Tottenham Forum - Welcome to White Hart Lane

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Background

In 1882 a group of North London teenagers formed Hotspur FC, named after the combative Henry Percy, "Harry Hotspur" of Shakespeare's Henry IV (Part I) whose descendents owned land in the neighbourhood. The name was changed to Tottenham Hotspur in April 1884, possibly to avoid confusion with the older Hotspur FC (formed 1878 and located in Wimbledon by 1886). For a while the lads turned out on Tottenham Marshes and scuffles occasionally broke out with rival teams over the best pitches. In 1884 the club cancelled a fixture to watch the professionals of Blackburn Rovers win the first of three consecutive English Cup finals. So impressed were they that the club adopted Rovers' blue and white halved shirts. In 1885 Spurs entered the London Association Cup and played their first competitive match against St Albans FC, winning 2-0.

In 1888 Spurs moved to an enclosed ground at Northumberland Park and charged 3d (1p) admission. In 1890, playing in red shirts and navy shorts, Spurs were a respected side and five years later, they turned professional.

A new chocolate and old gold strip was worn for the first time in October 1895 against Royal Artillery. The following season Tottenham were elected to the Southern League and in 1899 they moved into White Hart Lane.

There is some doubt over when they adopted their now famous white shirts, a homage to the mighty Preston North End. Phil Soar in And the Spurs Go Marching On (1985) states the white shirts appeared in 1900 while Spurs. A History of Tottenham Hotspur, (Julian Holland 1956) and Tottenham Hotspur: An Illustrated History, (Bob Goodwin 1995) suggest September 1899. However, the club's historian, Andy Porter has provided HFK with a copy of an article published in The Golden Penny dated September 1898 which carries a photograph of the Spurs team wearing white shirts and navy knickers. At the time, no other team in the Southern League wore similar colours.

In 1900 Spurs won the Southern League championship and in 1901 the FA Cup. Tottenham are the only non-League side to have won the trophy since the Football League was formed in 1888.

In 1908 Spurs application to join the Football League was rejected but when Stoke FC resigned a second meeting was called. After two tied votes between Spurs and Lincoln City it was the London club who prevailed by decision of the management committee. A year later Spurs won promotion to Division One. A former player, William James Scott, commissioned a copper casting of a cockerel standing on a football, which was placed above the West Stand. This motif was inspired by Harry Hotspur, after whom the club is named, who is reputed to have been a devotee of cock-fighting.

In 1915 the club was relegated but then the League was suspended for the duration of the Great War. When competition resumed in 1919 it was decided that both divisions would be extended by two clubs. Precedent suggested that the relegated clubs would retain their status but the chairman of Woolwich Arsenal, after vigorous lobbying, persuaded members that there should be a vote. Spurs' relegation was confirmed and their place in the First Division given to Woolwich Arsenal. Although Spurs won promotion at the first attempt, the injustice of these spurs crest 1921machinations is keenly felt to this day.

In 1921, Tottenham won the FA Cup for the second time wearing, for the first time, the cockerel motif mounted on a shield. Due to this success, the crest became a permanent feature on Spurs' shirts from the following season. The crest was possibly inspired (according to John Lovett's research) by a visit to the United States, where the management was impressed by the red bird crest on the St Louis Cardinals baseball team's unforms. This is the first example in England of an "animal crest."

In 1922 Spurs were Division One runners-up. 1928 brought relegation, 1933 promotion and 1935 relegation once more. During this period Spurs' shirts were made from cashmere and seem to have been slightly off-white.

When the League resumed after World War Two Spurs enjoyed a meteoric rise under manager Arthur Rowe who pioneered the "push and run" style. Promoted in 1950, they were League champions in 1951.

spurs crest 1951In 1951, the famous club crest was given a face lift and now featured a rather less portly cockerel.

In 1961, Bill Nicholson, a member of the 1951 championship team and now manager, led Spurs to the first League and FAspurs crest 1967 Cup double of the twentieth century. A year later, Spurs won the FA Cup again and in 1963 they became the first British team to take European honours when they won the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Inevitably this glorious side, featuring Jimmy Greaves, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay broke up. In their European campaigns, Spurs wore all-white strips, a tradition that was extended to FA Cup ties later on.

The short sleeved shirts worn since 1959 were replaced by long sleeved versions with crew necks for the European Cup Winner's Cup match with Rangers on 31 October 1962 and these became the team's first choice from November 1962.

In 1966 a new, more modern crest was adopted. A streamlined cockerel now stood upon a football without a surrounding shield. An interesting feature of the design was the old-fashioned football, a reminder of Spurs long history.

While League honours eluded the club, Spurs became formidable cup competitors. The FA Cup was won in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 while the UEFA Cup found its way to White Hart Lane in 1972.

spurs centenary crest 1982After a brief sojourn in Division Two (1977-1978), Spurs achieved a transfer coup by signing Argentine World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. Villa inspired a dramatic FA Cup win in 1981 and in 1982 the club retained the cup. In the 1982 final the club unveiled their new shadow striped kit, an innovation that was quickly copied by other manufacturers.

To celebrate their centenary in 1982, the club crest was suitably embellished.

To combat the growing threat of illegally made pirate replica kits, the decision was taken to introduce a new crest in 1983. The design was deliberately more complex and now included two lions spurs crest 1983supporting the club's monogramme as well as the club's Latin motto, which translates as "To dare is to do." This version was used until 1995.

In 1984 Spurs won the UEFA Cup for the second time and in 1987 they were beaten FA Cup finalists.

In 1987 Terry Venables was recruited from CF Barcelona as the new manager. After surviving a financial crisis, Spurs won their seventh FA Cup in 1991 and once again marked the occasion by introducing another innovative strip, featuring long, spurs crest 1995generously cut shorts. Venables was controversially sacked by Executive Chairman Alan Sugar in 1993, an affair that rumbled through the courts for several years.

In 1995 another new crest was introduced, resembling the one worn in the Fifties but on a rather oddly shaped shield. spurs crest 1997 This appeared for two seasons before it was replaced by a very much more complicated coat of arms. In addition to the usual motifs, this crest featured a castle, alluding to Bruce Castle, a local land mark, and a group of trees, referring to the Seven Sisters of Tottenham after whom Seven Sisters Road is named. This badge was also used for two seasons before the 1983 crest was reintroduced.

In 1999 ex-Arsenal boss George Graham became manager in a move that most fans saw as a betrayal of the club's spurs crest 2006heritage of open, attacking football but which did bring a League Cup win in 1999. Graham left, also in controversial circumstances a year later and since then a succession of high profile managers have attempted to bring back the glory days but with limited success.

In 2006, as part of an exercise to modernise the club's image, a smart new crest was introduced. To all intents and purpose, this was very similar to the popular badge worn between 1967 and 1982 but with cleaner lines. Although the official crest has the words "Tottenham Hotspur" below the ball, this wording is not present on the players' shirts.

In 2007 Spurs celebrated their 125th anniversary, adopting a special kit for some games modeled on their 1884 halved shirts. For the 2007-08 season the legend "125 Years" was embroidered below the badge. The crowning achievement of the season was the team victory in the League Cup final over Chelsea, a reminder of Spurs long cup-winning tradition.

Of all the Puma kits worn by the team, their last (2011-12) retro-influenced was probably the finest. In 2012 Under Armour, kit suppliers to the Welsh national rugby team, took over with an all-white strip with innovative silver-grey trim.


SUMMARY


Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English football club based in Tottenham, London, that plays in the Premier League. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane, and was founded in 1882.

ACHIEVEMENTS:
1901 - won the FA Cup for the first time - only non-League club (non-professional)
1960-61 first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup Double
1962 - defended and won the FA Cup
1963 - first British club to win a UEFA club competition – the European Cup Winners' Cup
1967 - won the FA Cup for a third time in the 1960s.
1970s - won the League Cup on two occasions
1972 - inaugural winner of the UEFA Cup in 1972, becoming the first British club to win two different major European trophies.
1980s - the FA Cup twice, FA Community Shield
1984 - UEFA Cup in 1984.
1990s - the club won the FA Cup and the League Cup.
2008 - won League Cup

Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester united are the only two clubs that have won a major trophy in each of the last six decades.

The club's Latin motto is Audere est Facere - "To Dare Is to Do"
 
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Club player of the year: As voted by Members and Season Ticket Holders.

1987 England Gary Mabbutt
1988 England Chris Waddle
1989 Norway Erik Thorstvedt
1990 England Paul Gascoigne
1991 England Paul Allen
1992 England Gary Lineker
1993 England Darren Anderton



1994 Germany Jürgen Klinsmann
1995 England Teddy Sheringham
1996 England Sol Campbell
1997 England Sol Campbell
1998 France David Ginola
1999 Republic of Ireland Stephen Carr
2000 Republic of Ireland Stephen Carr



2001 Scotland Neil Sullivan
2002 Wales Simon Davies
2003 Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane
2004 England Jermain Defoe
2005–06 Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane
2006–07 Bulgaria Dimitar Berbatov
2007–08 Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane



2008–09 England Aaron Lennon
2009–10 England Michael Dawson
2010–11 Croatia Luka Modrić
2011–12 England Scott Parker
 
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4246mightyspurs.jpg


New Stadium Planning
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Much closer to the pitch than most stadiums
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New stadium to be built on current land, around current location and rotating the pitch through the 3 years.
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Tottenham broke their Old Trafford hoodoo as they held off Manchester United for a 3-2 victory.

Jan Vertonghen gave the visitors an early lead before Gareth Bale doubled Spurs' advantage after the half-hour mark. Wayne Rooney came off the bench to set up Nani, but in a frantic second-half spell it was immediately cancelled out by Clint Dempsey, only for Shinji Kagawa to keep United's hopes alive after a third goal inside two minutes.

Rooney hit the post with a free-kick and former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie wasted a chance to equalise after firing wide. Patrice Evra then saw his header saved by Brad Friedel as Tottenham hung on for a memorable victory.

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here's a modified "SuperJan" one:

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i think we should just give him the armband. no need to wait. its inevitable :D
 

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Team Focus: André Villas-Boas' Tottenham

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Ever since he assumed control of Tottenham in the summer, André Villas-Boas has been given relatively short shrift when making the assertion: "We are almost a new team."

The apparent reluctance to accept his claim is, in part, explicable from the perspective that the players most associated with his predecessor Harry Redknapp's style of play, wingers like Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, remain as influential as before.

There's also the awareness that Tottenham failed to bring in João Moutinho, the playmaker so identifiable with Villas-Boas's philosophy and his own success at Porto.

The perception that nothing much had changed and that this was still the team of old, however, was misguided. As Villas-Boas pointed out after Tottenham's come-from-behind win against QPR, which, incidentally was their first of the season at White Hart Lane, he was without several players once considered key under Redknapp.

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For instance, Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker, Younes Kaboul and Benoit Assou-Ekotto were injured. Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart left the club and Ledley King had been forced to retire.

By anyone's standards that's a lot.

Of the six new players signed, only one - Gylfi Sigurdsson - did a full pre-season and it mustn't be forgotten how protracted Adebayor's permanent move from Manchester City was either. Moussa Dembélé joined on August 28, followed by Hugo Lloris and Clint Dempsey on transfer deadline day, by which time the season was already two games old.

One of the themes of Villas-Boas's press conferences has been that the players need to get "reacquainted" or, in some cases, simply get to know each other in the first place. With that in mind, it was perfectly rational and only fair that Villas-Boas be given time to implement his ideas. A month or so after the transfer window closed, they appear to have been absorbed.

While Tottenham's first win away to Manchester United at Old Trafford since 1989 will understandably be the highlight of the season so far among the supporters, Sunday's 2-0 triumph at home to Aston Villa was, perhaps, their best all-round performance.

Earlier in the campaign, there was a pattern to Tottenham's games. They'd start well, then fade in the second half and concede a late goal. It proved to their cost against West Brom and Norwich, as Tottenham drew games which they should have won.

Villas-Boas touched upon this again after the Villa match in order to underline the progress that has been made since. He said: "We noted that we had the chance to start [the season] well and we didn't get the results we wanted in the beginning, but we're getting consistent now."

His biggest satisfaction was that, for the first time this season, Tottenham "managed to play both halves with the same intensity." That stems from improved fitness levels, but above all greater understanding.

Villas-Boas spoke of how "we welcomed the packing of the fixtures because it allowed the players [to] meet more often and more quickly get to know each other and we are benefiting from that fact."

It does seem that everyone is now beginning to grasp what their role is within the team.

The turning point can be traced back to the second half against QPR when Villas-Boas replaced Sigurdsson with centre-back Steven Caulker, moved Jan Vertonghen - who had been partnering William Gallas - to left-back and pushed Gareth Bale up on that wing. Clint Dempsey then shifted across to occupy the position Sigurdsson had relinquished behind striker Jermain Defoe.

After handing QPR the initiative in the first half, inviting their opponents onto them so space might be left in behind for a series of counter-attacks, Tottenham instead played higher up the pitch after the interval, were a lot more aggressive and overturned the 1-0 defeat in prospect to a 2-1 win. That second half may on reflection prove to be the foundation on which their season is built.

What was interesting after that match was how, rather than attribute it to a tactical shift, Villas-Boas spoke in terms that appealed to English stereotypes, highlighting how "the desire made a big, big difference."

Often harshly typecast in England as a coaching equivalent of Napoleon Dynamite, sketching out a Liger on one of his notepads or chalkboards to the incomprehension of those around him, the slightly geeky caricature of Villas-Boas shouldn't overshadow the Machismo he brings to the touchline.

When he's not wolf-whistling, as though participating in a sheepdog trial instead of a football match, he prowls the touchline, hands down by his side, unclenched as if poised to draw a pair of pistols from his belt.

To some, it's nervous tension and there's certainly an element of that, but to others it's the personification of the all-consumed, fully engrossed intensity with which he wants Tottenham to play. If Villas-Boas were on his own in acting like this there's a chance he might not be taken entirely seriously but in this regard he is complemented by his assistant, Steffen Freund.

Their shared mentality is worth discussing further. Villas-Boas has sometimes cut an isolated figure in England. Remember how Porto wouldn't allow his trusted assistant Vitor Pereira to follow him to Chelsea a year ago. He had to start afresh and form a new staff, convince the makeshift backroom that his ideas were valid and have faith that they would support him unreservedly.

The suspicion that this wasn't the case at Chelsea was further aroused when Villas-Boas was fired and replaced by his No.2, Roberto Di Matteo. Whether it was a betrayal or not, to some it was a stab in the back. "Personally I don't like it at all when the manager gets sacked and his assistant stays in charge," Gianluca Vialli told Talksport back in March. "I thought they were a partnership."

From the outside looking in, the unity of purpose between Villas-Boas and Freund appears total. Maybe that - in addition to the presence of first team coach Luis Martins, fitness coach Jose Mario Rocha and head of opposition scouting Daniel Sousa - is why his concepts have been accepted and are being applied with relative success.

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Tottenham have stood out in a number of ways this season. As one might expect with Bale and Lennon in the side, they have been exceptional on the counter-attack, leading Europe's top five leagues in fashioning 16 attempts on goal from these situations. This owes a lot to their ability to win possession. Only Chelsea have recovered the ball on more occasions in their own defensive third than Tottenham (185 to 172) and it's perhaps no coincidence that these teams have scored the joint most Premier League goals on the counter this season (3).

But as we've already established, Villas-Boas isn't the kind to set his side out to sit back. He wants his team to play high up the pitch and win possession in their opponents half. No central midfield pairing has recovered possession more times than Sandro and Dembélé (a combined total of 91 times) in the Premier League this season, and the screen that they provide has contributed to Tottenham conceding the second fewest shots in the division too (71 to Manchester City’s 6.

All of which doesn't completely explain why Villas-Boas has witnessed his team win their last five games in a row in domestic competition, but it does give a sense of what they're doing right.

There are a number of encouraging signs for him ahead of his first confrontation with former club Chelsea, which comes after the international break. "For us it will give us a chance to finally break into the top four and join the elite in the Premiership," he said. For Villas-Boas it will maybe bring final redemption and the acceptance in England that he by now deserves.

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/9wpcc5...Boas-Tottenham
 

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Spurs 3- 1 Man City:

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Naszri studs up challenge on walker
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Dempsey 1-1 wonderful cross from bale
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Defoe 1-2


Bale 1-3
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Bale - double PFA winner 2013

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Tottenham's Gareth Bale has been named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

He becomes only the third player to win both awards in the same season.

"It's a massive honour," said the 23-year-old. "To be voted by your peers is one of the biggest things in the game."

Bale fought off competition from Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie of Manchester United to win the prestigious main award.

Bale, who was named Player of the Year in 2010-11, was honoured again by his fellow professionals for a season in which he has scored 19 Premier League goals - and 24 in all competitions.

"It's great to win it and I am delighted," he added.

"When you look at the list there are some massive names on it and the other nominees have been unbelievable this year, but I couldn't have done it without the team.

"They have been fantastic this year and so has the manager (Andre Villas-Boas).

"I couldn't have won it without them so I would like to give them all a big thank you as well."

Wales international Bale came through the ranks at Southampton before joining Tottenham in 2007 in a deal that could rise to £10m.

In addition to his goal-scoring, Bale has been responsible for four assists and 243 crosses. His seven goals from outside the box is the most in the top flight.

In the young player category, Bale beat Hazard, Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, on-loan West Brom striker Romelu Lukaku, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck.
 

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Tottenham's double win in PFA Team of the Year 2013
- Bale and Vertonghen

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BPL Player of the month - March 2013

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Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale has been named as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.

The 23-year-old Wales international adds the writers' prize to the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards he won last week.

Bale has scored 19 goals in 29 Premier League appearances this season.

Manchester United's Robin van Persie, winner last year with Arsenal, was second, with Chelsea's Juan Mata third.

Bale becomes the first Spurs player to win the award since David Ginola in 1999 and the first Welshman since goalkeeper Neville Southall in 1985.

Bale is the 15th man to win the PFA and FWA awards in the same season, with former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and ex-Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo completing the double twice.

Ronaldo's success in 2007 is the only other occasion when the same player has won the FWA and both the PFA player and young player of the year awards.
 

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Paulinho: Future Tottenham star
Tottenham signing Paulinho has the potential to become one of the Premier League's best midfielders
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Although some Spurs fans don't know this yet: Tottenham have signed the best Brazilian central midfielder.

Paulinho is highly-rated in his country, and is considered a vital member of Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad.

Early this summer, Tottenham announced the arrival of Paulinho. To guarantee Paulinho's signing, Spurs paid €20m to Corinthians. In the Brazilian team, Paulinho won several titles, including the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup against Chelsea.

Before signing with Spurs, Paulinho was linked to lots of teams, such as Inter and Fiorentina, but the prospect of playing in the strongest league in the world made his decision easy.

Another factor that helped Tottenham was the presence of some Brazilian players that are friends with Paulinho in London, such as David Luiz and Sandro.

The Brazil international is not so famous in Europe yet, but if he repeats the same appearences that he had for Corinthians and Brazil he will make a huge impact.

In the last Confederations Cup he was considered the third best player, only after Neymar and Andrés Iniesta. Not only he was essential in Brazil's defence, but he also scored important goals during the competition. A classic box-to-box midfielder

Spurs made a great deal. He is a versatile, intelligent player, and scores goals, especially with powerful headers.

Alongside Moussa Dembele, Paulinho has everything to grow and become one of the best centre-midfielders in Premier League. The Brazilian is frequently compared with Frank Lampard in his country, although he doesn't have the same shooting skills as Chelsea's legend.

If Gareth Bale stays and with Paulinho's arrival, Spurs fans will have everything to believe in a great season this year. Hopefully Paulinho will live up to the expectations and become an important player for Tottenham this season.
 

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While the media spotlight continues to shine firmly on a certain Welshman, Andre Villas-Boas has added to the Tottenham ranks with the acquisition of Roberto Soldado from Spanish outfit Valencia. Having passed a medical, the 28-year-old arrives at White Hart Lane for a club-record fee of around £26m and is the third player to sign up this summer, following Paulinho and Nacer Chadli to the club.
The History

A product of the Real Madrid youth academy, Soldado – in a similar situation to Chelsea’s Juan Mata – was rarely given a chance to establish himself as a regular at the Bernabeu. His career began back in 2002, where over the period of four seasons playing for Madrid’s “B” team Castilla, he notched 64 goals in 120 league matches. Farmed out on loan to Osasuna in 2006, Soldado produced 11 goals in 30 appearances but returned to his parent club once again the following year and, by the time he left for Getafe in 2008/09 for a mere €4m, had been handed a mere 16 first-team appearances by Madrid, finding the net on a couple of occasions.

With regular game time under his belt, Soldado quickly set about becoming one of the most lethal marksmen in the Spanish top-flight. Over two seasons at Getafe, he notched 29 goals and four assists in 60 matches, despite 11 of those appearances arriving from the bench – his exploits caught the eye of Valencia, with the club snapping him up as a €10m replacement for David Villa.

Soldado’s three-year tenure at the Mestalla was a hugely successful period as he demonstrated a consistency of scoring which is sure to make him a Fantasy favourite. His first term, back in 2010/11, harvested 18 goals and three assists from 34 matches, while the following year saw him produce 17 goals and three assists in 32 appearances. His final season in La Liga turned out to be Soldado’s most prolific, though, with 24 strikes and four assists from 35 league games highlighting his attacking potential. From a disciplinary point of view, he did have a penchant for picking up yellow cards, however, earning 49 cautions over the previous five domestic campaigns.

On the international stage, Soldado has represented his country at every youth level from Under 15 to Under 21, scoring 25 times in 41 appearances, and has also turned out for the senior side on 11 occasions, with six goals to his name.
The Prospects

A classic style centre-forward, the five foot eleven Soldado is adept with both feet, strong in the air and possesses a mobility and intelligence of movement which is always able to buy him a yard or two breathing space against the most diligent of man-markers. Being a penalty-box-predator-type, he rarely drops deep, though, and has a tendency to play on the shoulder of the final defender, utilising a decent turn of pace to gain an advantage.

If he brings his La Liga form to the table, the Spaniard’s arrival at White Hart Lane looks set to give Fantasy managers a bona fide frontline option in the season ahead, with the chances of spot-kick duties also looking likely. Villas-Boas’ preferred lone striker system – whether it be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 this time out – will surely see Soldado as the main man up front for the north London outfit, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe likely to rely on game time from the bench as back-up.

While Gareth Bale’s heroics saved Tottenham time and again in 2012/13, Adebayor (25 games, five goals) and Defoe (34 games, 11 goals) were far from prolific, with the club a little too reliant on the Welshman’s talents from one Gameweek to the next. Soldado’s arrival is expected to remedy that and bearing in mind Adebayor and Defoe are priced at 8.0 and 8.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) respectively, a ceiling of 9.5 looks likely for the Premier League debutant.

Granted, if Bale stays, it’ll take a brave Fantasy manager to overlook the Welshman but an eye-catching run of opening fixtures will also bring Soldado immediately onto the Fantasy radar. Home games against Swansea, Norwich, West Ham and Hull, allied with trips to Palace, Cardiff and Villa in the opening nine Gameweeks, affords the Spaniard the perfect platform to get quickly off the mark, with his goal-getting ability likely to persuade many a Fantasy manager to scramble aboard the early-season bandwagon. Those who don’t subscribe to the notion of “coverage” could well be looking to double up should Bale remain, while those unwilling to invest in more than one premium player per side will surely turn to the new boy as their Tottenham attacking coverage if the Welshman does decide to depart these shores.
 

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Scouting Nacer Chadli: Tottenham's Summer Signing from FC Twente
By
Ed Dove
(Featured Columnist) on July 30, 2013
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Nacer Chadli may not be the glamour signing that Spurs fans have been craving this summer, but the Belgian-Moroccan winger has all the potential to be a valuable asset to the Lilywhites. This article explores the wide man in the context of similar North African talents and analyses what he might bring to White Hart Lane.

Football’s landscape is currently filled with creative attacking talent of North African origin. In fact, this could be considered something of a golden era for the production of talent from this part of the world, even if the national sides of Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt aren’t always benefitting directly.

These players fall into key categories respective of place of birth and international representation. There are those, such as Ryan Boudebouz who are born in a European nation but choose to represent the land of their forefathers. There are players such as QPR’s Adel Taarabt who, despite being raised predominantly in the academies and youth systems of Europe, choose also to play for the nation of their ancestors.

There are those who are born in North Africa, but are suitably seduced by the prospect of representing a power house, that they switch allegiance to their adopted nation. Adam Maher would be an example of this.

Finally, there are players such as Chadli. Those who were born in Europe following the immigration of a family and who have integrated totally into the seams of their adopted nation; Marouane Fellaini provides a perfect parallel.

Hi-res-145613366_crop_exact Ian Walton/Getty Images

Despite playing once for the Moroccan national side, back in 2010, Chadli had his nationality switch ratified by FIFA and went on to make his Belgian debut in February 2011. The current Belgian team, so heralded for their great reserves of talent, reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the nation in the 21st century.

Alongside the Moroccan Chadli, you can find the Malian Moussa Dembele, Axel Witsel, whose father has Martiniquais roots, and Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku, both of whom have origins in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A cautionary word, however, comes when considering the fortunes of North African talent who have attempted to take their immense talent to a broader arena. While “Kaliffe” has enjoyed a rise to prominence not atypical for North Africans making their way to major European leagues in recent times, he and Spurs will be concerned that he does not go the same way of other Maghreb talents.

Many of the aforementioned players have been blessed with guile and creativity, but perhaps have not always possessed the prerequisite determination and consistency to make the most of their talents.

Taarabt’s problems have been well-documented, Oussama Assaidi has been anonymous since his move to Liverpool from the Dutch league back in 2012, while Ryan Boudebouz is struggling to rebuild a career wracked by inconsistency and poor form since his early glory days in Sochaux.

Tottenham will be hoping that their versatile attacker can avoid the pitfalls that can come with such regularity and that the 23-year-old can realise the terrific depths of his immense promise.

Can Nacer Chadli begin to replace the creativity & flair lost with the departures of Modric & van der Vaart?
Yes, Chadli will be an ideal successor to Hoddle, Gascoigne, Ginola... No, further recruitment is needed Submit Vote vote to see results

Early signs are good.

For £7 million Spurs are buying a versatile wide player with big match experience. At times last season Tottenham lacked the guile and nous previously provided by Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart. Lewis Holtby huffed and puffed, Gylfi Sigurdsson brought a ferocious shot and some good movement, while Clint Dempsey occasionally chipped in, despite being forced out into a wide berth, but no one—other than the imperious Gareth Bale of course—offered the ingenuity to prise holes in stubborn defences.

The workmanlike trio of Scott Parker, Sandro and Dembele are all energy and bustle, but none can compare to the vision and creativity that Chadli ought to offer.

He has Champions League experience with FC Twente and, as has been widely reported, scored against Spurs in both of the clubs’ clashes back in 2010.

Nominally a left winger, Chadli could act as a replacement for Bale should the Welsh wizard depart for Real Madrid. However, should the superstar remain at White Hart Lane for another season, the Belgian’s presence could facilitate a favoured shift in-field for Bale.

Hi-res-106071463_crop_exact EuroFootball/Getty Images

Chadli has also played for Belgium as a striker, however, and could also be of use to Spurs in this capacity. With Emmanuel Adebayor looking likely to leave the club and the deal for Roberto Soldado not yet confirmed, Tottenham are yet to solve the attacking woes that arguably cost them a Champions League spot last season.

While the employment of Chadli in this position might be another case of the Spurs hierarchy papering over the weaknesses of the squad, Andre Villas-Boas will surely be delighted to add another versatile, technically gifted player to his roster.

Chadli is just the kind of multi-talented individual to be of great benefit to the tinkering of AVB.

Obviously an inferior player to Bale, it is against he that comparisons ought and inevitably will be drawn. At 6’2", Chadli possesses a frame and a presence not dissimilar to Bale and also favours cutting in on his right foot to hurl a pot shot at goal whenever the mood takes him.

Spurs will be hoping their latest acquisition can match the feats of Bale, either as his teammate or as his successor.
 

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Player analysis: Who is £9m Tottenham signing Etienne Capoue?

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As Andre Villas-Boas and Tottenham Hotspur continued to add a continental flavour to their squad for the impending season with the signing of Etienne Capoue from Toulouse on Thursday, many Spurs supporters were left asking who?

With Tom Huddlestone and seemingly Jake Livermore the latest English players to depart the club - both joining Hull this week - following the departures earlier this summer of Steven Caulker and David Bentley, Spurs’ squad for 2013/14 has a more cultured feel to it than the English players preferred by former manager Harry Redknapp in recent seasons.

Linked to Arsenal last year and heavily expected to join Premier League newcomers Cardiff City last month, 25-year-old Capoue has won seven caps for France, scoring once. He had previously spent the whole of his career in his homeland, making 174 appearances for Toulouse after signing as a professional in 2008, and has been a mainstay in the Ligue 1 side in recent seasons, making over 30 appearances in each of the last five campaigns as well as being named in the top flight’s team of the year in 2012.

His playing style is remarkably similar to that of Huddlestone, with the player equally at home in either defence or midfield. Stocky in frame, the 6ft2 has quick feet and can start attacks from deep with defence-splitting passes, but also favours venturing forward at times and possesses a powerful shot. Capoue’s arrival follows the earlier captures of midfielders Paulinho and Nacer Chadli and the forward Roberto Soldado.
 
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BBC Sport Garth Crook's Team of the Week - 18 August 2013

Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Spurs

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MIDFIELD - PAULINHO (Tottenham Hotspur)
Paulinho

The 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace was a nice introduction to the Premier League for the Brazilian midfielder. Considering it was his league debut, he controlled events very nicely, keeping it simple but effective.

Did you know? On his Premier League debut, Paulinho introduced himself by having a pass completion rate of 90.6%, misplacing just five of 53 passes in the game.
 
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