In the pub after the
cup win against Cheltenham, conversation turned to football superstition. As
someone who justifies arguments with logic, reason, science and facts, there
was a bit of surprise with the news that I have made an effort to drink out of
my Spurs mug on matchdays since we have embarked on our fabulous run since
winning at Wolves in September. I like to do my bit.
I do recognise
fortune. The fortune of being born in the First World and the greatest City in
the World; the fortune of good health; and the fortune of seeing a Spurs team
in the eighties that played magnificent football. I was also fortunate that my
first game was up in the Paxton Upper Tier, where as well as a good atmosphere
(the banging of the wooden seats is still unforgettable now), it was also a
great view of a great team, both then and now.
And last night, once
again from the Paxton, I had a wonderful view of the artist Rafa Van Der Vaart.
I like art generally,
having been to Picasso museums in Malaga and Barcelona, Van Gogh and Rijksmuseums
in Amsterdam, as well as countless other exhibitions in places including
Budapest, Dublin, Stockholm, Manchester and Madrid amongst others, often while
my primary reason for travelling there in the first place was for football. Yet
just as easy on the eye and stimulating to the mind is watching Van Der Vaart
play.
In the second-half
last night, as in the second-half against West Brom the previous week, his
movement from a starting position in the centre of the pitch was wonderful. As
was his touch, technique, intelligence and vision.
Spurs started the
second-half with a 4-3-3, used so effectively at Norwich in particular,
recently. This time though Van Der Vaart was part of the three man midfield,
alongside Jake Livermore and Luka Modric, rather than in the front three, where
instead Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale were fluid alongside Emmanuel Adebayor, at
times Lennon hugging the touchline to stretch the width of the pitch while
sometimes moving inside and letting the full-back overlap. A week earlier Van
Der Vaart was playing behind a front two of Adebayor and Jermain Defoe in a diamond
in the second half, and as like last night he ran the half.
His movement was
similar to how Jari Litmanen used to play at Ajax in the mid-nineties in a
shape which Terry Venables successfully adopted for England in Euro’96, with Teddy
Sheringham at times picking up the ball alongside the centre back, while
moments later in the same move being the furthest man forward in the opposition
six-yard box. Van Der Vaart’s intelligence and personality, which I have
written about before, makes him the perfect exponent of this.
He always plays the
right ball, and had Xavi or Paul Scholes played as well as Van Der Vaart has in
midfield in the second-half of Tottenham’s last two league games, it is likely
his performances would have received more coverage. And as has been shown at
times when playing from deep, most notably with two left-foot passes, one on
the half-volley, out to Beniot Assou-Ekotto against Sunderland (when he also played
in a diamond in the second half), he has the technique to execute difficult
skills while spreading the play. I previously compared that half-volley to Hoddle, and with every game
he plays he plays, Van Der Vaart looks to be the best player we have had since
then.
His love of Tottenham
is clear, as is the respect he has to all his previous clubs and their fans.
And in style as well as attitude, he is what I would call, having grown up with
the wonderful teams of the eighties, a typical Tottenham player.
He was central to the
winner in the tight game against West Brom with his movement, a game when his
great reading of the game was also vital when he was when he was defending 12 yards
from his own by-line when we were momentarily down to nine men because of head
injuries. And his attitude is key to our success.
His experience and
leadership on the pitch last season contributed to a winning mentality that triumphed
in the San Siro, got long overdue wins at the Emirates and Anfield, put Inter
to the sword at White Hart Lane, and on four occasions won games in which we
had missed penalty kicks. And as I wrote in a football column about the two
Manchester clubs this week, mentality, pressure and confidence will be crucial
in the title race.
It is no secret to
anyone I have spoken to since the first week of October, or to anyone who has
read things I have written about Spurs this season, that I think we can win the
League. I have always thought the players and the manager have believed that as
well. Other people seem to be coming round to the idea now as well. And as the manager inferred last night, we are beautiful to watch in the process.
MG
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