Never was the ‘Hoddle debate’ more intense nor more fractious than in the context of his relationship with the English national side. Away from the more protective environment of White Hart Lane, service with England both as a player and manager exposed Hoddle to scrutiny that was at best rigorous and at worst gratuitously vicious.
Adam Powley and Martin Cloake and are quite rightly among other things highly respected authors. This is another reason to appreciate their literary efforts. The pair have teamed up yet again to produce a series of ebooks called Sports Shots. And this is to let you know about the Glenda Hoddle one!
By the summer of 1986, when Hoddle was 28 and at his peak, the England midfield had been built around the energy and drive of Bryan Robson. The arguments over whether Hoddle’s place in the national side was merited or not should have been over. Had he made enough appearances, supporters or detractors would have been able to judge whether he was a success with England. The simple truth is he didn’t play enough for such a judgement to be made.
Hoddle was again the choice of many to lead the midfield, but Ron Greenwood’s successor Bobby Robson appeared to share the same reluctance. Fondly remembered as a great romantic of the game, Robson had no indulgent sentimentality for Hoddle and, under intense pressure not to lose games, he favoured the industry of Bryan Robson and Ray Wilkins.
The Hoddle-England conundrum was never better exposed than in the disastrous European Championships finals of 1988. England were in a tough group but that could not excuse a dreadful display. Reduced to the role of stand-in for a hopelessly out-of-his depth Neil Webb, Hoddle finally made an impact in the match against the eventual winners Holland. He struck a post but thereafter was sidelined as the Dutch exploited some comical English defending.
It was the familiar story of English tactical and technical weakness, but instead of the culprits paying the price – players such as Tony Adams who were most glaringly bereft of the necessary technique and positional acumen – it was Hoddle who became one of the fall guys. He played once more in another humiliation against Russia and at 31 never featured for England again. He had played 53 games and scored a paltry eight goals.
Bryan Robson, by contrast, despite his recurring injuries, finished with 90 caps and, operating from a position in which he was encouraged to get forward, scored 26 times.
It’s not that Robson was not effective for England, nor that he was undeniably a great player, but if ever there was a glaring illustration of the value English football placed on its reservoir of talent, those contrasting statistics tell a revealing story.
Remarkably, Bobby Robson survived the post 1988 inquest, along with his skipper Bryan. The pair were to finally end their England days in the 1990 World Cup; Bobby with some kind of fortuitous redemption and glorious failure, Bryan yet again succumbing to injury. The only marvel about Captain Marvel by this stage was that he had lasted as long to be considered worthy of inclusion.
And by then, Hoddle was charming the French. Another artist who elevated football above the level of artisanship, Michel Platini, famously said of Hoddle “If he was French he would have got 150 caps.”
It summed up the differing philosophies of the Gallic and Anglo-Saxon game, but also showed that if he were to be truly appreciated, the Englishman had to find a new and more appreciative home.
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Zoff (It)
Thuram (Fr)
Alberto (Br)
Carlos (Br)
Maldini (It)
Batistuta (Arg)
Cruyff (Nd)
Gullit (Nd)
Rijkaard (Nd)
Pele (Br)
Best (NI)
Subs : Banks (Eng), Buffon (It), Kempes (Arg), Platini (Fr), Zidane (Fr), Rivelino (Br), B Laudrup (Nd).
Strangely Cruyff would fill the total football role VDV plays for us and Batistuta would be playing out of position.
In the Fifa 100 best Footballers only Gary Lineker appears from Spurs at #56 but they have Cruyff at #21 so the criteria used is clearly flawed.
So many great players to choose from, it’s almost churlish to have a top 10 or 50 for that matter as so much depends on the era, their team-mates and country of birth. Even a top 10 of Spurs fav’s is impossible as so few would opt for defenders, as the good ‘un’s, (like good ref’s) shouldn’t really stand out, but its fun to reflect on the good ol’ day’s and hopefully in my dotage these will good ol’ day’s as well ;-)
The same applies to selecting your all time “great” Spurs side. For me, the best CB that I have ever seen play for us was Mike England, but I would pick Graham Roberts over him anyday, because with defenders, I would always consider, “is this a man who will fight to the death for us”?
Roberts and Mackay in defence, I’d love to have seen that. They were not big men, but they had the hearts of giants.
A short while ago it was mentioned about Mackay’s stature, and I was truly shocked to find he was only 5’8″. I always had that famous image of him and for some reason thought he was a giant of a man, goes to show you how legends transcend reality. My favourite defender was always Phil Beal and later on Graham Roberts, but for blotting one’s copybook, Roberts’ transfer and the reasons behind them made Jennings’ pale into insignificance,but forgive and forget, unless your Cnutbell or Bertatoss
Dave Mackay truely was a giant of a man, not in stature, he had the heart of a lion. I am sure you`ve heard the phrase, “Built like a brick Sh*thouse” well i think the originater had Dave in mind. Mackay had muscles on muscles,a tough Scot as i`m sure you`ve seen the photo as he squares up to Billy Bremner, and he thought hewas tough, if you have not seen it just type in Mackay Bremner photo.
The photo shows Mackay twisting Bremners shirt while the twat pleads innocence after a late tackle, don`t forget Dave had just returned from 2 leg breaks in a 9 month period. You can see Venners moving in (very musclebound) and the ref panic stricken as he can see KILL BILL headlines. To me the most famous pic in football. Billy Bremner might have been hard but Mackay was pure Granate.
Both Jennings and Campbell were superb for us but then they did the unthinkable, sadly in my book that showed bad judgement. Before someone points out Ade & Gallas that shows good judgement. Ask any Premier League Player, “Which ground has the best/most intimidating atmosphere”. It will be heartbreaking to leave The Lane nomatter what shiney new Stadium we finally get, the hope, the heartbreak, the tears, the memories, the expectancy and the Glory make us what we are today. How can any team or any teams supporters compete with the Lilywhites while our Cockrels stand proud.
You are being extremely unfair on Jennings. Jennings went to Arse because the Board refused to renew his contract. I saw him in an interview not so long ago, where he mentioned that as he was leaving Spurs for the last time, he twice bumped into directors who as soon as they saw him, turned away to make it look as if they had not seen him.
When Nicholson was manager, he was famous for not having a contract. This was the same shower that when he resigned aftee the most successful 18 years in the clunbs history, gave him a “golden handshake” of a paltry £10k.
It wasn’t until 25 years later, that he was awarded a testimonial.
I know his heart was and still is here and like you i agree The Hierarchy have conducted themselves shamelessly at times (Jol) but to go to that shower !
I forgot the great, the one and only Super Cyril Knowles, brilliant player and a wonerful showman and footballer, anyone remember that game against Everton way back when?
I was at that game against Middlesbrough in the LC in 1974, we lost 4-0 at home and if that wasn’t bad enough they announced Terry Neill was to be our new manager, good grief I’m so glad we never had the net back then, but I can tell you messenger pigeon was pretty fucked within a week-Sidney Wale,was a true wanker!
The wife says are you still on Spurs sites, Dinners ready, she says Hoddle definately wore shorter shorts than his team mates, think she`s wrong but can`t find picture proof. Must be the first football conversation in 36 years, who says marriage dosen`t work.
Mine still reckons he’s got the best legs ever, but I’ve got to nail her back in the basement for another few years before she’s classified as missing presumed dead!
Nails?!……..that’s a bit harsh.
Handcuffs work just as well, if not better. :ninja:
You can’t batten down a trap door with handcuffs, but 9″ galvanised bad boy’s work wonderfully well! :winke: Oh, well-three years to go
I just cover up the trap door with the fridge…….there’s no way she’s shifting that big bad boy + i’ve only got 6 months to go, before i can collect on the insurance; KERCHIIING! :-p
Life’s good life’s LG (Legal and General, whoohoo!)
essexian, where did we get Surreal Knowles from ?
Boro, will be singing that bloody song all night now it`s logged in, “Nice one Cyril, Nice one son,
Nice one Cyril, Let`s have another one”
They don`t write them like that anymore, classic.
Really, I’ve still got it,can’t play it though.
Must be worth a fortune on E-Bay, don`t hear it played much now on Magic or Heart FM, but it`s plaing in my head as i type this.
Wouldn’t sell it, although I did flog loads of memorabilia a while back,inc all my cup final programmes with tickets from 1971-2002, but didn’t realise my autographs inc George Best and Billy Nicks must have been lodged in one of the pages, gutted as they were never meant to be a part of the deal, ah well
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