Spurs can be the threat to City, but only if they keep Poch and Harry for at least 2 years
Tottenham must not miss big chance of glory days
IWAS lucky to play in two very good Tottenham teams. In the early Eighties, we won two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup with the team who had Ossie Ardiles, Steve Archibald, Ray Clemence, Garth Crooks and Steve Perryman.
Then the 1986- 87 side, under David Pleat, who had Clive Allen and Chris Waddle, could overwhelm teams at times but were sadly beaten in an FA Cup final and came third in the league.
After I had left, Terry Venables’ team had Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker and won the FA Cup in 1991. But I can honestly say I can’t remember a time when it’s been more exciting to be a Tottenham fan. And while I can’t quite yet say this is the best side I can recall, this is the best balanced team Tottenham have had, probably since that famous league and Cup Doublewinning side in 1961.
To be the greatest since 1961, they will need some trophies. But when they play like they did last week against Manchester United, it’s hard not to believe that will come.
There have been some Tottenham sides in the past who had wonderful qualities in attack but maybe were a little uncertain defensively.
That’s just not the case with Tottenham now. The victory over United was an excellent attacking performance and Spurs probably should have scored four or five. But Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez were also outstanding.
Don’t forget they are a team missing arguably their best defender in Toby Alderweireld, have sold Kyle Walker and have been missing Danny Rose.
YET full-backs like Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies come in and do wonderfully well. United may have conceded four goals fewer than them this season but manager Jose Mourinho has done that by sacrificing attacking play. His rival at Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino, has never done that and still has one of the best defences in the league.
Of course, this is a crucial batch of games for Pochettino, which will define how the last quarter of the season goes. Tottenham could be going into the latter stages of the Champions League, pushing to win the FA Cup and chasing down United for second place in the Premier League.
Beating them was a fine start to an interesting run, with Liverpool today followed by the FA Cup replay against Newport, Arsenal in the Premier League and then Juventus in the Champions League.
I hope the FA Cup does become a priority. It’s a great chance to win a trophy, which is what this team need. And they would get home games in the semi-final and final.
I know how much our FA Cup win in 1981 meant. It gave us confidence to be on the big stage and win again in 1982. We were a few minutes away from winning the League Cup that year too, losing to Liverpool in extra time. We then won the UEFA Cup in 1984 and went close in the league in 1985. It all stemmed from a Cup win, which broke the mental barrier. There’s more assurance about you once you’ve won a cup. Not arrogance, but just a sense of how to get the job done. At the moment, there’s still that slight doubt for these players. And this team need the Cup to keep the momentum. There is still that worry for me that the cost of the new stadium might lead to compromise sin keeping players or signing new recruits. Lucas Moura looks a great addition for £23million and Tottenham do now have a growing squad to ensure that they play at 9/10, even when a few players are out.
But they need to keep them, not least Harry Kane and the manager. I’m sure Harry will be offered a deal commensurate with his value, because you cannot be intimating that he’s a £200m player — which is the bracket he’s putting himself in — and pay him what’s he on now. His salary will have to reflect the performances that he’s delivering and the global attention he’s attracting.
What Tottenham need is at least two years from Harry and Mauricio. Two more years, to take them into the stadium. Of course, there may come a day when one or both of them leave. But I’m hoping it’s not now. They’re both very committed to Tottenham and this project.
While they would expect to be paid the market price, neither is motivated primarily by money. They’re building something special. Give it two more years and see it through. And who knows? By then, Tottenham might be competing at an even higher level and have accumulated a few trophies.
It’s going to be hard. Manchester City look like they might dominate the next few years. But playing like they did last Wednesday, Tottenham look so well positioned to be one of the major threats.