7 Years Happy

Don't you just love upsets? Well done Birmingham!

I know this may be a bit premature, but it looks as though Arsenal could go yet another year without adding a trophy to their cabinet after just losing to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup Final.

I make it 7 years. Fair enough, they could win the Champions League, but let's face it, there's more chance of Tottenham Hotspur winning it. League? Forget it. F.A. Cup? Maybe, but I can't see it myself.

I suppose we'll have to wait another year for these young Arsenal players to mature, because we all know that one of these days, they will come good.

I am looking forward to welcoming them to The Lane in April. Thing is, when they lose to us yet again, what will be their excuse? I'll send a "7 Years Strong" T-Shirt to the best comment.

PS. RIP Dean Richards

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La Liga's Coming To The Lane

With Harry at the Villarreal vs. Almeria game, possibly watching Giuseppe Rossi or Pablo Piatti, and football agent Barry Silkman telling Sky Sports News that loan moves for Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Lassana Diarra maybe coming off, things could look whiter than lilywhite in and around White Hart Lane this transfer window.

Harry's been raving on about Daniel Levy telling to splash the cash, but if we are to believe some of the rumours, loan moves could be the latest fashion. Let's forget the 'Beckham to Newcastle' tripe. If he's going to sign for a Premier League club, I think he would want one that could offer him Champions League football. However, if we do end up with the Madrid pair, both would be cup-tied with regards the Champions League.

Signing Rossi on the other hand, would be a major coup. I was at White Hart Lane in July and watched him tear us apart. He's not just a fox in the box, but a superb professional striker that if given a real go in the Premier League, could push us onto a proper title challenge. The Argentine, Pablo Piatti, isn't a bad bet either, although I am not entirely sure he would be suited to the Premier League.

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3 Points Today Please

Newcastle United are in town. Let's send them home with nothing. In fact, while we're at it, we may as well talk business with Ashley and sort Andy Carroll's transfer out here and now.

Having just come off of a massive 10-man victory at Aston Villa, a game in which I saw a Spurs side play the best they have away, under the circumstances, I'd think it not too bad of me to ask that they players put in the same shift against the Toon. Talking about Villa, let's be fair to them; they to were playing with 10 men, up until Gerard Houllier realised the gaffe he'd made and decided to rectify it by subbing Heskey.

What is it now, nine games unbeaten? Premier League contenders or great pretenders? Who knows? All I do know is that Rafa van der Vaart is unplayable. He also loves getting a goal or two at The Lane, therefore who's to say that we won't run riot against the barcodes? We all know Ashley wouldn't mind it if we took them apart, but then again, when has that bloke ever cared for Newcastle United?

I'll be watching their local hero Carroll quite closely today. It's the first time I'll be able to see the lad play live, so here's to hoping that he doesn't disappoint, although I hope he blunders every chance. Judging by what a few pundits have said, he could really give our defence a hammering, therefore I am ever so grateful Dawson has returned and is gradually finding his feet and his head. Oh how I missed those headed clearances.

THBN Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Newcastle United

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Scott Parker; The Leader We Require

Harry Redknapp spoke with Colin Mafham of the Express in a frank interview and laid out the facts about our intended title challenge.

"If we could find someone who would make a big difference to us then I know the chairman would go for him.

"But it's hard to find somebody like Terry or Carragher who can change the place and be a bit of a leader.

"It's just someone who can give you a lift. You're always looking for that sort of player."

Harry knows all to well that there is one player he would be able to sign; Scott Parker. Only this time, Harry's kept quiet. We all remember the tirade of verbals that went on during the summer window when the two David's accused Harry of "unresting their players".

If we are to make a real push for the title, we need a solid spine and it's my opinion that Spurs fan Parker can provide the steel we so desperately need. I also think Jamie O'Hara should be given a chance as it looks like he could well develop into a solid central midfielder, able to dictate and break up play. Unfortunately, if we are to believe the rumours, West Ham would require O'Hara in a player exchange deal as part of the Parker transfer. The lad also spoke to Paul Hawksbee on talkSPORT and explained that he wants first-team football and may have to leave The Lane in order to play regularly. If he does leave, I would miss his tenacity and give-all character.

It's in games like the one today against Villa away, where they deploy Ashley Young in the hole, that the presence of Scott Parker would have been admired.

It's obvious that we need a leader in the middle of the park as well as a striker that can score more than one Premier League goal (Crouch). The truth of the matter is that at present, we have the best squad of players that I have seen in the 30 years I have supported the club. A couple of "special" additions could really push us on.

THBN Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

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Defender on the move

I think the wisest news I've heard this festive period is that Harry Redknapp's trying to get Jonathan Woodgate a loan move so as to beef up his fitness and especially match fitness. It also gets him off our wage bill until he's back to his very best.

I still remember the Carling Cup winning goal against Chelsea as though it were yesterday. I also remember a few pundits claiming that the King/Woodgate partnership was the very best in the Premier League. How we miss those fine days when we had a settled centre-half pairing.

As this is the time for dreaming, do you think we can have a good Christmas? We face Villa away, whilst tackling Newcastle (is the honeymoon period over?) and Fulham at home. Surely we can take seven points from those three games, especially as it looks like our injured lads are on the mend?

Merry Christmas fellas.

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Bassong: A Lot Like King

Excellent display from Bassong

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Liverpool. But the final scoreline could have read something entirely different had not a certain Sébastien Bassong intervened with two of the best timed tackles I've personally witnessed at The Lane this season.

Both times, our stand-in centre-half prevented Torres from scoring nailed on opportunities. Being in the Shelf Upper, it looked as though Ledley King was on the field. As I watched the highlights on Match of the Day, those two last-ditch tackles looked so King-like. It was the way in which Bassong covered the ground and timed his run and tackle to perfection in the same way Ledley does.

Once Gallas and King have seen their day, Dawson and Bassong will be immense for us at the heart of our defence.

In other news, Harry is apparently interested in bringing Manu Adebayor to The Lane. Can I ask why? I mean, the lad has got an abundance of talent, but (and there's always a but when Adebayor is involved) he also comes with too much baggage. Baggage our squad could do without right now.

I understand that Harry has the ability of turning players around, but when it comes to troublemakers like Emmanuel Adebayor, I wouldn't even think about it. I suppose next you'll tell me that Spurs will move to Stratford?

PS. A warm welcome to all the Cyprus Yids; Akis, Stamatis and Socrates (@ the Bank of Cyprus IBU in Nicosia, Cyprus)

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Liverpool set to lose

I really can't see anything but a Spurs win today. Fair enough, we may be without Rafa (Harry rates his chances of playing 50/50), but against Bremen, the side showed that he wasn't missed at all. You could make the argument that the Champions League differs from the Premier League and that Werder Bremen made the tie an easy one, but the facts show that we have come a long way.

The facts also show that we are the only side to have taken 13 points from our second half displays, which means two things. One, that Harry is great at making the necessary changes in order for us to go on and win the match and two, that Harry isn't the best at picking a starting eleven.

Either way, with Liverpool missing Gerrard, and coupled with their atrociously poor away form, it looks as though a home win awaits us, especially if we can emulate the form shown by us in the Champions League.

THBN Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Liverpool

Represent Spurs when we take on Blackpool!
The club is looking for a brave fan to take on a Blackpool supporter in the half-time Wonga Cash Dash, when the teams meet at Bloomfield Road on Sunday, December 19th, 2010.

Win £250!

The Cash Dash is a race in two giant zorb balls, across the Bloomfield turf, between one home and one away supporter. The winner will be the fan who crosses the finishing line first, and will earn themselves £250. There will also a £250 donation to Blackpool’s Trinity Hospice.

So if you fancy representing Spurs, register your details HERE.

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