Tottenham's top 5 moments in 2011

Tottenham flags are flying high

2011. What a strange old year. We entered it on the crest of a wave, riding high in the league and facing Milan in the Champions League. Ultimately we closed our season disappointed with promise yet again unfulfilled. The close season brought high drama, and the first two games of the season bought humiliation but as 2011 draws to a close, Spurs are riding high again but for any Spurs fans its hard to dodge that inherent pessimism that it could all go so badly wrong. So what were our top five moments? 5. The first five minutes away at Real Madrid

It may sound strange to cite a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid as a top moment but for those first five minutes as I entered into the majestic cathedral that is the Santiago Bernebau, a stadium Spurs haven’t played in since 1985, there was a feeling that we were back where we belong. Tottenham Hotspur, London’s most successful European Club. The Glory Glory nights that younger Spurs fans like myself had started to believe were mere fairytales were actually now a reality and then Adebayor scored and Crouch got sent off and the magic died as quickly as it had come. Still they showed the Spurs faithful locked inside the Bernabau post match the full 90 minutes of our 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the previous season! Classy team Real Madrid! 4.Kyle Walker’s goal against Arsenal.

Forget for a moment that this was the North London derby. This game was poised at 1-1, Spurs up against an established top four team and we were expected to win. If we had only taken a point the accusation of being the “nearly men” would have been aimed at us yet again. Kyle Walker’s swerving beauty ensured we took three points from a game where we wern’t at our best and perhaps didn’t need to be. Its often said playing adly and winning is the hallmark of a good side, well we certainly got it here. 3.Tottenham 4 Liverpool 0

Ahh the scousers, wasn’t this the year when King Kenny would take them back to where they belong with the might of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll? I couldn’t understand why all other 19 teams bothered even to show up, the title just had to be Liverpool’s. However in all seriousness this was a performance and a half. Yes, Liverpool went down to ten and then nine men and we took our foot off the gas, but the intensity at which we pulverised Liverpool for those first thirty minutes, battering them into submission and drawing the distinct lack of professionalism out of their ranks was quite superb. Flamboyant attacking football played at a breathtaking pace. It laid a marker against a rival. It was a complete performance and one which laid the foundation for one of the biggest shocks of the season so far, a consistent Tottenham Hotspur. 2. Luka Modric staying

In the summer of 2011 if you were a Spurs fan, everything was overshadowed by Chelsea‘s relentless pursuit of Luka Modric. Unfortunately the little maestro had his head turned (and in many ways I couldn’t blame him). Daniel Levy came out firmly and said he was staying and despite the doubters he stayed true to his word. Modric wasn’t sold, he started the season claiming he wasn’t in the right frame of mind but as soon as the window slammed shut and our form improved, Modric has looked happier than ever. There is talk of Chelsea moving in for him again but aside from money why would he leave? Kudos also to Levy. For too long in the Premeirship era we have sold our best players, the board seemingly putting financial gain over sporting success, this time we didn’t budge. 1. AC Milan 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1

I was on my honeymoon in the Maldives, in a quiet beach bar. I somehow dragged my other half along to watch this game. This was as complete a performance as any, to dominate AC Milan at the San Siro is something that can never be forgotten. The locals must have thoguht what was going on when I literally started running around screaming at 2am in the morning. Alongside Real Madrid and now probably Barca, AC Milan to me are part of European football’s holy trinity and the San Siro is one of the most awesome arenas in football. People may argue they aren’t at the level they once were but so what. Its AC MILAN. Oh and by the way, Spurs have still never lost to AC Milan home or away. This is what Spurs are all about, clad in all white. Glory Glory Hallelujah. And the Spurs go marching on.