Club Focus – Tottenham Hotspur – Spurs to go Dutch in bid for first spot

After the weekend's draw away at Birmingham, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to get back to winning ways in their final Champions' League Group A match when they travel to the Netherlands to take on FC Twente.

A win for the London side could see them top the group depending on goal difference, and Harry Redknapp believes it is vital for his side to finish first if they want avoid teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Spurs have already qualified for the last 16 knockout stages after previous wins against FC Twente at White Hart Lane and current European champions Inter Milan in a game where arguably Tottenham's most prized asset, and one of the most improved players in the Premier League over the past 18 months, Gareth Bale starred.

Bale has been instrumental in most of Tottenham's key play this season, scoring 13 goals and being regarded as the biggest threat in the side with his pace, strength and skill. The 21-year-old Welshman had a torrid time at the start of his Spurs career, failing to record a single win in 24 starts after signing from Southampton in 2007. But, he has turned his fortunes and last week received BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2010, succeeding fellow Welsh footballer Ryan Giggs in achieving the accolade.
Redknapp himself will be hoping his latest prize winner will be on top form to help spur his team on toward finishing top of Group A tonight in Holland.

The injury list at Tottenham continues to grow it seems. Despite the returning Jermaine Jenas being declared fit, Croatian playmaker Luka Modric is highly doubtful with illness. Rafael van der Vaart is still missing, along with defender Younes Kaboul.
Redknapp faces more long-term problems in his side though with Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone and Jamie O'Hara all facing lengthy spells on the sidelines, but it is expected Sebastien Bassong will start tonight alongside William Gallas after his goal at Brimingham, despite the return of influential defender Michael Dawson.

Even though Twente are out of the Champions' League, they have qualified for the Europa League so any hope of an easy ride for Tottenham will easily be overlooked as the Dutch champions will look to create some form when they head into another competition after Christmas. The presence of former Wigan Athletic midfielder Denny Landzaat will be key to Twente's push for form against Spurs, and highly-rated striker Luuk De Jong is expected to be in the squad.

The pressure of playing a big side like Barcelona or Milan so early after the group stages will be a path Redknapp wants to avoid. His side's inexperience playing at this level means he will want his side to finish top to learn and develop their European game.

Redknapp will not take Twente for granted. Despite a resounding win against the Dutch side at White Hart Lane earlier in the group stages, the manager knows the De Grosch Veste stadium is not the easiest place to come away with points. Having Bale in his side will be important for Redknapp, but after the lack of form in his strikers, the side's ambition for goals could prove essential.

Club Focus - Tottenham Hotspur

Despite being a little out of date I thought it would be a good idea to publish the articles I have written for 'A Different League' that haven't been published on their website.
I have 6 articles a week to do so there are going to be times my pieces are not published, so a perfect time to have a personal blog.

Do Enjoy.


Earlier in the week, midfielder Luka Modric said for his side to make a charge on the Premier League title then Tottenham would have to improve their away form, form which has seen them come from behind to beat fierce rivals Arsenal just two weeks ago but also lose to league strugglers West Ham as well as a poor display at the Reebok to go down 4-2 to Bolton Wanderers. If Modric was hoping for some answer to his calls this week, he would have to be waiting a little longer now.

Despite dominating the first half against Birmingham, the White Hart Lane outfit could not extend their lead given to them on 19 minutes from Sebastien Bassong. A defensive crisis has seen Bassong play a more prominent role in Harry Redknapp’s back four. Injuries to Ledley King, Younes Kaboul, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson have meant Bassong has had the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the starting eleven, and how he took his chance today, finishing from five yards after Gareth Bale’s well-hit free-kick was only punched away by England keeper Ben Foster.

Tottenham’s dominance continued in the first half, with chances from Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch being blocked by Blues defender Scott Dann and Foster in goal, respectively. If anything, it was surprising that Spurs went in at the break just one in front, and it was expected to see the London side come out in the second half the same they did in the first.

Alex McLeish’s half-time team talk had obviously been a wake-up call for the home side, when a swinging Gardner free-kick and a header were turned away by Heurelho Gomes. The home side continued to push for an equaliser and Gardner, who was the main man in all of Birmingham’s play, was rewarded for his solid performance with 10 minutes to go. Dann’s ball forward found the head of Nicola Zigic whose knock across the area found the incoming Gardner who wheeled away in celebration.

The match itself highlighted Birmingham’s resolve but also signalled more concerns for Redknapp in a lack of goal-scoring prowess along with their frailties in defence. The absence of Rafael van der Vaart meant Spurs lacked the creativity they would usually find had the Dutchman been on the pitch. Despite having the pace of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale on both wings, worries about the lack of goals from strikers Defoe, Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko are sure to put some supporters in doubt of their frontline.

Some positive news for Redknapp though. The return of inspirational defender Michael Dawson to the bench is sure to put Bassong under pressure, but with a home match to local rivals Chelsea next weekend, the manager has some big decisions to make.
This weekend’s point in the Midlands kept Tottenham in 5th but wins for Arsenal and Manchester City means competition for the Champions’ League spots is more fruitful this year. St Andrews is always a tough place to go to, as Chelsea experienced some weeks ago, but supporters who want to see Tottenham challenge for the title will want to see improvements up and down the pitch.

Messenger enters 'A Different League'

Last week I was offered a role as a football writer for online football magazine "A Different League". This is fantastic news for me personally as it gives me a huge opportunity to expand and develop a key interest of mine, and more importantly something I enjoy doing week in, week out.

The editors for the website were really impressed with the work on my blog, and I have chosen to become their Tottenham Hostpur correspondant. I will also be contributing Tottenham Hotspur new stories which consist of three short separate stories relating to any transfer business, gossip or latest setbacks surrounding the club.

My key role though, is to write three weekly club focus topical slant s on the club relating to their recent matches, match previews as well as any specific player focuses and their roles in Tottenham's squad.

I see this as a great experience, and already I have sent in two articles, one of which has been published on the website to start an article history I am keen to expand in times to come.

For anybody interested here is my first article published. It is short news stories on the latest gossip surrounding players and coaching staff alike at the club.

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6_1_5399_tottenham-news-pressure-rising-on-crouch-england-want-redknapp-keane-exit-in-january.html