Benny.

How this much maligned Spurs man became an integral part of the team







Posted on Friday, 19th August 2011 by FFC



Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto
may not know who he’s playing against on Saturday and he certainly
doesn’t care but this hasn’t stopped him from cementing his place in the
Spurs starting eleven and maturing into one of the best left-backs in
the Premier league.

The Cameroon international has thrived under Harry Redknapp and now finds himself a permanent fixture in the side but it has not always been this way.

Assou-Ekotto arrived in 2006, when Martin Jol
was manager and, although initially impressing, he struggled with
injury. He played only 2 games during the entire 2007/08 campaign and
found himself behind Lee Young-Pyo in the pecking order. His inability
to break into the first team continued under Juande Ramos and even three
years into his Tottenham career he had never entirely convinced the
managers or supporters that he could consistently perform. He rarely
smiled and constantly chewed gum, doing little to dispel the impression
that he didn’t care.

However, since he managed to secure a run in the side, his
performances have not stopped improving. Most notably, his concentration
(which was certainly suspect at times) and physicality are far better.
Now, at 27 years old he is reaching his physical prime and his fitness
and strength have allowed him to find more penetration further up the
pitch and take more time on the ball.


Last year he declared that he was prepared to lose a tooth or an eye
for the club and that level of commitment and professionalism (it is
certainly not to be mistaken as love for the club) is what is pushing
Assou-Ekotto forward in his career. It is nearly impossible to steal the
show as a left back and Ekotto’s emergence as one of Tottenham’s most
consistent performers has certainly been a gradual one, however now he
is playing at the top of his game.

Ekotto has had a slow-burning love affair with the Tottenham
faithful, gaining popularity for his candid remarks about being a
mercenary and seeing the game just as a job. He gets his hair cut on
Tottenham High Road and travels around London on his Oystercard, saying
that his mum didn’t teach him how to live like a star. His honesty is
refreshing in a game full of PR prepped players and rumours of him
turning up for home games with his suitcase expecting to travel only
served to endear him further.

He does not believe in friendships within football which may perhaps
make him a slightly odd presence in the dressing room after 5 years,
just that guy in the corner who doesn’t say much, but he doesn’t need to
say anything, he’s a premiership footballer who drives a smart car and
that says it all really.

Written by Philip Wroe for FootballFancast.com

Good find baz, benny is total professional in the old sort of fashioned way.

Just wonder what he will do if the likes of man utd or chelsea come calling, it will test out that theory, but cant fault his commitment to spurs.
Didnt he once say he was only in it for the money ! well at least he tells it like it is, unlike someone we know who moved to all his childhood heroes.

Benny was my man of the match against the sweaties, with so many of our players putting in a good shift,its a not a given. but i thought he was solid at the back, and kept up with the play realy well and pushed forward when he could.

Benny 5 stars from me!