Posts Tagged ‘Spurs’

Bent claims mother was racially abused by fan

• Sunderland liaising with police over alleged incident
• Bent: ‘The offender needs to hope I don’t find out who he is’

Darren Bent has claimed his mother was racially abused by a Sunderland fan during his side’s 1-0 defeat at Wigan.

The Sunderland striker posted the claim on his Twitter feed shortly after the match, which was settled by Hugo Rodallega’s 76th-minute goal. Bent’s original post read: “So we get beaten by Wigan and to make matters worse my mum gets racially abused by a Sunderland fan. I won’t stand for that.”

In later posts replying to other users of the site, Bent labelled the abuse “an absolute disgrace” and warned: “The offender needs to hope I don’t find out his name or who he is.”

The matter has been reported to the police, with a club spokeswoman confirming to BBC Sport: “Sunderland are liaising with Northumbria Police to fully investigate this matter. Behaviour of this kind is totally unacceptable to our football club.”

Bent was a club-record signing from Tottenham in the summer – after another Twitter post criticising the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over the handling of the move – and has since scored nine goals and earned an England recall.

Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham

The lesson here for Spurs was not that they cannot play Wigan every week, they knew that already, but rather that their luck will not be in every week. Considering they were away against a team only one place below them, this was a Tottenham performance almost as impressive as last week’s cloud nine, yet they came close to getting nothing for it.

The difference was Brad Friedel, some dogged Villa defending and, until Michael Dawson’s late intervention, a complete lack of a friendly bounce or a fortunate break for Spurs. Villa were comfortably outplayed, yet held a lead until 13 minutes from the end, despite the visitors creating almost as many clear-cut chances as in the Wigan game. It was not even a case of poor finishing, it was more like watching the law of averages in action after last week’s glut. Even after Dawson’s equaliser, Emile Heskey headed inches over at the end, although Villa did not deserve to get that lucky.

“We were hanging on towards the end,” Martin O’Neill said. “Tottenham are a very fine side and we just couldn’t get out of our own half.” The goalscorer Dawson was not about to disagree. “We made loads of chances and had lots of shots,” he said. “We showed what a good team we are.”

Indeed they did. Yet after Niko Kranjcar brought the first of many saves from Friedel with a shot from the edge of the box, Spurs found themselves behind after 10 minutes through clumsy defending of a set piece. First, Carlos Cuéllar was allowed a free header from James Milner’s corner, and although a combination of Heurelho Gomes and Benoît Assou-Ekotto managed to stop it by the post – possibly illegally as the full-back appeared to use an arm– the ball was not cleared and Gabriel Agbonlahor forced it inelegantly over the line.

The visitors’ efforts to get back into the game were hampered by Wilson Palacios giving the ball away in midfield and Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe operating too far ahead of the rest of their team-mates, and the closest they came to an equaliser in the first half also came from a set piece. After Tom Huddlestone’s effort from a free-kick was blocked by the wall, Defoe’s shot on the turn was beaten out by Friedel, and when Dawson seemed certain to score from the follow-up, his drive was blocked on the line by Cuéllar.

Villa dropped back deeper and deeper and invited Spurs to come at them as Richard Dunne and his defenders were initially having few problems dealing with attacks down the middle. Harry Redknapp occasionally appeared in his technical area pointing meaningfully to the under-utilised Aaron Lennon, mostly to no avail, although when Lennon did get involved on the stroke of the interval, a cross from the right produced a chance for Crouch, only to be met by a poor header.

Kranjcar began the second half as he had begun the first, with an even better shot from Crouch’s lay-off, which brought an even better save from Friedel. The Croatian was also denied by a brave block from the busy Cuéllar after an hour, although bizarrely Villa could have been two up by then had John Carew showed his usual awareness in front of goal from Ashley Young’s cross. Instead he missed the target, which was turning into the story of Villa’s evening.

Embarrassingly for the home side, the game’s stats flashed up on the giant screen at that point to show that Spurs had had seven attempts on target to Villa’s one. It would double by the end. Spurs were even denied a penalty after 70 minutes when another wayward header by Crouch caused the ball to fly off Luke Young’s boot and hit him on the arm. The referee did not appear to see it and may not have felt like awarding it anyway, although Phil Dowd did redeem himself a couple of minutes later by spotting Defoe had handled the ball before bundling it into the net after Friedel had once more rescued Villa, this time with a save from Huddlestone.

Finally, after Crouch had seen an effort blocked on the line, an equaliser arrived when Dawson was given a second chance by a rare error from Dunne, and crashed a shot into the roof of the net that even Friedel could do nothing about. It was no more than Spurs and their captain deserved, and after spending almost all of the second half on the back foot, Villa could have no complaints. They almost lost at the death when Defoe went desperately close. “I think 14 attempts on target says it all,” Redknapp said. “It was one-way traffic in the second half.”

THE FANS’ PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader We played quite well in the first half and I think we shaded it. But in the second half we were overrun. We were far too defensive. At home you should not be playing with one up front. O’Neill should have played two strikers. We are probably the seventh or eighth best side in the country and we are deluding ourselves that we can get into the Champions League. It was good to see Reo-Coker back but I don’t think he has a future at the club. We need to buy a striker in January.

The fan’s player ratings Friedel 6; Beye 8, Dunne 7, Cuellar 8, L Young 7; Milner 6, Petrov 7, Reo-Coker 7 (Sidwell n/a), A Young 6; Agbonlahor 6, Carew 6 (Heskey 75 n/a)

Dave Mason, Observer reader You can’t score nine every week but we had enough chances to do that here. Our performance in the second half was staggering. It was one-way traffic and I don’t know how we didn’t win the game. We were away from home but completely controlling the game. But when Defoe’s had a goal disallowed, I knew it wasn’t going to be our day. Friedel was brilliant. He was their best player. Our goalie on the other hand had absolutely nothing to do.

The fan’s player ratings Gomes 7; Corluka 7, Bassong 8, Dawson 8, Assou-Ekotto 8; Lennon 7, Palacios 7 (Jenas 66 7), Huddlestone 6, Kranjcar 9 (Keane 78 7); Crouch 7, Defoe 7

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Defoe sets his sights on more of the same

• Defoe aiming for Champions League finish with Tottenham
• Tottenham team-mates praise striker after five-goal haul

Jermain Defoe has now discovered what scoring five goals against a ramshackle Wigan Athletic defence can do for a reputation. While his Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, was busy hailing him the “best finisher” in the English game, the forward’s captain for the day, Jonathan Woodgate, was going a step further.

“I think he’s the sharpest striker not only in the Premier League but probably in the world,” said the centre-half. “He’s that sharp he simply doesn’t miss, in training or in matches.” The mind boggles over the superlatives that might have been used had Defoe registered a Premier League record sixth goal of the afternoon.

The 27-year-old has had to build bridges in recent weeks. His petulant stamp on Aaron Mokoena during a fractious return to Portsmouth last month resulted in an untimely three-match ban that checked both his own and the team’s breathless early-season form. Redknapp had been livid at the misdemeanor, his desperate pleas at half-time for the forward to retain a cool head having gone unheeded. Defoe’s mother, Sandra, had been so ashamed she could not bear to watch the evening’s highlights show while his grandfather had been moved to give the forward “a bit of stick” for his folly.

The two league fixtures Defoe missed were lost, with Spurs scoreless in each, though now all is virtually forgiven. A 9-1 thrashing of Wigan – a much improved and physically imposing team up to then – does have the air of a freak result but, psychologically, it will surely prove as encouraging for Spurs as it is demoralising for the Latics.

The statistics prove Redknapp and Woodgate right to some degree in that no other striker boasts a better goals-to-minutes ratio in the Premier League this season than Defoe’s 75 minutes per goal. Fabio Capello recently decided not to start with him against Brazil because he felt he knew the ins and outs of Defoe’s game. That, in itself, has to be encouraging in a World Cup year.

“When I was sent off I knew what I had done straight away and it was out of character,” said Defoe, whose last booking had been for Portsmouth against Bolton on 20 December 2008. “It was stupid but, having been out of the team through suspension, it was important to come back like this because I owed something to the team. The World Cup is always at the back of your mind but it’s important to focus on your club form to give yourself the best opportunity to get on that plane.

“What happened against Wigan was unbelievable. I definitely remember scoring four goals in a youth team game for West Ham against Aston Villa but I don’t think I’ve scored five even on the PlayStation. I’ve spoken to all the great strikers over the years – Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright, Clive Allen – and they always told me that, no matter how many you score, always try and get another. I’ve got that mentality now.

“A few of us will stay behind training with Les and Clive and you learn from them. I watched some of Clive’s goals on YouTube the other day. When you think he got 49 in one season, that’s unbelievable. But, if you put that work in, you will get rewarded. That’s all I do – work hard and push myself to the limit.”

The substitutes’ board had actually been raised with Spurs 6-1 up and Defoe’s tally on four, prompting a look of disgust from the striker towards the bench that gave way to relief when he realised it was Aaron Lennon who was being summoned from the fray rather than himself. “The break recently might actually have done me some good because I felt full of energy,” he added. “People are talking about the Golden Boot and I heard what the manager said about me being in with a chance of winning it but I’d prefer just [for the club] to finish fourth, to be honest. That would be fantastic.

“To be in the Champions League, playing against the best defenders in the world, would put more pressure on all of us and we’d love to have that challenge. The results went for us on Saturday, so we had to take advantage. It was funny in the dressing room afterwards because none of the lads could believe what had just happened. We know how good we are. We know we have a good team and a strong squad but to score nine goals in a game? Crazy.”

Other Spurs players caught the eye, with Lennon outstanding on his return from injury and the entire midfield functioning superbly, though Defoe drew the focus. “Jermain can do anything he wants to do and Fabio Capello seems to have a lot of faith in him,” added Woodgate. “He can make a massive impact at the World Cup, without a doubt, and he’s got every chance for the Golden Boot.” Aston Villa will pose a sterner test on Saturday, but Defoe’s reputation precedes him these days. First the Premier League, then the world; the division’s striker of the moment will take some stopping.

Cudicini thanks fans after leaving hospital

• ‘I want to thank everybody,’ says Tottenham goalkeeper
• Redknapp says players not allowed to ride motorcycles

The Tottenham goalkeeper, Carlo Cudicini, thanked fans for their support after being discharged from hospital following his motorcycle accident, but his club manager Harry Redknapp said the player faces a prolonged recovery from his injuries.

Cudicini underwent surgery last Friday on his right wrist and pelvis after the road accident, with the Spurs manager unaware that the player rode a motorbike.

“I would think it would be the season (he is out for),” Redknapp said. “He’ll be back. It will be a long job but he’ll be back.”

On the subject of riding motorbikes, Harry Redknapp said: “We don’t let them do it. I’ve never even thought about a player riding a motorbike. We didn’t know he had a bike and I’m sure he won’t be riding one again to work. My only concern was his health when I went to visit him.”

Redknapp also ruled out a move for Manchester United’s Ben Foster. He said: “If United wanted to loan him, and I don’t know if they do, it would be a problem for him to go somewhere and not play. He wants to play for England. [Heurelho] Gomes is my first-team goalkeeper and has been fantastic so there is no point in coming here as a No2.”

Cudicini is positive about the outcome of the surgery and thanked well-wishers following the crash. “The current position is that the operations went very well and I am already moving my wrist,” he said. “This morning I met the hand surgeon and he would like to see me again on 18 December and, if everything is okay, I will no longer need any protection on the right wrist and I will be able to move it like the other one.

“Regarding the pelvis, I am still waiting to see the surgeon later on, but from what he said to me last time he would like to check on me every month and, at the end of the 12 weeks, now 11, I will be able to move without the crutches and free to begin my preparations.”

“You don’t want to have an accident like this to check out how many people love you. But I have to say that the response has been unbelievable and I have received many emails and cards from Tottenham and Chelsea fans, people who work at both clubs, and also from people who don’t support Tottenham or Chelsea. All in all it has been a touching reaction from people who support football in general.

“I want to thank everybody because, for sure, it has made me feel much, much better.”

Agents over-protecting players, says Sir Alex Ferguson

• Manchester United manager says players ‘cocooned’ by agents
• Ferguson: ‘They’re protected, fragile, more fragile than ever’

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of the “fragile” nature of some modern footballers and says they are “cocooned” by agents and the media and unable to take “responsibility for their own performance”.

Speaking at a League Managers Association dinner to honour the 14 surviving coaches who have presided over 1,000-plus league games, Ferguson accused agents of “conducting most transfers now” while Harry Redknapp attacked middle-men for calling the Tottenham chairman to complain about their client not being picked for the Spurs starting XI.

Ferguson’s admission confirms that even the game’s strongest managers are struggling to control the power of multi-millionaire players. The Manchester United manager told an audience in London: “It’s a different player character we’ve got today. It’s more fragile than the player of 25 years ago. They’re maybe more cocooned today by their agents and the press, at times.

“They’re less ready to hold their hands up. If you go back several years you had a player with a certain pride and responsibility for their own performance. They were less protected, so they could come in and say, ‘Hands up, it was my fault’. That was good. But today they’re very protected, fragile, more fragile than ever, and that’s a lot to do with the type of people who protect them. Agents and even, to a degree, the press do protect them a bit, the stars, whereas a few years ago they didn’t have that protection.”

Redknapp said: “What I’ve found amazing is that agents will ring the chairman [Daniel Levy] and complain about their player not playing regularly: ‘What was your manager doing, why isn’t he picking this player?’ It’s new to me and I find it strange, very difficult to deal with.

“I’m lucky the chairman doesn’t take any notice. He tells me about these idiots who are ringing. I’m just amazed that the player is weak enough to let his agent ring the chairman. He should be coming to see me, knocking on my door.”

As managers discussed the art of survival in an increasingly volatile trade, Ferguson lamented the growing role of agents in initiating player moves. He said: “I don’t get phone calls from agents as such, but nonetheless they’re conducting most transfers now. It’s hard to handle that. It’s a new way.

“I had an agent phone me up – we had a young boy, got in the England Under-21s, and his agent phoned the next day and said, ‘I think it’s time we sat down and talked about a new contract for the boy’. He’d played for England once. But to his mind that demanded a new contract. I said, ‘Well, let’s see how he plays for Manchester United’.”