"The only time that the 'Spurs way' has really worked for a prolonged period was under Bill Nicholson" And a lot of the 80s. In 1982 and 1985 we even dared to believe a title win was possible. But noted that yet another dour Yorkshireman (Keithy) as manager was a part of much of it.
IMHO you need that (son of a) coal miner / played the game but career cut short by injury breeding that all the great league managers of the 60s to 80s seemed to have.
"What did Ledley's dad do?" He carved out the block of stone that Ledley was fashioned from. Same job that Sandros' dad did too.
But we never finished top five more than two years running in the 80s so we are actually in our second best ever league spell currently. In fact our average league position under Levy is better than that in the 80s!
"But we never finished top five more than two years running in the 80s so we are actually in our second best ever league spell currently." But don't dare say that out loud. When Arry got us to within 3 pts of the Mancs in 2012 was the closest giddyness I have had since 1982 and 1985. The letdown was a lot more painful too.
I do agree with most of your comments.But when I say "the Spurs way" I mean attacking and scoring more goals than the opposition not sideways and backwards football trying to keep the opposing attackers at bay. Yes,we did have a bloody awful team during the late 50's when Bill took over as a "novice" manager,but we stuck to our guns and gradually turned it around to become a team to remember. And in that poor team of the late 50's we already had Danny,Norman,Henry,Baker,Medwin etc so the spark was already there.......then one day a Scot turned out for us by the name of Dave Mackay..........I believe the best all round footballer I ever saw....and his slide tackels......he would take the ball,the player,the ref(if he was in the way)and few of the crowd close to the pitch!!!!!!
I think AVB had a choice to make at the beginning of the season: play defensively and try to squeeze points out of the squad and/or play creatively and take out lumps at first, but gell ASAP and improve going forward. He may well have made the wrong choice at first (time will tell) but I'm happy we're now playing entertaining if sloppy football, and I hope both that it will continue and that we'll get better with practice. Our prospects for fourth playing this way aren't good, but they're probably no worse than before, and don't involve boring games. Agreed about Chiriches. Not just our best defender, he looks like he'd be our best striker, and something tells me he'd win a place in midfield.
Its been a long time since I've seen a CB so comfortable with the ball, sells dummy's that leave players flat-footed, good close control, travels well with it, not so sure aerially though.
Mmm, yes, I know what you mean, I've cut him slack as our defence despite the numbers has been a bit of a ballache most of the season, forced different comb's etc, plus playing alongside the miserable JV it can't be easy trying to compensate for some of the positions he leaves himself in at LB!
With the game 2-2, Bale flying down the wing, all he had to do was look up and Defoe had an open goal, and we win 3-2. Such is football luck changes the momentum and it was a painful one to take but that season luck just wasn't on our side.
That match still has a sour taste from the stamp on Parker to the last minute drama. Nice rhyme there.
Individual clip of Lamela v Fulham, somewhat bizarrely: [video=youtube;Hbyc0kX0ki0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbyc0kX0ki0[/video] He clearly has a following out there. Started poorly, but seemed to gradually grow into the game. A narrow miss and a deflected shot that Stekelenburg did well to save. Some decent touches and layoffs. Might be interesting to see how he'd do in the hole against Anzhi, if he doesn't start today.
"With the game 2-2, Bale flying down the wing, all he had to do was look up and Defoe had an open goal, and we win 3-2. Such is football luck changes the momentum and it was a painful one to take but that season luck just wasn't on our side." Oh there were plenty of games in the run-in to find that extra point (and end the 'bad luck' sob stories) .
