Jim Duggan's TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR site

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________31 Dec 2000 16:32:53 PM

(New Year 2001 - A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY VISITORS)

(Dec 31st - Rebrov's comments and future)

Oh dear - Rebrov, who realised that the whole Tottenham adventure was a big con trick a long time ago (probably after the Charlton defeat) has finally had his patience tested too far by the Goon.

"I do not know what my destiny holds now. We play defensively at Spurs and I am not used to it. That's probably the reason that I am not scoring much. It would be easier for me to make it at Arsenal or Manchester United who attack all the time."

While this is not completely the truth - as much as Graham has introduced the negativity, some of Rebrov's recent performances have been littered with aimless flicks and have not been as good as the performances he showed at the start of the season - it does reveal that a world class player with a champions league pedigree is not content with the Goonersaurus tactics

Talking of his relegation to the bench, he continued, "If George (Graham) is saying that I need a rest, maybe they are thinking of selling me. I am disappointed with my recent performances but i do not regret signing for Spurs. Everything depends on me and how hard I work. But when I do not score and the team keeps losing, they will put the blame on the one who was most recently signed." He continued, "They think that if the club paid millions for him, he should tug the team out of it alone, but it's not as simple as that. At Kiev I understood my partners, but here they want me to play differently. There's no complete understanding between me and the other players, although I hope everything will turn out ok."

Its not been the happiest times for all concerned. I'm convinced Graham had never seen Rebrov play before he was signed (or thought we were getting Shevchenko) but he was never taken to the crowd's heart - I cannot remember many times when his name has been sung from the terraces. A move from Tottenham now would not be a bad thing for Rebrov as the relegation struggle or mid table win lose draw crap that we're used to probably hold little appeal, but it would leave Tottenham short of attacking options. I wonder if the little fella would have struggled if Ginola was around?

(Dec 31st - Graham I'm not a quitter)

"Teams associated with me don't give in as easily as that. We should have made more of a fight of it."

More crap from Graham - trying to make out he is not to blame for the current malaise - the reason why he will not quit is that he is on £1.5m a year and is fuck all about honour - he's a scumbag who is dragging us down. We aught to sack the bastard and let him try and get his money back thro the courts the no good Gooner scum.

(Dec 30th - Ispwich 3-0 Spurs)

In the parrellel universe inhabited by Graham - Willem Korsten is worth a starting place in front os Rebrov (and Doherty in front of Armo) - what a faaaaaaaackin twat.

This did not send us to our 9th defeat on the road - a lack of tactical nous, organisation and passion ensured that we were destined for defeat as soon as Ispwich scored. We will be useless as long as we have this fool and his awful muppet Euston at the helm at Tottenham - GRAHAM OUT NOW

(Dec 30th - Spurs Managers)

I've had a quick look at how Graham compares with all our recent managers - www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jmdcon/thfc-article09.htm and am not surprised to find only Ossie below Graham in the points per game ratio. Of the 11 that lined up at the Dell - only Campbell, Carr, Anderton, Clem and Armo were in the first team before Graham arrived (and the first 3 are well established International players) while Sully, Perry, Leo, Sherwood and Rebrov were purchased by Graham, who gave first team starts to King and Thelwell.

So this is Graham's team playing Graham's tactics - and we're not as good as we should be. I hope I have some egg on my face as Spurs win at Ispwich, but I can't see it

Manager Records - Graham 1.31pts per game, Gross 1.31pts per game, Francis 1.39pts per game, Ossie 1.11pts per game, Livermore & Clemence 1.40pts per game, Shreeves 1.52pts per game, Venables 1.42pts per game, Pleat 1.52pts per game

(Dec 29th - Spurs Managers)

Well at least we've got team spirit!! er.......... Graham slags Rebrov in public and threatens to drop him, Rebrov points out that a player of his style is not measured by goals alone and to top it all Carr has gone public asking what Campbell is up to - oh dear.

(Dec 28th - Another call for Graham out)

Graham has been at Tottenham since Oct 1998, apart from winning the Worthington cup with the side he inheritied, he has brought in mostly average players (and a hopeless one in Thatcher) and sold our best player - all in the cause of making us great  

The results speak for themselves

Season 1998/99 - p30 w8 d12 l10 f47 a50 pts36 
Season 1998/99 - p38 w15 d8 l15 f57 a49 pts53 
Season 1998/99 - p20 w7 d5 l8 f26 a29 pts26 
Season Total - p88 w30 d25 l33 f130 a128 pts115   

Pts per game 1.30 - a 49pts season finish - not much return for £1.5m a year. - To put it in context the much maligned Gross had 1.31pts per game  

The only good to come out of this season is the emergence of Alton Thelwell and especially Ledley King - and he was forced to give these players their debuts after inept performances from Vega. A shrewd manager would have blooded these gently at the end of last season rather than in front of the live cameras against Liverpool  

Graham is a no good has been - irrespective of his Gooner past - he has to be got rid of and not allowed to spend any of the new money that enters the club. If anyone can defend this useless f*cker - please mail me at wearetottenhamfromthelane@jmdcon.globalnet.co.uk

(Dec 28th - Carr injury)

With the prospect of having to play without Carr looming for at least the Ispwich game - and this brings a feeling of abject dispair - where are we going to get a goal from? A similar thing happened last year when Carr was out and we took very few points. Lets hope the injury is not too bad and that he's not out as long as Iversen who has put his comeback back to March at the earliest

(Dec 28th - no light at the end of the tunnel)

Our spiral of decline is in safe hands with Graham - a winless December as we lurch towards the relegation zone means it all thoughts (apart from the Cup run) turn to next August and another year has passed and we are becoming further detached from the best in English football and further detached from the spirit of Tottenham that made the club great in the first place. Gloom on top of Snow at White Hart Lane

(Dec 27th -Saints 2-0 Tottenham)

Oh Lord - another away game another defeat

Spurs, with Leo in for the hopeless Sherwood and Armo in for Sir Les, started well for the first 15 minutes or so, but Glennda sorted things out and we never recovered. The first Saints goal was a blatant handball by Beattie but it was shielded from the slaphead ref and after getting his luck, he scored with an excellent shot that on second view, gave Sully little chance. Within a minute they'd scored again - exploiting space down our left and with Carr left with two to pick up, Davies stole in at the back post and guided a beautiful volley in off the post.

If all was n't lost then - it was when Carr did not reappear for the second half and the great arm waving and pointing man (Sherwood) was introduced - to arm wave and point. Doherty replaced Rebrov and Armo was replaced by Korsten (the saints crapping themselves at having to face these two) but Spurs huffed and puffed but hardly had a scoring chance.

George pretended to be angry at something on the bench towards the end of the game, but we've seen it all before and its neither cool or clever and in the final analysis, he is an arsehole, and an expensive arsehole at that - £3m to get rid of him at the end of the season.

The plus points include a good game by King and Anderton, but very little else - I thought we'd beat both Southampton and Ipswich - I'm as bad as they are!!

(Dec 26th -Beavis linked)

In 1995 - our former Great Leader said the Goons were making a big mistake by signing an out of form Bergkamp from Inter and layed into their apparant stupidity at the £8m paid. As we approach 2001, a now 32 Bergkamp with FA Cup, Championship and player of the year award is being linked with us as he is not consistently good enough to get in the Goons team anymore.

While he would be a useful addition to the squad (even though he is too old and inconsistent, and the jammiest player of the year ever), his arrival would only serve to rub it in about our decline overseen by the same great leader over the 1990's.

(Dec 25th)

Merry Christmas from the Webmaster

(Dec 24th - Graham's golden elbow?)

Graham - not content with living on the success he achieved at Scumbury almost 10 years ago [although he is always blaming us for living in the past] - has realised that his 26 months in control have barely shifted Tottenham's position in the Premiership while shedding Spurs star player and realising that he is clapped out has decided that he wants the rest of the money on his contract for doing nothing. He is a greedy no good wanker - and I don't like him irrespective of his Arsenal connections - because he is the latest in overpaid failure at Tottenham. Read on

George Graham is ready to quit Spurs if he can reach a financial settlement with the club's new owners ENIC. The Scottish boss will not hesitate to make a swift exit if a compromise over his existing contract can be reached. Like ex-chairman Sir Alan Sugar, Graham has tired of the long-running battle with disgruntled fans who have never accepted his appointment in the wake of his long association with arch-rivals Arsenal. But his battle against ill-health has contributed largely to his decision to leave if the offer is right.

Graham has two and a half years left on a lucrative contract worth pounds 1.5million a season. And he looked into severing his links with the club prior to Sugar's departure last week. Graham has battled against the crippling illness rheumatoid arthritis and is no longer able to take training at Tottenham. His assistant Stewart Houston has assumed a greater role at the club and the continuing battle with fans and growing uncertainty over his future following ENIC's take-over has strengthened Graham's desire to get out.

With the rumour-mill in full swing and former Spurs hero Glenn Hoddle courting the vote of ENIC's incoming vice-chairman Daniel Levy, Graham is ready to stand down if a pounds 3m pay-off is forthcoming.

(Dec 23nd - Spurs 0-0 Boro - Match ratings)

Today was always going to be remembered for me getting my critique of the Sugar years featured on Football Focus, but Tottenham could not complete a great day by being held by a determined Boro

Sullivan – 6/10 – had nothing to do, but deserved the easy ride after his heroics on Monday and gained an all to infrequent clean sheet

Thelwell – 6/10 – growing in confidence with every match and as well as assured defending played some good passes

Campbell – 7/10 – gave Boksic no chances and had another good match at the back

Perry – 6/10 – another good match defensively and had lots of space as Boro retreated, but his use of the ball lets his game down

Carr – 7/10 – gave a player of the year performance – bombing down the right and giving marker O’Neill a torrid time. It is remarkable the progress he has made from ordinary full back to super star in only a couple of seasons

Anderton – 6/10 – this is the sort of game Anderton needs to dominate if he is to be worth £25,000 a week and again he failed to do so. Did some good link up play with Carr and Rebrov, but not enough to justify his central midfield position

King – 7/10 – another fine performance from King – calm and assured with good passing. The find of the season.

Sherwood – 4/10 – truly awful – waved his arms about a lot and pointed but could not pass to a Spurs player – not even his usual hospital balls. Was belatedly replaced by Leo, who should start on Wednesday.

Clemence – 7/10 – a good match for Clem, especially in the first half when he was unlucky to score a couple of times.

Ferdinand – 6/10 – got another head injury and had to be replaced by Armo at half time

(Sub Armstrong – 6/10 – had the ball in the net twice, being unlucky not to be able to claim at least one of them)

Rebrov – 6/10 – looked back to something like his best, with a positively display – not everything came off but he gave 100% for the cause.

THIS EMAIL WAS FEATURED ON THE BBC'S FOOTBALL FOCUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Dec 23nd - Sugar - its all the fault of the Spurs fans)

What a twat - Just how long could the Black Knight of Chigwell keep his dignity in the press? Today he spills his rancid guts to Football Focus, who will no doubt give him a sympathetic hearing. The story is repeated below

"The former Tottenham chairman admits he was sucked into quick-fix solutions in an attempt to give supporters the silverware they craved."

(jmd)Crap - he never listened to Spurs supporters - he did his own thing with very modest success - to blame us for it with no decision making responsibility is rubbish

In an interview that will be broadcast on BBC1’s Football Focus at 12.20pm today, Sugar said: “Basically I have had enough of being the whipping boy of the fans. Enough is enough.

“They told me they were not coming to home games any more because of certain things that were being said. It seems to be a thankless task. “Tottenham is a club where its fans live on past heritage and its past glory.

(jmd)Crap -we have been forced to live in the past because the club was under poor management and guidance - before Tottenham Hotspur league position in the 1980's 10th, 4th, 4th, 8th, 3rd, 10th, 3rd, 13th, 6th, 3rd (plus three FA cup finals, one league cup final, UEFA cup final and Europe in 4 of the 6 available seasons)

Welcome Sugar - Tottenham Hotspur league position in the 1990's 11th, 15th, 8th, 15th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 14th, 11th, 10th
(one FA cup win (pre Sugar) and a league cup win)

“If we had our time again we would not have succumbed to quick fixes to try to bring success.
(jmd)Crap - that is a great example of your shite management

“In hindsight, if we had been a little more patient rather than go for quick fixes, put up with aggravation from fans a little longer, it would have put us in a much better position.

“That’s fine if there is some kind of reward at the end of it but if you don’t get any recognition, it’s an absolute waste of time.”
(jmd) So its all about vanity is it

This is the ramblings a a bitter failure

(Dec 22nd - Boro Preview)

I hope Spurs don't take this game too easily after the struggle against the Goons on Monday. Despite their lowly league position, Spurs often come unstuck in games like this - Sheff Weds last season etc - lets hope they're on their best behaviour and get a good win. Spurs have a dreadful league record against Boro when you consider that Boro have no great heritage. Spurs have won only 21 of the 63 league meetings against Boro's 28.

Tottenham should be able to field an unchanged team will Boro waiting on the fitness of Boksic as their main worry. Boro have lost all 5 of their league defeats which combined with the return of Venables and their good record against us should make for a close match, but if we play well and importantly score first we should go on to win the match by 2-0 to 3-0 and I'm looking at Sherwood at 12/1 as a bit of value for the first goal

(Dec 21st - The new mob)

ENIC - English National Investment Company to give them their full name are run by a East Eng boy made good Joe Lewis and their Tottenham operation will be fronted by Cambridge Economics Graduate and Spurs season ticket holder 38 year old Daniel Levy, who's family started the Mr Byrite chain (Amstrad to Mr Byrite!! - lets hope not)

The best thing about this deal is it gets rid of the interia of Sugarlump's reign where they seemed content to let the club bumble along in midtable while raking in the money from non football performance related income. Lets give them time and see what they come up with

Howard Stanton, a former chairman of the English National Investment Company who also served on the board of Rangers, is hot favourite to take a hands-on role once the takeover goes through. ENIC managing director Daniel Levy, who also served on the board at Ibrox with Stanton, masterminded the £22million buy-out of Sir Alan Sugar's controlling interest in Spurs last week but intends to take a less involved non-executive role at the club.

Stanton, like Levy a diehard Spurs fan, stood down from ENIC earlier this year to concentrate on other business interests, including chairmanship of Allied London Properties. An accountant by trade, he is considered down to earth and strong-willed.

As chairman of ENIC, he oversaw the takeovers of Greek club AEK Athens, Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic, Italian team Vicenza and Swiss side FC Basel.

(Dec 21st - The end of the Sugar Era as ENIC take over 30% of the club)

A momentous day oh my Brothers - Sugar's reign in control is finally over - 1 League cup win a few semi finals and a top 8 finish (once) in Nine years is all we have to show for his mismanagement - which even til the end revealed he did not have the nous or bottle to lead Tottenham back to the top,

(Dec 20th - Unhappy Hammers)

No wonder West Ham are the only club to show any sort of profit over the last few years - £33 a ticket for their 'orrible little ground is a complete rip off only exceeded by Chelsea's £32 for the pillbox view at the Bates Motel. Looks like we'll have to get a win to get our money's worth

(Dec 19th - Sugar not crying wolf this time?)

Its looks like I was wrong and Sugar is off this time - but how much is he going to give up. I'm sure everyone would like to see him sell all of his shares (and make his son reapply for the job he currently holds), but I get the impression that he will sell 29.9% of the shares he owns, giving control to someone else - probably Joe Lewis and ENIC, while retaining 10% to cash in on the TV money bonanza of the next few years. At least he's honest enough to finally admit he was n't up to the job.

Sir Alan Sugar admits that his time as Spurs chairman has been the first time in his life that he has failed at something. Sugar is looking to sell his majority stake in the club with Investment Company ENIC leading the race to buy them. And he says that he won't be looking back on his nine-year spell at White Hart Lane with any great deal of satisfaction. Sugar points out that he will always be judged as a moneyman and not a football and feels that first impressions of him are wrong. "I have never failed before at anything and this is a failure. But with all due respect maybe they will reflect that they have lost a good friend. "I wanted to ensure that I could walk away with my head high, that I had handed over to someone who would keep the finances under control. "And not just a bunch of fans who were helpless in this cruel world," said Sugar who could announce the sale to the stock market within the next few days.
Sugar's comments will recieve mixed views from Spurs fans who have been campaigning to rid the club him.
However Sugar will be remembered as the man who saved Tottenham Hotspur and has turned them into a successful off-the-field business, while on the field the club have struggled to make an impact at the top of the Premiership and failed to challenge for top honours.

(Dec 18th - Jammy Arsenal escape with a point - Spurs 1-1 Arsenal)

Another 89th minute equaliser!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaagh - Jammy gits, but we have Sully to thank for a brilliant string of saves.

Sullivan 10/10 - a faultless display of outstanding saves from all the goons and even a back header from Perry! - one of the best goalkeeping performances from a Spurs keeper for years

Thelwell - 7/10 - again rose to the occasion with another battling display.

Campbell - 8/10 - brilliant at the back, with a great saving tackle in the second half

Perry - 6/10 - struggles against the better teams but put in some important tackles and was generally solid

Carr - 7/10 - Kept Silvinho quiet and had a decent match

Anderton 6/10 - Could never dominate the midfield but played some good passes and one of his first half shots led to the goal

King - 7/10 - another fine display from Ledley - winning tacles and good passes - who must be one of the first names on the teamsheet

Sherwood - 6/10 - a decent match from Sherwood, but you wonder if he's currently in Rebrov's best position

Clemence - 6/10 - Not the same impact as his brilliant game against the goons last season but did his bit on the left

Rebrov 6/10 - took his goal well, and one brilliant flick in the first half, but failed to get in the game enough

Ferdinand - 7/10 - another good display from Les who was a handful for Monkey face and Donkey Adams

(Dec 17th - Goons Preview)

The home game against the goons is always the more stressful as a result of the added expectation of playing at home, but it is also the more rewarding in terms of results. With United's shock defeat at the hands of Liverpool, the Goons can move within 3 points of United with a win and will surely be more fired up than ever for this fixture. Spurs can move into 7th with a win, 13 points off the pace.

When the fixtures were announced and I saw that the game was just before Christmas, my mind flashed back to that awful day back in 1978 when a dismal showing by Spurs and a flukey goal by Brady resulted in a 5-0 defeat - a recent look at the history books also saw that we lost 2-0 to ManUre at Old Trafford earlier in the month as well.

Spurs must go into the game with a good deal of confidence with an excellent home record this season and the return of Rebrov. Iversen and Leonhardsen to the squad. Graham should stick with the progressive 3-5-2 formation with Perry, Sol and Thelwell in front of Sully at the back. Thelwell has made an encouraging start to his Tottenham career but this will be his stiffest test. Despite progressing all the time in his new role as left wing back, the Clemence-Thelwell area is our weakest point on paper and need the extra vigilance of Sol and the holding midfield player and personal bests from Clem and Alton.

The midfield should contain Carr and Clemence as the wide players with Anderton and King as the central midfielders and Sherwood in his advanced midfield role, with Rebrov coming in to partner Ferdinand up front.

Without underestimating the quality of Arsenal's Silvinho, Henry and Viera, if Spurs play well for each other there is no reason why we cannot get a win from this match with a bit of luck, and at the very least preserve our unbeaten league record at home. So come on you SPURS, lets have a good one

(Dec 16th - Sugar had enuf and is to sell - part 147, a Harry Harris epic)

If you have something to sell - the last thing you are going to do is tell the potential buyers that you don't want the asset anymore and that you are going to sell - as, correct me if I'm wrong, this gives the advantage to the buyer. The story about Sugar wanting to sell revolves round a conversation between him and our old mate at the Mirror Harry Harseholes and has about as much truth as all the others they've trotted out between them over the years - and looks like providing some publicity for the Goon game on Monday.

The lie that Sugar has spent anything on Tottenham is trotted out again. Sugar purchased the PLC for £1,000,000 in 1991 and has spent non of his own money on the club. The club however have given his useless son a £200,000 a year job and Sugar's holding is now worth about £25,000,000.

Spurs chairman Alan Sugar is ready to quit the club in the face of mounting abuse from disgruntled fans. Sugar has finally decided to sell his controlling interest in Tottenham, according to the Mirror, after having his fill of critical fans. His hand was forced by Spurs’ recent annual meeting, where he revealed the damaged caused to his family by dissenting supporters. “I heard what the best part of 36,000 people had to say about me when we lost in the Worthington Cup to Birmingham,” Sugar said.

“After Birmingham, my family no longer wish to sit and listen to their father being screamed at when all I’ve tried to do is my best.” Multi-millionaire Sugar is thought to have spent around £100 million on the club in the last decade, but has failed to bring the glory days of the 1960s back to White Hart Lane. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who already owns a 10 per cent stake in Spurs, is thought to be first in line for Sugar’s 40 per cent stake. Spurs' Monday clash with Arsenal is likely to be Sugar's last north London derby.

(Dec 14th - Ramon gone to Celtic)

As Paul Sloam wittily pointed out in the guestbook "We owe you one Martin!You are the weakest link Ramon.GOOD BYE!!!!!!". I'm pleased for everyone with this deal. We could not tolerate any more of Ramon's unique interpretation of the role of Centre Half, but Ramon always tried his best and had a huge comic value, and deserves a chance in the semi professional football arena that is the Scottish Premiership.

A dodgy start and an early sending off at Forest never gave supporters the confidence that the man who had played well for Switzerland in Euro96 was going to make it in the Premiership. An in and out performance during the 1997/98 season, where vital goals, notably the opener at Goodison (where everyone was singing "Ramon Ramon, Ramon Ramon" to Gary Glitters Come on Come on) were mixed with glaring mistakes.

Things came to a head during the match with Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the 98/99 season where a dismal Spurs performance, the many of the crowd singled Vega out for special abuse, even to the lengths of booing him when he touched the ball. Ramon is a sensitive soul and this obviously got to him. Despite getting back in the team later in the season and having a fine match in the Victorious League Cup final win over Leicester, including a great tackle on Heskey as he was about to score, Ramon never really re-established himself after the purchase of Perry and a couple of penalty give away when in as a replacement for Sol finally saw the end of the road for Ramon. Goodbye and good luck

(Dec 14th - More injury woe for Treacle)

It was revealed today that Taricco has had a setback in his recovery from injury - this is not the disaster it could have been a few weeks ago at 4-4-2 with Fatcha as left abck. The emergence of Thelwell and Clemence on the left of the 3-5-2 system mean we have good players to cover for him, but it would be good to have him back fit again.

(Dec 13th - End of the Legend)

The most noteworthy item this week has been the closure of Bruce Lewis's Spurs Site due to a number of reason including unwelcome threats from the Club and the stupid fixture tax the spivs at the FA are trying to get away with. Bruce's site was always set the standards for Spurs sites and run by a bloke who watches Spurs home and away without fail - so if the Club can demoralise him for promoting Tottenham, one has to question their motives and intelligence

I wish you all the best Bruce and although its not foremost in you mind now, we would love to see a return of the legend - please send messages of support to Bruce at bruce@thelegend.co.uk

(Dec 11th - SOS & the AGM)

Full marks to TAG/SOS for their contribution to the AGM - where their positive actions increased the pressure on Sugar to sell up. For a full account of the AGM, check www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jmdcon/thfc-article07.htm

(Dec 11th - Bradford reaction)

Graham is an idiot and must be the first to go before we can start any sort of ascent in footballing terms - at the start of this year we went to Goodison, went 2-1 up, his arse gave way and after taking Ginola off we spent the last 30 minutes defending the goal line and finally gave up a goal in injury time (any earlier and we would most likely have lost) and a year on against the worst team in the league he does exactly the same and we were lucky to hang on when we should have been coasting

To take the heat out of a come back, keeping the ball and breaking the play up is a much better option than the Corporal Jones approach  - our two away points have come against a hapless Boro and a battling Bradford.

Graham, bless him, has come out with the following - distancing himself from the change of tactics, even though he instigated it

The Tottenham boss admits his team got their tactics wrong towards the end of the match. “Probably the word is balance. We’ve got to get the balance of going forward which the Spurs fans like both home and away, scoring goals and then we’ve got to learn when the opposition have it, to defend much better,” he said.
“We looked nice and comfortable in the first half. When we got the third goal in the second half the tempo to our game changed and perhaps we thought we’d just defend it. We did well going forward and I thought Les Ferdinand was outstanding, one of our best players. We’ve still got to go forward but we’ve got to defend better.

“When you are 3-1 up away from home in the second half you’ve got to win the game. There are no excuses,”

(Dec 11th - Cup Draw)

Orient or Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup - the first leg of the last chance of a year ending in 1 sucess

Dec 9th - BRADFORD CITY 3 - 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR)

Another away performance ruined by a defensive collapse precipitated by poor tactical decisions. Graham resisted any changes to the side that lost at Old Trafford apart from the Freund/Anderton switch in the centre of midfield forced on him by Shaggy's suspension

On a wet and miserable Northern afternoon, Spurs could not have had a better start with Ledley King scoring his first senior goal after only 10 seconds - a premiership record for the quickest goal. This goal beats a goal scored by Hoddle after 28 seconds against Norwich in 1979 as my quickest ever goal, and while it may not have been as classy as the Hoddle chip, Ledley's 25 yard deflected effort from a knock down from the kick off was certainly more welcome as Spurs managed their first away goal since Rebrov's strike against Coventry four away matches ago

With a goal in hand Spurs started brightly, with the midfield working the ball well and Ferdinand and Armo (who warranted special praise from Bradford fans after the match) looking lively up front. Bradford stoked up by their new management team forced a couple of early corners and managed to equalise from a header from Jamie Lawrence (although it looked like a Ferdinand own goal at the time) which dribbled into the far corner of Sully's net. Lawrence had not scored (or been credited with a goal since the goal at the Lane that won Bradford a point last season)

Despite the setback of the equaliser, Tottenham were playing well enough to give all of the vocal travelling contingent hope that the first win would not be far away. Atherton was at full stretch to block an effort from Clemence and Ferdinand hit a powerful shot wide when presented with the ball at the edge of the box.

The second goal came from a Clemence corner and Sol Campbell stooped in a crowded area to nod home his driving header despite the keeper getting his hand to it. Sol ran back to where the Spurs fans were gathered and we responded with the "he's done his country proud" song - a great moment. How anyone can criticise this man is beyond me

Apart from a curling shot from Carbone which sailed wide, it was all Tottenham as we went on the offensive tearing the home side apart and it needed a great saving tackle from man of the match Windass on Carr to stop the best right wing half in the country adding to his already impressive goals tally. Ferdinand nearly got on the end of a King pass after more good work by Clemence and Matt Clarke in the home goal had to be alert as Armo raced on to a long pass

At half time the talk of was getting another goal or two and getting that elusive first away win, and despite only being a goal up, no one could see Bradford getting back into a match Spurs were dominating

The rain started to fall harder as the second half started and after a brief fully of activity in and around the Spurs goal, it was Tottenham attacking the Symphony Stand housing the Tottenham fans who scored again. Sherwood, who is generally more effective in his more advanced midfield role, found Ferdinand on the right-hand edge of the box and while most people thought that Les was going to shoot, he squared the ball to Armo who had the simplest of tap ins to claim his second of the season

With all the misery we've had to endure on our travels in recent months, surely at 3-1 up against the bottom side, this game was safe now.

The Bradford manager Jeffries waited until the hour mark to introduce Lee Sharpe for Myers and Petrescu for Lawrence, which gave more width and variety to the Bradford attack. Spurs had a couple of chances to put the game safe - Armo remained onside for once and latched onto long pass in the inside left channel - being Armo he had to cut back for his right foot and allowed new signing Molenaar to get a saving tackle in. Just before Bradford scored their second, Clemence threaded a pass across the edge of the penalty area with the other wing back Carr just failing to reach the pass that would have put him in on goal

Almost immediately, Bradford had their first serious effort of the half as Sully did well to save a 20 yarder from Beagrie but had no chance when Atherton crossed for Windass to head home an unmarked diving header. Even with the new injection of life given by the goal, Spurs should not have been troubled to see out the last 20 minutes. Graham had two sensible options - either carry on as they were or play in a similar but more cautious fashion. Unfortunately, he seems to think that everyone back on the edge of the penalty inviting the other team on to Tottenham is the best way to preserve the advantage.

Spurs never managed to get back in the match and relentless Bradford pressure saw them have a Collymore goal disallowed, another effort hit the post and Clem had to clear another effort for the tireless Windass off the line before the substitutes combined to set up Carbone with the equaliser. Sharpe crossed from the left and Petrescu headed back across the box for an unmarked Carbone to volley home

With some bizarre irony, Graham decided this was the moment to introduce Vega for Sherwood and despite Spurs first effort on the Bradford goal for about 20 minutes in injury time, Spurs held out for a point.

Plus points from the game include another very good performance from Ferdinand, who with a new contract negotiations looming is in the best form of his Spurs career. King further cemented his position in the centre of midfield with another polished display. Armo returned the warm applause of the Spurs fans as he was substituted, which hopefully signals a warming of the relations between us

After three years of injury and a goal every 12 games - 4 goals in his last three games gives Ferdinand the right to try to bully

(Dec 8th - Sir Les)

After three years of injury and a goal every 12 games - 4 goals in his last three games gives Ferdinand the right to try to bully the club into giving him a two rather than one year deal. This is just not on - the club have paid his wages during his goal famine and his injuries and he aught to show a bit of loyalty to the club. Until his recent goal burst - Sheringham had scored more in the league this season than Fat Les had managed in all competition since his transfer in the Summer of 1997 - something to think about as he counts his money

(Dec 6th - The rich man's table)

A report by some blood sucking accountant has established the ranking of the richest clubs in football - and despite the 1990's we're still well up there - sandwiched in between Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund and current Serie A leaders Roma - its so sad that all that potential is being stifled by Sugar and the lack of ambition at the club

1998-99 season in brackets.

1. Man Utd (#110.9million)
2. Bayern Munich (#83.5million)
3. Real Madrid (#76.1million)
4. Chelsea (#59.1million)
5. Juventus (#58.5million)
6. Barcelona (#55.7million)
7. AC Milan (#54.1million)
8. Lazio (#50million)
9. Inter Milan (#49.1million)
10. Arsenal (#48.6million)
11. Liverpool (#45.3million)
12. Newcastle Utd (#44.7million)
13. Parma (#44.4million)
14. Borussia Dortmund (#43.9million)
15. Tottenham (#42.6million)
16. AS Roma (#39.4million)
17. Leeds Utd (#37million)
18. Rangers (#36.5million)
19. Aston Villa (#34.9million)
20. Celtic (#33.8million)

(Dec 4th - Graham - the fans are behind me!!)

Hopefully standing with a sharpened blade - I'm chuffed we won a couple of home games against decent sides but we lost again without much of a murmor at Old Trafford and are still only midtable

Ita also distresses me somewhat the Graham is claiming the credit for the introduction of hte youngster - players who were not ready for the Derby home match and numerous other softer games, but after two Ramon's and a Thatcher later were suddenly ready for Liverpool at home in front of the live cameras. Graham has had his hand forced and luckily for him has come out of it rather well. Anything less than a win at Bradford and he's up against it again

(Dec 3rd - The Sol Man)

Sol has spoken again regarding his future. I respect Sol and whatever he does will be fine by me (expcept of course if he joins Arsenal) and agree that he has demonstrated great loyalty to the club and does not need to make any hasty decisions.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR captain Sol Campbell has promised that he will not speak to other clubs while he is still a White Hart Lane player, despite his future after his contract ends next summer being uncertain. The England international defender's Spurs contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to agree a new deal with director of football David Pleat. Manchester United were interested in a £17 million swoop for him in the summer, and not signing a new deal as yet has meant that speculation that he will leave the club has raged in recent months.

However, in a show of loyalty to the club at which he has played since a trainee, Campbell has now promised not to agree a move to another club while he is still wearing The Lilywhites' shirt. "I can assure everyone that I won't be signing for another club while I am still a Spurs player," said Campbell. "There have been numerous times when I could have just walked away and said 'I've had enough, I'm leaving.' "I haven't done that because I want to be here.

"It annoys me that people question my loyalty to the club. Is eight years of your career not loyalty? How many players have stayed that long at a club? My position has not changed from day one. I always said that, when the time is right, I will talk to the club about my situation. "I have always maintained a good relationship with the fans. I have always spoken from the heart when it comes to Tottenham and they respect that. "That in itself shows how much I think about the club. It's not the attitude of a player who couldn't care less, who throws in the towel at the first opportunity.

"I still believe Tottenham can be a very successful club, that we can move forward and challenge the top teams for honours. "I'm as ambitious as the next player. I want to win the Premiership and I want success in Europe but, most of all, I want to believe I can achieve that here."

(Dec 2nd - Man Ure 2-0 Tottenham)

Listening to a Spurs defeat is bad enough, but listening to it on Gooner Gold is just that bit worse! It sounded like we played cautiously, giving ManUre too much respect (although it is easy to point out, more difficult to counter on the pitch) and too much space on their right . That dirty git Scholes scored their first after Perry played him onside and Solksjaer scored after a mixup with Anderton and Sherwood presented him with a one on one with Sully, while the best we managed was a shot from Les which Barthez had to turn for a corner.

No hammering, but little other consolation - a real test of our progress will be next week's visit to Bradford, which no amount of double talk such as no easy games in the Premiership is a must 3pts - if we can't win here, even without Anderton, we have real problems.

(Dec 2nd- Man U preview)

I've not been against Graham because of his goon past, more the fact that we were getting the same points return as Gross, playing some regressive football nad his insistance on slagging the club and its history at every opportunity.

One of his major blunders was not blooding the young players in the nothing games towards the end of last season, chosing instead the likes of Vega and Scales. His reluctance to blood young players and them claiming the plaudits for playing them when he was forced to do so is getting on my nerves a bit, but I will tolerate is just as long as they do not lose their place to a fuckwit like Thatcher or that Freund does not replace King in the midfield in today's match.

To some extent the pressure is off at Old Trafford as no one expects the team with the worst away record to get anything at Old Trafford, but if they play hard and enjoy a bit of luck they might just come up with something - our last 5 matches against ManUre have resulted in two 3-1 wins and a draw with a 2-1 and 3-1 defeat

I can't make it - thanks to Sugar and not asking for the extra 500 tickets for the match (so bollox to the Jumbotron - sitting 100 yards away from a patchy screen in the freezing cold - fack that anyway) - COME ON YOU SPURS

(Dec 1st - Wingnut - no chance)

We are once again linked with a two-bob player - this one being Francis "Wingnut Ears" Jeffers, the skinny scouse cheat who "won" two penalties at the Lane for Everton last season and has spent much of the rest of the time injured - and add to that the £8m that is being touted! No thank you. But Jimbo, I hear the innocents say, he has played for the England U-21! - so did Stuart Nethercock, that'll be all m'lud.

(Dec 1st - Sergei's mistake)

Poor old Sergei Rebrov - he looks as though he has realised where Tottenham really are in the current pecking order of English and European football. Recent press bleatings about the virtues of the Scum and the latest one about how he's like to be playing with Shevchenko in Milan - are the first since his naive statements after the Charlton defeat where he said something along the lines of "we're not going to qualify for the Champions League if we don't win at places like this".

While he has generally played well for Tottenham and has a respectable 5 goals from 13 appearances, the style of Tottenham's play (until the greater passing emphasis of the last two games) has generally not favoured the little bloke and its looking increasingly likely that he will be off at the end of the season (or during the next Italian transfer window in January)

Previous Months

November 2000 - TAG re-emerge under a different name, the crisis fails to materialise as we win three home matches against decent sides which covers the fact we were knocked out of the League Cup and failed to win away

October 2000 - loss upon loss, injury upin injury as the club go into free fall with one win, one draw and four defeats in our last 6 matches

September 2000 - Scrambled home wins see us rise to 5th, away defeats in the premiership and failure to beat promoted sides see us return to our level at 10th. A shambles against Brentford in the League cup & Thatcher challenges Phil Neville as England