Tottenham News Archives

Saying goodbye to the football season is very much like giving birth to a ginger child: after nine months of optimism, hope and anguish, you’re left with a genuine feeling of disappointment.

The final day is often emotional. Who could forget Arsenal pipping Liverpool to the title in 1989? Well sadly, my old man. In fact, if you see a small befuddled pensioner roaming the streets, you’ll be better off avoiding football trivia altogether; senility is no picnic.

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Today’s transfer roundup starts with transfer-related news, but not a big rumor. Instead, I give two thumbs-up to Real Madrid’s Wesley Sneijder for looking out for his brother’s best interests, as he stepped in to prevent Real from making an offer to former club Ajax for his brother Rodney, a promising youth team player.

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So, what’s going on in the world of transfer rumors today? As always, chime in and chip in with opinions - and with rumors!

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Guess who’s back? That’s right, me and the transfer roundup.

The season’s winding down and the rumors are heating up, so you’ll be seeing me in this space regularly.

Anyway, on to the good stuff!

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All Premier League highlights from Saturday’s matches:

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Last year, with Tottenham’s season winding to a close and Jol already looking towards strengthening the squad in the summer, I suggested that Tottenham go for age and experience in midfield to compensate for the lack of composure (spine) that they’ve shown in the middle for the last couple of seasons.

That day the person I had in mind was the German international Torsten Frings, but a better player has, if rumours are to be believed, put himself on the market by saying:

“I don’t want to speak because I don’t want to inflict my personal problems on the group because our aim is fourth spot.

I think I have the right characteristics to play in that championship.”

Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan midfielder.

Now if you remember correctly, every summer we hear Gattuso being linked with a switch to the Premier League. It’s happened the last two summers with United being linked with him (and every time United go out and buy a defensive midfielder, just not Gattuso), and Ferguson himself has declared his interested in the player in the past.

And ordinarily, if Gattuso was to come to the Premier League you’d expect the big four to snap him up, but at least three of the big four (Chelsea (Mikel, Essien) Manchester United (Carrick, Hargreaves) and Liverpool (Alonso, Mascherano)) have enough players in that area and / or are going British anyway.

That leaves Arsenal, and while Gattuso would break Wenger’s piggy bank he would also be the ideal replacement for Flamini if the Frenchman chooses to leave Arsenal - in fact he’d be a better influence on the young Arsenal team with his experience and would add a real combativeness to the Arsenal side.

Other clubs (Villa if they lose Barry) are likely to be interested as well but when it comes down to big transfers it’s a matter of Champions League football and deep pockets and while Arsenal can offer the former, Tottenham have the pockets to at least attract Milan’s attention, and after that it’s the ‘promise of the Champions League’ and the promise of the Ramos revolution at White Hart Lane.

Arsenal v Spurs for Gattuso? Sounds a bit far-fetched, but it could be something to look forward to this summer, especially if Milan fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Tubby Brazilian Ronaldo may be one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch, but he’s definitely a poor role model. The AC Milan man let himself down when he invited three members of the late-night entertainment industry back to a motel. It wasn’t just the fact that they turned out to be ladyboys; he shamefully offered to pay them for doing nothing. If I pay a builder to construct a conservatory, and he brings along a few superfluous tools, I’d expect him to keep his head down and finish the job.

This sorry tale was not the only case of mistaken identity this week; Rio Ferdinand kicked a female Chelsea steward after mistaking her for a wall. It sounds like a tall story, but I once kicked the wife by accident; I thought she was her mother.

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According to Forbes.com Manchester United have been valued at $1.8 billion, ahead of the club traditionally known as the richest club in football (Real Madrid, $1.285 billion) and their chief domestic rivals Arsenal ($1.2 billion), Liverpool ($1.05 billion) and Chelsea ($764 million).

Have fun sorting the lists according to different criteria. Here are some highlights:

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Since Tottenham crashed out of the UEFA Cup on penalties back in March, its fair to suggest that cruise control mode has set in a White Hart Lane. The north London club are guaranteed a spot in next season’s UEFA Cup following their Carling Cup victory. But with just two games of the season remaining, the height of the club’s current ambition is to leap frog West Ham into tenth position in the Premiership table.

Spurs’s league form has been consistently inconsistent throughout 2007/2008 and to emphasise the point, Juande Ramos‘ team have managed just one win in their last eight games. It’s hardly the kind of form expected from a side talked about in many quarters as being top four material last summer.

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Saturday 26 April 2008 - English Premier League highlights:

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It’s that time of the season when the player of the season awards start being handed out. It’s also the time of the season when us fans argue about who has been the best player in each of the positions. It is unlikely that any two fans would select an identical ‘team of the year’ but for the purposes of debate and ‘friendly’ discussion I thought I’d have a go at putting my ideas on paper.

I have selected a squad of twenty-two from which I will select my final Premier League eleven. I just know that the players I select will be hugely proud to be recognised by me, a man who all the top players listen to. Mmm.

I’m going for a good old fashioned 4-4-2. Not because it is the only way to play but because it makes it easier to put down on paper!
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Saturday’s Premier League game highlights:

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Soccerlens welcomes odds man Gerry McDonnell for another round of playing offside, general debauchery and betting scams…although there is no evidence to suggest that Gerry McDonnell was involved in a scam, or in fact a scam actually took place, or that he’s actually paying for exclusive access to Lindsay Lohan.

I do enjoy a moral dilemma. An intellectual friend asked if I would kill a chicken to save a chicken’s life. I honestly replied that I’d happily slaughter a chicken if I missed breakfast.

He went on to ask if I would ever use inside information to profit from gambling. I once again answered in all honesty that I have never been involved in such a practice; but then again, I don’t know Harry Redknapp.

There is still uproar amongst the betting community whenever the controversial ‘next Portsmouth manager’ market is discussed. I must point out that there is no evidence to suggest that Harry Redknapp was involved in a scam, or in fact that a scam actually took place. I will just say that the 11/4 for a Newcastle win over Portsmouth should be investigated further.

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Tottenham Hotspur are exploring the possibility of building a new stadium on the trading estate that is adjacent to White Hart Lane. The Wingate estate is to the north of the ground, behind Paxton Road and between the High Road and Worcester Avenue. The club has identified it as an option, as they seek to increase capacity and, in turn, revenue streams.

Tottenham’s other option is to stay put and expand White Hart Lane, which can presently hold 36,310 fans. The global credit crunch has made fundraising for major capital projects difficult and it may turn out to be more viable to develop the existing stadium. There is a desire for at least another 15,000 seats, although expansion plans are complicated because the ground is boxed in on all sides.

If Tottenham made the short hop to Wingate - having first been granted planning permission and reached agreement with the businesses there - they could seek to build a 55-60,000 seat stadium.

(Source: AFP)

Heard a rumour the other day that Thierry Henry might be moving away from Barcelona after just one season. Henry’s name may not be synonymous with loyalty for most fans but why would he pack up and leave so quickly when he’s taken so much time to get settled in?

And then I heard that he would be coming back to England. Not to Arsenal, because that story has ended, but perhaps to Chelsea or some other big club. But the rumours didn’t stop there. Now we’re hearing that Henry could move to another London club, namely Tottenham, to be close to his daughter. Not far behind are the rumours linking Henry to Newcastle United and Manchester City, the former getting over-excited whenever their club strings a couple of wins in a row and the later already dreaming about next season and that big big big signing that Shinawatra has promised them.

Speculation can be fun, but this one is absurd.

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Michael Ballack has said that Chelsea’s stars have to reach the Champions League semi-finals to make up for their self-inflicted misery in the FA and League Cups.

Chelsea face Fenerbahce tonight after trailing 2-1 from last week’s away game in Istanbul. Although Chelsea are only 3 points behind Manchester United with the champions still to travel to Stamford Bridge in the league, the season has been a difficult one for new manager Avram Grant who has been barracked by fans and press for his lack of prior credentials and his un-Mourinhoness.

Michael Ballack (on the Carling Cup and FA Cup defeats):

“We lost because we didn’t play well in those two games. We went to a final and we shouldn’t lose a final. It was our fault. It was not that Tottenham played fantastic football. And even against Barnsley, it was our fault.

We saw it in the first leg against Fenerbahce. It was our fault. When we play our best football we can win every competition. We didn’t do that in two competitions this year. Everybody knows that and it is our motivation.

We have a strong team with a lot of experience. We know the situation when you go to a quarter-final and have to win. We have showed this many times in the past. I have confidence we can win the game but in the first game after 45 minutes we thought it would be an easy win, then the game changes.

It shouldn’t happen again. We will prepare well to make sure it doesn’t.

We play at home and we have a fantastic record at home. But they have nothing to lose and that makes it very dangerous.”"

While Ballack is focusing on the performance of his teammates, the axe is more likely to fall on the manager’s head rather than the players. But Grant has handled the pressure (and abuse) well so far, and even without Mourinho at the helm Chelsea are the side more likely to progress to the Champions League semifinals.

All the goals from 5-6 April 08 English Premier League games:

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Blackburn Rovers’ hopes of UEFA Cup football next season took a hit when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham.

Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov gave Tottenham, who have already made sure of a return to Europe by winning the League Cup, a sixth-minute lead before Morten Gamst Pedersen levelled for Blackburn on the half-hour mark.

England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was left out by Tottenham after being troubled by an ankle injury and his replacement Radek Cerny was soon in difficulties when he fluffed a clearance.

But Spurs were soon in front.

Steed Malbranque passed for Jermaine Jenas who found Berbatov in space and the Bulgarian coolly slotted in his 22nd goal of the season.

At the other end of the pitch, Pedersen had a shot saved by Cerny before England winger David Bentley created an equaliser for the Blackburn star.

Bentley breezed past Pascal Chimbonda before pulling the ball back for Pedersen to finish past Brad Friedel.

Bentley and his England international counterpart Aaron Lennon both shone in an end-to-end game but neither side was able to find the killer touch with the result leaving Rovers in eighth place and Tottenham in 11th.

Blackburn can still improve on this season, with Portsmouth facing a tough run of fixtures with an away game to West Ham on Tuesday and then home next weekend to a resurgent Newcastle United. Tottenham on the other hand have more to worry from Newcastle United overtaking them than of them going on to overtake West Ham.

After a turbulent season as replete with failure as success – an extremely disappointing league position and a whimpering exit from the UEFA Cup compensated only by a euphoric Carling Cup win – one gets the feeling that Juande Ramos and his team are to take advantage of the long summer break to effect a heavy clearout of a squad that was by and large inherited from their predecessors.

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The inimitable (we’re running out of adjectives) betting expert Gerry McDonnell gives his take on this weekend’s FA Cup action, Premier League action and all the other action he loves watching on the telly.

The adult film industry has many knockers, but I remain a fully-fledged supporter. My only possible critique would be that the storylines occasionally lack realism. I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I was with my job as a photocopier repair man.

My wife is a fierce critic of the genre as she incorrectly believes that the art form demeans women. Personally, I think it’s a positive when a hobby becomes an occupation; I would love to get paid for sending nude photographs of myself to Cheryl Tweedy. I’ll have to finance my pastime by backing Portsmouth at 10/11 to beat West Brom in their FA Cup semi-final.

My favourite sub-genre of the adult entertainment industry is the one when two ladies take a spiritual road to self-discovery. There are things I’d rather not see though, and watching Barnsley play Cardiff is the equivalent of watching Lisa Riley tinker with Jade Goody. Cardiff will probably win their semi at 11/8, but I’d rather watch something a little more uplifting.

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Reports both Newcastle United and Liverpool are interested in signing Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon.

For starters, I don’t see why Ramos would want to sell Lennon - it’s not like Tottenham need the money, it’s not like Lennon is going to fetch too much money, and it’s hard to see Ramos replacing someone like Lennon when there so much more to fix elsewhere in the squad.

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Juande Ramos has decided to splash the cash in Manchester United’s direction with Tottenham picking up a host of stars from the Manchester United firesale.

Tottenham are reported to have struck deals with United keeper Ben Foster, former Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick as well as French internationals Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre.

The combined deal will cost Tottenham £30m, and while some reports have suggested that Manchester United were giving Saha and Silvestre for free, we have confirmation from Tottenham that they will indeed be paying for the services of Saha and Silvestre.

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Kevin Keegan, in the heady aftermath of Newcastle’s 4-1 win away to Tottenham, has said that if Newcastle keep up their momentum they have a chance to finish in the top 10. Newcastle are 4 points behind Tottenham and 9 behind West Ham, and with 6 games to go (and with Newcastle still to play West Ham, albeit at Upton Park).

Keegan:

“We’re starting to look up now. There is a chance we can catch Spurs and one or two others who get stuck in that middle area where there is not a lot to play for other than pride.”

In some ways this is a smart move by Keegan - he knows his players have failed this season and he knows that they are better than the points table suggests - and if he can get them to play for pride and build up momentum, there’s a chance that they might just overtake Tottenham, if not West Ham.

On the other hand, it’s optimistic and Keegan is bound to get some flak for it.

Let’s look at the fixtures and see what’s possible:

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All Premier League highlights for Sunday 30 March 2008:

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Here’s an interesting threesome - or something like that.

Carson wants his future settled, and he’s said several times already this season that he’d rather be playing at Aston Villa than sitting on the bench at Liverpool. Liverpool have so far been reluctant to let Carson go, and it’s rumoured that if Benitez cannot convince Carson to stay at Anfield, he would then ask for around 10m (recent rumours put it at 9m).

So far, this matter seemed to be something to be decided in the summer - but the latest transfer rumours suggest that Aston Villa will not match Liverpool’s valuation and if Carson was to return from Aston Villa to Liverpool, a host of other clubs (Arsenal?) would be interested, with Tottenham being the obvious choice given their much-talked about goalkeeping troubles.

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Yes, I know what they say about repeating baseless rumours, especially transfer rumours.

But this one is interesting for a number of reasons.

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Newcastle came back from a goal down to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane four goals to one. Both team started with 3 strikers up front but it was Newcastle who made it count in the end, taking their chances and surging to a comfortable win.

The result leaves Newcastle only 4 points behind Tottenham in 12th place and a comfortable 9 points ahead of the relegation zone. If Newcastle can keep up this little run, they’ll have some cause for optimism although any such optimism needs to be tempered with the hard reality of the mountain of work