Glory, glory, Tottenham Hotspur?

Posted by Jon Champion on 21/08/2009

What a start to the Barclays Premier League season! Arsenal delivering six of the best in ESPN’s first live game at Goodison, Burnley in ‘Blake’s Heaven’ (copyright Gary Lineker on Match of the Day) and Tottenham - yes, fragile, flaky Tottenham - looking like world-beaters.

I watched Spurs’ victory last Sunday and came to the same conclusion as a number of worried Liverpool fans; Tottenham’s squad may well be stronger than that of last season’s runners-up. However, when you consider that chairman Daniel Levy has sanctioned spending of £200m during the last five transfer windows, maybe that’s not such a surprise?

Whether right or wrong, it sets up ESPN’s weekend double-header nicely. On Sunday lunchtime in the East End we have Tottenham at West Ham – and don‘t forget Harry Redknapp is unbeaten against the Hammers since leaving the club and has won on all four return visits to Upton Park – then on Monday night we’ll be at Anfield to see if Liverpool can carry on from victory over Stoke when Aston Villa come visiting.

If Arsenal hadn’t done what they did at Everton then Villa’s home defeat by Wigan would have been the standout result of the Premier League’s opening weekend. They have too much attacking power to struggle this season, but it is defensively where Martin O’Neill’s men look vulnerable. They are being linked with players like Bentley and Jenas when it is at the back that strengthening is most required. O’Neill’s determination to spend Randy Lerner’s money wisely is admirable, but I think it is beyond question that they need a larger squad to sustain a challenge for honours.

Mind you it’s dangerous to draw too many conclusions at this time of year. The last few days before the closure of the transfer window always brings some fairly frantic activity. And for those of us who commentate, it’s always a relief to get the opening rounds of the League campaign out of the way. I always feel happier after I’ve seen every team at least once. Not only is it a question of identification, but with so many foreign players there’s the issue of pronunciation too.

The sophistication of the modern football watcher is such that someone will always pick you up if you get a name wrong, so that means assiduous checking with players. Last weekend brought the challenge of Arsenal’s new Belgian centre-half, Thomas Vermaelen, who was happy to confirm in the tunnel at Goodison that his name is pronounced ‘Ver-mar-len’.

I’ve no idea who at ESPN chooses which games to cover, but he or she played a blinder with Everton v Arsenal. For my co-commentator, Joe Royle, there was a neat symmetry in the scoreline. His first memory of watching the Gunners at Goodison dates back to 1958 when David Herd scored 4 as Arsenal won 6-1. Despite his Everton leanings, Joe was thrilled by the modern day Arsenal’s football. It was a big call by Arsene Wenger to reject the blandishments of Real Madrid over the summer. Maybe last week’s game gave us a glimpse as to his reasoning.

And so to this weekend - and one stat that may resonate with Tottenham fans as they head for E13. The last time Spurs won their first three games of a League season was in 1960/61 - and even if you’re not old enough to remember Bill Nicholson and Danny Blanchflower, you’ll probably be aware that was the last time they won the title. I’m not saying they will this year, but August is always a time for hope!

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Posted by spuds on 24/08/2009

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