Will We Ever Learn Article

Tottenham: Will they ever learn?

Date: 11th May 2009 at 2:50 pm |
Filed under: Uncategorized | Author: | Tags: Bentley, Black Cats, Carling Cup, David Bentley, Emirates, European, Harry Redknapp, Jonathan Woodgate, Martin Jol, redknapp, Sevilla, Spurs, The Emirates, transfer, UEFA, Uefa Cup, White Hart Lane, Wigan | image Action Images


Football FanCast columnist Craig
Rimmer wonders if Spurs will ever
learn, in light of Jonathan Woodgate's bold statements.

Way back in the summer of 2007, Tottenham had reason for optimism. Martin Jol
had just guided them to two consecutive 5th place finishes, and there seemed
only one logical step. Jol issued a warning to the top 4 clubs that summer,
claiming that his team was a force to be reckoned with. This is where it all
went wrong for the team from White Hart Lane.You see, saying such things is positive in no way to the club. Jol backed up
his statements and his claims by spending in excess of £50 million that summer,
but the damage had already been done, the writing was on the wall. The media
spotlight homed in on White Hart Lane throughout that summer, with Sky Sports
News giving Tottenham more air-time than usual.Their first game of the 2007/08 campaign was broadcast live on television, at
12:45. So when Michael Chopra popped up in the dying embers of the match to
take all three points for the newly-promoted Sunderland, it was no surprise the
media was all over it. Jol remained positive, but the media, just as they had
built their darlings up, were ready knock them down like Jenga blocks.Journalism is a cold industry, and newspapers are always looking for a story. When
Everton went to White Hart Lane and recorded a 1-3 victory, three days after
their defeat to the Black Cats, the media went crazy. ‘Crisis' was just one of
the words used throughout them opening months of the summer, as it took
Tottenham up until the 11th of November to record the second victory of the
League campaign. Despite both being 4-0 wins, they came against Wigan and the
dire Derby County side, that were meekly relegated that season.As is so often the case with the team from North London, the manager would soon
lose his job. Ramos left Sevilla, a team who he had guided to two consecutive
UEFA Cup wins, for pastures new at White Hart Lane. Ramos' CV was mightily
impressive; not only had he guided Sevilla to European success, they were
enjoying lofty positions in La Liga also.They slowly started to turn the results around and all of this culminated in
their famous Carling Cup victory. Firstly, they smashed close rivals, Arsenal,
out in the semi-final, before going on to beat a formidable Chelsea team in the
final.The joy and jubilation following such an impressive victory was once again
scarred by a manager who seemed incapable of learning from his predecessor's
mistakes. This time it was Ramos who decided it was time to issue a
warning to the Top Four; claiming the Carling Cup victory showed how powerful
and capable they were against the better teams in the league and that they
would be a force to be reckoned with next year. Dear, oh Dear.So again, following a mediocre finish in the league, the summer arrived, as did
the flash photography and TV Cameras to the Lane. Of course, Keane and Berbatov
did not share their manager's sentiments about the forthcoming campaign, and
both left for top four sides. The money the club received from the transfers
was poorly invested into players. David Bentley and Pavlyuchenko were just some
of the new names on the back of Tottenham shirts for the next campaign.However, the pressure built again, a story for the media was brewing, and
Tottenham failed to deliver. It was again, a team from the North-East, this
time Middlesbrough, that would frustrate Spurs on the opening day, as they ran
out 2-1 winners at the Riverside. Cue panic and dismay.Maybe Tottenham's spotlight was somewhat shared by Manchester City this time,
who had made the exact mistake that Tottenham had in warning the top four.
Ramos left the Lane in mid-October, upon failing to record one league victory
in the 2008/09 campaign.Next, it was Harry Redknapp's turn and he, like Ramos, steadied the ship. He
followed a 2-0 victory against Bolton, with an incredible 4-4 at the Emirates
and a terrific 2-1 win against Liverpool. Things seemed bliss. This honeymoon
period seemed to last for a while, and then disappear, but Tottenham now are in
the chase for European qualification again, after it seemed they would be
languishing in the lower reaches of the league.Imagine my surprise, then, when I opened up a copy of the Liverpool Echo
yesterday, to see the words ‘Woodgate eyes spot in top four' splashed across
the back pages. City may detract the spotlight away from the Lane with their
even more ridiculous claims and bank statements, and Spurs may spend large
amounts of cash this summer, but we all can see what's coming.