Middlesbrough’s Downing Wants Nothing To Do With Tottenham
For the last month or so Tottenham fans have been saying on this website that the Spurs are ‘on the rise’ (something I agree with) and that they will, along with Liverpool and Chelsea, be the new leaders of the Premiership (leaving old pretenders Arsenal and Manchester United far behind).
Understandably, staying in 4th place for so long can do that to a club’s fans.
Downing’s recent statement that he sees ‘no reason’ to leave Riverside is the perfect example of what I’ve been trying to tell Tottenham supporters - you’re not world-class yet, and signing Berbatov doesn’t make you world class either.
The news will come as a blow to Spurs fans, but they can be counted upon to turn on Downing and berate him for being a second-class player in a heartbeat.
Earlier, I said that Tottenham fans needed a serious reality-check. One good season and a crop of good young players doesn’t guarantee you greatness. Zokora and Berbatov are impressive signings but are testament to Martin Jol and his team, not to one year’s worth of results that saw Tottenham squander their lead and lose 4th spot on the final day.
Personally, I think Stewart Downing should definitely sign for Tottenham - he’s a very good left-winger and will benefit from playing under Martin Jol.
But you cannot fault Downing either. He’s seen first hand how fickle success can be when you’re climbing uphill.
At the end of 2004/2005, Boro were in the UEFA cup like Tottenham are this year, and understandably pleased with themselves. An year later, they hit the UEFA cup final and the FA Cup semi-final but tumbled to an unacceptable 14th place in the Premiership. Disaster? Just the perils of being a second-tier club.
Boro can be expected to consistently challenge for a UEFA spot, much like Newcastle United, Blackburn and a bunch of other clubs. The competition is very stiff, but believe me this is easier than breaking into the top four - something that is still a couple of steps away from Tottenham’s grasp.
Cement your top-6 standing first, dream about the Champions League later.
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Very well said. I’m a massive Spurs fan but I too am frustrated with the ego that comes with a successful season. We have had a good season and have a tremendous squad with a first team that can get result from anyone on their day.
But, our priority is to cement that fifth place and compliment it with at least two good cup runs.
As for Downing, I personally haven’t ever been over impressed with him. A great crosser of the ball, granted, but I think he sometimes looks a bit subdued and should really work on getting round the right back more but had he signed he would have improved us. I personally would like to see a more dynamic winger coming in to compliment Lennon on the right. You’re right, though, the Spurs fans will turn on him and slate him. They are a fickle bunch.
But good article, whether my fellow yids will agree is another matter.
Good luck
Not too disappointed that Downing has come out and said this. Firstly the club stated there was no longer an interest (probably an indication of boro’s stance) secondly I think there are better options out there at the moment. I think downing is a good player has pace and gives genuine width and a left foot. But for the money being touted he was expensive. He has in reality only had one good season (albeit a very good one) and I would be happy for him to stay at boro and gain more experience. I expect boro to struggle this term and think he may well re-evaluate his position next summer. I personally think spurs should mount a challenge for that fourth CL spot again, but would be happy to once more finish fifth if this is coupled with better runs in the cups.
As a Tottenham fan I fell I must break with the stereotype. I agree with your reading of the situation entirely and I think it is inappropriate for us Spurs fans to arrogantly expect that when our name is dangled in front of talented young players, they will run to their boss and demand “for footballing reasons” a transfer. I am delighted by the progress Spurs have made in the last 18 months and I hope it continues. In the world of instant success Martin manages expectations very well pointing out targets which are stretching but achieveable and reminding us that in the true traditions of Spurs we are daring to aim high.
You sound like somene who’s trying to convince himself that Man Utd are still as strong as they were.
Accept it, Your going to be scrapping for fourth spot with us, newcastle and blackburn.
Boro will finish bottom half again.
Honestly, reckon you’re being harsh on us Spurs fans due to a vocal minority.
We are a club on the rise, yes - but you will find that most of us NICE, REASONABLE Spurs fans realise we have someway before we’re up there with the likes of Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal.
I wouldn’t say it is a huge gap - but agree with you that we need to sustain this momentum and signing players such as Zokora and Berbatov help us realise this ambition. I would say they are world class players (or not far off) that realise Spurs has the potential.
If I’m honest - Downing’s snub is a blow - not to the ego - but mainly because we are desperate for a left winger. I agree there are some fans who think that the sun shines out of Spurs’ @rse and that our sh*t smells of roses.. but there are the quietly optimistic ones - and I like to think these are the majority…
At least it ends all that paper speculation. Hopefully the Chimbonda thing will now be knocked on the head on way or t’other…
DB - I totally agree. I’d say that most football fans are reasonable, but the idiots (who are usually in the minority) are also the most vocal and ruin things for most of us.
Blog Head - No we’re not that strong, and your reading of the game is worse than mine. Are you seriously expecting Blackburn to challenge for fourth spot after selling Bellamy? Newcastle I’d expect to be there, you as well, but I’d put a couple of other clubs in with you two and tell you to forget about 4th place.
Oh well, we’ll find out soon enough
Strangely enough, my fellow Spurs supporters and I were recently discussing our current form and speculating on possible signings. It may just be that the people I socialise with are the exception, but the general consensus was as follows:
Last Season:
Spurs did reasonably well last season, but threw away a few must win games which ultimately cost us the much revered fourth spot. We need to be more consistent to establish ourselves as genuine top four contenders.
New Signings:
Whilst our new signings look promising, we all know that it can take time for a team to gel. The jury’s out on this one for the time being, but we’re pretty optimistic.
Stewart Downing is a decent player, but certainly not an essential purchase. I don’t think anyone would berate him for not wanting to join Spurs, in fact he should be congratulated for showing loyalty to his present club.
I think that there is a general perception about Spurs fans. All too often I see articles assuming that we all believe Spurs can compete head to head with any club. This, at present, is clearly not the case. But things are, as the statistics show, getting better.
The other comment I often see is ‘Spurs are not a big club’ which, regardless of you viewpoint, is purely academic. Let’s face it, if we all chose to support the ‘biggest’ club based on achievement or fan base, we’d all support Liverpool or Man United.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all supported a club we had a genuine link with, as opposed to the one with the most kudos.
I dont think you can rule spurs out of 4th place. they occupied it for most of last season and have come back this season a stronger team. Whereas the Arsenal are losing vital players and Man U as of yet have not added any one that I would say was ofany significance.
Readers - thank you for your measured and reasonable comments. They are rare, not just from Spurs fans but from football fans in general.
Max - the articles you’ve seen / read are based on the behaviour of Spurs fans in forums and blogs like this one.
And I totally agree - support the club you love, not the one that’s winning (or has a Russian owner).
However, winning in itself is a powerful attraction, so maybe the big clubs are big because they have a history of winning.
Will Spurs get there? Maybe, hopefully.
Yes you might be right, but the points you use to back up your arguement i feel are wrong. Like most people have said we are realistic but happy about our team, like most fans. We all know players have to say stuff like what Downing said when they know there immediate future lies with that club. If and i say IF Spurs made a serious bid for Downing we all know he would jump at the chance, but we dont want him and i would be quite upset if we brought him esp for over 4 mill. If you cant see what is happening at the Lane watch more carefully this season and then give us your views again, which i for one look forward too. Enjoy the season
Agree with the majority of this article, one good season does not make us CL material and I feel that even if the lasagnegate affair had not happened and we had the 4th CL place we would not have gotten too far. Everything is happening to quickly and expectations are too high with the younger Tottenham faithful, us older fans that remember the real glory days know that it is going to take a couple of seasons and I would rather have those couple of seasons building knowing that once there we will stay there and not be a 0ne or two season wonder.
The writer of this piece is obviously a fan of a club in the current top 4 so shows his bias, He has to remember that a Tottenham fan does not have a monopoly on ‘fickle’. Tottenham could very easily get into the top 4 as they almost did last season, but are we ready?, that is the big point!!
Good article. As a Spurs supporter I agree with most of what you say and also get wound up with stupid comments from idiots on forums claiming we’re gonna finish in the top four. though after finishing fifth last season we do have something really good to build on.
Carrick leaving was a blow but hopefully playing Zokora and Jenas together will more than compensate for his departure. I think that Jenas really started to play well in the second half of last season and I think he will improve again this year. It would be such a good feeling if we could break into the top four but there’s really no point in speculating. There aren’t any easy games in the premiership anymore especially now Sunderland have been relegated and I think that at any given time any team can be beaten. That’s football and that’s why I love it!!! COYS
spurs are on the up. we have a great manager who gets the best out of players. things are looking really positive for spurs. we are a club going in the right direction im not going to get carried away but give us some credit. people are so anti spurs but me and my fellow spurs fans will be even more cock a hoop when we achieve something over the following years. were hated because our belief in playing football in the right way and winning goes hand in hand. put it like this we always want to play and win like the whole of england wants the national team to play and win. if any one out their thinks football is just about getting the right result go take up cricket and leave us purists alone. glory glory hallelujah.
Excellent article - nicely summarises the position that we find ourselves. Downing would greatly improve our current side and give us the width on the left that we need to give the side the necessary balance. But if the lad does not want to join us fair enough, we can only look elsewhere.
This season will help define just how far we have come - hopefully we will challenge once again for that elusive fourth spot, although I fear an extended cup run (i.e. going beyond the first knock-out round in both domestic cups) and European football may prove too much of a distraction.
I must say I have to agree, 1 good season does not make us title contenders, we’ve seen too many false dawns. I think Downing would be a very good signing & we are desperate for a decent left winger, although I would like to see Zeigler get a chance also. He hasn’t set the world on fire, but he is still young & trying to settle into a new country & football style alltogether, just remember how long it took Lennon to finally settle & show what he could do. However, I also think Reid has failed to deliver so we do need cover, but, I am not aware of any class left midfielders are currently available. Can anybody make any reasonable suggestions (other than Downing) & realistic ones too, we would all like to see Ribery or Robben bursting down the wing for the Spurs but how likely are they to sign for Spurs……Yet?