Match Report UEFA cup vs Hapoel Tel Aviv

Courtesy of Official Site-

Robbie Keane made it 25 goals in 33 games when he set us on the way to UEFA Cup
victory against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday evening
Robbie's strike, coupled
with another from his strike partner Dimitar Berbatov, was enough to record our
first win of the UEFA Cup Group Stage, as well as it being a first victory on
our travels this season. Juande Ramos made four changes to the team that started
up at Middlesbrough on Saturday, restoring the strike partnership of Keane and
Berbatov and also Didier Zokora to the central midfield axis with Jermaine
Jenas. Pascal Chimbonda was switched to centre half, with Paul Stalteri drafted
in at right back. It was a sultry evening, weather-wise, at the compact
Bloomfield Stadium, with the home team decked out in all red and supported
vocally by a sizeable pocket of fans behind the goal protected by Vincent
Enyeama in the first half. It was colourful and atmospheric and you imagine that
a Tel Aviv derby must be quite an event. The first attempt on goal came when
Bebars Natcho dragged an effort wide of the upright in the eighth minute. The
game was not quick to get going and both teams were struggling to establish a
foothold or to dominate territorially. It carried on in much the same fashion
until the first decisive move was made in the 26th minute when Keane sent Steed
Malbranque scurrying down the left of the Hapoel penalty area and the Frenchman
did well to bundle his way through and deliver a cross back into the path of
Keane, who smacked the ball home with precision from around penalty spot
distance. The advantage was doubled just four minutes later, the first phase of
play being an Aaron Lennon centre that led to a Berbatov shot being blocked in
front of goal. The ball found its way out to the left and Malbranque again
turned provider with a cross that was calmly nodded into the net past Enyeama by
Berbatov. Keane could have helped himself to a double seven minutes before the
break, only denied by a desperate late block by Gabriel Do Santos. Hapoel were
rattled and their noisy pocket sat down and went quiet. Chimbonda then headed
narrowly over from a Jenas free-kick. The battling spirit of the home side
evaporated as half-time was reached, but they nearly enjoyed a slice of fortune
at the beginning of the second period when Bakukh Dego mishit a cross and the
flight of it came close to deceiving Paul Robinson and causing a few problems.
Hopes of mounting a comeback were dented five minutes into the half when Gal
Shish was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Lennon, having earned the
first for an offence against the same player in the first half. Lennon, moments
later, chipped a crossfield pass into the area occupied by Malbranque, who
flashed a shot across goal. It was his final contribution to the game as he was
subsequently replaced by Jermain Defoe. The contest again became very disjointed
before being sparked by a neat combination between Jenas and Keane that led to
the latter drilling just wide. A double change was next with Darren Bent and
Kevin-Prince Boateng being introduced to the mix - Jenas and Keane being
withdrawn. The swaps enlivened proceedings, but the game was won and urgency was
not an ingredient particularly in evidence. Robinson had to be alert to save at
the feet of Fabio Junior Pereira and we finished the stronger with Bent closest
toa third, his effort coming back off the upright after being threaded through
by Defoe. All in all, job done.

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/matchreport081107.html

To Whom It May Concern (an Open Letter from PageVee)

A friend of mine has established a non-profit at the University of Virginia, Bridging the Gap, that is devoted to mentoring and tutoring refugee children resettled in the Charlottesville-Albemarle, Virginia area. BTG has developed a successful soccer program, Fugee Soccer, that is partnered with the Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albermarle (SOCA) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC)'s Family Support division to register and provide transportation for 37 children on soccer teams this fall (2007).

I have a few motivations for this post.

1st: I want to contact THFC and other THFC Supporter groups and get them involved with this program if possible.

2nd: My friend is an Arsenal fan (one of his highschool buddy's is from London and got to him years ago) and has told me he will switch allegiance in order to raise help/support for the kids.

3rd: I want to do what I can to help the kids I have grown to know over the past few years.

My "friend" is my girlfriend's younger brother, Clay. UVA's Chancellor mentioned him during his graduation ceremony last spring because of his work with the foundation of "Bridging the Gap." The Chancellor only mentioned 10 graduates during UVA's main ceremony and Clay was singled out among the thousands of graduates.

I am currently just looking for ideas about how to move this project forward and hope to get THFC involved along the way. Please let me know if anyone has ideas or information that I can pass to Clay about contacting specific individuals at THFC. I have already contacted Customer Service and hope to get some information directly from the club.

Thanks for your time and any help you can offer.

PageVee

Linked Article here: http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/finals2007/finals-broga.html

7 Subs?

Courtesy of Official Site-

Damien Comolli has added his voice to the calls for seven substitutes
to feature on the bench in Premier League fixtures, as opposed to the
present limit of five.The Sporting Director is fully behind the idea of
expanding substitute benches for domestic top-flight league games and argues
that it would allow for greater variety of options, as well as giving
younger players more opportunity to pick up valuable first-team experience.
"It is something that we as a club totally agree with and Juande Ramos
raised it in his first week in charge when he named his squads for the first
two games against Blackpool and Middlesbrough," reported Damien. "We think
it is the right thing to do in the Premier League as all the big leagues in
Europe are doing it now. It is the same in European competition as well, we
can have 18 players involved when we go to Israel this week, but only 16
when we play Wigan on Sunday. "It would also offer opportunities to some of
the younger players to step into the First Team group on a far more regular
basis than they do now. This can only be a good thing."

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/damienbacksmoresubscall.html

Press Speculation 10/6/07

Courtesy of Official Site-

Damien Comolli has spoken out after a Sunday newspaper suggested Paul Robinson
was to be moved on during the January transfer window following comments
attributed to him while on England duty.
"To suggest that Paul would be
transfer-listed for something he said and that he has fallen out with the
chairman as a result is utter nonsense," commented Damien. "Firstly, there was
no row to talk about and Paul went out of his way to clarify his position
immediately after and secondly something of this nature would never affect a
player’s future at this Club. "Normally we don't wish to react to such stories
concerning the Club or our players but there are occasions when we believe it is
right to set the record straight - and this is one of them." Similarly Darren
Bent has refuted a claim in another Sunday newspaper that he is looking to leave
the Club. "I am happy and settled at Spurs and stories that are saying otherwise
could not be further from the truth," said Darren. "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."

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/pressspeculation041107.html

'Poyet makes Point'

Courtesy of Official Site-

Gus Poyet admitted that he wasn't happy to simply settle for a point after the
1-1 draw against Middlesbrough.
Luke Young's spectacular strike in the 54th
minute cancelled out Darren Bent's first half effort and that's how it stayed
after a scrappy encounter at the Riverside. We certainly pushed for the winner
and dominated territorially in the latter stages but couldn't carve out that one
golden chance to take maximum points. "We need to win games," said first team
coach Gus. "We came here wanting to win and one point isn't enough for us, but
after the game and that unbelievable goal, we have to take it. "If you ask me if
I'm happy with a point though, I'd say 'no'." Gus described ex-Spur Young's
thunderbolt into the top corner as a 'goal from a different game'. "It wasn't
the best of games and there were few opportunities," he added. "We scored from
an individual effort from Darren Bent and thought maybe that might be enough but
Young's goal gave them confidence." As for Juande Ramos' decision to go with
Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent up front, Gus added: "It's just a decision you
have to make in football, we thought it they were the best strikers for this
game with their speed and ability to get in behind (the defence). There was
nothing else behind it."

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/poyetmakespoint041107.html

'Keeping it Clean'

Courtesy of Official Site-

Paul Robinson, perhaps naturally given his position on the pitch, viewed a clean
sheet as the most important aspect of the performance against Blackpool at the
Lane.
The team progressed through to the last eight of the Carling Cup on
Wednesday night by a 2-0 scoreline courtesy of goals from Robbie Keane and
Pascal Chimbonda. It was an encouraging start to the reign of Juande Ramos, the
Head Coach who began working with the players on Monday. The goalkeeper believes
the message of the new man is quickly getting over to the players. "I thought we
did reasonably well," reflected Robbo after the game. "He has given us a lot of
information in the last couple of days and the important thing we wanted tonight
was a clean sheet - and we got that. "The Head Coach's communication has been
excellent, we've trained very hard over the last three days and he has tried to
get his message across as quickly as possible. There is a lot he wants to get
across and I'm sure that in time we will get better. "There is still work that
can be done and will be done. "Results bring confidence, the Head Coach with the
aura and presence he has about him, has also generated confidence. If we keep
winning you will see a very confident Tottenham team getting great results," he
continued, adding that players always have to start anew and prove themselves
when there is a change at the top. "That is how it is when a new man comes in -
it is like your first day at a new club. Everyone is on trial again, it is a new
start for everybody and we've got to start our season from tonight." It is on to
Middlesbrough and a bid for a first away win of the season at the Riverside
Stadium on Saturday against a side just above ourselves in the table. "We are
only a quarter of the way through and we certainly didn't want to be where we
are at this stage of the season. Middlesbrough are down there with us so it is
big game for both teams. "It is a very tough league and anybody could be down
there, there are the teams right at the top and outside of that everyone is
doing damage to each other."

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/keepingitclean011107.html

Carling Cup Victory and Clean Sheet!

Courtesy of Official Site-

Juande Ramos stressed that the result was all important as his reign as Head
Coach kicked-off with a Carling Cup win against Blackpool.
Another
impressive 30,000-plus crowd was at the Lane to herald in the new era and goals
from Robbie Keane and Pascal Chimbonda ensured a safe passage into the
quarter-finals.
The game wasn't without scares though as Blackpool missed a
golden chance before Keane's 18th-minute opener and then struck the crossbar and
forced Paul Robinson into his best save of the season at 1-0 before Chimbonda's
header gave us breathing space in the second half.
"The most important thing
was the victory," reflected Juande. "I thought the team played well,
we had spells of good football and now we have to look forward to the next
round. "On the positive side the players showed great willingness to play
and fought hard for the victory, it was physically very hard
especially as it was only three days since the last game.
"I suppose the
negative side is that Blackpool had three or four chances to score and we
shouldn't allow those chances.
"The game was how we expected, Blackpool are
from a lower league but they tried as hard as they could and gave
everything.
"It was very important to get a victory to give us more security,
to calm the players down a bit and give us confidence. The last results have
been quite negative and we needed to stop that run of results, so to get this
result was vital."
Victory means we take our place in a strong quarter-final
line-up alongisde Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton, West
Ham and Blackburn.

Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/winforstarters.html