"Go on, touch it. I've put the safety on."Football on a Friday night? It's just not cricket.
Perhaps that was the reason for Tottenham's utterly distasteful performance at Vicarage Road as
they scraped past a plucky Watford. If you were to believe the general theme of the commentary and
post-match media reports, you'd be forgiven for thinking Spurs arrived in north west London, rudely
parked their giant team coach wherever they chose, shaped to headbutt anyone and everyone on their
way in and spend the entire game cheating and coercing the ref into allowing them victory.
Harry's pre-match comments have pretty much given us the starting line up for tonight but there
are still some gaps to fill in,
"I was doing a little bit of work with them this morning and there's seven internationals in
there," said Harry.
"Defoe is here, Gio Dos Santos, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Pienaar, Niko, Sandro, they will
all play.
Spanish fullback Jose Enrique has revealed his Liverpool team-mates are trying to persuade him to
switch allegiance and play for England.
Enrique, 25, has impressed at Anfield following his summer transfer from Newcastle United but has
yet to win a cap for Spain, the current European and world champions.
It isn't just Ledley King hoping for a contract extension at the end of the season as reserve
keeper Carlo Cudicini has stated his desire to carry on playing at the Lane.
Carlo only signed a new one year deal this summer and perhaps rather surprisingly, he leapt
ahead of Heurelho Gomes to become installed as first choice back up to Brad Friedel.
THFC1882 welcomes back guest writer Mike Hooley with a preview of Wednesday's
Europa League game:
So, Tottenham Hotspur play a European tie on a Wednesday once again, in what all Spurs fans hope
will be a prelude of things to come next season.
However, the fantastic current league run – nine wins and a draw since the Manchester City
defeat – is put to one side this week with the return fixture against the Greek outfit PAOK
Salonika, current Group A leaders.
Remember the Premier League? Yeah, we're finally back in action tonight for our first
league game under the floodlights of 2011/12. Returning to White Hart Lane also happens to be
significant for Alex McLeish, but that's not something we wish to dwell on.
Truth is, coming back from North London with a point has generally been a decent result for us
in the past, you'll do well to find many Villa fans optimistic about grabbing something
tonight.
Tottenham Hotspurs failed to present a gift for their coach, Harry Redknapp, who has just had an
operation, after the Lilywhites' second string got beaten by Rubin Kazan in the latest Europa
League group stage tie.
Meanwhile, Stoke City continues their excellent run in Europe by picking up another victory
against Macabi Tel Aviv, proving their ability to compete with foreign teams in the competition yet
still pretty competitive in the league.
Spurs: Cudicini; Fredericks; Gallas (Parrett); Bassong; Townsend; Falque;
Livermore; Carroll; Pienaar; Pavlyuchenko (Kane); Defoe
Tonights game at Central Stadium was always going to be tough for Spurs, no matter which team
had been picked. Rubin Kazan have some experienced heads from Russian League and European football
and they showed it with a commanding performance against a Spurs team that had a mix of youth and
experience.
Spurs: Cudicini; Fredericks; Gallas (Parrett); Bassong; Townsend; Falque;
Livermore; Carroll; Pienaar; Pavlyuchenko (Kane); Defoe
Tonights game at Central Stadium was always going to be tough for Spurs, no matter which team
had been picked. Rubin Kazan have some experienced heads from Russian League and European football
and they showed it with a commanding performance against a Spurs team that had a mix of youth and
experience.
It looks almost certain that William Gallas and Steven Pienaar will make their first starts of
the season in today's Europa League Cup tie with Rubin Kazan. The club needs to give them some long
awaited game time but elsewhere, the side features some new names and is largely the ‘young team'
that Harry promised.
Thursday 20th October 2011. White Hart Lane. Kick off 8.05pm. Channel 5.
Thursday night sees a top of the table clash in Group A of the Europa League. Visitors Rubin
Kazan like Spurs have taken four points from their opening two games of the Group stages and are
sure to provide the Lilywhites toughest test yet in the competition.
Harry Redknapp has already told us to expect some more experience in the Spurs side to face
Shamrock Rovers tonight and with players returning from injury, this should be the strongest team
that we have put out in the Europa League since our opening game against Hearts.
It also makes it harder to predict but we can assume that Carlo Cudicini will continue in goal
with Corluka and Bassong taking the centre half positions.
Tottenham play host to Liverpool on Sunday with both sides looking to enhance their top four
aspirations.
Both sides will be aiming for a UEFA Champions League finish come the end of the season and they
will be hoping to gain an early psychological edge with victory at White Hart Lane.
The hosts go into the game buoyed by their first win of the season over Wolves last weekend, while
Liverpool will be seeking to bounce back from their defeat at Stoke last time.
Tottenham play host to Liverpool on Sunday with both sides looking to enhance their top four
aspirations.
Both sides will be aiming for a UEFA Champions League finish come the end of the season and they
will be hoping to gain an early psychological edge with victory at White Hart Lane.
The hosts go into the game buoyed by their first win of the season over Wolves last weekend, while
Liverpool will be seeking to bounce back from their defeat at Stoke last time.
A lot of the talk around the Spurs squad has centred around goalkeepers this week. Firstly,
manager Harry Redknapp underlined the fact that he considers Brad Friedel to be the club's number
one while at the same time, Carlo Cudicini has been trusted with the gloves in the Europa
League.
That has led to transfer talk involving Heurelho Gomes and it's thought that the erratic Brazilian
could be on his way as early as next January.
While the Europa League continues to be treated as something of a sideshow by Spurs, is there
anything we learned from last night's game as far as the playing personnel were concerned? Did
anyone stand out enough to be rewarded with a step up to the first team and did the side indicate
that they were capable enough to be trusted when the tougher Europa games come around?
This midweek looked to be a tough week for premier league representatives in the Europa League
as no teams managed to pick up three points, although the likes of Stoke City and Tottenham
Hotspurs can consider the draws they got were pretty positives considering they were playing
away.
Meanwhile, the same thing can't really be said for Fulham, as they picked up their one point in
front of the club's die hard fans at Craven Cottage.
This midweek looked to be a tough week for premier league representatives in the Europa League
as no teams managed to pick up three points, although the likes of Stoke City and Tottenham
Hotspurs can consider the draws they got were pretty positives considering they were playing
away.
Meanwhile, the same thing can't really be said for Fulham, as they picked up their one point in
front of the club's die hard fans at Craven Cottage.
There was a certain inevitability about Adebayor scoring on his Spurs debut this weekend. Much
in the same way you could be assured that any millionaire simpleton appearing on MTV Cribs
will lead the film-crew into his monstrously decorated bedroom and declare: this is where the
magic happens, while pointing to his hovercraft-sized bed and winking like a sex pest, one
could almost guarantee the Togolese talisman would find his feet rather sharpish in the
Midlands.
There was never much doubt that Harry Redknapp was going to keep faith with Brad Friedel for
Saturday's fixture with Wolves but once his name was inked in on the team sheet, we seemed to get
final confirmation that Heurelho Gomes' days at the Lane could be numbered.
Today, Redknapp has confirmed that while Gomes isn't necessarily number 3 at Spurs behind
Friedel and Cudicini, the player is now looking at the possibility of a transfer out of the club in
January.
When Brad Friedel arrived at White Hart Lane this summer we knew that he wasn't just being
brought in as cover for Heurelho Gomes but after taking the number one jersey at the start of the
season, just where does this leave our Brazilian, error-prone keeper?
Despite publicly backing Gomes after high profile mistakes against Real Madrid and Chelsea last
season, you could sense the frustration in Harry Redknapp and after picking up an injury towards
the end of the campaign, it was left to Carlo Cudicini to turn in some solid performances that
helped the club to fifth place.
We were just two names out with our team prediction last night and while it could have gone
either way with Livermore or Huddlestone, the change of keeper from Thursday night's game at Hearts
was unexpected.
We all knew that Brad Friedel hadn't been brought in solely as back up, particularly after Carlo
Cudicini had just signed a new one year contract but after sharing the duties in pre-season, it
looked as if the error prone Gomes was keeping the jersey.
While Spurs fans wait to see which new faces, if any, will take their place in the line up for
our first Premier League game of the season, the Evening Standard claims today that one critical
selection has already been decided.
When Brad Friedel joined the club at the start of the summer, it was felt that he would provide
genuine competition for the number one jersey.
While it's impossible to know how much to read into team selection for pre-season friendlies, it
would have been interesting for some supporters to see Carlo Cudicini take over the gloves for our
first game against Kaiser Chiefs before handing them over to Brad Friedel for the follow up against
Orlando Pirates.
Leave the Fireworks to the Professionals, M'kay?Viper said it earlier, but we'd like to wish
happy 4th of July to all of our readers! We hope you enjoy your time today with friends and family
today, eat plenty of BBQ and, most importantly, retain all of your fingers.
There's just a bit of news to report today as the Red Bulls enjoy a day of recuperation following
their mammoth four-game road trip.
In their quest to make a return to the Champions League, Tottenham Hotspur have signed American
goalkeeper Brad Friedel. The 40 year old was available on a free transfer from Aston Villa, and his
arrival at White Hart Lane has seemingly paved the way for Brazilian Gomes to leave the club.
"Brad is a top goalkeeper of real quality who has great experience," Spurs boss Harry Redknapp
told the club's official website.
Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel moves to Spurs after his contract was set to expire this
month.
The long standing Blackburn goalie joined Villa in 2008 and made 113 appearances. In his stay he
broke the league record of consecutive appearances made with 275. A testimony to his
durability.
By Chris Wright
Tottenham have just agreed a deal with the National Goalkeeping Museum that will allow them to
display an ancient American relic betwixt the sticks at White Hart Lane next season or something
like that.
Friedel's contract at Villa is due to expire on the last day of June, and Spurs have confirmed
that they have muscled in ahead of Liverpool and West Brom and shook hands with the 40-year-old
stopper over a two-year deal.
Sidelined for almost the whole season in favour of Heurhelo Gomes, the 37 year-old veteran
keeper has arguably gone beyond the call of duty when asked to stand in for Heurhelo Gomes for two
brief periods during the season when the No. 1 was hit firstly with a match ban and then more
recently was ruled out with a back injury.
By Hari Bajwa (twitter.com/no_hooligans)
If you're one of the few rising stars that's fortunate enough to be offered a professional
contract, upon signing, it'll no doubt be drummed into you that a career in football is a very
short one. One minute you're posing for uncomfortable shots with the gaffer as you sign as a 17
year old, the next, you're in your mid 30s and being subbed off with 5 minutes to go in your
farewell appearance.
Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Sunday in a shoot-out for fifth spot in the Premier
League.
The Reds are in pole position to finish fifth and claim a place in next season's Europa League as
they are two points ahead of Spurs.
A win for Liverpool will guarantee fifth spot with just one game left after this weekend in the
Premier League.
Liverpool welcome Tottenham to Anfield on Sunday in a shoot-out for fifth spot in the Premier
League.
The Reds are in pole position to finish fifth and claim a place in next season's Europa League as
they are two points ahead of Spurs.
A win for Liverpool will guarantee fifth spot with just one game left after this weekend in the
Premier League.
Manchester City secured a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League with a
1-0 home victory against Tottenham Hotspur.
City had the first notable chance but Edin Džeko was thwarted by Carlo Cudicini's point-blank
save. Spurs grew into the match and it was not long before they fashioned an opportunity of their
own, Luka Modrić firing wide from Aaron Lennon's centre.
For a second consecutive season, Manchester City and Tottenham play in a late-season match with
big implications (Fox Soccer Channel, 2:45 p.m.).
Last season it was Tottenham that defeated Manchester City to clinch a place in the UEFA
Champions League for the first time in club history.
It looks likely to be all change between the posts for next season with both Carlo Cudicini and
Stipe Pletikosa set to leave the club in the summer.
Pletikosa was signed on a season long loan from Spartak Moscow and maybe everyone thought that
Carlo wouldn't recover quite so well as he has from his motorbike accident.
I was planning on leaving this until after the transfer window had shut but to be honest I'm
sick and tired of reading, writing and talking about what stadium we might be playing in come 2016
or whatever date it ends up being. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It's important of course but the
longer it goes on and the more talk there is the closer I feel like I support a company and not a
football club.
Anthony Gardner... Anthony Gardner?!!! 10. Julian Dicks Stuart Pearce sort of had the hard,
passionate England left-back spot covered during the early nineties (to the extent that Nigel
Winterburn gained only two caps). But Dicks, who was West Ham Player of the Year for four years out
of seven, must have deserved to transfer his [.
