I couldn’t really write a post today without mentioning what’s happened to David Beckham. If you haven’t already heard, Beckham has been ruled out of the World Cup after snapping his Achilles tendon.
Its a shame for such a player, who clearly wanted to play some part at the World Cup, and probably more than most [...]

After losing out to Everton, Bolton and Stoke in the last three games it is a pleasure to inform you that the Wolves Academy under 18’s did beat Barnsley with two goals to nothing yesterday.
But it was not before a quarter of an hour into the second half Wolves scored their first goal with a [...]

It keeps getting better and better for Arsenal. One of the most unlikeable character in the Premiership for the Gunners, Phil Brown, has just been sacked by his club after last Saturday’s 1-2 defeat against …

The only thing that does not go well with ketchup is our resident heffer ‘Ten Ton’ Tommy Huddlestone. I’ll try and keep that as the only fat joke today.

News today has revealed we have tied ‘The Thudd’ to a long term five year contract. This news (as usual in most Spurs quarters) has been met with a mixed response.

Personally I am delighted he is here to stay. His progress over the last twelve months has been marked and his form, in the most part, has been solid. He has yet to set the world alight on a consistent basis as most fans expect him to but has plodded on doing his job.

There seems to be unreasonable expectations around poor Hudd, mainly around the fact he cannot run or that he has the turning circle of a bus. Why everyone seems to think that in order to be a central midfielder you need to be able to be a cross country champion I’m unsure. I’d much rather have a gifted, slower player than a fitter, limited player (JJ? Zokora? Or is limited being too kind)

One thing I have consistently seen being written down the various alleyways of t’internet is that Hudd is a ‘good squad player but not Top 4 quality’. A ridiculous assessment aimed at a player having his first full season as a first choice midfielder. Would Darren Fletcher have been described as a top drawer midfielder when he was 23? I think the answer would be a resounding ‘hells to the no’.

Granted the Thudd is not the same player as Fletcher and certainly has his limitations. For every delightful eighty yard cross field pass there is a wild hoof at goal. For every perfectly threaded through ball, he aims to decapitate a wall. For every dominant performance against the might of West Ham and Bolton there is a flaccid showing against Liverpool and United. In this is the burden of the man.

Although inconsistency this year has been improved from the previous few he still has the capacity to make you tear your hair out. He has sussed out how to bully the lower tier clubs and his contribution in these games has been outstanding however his next level must consist of him controlling games against the big boys. A promising partnership with Sgt. Wilson should see his progress continue and hopefully we can see him flourish in the next few years.

Patience and belief is not a virtue by which many Spurs fans live by. This impatience could have led to us selling the likes of Dawson, Bale, Lennon and Hudd in recent seasons, once they were deemed to be not good enough. Potential is now starting to be realised within our club and we need to do our utmost to hold on to our brightest players.

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Did Arsenal “come of age” against Hull?
By Paul Collins
Looking through the media outlets this weekend there seemed to be a common theme, that of Arsenal “maturing”, “coming of age”, or “growing up” against Hull. Is there any substance to that argument?
I personally don’t think so, and believe that those who spout such comments are either [...]

Official Club News:
Vedran Corluka is hardly surprised to see Luka Modric excel in central midfield.
The Croatian playmaker has moved centrally after injuries to Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas and has impressed against Fulham in the FA Cup and the 3-1 win against Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
Luka played a key role [...]

Tom Huddlestone today committed his long-term future to Tottenhamby signing a new contract that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2015.
The midfielder’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of next season but Spurs have now moved to tie him down.
After initially playing a peripheral role when Harry Redknapp took over as manager in [...]

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed it could be another five weeks before Aaron Lennon returns to action.
The flying winger has not kicked a ball since picking up a groin injury against West Ham back in December and Redknapp admits he is concerned with the way the player keeps breaking down.
“It must be frustrating for Aaron. [...]

By JAMES TAYLOR Hull City have parted company with Phil Brown with the club in the relegation zone. However, despite the club’s lowly league position is the manager unfortunate to be sacked?

Hull’s Chairman Adam Pearson said: “Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil’s stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club.

“However, retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time.”

Many will agree with Pearson’s decision pointing to Hull’s poor recent form. However, realistically Hull are in the position that they should be at this stage of the season. They are 3 points from safety but they still have to play Portsmouth, Burnley, Sunderland, Wigan and Fulham which are all winnable fixtures which could see them move up the table.

The timing of the decision also seems strange. Assistant manager Brian Horton will take charge of their vital relegation six pointer against Portsmouth on Saturday but the timing of Brown’s dismissal will surely unsettle the players ahead of a huge game.

Alan Curbishley, Steve Coppell and Gareth Southgate are amongst the early favorites to succeed Brown. However, as Burnley found out it is very difficult to attract top managers to a club that is struggling and have very little money to spend. Even if one of the talented managers linked to the job do takeover it will be hard for them to change anything as the transfer window is shut so they will have to work from the current squad.

Chairman Adam Pearson is also unlikely to offer the new manager a contract past the end of the season. This may rule out the likes of Coppell and Southgate and make caretaker manager Brian Horton the most likely successor. Fans favorite Dean Windass is also another possible replacement however his lack of experience makes him a huge outsider.

The decision to sack Brown comes as even more of as a surprise given that Hull have not spent a lot of money this season so it is hard to see why the Chairman would have expected them to be in a different position to last season. In the summer Hull spent around £7 million however the majority of this was raised by the sale of Michael Turner to Sunderland. They have also had to deal with long term injuries to captain Ian Ashbee and record signing Jimmy Bullard. 

It could be argued that Phil Brown is a victim of his own success. When he took over at Hull, in 2006, they were in the relegation zone of the Championship and in real danger of relegation to the third tier of English football. He kept Hull in the Championship and they were promoted in his first full season as manager. In their first season in the Premier League Hull finished 17^th and the season included memorable wins against Arsenal and Tottenham.

Despite some mistakes, like the infamous team team-talk on the pitch, Phil Brown surely deserved more time as manager of Hull because for them to even be in the Premier League is a huge achievement considering much bigger clubs like Newcastle, Leeds and Nottingham are all outside the top division.

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By JAMES TAYLOR Hull City have parted company with Phil Brown with the club in the relegation zone. However, despite the club’s lowly league position is the manager unfortunate to be sacked?

Hull’s Chairman Adam Pearson said: “Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil’s stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club.

“However, retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time.”

Many will agree with Pearson’s decision pointing to Hull’s poor recent form. However, realistically Hull are in the position that they should be at this stage of the season. They are 3 points from safety but they still have to play Portsmouth, Burnley, Sunderland, Wigan and Fulham which are all winnable fixtures which could see them move up the table.

The timing of the decision also seems strange. Assistant manager Brian Horton will take charge of their vital relegation six pointer against Portsmouth on Saturday but the timing of Brown’s dismissal will surely unsettle the players ahead of a huge game.

Alan Curbishley, Steve Coppell and Gareth Southgate are amongst the early favorites to succeed Brown. However, as Burnley found out it is very difficult to attract top managers to a club that is struggling and have very little money to spend. Even if one of the talented managers linked to the job do takeover it will be hard for them to change anything as the transfer window is shut so they will have to work from the current squad.

Chairman Adam Pearson is also unlikely to offer the new manager a contract past the end of the season. This may rule out the likes of Coppell and Southgate and make caretaker manager Brian Horton the most likely successor. Fans favorite Dean Windass is also another possible replacement however his lack of experience makes him a huge outsider.

The decision to sack Brown comes as even more of as a surprise given that Hull have not spent a lot of money this season so it is hard to see why the Chairman would have expected them to be in a different position to last season. In the summer Hull spent around £7 million however the majority of this was raised by the sale of Michael Turner to Sunderland. They have also had to deal with long term injuries to captain Ian Ashbee and record signing Jimmy Bullard. 

It could be argued that Phil Brown is a victim of his own success. When he took over at Hull, in 2006, they were in the relegation zone of the Championship and in real danger of relegation to the third tier of English football. He kept Hull in the Championship and they were promoted in his first full season as manager. In their first season in the Premier League Hull finished 17^th and the season included memorable wins against Arsenal and Tottenham.

Despite some mistakes, like the infamous team team-talk on the pitch, Phil Brown surely deserved more time as manager of Hull because for them to even be in the Premier League is a huge achievement considering much bigger clubs like Newcastle, Leeds and Nottingham are all outside the top division.

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by PAUL BRAMLEY It was bound to happen. It’s always the way with Sunderland. Whenever a former player or transfer target lines up against the Black Cats they score.

Yesterday it was the turn of transfer target and professed boyhood Sunderland supporter Adam Johnson.

The Easington born winger was a transfer target for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce who felt his midfield would benefit from the pace and trickery of the 19 year old. After openly praising him in the media and making his admiration known for months, the rumours on Wearside were rife that Johnson would be joining the club he supported as a boy.

It was felt it would only be a matter of time before the Middlesbrough trainee put pen to paper and made the short hop up the A19 to the Stadium of Light.

No one in Sunderland expected Manchester City and their millions to hijack the deal on transfer deadline day.

With the deadline fast approaching Mancini made a £7 million bid for the under 21 star who felt the opportunity was too good to turn down and Johnson was on his way to the North West.

It was a setback for Steve Bruce who wished to add a more creative influence into the black Cats midfield. With Cana and Cattermole tasked with breaking up play and a heavy injury list which included Andy Reid, Kieron Richardson and Steed Malbranque the inclusion to the squad of someone as highly rated as Johnson would have been a major Coup.

The ability of Johnson would have bought a quality attacking strength to the Sunderland squad. The winger, who like Malbranque can play on either wing, has the ability to take on a full back and put in a dangerous cross. With the arial presence of Kenwyne Jones and the attacking instinct of Darren Bent the acquisition of Johnson could have proved a master stroke.

Unfortunately for the Red and White faithful it was Johnson who provided the heartache deep into stoppage time yesterday. Picking the loose ball up on the edge of the box, Johnson set himself, picked his spot and curled in a fantastic left foot shot into the top corner.

It was an excellent goal from a young player who created problems from the minute he was introduced as a second half substitute. Steve Bruce must have been rueing his luck as he could only watch whilst Johnson turned his defenders inside out.

The goal was similar in stature to ones regularly scored by a former Sunderland winger with a similar name. Alan Johnston was a regular provider of crosses for the legendary partnership of Quinn and Philips and plied his trade up and down the left wing during the Peter Reid era.

Sunderland are crying out for the type of width and attacking ability that were regular features of the late 90’s team and one key player from that era more than most would love to see the purchase of someone like Johnson.

Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman could only look on from his seat in the director’s box as the young substitute left the pitch after scoring his first senior goal.

His timing couldn’t have been better. With Johnson’s wonder goal still fresh in everybody’s mind the news broke about David Beckham’s withdrawal from the World Cup squad through injury. His pace and trickery could prove an ideal replacement for the already depleted England squad.

From Middlesbrough to Capetown in the space of 4months? How Steve Bruce and the Sunderland fans must wish it was via Sunderland rather than Manchester.

by PAUL BRAMLEY It was bound to happen. It’s always the way with Sunderland. Whenever a former player or transfer target lines up against the Black Cats they score.

Yesterday it was the turn of transfer target and professed boyhood Sunderland supporter Adam Johnson.

The Easington born winger was a transfer target for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce who felt his midfield would benefit from the pace and trickery of the 19 year old. After openly praising him in the media and making his admiration known for months, the rumours on Wearside were rife that Johnson would be joining the club he supported as a boy.

It was felt it would only be a matter of time before the Middlesbrough trainee put pen to paper and made the short hop up the A19 to the Stadium of Light.

No one in Sunderland expected Manchester City and their millions to hijack the deal on transfer deadline day.

With the deadline fast approaching Mancini made a £7 million bid for the under 21 star who felt the opportunity was too good to turn down and Johnson was on his way to the North West.

It was a setback for Steve Bruce who wished to add a more creative influence into the black Cats midfield. With Cana and Cattermole tasked with breaking up play and a heavy injury list which included Andy Reid, Kieron Richardson and Steed Malbranque the inclusion to the squad of someone as highly rated as Johnson would have been a major Coup.

The ability of Johnson would have bought a quality attacking strength to the Sunderland squad. The winger, who like Malbranque can play on either wing, has the ability to take on a full back and put in a dangerous cross. With the arial presence of Kenwyne Jones and the attacking instinct of Darren Bent the acquisition of Johnson could have proved a master stroke.

Unfortunately for the Red and White faithful it was Johnson who provided the heartache deep into stoppage time yesterday. Picking the loose ball up on the edge of the box, Johnson set himself, picked his spot and curled in a fantastic left foot shot into the top corner.

It was an excellent goal from a young player who created problems from the minute he was introduced as a second half substitute. Steve Bruce must have been rueing his luck as he could only watch whilst Johnson turned his defenders inside out.

The goal was similar in stature to ones regularly scored by a former Sunderland winger with a similar name. Alan Johnston was a regular provider of crosses for the legendary partnership of Quinn and Philips and plied his trade up and down the left wing during the Peter Reid era.

Sunderland are crying out for the type of width and attacking ability that were regular features of the late 90’s team and one key player from that era more than most would love to see the purchase of someone like Johnson.

Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman could only look on from his seat in the director’s box as the young substitute left the pitch after scoring his first senior goal.

His timing couldn’t have been better. With Johnson’s wonder goal still fresh in everybody’s mind the news broke about David Beckham’s withdrawal from the World Cup squad through injury. His pace and trickery could prove an ideal replacement for the already depleted England squad.

From Middlesbrough to Capetown in the space of 4months? How Steve Bruce and the Sunderland fans must wish it was via Sunderland rather than Manchester.

Harry Redknapp has claimed that Peter Crouch should make the plane for England’s squad for the World Cup.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker has scored 20 goals in 37 games for England and despite the fact he’s currently third in the pecking order at White Hart Lane, Redknapp feels that the 29-year-old deserves to be in Fabio [...]

by guest-blogger Tricky
 
*please not that the identities of the clubs in question have been protected to stop it becoming an automatic game-saying from opposition fans, or as they are fast becoming known ‘the lowest common denominator’….

By thunder. I think we’re onto something here. Three wins on the bounce and suddenly we find ourselves making waves in the form book at just the right time. Whispers of an April death march can be put on hold for the moment; right now it’s Tottenham holding onto the elite’s coat-tails for all they’re [...]

Always on top but never entirely comfortable. Our main goalscorer notches two but has a mare. The pressure’s on for the top four but we’re not morning people. Just mere Monday meanderings on my mind…
That’s not  a completely accurate summary of Spurs against Blackburn but it was a bit of an odd one. We played [...]

David Beckham suffered a ruptured Achilles Tendon whilst playing in a Serie A match for AC Milan on Sunday and it would appear his dream of one last appearance at a World Cup is now over. It is a massive blow for Beckham, who had worked so hard to make himself available for the tournament, and a massive blow for England. Boss Fabio Capello hinted Beckham would have been included in his squad following the news Beckham had picked up the injury and I believe he could have made an impact in South Africa.

All that doesn’t matter now of course, he won’t be going and that is the end of it. Fortunately for England they are well staffed on the right side of midfield, so I thought I’d run through the likely candidates who could fill in for him.

Aaron Lennon, Spurs

The Spurs man has it all in his locker and could well be on the plane. Indeed, earlier in this season he looked destined to be a vital part of the squad but injuries have kept him sidelined for around three months now and his place is in danger. If he can return before the end of the season and prove his fitness he will be on the plane – but at the moment that is a big ‘if’.

Theo Walcott, Arsenal

Walcott can play either on the right-wing or up front so his versatility could be a bonus for Walcott and England. He hasn’t seen a lot of league action at Arsenal but he is coming back into the side at the right time following his injury ordeal. Capello seems to like him as well and I reckon Theo will be involved in South Africa.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, Manchester City

Wright-Phillips has been in and around the England squad for sometime but he has never really cemented his place. If he can keep hold of his place in the City side he could well go, but his place is in no way guaranteed.

James Milner, Aston Villa

Like Walcott, Milner is a versatile player and he can play almost anywhere across the midfield or even at full-back. He has had a cracking season with Villa and should go in my opinion, although he may not be used on the right side of midfield.

Ashley Young, Aston Villa

Young was left out of the last England squad and it doesn’t seem as if he is part of Capello’s plans in all honesty. This is a shame as he has had a great season and although he plays mainly on the left he could benefit from Beckham’s injury with a spot in South Africa. It looks unlikely in all honesty, but worth a mention.

David Bentley, Spurs

Bentley has seven England caps but his last came in 2008. Of all the men on this list Bentley probably stands the least chance of being involved but Lennon’s injury means he is getting game time at Spurs and if he impresses you never know…

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who blogs about Cheltenham tips 2010, Premier League footall and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Huddlestone has signed a new contract until 2015.
The 23-year-old joined Spurs from Derby County in July 2005 and has made 147 appearances for the club to date.
Huddlestone is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, but the news of the contract extension will delight the White Hart Lane faithful.

Below we have gathered five previews for tonights clash against Portsmouth.
This is a must win game and the previews listed below are all from reputable websites.
Just click on the link and a new window will open up.
Good Luck
ESPN
BBC
SKYSPORTS
GOAL.COM
TELEGRAPH
Also don’t forget you get a free £25 Bet with the offical betting partners of Liverpool FC, 188bet.
Just [...]

Many questions have been asked about transport logistics during the World Cup. Go-Concierge is offering a simple, safe travel solution for fans visiting the event in South Africa this June. And if you book by the end of March, we’ll give you 10% off your first booking. Use the booking code GCEarlyBird to secure your [...]