Remembering a legend and then the Southampton FA Cup game

By Don Scully

The day after the match (Sunday 26^th) was really a day of deflation (because of our game, the previous day); however, there is something on that day (the 26^th) that we should be paying tribute to; which will bring us up proud and inflate our chests. A hundred and one years ago that day (1919) the legend Bill Nicholson was born. Of course, no one could have known that William Edward Nicholson would be the star that leads us to the promised land. Bill was born in Scarborough and would become one of Spurs greatest all-time managers. Bill Nicholson signed for Spurs as a 16-year old and went on to play 314 times for us (once for England), before taking on the role of manager, in 1958. It only took a couple of years for him to stamp his mark on the team and into the club’s history books.  First, he won the Double, this was followed a year later with another FA Cup victory.  This again was followed by the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the first English club to win a European trophy. In 1967 he won his third FA cup, by beating Chelsea. Other trophies followed. Sadly he resigned in 1974. He then spent some time advising West Ham United, before returning to his beloved Tottenham (this was on the instigation of Levy). He died in 2004, he was 85. His ashes were buried beneath the stadium.

So, what would he have thought of the current Spurs squad? Probably not a lot, or even that much on today's football.

Interestingly enough, on the day of the Southampton FA Cup 4^th Rd match (25^th 1967), David Ginola was born in Gassin, France. Another Spurs legend.

To the Southampton game, and another sorry result, albeit a draw, with both teams returning to our ground on Wednesday the 5^th February.

But let us start with Lo Celso. His career has been something of a slow start since he arrived on loan from Real Betis, nevertheless, he is beginning to win the hearts and minds of our fans. The 23-year-old from Argentine had his name sung in deafening fashion by our supporters throughout the second half at St Mary’s as he showed a real creative edge, dovetailing with the pace of Son and Lucas Moura and then driving runs of Dele Alli.

Lo Celso did brilliantly to help create Son's goal then almost provided a second for Son with a textbook pass that was lobbed just over the top. Of course, it was always going to take time for him to settle, but our fans are developing a liking for his subtlety and ability to influence a game. Sadly, things didn’t go as planned or as we wished as Southampton’s Boufal scored in the 87^th minute to equalise and take the replay back to our Tottenham stadium.

Mourinho had made three changes from our win over Norwich City, showing his desire to compete fiercely in the FA Cup (something Pochettino didn’t give two figs about) as we try to chase our first trophy since the League Cup win over Chelsea at Wembley in 2008. Yes, that was 12 years ago, under Juande Ramos. Since then, we have had six managers. The most experienced of that bunch is the one we currently have, Mourinho. And with a bit of luck, he can restore us to those Glory, Glory days.

Who were our best players for that game? Well, in my humble opinion…

Let us start with Giovani Lo Celso, who I have already mentioned; he set the stadium alight for us. Take our opening goal. It was sensational. He controlled the tempo in midfield and seemed hard to shake off the ball at times. Hopefully, he will sign a long term contract (currently on loan).  His creation of the opening goal was nothing short of thrilling. He dictated the tempo in midfield and seemed impossible to shake off the ball. A big future on the cards for this man.

Serge Aurier, a much-maligned player at times, but defended expertly yet again for us, using his strength to bully the opposing players. Granted, he was guilty of losing possession in the build-up to the Saints goal, but others should have covered.

Japhet Tanganga. This young man has hit the road running. He isn’t a left-back, but was asked to play on his weak side yet again for Mourinho, but did an exceptional job anyway. He was reliable for the vast majority of the game and even cleared an Ings effort off the line.

Harry Winks. The man who came back from injury double quick to start in the Southampton game. All credit to him. He has enthusiasm. He was a force in the midfield alongside Gedson in the first half, winning the ball and passing it off to the creators. Once Gedson was taken off, he was simply left with too much to do alone yet again. Which is telling us we need a new defensive midfielder to ease the burden.

Lastly, we have the player that wanted to leave and didn’t want to sign a new contract under Pochettino but finally did once Mourinho came onboard, Toby Alderweireld. Southampton have a dead-ball specialist in James Ward-Prowse, but Alderweireld was an instrument in the air and at clearing the ball. He stood up to a number of powerful crosses, and we deserved a clean sheet on that day.

Others players played their part, but to me, these players stood out. With, expectantly, new players coming on board, and the ones we have, getting Mourinho’s drift (understanding what he wants from them), then we could be a force for reckoning. Since he has come to this club, our coach is starting to put his stamp on things. He is not going to achieve miracles overnight, but I believe he will get there, and hopefully, everybody will eventually start feeling confident that we can start building the team we’ve always dreamed off.

Now we must put the FA Cup to one side, even the replay, and concentrate on the league. Our next game will be at Tottenham where we host Manchester City on Sunday, 2 February (16:30 GMT). That weekend will also see Leicester City face Chelsea and United take on Wolves. We are currently 6^th in the league, if we can win and United and Chelsea lose, then that would mean we leapfrog United and have a three-point gap between Chelsea and us. Then we play them in three weeks time. Of course, this is a big ask. City are currently second in the league (albeit 16 points behind Liverpool, but 17 points above us), so it isn’t going to be an easy task (it all depends if we turn up, and turn up we can). Yet, when we last played them, at their ground, we drew (2-2, first away game of the season). Be confident; amongst all the heartache, there surely will be Bill Nicholson smiling down from his lofty perch at us. All it then needs is a gentle nudge in our direction, and Bob’s your Uncle and Aunt Fanny is the local tickler.

It is always easy writing a prediction or hoping for your wishes to come true, but sadly, the reality is a different story. We have to trust in those that are paid a fortune to give us what we’ve been crying out for ever since Bill Nicholson and Keith Berkinshaw were washed away by change; such as the encroachment of hospitality and the millions of pounds that have flooded into the game since the Premier League was formed.

Our Glory days will return, it isn’t a case of if, but when and who will lead us. Since the new stadium raised itself from the ashes of the old, there has been new hope in the air. Let us, therefore, anticipate it is Mourinho, powered by Daniel Levy on his white charger and making good the promises he made when he took over our club, that he will take Spurs back to the Glory days. 

Nuff said!