Talking Tottenham 51

The week finished on a high after a good performance and win over Swansea. This after the disappointment of going out of two cup competitions. As well as the sad news that emerged during the last few days. I do have one unique story for you as a remembrance.  Then its that trip to the Tottenham Toy Show we promised you. There is a look forward to this weekend and there is a small spooky in there.  Above all else the future is looking Lilywhite.

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On Monday I was talking to an old friend about the League Cup final the previous day and in conversation we spoke about Dave Mackay. Even though it was known he had not been well for some time it was a stunning blow to learn the next morning that he had passed away. Many words and tributes have been paid this week. I had intended to feature him in the Hotspur Towers series in a few weeks time and will need to rethink that. For now just one unique story about the man. A few years back, it must have been 92 or 93,ish. A friend and I went on a stadium tour.  Back in those days they were a lot less formal than today's. There was just us and another chap our age and he had brought his dad and a friend for an eightieth birthday treat. As we went around we, and I include the guide in this, enjoyed many a tale as these two old hands reeled off tales from the 30’s onwards. We were in one of the lounges looking at some of the artifices and the guide asked so who do you think is the best player you have ever seen play for Spurs.  I blurted out Dave Mackay, its a Pavlovian reaction. Turning to the others I said of course you have a much bigger pool to chose from. They batted about a couple of names and one said Mackay must be in that group, I cant think of anyone better.

Dave was a famous joker I’am sure he would approve of the Tottenham Toy Show. So lets get off to a fast start with this Scalextric slot racing car Ferrari in Tottenham colours and livery  (top image).

  I‘m sure that at some time in the past I’ve seen a Barbie Doll wearing Spurs kit however after a quick look through Barbie’s wardrobe, (gosh I’ve done some strange things since I started writing for you people, but at least my therapist is on overtime),

The first football kit image I found her wearing was one of Real Madrid ! Will they really sign anyone in a Spurs shirt? Anyway no sign of Tottenham, I’ll let you know if one turns up.

However I’m sure Ken, that’s Barbie’s boyfriend, is a nice bloke and I wouldn’t say a word against him, but lets be honest real boys played with Action Man! And here he is with his Spurs kit.

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So we all know how easy it is to run the club, after all we all know what team Poch should go with and that of course is when we not advising Daniel Levy what he should be doing. So it may come as a surprise to you that I have never ran a multi - million pound international company.
In fact I’ve never even won a game of  Monopoly!  So I really should of spent more time with this Tottenham Hotspur version. You buy players rather than properties. Does that mean it has to be updated every few years?
To get around that problem there is also a ‘Legends’ version

Or you might like a White Hart Lane jigsaw (below left)  or for the more adventurous of you why not try one of the 3D puzzles of the stadium (right).

 

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Former player and manager Terry Venables seems to have turned his hand to most things in his time, and as we mentioned some time ago (1) he even found time in the 90's  to design a board game, ‘The Manager.'  I’ve since found this pic (below).  I’m told, having never played it, that the winner is the one who ends up with the most money rather than trophies. Clearly he was a man ahead of his time.

And NO before any of you wonder,  none of these toys are mine. Well there are so many more 'Tottie Toys'  out there, it can only mean one thing.
Yes that’s right  -  Tottenham Toy Story 2 –  Coming to a website near you soon. As for next week I am planning a little time in the Tottenham garden.  
Don’t worry Toy Story 2 is less than a  “lightyear”  away,  can you feel the "Buzz"  ????

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This weeks Talking is rather different from how it looked a few days ago, I know I told you that Cliff Jones would feature in Hotspur Towers but after the events of this week that’s been held over to next time. I hope you caught the look at the badge and its history instead.  And talking of whats coming we play our game in hand this weekend and a trip to QPR. Well as usual trying to be helpful I try and warn you about things not to mention to their fans, like when they were formed in 1886 by the merger of two teams one of them was called St. Jude's.  St Jude of course is the patron saint of lost causes. Somehow it seems fitting.

They were the opponents in the first competitive game at White Hart Lane in 1899. The following month we went to one of the 14 grounds they have played on in their time  (a sort of West London nomads)  and beat them with a John Cameron hat trick. Don’t panic I’m not going to mention the Scottish Hall of Fame,  if you haven't  supported the campaign to get him inducted yet, well shame on you (2).

And talking of the future. I did the Monday Morning Quarter Back this week on FB. Here are a couple of highlights “ Poch will be surrounded by the future when he arrives at Hotspur Way this morning. His team that averaged under 24 years of age must now put that game down as part of the experience in their learning curve. It should give them the hunger for more. There is the nucleus of a team here that shows great potential. They now have just one competition and 12 games to worry about. I think its vital that we get (at least)  a EL place for next year. It would be a reward for the efforts put in this year and help attract some of the new blood that will arrive in the summer to help take us to that next level. For the first time in several years I can say I feel, without a deep shadow lurking over the shoulder, that we are moving forward.”

 And with that future in mind, The youth team beat Chelsea in the semi final of the Youth Cup last night and have a two goal lead going into the second leg.

Which brings us back to the beginning, what we were saying on Monday was what the team could do with was a Mackay type figure. One who leads by example and runs 100 yards just to give a word of encouragement in the ear to one of the younger players, or sometimes tell him to wake up.  There is still time to send in your contribution to 'Its still a funny old game.' 

Some very good goals in the Swansea game.  One of the things I noticed was for the goals in the second half we had five and four players actually get into the box. Something we haven't been doing of late. 

I was just drawing up the plan for the last part of the season during the week , (there are some seriously good stories coming your way). I thought to take you into the summer I'd look back a a few of the summer tours. I drew up my shortlist and in second place was Australia, where we went in 1976 and 85. So whats the first thing I see this morning.....If thats not spooky !

Hope you enjoyed our Toy Story. All your regular Talking Tottenham faves are back next week.

In the meantime before you pop off  to sleep tonight don’t forget today is 'hug a hippo day,' or do you just cuddle a Chirpy.  (I hope he takes his boots off before going to bed).

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COYS
Keith Harrison.
t- Keith 16024542
f- peter shearman (old non de plume reserved for THFC matters)


Notes – 1 – Talking Tottenham 5.
2 –  Hotspur Towers 32.

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