Spurs visit underlines Birmingham progress

January 30, 2010

Harry Redknapp underlined the remarkable job carried out by Alex McLeish this season when he observed recently that Birmingham could not be discounted in the race for a top four finish in the Premier League.

It was not something the Tottenham boss would have said when the two clubs met at White Hart Lane back in August, at which point McLeish’s squad were still seen as more likely candidates for relegation than European football.

McLeish would surely walk the manager of the year award if the season were to finish now and, although Chelsea ended Birmingham’s 15-match unbeaten run in midweek, Tottenham know they face a serious test when the two clubs resume hostilities at St Andrews on Saturday.

An added time winner from England winger Aaron Lennon secured the points for Spurs in the first meeting and their defender Sebastien Bassong admitted he had been surprised how well Birmingham have done since.

“I think a lot of people are very surprised about what they’ve done, but if they’re in this position after more than 20 games then maybe they deserve this position,” Bassong said. “They’re playing well and they’ve got no pressure, so it’s a good time for them.”

The defender added: “We saw how difficult they are to beat earlier in the season at White Hart Lane. Aaron scored the winning goal in the 95th minute or something, and I think it’s going to be the same type of game again. But we played well on Tuesday (in a 2-0 win over Fulham) and we will try to do the same on Saturday.”

Tottenham, who go into the match sitting in fourth place in the table, are hoping to have completed the loan signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco by Saturday although it appeared unlikely the Icelandic forward would be involved at St Andrews.

McLeish is also battling to add a high-profile signing to his ranks before the transfer window slams shut, with Spurs misfit Roman Pavyluchenko and Lens striker Aruna Dindane among his potential targets.

He was promised up to 40 million pounds by Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung but has only recruited two midfielders – Craig Gardner and Miguel Marcos Michel – so far, to the tune of around five million.

It promises to be a interesting few days for the former Scotland coach, who has made no secret of his desire to bring in at least one forward.

“I’ve given the board a couple of names, and I’m hoping they will get something done for us,” he said. “The strikers need help. Kevin Phillips has a small injury and we need to add something to help the others because we’ll burn them out playing these guys every week of the season.

“I’m fearful they will lose a little edge if we do, so an extra striker would spice things up a wee bit.”

McLeish admitted that his side faces a test of character after the end of their unbeaten run. “It’s a new challenge for them because they have not been in this position for a long time,” he said.

“It’s now how they react.

“We knew that someday we would drop points and we have gone over old experiences.

“Manchester United have gone on unbeaten runs knowing that one day they would lose. It’s coping with that and not beating up ourselves over the Chelsea defeat.

“The good thing about the Chelsea game was that afterwards I could see in the dressing room that the players were really upset and cared. You can tell a player’s character when you get that sort of reaction.

“We haven’t achieved anything. They say pride comes before a fall so we do not want to be thumping the drums until we have done something.

“The Chelsea game was a little reminder that we still have some hard work ahead of us. I do not judge my team over a season on what happened at Stamford Bridge.”

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)

Tags: added time, alex mcleish, dindane, first meeting, good time, gudjohnsen, Harry Redknapp, high profile, hostilities, Monaco, premier league, relegation, remarkable job, spurs, st andrews, time winner, tycoon, white hart lane, winger

O’Hara rejoins Pompey

January 29, 2010

Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has rejoined Portsmouth on loan until the end of the season. Spurs have let O’Hara go to Pompey, who have struggled financially recently, have re-signed O’Hara.

The 23-year-old former Arsenal trainee made 14 appearances for Pompey during the first half of the campaign, scoring one goal against Blackburn.

O’Hara had returned to White Hart Lane due to the transfer embargo placed on the South Coast side.

An agreement had been reached between Spurs and Pompey for the player to extend his stay at the club, but he was forced to move back to north London and bide his time.

O’Hara had spoken of his desire to return to Fratton Park, and Portsmouth fans will be glad of some good news in what is a turbulent time for the club.

With the financial situation seeming to get worse by the day, it remains to be seen whether O’Hara will be able to improve the fortunes of the cash-strapped outift.

He is expected to be part of Avram Grant’s side for the Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.

Tags: arsenal, avram grant, embargo, financial situation, fortunes, Fratton Park, Hart Lane, Jamie O'Hara, league game, manchester city, midfielder, north London, o hara, Portsmouth, premier league, south coast, spurs, tottenham, turbulent time, white hart lane

Redknapp delighted with Gudjohnsen’s arrival

January 29, 2010

Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Monaco’s Eidur Gudjohnsen has joined Tottenham. The move takes the former Barcelona and Chelsea striker to White Hart Lane on loan until the end of the season.

Spurs had to face a stiff battle to land the Iceland international with West Ham also interested in acquiring Gudjohnsen’s services. It was reported earlier in the week that Gudjohnsen had a medical after agreeing a move to the Hammers.

However, the experienced forward favored a move to White Hart Lane instead, a move which has delighted Redknapp, who feels he can make good use of the utility player.

“I just thought he’s a good player and he can play several positions for us, he can play in a midfield or attacking-midfield role if we want to change our system,” he said.

“We’ve lost Aaron Lennon [to injury] so we haven’t got a great deal of width. We can play a diamond formation if we want to and he can be a big player in that system.

“So, yes, we took him on loan until the end of the season to see how it goes.”

Gudjohnsen spent eight years in England with Bolton and Chelsea between 1998 and 2006. He now returns to the Premier League after struggling to settle in his time at French outfit Monaco.

Tags: Aaron Lennon, Barcelona, Bolton, CHELSEA, diamond formation, eidur gudjohnsen, England, hammers, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, Iceland, midfield, Monaco, premier league, striker, tottenham, west ham, white hart lane

Bentley shines as Spurs put Fulham to the sword

January 27, 2010

Tottenham strengthened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

A first-half goal from England striker Peter Crouch and a second from the previously out-of favour David Bentley secured the win for Spurs, who remain on course for a Champions League spot after Liverpool’s draw at Wolves allowed the north Londoners to open up a three-point gap between the teams.

While the hosts will be glad to have ended a disappointing recent run, Roy Hodgson’s Fulham continue to struggle and have now lost four league games in a row after a strong start to the campaign.

The visitors’ preparation was disrupted by Manchester United’s announcement that they had agreed a fee for England Under-21 defender Chris Smalling, who has impressed since breaking into the team last September.

Despite the speculation, Hodgson felt that the centre-back was sufficiently focused and named him in the starting eleven.

But Tottenham’s started the game in electrifying fashion, creating two opportunities within the first two minutes.

With their first attack Jermain Defoe’s neat flick set up Tom Huddlestone on the edge of the area, but Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer dived full length to turn the former Derby man’s powerful drive wide of the post.

Fulham absorbed the early pressure and threatened themselves in the 12th minute, Heurelho Gomes in the Spurs net reacting quickly to smother the ball at Bobby Zamora’s feet after a smart through ball by Hungary’s Zoltan Gera.

Crouch broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 27th minute, but most of the credit will be laid at the feet of Luka Modric.

Two Fulham defenders were comfortably guiding the ball over the dead-ball line until the Croatia midfielder nipped in to pull the ball back and cross for Crouch, who threw out a leg and poked the ball past Schwarzer.

Spurs were guilty of throwing away the lead twice during Saturday’s FA Cup match with Leeds, so it was understandable that they curtailed their attacking instincts for a while after that.

However, Modric came within inches of doubling the lead on the stroke of half-time as he whipped a vicious shot over the bar after a jinking run down the left channel.

Fulham battled hard for an equaliser, but Spurs were always more likely to get the next goal.

Bentley, subject of much transfer speculation after falling out with boss Harry Redknapp, delivered a perfect cross into the area which Defoe headed just over the crossbar.

Former Arsenal man Bentley’s prospects of more first team football or a lucrative transfer were boosted when he made it 2-0 on the hour mark, albeit with a large slice of fortune.

Wales defender Gareth Bale won a free-kick on the left corner of the area after being hacked down.

Bentley stepped up and curled a shot towards goal which took a huge deflection of the defensive wall before looping over Schwarzer’s head.

The stroke of luck seemed to invigorate the former Blackburn man who had another long-range free-kick saved by Schwarzer before delivering a fine ball which defender Michael Dawson headed over the top.

Redknapp’s men showed they had learnt from Saturday’s draw, comfortably playing out time to give themselves breathing space in the coveted fourth spot.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Australia, bentley, bobby zamora, Chris Smalling, David Bentley, defoe, England, FA Cup, fulham, gap, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, Hungary, last september, league games, LEEDS, Liverpool, london, londoners, luka modric, manchester united, mark schwarzer, michael dawson, north Londoners, peter crouch, point gap, premier league, roy hodgson, tom huddlestone, Wales, white hart lane, zoltan gera

Redknapp won’t let Spurs dwell on Leeds let-down

January 26, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told his players to put recent disappointments behind them and renew their push for a top four Premier League finish when Fulham visit White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Redknapp’s side have endured a frustrating week in which they were denied victory against Hull by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill’s impressive display and then out-played by Liverpool, one of their main rivals for a Champions League place.

Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with League One Leeds was meant to provide an opportunity to get back on track but Jermaine Beckford’s stoppage time penalty condemned Tottenham to a replay at Elland Road.

Spurs remain in the coveted fourth spot for the time being but will be overhauled if either Aston Villa or Manchester City win their games in hand while Liverpool sit just one point behind having played the same number of games.

Despite their recent slump, Redknapp knows his squad can still enjoy a successful season if they pick themselves up quickly.

“We won’t dwell on it. I’m disappointed because we threw the game away when we had it in the bag but you have to pick yourself up and go again Tuesday,” Redknapp said.

Unsettled Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 2-2 draw with Leeds and earned praise from Redknapp, who scotched rumours he was about to be sold to Birmingham.

“Pav is here, he’s part of the squad and if he plays like he did when he came on every week he will be in the team every week. There’s nothing in the offing,” Redknapp said.

One player less likely to figure in Tuesday’s game is David Bentley after Redknapp left the former Arsenal man out of the squad for the cup clash in favour of youngster Danny Rose, paving the way for a possible move away from the Lane.

“He (Bentley) is here and he has to work hard to get in the team. That is all I asked them to do – come in every day, train hard and work hard,” Redknapp added.

“Footballers have a fantastic living, so it is not a lot to ask, is it? Come in every day, train hard and show a good attitude.”

Fulham are equally in need of a change of fortunes as their impressive start to the league campaign has spluttered in recent weeks.

Although Roy Hodgson’s team are still sitting pretty in ninth place, the west London club have lost their last three league games and haven’t won in the league since their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in December.

The Cottagers claimed a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, but Hodgson’s team struggled in disposing of their lower league opposition.

Hodgson also faces an anxious week as he waits to see if highly rated young defender Chris Smalling is the subject of a bid by Arsenal before the transfer window closes on February 1.

“If Arsenal are interested then I guess they better get in touch with us,” Hodgson said. “I have not spoken to Arsene (Wenger) at all. It has never been mentioned, and our chief executive has not spoken to their chief executive.

“Presumably that means they have got no interest, or the interest is being generated by someone else in the club or outside the club,” he added.

Hodgson will be without American striker Clint Dempsey who injured his knee during their 2-0 defeat by Blackburn last week.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Boaz Myhill, cup clash, David Bentley, day train, FA Cup, fulham, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, impressive display, jermaine beckford, manchester city, paving the way, stoppage time, white hart lane, youngster

Galatasaray set for Giovani loan swoop

January 26, 2010

Turkish side Galatasaray are closing in on Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani dos Santos as they look to sign him on loan.

The Mexican youngster, who has had to endure frustrating two seasons at White Hart Lane, is being targeted by the Turkish giants with a loan deal.

The 20-year-old has struggled to make an impact since his move from Barcelona in a deal worth £8.6million.

While, Spurs paid £4.7million up front for Giovani, he could not break into the starting XI when Harry Redknapp took over from Juande Ramos as manager and he was loaned to Ipswich for the final part of last season.

During the current campaign he has made three appearances and his progress has been hindered by an ankle injury suffered in the Carling Cup win over Preston.

Galatasaray have been busy in the January market in England, having also signed Lucas Neill from Everton and taken Brazilian striker Jo on loan from Manchester City. The Turkish side also signed Brazilian playmaker Elano from City in the summer.

Tags: ankle injury, Barcelona, Carling Cup, elano, England, everton, galatasaray, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, Lucas Neill, manchester city, Preston, Santos, swoop, tottenham hotspur, turkish side, two seasons, white hart lane