Harry Redknapp backs out of controversial substitution
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was forced to scrap a planned substitution in Friday night’s FA Cup win against Wigan amid fears the swap would disrupt his side’s momentum. Hossam Ghaly has not played for the club since throwing a tantrum (and his shirt) when substituted by Martin Jol in a match against Blackburn in May 2007.
s Sol Campbell will testify, the White Hart Lane faithful are not the most forgiving folks, and last night they showed Ghaly that he was still in their bad books. Ordered by Redknapp to strip off his tracksuit for a 10-minute comeback appearance, Ghaly faced a barrage of boos as he waited to join the action. This prompted Redknapp to tell the Egyptian to put his tracksuit back on and return to the bench. Read more »
Spurs master corporate whoredom for the unsubtle
Nothing quite says, “Please can we have a nice rich Arab sponsor to help pay for our new stadium like our North London rivals” like sticking the words ‘Naming Rights’ on the side of your computer-generated plans. For that reason Spurs have decided to do away with any semblance of subtlety or behind-the-scenes marketing and done just that.
It is a shame Juande Ramos isn’t still in charge because if the team was still humiliating themselves on the pitch, it is doubtful the club could have found a sponsor. The stadium might have actually been called Naming Rights Lane in a last ditch face-saving exercise. As it is, I’m sure ‘Arry knows a few geezers who will sort sumfink airt.
Russian star’s recurring dream of not playing for Zenit
A trawl through the seemingly endless stream of quotes from Team Andrei Arshavin since the summer reveals that the Russia international is a bit of a dreamer. Unfortunately for Andrei, he keeps dreaming that he wants to play for different clubs and can never quite decide which is his favourite. Rather than allow their talisman to make a mistake by following the wrong dream, Zenit St Petersburg are wisely holding onto Arshavin. Better to be safe than sorry, eh?
Read all about Andrei’s dreams after the jump… Read more »
No, not Gomes himself - the other man behind his mistakes
Yesterday, our friends at The Spoiler were mulling over the Premier League’s top scapegoats. As if by way of response (perhaps they were unhappy at no longer being the butt of quite so many jokes) Tottenham today ‘parted company’ with goalkeeping coach Hans Leitert. Read more »
How do you rewind after a hard day at the office as saviour of Tottenham Hotspur? Call round to your son’s house for a quick game on the Wii, of course. If you can get the daughter-in-law involved, even better.
‘Arry’s transfer dealings give the game away
1. Noe Pamarot
2. Younes Kaboul
3. Sol Campbell
4. Sean Davis
5. Jermain Defoe
This guy has been running a Spurs team on the south coast for the last few years right under our noses. His new job is basically a promotion from Tottenham reserve coach to Tottenham first team coach.
You wait two months for Juande Ramos to be sacked, and then…
Even though I was strongly of the opinion that Spurs needed to get rid of Juande Ramos, I did not see this one coming. Daniel Levy and co have taken a big gamble in paying off their beleaguered Spanish boss and rushing in a droopy-cheeked replacement. For all his experience, Harry Redknapp has never managed a big team. His naivety in European football, for instance, was exposed as Portsmouth suffered defeat to Sporting Braga this week (plus I had a dream that he got the England job and he couldn’t hack it!). Read more »
As you prepare for your weekend - be it going to the match, dragging yourself round the shops with your missus, or doing a bit of the dreaded DIY - just spend a few seconds thinking of the man who probably won’t get a minute’s sleep this weekend… the Tottenham kit manager. Ahead of Spurs clash with Aston Villa on Monday evening, the poor fella has got the dubious honour of getting the 12 letters of Roman PavluyenkoPavlychenkoBerbatov Pavlyuchenko’s surname in the correct order. I bet he is working up a sweat already - hopefully he will be surrounded by polyester to soak it up…
That’ll teach the miserable Bulgar!
Surely not? As if calling themselves United wasn’t going to wind-up Red Devils fans enough, Manchester City’s new owners are now set to pip their city rivals to the signing of Dimitar Berbatov. City have had a £30 million bid for the long-term United target accepted, although the Bulgarian is believed to still be in talks with both Manchester clubs.
City manager Mark Hughes said: “”I’m stunned and excited. Both myself and the fans are very excited by what’s going on. There have been a lot of disruptions and negative publicity but that’s been put to the side in one fell swoop.” Read more »
