The best Spurs 11 that never was...

In the last few weeks we have come face to face with a few old boys who had the potential to bite us on the backside. Although it is very easy to be wise after an event, I thought I would select my best 11 of the ones that got away.

I think it is only fair to leave out the big money sales who actually impressed in a Spurs shirt. It would be too easy to pick players like Berbatov and Carrick, but not only did we get great money from them, but they were also players that we would have probably preferred to have kept in footballing terms. I also wanted to stick to players who would be able to play for us today, so have tried to keep any selection recent.

Marton Fulop: This could have so easily been Paul Robinson, but in Fulop we had a player who seemed so full of confidence in his ability and we swapped him for a keeper (Ben Alnwick) who looks a million miles from being a Prem keeper. Fulop has of course established himself as a quality keeper at Sunderland.

Pascal Chimbonda: Dumped not once but twice by Spurs, but some think he is a better right back that the ones who replaced him. I thought he was given terrible press since leaving Wigan and although I doubt he will return to haunt us, is certainly as good as the RB`s we currently have.

Younes Kaboul: At the time of buying him, I wanted Curtis Davies (Now Villa), but as the club made so much effort to buy him, then as so often the case, dump him far too early. Defensively he was never outstanding, but surely the main ides of signing him was to play him alongside an experienced partner, which never happened. He may have been sold early, but the reality was that we probably shouldn`t have bought him, if we weren`t going to work with him.

Ricardo Rocha: Damned for one mistake! I always thought he was a decent player and again one never given a chance, but managers or fans. He wasn`t a player to challenge the likes of Ledley, but was an excellent player to bring in to maintain a steady ship.

Chris Gunter: This boy still has time to prove Spurs wrong and could still go either way. I think his sale was more about Harry wanting the more pacy full back in Naughton than actually not rating Gunter.

Wayne Routledge: Very unlucky at Spurs. To get a long term injury on your debut and then see your understudy take the Prem by storm, must be a sickener. His confidence seemed to take a real battering as a string of injuries and loans to struggling sides hampered his progress, but I have a feeling that now he has regained his form, fitness and confidence at QPR, I think we will see him in the Prem next season with someone.

Danny Murphy: I have always liked Danny as a player since his time at Crewe, but Spurs fans never forgave him for twice "rejecting" Spurs for firstly Liverpool and then Charlton. I feel both were reasonable decisions, but you can`t turn down a club twice and be forgiven. A very capable player and decent leader, but on a hiding to nothing.

Kevin "Prince" Boateng: I have always been a massive fan and feel he will be a big player in the next year or so. Big, brave and technically excellent. At a time we are again rumoured to want Sully Muntari for around 15m, we sell a player who is just as good for a quarter of that figure. Am I missing something???

Andy Reid: He is not fat it is glandular! Another player who was dogged by injuries, but was also the victim of a lack of vision from Martin Jol, who only saw him as a left winger a role where Reid clearly doesn`t have the pace.

Mounir El Hamdaoui: The only player here who never wore a first team shirt, but has since shown himself as a very good player and goalscorer. Last season`s leading scorer in Holland and an established international with Morocco. He is now touted as one of Europe`s top strikers. Scoring in Holland doesn`t of course make you a great striker in the Prem, but...

Darren Bent: What can I say that hasnt already been written...

I bet we will read a number of people claim these players were or still are not good enough and this article isn`t meant to be critical of past managers, as this is the same with every top club. This is more about what might have been if things had panned out differently for players or the club. Perhaps there are others I have missed? Simon Davies, Teemo Tainio, Dean Marney, Luke Young and Stephen Kelly could go some way to making a good bench, whilst there may be a few I have forgotten altogether.

Let`s hope that in a couple of seasons time we aren`t writing the same article, but with the likes of Adel Taarabt, Dorian Dervite and Giovani dos Santos as additions to that eleven...

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