The most talented and promising squad that I can recall

Lee Phillips reflekterar över veckan som gått. "So thats the future, but what about our current campaign? When I took a look at our current squad of first team players, I counted at least 22 players under the age of 25!"

It is quite typical of Tottenham really. Before the Crystal Palace match only Chelsea (and they can already be crowned champions) had a better defensive away record. Our high league position can be attributed greatly to this fact. So it was with this point in mind that we travelled south of the river optimistic in getting a result. Having then suffered our worst defeat of the season (3-0), home or away, it was a disapointment indeed. Like all good teams Spurs should have reversed this result with a win against Bolton at the Reebok stadium.

I considered the loss at Selhurst Park to be a minor set back. A result Spurs could learn from and move in the right direction after. However it wasn't to be and we conceeded another three goals away from home. The main talking point again was a refeering display that had cost us vital league points. Much like at Old Trafford, when Mendes' perfectly good effort was disallowed, cost all three points. The penalty decision at White Hart Lane against Chelsea that changed the course of the game in their favour. And now most recently the hand ball decision that went against Erik Edman in the Bolton match that so unsettled the Tottenham team it resulted in another loss.

El-Hadji Diouf had successfully dispatched his penalty to give the Home team the lead on 49 minutes. When five minutes later Mike Dean decided not to award a penalty to Spurs after a Fredi Kanouté free kick had struck the outstreched arm of Ivan Campo. Spurs players were furious at another poor refeering decision. I think it speaks volumes that Ledley King and Fredi Kanoute, usually very composed individuals, both with good disciplinary records, found themselves in the book for their protests. However I believe it would be all too easy to point the finger at these dubious refeering performances as the reason for our recent dip in form. Of course they have not helped matters, but there are other factors to consider. Our record in London derbies is very worrying. The focus however should be on the current team and maybe even the squad as a collective.

Don't get me wrong I think the squad Spurs have at the moment is the most talented and promising that I can recall. A further nine players have been signed in the January transfer window. The majority of which are again very promising, skilled and gifted youngsters. Bought for the future. Andy Reid I feel is the only one however that can walk into the starting eleven and make a real impact. The other player I was very excited to learn we had signed an agreement with to bring to the Lane in the summer was 18 year old Tom Huddlestone from Derby County for 2.5million. He is an England youth international that I am looking forward to very much seeing in the blue and white of Tottenham Hotspur next season.

So thats the future, but what about our current campaign? When I took a look at our current squad of first team players, I counted at least 22 players under the age of 25! That only left Naybet, Brown, Kanoute, Edman, Davis and Davies as the only "experienced" members of our squad. From them Naybet is the "wrong" side of 30.

The idea of a squad of talented youngsters coming up through the ranks together, much like the Manchester United team of the early 90's, is an exciting prospect. However I believe our problems arise from a lack of experience in the team. What Man Utd had was Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, all players of the caliber and quality that could help the young Scholes, Beckham, Giggs, Neville brothers and Butt develop into quality internationals. This I feel is what is missing from the current Spurs team.

However after taking in the Portsmouth game at the Lane this weekend one could argue that having a player like Mido on our side, more than compensates for this unbalance. I still find it hard to believe the lad is only 21…

Lee Phillips