Pav paves the way for Spurs rebirth

Roman Pavlyuchenko has always been a popular man with Tottenham fans, he is a player with a touch of class.

The languid style, good first touch and, let's admit it, occasional lack of focus and commitment, make him a Spurs man in every sense.

This is why his supposed sulk and stand-off with the manager - himself a popular figure - has been excused. His schoolboy mope has been indulged. Few other vocally want-away players on the fringes of the team are supported to the same extent. Just ask Darren Bent.

Pavlyuchenko might now have a future at the club, an inconceivable thought only a matter of weeks ago. He has taken his recent goals well, giving Harry Redknapp food for thought. He deserves his chance and everyone, including his fellow players who so evidently enjoyed his return to goalscoring form, hopes he takes it.

Redknapp has said he has trained well, in much the same way David Bentley's improved attitude coincided with his return to the team. However, it is other players' poor form that is the main reason the pair have got another chance.

Peter Crouch has been short of goals, as have the whole team. Aaron Lennon needed replacing and with Niko Kranjcar in need of a rest, Bentley had to play.

Pavlyuchenko is a valid alternative to Crouch and Jermain Defoe, who needs a break to stay fresh in the run-in. Four goals in a week do not make a Spurs career, but for Pavlyuchenko, it might just be enough to save one.

For his part, Defoe will be hoping he is in England's plans for the Football World Cup 2010.

Meanwhile, in horse racing news Kauto Star continues to be a popular Cheltenham bet and his is the stand out favourite in the Gold Cup.


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Are we going to win tonight, or what?

Gazza, after Tottenham's 1991 F.A. Cup Final win

It looks as though Harry's got the lads practising their penalties, although I have a feeling the game won't be stretched that far. We've got to beat them, right? Well, not exactly. Believe it or not, Coyle has got them playing. We saw that for ourselves in the first tie. The question is, do we have the passion, the desire and above all, the bottle to win?

You would think we do, after all, we are a cup team aren't we? Harry seems to think so, for he picked a weakened team against Wolves (what a miserable evening that was) so that the players needed against Bolton, would come in and do the trick. We sort of missed the boat in that game, so here's to hoping we can finish the job tonight.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty confident that we're going to go to town on them. There just always seems to be something special about midweek home cup ties, isn't that right Arsenal?

Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Bolton

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What's up with Harry?

Is it just me, or did Harry not look too impressed yesterday? When we've scored goals in the past, Harry's looked a bit more animated, yet, when Pav scored his brace yesterday, he looked like a lost Hush Puppy.

I've got a feeling that he didn't like the players surrounding Pav in the way they did either. After each goal, all the players celebrated with Roman in a way, that to me, looked as though all the comments he's be mumbling to the media recently, were justified. It was a bit of a slap in the face for Redknapp.

I personally didn't expect that kind of reception from the players, not when their boss is supposed to their mate. When goal number two went in, an even greater triumph on the players faces was evident.

Well done to the Spurs faithful that sang their hearts out, prior to, during and even after the game. We've found a soft-spot for our Russian.

Sky Sports picked up on the obvious too, following each and every player going up to congratulate Pav.

Sky continued their media coverage by interviewing Harry after the match. Even though Redknapp did answer some of the questions fired at him, he still managed to put his heel in, by adding that Pav doesn't really put in a proper shift, oh, but when he does, he's quality. And I thought you didn't hold any grudges Harry.....

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The Groin of Lennon

Even though Lennon's felt discomfort in his groin after returning to light training, let's not get carried away.

The little fella has gone for a scan after he felt it again. Having suffered a few groin issues myself, I am fairly confident that Azza could be back sooner, rather than later. I'm no doctor, but I know a media pot-shot when I see one.

It's not always easy coming back from a muscle injury, especially one as sensitive as a groin tear, or pull. The fact that Lennon felt "discomfort", didn't surprise me at all. Hopefully this setback is a minor one, God knows we miss the little guys pace.

I'd also like to congratulate Pav for his two goals, although I did think the pointing to the badge antics weren't too necessary, but there you go.

Here's to hoping Harry picks him in either the replay against Bolton, or Sunday's very important match, at home against Everton.

COYS!!!


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Cole to Spurs?

I recently read that Harry's interested in bringing Carlton Cole to Spurs in the summer. He wouldn't be a bad signing, in fact, I'd take him over Peter Crouch at the moment. Both are similar players, although Cole is better at holding the ball up.

Thing is, I've got a feeling that the media have got the wrong Cole.

We all know how much Harry loves Joe Cole and you've no doubt read the stories doing the rounds in relation Cole's contract problems at Stamford Bridge? It's in situations like this that Harry comes into his own. If anyone can pull off a deal like this, then Harry's our man.

Question is, do we really need Joey Cole? His knee isn't what it once was and his struggling at the moment. Also, where would we put the little guy? In the hole behind a lone striker? On the left?

If we had the choice between Carlton and Joe, I know who I'd sign.

C Cole.


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Let your skills do the talking

"Sometimes I have a feeling that Redknapp jeers at me", "I told him that it cannot be this way any more, since I wouldn't help my team with sad thoughts in my mind", "I need to play football", "I think only about my move from Tottenham".

Listen up sunshine, here's a bit of free advice; stop the chatter and let your skills do the talking.

Does Roman have a point? Of course he does. Do I think Harry should give the lad a run in the side? Of course I do. Anyone who reads this blog knows what I think of our Russian's skills.

Do I think Pav needs to keep his thoughts to himself and stop spurting every two secs to the media? Too right!

I want to give Harry the benefit of the doubt on this one. Do I believe that Harry vetoed the deal to take Pavlyuchenko to Lokomotiv Moscow, just because he wanted to intimidate the lad? No, not entirely.

At the end of the day, maybe the Lokomotiv Moscow deal wasn't good enough, who knows? What we can be sure of, is that if Roman applied the same amount effort in training, as he does towards his media open days, Harry wouldn't have a choice but to pick him.

I'll try not to contradict myself, so here goes; Harry says that he doesn't hold grudges. If you believe that, I'll see you in Santa's quarters next Christmas. Harry's human, so of course it bothers him when one of his players goes ranting off to the media. But I can't see that being the main reason why Harry would not allow Roman to move away.

The fact is, we only have three and a half strikers in our squad. Eidur will take a bit of time to adjust, and let's face it, he's never been an out-and-out striker.

Pav is needed, end of. Whether Harry gives him a run in the side, is another question.




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The Crouch Conundrum

When we first went in for Peter Crouch, I can honestly say that I did feel the pit of my stomach turn in on itself. After mulling over the deal, I thought I should at least give the player the benefit of the doubt.

The decision to like the lad came along when a large portion of my family (a fair few of them are Liverpool fans, true Kopites), told me that Crouchie would be an asset; a player we could count on.

Well, that was in August of 2009. We are in February of 2010 now and I am still waiting to see "the asset that we can count on". I know, I've got my Tottenham Hotspur head on and nothing is ever good enough, but let's be honest, can anyone truly tell me that the signing of Crouch has improved our squad?

Maybe that's a bit below the belt. Crouch has improved our squad, as he offers another dimension. But has the lad offered anything in terms of skill, graft and goals towards the starting eleven? If he has, please let me know, for I have watched him play home and away this season, yet, I have seen nothing that has made me think "wow, what a player!".

I get that feeling when I see Modric play, yet with Crouch, I feel nothing, nada, zilch. In fact, we've now been labelled "long-ball merchants". Fair enough, as Harry says, we play to our strengths, but if you remember just a while back, we were starting with Keano and Defoe up top, and we certainly weren't playing the long-ball system.

Therefore, if anyone can let me know what Peter Crouch has brought to the table, please do.

Some Yidites have said that this blip is down to us losing the pace of Lennon. "With Aaron in the side we really do come on leaps and bounds, and that includes Crouchie". But if we've come to the point wherein Crouch plays better only when Azza is around, then we need to rethink our tactics.

Let's be clear about something, I do think Peter Crouch could do a job for a Premier League side. God knows a large contingent of my family wish he was still up at Anfield, yet, I don't think he's a Spurs player. Trust me, I hate saying that; after all, what is a Spurs player? You tell me. It's just that whenever I see Crouchie play, I sort of know what's coming; a weak shot here, a tame header there, an 80 yard diagonal from either Dawson or Corluka, etc. Am I being too tough on the lad?

One player I have been tough on in the past, is Roman Pavlyuchenko. I am, though, one of the Pav faithful. Those of you who visit The Lane, can hear us singing Pavlyuchenko's name out when he warms up. Harry recently has given Bale (what a player!) and Bentley (very much improved) a run in the side, and look at how that's turned out! Why can't he give The Pavmeister a run in the side? Let's see what the lad can do. Like many of you who watch him play, you can sense that there's more to this player than meets the eye. If only he put a bit more into it. It's like you can sense that there's a zest of skill trapped in his Russian frame, dying to get out, yet, we wait.

The difference with Pav and Crouch is that both have given us ample proof of their tame shots and pointless headers, yet with Crouch, I sense that's all I'm going to see, while with Pav, I expect more from him. Is it because he's got a fanciful foreign name? Who knows?

With the transfer window closed, Pav is going to be a Lilywhite until the end of the season at the very least, and possibly even beyond that. So, come on Harry, give the lad a run in the team. We've all seen what Crouch can do, now let's be having some Pav!


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