against us as we've had a tendency to underestimate teams this season. If we're going to go out to anyone, we'd all prefer they were as big as possible!
Above all else, we want to avoid Inter Milan. True, we've beaten them once already, and we know they don't like our attacking game. But, Inter have a new manager and won't make the same mistakes again, and if they end up knocking us out, it'll tarnish the memory of tearing them apart earlier in the competition.
That leaves Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both are as dangerous as each other and a cut above anyone we've faced so far. Both would represent two absolutely massive European nights and, even as I'm writing this, I'm changing my mind. The thought of Spurs v Real Madrid is a mouth-watering prospect; not only the greatest team in European history, but a team I really think we could beat.
I keep coming back to Bill Nick's quote and thinking that you enter Europe to pit yourselves against the very best.
It would be a shame to look back in years to come if we hadn't seen just how well we could stand up to the best football team on the planet - so roll on Barcelona.
*Please note, these are just the whimsical ramblings of a Spurs fan after nine days without a game. In truth, I'm chuffed just to be involved in the quarter-final draw and will happily take a draw against any of the teams involved
Bill Nicholson quite famously said, "It is better to fail aiming high than to succeed aiming low. And we of Spurs have set our sights very high, so high in fact that even failure will have in it an echo of glory."
If that is the Tottenham way, I'm unsure how to apply it , does it mean that we should hope for Barcelona and, if we go out, then getting to the quarters is an achievement in itself? Or does it mean that we aim to win the competition, and therefore hope for as kind a draw as possible?
First things first, it's a totally open draw, so we can draw anyone from; Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Man United, Real Madrid, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk - so I'm going to try to whittle them down to one ideal opponent.
Seeing as our European campaign thus far has been such a magical mystery tour, it'd be nice to avoid the English teams. I'd fancy our chances against Chelsea, but we play them at least twice a season and that's enough for now.
Spurs have raised their game for the top sides in the Champions League and certainly benefit from being the underdogs. Drawn with Shakhtar or Schalke, the English press will almost certainly paint us as favourites, which could work against us as we've had a tendency to underestimate teams this season. If we're going to go out to anyone, we'd all prefer they were as big as possible!
Above all else, we want to avoid Inter Milan. True, we've beaten them once already, and we know they don't like our attacking game. But, Inter have a new manager and won't make the same mistakes again, and if they end up knocking us out, it'll tarnish the memory of tearing them apart earlier in the competition.
That leaves Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both are as dangerous as each other and a cut above anyone we've faced so far. Both would represent two absolutely massive European nights and, even as I'm writing this, I'm changing my mind. The thought of Spurs v Real Madrid is a mouth-watering prospect; not only the greatest team in European history, but a team I really think we could beat.
I keep coming back to Bill Nick's quote and thinking that you enter Europe to pit yourselves against the very best.
It would be a shame to look back in years to come if we hadn't seen just how well we could stand up to the best football team on the planet - so roll on Barcelona.
*Please note, these are just the whimsical ramblings of a Spurs fan after nine days without a game. In truth, I'm chuffed just to be involved in the quarter-final draw and will happily take a draw against any of the teams involved
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