Finally
Spurs News 24/7Hola. This was meant to be published on Saturday/Sunday.
Two pieces of news this past (last week) that have momentarily put a smile back onto the faces of Tottenham supporters. One will hold onto the grin whilst the other will slowly be consumed with cynicism thanks to a lack of faith - the one constant of an erratic season.
Good news No 1 - Ledley King gets a White Hart Lane testimonial
Good news No 2 - New stadium development update: 2017 pencilled in for the move
The second of the two is where some are left wondering if this announcement from the chairman is nothing more than a strategic play to deflect us away from another season ending early. Such is our cynical nature we - as a majority - remain detached from the club on so many things (StubHub / the Y-word) along with matters of a footballing nature.
Is 2017 a feasible date for completion? It is if we don't follow the old plan to remain at White Hart Lane whilst the new ground is constructed. To speed up the process we'd have to move away for a season to fast-track the entire redevelopment. This is why good news no 2 isn't struggling to hold everyone's smile:
The dreaded ground-share.
We've been linked with MK Dons and West Ham United's home for a seasons loan move. I don't know what the best option is to be fair. Wembley might be too expensive but Upton Park? Really? Daniel Levy has an obsession with East London, what with his chase of Stratford's Olympic Stadium. So with the news telling us we are three or so years away from the new stadium, save for a few legalities that need to ironed out (no pun intended) with local business in N17, nobody wants to dance a jig of joy until they see the first brick cemented. Until then, everyone will continue with their cynical outlook.
The other second piece of news is far easier to get to grips with. Ledley King gets a send off. Okay, so you could potentially be cynical and claim 'more good timing', more deflection to help us to forget this forgettable season. All we've had since his retirement is to watch him kick-back at sponsorship deal announcements and community driven events. It's good that we finally get to say goodbye where it mattered most - on the pitch. King is an ambassador but sometimes it feels like he's wheeled out for any given THFC related shindig. However, I'm not going to succumb to him being another piece in Levy's game of chess. For me, this testimonial is in isolation and I refuse to allow this woeful season to poison it.
King only had the one knee. The best defender of his generation. He deserved so much more from his career. Testament to his ability that when he played, he led by example. Not vocally but via his sheer brilliance of presence. He didn't have to tackle that often. He was so quick he'd nick the ball before the forward could blink.
Can't smile without you Ledley. Literally can't.
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This season has been so disappointing Tottenham supporters are having to spike their emotions with picking out sound-bites from a Tim Sherwood press conference. It's no exaggeration that a sizeable chunk of the Spurs fan-base is not keen on Tim. It probably wouldn't matter if his preference is to sit up in the stands contemplating the universe whilst Spurs struggle to contemplate the high-line if we got away with winning games with more conviction. It would also help if Sherwood gave up his persistence to punch his way (metaphorically speaking) through the footballing universe by talking a good talk when perhaps a more respectful and less noisy profile would better suit us. But then this isn't really about us. It's about Tim and if he can make a significant impact with prospective future clubs by outlining his footballing coaching philosophy with aforementioned sound-bites.
Tim knows in all probability he's gone in the summer. He's all but admitted to it. Daniel Levy citied 'no major overhaul' but that points towards the transfer market rather than the coaching staff. His interim-ship at White Hart Lane was a fast-track risk, one with no true plan that reflects the Spurs board's mantra perfectly. In he came to steady the ship. He did that, at times with luck on his side. Then he got experimental - with both selection and man-management. His calling out of the Spurs players after the Chelsea defeat. The manner in which he's discussed the likes of Mousa Dembele and Paulinho in the public forum. It's akin to someone trying their utmost at showing their entire psychological repertoire on how they deal with things. It's brash and in our face. It's a piano being thrown off the roof of a building. The best tune you'll get out of it is when it crashes to the ground.
Sherwood got the job because he was the only option thanks to the collapse of the Andre Villas-Boas tenure and its mid-season timing. It's obvious Spurs do not run their footballing model as well as their business one. There's a lack of human connection and a real sense that community within the club is akin to the time of togetherness you got during the Roman Empire. Et tu, Brute? Although no-one can claim to be close friends within the walls of WHL.
Some say Sherwood worked his way into the position. I doubt Levy - the hardest of all footballing negotiators - was conned into giving a Machiavellian Tim the 18 month contract. Sherwood's work at youth level has been echoed by many. The fact is, Sherwood was always going to be the fool guy. Had he pulled off the unexpected we'd probably ignore his self-promotion and unnecessary comments much like we did with Harry Redknapp who got away with it thanks to his experience and tangible success.
Sherwood going up against Glenn Hoddle for the second time (having fallen out with him during Hoddle's spell as manager) isn't the brightest move and proves there is little regard for the supporters that only seek further ammunition for their disdain for this disappointment of a season.