Tottenham Hotspur and Emmanuel Adebayor – Friends at Last?

What is it they say about keeping your friends close, and your enemies closer?  And to what literal extent do you take this?  Well in a sporting world Tottenham Hotspur’s recent signing of Emmanuel Adebayor is about as truthful as it can manifest.  For this was initially a relationship that was both dark and disconcerting, and the joining of forces therefore had the potential to be problematic.  Having merely played for the North London club’s bitterest rivals, Adebayor had inevitably consigned himself to the hate list etched in the minds of those supporters who seldom forget previous affiliations.   Yet for whatever reason Adebayor more than most was elevated to a figure of detestation amongst the White Hart Lane faithful.  In fact this is a guy that was once goaded from the stands after Tottenham fans erupted at the sight of him tearing a hamstring in a game in 2009.  Whether this had anything or everything to do with the 10 goals in 14 games scored against them throughout his career is neither here nor there, Adebayor was in turn treated to some derogatory and highly offensive abuse from a more than considerable number of Spurs fans.  While footballs authorities delved into the issue and more significantly, so did The Crown Prosecution Service, Adebayor shrugged his shoulders with an attitude of “so be it” about the matter, with the belief that he had and will continue to overcome worse. 

 

Indeed Adebayor (aside from insulting chants form those too obtuse to know better), has previously been involved in some highly controversial moments on and off the pitch.  In the past five years alone the man from the small town of Kodjoviakope just outside Lomé, has had to deal with many confrontations with colleagues, reports of domestic violence in the home, and the incredibly sad situation which saw two of his fellow countrymen lose their lives after he and the rest of the Togolese contingent come under siege via a terrorist attack at the 2009 African Cup of Nations. So for Adebayor name-calling, racist or not, pales into insignificance.

Whether you appreciate his talent and self belief, or exasperate at his attitude and behaviour, there is no doubting the man known as “Ade” to his teammates has overcome much.  Of course certain actions such as his conduct during a game against his former club Arsenal for Manchester City in 2009; in which he stamped on his former captain Cesc Fabregas, raked the face of ex strike partner Robin Van Persie, and caused a mini mutiny amongst his former fans thanks to his goal celebration, are not overlooked. 

 

Clearly Adebayor has brought a lot of criticism upon himself though no one has verbally attacked the 27 year old quite like a large number of Spurs supporters.  So when manager Harry Redknapp moved to bring in the Manchester City forward on a season long loan many queried how the relationship between player and club would develop, with the irony being that on paper the two could be perfect counterparts for each other.  Tottenham Hotspur spent the entirety of last season regretting the lack of potency amongst their misfiring strike force, with a particular need for a player capable of single handily occupying a defence, while Adebayor if true to his word is in need of affirmation, love and settlement within a football club – a sense of belonging that Redknapp has been an expert at installing in his players since before the Togo international was even born.  If Adebayor can build on the start he has made which has seen him record three goals in two games, and continue to win over the other half of North London then he might just find the home he craves. You only need look at the jovial style of his warm up prior to kick off last Sunday to see that he is already making an impression amongst his teammates. 

 

Interestingly for Tottenham, the last striker to score on his debut and then net two on his first game in front of the home fans was a certain German by the name of Jürgen Klinsmann back in 1995, and like Adebayor, he arrived with critics about certain on field behaviour.  Nonetheless he won over Spurs fans and detractors alike to take the Football Writers Player of the Year Award before departing after just 12 months.  Spurs might be hoping this current maverick hangs around longer than his yearlong loan would permit.  For Adebayor this may be the best solution also, as at 27 years of age he is at the definitive point of his career and is in danger of floating from club to club without achieving the potential that was outlined by former Metz coach Francis De Taddeo, who plucked him from the African continent when he was just 15 years of age. 

However, before that can happen Adebayor quickly needs to find a way to enjoy his football again, and Tottenham need to extract the best from him, otherwise they might find themselves falling short of their targets for a second season in succession, while the Togolese striker’s current use as a freelance troubleshooter will continue.