You lot are spared my musings on Tottenham for a week, as I've been lured off to Sicily for a week. For all the latest news - check the latest news section and see the same news article reprinted on 10 different Spurs sites or just have a browse around all the stats on the rest of the site.

Lets hope Guardiola & Effenburg (or even Ziege and Southgate) have signed by the time I get back

Fixtures are out www.topspurs.com/0102.htm - we start at home to Villa and then have two soft away matches. My luck is out as the weekend I'm away, we have Southampton at home. This'll be the first home match I have missed since Leeds Sept 1999 and only the second since the start of the 1997/8 season.

Check this link out www.ricardovilla.com.ar - he remains a hero and the most famous person to visit the site!

Panic time - I was forced to book a holiday before the fixtures were announced, and trying to make it for the week England play German so I would n't miss a Spurs game - I got it wrong by a week! - so I'm hoping for something crap like Chelsea/NorthEastern/NorthWestern team away - or any away really on the week 10thish Sept. I'm praying

Carr - Although his agent has today spoken of Carr having to consider an offer from Barcelona, no such offer has been made apparantly. The club would me mad to sell him, esp as he has four years left on his Tottenham contract. Even so, the agent could have denied it in public and after his post Campbell outburst and now this, Carr should keep his agents mouth shut and get on with being the best right half in the Premiership. Who knows, with four Champions League places up for grabs next season....

Fixtures - it has been widely reported thatn teh opening day fixtures see us travel up to cup-a-soup land to face Villa. The last time we played them on the opening day, was the last time we won up there - 3-0 in 1986 with the first three of his 49 that season from Clive Allen. Something similar would be nice, and its about time - 18th August 2001

Arsenal v Ipswich Town
Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle Utd
Bolton W v Liverpool
Chelsea v Leicester C
Everton v Southampton
Leeds Utd v Middlesbrough
Man Utd v Derby
Sunderland v Charlton
Aston Villa v Spurs
West Ham v Fulham

Carr to Barca? Probably (hopefully) not - but something is up here - the Barcelona - Valencia game was live on Sky in the UK, and after the ruck between the two team when Spurs played Barca in the 1982 ECWC semi final - I cannot imagine that Hughton went all that way just to see a good game! And with 80,000 people the stadium, the chances of "bumping into" Archie are pretty slim. Lets hope they are up to something, but that it is not selling Carr.
Chris Hughton has laughed off a report in the Daily Express suggesting that he was in Barcelona with Stephen Carr for a meeting with supposed ‘link’ Steve Archibald over a possible transfer for the player. “Absolute rubbish,” insisted Hughton. It is simply that I played with Steve, I know him, and I saw him afterwards. That was it, simple as that.” Of the speculation regarding Carr, Chris added: “Stephen Carr’s on holiday I presume, it’s total rubbish. “I went on my own and had no plans even to meet Steve. It just so happens that he was there as well. I went to watch the game, the last of the season, I sat by myself and it just so happened that Steve was at the game and I bumped into him afterwards. “There were no plans beforehand to meet him – there was nothing premeditated, it just happened that way.”

Jerome Bonnisel - has been in the press going on about how he wants a move to Tottenham. Normally I would not bother with this, him using the story to get a better deal in France and us putting pressure on Liverpool over Ziege, but there are actual quotes from him which might mean there is something behind it all.
"I envisage returning with Bordeaux. I have, however, many contacts with various clubs - all of them foreign. I do not want to give the names of the clubs concerned but I refused them as my policy is not to leave Bordeaux for a less ambitious club. The only track that I have not refused is Tottenham," he added. "I asked for details, information on the infrastructure, the ambitions of the club, and discussions with Glenn Hoddle, who appears to be the origin of this contact,"

Michael Ball - Speaking of putting pressure on Liverpool over Ziege! Only as a swap for Fatcha!

Martin Keown believes Sol Campbell would be a big success at Barcelona if he signs for the Spanish giants instead of making the move across to Highbury. - we know that Monkeyhead - all this is about is not wanting to be second fiddle to the Sol Man

First of all let me state that I generally delighted with the progress ENIC have made in turning Tottenham around in the 3.5 months they have been in control - the Gooner Cull, the appointment of Hoddle and some good signings all point to a much brighter future, and after years of Sugar neglect, I think we can look forward to next season with genuine optimism not seen since the early 1990's.
But there are one or two things that have been slipped through in the euphoria of the revolution which, individually are not so bad, but collectively are a little bit dodgy (my comments in blue, and a well thought out Reply from a senior member of the Spurs Supporters Trust
1. A reduction of two matches on the season ticket, without a commensurate reduction in cost
(Reply) The club tried to find a balance between attempting to increase its revenue whilst avoiding taking more money from most season ticket holders up front.  the season ticket renewels made this pretty clear and the mistake, and it was a bad one was the revelation, without explanation, on the website of the new prices and some days later the terms and condits that revealed the loss of two tickets.  The club apologised for this, admitted it had been an error and bollocked the website people.  sadly i know of no clubs in the top division which have held its season ticket prices static for three seasons running
2. The third kit - Whether this was engineered by Sugar or not I do not know, but we certainly do not need a third kit, especially as the dark blue one, introduced only 12 months ago will be the one relegated to the third place
(Reply) i suspect this has more to do with adidas than the club - this is the last year of the contract with adidas and the deal with them appears to be heavily weighted in their favour.  so much so that it has been reported that spurs only get the profit margin on those shirts sold through club outlets.  it will be interesting to see what happens after this season regarding kits.   i'm personally sad to see the back of the navy kit, its my favourite away kit for ages!
3. The removal of the 10% discount season ticket holders are entitled to at the Spurs shop
These things are not that important - I've only ever purchased stuff on sale from the Spurs shop etc - but it is difficult to justify their removal.

(Reply) Although I intend to ask the other members of the committee of the Trust to approaqch the club for a full and honest explanation of this move I have picked up a few things which may be worth considering.  We have under performed again with regard to our merchandising and the bulk buying thing was mentioned too but the most important aspect again is the adidas deal - adidas set the cost price by which we buy their products and I gather that the 10% discount meant that the club had to raise prices globally on adidas products to allow them to give a 10% discount.  what has been said is that by removing the 10% discount the club will be able to sell merchadise at a globally lower level than they would otherwise have been able to do. I have used the discount loads of times so i'm personally upset at its demise.
We are the 15th biggest club in the world by turnover - one place either side of us are AS Roma and Borussia Dortmund - All with top internationals and European competition regulars.
(Reply) turnover is all ell and good but that doesn't translate in to profit!

The money is there without petty cost cutting and the need for third kits.
(Reply) not true - Sugar left the club with a £20million bank debt - the money is not there, thats a problem but the new board are committed to spending if it means quality - wise use of funds is the key phrase - £1.25m has secured the services of Teddy and Gus, two of the top optra players of last season - thats what i call sensible! save the available cash (from the TV deal) to spend big - hopefully!
And who will speak up for us now? With the revolutionaries of the ousting of Sugar, now with senior positions within the Spurs Supporters Trust - they in theory should be in the best place to challenge these changes, but, after gaining their seat at the top table - will they jepordize their status with boat rocking such as this? or will the pigs be walking on two legs to use an analogy from Animal Farm?
Let me reiterate just one more time - I delighted with the progress ENIC have made in their short time in control of the club - and if there is a trade off between sucess on the pitch and fan relations, I'd go for sucess on the pitch every time, but am a little concerned at the removal of privilages even Sugar did not have the balls to remove.
(Reply) i want to respond to this without being over defensive as whilst i think its a bit of a harsh way to ask the question I think its a legitimate concern.  The Trust is in its infancy - the rest of the committee was selected from the 100 or so who were involved in the formation of the Trust which was in consultation with Supporters Direct which is an independent body.  The committee currently has 14 members and only a couple were involved in "revolutionary" groups like SOS. Many of us are only involved in this new organisation because it is not a reincarnation of one of these other groups and it has rules and regulations which to me ensure democracy and transparency.  My "seat at the top table" as Jim puts it is one I treasure but I know that the reason I am there is to put the views of Spurs fans to the board.  My belief is that this is best acheived with positive dialogue with the club which allows the Trust to say when it feels the club has been out of line such as the season ticket price revelations on the website.  So the answer is that the Trust will speak for its members and hopefully they will be a good representation of Spurs fans generally. In October ish the Trust will have its first AGM at which time any member will be able to stand for the committee and all members will have a vote - that should ensure that the Trust remains true to its stated principles.  The Trust is there for the fans for the benefit of the Club, not for the owners of the club from time to time.  If you are concerned about this issue - join the Trust and make your voice heard - thats what I have done and the more people that join that are not ego fired revolutionary self publicists the better (none of the current committee to my knowledge fit that description!!)
As I have said, ENIC are going the right way about things generally, but I was a little alarmed both at the removal of privilages and at the general lack of dissention amongst the fans. To join the supporters trust go to www.tottenhamtrust.org. Other comments please - nayim@topspurs.com

More grief for Iversen - the two concussions he suffered for Norway and against Bradford have failed to improve and it looks likely that he will miss the start of the season. He is currently resting in Norway but revealed: "I am not allowed to train during the summer, but I will go back to Spurs on June 25 to have another test,"
Norway`s national team Lars Engebretsen is not as hopeful that Iversen will be fit for the new season, admitting: "Steffen could be out for a long time. These kind of injuries are more usual in American football and ice hockey than in football. It has happened that players have had to rest for a whole year. We are concerned about this. If you get several concussions in a short space of time, they add up. Such an injury is not dangerous, but serious. It could end in long term trouble in shape of headaches, lack of concentration and problems performing usual daily routines. But it is too soon to say that we fear for his career. It is not a good thing to get concussions, even if they come with years in between."
This of course has nothing to do with Iversen's alleged drink problem? I hope not, and that Ivo is back sooner rather than later giving our attack some much needed depth.

Anderton is close to signing - great! - he is quoted as saying "I am fine now and hope the contract business will be sorted out very soon. We are pretty close to an agreement. We are nearly there. I have never said that I wanted to leave. I want to be successful at the club and I am looking forward to working with the boss." - never wanted to leave, my arse - no one would have him!
On his 179th injury "For eight weeks no one knew what was wrong (if there was anything wrong!). Eventually, I went to America, had an ultra-sound examination and the problem has now been cured. I feel very positive about the future after what was a very frustrating time."
Good luck for next season Shaggy, be a star again and prove all us doubters wrong, cos as soon as you stop being injured, stop moaning and start playing well - I'd be delighted to welcome you back in to the Spurs idols area, where your place has been vacant for a while.

Wingnut. Just to make sure they retain the ugliest squad in the world, the Gooners have signed Francis Jeffers - the cheatin swine who conned two penalties in the Everton Spurs match Sept 1999. He was already a player I disliked and have no problem upgrading him to hate now that he has signed for the Scum
West Ham. Things are getting back to normal at West Ham - they've copied us by getting a manager called Glenn - and just like normal, they only have a cheap imitation of the real thing.
Roeder, the manager that was unsuccesful at Watford, Gillingham and Burnley, before all three got promoted after he left has a tough job to keep West Ham up this season, and despite all the crap at the bottom of the Premiership, they could easily fall out of the division if they don't improve upon their form since the start of the year.
I hope that they stay up, as the Boleyn is one of the better away trips in the Prem and Widdley has joined as No 2 to Roeder. Good luck to Waddle.

Before the Spurs Man U match at the end of the season, John "meatloaf" Stevens (top left) and other leading members of the Cumbria Spurs bumped into Steve Carr in a Hotel near Watford on the night before the match. Carr was a top lad by all accounts and cut a specially made cake John's wife (who makes exceedingly good Spurs cakes - check them out for your special occasions at http://fp.ascakes.f9.co.uk/ )

While I am probably one of the few fans who still has some time for the Sol Man - he has been a great player for us through some dark times - if the news is true and he signs for Arsenal he will become a 100% cunt - a lying judas like no other. There is no excuse for signing for them and he will be hated by virtually all Spurs fans. If he signs, I hope Viera and Pires leave - leaving him with Luzhny, Stepanovs, Grimandi, and the gooners customary early exit from the Champions League.

Poyet. With time to reflect on the Poyet signing - it looks to be a real masterstroke - £1.25, rising to £2.25 on appearances for a top premiership midfielder with a goal every three games - its dream stuff. Chelsea fans seem genuinely narked at the sale. There is still that bit of me that remembers Ferdinand signing - "he's done well everywhere, therefore he will be a success here" was the logic, which was flawed, but Poyet is coming into a team on the up, and wanting to get one over on Ranieri at Chelsea - he should have a couple of good seasons and be a good player for Davies to learn his trade from. I'm very much looking forward to him playing for us, and as Glennda says, there is more to come (notably Ziege, who we have officially made an offer for)

Anderton. Uncle Raggy has obviously got the Teeside tourism agency stuff in the post and has come back cap in hand to ask for his place back at Tottenham. Glennda has come out with a star line "We are very close to getting a decision from Darren because we want him here, The fans may have their own opinion but it would be a big bonus if he stays because, at 29, the best of him is still to come."
Bloody right we do, but Glennda knows best and if we get him on a pay as you play basis - hopefully for longer than a year as this time next year we will be getting the "Anderton - will he won't he" saga for the third year on the trot.
If he is not draining £25,000 a week whether he is playing or in the treatment room, Anderton will be an ideal squad player to cover for Carr in the 3-4-3 system and even play wide on the right if we play 4-3-2-1, and the fans will not have any doubt in their minds over him.
Hoddle is very positive about Anderton, and while Anderton has been second rate for a while it would come as no surprise to see Hoddle get the best out of him and this allied to a pay as you play would be the ideal situation for Tottenham. I would be really chuffed to see Anderton come back to the level of form he showed in the early to mid 1990's - I feel that the injuries may have taken out some of his pace, but hopefully his good footballing brain & technique should come into its own as he reaches the senior stage of his career.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust will be holding their first event, a question and answer session with Executive vice- chairman, David Buchler, on Wednesday June 13th, at Whites, Paxton Road, Tottenham, commencing at 7.30pm.
The event is exclusive to members of the Trust and clearly shows how the Board wishes to develop its relationship with the supporters. Trust members will have the opportunity to find out about the new management's vision for the club, as well as to question David on specific issues of concern.
The vice-chairman is expecting a fascinating event: "I am looking forward to the evening, it will be an opportunity for some good inter-reaction between management and the supporters group. I look forward to giving open and honest views on the broad range of issues which face this club in the future."
Daniel Wynne, steering committee member added: "We are delighted that David Buchler has agreed to attend this inaugural event. It is the first time such a senior member of the Tottenham board has agreed to speak to the supporters in this way and we hope as many Trust members as possible are able to come along (non members can attend by paying the Trust's £10 membership fee at the door.) It should be quite an evening."
Non Trust members can attend by joining the Trust on the night, by paying the £10 membership fee on the door.
Please visit the Trust's web site at www.tottenhamtrust.org

33 year old Gustavo Poyet has become Hoddle's third signing since he took over just over three months ago and becomes the first Uraguayan to sign for the club in a £2.25m deal from Chelsea.

On the positive side, Poyet has done well in the Premiership and certainly strengthens our weakest area - the midfield. Downsides include his age and his dodgy knees, but overall this is a good signing for the club and lets hope he has three good years at the Lane.

Hoddle said at the Press conference "We are delighted to say that Gus has joined us on a three-year contract. It took a little bit of time and a bit of negotiating, as they all do, but we are delighted to have got him.
"I have had him in mind for some time. He is a winner, is always involved and I have been impressed with him for a long time. "He has been as good as any of the foreigners in The Premiership.  He has a terrific eye for goal and loves the game.  He has a spirit and a passion that drives him on. "The fee is undisclosed.  It is not what has been said, but it is over a million pounds, I can assure you.
"There is more to come, we are discussing with other players.  It is coming together nicely. The three players that we have brought in (Poyet, Teddy Sheringham and Bunjevcevic) know how to win and they have a tremendoue desire to win things.
"They will also bring on our youngsters in leaps in bounds, and it is all part of a long-term plan. There is quality already at the club, but there is nobody who knows how to win things and that is what we are trying to address."
Poyet added "It was a decision I made with my family.  There was talk of Italy and Spain, possibly Zaragoza, but I took the decision to stay in England. The reason I left Chelsea had nothing to do with me not being in the first-team, there were other reasons, I am looking for a challenge and here is a chance for a big, big challenge,"

Poyet factfile

Press conference called for 4pm uk time - The club have announced a press conference for 4pm this afternoon. Speculation is rife as to its contents. Spursweb (not to be confused with its rivals soundalike thespursweb) who get info direct from the club reckon that it is either Poyet or Effenburg. Poyet would be ok, but Effenburg would be a sensationally good signing. I reckon the contenders are (with a more than unhealthy dose of pessamism):
4/6 Bunjecevic - after getting his international caps last week, and seeing the bloke on Green Lanes which can get UK work permits for Balkans, we could be set to announce the completion of Bunny's switch from Red Star Belgrade
11/10 Anderton - After months of moaning and not coming out of his bubble, the man formerly known as Uncle Raggy will sign a pay as you play deal as there are no other offers for him apart from the footballing Siberian Salt mines of Middlesbrough. After all there is the World cup to look forward to at the end of next season, which should mean he will play at least the last three games of the season
5/2 Ziege - That chat with Houllier lasted 10 seconds and Ziege legged it onto an Easyjet from Speke airport. A good signing if we can get him.
9/2 Poyet - The chance of regular football and living in London against playing every now and then for Liverpool in the champions league. At 33 with dodgy knees, he can only be seen as a short term measure to get us back in Europe - but a better option thatn Sherwood.
5/1 Southgate - Anything to get away from care in the community Gregory at Villa
8/1 Effenburg - After a bad week for Spurs - Sherwood staying, Anderton not gone yet, signing Effenburg would be the best possible signing for the summer. Fingers crossed, but don't hold yer breath
12/1 Fortune - At the right price, a good signing, even better if it was a straight swap for Thatcher
16/1 Petit - Despite saying that he would decide at the end of the Spanish season, the catalans might want rid of him as soon as. I'd never be able to bring myself to call him manu- aaaargh, ponce
20/1 Johnsen - Too old & too many bad injuries - only if we really have no chance of Southgate
50/1 Someone else
1000/1 Klinsmann - The chance to play with Ted again

Who ever it is, lets hope its someone good who will be a positive addition to the squad and help get us back on tract to making us genuine contenders. I don't want to get too excited just in case its Anderton (the club revealed that "Talks are still ongoing, and we can see no reason why we can't come to a agreement.") or Bunny (cos we know he's coming).

Sully - Spurs player of the year and all round hero Neil Sullivan has been linked with an £8m move to Anfield. This would be an absolute disaster - 1000 times worse than losing Campbell and the club must tell the Scousers to f*ck off at any price. Sully has 4 years to go on his contract so we should be fairly safe.

Clear the disabled ramp, as Anderton has apparantly turned down his latest contract offer. I fully support ENIC's stance on Anderton and even though he has been able to talk to other clubs, has not yet had any interest in him.

Anderton has been a fantastic player for Tottenham in his early days, but over the last 2 years or so it has been clear that he has lost the special qualities that defined his early career and we cannot afford to waste £25,000 a week or try to build a team around someone who is now second rate and more often than not injured.

This is probably why Buchler has stressed that he wants to keep Sherwood, as we need to build the squad size up (admittedly, buying top quality players, relegating some of the current first teamers to squad men would be the ideal situation) - in saying that there is certainly no reason why we should extend Sherwood's contract until he is 36!

With 71 days to go to the start of next season, and 23 to the start of pre-season, the next three weeks are going to be crucial in determining how we get on next season. It seems that talk of Guardiola was this year's Juninho (timed to co-incide with the season ticket prices), but Petit seems still to be in the frame and Ziege would be the ideal person to fill in on the left side of midfield. Lets hope we get lucky and get the two new top international midfielders, Ziege or a top leftsided midfielder and if possible a top forward.

Sherwood - Just when you thought that Sherwood had been shovelled up and sent off to Wolves & I thought we had got one over on Wolves after the Hibbett incident in 1981, but no - more stuff from a parallel universe
Buchler admitted: 'The club would encourage Glenn to build a team around Tim next season. "

Sherwood wants a two-year extension to his current contract, which still has a further two years left to run. The most straight forward way to build a team around Sherwood which would not make him feel out of place would be to get some carcasses from a foot and mouth farm, and put Deadwood in middle

It was also reported that "Sherwood is also gunning for the club captaincy" - Gunning - is this any reference to the alleged Arsenal tattoos on his body?
Deadwood said "'I am looking forward to next season and I am ready to commit myself to the club until the end of my career."
The thing is - the career ended sometime last Autumn, when it was clear that he'd lost all of his pace and ability to pass the ball. The prospect of another 4 years of pointing, square or backwards passes, the trademark hospital balls and lack of pace, fills me with dread

Sherwood is to Keegan, what the likes of Palmer, Hirst and Sharpe were to turnip head
This website urges the club NOT to make Sherwood club captain or to extend his contract.

The Sol Man - Sol has given an interview to Sky Sport and as expected had a go at the club. While he has a right to have a go - he also spent most of the last 9 months lying about what he was always going to do a the end of his contract and has an agent to blame for his new greedy image.

"(the £130,000 per week) not true. I'm disappointed, hurt. Ten years of working for one club means nothing to certain people and now the comments they've made have made the situation difficult. Who knows? In four years' time I could have been coming back or at least had the opportunity to come back. (coming back! - going abroad??) But that would be really hard now. In that case it has altered my way of thinking." The tie with fans is never going to be cut, because they've been with me through a lot of things - I've played a lot of games for them in over the decade I've been at the club."

Ziege - He was quoted as saying "I know there is some interest from Tottenham and I have been told there is an offer for me from them. But first I have to speak to Gerard Houllier about what he thinks about my situation. Then I can think about other things." So this looks positive as its us he mentioned with no one else in the frame. Lets hope he signs soon.

Anderton.The good news is that Anderton could be leaving this summer as his greed has got the better of his contract negotiations. Spurs want a pay-as-you-play deal, but the man formerly known as Shaggy wants a massive increase in his wages and a normal deal.

The only possible problem is that no-one else has offered him a contract, so it looks like this could just be posturing to get a better deal. Lets hope the club stand firm and show him the door unless he accepts their offer

Sherwood.The good news is that he could be on his way to Wolves as these stories seem to have a good deal of truth. Lets hope they like hospital balls in the black country.

Bunjecevic."Bunny" looks like he has got his work permit by coming on for 15 and 45 minutes for Yugoslavia in their last two matches, which looks a bit sous.

Young. Lukey has been quoted as saying the following: "It is no secret I don't like to play left-back so I will have a chat with Glenn over the summer to sort it out. I am not really happy at left-back but, to be honest, with all the injuries there wasn't really anybody else who could play there really so I was put there and did a half-decent job for the side." Best to keep this sort of stuff private and sort it out without recourse to the press. For what its worh, I thought Young played well at left back.

Spurs have signed Shwan Jalal, 18 year old Hastings goal keeper. It seems more like "lets have a look at him" rather than a replacement for Kelly or even Walker, but lets hope he's a star of the future and does well during his time at the Lane

Spurs have been linked with soon to be 32 year old Ronny Johnsen - a decent player, but getting on a bit and is a bit of a risk after coming back from a year out with a serious injury, but at the right price, he could be ok as a squad player.

One Norwegian in and one out? More rumours about Leo being off in the summer - this time its Charlton, but even if its not them its beginning to look like him, along with Sherwood Armo and Fatcha are the ones being shown the door at the right price.

Not much on today - Vega has got his reward for slagging Tottenham at every opportunity by finding his level at Watford. Good riddance & look out for a sad Swizz man at Paradise Lost.

The club has revealed the NEW away kit for next season. As much as ENIC have made a wonderful start to their tenure at Tottenham, having three kits is nothing other than a con, esp when the light blue colour is very close to the home one, and the current away one is sure to be used at the likes of Derby and Bolton etc. Here is it, modelled by Iversen before the pubs open.

No details yet, but looks like Youngy has been sent off in injury time for the Englnad U21's in Greece.

Two items of good news to start the day - Goran Bunjecevic has now managed to play in enough games to get a work permit and should officially sign soon, and Deadwood's agent Eric Hall has conformed that Wolves are interested in taking him off our hands. Oh the joy - just over 20 years on from Hibbett's dive in the semi they are set to give us £3m for hospital ball man.

Another big thank you goes out to Bobby Robson for offering £8m for Jeffers, to ensure we don't sign the malnourished git. The Ziege and Southgate stories got reworkings today in the absense of any real news. Either one would be a useful addition to the squad at the right price, but both seem to be angling for Champions League football.

Well done to Ciaran Toner getting a call up to the full Northern Irish squad against Czech Republic, a team currently ranked in the top 5 in the world. Lets hope this is the spring board into a chance in the first team next season.

2nd June 01 - Sugar on Anderton - a classic rant

While the association of Sugar with Tottenham will always be a negative one during the decline of the 1990's, he has enjoyed a new lease of life since he resigned as Chairman with an excellent appraisal of Graham and now with a very honest assessment of Anderton, which was fully deserved and agreed with here at topspurs. He gets a further thumbs up from me as he did not have a go at Campbell.

'We have Darren Anderton joining the Sol Campbell debate. Anderton is also out of contract and wonders why the board never did more to keep Sol at the club. 'I guess that he spent so much time away in rehabilitation or convalescing that he missed all the efforts that went into trying to keep Sol in the last two years. Or maybe he is trying to swirl up pressure against the current board to give him a new deal.

'In the nine years he's been at Tottenham I don't think there has been one season in which he has been eligible for all the games. I do recall, though, that he was eligible when it came to playing for England, especially when his mentor Terry Venables called on his services.

'Dazza got himself fit for the last couple of games of the season, went on to play in the European Championship and then was not fit when our season started. 'So desperate was he to play for England that the newly- appointed manager, Glenn Hoddle, decided to take the rehabilitation of Anderton by the horns
.
'Eileen Drewery took over from our medical staff. Dazza wouldn't listen at all to our doctors or physio. In fact, on one occasion I got so frustrated that I called up Glenn and asked him what was going on. 'Eileen said it was wrong for Darren to have been asked to do some cross-country running at the start of the pre-season."It's not right to run in the forest and up and down hills!. Poor diddums.' 'You tend to do what you think will make a player happy so as to get him back playing for your club'.

He added: 'I asked for her to send me a rehabilitation programme that we could put Anderton through. This was eventually sent from the offices of the FA for some unknown reason. 'When I questioned our then chief physio on what Eileen actually did to Anderton on his numerous visits to her, he told us that she allegedly placed her hands strategically above his body and told him to have positive thoughts.

'I recall a friend of mine rolling about in hysteria when he asked me how Anderton was doing and my reply was: "Oh he's fine. We're paying him £20,000 a week while he lies on a couch so that Eileen can put her hands two inches above his body while tuning into his karma!.' 'It's true that Juventus, Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool are all queueing up for Campbell's signature, but I am not sure that there is the same demand in Anderton's case.

'If there was, it would be a close run thing between the British Medical Association and the American Federal Drugs and Administration department in the hope of acquiring his services for future research. 'It might be closely contested by a City consortium who wish him to be the leading donator to the Harley Street Hall of Fame. The bottom line is that no-one is going to be paying Anderton's wages after June 30 and panic is setting in.

'His only ally seems to be Glenn Hoddle, who obviously sees something in him, and no doubt his agent, in playing on this point with the Tottenham board. I'm sure that everyone agrees that on the odd occasion when he has played he can be an outstanding asset - but odd occasion is the key phrase. 'Three is an odd number and that is about how many good games he has in a season. It's certainly not for me to decide what he should be paid, but it is easy to work out that if he is that great and that desperate to play, he should accept a contract which pays him say £5,000 a week and £30,000 a game.

'Stop moaning like an old woman, Anderton. We paid your wages for nine years. It's time you showed some loyalty. Spurs stuck by you when you were injured and now it's time for you to stick by them. 'You may have got 29 caps playing for England but don't forget the 150 plaster casts you had at Tottenham

With the departure of Sol and Anderton's dummy spit, attention has turned to Rebrov, with the usual links to Milan to partner Shevchenko. The club and Rebrov have been quick to dismiss these rumours as we can ill afford to lose another star name, and more importantly Rebrov is under contract for another 4 seasons. While this does not guarantee his services, it makes it more difficult for others to prey on him. Lets hope he stays, cos Ted will be the best attacking option he will have had at Tottenham

I'd like to thanks everyone at the recently formed Oz Spurs, notably Justin Long and Mervyn Jones for providing me with an excellent logo which now adorns this page.

If you are in Australian and a Spurs supporter, I would recommend that you give these blokes a shout. To read more on thier set up, click on OZSPURS or email Justin directly justin@esponline.net

Tottenham have struck up and Aliiance with Reading, who recently finished 3rd in the second division. Hoddle has established links with Reading & has a close relationship with Alan Pardew, and The Royals` boss has confirmed that a number of Spurs youngsters may travel to the Madejski Stadium on loan

Pardew said: "We`ve got great connections with Spurs and might feed off them and get first option on most of their young players if they want to loan them out. Glenn and Gorman are both big fans of the club and they want to do their bit to help out."

This should be good news for both clubs and Reading, with free scoring Jamie Cureton (someone we should have purchased as cover for our ever injured strikers at the start of last season when he went from Reading to Bristol Rovers for £250,000), must have a decent chance of getting back into Division 1, but what happens if we get them in the cup?

Dave McEwen.The club have revealed that Dave McEwen's contract will not be renewed at the the end of the season. McEwen joined Tottenham from Dulwich Hamlet in Jan 2000 and made 4 appearances for Spurs, the closest he came to scoring was on his debut against Derby last season.

While his form for the reserves improved towards the end of the season, inc the winning goal against the Arse reserves, he never convinced that he would make the grade at Premiership level. Good luck to him in the future & I'm sure the club will do their best to find him another team.

Buchler's View of the future. Our top man has done a good job in these difficult times, and has outlined his vision for the future on the official site www.spurs.co.uk .

“I’ve spoken to Glenn, there are a number of options we’ll be looking at, a number of situations in mind to cover the position. There are six or seven offers we’ve put out for different players throughout the UK and Europe. We will have to see where the balls fall down and how that pans out. It will be an interesting summer and hopefully a successful year.
“Of course, it will be without Sol Campbell but I still think we will be successful during the course of next season. Sol will be missed but the club will move on.” “We are looking forward and I think I’ve made this clear in all my actions – we are building a team here at Spurs, a complete team from top to bottom. “That is from chairman, vice-chairman to the manager to everyone involved in the club. That includes players, everyone. “In a way anyone who is not prepared to play absolutely at that team game and absolutely has the club at heart, and I mean the club rather than their own pockets, frankly the club will do better to make sure it has the right team players.
“That’s where we’re heading and hopefully that will pay dividends for the club next season because that is what will make next season very exciting indeed.”

Anderton (again). Obviously bored with his playstation, and having a few hours to kill before the pubs open (allegedly), Anderton has risen twice is two days to spout more stuff on his website, saying what a good lad Sheringham is, and how he looks forward to renewing their partnership.

This is the same Anderton that yesterday was about to leave cos the club "let Sol go". Maybe the reintroduction of Ted will make people think back to the famous Five and what a good player Anderton undoubtebly was in those days, long long ago.

I still believe he should be told to clear his desk wheeled off the premesis by Security as he is symptomatic of the culture of decay at the club, which has held us back. Ask yourself, which of the top 6 sides would Anderton get into? Infront of Beckham, Pires, Gerard & Bowyer. He's not even the best rightsided midfielder at the club (Carr is miles better than him) and he is John Inman when he plays in central midfield.

He's had one injury too many and anew contract for him would be a waste of money and a regressive step.

Leo - has announced his intention to finish his career in Norway in 2003. While he will be a useful squad player to have as back up, it might be worth the club letting him go early to reduce the wage bill and gamble the money on a couple of young players like we did with Digger and Mushy. Here's what Leo had to say.

"I have trained with Stabaek ahead of the international games and will move to Baerum in two years. The house I have bought is two minutes away from [Stabaek ground] Nadderud. I am not leaving Tottenham to have a rest and I would like to play in the Champions' League with Stabaek.