Sunday 30 March 2008

TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 4

Tottenham turned out a shocking second half performance as they were thrashed 4-1 by a resurgent Newcastle at White Hart Lane.

Darren Bent gave Spurs a first half lead when he expertly headed past Steve Harper from a Steed Malbranque cross.

But Newcastle grabbed a vital equaliser on the stroke of half time when Jonathon Woodgate failed to clear and the ball was teed up for Nicky Butt to level with a scuffed shot from the edge of the box.

And Spurs failed to come out in the second half.

Newcastle went in front just after the break when Geremi curled a free kick past the motionless Paul Robinson.

And a Mark Viduka stepover allowed Michael Owen to curl home a third as Spurs' defence capitulated.

Owen should have had another when he easily turned Michael Dawson but he put his shot over.

But Newcastle got their fourth when Obafemi Martin went through a calimitous home defence and slotted past Robinson.

Saturday 29 March 2008

TIME FOR THE ENGLISHMEN TO PROVE THEIR WORTH

Following today's newspaper reports that the likes of Paul Robinson, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent could all be be shown the door in the summer by Juande Ramos the message is loud and clear - It is time for the English players to prove their worth to Tottenham.

Spurs have invested millions in young, English talent over the last few years, and it has certainly brought some success, as Spurs finished fifth in the last two season's and won their first trophy for nearly a decade this season, beating Chelsea in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

However Spurs are now expected to push on to challenge the top four along with Everton next season, and Ramos is clearly not convinced this can be achieved through English talent. Paul Robinson and Michael Dawson both look set to leave after struggling for form this season, while Darren Bent has not been given a run in the team but has shown little to justify his record £16.5million transfer fee.

Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas are perhaps the most likely to stay - showing glimpses of the qualities they can offer to the team.Huddlestone is young and still learning his trade and should be given another season to develop. His range of passing is one of the best at the club but he needs to keep fit and work on improving his mobility.

For Jenas, it is time he showed in these final seven games of the season that he can consistantly fulfil the potential that he most definately has. A player who frustrates his own fans, Jenas works hard but needs to impose himself on games and dominate the midfield in a way he has been unable to so far in his White Hart Lane career.

And perhaps the most surprising target for Ramos's summer cull could be young winger Aaron Lennon. After signing from Leeds, Lennon exploded onto the scene in the 2005/2006 season when he filled in for the injured Wayne Routledge and made the right wing spot his own, embarassing defenders with his lightning pace and quick feet.

Lennon looked a revelation as he showed his skills on the world stage as a shock success story of the 2006 World Cup. But since then Lennon has struggled with knee injuries and has not yet seemed to regain that early confidence and swagger that came from playing without fear. His crossing is his biggest fault - there is no gain from skinning your opponent if you cannot deliver the ball into dangerous areas from the byline.

Ramos has admitted Lennon must work on his final ball - and he must use the rest of the season to show he can improve. More than anything he must show on the training ground a determination and dedication to become the player we all thought he would when he first broke onto the scene.

The press reports may suggest a brutal cull, but it is likely Ramos will use the rest of the season to make his final decisions about these young English players. The message has been sent out - it is time for them to deliver.

Saturday 22 March 2008

TOTTENHAM 2 PORTSMOUTH 0

A double substitution inspired Spurs as Darren Bent and Jamie O'Hara came off the bench to grab two late goals to beat Portsmouth.

With 10 minutes left Bent scored his seventh goal of the season, heading in after a mishit Dimitar Berbatov shot to bring up the century of goals at White Hart Lane this season.

And Bent then turned provider, laying on a tap-in for fellow sub O'Hara to wrap up the three points.

Former-Spurs midfielder Sean Davis could have given Pompey a first-half lead, but his chip was superbly saved by Paul Robinson.

And Michael Dawson hit a fierce drive that cannoned off David James' crossbar.

Both sides failed to put away their chances , until Juande Ramos' inspired double substitution in the 70th minute changed the course of the game.

Thursday 20 March 2008

TOTTENHAM 4 CHELSEA 4

Robbie Keane scored a dramatic late equaliser, as Tottenham came from behind three times to derail Chelsea's title hopes in an incredible eight-goal thriller.

Didier Drogba put Chelsea in front after only three minutes with his first goal since Chelsea were beaten by Spurs in the Carling Cup final.

And there were more reminders of the Wembley final when Jonathon Woodgate headed the equaliser from a Jeramine Jenas free-kick 10 minutes later.

The impressive Joe Cole then turned the game Chelsea's way, setting up Michael Essien to restore Chelsea's lead.

But his namesake Ashley caught everyone's attention for the wrong reasons, catching Alan Hutton just below the knee with a high, studs-up challenge just before half-time.

The crowd and Spurs' bench screamed for a red card, but referee Mike Riley pulled out only a yellow card.

And Cole petulantly turned his back to the refere - an act that encompasses the lack of respect for officials the FA are trying to stamp out.

The attention was back on Joe Cole early in the second half as his shot deflected in off the luckless Paul Robinson to make it 3-1.

It looked like game over.

But Spurs refused to lie down and pulled one back on the hour as Dimitar Berbatov headed past Carlo Cudicini.

And Tom Huddlestone sent White Hart Lane into raptures with a magnificent finish to bring the scores level after 75 minutes.

But Joe Cole, putting in a fantastic performance in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello, popped again to fire a fourth past Robinson with ten minutes remaining.

Just when it looked like Spurs were beaten, a long punt bounced off Ricardo Carvalho and fell at the feet of Robbie Keane after 88 minutes.

The Irishman has been widely criticised in the papers since his strop at being substituted against Man City.

But he showed why he should still be on the field in the final minutes, as he looked up and curled a fabulous right-footed shot into the top corner past Cudicini.

And Spurs could have dented Chelsea's title hopes even further in stoppage time, as Berbatov brilliantly worked space for himself in the box.

Only a world-class save from Cudicini ensured there was no winner, in a thoroughly good advert for the Premier League.

Sunday 16 March 2008

MANCHESTER CITY 2 TOTTENHAM 1

Two dreadful decisions by the officials cost Spurs as they threw away a first-half lead to lose at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Darren Bent thought he had scored a late leveler against Sven Goran Eriksson's Manchester City side only for the assistant referee to wrongly flag for offside.

Earlier Stephen Ireland had equalised for the home side, tapping in from close range after Elano headed towards goal. Replays shows he was in an offside position.

Spurs had taken the lead in the first half, Pascal Chimbonda supplying Robbie Keane who beat Joe Hart with a sublime finish.

But City improved in the second half and were probably the better side after Ireland's controversial goal made it 1-1.

And Nedum Onuoha kept Man City's European hopes alive with a powerful header past Paul Robinson.

Spurs pushed forward for a late goal and Bent thought he had grabbed his side a point, only for a linesman to wrongly deny Spurs.

Saturday 15 March 2008

RAMOS SET FOR WHOLESALE CHANGES

Juande Ramos is set to radically change his squad in the summer after Spurs UEFA Cup penalty exit at the hands of PSV Eindhoven.

Reports suggest the likes of Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent could all be shipped out, while the future of star striker Dimitar Berbatov remains uncertain.

Surprising reports in the newspapers this weeks have suggested Lennon, who was left on the bench for the UEFA Cup tie in Eindhoven, could be shipped out after failing to reproduce his best form this season.

A reliable goalkeeper, a centre-back who can stay fit to cover Ledley King and Jonathon Woodgate, plus a central midfielder who can dictate the pace of a game must be key priorities, while fans calls for an natural left winger are set to continue.

And if Berbatov is persuaded to stay for another season, Ramos is likely to bring in a new striker of the callibre of David Villa after he sold Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth back in January.

If Ramos can hold on to Berbatov and build a team around him for next season, Spurs should have a great shot at grabbing a place in the top four and the Champions League.

Friday 14 March 2008

PSV Eindhoven 0 Tottenham 1 (PSV win 6-5 on penalties)

Juande Ramos' hopes of lifting a third successive UEFA Cup were dashed despite a brave performance from his Tottenham side.

Spurs, trailing after the first leg at White Hart Lane, were the better side throughout and deservedly took the game into extra time with an breathtaking finish from Dimitar Berbatov.

Pascal Chimbonda produced an outstanding cross from the right, and Berbatov arrived late to volley the ball superbly past Heurelho Gomes in the PSV goal.

Jermaine Jenas had the chance to send Spurs through in the shootout but his tame effort was saved by Gomes.

And Chimbonda dragged Spurs' seventh spot-kick horribly wide to hand a quarter final spot to PSV.

Monday 10 March 2008

Tottenham 4 West Ham 0

A Dimitar Berbatov double helped Spurs to bounce back after two defeats to inflict West Ham's third successive 4-0 drubbing.

West Ham could have got off to a perfect start when Paul Robinson - who seems to still be struggling to rediscover his confidence - parried a tame Freddie Ljungberg shot.

Dean Ashton, Luis Boa Morte and Bobby Zamora all failed to force the ball into the net in the scramble that followed.

The Hammers were left to rue the missed opportunity as Dimitar Berbatov lost Anton Ferdinand on two occasions from Tom Huddlestone free kicks to head Spurs into a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes.

Spurs dominated from then on and West Ham's day got worse when Boa Morte was sent off for a second bookable offence just before half-time after a rash tackle on Aaron Lennon.

And Spurs added gloss to the score with two late goals from substitutes Gilberto and Darren Bent, to give them a vital confidence boost ahead of their trip to Eindhoven.

Friday 7 March 2008

TOTTENHAM 0 PSV EINDHOVEN 1

Brazilian full back Gilberto had a nightmare debut as his mistake allowed Jefferson Farfan to give PSV a first leg lead ahead of the return trip to Eindhoven next week.

The left back conceded possesion when he tried to run his way out of trouble 25 yards from goal.

Peruvian striker Farfan intercepted the ball and fired a sublime finish past Paul Robinson.

It was one of several errors made my debutant Gilberto, who was also booked before being replaced by Jamie O'Hara at half-time.

And PSV could have finished the tie as a contest spurning several chances as Spurs went for broke in the second half.

Spurs had plenty of possession but struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Juande Ramos had fielded a strong line-up including captain Ledley King and Carling Cup matchwinner Jonathon Woodgate returning to central defence.

But Spurs fell to only their third White Hart Lane defeat in European Competition, leaving Ramos' side needing an inspired performance in Eindhoven next week.

Thursday 6 March 2008

CRUNCH TIME FOR SPURS' SEASON

Spurs face Dutch table-toppers PSV Eindhoven tonight at White Hart Lane in a game that could determine the rest of their season.

After achieving European qualification for next season through their Carling Cup triumph over Chelsea, Spurs crashed back down to earth with a 4-1 defeat to Birmingham in the Premier League.

Sitting 11th in the table, Spurs have little to motivate themselves for the rest of the league campaign.

But a good performance tonight could leave Spurs odds on to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup, and leave them fancying their chances of picking up another trophy in May.

Ledley King and Jonathon Woodgate, who were so impressive in that Carling Cup win, could return to strengthen the starting line up.

And Michael Dawson is back in training along with new signing Gilberto.

But Alan Hutton is ineligable having already played in Europe for Rangers this season.

Saturday 1 March 2008

BIRMINGHAM 4 TOTTENHAM 1

Spurs were brought down to earth with a bump following their Carling Cup triumph, as a Mikael Forssell hat-trick helped Birmingham to a 4-1 win.

Forssell headed the opener in the first half and Sebastien Larsson made it 2-0 early in the second half, curling a fine free kick past Paul Robinson.

Forssell then added two more against a lacklustre Spurs side who looked like they had enjoyed the aftermath of their Wembley win over Chelsea last weekend a little too much.

Substitute Jermaine Jenas came off the bench to get a late consolation but the game belonged to Birmingham, and to Forssell.

SHERINGHAM TO RETIRE

Teddy Sheringham has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

The former England international, who is best remembered for spells at Spurs and Manchester United, is currently playing for Colchester in the Championship.

Sheringham won 51 England caps and played a key part in Manchester United's 1999 European Cup win, when he scored a late equaliser.

But Sherinham, 41, will be fondly remembered for two spells at White Hart Lane either side of his move to Old Trafford.