Keane Banned

Keano's dubious red card against Bolton has been upheld and he will be banned for one game (next weekend's visit to the Boleyn).

I was in a good position to see the incident and in all honesty it would have been very difficult to move out of the way in time to avoid the ball contacting his hand as a result of the point blank header. Fortunately for us the ban is not really significant.

Will we keep big guns?

After Berby's superb peforance on Sunday in linking up with Keano then subsequently on his own he has drawn some impressive plaudits. MJ said it may be the best peformance he has ever seen by a striker up front on his own. Steve Perryman said he is a Bill Nicholson player. Ronny Rosenthal even compared him to Marco Van Basten, high praise indeed for the elegant Bulgarian.

The upshot of this is that we have a hot property on our hands, the papers and websites that circulate the transfer gossip are awash with stories that we will be fighting off large bids for Berby in the summer. I realise that this is probably inevitable, United need a striker and should have gone for him when they had the chance, and lets be fair, he could get in the team anywhere in England. My favourtie rumour is that the filthy Gooners will be in for him. I don't care if they offer £50m for him, the chances of the club selling our best player to the enemy is laughable, they know the backlash from the fans would be unbearable.





Encouragingly Berbatov himself seems very settled and has made positive noises saying, "My first game was an experience I'll never forget. It was not good and we lost, but it was a long time ago and things are different now, I've learnt a lot. Against Bolton this time, not only me, but everyone, showed that we are a great club with a great future and, if we carry on like that, we can achieve a lot" even going on to suggest we had the squad to become a top 4 team.

With Berbatov, Lennon and King all signed on here until 2010 or beyond I would imagine it would take a ridiculous bid to displace one of them, especially given the effect Michael Carrick's move had on our midfield in the summer

Ledley rumours everywhere

There has been a recurring rumour this season that Ledley King's injury problems are so serious he will be force to retire shortly. He had surgery on a knee problem in the summer which seemed to be unsuccessful as he was subsequently unable to train or play for 3 days after a match due to the swelling he was experiencing in the same knee. The club has also blamed hip and foot injuries for absences this term although in each case rumours circulated that these were not the true causes of his spells on the sidelines.

While I do not want to in any way discredit or disrespect the sources of the recent rumours I would advise some caution before truly believing them. I remember Paul Scholes' career being dogged by similar rumours of a degenerative condition that would lead to his early retirement and this condition never materialised, my hopes and prayers are that the King's will not either.

Wenger taking risk by playing with kids

Well it should have been us but eventually Arsene Wenger's kids came unstuck against Chelsea in the Carling Cup final. I had been saying for a long time that eventually Wenger would get himself in trouble if he kept playing with the kids at Arsenal.

Arsenal's 'reserve side' (using no less than 10 players who have represented their first team in bigger competitions this year) struggled to cope with the more physical approach from Chelsea and while they played some good football ultimately the experience won through. I feel that Spurs let themselves down against this Arsenal side (although we had to cope with Rosicky and Gilberto as well) as we could have been a lot more combative and physical rather than allowing them to play their way back into the tie as we did.



In typical Arsenal fashion once the final appeared lost the toys went out of the pram and Arsenal's famous 'gracious losers' faces were on. Cue a large scuffle, purely handbags of course with chief culprits Fabregas and Eboue (a strange combination of hideous diver and aggressor) failing to be disciplined approriately, and three red cards hadn't out to players who had committed only minor crimes. For me it is Fabregas who most loves to provoke; from throwing the pizza at Fergie to pushnig Davids after he was sent off to goading Mark Hughes to sparknig a huge brawl by wrestling Lampard for no apparent reason. He may be able to play but he is in the Thierry Henry bracket as a sportsman, ie an arsehole.

The resounding cheer that went up at the Lane when Chelsea scored their second brought a smile to my face and was the icing on the cake in a great footballing day.

ANYONE BUT ARSENAL!!

Bolton stunned but few surprises here

So Spurs went out today and suprised a lot of people by trouncing high flying Bolton 4-1 at White Hart Lane, an hour of which playing with 10 men. Some may find this a surprising result, certainly it was the best performance I have witnessed so far this season, great movement and energy from midfield coupled with tenacity in both defense and attack, brilliant performances up front from Keane (unjustly sent off in my humble opinion, although the ball did flick his hand after thumping into his chest) and of course Berbatov, the truest exponent of the Spurs brand of football currently in the squad.

So far this season I have had to listen to a lot of our fans being down in the dumps, this is the first year I have been able to go week in week out and in fairness perhaps it is always this way, but it is something that should change.

We as a set of supporters rightly have a reputation for being fickle, for demanding the best and being quick to voice their disapproval when it is not forthcoming, trust me I have been one of them! What irks me somewhat though is when individual players are targeted, when the fans get on the players' backs and when new signings get precisely no time to impress.

Last year it was Rasiak, a striker whose Spurs career totalled four starts....why? Basically because in hitting the post twice against Liverpool he hadn't done enough to convince the supporters at his new home that he was up to scratch, he was jeered in future matches and never really got a chance to shine. Now I am not saying I would like him to still be at the club, but he has scored 20 goals for Southampton and perhaps he isn't as bad as we made him out to be.

Currently the guys I would say have been getting the most stick recently are Lee and Benoit at left back, Rocha at centre back, Zokora in midfield and Keano up front.

I would like to address each case in point, I will start front to back with the Rabbi. Now we all now Keano was our best player last year and that he hasn't been in the side so much this year. Personally I feel he is someone whose fitness suffers when he is not playing, if he is not on the pitch regularly his sharpness suffers, but as we all can see now, when he gets a run he is top notch. All those who said he should be sold please take note.

In the middle Zokora has taken a lot of flak, however since Hudd has been removed from the midfield unit suddenly he has transformed into this tackling, passing, powerful dribbling machine? Don't think so. He was never a problem, our midfield wasn't functioning because there wasn't enough bite and enough athleticism and because we didn't have a great shape, nor did we hold our positions. Zokora's quality has never been in doubt to me and since it came to my attention how many people wanted him out of the club at the end of the season (despite this being his first season in English football and him being a proven international holding player) his form has been spotless, no-one in the midfield has been better. Still want Hudd to take his place?

At the back it is all too easy to explain. Rocha, again a proven Champions League and international centre back, has only played a couple of games yet people are telling me he looks a dud??? He doesn't now all of a sudden does he? Perhaps a bit more patience for the foreign players. Lee and Benoit have had the worst time at all, if you believe the people near me then neither of them are good enough, we still need a left back blah blah. Perhaps attention should merely be turned to the fact we have not got a true left midfielder, and since Tainio has taken up the position and played tight disciplined games our left back spot holds no worries at all. Funny how these things change hey?

In truth none of these changes in fortunes have surprised me, I have been happy with the players all along, I believe in the scouting system and the transfer philosophy of the club and I am willing to give everyone brought in to help the cause time enough to settle in and make a difference, I hope the rest of the Yid army can do the same!

IN JOL WE TRUST!

The Bolton Return

As the run in gathers pace we today see the return of our opening match of the season against Bolton Wanderers. After the dismal start to the season we suffered at the Reebok we found some form running up to Christmas. Our season has almost gone full circle since, suffering some demoralising defeats although our two away wins in two games have given rise to the view we have turned the corner and are due for a strong run in.

A win for our boys today could get us within striking distance of the top seven, which has been good enough for a UEFA place in each of the last few years now, add to this our two cup runs still going and the season doesn't seem too bad so far.

COYS!!

Return of away form coincides with departure of the Hudd

Now I know this may not be popular with fellow Yids but considering the amount of Zokora bashing that went on during our poor run this year I feel like someone has to look at the flip side and point out some truths about our change in fortune.

During our bad run Spurs were accused consistently of lacking fight, grit, passion, energy, workrate. The arrest in this slide occurred at the same time as including Teemu Tainio and Robbie Keane in the starting line up, I don't feel this is any coincidence. We all know Robbie Keane's form hasn't reached the heights of his stellar season last year, largely due to injury and the goalscoring form of Defoe Keane has found himself on the sidelines, however it is also abundantly clear that he has the much superior all round game, working hard and dropping deep to help out the midfield, something we seem to be in need of when playing away. Defoe sometimes disappears during matches when the service is not there for him and it may just be the case that he is more suited to playing at home.

Our other change, possibly the more important one, comes to the midfield unit that has not been functioning of late. Dispensing with the passing game of Huddlestone, Jol instead went with the line-up of Malbranque, Zokora, Tainio and Lennon at Fulham and then Tainio, Zokora, Jenas and Lennon at Everton. While we know Huddlestone has a lot of abilty on the ball and is good at picking a player out he has a somewhat languid gait on the pitch, his work rate isn't high enough and for someone of his physical size and power he simply doesn't get stuck in enough. Spurs have been suffering from a lack of movement in midfield leading to a consistent strategy of reverting to long balls when options are not presenting themselves and in Jol's selection for the Everton trip we fielded probably our most athletic combination in the middle giving us a tenacity and determination that was lacking while retaining no little ability on the ball. Width? Still lacking, but with current playing staff Spurs will not be able to achieve the true width we desire.

For those who feel that Zokora is not justifying his transfer fee and should be shipped out come the summer I would say this: according to Opta the guy has the highest successful pass ratio in the side, the highest tackling percentage outside the back four and plays a disciplined although somewhat unspectacular role in the side. We have five other players to attack and open teams up and utilising Zokora's powerful bursts from midfield more frequently could add another facet to his game. If there is anyone who feels that Huddlestone is ready to control a game, influence the midfield and should be in the team let me know, I would love to hear why.

Spurs goals online

http://www.egyptianplayers.com/multimedia/

Under Spurs you will see all the matches listed where you can view the goals.

Copy and paste the link and look for the files beginning with 'spurs'. Often gets the goals on there same day!

Lennon not good enough for England?

Ok now my back is up, it appears that in their wisdom the Fleet Street rags have decided Aaron Lennon is not performing and has failed to take his chance for England. Considering this 'chance' has so far consisted of 7 substitute appearances, the last of which came in September last year, six months ago!

"Aaron Lennon has failed to grab his chance and it is felt he lacks heart, despite having the pace McClaren requires." says the Sun.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007080594,00.html

"If the Spurs flier, Aaron Lennon, was performing with greater hunger and consistency, Steve McClaren would never have made his startling comment yesterday that David Beckham had given him a selection "problem'' on the wing." comments the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/02/22/sfnbec22.xml

Well it seems to me that the Beckham PR engine has kicked in again and this time Lennon is the fall guy, but that suits me. I am more than happy for Lennon to quietly go about his business at Spurs and carry on making the progress he is for us, however I feel that maybe the hacks should consider actually letting the bloke play before telling him he isn't doing well enough.

Petition to see tube station installed at White Hart Lane

Please could everyone sign the below petition on the Government website to request that the underground is extended to White Hart Lane. Not only would this be convenient but it is absolutely essential for the future of the club so that we can expand the stadium and dramatically increase match day revenues.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/TottenhamHotspur/

Rumours Rumours

OK Let's address some of the rumours that have been doing the rounds lately.

Firstly and most significant; White Hart Lane is to be rebuilt into a gazillion seater stadium and meanwhile Spurs will play at Wembley. Seems perfect doesn't it? (Apart from the fact I would have to travel right across London to get there) unfortunately it is unrealistic. We already have permission to extend our stadium and the reason we cannot go further with it is because the transport links are not sufficient to carry the increased numbers. Mr Levy has said many times that he is examining the options that are left open to the club and I believe the it is most likely that Spurs would have to move unless the Government shift their standpoint and decide to extend the tube to WHL. On the subject I will post a link to the petition on the government in the slight hope that it will prompt them to splash out the projected £70m cost required to have a tube stop on the doorstep.

Jenas to leave? Wouldn't be a major surprise to me, he has flattered to deceive at times and once we have a genuine left winger in the fold Malbranque will be a shoo in for the advanced central midfield berth. We have an abundance of central midfielders and while JJ is possibly one of the more talented he is in danger of never reaching his early potential and I could see a good offer dislodging him.

Spurs ready for takeover; typical non-story drummed up by the press. Basically we are in a decent position, making profit and playing pretty well hence we would be a good club to take over. No shit sherlock! I can't see it happening in the near future, the share prices shot up therefore the City must believe it but from what I can see there is nothing in the way of news in that area.