Posted by Norfolk Ned on March 16th, 2010 | 16 comments
Tottenham appear to have finally bagged Brazilian midfielder Sandro. Manager, ’Arry Redknapp has been chasing the player since last summer– but now a deal has been declared ‘done’ by Internacional’s president, Vittorio Piffero:
The deal is done and waiting to be signed this week.
Sandro (20) full name: Sandro Ranieri Guimarães Cordeiro, has also been learning English ahead of the move, so once he arrives he can ask Modric and Palacios to pass and tell Jermaine Jenas to get ‘on his bike’; Tubby Huddlestone has signed a new 5-year deal at Tottenham this week and that means poor Jermaine is likely to be left out in the cold as the fifth central midfielder in the Spurs squad and thus, surplus to requirements.
A video of Sandro to get Spurs’ fans hot, after the jump.
Posted by James T on February 3rd, 2010 | 127 comments
Will Jermaine Beckford hurt Spurs once again?
Not long until kick-off, and this game has plenty of intrigue. For example, can Spurs halt a mini-slide that has seen them dropping points in the EPL (1-2-1 in January)? Can Matthew Dawson not concede a 96th minute penalty that got them here in the first place?
Leeds have been stumbling too (1 win in their last 6 games after that famous win at Old Trafford); just ask Ned about the latest League One standings, so this game stands as mildly pivotal for either side. Whoever wins gets a bit more confidence heading down the stretch (not to mention a few hundred grand for making it to the 5th Round of the FA Cup), while the loser continues to wade through self-doubt.
Lineups and pith after the jump. Stick around, won’t you? READ MORE
Posted by Norfolk Ned on January 28th, 2010 | 23 comments
He had a medical at West Ham but opted for Spurs instead.
Icelandic international and former Chelsea man, Eidur Gudjohnsen (31) is joining Tottenham on loan from Monaco until the end of the season.
However, West Ham are not happy at all:
“We thought we had a deal and the player had even had a medical. We then heard that Tottenham were trying to speak to the player. I can’t say I am happy about it but I believe in karma and what goes around, comes around.”- Karma or Karma Sutra? West Ham Chairman and porno magnate, David Sullivan could be confused.
Posted by James T on January 26th, 2010 | 6 comments
Defo-oooops
What do you do to a striker who has missed six of his last ten penalties? You relieve him of his duties, naturally, and that’s the fate awaiting Jermain Defoe at training this week. The miss against Leeds United on Saturday was the final straw for manager ‘Arry Redknapp, and thus, he’s making the switch.
Quoth the redhead gaffer: “I haven’t told Jermain yet but I will have a word with him. He would want to carry on because he loves scoring goals. You know what he’s like. But the one at Everton was in the 90th minute and it’s a different pressure. When you are 3-0 up, it’s easy. When you miss a couple, obviously it plays on your mind a bit. We’ll see.”
In short, he’s costing the team wins, and that’s unacceptable. The PK miss at Everton would have won them the game, and as Liverpool find some scrap of form in the push for 4th place, the added pressure is on Spurs to regain and maintain momentum for the final 15-16 EPL games.
You see, the club kinda needs that cash to pay off Udinese for the 2007 transfer of Sulley Muntari, and the Serie A club has been complaining to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) about wanting their money. Maybe, just maybe, the transfer of Kaboul could also help alleviate some of the trouble, like getting that pesky transfer ban lifted as soon as possible.
Posted by The Likely Lad on December 31st, 2009 | 0 comments
There’s bad news and slightly less bad news for Spurs today. On the not-all-terrible-considering front, word that Benoit Assou-Eketto has withdrawn from Cameroon’s ACN team. Depending on whom you believe, it’s either because he’s protesting the manager’s omission of backline mate Sebastien Bassong… or has a groin bother. Maybe both. Either way, he’s probably out a few weeks. At least he’ll spend that time in London.
But the foremost groin on all our minds belongs to Aaron Lennon. He’s going to miss anywhere between a few weeks and a month with a small muscle tear. And given that English teams make Bill Belichick look open and honest with the injury report, it’s a real concern. What we know for sure, Lennon will not play away to Liverpool (who have their own issues, but still…) in the clubs’ Jan. 10 Champs League smackdown.
Posted by The Likely Lad on December 14th, 2009 | 33 comments
Benoit Assou-Eketto in... The Tottenham Identity
Wolves at home. Bottom of the barrel Wolverhampton wandering into White Hart Lane for a placid Saturday afternoon affair. It was our light at the end of the tunnel. After shellacking Wigan, Spurs faced a tough two-week spell, with away dates at Aston Villa and Everton. Both being traditionally unkind hosts, I believe the more optimistic supporter would’ve taken three points from the two.
I was hoping for that, and maybe a fourth. And so with a half hour to go at Goodison, my four-point dream seemed a virtual certainty. Of course, there was one big problem.
Posted by The Fan's Attic on November 13th, 2009 | 7 comments
Carlo Cudicini's motorcyle is removed after his run in with a Fiesta.
Yesterday, Tottenham Hotspur backup goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was in a serious vehicular accident. Cudicini suffered potentially career threatening injuries–fracturing both wrists and damaging his pelvis. The goalie was driving his high performance motorcycle and t-boned a Ford Fiesta. The driver and passenger of the Fiesta were uninjured but the same cannot be said for the Italian as he has put his career in danger as well as his current contract. While I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery, I can only ask why?
Most, if not all, professional athlete contracts in the States ban the riding of motorcycles because of the inherent increased danger of the activity and I would assume it is no different across that big blue expanse to the East. So, why do something that probably violates your contract? Moreover, why do an activity that studies have shown to be more dangerous to life and limb than driving a car when your livelihood depends on your limbs?
In the States I can point to numerous examples of the stupidity of motorcycles and professional athletes. Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly lost his life when he t-boned a car and smacked his head into the car while he was not wearing a helmet. Thankfully Big Ben was not hurt seriously and resumed his career successfully but by the grace of…. Then there is Kellen Winslow, Jr., then a tight end for the Cleveland Browns, who lost at least a season thanks to his stupid antics on a two-wheeled vehicle that shredded his knee ligaments. Or, how about Jay Williams, then a point guard for the Chicago Bulls, who lost his career after his motorcycle accident? Williams had a promising career ahead of him after a good rookie campaign. But, he decided to ride his bike and ended up crashing it, fracturing his pelvis and never making it back to the game. All of these athletes had prohibitions in their contracts relating to motorcycles.
Now, this isn’t to say that athletes should wrap themselves in bubblewrap and do nothing like a hypochondriac. But, please use some common sense. It’s not a safe activity and when you depend on your physical attributes to make a substantial living, it just doesn’t make sense. Wisen up, please.
Posted by Moonshine Mike on October 27th, 2009 | 24 comments
It can also say "Harming Sting"
Tottenham is working hard to create the most “fan friendly” stadium in England, if not Europe, by 2013. I would suggest they should start by hiring a better dressed manager, and putting a better product onto the field (but the more they suck, the better the rest of the teams look!). With the addition of a supermarket, and 400-plus homes to the surrounding grounds, they will be looking to build their own enclave to shut out the hissing sounds from elsewhere. Can you hear us now, Tottenham?
Meanwhile, the Spurs are hot for a young brazilian by the name of Sandro. Playing with the U-21 national team, the midfielder would be a warm body to stick in the middle. Hopefully he will not be as recalcitrant as Jermain Defoe.
Posted by James T on September 22nd, 2009 | 20 comments
In a weekly feature I hope to maintain every Monday, I’ll be taking a look at a game or two and the tactical nuances that serve as the difference between a win, loss or draw.
In a break from regular single-game tactical analysis, it’s time to get more general. Thinking back to the summer and the flurry of spending and reorganization being undertaken at several clubs outside the Big 4, there was plenty of optimism about one of this season being the one where finally, the monopoly at the top is disrupted.
While that still might shake out over the course of a long and arduous season, there are enough question marks about the “Next 4″ to doubt the legitimacy of their challenge. This isn’t to say that the Big 4 aren’t without their fair share of issues (perhaps for another Pundit column…) but as recent form suggests, they’ve all managed to shrug off these problems well enough to remain in contention.
Posted by James T on September 14th, 2009 | 9 comments
Palacios: worn out against United
In a weekly feature I hope to maintain every Monday, I’ll be taking a look at a game or two and the tactical nuances that serve as the difference between a win, loss or draw.
After all, in a game of 90 minutes, it’s the little things that speak loudest.
As many feared and many more predicted, this weekend’s clash at White Hart Lane had the potential for a reality check, and in that respect, it didn’t disappoint.
Spurs were right to be worried about the absence of Modric, especially against a team that’s slowly finding its rhythm after a summer of tremendous flux.
‘Arry started boldly, but it didn’t take long for things to start going wrong. READ MORE
Posted by The Likely Lad on September 4th, 2009 | 11 comments
Ladies and gentlemen, the Power Poll has returned for its second season. As Paulie Cicero might say… “Now we can eat!”
A powerful Polish man, not be confused with our Power Poll
On the menu this Friday afternoon: Some old favorites, as reigning European champs Barcelona have made a predictably strong start, along with a few new dishes. Cockerel, anyone? How long these early favorites survive in our ultra-tasty and always competitive kitchen remains to be seen, but for now the consensus is pretty strong. There is little separation between third and ninth place, which mirrors the admittedly small sample size. Injuries have already taken a bite out of The Poll’s lone debutante side… and Uefa just spilled soup all over our second-ranked club’s posh trousers.
Posted by The Likely Lad on September 2nd, 2009 | 31 comments
The Likely Lad meets Harry Redknapp
One year ago this week, Dimitar Berbatov was packing his smokes for a long trip up north, leaving Spurs with a lone professional striker, or, more accurately, Darren Bent. An astounding feat really, given the embarrassment of riches the club had known six months before. By the time the window shut on the Turkey Triumviarate of Levy-Comolli-Ramos, the manager was left with Darren Bent, Roman Pavlyuchenko, and loanee Fraizer Campbell. Two transfer windows have now come and gone since Arry took over from Juande Ramos, and so I think it’s fair to say– on the strength of his Tottenham work alone– that ol’ Mr. Redknapp has a pretty good handle on his deadline day business. READ MORE
Posted by James T on August 23rd, 2009 | 3 comments
You’d better pray Carlton Cole plays well, else this woman will be on the hunt for vengeance. At today’s West Ham-Spurs game, good ol’ Can’t Control screwed up, causing this poor woman to go batshit insane.
