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b>Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- Leeds United
Premier Pl W D L For- Ag Pts
Home 11 5 3 3 18 - 12 18
Away 10 1 2 7 8 - 19 5
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Total (Premier) 21 6 5 10 26 - 31 23
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 28 14 8 6 47 - 34 37
Away (Div 1) 28 6 10 12 32 - 42 23
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Total (Div 1) 56 20 18 18 79 - 76 60
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 4 3 1 0 10 - 4 7
Away (Div 2) 4 1 1 2 3 - 5 3
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Total (Div 2) 8 4 2 2 13 - 9 10
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Total (Premier) 21 6 5 10 26 - 31 23
Total (Div 1) 56 20 18 18 79 - 76 60
Total (Div 2) 8 4 2 2 13 - 9 10
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Grand Total 85 30 25 30 118 -116 93
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When the current season began, Leeds United were confident of at least
qualifying for the later stages of the UEFA Cup, even though they had just
lost Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United. But in quick succession, David
O'Leary was dismissed as manager, Terry Venables appointed to succeed him
and Robbie Keane was allowed to leave for Tottenham. From then onwards, it
was a steady drift downwards for Leeds. They were suddenly confronted by
the prospect of an entirely unexpected battle against relegation.
Moreover, the chairman, Peter Ridsdale insisted that costs had to be
forced downwards, which led to the further departures of Lee Bowyer,
Jonathan Woodgate and Robbie Fowler. Venables moreover refused to play a
favourite of the fans, David Batty, saying he was nowhere near match
fitness and that it might be better if he packed it in.
But come April when a young man's thoughts turn to lazy hazy days of
sunshine and Leeds have sacked Venables, shunted Ridsdale sideways in the
boardroom and appointed Peter Reid to supervise team matters until the end
of the season. The transformation was soon apparent when Leeds went to
Charlton and destroyed them by 6 goals to 1. Peter Reid confessed he had
not done much because, as he said, with 6 games to go, there is no way one
can introduce a new set of tactics. I suspect Reid has allowed the players
to decide for themselves what they are most comfortable with. The dressing
room has been bitchy during the darker times but they seemed relaxed
enough last weekend.
One should not be surprised about the power of the dressing room mafia. O
remember how another dressing room mafia forced Brian Clough out of Elland
Road after only 44 days in charge.
I have always considered Leeds to be too good to go down. They have a lot
of good players but they need to have someone clearly in charge on the
pitch. I don't think Venables gave them that.
Those of us who remember Venables in charge at Tottenham will not have
been surprised about the events at Elland Road. When Venables came to
Tottenham in the wake of David Pleat's departure, there was a wave of
optimism. Venables was soon wheeling and dealing but there seemed to be
more departures than arrivals. And the arrivals, apart from Lineker,
Gazza, Sheringham and Nayim, were not up to scratch by and large.
Over the years, Spurs have been largely unsuccessful at Leeds. A quick
glance at the statistics above will illustrate the paucity of our record.
I can only remember one win at Elland Road and that was courtesy of 'Match
of The Day'. I remember Chivers scored twice and Clarke once in a match
Spurs won 2-1 in January 1971.
Our away fixture against Leeds in season 1971-72 made history. Because of
a disputed goal in the Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion match in the
previous spring, Elland Road was closed and the Leeds v Spurs match was
played at Boothferry Park, Hull. (Referee Ray Tinkler failed to see that
both Tony Brown and Jeff Astle were offside. The decision to allow Astle's
goal cost Leeds the championship and allowed THE OTHER LOT to clinch their
first League and Cup Double, winning the League on the hallowed turf of
White Hart Lane.)
I expect that Robbie Keane will be 'up for the match' but it remains to be
seen whether he will be match fit. He scored a cheeky goal against
Birmingham last weekend but whether he will be nimble enough to cope with
Leeds remains to be seen. Both Sheringham and Poyet have demonstrated an
inability to last for 90 minutes, although both continue to be razor sharp
in their heads. It looks as if Sheringham will be leaving Tottenham this
summer. I will not be surprised if Poyet is also discarded. With Freund
also being allowed to leave, it remains to be seen who Hoddle can persuade
to join the staff at White Hart Lane.
It is too early for me to predict the likely make-up of the team but I
think I'm erring on the side of caution in predicting a 2-1 defeat for
Tottenham. We have only won one away game at Elland Road in the
Premiership, This was when we won 3-1 towards the end of the season in
1995-96. It is high time we won again at Elland Road but I doubt if it
will be this week.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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