A rummy thing, football. Up diddly up, down diddly down, whoops poop twiddly dee, to quote one particularly sagacious soul – after which Man Utd win the whole dashed thing and our lot get edged out by that other lot. And that, it appears, is how football works. But when 38 games end with us essentially taking pride of place at the head of a 16-strong cohort of no-man's-land stragglers, I am rather inclined to think ‘Dash it all, what's the point?
Still not really clicking, which is just about grumpily bearable against the European champions, but a darned sight more irritating against Slovenia's finest. The lack of cutting edge in attack had me thumping my head repeatedly against the nearest wall from around midway through the first half. Injury to Adebayor was a shame, for this game had ‘Two-Man Attack' scrawled across it in the sort of chunky font normally reserved for unintelligible graffiti.
After a summer of rumour, gossip and the occasional piece of news, it's back to business on the
pitch and trying to think of what else to write about between now and December.
After the last kick of 2011-12, we have now seen Corluka, Kranjcar, Pienaar, Modric and Bassong
leave the club while Gio Dos Santos and Rafael van der Vaart left on permanent deals on deadline
day.
Tottenham rounded off transfer deadline day with a double signing of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and forward Clint Dempsey. Andre Villas-Boas started his managerial post at Tottenham FC eager to sign a goalkeeper, a striker and a replacement to Luka Modric who left White Hart Lane to join Real Madrid. The pursuit of French international Hugo [.
Tottenham rounded off transfer deadline day with a double signing of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and forward Clint Dempsey. Andre Villas-Boas started his managerial post at Tottenham FC eager to sign a goalkeeper, a striker and a replacement to Luka Modric who left White Hart Lane to join Real Madrid. The pursuit of French international Hugo [.
Tottenham's transfer window: Late additions of Lloris and Dempsey bolster AVB's contingent -
originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Tottenham were one of the busier sides in the transfer window this summer, with Andre
Villas-Boas eager to add his own touch to the squad he inherited earlier in the off-season.
It took until the last minute, but Clint Dempsey finally got the move away from Fulham that he
desperately wanted. Though he had his heart set on Liverpool, a breakdown in communication between
them and Fulham combined with a weak deadline day offer of £3 million (£7 million less than what
Fulham originally wanted and half of what Spurs ended up paying) prevented that from happening.
Jose Mourinho has been spotted buying €200 worth of boxes at furniture store Ikea amid rumours he is packing ahead of a return to Chelsea. The Real Madrid manager bought boxes, masking tape and other packaging at Ikea's Alcorcon store, south-west of Madrid. Spanish TV news reporters are certain that this can only mean one [.
With Frank Lampard's career at Chelsea coming to an end, speculation is rife about a possible replacement for him. I just want to state on record here that no one could ever replace him in my view. There will be no other goal scoring midfielder that will come close to replicating the record he has at this club in my lifetime!
What can Tottenham learn from Borussia Dortmund? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Borussia Dortmund enter into the Champions League semi-finals clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday night, and in some ways the German outfit are not dissimilar to Tottenham.
Both have a young, ambitious and tactically astute manager, both possess squads full of exceptionally talented players brought to their respective clubs on for relatively moderate transfer fees.
Carl Jenkinson still recalls that moment a little over six months ago when Arsenal came from two goals down to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 and completely change the course of the race for automatic Champions League qualification. The Gunners were pegged back by goals from Luis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor in the opening 34 minutes [.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Norwich City, Saturday 1st September, White Hart Lane, 3pm kick
off
So after 2 decent performances to start the season, with only 1 point to show for it, we welcome
our former Spurs player Chris Hughton and his Norwich team to the Lane on Saturday.
What can Manchester United learn from Real Madrid? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Manchester United and Real Madrid are traditionally the biggest football clubs in their respective countries, and they came face-to-face earlier in this season's Champions League. The Spaniards prevailed before overcoming Galatasaray; they now face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the competition.
Luka Modric has seemingly earned a place in Real Madrid's starting XI after his brilliant game against Levante. With Xabi Alonso banned for the clash against Galatasaray, everything indicates towards the Croatian international as being the former Liverpool midfielder's replacement.
The Blanco's assistant, Aitor Karanka, has all but confirmed that Modric will start against the Turkish team in the post-match Levante press conference.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba renew their long-standing rivalry when Real Madrid takes on Galatasaray (2:45pm, Fox Soccer Channel) on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.
The two have previously faced off in the English Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Portugal vs.
Manchester United's defeat is not just down to Nani's red - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Manchester United's dream of clinching a treble was quashed on Tuesday night after Real Madrid sneaked out a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in the Champions League Round of 16 knockout tie.
The game was poised in favor of the Premier League side with scoreat 1-1 from the first leg at Bernabeu.
Whether the night belonged to Luka Modric, Ronaldo or The Referee in Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Real Madrid last night is really still up for debate.
However, you could argue that the Croatian Hippie's presence (come on, the headbands are a dead giveaway!) in itself both his goal and second set-up- finished by Ronaldo was the game-changer of the night, granting Real the confidence they needed to go all the way through.
Catalan station TV3 produced a video comparing Real Madrid players' rough treatment of Barcelona's delicate angels to that of hyenas in the wild and now Los Blancos are upset. According to AS, Real Madrid will take legal action against TV3 over the video, which finished with the climactic reveal of Pepe in a Hannibal Lecter mask.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfield maestro (and current Real Madrid disappointment) Luka Modric bears a striking resemblance to the one-and-only Lady Edith of the PBS and ITV hit Downton Abbey. On a separate note, I had a very interesting...
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As Chelsea look to strengthen their midfield during the transfer window, one target that continues to draw interest is Metalist Kharkiv midfielder Taison. Chelsea believed that they had a deal in principle to sign the 25-year-old Brazilian, but now Kharkiv seem to be stalling the deal as a change of ownership during the holiday season now seems to have led to a change of heart about selling the midfielder.
Since his move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window, Luka Modric has never seemed to fit in at Real Madrid. According to reports, Modric may be on his way out of La Liga, and back in the Premier League as soon as this summer. Both Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly set to make respective moves for the ex-Tottenham midfielder.
Luka Modric had been a Chelsea target for a couple of seasons. In fact if you can remember, the player himself talked up a move to Stamford Bridge two summers ago as Tottenham rejected FOUR Chelsea offers with the highest being reported at £40m!
As we all know, Daniel Levy stood his ground and the deal never happened.
Luka Modrić left Tottenham last summer for £33 million to Real Madrid. During the 2011/12 season, most avid Premier League watchers would agree that Modrić was one of the best, if not the best, passers in the game. His ability ... Continue...
Luka Modrić left Tottenham last summer for £33 million to Real Madrid. During the 2011/12 season, most avid Premier League watchers would agree that Modrić was one of the best, if not the best, passers in the game. His ability to spread the ball not only allowed him to pass the ball a total of 2,534 times, which is impressive enough, but also the fact that his completion rate was an astounding 87%.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric admits he has found life at the Bernabeu "challenging" since leaving Tottenham in the summer.
The Croatian playmaker completed a €35million move to the La Liga champions after spending four years at White Hart Lane, but he has struggled to break into the Real Madrid line-up.
Gareth Bale #9 of the Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by RicTapia/Getty Images)
Gareth Bale is not himself this season for Tottenham. According to Goal.com, the talented Welshman is ready to take on the next challenge of his football career and he believes La Liga would be a good fit for himself.
Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Just as fast as Gareth Bale came onto the scene for Tottenham Hotspur, he may be equally as fast on his way out. Gareth Bale's lightening speed in a Tottenham jersey may come to an end at the culmination of the season as Real Madrid are reportedly willing to pay $40 million for the Welshman according to Mirror Online.
The Mag and Mark Jensen have had a Canal+ interview with Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye translated from the French, and Yohan has revealed that he had an offer to join Tottenham in the summer to replace Luka Modric, who went to Real Madrid, but he turned it down and preferred to stay at Newcastle [.
Liverpool will monitor Mesut Ozil's situation at Real Madrid after the German midfielder was given a kick up the backside by manager Jose Mourinho. The Sunday Mirror reports how the 23-year-old has not enjoyed the best of seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu, and could be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season.
Playing at Santiago Bernabeu Champions League Home Team Real Madrid Keeper Iker Casillas Midfield Sami Khedira; Xabi Alonso; Angel Di Maria; Luka Modric; Cristiano Ronaldo; Forwards Karim Benzema; Defense Alvaro Arbeloa; Pepe; Sergio Ramos; Fabio Coentrao; Subs Away Team Man City Keeper Joe [...]
Football Match just over at Estadio Santiago Bernab�u La Liga Home Team Real Madrid Goals &
Scorers 76′: Gonzalo Higuain;54′: Cristiano Ronaldo;26′: Cristiano Ronaldo; Keeper Iker
Casillas Midfield Jose Maria Callejon; Luka Modric; Cristiano Ronaldo; Sami Khedira; Xabi Alonso;
Forwards Karim Benzema; Defense Sergio Ramos; Marcelo; Alvaro [.
Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo struck within eight first half minutes to guide Spanish
champions Real Madrid to a famous Super Cup win on away goals.
Copa Del Rey holders Barcelona came into Wednesday's second leg holding a 3-2 advantage from the
first leg at Camp Nou, but their lead quickly turned into deficit at the Bernabeu.
Welcome to Los Chicas Chismes, your Wednesday Gossip column! This week, read about Leo Messi's
hilarious milk advertisement, Luka Modric's Love Story, Iniesta's wine endorsement, Alex Gerrard
and an update from Ronaldo and Nani's "fling".
Argentinean ace, Leo Messi, is a huge star in Latin America, so it's no surprise that he is
getting endorsement deals in Mexico, where the football following is cray
cray!
Kenny Miller of Scotland celebrates with Jamie Mackie (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
As match day three for World Cup Qualifiers gets underway this week, let's take a look at Europe's most difficult group to predict, Group A. After two matches played Serbia, Belgium and Croatia remain dead-locked at the top with four points.
Pimping the players? Its money to Stan the Man and the Arsenal septuagenarians
Is Arsenal breeding a particular type of player mercenary? Those without any loyalty to the
club, constantly on the lookout for the big payoff from the next big club? It's so easy to trash
them when it appears so black and white.
It's been claimed that Spurs have been tracking Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris throughout the
summer but with the sale of Luka Modric, the chase could be nearing its end. The French club are
the ones to suggest that a transfer could be imminent.
"The sale of Modric from Tottenham to Madrid is important, as is the amount of the transfer,"
said Lyon's Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas.
