Football
23 July 2010
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| Tom Huddlestone |
We coped with the dirty side of the game a lot better last year, says Tom Huddlestone
By Dave Smith
Tom Huddlestone reckons that, thanks to Harry Redknapp, Spurs are better equipped to mix if with the best next season.
Toughened up Tottenham enjoyed their best campaign for years and are ready to challenge for honours at home and abroad.
Huddlestone said: "We coped with the dirty side of the game a lot better last year - stuff like working extremely hard for 90 minutes, getting your tackles in, chasing lost causes.
"It got us a lot of results whereas before wins might have been draws and draws may have been losses.
"There have been a few times when we won ugly but you have to remember the club's philosophy of good players playing in the so-called right way.
"Maybe in previous years that approach has been a millstone around our necks, we have overplayed. Last season we seemed to get the balance right and maybe that was because we had Peter Crouch as an option.
"Before he arrived, we had three or four smaller strikers and overplayed a bit going forward - that's when you get caught out."
Huddlestone added: "Teams who have just been promoted and those classed as the lower sides see Tottenham as a massive scalp in the same way as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.
"If teams come to White Hart Lane and try to play football, like Chelsea did, then we can match them.