So another season comes to its end. It is the day I dread in many ways. The thought of three months without Tottenham playing a competitive game makes the period seem so uneventful. It is a period which I dislike a great deal, nothing to cheer, nothing to watch and nothing to do over the weekend. I could do other things during these summer months but nothing fills me with so many different emotions. Joy, despair, anger, disappointment, love, hate etc. all from just 90 minutes of football. Whether it be a Premiership game against the Gooners, a Uefa cup game against Seville or a league cup game at home to Port Vale, nothing is better than a trip with the Spurs, home or away, I love it.
The day came for the premiership to lay its head to rest for another year. Manchester United are champions for the 9th time, Watford and Sheffield United make their stay in the Premiership and short one with Charlton joining them in the Championship. The usual selection make up the top four but that is not what I am concerned about. What did Tottenham do?
It has been a season of so many ups and downs for us. As our very own Martin Jol said, a season of spells. Luckily though it is one that I will look back on with fantastic pleasure. A 5th place finish for the second year running is absolutely terrific if you look at it from all angles.
From a blunt and maybe a non football fans point of view it may look as though this year has been a season where Tottenham Hotspur football club have just consolidated their place in the league. They haven't improved at all. They may even class it as a failure because we haven't made the desired step up. If they thought this though they would be along way from the actual result.
This season Tottenham Hotspur have earned their Spurs. From finishing 5th and gaining European football through the league for the first time in 20 odd years last year to the stage we're at this year they have come an awfully long way.
Another 5th placed finish is fantastic. To show that we are continuing to be the best of the rest. It is the stepping stone to greater things, greater things in which I am confident will come.
Last year we played played 40 games, a record low for a Premiership club. This season we played 20 odd more. An amazing achievement from Spurs.
We participated well in 4 competitions this season, losing in the semi finals of the league cup and the Quarter finals of the Uefa and FA cup.
In the end, the draws didn't favour us, getting Chelsea, Ars*nal and Seville respectively but we should have done better. We blew our chances in all three trophies and it could have been all so different. No season is perfect and looking back we could and possibly should have won a trophy, or at least made a final but that is how things pan out.
Like I said earlier, it has been a season full of spells, good and bad, but thankfully for us, the good outweigh the bad. To start with we struggled to win. We had a shaky start, gaining only 4 points from 18. This looked rather worrying admittedly. Some Spurs fans even called for MJ's head, although they were in the minority.
During this slow start we did manage to win our Uefa Qualifying game against Slavia Prague. 1-0 in both legs. This was the start of our European journey.
After this we picked up again, managing to go 10 games unbeaten in all competitions during October and the beginning of November, 8 of thse being wins. The most memorable of these will be the one that occured on the 5th of November. We forgot to read the script and did the incredible.
We beat the scum 2-1. Even when Chelsea were ****, we still lost to them. That was just a known fact. They loved playing us and we just gave in each year bar a freak cup semi when we won 5-1 in 2001.
This season was different though. The atmosphere was electric and the players lived up to this. When Makelele of all people scored the opening goal, everyone feared the run would continue.
This was not the case, Dawson scored his first goal for us, then Azza scored a fantastic goal after a great runb by Keane. 2-1 and we had done it. The celebrations were mental and it was a highlight of the season.
Remember Remember the 5th of Novemeber.
We won 12 home games on the bounce which is exceptional to be honest, the run was ended by Liverpool in a game which we should have won.
Unfortunately it took us until December to record our first away league win. In hindsight, it is probably what cost us the chance of gaining Champions League football for another season. Our home form was as impressive as ever but the away form let us down. After christmas it improved, winning 4 out of our last 5 but the early season games let us down.
It gives a chance to improve, the players know what needs to be done and I am sure they will address the situation.
During the season we had some classic matches, especially the win over West Ham at Upton Park. Stalteri popped up with an injury time winner after we were 3-2 down with 4 minutes to go. That is why I love being a Spurs fan. We are so unpredictable.
For the last 11 games of the season we went unbeaten. This is what helped us regain our 5th spot on the final day from the graspes of Everton.
Much more can be said about this season on the whole but I will leave that for others. It was a great season, good league position and excellent cup runs.
Now as for Players:
Paul Robinson- 6/10- He has had a lot of critics this season and has had games where he was just not the usual Robbo at times. However, still a class keeper and kept us in many games.
Pascal Chimbonda- 7/10- Excellent buy. Great going forward although slighlty suspect defensively. Will continue to improve.
Michael Dawson 9/10- Arguably our player of the season, although Dimi got it. He was a rock this year with no Ledley and held us together. Future Captain.
Ledley King 7/10- Missed most of the season but still quality. He is Mr Tottenham and we love him.
Lee Young Pyo 7/10- Improved greatly from last year and did well. Season cut short by Injury.
Aaron Lennon 6/10- People may query this but Lennon has not been that good. He is a fantastic talent and one of our best but he still needs work.
Jermaine Jenas 7/10- I like him, others don't. He brings so much energy to the team and his workrate is next to none. Good season and scored some valuable goals.
Didier Zokora 8/10- Came good in the second half of the season. Great signing and a true yid at heart.
Teemu Tainio 7/10- I love this bloke. So tenacious and won over many Spurs fans with his courageous displays this year.
Robbie Keane 8/10- 22 goals said it all. Great striker and a good leader.
Dimitar Berbatov 10/10- Simply amazing. What a signing, what a player. He oozes class and will be a Spur next year. 23 goals and 9 premiership assists.
Paul Stalteri 5/10- Not given too many games. Scored one vital goal.
Richardo Rocha 5/10- Bit shaky but he is new to the premiership. Looks a decent buy.
BAE 6/10- First choice Left back for much of the season. Will get better I hope.
Steed Malbranque 6/10- Got a lot to do to step up but has the ability. Decent signing.
Jermain Defoe 7/10- 18 goals for Jermain this year. Always prolific but does not get a long enough run. Did well when he had a long playing spell.
Mido 4/10- Awful signing, Glad to see the back of him.
Hossam Ghaly 5/10- Horrible mistake against Blackburn. Generally woeful.
These have been the key performers for Spurs this season although I may have missed someone out.
Overally this season has been a huge success. We have pushed on four fronts and confirmed ourselves as the best of the rest. Martin Jol is a top manager and we love him. Himself and the board will continue to strive for more and a few quality signings in the summer should ensure we can break into the top four. There is nothing stopping us. We have the money, the squad, the board and the manager to do so.
Consistency is all we need. With that and we could do great things. In our 125th year a trophy would be great. We won the FA cup in our 100th year anniversary so I feel that is a good omen.
Tottenham is a club to be at and a club going places. The future is bright, The future is Lilywhite.
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