An impressive Champions League showing in midweek showed that Harry Redknapp’s team are more than capable of mixing it with some of Europe’s finest. Tottenham fans will be hoping the midweek performance, will kick-start a season which has been patchy at best.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Spurs blogs which has included…rebirth of Robbie Keane; ridiculous gamble that Tottenham may regret and the seven wonderkids who never cut the mustard at WHL.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Tottenham stories on the Web this week.
Top TEN Worst Football Pundits
Top TEN Overrated Premier League Players
The rebirth of Robbie Keane?
The £6m Tottenham rumour highlights their lazy nature
Caption Competition: Van der Vaart faces up to an old foe
FIVE reasons for Tottenham fans to be optimistic
One aspect of Premier League clubs that the PRESS casually ignore
The Premier League MYTHS debunked
FIVE things we learnt from Tottenham’s CL opener
Ridiculous gamble that Tottenham may live to regret
Did Tottenham make the right transfer call?
Tottenham will only signal true ambition by ditching Crouch
Tottenham Hotspur’s striking dilemma
The 7 Tottenham ‘Wonderkids’ that never were
‘Six of the best’ – the Tottenham returns from hell
Top TEN Premier League WAGS
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Best of Web
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Local honour at stake for London trio with Wembley European Cup final – Guardian
Tottenham win 2-2 – Dear Mr Levy
Van der Vaart: Spurs Own Answer to Fabregas, Lampard & Gerrard – Football Pools
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You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
A game of three halves. – Spurs Musings with JimmyG2
Harry Redknapp accuses Arsène Wenger of double standards – Guardian
Believe – Dear Mr Levy
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A welcome addition to our Champions League wag series – click on the image to view the gallery of Yolanthe Cabau
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Aberdeen are closing in on the signing of midfielder Stephen Gleeson after his short spell at English Championship side Ipswich Town came to an end.
What’s the story?
The Dons are in need of quality midfield recruitment this summer after the departures of Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie.
Their aim will again be finishing second ahead of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and attempting to win either of the cup competitions, making this summer an important one, especially in the face of the Light Blues embarking on a renewed signing spree.
One player that could be arriving at Pittodrie is midfielder Stephen Gleeson.
That’s according to The Scottish Sun, who report that the 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international is on the verge of signing up with Derek McInnes.
Is he the kind of player they should be targeting?
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What does he offer Aberdeen?
Gleeson may not have a stand-out direct goal contribution in his career so far, but he is an experienced midfielder who has been trusted to perform consistently at the level Aberdeen are looking for.
He’s spent the last four seasons in the Championship with Birmingham and Ipswich, making 130 appearances in the competition in total. That, alongside with many more years in League One and League Two demonstrates he is of a capable enough standard to play in the Scottish Premiership.
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On a free transfer, it’s risk-free and could end up being a very shrewd bit of business from Derek McInnes.
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It’s clear what West Ham need, and it’s clear what David Moyes wants.
A new midfielder to boost numbers in a part of the pitch where the Hammers have been lacking is clearly a deadline day desire, but so is a new striker – something which has almost been the holy grail of West Ham transfers over the years, one who can actually score goals.
On deadline day, Moyes’ side appeared to be battling it out with another struggling Premier League side in need of a striker: Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle.
Both, according to The Sun were in for Leicester’s Islam Slimani.
And now it appears as though Newcastle have won the race – it’s a necessary signing for the Magpies, and clearly the Hammers would like a striker, but did West Ham really lose out here? And did Newcastle get what they needed?
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup Fourth Round – Leicester City vs Leeds United – King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain – October 24, 2017 Leicester City’s Islam Slimani celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publi
The Algerian striker was signed by then-champions Leicester from Sporting Club in Portugal and although he started reasonably brightly under Claudio Ranieri, Slimani could only bag eight goals in all competitions.
That doesn’t sound like a lot in his 29 appearances that year, especially in a side who were the champions of England and were a dodgy penalty call away from having the chance to take part in a Champions League semi-final, but the truth is that Leicester’s season was thrown into disarray early doors – it would have been hard for any new signing to really shine that year.
This season, however, he perhaps hasn’t done a whole lot better, but under new management he’s had less game time. It’s clear that Jamie Vardy needs a workhorse beside him, someone like Shinji Okazaki, whereas Slimani is a target man who’s already shown he can be dangerous in the air in the Premier League.
That would have suited both the Magpies and the Hammers.
Newcastle especially. Whilst it’s clear that, in theory, a player like Aleksandar Mitrovic is exactly what Rafael Benitez needs to win football matches, it’s also quite obvious that logic plays little role when a player like the Serbian is governed so much by temper and emotion. In short, he’s a liability the manager feels he can’t afford.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Leicester City vs Huddersfield Town – King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain – January 1, 2018 Leicester City’s Islam Slimani celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Darren Staples EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
For West Ham, they too need a striker, and it’s ironic that the player they need to replace is the former Newcastle player Andy Carroll. For all the former England man’s incredible qualities, staying injury-free simply isn’t one of them. And with the Hammers suffering yet another massive injury crisis, it’s clear that they need someone who can slot into the team as soon as possible.
That, though, won’t be Slimani. There have been reports today suggesting that the Algerian attacker has been struck down with a thigh injury suffered in training, which will keep him out for a few weeks. That won’t necessarily be a problem for Newcastle, who might love to get him in straight away, but might also be happier to wait than West Ham will be, given their situation.
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But that means it’s back to the drawing board for West Ham, who cannot rely on the fitness of Andy Carroll, have already let Diafra Sakho leave the club, and don’t seem to want to rely on Javier Hernandez.
For Newcastle, this is a necessary signing of a striker they can build an attack around. He is strong, good in the air and has an eye for goal. But for West Ham, you can see why they turned this one down: despite really needing a new striker, they surely couldn’t make their own injury list even longer during a crisis by adding a new player who is actually injured, too.
Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has told Manchester United and Chelsea that they will not be able to force his club into selling Luke Shaw in the summer.
The 18-year-old left-back has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top young players this season, establishing himself as a first-team regular with the Saints, earning his senior international debut and playing his way into contention for a World Cup call-up.
With his form having been so impressive, a number of big clubs have been linked with moves for his signature, with United and Chelsea both said to be willing to pay upwards of £20m for the teenager.
Both Southampton and the player have made no indication that they are willing to part company, but that has not quelled talk that a switch will happen once the season ends.
Now Pochettino has revealed that he believes Shaw will be staying and that the Hampshire side will make any decisions about his future:
“At the end of the day Luke Shaw is a player that belongs to Southampton, and it will be the club, Southampton, that makes the decision as to what happens with his future.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.
“Of course there will be interest for him, but so far right now he’s a player at Southampton and it looks as though it will continue that way.
“There are a lot of players who are under interest at Southampton, but they are all very happy at the football club, and most of them are under long-term contracts.
“They understand the situation of what it means to be a professional player in the Premier League.
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“There’s nothing really we have to speak about on that front.
“If there is any decision to be made, it is for the owners, not for me.”
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Reading’s Jason Roberts is set to continue his protest against the Kick It Out campaign and will not wear the “One Game, One Community” T-shirt during the Royals warm-up when they take on Fulham at the Madejski stadium this weekend.
The veteran striker is one of a number of the Premier League’s black players who are refusing to wear the anti-racism campaign t-shirt, in protest against the F.A., P.F.A., FIFA and UEFA’s failure to stamp out racism in the footballing world.
When asked by reporters whether he would consider ending his T-shirt boycott against Fulham, Roberts replied: “No, I won’t (wear the shirt) – that’s my own choice.
“If it was a T-shirt from another organisation I wouldn’t have worn that either. This is not an attack on Kick It Out. I am passionate about the PFA and Kick It Out but they have to do better, we have to do better,” he said.
The Reading striker admitted he was pleased with the new proposals set out by the PFA, intended to tackle the issue of racism. The proposals include the introduction of the Rooney Rule used in the NFL, in which at least one applicant of an ethnic minority must be considered by clubs for management positions, as well as immediately sacking players found guilty of racial abuse regardless of their profile.
“I think one of the issues is the employment side of things. [The Rooney Rule] is a step in the right direction.
“I would agree with that point [sacking players found guilty of racism]. You would think that something like that would already be written in. I am quite surprised it’s not,” he added.
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It was announced on Tuesday that Spain manager Julen Lopetegui had been appointed as the new Real Madrid boss, and Newcastle United fans have been quick to react to the prospect of Rafa Benitez being in contention to replace him, a rumour reported by the Daily Express on Wednesday morning.
The Daily Express says that the Magpies chief will be “under serious consideration” for the role having previously managed Real and Liverpool, and having been linked with the job before Lopetegui got it in 2016.
The 58-year-old’s future at St James’ Park is still far from certain as he waits to be backed in the transfer market by owner Mike Ashley before committing his future to the Tyneside outfit, with his current deal due to expire next summer.
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Newcastle supporters, who have been quick to react to a big development on a striker target with one saying “Charnley is on it lads”, took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said it “will be peak NUFC if that happens”, another said “I just can’t imagine him as an international manager”.
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has called French midfielder Moussa Sissoko one of his most important players.
Sissoko, 28, joined Tottenham from Newcastle United in the summer of 2016.
The midfielder has largely struggled to make his mark at Spurs, with a series of unconvincing performances leading to criticism from the club’s own supporters.
Pochettino, however, has paid tribute to the qualities of the former Toulouse youngster.
Indeed, the Tottenham boss has claimed that there is not another player in his squad that offers what Sissoko does when it comes to balance in the ‘transitions’.
Pochettino told reporters:
“He has been one of our most important players, You have to give the credit to him because he is the only player who gives or provides balance in those transitions – offensive to defensive, defensive to offensive – in the team.
“There is no other player in the team who can provide that. This is the best quality he provides to the team.”
Sissoko has scored twice and provided three assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham during the 2017-18 campaign.
Spurs will attempt to book their spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup when they travel to Newport County on Saturday night.
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Sissoko, who is valued at £18m by transfermarkt.co.uk, is expected to be in the team for the fourth-round clash against the League Two outfit.
The Mirror ran a live blog of reaction yesterday following Thomas Hitzlsperger’s announcement. That alone should be enough to indicate why the former German international waited until after his retirement to come out.
Hitzlsperger said he was advised against coming out while he was still playing, during his season with Wolfsburg in 2011-12. It would have been an enormous weight on his shoulders, even if his playing career was winding down. The manner in which the media and football community can handle this matter, as evidenced yesterday, discourages those wishing to speak out about their personal lifestyle.
It is a shame, of course, but it’s wholly understandable. Is the football world ready for active players to publically announce their sexual orientation? It says more about football as a collective than it does of them, but promisingly Hitzlsperger isn’t the first athlete to come out in recent months.
The comments of PSG defender Alex seemed to set up a barricade for those looking to come out. “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Yves,” was generally dismissed by Hitzlsperger, with the German stating he feels sorry for the defender, who’s inability to look past religion prevents him from looking at the wider situation.
But while Hitzlsperger has received plenty of support from those inside and away from the game, had he been an active player, his career could have been altered by his public coming out. Would clubs be so willing to offer him a contract? What about countries such as Russia, which more than likely would have closed its doors to him, regardless of footballing ability?
Hitzsperger’s interview was another positive step. As the highest-profile footballer to come out, it will encourage others to do the same. Even those who are intolerant of homosexuality, such as Alex, are in the minority.
It may have been too soon for the German to come out if he was an active player, such would be the furore – the aim is to take this matter to a place where it becomes a non-story. But those who are thinking to do so will be comforted by the fact that they are not alone, nor will they lack utmost support from fans, the media and the majority of their contemporaries.
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It’s the age old question in the game these days; fans, players and managers all want the club to have more of it but only a select few ever truly get their hands on it. Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all shown over the course of the past few years that having plenty of money is certainly conducive to success, but is that in itself a guarantee?
Firstly, let me just lay my argument down for all to see – money is the single most important factor currently operating within the global game. To borrow and paraphrase the speech Mr Smith gives in the second Matrix film “it guides us, it drives us , it defines us, it is money that binds us.” So much of the game as we know it is dictated by how much you have, but in football, there are no guarantees and without the right man at the helm, the right system or style, having untold riches can only lead to an inflated disaster both on and off the pitch.
Manchester City serve as a fine case in point having ended their 44-year wait for the league title last season during a campaign where by and large they were head and shoulder above the competition. You could accuse the club of having essentially ‘bought’ the title, which would seem a petty complaint given the money spent by previous winners, but it’s certainly an interesting case using the above theory of having all the right ingredients in place first.
Mark Hughes spent £127.7m on players back in 2008-9 and he followed that up with £118m the season after. Progress was slow but slowly but surely Manchester City were beginning to establish themselves in the top six. However, when you consider that this hugely expensively-assembled side included the likes of Robinho, Shay Given, Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy, just two seasons on and none of those players even played a part in their title win.
Like a kid in a candy store who didn’t know what to do with himself with so much choice, Hughes wasted money on a grand scale and bought plenty of players simply not up to the challenge of being in a title-winning side. While it may have been harsh to sack Hughes when they did, you could hardly criticise them now for placing their faith in Roberto Mancini instead, a manager with more ability who brought in players of better quality and won the FA Cup and Premier League title inside his first two years. Would they have done that with Hughes still in charge? Extremely doubtful.
Mancini spent £230m on players over the course of two summers, an astronomical figure, but importantly, the players he brought in, such as Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Mario Balotelli were all absolutely instrumental at different key junctures in the season. Money is a fantastic tool to have in your armoury but it all depends how you use it and without the right man in charge, City’s wait for the title would probably still be going on to this day.
Roman Abramovich’s millions helped transform Chelsea from a top six club in the Premier League on the verge of bankruptcy into a major player on the European stage and while their Champions League triumph last year had a large helping of fortune about it, there’s no denying that it was the culmination of nearly a decade’s worth of sustained investment, but the fact that they had to wait so long to win it disproves that money guarantees you success. Yes, the side assembled was hardly done on the cheap, but it was their team spirit which played the biggest part and without it, as they displayed under Andre Villas-Boas previously, they were riddled with inconsistency.
Liverpool spent north of £80m in 18 months after Fenway Sports Group took over the club, but a deeply flawed transfer policy of buying expensive British players has cost the club dearly in the long-run and the ruinous nature of their acquisitions is still impacting on their movement in the transfer market now. Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing cost £55m together in total yet they’ve contributed very little.
Over in Spain, while Barcelona are often lauded as the very model by which every club should aspire to be like in the future, playing as many as seven or eight academy players every week, the three of four that they didn’t bring through have certainly been brought in at a cost, with Javier Mascherano, Alexis Sanchez and Daniel Alves hardly signed on the cheap, while Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid finally reaped the rewards of their £80m man Cristiano Ronaldo last season as they pipped their bitter rivals to the league crown. Would they have done it without the Portuguese forward? Of course not, but it was the system and talent around him which made the difference this time around.
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Money does not guarantee success in football but what it does do is increase your chances of achieving it and grants you more opportunities to display your quality in games of magnitude. As a standalone factor, it is important but not decisive and financial mismanagement is commonplace in the game. Without the right manager and most importantly players, money can often act as something of a burden on the side, like an albatross around its neck with the weight of expectation dragging it further down, but with the right ingredients, as Manchester City and Real Madrid showed last season, it can prove an unstoppable force.
Rangers chairman Dave King has called for an independent investigation into SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan and his business links with Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
The Light Blues chief has also called for MacLennan’s suspension while such an investigation takes place, stating that ‘the credibility of Scottish Football in the minds of supporters and sponsors is at stake and urgent action is required.’
As reported by The Daily Record, the SPFL are adamant there is no conflict of interest.
It’s the latest in a long season of incendiary statements from the Ibrox chairman, with opposition fans growing increasingly amused with each new one that is released.
It’s also the second time in the last week alone that King has called for a probe into Scottish football’s governing bodies.
Celtic fans have reacted about as you’d expect, plenty with humour and others with sheer amazement given the Rangers chairman’s previous clashes with the powers that be in Scottish football.
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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…