mendesstormer
Well-Known Member
- Jan 11, 2005
- 644
- 418
This current squad seems to be getting most ordinary fans quite excited - so much potential that we seem destined for great things, if a few imponderables go our way. For me, it's probably the best team/squad i've seen in 40+ years of following Spurs. Not that we haven't had better individuals for sure. But as a collective unit, their balance, togetherness, team spirit, willingness to follow a tactical plan and shape are probably more impressive than any of their predecessors post 1970 (where my memories date back to).
So perhaps it's a good time to do a little comparison with those teams of the past. And as this current team is such a good, well, team I guess, I'm comparing units rather than individuals.
GK: Lloris is up there with the very best we've ever had. Only the great Pat Jennings compares. I'd put Pat marginally ahead still, due to his longevity and wonderful consistency. Lloris could yet overhaul the great man though.
Central defence: it's all about partnerships, isn't it? I'd say Toby and Jan, again, are up there with any previous Spurs CB pair. Ledley and Dawson were good but not this good. Mabs and Richard Gough might just edge it for pure quality. Nobody else compares.
Full backs: Walker and Davies/Rose improving all the time. It's an area where we haven't exactly been blessed with great talent in the past. Stevie P and Chrissie Hughton are the best pair I've seen (and some might say Knowles/Kinnear), but current incumbents aren't too far off.
Central Mid: Dier/Dembele are probably our best pair, but the back-up is excellent with Alli, Bentaleb and Mason. Probably our strongest ever squad-wise. For pure talent you couldn't possibly better Hoddle + Ardiles, but we're probably more solid in this area than ever before. (Modric + Huddlestone/Parker also deserve a shout.)
AM: probably the hardest area to make direct comparisons, as formations and tactics have changed so much over the years. We've got great options here too. Best ever? - probably Bale, VDV + 1 (e.g. Lennon). Peters + Gilzean weren't too shabby, either, but the formation was very different.
Striker(s): well, it's just Harry, isn't it? (unless we get someone in) but he's doing a pretty good job (!). Actually, he's right up there with Klinsmann, Lineker and even Greaves. And you can't give higher praise than that.
Conclusion: we don't have too many world-class stand out individuals, but all over the pitch we've got units that function almost as well as any of their Spurs counterparts in the last 45 years. Not bad, eh?
So perhaps it's a good time to do a little comparison with those teams of the past. And as this current team is such a good, well, team I guess, I'm comparing units rather than individuals.
GK: Lloris is up there with the very best we've ever had. Only the great Pat Jennings compares. I'd put Pat marginally ahead still, due to his longevity and wonderful consistency. Lloris could yet overhaul the great man though.
Central defence: it's all about partnerships, isn't it? I'd say Toby and Jan, again, are up there with any previous Spurs CB pair. Ledley and Dawson were good but not this good. Mabs and Richard Gough might just edge it for pure quality. Nobody else compares.
Full backs: Walker and Davies/Rose improving all the time. It's an area where we haven't exactly been blessed with great talent in the past. Stevie P and Chrissie Hughton are the best pair I've seen (and some might say Knowles/Kinnear), but current incumbents aren't too far off.
Central Mid: Dier/Dembele are probably our best pair, but the back-up is excellent with Alli, Bentaleb and Mason. Probably our strongest ever squad-wise. For pure talent you couldn't possibly better Hoddle + Ardiles, but we're probably more solid in this area than ever before. (Modric + Huddlestone/Parker also deserve a shout.)
AM: probably the hardest area to make direct comparisons, as formations and tactics have changed so much over the years. We've got great options here too. Best ever? - probably Bale, VDV + 1 (e.g. Lennon). Peters + Gilzean weren't too shabby, either, but the formation was very different.
Striker(s): well, it's just Harry, isn't it? (unless we get someone in) but he's doing a pretty good job (!). Actually, he's right up there with Klinsmann, Lineker and even Greaves. And you can't give higher praise than that.
Conclusion: we don't have too many world-class stand out individuals, but all over the pitch we've got units that function almost as well as any of their Spurs counterparts in the last 45 years. Not bad, eh?
