So here it is from the Guardian; the article we would all like to write but daren't. Five reasons why Tottenham Hotspur could win the Premier League A great midfield, an eye for goal and strength in depth make an unlikely case for Spurs this season David Hytner guardian.co.uk, Friday 9 December 2011 22.30 GMT 1 The midfield is the envy of the country Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy contrived something of a double coup in the final week of the summer transfer window. Not only did the manager and chairman hold Luka Modric to the terms of his contract, so denying him the move he wanted to Chelsea, but they signed Scott Parker from West Ham United for a bargain £5.5m. With his lung-busting industry and hard-but-fair commitment, Parker has provided fresh ingredients and, like all the classic midfields, this one now has the lot. If Parker screens and breaks up opponents' play, then Modric makes Tottenham Hotspur tick while Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon offer the pace and incision on the flanks. Modric's public silence since 1 September has been revealing. He has not come out with pledges of loyalty and happiness because to do so would insult people's intelligence. The talks aimed at better reflecting his value with a pay-rise continue to drag and his longer-term future remains in the balance. There is no prospect of a mid-season move, despite the inevitable ramping up of interest. "No one will leave in January that I want to keep," Redknapp said. Modric's professionalism, therefore, feels worthy of the highest praise. 2 The squad's strength in depth is imposing Consider the following lineup: Heurelho Gomes; Vedran Corluka, Michael Dawson, William Gallas, Danny Rose; Steven Pienaar, Sandro, Tom Huddlestone, Niko Kranjcar; Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko. There is no room in it, incidentally, for Carlo Cudicini, Sébastien Bassong or Giovani dos Santos. This, at present (and overlooking fitness issues), is Tottenham's second XI and it provides Redknapp with impressive options. The manager had only just finished eulogising Ledley King last week when the central defender and medical miracle took a bang on the knee in training and was ruled out. No matter. Gallas stepped in and the team steamrollered Bolton Wanderers. Redknapp admits that the choice between Rafael van der Vaart and Defoe up front is a tremendous problem and the greatest difficulty is to manage the frustrations of those not involved. There is an exception. Redknapp is sick of Pavlyuchenko, the Russia striker, who gives the impression that a broken eyeliner would sideline him. A back complaint will keep him from Sunday's trip to Stoke City and Redknapp was asked when he may return. "After the trip to Shamrock Rovers," he replied. Redknapp would love to sell the player in January but he would do so only if he could upgrade. The strength of the squad cannot be compromised. 3 Focus will not be blurred by European distractions Redknapp is already talking as though Tottenham have been eliminated from the Europa League, which is not technically true; if they were to hammer Shamrock Rovers next Thursday and Paok were to beat Rubin Kazan, they would wriggle through. But if it happened, you suspect that Redknapp would privately curse. His views on Europe's secondary cup competition leave no room for the imagination, particularly "that Thursday night-Sunday thing". "It just messes the whole week up," he said. Redknapp was in full flow when he wondered who had invented the rule about the Champions League drop-outs entering at the last-32 stage of the Europa League. "If you get knocked out of the FA Cup, you don't come back in the Carling Cup semi-finals … it's unbelievable," he said. But the demands of the "never-ending" Europa League, with travel and the potential to pick up injuries prominent among them, are now realities for the Manchester clubs, no matter how seriously United treat the tournament; City want to go all the way. Chelsea and Arsenal will have bigger fish to fry from next February, in the Champions League, and there is little doubt that, barring a disastrous triumph in Dublin, Redknapp's players will feel the benefit of weeks free from European football. 4 Loanee Adebayor has raised the bar up front Tottenham being Tottenham, they have chased and been linked to an array of high-quality centre-forwards in recent times, many of whom have felt out of reach, but in Emmanuel Adebayor Redknapp has landed his own highly salaried galáctico. The deal is only a season-long loan and City, his parent club, are contributing £100,000 of his £170,000 weekly wage, making it unlikely that Tottenham will be able to make any transfer permanent. But they are enjoying the Togolese while they can. Redknapp had been looking for a No9 like Adebayor for some time, a striker who can play up on his own – to allow the manager to play a 4-3-3 or variations thereon – or as a partner for someone such as Defoe, dropping in behind, or Van der Vaart. Adebayor represents an upgrade on Peter Crouch, who was allowed to join Stoke and, although he misses chances, he scores them, too. He has seven goals in 11 matches, all of them in the Premier League. Like Parker, his record at the club reads: W10 D1. "He gives us more mobility than what we've had and his all-round play has been excellent," Redknapp said. "His work-rate, too, has been top-class." 5 Is there truly a runaway favourite for the title? Almost every fan in the country will answer Manchester City but Redknapp argues strongly that there is not much to choose between the best six clubs in the division and by that, he means the current top six with Liverpool swapped in for Newcastle United. When asked whether Tottenham can win the league, he says "it is not impossible" and he has presented a nice line between belief-fuelling ambition and realism. The players have responded to being portrayed as contenders – Redknapp is a master of putting a strut in steps – and he has reinforced the point by saying that Tottenham have been in the shakeup for the past two seasons. "We were fourth the year before last and we were fifth last season and only fell away after our Champions League exit [against Real Madrid in April]," he said. "If we'd have had a decent run then, we'd have been very close last season. We are a top-six team, we could get into the top four and who knows from there?" Redknapp has said that Manchester United triumphed last season "as everyone else fell over themselves" and with consistency and belief, he feels that stunning opportunity could yet knock on Tottenham's door.
Good find Spurf I still don't see us as title contenders, so I wouldn't like to write that type of article, yet. If we win at Stoke though, then I'd write it, as for me we would then be contenders.
I think we need to get the JanTW out of the way, not just ourselves, of the clubs around us almost all will certainly to do business, some will be good, some will be bad, we'll know more then. We're making people take note so far agreed, but I have to agree with common opinion that we haven't seen a response to a loss (I'm discounting the 1st 2 games) yet, nor a longish injury to a key player/s. I agree that Daws and Hudd 2 seasons ago would be key absentees, but not now, I'm talking about losing Bale, VdV, Ade, or Parker. I'd rather not go through that, but a great side cannot be called that till they do.
Hence Luke, why we have not written it. BUT (you knew it was coming) the fact remains we are up there in a strong position and challenging and that is the difference. In the past few seasons we have been knocking on the door trying to get in. ATM we are in there attempting to keep others out and that is the important difference. Of course we will have to see how the season pans out but a 'fair article' like this could not have been written of Spurs in the recent history of the PL. Now you have to take Spurs seriously.
We did, Lidls. After the Palace and Basle performances and the FA Cup draw against City, you might want to get onto our caterer.
Harry's been as blatant as can be and SAF will chuck it too imo, Mancini needs his job (a pot) let him have it. Its the last thing you need same as us.
I wouldn't pay much attention to the Guardian, they hate Spurs, especially that ****** Barry Glendenning
BTW Luke is welcomed on this forum by many and in this particular thread his original comment provided balance and discussion points, and that after all is what any good thread needs.
Tottenham's Younès Kaboul explains why a top-four finish is a must The French centre-back is confidently predicting future success both for Spurs and for himself Amy Lawrence guardian.co.uk, Saturday 10 December 2011 23.00 GMT Tottenham Hotspur's Younès Kaboul has impressed at the centre of their defence this season. Younès Kaboul chuckles at the notion that he is like one of those adverts for a before and after transformation. Here is the man with premature baldness who develops a fine head of hair. Check out the overweight lady who becomes slimline. Look at how the footballer who used to appear anxious, erratic and overpriced has become composed, dependable and going places. Splitting the two phases of Kaboul's Tottenham career – he spent one inconsistent season at White Hart Lane in 2007-08, was sold to Portsmouth, then summoned back to north London after two years at Fratton Park – works on two levels. Not only does the player feel like a new man, the club has undergone a revolution, too. Look at how the team which used to fall short have become contenders. "When I came back here it was a different club," he says. "The direction, the mentality of the club, is more focused, more excited about playing Champions League. That's what gave us more power here. That's why everyone respects the club now. They saw we had a beautiful season last year with the Champions League. That's why we want to fight again every day to make sure we are there next season." Kaboul, for whom the immediate challenge is Sunday afternoon's game at Stoke, comes across as completely driven by the goal of Champions League football. So much so he prefers not to watch it, as if he is almost being tormented by something he cannot bear not to have. He is insistent that his team will be there next season. Do not ask him for reasons, he just exudes certainty. "We have to be there," he insists. So who shouldn't be there? "I don't know but we deserve to be there." Why? "Because we did it before and we can do it again." It is almost as if there are blinkers on to make sure nobody takes his eyes off the prize. Determination is a side of his nature that has taken a while to shine through. This season he has become so firmly established in the Tottenham defence he has made himself difficult to drop. Injuries to William Gallas and Michael Dawson gave him a chance and he has seized it, forging a calm partnership with Ledley King, who has been a strong influence on Kaboul. As a youngster, though, he was neither the most ambitious, nor most confident, of prospects. Born in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, a quiet town near France's Alpine border with Switzerland, he has vivid memories of some of the difficulties he faced in junior football. While at his local club, Concordia, he was picked on. "I was the tallest in the team and I used to have some problems. I used to hear some horrible things around the pitch and I was very upset. I was even crying sometimes. They used to say I was a cheat, I was not my age, I was not from here even though I was born five minutes away … When you hear things like that when you are only 10 or 11, even more when your parents come to watch the game, it was a bit hard." His reflections resound as he speaks in support of the awards hosted by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to encourage local kids to get inspired by sport. When he was young, the friendship of his team-mates, and the encouragement of the coaches, made up for the difficulties. So, too, did the influence of the multiracial France World Cup-winning squad in 1998. Kaboul was 12 at the time, and it made a huge impression to see players who hailed from former French colonies lauded as national heroes. "Zidane is, of course, from Algeria and he scored two goals in the final. People didn't think: 'He's from Algeria,' they treated him like he was French. I have to say thank you to him. He made it easier for everyone." But only so much. He says he feels more at ease in London. "Straight away I was impressed by this country. Even though it is not far, it is a different world here," he says. "The thing I understand in England is that people respect everyone if you are black, Arabic, whatever. In France it is different. Some people you can't change and that's a shame." At the age of 14 Kaboul joined Auxerre, with whom he would make a breakthrough he did not expect. He confesses he did not possess the self-belief that he would ever be a professional until it actually happened to him. The first move to Tottenham was exciting, but a big test of character at the age of 21. "When you come for €12m, people don't allow any patience," he says. Although being told to move on after a year was a setback, he accepted it, and was ultimately grateful for his time in Portsmouth, where he learned valuable lessons and briefly came under the wing of Harry Redknapp for the first time. When the manager called him to return to White Hart Lane he was thrilled. "I didn't think twice," he smiles. "I just said yes and the negotiations went very quickly. Indirectly he took a risk and I appreciate that. I wanted to show straight away that my first spell here was not me. They would see the real one. I think they have seen some good things from me but I am not finished." Keeping Tottenham safely inside that top four will do for starters
Horrible stuff. I wasn't at all surprised when Redknapp rescued Kaboul from Portsmouth and I've been extremely impressed with him so far this season, bar the City game. I thought that he was thrown in at the deep-end in his first term at the club, so it's great to see him making such a good go of his second spell.
Well you can't say that about the Champion's League, as we've never been knocked out of that in the group stages...
