| S |
|
66.33% |
| P |
|
69.66% |
| U |
|
62.83% |
| R |
|
67.33%" |
| S |
|
59.16% |
| = |
|
65.06% |
Form Guide Sep 2012
P W D L F-A GD Pts
6 4 2 0 12-5 7 10
Two Cup matches
Pos:- 5th
· August 2012 figures
· Last year's figures
September 2011
Vertonghen - biggest impact of any signing since Klinsmann?
Well, the season has got properly under way now, and after a stuttering start under the new head coach, which included the first game of this month, Andre Villas-Boas's Spurs are truly getting in the swing now! Winning that last game at Old Trafford (the historic first win for 23 years) has helped a lot of course, but the Spurs fans had been singing "AVB's Bule and White Army" since the first win of the season at Reading.
It wasn't just the Spurs fans that AVB had to win over, but the press, who have been on his (and Spurs) back almost since the day he was appointed. His cause was not helped by the usual Spurs failure to complete their transfer business until August 31st, and the failure to secure the signature of AB's fancied Portuguese midfielder Joao Mountinho from Porto. There were third party complications over that one though. Spurs also had to cope with the loss of genuine marquee players, with both Luka Modric and Raf van der Vaart leaving for Real Madrid and Hamburg respectively.
Luka has yet to play 90 minutes for Real, and has made two starts in four games. Still, the money is good. Rafa is having a better time on a personal level, having already scored. His new club are mid-table, but there were always personal reasons for the former Spurs favourite making the move, not least because his wife works in Hamburg, and it is a former club.
There have been a number of firsts for Spurs already this season, apart from AVB's first win. There was Mousa Dembele's first goal, scored on his debut (as substitute) against Norwich on September 1st. Clint "Deuce" Dempsey has taken longer to settle in, and is being asked to play a different role from his time at Fulham. Clint cemented his arrival with the clinching goal at Old Trafford.
Jan Vertonghen has had a wonderful start to his Spurs career, scoring his first goal at Carlisle, and then opening the scoring with that super run and one-two with Gareth Bale at Old Trafford in only two minutes (since deemed an OG by Evans). With both Benoit Assou-Ekotto and replacement Kyle Naughton injured, Jan has already been required to cover at left back, but has shown he has the ability to master that spot, as well as the central defending role. Vertonghen has also won plaudits for a fine goal-saving tackle against QPR's Junior Hoilett, and an all-round super-efficient defensive performance. Some are already speaking of him as a future Spurs captain. It is certainly great to see him wearing the Tottenham jersey so well!
Spurs fans can get a Tottenham jersey or any other type of soccer jerseys at SoccerPro.com.
With those two goals; his tackles and five man of the match performances in his first seven Spurs games, Vertonghen has made the biggest initial impact of any Spurs signing for a number of years, perhaps since Jurgen Klinsmann. Long may his form and impact continue! Vertonghen is the Spurs Odyssey Player of the month for September, and ahead of everyone in the cumulative ratings for the season, which can be examined below.
Other firsts have included Gylfi Sigurdsson's first goal for Spurs - also at Carlisle - and the full league debut of Steven Caulker. Caulker has had a three season apprenticeship away from White Hart Lane, and did play for us against Arsenal in the Carling Cup two years ago. However, he impressed in his first appearance of this season against Lazio, when we kept a clean sheet, and has scored 7 out of 10 or more in all four of his appearances so far. That is also some impact for a 20 year old, who has already won full England squad recognition. He looks like a player in the Ledley King school of culture, calm and effectiveness.
Jake Livermore has yet to win the hearts of some Spurs fans, although I think he does a good job. He has made a substitute appearance for Roy Hodgson's England, and does have the favour of Andre Villas-Boas. I am sure that Jake will play a big part in this season for Spurs, who intend to challenge in all competitions, including the Europa League. Jake has been injured since the Norwich game, when all the players, except Friedel, Dembele and Vertonghen, were graded poorly.
The press have also sought to make capital over the preference of veteran Brad Friedel over new signing, French International Hugo Lloris. Lloris got a debut against Lazio, and I expect we'll see him in Athens tomorrow, and he is a good player. Lloris will clearly be the long-term replacement for Friedel, but Brad is also performing well, and is one of the four players averaging over 7 out of 10 this season. That run of 310 consecutive Premier League games looks set to continue.
Spurs fans were mystified by the drop down the pecking order of Michael Dawson, but he got precious game time at Carlisle, and will surely be playing tomorrow in Athens too. Dawson nearly went to QPR, but will fight for his place back at Spurs.
A hard road lies ahead, and any stumbles will lead to the doubters groaning again, but there is a feeling that AVB has a stronger all-round squad than his predecessor had, particularly in the latter part of last season. That squad has to meet high demands of fitness, as well as their obvious skill levels.
We are unbeaten since Day One of the season. We were therefore unbeaten in September, and took a big scalp in the shape of Manchester United. If we can remain unbeeaten in the 6 games coming in October, and capture the big scalp of Chelsea, we will really be crowing!
...if you want to read reports of the matches played during this month, then links are on the Spurs Odyssey Fixtures page here. By working your way back through the previous month's figures, you can review the performances since November 2000!
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