TOTTENHAM's 1994-95 SEASON
IT was going to be a big year for Spurs - they were fielding one of the top names in the world game - Jurgen Klinsmann and they were going to be big box office wherever they went.
But could that be taken a stage further and translated into a realistic Carling Prremiership challenge? The fact that they began the season minus 12 points and out of the FA Cup as punishment for off-field financial irregularities probably put paid to their chances from the outset.
The season kicked off at Sheffield Wednesday where they scored an impressive win - but were made to fight all the way after establishing a 2-0 lead.
Klinsmann was on the scoresheet as Spurs won 4-3 and the German - a World Cup winner - scored six goals in Spurs' first six matches of the season.
Everton were beaten 2-1 at White Hart Lane but surprising defeats at the hands of Southampton and Leicester took some of the spring out of the club's step. Home form seemed to be a problem and Nottingham Forest made that point with a spectacular 4-1 win at White Hart Lane in late September.
Tottenham became bogged down in mid-table mediocrity in the spell leading up to December, never stringing together a run of victories or suffering a losing streak. That medicority, however, was to cost Ossie Ardiles his job as manager and Gerry Francis was drafted in from London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
Tottenham, after appealing agaainst their pun ishment of docked points, received all 12 back, in two stages and that combined with the arrival of Francis lifted them again.
That changed just before Christmas when Spurs embarked on a ten-match unbeaten run that included victories over Newcastle, the double done over Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich, Coventry, Arsenal and West Ham.
That lifted Spurs into the top six and a run-in which was more consistent than the beginning saw Tottenham hang on to seventh spot.
In the Coca-Cola Cup Tottenham suffered the indignity of a thrashing by Notts County, losing 3-0 against a side having a torrid time in the First Division.
Meanwhile when the FA Cup draw was made - Spurs were down to face Altrincham, they were no means sure of taking part but again, that part of their punishment was rescined and they embarked on a thrilling campaign that took them to the semi-finals where they were destroyed 4-1 by Everton.
The highlight along the way was a sensational win in a replay at Southampton. The South Coast club led 2-0 in the fifth round match and appeared to be cooasting home. On came supersub Ronnie Rosenthal to his two goals in two minutes to force extra time. He then completed his hat-trick and Spurs romped home 6-2.
The season ended with Klinsmann having scored 29 goals and Teddy Sheringham 24 and with Francis' iron-control the future looked rosier than it had done for a while at White Hart Lane.
Klinsmann's decision to opt out of his second year with Spurs to go to Bayern Munich was a bitter blow and took some of the gloss off the club's hopes for the 1995-96 season - but a little bit more application and a little less flash could be the making of Spurs again.
