Hoddle magic may sink Coventry

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

Hoddle magic may sink Coventry

NZPA-Reuter London Glenn Hoddle pulls Tottenham’s rich network of strings to good effect at Wembley tomorrow night Coventry’s first appearance in an English F. A. Cup /final could end in heartbreak Hoddle, whose appearance in the showpiece of the English season will bring down the curtain on an illustrious career with the famous north London club, boasts a repertoire of skills most players only dream of attaining. The former Argentine international, Ricardo Villa, scorer of two of the goals which brought Tottenham its sixth Cup success in 1981, has no

doubts that with Hoddle running the show in midfield the club can maintain its record of never having lost in the final.

Villa said of Hoddle: “Quite simply, he’s one of the best midfield players in the world. He’s more like a Brazilian than a European and he’s the type of footballer you want to watch every match.”

Hoddle personifies the aristocratic standing of Tottenham. While it boasts internationals in almost every position and several players who look on the Wembley stadium

as a second home, only three of Coventry’s side have played there before. Tottenham’s manager, David Pleat, is hoping that this fact will work to his side’s advantage. "Coventry are playing with great spirit, but I don’t know how they will react on the day in the stadium, on that grass, in that atmosphere,” he said. Coventry’s skipper, Brian Kilcline, is adamant that the “Sky Blues” will not freeze. Confidence is sky high in its camp after a season of heady success under the astute managerial team of George Curtis and John Sillett who played together for the’ club in the 19605.