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This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Newcastle United

Premier       Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home           7   4   1   2    14-8   13
Away           8   1   3   4     8-17   6
==========================================
Total (Prem)  15   5   4   6    22-25  19
==========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  43  24   7  12    87-48  59
Away (Div 1)  43  15  14  14    70-76  45
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Total (Div 1) 86  39  21  26   157-124 104
==========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   6   1   3   2     6-7    5
Away (Div 2)   6   3   0   3     6-4    6
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Total (Div 2) 12   4   3   5    12-11   11
==========================================
Total (Prem)  15   5   4   6    22-25  19
Total (Div 1) 86  39  21  26   157-124 104
Total (Div 2) 12   4   3   5    12-11   11
==========================================
Grand Total  113  48  28  37   191-160 134
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Spurs begin the New Millennium with a home game against Newcastle United. Although they have won four of the previous seven home games against the Magpies and the fact that Newcastle have yet to win a match in London this season, few will be confident that Tottenham can beat Newcastle tomorrow night. Newcastle pulled off a surprise 1-1 draw against Manchester United when Glass scored a late equaliser to cancel out Beckham's penalty on Saturday.

Newcastle do have problems as Alan Shearer is currently sidelined with a recurrence of his tendonitis problems. Shearer is increasingly finding it difficult to keep fit and without him Newcastle tend to be punchless. But they are managing to stay in the top half of the table as they have a very good home record. But Newcastle are aware they need to bolster their strike force as Lua Lua and Dyer are still young and lack Shearer's maturity.

The manner in which Spurs abjectly surrendered the initiative to both Southampton and Ipswich is worrying. At least Sol Campbell seems to have provided a definitive answer to the perennial questions about his future as he appears to have committed himself to remaining at Tottenham although he still has to discuss a new contract. Tottenham's problems cannot entirely be blamed on the current management as the players have a responsibility as well. I am sure that neither Dave Mackay, Alan Mullery and Graham Roberts would have tolerated the abject displays of Tottenham's last two away games.

The lack of leadership on the field is worrying as no-one seems to want to accept the responsibility of leadership. You do not have to be a captain to accept the responsibility of leadership. Mackay, Mullery and Roberts displayed leadership long before they were appointed captains. It is all very well saying a captain should provide the example but captains like Bobby Moore are few and far between. Tony Adams is one such player much as we dislike to admit it. Stevie Perryman was another and I suspect Steve Carr would be a similar type of captain. But I would infinitely prefer the battler type of player like Tim Sherwood was in his younger days. I have wondered whether Matt Elliott of Leicester City could provide that kind of inspiration for us. He has scored vital goals when the match has seemed lost. Elliott also knows how to organise his defenders.

But just as important as having a ball winner, it is vital we find someone to unlock the opposition's defence. I am losing patience with Anderton because he is better playing wide on the right, providing the crosses like David Beckham but Anderton apparently does not seem to see it that way as he continually plays in the middle. Oh! for a Tommy Harmer who could send an entire defence the wrong way just by twitching a shoulder. Oh! for a Glenn Hoddle with pin-point passes being sprayed all over the park. Oh! for the late great John White, the Ghost of White Hart Lane!

And, of course, we need someone in the middle to play the role that Alan Gilzean, the King of White Hart Lane, did for ten years with his nods and flicks that Jimmy Greaves and Martin Chivers could profit from. I bet Sergei Rebrov would be delighted if we could clone Alan Gilzean and play him up front in the current team!

But most of all I want to see an end to the barracking of the management. Much as we detest the current management, it is pointless to barrack them. I suspect the fact that Graham and Houston are being barracked has inhibited the team and contributed to the general malaise that is affecting them. Barracking has never solved anything. If anything, barracking creates more problems than it solves.

If we do not beat Newcastle tomorrow night, I fear it is going to be difficult to lift the team's morale for the short trip to Brisbane Road on Saturday. The year may end in a '1' this year but it is no guarantee we will win the Cup. After all, we never won anything in 1911 or 1931.

Much will depend on the way Spurs approach the match tomorrow night. If we can survive to half-time, we might stand a fighting chance. But it is vital we keep a clean sheet!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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