Jim Duggan's TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR site

After thinking that we'd got away without a season ticket price increase, details reveal the cup allocation is being cut from 4 matches to 2 - all for the same price as this season. Either they are expecting short cup runs or are disgusing a near 10% price hike - just like Sugar, but with a bit of finesse.

In normal circumstances, I would have a right old moan about this, but I think ENIC are doing a good job, so far - so this time, and only this time - they get the benefit of the doubt. More crap like this season, next season and all of their favours have been used up. Forward together.

The all too brief glimpse of Ginola was just about the only memorable thing from Yesterday's match. While I would like to see him come back, I am a little concerned that he would not have the same effect the second time around. Although still very fit, he will be 35 next season (which would have been the end of his previous contract at the lane) and while he would be great to have on the bench to turn matches, but he's not happy with that at Villa, so I suppose he would not be happy with the same role at the Lane.

David Ginola admitted he was "overwhelmed" by the reaction of the Tottenham fans when he returned to White Hart Lane on Saturday.

"I am lost for words after the incredible reception I received," said Ginola. "It has never happened like that at a previous club. "The reaction of the fans was simply overwhelming - it touched my heart. The Tottenham supporters are beautiful people, I love them all. I had fans and staff coming up to me with gifts, such as bottles of champagne, because they were so happy to see me again. People cried when they saw me, and I have to admit there was a tear in my eye too. It was great to see so many old friends again, and words cannot adequately describe how I felt.

And just a bit of classic Ginola - "It hurt that I was given only 10 minutes to play in front of those adoring fans - both from Spurs and Villa - but of course I never question the decision of the manager, and he did what he felt was right for the team.

A typical end of season affair that we could have won, altho a draw was a more honest result. Another god-awful ref to contend with as well - where do they get these little freaks?

Don't worry its only Les, who has risen from the treatment table to sign a two year deal. Les is a good lad and had a good season and hopefully can stay fit enough to provide cover for the main strikers in the coming seasons.

The Mirror broke the story that Pep Guardiola will sign for us on a Bosman on July 1st - this would be great news, but I will only believe it when I see it. It was also the day the season ticket prices were announced.

Glennda was in Yugoslavia to watch the Yugoslav forward Drullic or the Russian midfielder Titov depending on who you believe - my money will be on Titov as Pleaty has him on his short list altho there is no reason why he would n't be after both.

It was also reported that we have done some sort of deal with Talksport relating to our radio rights - this will be good news as those cunts on Capital Gold will not have access to our ascent up the table. Daniel Levy said: "We hope this is the first of many revenue-generating deals, forming part of our on-going strategy to continue to increase the revenue base of the business in order to support the continued development and long-term success of the club."

Apparantly - Treacle has resumed full training on Tuesday, unfortunately he was joined by Thatcher. Treacle has been out since Sept while we have been spared Thatcher embarresment since his sending off against Sunderland in November. Ferdinand should be ok for the Villa match, with his absence at Anfield a result of a bereavment after recovering from his hamstring injury.

But as usual, the list of those not coming back is considerably longer. Ledley King is out for the season, and joins Sol, Freund and probably Perry, while no one is even bothering about Anderton.. Rebrov is described as needing "a lot of treatment" - ie - he'll probably play, while Iversen will find out today whether his scans are ok for him to resume training. Its odds on that not all of the players on international duty, of which Leo managed a goal for Norway, will return fit

More and more dubious tales of who we are going to sign in the summer is beginning to wear a little thin - although its a lot better than nothing or crap we have had for most of the recent years.

The predictable consequence of Ruud Whatshisname signing for ManU is that one or all of the other strikers will be rumoured for a move. A notable website has suggested that Pleaty has met Ted's agent which is probably in breach of his contract as he can talk to Foreign but not English clubs before the end of his contract.

I'm still not sure about a return of the Ted. I still love him and his recent player of the year confirms that he is still the business, but whether he is up to the challenge of trying to get Tottenham back to the top as opposed to playing at the top I'm not sure about. Although, all said and done, If he's available, I think we should get him.

Just for the record, the injured list is as follows: Steffen Iversen (concussion), Ledley King (possible fractured cheekbone), Chris Perry (gashed knee), Steffen Freund (knee ligament), Sol Campbell (ankle), Darren Anderton (Achilles), Ben Thatcher (hip), Mauricio Taricco (groin), Chris Armstrong (groin), Les Ferdinand (hamstring), Dave McEwen (Face).

Full squad: Sullivan, Walker, Carr, Doherty, Thelwell, Gardner, Young, Sherwood, Clemence, Leonhardsen, Davies, Etherington, Ferdinand, Korsten, Piercy, Hillier, Toner, Ferguson

I won a competition for match tickets from this organisation - and it has been non top hassle ever since trying to get the tickets - just had a call from them and they want me to go to Enfield during work time to pick them up- refusing to bike them over to me even though I made a point to them on Tuesday when they informed me that I'd won tickets for Sunday's match that I needed them by the latest on Friday lunchtime - there was no returned call on Weds, the bloke was n't there on Thursday and now they want me to go over there to pick them up (some of us have jobs!)

a complete con - AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS

Check this link for the size of the task facing our injury hit squad - http://www.topspurs.com/thfc-liverpool.htm

With a record of played 66, won 7, drawn 18, and lost 41 its not our happiest hunting ground and the patched up team will have to play well above themselves to get anything from this match. With Iversen, Ferdinand and Armo definitely out, adn Rebrov doubtful, this really is hte time for Ferguson and Kamanan to be givene a chance, especially after Fergie's two goals for the reserves last night. Fingers crossed for everyone.

Lets hope this is not true cos we love him, but Steffen Freund has been linked with a move back to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Kicker writes, "There has been contact between Freund and Bayer."

The injury crisis has gone mad - we will be without Taricco, Freund, Campbell, Perry, Anderton, Ferdinand, Rebrov, Armstrong, Thatcher, Clemence and possibly King for hte trip to Cup Treble chasing Liverpool with their massive squad of international. A daunting task and a draw will be a heroic result in the circumstances.

Effenberg has again been linked with Tottenham - obviously still watching his Spurs - greatest goals of the 1980's video rather than at the Lane last night. While he is the right quality, his age and his troublemaker reputation make him a less appealing. As a short term measure however, I don't think we are in any position to turn him down.

Its been so long that we've beaten Chelsea at the lane that no one can remember Nico Claesen's winner back in 1987. We've nearly beaten them a few times during that period - notably the 4-3 in 1994 when we missed a penalty at 3-2 up with 10 minutes to go and a few other occasions - but the longer it goes on the worse it gets.

But people do tend to forget the reason we could n't beat them in 1988/89 - they were relegated! and needed former Spurs hero Graham Roberts to get them back up. Even with their period of dominance, they are still only one match ahead of us overall (45 wins to 44, with Spurs scoring 251 against Chelsea's 221). Lets hope the readson for the curse was Sugarlump - as the bad run co-incided with the start of his tenure at the club - lets hope it can be broken in the first match afterwards.

Its not going to be easy with our injury ravaged squad - it looks likely we will be without Saturday's concussion victim, Ledley King to add to Campbell, Anderton, Armstrong, Iversen , Ferdinand, Freund, Taricco and Fatcha. But moral should be pretty high after a couple of wins and 7th place in the premiership a realistic target. The team should be the one that finished on Saturday -Sully, Carr, Perry, Gardner, Young, Leo or Korsten, Clemence, Sherwood, Davies, Doerty and Rebrov, and I'd like to see Kamanan and/or Ferguson get a chance on the subs bench.

Chelsea are never easy to play against, especially at Stanford Bridge this season, but even though they have won their last couple away and things seem to be getting better for new coach Ranieri, their squad us getting older and is based upon the individual rather than team spirit. Spurs need to out battle Chelsea and importantly score first. We could do with Rebrov being inspired, Doherty having another top match, the team playing well as a unit with good tactics from Glennda, and above all - a bit of luck - something that has been missing for a while against Chelsea at home.

Lest we forget the momentous events of this day 10 years ago - one of the most important days in the history of the club

Luke Young has spoken out on Glenn Hoddle's attempts to change the style of football played by the players, and hailed the changes. Young said: "The changes the manager wants to make are easy to see. Since he arrived, all the drills we've been given in training have been based on your first touch on the ball and being able to pass it well."
Under Graham the football was a lot more direct but Young is now looking forward to a style of football more in tune with Tottenham's history, and Hoddle's in particular, he said: "Hopefully, now we'll be encouraged to play a bit more football away from home."

Spurs owners ENIC have opened talks with Campbell and his advisors but no firm figures for a new contract have been mentioned.
"I will leave it as late as possible - but I am happy at the moment and that's the main thing," Campbell revealed. "We have got to have a few more meetings to talk about the situation.
"Maybe it will be before the last game of the season but who knows. There are a few more meetings planned.

With Armo and Ferdinand out, Iversen looking doubtful - that only leaves us with Rebrov for the trip to Sunderland (I'm ignoring Korsten becos he is not really a footballer, let alone a forward is he). This should be an opportunity for the likes of Ferguson and Kamanan to make the step up from the reserves to see how they fare in the Premiership after good reports from the reserve team - after all this is what these games are for.

STEFFEN FREUND has ruled himself out of first team contention for the rest of the season after with the injury he picked up last Friday which has already forced him to miss our last two games against Arsenal and Bradford. He revealed that he has definitely damaged ligaments in the knee and it would be at least 4 weeks until he was able to train again, which effectively rules him out. This comes on top of the confirmation that Campbell will not play again this season and Iversen's concussion last night, which will further stretch the resources of the squad. This is the time for the likes of Toner, Etherington, Ferguson and Kamanan to be given a go in front of Korsten, and for Hillier to be given a chance further back.

The game is not going to be the celebration that we all hoped it would be, but nonetheless it is Hoddle's first game at the Lane and in many years to come when we are European champions it will be seen as the start of the good times. Lets hope so anyway.

Spurs have more injuries to worry about - no Campbell for the rest of the season being the major one, along with King and Ferdinand to add to the others that missed the semi. Lets hope the semi was n't Sol's last match for us, but Sol's misfortune is Gardner's opportunity and he has a great chance to build upon the excellent impression he has created in his two matches so far. He deserves to get the nod over Thelwell, who despite some good performances this season, does n't look as ready for the Premiership as Gardner.

With a bit of luck Sherwood will be sacraficed to make way for Davies and Korsten dropped out of the squad (from a great height, on his head) for someone like Toner, Kamanan or Ferguson to have their first chance to impress. I assume Hoddle will continue with the 3-4-3 system he employed at his previous clubs, so I think the following team would be a good start

Sully

Doherty, Perry, Gardner

Carr, Clemence, Davies, Young

Leo, Iversen, Rebrov

- although I know Sherwood is going to feature in there somewhere.

As for Bradford, they are virtually gone at the bottom and can play a more relaxed game. Teams often do well once they have no chance and combined with the disruption caused by the injuries and new system there is scope for a shock tonight, but an early goal should see us on our way to a comfortable win, and a match Hoddle can learn from for the more difficult challenges of Sunderland, Chelsea and Liverpool coming next. Spurs to win 3-0 with Iversen (despite his recent performances) or Leo for the first goal.

Hoddle now has time to assess his squad, which was the main reason for bringing him in quickly and lets hope he eliminates the hopeless, improves the under achievers and brings in the best......and just to let you know Glenn, Davies is a million times better than Korsten and should have been on the bench yesterday.

"There are players I don't know well here, like Simon Davies - I don't know how well he can pass the ball," he added. "There are players to work on and others to bring in from outside. That's always been the case, whether we had won or lost.

"By the end of the season, I'll know a lot more about my players, who can pass, who has got the temperament under pressure and who fits how I'm looking to play. "I've always thought that was the benefit of coming in before the end of the season. I'd be ahead of the game in whether to bring players in and the assessment of my own players."

He added: "There are also some young players there who will learn from the experience of losing in a semi-final. "Perhaps if they get into a semi-final again they'll know what it feels like to lose - and so that might drive them on even more."

9th April 01 - Another vital member of Hoddle's team

Lets hope this bloke uses his loaf and comes with Glennda to the Lane. Southampton's sports psychologist John Syer has admitted that he is undecided in whether to join Glenn Hoddle at White Hart Lane. London-based Syer has worked for Spurs before and was drafted in to help Saints players in their mental preparation by Hoddle last year. He said:'' I am torn between the two. I liked working for Glenn and it would be nice to be involved with Spurs again. ''But I would like also to complete the job here at Southampton. Having spent the entire season preparing them individually I would like to see the job out.''

Sol is a hero as ever - giving his all despite his injury yesterday, but also because of the way he has come out and openly forced the people in control at the club to show some ambition. We love him and he loves us, its just a quesiton of whether he can be sold the ENIC dream, led by Hoddle. Lets hope ENIC can convince him to stay and more importantly make his vision of the team he wants to play in come true - and soon.

"Arsenal played well and deserved to win. They've set the standards that we've got to aspire to," Sol said.

"I've got talks with the club and then I'll make my decision, which has always been the case - but I'm staying quite positive. I've never had any big desire to leave

Not good enough on the day in every department from tactics through to talent. A disappointment in terms of what we have missed out on, but no complaints. Lets hope Hoddle learns from this an we can get a better result next year and in years to come. Match report

The good news sees Sergei Rebrov and long-term victims Stephen Carr, Tim Sherwood and Oyvind Leonhardsen all available to take on Arsenal. Simon Davies has trained after twisting his ankle last weekend, Ledley King’s dead leg is rapidly improving and Stephen Clemence may train on Friday after picking up a groin problem last week. However, Sol Campbell remains the big worry and has yet to return to full training.

Speaking at Thursday afternoon’s pre-Arsenal press conference, boss Glenn Hoddle insisted that Sol’s chances were no better than ’50-50’. “Sol is still in the treatment room,” revealed Glenn. “His chances are 50-50 at the moment. He needs a bit more time for his ankle to heal. “It will be a major bonus if he can make it but the game may come too quickly for the ankle to recover even to 90 per cent and then let the adrenaline cover the next 10 per cent

“He is vastly important especially with the way Arsenal play and Henry’s pace and power. His presence would be vital for us.” Glenn admitted he would be taking a gamble on certain players. “Clem, Sol and Ledley King are still up in the air,” he said. “The likes of Tim Sherwood, Leonhardsen, Stephen Carr have all had training under their belts this week but are very short of match practice. “The decision is if we start them with a view to taking them off or the other way around.

“It’s a very difficult decision, a late decision, which is always awkward, and we’ve had to do a lot of work on an ‘either-or’ situation. We’ll give them as long as we can. “They lack fitness but in a match like this, your adrenaline gets you through a lot. “It is an amazing thing and a game like this will balance the lack of fitness out. I’ve made it pretty clear that the 16 players chosen will be important. Whatever happens will be a gamble on two or three of those players.”

Hoddle has acted to right the great wrong perpetrated by the Gooners when Chris Hughton was demoted to reserve team coach to make way for Euston. A great move and just reward for Hughton who has done a great job bringing on hte young talent at the club.

Popular reserve team manager Chris has been promoted to work alongside Glenn and assistant manager John Gorman in a minor shake-up of the coaching staff. Theo Foley is now looking after the reserves in the short term until a replacement for Chris is identified. "I think it is important that we had somebody within the club," said Glenn. "I know Chrissie, he’s a good coach, he’s got the respect of the players and he knows the club.

Glenn went on to hint at what is the key factor when deciding who a manager should surround himself with, saying: "I’ve played with him and I need people I can trust. "That’s important. I need not to lose any energy and focus on my job to worry about other people – and I know Chris is going to fall straight into line with that. "That’s going to be a big plus, he knows John, so we’re going to be one happy family."

Chris, who has overlooked the transition of a number of reserve players to first team duty this season, will be an extra pair of eyes and ears on the training ground for Glenn, who is leaving nothing to chance. "I believe nowadays, and I think it’s been the continental way for a long time, that you need to have two coaches with you to work and plan things so that the manager then focus the tactical side, the main situations. "To run a big club like Tottenham you need two coaches – I had it at Southampton and it worked very well."

Henry Norris was a west London estate agent who dreamed of challenging the dominance of Northern and midlands clubs in the English League early in the last century. Norris, who later became mayor of Fulham, a Conservative member of parliament and earned a knighthood as well as a lifetime ban from soccer, believed that if he merged ailing Woolwich Arsenal of south London with Fulham in west London his dream of a London super-club could take shape.
But the League blocked his proposals, so he cut his ties with Fulham, gambled all on Arsenal and moved them across the River Thames and north to the wide open spaces of Highbury. The only trouble with this plan was that the new stadium was close to the established homes of Tottenham three miles (five kms) north and Clapton (later Leyton) Orient, two miles east.
Despite Spurs and Orient's protests, the League was powerless to prevent the move and in 1913 the North London rivalry between Arsenal-Spurs began. If Tottenham were upset about Arsenal moving on to their doorstep, they had even more reason to be angry six years later, for Sir Henry wasn't finished with Spurs.

In 1915, when soccer ended because of World War One, Chelsea and Spurs had finished bottom of the first division and Arsenal were sixth in division two. The League planned to expand the first division by two clubs and precedent dictated that the two bottom clubs would stay up and the top two in the second division would join them. Sir Henry had other ideas. To this day the details of exactly what occurred at the league's meeting in March 1919 remains a mystery, but by the end of the day, Arsenal had been voted into the first division and Spurs voted out. Arsenal have never been out of the top flight since.
The Gooner scum also managed to get Gillespie Road station renamed to Arsen*l station by some dodgy dealings with London Transport and the local council. A wrong that should be righted as soon as they move to their unconverted rubbish dump at Ashburton Grove.
Sir Henry got his come-uppance. In 1929 the FA banned him from soccer because he constantly flouted their rules and was also suspected of making illegal payments to players. A year after he was banned, Arsenal won the FA Cup for the first time and in 1931 became the first London side to win the Championship.
Tottenham, meanwhile, spent most of the 1930s in the second division -- their glory days still in the future.

Good luck to Steve Sedgley who was announced as manager of Kingstonian, who despite their great run in the FA Cup have been struggling in the Conference. The image of him winding up Roy Keane in the 1991 final will live long in the memory - an alround good lad.

Despite being guaranteed a ticket as a season ticket holder and the club cashing my cheque on Friday - I still have NO tickets - and I'm getting more and more stressed. Some thief at the post office - bastard

Hoddle said "I have talked to Sol. He's in a positive mind about his injury but it's going to be touch and go." Meanwhile Rebrov, Clemence and King are all expected to come through training unscathed this week and return to the Tottenham side for the crunch clash.

Spurs should have Sol Campbell, Sergei Rebrov, Ledley King and Stephen Clemence fit for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal at Old Trafford. Rebrov and King are expected to be fit although there is still some concerns over Campbell's ankle.

Meanwhile Stephen Carr and Oyvind Leonhardsen are long-term victims but are hoping to be training again this week and hoping to prove their fitness. Steffen Iversen has been suffering from the flu since he returned from international duty with Norway last week and is unlikely to train for the next few days although once again he is likely to be available for selection against Arsenal.

Rupert - A twats name and twatish behaviour. If everything has been agreed in principle, let Glennda and Gorman get on with preparing for the cup game and stop behaving like spoilt kids. It'd be nice to hear what David Jones makes of all this when the boot was on the other foot.

18.30uk time - at last Hoddle is confirmed as manager - Rupert can go off and cry into his ribena after wasting a day of preparaion for the Scum - everyone hope's Ispwich batter them and they are relegated next season with an average attendance of 5,000 in their poxy new ground.

Good old Tractor boys 3-0 - that'll learn you - lets hope the rot has set in

Sol's using his loaf - if as we all hope ENIC can persuade him to stay after removing both Sugar and Graham, Sol will sign, knowing that if it's all hot air (which I have every confidence that it won't be) he can get off and win something elsewhere - a situation that suits everyone.

Campbell said: "I'm tired of being second. I want to win things - with club and country. The situation is not just about me. As a club we have to move forward, and i'm sure Glenn Hoddle is not coming here to be second best. "Glenn Hoddle coming here is a positive move, it's what the fans want and the owners have gone out and got him. It seems they want to do the best thing for Tottenham, but we have to win things and move on."

"There is a lot of sorting out to be done, but I am sure it will be resolved."

After the excellent work old Pleaty has done in bringing in new young players and holding the fort as the Gooners were flushed away, I think it would be fitting for him and Hughton to be retained in their current roles supporting Hoddle and Gorman.

September 2000

October 2000

November 2000

December 2000

January 2001

February 2001

March 2001

April 2001

May 2001

Season 2000/01