UK Football

photo: Mark Freeman

Emmanuel Adebayor is none too happy with his club, after their 4-4 draw in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. The striker is coming to terms with the realization that Arsenal do not have what it takes at present to win a title, and that is completely true. Defensive errors have plagued Arsenal, and the acquisition of former United man Silvestre hasn’t done much to quell the problem.

Arsene Wenger has clearly shown he is losing his worth as a manager, because the Wenger philosophy just has no place at Arsenal any longer, it’s time for a change. Just look at what Adebayor is saying about the state of Arsenal after the Tottenham draw: “To be champions in this way? You can never be a champion,”“We feel very sorry for ourselves that the things are not going the right way.

“It was one of the most difficult games in my life because I cannot understand that after 90 minutes we were leading 4-2 - I don’t know how we finished with a draw.“

The Togo international just doesn’t seem as though Wenger is making much of an impression on him, nor does he sound confident in his managers ability to coach the club to victory.

Wenger is losing it, his philosophy is much too old school for the face of today’s Premier League. Either the Wenger era needs to end, or Arsenal can look forward to being stuck in 6^th or 7^th place every year, very soon.

photo:  Paul Blank

Tottenham show more than signs of life as they have the incredible depth to draw against Arsenal despite being down 4-2 in the 89^th minute. But the question begs, was this an amazing Tottenham performance, or just the club playing up for the North London derby. Derby matches are well documented for their ability to produce unexpected results. But something seems different now that Redknapp is in control of Tottenham.

Somehow the players just seem to be more prepared for the big battles like yesterday’s against Arsenal. David Bentley’s confidence to take on a 40yard strike and actually score in the 13^th minute should be proof alone. Redknapp is inspiring the men again, something Juande Ramos couldn’t do, and deserved to be fired for.

What an amazing performance by both sides, with Bentley’s amazing 13^th minute strike giving Tottenham a temporary lead, Silvestre levelled the score line at the 37^th minute, while Gallas led his team with a goal to put them ahead just after the half. Tottenham’s lapses in defence allowed yet another goal in the 64^th from Adebayor, making the situation look bleak for Spurs.

But then their drive grew enough for Darren Bent to get lucky after a rebound Almunia couldn’t control off Huddlestone’s stinging shot, netting Tottenham hope in the 67^th minute. But Van Persie made Tottenham think that at least for a moment that they would be given yet another loss, with his 68^th minute effort.

Things looked bleak, and the infusion of Redknapp looked as though it hadn’t made as much of a difference as was intended by Spurs executives. Until the 89^th minute when a brilliant strike was curled in by Jermaine Jenas. Although the move looked as though it would only be a small consolation to a defeated Tottenham, a shot from Luka Modric deflected straight to Aaron Lennon who took the rebound and bought Tottenham a well deserved 90^th minute point.

But the real story here are the problems Arsenal have in defence, giving up four goals is inexcusable if you’re even hoping of winning the Premier League any time soon. With their record as of late Arsene Wenger needs to do some serious damage control, should Arsenal hope to remain in the top four for another season.

photo: John Dobson

Juande Ramos, in his Tottenham exile has admitted that the loss of Berbatov and Keane damaged the squad. So why is that only coming out now, and why didn’t he do more to keep two such strikers if he had the ability to do so. Both were under contract, Spurs didn’t have to sell Berbatov or Keane, but they saw the money both could bring, and sold them despite what effect they could have on the team.

Berbatov and Keane combined were good for fifty goals a season, you can’t just replace that by buying someone new, or rotating the position with strikers you already had on the bench. But I do find it entertaining that Ramos is trying to justify his termination with quotes like: “The exit of Berbatov and Keane, important for their human qualities and scoring ability, was too hard a blow for the squad,”

“We had a hard pre-season which stopped us from working with the tranquillity summer preparation needs,”.

You blew it Juande, that’s about it, you could have forced your opinions and put your job on the line if you really thought Berbatov and Keane were as irreplaceable as they turned out to be. A manager just doesn’t allow an owner to sell players of that quality, without assuring yourselves of an adequate replacement. Something Tottenham have been lacking all season, and with Redknapp only targeting as high as Defoe, the striker problem will continue to be a persistent one.

Portsmouth fans are disgusted with Redkapp, as the former manager was booed during a ceremony to commemorate Pompey’s victory in the FA Cup last season. Redknapp was greeted by loud boos and chants of “Judas” which he essentially deserved and will likely continue deserve as not only has Redknapp abandoned Portsmouth but also is planning on taking a few players with him.

Most notably at the moment is Jermaine Defoe, who Redknapp hopes lure back to Tottenham Hotspur, but Portsmouth has issued a statement saying that no players will be following Redknapp. Rednapp is supposedly planning a deal involving a trade for Aaron Lennon and some Spurs millions for Pompey’s England striker. However I doubt any such deal will go through. And also given the state of Defoe’s spotty performances over the years, I don’t see how Redknapp thinks Defoe will bail Tottenham out at this stage.

Sure they got their first victory over the weekend, but Tottenham still have an incredibly long way to go.

On a side note for Spurs, Juande Ramos has filed a £7.5million claim for compensation due, after the club sacked him last week. Although how he could ask after Tottenham’s worst start to the Premiership in 80 some years, I have no idea. Surely a club can fire a manager that’s just unfit to manage anymore.

Photo: John Dobson

I wasn’t sure I’d read that correctly at first, I mean after Redknapp was told by Portsmouth that he could manage the club as long as he wanted, as he would never be fired because of his leadership and guiding the club to higher heights than ever before.  And Tottenham definitely needed to get rid of Ramos, but I never expected a switch for Redknapp out of the blue like this.

Tottenham will be getting themselves one hell of a manager with Redknapp though, a perfect choice for a club that’s struggling with only two points out of their league fixtures this season.  Redknapp also has no delusions as to the uphill battle he will be facing, “It is a club that has massively underachieved this year - to be sitting there with two points and, let’s be honest, in a real desperate situation, a relegation battle.

“There’s a lot of quality players there that obviously haven’t done as well as they should have done. You don’t end up with two points from eight games if you’re doing what you should be doing.

“So they need to start performing as I know they can. Whether it’s confidence or whatever, it’s up to me to go in and try to get the best out of them players.” Redknapp told BBC 5 Live about his impending appointment.

Tottenham are expected to make the announcement later this week.  And I also thought that in parting from Pompey Redknapp’s first comment about coaching Tottenham is a bit insulting to the club he used to call home.  Redknapp was quoted as saying  “It’s a big opportunity to manage a big club before I retire,”  which some Pompey fans, after finishing eighth in the league and winning the FA Cup last year, may state that Pompey is a big club now.

Mere days after Woodgate’s proclaimation of confidence in Tottenham’s ability to turn things around, Woodgate is changing his story.  Tottenham lost to Udinese yesterday in the UEFA Cup 2-0, and it has sparked Woodgate to admit that Tottenham is in a ‘one million percent’ relegation battle in the Premiership, and their chances for European glory are seriously shaken.  For those who may have forgotten, because Tottenham just aren’t a factor in anyone’s mind these days.  Tottenham is at the bottom of the Premiership with 2 points, and still haven’t fired Juande Ramos.

On a side note, MLS commissioner Ivan Gazidis has said that a loan move to AC Milan for David Beckham is not a foregone conclusion.  So it looks as though the MLS is not fit to let it’s cash cow leave, but hopefully Beckham will fight the MLS should he have any desires to continue his England run, or have a remotely respectably ending to his fantastic career.  

photo: Calebrw

Thank the football gods David Robert Joseph Beckham looks as though he won’t be ending his career in the exile of the MLS.  Finally Becks has awakened a bit and realized that America just isn’t where he wants to spend the few football years he has left, according to reports that the England legend has received offers for a loan deal from AC Milan.  I would be absolutely thrilled to see Beckham once again in one of the world’s finest leagues, because Theo Walcott has been useless since his hat trick against Croatia, leaving Beckham the chance to take back a starting position for England if he can only prove his worth with a reputable club.

That might be just enough to make me a Portsmouth fan.

photo:  Gordon Flood

I feel bad for the guy of course, but I can’t help but also find Martin Petrov’s luck a little bit comical.  Given the situation at Manchester City, the fact that the club has enough money to buy anyone and everyone, Petrov just can’t make his case on why City needs him, because of his constant injury.  After having literally just returned from his previous hamstring injury, has apparently injured a knee ligament upon his return to play with Bulgaria, another reason managers hate international breaks.

Manchester United are rolling now, just like Ferguson said they would come October, showing that Chelsea still have a lot of fight to put up should the blues or anybody else hope to take either of United’s titles. 

Manchester City completely aren’t ready to become one of England’s elite clubs.  Despite all the talk, and the acquisition of stars like Robinho and Wright-Phillips, Manchester City’s money so far shows that you can’t buy a successful team.  Many fans would say Chelsea did just that, but the difference is that Abramovich bought the right people, like manager Jose Mourinho, it doesn’t matter how much money you have, Jose is going to manufacture a brilliant team.  Arsenal have Arsene Wenger, and Manchester United have Sir Alex Ferguson, and of course Liverpool have Rafa Benitez.

So Manchester City are so unimpressive at this point that they shouldn’t have even drawn with Newcastle, they should have given up three points.  Which just goes to show you that Mark Hughes isn’t worth is mettle if you want to be a top four club.  Abu Dhabi United Group has some serious rebuilding to do, should they hope to succeed in their goal to conquer the world’s most competitive league.

photo: John Dobson

Calling Tottenham’s start to this season poor would be a huge understatement.  For a club that was on a high last season from the success of winning the Carling cup over London rivals Chelsea, 2 points in their first 8 Premiership matches is pathetic.  But still the club stands by manager Juande Ramos.  Jonathan Woodgate in particular has come out to say that the Tottenham players support Ramos despite the club’s unbelievably bad performances this season.

But all I have to say about it, is that any manager that doesn’t threaten to quit if the club continues with the selling of you star players Robbie Keane and Dimtar Berbatov, doesn’t really belong.  Because that will stand as the dumbest decision I have ever seen at this level of football.  Almost fifty goals combined last season, the Keane, Berbatov partnership was Tottenham’s only reason for being a halfway decent club last year, and now there’s nothing left.  Juande needs to go, plain and simple.

Also in a big ‘surprise’ move, Wigan are fighting to make Zaki a permanent member of the Wigan Athletic lineup.  Zaki will cost them around £6million, and if Wigan are smart, and remember the fact that Zaki has been an absolutely brilliant player for them so far this season, they’ll spend the cash.  Because letting a player like Zaki get away, will be right up there with the mistakes Tottenham have made.