AVB's Christmas Party.

2012 did what Spurs did best. Offer so much promise for it to only crash and burn. Any fond memories deceive me. I won't riddle you with finer details - what went wrong, who was to blame. Everyone has their own opinion  and mine has been available online for months now.

Although, what I have enjoyed, is a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur. We seem to be grabbing games by the scruff of the neck more as the season has worn on. Last year it was tough to identify a real problem area. Sure, another forward would've been nice - a convenience. The true strength in depth we'd craved for so long. But with Ade proving pinnacle up top and with JD waiting in the wings when needed, even then it would've proven more knit-picking than priority.

We've actually addressed our problem of conceding late and all credit to AVB for making changes when they were needed - and they have been needed. I put this down to the side growing into the pressing game that AVB has encouraged the side to pursue and, as a result, we find more and more sides falling into our offside trap. Earlier on in the season, we found ourselves sitting on the edge of our own 18 for large chunks of games. We gave the opposition an open invitation to enjoy possession at our own ground and, at the same time, giving them free access to lump balls into our box. Of late, I've noticed that we press the opposition in midfield far quicker and far smarter than we had. We've cut out their killer balls. We're quick to press opponents' first touch and force them backwards.  Previously, we'd allowed the opponent far more time on the ball before a lacklustre and disappointing attempt at shutting out said opponent. We've grown into this pressing game and are far more intelligent with it.

AVB was given Tottenham with the spine torn from the body. A retired Ledley King, an injured Kaboul, a Modric that fancied more Sun and trophies than wet nights away in Stoke, an injured Parker and - to begin - a missing Adebayor. Not one tear was heard (or seen) dropping from the glorious eyes of our newly appointed Portuguese boss and, instead, like great managers do, he adapted and worked with what he had given.

He redefined the lone striker role. The Portuguese convincing Levy to offer Defoe not only a two year deal but the confidence and belief that any forward craves. He's shown us that the one forward player doesn't need to be a big target man when you have both pace and an eye for goal. Given, Defoe has his faults. He'll one day admit to being born offside. Although standing on the shoulder of the last man is part of Defoe's game and, inevitably, offsides will come. Last year I remember the tirade many of us had with the side for seemingly being to shy to shoot and this is partly why I don't mind Defoe looking for goal before the pass. He will get it wrong, at times, but more often than not he'll find the target.

We find ourselves half way through the season and have enjoyed a successful Christmas that offers a fair summary of AVB's current tenure at Spurs. He's brought the best out in players who seem to be playing more as a unit and with far more belief than what the start of the season seemed to offer.

Aaron Lennon is one that has brought so much more to his game in the last 4 months than he has in the last season or 2. Not only has his crossing impressed but also his variety of crossing has been something that has impressed me. Whether a whipped in ball or a little 'dink' to the far post, he's put in more successful than unsuccessful crosses this year. He's also finding himself with far more space this year, roaming from left to right and, at times, in the centre, to drive at the opposition. He looks for the ball far earlier and constantly finds himself tracking back to help out at the back. Often unnoticed, this is something that can ease the pressure on the full-back and also offers a great opportunity in which to counter.

We'll have days in which the inevitable questions will be raised from those short-minded of you regarding AVB's position (again, oh and again) and, of course, Andre Villas-boas finds himself just 21 Premier League games into his Spurs season.

But, at the moment, he's smashing expectation - and we're loving it.

Regards,
Ben - Follow me on Twitter here

Defoe Fit.

Spurs have only minutes ago released a statement saying:

Jermain Defoe will return to training on the squad's return home this week after undergoing x-rays on his foot following his participation in today's (Monday, February 28) session.

The x-rays were clear and the striker is expected to rest tomorrow as a precaution to allow any possible soft tissue irritation to settle.

Worries over. Another player lying on the injury table is the last thing we need, but we still sit fourth.

Wolves next up.

Regards.

Now please Tottenham, don't let this go to waste.

So Villa away next week, this meant 3 points today were the minimum. 1-0 at the break and a positive performance to go with it. 9-1 at the end of 90, yeah we'll take. In fact, I would've run all the way up to Wigan and back for this result. Thankfully, I didn't have to.


Robbie Keane. He doesn't start and we score 9, maybe the same line-up next week Harry? Or must Keane return to a side that totally ran riot today.


Jermain Defoe. How sharp did the boy look, every chance created he turned into a goal. What more can you want from a striker?


Aaron Lennon. Now he has that final ball let's hope he can keep it. If so, I wouldn't be surprised if he's starting on the right hand side of that England midfield in South Africa. Phenomenal game today, I counted 3 assists and a goal.. forgive me if I'm wrong.


Niko. Beautiful touch and a joy to watch. Much prefer to see him start over Robbie and a cracking goal to go with it.


Huddlestone and Palacios played a good game. The service was brilliant and they followed that by canceling out what little Wigan had to put forward.


Crouch played well up top with Defoe and the back four were solid, although a little sloppy for the goal even if it was a handball.


Now, let's keep the momentum up. Let's not bottle it and throw away silly goals and points. Let's push the top four for the whole season. Champions League? Maybe, just maybe, we may not be ''avin' a laugh''


Regards.

How we miss our little man

I'll keep this short but no so sweet. I'm sure many of you saw the game against the United bunch this evening returning home with little to smile about. In what was a very dry performance that began with a fanatic start, Giggs' goal seemed to knock us further back than we had been all season. Our heads dropped, the midfield didn't turn and we were playing their game.. and this was on half time at 1-1.

Our boys needed a reminder that we were above United in the league and losing, especially at home, had so far not been on the agenda. The second half brought little change, bar Palacios coming off after a somewhat lacklustre performance, and Jenas appearing for the first time this season to replace him.

We played United's game today and looked dismal, especially in Midfield. The creative flair and excitement we had produced in the four previous games seemed to vanish when Modric did. Boy is it going to be hard without him. Lennon was quiet, Huddlestone couldn't pass and Keane, well, he was just poor. Even with 10 men United looked as though they had an extra player on the pitch and found, what was anticipated to be a tough test, a real walk in the park.

So there you have it. Our first full game without Modric and we lacked that creative spark down the left flank; or for that matter, we lacked it all over the pitch. Let's hope a week in training with our boys will do Kranjcar good and he can step up to the mark in time for next Sunday.

But still though, let's try and not get to disheartened, we've got Chelsea at their place next week.

Regards.

A tribute to Lennon: Our boy's done us proud, again

How long is the fantastic form of our players going to last? A similar side from last year that couldn't buy three points to begin with are now unbeaten in the league and performing at international level. Yeah, I know what your thinking; I just jinxed it didn't I?

Pre-match today brought great anxiety but emotions were contrast and not due to the result. My greatest fear was not a defeat at the hands of Croatia, but injuries to our players. Sod's law would see Defoe, Lennon and new boy Kranjcar pick up injuries and miss the United game this weekend.

And then how Aaron Lennon stuck two fingers up to his critics. Us Spurs fans have been praising Aaron's final ball this season and finally the whole nation can see that we were right to blow our own trumpet. He can cross, there's your evidence.

The first twenty minutes saw Lennon show what he's all about. He beat a player and won a penalty. His next decision then saw him decide to cross the ball first time without taking on the player. This resulted in Gerrard nodding in for two. Two phenomenal attributes of the player. How this guy has developed and progressed over the years. His final ball has really come on.

I should also acknowledge Lennon's work rate. Yes, on some occasions Aaron should've looked up more and, as a consequence, lost the ball; I guess it's not easy when you have three players all trying to tackle you at once. But I appreciated Lennon's work ethic, and I'm sure Johnson did to! He helped him out at the back when he needed it, and boy, did he need it more often than not.

To top it all off, Aaron was awarded the man of the match, unsurprisingly.

I think there's only one last thing I need to say.

Thanks Capello; you gave Lennon the chance we have all been dying for you to give and how it looks to have paid off.

Regards.

So should Defoe start against Croatia?

Yeah, I know. Your probably sick of hearing this question. The answer seems fairly obvious and a rhetorical one at that. But, then I had second thoughts.

No doubt, Defoe is one of the hottest English strikers on current form; four in four for Spurs and five in three for England. At first sight a start against Croatia seems more obvious than a gooner sitting in Park Lane.

Defoe has scored more England goals coming off the bench than starting. Maybe it would be a good idea to consider using Defoe as an impact player rather than starting him. I do believe goals should be rewarded with starts and not just the huge bonuses that the players receive, but maybe, tactically, it would be better to bring Defoe on when the opposition defence is more fatigued giving him the chance to continue banging in the goals.

So should England continue to keep using Jermain as an impact player or have I just had a long day at the office resulting in my mind not thinking straight and introducing crack-pot theories? After Saturday, I was well over the fence into fully believing Defoe should start and, despite no one deserving it more, I'm sat back on that fence.

It would also be nice reducing the chance of him picking up an injury playing 45 minutes instead of 90 as well. I'd take an injury free Jermain Defoe over any result this Wednesday.

He does deserve a start but should England give him one, but what do you think?

Regards.

Even when we don't play we look good

So, we've survived the first international break without anyone hobbling back to Spurs Lodge with their name on the injury list. Well, officially anyway. We just have to wait and see if Bassong has in fact joined Daws, Ledley and Jonny in the medical room after apparently limping off early for Cameroon.

Our lot seemed to have a field day yesterday for their respective national sides. To begin, It looks like Robbie's been doing more than pointing and shouting for the Republic as he headed the winner as ROI beat the Cypriots 2-1.

Pavlyuchenko scored twice as Russia beat Liechtenstein 3-0. Yeah, they were two penalties, but as they say, a goals a goal.

Giovani ran riot for Mexico, scoring the first and setting up two more as Mexico beat Costa Rica 3-0. Come on 'Arry, give the boy a chance!

And of course, Jermain Defoe came off the bench for England to score our second against Slovenia in a 2-1 win. That's five in three now, surely a start has to be in line for our forward.

Things are still looking up and let's just enjoy it whilst it lasts!

Regards.