Sky Sports News had footage on a loop yesterday, of our lot running around the training park. My mind came up with two immediate theories.

This was a deliberate attempt by the Club to get the fans back onside on the issue of player commitment after 'Dublingate'. Either that or it was a recording and Arry was in actual fact in a white van at that stage; armed with a list of player addresses with a crate of Lucozade, a party pack of Aspirins and a flask of black coffee.

Levy: Would you be genuinely offended if I were to ask how many of them you anticipate being sober enough to turn up on Boxing Day?

Arry: Easy. Look, I'll get Sky on the trumpet, promise 'em a few quotes and get the lads in to run around a bit. On my life Danny, I can do no more.

Levy: You are an angel.

I went to Fulham at home Boxing Day/St. Stephen's Day last year. It was miserable fare. It really was. I'm in good humour so I shall spare us all the recounting how dull we were and how two bob our support was that bitterly cold day.

A year has passed and it's one in which Fulham have notably raised their game. Fantasy Football officiandos amongst you will know that several of their player's stock has crept steadily in value since August.

It's all about sending out a message again. Much like the game against Villa. That was a draw that drew groans from the Tottenham massive as they took a win and home in time for tea and medals for granted. If Spurs don't win this there'll be more than groans. This match however will be every bit as challenging asthe one against Mon's Men.

Danny Murphy was a bit part at The Lane but looks every bit the part at The Cottage. Even Damien Duff looks rejuvinated. 

So what am I saying?

I'm saying I want these treasured three points but I can see a flicker of value in Fulham Half Time - Draw Full Time and it ought to be worth about 14/1.

BIOYBDFC!

There could only be one and after observing due process the draw was made shortly before what can only be described as a table creaker of a feast was unleashed. I know no one would resent me having a hot dinner and so as a custard induced coma beckons I'll reveal the winner.

Trembly.

I was slightly nervous that out of the literally hundreds who were in it that that the name drawn would be someone who doesn't post and the cries of 'fix!' or, 'who's that, your brother?' would be deafening. So a relief in a way. But like a Paris Hilton date - everyone went in.

So, Citizen Trembler, well done on winning what is a bloody fine collector's item. I'm sure it will only serve to add to the majesty of the caravan. 

All that remains is for me to thank Jimmy Greaves for his generosity and wish you all a fabulous Christmas.

Fulham tomorrow and subject to me being unexpectantly arrested between now and then, we'll take a sneaky peak at teams and try, if able to sniff out a bet at the right price.

2. The Updated Lane Of Dreams by Norman Giller. Where does one start? Look, forget Christmas, think ...'buy'. This is one of sports journalism's most established and respected authors and writers and this is, for Tottenham fans is by far one of the loveliest books you'll ever read. Find out more and email Norman personally normangiller@thelaneofdreams.co.uk and tell Norm it was me wot sent you to ensure some 'autographed' service, discover Norman's exclusive 9-1 Wigan walloping souvineer pullout and some very preferential pricing. HERE

3. Savile Rogue Cashmere Scarves. Blimey. There is not only a respite from nylon, there is a place, a sanctuary. These guys have the sophisticated answer. HERE

Here the is the boy Hotspur's top ten pick of the pops for Christmas prezzies for yourself. If like me you use Christmas as an opportunity to get the one you love the most - aka you - something 'nice' then this Tottenham centric list has plenty to choose from.

Now, what I have as the big giveaway for Christmas is something rather special, something rather unique.  And in the the snap above is the one and only Jimmy Greaves showing you what's up for grabs. 
 
This amazing hand signed print of Greavsie playing for Spurs comes direct from Jim specifically for one lucky Harry Hotspur reader.  So no previously enjoyed quality fake rubbish off ebay, this is kosher. It's B2 size, which is approx 20x28 and would grace any Yid's office or abode.

All you have to do to be in with a shout is tell me what one thing you'd make number ten on the wish list.

Or alternatively just email me at harryhotspur@oleole.com and I'll put you in the HH Kiss Me Quick.

The draw will be made at some point on Christmas Day. Good luck...

Let me kick this piece off with what I believe to be facts.

Legendary Tottenham man Dave Mackay was admitted to hospital on Saturday. He was in the Fernhurst, the 'away' pub at Blackburn shortly before one o'clock when taken unwell. Unconfirmed rumours vary between a possible heart attack and simply being rather overwhelmed with the attention he received.

Again, unconfirmed reports are that ambulance staff took Mr Mackay to hospital given the nature of his discomfort and his age.

This is not an obituary though folks - rather a timely opportunity to remember and wish well a man who not only played a pivotal role in our own club's history - but football's.

Derby County played their best football ever under Dave Mackay and it was Mackay that managed their second title win of the seventies. True that he had the advantage of building on the foundations laid by Clough and Taylor, but he had the balls to step into Clough's shoes with a players revolt happening and still get the job done. "They are a schoolboys' eleven, not men," he said. "I am a man and I like dealing with men, not misguided children. I will fight them to the death," said MacKay.

Bobby Smith said of him, "When people talk about Mackay they always go on about how hard he was. And he was hard, but he was a very skilful player, he had great ball control, he could score goals, he was a good header...he had everything. You'd rather be playing with him than against him."

Bill Nicholson called him his best signing.

HH says, 'Spurs fans around the world wish you and your family all the very best.'

Every now and again the Old Bill capture thousands of illegal firearms due to their dilligence as crime fighters, uncoverers of wrong doings and wrong doers. But every now and again on an agreed day, the robbers just walk up to the cops and simply hand over guns, rounds, knives and all manner of heinous weaponry without fear of arrest or indeed reprisal.

So why isn't there a similar amnesty struck between John Terry and The News Of The World? Much like the criminal underbelly of society, Terry is a seemingly inexhaustible source of misdemeanors and dodgy dealings.

There ought to be an arrangement struck whereby the England captain works in unison for just one day, in unison and collusion with The News Of The Screws to produce a breathtaking tale incorporating all the qualities one readily associates with Terry. Deceit, corruption and self advancement.

The latest bust is HERE. Ten grand to watch Chelsea train, spy a few players in their ünterpanten and have a bite to eat in the canteen with the friend of an unnamed kid's charity himself, Mr John Terry.

What caught my eye here of course were the final lines of the piece.

'As we left Bruce offered more visits to Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham, naming two high-profile figures who could help lay them on.' 

Now, any clues on who the high profile contact at The Lane might be? Mmmmmmn..

Raising real money ten grand at a time could take forever. What one could do is get a player who, by mutual agreement, wanted to 'move on' and get him to organize an illegal party, fine all those who attended, raise about £1.3 million in salary fines, pay off any outstanding obligations to - say - HMRC and the be seen to sternly offload the 'disgraced' player into the bargain all in the space of a fortnight. 

My first sojourn into deepest darkest Blackburn and it'll be that act of a mocking god if I find myself that way again any time soon.

Thirty five quid to look out on a stadium that won't be jostling for World Cup inclusion, rather turn up on Homes Under The Hammer or something similar.

The game itself was a war of attrition. Blackburn are not very good at plating football and it seemed Tottenham had come along to take tips.

For both sides the passing was hit and miss with tactics one might best describe as 'loose'. Lennon passed short for most of the first half and the effect of him actually setting off and skipping away with it was a massive contrast in the second.

Crouch was terribly weak and was bustled off the ball with little encouragement. The Sarge had one of his dog chasing cars games but his replacement with Jenas actually made you mourn his departure. JJ's first contribution was to give the ball away, his second was to take the ball forward ten yards and then pass it back nine. I could go on.

Defoe looked, well, this'll sound harsh, but a bit lazy. That said; no one appeared to have any plans on giving the master swordsman any real service so I guess he became as frustated witnessing proceedings as I did.

We did score twice, well three times including PSB's questionably onside offside header but it was one of those matches where the scoreline didn't accurately reflect what went on. Don't get me wrong, Blackburn didn't exactly threaten - gawd knows how they beat Villa - it was all just a bit unconvincing from all concerned,

Three points but it was ultimately a pretty thin performance. I guess this is what 'top four' teams do. They go to kips like this and just ensure that they leave the cold and the snow with the three points and it isn't always done with football that's easy on eye.

Ho, ho, ho? 

Ho Hum, more like.

You heard it here last then; as he Mirror launches another multi million dollar exclusive then. England's Matthew Upson this time. I use the 'England's' prefix of course in the prejorative sense. As in England's James Milner or England's Joyce Lescott. It's not terribly coded way of denoting what we call in the trade grotesquely overvalued stock.

But then the old Welt Meisterchaft will soon be upon us, see? And every Tom, Dick and Parker will be doing their best five year old who desperately want to show teacher that they want to be picked impression.  Bum on seat edge, arm raised, chest forward and through gritted smile...me,me,me.

Who does look like he may turn out to be gloriously undervalued is our new best friend Niko Kranjcar. £2 million quid rather well spent. He has desire, ability and class. Arguably early doors but there will be few Tottenham fans out there who aren't delighted with him right now. 

Our very own Peter Ridsdale broke wind his exclusive on here yesterday that PSB might be incorporated in a deal whereby he went to Sunderland in exchange for £8 million and Ja Ja Binks. What substance there is in this I can't tell you. What I do know is that return of Modders will signal where we really are with the Pointy Shouty one. The Knacker and the Croat produced some good stuff together and if that work can be revisited we might be in for some treats and Bob an opportunity to save his career.

Speaking of whom - The Sun is saying he told Arry that they were off to play golf.Not get trolleyed in a two bit night club.

Good old Robbie. You can always spot the fellas at Dublin airport going on the lad's Golf Holidays.

They're the ones  in the polo tops and chino trousers kissing their wives goodbye and then serreptitiously handing their clubs in at the Left Luggage office in the foyer of the Short Term Car Park.

BIOYC!

HH said, "My head, oh my fecking head. The pain, the unremitting pain. I drank myself into a fecking hoop and I can't get out of it. Sweet mother of gawd somebody shoot me or get me some hoop exit instructions, I am in so much fecking pain I can barely breathe. Help me."

It was refreshing to watch a game where there were several MOTM's and not several candidates for horse whipping and deportation.

The boy Hotspur has secured two copies of the award winning 'The Boys From White Hart Lane' – Tottingham Hotspurs in the 80s. A lovely look back at the fantastic team of the 80s with chapters on Stevie Perryman, Ossie & Ricky, Tony Galvin, Paul Miller, Garry Brooke and many more more. A reminder of what football used to be like – wharts and all.

 Email in to be in with a shout of winning a copy, it's harryhotspur@oleole.com.

This form of grovelling has already paid dividends for numerous readers who are now busy running their own global home pyramid network business and/or basking in the financial rewards offered by our Nigerian Hoax Banking Affiliate opportunities.

The question is: Who wrote The Boys From White Hart Lane? 

a) Richard & Judy

b) Toni & Guy

c) Torville & Dean

d) Cagney & Lacey

e) Martin Cloake & Adam Powley

Manchester City are are a what your maiden aunt would call a rum lot. Somewhere between the Harlem Globe Trotters and the Magnificent Seven. But with inferior ball control and minus the last lot's iconic good looks.

Spurs by contrast are a bunch of perfumed ponces currently being investigated by the Trades Descriptions people for attempting to pass themselves off as a football team.

I think we'll win this. Amongst our weaponry we number flattery and deception in equal amounts. This is the mob who play like they're drowning against an unarguably mediocre outfit one day and then look like heros against a Champions League side the next.

And there's not so much the frustration but the root of all the anger they generate amongst us. They have the ability 'on their day' to do real damage. Unfortunately, all too often it's self inflicted. 

Look, we're at the top end of the table and we didn't get there by chance. BoyleSports are offering 9/1 for Huddlestone to score the goal that wins it. 

And many thanks to ODM for the clip..

 Who said there's been no progress at White Hart Lane? The fiasco has now gently advanced into a debacle.

'Officials' are 'trawling' through what must be literally minutes of CCTV footage in a bid to discover what occurred in what is thought to be some class of argy bargy between A&E and a Tottenham supporter near the tunnel at full time. 

Difficult to imagine a West Stand habitue offering anyone a bunch of fives, so my money favours an impressive sprint over from one of the know it alls in the Paxton. Passion like this for the badge shouldn't be automatically derided.

If he can shift up the right wing like that in a car coat, hat, scarf and clumpy shoes - he may well be able to a job for us - and once his identity is revealed we should put a bid in for him.

Losing to Wolves was a disaster from many perspectives. But the real damage was done days before. It's now been irrefutably confirmed that they all went on a jolly to Dublin that week. 

Some will ask, 'What's wrong with the lads letting their hair down?' The answer to me is two fold. One, if you are really asking that question then this blog should've carried a spoiler alert as you've only just discovered Saturday's result. And two - it's the manner in which these clowns carry on.

Lottery winners. Children. Amatuers. They have all that money and the class of Wayne & Waynetta Slob. The bar they descended upon in Malahide I haven't been through the door of, and Malahide is a decent enough haunt. But Copperface Jack's is a kip. Any eye candy allure evaporates in the steam of the place as fire regs are ignored and the p*ssed up kids march in and in and in. 

There was a piece in the Herald on our brave boys' bender which rightly asked the question  why it was they had failed to go anywhere nice? The answer of course is Knackerman himself. Blistering Bob Keane. Cultural Attache to the Tallaghtfornian Embassy, pointless shouty bloke.

It was PSB who organised this soiree. I'm just impressed that they didn't hit Carrols first for hats with ginger beards and drive around in Limos' waving various body parts out of the windows. Maybe they did. Their security team were on anyone with a camera phone like white on rice.

Apparently Arry binned Bentley and Crazypavinchenko on Saturday as he was sending out a message; based upon effort shown in training. I say 'East Ender speak with forked tongue'. It's more likely this was a due to them not getting their round in.

Premiership star man and distinguished Twitterer Barren Dent QC was quoted griping over Arry's management style this week. When it's going badly it's the player's fault and when things are on the up that was down to him.

Who knows or cares? What is certain, if there is/was a supposed booze ban at The Lane then who's enforcing it? Or does the tight lipped, ashen faced supremo simply leap into his motor, whack up his Englebert Humperdink tape to the max and floor it home to the High Chaparral at the end of each day?