One of my oldest pleasures has been enjoying a modest flutter on sporting events. I began backing horses for fun as a teenager because a school friend and I caught the same bus to school and his family had involvement at the Epsom racecourse. I came relatively late to walking through the hallowed portals of the shops, or offices as they are now known, but eventually my eye honed in upon my beloved soccer, and the trawling the Football odds is something that still gives me great pleasure today.
Having a punt doesn’t just introduce an element of uncertainty, which I have always found to enhance my enjoyment of any sporting event, it draws you into the action. The anticipation of the outcome, whether it’s an FA Cup match in Preston, or a night race at Windsor, one enjoys that added a sense of excitement that only aids in keeping me engaged throughout the process. You can’t take your eye off it, because nobody else is keeping count of the corner kicks!
With the football season having closed, this is always a moment I take out to try and analyse what I’ve hopefully learned from it. As far as Spurs are concerned, this means returning to the sort of earnest head-scratching that can induce bald patches.
The rule of thumb is no cup competitions can be trusted due to the silver allergy and as far as domestic ties are concerned; Tottenham are even capable of the sort of close-up magic that can convert a two-goal lead against impoverished opponents into a draw, as witnessed in Antonio Conte‘s ill-fated, and so final game at St Mary’s.
One thing the Lilywhites reliably did last season was conceded goals and my tactics soon adapted as a fan to turn my side’s weakness into my own secret superpower. So for me, one focused aspect of any summer transfer activity depends upon the defensive backline being bolstered. If it isn’t, then we will see more of the same. Even swapping out the floundering Hugo Lloris for -at first sight – more appealing Fraser Forster has produced mediocre results. World Cup-winning Cristian Romero needs better men by his side than Eric Dier.
Spurs’ former treble Teddy Sheringham told Betway recently who he was tipping for the Spurs job.. Roberto De Zerbi.
The Brigton boss ‘has come across like a shining light this season. Some of Brighton’s performances at the end of the season were so impressive: Going to the Emirates and disposing of Arsenal in the way they did and they way they went head-to-head with Manchester City.
The way Brighton have played against the top teams has just been nothing short of phenomenal. De Zerbi knows what he wants, he understands the game and will make players better.’
Tottenham’s pursuit of both a head coach and a director of football has been dominating the headlines, but the real concern, naturally enough, is in what changes the club will make to the squad. Daniel Levy couldn’t get a tune out of this lot with not one, but two (count ’em) serial winners and if there’s a better manager out their than Mourinho or Conte at the moment, then I’d be interested to know his name.
