Who would have thought it? Robbie Keane shrugs of the politics at Liverpool and returns heroically to save Tottenham’s season – starting against the gunners on Sunday. Jermaine Defoe pisses off Tony Adams (and Sol Campbell) to return, and immediately starts scoring. Cudicini is universally seen as the steal of the window. Pascal Chimbonda’s reception is more muted, but his versatility is useful. Palacios seems expensive, but perhaps he is the ball winner, box-to-box midfielder that Tottenham have been craving for so long.
So, it’s all looking brilliant. For my heart, this has been the best transfer window in a long time. We have kept all (were there any?) of our stars, and brought in a new spine to the team which looks impressive. Keane is an icon of the last 5 years, which were, relatively, successful. 5th twice in a row and a run in the Uefa Cup, F.A. cup, and finally the triumphant victory at Wembley last year. He was the one player I knew would play as well away from home as he did in front of his adoring fans. He was the player who celebrated winning the Carling Cup more than any other because he is one of a rare footballing breed that simply loves to be out on the pitch playing football and scoring goals. He comes with many good chants and undoubtedly he will be a positive force in the dressing room.
However, my head thinks this could all go wrong. We have set a precedent with Keano, saying to good players: come to our club, perform, get your move to a massive club, and then, if it doesn’t work out, we’ll have you back, and make you captain. Of course I understand that club loyalty is too much to ask for nowadays, but are Tottenham sending a confused and complacent message? Lets just bring the old boys back and try again, rather than properly rebuilding a diminished and unbalanced football team.
We’ll see. There is no doubt that Tottenham have brought some excellent players and I am more confident that we will climb the table. But in the long term I cannot help be feel that bringing players back from a previous era will create an atmosphere of complacency and booster the image of Tottenham being a ‘glamour club’ where mediocrity is acceptable.
