One season wonders. That seemed to be the Tottenham transfer system; until now. Our Ghanaian Prince topped that list with Younes Kaboul, Adel Taarabt, Giovani.. need I say more? These were the 'ones for the future,' the prospects that would play us into the Champions League and eventual winners of the league; I will never read so much irony again in my life. Instead, these players played us to the foot of the table leaving us to fight the likes of Sunderland and 'Boro to save us all the embarrassment of falling into the 'Coca-Cola' league and 'doing a Newcastle'- not including two fifth place finishes we enjoyed under Jol. Forget Arsenal and the Champions League, we were happy to remain in the league- by May.
'This is the season we will break the top four'. This statement has been quoted more times than the Gooners have sung songs, I feel a trend playing around N17. Crouch has just fallen into this trap. Although, this year seems to be different. Our problem was a consistency in purchasing more and more 'hot prospects' of late naive to the fact that the team of the present were priority. That seems to have altered slightly this summer. I read established names all over the back pages now; including the likes of Huntelaar and Luca Toni. Can it finally be the case that a Spurs manager is building a team for today? I feel the usual frustration and stressfulness dampen slightly each day as I read that the players being linked with moves have actually been through puberty and not just about to hit it.
I hate the morning papers, I really do, but I must admit that they follow a trend when linking us to a player now. The player is a fairly established one, known across the seas and not just by the football bods who hold a player database in their brains. Harry may have finally cracked what us fans have been pleading for, for years. Success, establishing Tottenham as a real force once again- not a team that gets done over by the likes of Hull and Sunderland at home each season.
I never feel to optimistic during a Spurs pre-season, and, I never will. Although, I dare smile to read the fact that finally we may be fielding established players next term. None of these unheard 19 year old foreign 'wonder-kids', leave the potential future success for the future and focus on bringing success to the present.
Harry has realised the fans' dream, and dare I say it, I look forward to it- ever so slightly.
Regards.