Blues v Spurs A Spurs Fan’s Perspective

I was approached by Dom who runs the web site What a Fantastic Run. He asked me to answer some questions relating to our game this weekend. My answers can be found here.

I modified his questions, and he kindly reciprocated and his answers are below.

J&S: Can you start with telling us a little about yourselves (name, age, occupation, interesting stuff)

My name is Dom Paczko, I am 31 years of age and I work as a Manager for a Youth Education charity in Derby. I manage a training centre for 16-18 year olds who are currently not in employment, education or training. I live in Burton on Trent directly opposite Burton Albion Football Club with my girlfriend Anna and our two cats.

J&S: So what was the reason you chose to support Spurs?

My father was born in Newbury, Berkshire which has a large Tottenham contingent – he just passed in down to me. To be honest I have no recognition of every deciding or being forced in any way – they just became an automatic choice. Spurs were all I knew

J&S: You are currently nestled in behind the leaders. How would you assess your season so far?

Its been a funny one to be honest. Most Spurs fans will agree that we have only just started to hit our stride. We have had some fantastic results like the recent Arsenal & Liverpool games but have also had some shockers like losing to Wigan and West Ham.

Of course the Champions League run has been amazing for us. The majority of fans felt we would struggle to qualify in 2nd place yet we find ourselves already though and top of the group with a game to spare. And the majority of this has taken place without Defoe, King and Dawson

J&S: How do you and others view Harry?

I don’t mind Harry – there is no question he has done wonders for the squad and even though it is very unlikely, most Spurs fans are pleased he has come and and said ‘we can go for the title’. In all my 25+ years of supporting Spurs I have never heard those words uttered by a Tottenham manager.

There is an element of Spurs support who really do not like him – but being a fickle bunch these have been few and far between over the past two weeks.
J&S: Has Bale been eating spinach? What has caused him to be so successful this season?
I think initially it was confidence. He started very well for us when he signed and then got injured a couple of times (once against Birmingham City I seem to remember). and his confidence dipped. His success has really stemmed from Harry’s man management and from the faith the Tottenham coaching staff have shown in him. He was very close to moving to Nottingham Forest on loan in January 2010 but Assou-Ekotto got injured and the rest, as they say, is history.
J&S: We nearly bought Pav in January. The rumour is that Spurs changed the deal 3 times after we’d agreed it. What are your comments on that and also would you have been cross to see him leave (without knowing he’d go on a scoring spree in the 2nd half of the season!)
Super Pav is a funny one – the fans love him to bits and I think leading up to the proposed transfer he never got a decent opportunity. Harry always said that this was down to his lacklustre effort in training. The problem with being a striker is that if you score a goal you are a legend, if you don’t then you are rubbish. Pav really does need to be more clinical with his finishing. I was at the 4-2 win over Blackburn a few weeks back and he could of had a hat trick by half time. Spurs fans would be sad to seem him leave, especially while we still have Robbie Keane on the payroll
J&S: Would you talk me through that Seb Larsson goal at WHL in McLeish 1st away game? 😉
You mean the last minute winner? He pelted it from outside the box. It was a cracking goal and one that deserved to win any match to be honest. All I really remember from that game is you breaking Gareth Bale.

J&S: What are your thoughts for Birmingham this season?

I must admit I have never followed Birmingham too much in my life, I can only put this down to me growing up in Lichfield, Staffordshire – which is mainly Villa country, so a lot of my friends are claret & blue as opposed to Birmingham City supporters.

I used to work as a Duty Manager at Tower Records in Birmingham (now Urban Outfitters on Corporation Street) and I used to sometimes be offered tickets to St Andrews for various games, so oddly I have been to your ground twice yet never to see Spurs.

I always think St Andrews is a really tough place to go and is never an easy match.

As for you guys this season, of course Chelsea is a great result and one which every Spurs fan enjoyed. You have had some disappointing results which, when looking at how tight the table is, could make the difference between a top or bottom half finish.
J&S: What are your expectations about Spurs in general?
Well we are not going to win the title that is for sure. To even get close to the kind of points average that Manchester United and Chelsea are getting right now we need to win our next 7 games outright. I would love us to go one better than last season and finish 3rd. I think people outside of Tottenham have underestimated the significance of our Arsenal result. This has got a massive monkey off our backs and the feeling is the winds of change are being heard drifting across North London.
J&S: If you could pick a Blues player of the present or past to play for Spurs, who would it be?
Without sounding rude I cannot think of too many. I used to think Maik Taylor was a pretty niffty goalkeeper. I have heard we are linked with Scott Dann but I’ve not seen too much of him
J&S: What question should I have asked, and what is your answer?
You could of asked what do I think about us having 6 kits this season and I would answer absolutely disgusting. Or you could just ask what my cats are called – Pokey and Penny would be the answer to that one.

J&S: And let’s finish off with a score prediction.

To be honest I am not feeling too confident. I would like to think we would have a little too much for you – especially as Lennon is coming back to form. Bale and Lennon running full pelt at any defence would surely give nightmares. The truth is though is that I see you as a well organised unit that will be difficult to break down. Take in to account our one league clean sheet all season and you have a 1-1 draw on your hands