Can Spurs Jingle All the Way?

Credit: Tottenham Hotspur FC.


Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League. Few would disagree that it's been coming over the last few years.

Not even the most optimistic Spurs fan, however, could have expected they would be top of a Champions League group which features last season's winners Inter Milan, heading into the final group game tonight.

All the North Londoners need is to equal or better Inter's result at Werder Bremen, when they travel to face FC Twente, who are already guaranteed third position and a place in the Europa League.

Finishing top of Group A would be fantastic news for Harry Redknapp's side, who's only defeat came at the San Siro, despite a resilient performance pegging Inter back to 4-3, after the Nerazzurri lead 4-0 in the first half against ten man Spurs.















Credit: Times Online

Not only that, but Spurs, who are level on points with the out-of-form Italian Champions, would avoid the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, who have all finished top of their respective groups already.

Of course, they would also avoid the English teams; Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who may yet finish second in their group unless Braga can shock Shakhtar Donetsk tomorrow night and Arsenal can beat Partizan Belgrade at home.

If Arsenal do finish second, they would be immune from playing the English teams and Spurs fans must be rubbing their hands at the sight of watching Messi pulverise the Gunners at the Nou Camp once more. One sight which Arsenal fans won't fancy one bit.


















Credit: soccerbyives

So, with Spurs' form improving in the Premier League of late, can they go all the way in the biggest club trophy on the planet?

New Welsh Sports Personality of the year, Gareth Bale, may well be key if Spurs are to challenge on any front this season. His pace, trickery and eye for goal have seen him score a hat-trick against Inter in the 4-3 defeat and tear them to shreds in the home leg.

Not only that but he has, together with Rafael van der Vaart, ripped apart Stoke City, Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal on the way to their current 5th position in the Barclays Premier League.

Both players scored in the 4-1 victory over Twente earlier in the season and, in my eyes, it is vital that Spurs go all out for victory tonight.

Frankly, second in this group could spell their exit from the competition in the next round, but they would surely fancy their chances against Marseille, Copenhagen, Lyon or Valencia, with AC Milan and Roma looking potentially bogey ties for table toppers.

Bale has had the same effect as Aaron Lennon did last season by running at pace towards defenders, but this season, the Welsh winger has stepped up to a class i didn't see in him either last season or any other.

I remember barely 12 months ago when MOTD were criticising him saying every week that he played, Tottenham didn't win.

He only scored 3 goals last season and they came in the last six games, after 28 goal-less appearances. Some contrast to the player we are seeing this season. Shame he isn't English.

Tottenham head into tonight's game unbeaten in the last 6, including comebacks against both Liverpool and Arsenal, and this will give Redknapp's side heart that they can push for honours, or at least a Champions League re-appearance for next season.

One thing which Redknapp has distilled on Tottenham is the no fear attitude. He honestly believes that, on their day, his side can beat anybody.

That is the kind of attitude Jose Mourinho has carried throughout his career; it's the attitude of a winner.











Credit: epltalk.com



If Spurs are going to challenge for the Champions League, they will have to improve at the back with the return of Michael Dawson crucial for their progress this season.

I don't believe that Gallas and Bassong will keep enough clean sheets to win such a trophy and Spurs haven't kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening day at Manchester City.

Little things like that matter a lot when you want to progress in the Champions League.

I think, and hope, as an Englishman, that Spurs will win their group tonight and avoid the so called big guns, but winning it this year isn't totally beyond them. I don't think it will happen, but it could.

And maybe one day it will.

Prediction- Spurs out in the quarter finals, Barcelona to be champions.

Comments welcome- Who will win the 2010/11 Champions League?

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