Tottenham have confirmed that manager Harry Redknapp has left the club by mutual consent.
The north London side finished fourth in the Premier League last term, but missed out on Champions League football due to Chelsea winning the 2011-12 tournament.
With only one year left on his contract at White Hart Lane, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has confirmed that Redknapp has left his post.
“This is not a decision the board and I have taken lightly,” a statement on the club’s official website reads.
“Harry arrived at the club at a time when his experience and approach was exactly what was needed. This decision in no way detracts from the excellent work Harry has done during his time with the club and I should like to thank him for his achievements and contribution. Harry will always be welcome at the Lane.”
Redknapp has spoken of his sadness at leaving the role, and wished the club well in the future.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs and am proud of my achievements. I have had a fantastic four years with the club, at times the football has been breathtaking.
“I am sad to be leaving but wish to thank the players, staff and fans for their terrific support during my time there,” he concluded.
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Everton’s David Moyes is the early favourite to be Redknapp’s replacement.
Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that rumblings that he supports the Glazer family as Manchester United owners due to the financial reward he receives are insulting.
The Red Devils’ major shareholders made 10 per cent of the club’s shares available on an initial public offering (IPO) recently, with some Old Trafford fans critical of the American businessmen’s intentions.
However, claims that Ferguson is financially motivated by the deal have been swatted aside.
“Being aware of the media coverage that is currently ongoing I felt, on this occasion, that I should make my position clear to the Manchester United fans,” said Ferguson in a statement, published on Sky Sports.
“In regards to suggestions that I have praised the Glazer family because I stand to financially benefit from the proposed IPO, there is not a single grain of truth in this allegation.
“I do not receive any payments, directly or indirectly, from the IPO.
“Ultimately, I run the football side of this club and in order to do this, you need backing from above.
“The Glazer family have let me get on with my job, there is no interference or obstruction, only support.
“My decisions and beliefs are not based around what is best for my personal financial gain.
“That is an accusation that insults me. If that was the case I would have left Old Trafford a long time ago.
“I am speaking because I do not want a situation to develop whereby the media and other parties create a rift, however small, between myself and Manchester United.
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“I’ve spent 25 years of my life pushing this club forward and not only could I not have done that without those fans, I do it for them,” he concluded.
Three games into the season into the season and most Daggers supporters would agree that there is much to admire about the displays so far this season at Victoria Road.
Performances have been full of chances, good football, youthful exuberance and touches of quality. However, the opposition’s grit and determination (with elements of quality) has more than matched that of the Daggers so far. The result is a stalemate and two defeats from the opening three matches.
One thing I have learnt from this embryonic season in League Two is that the quality and organisation of teams gets better year on year, and the fact that John Still’s boys (meant literally- all of his starting line ups have been under the age of 26 so far) can play so well and give their best you can’t really fault them.
Finding players like Dwight Gayle, playing in the Essex Senior League for Stansted two seasons ago, (he got off the mark at the weekend and looks to have bags of potential), is a skill of the highest esteem for Still and his backroom staff.
You often find that in many games last season the Daggers and the team they were playing cancelled each other out for the vast majority of the match with one moment of quality separating the winner from the loser. Too often last season that went against the Daggers. This season, if Gayle can keep this form up there is no doubt he can win a few games with that touch of quality himself.
It is refreshing as a supporter to see young, hungry players being given a chance. Win lose or draw the outlook for the immediate future looks bright, one win looks set to springboard these players to new heights. I often say to my friends the season is a marathon not a sprint, but with games coming thick and fast the 1st win must come about soon or the pressure gets greater game by game. However, this group of players seem to believe hugely in their own ability. Take Gayle on Saturday, in his third Football League start he nominated himself to take the penalty he won in front of the Gillingham fans. Despite their best efforts to put the youngster off he assertively fired the penalty down the middle into the net. You can’t teach confidence like that. Another few doses of that in the short term and later on in the season should propel us up the table.
Follow me on twitter @scottycrowe92
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he could spend again before the summer transfer windows closes. There may also be further departures from the Emirates Stadium, the Frenchman said, prior to next Friday’s deadline.
With the losses of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona, Wenger has added Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud to his attacking options. And Wenger is not ruling out another dive into the market if the right player emerges. He told the official Arsenal website:
“I don’t want make a promise that I cannot keep. It does not only depend on me. But there still could be some action on the transfer market – ins and outs. We are working [in the market]. We’ll see what we can do. The transfer market is open for two months and yet for one month and three weeks it is nearly closed. It wakes up completely in the last week and then every minute becomes important.”
The Gunners drew 0-0 to Sunderland at the Emirates on the opening day of the season, and Wenger has admitted he is happy with the state of his squad at the moment: “They are all international-stature players. I focus highly on that. If we get these players back in good shape then we have a very, very strong squad.” Arsenal head to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City on Sunday, where England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to make a return to first team action.
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After three near-flawless displays from Blackpool, we finally came unstuck away to Leicester at the weekend.
I don’t know whether Holloway still feels guilty for his time at Leicester (which ended in relegation) but since then, every time he has come up against them he feels the need to prove himself as a tactical mastermind. Unfortunately, it has always ended up with a lacklustre performance and Leicester walking away with a gift-wrapped 3 points. Alternatively, we could just say that it is that strange phenomenon of a bogey team. Not necessarily for Blackpool, but for Holloway. Whatever he tries, he just can’t seem to get one over on his former employers.
Blackpool went into this game on the back of a 6-0 mauling of Ipswich. Yet, rather than stick with a winning side, Holloway decided to make 2 changes. Veteran striker Kevin Phillips was replaced with raw pace in Nouha Dicko, a change that seemed fairly logical being away from home. The change that baffled everyone though, was the removal of Angel Martinez in favour of Barry Ferguson.
Martinez, who has been fantastic at the end of last season, and start of this, was the big loss. His interplay with Tiago Gomes had been something to behold in the last 2 home games. Taking him out didn’t just weaken that one position, but also meant Gomes had more work to do. It is no fault of Ferguson, who didn’t have a particularly bad game, but he just doesn’t move the ball as well as Martinez. Ferguson is fantastic when you are winning. He is sensible, covers the defence and keeps the ball ticking over. But he isn’t great when you need to force the issue and really attack.
Leicester came out flying in this game and kept Blackpool virtually in their own third in the opening stages. Blackpool lacked any cohesion and for some reason kept pumping it long and surrendering possession. It was a very shaky start by Blackpool who took nearly 25 minutes to settle down. But, for all Leicester had of the game, they never really looked like scoring. Vardy was sent through only to be denied by Gilkes, but that was about the extent of the Foxes’ real chances.
Although it was a poor first half display by ‘Pool, they created the best chance of the half when Taylor-Fletcher slid a ball though to the in-form Ince, who hit it straight at the ‘Keeper. Ferguson also had his annual jaunt into the opposition’s half, and hit the post with a cracking effort from the edge of the box.
The second half took on a different pattern with the game becoming stretched and Blackpool finally keeping the ball on the floor. Just as the game was hotting up a series of penalty claims changed the game. Firstly, Vardy threw himself into Crainey and took a tumble, but his appeals were rightly waved away.
Then as Dyer was about to get on the end of a cross, Eardley slid in (or slipped) and seemed to get the ball and man simultaneously. Certainly debatable, but again waved away. But now the fans were baying for blood, and almost gave themselves a penalty when Vardy again went down. Not much debate with this one, by all accounts, it never was, never has been and never will be a penalty. Ever. But Mike Jones gave in to the crowd and pointed to the spot. Marshall stepped up and although Gilkes was close he couldn’t keep it out.
After the goal Holloway then made some bizarre substitutions. With Blackpool crying out for some slick passing, Gomes was taken off for Matty Phillips. So now we had 4 strikers on and nobody to give them the ball. Then, Kevin Phillips and Delfouneso came on for Ferguson and Dicko. 5 strikers on, and only 1 midfielder. Considering our summer signings were almost exclusively midfielders, it seems odd that we ended with more on the bench than on the pitch. However, after a great goal-line block by Baptiste, again Blackpool created the best scoring chances, falling to Ince and Matty Phillips. Both fluffed the chance of an equaliser and, with Blackpool starting to go long again, the game ended with the Foxes seeing out any remaining Blackpool threat.
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Despite a relatively poor showing, it was only a shocking penalty decision and some poor finishing that cost us. We created the better chances without ever having the better of the game. Maybe just a bad day at the office, and we can still be pleased that a sub-par performance resulted in a 1-0 loss, where previously it may have been more.
So how do we look heading into the international break?
Well, we still top the league having played superbly in 3 out of 4 games. We’ve scored 10 goals and have added more firepower in the transfer window, recruiting Nathan Delfouneso and Nathan Ecclestone. Hopefully both will settle into our system fairly quickly and prove themselves. Perhaps most importantly though, we have only conceded 2 in 4 games. Once from a corner, and once from a horrendous penalty decision. A leaky defence has been an issue of ours for a few years now, and if we can keep it this tight for long spells this season, we will surely see a promotion challenge. Not all that much to moan about then…
Would it be remiss to suggest that blood pressure levels amongst Premier League managers skyrockets during an international break? Constantly on tenterhooks praying that their key players return unscathed with a clean bill of health. It’s little wonder then that Arsene Wenger will be cursing his luck after Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott returned to the Emirates Stadium carrying injuries after representing their country during the week. The potential loss of Diaby, in particular, will come as a huge blow to Wenger given the France international’s excellent start to the season and rendering Alex Song a distant memory in the Gunners midfield. After six stop-start years in North London the 26-year-old was finally starting to exhibit his undoubted talent that often saw him compared to Patrick Vieira forging a superb connection with Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla in the first three games of the campaign. There is no doubt that keeping Diaby fit and flying will be key to the Gunners achieving their goals this term and proving once and for all that he has what it takes to cut the top-flight mustard.
This week on FFC how important will the Gunners’ collaboration with the MLS be in years to come and which Atletico striker is Wenger keeping tabs on?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Does he really still have a future at Arsenal?
Is there anything wrong with Bacary Sagna’s comments?
An ideal partnership for Arsenal to consider?
Bould-ly going where Arsenal have never gone before?
Is Wenger Paying The Price For Their Ineptitude?
Wenger denies Drogba link
Arsene Wenger issues ultimatum
Arsenal and Spurs on £14.5m alert as contract talks stall
The Boy’s A Bit Special…Ignasi Miquel
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
Pantomime Villains On The Arsenal Horizon – A Cultured Left Foot
Should Wenger stick with this youngster even when Sagna returns? – Gunnersphere
Long Live Project Youth – Online Gooner
Why Wenger should NOT send this midfield starlet out on loan this winter – Gunnersphere
Here we go again – Arseblog
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Does Arsene Wenger deserve a new 4 year deal? – Le Grove
Diaby out, Theo sick & Is Sagna fearing for his place in the side? – Highbury House
Is Adrian Lopez The Missing Piece Of A North London Puzzle? – Transfer Tavern
[divider]
Quote of the Week
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“In the past I have always shown my commitment to the club, and at the moment I am not in the mood to think about the long-term future because we want to do well this season. I am an Arsenal
man and I think I have always shown that, but I have to consider whether I do well or not, and if I don’t do well then I have to consider my future. I am long enough at the club to have the confidence of people I work with, but I will assess my own performances and whether I do well enough for the club. At the moment we are not there. Two years is a long time in my job, so I just want to do as well for the club as long as I can and accept all the rest.” Arsene Wenger claims he could step down as Arsenal boss if he considers himself to be doing a poor job
Everton winger Steven Pienaar has retired from international duty.
The South African midfielder made 57 appearances for his nation over ten years, but has stated with regret that he will only focus on club football in the future.
“It is with regret that I wish to advise you that with immediate effect I’m no longer available for selection to represent South Africa,” he stated in a press conference, published in The Daily Mail.
“After having given more than 10 years service to the national team I’m now at a stage where physically I’m struggling to balance the demands of playing in England with the number of games required by the national team.
“I’m proud to have represented and captained my country, for this I sincerely thank you and wish the team all the best in the future,” he concluded.
South Africa coach Gordon Igesund admitted that Pienaar’s decision was a blow for the side.
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“He’s given us 10 years of service and his body is tired. Yesterday was the first time I found out he wanted to retire,” the trainer confessed.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has expressed his concern at Arsenal’s lack of creativity after their 2-0 loss at home to Schalke in the Champion League last night.
Arsene Wenger’s side lost their first Champions League game at the Emirates since 2003 after goals from Klaas Jan-Huntelaar and Ibrahim Affelay ended their 100% start in Group B.
And Parlour believes Wenger needs to go back to basics in order to improve on what was a lacklustre performance.
He told TalkSport: “They need to create more chances. They should go back to basics.
“Arsenal over the years have created ten to 15 chances a match and often the problem has been them finishing those chances off.
“Against Schalke they didn’t have any chances whatsoever though. Their goalkeeper must have expected to be bombarded with shots but there was nothing.
“I’m not going to say there were loads of positives because there weren’t. It was a poor performance. The players will be the first to admit that.”
Parlour also wants the likes of Gervinho and Santi Carzorla to be more consistent but is still confident that Arsenal will qualify for the last 16.
“There was no creativity. Santi Carzorla has been quality all season but he had a quiet night down the flank,” he added.
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“You never know what you’re going to get out of Gervinho, he could be an 8/10 or a 4/10.”
“They still should qualify. The 2-1 win against Montpellier away from home looks a massive result now.”
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has praised his team after their first home Premier League win of the season.
A goal from youngster Raheem Sterling, his first as a senior professional, secured a long overdue win at Anfield the first since a 4-1 victory against Chelsea back on the 8th May.
The deserved 1-0 victory against Reading was only the club’s second league win of the season, following their 5-2 victory at Norwich.
“It’s been a long time coming, Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“We should have had three points here long before today. But on the back of an international break and players travelling all over the world, I thought this was a terrific performance.
“We need to improve our finishing, which is an on-going theme, but as long as we get three points and a clean sheet that’s the most important thing.
“I’m delighted for the players and the supporters. You don’t want it to keep dragging on. What always gave me comfort was the mind-set and ability of the players. They’ve kept working.”
At the sound of the final whistle against the struggling Reading, the relief around Anfield was clear for all to see.
In a match which could of once again proved to be another hard luck story for Liverpool, as they made the match a little too uncomfortable for their supporters.
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The Reds should have had the game out of sight, but an un-wanted familiar script was trying to make its presence felt again as Liverpool saw a host of chances go begging.
It’s fair to say it’s been a bit of a miserable time for Emmanuel Adebayor since making his move from Manchester City to Tottenham a permanent one in the summer.
As well as being absent for the first few weeks of the Premier League season with back and then hamstring troubles, the Togolese striker has been limited to just five league appearances, all from the substitute’s bench since his return from injury. While the chorus of boos that resonated around White Hart Lane in regards to the substitution which involved Adebayor once again replacing Jermain Defoe was more in association with the popularity of Defoe rather than the unpopularity of Adebayor, it still wouldn’t have done wonders for a 28-year-old whose confidence already appears fragile at the moment, and was indicative of the way his season is going at the moment.
As a result of Adebayor’s unhappy start to the campaign, Andre Villas-Boas has had to fend off suggestions in recent weeks that the Togo international wants to leave White Hart Lane after just three months back at the club.
It seems as if part of Adebayor’s problem currently is that he has struggled to adapt to the change of managerial style at White Hart Lane. Harry Redknapp’s managerial style was especially paternalistic. Redknapp was an oddity in the sense that he appeared to love certain players and distain others. And he loved Adebayor, which was instrumental to the striker’s success last season, simply because Adebayor is a player who just wants to be loved. This was evident by the way he ran across the full length of the pitch to taunt Arsenal fans when he scored for Manchester City three years ago, he just feels the need to be adored more than most.
Now under the leadership of AVB, Adebayor has to contend with a managerial style that doesn’t cohere with his personality. AVB has a much more robotic style than Redknapp, more conscious of the intricacies and technicalities of the game rather than concerning himself over players’ feelings and happiness at the club. This was very much evident at Chelsea last season when he just didn’t bother connecting with the ring leaders at the club such as Terry, Lampard and Drogba. And ironically AVB’s management style is remarkably similar to Roberto Mancini’s at Manchester City, who of course deemed Adebayor surplus to requirements as soon as he replaced Mark Hughes as manager at the Etihad.
One thing that Adebayor couldn’t foresee was the revival of Jermain Defoe’s career at Spurs. Seemingly on his way out under Redknapp last season, Defoe has been in incredible form scoring five goals in ten Premier League appearances, making it hard under AVB’s formation, for the Togolese striker to get a look in. And while Adebayor may consider himself more of a household name than Defoe, Villas-Boas has proven with the goalkeeping situation regarding Brad Friedel and Hugo Lloris that reputation counts for nothing.
That being said, Defoe’s recent purple patch hasn’t detracted most Tottenham fans from wanting to see Adebayor regain his place back in the first eleven, especially as £6 million man Clint Dempsey hasn’t made the impression he would have wanted since leaving Fulham in August. Spurs fans are beginning to get slightly frustrated at Villas-Boas’ inflexibility regarding Adebayor’s lack of minutes on the pitch, and the Portuguese manager will have to be careful that he doesn’t wear the patience of the Spurs fans and Adebayor alike too thinly, especially if results continue to be patchy.
One would think it will be unlikely that AVB, who as mentioned is stubborn at the best of times, will consider playing both Defoe and Adebayor up front together as they visit the champions Manchester City on Sunday. Where many Tottenham fans may disagree with their manager, AVB likes to play Dempsey as a second striker, which may not be required in games such as at home to Wigan, but will come in more useful in games where they will be expected to be under the cosh, and worked wonderfully in Spurs’ 3-2 victory over Manchester United last month.
With no guarantee of starting on Sunday, Emmanuel Adebayor may well become increasingly frustrated at his lack of opportunities. As cited in the article, Adebayor is a player who needs to be loved and he is not the type of personality who will keep hushed about not being the main man at White Hart Lane.
Therefore, can we realistically expect to see Adebayor leave in January? Whilst it seems unlikely at the moment, it may not be beyond the realms of possibility. Obviously it is primarily dependent on whether AVB begins to start Adebayor more regularly. I don’t think we can underestimate what a crucial month in the season November is for both Spurs and Adebayor’s future at the club. It is such a tough month for the club, with the visit of Man City, as well as two London derbies away to Arsenal and at home to West Ham followed by the visit of Liverpool, who despite their poor run of form, is never an easy game. Depending on how much Adebayor features in these four games will give us a real indication of how important he is to AVB’s plans. It is finally dependent on what the Spurs manager’s thoughts are regarding bringing transfers into White Hart Lane. Whilst reports that the north London club are in for Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse seem unlikely, I think speculation surrounding AVB’s interest in Schalke’s Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Shaktar Donetsk’s William appears more genuine.
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Do you think Adebayor will stay at Spurs past January? Let me know on Twitter @matt_of_the_day