This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Leeds United

Prem           Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            6   3   2   1     9-4   11
Away            6   1   2   3     4-10   5
===========================================
Total (Prem)   12   4   4   4    13-14  16
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)   28  14   8   6    47-34  37
Away (Div 1)   28   6  10  12    32-42  23
===========================================
Total (Div 1)  56  20  18  18    79-76  60
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)    4   3   1   0    10-4    7
Away (Div 2)    4   1   1   2     3-5    3
===========================================
Total (Div 2)   8   4   2   2    13-9   10
===========================================
Total (Prem)   12   4   4   4    13-14  16
Total (Div 1)  56  20  18  18    79-76  60
Total (Div 2)   8   4   2   2    13-9   10
===========================================
Grand Total    76  28  24  24   105-99  86
===========================================

This is a match that most Tottenham purists will see as a comparison of footballing ideology. Most will see it as the beautiful game opposed by the neanderthals of route 1, offside trap type football. With all the speculation being hyped by the media that the Spurs Board, dragooned by the heartless, pitiless Alan Sugar that the next manager will be George Graham, media and fan interest in this game will be high.

Tottenham have always, at least until fairly recently, been seen as the champions of flair and panache, the beautiful game as lyrically described by Danny Blanchflower, whose credentials in the Tottenham pantheon are high. But, and it is a 'but' that has to be confronted by Tottenham supporters, Tottenham have not been consistent enough to win the League. Only twice in their long history have Tottenham been proclaimed champions and twice the prize was won by flair and panache. Increasingly the championship is being won not necessarily by the best team but by the best technocrats, who abhor flair and panache and who grind out boring 1-0 wins.

Leeds, on the other hand, have never been noted for flair and panache. They were a very average, often poor team, before Don Revie became their manager. He took them from the foothills of Division 2 to the centre of Europe, planning every second of the game. The players were urged to dispute every decision, to retreat reluctantly and to use delaying tactics all the time. They became the most hated team in the '60s and early '70s. But in season 1973-74 a change took place. Suddenly, Leeds became the beautiful game. No one who has seen highlight of a match where Southampton were slaughtered 7-0 and had to endure five minutes of Leeds pushing the ball from one Leeds player to another will forget the sight of that. Not even Tottenham at their most imperalistic had humilated the opposition to such a degree.

But then Revie left to become manager of England and Leeds endured a series of either player power, rejecting Clough, or managers who could not overcome the cast of the long shadow of Revie's achievements.

It was not until Howard Wilkinson was appointed manager that Leeds began to dispel the long shadow of Revie. He took Leeds from the depths of the old Division 2 to become champions of the old Division 1. But Wilkinson was unable to take them further and they began to sink back. When Wilkinson was sacked, Graham was appointed.

No Spurs fan needs to be reminded of what Graham achieved at Highbury. His legacy is still there with the defence he created still stifling the opposition. Leeds, quite understandably, are reluctant to let Graham go. They have a very young side showing signs of maturing into being a very good side.

In the run-up to this match, Leeds have made a good start to the season whereas Spurs continue to be indifferent. Leeds have not had the inconvenience of a midweek match as they have a bye to the Third Round of the League Cup whereas Spurs had to play Brentford in midweek.

From what I saw on the highlights on television, Spurs had another poor game and were fortunate to survive against a Brentford team three divisions below them. Some of the players seemed to be strangers to each other and Ginola appeared to be totally indifferent at times to the activity around him. As usual, a typical Tottenham failure to perceive that if a team wants to win honours then it must work for the entire ninety minutes, not as and when they feel like it.

And my forecast for this week's match? Leeds to win in a canter, hardly breaking any sweat, whilst Tottenham's defence rush around like headless chickens, thoroughly disorganised. It hurts me to write lines like this but it is all perfectly true that someone distant from events can perceive things better than those closer to the trees in the woods. The crowd will probably be outnumbered by the photographers surrounding the visitors dug-out as they swarm to catch every little grimace of George Graham.

And Tottenham's next manager? It does look like being George Graham. Mihir Bose has added his thoughts in today's (Thursday) Daily Telegraph and it is not very often Bose gets his facts wrong.

I can hear an echo of a North Yorkshireman saying, "There used to be a football club over there!"

Cheers, Brian

· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Follow @spursodyssey