The Best Tottenham Team You’ve Seen – Team Selected

Over the past seven weeks you’ve voted to select a Tottenham team comprised of players who you have seen playing for Spurs. The HotspurHQ Team Selection offered a choice of players to suit supporters of all age groups dating back to players who were in the first Tottenham team to win the 1st Division title in 1950-51 to members of the current Tottenham team.

Jan Vertonghen selected for HotspurHQ’s Tottenham team @edgey642]

Thank You

First of all, many thanks to everyone who has responded over the summer weeks to vote and comment on their favoured players for this Tottenham team. The response has been great and your thoughts on different players have been much appreciated.

HotspurHQ Readers’ Tottenham Team

The HotspurHQ team selection is in a 4 – 4 – 2 formation and has a balance of true Tottenham ‘Legends’ who as Gareth Rogers said in a comment in one of the articles, ” built the club into what it is today” and some of the players from more recent teams who are held in high esteem by younger Tottenham supporters.

Goalkeeper:

Although there are many top-class outstanding goalkeepers to choose from, for me there was only one choice, and the majority of you agreed with me. Pat Jennings is a Tottenham ‘Legend’ who was the unopposed first choice keeper at Whit Hart Lane from the mid-1960s through to 1977 when Keith Burkinshaw mistakenly decided he was past his best. Even with his Arsenal connections, Jennings status never waned in the eyes of Spurs’ fans and he received 57% of the votes cast.

The younger supporters backed, Tottenham’s current number 1 who received 22%, to finish as runner-up and an acknowledgement of the class and ability Hugo Lloris has shown in his short time with Tottenham.

Full Backs:

Stephen Carr (11%) just edged out Chris Hughton (10%) to claim the right back spot in the team. Carr prior to his injury was a very exciting full-back and Spurs relied heavily on him as an attacking threat down the right flank. The left back place was claimed overwhelming by Cyril Knowles with 23% of the votes. Knowles had no challengers for left back and is selected regularly in favourite Tottenham teams. He was a fiercely competitive, maurading left back who played from 1964 until retiring in 1976. Steve Perryman came fourth in the choice of full backs although it was only in latter years that he filled that position having worked tirelessly in midfield when he first arrived in the team.

Central Defenders:

The central defensive positions have been filled by two players who could have played together at White Hart Lane but for Ledley King’s premature retirement due to injury. Ledley King was the overwhelming selection of supporters (37%) for his loyal contribution to Spurs in recent years. His partner is Jan Vertonghen (11%), a footballing defender who has impressed in his one season at White Hart Lane and is a player out of the same mould as King – if they’d made it onto the White Hart Lane pitch, it would’ve made a brilliant partnership.

The two reserve defenders are Mike England and Gary Mabbutt who both enjoyed great success at White Hart Lane.

Midfield:

The two central midfield players selected were England internationals Glenn Hoddle (25%) and Paul Gascoigne (18%) – what a pairing they would have made with their world class ability. They finished ahead of the 1096s ‘Legend’, Dave Mackay with Luka Modric just above Ossie Ardiles.

The wide players were Gareth Bale, the runaway winner and obvious choice after his past season with 32% and David Ginola (15%) who weaved his magic on the left wing for Spurs and was another scorer of memorable goals. He was just ahead of the ‘Double’ hero, Cliff Jones (14%). Chris Waddle finished fourth.

Strikers:

The two strikers were Jimmy Greaves, Tottenham’s record goalscorer on 26% with his natural goalscoring ability finished top. Jurgen Klinsmann on 12%, remembered for his outstanding season in the 1990s finished ahead of Gary Lineker (11%). Dimitar Berbatov was 4th.

Manager:

There could be only one manager with Bill Nicholson (37%) winning the vote as an acknowledgement of the dedicated service he gave to ‘his’ club, Tottenham Hotspur’. Keith Burkinshaw came next to be his second in command. Andre Villas-Boas, after one season with Tottenham was third which illustrates how highly Tottenham’s current coach is regarded by fans at White Hart Lane.

The Team:

Team: (4 – 4 – 2) Jennings; Carr, King, Vertonghen, Knowles; Bale, Hoddle, Gascoigne, Ginola; Greaves, Klinsmann.

2nd Selection: (4 – 4 – 2) Lloris; Perryman, England, Mabbutt, Hughton; Jones, Modric, Mackay, Waddle; Lineker, Berbatov