da wazamba： So the fans, club and players have all given out their end of season awards and views so here is my take on the best and worst of Tottenham Hotspur this season and a little look forward to next year’s campaign
da dobrowin： Player of the season: Luka Modric
Best place to start and would have to agree with the fans on this one has to be our little Croatian magician. He just keeps getting better and better has a fantastic range of passing, and the way he manages to go past players double his size is quite breathtaking, has developed into a truly world class player and in my opinion would not look out of place in any midfield in the world.
Hopes for next season: Other than praying that we keep him out of the clutches of City, United, Chelsea and the Milan clubs would be nice to see him add a few more goals to his game.
Surprise of the season: Sandro
When we signed an unknown Brazilian midfielder from Internacional it is fair to say nobody really knew what to expect and after a shaky performance away to Bolton many thought we had bought a dud. But after being thrown into the team against AC Milan the 22 year old hasn’t looked back is now developing a formidable partnership in the centre with Modric. He looks as if he has all the qualities to become a top holding midfielder, and proved at Chelsea that he is capable of producing the spectacular from time to time.
Hopes for next season: Continue to establish himself in the side and become one of the best players for his position in the league
Disappointment of the season: The strikers and Aaron Lennon
Had to go with a joint “award” for this category, much as been made of our strikers lack of goals this year, with only Pav getting into double figures courtesy of two goals on the last day. But that didn’t paper over the cracks there is on the attacking front, it is clear that we need a top striker. Defoe has just lost all his spark that he possessed in seasons gone by, Crouch while he is a decent option to have off the bench is not and never will be a 20 goal a season forward and Pav while he is probably the most natural finisher out the three does not do enough in his all round game to justify his inclusion as our main target man. I’ve also included Lennon in there because he has been quite disappointing this season and I believe that if we were to receive a bid in the region of 15-20 million it would be best for all parties to accept it. It seems that the pacy right winger has gone back to the player that first came here from Leeds in 2005. Before the start of the campaign I am sure I was not the only one who was excited to have Lennon and Bale on either wing but while Bale has clearly exceeded all expectations Lennon has fallen short. He seems afraid to take on his man and his crosses are rarely beating the first man, and apart from a few exceptions (AC Milan away) he just hasn’t put the fear in defences like one would expect him to.
Hopes for next season: We sell both Pav and Defoe, and sign at least one striker who can actually score with Crouch an option off the bench. I personally would sell Lennon and look at playing the more modern 433 formation with Bale on the left and two new players on the right and through the middle and on the right (Falcao and Hulk!) but if not hopefully he will get back to what he was at the start of last season.
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Moment of the season: Taxi for Maicon
While the wins at the San Siro and the Emirates come close, I have never experienced an atmosphere at the Lane quite like the night we ripped apart the reigning European Champions, and Bale announced himself as a potential superstar. After his hat-trick in the away game a couple of weeks before pundits weren’t sure whether the Welsh Wizard would get the better of Maicon again who many regarded as the best Right Back in the world. But Bale answered these doubts emphatically as he tore the Brazilian apart setting up two of our three goals on the night and creating countless more chances before that chant which will go down in Spurs Folklore.
Worst moment of the season: Tottenham 1-1 Blackpool
For me this was the worst result because we had just seen City lose at Everton and knew that if we were to beat the leagues least in form side we would close the gap to 4 points in the race for a Champions League spot before facing them on the Tuesday night. But we simply failed to break the seasiders down and were for once thankful to Defoe for rescuing a point late on but the damage was done and at that point I think any crumb of hope we may have had was gone. Too make matters worse Bale suffered a season ending injury following a quite appalling tackle from Charlie Adam.
Signing of the season: William Gallas
Maybe a surprising choice that I have not gone with Van der Vaart but although the Dutchman has clearly been a great coup for 8 million he did tail off towards the end and I felt that Gallas has been consistent throughout. He has managed to prove to all of the fans that he is a top player and nearly all have forgotten or don’t care about his past association with Arsenal. Was just what was needed when Dawson suffered an injury while on England duty, and his two standout performances were AC Milan at home and Arsenal away where he put his body on the line and inspired the team to famous results.