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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Read my preview pack for this game.
Full Record of Spurs -v- Birmingham City
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
Away 1 0 1 0 1 - 1 1
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Total (Prem) 1 0 1 0 1 - 1 1
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 28 20 4 4 63 -22 47
Away (Div 1) 28 10 4 14 31 -39 25
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Total (Div 1) 56 30 8 18 94 -61 72
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 4 1 1 2 6 - 4 3
Away (Div 2) 4 1 2 1 4 - 4 4
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Total(Div 2) 8 2 3 3 10 - 8 7
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Total(Prem) 1 0 1 0 1 - 1 1
Total(Div 1) 56 30 8 18 94 -61 72
Total(Div 2) 8 2 3 3 10 - 8 7
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Grand Total 65 32 12 21 105 -70 80
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Firstly, a belated apology! It seems that my statistics were incorrect
when I previewed the away game.A number of people pointed them out and I
hope I have got it right this time.
Tomorrow's game brings another of these relegation battles that Spurs tend
to fall apart on. We are constantly exhorted to remember that qualifying
for Europe is the target but whenever we play a team at the bottom, we
seem to drop points. I am particularly thinking of our deplorable
performance at the Stadium of Light!
As I have constantly reminded readers, Spurs have a long history of coming
apart at the seams when confronted by a team at the wrong end of the
table. But there was a time when thrashing Birmingham City was the norm
rather than the exception! I can remember seeing Birmingham being thrashed
on a number of occasions. They were, with Nottingham Forest, Greaves'
favourite team.
Birmingham have only won one major honour and that was the Football League
Cup at a time when at least 10 clubs still boycotted it. They have never
figured in a chase for the title and the closes they ever came to winning
the Cup was in 1956 when Manchester City beat them, 3-1, helped by a
gallant display by Bert Trautmann, their goalkeeper, who played on after
breaking his neck.
It has been seventeen long years since Birmingham were last in the top
flight. They have suffered from the derision by Aston Villa fans for years
but in appointing Steve Bruce as manager, they have appointed a born
winner. Trevor Francis took them tantalisingly close to Premiership
football but it was Bruce who steered them over the final lap.
Birmingham have never been noted for attractive teams. St Andrews was a
ground many teams used to dislike going to because of the wall of sound
their fans could make when things were going well for them. I am thinking
of Tottenham's 0-0 draw in the FA Cup 6th Round in April 1967 when Spurs
were fortunate to escape with a replay. But away from St Andrews,
Birmingham have rarely travelled well. We thrashed them 6-0 in the replay,
taking only 90 seconds to take the lead.
Much as we dislike Robbie Savage, I wistfully wonder what he could do for
us in a Tottenham shirt. We need a destroyer in midfield and I'm sure he
could have performed that role for us. Hoddle is too much of a purist to
consider that aspect, I suspect.
I think Birmingham will survive this season, even if their struggle goes
to the final day. I suspect fans at Bolton and Leeds are much more
concerned about their position. Next season, of course, will be that bit
harder and much will depend if there are teams as poor as West Bromwich
Albion and Sunderland have proved to be this season.
Tottenham are expected to recall Keane but I maintain we will not see the
best of Keane until we have a target man alongside him. I think there is a
case for playing 4-4-2 as we have usually performed better with two
outright strikers.
If the RIGHT Spurs side turns up tomorrow, I hope we will win but a lot of
factors will depend on Hoddle making more sensible use of his substitutes.
I fail to see the point of keeping Poyet and Sheringham out there when it
is obvious they have nothing to offer. How will the youngsters ever learn
if they are not tried????????
Hopefully, we will win 2-1 ................
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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