Tottenham Hotspur 2008-2009

For the avid Spurs' fan like me, this season has been of largely ignominious and forgettable proportions. Aside from a trip to Wembley in early March for the Carling Cup Final there has not been a great deal in the Spurs' cup of cheer. And while the occasion at Wembley is always something to look forward to, and the game itself was not too bad, the loss to Manchester United on penalties was disappointing, even if I try to regard their victory as pyrrhic. After all, the record books will show that Spurs lost the final, and in future decades no-one will wonder about the details. For Manchester United it is simply another notch on their almost-inevitable trophy gathering journey through the 21st century.

Sports have a dimension which parallels other aspects of life, in that momentum always plays a big part in determining how destiny will play out. The adage that "success breeds success" is one simple linguistic recognition of that fact. In football, as in other sports, momentum can be a cruel or pleasing mistress. This applies to both momentum within a game as well as over the course of a season. With my beloved Spurs, the loss of the first eight games this season was a downward momentum too difficult to turn around easily, and one only matched by the downward march of stockmarkets and macroeconomies. Such an extended downturn has only one obvious solution to football's decision-makers and fans alike: sack the manager! The dismissal of Juande Ramos paralleled that of his predecessor, Martin Jol. The only key difference being that Jol had twice brought Spurs to fifth position in the Premiership, close enough for anyone connected with the Club to smell the heady feast offered at the Premiership's top table: a place in the UEFA Champions' League. Thus, when Martin Jol's team failed to continue its momentum in 2007-2008 from a season earlier, the dashed expectations meant only one thing: sack the manager!

It is hard to find a Spurs' fan who believes that Spurs should have persisted with Juande Ramos; not so with Martin Jol. The current manger, Harry Redknapp, has done a magnificent job in turning round Spurs' fortunes, stopping the downward momentum and managing to instill enough confidence in the players to begin upward momentum. But Redknapp is not every fans' cup of tea; there remains question-marks over his ability to take Spurs to the next level, assuming that he can actually help avoid relegation. But the Premiership table is so tight, that even this cannot be taken for granted, but neither can the possibility of finishing as high as seventh (which would constitute a minor miracle of Biblical proportions!).

The return of Spurs' favourites Robbie Keane and Jermaine Defoe has served to uplift the spirits of Spurs' fans, but is not in and of itself the root cause of the momentum turnround. But there remains much work to be done in the close season if Spurs are to fulfill their undoubted potential next season. Putting to one side the possibility of transfer market activity, and assuming the same squad in place in late August, I would like to see the following occur:

• A more mobile midfield, with players making better movement off-the-ball.
• A strategy than allows for a team which includes Keane and Defoe (never before achieved successfully) as well as Modric and Lennon, but the Modric NOT played on the left.
• Successful medical and physical therapy to permit Ledley King to play almost every game during a long, hard season.
• Two proper central midfielders, capable of playing box-to-box, rather then the more modern view of a holding midfielder in front of the defence and a more attacking central midfielder. Surely any two from the trio of Zokora, Jenas and Palacios is capable of this? And with Tom Huddlestone as well (may his mobility and confidence improve) why not?
• David Bentley playing to his full potential. To-date he is nowhere near replicating the form which brought him to the public eye at Blackburn, but he has not become a bad player overnight. He needs to work on his pace for sure, but somehow he seems to be lacking on confidence.
• Better performances and goal-scoring from Roman Pavlyuchenko. While has played a Russian season and then an English season with no break, his commitment has been unquestionable despite his obvious tiredness. With a Summer break I would like to see him scoring goals more regularly in the Premiership. He has the ability.
• Better defending as a unit: this does not include only the back four, but also the rest of the team. As Bill Nicholson was fond of saying, a team defends from the front.

Despite a modern failure to win enough trophies and qualify for the Champions League, Spurs remain one of the biggest clubs in the Premiership. This is on the basis of the quality of the supporters at both home and away matches. Spurs are one of only two teams who have managed to maintain the same crowd levels when relegated, unlike Manchester City of Newcastle, two so-called big clubs from alleged football hot-spots. And if Spurs were relegated again there is no doubt in my mind that the supporters would not desert in their droves, but continue to support in their tens of thousands. Indeed, the vocal quality of support ensures that Spurs always have their "twelfth man".

Providing Spurs can maintain employment of their quality players I am confident that 2009-2010 will prove to be a breakthrough season for Spurs. It mainly depends on having the momentum of a good start in the first ten games, and then continuing with some high degree of consistency. Just the thought of next season is already exciting me; I best go and prepare to renew my season ticket!