Opening day

Our record on the opening day hasn't been great in recent seasons - since the start of the 2010-11 season we've won two, lost three and drawn one. Going further back, it's a very mixed bag. But there have been a few crackers along the way. Here are 3 of my favourites.

Spurs 2-1 Liverpool (2009-10)

Set the tone for what was to come for the rest of the season. I remember having a weirdly positive feeling about the season ahead, given how we'd performed in the second half of Harry's first season in charge, the signings we'd made and the fact that everyone had completely written us off for a top 4 finish.

It couldn't have been a much tougher opening game, up against a Liverpool side who'd nearly won the league the season before. But, from the very first minute, we were at it. Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who went from average, inconsistent and moody to a superstar left-back in that season (and for a few seasons after) scored an absolute thunderbolt of a goal just before half time after a freekick was blocked. One of those "what has he just done?" and how has "he just scored that!" moments. BAE became a bit of a cult hero hereafter, and is still the classiest, most chilled-out left back I've ever seen in a Spurs shirt.

We were brought back down to earth when Glen Johnson burst through and a rush of blood to the head (typical) from Gomes gave away a silly penalty. Gerrard duly slotted away. After playing really well up until then, dominating possession and chances, it looked like we were going to throw all that away.

Not long after, though, we won a freekick. Perfect ball lifted in (Jenas? Maybe Huddlestone?) and our debutant Seb Bassong, who went on to have an inspired season, rose highest to glance into the net. Pandemonium. We never really looked back after that. Other than a few bumps in the road, we had by far our most consistent performance in years and deservedly secured 4th place at the Etihad with a Crouchy header.

West Ham 0-1 Spurs

Poch's first game in charge and a very tough test at a ground where results have been a mixed bag in recent years: epic last-minute wins, but also some fairly tame & dismal defeats. Things weren't looking good when Kyle Naughton managed to get himself sent off early on, but we showed plenty of character, clung on and weathered the West Ham pressure. Noble missed a first-half penalty - great save by Hugo - and we had parity in numbers again when Collins was sent off for the Hammers.

Game looked like it would finish 0-0 until Eric Dier, a virtual unknown to many who had been signed from Sporting Lisbon that summer as an exciting young prospect, suddenly found himself in the centre-foward position, on the end of a sublime Harry Kane pass. Dier, who had started the match at centre-half before moving to right back, showed all the composure of a seasoned striker to calmly take the ball around Adrian and slot the ball in with his left foot. Spurs fans in dreamland, West Ham beaten, great start to Poch's time in charge.

We struggled for any consistency for a few months after, until Poch tired of the has-beens and under-performers, cleared out those who weren't cutting the mustard, put his faith in youth and was rewarded with some superb performances in the second half of the season, none more so than the 2-1 win over Arsenal and the epic 5-3 win over Chelsea. The season petered out a bit tamely, but a 5th place finish and a cup run to Wembley was a decent return for Poch's first season in charge.

Portsmouth 0-2 Spurs (2005/6)

I remember fearing the worst before this game, given our shaky record at Fratton Park before then. But we won the game comfortably and it once again set the tone for a wonderful season, where we came agonisingly close to finishing 4th.

An og from Andy Griffin (remember him?) and a fantastic finish from Jermain Defoe (who, along with Keane and Mido, had a great season that year) set us on our way very nicely.

Of course, not all the opening days have been quite so satisfactory. Defeats to Newcastle, Boro, Bolton and Birmingham stand out as completely crushing, while draws with City (when Hart was in inspired form) and last year's defeat to United were frustrating.

I'm a bit concerned about Everton - given they now have a very decent manager in charge - but I'm hoping we can blank out the last 4 games of last season (and the first four) and get the season started on the right foot. Slow start cost us last season, need to be out of the blocks this. But a very tough ground at which to do it. Having said that, our record there is not awful. COYS.