With Tottenham Hotspur finishing third in the Premier League last season, we take a look at what the best Spurs XI from the Premier League era would look like.
Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris concedes Everton’s first goal scored by Ross Barkley
Off the back of their third-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs will be looking to push forward and go even better.
But 2015-16 wasn’t far short of miraculous in comparison to some previous campaigns, like the 15th place in 19993/94, or the 14th place in 2003/04.
In recent years the finishes achieved by Spurs have been consistently strong, with a top six place achieved every year since 2009/10. But where do the current crop of players stand amongst Spurs’ all-time Premier League players?
We’ve put together the starting line-up for an all-time Premier League Spurs XI to see which current players, if any would make the grade.
Hugo Lloris (GK)
With only a handful of goalkeepers to select from that includes Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson and Ian Walker, it is Lloris that gets the nod over Robinson. Lloris is a world-class goalkeeper and showed just how good he was on more than one occasion last season. When missing through injury it seems to have an effect on the whole back line, who in his absence seem unsure what positions to take up.
Stephen Carr (RB)
Carr was the early marauding full back, and his galloping down the flanks meant Spurs fans loved to see him get forward in the same way that Kyle Walker loves to get down the wings. The only way to separate the two men is that Carr is a better defender, as a left back Carr was solid, and Spurs supporters will be wishing he hadn’t decided to leave for Newcastle as quickly as he did.
Danny Rose (LB)
Left back has long been Spurs’ big problem area. The list of players that have tried to lay claim to the position goes on and on – Justin Edinburgh, Mauricio Taricco, Christian Ziege, and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Mauricio Pochettino believes Danny Rose is the best left back in England, and with last season’s performances embedded in supporters’ minds, it’s hard to disagree.
Tottenham’s Danny Rose in action with Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend
Sol Campbell (CB)
The choice of Campbell in a Spurs Premier League XI is never going to be a popular after the events of the summer of 2001, but Campbell was everything you look for in a defender, skillful, calm under pressure, strong, fast and a colossus in the air, it’s hard to leave him out.
Ledley King (CB)
King is the embodiment of Spurs – a one man club, who gave everything when he played. The real issue is that King was plagued by injuries throughout his career. But seeing King play was all any Spurs supporter wanted to see, the desire and commitment to the club that he showed is remarkable, and a testament to the player he was. A truly classy defender.
Luka Modric (CM)
After a difficult start at Spurs, where the Croatian midfielder was being played too deep, Modric was pushed further upfield, and Spurs started to see the true genius that he is. With some magical performances came the lure of Real Madrid, and Spurs could do nothing to stop him moving. Little did they know, this would not be the last time.
Rafael Van Der Vaart (CM)
Van Der Vaart and Spurs just fit together, both prone to the odd mistake, but hugely gifted and love to attack. He was adored by fans and had an eye for the spectacular goal, scoring 28 goals in two seasons at White Hart Lane.
Gareth Bale (RM/FREE ROLE)
Signed as a left back and on the verge at one point of being sent out on loan after a torrid start to his Spurs career, Bale ultimately went on to become the world’s most expensive player when he, like Modric, signed for Real Madrid for £86 million. Bale is undoubtedly the one player Spurs fans would like to see return and they are living in hope it’ll happen one day soon.
Wales’ Gareth Bale in action
David Ginola (LM)
Ginola arrived in a whirlwind and Spurs fans loved him for it. Signed from Newcastle United for £2 million in 2000, the Frenchman brought all kinds of joy to White Hart Lane, and like Van Der Vaart was adored by fans for it.
Teddy Sheringham (CF)
Sheringham was Spurs’ greatest ever link-up player, and those that played around him knew it. In a straight choice between him, Jurgen Klinsmann and Dimitar Berbatov, Sheringham has to get the nod. A natural goalscorer, Sheringham not only did it for Spurs but also proved just how good he was for England and Manchester United.
Jermain Defoe (CF)
While Robbie Keane, and Harry Kane both deserve an honourable mention, and both could have pipped Defoe to the final spot, it is Spurs’ fifth all-time goalscorer that gets that nod. Defoe is a box man and would work perfectly with Sheringham, and in scoring 143 goals in 363 games, Defoe truly serves his place.
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