mawspurs
Staff
- Jun 29, 2003
- 35,110
- 17,807
- Staff
- #1
Source: footballfancast
FFC columnist Fanos Kyriacou starts the first of a three part "Who's the greatest" series between two Tottenham legends either past or present.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have truly been blessed throughout the club's history to be able to watch some of the best strikers ever to play the game. Goal scorers such as Bobby Smith, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Teddy Sheringham have all graced White Hart Lane at one time or another. Two strikers who have captured the imagination of Spurs fans are Jurgen Klinsmann and current favourite Dimitar Berbatov. So who is better, the charismatic and prolific German World Cup winner, or the silky, sulky and skilful Bulgarian forward?
Jurgen Klinsmann
When Alan Sugar and Ossie Ardiles signed Jurgen Klinsmann in 1994, Spurs once again shocked English football by bringing a genuine world superstar to the country, just as they did in 1978 when they signed world cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. With the purchase of Klinsmann Spurs pretty much paved the way for clubs in the Premier League to begin to buy some of the worlds greatest players.
He was an instant hit at Tottenham scoring on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday and then proceeding to poke fun at those who claimed he was a diver with that now iconic diving celebration. He went on to make 56 appearances for Spurs in two spells scoring 30 goals. Klinsmann was the most complete striker of his generation. He was equally as great with both feet, fantastic in the air, had pace to burn and could create chances for his team mates. Klinsmann also had great charisma and was instantly loved by the Spurs fans and the media alike.
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov is what I would call a typical Spurs player, great skill that looks effortless at times and can turn it on and off whenever he feels like it. He can be frustrating at times prompting accusations of not trying hard enough in matches. Berbatov's goal ratio is certainly not as good as Klinsmann's with 36 goals in 82 appearances to date and just looking at this goal record would suggest that there is no comparison. However what Berbatov gives is that wow factor. He does things on the pitch that make you watch on open mouthed and in awe. Berbatov while not as quick, does posses greater strength than Klinsmann, his ability to hold the ball up is far superior and he also has the best touch of anyone I have seen at White Hart Lane. Personality wise he is also very different from Klinsmann. The Bulgarian is sulky and broody and he knows he is a fantastic footballer. He has the arrogance of Cantona with the nonchalance of Zidane and can win a match with a moment of brilliance.
There are some similarities between the two players in the impact they have made on the club, not least with the influence they have had on their strike partners. I have often argued that if it wasn't for Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham wouldn't have been half the player he became. When The German arrived at the club Sheringham was a good striker who scored a fair few goals. After a season playing together Teddy became the all round player that prompted Alex Ferguson to sign him as a replacement for Eric Cantona. In the same way, Dimitar Berbatov has helped Robbie Keane develop into a prolific goal scorer whereas before he was considered just a good second striker.
If I was judging the two players with my head I would have to vote for Jurgen Klinsmann as the better striker because of his superior goal ratio and all round game play. My heart, however, says that Berbatov is one of my favourite players ever to wear a Spurs shirt. I love watching the Bulgarian play football; he is a pure natural talent who will only get better. Just imagine, in a fantasy world, the two of them playing up front together, that would be a forward line that would strike fear into every defence in Europe.
FFC columnist Fanos Kyriacou starts the first of a three part "Who's the greatest" series between two Tottenham legends either past or present.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have truly been blessed throughout the club's history to be able to watch some of the best strikers ever to play the game. Goal scorers such as Bobby Smith, Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Teddy Sheringham have all graced White Hart Lane at one time or another. Two strikers who have captured the imagination of Spurs fans are Jurgen Klinsmann and current favourite Dimitar Berbatov. So who is better, the charismatic and prolific German World Cup winner, or the silky, sulky and skilful Bulgarian forward?
Jurgen Klinsmann
When Alan Sugar and Ossie Ardiles signed Jurgen Klinsmann in 1994, Spurs once again shocked English football by bringing a genuine world superstar to the country, just as they did in 1978 when they signed world cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. With the purchase of Klinsmann Spurs pretty much paved the way for clubs in the Premier League to begin to buy some of the worlds greatest players.
He was an instant hit at Tottenham scoring on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday and then proceeding to poke fun at those who claimed he was a diver with that now iconic diving celebration. He went on to make 56 appearances for Spurs in two spells scoring 30 goals. Klinsmann was the most complete striker of his generation. He was equally as great with both feet, fantastic in the air, had pace to burn and could create chances for his team mates. Klinsmann also had great charisma and was instantly loved by the Spurs fans and the media alike.
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov is what I would call a typical Spurs player, great skill that looks effortless at times and can turn it on and off whenever he feels like it. He can be frustrating at times prompting accusations of not trying hard enough in matches. Berbatov's goal ratio is certainly not as good as Klinsmann's with 36 goals in 82 appearances to date and just looking at this goal record would suggest that there is no comparison. However what Berbatov gives is that wow factor. He does things on the pitch that make you watch on open mouthed and in awe. Berbatov while not as quick, does posses greater strength than Klinsmann, his ability to hold the ball up is far superior and he also has the best touch of anyone I have seen at White Hart Lane. Personality wise he is also very different from Klinsmann. The Bulgarian is sulky and broody and he knows he is a fantastic footballer. He has the arrogance of Cantona with the nonchalance of Zidane and can win a match with a moment of brilliance.
There are some similarities between the two players in the impact they have made on the club, not least with the influence they have had on their strike partners. I have often argued that if it wasn't for Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham wouldn't have been half the player he became. When The German arrived at the club Sheringham was a good striker who scored a fair few goals. After a season playing together Teddy became the all round player that prompted Alex Ferguson to sign him as a replacement for Eric Cantona. In the same way, Dimitar Berbatov has helped Robbie Keane develop into a prolific goal scorer whereas before he was considered just a good second striker.
If I was judging the two players with my head I would have to vote for Jurgen Klinsmann as the better striker because of his superior goal ratio and all round game play. My heart, however, says that Berbatov is one of my favourite players ever to wear a Spurs shirt. I love watching the Bulgarian play football; he is a pure natural talent who will only get better. Just imagine, in a fantasy world, the two of them playing up front together, that would be a forward line that would strike fear into every defence in Europe.
