Merry New Year to you all out there on t'internet..i hope you enjoyed the festivites a time for family and joy to all. I worked hard and rested when i could and hope 2011 is as productive as possible.
My first blog of the new year is one i think is necessary, being a big Tottenham fan all my life I watch with interest whenever on the tube, and have been twice this season to see them in person and have been pleased at the progress shown. I was fearing a hangover this season following the heights of last season when we reached the perpetual summit of 4th place, but luckily we have added one quality signing (VDV), one seasoned pro (Gallas) and witnessed the blossoming of a real talent in Bale who is a lock for Young Player of the Year, and maybe even PFA Player of the year.
What has been most pleasing has been the ability of the team to get results in spite of continual injuries (King, Dawson, Defoe), individual poor form (Crouch, Gomes) the team have not lost a game since the controversial defeat to Man.Utd in November and unlike past Spurs teams remain undefeated over the festive period (a time when we usually shoot ourselves in the foot), and considered our squads appetite for late night and drinking a surprise we have not got silly in the silly season, the reward a point lead over Chelsea one game into 2011. But this is about Spurs, not Chelsea's problems, and long may they continue on Kings Road.
The talk is that David Beckham is on his way to the EPL, much like Landon Donovan did for Everton last season, a three month period where he plays to maintain fitness before returning to LA for the regular season beginning in MLS. My friends and family will tell you that I have a negativity surrounding David Beckham, this is usually the footballer i despise; not the ambassador and role model for a generation, who brought new fans of both sexes and sexuality to the sport. Ask most English-speaking fans for a footballer, and many will say Beckham, hell his name alone launched a popular film, he married a Spice Girl, he single-handedly got us to a World Cup in 2002. That remains the game he will be remembered for, much like Ronnie Rosenthal's hat-trick against Southampton (opportunistic virtuosity), Andy Cole's 5-goal trick against Ipswich (predator) - David Beckham's whole body of work is in that one game against Greece: determination, hard work, graft, guile and genius in that last minute free-kick, it was his free kick that lead to the first equaliser for Sheringham to score from. He was the only player seemingly doing anything in a team of makeweights (Nigel Martyn was in goal), it is a shame that the team that eventually represented this country did not win that World Cup in Asia, a great opportunity missed some laying the blame at David Seaman's door but people forget Beckham ducked out of a tackle, that 10 seconds later led to a Brazil equaliser. Beckham at that point was scared to reinjury or jeopardise his metatarsal that significantly diminished his capacity to play at 100%, when England had a man advantage for the last half hour following Ronaldinho's red card, where was the man who took England to the finals, where was the inspirational figure on that occasion. England as always went out with a whimper, disappointing rather than consolation.
My problem with Beckham coming to Spurs is like a double edged sword - yes he would be a brilliant influenital figure upon the dressing room, his type of play will be beneficial against AC Milan in February (and any disbeliever, believe that this is the real reason we are signing the Brand), if Spurs are winning, his control of the ball and passing range will make it easier to keep possession and frustrate the Italian team in pursuit of an away goal, remember the second leg is at White Hart Lane due to Spurs winning their group. However, he will fit into the middle of the team but my problem is that Spurs have Tom Huddlestone to return to the fold by February hopefully, maybe Beckham can be a huge influence on the laidback Hudd who is known to not be a great trainer, but was having a good season before his injury. And getting Ledley King fit for those two games is paramount, though Dawson remains underrated having come back easily following his horrible achilles injury. Beckham will supply for Crouch and give him a boost in this worrying run of form, but you will not get speed from Beckham, that remains the perogative of Lennon and Bale, Modric will fit in the hole with Palacios and then VDV with Defoe up front. So where do you fit Beckham in that midfield, Spurs need four defenders at the back; so it is a tactical problem, is Beckham a starter or is he the guy to replace one of Palacios/Lennon as a substitute, this would be a shame on Lennon whose speed has been a problem for opposition defences in the closing stages of games as Spurs utilise the possibility of counter attacking and late goals.
My title comes from the Farrelly Brothers film 'There's Something About Mary', that remains the benchmark of their careers. Since then it seems they took a step back, i use the analogy for Beckham's career and that one game in 2002. Since then, he has had injuries, run-ins with managements, new clubs, marital problems, media intrusion, but has never had a game since where his influence was as strong on that October afternoon in Manchester. You will not mind him coming, so long as we beat AC Milan I dont care who is playing fro Tottenham. They have an opportunity to cement a position in the top four once again, to prove that last season was no fluke, ultimately whether or not we sign Mr.Beckham will be the reason whether we finish in that position or not.
I personally don't feel too strongly one way or the other about signing him. If Bentley is on his way or is injured all the time like Harry says, we could use some RM cover. I think he would be handy, like you say, for when we are winning games and need to see them out (particularly, God willing, against AC). He would also be good to help cement that winning mentality that I assume people like Gallas and VDV have also brought to the team.
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