Tottenham

• Tottenham Hotspur Team Summary
• Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach
• Tottenham Hotspur Style of Play
• Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Prediction
• Tottenham Hotspur Key Players
• Tottenham Hotspur Ones To Watch
• Tottenham Hotspur Blogs

Tottenham Hotspur: Team Summary

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club was formed in 1882 in Tottenham, North London. They hold the honour of being the first club to win the League and FA Cup double – achieving the landmark in 1961. In total they have two top division league titles, eight FA Cups, four League Cups and have won the UEFA Cup twice.

Tottenham have been going through somewhat of a resurgence of late under current manager Harry Redknapp. For a long time they were billed as under achievers – spending large quantities of money for average league finishes. However, last season they qualified for the Champions League for the first time since it’s invention – triumphing in an exciting four-way battle between themselves, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool for forth place.

They play at White Hart Lane (36,000 capacity) and are often referred to by their nickname ‘Spurs’.

Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach: Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp joined Spurs as Head Coach in 2008, taking over from sacked Spanish coach Juande Ramos. English born, he had an unremarkable playing career turning out for West Ham, Bournemouth and the Seattle Sounders. He later went on to coach both Bournemouth and West Ham.

While in charge of West Ham United, Redknapp was credited with bringing many future England stars up through the club’s youth academy setup, including Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe and his nephew Frank Lampard. He has a good relationship with the media and tabloid press – regularly writing his own column for the Sun newspaper.

Tottenham Hotspur: Style of Play

Since Redknapp took over, Spurs have adopted an exciting, attacking approach to their football matches. Much of their style is focused around creative midfield players and quick wing play. They even seem to have achieved the one thing they have lacked for many years – consistency.

Over the previous few seasons they have managed to assemble a great squad capable of interchanging seamlessly. However, if Tottenham do have a weakness it is tactical. Redknapp is a great motivator but Spurs tend to come unstuck against more tactically astute teams.

Premier League Guide Prediction 2010/2011: 6th

Even though they achieved Champions League qualification for the first time last year, Spurs will now be competing on four fronts (Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup) – this will push their squad depth to the limit and the league will be their breaking point.

Tottenham: Key Players

Luka Modric

Luka Modric (25) plays as a central or left-sided attacking midfielder. He signed for Tottenham in the 2008 summer transfer window for a club record £17 million ($25.5 million). Before that he predominantly played for Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb – although he spent much of his early career out on loan.

Modric is a technically gifted footballer. He can play with both feet and has an eye for defensive splitting passes. His usual role is as an attacking left midfielder who drifts in from the touchline to open himself up for a shot on goal or pass to a striker. In the past he has also been used as a defensive midfielder, displaying his versatility.

At the start of last season he broke his leg in a game against Birmingham City but made his comeback in December. After his return performances he was pretty much an automatic starter and played a big part in Tottenham’s push for Champions League qualification. A fully fit Modric for a whole season means the vultures will be circling and move to a bigger club may be on the cards.

Aaron Lennon

Aaron Lennon (23) plays as a right winger. He signed for Tottenham in June 2005 and was a product of Leeds United’s academy system. He was rated extremely highly by Leeds and would have commanded a much higher transfer fee had the club not been in such a dire financial state at the time. Tottenham scooped him up for a bargain £1 million ($1.5 million).

Lennon’s key assets are his blistering pace and close ball control. He is a short man, standing at only 5ft 5in, but his low sense of gravity allows him rapid acceleration and the ability to beat an opposition defender easily. If he has a weakness it’s his predictability – but if you can’t keep up with him who needs variety?

After the past couple of seasons Lennon has developed into a key player for Tottenham. His form has kept big money signings like David Bentley – tipped to be the next David Beckham – out of the team and he even earned himself a place in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad. He didn’t play much in South Africa this time but another good season and he could become an automatic starter.

Tottenham: Ones to Watch

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale (21) plays as a left full back or left sided midfielder. He joined Tottenham in May 2007 from Southampton when he was just 18 years old. The total fee paid to Southampton was estimated at £10 million ($15 million). Born in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, he represents the Welsh national team.

Bale is best known for his technique, athleticism and versatility. Primarily a left back, he forced himself into the Spurs midfield due to a string of impressive performances at the start of last season. Before then he had the dubious honour of playing 24 league games for Tottenham without being on the winning side.

Bale is also an expert at taking free kicks – a talent that got him recognised playing at Southampton after scoring five goals in only 40 games. Now that he has shrugged off his bizarre losing streak hoodoo, we expect to see him get stronger and stronger. Keep an eye on this guy.

Danny Rose

Danny Rose (20) plays as an attacking midfielder in the centre of the park or on either wing. Like Aaron Lennon, he is a product of Leeds United’s academy system and joined Tottenham in July 2007 for a fee in the region of £1 million ($1.5 million). He represents England at U21 level.

While he hadn’t made any previous appearances for Tottenham during the 2009/2010 campaign, he was thrust into the deep end by his manager in a home game against Arsenal towards the end of last season. The occasion did not intimidate him one bit and he scored what turned out to be one of the goals of the season.

With the ball being punched out from a corner by the Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia, Rose swung his left boot at the ball from fully 25 yards out. His volley fizzed through a crowd off players and into the net in a flash. Regardless of whether he does anything else in his Spurs career, he’ll always be remembered for scoring that goal against the club’s bitterest rivals.

Tottenham Hotspur Blogs

Harry Hotspur
Come On Spurs
Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Tottenham Hotspur Blog News
McNamara’s Band
Dear Mr Levy

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