Tottenham Hotspur - the Pride of London

[Indo_Popper]

Much Promise but Little Success
Ardiles was replaced by former QPR manager Gerry Francis, who turned around the club's fortunes dramatically. Tottenham climbed to seventh place in the league, and took advantage of their reinstatement to the FA Cup by reaching the semi-finals, a 4-1 defeat against eventual winners Everton preventing them from reaching the final.

1996-97 saw Tottenham finish in 10th place. Striker Teddy Sheringham requested a move and was sold to Manchester United. In November 1997, with Spurs second from bottom and in danger of relegation, Francis was sacked. Christian Gross, coach of Swiss champions Grasshoppers, was appointed. He re-signed legendary striker Jürgen Klinsmann, whose second spell proved a key factor in securing Premiership survival.

George Graham was hired to lead the club before the 1998-99 season. In his first season as Spurs manager the club secured a mid-table finish and won the League Cup by defeating Leicester City at Wembley. However, another mid-table league finish followed in 1999-2000.

At the start of 2001, Sir Alan Sugar's patience broke. He sold his controlling interest in Tottenham to ENIC Sports PLC, run by Daniel Levy.


Further dreams fail: Hoddle & Pleat (again)
Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle took over the club in April 2001 with the team lying thirteenth in the table. His first match in charge was an FA Cup semi-final defeat to rivals Arsenal. Another humiliation followed when club captain Sol Campbell defected to Arsenal on a Bosman free transfer. With limited funds to improve the squad Hoddle turned towards more experienced players in the shape of Teddy Sheringham, Gus Poyet and Christian Ziege for inspiration.

Season 2001-02 saw an improvement, as Spurs finished in ninth place. However, a League Cup Final defeat to Blackburn Rovers left Hoddle under pressure for the following campaign. Only limited funds were available and the only significant outlay was £7 million for Robbie Keane, who joined from Leeds United. 2002-03 started well, with Tottenham remaining in the top six as late as early February. But with just seven points in the final ten games, the club finished in tenth place. Players publicly criticised Hoddle's management style and communication skills. Six games into the 2003-04 season, Hoddle was sacked and David Pleat took over on a caretaker basis until a full-time successor could be found.

[Indo_Popper]

Out of the Shadows: Jol

Tottenham signed French national manager Jacques Santini as head coach, Martin Jol as his assistant and Frank Arnesen as Sporting Director. Santini quit the club after just 13 games in charge and was replaced by Jol. He acquired striker Mido on an 18-month loan, he was awarded the FA Premiership Manager of the Month for December, and guided the club to a ninth place finish. At the end of the season Frank Arnesen was tapped up by Chelsea, who later paid compensation of around £5 million[citation needed]. Damien Comolli was named the new Sporting Director in September 2005.

During the 2005-06 season Spurs reached first position once and never fell below sixth. They spent six months in fourth place, which was only relinquished to rivals Arsenal on the last day of the season after a defeat to West Ham. The loss was controversial as ten Tottenham players went down with a stomach bug on the day of the match. An attempt to have the game replayed was refused, and Spurs missed out on Champions League football.

The summer of 2006 saw big changes at the club. Internet casino company Mansion signed a four-year sponsorship deal worth £34m, with the kit to be manufactured by Puma until 2010. Mido's loan move was made permanent, and the club also signed Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zokora, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque. Michael Carrick was sold to Manchester United for a club record fee that could rise to £18.6m.

Tottenham entered the penultimate weekend of September 2006 in 17th place. This marks their worst start to a Premiership season for more than a decade.

On 28th September 2006, Tottenham went through to the group stages of the UEFA after a 2-0 aggregate win over Slavia Prague. Spurs won 1-0 on the night after an unconvincing win, after a 1-0 away win in Prague two weeks before. Spurs wore all white, like the kit they wore back in the day when they were one of the top clubs in Europe

[Indo_Popper]

Club ownership
Billionaire Joseph Lewis owns 29.8 per cent of the club through his investment company ENIC Sports Ltd. ENIC have also held significant stakes in SK Slavia Praha and AEK Athens. Former chairman Sir Alan Sugar retains a 13 per cent stake through Amshold Limited, while Stelios Haji-Ioannou has 9 per cent through Hodram Inc.


Tottenham Hotspur Ladies
Tottenham's ladies team was founded in 1985 as Broxbourne Ladies. They started using the Tottenham Hotspur name for the 1991/2 season and play in the South-East & London Regional Women's League (the fourth tier of the game).


References to Jews
The Tottenham fans have the very remarkable tradition of using Jewish references to express their allegiance. Regularly, the supporters scream Yiddo's! and Yid Army! to fire up their team. Having had this thrown at Spurs as a derogatory term, the supporters of the club adopted it as an unofficial nickname and also so that it would not have the same effect if other clubs shouted it in an anti-Semitic manner. Therefore, Spurs fans chant "Yids" and "Yid Army!" to deflect the racist attacks of other clubs. The term Yids derives from the Jewish supportership of Spurs. Coming from the language Yiddish, it is a slang term for a Jew. It is a term that reflects the team's and Tottenham's Jewish roots. There is a large Jewish population in Stamford Hill, which is near to the White Hart Lane stadium and home to many of the United Kingdoms' 267,000 Jews, and they have traditiionally followed Tottenham. Whilst playing for Aston Villa in 1996 the Australian international goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was fined £1,000 for making a Nazi-style salute towards the Tottenham supporters at White Hart Lane. Bosnich wrote a letter of apology and claimed that the gesture was a joke that backfired. The hardcore Tottenham fans are proud of their outsider image as "Jews" and feel encouraged to use more Jewish references when supporting their club.

[Indo_Popper]

Honours
Football League First Division / Premier League 2
1950-51, 1960-61
Football League Second Division 2
1919-20, 1949-50
FA Cup 8
1900-01, 1920-21, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1990-91
League Cup 3
1970-1, 1972-3, 1998-99
FA Community Shield 7
1920-21, 1951-52, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1967-68, 1981-82, 1991-92
Southern League 1
1899-1900
Western League 1
1903-04
Football League South 2
1943-44, 1944-45
UEFA Cup 2
1971-72, 1983-84
European Cup Winners' Cup 1
1962-63
Anglo-Italian League Cup 1
1971-72
FA Youth Cup 3
1970, 1974, 1990
Peace Cup 1
2005

[xCumsterx]

finally back to winning ways in this season's epl coys!

from soccernet:

Tottenham's French midfielder Didier Zokora took a dive to earn a match-winning penalty in the first half after Spurs had taken a 42-second lead to break their Premiership goal-drought.

Danny Murphy slotted home his first for the club with less than a minute on the clock to end seven hours and 13 minutes without a Tottenham goal in the league.

But it was the second goal, 33 minutes later, which proved the real talking point at White Hart Lane as Martin Jol's team handed out a second successive defeat to early leaders Portsmouth - a side starting with three former Spurs players and another on the bench.

Pedro Mendes was the victim of a blatant injustice for Spurs' penalty. True, he should not have even put in a challenge on Zokora who was going nowhere in the area, but when he stuck out a leg, the Frenchman fell theatrically over it and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot.

Jermain Defoe, back in the side as one of five changes from the team that scrambled past UEFA Cup outsiders Slavia Prague in midweek, confidently put away the penalty even though David James guessed the direction of his shot correctly.

And, although Nwankwo Kanu headed his fifth goal of the season five minutes before the break, it was not quite enough for Pompey although Andy Cole had a chance which he miskicked soon after coming on for the big Nigerian in the 72nd minute.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by xCumsterx

lets hope we can turn things around this sunday against portsmouth with their assortment of spurs rejects

COYS! To Dare Is To Do!

you got your wish. 3 pts plus a uefa group ticket, what a turning week for spurs.

from tv replay i could see zokora took a dive immediately when he saw mendes sticking out his leg. arent players aware of video replays? why do they still do it? is zokora supposed to be the hero of the night in white hart lane?

i am sure spurs would still have won the home game against portsmouth last nite w/o the help of cheaters. the best part for me was sol campbell being booed by spurs fans everytime he gets the ball. the clumsy fool tried very often to move up forward with the ball but always failed to complete his passes. he thinks he's gallas or something.

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by Indo_Popper

Tottenham were the first club in the 20th century to achieve the league and cup Double, winning both competitions in the 1960-61 season. In 1963, Spurs became the first British club to win a European trophy - the European Cup Winners' Cup.

wonderful history bro, spurs set the standards, last time at least.

[my_lover]

Hello fellow Spurs mateys,

I am glued to the TV yesterdays as Spurs took on Pompeys...

Personally, I feel there is something wrong with our distribution. We have been losing possessions unnecessary. Pumping ball up to no man lands or is it our strikers too lazy to run for chances. I must compliment that Dawson is GREAT... seems to me that he now playing even better than King. Feel so good to see our young talents rising up, the likes of Dawson, Davenport, King, Huddlestone and etc...

39 secs to score a goal is a real feat (record of this season I think). As for the dive, I feel that... face it. This is football and how many footballers have not dived in their career... it is only a matter of whether the referee spotted it. Like army wat... do whatever you can as long as you don't get caught...

haha... Cheers... Com'on you Spurs!

[Castrol]

Originally Posted by my_lover

As for the dive, I feel that... face it. This is football and how many footballers have not dived in their career... it is only a matter of whether the referee spotted it. Like army wat... do whatever you can as long as you don't get caught...

haha... Cheers... Com'on you Spurs!

did you see how the spurs players pile on murphy on the ground after the first goal? i havent seen that kind of celebration in a long time. of all people, danny murphy came to the rescue! out of the blue stuff.

i'd say dawson is the best header in epl now. he is always there to head away the danger from set pieces and high crosses alike. really focused in defence.

but i dont agree with your comments on the diving bit, whether the ref see it or not, it only affects the scoreline. but diving = cheating. it affects soccer as a sport. the next player should dive becos many players are also doing it, like c.ronaldo, that whining kid?

no offence bro my lover.

spurs can beat any team in white hart lane without the controversy, especially against pompey. zokora has been a very composed midfield general, what a pity. he may get bad press for a while over this, and i hope it will be his last one.

anyway, lua lua gave us a scare in the dying minutes with that goal bound header didnt he? thank God for robinson.

[sinfulguy]

jermaine jenas mis-kick a nice lay off and sky a ball after he dribble pass 3 defenders.....he is really jialat man...

In the end lucky to have the 3 points because that was definitely not a penalty....

[lungless]

Yeah, that was a dive by Zokorra no matter what the fella and gaffer said after the game. I was a bit sad that a player in my beloved Spurs had to do this. I hope this will be the last time that i see him do this. Dun want it to be like Gunners player who dive. Namely Henry and their ex players - Pires and Vieira.

Anyway, i think that no matter how bad is Jenas at scoring now, we should give him a chance. He is still young anyway. I think the player that need to go is Defoe as he is too light weight to be a very top striker. Maybe can get D bent if the addicks go down this year? I think Tainio is a top notch player, maybe off form for now, but for those who have followed his career will know how versatile he is. He is a natural in all position. Yeah, and Spurs got abundance of talent in midfield. Huddlestone is a class act, the same mould as Carrick but is stronger built with fantastic touch and passe. Routledge is out on loan now and Zeigler is still there learning and improving.

The defence now is as strong as i can remember since Mabbutt days. Maybe Stronger?? They just need time to click. King reading of the game has been magnificent lately. Such classy act. Dawson is improving. Their cover Davenport and Gardner is doing okie too. We have Chimbonda on the right - cover is Stalteri and Assou - Ekotto on the left - cover is Young Pyo. If you noticed last season. Lots of the final min goals scored by the opposing team is thru the right channel - Stalteri can sometime be too light weight in his cover and tackles. And lots of goal came from the left channel as Young Pyo is not a good defender as he is an attacker. The 2 new players are faster and stronger from what i have seen soo far. Chim has not really found the sort of high standards that he had last season with Wigan. But he is doing okie, better than Stalteri presently too. So i am please with the acquisition in the defending department. Yeah, Almost forget that Spurs brought in the very highly talented France under 20 captain, Dervite for central defence cover in the future. This guy is really good. Mark my word

I just can't wait to see Malbranque and Lennon play wide in 1 month plus time. Maybe spurs then can play 5 across midfield. That guy Ghaly is not bad also. So i guess that Spurs just have to click, and then they will improve. It is not easy to bring in 7 players and expect them to click at once. Look at Shevchenko and Ballack. Still need time to click also. The future looks bright for Spurs no matter what their present outlook shows....


Go you Spurs!!!!!!!

[lungless]

Yeah another thing i urged all Spurs Supporter not to condone diving or cheating! All thru the years that has set Spurs apart from the rest! High Moral Standards and Ethics!!

[my_lover]

Originally Posted by Castrol

did you see how the spurs players pile on murphy on the ground after the first goal? i havent seen that kind of celebration in a long time. of all people, danny murphy came to the rescue! out of the blue stuff.

i'd say dawson is the best header in epl now. he is always there to head away the danger from set pieces and high crosses alike. really focused in defence.

but i dont agree with your comments on the diving bit, whether the ref see it or not, it only affects the scoreline. but diving = cheating. it affects soccer as a sport. the next player should dive becos many players are also doing it, like c.ronaldo, that whining kid?

no offence bro my lover.

spurs can beat any team in white hart lane without the controversy, especially against pompey. zokora has been a very composed midfield general, what a pity. he may get bad press for a while over this, and i hope it will be his last one.
anyway, lua lua gave us a scare in the dying minutes with that goal bound header didnt he? thank God for robinson.

Yo bro Castrol,
Yeah!! The 1st goal is great! It really lifted up the team
No worries... Spurs mateys never hate one anothers...
Like what Jol has said. The lad did not dive probably lost his balance.
Yah boy... Dawson (cute fellow)... always there to rescue... A good a combi... Dawson good in headers and King strong in tackles...
Kaoz... yah man... That LL (Lua Lua) fellow... causes my balls to shrink for a moment!!!! I still don't understand why Portsmouth take rejected stuffs... David James and Anti-Cole...

Bro lungless... pardon my correction. Throughout Spurs history there are two famous "divers" ... Ginola and Klinsmann. However, both are my heros. I think the whole England knows that Ginola fake his act... but he got his fair share of punishment... whenever he is down... sometime genuine one... Referee also bo hiu... hahaha...
Go Lilywhites.... Take care Spurs mateys!!

[lungless]

Originally Posted by my_lover

,
Bro lungless... pardon my correction. Throughout Spurs history there are two famous "divers" ... Ginola and Klinsmann. However, both are my heros. I think the whole England knows that Ginola fake his act... but he got his fair share of punishment... whenever he is down... sometime genuine one... Referee also bo hiu... hahaha...
Go Lilywhites.... Take care Spurs mateys!!

No worries bro. I just dun want Spurs to be labelled cheats. Ginola and Klinsmann did not play in the same team as the players from across the town that i mentioned earlier. I worried that it might rub on to the other players. Traditionally Spurs have been a gentleman team. And should continue to be no matter how bad the time is Yeah, im worried that the ref will not look at geniune case in the future too, like you mentioned of Ginola...

[lungless]

Hahaha...i was zapped for these "Christiano Ronaldo is a diver, why you never mentioned him? Your Keane, Defoe, etc are all divers! Are you jealous of Arsenal's success? No wonder Sol Campbell left Spurs for Arsenal! Hahaha!"

My guess is that the one who zapped me is a supporter from a rival team? hmm...

Why i did not mentioned C Ronaldo is that he is the only one in Man U that dived. I think he has cleaned out his acts after the worldcup. Good for him.
Why i mentioned the team across town is that several of their players are known to be serial divers. Which i hope Zokorra actions the other day will not rubbed onto other players in the team.

Anyway, no worries bro. You are entitled to your opinion of your team. Like i am of my team. Cheers yeah