Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Mario Tilney-Bassett
Guest(s)
Release Date
20 April 2023
Duration
69 min
In this triple-header episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by Tottenham fan Mario Tilney-Bassett to explore three teams defined by genius and courage: Tottenham’s thrilling near-miss of 1986–87, the Netherlands’ total triumph of 1988, and the wartime defiance of FC Start 1942.
For Tottenham, 1986–87 was a season of both beauty and heartbreak. Under the innovative management of David Pleat, Spurs played some of the most fluid and intelligent football England had seen in a generation. They challenged for the league title, reached the FA Cup final, and advanced deep into the League Cup — a genuine tilt at the treble that few had anticipated.
Pleat’s Spurs were built around creativity and movement. Glenn Hoddle orchestrated from midfield with artistry that bordered on the divine, while Ossie Ardiles and Chris Waddle added continental flair. Up front, Clive Allen had the season of his life, scoring an astonishing 49 goals in all competitions.
Tottenham’s campaign was filled with unforgettable moments: Allen’s goalscoring streak, thrilling wins over Liverpool and Arsenal, and the heartbreak of losing the FA Cup final to Coventry City in extra time. The football world admired their bravery — a team who attacked relentlessly, even when logic said to hold back.
The episode revisits the tactical ingenuity, personalities, and sheer entertainment of that season — a year when Tottenham Hotspur came close to greatness and left behind a blueprint for beautiful football in North London.
Takeaways
Tottenham 1986–87 played some of the most progressive football of the decade.
David Pleat’s tactical innovation reshaped English football’s perception of style.
Clive Allen’s goalscoring feats remain unmatched in Spurs history.
Despite no silverware, Spurs earned admiration for their artistry.
The season proved beauty and ambition could coexist in English football.
Tottenham Hotspur 1986–87: Pleat’s Beautiful Nearly Men
Tottenham Hotspur’s 1986–87 season remains one of the most stylish and bittersweet campaigns in English football history. Under David Pleat’s tactical brilliance, Spurs came within touching distance of a domestic treble — playing football that dazzled fans and defined an era.
Built around Glenn Hoddle’s vision and Clive Allen’s finishing, Tottenham operated with fluid movement and possession-based control. Wingers drifted inside, full-backs overlapped, and Hoddle orchestrated play with elegance rarely seen in the First Division. Allen’s record-breaking 49 goals powered Spurs to the FA Cup final, League Cup semi-finals, and a league title race that lasted until the final weeks.
Though they fell short — losing the FA Cup final in extra time to Coventry City — Tottenham’s football captured imaginations. They proved that intelligence, expression, and ambition could thrive in an era of physicality.
Pleat’s Spurs may not have lifted trophies, but their artistry made them immortal. A team that dared to play beautifully — and almost achieved perfection.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
David Pleat’s tactical revolution at Spurs
Clive Allen’s record-breaking 49-goal season
The artistry of Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle
The FA Cup final defeat to Coventry City
Tottenham’s near-miss treble and long-term legacy
Clive Allen’s 49-goal haul in one season
FA Cup final vs Coventry City, 1987
League title race challenge vs Everton and Liverpool
Stylish 4–0 win over Watford highlighting Pleat’s system
Gary Mabbutt’s own goal heartbreak in the FA Cup final
Pleat’s sideline run to celebrate a last-minute winner
Notable Manager
Notable Players
Clive Allen, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Waddle, Ossie Ardiles, Gary Mabbutt, Ray Clemence, Paul Allen, Steve Hodge, Mitchell Thomas, Gary Stevens, Tony Galvin, Richard Gough
Style of Play
4-5-1 Formation, Positional Rotation, Possession-Based Play, Overlapping Full-Backs, High Technical Quality, Vertical Passing
Tottenham 1986–87 were a tactical revelation. David Pleat’s philosophy centred around movement, rotation, and fluid passing — a rare combination in an era still dominated by rigid 4-4-2 systems. Spurs played in a flexible 4-5-1 that often morphed into a 4-3-3 in possession, with Glenn Hoddle as the deep-lying playmaker, dictating tempo and direction.
At the heart of Pleat’s system was positional interchange. Wide players like Chris Waddle and Ossie Ardiles drifted inside, creating triangles and overloads through midfield, while full-backs pushed high to stretch the pitch. Spurs sought to dominate possession, drawing opponents out before slicing through them with quick diagonal passes and late runs from midfield.
Clive Allen, playing as a lone striker, became the focal point. His movement and finishing were near-perfect — timing runs between defenders and converting even half-chances. Hoddle’s vision and Allen’s composure created one of English football’s most effective partnerships.
Defensively, Spurs relied on organisation and balance. Mabbutt’s leadership and Clemence’s experience gave stability to a team that always looked to play their way out from the back. Pleat’s insistence on technical precision and short passing often saw Tottenham outplay more physical opponents, even away from home.
While the season ended in heartbreak — runners-up in the FA Cup, League Cup semi-finalists, and third in the league — the football was joyous. Tottenham 1986–87 became a reference point for how intelligence and expression could thrive in English football’s most pragmatic era.
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