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This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Middlesbrough

Premier       Pl   W   D   L  For-Ag  Pts
Home           5   1   2   2    6-9    5
Away           6   2   2   2    6-6    8
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Total (Prem)  11   3   4   4   12-15  13
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  25  15   4   6   62-40  36
Away (Div 1)  25   3   6  16   25-52  13
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Total (Div 1) 50  18  10  22   87-92  49
========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   1   0   0   1    2-5    0
Away (Div 2)   1   0   0   1    0-3    0
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Total (Div 2)  2   0   0   2    2-8    0
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Total (Prem)  11   3   4   4   12-15  13
Total (Div 1) 50  18  10  22   87-92  49
Total (Div 2)  2   0   0   2    2-8    0
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Grand Total   63  21  14  28  101-115 62
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The biggest irony surrounding this particular fixture is that Sir Alan Sugar, Chairman since June 1991, is now preparing to leave Tottenham as Terry Venables, his former business partner, returns to White Hart Lane as Head Coach of Middlesbrough. They were always unlikely business partners from the start with Sugar a proven businessman whilst Venables had links with some extremely dodgy business associates, notably one Eddie Ashby. The acrimony between Sugar and Venables echoed down various Courts between 1993 and 1997 but eventually Venables had to concede that Sugar had too many advantages.

Venables, of course, has had a long and chequered history. He first came to prominence as a player with Chelsea in the Ted Drake and, later, Tommy Docherty eras. Docherty made Venables captain of his team at the age of 22, which was quite unheard of in those days, as team captains were normally a senior player coming to the end of his playing career. Most managers saw the captain's role purely as one to toss a coin to decide which goal the team would face during the first half. Docherty saw Venables as his playing assistant and empowered him with the ability to change the tactics if the situation demanded it. But there were limits to which Docherty allowed his players. They certainly did not including going on a bender and coming home with the milk crates as Venables and six of the team did the night before a crucial match at Burnley in the spring of 1965. Docherty was waiting for them and promptly sent the lot home, summoning reserves to replace them. It was the beginning of the parting of the ways.

I have always regretted this incident ever happened as I am convinced Chelsea were on the verge of greatness with Docherty's Babes. Venables was swiftly demoted and later sold to Tottenham. Unhappily for Venables, the Tottenham fans did not like him and he soon moved on to QPR where he played some of his best football as they rose from the Third to the First Division. He later moved to Crystal Palace where injury ended his playing career and he moved over to coaching. He managed Crystal Palace at the start of the 1980s and then moved to QPR before going to Spain where he managed Barcelona. After being sacked by Barcelona, he managed Tottenham and England. Now he has to revive Middlesbrough's fortunes.

Middlesbrough have no history of trophies. Indeed the only two they can claim are their successes in two FA Amateur Cup Finals in 1895 and 1898 but in recent years they have finished runners-up in the FA Cup and Football League Cup whilst yo-yoing between the Premier League and the Football League. Middlesbrough briefly went out of business during the mid-1980s but were revived despite having the gates of Ayresome Park locked on them for a few weeks. They have had the misfortune to play in the lower ranks of the Football League as well. Middlesbrough have had few superstars. Before WW2, they had George Camsell, who once scored 59 goals in one season only to see Bill Dean of Everton (who hated his nickname 'Dixie') surpass it the following season with 60. After WW2, Middlesbrough have had Brian Clough and Wilf Mannion among their players. Clough banged in a lot of goals for Middlesbrough in much the same way as Shearer does for Newcastle today but, unfortunately, Clough's goals could not steer Middlesbrough to promotion. Middlesbrough's plight today at the foot of the Premier League once again highlights the fact that a glittering playing career does not guarantee success as a manager. Bryan Robson has spent millions and still cannot end Middlesbrough as perennial relegation strugglers.

Earlier this season, Spurs drew 1-1 at the BT Cellnet Stadium. Spurs took a deserved lead after 40 minutes, when Carr passed to Iversen from the half-way line, Iversen quickly fed the ball to Rebrov on the right, and his super cross was headed home by Leonhardsen. The equaliser came from a lightning attack. Karembeu pushed the ball out to the advancing Fleming on the right, and his short cross was confidently headed into Sullivan's left corner by Summerbell.

Both sides need the points badly. Tottenham want to climb the table in an effort to qualify for next season's UEFA Cup whilst Middlesbrough need the points to climb away from the bottom of the table. I think Spurs are quite capable of beating Middlesbrough and, hopefully, will have little difficulty in doing so but it should be borne in mind that Venables will want to put one over his former club if only to show them what they might have enjoyed had he remained their manager. I take Spurs to win 3-0.

COME ON YOU LILLYWHITES!

Cheers, Brian

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