What Is The Point In Aston Villa?

Who's in charge today?

A question posed to me once several years back. Like Paul Merson being asked to tie shoelaces, I could only stare back blankly, sans solution. More recent encounters have put paid to that, with them being involved in our famous 125 year celebratory 4-4 draw (the one with our Laughing Cow Light kit), a couple of hard fought draws up in the Midlands, and a few very similar point hauls from our respective campaigns had set us up as rivals. Another of those ‘top 6 but not quite top 4’ teams which we were until last season.

Still bitter at the manner and timing of his departure, the Martin O’Neill-less Villa fans will not want to admit it, but a return to mid-table mediocrity from whence they came, certainly seems to be beckoning. Gerry Ooh-lee-ay has been dragged from his comfy French FA bed and thrust once more into the breach, pyjamas still on under that big coat, questioning what in crikey f**k he’s done. ‘I bloody love English football’ to paraphrase his initial press conference. 2 wins from 11 games and those rouge-tinged bins are slipping like an old girl on an icy day. Red being pertinent in this case, because like the harmless old uncle who always loses at monopoly but smiles contentedly throughout, he was practically giddy, applauding the old faithful no less, when his former protégés at Liverpool helped themselves to 3 points the other week. Sources indicate the Villa fans were in no way happy about this love-in.

To compound the problems facing him, his marquee signing, 37 year old former goon Bob Pires apparently refuses to live in Birmingham, and has hired a driver to take him from London to Brum and back for training every day. Can you imagine *insert current PL manager, doesn’t even have to be a pasty, bad tempered sweatie* allowing this at their club? From the outside, he seems to be doing the job of a well-travelled substitute that used to come in when your teacher was sick or knocked up. Yeah of course you can watch films all day and sniff glue, I’m out of here by the end of the week and will be in no way accountable for any of this. Anyone got a fit Mum?

So what’s in store for our Boxing Day clash this time around? Due to the weather, neither side managed to fit in a dust-up last week, so fresh legs aplenty. Rafa was just about ready for last week so another weeks training will certainly have done no harm, and The Atomic Kaboul is also back in the frame. I can see our ‘arry starting with a 4-5-1, Defoe up top and a Mod-Palacios-VdV central 3. I’ll let you fill in the blanks yourselves.

Prediction? 1-2.

Unexclusive, Stolen, ITK Info

A little bit 'woh', a little bit 'whey'

Just for a change, going to be a bit lazy today. The most interesting thing I’ve read in the last 24hrs came from Spurs Community and ‘ITK’ source ‘brownhead’. Don’t want to be accused of taking hits from any sites, so here is the link: http://bit.ly/hjgI01

…and this is what he said:

‘’Saw my contact today. As previous will not go into lots of details, but he told me:

We are quietly confident of signing one of Dzeko, Llorente, Carroll. These are the ST targets and Levy is trying hard to do this for Arry.

Parker is all in place, but SPAM bad blood could scupper this at any time

Beckham is a possibility, but needs convincing and for Fergie to openly rule out him going on loan to OT.

Piennar has given us his word, personal terms unofficially done apparently! just gotta sort the deal with Toffees but this should not be a problem.

On the out the door/listen to offers list is:

Alnwick
Naughton
Bentley
Kranjcar
O'Hara
GDS
Rose
Pav
Keane

The only extra i was told is if we cannot get striker, then that will influence strikers out, and that Levy wants to sell Jenas, but arry wants to keep.

COYS’’

Interesting stuff, I’m sure you’ll agree.

Dzeko seems a bit pie in the sky to me, and the Middle-East-landers are interested so they’ll offer double what we can, so I’d say that’s a no-go. Llorente could be a goer and would get my vote, but Carroll would seem to be the most likely of the 3.

Going to stick my neck out and say Parker will not happen, and as for Beckham? He’ll be unveiled right after Lord Lucan becomes our new Director of Football.

Pienaar- I believe this one. Whether it’s in Jan or the summer, the lad is WHL bound.

The long list, no surprises, except Pav, but if a big offer came in then it would be hard for Levy to turn down.

Jenas surprises me a little bit, but from Levy’s POV, given his age, it’s probably the last chance we’ll have to sell him on for any sort of decent amount. Harry won’t want to let go until a Pienaar-type is bought in to replace.

More Modders nonsense. Apparently his old pal from Zagreb met with Carlo Wankaloti, who told him Mods was his top target. Abramovich will sack him by the summer anyway, and the only noises I’ve ever heard from the Modric camp have been that he’s very happy with us. Wonder who he’ll be linked with tomorrow?

Great to see Citeh lose last night.

Real Life Swapsies!

Swapsies- Neeeeeeeeeeeed baaaaaaaaaaadly!!!

No match report. No match. Shall we discuss the weather?

On the plus side, far from being rushed back, the likes of VdV and Kaboul can take a bit more time to recover from injury, and Gallas might also be available for the next game so CB looks covered for now at least.

Also, I don’t have to sit here, find all those pic’s of the players at the Xmas beano and blame our failure to pick up 3 points on this. Pools panel says away win. It’s basically the same as an actual 3 points so I’m happy.

The biggest Totters news would appear to be gossip related in the shape of Newcastle’s finest spit-roaster, Andy Carroll, in exchange for Honest Bob, David Brylcream, 3 metre Peter, a pipe of Pringles and a partridge in a pear tree. And money one would assume? Outside of Champo or Panini stickers, when was the last time a player been swapped in recent memory? I remember Keith Gillespie going to Newcastle as part of the Andy Cole to ManUre deal but I’d struggle to recall too many others. The notion of swap deals in football seems almost laughable, but perhaps with money being a bit tighter, asset swaps and makeweights are the way forward? I’d still be surprised if any such deal went through though.

What is agreed by almost everyone connected with the club is that the squad and wage bill need to be trimmed. For my money, the only 2 who definitely need to move on are Honest Bobert Keane and David Bentley. Krankie appears to be out of favour but I still maintain that Harry’s saving him for later in the campaign, when injuries/suspension take their inevitable toll.

Jamie O’Hara is another being touted for a move, a makeweight in a Scott Parker swap deal. Ah, the Scott Parker transfer. Like Stewart Downing before him, another that just won’t go away, no matter haw much cream I use until he finally goes somewhere else or retires. Some things wot Harry said about it today:

"We haven't made any move for him. Midfield is the only area where I don't have many options, we are really short there.

"I like Parker, but he belongs to West Ham. He will be 31 next birthday and they will want £15million.

"Daniel (Levy, chairman) wouldn't buy players of that age, on big wages with no sell-on."

Breaking news to be taken VERY SERIOUSLY!!!- ManUre are preparing a summer bid of 30m (presumably magic beans as opposed to pounds sterling) for Modders (who’s just signed a new 5-year deal)- with Anderson (who’s just signed a new 5-year deal), Carrick (who ManUre bought from us for 18m) and/or Gibson(?) being used as makeweights. God bless pre-transfer window silly season.

Back To The… San Siro

No repeats of the last trip... apart from the good bits

And so it was foretold. The most difficult draw we could have got, and we got it.

                                                 

I’m excited by this, not least because it means we’ll turn up with the 100% right attitude. After the fanfare of qualification, I’m not sure that would have been the case with some of the lesser lights that, of course, ManUre and Cheatski got. As I’ve said from the beginning, we’re not here for the sideshow. Tottenham have been the hottest Champions League ticket in town, bringing a freshness and vibrancy to the usually dull group stages, and I can see us rolling on beyond the other Meelan. For all their riches in attack, their ageing backline will not fancy facing our Dual Fuelers flying in x-wing style into their faces. No fear, no need.

Blackpool for Sunday lunch then. The boy Bale is making the right noises, the usual ‘we won’t take them lightly’ lines trotted out for all to hear. I’m sure the Totters said something about being focused at Bolton as well, but it ended up looking like they’d jumped on a merry-go-round and been pushed onto the pitch, all stumbly and stuff. No repeat of that nonsense please. Blackpool are indeed not to be taken lightly, heard they’ve lost 2 in 8 in the PL. They like to attack and always likely to concede. They should be like a slightly more erratic version of us, but anything less than a very good performance and we could be in trouble.

In the plus column, Rafa and His Royal You-Tube-nes Kaboul are back in the frame. In the ‘boooooo’ column, Jenas is still out (yes, he’s a genuine miss these days, did you get the memo?) as is Billy Gasman . Wilson has also recovered so expect to see him as part of a 5 man midfield with JD up top. Through a lack of other options, that’s what I’d plump for.

Sad news on a big day for the club today, as Totters legend Ralph Coates has passed away aged just 64. I’d love to be able to give you a run down of the number of times I’ve seen him play, but unfortunately I cannot. Different generation. I do however remember him as the stand-out character of ‘The Glory Game’, with tales of his initial transfer from Burnley and settling his family in London, disappointed at not quite making the huge initial impact that he’d had at his former club. As we know, he went on to be a great servant for Tottenham Hotspur, playing 200-odd games and scoring the winning goal in the ’73 league cup final, but it was that very personal tale of family that really stuck with me. Rest In Peace, Ralph.

YouTube Younes and Ledley Celebrates Driving Ban

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!!!

A little round up today. I am slowly embracing the world of Twitter and thought this was worth letting you know about if you don’t ‘follow’:

Younes_Kaboul Younès Kaboul

go checkout my message to spurs fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukRGa4pAwrI

15 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Nothing particularly ground-breakingly revelatory, (apart from the fact that he looks a bit worse for wear) but don’t see any of the other lot doing it, so Thanks Younes, hope you have a great Xmas too. Hurry on back now, you are needed.

In other news, the Daily Fail had some nice pics of our lads out and about, with only Ledley King appearing to embarrass himself.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!!!!!

Harry apparently relaxed the ‘no xmas parties’ rule in light of our decent showing so far this season, coincidentally on the same day as Ledley got away with only a 2 month ban and £1k fine after being clocked doing 100-odd mph. It was never going to be pretty.

Elsewhere, you may have heard that the pikey-est soap opera in town continues at apace, with John’s brother, Paul Terry, apparently being held partly responsible for the suicide of tragic Rushden ‘keeper Dale Roberts. Apparently John isn’t the only one who enjoys a fumble with a team mate’s bird. Maybe their mother can shoplift a book on how not to be complete c**ts for Xmas. Not to read, just so their Dad can cut his coke on it. If he’s out of prison? Christ Almighty.

It’s the big CL draw tomorrow. For those of you who don’t remember the possible outcomes, nor do I. But there are far better written and informative blogs out there who will so have at it. Safe to say, we should fear nobody.

I’ll unexclusively be revealing who we get along with some Blackpool build-up tomorrow.

Are Our Totters Being Primed For A Takeover?

One club, careful recent owners...

This is all theoretical of course, but some of you may have noticed that today, we announced the appointment of a certain Mr Kevan Vincent Watts, 59, as a Non-Executive Director of our illustrious club.

You wouldn’t have to do a particularly vast amount of googling BUT 'ERE'S SOME WOT I DID EARLIER to discover that the guy has form in this particular area, overseeing the incorporation of Bank of America into Merrill Lynch’s operations, and spending the past year or so in India looking at new business development. Being a Non-Executive, and with him being ‘retired’, one would assume that he comes in on an advisory basis, rather than having to field any difficult questions at the AGM’s or bring his own milk in for tea breaks.

So what is he here to do? The OS gives a nice summary of his CV, but baulks at stating what his day-to-day role will be in any sort of specific nature. In fact, they seem to be actively warning fans not to ask any more questions by saying:

‘’ There is no further information in connection with the appointment of Mr Watts to the Board of Directors which is required to be disclosed in accordance with Rule 17 and Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.’’

Hmmmm. Have they said this in regards to any other previous appointments?

It could be argued that the more linear conclusion would be to say he’s being brought in to establish us in the Emerging Markets, but I would say that a full-time job of that size would be far more befitting to someone younger and would be a waste of a man of such experience. Given his background, and his Non-Exec’ role, the consultancy fee’s we’d be paying wouldn’t come near to the bit of extra revenue we’d generate from t-shirt sales and a couple of friendly matches.

My not so wild conclusion then, is that with the club on a secure financial footing, currently playing Champions League football, and every chance of that being the case again next season, Northumberland Development given the green light, Stratford still an option, we are primed for a takeover, and this could be the perfect time for Levy and Co to cash in. Unlike Newcastle, Liverpool etc, there is no way Levy would be silly enough to let any of this into the public domain, so hiring someone already holding a backstage pass and with direct lines to the people that could make this happen would be the smart way. The Levy way.

Watch this space…

Still, At Least All Our Strikers Are Fit!... Anyone?

Expected back in time for Sundays trip

Injuries. It’s like the mid-nineties all over again at Hotters HQ. Anderton, Klinsmann, Popescu…, I’m sure you’ve rattled off all the names yourself, but for my own amusement, let’s make a little list of who’s out at the moment. King, Woody, Gallas, Kaboul, Jenas, Wilson, Krankie, VdV, Thudd… and apparently Bale was seen limping out of WHL on Sunday evening after being on the wrong end of yet another poorly timed tackle from Ghana’s finest. So that’s nice.

We’re facing the real possibility of a Bentley-Lennon-Modric-Sandro midfield for the coach trip to Blackpool, which should be enough, but doesn’t instil a great deal of confidence.

Yes it’s a squad game, yes, every team have their injury problems, but stone me, when you consider the talent we’re having to do without on the run up to Xmas, it makes for some pretty depressing reading. Fingers crossed for ‘slight knocks’ to be shaken off and a few returning to training this week.

In other news, our top stopper, fresh from a less than shining performance, is talking up our title bid, claiming that a few clean sheets are all it will take. I see his point (it’s the way his shorts ruffle), but I can imagine some arseblogger filing all these sound bites away somewhere, ready to fire football pie all over our faces come seasons end. I prefer the ‘quietly confident’ approach myself, especially from a group with a way to go to be seriously considered. If we were, hanging on for 3 points in the last 2 games would have been the best way to show it, but therein lies the big difference my fellow Spursers. Blackpool and Villa coach trips, followed by Newcastle and Fulham at our house will be bigger than big, biggest of all time I reckon. Big, big, big. 12 points please.

Totters v The Unmentionables- Ratings and Exclusive Penalty Miss Footage!!!

What I imagine he looked like in the changing room

There’s a phrase I’ve used before every home game this season, and yesterday was no exception. ‘I’d be disappointed with anything less than 3 points today’. As a marker for how far we’ve come, in my maiden season as a ticket holder, I would have been delighted with a point at home to that lot, and on the balance of things, it was the fairest of outcomes yesterday. But how different it could all have been. As we trotted off at half-time, a goal up, I had a feeling we’d live to regret not getting the second. I remarked to anyone who’d listen that we WILL concede in the second half and need another, but it wasn’t to be.

For all of the power drogsh1t generated for their equaliser, I can’t help but wonder what Gomes was doing crouching so low. If he’d have just stood still he would have stopped the blighter! But then I’m not a professional ‘keeper and I’m sure he did what he thought was the right thing at the time, covering his options for the low drive to the far post or something, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t rankle with this Spurser.

A clumsy challenge in the final minutes, followed by a save from the resulting penalty ensured that the headlines were about them getting their title bid back on track, albeit with a bit of a splutter, and not a tired ‘calamity ‘keeper’ jibe.

As a treat for you all, here was my view of the penalty miss:

YOU FAAAAAAACKED IT UP. YEEEEESSSSSSS!!!

A word on the referee. Diaf**kinbolical. That is all.

Some Ratings

Gomes, 5 (including 2 points for the penalty save)- As per above. He will keep us in games, and win us more points than he will lose us. Shame about the opposition choice to make a big error against, bad game, but still one of the best around.

Hutton, 5- Solid enough, but still makes errors of judgement in the standing off/ getting tight positioning side of the game. Not a long term 1^st choice RB.

Bassong, 6- as per Liverpool rating. Slow to react, quick to recover.

Dawson, 7- A timely return for our Captain. Headed a lot of things but was a bit slow on the deck. Welcome back young man.

BAE, 7- The usual heart-in-mouth moment followed by a pretty flawless display.

Lennon, 6- Threatened more than he delivered. Getting better.

Wilson, 7- Some great tackles, great determination and played it simple when he won possession back. Liverpool game was just a blip. Thankfully.

Modders, 6.5- Such amazing balance, the guy could sleep on a tightrope. Worked hard, crowded out, and the victim of several cynical fouls.

Bale, 6- Was either told to be very disciplined or is carrying a knock. Several times there was space to run into, but it ended up going inside. Ferreira was there for the taking, and he wasn’t got at nearly enough. Oh, and stay on your feet. Crossing is better than the falling over routine.

Pav, 5- Does a lot more running into the channels and running the line these days but knocked off the ball too easily. Good finish.

Defoe, 4- If you’re looking for him, he’s probably still in Jonathan Terrance’s pocket.

Crouch, 7- Came on and done what was asked of him, as always. He works hard and creates chances, yet the nobs behind me sighed every time the ball went near him and cheered wildly when Keane came on. ‘nuff said.

Keane, 1- Ran and waved arms about. His face annoys me. Go away please.

Frustrating. They were there for the taking and a second before the break would have done it. Much like Birmingham last week. **Through gritted teeth** Probably a fair result in the end.

Don’t forget to check out the ispursso YouTube channel after every home game (and the away ones I can make). Will try and upload a couple of clips from each game, they might not all be as good as the Drogsh1t penalty miss however J

Smell My Cheese You Chelski Mothers!

Blue None sir?

Can I shock you? I hate Chelski fans more than Gooners.

I’ll let that sink in for a minute.

OK to move on?

Good. I do specifically mean ‘fans’ of course, as an institution the boys from Abramovich World Cup Investments Inc’ don’t come close to those from the Ashburton Lego Towers, but their away ‘support’ really are some of the most deplorable life forms you could ever wish to encounter.

A particularly unsavoury moment before last seasons game saw a few of their minions deployed down Park Lane to rile up the natives of quality drinking establishment, ‘The Olive’, before their, to use an appropriately proletariat phrase, ‘top boys’, were sent in minutes later, sending in showers of bottles, bins (!) and various other missiles. There were kids standing outside with their Dads, but hey, not to worry. Not a policeman in sight of course, but drink a can of Fosters on the pavement outside the pub and watch 10 of them set on you like you’d just killed their Mum. Not that I would do such a thing of course (Mum killing or public drinking), merely an observation… but that’s all beside the point.

They smelt our cheese that day, in defeat and in a failed title challenge. It was a sweet, sweet victory.

With that out of the way, the books say that Chelski haven’t won at ‘Three Point Lane’ since the 05/06 season, with 3 wins and a draw in the meantime for the Totters. Sundays game see’s Chelski arrive in arguably the worst shape they’ve ever been in since they were founded back in 2003 (stolen gag, but it’s a good’un). No domestic wins in a month, losing and drawing 2, and a CL defeat on Wednesday having already secured top spot in their group. Despite Father of the Year, Jonathan Terrance, doing his best to rally the troops, he of all people will not be looking forward to visiting at Sunday lunchtime. We on the other hand haven’t lost in that same time frame and are riding a wave of optimism having secured top spot in our group at the first time of asking. Keep telling us we’re going to embarrass ourselves/crash out in the next round, it seems to be doing the trick of keeping us focused.

The Chelski house is rocking on its foundations, so let’s, transformers style, merge into a massive f**kin wrecking ball and smash it to bits.

The team picks itself again, Mods in for Jenas the only significant change from Tuesday I’d have thought. The option of calling on VdV would be a welcome one but if we can get a leash on Malouda and Essien, we’ll have the beating of them. It’ll be noisy at home, so don’t give them a minute to settle and get the first goal… and don’t forget to f**kin run about a bit.

More details to be found on that clipboard next to the tactical briefing manual.

Celebrity Spotting and a Rio Round-Up

Pap

As per my reply in the last article, Mr Jenas was unfortunately unable to join us yesterday, robbing me of the chance of some shameless self-promotion. But I did get to childishly boo Paul Merson

HERE ,and shook the hand of the future King of this fair nation with added top-notch banter HERE

Them’s the breaks. What has Prince Charles got to do with Tottenham? Nothing, but couldn’t pass on the opportunity to show it off.

Elsewhere in Tottland, Michael Dawson continued his recovery from injury by scoring the winner in some training ground friendly or other. Apparently it came late on so I’m guessing he played a full 90 minutes? Timely news.

The Champions League groups are now complete, and I can unexclusively reveal that we will face either AC, Copenhagen, Lyon, Marseille, Roma or Valencia. Any in there that nobody fancies? Me neither. The better they are, the better we play, so nothing but CL lookforwardness on the horizon.

In true Vogue style, Pav is so hot right now. Apparently there’s a new contract waiting to be inked by our great divider. Is this because they want him here long-term and want to get him tied down like the rest of the squad, or do they just want to make sure that we get top dollar in the summer? At the lower end of the scale, Honest Bob Keane is as sartorially desirable as a gypsy skirt or those stupid wristbands everyone was wearing a few years back, when Honest Bob was actually scoring goals. New Villa fans favourite Gerard Oooleeay is hoping to bring him back from the fashion dead by pairing him with an all-new, cheeky little number. Emile Heskey will be pleased.

The dirty, dirty Chel/Chav/Cheat/ski on Sunday so I’m off to think up some really witty put downs. I might be a while…

Thoughts for the Day

A few observations, off the cuff, straight onto good paper, cos it's manic here today. I've already shaken Prince Charles's hand today. True story.

A very Totters kind of affair last night. Plenty of goals, plenty of silly mistakes, but job done, top of the group and (hopefully) some of the lesser lights await. All eyes on the big draw 17/12.

I was half right with the score draw prediction in our game, but the Bremen boys surpassed all expectation by battering Meelan of Inter, putting our own home win over them into the shade. They're not the side that won the big one last year, that's for sure. Still, topping the group with one defeat is an outstanding achievement and we should rightly be proud.

Hoping, hoping, hoping for another special guest later. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, i've got a video clip entitled 'Paul Merson- nob' on youtube. I'll supply the link in due course.

FC Tchventay v Totters Hotters

Welcome To Holland

And so to Holland and Enschede for a not-massively high pressure game against FC Tchventay. It’s as you were in terms of selection, although JJ and Bobert Keane are supposedly back in contention for a run out.

The quotes coming out of base camp Totters are, not for the first time, contradictory. Harry says that winning the group is extremely important to avoid Real or Barca in the next round, but on the other hand, he’s got squad players that are desperate for games and that he has to get them on.

I’m in agreement with the earlier point, and would actually be surprised to see too many squad players start. Modric and Bale are the ones in most need of a breather but I can’t see it happening, for no other reason that a CL QF will look better on the England CV than a last 16 place. Plus, we’re not playing again ‘til late Sunday so no real case for resting anyone. Couple of goals up in the 1^st half and then get ‘em off.

It’s a tough one to call. Chelsea on Sunday will be the bigger game so I’ll go for a score draw in Holland, with a spirited Bremen doing the same to Meelan and we finish top of the group anyway.

In other news, Chris Hughton got unceremoniously Jol-ed out of the door by the Cartoon Army, only to be replaced by… Jol, from the looks of things. Our former leader looks set for a Premier League return, just in time for a Christmas time visit to the Lane, which I’m sure he’ll very much be looking forward to. Good luck to Big Martin, shame about all round good bloke, Chris Hughton. Ironic, as I’m sure that had he not just been removed, Jol would more than likely want to appoint him as his assistant, having enjoyed a great relationship at Tottenham. Such is footy.

Sliding Doors- Birmingham Away

Geddit?

How different it could have all been. But for an 81^st minute goal originating from a ball up to a big man to knock on for the forward thinking midfielder (sound familiar?), we could be talking about our new, improved resilience away from home. The ability to go away to a notoriously point-stingy ground like St Drews and grind out a one-niler. Score, keep it tight and walk away with 3 points and a clean sheet.

But we didn’t, so we can’t.

Such is the nature of the micro-analysis the Totters are subjected to these days, we are obliged to blame Defoe for not closing down and preventing the original ball, Gallas for not beating the Crouch-dwarfer (not quite, but you know what I mean) in the air, and A.N.Other player for not picking up the runner. It never would have happened if Thudd/Kaboul/King/Sinton were on the pitch. To be honest, I find such reasoning tiresome. A fool’s lament. It’s the kind of goal we see every week, and God knows we’ve scored plenty similar. Had we won, would we be mentally tougher than a Vietnamese P.O.W.? We conceded the equaliser, so does that mean we fall apart like a sodden digestive? The truth, my friends, lies somewhere in between.

Brum had won 3, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their home games this season before Saturday. Disappointing, for the second season in a row up there, to once again get so close, dominate the larger part of the game and be unable to find the second goal, which would have almost certainly have led to a big 3 points and left us just 4 off the summit. To quote Harry:

‘’When we came in at half-time, I couldn’t see any other result but three points for us’’

Better sides have, and will, go there and get nothing, so lets look on the bright side. Playing like that will lead to more success than failure, so it’s big picture time. We’ve not lost in a month, 6 games, and that is the form of a good, and continually improving side. A wobbling Chelski up next in the PL, who we haven’t lost to at home in the league for 5 seasons by my count. 3 wins, 1 draw since our last home reverse against these bottom feeders, so let’s keep it going and blow their house right down.

Up tomorrow is Tchventay. Some pre-match thoughts beforehand I shouldn’t wonder.

Brumingham Away- Some Thoughts ‘n’ ‘at

... because showing the BalNon would be, frankly, too terrifying

We enter this weekend’s fixture in various states of disrepair. Gallas and Bassong look a nailed-on centre back pairing, but with whispered reports of Daws looking sharp and ready to go, Harry may yet pull a fast one and throw him in. Good news saw The Atomic Kaboul tweet on Wednesday that he’s only out for 15 days, which by my reckoning makes him a possible for the beano to Blackpool. Another 2 weeks should see us ok in the centre back department, so attention turns to the middlers.

VdV (Breaking News!- hopefully back for Blackpool as well), Thudd, Jenas; all out with various wonk’s, and suddenly we look a bit lightweight. The ever-improving Modric will be first on the team sheet, to be partnered by, if Jenas should fail to make it, the out-of-form Wilson, or the not-quite-ready Sandro. Krankie and Bentley seem well out of favour, and Harry likes a DM away from home, so seeing either of them start would be a surprise. Hope, again, will rest of the shoulders of the dual fuelers, Bale and Lennon. Unleashing the Balnon should ensure we shall indeed pass the backline, but getting past the star of their last home showing v Chelski, Robbo lobee Ben Foster, will be the bigger challenge. Let’s hope he doesn’t have another ‘one of them days’.

2 home league defeats to Bolton and Villa in the space of 13 days was the sum total of Brum’s full surrenders at home last season. They even nabbed a point off us late doors, Liam Ridgewell in injury time I recall, after Lennon had done the same to them at our house. Only Everton have taken 3 points off them at St Andy’s this season, while Scott Dann and Roger Johnson continue to get the plaudits for some top defending. Linked to England caps and ManUre transfers nonetheless, a curse if ever there was one. Deeply unpleasant human being, Lee Bowyer, will also be one to watch for whoever plays the DM role.

Some unsavoury stuff on Wednesday night at this weekend’s coach trip destination, St Andy’s, so let’s hope it’s taken their mind off the job in hand. Midweek derbies, as we know, can either distract or galvanise, so let’s start quickly and catch them cold. It’s not against the rules for us to go a goal up, so I’m told, so why not give it a try?

Prediction: Gloves, tights and snoods aplenty, and a 1-2 victory for the Totters Hotters.

… and a final word on yesterdays farce. To paraphrase Mrs Merton: ‘’So FIFA, what first attracted you to unregulated, oil-rich, billionaire havens Russia and Qatar?’’

Ingerlands World Cup Biddage

I'll scratch your back...

At approximately 15:00 GMT today, England will learn whether its World Cup bid has been a David Success-ham or a David Flop-ham. Tenuous? You’d better believe it.

In our world cup package is the promise of delivery of a new

White Hart Lane

(there’s your link you greedy Spursers!) or Olyham United Stadium and a few more surprise packages to boot. A 60k arena in Plymouth and Milton Keynes? Will tumbleweed excluders come fitted as standard?

It was thought that the Russians were the favoured bid, but as I type this, it’s the Ingerland bid that’s favourite with the bookies. I don’t buy into all the ‘football’s comin’ ‘ome’ guff any more than FIFA do, it’ll be based on who can prove they’ll make the most money and look after the delegates and its sponsors better than the rest, but it’s been said since day one that we’re the only bidding nation that could deliver a World Cup tomorrow, and so it would seem that the tax breaks, the ‘mature market’, and the relative ease of it all outweigh any ‘hard-hitting corruption’ allegations of Monday nights Panic-rama.

Did anyone else see this twaddle? I have absolutely no doubt that these blaggards have been taking bungs for years, but to unleash a mental old BBC owl onto our telly’s, armed only with an excel spreadsheet that a 9 year-old could have knocked up, and some footage of him shouting at people from hotel gates? Not the conclusive, hard-hitting proof we were lead to believe it was going to be.

The thought of cosying up to these bent turds is truly sickening, but it would appear that, for the time being at least, we won’t be doing any nose cutting to spite our bids. Is there more concrete evidence that will be buried if football does come ‘ome? Call me an old cynic, but I wouldn’t doubt it.

Another conspiracy theory you say? With eminent Chelski owner and Russian bid cheerleader, Roman Abramovich out for votes, does anyone else think it’s strange that an African backroom coach, with minimal coaching credentials, suddenly becomes assistant manager at the reigning Premier League champions just weeks before the vote? More wild accusations and unfounded nonsense coming up…

Spurs Injury Update- Info Nicked From Other Sources and Collated Under One Roof For Your Eye Pleasure

While the official site continues twittling on the soc-net-niverse, treating us to images of our boys frolicking in the snow and building snowmen in each others cars, the more serious issue of player injuries looms ever larger with Saturdays fixture in the Middle Lands.

Jenas shows his artistic side by building a snow friend for Super Tennants spokesman, Alan Hutton

The cold weather has put paid to Dawson’s planned fitness boosting training ground friendly against Charlton, a relief for our reigning player of the season as it was reported he didn’t want to take off his new UGG boots. It's a bit nippy afterall. News from other sources suggests Rafa (twanged hammy) and the Atomic Kaboul (wonky hip) are out for at least a month. Ouch. Fingers crossed for a quick recovery and availability for the notoriously busy Xmas and New Year schedule.

It all means we head into the weekend with Gallas and Bass as our starting central pairing with Corluka as back-up. Let’s hope they’re bubble wrapped and avoid any turned ankles or something similarly innocuous on the frozen training pitch.

Despite the fact that we have 6 centre backs when fit, it doesn’t stop us being linked to every available replacement on the market. Taylor is the logical link with his contract renegading antics, and the more expensive Cahill will continue to be bandied around until Arsenal finally buy him. Fancy being a 7^th choice centre back at Spurs eh lads? Didn’t think so. Also saw some headlines about Gallas heading to the NY Red Bulls to join fellow ex- Woolwich Wanderer, Terrance Henry in January. I didn’t justify that with even a cursory click.

So that’s where we are folks. Add Kaboul and VdV to the list of usual missing suspects and we have to dip a bit further into the squad than we might like. That’s what it’s all about.