Tottenham have had mixed success during their tenure in the Premier League, with finishes ranging from third only last season – their best ever – all the way as low as 15th back in 1993/94.
In between, Spurs have finished in just about every other league position in what has been a turbulent two decades, filled with ecstatic highs and demoralising lows.
A total of 19 different managers have been at the helm of the club since the inauguration of the Premier League in 1992/93, which equates to just less than one different manager per season.
Those 19 managers have had 100’s of players under their leadership, some good, some not so good and some truly awful; some under-rated but more importantly, some chronically over-rated.
We’ve put together an XI of Tottenham’s most over-rated players of the Premier League era. Whether your a Spurs fan or not, do you agree?
GK – Brad Friedel
Despite four years at Tottenham, it always felt like Brad Friedel was a man in limbo while Tottenham found themselves a younger replacement for the then nigh-on pensioner.
Freidel was the Premier League’s oldest ever player and you could tell. I’m not sure whether it was the lack of pace, poor eyesight or walking stick that gave it away.
RB – Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker is certainly an athlete, to say the least.
Big, strong, incredibly quick and with a fuel tank the size of a, well, a car with a big fuel tank.
A footballer though? Not so much in my books. Walker is poor on the ball, defensively frail and has no end product going forward.
He can run though, so there is always that.
CB – Jan Vertonghen
Another of the current cohort, Vertonghen became a bit of a fan favourite at White Hart Lane when he first arrived on the scene with his admittedly impressive performances, however as the years have rolled by his true colours have begin to show, and those colours aren’t so pretty.
Far too often prone to a calamitous error and far too casual with possession, Vertongthen definitely makes this XI.
CB – Michael Dawson
If there was an award more most effort, or one for sticking in your head in where its definitely going to get hurt/kicked, Michael Dawson would win both hands down.
His heart too often led his head, but leaving him prone to mistakes and more often than not out of position chasing down the ball or putting in ridiculous challenges on the edge of the box.
LB – Gareth Bale
WAIT! Before you bite my head off, I’m talking about Gareth Bale as a left-back.
Gareth Bale as a winger/attacker was undoubtedly one of the best players in the Premier League over the last decade.
As a left-back who signed from Southampton however, Bale struggled in his first season and never really improved much until he moved further up the pitch, and boy did he improve then.
RM – Aaron Lennon
Another who is all pace and no product, FIFA’s favourite sweat machine was terrific at taking on his man, getting in to great positions but never quite finding a final ball or finish.
He somehow has 350 appearances to his name in a Spurs shirt as well as 30 goals to boot. However, only one came in his final two seasons, and he failed to score in 21 appearances for England too.
CM – Tom Huddlestone
A foot like a traction engine (thanks, Alan Partridge) and a pin-point long ball was what Tom Huddlestone became known for during his eight year Spurs career, and still maintains that reputation at current club Hull City
. As for every other trait you desire in a midfielder, Huddlestone lacked it. Never really was able to cut teams open nor scored enough goals considering his John Arne Riise-esque right foot.
CM – Wilson Palacios
Palacios’ excellent form in the Honduran top league warranted him first a loan move to Birmingham, followed by spells at Wigan, Spurs and Stoke during this Premier League career.
Tottenham paid £12million for the memorably named midfielder, but didn’t get a lot for their money. One goal and a whole lot of disappointment was about as good as it got for Palacios at White Hart Lane before he was shipped off to Stoke.
LM – David Ginola
Unbelievable on his day, in-fact, world-beating on his day. His day just wasn’t too often, though.
For all his dazzling skills, brilliant finishes and of course beautiful locks, Ginola was ultimately too lackadaisical to be considered a Tottenham great, with his nonchalance being the biggest bane for numerous managers and fans throughout his career.
ST – Roman Pavlyuchenko
I’m fairly certain that almost all Tottenham fans will agree this boy was over-rated.
Another one who regularly failed to turn up at all, the Russian’s inconsistency was frustrating and he was very much a player who only showed during the cup games when he played against lesser opposition.
His career peaked at White Hart Lane, but soon plummeted and he is still plying his trade at Russian premier division side FC Ural Yekaterinburg.
ST – Peter Crouch
Don’t get me wrong, Crouch had his glory days when players simply didn’t know how to deal with his height and physical presence, and his link-up with Jermain Defoe was at times brilliant.
His best days were way past him by the time he’d moved to White Hart Lane however, and looked out-of-sorts when the ball was anywhere but in the air, and even then he struggled despite his gangly 6ft 7in frame.