No don’t get to excited the little Irish magician who scored over 100 goals for the famous lilywhites isnt returning from his holiday in LA just yet, but an interesting addition to the clubs scouting network has in the shape of a former manager and caretaker manager on three different occasions step forward Mr David Pleat. David born in Nottingham on the 15th January 1945 has somewhat of a mixed reaction from the Tottenham faithful, incidents in his personal life have led to this, his style and knowledge as a football man though cannot be questioned.
In his first spell at the club in 1986 pleat had enjoyed previous managerial success at Luton Town managing the club for 9 years his reputation as a man who enjoyed his side to play attacking attractive football had been spotted across north London, and the club swiftly appointed him after the departure of Peter Shreeves. In David’s first season spurs finished 3rd in the league, reached the FA cup final and the semis of the League cup. It was said this was some of the most exciting football seen at the lane since the late great Bill Nicholson sides of the late 50’s and 60’s. One man who shot to fame during Davids first reign at the club was another man currently on the first team coaching set up Clive Allan who hit 49 goals yes 49 goals in just one season. Due to rumors about his personal life Pleat’s successful stint at the club was up after just one season at the helm.
Not to be deterred Pleat returned to Tottenham in the director of football role in 1998 a role he held for 5 years, after the dismissal of a White Hart Lane hero Glenn Hoddle, Pleat returned to the dugout albeit in the caretaker role this being the third time he has stepped in for the club in a caretaker role having previously done so after the departures of Christian Gross and George Graham.
In his new role of chief scout, Pleat has already been very busy spending lots of time in Amsterdam……. que the jokes!
Scouting Ajax center back Jan Vertonghen the Belgium international has 35 caps with 2 goals and has built up quite a reputation at Ajax at the age of 24. Dutch-based media outlet Het Algemeen Dagblad are reporting that spurs have agreed a €12 million fee with Ajax for Vertonghen and will finalize the deal in the January transfer window. This would be a huge coup for the club and would address the problematic central defence area, with William Gallas out of contract in the summer, Ledley’s Knee’s and the likely January departures of Vedran Corluka and Sebastion Bassong. This would not be the first bright young player David has brought though to the club Jermain Defoe who he signed for 7million, Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington for 1million from Peterborough and a young Gary Doherty from Luton. He clearly has the vision to scout out good young footballers and long may this continue to benefit us, within this new role for him, it seems strange that no official announcement has been made via the clubs official website, again Pleat may have been hindered by the skeletons in his closet.
Written by John Wenham.
Lilywhite Rose 