It's been a bad day for Tottenham Hotspur. FC Porto have announced that they've sold striker Joao Moutinho to Monaco for a transfer fee of £21 million. The White Hart Lane club were reportedly within minutes of signing Moutinho last summer, but failed to beat the deadline to bring the highly-sought after footballer to England.
While many of the Premier League's big boys have headed off to the USA for post-season tours, Tottenham travelled to Bahamas to face Jamaica. In this age of wall-to-wall football coverage, there's surprisingly footage from Spurs' Caribbean venture. But one supporter captured this proof that not everything Gareth Bale attempts comes off at the moment.
The Express has reported that David Villa has agreed to switch from Barcelona to London this summer. In the report, the disclosed information is based on news coming from Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. It's believed that Spur would pay £15 million (over $23 million) to acquire Villa.
The Daily Mailalso reportedthat Tottenham is keen on 19-year-oldRNK Split striker and Croatia U21 international Ante Rebic for £5 million (almost $7,700,000) and Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, as well.
On the eve of Tottenham Hotspur's post-season friendly against Jamaica in The Bahamas, Spurs hope to renew their efforts to sign Brazil's Leandro Damiao as well as Spanish international Roberto Soldado.
At the same time, Tottenham are expected to lose William Gallas (on a free transfer), Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Emmanuel Adebayor according to the report mentioned below inThe Guardiannewspaper.
Spurs star Gareth Bale is set to sign an improved contract and stay at the club for another season on the condition that he is allowed to move at the end of next season. The new deal will see Bale pocket £130,000 and will be announced shortly, according to the Evening Standard. But the [...]
Tottenham will have to pay Wigan £15million to secure the services of highly sought after James McCarthy. The Republic of Ireland international is considered to be one of the finest midfielders outside the Premier League's top five and seems certain to move on after the Latics' relegation to the Championship.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to announce that Gareth Bale has agreed a new £130,000 per week contract that will allow him to leave White Hart Lane next summer if a club comes in with a bid in excess of £50 million, according to a report in the Evening Standardnewspaper.
The newspaper reports that Bale has committed his future to Tottenham, and that he'll remain at White Hart Lane until next summer at the earliest.
Tottenham Sunderland 1-0 Highlights 2013 Gareth Bale goal vs Sunderland Video Vaughan Red Card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Tottenham Sunderland 1-0 Highlights 2013 Gareth Bale goal vs Sunderland Video Vaughan Red Card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Tottenham vs Sunderland 2013 ( Spurs SAFC VIDEO BELOW) Final score and result:- Tottenham vs Sunderland 1-0 ( Gareth Bale) White Hart Lane, London- 19 May, 2013- 16.
I have written articles about what the former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson has said before and it has pretty much been non-stop negativity, especially towards Arsene Wenger. Robson never played under the Frenchman, but he clearly considers himself an authority on him.
The Talksport regular has been telling us all season that Wenger should go and was clearly going to fail to finish in the top four this season.
One thing that was noticeable this season and in fact in a lot of the previous years is that our squad doesn't have many outstanding players that the rest of the team can revolve around. Last year we had Van Persie, and that's all in my opinion. Before then Van Persie and Fabregas, maybe Nasri.
Gareth Bale of Tottenham (Google Creative Commons)
With the English Premier League season now over, clubs and their fans have a chance to look back and reflect: "Was this season a success? A failure? Could we have finished higher? Why?"While there will be varying opinions on such topics, what cannot be disputed is the detriment that injuries cause a team over the course of a season.
Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke says he "won't necessarily accept" being told he has to stay at the club. The Belgium international was Villa's star man this season. Without his goals, Paul Lambert's side would probably have been relegated. While that has made him a hero at Villa Park, Benteke says he would have no [.
There have been a number of reports over the last few days suggesting that Arsenal have agreed terms with Gonzalo Higuain over his potential transfer to the Emirates from Real Madrid. It was also thought that the transfer fee had been settled at around £20 million. Whether this is is true or not, we don't know, but even if it is true, that does not mean the transfer will definitely happen.
The fans and former players of Arsenal will all have been pleased about the way the Gunners fought back from a seemingly impossible situation to clinch fourth place in the Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League and finishing above our north London rivals again.
As the dust settles, though, and we start to take stock, there are certainly concerns.
Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud (Google Creative Commons)
Having already wrapped up the Premier League title, Manchester United capped off a wonderful campaign with an extraordinary 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. United twice led by a three-goal margin, but the home side – inspired by Romelu Lukaku's second-half hat-trick – managed to battle back each time.
There was very little to play for in most of the games yesterday, which is why the Arsenal v Newcastle game and the Tottenham v Sunderland game were shown simultaneously on Sky sports. The papers and football websites have been building up the tension between the two north London rivals and saying just how important fourth place in the Premier League was.
It has been a testing time for everybody concerned with Arsenal Football Club this season, but the players made sure that it finished with a bang by beating Newcastle United at St. James' Park yesterday. You could see the elation and relief on the faces of the Gunners and the Gooners who had traveled to see the game, but we really must do better next season.
When Per Mertesacker twice inexplicably played Spurs onside to score against Arsenal at the beginning of March, few thought he would end up one of our heroes in the race for 4th. Nor Laurent Koscielny, who was on the bench at White Hart Lane having spent much of the season as our third choice centre back.
It's not the last day of the season without the odd false rumour or two. Yesterday, someone at White Hart Lane started a very cruel rumour that Newcastle had equalised against Arsenal. Spurs needed the Gunners to drop points to have any hope of qualifying for the Champions League, so you can understand why their [.
Arsenal's 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle ensured that the Gunners will be playing the Champions League next season at the expense of North London rivals Tottenham, despite their 1-0 win at home against Sunderland courtesy of another late blockbuster from Gareth Bale.
With the title already secured by Manchester United and relegation matters settled in midweek, the only piece of intrigue left to be settled was who will be playing in Europe next season.
Jack Wilshere is heading for a small operation in the summer to remove a pin from his ankle, but is still expected to play some part in today's game against Newcastle due to the injury to Mikel Arteta.
He admits that this game is so crucial that there may be a few nerves amongst the Arsenal players, but says they just have to calm and professional to make sure of the three points, no matter what happens in the Tottenham game.
Arsene Wenger is famous for finishing in the Top Four, and more importantly for Arsenal fans, always finishing above our rivals Tottenham in every season since he arrived at the club.
Tony Adams, who was a big factor in Arsenal's glory days under Wenger, has no doubt that the Gunners will win today and carry on that fine tradition of St.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is offering his non-playing staff a share of a £1million bonus if they beat Arsenal in this afternoon's match. Ashley is reported to be a Spurs fan, and a Newcastle win would secure Champions League football for Andre Villas Boas' side providing they are able to beat Sunderland in today's other [.
Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
The final day of the English Premier League season may not have the same drama that it had last season but do not tell that to the fans based in North London.
Arsenal and Tottenham are battling for the only meaningful position in the table that has been left up for grabs until Sunday.
If you could bottle what it is that makes Arsenal put in a storming run at the end of the season, you would be a rich man. While Tottenham generally choke at the end to leave them disappointed and out of the Champions League, the Gunners come good and get the results we need, despite a mountain of pressure.
No matter whether you support Arsenal, Tottenham or any other club, here's a poll we can all participate in... who do we want to see finish in fourth place?
We're not asking who you think will finish in fourth. Arsenal have their destiny in their own hands, and all they need is a win to guarantee fourth.
It has been very impressive the way Arsenal have handled the pressure on them this season. From a morale sapping defeat to the hated spuds, Arsenal were left seven points adrift and it seemed like this would be the year Tottenham finally finished above us.
Maybe we should thank AVB, because the spuds' croaky voiced manager's gloating claims of a downward spiral for Arsenal had the opposite effect and we are now back in the driving seat.
Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud (Google Creative Commons)
Last season Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud was still plying his trade in the French Ligue 1 Orange with Montpelier. At that time he was preparing for what would be a nerve racking final day of his club's campaign that saw them lift the French title with a victory over Auxerre on the last day of the 2011-12 season.
Not long ago Arsenal traveled to the far Northeast of England to take on Newcastle United in what would become the 2010-11 English Premier League game of the season where Arsenal went 0-4 up on their opponents only for Newcastle to storm back in the second period to draw the match 4-4 on level terms.
It certainly gives the Arsenal players something to think about as we approach one of the most important final days of the Premier League in years, at least as far as the three teams involved are concerned. After City snatching the title from United in the most dramatic fashion last year, this year will be all about the battle for third and fourth place.
Clint Dempsey joined Tottenham last summer with the idea and hopes that the club would eventually give him the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in his career.
Well, that idea and those hopes hinge on this dramatic final weekend of action.
AVB Should Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions League this weekend, there will undoubtedly be a stream of bullsh*t dictating that darling 'Arry did a better job to get fourth last season. However, just look at it like this. Should Spurs beat Sunderland on Sunday (like that, alliteration fans?) they will have their highest [.
David Villa to pick Tottenham over Arsenal if they get Champions League football - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Reports in Spain suggest that Barcelona forward David Villa's time at Camp Nou may be up this summer, with the La Liga Champions eager to cash in on the attacker to fund moves for new players.
The numbers behind Tottenham's transfer plans - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
After the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League once more, Tottenham have a busy summer in the transfer window ahead. Andre Villas-Boas has the core of a side that can challenge consistently for the top four, and more, but needs a quality addition or two to bolster his contingent.
Tottenham Hotspur may have just missed out on a spot in the Champions League next year after yesterday's dramatic final day in the Premier League, but the North London club have one massive positive to take from the season. Gareth Bale secured both PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards and impressed for Spurs throughout the year.
A quick graph via a request from the comments section in this post, and compared to the total chances created in 2011-12 to further illustrate Liverpool's progress in attack.
Premier League only, as that's all I can find stats for. All totals via Who Scored.
A few notes:
• Liverpool created 66 more chances this season, and that's after having to replace the players who created the third-, fourth-, and fifth-, and seventh-most chances last season.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas recently admitted that he is quite fond of Barcelona striker David Villa, but denied the rumors swirling around his coming to the Spurs.
There have been many reports on what the Spurs ideal move would be this offseason, with speculation around not only Villa, but RNK Split striker Ante Rebic.
