End of Season 'awards'

I guess what with the World Cup and the summer transfer rumourwhoring we are about to ride on the back of, even though there is no Tottenham until the start of the 2011 season, I doubt we'll get bored anytime soon. In the meantime (courtesy of the thread by Park Lane James @ GG), feel free to agree/disagree/discuss the following season-review-of-sorts.

I'll be revisiting 2010 in more fragmented detail in the coming weeks, with blog posts concentrating on individuals and games. In the mean time...

Most improved player:

Tricky one this. BAE has improved from being a stop-gap player to a certainty in the first team. Okay, so he's sort of lost his mojo since returning from injury, but it's unfair to concentrate too much on his shaky moments when you consider the performances he's delivered for us. He's a renegade. Anti-football qualities off the pitch, but more than assured and focused on it.  

Gomes has improved, mainly be ridding himself of the Paul Robinson curse before it weighed him down. The amount of BS in the press and elsewhere, you'd think there was no way back for him - much like Robbo found out in the end (at least re: his Spurs career). Clumsy silly mistakes no more from the Brazilian though. Flying through the air shot-stopping expertly the only order of the day. Mental strength and character. I'm getting married just so I can offer my bint to him.

Bale has gone on a proper journey. From no confidence to bursting through his skin confidence. He's turned into a marauding pulsating beast of a left-flanker. Better offensively than defensively, but boy, what an offensively it is. So, which one out of all of the above?

/scratches chin.

I'm gonna go for Bale. Mainly because he was buried under 23 or so games of no-wins and given zero hope of survival.

Breakthrough player:

You could say Danny Rose. Because he broke through and smashed it past the red scum. But he's not exactly held down a place in the side (before or since). So even though he broke through, it might make more sense to hand his honour to (the man of the moment, of every moment) Gareth Bale. Okay, so we all knew he was a talent, but then again many had forgotten mainly because he was never quite the same when returning from injury and practically ruined for being part of a crap side (not his fault that every time he player we failed to win - 10 other players on the pitch, right?). What we saw this year, was Bale's resurgence back in the team and slowly working his way to full confidence. Granted, injuries elsewhere allowed his blossoming, but these things happen. For a reason. And suddenly the age old conundrum about Spurs needing a left-winger has been put to bed. He is quintessentially Spurs. Exciting, fearless. Okay, the latter isn't exactly a Spurs quality, but its one we love to see in a player. And he has it in abundance. Just have to work out whether his future is left-back or left-wing.

We heart you Gareth.

Most vocal/best leader:

Dawson I guess. He shouts. He's vocal. He leads by example. King when he stars is also a leader of men. Perhaps a bit passive in comparison to other captains the country over. Always thought (and still do) that we lack a Roy Keanesque type of leader. When Dawson smiles you want to hug the bloke, scruff up his hair and buy him a Cornetto. If Roy Keane smiled in your direction, you'd probably shit bricks.
 
Young player of the season:

Bale. Bale. Bale. This season is testament to why we made the investment in him in the first place. Whether the 'Bale to Birmingham' stories were true (do any of you believe we were ready to sell Dawson back to Forest?) the fact that he bided his time, took his chance and has completely consolidated himself in the first team says a lot about his strength of character and determination. There is little to dislike about this bloke. Improve his positioning defensively (will come with time) and we'll have a complete player. His offensive skills will no doubt continue to improve. Got to get him back in the zone with the set pieces also.

Player of the season:

Ah, you got me here. Gomes is a candidate. He arguably took us to 4th spot with his saves, mainly the gems against the red scum in that spell just before they scored their consolation goal. He has gone from calamity clown (Hansen: Worse keeper in the league) to the very best stop-shooter in the EPL. Brimming with self-belief. Selected for the Brazil WC squad. I once upon a time loved Paul Robinson. A lot. He buckled and died a death when his form dropped, and his confidence was unrecoverable. Gomes has gone from man to giant, proving that if you keep the faith, you get repaid.

Dawson is a good shout. Remember the days when he just had to have King by his side for it all to work? Nowadays, we sort of forget about Ledley in a complimentary way in that Daws can command the back four just dandy, along with his buddy Bassong. A year back I would have said 'we need a new centre-back'. Not so sure now. Perhaps a young(er) understudy. But you only have to look at our defensive record (home) to know we have a diamond at the back and can cope with most things, if Ledley is looking on from the stands.

Bale. Just because he is the sexiest of players to watch. Proper hands down your pants footballer.

I can't choose at the minute. All of the above.

Fan's player (who do you admire most in our squad):

King. How many times have we had to read reports about his impending retirement? Countless stories and whispers, always there, haunting him - us - and the club. And yet still her perseveres. He fights on. Okay, so his knee is shot and at some point the docs will tell him he has to quit before the damage is permanent. But until that day, he's a Spurs player and when called upon he is a monster, a colossus, an absolute professional who gives it everything for the team. He makes so few errors, you can actually cite them all (one hand mind you). I admire him because for someone who doesn't train, for him to do what he does every time he is called upon, it just staggers belief. It's no exaggeration or sound-bite to say that. Christ, if he didn’t have a dodgy knee…I dare not imagine.

Legend.

Team performance of the season:

Daaaamn. You know it's been a good season when you have to stop for several minutes and think about this. I can drift off, day dreaming, remembering. The 9-1 against Wigan was stupendous. But I'm going to skip ahead to the final stages of the 2010 season. For me, the following games bucked the trend and showed us all that Spurs had matured and grown up.

W Arsenal 2-1
W Chelsea 2-1
W Man City 1-0

Three must-wins, none of which anyone expected us to claim victory it.

Out of the three, I'm going to go with the Eastland encounter. Yes, the NLD was majestic. The way we soaked it up, allowed them to play the ball around neatly, forcing them onto the wings and into nowhere land - then striking twice to settle it and just refusing to collapse, even when they scored after The Gomes Show had us all applauding till our hands were bleeding.

Chelsea at home was swagger at its best. We could have scored 5 or 6. They didn't turn up. We did.

But Eastlands, this game was akin to an FA Cup final. Such was the importance that I actually don't care about the semi-final disappoint. Honestly. Can't believe I'm saying it, but finishing 4th and doing so by avoiding any last-day must-dos was just out of this world. Everyone worked as a unit, all knowing the importance of three points and not settling for three. It was the day Harry was vindicated tactically and Spurs showed they don't always bottle and choke. Quite simply brilliant.

Best atmosphere:

I hate this type of 'award'. How do you constitute an atmosphere? The one at home to Wigan was almost carnival in parts, disbelief at the number of goals being netted. The NLD is a horrid excruciating experience, because even though history tells another story, you long for victory and despise defeat. Squirming, biting of nails, you look but you can't look. Still, for how that game panned out, I'd give it to the defeating of the red scum. First time for so long, it would be rude not to. The singing, the feeling - it was different class and a perfect example why White Hart Lane remains the hottest place in London when the chips are down.

Best goal celebration:

Danny Rose. Something about that pumped up look and run facing the Shelf Side, running down the flank as if saying 'Did you just see that? Did you? That was me that was!' It was like a dance video. You know, how they always have someone running or being chased in it? Danny Rose, scored a belter against the scum. I half expected him to run out of the ground in celebration, Forrest Gump style, all the way up the Seven Sisters Rd.

Favourite night out after an away game:

Err. Away game? I remember those days well. It's been two seasons now since my last travels up and down the country, something I did for several seasons before being whipped into sharing my every other weekend with my partner rather than eating pie up at < insert random northern club here >. If anyone cares to suggest one here, please do.

Best away day:

Same here.

Best visiting fans to White Hart Lane:

Chelsea. Not because of any other reason than seeing their stupid faces at the final whistle. It's so easy, it's so easy, it's so easy at the Lane. Indeed it is. Otherwise, Stoke (wasn't there, was told they were more than decent) and Man Utd (who always make noise).

Goal of the season:

For sheer magnitude. The much maligned Crouch up at Eastlands. For majestic qualities. Danny Rose versus them lot in the NLD. Because he hit the ball when he had no right to do so.
 
Favourite memory of this season?

All of it. You know how we struggle to believe? You know exactly what I mean. I refer you to when we had a lull this season, lost three points to a newly promoted side or lost a lead in a game we should have won. Those moments are hard to swallow because the obvious knee-jerk would be to say 'same old Tottenham'. And it's not our fault. We only have the past to go on and we know that in the past 10 years or so, we have flattered to deceive. But the progress made, the achievements gained - they have been such that we now owe it to the club and the team and players to believe in them because they have dared to get it right.

What I mean is simply this. Every time we were expected to drop down the table, we dug deep and we moved onwards. We never caved in. We showed bottle and guile and kept true to our style. The mark of a true unit, a team. Sure, we are in our infancy in more ways than one. But we have renewed goals to aim for. So when I say 'all of it' being the whole season as my fav memory - it's because every game, the bad ones and the good ones, seem to fit together like a puzzle. A complete puzzle. With no missing parts. And the final picture is one of hope.

Hope you get what I mean.

What are you most looking forward to about next year's campaign?

How Harry handles the new pressure on him and the team. The new signings. CL football. The way we deal with away games and the away games against the traditional 'Top 4'. The new Spurs shirt. Which I might actually purchase if I can get it without a sponsor on it. Bale's continued development. Another 6 points off the red and blue scum at home.

COYS.

Chimbo, Pav and Bent: Love them. Hate them.

Morning. More DML awards celebrating the end of the 2009 season. Enjoy.

Most Confusing Transfer

Imagine buying something from a shop. Second hand, but it's in decent nick. You try to get the best out of the item but it leaves you feeling a little empty. And as time goes by you actually get a little annoyed with having it laying around the house, unused. So, you stick it on eBay and not long after you've sold it for a tidy sum. You replace the item with one or two new ones which you are more than happy with and you get on with your life. Then, not long after, you get back on eBay and buy the original item back. No real reason. It was just there. Available. It's back in your ownership. Only to then leave it laying around the house once more unused.

Welcome to the Pascal Chimbonda Show. A transfer shenanigan too far. I'm not going to mention Willie McKay and his ties to Harry and the fact he is Pascal's agent. Apart from just then. Let's move on.

In pure footballing terms I attempted to justify the return of Chimbo by telling myself that we have got him back to do a specific job. Utility Man. He's a right-back but he can play on the left (not that well) and as a centre-back (not too shabby) so we have plenty of cover if need be and considering our plight at the time, we needed some cover and strength. I'm probably wrong, but I can only remember one appearance made since he re-signed. He might have made more. But I'm struggling to even remember the appearance that I do remember, well sort of remember. Corluka has slotted into the centre-back position when required. Before his injury, Dawson helped out if King was unavailable. Hutton - who has been lost to injury for an absolute age and prior to it was having a nightmare season on the pitch, has found himself back in the first team ahead of Pascal. Although there might be an element of 'shop window' with that - who knows. As for the left-side, that belongs to BAE.

Honestly, why did we re-sign this bloke if he never plays? Answers, postcard…etc.


The Honorary Rebrov Award for Patience

He's tired. Unfit. Russian. Can't speak the language. New to the country. New to English culture. Living in a hotel (until recently). Spotted in Waltham Abbey Tesco with a man-bag. Played a full Russian season and the European Championships. Did I mention he's tired?

Roman Pavlyuchenko was signed for £14M as a Robbie Keane replacement. Or was he meant to be a Berbatov replacement? Or was he meant to be a brand new type of forward altogether? His own man.

He turned up all smiles (a vast improvement on the sulky Bulgarian) but failed to make the same type of impact, leaving us with frowns. Once more, much like Bentley, several sound-bites started to do the rounds about how (as mentioned already) Roman was tired and unfit and possibly injured. Rushed into playing for Spurs and thus making things more difficult for him to adapt. Not his fault we were desperate to have someone who could help get us out of the bottom of the table, but typical Spurs that we would force the issue with a brand new signing in this manner. Even more typical Spurs that we would sign Roman in the first place. For the money we did. All things considered, when you've just lost two big players in Keane and Berbatov you need to make sure that the money spent is for a can-hit-the-ground-running type of forward. Berba took his time to adapt and get into the swing of things, but you could tell he oozed class and was doing everything else fine. Then the goals flowed.

With Roman, you want to believe he will have something to offer when he is completely refreshed and content with life in England. But at the moment, all we see is a player with that apologetic Bambi look about him, failing to control the ball with his first touch and always ballooning it over the bar when he has time to look up and shoot. He can stick them away ok when in front of goal. Poaching isn't a problem for him. And he can hold the ball up fairly well. But there is no obvious stand-out vision or that little spark of world-class about him. For an extra £6M or so we could have signed Arshavin (or possibly not considering that Zenit were/are a pain the backside to deal with). But you get my point. £14M for someone who isn't 100% is a massive massive gamble especially when it all feels like the second prize in a raffle.

Shades of when we signed Armstrong and Arsenal signed Bergkamp.

I've been a stern defender of Roman from the start. Ask "the bloke who stands next to me with all the sound-bites" at the Lane. He thinks the player is f**king shit. And many others think we've spunked a ton of money (again) on the wrong type of striker.

Interpreter running up and down the training field translating instructions, whispers of a transfer away and and struggle to learn English - one or two are expecting him to move on (escape) shortly. Others would prefer to see how he performs after a summers rest and decent pre-season. He could still turn out to be great. But that would mean that what we've seen so far (all the negative stuff) is down to circumstances fitness and that he can actually shoot on target from distance and does have a silky first touch.

One positive, and it's a big one I guess, is that regardless of the criticism, he's still notched up several goals. So he can't be that bad, can he?

Which brings me onto...


Much Maligned Player of the Season

He's our top goal scorer. And yet he is perceived as the most likely to be sold in the summer months. Here's a player that at one point wasn't considered as good as Harry Redknapps wife. A player that many Spurs fans believe is not right for our side. Too one-dimensional. Can only really play to full effect if we take up a Charltonesque style of counter-attacking football. Type of tactic that works away from home, where Bent has has plenty of success. In any other type of formation he struggles. He struggles because he doesn't offer that much in the way of team play. It's a running joke, counting the amount of times he touches the ball in a game. He can disappear for long periods and appear isolated. He doesn't come deep or bring others into the game. He just floats around. Goal-hangs if you will.

So what does Darren Bent to exactly?

He scores. Whether it flies off his ankle or hits his bum, Darren Bent sticks the ball into the onion bag.

So, why do we not rate him again?

The argument in support of Bent usually sounds like this: ''Well he scores goals, so what else do you want? Isn't the point of a forward to score goals? Does it matter how he scores them as long as he does?"

It's a good point isn't it? But would you say he is as consistent as a Gary Lineker? Or offers more to us than Jermain Defoe? People who do not rate him will be quite vocal in the fact that - for example - a partnership of Keane and Berbatov will offer an abundance more than a partnership of Keane and Bent. So for £16M you'd expect to have a player who can create and craft and generally offer a lot more than just, well, scoring.

I know, I know. It's sort of a paradox. But the point is - we could have someone in there who is overall a more all-round type of forward.

The irony is, we are linked with the likes of Jones (Heskey clone) and already have Pavlyuchenko.

Better the devil you know? I'm wondering, if he does end up going, whether we end up regretting it.

I'm going to gamble and say: No. No we won't.

More awards on their way.

For the full list, including the previous DML Award articles, just click here. Or use the tag below this post.

Bentley you're my zero....I mean hero...

Morning all. The DML Awards continue...

Player of the Season

It’s like something out of a comic book or the tv show Heroes. The main protagonist has lost his powers and is disillusioned and alone. Past glories a distant memory, doubts lingering as to whether he'll be able to regain his talent. And then a new beacon of hope takes centre stage and surely now the day is lost. But alas, this new dashing superman is more zero than hero. And with the centre stage empty again, our protagonist decides its now or never and reaches out for the bright lights, reclaiming that which was his all along. A star is re-born.

The menacing pace. The unplayable jinking runs. It's suddenly clear to all that his full abilities have returned.

Aaron Lennon is back.

With intent and purpose. And with improved end product and an eye for goal. Whether its on the right or left or through the middle, ball at feet, he causes havoc and is altogether a different type of creative outlet than the more subtle craftwork of the cultured Modric. Aaron is far more in your face and then in front of your face and then about five metres ahead of your face. Counter-attacking has never been so much fun.

Harry still has work to do with developing the lads composure and decision making and there is no doubt he has to improve his final ball - but the signs that progression has been made are there for all to see.

He is the player of the season for us simply because he has epitomised the type of determination that has pulled us out of the mire and up the table. Where the £15M Bentley has stalled, Lennon has raced away. Confident and assured. Always threatening. Bums constantly off seats, when he's full pelt.

We have been here before with Lennon. Last time out he failed to live up to the hype. He now has to do just that otherwise it's not just him that will suffer the consequences.

Goal of the Season

Sit down, buckle up. Because you're about to read something that would constitute positively in the way of David Bentley. The goal - the opening goal - in the thrilling 4-4 derby day classic at the Emirates was one of ridiculous audacity. It's one of those attempts that hits the back of the net because destiny will not allow otherwise. There's no way its not going to be a goal. The flick and the hit and the second before it happened is where this beauty of a strike was birthed. As the ball was bouncing around on peoples heads in the middle of the park and found its way towards Bentley, what raced through his mind?

"I'll have a crack. If it goes in, it goes in"
"He's off his line, I could lob the ball over him"

I prefer to believe nothing much went through his head. Which arguably most would agree is the standard brain activity of most footballers.

Bentley instinctively shot towards goal because in that moment he knew he could score. You've done it yourself I'm sure. Goal of your life on the Hackney Marshes when you've chested it, controlled and hit it and next thing you know its breaking the back of the net and you wheel off in celebration asking yourself, 'how the heck did I just do that?'

The moment Bentley thought about doing it is the moment he scored. Before the ball even left his foot. It was a majestic wonderful moment. And sweet for the fact that he once played for them lot and is always prone to a bit of abuse from their home support.

If he never plays for us again, at least he left us with the memory of a goal that left all that witnessed it gob smacked.

More to follow...

Wilson Palacios is a legend

DML Awards

With a couple of months to go before pre-season kicks off, I thought it best to spread the season review and 'awards' across several blog articles. Keep things short and snappy (for a change).

So first up the first batch of player awards.

Best Summer Signing

Lickle Luka Modric. The impish looking lad that was written off before he even kicked a ball in the EPL. Not strong enough cited old man Wenger from the depths of his swamp. He'd be blown away like a crisp packet in a storm if you cared to believe some of the punditry dished out early season. And there were moments when we almost believed it to be true as we held our heads in our hands watching Spurs slump from one game to the next. Luka, looking lost and struggling. And then in came saviour Harry and with each passing game the Croatian began to find his feet and dink about with confidence. All thanks to a little bit of balance and team structure. From the left, cutting in with purpose, there was plenty of crafting and clever balls and the odd goal too. There is absolutely no doubting this blokes ability and he has conducted play from midfield with freedom and much glee giving us a spark that most thought had gone with Berbatov's departure to United. He took time to settle, as expected, and has proven he has a touch of the world class about him. Lovely player, proper Tottenham sort, who will no doubt improve further next season and grab a few more goals. Luka Moddle indeed.


Worst Player

Difficult one this. Should the accolade be awarded to someone who has played few games based on the fact they are woeful or someone who has been selected time and time again regardless of the fact they are woeful? Or perhaps it should be given to the player who played several games whilst being woeful and then hardly figured after that. Such was the woefulness.

Step forward, Mr David Bentley. Personal problems have been cited along with the pressures of a massive transfer fee as the main excuses for his non-existent form. Others would suggest being played out on the left-hand side destroyed him. So what exactly happened to Beckham MkII? Where did it all go wrong?

Much like most of the side in those opening eight games, there was no cohesion or belief. But where others clawed their way back up from mediocrity, Bentley was left behind with his head buried in the sand. He was devoid of all the basics. Simple passes and crosses were an impossible tasks for the lad. Everything had to be Hollywood and came off looking a ITV. That Goal against Arsenal could have been and should have been the opportunity to reclaim some of the hype, but alas, it wasn’t to be. He got worse with each game. The worst of them, a depressingly bad display against Burnley in the home leg of the semi-final.

For the money spent on a player that was not a necessity in the first place who then found himself pushed out of the right side to make way for a blistering Aaron Lennon, you feel his dream move turning into a nightmare was possibly the reason his fragile ego collapsed with no apparent sign of recovery. It's looking highly likely that Bentley will be sold on - for a loss - in the summer, allowing Harry to sign another right-back (probably).

It's been shambloic.


Best Comeback Player

According to Alan Hansen, Gomes was the worst Premier League goal keeper he had ever seen. This coming from a man who played in a side with Bruce Grobelaar in goal. There is no doubting the fact that our Brazilian lank was the very definition of calamity during the period of time that we took backwards steps away from the upper regions of the table. He likes punching the ball. And he likes running out, jumping, and claiming it. In a winning side that defends well, you can do this sort of clean-up work with that extra buzz of confidence instilled by the fact that all is well and you're protected. When the team is crap and you make a mistake or two then the mistakes keep on rolling, especially when you start thinking too much instead of reacting instinctively.

It gets even worse when you try even harder to do your job - all eyes on you, the slightest normal run of the mill error suddenly becomes yet another joke piece of goalkeeping. The media are relentless with the jokes and comedy commentary. But rather apologetically implode like Paul Robinson did, Gomes knowing and believing he is a player of quality, dug deep. And even when the media ignored his improvement and concentrated on any little thing ('oh look he came for the ball and didn't quite make contact no other keeper ever does that') he continued to work hard until it was impossible for anyone to ignore his assured confidence and superb smart saves. With several clean sheets and a big smile, Gomes has been outstanding for us.

His spirit should be commended.


Best Winter Signing

When Wilson Palacios was signed, various sound bites did the rounds.

"£14M? It's madness!"
"He looked great at Wigan because he's a good player in an average team"

The usual 'OMG what have we gone and done?' reactions followed thanks to the countless inflated transfer fees spent on players not worth even a quarter of the price.

Yet it wasn't long before Wilson marshalled the midfield like a general. He displayed qualities that we had only ever seen in those rare blink and you'll miss 'em moments. But now we were being spoilt by the bite and tenacity on show. With all the money that has been at our disposal over the years and the incriminating evidence in the way of weak performances proving our backbone was softer than a teddy bear sleeping on a sea of feathers, why had it taken so long to sign a player of his ilk? Palacios has brought composure and discipline allowing others to blossom offensively while he bosses the park, crunching tackle here and block there and clever professional foul over there. Staggering that we have failed to fill this gap time and time again. It was a risk to spend the money that we did on The Panther, but then having spent an abundance on players in the past the risk was only ever going to be more egg on an already egg covered face.

Palacios has been undoubtedly one of the signings of the season. You wonder how the likes of Arsenal, desperate for a defensive/holding midfielder, didn't smart their way to his signature. Spurs finally have a tough hard working warrior who constantly puts himself about for the team. Selfless and proud. A proper player that has given us an air of authenticity in the way of fight and that we can now handle ourselves against teams that would usually brush us aside. Bring in another player with this type of winning mentality and slot him by the side of Wilson and our midfield might just explode with challenging class.

Next up - Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and more.