A target man was an essential requirement for Tottenham in the 2005 transfer window, having sold Fredi Kanoute and with the main replacement Dirk Kuyt deciding to stay at Feyenoord.  That left Spurs looking around for an alternative, with Rasiak being snapped up near midnight to fill the gap.

The Polish international has a good scoring record for Derby County, who he joined a year ago, hitting 18 goals in 40 games in the Championship as Derby County made the play-offs.

Strong and a good finisher, Rasiak will be tested in the Premiership, with Spurs taking the chance to pit him against some of the best defenders in the country.  The ability to link up with Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane would have been key to his success and it was hoped that they would be able to play off him and that he would be able to get on the scoresheet himself.

The reality proved somewhat different, with his first touch not what was expected in the Premier League and his finishing not as clinical as would be required.  Things might have been so different had he been luckier in his first game against Liverpool.  He had a header hit the bar and another one from a corner disallowed, as the assistant referee ruled that the ball had gone out of play before coming back to Rasiak to score.

His performances failed to convince and Jol decided quickly that he would not be the player for Tottenham, putting him out on loan to Southampton, who eventually signed him at the end of that season for the £2 million Spurs were thought to have shelled out for him in the first place.  At the New Dell he went on to have a very good first season as his team pushed for a return to the Premiership, scoring regularly at what might be the level he is best at.