Morning all! Was chatting to a mate last night about our favourite partnerships at Spurs over the years, we're both 23 so naturally our memories of players will be limited compared to others but just wanted to see what you guys felt were the best partnerships you've managed to have the luxury of watching in your lifetime. Partnerships can consist of a strike pairing, defensive pairing, wing pairing or centre midfield pairing. So, my 3 are as follows (in no particular order): King and Woodgate - Although the pair didn't get too many games together due to injuries, when they did, we looked nigh on unbeatable at the back. The Carling Cup Final springs to mind, we only conceded due to a great freekick from Drogba but the pair were excellent throughout, with Woody eventually netting the winner and MOTM award. The 08/09 season, in which Ledley played in 24 and Woody 34, we managed to break a WHL record with the fewest goals conceded in a League season with 8. If the pair remained injury free, they'd have been England's number 1 pairing in my eyes, no doubt. Keane and Berbatov - Berbatov still remains the best striker I've seen at WHL. His first touch, composure and finishing ability was unmatched. The way he was able to bring the best out of any striker he was paired with was amazing and especially the one with Keano. They had what so many (myself included) said at the time was a "telepathic" understanding, both seemed to know one anothers movement before the other had even made a run and it was awesome to watch, defences couldn't handle the pair. A real joy on the eye. Sheringham and Klinsmann - I was only 6 or 7 at the time so naturally my knowledge of the game wasn't too great but I remember whenever I watched Spurs, one of either Teddy or Jurgen would score. Both were the first two strikers I really started to pretend to be when in the school playground . So they're mine, what's yours guys?
Jesus you make me feel old! To prove the point, Chivers and Gilzean, one of the most powerful forward partnerships we've ever had.
Sorry SD! All the experienced heads in my family speak of the likes Chivers, Gilzean, McKay, Roberts, Perryman, Jennings and co. Wish I'd been around then, the stories I've heard of them have been amazing, seen a few brief clips/ dvd's and what not but it's never the same as to seeing it live.
Greaves and Gilzean,the g-men from the 60's,Gilly was great in the air and Jimmy snapped up the knock downs
Aside from the obvious, one of my favourite partnerships was Chris Armstrong & Teddy Sheringham, who complimented each other, and to think Chris Armstrong had the task of replacing Klinsmann, made his performances even more impressive. I know many seem to remember Armstrong after his injury, but before his injury, he was a good player, scored some important goals and "there's only one Chrissy Armstrong" ringing around the lane as we thumped man utd 4-1 and Armstrong run them ragged. Sheringham had the craft and vision, subtle touch and finishing, while Armstrong had pace, strength and was decent in the air and in there first season, we was unlucky to miss out on Europe in the last game of the season.
The best I saw were Chivers/Gilzean. Sherringham/Klinsmann was not far off. Does it have to be strike partnerships? How about the heady days when we had Hoddle & Waddle playing in the same squad?
Not sure you'd strictly classify them as a partnership, but Gazza & Lineker weren't too shabby. In the double days, we had Jones & Dyson causing havoc on the wings - the difference was we had proper strikers like Smith & Greaves in the middle. In more recent times, it has to be Sheringham & Klinsman. Sheer class, both of them.
Looks like Teddy and Klinsmann seems to be a popular choice so far. Nope HIAG, can be any form of partnership mate, whether it be strike/ CB/ CM/ wing or any other form you can think of, that's why I had King and Woody as one of mine - that 08/09 defensive home record will take a hell of a lot to better .
Ginola and Anderton were fairly handy on the wings, who was Anderton's understudy when he got injured, was it that Jose Dominguez, yeah he wasn't special. Still never forget Hoddle saying Anderton was as good as Beckham. Fail.
To be fair, though, Anderton was beset, all of playing career, with injury. I do remember a short window of time, before the injuries began piling up, where one could see something of the potential in the player, and I don't think that Hoddle was wrong, at that time, for suggesting that Anderton was as good as Beckham, especially as it was a view that was shared by quite a few pundits, at that time.
That's a fair point. Anderton had some harsh years due to injury and it could have turned out a lot differently for him if he wasn't injured as much. Similar to Owen I guess. Pre WC 98 the two wingers were probably performing at similar levels individually. More of a hindsight fail, like Alan Hanson's 'kids won't win anything' comment.
Anderton was a cracking player in his day, with Fergie attempting to sign him for Utd (shaggy turned him down!) and had some better qualities then Beckham, I used to love watching Anderton, Sheringham & Barmby link up back in the day. Also, remember Anderton was superb for England under venables and if it wasn't for injury he could have been regarded as a much better player then many remember him for.
Spot on - Anderton played some significant games England and would have been something of a regular if he hadn't picked up regular injuries. Despite that he still managed 299 games for us and 30 odd goals which is not insignificant ov 8 seasons. He also scored 7 times for England in 30 caps. So you could argue that his 'sick note' nickname wasn't deserved.
Ditto the above And don't forget Greaves with Gilzean - the original G-Men!! Mike England & Phil Beal weren't a shabby partnership either.
Wow !. I would've liked to have suggested ALL the fanastic players that ave been named already., especially King & Woody, Hoddle & Waddle and the G' men but I've got too emotional just by reading the above statments.
Greaves and Smith so under rated Smithy as Blanchflower stated Smithy a really talented but under appreciated player plus all that power and Jim? the best striker I have ever seen (since 1948) Hoddle and Archy, Archie read Hod better than any other striker and Hod could find (in his stride) Archie in the dark five or fifty yards
