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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- Blackburn Rovers
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 9 4 1 4 11- 14 13
Away 9 4 1 4 12- 9 13
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Total(Prem) 18 8 2 8 22- 23 26
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 24 16 4 4 63- 30 36
Away(Div 1) 24 5 5 14 23- 50 15
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Total(Div 1)48 21 9 18 86- 80 51
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Football Lge
Home(Div 2) 6 5 0 1 22- 8 10
Away(Div 2) 6 2 2 2 9- 7 6
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Total(Div 2)12 7 2 3 31- 15 16
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Total(Prem) 18 8 2 8 22- 23 26
Total(Div 1)48 21 9 18 86- 80 51
Total(Div 2)12 7 2 3 31- 15 16
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Grand Total 78 36 13 29 140-118 93
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In most fixtures, I can fasten onto a particular match and recall it with
some detail. This fixture always reminds me of a fixture that was never
played and led, in the long run, to our signing our greatest ever
centre-half (now regarded as a centre-back). At the start of the 1965-66
season, we should have played Blackburn Rovers for our first fixture of
the season but because there had been an outbreak of polio in the town,
all activities were cancelled as Blackburn was quarantined in an effort to
confine the outbreak to Blackburn. For various reasons, the match was
continuously postponed and was eventually the final game in a season that
saw Blackburn relegated. It was in that match, which we won, 1-0, that
Venables made his debut for Tottenham. And a certain Mr Greaves inevitably
scored our goal!
During the summer, manager Nicholson pondered over the problem at
centre-half. Laurie Brown was not up to the job. In the run-up to the
start of the season, Nicholson was experimenting with the veteran Ron
Henry in that position, recalling it was in that position Spurs had signed
Henry 12 years previously.
But in the week before the kick-off, Mike England submitted a transfer
request as he didn't want to play Second Division football. Manchester
United and Tottenham both put in bids but the media thought England would
opt for Manchester United as they were the a northern team. But on the day
before the season started, Nicholson announced he had signed England for
£95,000. He immediately repaid his transfer fee as Spurs went on to win
the FA Cup but they could and should have won a second Double! If they had
not lost three consecutive home games in the autumn, they would have done
so.
Blackburn had been an attractive team in those days and had built up a
very good side but the fact they were always chasing the rest of the field
in the number of games played and the fact their pre-season preparations
were curtailed virtually doomed them from the start. They were to slip
right down the pyramid to the 3rd Division. where they spent 12 seasons
before climbing back to the top flight. They won the Championship with
Kenny Dalglish and the sadly recently deceased Ray Harford only to be
relegated again a couple of seasons later. They have now climbed back
again and memories will still be fresh of their beating us in the 2002
League Cup Final.
Their honours were largely achieved before the first world war. There can
be very few people left alive now who can remember Blackburn dominating
the Football League. Certainly no one can remember the side winning three
FA Cups in succession in the 1880s.
Under manager Graeme Souness, Blackburn have built a useful side. They are
very hard to break down. Spurs will do very well if they win at Ewood
Park. I have been surprised to see Blackburn floundering in the bottom
half of the table. Admittedly, they have lost Duff and Dunn but they do
have the nucleus of a promising squad. I am sure Blackburn will climb to
safety before too long.
Tottenham did well to beat Aston Villa. despite playing without conviction
they could win until Ricketts volleyed the equaliser. It looks very much
as if Arsenal will come to regret allowing him to leave as he is, IMO, a
bargain. He seems to have the ability that Hoddle had as a player, of
taking the game by the scruff of its neck and turning it around.
It looks as though Spurs are going to give up looking for a manager and
will trust Chris Hughton to manage first team affairs. I know there has
been criticism of that but could I remind everyone that Bill Nicholson was
in exactly that position when he was appointed manager of Tottenham on
October 11th 1958? If anything, Chris has more experience behind him than
Nicholson had when he was appointed since Chris was first appointed to the
role under Christian Gross in December 1997. He has had almost six years
as Coach whereas Nicholson was only coach from December 1954 until October
1958. Besides, there seem to be very few people available of the calibre
we require and Pleat can look after most of the work involved.
I take Tottenham to draw tomorrow's match, possibly 2-2. But we need to
be vigilant if we are to achieve that.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Brian
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