THFC1882 welcomes another new guest writer. I've been wanting this guy to write for the blog for ages and finally he's found the time. Here's Adam Nathan with his preview of Tottenham Hotspur's crucial visit to Manchester City.

Spurs travel to the Etihad on Sunday to face perhaps their fiercest competitors for the Premier League Title in Manchester City.

Key Stats
League Position: 16th, 1 W, 3D, 3L, 9 GF, 8 GA, +1 GD, 6 pts
Away Form: 2 D, 1 L, 2 GF, 3 GA
Last Meeting Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland (March 5, 2011) (Premier League)

Well, we're back to our regular programming.

Steed Malbranque eyes up Premier League return

French winger quit St Etienne after just three weeks

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-07 21:20:13 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

When footballers get fake kids with terminal illnesses Former Sunderland player Steed Malbranque has quashed suggestions that he has quit football to care for his son who has been diagnosed with cancer... because he doesn't have a son, let alone a son with cancer. Reports widely carried in the media last weekend suggested the Frenchman [.

When footballers get fake kids with terminal illnesses Former Sunderland player Steed Malbranque has quashed suggestions that he has quit football to care for his son who has been diagnosed with cancer... because he doesn't have a son, let alone a son with cancer. Reports widely carried in the media last weekend suggested the Frenchman [.

Steed Malbranque's representatives have dismissed reports the former Fulham, Tottenham and Sunderland midfielder has retired from football to care for a cancer-stricken son who does not even exist.

By Alan Duffy

Following on from Man City bigwig Gary Cook's distasteful email cock-up comes the bizarre news that another cancer-related story seems to have been a total hoax.

It had been widely reported in the media that former Fulham and Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque had recently decided to quit football altogether in order to care for his son, who had been diagnosed with cancer.

For the second year in a row, Liverpool start the Premier League season at home, looking to get the first full season of Kenny Dalglish's renewed reign off on the right foot. We say it every year, regardless of the action during the summer this is what we've all been waiting for. The transfer deadline keeps a bit of nonsense around until the end of August, but we're ever closer to having a singular focus on the Premier League season, and that's about as good as it gets.

Malbranque joins St Etienne - Yahoo! Eurosport St Etienne have confirmed the signing of Steed Malbranque from Sunderland. The Ligue 1 outfit have agreed a two-year deal for the 31-year-old midfielder, who returns to his native France for an undisclosed fee. A statement on www.asse.fr read: 'It's official.

Malbranque joins St Etienne - Yahoo! Eurosport St Etienne have confirmed the signing of Steed Malbranque from Sunderland. The Ligue 1 outfit have agreed a two-year deal for the 31-year-old midfielder, who returns to his native France for an undisclosed fee. A statement on www.asse.fr read: 'It's official.

Gael Clichy is obviously on his way out. His contract negotiations have broken down and with a year left Arsenal are keen to avoid a Bosman. He's been mentioned before as a sweetener to a rumoured Karim Benzema transfer. But this is the first concrete offer and it comes from a rival Premiership side.

On Wednesday evening in West London, Clint Dempsey became Fulham's top scorer in the Premier League era, scoring in each half against Bolton to first match and then surpass the benchmark of 32 set by fellow American Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque. It was somehow fitting that he should reach this milestone -- and in some style -- while all eyes were elsewhere, on the trumpeted and tempestuous Champions League meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Sunderland are at home this weekend against Fulham without a fit striker in their first team. That's the bad news. The good news? Fulham have been poor on their travels this season. No Gyan. No Welbeck. No Frazier Campbell. All ... Continue reading →

Clint Dempsey 10th and 11th goals this season helped his side Fulham beat Bolton 3-0 on Wednesday night.

The goals helped Dempsey move past Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque, who both previously scored 32 league goals for Fulham.

The American midfielder hooked a half-cleared corner into the net after 15 minutes and tapped in Eidur Gudjohnsen's flick-on 3 minutes into the second half to take his tally since joining Fulham in 2007 to 33 goals.

Clint Dempsey scored a pair of huge goals for Fulham in their 3-0 win against Bolton. The goals - including the game-winner - not only gave the Cottagers a big three points that went a long way in securing their place in the premiership next season, but they also added Dempsey's name to the Fulham record books.

Clint Dempsey 10th and 11th goals this season helped his side Fulham beat Bolton 3-0 on Wednesday night.

The goals helped Dempsey move past Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque, who both previously scored 32 league goals for Fulham.

The American midfielder hooked a half-cleared corner into the net after 15 minutes and tapped in Eidur Gudjohnsen's flick-on 3 minutes into the second half to take his tally since joining Fulham in 2007 to 33 goals.

Clint Dempsey keeps re-writing the record books.

A few weeks after setting the single-season goal record for an American in the Premier League, Dempsey scored twice in Fulham's 3-0 victory over Bolton Wednesday to become the club's all-time leading goal scorer in the Premier League era with 33.

No, Clint Dempsey is not playing blackjack tonight, he's playing Bolton. And he has sent the hosts into halftime with a 1-0 lead, thanks to his career-best 11th goal of the season. Not only that, but his 15th minute volley strike from a corner kick also pulled MC Deuce level with countryman Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque as the club's top all-time EPL scorer.

When Barcelona meets Real Madrid Wednesday afternoon for the third time in a span of less than two weeks it will have a major defensive reinforcement.

Captain Carles Puyol has been included in the squad for Barcelona's UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg with Madrid.

"I don't think we're in Wigan anymore, Jermain."Three years ago this week, Spurs were about to face Blackburn away. A faltering league season that had seen managerial change, player unrest and general calamity was meandering to a close. The Carling Cup had been won in grand style and prospects for the next campaign were bright, in spite of some fairly nondescript league form.