It was good to win in Israel, but the performance was again lacking. There were some good things like Steed Malbranque’s two fine crosses for both goals. It was also positive seeing Robbie Keane again on the scoresheet. Berbatov took his goal well, pity he looked like someone had just told him that his agent had run off with all his money!

Tomorrow Wigan come to the Lane. They’re currently a position below us in the league. I expect an interesting game as they have some fine players – particular Jason Koumas. Marcus Bent has been scoring goals lately, so it will be interesting to see if we can keep a clean sheet.

Who plays upfront for us is anyone’s guess, it could be Keane and Berbatov or Bent and Defoe. I’d prefer Keane and Berbatov, but only if the latter shows that he’s fully committed to the club by putting in a performance that we know full well that he’s capable of.

We should get three points, but Spurs being Spurs, you never count on anything!

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Anyone remember the following quotes?

“I want to play for Tottenham, that’s it really. I am going nowhere. I’ve been here for so long and for me to do well at this club means everything. When you look at Tottenham, the talent is unbelievable, the stadium’s lovely and all the ingredients are there.”

Yes, from none-other than from Mr. Sol Campbell.

Dimitar Berbatov’s statement today reminded me of Mr. Campbell and how much he said he wanted to remain at Spurs.

Of course, I’m not suggesting Berbatov will ever stoop as low as Mr. Campbell, but with the quotes from Dimitar’s father and brother, in addition to the Bulgarian’s performances and body language, he certainly doesn’t come across as a player who is committed and giving his all for the club.

Dimitar’s father Ivan reportedly told Bulgarian television: “My son doesn’t feel happy at Tottenham any more and wants to leave.”

The striker’s brother Asen reportedly said: “He has outgrown Spurs. He needs to find a bigger club. I think this next season he will go to a bigger club. Next season he will be in a club playing in the Champions League.

“In my opinion, Tottenham are OK. In Manchester [United], though, things will be better. I think it is his time to go. There is nothing more to do at Spurs. My brother is feeling depressed.”

Today’s the striker told Spurs’ official website: “I don’t like to speak too much and don’t like to be in the spotlight or the papers. I just want to play football.

“There has been a lot of stuff written about me leaving. I haven’t said anything until now, but they are now involving my family and I cannot allow that. When somebody is writing lies about my family I must get involved.

“I am my own man, when I want to speak I will and I will tell you the truth no matter how hard it is. That is why I am talking now.

“I want to let everyone know that I am a Tottenham Hotspur player, I love the club and everyone at the club. I don’t always smile so much, but that does not make me a bad person.

“I don’t smile because we are near the bottom of the table and have not been playing well – I have not been playing well either.

“The worst thing is when someone starts writing lies and when people see that they start to believe it. That really is the worst thing.

“I just want to say that I am here, I am happy here and I will help the club in any way I can.”

He added: “The fans love the club and they have been behind me ever since my first game. I appreciate them the most and I want to tell them that I am not going anywhere.

“I have a contract and I will give my best, for now it is not going so well for me because all the writing in the papers has been messing with my head and I lost my concentration.

“I don’t want to see my name in the papers anymore – I just want to play football and enjoy myself. When I see things in the paper with somebody telling lies about my father, how can I be calm? I am disappointed and I don’t understand how somebody can write something like that – it is a lie.

“Bringing my family into it is the biggest sin.”

I think Berbatov needs to back up his words by giving the performances that we all know he is capable of. If not, then time for him to move on.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

It looks like that if striker Dimitar Berbatov wants to leave, he can, and rightly so.

Manager Juande Ramos said: “I believe you can’t force players to stay in the team if they don’t want to.

“It’s not good for the team or player, so I wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way.”

He added: “I think Berbatov is happy, but that is a question you need to ask him.

“He is a Spurs player and he needs to help and support the team.”

If this is the beginnings of the Bulgarian’s exit from Spurs, then I’ve no complaints, as if he wants to go, then he can go. We have Bent, Defoe and Keane to choose from, and can always bring another striker in.

Of course, it will be a loss if Berbatov goes, but let’s face it, his performances are no way near as good as last season, so if he is unsettled, the sooner he goes the better.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

According to Spurs’ sporting director Damien Comolli, striker Dimitar Berbatov isn’t looking to leave for pastures new during the winter transfer window.

Comolli said: “I met with Dimitar’s agent and he assured me Dimitar is not looking for a move in January.

“He is on a long-term contract with us and Juande Ramos sees him as an important part of our plans.”

I don’t think it’s a matter of the Bulgarian reassuring us that he’s not looking to move, it’s more of a matter of him putting in performances that are worthwhile of him wearing a Spurs shirt, as if he does not, I wouldn’t care if he left or not!

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Spurs manager Juande Ramos is again being linked with making a swoop on his former club Sevilla for striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov.

Kerzhakov is 24-year’s old and has a pretty decent goalscoring record. He’s scored 8 times out of 18 games for his Spanish club and 13 out of 43 games at international level.

You can see him scoring the first of his three goals for Russia against Andorra below.

Related Posts

• No Related Post

Former Spurs manager Martin Jol is again in a talkative mood, this time, he’s talking about returning to Tottenham Hotspur in the future.

The Dutchman told the Sunday Times: “I still have the feeling that you never know. It’s all about opportunities.

“They can say what they like now but in a couple of years I’m not sure the same people will be there on the board.”

He went on: “Wenger: fourth the last couple of seasons. Did he win something? Not the league since 2004.

“Did Arsenal say, ‘You have to win a prize or finish third?’ No, because he’s the man. He can say, ‘I need time’.”

I’ve seen a lot of people saying Jol should have been given more time to turn things around, but as I’ve said before, I wanted him out. I had no confidence in his ability to get us out of the relegation zone, therefore regardless of what he had done in the past, he had to go. Any talk of Jol returning to White Hart Lane in the future is ‘double Dutch’!

Related Posts

• No Related Post

A day after scoring a cracking goal in our 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, Darren Bent has denied that he’s unsettled at White Hart Lane.

He told the club’s official website: “I am happy and settled at Spurs and stories that are saying otherwise could not be further from the truth.

“I am determined to establish myself in this team – that is the only thing I am focused on. I want to make an impact and do what I was brought here to do, which is score goals.”

Related Posts

• No Related Post