Party like its 2006/07

People who regularly read me will know that I’m not the kind of writer to instantly jump to the defence of my team, regardless of fact or subjectivity. It could be argued that I’m more critical of those overpaid idiots at White Hart Lane than most are - support a team like mine and, trust me, you‘ll be at the same stage of disappointment and self-loathing. However, recent events and a handful of comments have provoked me to defend the activities of a club, often laughed at up and down the land and rarely respected by too many.

Tottenham’s resigning of Jermain Defoe in early January was a Godsend; bereft of proven strikers all season, apart from the excellent (at times) Roman Pavlyuchenko, Spurs’ poor form was being blamed mainly on a lack of firepower in the attacking region. Eyebrows were raised though when defender Pascal Chimbonda was brought back to the club from Sunderland, having left in the summer. Harry Redknapp cited Chimbonda’s ability to play anywhere in defence as a main justification; Spurs were anything but short of defenders, hence the eyebrow elevation.

However, the biggest shock of them all was reserved for the third returning player - a certain Robbie Keane. Mr Keane’s homecoming makes good business sense. Spurs sold him, albeit reluctantly, for £20 million in the summer to his ‘boyhood team’ Liverpool, where he was, by most accounts, a failure. Lack of playing time and trust from his coach Rafael Benitez lead to a return of five league goals in nineteen games and to Keane admitting ‘the move had not worked out’. Tottenham stole him back for a measly £12 million.

Spurs have been criticised in a few, small quarters for their apparent ‘bring back all old players’ policy - at this rate, don’t be surprised to see Hoddle and Blanchflower making a return to N17. It’s been said that Tottenham look foolish, like they’re covering their mistakes by getting back players they didn’t think they needed at the time.

I would take issue with that opinion. These players were sold under the infamous reign of Juande Ramos. At a time when, Keane aside, they were deemed surplus to requirements, the players were sold and for a tidy sum, as well. Defoe was frozen out by the brilliant partnership of Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, whereas Chimbonda was a problem player and was sold as part of a summer clearout of deadwood. Ramos was shaping his own team, for better or worse and he didn’t necessarily want or need these players around.

Having then lost his job, it is clear Ramos was wrong. Redknapp is now trying to rectify that mistake, not by signing every single player back but by covering his options. Tottenham horribly needed strikers and they got arguably two of the best in the league. Defoe, a proven goal getter, and Keane, already on his way to becoming a Tottenham legend - not bad in front of goal, too. If it looks stupid to be buying back our old players, then so be it. But if Redknapp chose those two strikers as the ones he wanted, regardless of their status as former Spurs players, then good for him.

Admittedly, the signing of Chimbonda puzzles me, but he was so cheap, it becomes immaterial. Defoe, as he would be, is now injured and out until April. The Gods, it seems, aren’t smiling on the Lilywhites and they will need Keane to continue the great form he showed at the Lane over the last three seasons. The Liverpool debacle would have been hard for him and his ego to endure. But given a bit of man-management from the boss, Robbie should be firing on every single cylinder possible. And he’d do well to start again against Arsenal at the weekend.

If Redknapp himself had sold all these players and then tried to get them back, then the criticism would be entirely justified. But he’s trying to build his own team and save Tottenham’s skin from their awful season. Needless to say the fans are pleased by crowd favourites coming back to the Lane to emotional ovations (maybe not Chimbonda). For now, I and many other Spurs fans are enjoying the sight of Keane and co. back in Tottenham shirts. Although, we can hold off on signing Ricky Villa for just a few more weeks, I think.