SHAREWith the last game at White Hart Lane fast approaching I have been reminiscing about all the great players I have seen over my time going along to Spurs iconic stadium.
I have been very lucky in that I’ve had the pleasure of watching some truly great players and wanted to share my top five with you.
1. Glenn Hoddle
A god to Spurs fans, so much so if you came home from work and found him in bed with your missus you would probably shake his hand and thank him, then go to work the next day telling your mates “You’ll never guess who was in my house last night”
The man was a genius, he didn’t have a weak foot and could just as easily score a 25 yarder with his left or right foot. If you did a video of his top 20 goals each one would make your mouth drop.
His chipped goal against Watford away is still the best goal I have ever seen and every time I see it I still get goosebumps.
His vision on a football pitch was amazing, he could pass the ball anywhere you wanted with backspin or forward spin. He could do anything and those who played with him will tell you the same.
Jasper Carrot joked “I hear Glenn Hoddle has found God. That must have been one hell of a pass” but I tell you now, he could have passed to him if he had wanted to.
2. Gazza
The only player to come close to Hoddle for me. The man, in a blink of an eye, could have dribbled past 4 men and won you the game.
Again I don’t think Gazza had a weak foot, he could pass and shoot with either. What a joy he was to watch when he went on one of his mazy runs.
Defenders used to try and kick lumps out of Gazza but normally they just couldn’t get anywhere near him, he was that good.
Another goal that any Spurs fan would say sticks with them, is the free kick against Arsenal at Wembley in the FA Cup Semi-Final. But, I saw him score 2 free kicks in one game at home against Derby and they were both better goals then that one.
A pure joy to watch and we as Spurs fans got to see the best of Gazza. He wasn’t really ever the same after that famous injury in the 1991 FA Cup Final, but I always wonder what his life might have been had he gone to Man Utd under Sir Alex. You can’t help but think he might have won more and maybe Sir Alex would have got him under control a little more than Terry Venables did.
3. Jürgen Klinsmann
I still to this day remember sitting at home in 1994 and hearing the news Alan Sugar had signed Jürgen Klinsmann on his yacht in Monaco.
I won’t lie, at first I thought why have we signed this diving cheat, but wow did he change my mind after a couple of games.
Who can forget the dive celebration after scoring on his debut at Sheffield Wednesday. Then a few days later at home against Everton we were treated to a bicycle kick goal at the Paxton end.
It was only when you watched him live you realised how good he was, it was as much about what he did off the ball as on it.
He had everything, he was quick, good in the air, could hold the ball up and bring others into the game but most of all he was clinical in front of goal, that year he scored 21 goals in the league and 30 in all competitions.
He was only with us one season before he realised we weren’t going to match his ambition and left for Bayern. Over 150,000 Klinsmann shirts sold, tells you how much of an impact he had.
4. David Ginola
Sexy is the best word I can use to describe Ginola. Whenever he got the ball people would get to their feet as you could sense he was about to do something special and more often than not he would.
His ability to go past players from any type of area on the pitch and then score a goal would have you amazed. I can think back to some great goals at White Hart Lane.
Ginola was playing in such an average side that I am sure it was only him keeping supporters going at one point, as you at least you knew you would get to watch him turn defenders inside out and get you excited.
His FA Cup goal against Barnsley in the 1998/99 season will forever be remembered by Spurs fans. In my view it was as good a goal, if not better than Ricky Villa’s winner at Wembley in 1981 FA Cup Final.
5. Gary Mabbutt
So far my list has been attacking players so I wanted to throw in a defender. Now most will be thinking how can you not have Ledley King as your best defender, but I have picked Gary as he is the clubs 2nd longest serving player. He was Captain for 11 years and someone who you knew would die for the cause.
Gary might be best known for his own goal in the 1987 FA Cup Final, which ultimately won Coventry the cup and that resulted in a Coventry fanzine being called ‘Gary Mabbutt’s Knee.’ But, it was his willingness to throw himself in front of shots and put his body on the line which gets him into my list.
He wasn’t a fancy defender at all, wasn’t blessed with blistering pace, was only 5ft 10in tall, which in today’s game would be considered too small for a centre half, but he was so solid. You knew you could rely on Gary to perform at the same level week in week out. He wouldn’t take risks which cost you goals and he was quite handy at getting on the score sheet. In 477 games for the club he scored 27 goals which isn’t that bad for a defender.
There were numerous players I could have had in this list, I had a list of about 40 top players but those are the 5 I will always look back on with the fondest memories.
Written by Karl Gwilliamm, follow him on twitter @kgwill2012
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