When it really isn't more important
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 7:21PM guestblog by Chris King
I was planning on writing something witty about the worst Spurs XI of my era.
I’d spoken to a few mates, asking them for the players that really struck them as being so bad – that they were the sort of acquisitions that you’d debate against ever really being Spurs players.
It could even be argued that writing down your worst XI is actually easier than trying to hand pick a team of Spurs legends – limiting your choice to a simple 4-4-2 formation.
And then Dean Richards died. And then the wittiness died with him.
When Richards joined Spurs, he did so for a fee that was then the highest for a non-capped player. He was the epitome of everything that was wrong about the Hoddle management era – a lot of promise, but ultimately failing to deliver.
When trying to plan the piece – for we bloggers do occasionally put a little thought in to the words we write – I put in “worst Spurs players” in to a search engine, and Richards’ name bounced around on more than one occasion. Some defended him, others questioned his fee; a fair amount did agree he was below par - whilst others gave him the benefit of the doubt due to his prolonged injury situation.
What I took from it all was that, and forgive the lazy pun here – he simply failed to earn his spurs. The fee went against him, the fact he only managed 73 games in four seasons went against him – the fact he retired for reasons that simply weren’t concrete went against him.
Yet, what Richards really suffered from was the fact that most of us expected more from him. There are countless Spurs players that were abject, hopeless – simply not Spurs players. Yet we half accepted them for their failings, and would happily buy them a pint should they ever wander in to our local pubs.
We give nicknames like the “Ginger Pele” to our bad players. We accept that some might simply have been signed to boost sales of shirts in the Far East market – we even embrace very average players who simply gave their all. There were periods when we expected too much – most of our worst players seem to come from the 1990s – there were other times when we just simply accepted what we had. Yet know one, when picking their worst Spurs XI, ever seems to agree that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Managers buy players based on a whole host of reasons. Usually it’s if someone has a good game against us, or a scout sees something no one else can – or DML has a highlights reel from Revisita la Liga. There are then a myriad of reasons why players fail to make the grade – to earn their Spurs. Yet the vitriol aimed at them is more often than not misplaced; over the top and not really becoming of fans that will stand up because they hate another team – then slag off their own players when another under-par performance is registered on the pitch.
Dean Richards dying doesn’t reverse his time at the club, but it does seem to have made a few people tweet or text their RIPs and condolences not long after their original view of his time in the side. Is in death, really the only time when we will forgive a player for their sins on the pitch?
There is another player who “we” are all supposed to hate. A player who accepted his 30 pieces of silver to travel, not too far down the Seven Sisters road – in the desperate hope that they may boost their career with a triumph or two. I wonder if, in death, he will be viewed differently – if all the bad Spurs players will be viewed differently when they finally pass away. For you can be sure that the club will wheel out the black armband – and a token minutes silence will fall upon the ground, followed by the customary round of applause to mark their passing – but will you be able to remember the last time you applauded their actual passing, or tackling, shooting, heading etc.
If Dean Richards sits in your worst Spurs XI of all time, does his death change that? Has the sad news that a 36 year old has been taken from us far too early in life, meant you’ve slotted another central defender in, in his place?
Football fans are a cruel bunch. The argument is that if you pay good money, you have the right to pass judgement in what ever way you want – at which ever player is the target of your abuse this time around. But when an ex-player dies, who is only a year older than the person writing this piece – it makes it all seem so pointless; futile, not really worth debating.
Our worst Spurs XI is the side that lost to Blackpool. Our best Spurs XI will be the side that wins our next league or UEFA Champions League game – that’s how football should be viewed. Dean Richards was never going to reach such heights, but was it really his fault – or was he just an unfortunate victim of a Spurs era that made average players look bad?
Someone once said that football was more important than life and death. But then he at least lived to the ripe old age of 68. When you die at 36, having failed to beat a long term illness that took away your dreams, your hopes, your life and than handed you an early death – football must seem ultimately pointless to the people you’ve left behind.
Dean Richards will be warmly remembered by both Spurs and Wolves fans when we meet next week. Very few will talk about how bad he was for us, or how much he cost – all they will do is simply give up a minute of their lives to think what a travesty it is that someone in the 21st Century is still able to die at the tender age of 36.
Then, when the whistle goes – he will be nothing more than a passing memory to both sets of fans who desperately want three points from the match.
What a waste. What a callous way to view a life.
Reader Comments (55)
Bit deep aint it!
"Someone once said that football was more important than life and death."
Keegan wrote in his autobiography that Shanks never said that, he was too much a decent bloke who knew what life was about to de-value it with such a remark.....very much like you are with this piece of writing mate.
Respect
Good piece.
Sad news indeed
But he really was shit though wasn't he !
Very deep Spooky but I can't really fault what you're saying.
R.I.P Deano
What does any of this have to do with the Carling Cup?
Very deep piece. We pay our respects we move on. At least we pay our respects.
Thought that Richards was an OK player but he suffered from the pressure of being compared to Sol Campbell from the day he joined. That, coupled with ongoing injury problems, some of which were more than likely connected to what eventually took his life, meant that a lot of fans had an unfair perspective on him. RIP Deano.
Interesting article, because I never really viewed Dean Richards as that bad a player. Maybe because I had the all too recent memory of having seen Ramon Vega and Ben Thatcher lining up in defence?
Fact is though Deano scored the first Spurs goal I ever saw live (bonus points for guessing the game anyone?). I always regarded him as a solid, if unspectacular, player, but reliable enough. Maybe helped by the fact that we were playing a 3-man defence at the time so any mistakes never really stood out in the same way they do with 2 CB's.
Regardless I'll always look on him fondly and he was never a target for my ire when he was playing. Eerily enough I'd just started a CM 01/02 game this weekend (having a bit of classic CM action at the mo) when I read about his passing. That season, along with 90/91 and 98/99 was probably one of the most important in my history of supporting Spurs and he played a big part of it. When I'm old and grey and taking the grandkids to the new stadium I'll definitly be telling them about 'the Dean Richards Goal'.
Very nice piece. Makes me feel even sadder about how dismissive we are. But what other choice do we have? We are neither friends of family. But I agree with the sentiments of the piece.
Intelligent writing on a Spurs blog? Must be a bit too much for some.
Thanks for sharing Chris.
"There is another player who “we” are all supposed to hate. A player who accepted his 30 pieces of silver to travel, not too far down the Seven Sisters road – in the desperate hope that they may boost their career with a triumph or two. I wonder if, in death, he will be viewed differently –"
Sol is a bit different in that respect, if he was to die tomorrow I dont think you would see many spurs fans laying wreaths or tweetin RIP's, he'l go down in history as a c*nty footballer, id hope you wouldnt see any bad vibes of his passing though (his death, not the ball)
RIP Dean Richards.
Campbell is a fairly vile human being. His first ever return to WHL for Arsenal he claimed the abuse he got during the game was racist. Such is the mans ignorance and arrogance.
Deano was a victim of being at the centre of things at a really bad time for us. From his performances with other clubs it was clear he was a good player, but injuries and ultimately his health condition deprived him of the chance to shine for Spurs. He always seemed a decent sort, and his death is a dreadful shock. I hope both the Wolves and the Spurs fans give him the send off he deserves.
im fairly confident they will cyril, both sets of fans united (ugh) over an equal cause
lol the machine,, thats the funny thing, we had been doin it since he moved, an the media chose that point to make a massive deal out of it
You would of thought Rsol"s AIDS would of kicked in by now..??
Not going to the Wolves game, but hoping that considering the circumstances, there is at least one shared chorus of 'only one Dean Richards' between both sets of fans. Least we can do.
i think this blog is in bad taste spooky, a young man has died, why bring in how good he was, or where he would rank in whatever list. i think rest in peace, would have said it all.
@Mark
The match you are referring to 3-5 - I was there too. Even though we lost I still count it as one of the best games I've ever seen.
Not being revisionist but Dean Richards should never be close to a worst XI, he had a lot of excellent attributes that could have made him a top player had it not been for the incessant injuries and health problems. Much like Doherty, we seem to remember them as poor players because their Spurs careers ended silently and with disappointment.
Doherty was superb and being talked about as our next captain - then he got his leg smashed to pieces and was never the same player again.
Richards was our Campbell replacement and together with Ledley could have formed a genuinely formidable defence. It wasn't his ability, ball-control, defensive lapses, desire or transfer fee that robbed us and him of that future. It was just his health.
He was no Ramon Vega or Paulo Tramezzani and he doesn't belong in any team with those kinds of players.
RIP Dean.
Hardly bad taste. In fact it's paying respect to Richards.
Also, Spooky didn't write this.
first time ever posted anything ever but had to. 36 is a crime no time makes you think whats important
agree with ham
R.I.P Dean Richards
Excuse me spooky,
as you rightly said chris, your list is no longer important,
Dean Richards , Thfc ,R.I.P
I don't think spooky was meaning this article To be in bad taste. I think it highlights how fickle footy fans can be. One minute dismissing a players time at spurs, to some then changing to how fondly he will be remembered. Maybe we should respect players who try hard for the club even If they don't match the price tag or our expectations. No more 'worst player lists'. Cos when one passes away we all feel a little guilty for our previous mocking of them. Im not saying that Dean was a great, but he did his best and under medical issues so didn't deserve the criticism he got after he left. RIP Dean
Easy to misinterpret this article because of his underlying subtle message. It's hardly insulting to the memory of Richards. The emotion its attempting to muster up is in some ways one that should make us reflect and pay tribute. At all times, in life and death. Heavy stuff.
Dean Richards was nowhere NEAR as bad as Gary D'oh-erty.
Dean Richards came to Spurs with a big price on his head and glowing cv the sad facts are he was suffering from a disease deep in his inner ear that caused him to get headaches and dizzy spells. This must have bean a living nightmare to a player whose job it was to head the ball constantly and keep is balance.and tackle . When i first got my spine disease i was sprinting away with the ball and the next thing i was staggering like i was drunk and has quick has a flash my days dreaming of one day scoring the winner for Spurs or a try for my Town team Widnes was ended but My children have grown up and had there children. But poor Dean he has died so young Football last for 90 mins Life his a long and happy journey if you are lucky the saying should be Sport helps you live longer not die younger Deano had the talent but sadly not the luck. R.I.P father husband and lastly a Spurs player.
We paid the 8mill+ for Richards after losing our best player & captain to Arsenal. He had big boots to fill & though the fee was high,he was rated at the time.Maybe the illness was affecting him earlier than has been documented.Poor fella.
Good artcile, it makes you realise when we abuse the Jenas; and crouch's of this world for not reaching our lofty expectations, they are not some throw away commodities, they are people just like us. Football may take up a large proportion of our lives but is not our whole lives.
RIP Dean once a Yid always a yid.
COYS
Football is a strange game. sometimes it is everything and sometimes it pales into significance. Its a huge part of liefe that we all breathe and would highlights all thats good and bad about society.
I consider myself a passionte fan, yet feel distain for vile fans (Tottenham included) that vent their thoughts at matched or on the internet,
The chants to Cambell and adebayor have always made me feel sick. Coming back to it being a strange game, I applaud the passion of our hardcore fans who make WHL what it is yet I would love to ask them 1 - 1 why a minority would fee there is any excuse to sing such vile.
I hate people being PC but when you consider kids are in the stadium to see grown men act this way is pretty scary.
Fans should think about how they act and imagine if they bumped into that player on the street. I for on would be respectfult to Cambell and be interested to discuss about what really went on.l
With regards to Richards, he didnt really get the chance to prove his worth but there is no doubt he was talented and could have been great for us.
Bit pissed, sorry for spelling above!!
As someone has mentioned football is a major part of life BUT it aint everything.
Cant be at the game so someone sing out for me .."Only one deano"...
R.I.P mate
stefan Iversen. Arguably the most ordinary strikers we have seen at spurs in recent times.
spooky this is such bad taste its unbelivable. As a cancer suffererI I can tell you this disease takes away all your dreams, saps you of energy and hope. The only hope you have is that you can live long enough for a cure. Dean passed away from a brain tumour, and it is quite obvious that the onset of his condition was while he was playing for spurs, with the headaches and dizzy spells. Most people cant do an office job with a headache, try performing in the premmier league with one and dizzyness. He was coverted by a number of clubs but chose spurs because of his conection with hoddle, but due to his illness was unable to fullfill his full potental. so one of the worst spurs player, no. one of the most unluckiest who ultimatley paid with his life. RIP Dean may your god be with you and your family
Some of you are really missing the point of this article. Unless I'm misinterpreting it. Which I doubt I am.
I can sort of understand the subtle message behind this article, but then again whether or not dean richards is still alive or not, he will obviously NOT be the worst 11 that spurs ever had, and if its defenders that you are talking about , you obivously forgotten about RAMON VEGA.
I think what Chris is trying to say is that we are fickle and quick to abuse and make fun of players and when they pass suddenly it's all forgotten about and we have a moments silence and then we forget all about them the second the game kicks off. Article is not suggesting he is or should be considered an unmitigated disaster for us in a Spurs shirt. The way we switch on and off when someone dies and we then forget and just pay respect I think is quite hallow but honestly don't see how else we can react to it.
modric999 NEVER abuse the great man that is ramon vega!!
I don't think Dean Richards belongs in a Worst Spurs XI of all time based purely on his football ability. I remember the goal in the 3-5 against Utd even though we ultimately lost from a strong position. Anyway football is not more important than life and death, it is (dare I say it) just a game and I'm sure Dean Richards left behind a lot of loved ones. He used to be one of our own and I beg anyone going to the next game (Wolves?) to give a few choruses of 'Only One Dean Richards'.
Great article Chris, seems some people are having trouble understanding what you are saying.
Football fans are a cruel bunch, no doubt about that, but Dean had a chance to fulfil some of his ambitions, two people at my school died before they were 16, what I mean is that life is many things but never fair.
We judge the Dean Richards we knew - a footballer - not a husband, father or friend. Callous? Maybe.
Dean Richards will be missed by his family and friends who will no doubt have some great memories to take into the future with them.
The rest of will say RIP and carry on with what we were doing 5 minutes before, that's just the way life is.
Dean and his family will get his minute of our thoughts and prayers on Sunday. As AoC said near the top "At least we pay our respects".
@steve and the other guys who have said that this is in bad taste, read the title of the blog......."When it really isn't more important"......i think that you may have misinterpreted the point of the article somewhat.
@Chris a good introspective piece, we should all take a moment to reflect and not just on Deano (MHRIP) but on the way we all "consume" our lives......its not quite Rome/Christians/Lions but there is a definite selfish, frenzied pace to that which we partake in across the board these days.
Good to read a tribute that eschews easy sentimentality and selective amnesia. Respect to the memory of the man and to his family and friends
"it makes you realise when we abuse the Jenas; and crouch's of this world for not reaching our lofty expectations, they are not some throw away commodities, they are people just like us. Football may take up a large proportion of our lives but is not our whole lives." Feb 28, 2011 at 12:10 AM | epochery
Nothing more need be said !!
Intent means little when people read bad taste in to a piece of writing, but given the title and the ending i did think it was clear the side of the argument i had fallen on.
Dean Richards was never going to be in a worst XI, but his early death and illness did put some perspective on to why he may not have been the player we hoped he was. But then, there will be plenty of Spurs players who wont have an "excuse" (I've put this in "" to highlight the retrospective nature we view a life or career once it has come to an end) to cling on to. Think of the many players that are vilified for not reaching the standards we expect - that took abuse all through their Spurs' career, and beyond - and then consider if they would be viewed differently?
Easy way to look at it is, and for want of picking a player - if Paolo Tramezzani was to meet an unfortunate end, would the haters flood their twitter timelines with RIPs - and would they then start to look for another worst ever Spurs player, even if only out of a mark of respect?
Rather than Rest in Peace, I do think we should Respect in Play - no matter how bad they are.
Though i do appreciate that this is a somewhat utopian view, captured solely in hindsight.
I'd never have put Richards in a worst XI, simply because there were many who were worse than him. He always put in 100% and was often let down more by the players around him.
Also, it's important to remember that we shouldn't always apportion blame on the players themselves. It's the manager who wants a player and it's the chairman who pays the money for them.
A player is out there doing their job. I'd rather a player gave 100% for the cause, even if that resulted in a few mistakes, than have them put in little effort.
RIP Deano......
Lets not beat around the bush, he wasnt great for us, so no point pretending he was. Tragically, he was clearly already sufferng from the problems that would eventally lead to his demise at such a young age, and this must have impacted his performances. Its difficult to see how anyone could play to their potential with balance issues and migraines.
If I were to judge his career, I would rather look to his outstanding form at both Wolves and Southampton, a real giant and good on the ball. I had a period working in Birmingham from 1994-1996 and recall vividly the Wolves supporting colleagues drooling over his performances. I went to see the Wolves a few times in those days and can tell you - without any false memories or in any way trying to big the man up due to his untimely demise - he was outstanding. Comfortably the best defender in the Championship (Div 1 as it was then). I said for years after that that we should sign him and was distraught when he went to Saints on a free. So when we signed him - even for £8m - I was delighted and couldnt see how it wouldnt prove to be Hoddle's masterstoke. Of course as things transpired, we didnt get to see it at Spurs, but he was a giant of a man with truly outstanding contol for a centre half. Got his fair share of goals too of course – as he did for us (Man U and the winner in the 4-3 against Pompey spring to mind).
His death is such a tragedy. To be impacted by his health issues in his mid-20s (still a boy in most contexts) – and to be dead by 36, is just horrific. Personally I am greatly saddened by his death – its a cliche but it really does bring the triviality of kicking a bit of leather around a pitch into perspective.
RIP Deano – we wont forget.
As other have said, Deano was never anywhere near a worst XI. For what its worth, and to lighten the mood a bit, here's the worst I ever saw. If this is inappropriate Spooky, apologies in advance (clearly I dont think it is)
This is from the top of the head - I am not thinking i through as I want rage to be my guide
GK Barry Danes RB David Kerlake CB Ramon Vega CB Stuart Nethercott LB Pauolo Tremazzani
LW Stephen Clemence CM Stefan Freund CM Jason Dozzell RW Ruel Fox
CF Paul Mahon CF Gregor Raziak
Freund was a class act!
If we are talking poor performances for us then surely Andy Booth should be in with a shout. Possibly Heldar Postiga too.