Spurs manager Martin Jol has spoken on us being drawn against Feyenoord in the next round of the UEFA Cup.

The away leg will be played on the 14th or 15th of February, with the home leg on the 22nd of the same month.

Jol told the club’s official website: “I said it yesterday that we would probably get Feyenoord. It is not a bad draw for us, they are probably not as good as when they played Spurs in the final of the UEFA Cup in 1974, but it is still a big club who get crowds averaging 45-50,000.

“It will be difficult going over there because they are strong at home, but we’ve got the advantage of playing later at home.

“Feyenoord are in the top five in Holland and are normally in the top three. There is another Dutch club, AZ Alkmaar, who beat Seville on Thursday and are now in the top three instead of Feyenoord.

“They had to sell Dirk Kuyt to Liverpool, but they have still got bundles of talent. They’ve got a young squad who have done well and beat a good Wisla Krakow side this week but I feel if we play with confidence like we have been then we can go further.

“It could have been worse and it could have been better, but I am looking forward to going to Rotterdam.”

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Thankfully there’s no further injuries following yesterday’s win over Dinamo Bucharest.

Manager Martin Jol told the club’s official website: “There are always a few little knocks but there are no big problems and everyone came out of the game well. I think we will be fine for Manchester.”

I expect a tough game on Sunday as Manchester City are very good at home having won or lost all their Premiership home games. With our mid-week exertions, I think we’ll end up with a draw, but of course, you never know what to expect from Spurs away these days!

Related Posts

• No Related Post

The scorer of the above goal against Leicester City, Mbulelo Mabizela, who of course is now formerly of Spurs, has been banned for six months after he tested positive for traces of marijuana. The South African only made nine appearances – only two starting – during his one-and-a-half year stay at White Hart Lane.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Once again in Europe, I expected tougher opposition, instead we convincing beat a poor Dinamo side.

The opening goal was fantastic. Berbatov got on the end of a poor throw from Dinamo’s ‘keeper and lashed the ball into the back on the net.

The second was again brilliant. Robinson’s goal-kick to Defoe was with pin point accuracy. Defoe ran passed the Romanian defenders and slotted home.

Our third came soon after half time when Defoe tapped in following a Lennon shot.

After various substitutions by both sides, Jean-Philippe Mendy got a consolation goal for Dinamo. Not sure where our defence were, but the word sloppy comes to mind!

Tomorrow the draw for the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup is made (12pm GMT to be exact). We’ll face a side who finished third in their group. Thankfully we’ll avoid the team that failed in the Champions’ League.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

After the demolition of Charlton Athletic, we take on Dinamo Bucharest in our final group match in the UEFA Cup.

On team news ahead of the game, Spurs manager Martin Jol told the club’s official website: “Jermain Defoe has a hamstring problem and we will make a final decision tomorrow. “It is 50-50 on Jermain, but everybody else is fine apart from Teemu Tainio who is ill and probably won’t be in the squad.”

I hope we don’t risk Defoe, especially with so many games coming up. Mido could do with a game, so let him start. Of course, Jermaine Jenas is still out of with an ankle problem.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Bad news as both Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane will be out injured until the New Year.

Martin Jol told the club’s official website: “Robbie has a medial ligament strain and will be out for five to six weeks, although hopefully he’ll return a bit earlier because he’s a quick healer.

“JJ took a blow to his ankle and he’ll probably be out for four weeks. That’s a blow for him as well.”

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is well known for playing mind games, but I think him saying: “We play now a team who did not play in midweek, but we will beat them.” just shows how much pressure he is under.

His team at home haven’t done that great in the Premiership, with 3 wins, 4 draws and no losses. Usually their record would include more wins. So for the Frenchman to say that is just arrogance, especially as everyone knows there are no guaranteed victories in the Premiership.

Our away record is poor in the league with no wins, 3 draws and an embarrassing 4 defeats. That said, I would never ever rule us out getting a win there.

The team for tomorrow sounds like it’ll be Robinson in goal, with a defence of Chimbonda, King, Dawson and Ekotto. Lennon, Tainio, Zokora and Malbranque in midfield, with Keane and Berbatov upfront.

A decent side alright, that will see Robbie Keane not necessarily playing upfront all the time.

Arsenal will be without key man Thierry Henry tomorrow, which will be a massive loss for them.

I think that if we can keep it tight at the back, then we could nick a win, as without Henry they usually struggle putting the ball in the back of the net.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Ahead of our match at Arsenal, Spurs manager Martin Jol has spoken about his opposite number at the Emirates Stadium.

Jol said: “We don’t speak. He is not one of my mates. Chrisy [Hughton] is my mate. Maybe [Jose] Mourinho is close. We talk. Nine out of 10 managers I like.”

The Dutchman isn’t sympathetic to Wenger, who has lost his last two matches. He said: “Do I pity him? Why should I do that? I don’t feel anything.”

Even though Arsenal’s form isn’t great, Jol doesn’t think there is more expectation on us to beat them. He said: “I would probably say that if we could play at home tomorrow. But it is still difficult to go to their ground.

“If they had lost two or three home games I would be surprised, but they’re still fine at home. Their away form is not as good, but I’m not surprised again because in England anyone can lose away games on the trot.

“I’m sure they’re still able to beat any other team – Liverpool, Manchester United, [CSKA] Moscow – but you have to convert chances, score goals, and that has been their only problem. I feel that Arsenal still have a great team.”

Speaking of the pressure on the Frenchman, Jol said: “Maybe you could talk about me or eight other managers, but not about him. For the last six years he has played the best football in England.

“Of course he invested a lot, but he was brave enough to bring Fabregas and Hleb into the team. No one knew who Hleb was.

“He’s rebuilding a team for probably the fifth time, and he will have a great team again. I still feel that until this moment he played some very good football. He’s one of the few in Europe who can combine ‘results football’ with playing attractively.

“We have the same task as Wenger: to build a very good team. I feel pound for pound we are very close to other teams, but it’s about ‘specific quality’. I’m sure if we had, for example, Thierry Henry, we would probably be very close to any other team.

“If you want to be a top team you need one or two top players. Maybe Lennon or Berbatov could be that for us, but that is for the future.”

Related Posts

• No Related Post