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Vital Spurs Q&A

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Spurs supporter, ‘Oxfordspur’ from vital spurs took time out of his busy schedule for this weeks ‘Question & Answer’ session.

Spurs have made some huge strides forward this season, but would you only consider it a success if the club qualifies for the Champions League?

If we didn`t get another point, I would still regard this season as a huge success. For us it isn`t, or certainly shouldn`t be all about Champions league football and getting a top six place would be a good indication of progress from last season. Obviously the disappointment of missing out on a CL place will be a devastating blow initially, but that shouldn`t take anything away from a season when we have competed well in two cup competitions and have broken our Premiership points record, with two games to go.

There has been some fierce debate over the future of your manager. Is Harry Redknapp the right man to lead Spurs to glory?

My personal opinion of anyone who doubts his ability as a manager have to be either stupid or incredibly impatient. He has done brilliantly on and off the pitch and aside from the obvious worry over his impending court case, I honestly cannot see any reason why he wouldn`t be our manager for some time to come and that would be great for the club as we desperately need stability to build on what we have.

As for Glory, I guess that depends on what we mean by that. If we look towards winning titles and Champions leagues, then I think that may be beyond our control to a certain extent, at least in the short term as we don`t yet have the resources or pull of the established elite and of course yourselves. I would happily take a team regularly competing for silverware and a CL place as glory, but of course once you get something you are always greedy for more…

Which players have most impressed the White Hart Lane faithful this season, and which areas need to be strengthened for next season?

The great thing about this season is that there have been so many great performances throughout the team. In particular, we have a great keeper in Heurelho Gomes, who I honestly wouldn`t swap for any other No1 in the Prem, Gareth Bale has been superb in 2010, Michael Dawson, Ledley King (when fit) and Sebastien Bassong have been excellent in the centre of defence, Tom Huddlestone has had a great season, but to an extent gone a little under the radar, while Aaron Lennon Jermain Defoe and Luka Modric have all had very good seasons.

As for strengthening, Although I rate Vedran Corluka highly, I wonder if Harry wants a more attack minded right back, along the lines of Glen Johnson, who he had at Portsmouth? I`m at the stage of speculating over our team and playing style for next season and feel that the option of a quick aggressive right back would fit well with the options we have on the left in Bale and Assou-Ekotto.

The other area I still feel we will look at is in the attack. Although Roman Pavlyuchenko has looked to have eased any doubts over his ability, I still worry that both he and Peter Crouch are far too similar and also without the pace of Jermain Defoe we look rather one dimensional in attack. Other than that I am pretty happy in a realistic sort of way..

The upcoming clash at Eastlands will have a huge say in which team claims 4th. Who do you feel is best equipped to take on Europe, City or Spurs?

At the start of the season I felt that City would take a top four place and certainly feel they have the team to do it, but Spurs have surprised me a little with their resolve and consistency. They have had the playing squad before, but this season, though not the finished article, they look mentally stronger. At the moment, it really is a toss of a coin over who will get the final place and I think it will all be down to mental strength and probably a bit of luck on the night.

City probably have the players with more big game experience, but also have the bigger weight of expectation which I feel has stifled them on occasions this season. The fact that we can go away with a draw and still remain 4th has to be a plus for us, but already I have no finger nails and am using the toilet a little more often. I will be a wreck by Wednesday evening.

What score do you predict and why?

I have a private feeling that it will be a draw, but I will go with a 2-0 win for City for no other reason than I predicted defeats against Arsenal and Chelsea recently by two goals and it has become a small superstition.

How annoyed will you be if Spurs, City and Villa all slip up and let Liverpool sneak their way back into the ‘big four’!?

A the time of writing this, it is of course now highly unlikely as both of us have won our 36th game, leaving Liverpool almost out of the running, but to be honest, and at the risk of annoying City fans, I would rather Liverpool get the final place that City or previously Villa, for no other reason that being selfish for my team. I have always worried that if City gain the final place it will enable them to push beyond our capabilities of catching you with the money available to your club. At least if Liverpool retain the status quo, we have hope of matching them next season. Sorry about that…

Many thanks to ‘Oxfordspur’ for his time and interesting answers.

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