All The News That's Fit To Print

Made a few comments on there myself at the beginning

The Mail and Sun both can't tell the difference between Zokora and Chimbonda in their articles today..... These are the same people claiming Keane has handed in a transfer request. It just gets boring reading the complete Anti-Spurs direction of their pieces sometimes

Hi Harry never posted before so go easy on me I am a post virgin, anyway i have not heard any more news on Gomez and Modric when do they join up with the current squad...Love your work by the way.

Been told by someone who would definitely know Bentley is trying to get a 10 person executive box at WHL for all his yid mates......

Changing the subject a bit, I would like to urge Spurs supporters to get behind the team a bit more this season. The club has shown great respect for the supporters recently with the investment of new players and the way in which it is dealing with the Berbatov situation. Past chairman would have kissed goodbye to Berba last season, but instead refused to give in to Uniteds bully boy tactics and waved goodbye to the great profits and it would have been even easier this summer but have so far refused to lower the price tag and give into player power. Well done Daniel Levy!!!!!

Never mind all that Bentley stuff the real tag of the day should be will we get Capel who looks just as good if not better than Bentley on the opposite side of the pitch. I think Bentleys' a cert for Juande's masterplan, the nexy big thing should be Capel as this sorts out defined player for a defined position that has been missing for some time now. If we can get these two signed then Berba and Keano will stay simply for the hatfull of goals that will come their way from the pinpoint crosses and through balls from Capel, Huddlestone, Modric and Bentley that will make them the highest scorers at the highest level for decades.

Always behind the team no matter what. That said, I have to admit that ST hikes, stopping autographs at training ground, last years Euro travel muck ups etc. don't endear me to the powers that be.
Let's just wait and see what the final line is when the season starts.

daily mail again reporting that keane could be sold and that we are short of a few bob. i don't think juande would sell all 3 of our strikers but who is most likely to stay? surely, if any or all were to go then there must be high calibre replacements lined up or we are right in trouble. who else wishes defoe had just hung around that little bit longer!

Short of a few bob? Yawn. We can spend 40 million on transfers a year and still be in the black.

Hahaha - It is that laughable some of the rubbish papers will print when theres nothing going on!
I think with all these midfielders we are buying that Ramos might be looking to go 4-5-1 next season, or even 4-3-3 in a Chelsea/Germany style formation. Berba played lone striker at his last club too.
We are buying far too many top quality mids to have any of them on the bench.

Carlospur - I agree that we could have too many good midfielders to have on the bench, but at least they are young enough to handle it. I expect plenty of changes in personel throughout the season, so i would still expect a 4-4-2 which will change as the game goes on.

does anybody know if blackburn are in pre-season training too? if so is bentley with the squad?

I see the Daily Mail is still basing its Keane related articles on known fabrications, of theirs. i.e. That Keane met THFC officials at WHL and demanded a transfer request, when we all know he was on holiday.

Articles that appear in the online versions of newspapers are written by (in the main untrained) would-be journalists who don't leave the office - which makes obtaining original quotation and new info. tricky unless their contact books contain players-agents mobile numbers - which they don't. They rely largely on third party info. and their imaginations.

How's about this for a line up then. Its dependent on Berba staying, I've used Diarra as a holding midfielder cos he's the best we could end up with. So it's a tiny bit fantastical at the moment, but:

----------Berba----------

Dos Santos-------Bentley

----------Modric----------

------Diarra----Hudd------

Bale---Woody---Ledley---Hutton

----------Gomes-------------


*drools*

sirhc

I believe Blackburn start training next week.

Have to say H - I am a little concerned by the red shirt on the bottom right hand corner of your profile pic...

Anyway you can contact someone in the upper echelons of Ole Ole and get it changed to Lilywhite?

Cheers.

everytime someone posts a team that they "WOULD LIKE" to see you go and spoil it saying we aint got this player or we aint getting this player WHY kill the fun for people?? think about it just let people have hope for players to be signed.

And by the way good team y!ddo! the formation i would like to see too

y!ddo!. Have to admit that team made me drool a little bit as well (and men generally don't have that kind of effect on me).

Really like it how you found space for Huddlestone - I think is got real class. I hope we don't suffer too many injuries next season - which is an obvious thing to say but we really suffered last season.

It was always a bit disheartening biggin gup tottenham last season and then seeing the team and it would look really light-weight.

I don't mind them as subsititutes and I think they are great guys but tainio and zokora. They're just not winners. Though I was impressed with Tainio in a couple of big games - just as a battler.

I think we need someone with those battlying qualities but also class. Diarra - I agree - would be perfect but looks unlikely now. I know this will never happen but let me put the case forward:

Berbatov

Dos Santos - Bentley

Modric

Huddlestone - Kaboul

Bale Ledley (or other) Woody Hutton.

Gomes

I know it perhaps seems a bit negative but it would certainly stop us leaking so man7y goals. I mean finding away around Woody, Kaboul, Huddlstone and Ledley cannot be easy. They are all fast - bar thud - and athletic but they also have the composure to play it out to the creative players. Kaboul actually has a pretty great passing range on him. DM is also where he plays for France U21. Imagine him an Thud just spraying them. I know it initially looks quite negative but with our two wing backs we still have 6 very creative players out there. My argument is basically that we would be able to actually grind out 1 and 2 nils occassionally - I hate knowing your goingto concede.

Opinions?

Coys.

As soon as we manage to offlaod a couple of midfielders, Bentley is ours, he wants to come and terms have been agreed.

It would appear as though we may have run out of cash!!

We need cover for King / woodgate before any of that shit otherwise whats the point?

I'm sure Ramos knows what Im saying

Personally speaking, Blog-Head you amuse me.

By the way, 'tiny-bit fantastical' is not over the top at all.

Signing Bentley is not far off - it is littered all over the media not just here - and then you've only got Diarra. A player who was bought for £5 mill by pompey. He didn't say Gattuso, Pirlo, Hargreaves... I don't think Diarra will leave but a player of around that level is not at all unrealistic for spurs - and that is not being naive at all.

Dos Santos is wank?! yeah, okay. Great talent at Barcelona, already Mexico's best player and still only 19. He may not rip the premiership apart but he's an excellent prospect.

Grow a pair clog-head.

ChaosTheory,

Ssssshhhhhhhhh...........Dont encourage me.

You dont want to be seen talking to riff raff

hekko good team mate not sure about kaboul in middle but I see with the exception of Bentley u r selecting players at our disposal and also if I had to pick kaboul I would rather play him there than defence but saying so I feel he's spoke too much about Ramos and I dont think Ramos stands for that so GOODBYE YOUNIS!!

Fellas, i just heard some great news and i feel i need to tell you all...

We are staying at White Hart Lane!!!

My cousin owns 2 of the warehouses and buildings on Paxton Rd and has now been offered a great deal from THFC to relocate his business so that they can spin the stadium around 90 deg.

he was offered a deal last year and he turned it down but THFC came back with a much better offer in the last few weeks. I spoke to him today and he is very happy to be relocated so that OUR beloved club can remain at WHL for the foreseeable future. His building is crucially located on Paxton and there was never going to be a redesign unless he agreed to leave.

What with a great squad, great manager, great ownership, low debt and our future guaranteed now at the lane - i say it loud and i say it proud - COME ON YOU SPURS!!!

hekko,

You're missing my point, I agree with almost everything you've said.

I said Santos MIGHT be wank, and that bentley and diarra are not spurs players.

Therefore, I was simply asking Yiddo to stop drooling over my new shoes

I would prefer it to look more like this:

-----------------Berbatov
---Keane ---------------------- Bentley
-------------------Modric
------------Huddlestone --Kaboul
Bale ---- Ledley ---- Woody ---- Hutton.
---------------------Gomes


Berbs to control and lay off the long balls fired at him from Thud & Kaboul. Bale bombing past Robbie on the outside left to whip in crosses for Berbs. Robbie's movement drawing defenders and making space for Modric to run into, fire in long range shots or play kinky little balls for Berbs. Dos Santos coming off the bench to replace Keane late into the 2nd half and run straight at the heart of the opositions defence. Its a hell of a team on paper. But come october most will probably be out injured for 5 months.

Its fine to be somewhat fantastical at this time of the season. As long as it's well considered and not utter pipe dream tosh. And yeah, I love the way I found space for hudd in there too. He'll be brimming with confidence after Ramos handed him his contract. Can't wait to see him start pinging them!

Hekko - Kaboul as a HM? Cheeky. I like your style. I've thought that before too.

All these teams people put up, try taking King or Woodgate out of them and see it dramatically reduce the strength of it.

We desperately need top quality cover. If we have to sell Berba to Man U maybe get Wes Brown as part of the deal

Just see an article on teamtalk with Klinsmann saying Podolski is going nowhere and he wont rest until hes happy.

I fully expected jurgen to keep hold of him a player who shone for him whilst managing Germany

sorry, i forgot to add that the ground sharing thing with the Dons is not a total done deal as the wembley concept is not finished with yet. Wembley has not met its revenue expectations and therefore is looking for at least a good years commitment from somebody, but it is looking increasingly likely that the Dons concept is the way we are going to go. From what my cuz told me its looking like May 2009 at the mo dependent only on council approval...

Sorry to deviate from the issues at hand with Bentley but Harry i felt this had to be said.
I dont profess to be an ITK usually but this info is 100% correct.

Please Keano let me sleep again - i want to hear the words from your mouth that you're not going anywhere...!

LINK%e2%80%99s-samir-nasri-or-tottenham%e2%80%99s-luka-modric-the-better-signing/ Everyone Vote For LUKA

Yeah Cb is definitely an essential. I've said it so many times I've jsut given up. I can't see us not getting a centre-back. But then again, I said that about a LM for absolutely ages.

Woodgate looked like he was returning to full fitness but - as much as I love him - King is just not a guarantee. We cannot afford to take a gamble on this. The difference between us and the top clubs last season was not attack but defence.

I though Dunne would have been fantastic. Whoever it is they need to be in the Dunne/Terry/Vidic/Carragher mould. Physically imposing and great positioning. Not light-weight youngster. We've got lots of exciting youngsters we need an old fart to bring a bit of wiining experience.

If we got Bentley - to be honest - we'de still be able to have a good crack next season. Modric makes a big difference. He brings some much needed class to our midfield. A real different dimension.

Blog-head: I feel like a right tosser for that rant. What is it with Blog conversation that just makes you let out an explosion of crap?

COYS

hekko,

Dont worry I love it

Bentley is a Yid it will be reveled on the 10th of July.

just six short days mine freuds

SpursDave - I agree generally but I think its difficult to put Keane in a position like that. Always works in theory - due to Keane's pace and trickery - and its been tried loads yet he never seems to work i those wide positions. I think Keane has just got to be accepted as an energetic, all-over the place forward with no particular postion. I think of him as a player with great unstructured instinct. A nutter from the streets of I'land. A loveable nut.

Harry. Great clip great link brightens my evening. The caught offside stuff is very funny.

You cannot whack the Coldharbour Lane boys, ODM.

And someone get this friggin red shirt off my boat.

HH

Evening.

We have already had one Keane have a retirement doo at Celtic I dinny fancy another one doing it.

Hello mate,

C'mon, you'd love the shirt sales, no? But take your point. You're a footy club, not the Frank Sinatra Retirement Home For Old Celts....

bob the gooner go back to school mate, and learn how to write with proper English!

Why don't you try to make some sense before you com on here, giving it the big'un!

God some people are beyond me...

Longlivetheking26 you dont like the truth arsenal will always b better then lot of poodles you just like the truth dickhead

Bob you card. I hereby unleash the hounds...

Hi all! Did any one have read what Daily Mail
said about Berba?,long and short of it is that he will stay for another year.

bobthegooner why don't you and chat on the gooner forum? Or is there nothing worth talking about on there, you sad little individual!

Hounds?....against poodles?

"Longlivetheking26 you dont like the truth arsenal will always b better then lot of poodles you just like the truth dickhead"

so...let me attempt to translate this gibberish...you are saying that Ar5sena1 will always be better then(sic) a lot of poodles..and that we just like the truth....well I would like to agree with that truth wholeheartedly...however I'm not so sure how they would do against a "lot of poodles"...it depends how many and how angry they are I would imagine.

However thanks for your honesty....very refreshing from a gooner.

Bentley on the 10th, boys.............

Go on the CMT...

Tell you one thing...

The last Keane retirement tour at Celtic was a sham. The board signed Roy, while the manager didnae moan aboot it I reckon he could have done wieoot it.

So how many new Spurs players wie we face in a few weeks?

And many Yids (am I allowed to call you Yids?) going to Rotterdam?

Bob The Gooner - Cheers From Chicago -

trueyid you are, as you say you are... A True Yid! I completely agree with you about daddy long legs. I just hope Pompey hurry up, and snap him up...


Just the thought of him at the Lane, is too much to bear!


As for all the gooners on here? Harry do something will ya! It's getting out of hand ;-)

I think you're on the wrong blog Arsenal_Labradoodle. Ah, but then you are half poodle so according to the "truth dickhead", aka bobthegooner, maybe you've found your spiritual home.

I thought some of the lads from the original site were being a bit cliquey questioning the new one, not now, they were right.

Concerning more pressing matters does the sale of Crouchigol to Pompey mean that Keane's going nowhere because Liverpool can no longer do a swap? Or are we more likely to sell if it's a straight cash deal what with the scousers being £10m richer and all? It's an intriguing development.

Didn't you hear Keane come out and say that he is going nowhere?

TMWNN when did Keane say that?

I've been out all day and see that the numpty-fairy has been playing havoc again! Who in their right mind believes that Juande "THE SPANIARD" Ramos will even consider playing 2 chunky holding midfielders in T-Hudd & Kaboul?

"Imagine him and Thud just spraying them."
"Berbs to control and lay off the long balls fired at him from Thud & Kaboul."

--eh? I think the purchases of the quick-footed and technically gifted Modric and Dos Santos show that Ramos will build a midfield geared around quick passing and movement, and the ability to retain possession under pressure. I don't see 'lumping it long' being part of JR's gameplan somehow.

I mean, REALLY! Kaboul? You've got to be kidding. He'll be lucky to make the expanded subs bench.

K26, he hasn't,so make of that what you will.

Dunno about Kaboul. Something deep inside of me thinks he could turn in to something good and whilst another decent CB would be a good idea I think Dawson lost a bit of confidence when Ledley was out and Robbo went AWOL. But with Woody Daws looks much more like his old self and with the Octopus behind him I think he'll be pretty decent.

For me Dawson has too many moments of madness particularly in the penalty area and we have been lucky that we have not been penalised even more than we have.

Kaboul, however, seems to be lacking in discipline more than anything else and may yet turn out to be a decent player.

In my opinion if we are talking about Dawson and Kaboul, then the latter clearly has more footballing ability. Where as the former has better discipline and character, if only we could mold the two together, to make one we would have the perfect defender.


Having said all that, i don't go along with all this talk, about having to buy another CB. Remember the fact that we never had a settled back line, in fact we had to re shuffle the defense a ridiculous amount of time. Hence this would have affected the whole team, and in particular the less experienced. I am sure people will counter, what happens if King, Woodgate get injured... we can't rely on Dawson and Kaboul? Well imo they will stand up to the rigors and demands of the PL, now that have last seasons experience to call upon, & they will be stronger for it.


You can only learn if you are given a chance.

LLTK26 I agree. Dawson looked a bit shaky in some games but then he had a Robbo behind him and an inexperienced young guy beside him who needed to get used to the premiership. Kaboul is fast and very strong and how much better might he look if he played half a dozen games with Woody and Gomes ?

By the way Harry. Did you know you're mentioned on the back page of the Guardian Sport section today ?

I agree and if the club really didnt think that Ledley could play most games next season they'd make getting a big name CB in a top priority but we've hardly been linked to anyone, unlike in midifeld. Dawson struggled last year and Kaboul was erratic but playing in a confident winning team ahead of a quality keeper i'm sure they'll come good (as Dawson had before) and good enough for me as back ups.

Also, I dont think we want to be getting rid of any of last seasons first xi (besides robbo who needs to move on) as even if we get in bentley and capel the likes of zokora, malbranque, lennon, chimbonda and jenas will give us the strength in depth we need.

North17 i hear what you are saying, we haven't been linked with that many CB's, in comparison to other areas like the midfield. The defenders we have been linked with like R Dunne for example, was a lucky escape imo as he is just an older/worse version of Dawson. If we were to sell either of the two, more than likely Kaboul by the looks of things, then we should be looking at proven/quality defenders like Fabricio Coloccini.

With regards to having strength in depth, you mentioned if we get Capel & Bentley you would like to see other squad players stay. But in all reality it is unlikely to happen, as it will not be a balanced/happy squad, and i can't see all of those players staying? If we are lucky enough to get these two class wingers, then any casualties will be worth sacrificing for the good of the team.

ODM: Haven't reddit, mate.

Presumably I have won a car/holiday of a lifetime and or have been revealed as the world's most cherished/hated serial oaf.

All bets covered, I await further instruction..

LLTK, No and I dont think we could afford to keep them all and you're probably right about not being able to keep them all happy even if we could (chimbonda springs to mind!).

The general point is though that to reach the next level we do need to do our best to improve the whole squad, as united and chelski do, rather than just improve the first xi which we would do by selling all the players the new ones replace.

And a big thankyou to all those posting comments that weren't swept off the floor from a chatroom....

I know it's wanky, but I haven't spent the time I have on this blog to become PlayAway online but minus the wit of Brian Cant.

Curious why these dream teams don't include Jenas. It would seem much more likely that players that showed something in the Cup Final (Jenas, Zokora) or at least got a lot of playing time under Ramos (not Kaboul) will be starting this year.

Kaboul, Boateng and Tarrabt will likely all go off on loan for some time. Once the Keano rumours started I thought the team might look completely different Podolski Millito Capel Bentley IN with Keane, Berbatov, Lennon, Bent OUT. Right now it would seem that the new faces will include Modric, Dos Santos, Gomes, a backup GK, Bentley and a Spanish CB. Lennon will be the only major player gone and hopefully we can sell the dead weight of Tainio, Gardner, Ghaly, etc. If we get to July 15 without Berbatov, Bent, Eto'o, Huntelaar, Villa and Adebayor moving teams I don't think there will be any team in the Prem besides Chelsea & Man City with more than 3 new faces in the starting 11.

Brendan Interesting thoughts, on how you think the transfer market buys etc will pan out. Personally i agree that a lot of deadwood has to go, but it hard to predict what is going to happen, to just about every team in the League! Of course we all have our opinions on what will happen, and that is part of the excitement/frustration at this time of the year.
The next two weeks will definitely pick up, the only reason for the slow start to the transfer market, is because of the Euro's and the inflated market. But ALL clubs will start to get desperate, the longer they haven't strengthened there squads. They will be forced to get there cheque books out, to splash that cash i guarantee it... Just wait and see!

I've just bought the Grauniad.





Wahey!

I'm allowed to make shit comments...

From Tangled Web in today's Guardian Sport : 'David Bentley's deal is done. "The boy Bentley is indeed coming to Tottenham," says Harry Hotspur. "He's been more spotted than the entire cast of 101 Dalmations in the last fortnight." Apparently Little Dave's two pals saw "Mr Bentley in Chigwell" , not far from the Spurs training ground (www.oleole.com)....

So Harry, next time some tosser accuses you of nicking a story you can point to this !

So Harry two questions:

1. How many other football blogs are quoted in the nationals ?

2. What's the fee ?

And the blog's so much better now you've got rid of all those irritating little Cants.

1. Lots but none of them are as sexy as me. Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffftt.

2. The bastards nicked it!

3. BIOYC!

Cheers, ODM, managed to get a copy...

Personally, I'm rather liking this more considered approach to the transfer window. Rather than spunking a wedge on a fourth first choice striker or 27 mediocre midfielders we actually appear to be selecting and signing players of real quality in positions where we are desperately weak (Hutton, Woodgate, Modric, Gomes... hopefully Bentley... ignores Gilberto while sticking fingers in ears and going "LALALALALALALALALA"). We're already a better team with Modric on board and certainly not desperate for more signings, although a shiny new quality DM would be nice. But then I have no idea how Ramos wants to play it next season so who am I to say what's what.
However, I'm not expecting fireworks next season. Europe, maybe, but certainly not top four. Not just yet.

Thierry. Re the top four expect the unexpected.

ThierryEnnui, why not top four? We were only a couple of points away from it not so long ago with a much weaker team than the one Ramos his presently. With more signings to come, I reckon we'll easily have a squad to match The scum's and the scoucer's.
The scum did have a relatively bad season that year, but there's nothing to say they or the scoucers won't have another one next season. You never know, "Big Phil" might come in at Chavscum and with a bit of luck, fuck them up.
It's obviously not a certainty that we will make the CL, but it's also not a certainty that we won't. Let's just wait and see.

The Top Four is at present like the search for the Holy Grail, many have tried only to fail...

Everton being the only recent success story.

And of course Spurs came so close, until West Ham final game of the season, when we were poisoned! But let's be honest we would all rather forget about that.

Going back to the question at hand;
Yes we could do it this season, but the problem is... since that infamous season where just missed out, other teams have also considerably improved. Teams like Villa, M City, B'burn, Pompey & of course the Toffees, making it even harder to break into CL places.

All i am saying is lets just wait and see, what the season brings before getting carried away... like season, because i certainly don't egg on my face again.

Like last season is what i meant to say ;-)

Only deleted 184 posts today...

HH

184 deleted posts and a "broadloid" nicking quotes from yer blog.

Quite a day.

LLTK26 That's funny, I thought I said that too ;-)

TMWNN the main difference being, that it's not just the Top For we have worry about, as you were suggesting? Or did i miss something?

Yes we both agree that anything could happen next season, both positive or negative, and that only time will prove the outcome of this.

But the main point i was making which differs to you, i reiterate was the quality of the teams outside of the Top Four, and there improvement along with us.

When you look at last season 11th place finish it was not only how bad we were, but also how good the other teams around us were.

26, if we can't finish higer than those teams with the squad we're assembling, we might as well turn it in now.

TMWNN that is the reality unfortunately, the League has become a hell of a lot more competitive. Largely due to the improved TV deals - which has enabled astronomical sums of money, to be pumped into all the teams in the PL.

Yes on Paper we should be above those teams, i agree with you... But as proven last season, we can take nothing for granted, we need to be able to out fight teams, not just out play them.

For me this the area of the team we are currently lacking most, ie; fighters & players, with strong leadership qualities. That is one thing that Jol was right about before he left.

Can't disagree with you there.

Check this out all Spurs fan, Arsenal admit they are a selling club!

LINK

Two things about the whole Top Four thing:
1. It may have actually worked in our favour, not qualifying a couple of years back. Remember it set Everton back a year or two, by getting into the CL and then getting spanked straight out again. It's demoralising...better to do it this season for Spurs, we are more experienced in Europe now and should be able to compete...no point getting into the CL to be embarassed when we are in it!
2. The argument that the other teams have caught us up in the last 2 years is a good one BUT don't forget that these teams will take points off of each other and the 'top 4' too, so it isn't more difficult, it's the same challenge.