Martin Lol

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/848875-newcastle-contract-rebel-steven-taylor-wants-spurs-transfer? Steven Taylor 'wants Spurs transfer' as Newcastle contract saga continues Steven Taylor is keen on a move to Spurs amid speculation Harry Redknapp wants to sign the Newcastle defender, who is holding out over a new contract. Taylor is on the transfer list after negotiations between his advisers and Newcastle representatives broke down during the summer. And although the club are rumoured to have made attempts to re-open talks with the 24-year-old defender, who is out of contract next summer, he is also said to have had his head turned by reports that Redknapp may be tempted to take him to White Hart Lane in January. Spurs are struggling with an injury crisis in defence, after Younes Kaboul suffered a hip injury against Liverpool to join former Toon team-mate Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King on the physio table. Redknapp is a fan of bringing in homegrown talent and is tempted to make a bid for London-born Taylor to move him to the capital - especially as the centre-back could represent a bargain with only six months remaining on his current deal. However, the player considers Tyneside his home - having been raised in the area and coming through the Magpies' youth system - and he has previously expressed a desire to remain in his native north-east. It remains to be seen how the breakdown in communications over the summer will have affected his relationship with Newcastle bosses though. Speculation suggests he is more keen than ever to move on, despite making his first start of the season in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday. No quotes, smacks of gossip/guesswork/lazy journalism but I'd be happy to see him at WHL. Got a lot of ability and potential in my opinion.

Probably got an English grandmother!

Not sure about the age point either but under Redknapp players who have a record of under-performing have started to make a meaningful contribution. I'm thinking of players like Kaboul, Lennon, Bale and Huddlestone. Even Gomes (who in the past was nothing short of disastrous) has had some good games although he still looks like a rick waiting to happen. Also I can only think of Darren Bent who went nowhere or backwards under Arry. I don't like but he's a good manager imo. I'd class that as motivation, so yeah, can't deny he could potentially be a good motivator/man manager (if you're in his good books). Though, is that an issue in itself, if you don't perform you're instantly in his bad books until you perform again? Don't know, he seems a total nightmare of a manager to define (if you had to try and define his management style). Not sure he's a coach though, not that I'm saying you have to be a coach to be a football manager. Think I'm still going to stick to 'Problem? Buy a replacement' mentality. Not sure I can think/ever see him developing/training a player to sort a problem out. Open to suggestions though. I'm not convinced he is a coach either but he's a top man motivator if you listen to some of the players, VDV - we didn't talk much about tactics, he just told me I had a free role, go out and express yourself and Pav - the coach told me put yourself about and enjoy yourself. But the players perform for him and seem happy so I'm not too bothered. All the tactical stuff seems to come from Kevin Bond, Joe Jordan and Tim Sherwood.

He was extrememly close to joining Burnley on loan i think, certainly at the time many Spurs fans didnt think he had a future at the club. Easy with hindsight to say it would be stupid but at the time it wasnt so clear cut Oh yeah, I'm not saying it was obvious, just that it wasn't simply a case of 'he's not performing, sell him'... his youth was a reason to persevere for a while. I guess so, depends where they stood with all the add ons i suppose. He cost £5m plus £5m extra i think so Spurs may have decided to cash in before they started paying any more. As it stands its not going to bother them too much now The original deal was £5m rising to £10m as you said. However, when Southampton hit financial problems Rupert Lowe, the chairman at the time, asked to renegotiate the potential extras for a sum up front and £1m was paid. So Bale cost a total of £6m with nothing more to be paid.

He was extrememly close to joining Burnley on loan i think, certainly at the time many Spurs fans didnt think he had a future at the club. Easy with hindsight to say it would be stupid but at the time it wasnt so clear cut It was Forest. I don't think there were many fans who thought he had no future at all but there were many, me included, who thought defensively he was weaker than BAE. Also, the run of defeats before being involved in his first Spurs win badly dented his confidence and it showed. I don't think there was any talk of Bale being sold but it was highly likely that he would have been loaned out if BAE hadn't picked up his injury. It's easy to see why Redknapp always has this wheeler dealer tag but I don't think he spends huge amounts of money because of the returns when players are sold on. The latest rumour is that is that Liverpool and Spurs are working on a deal to see Kranjcar go to Anfield and Glen Johnson go to WHL which would allow Hutton to be moved on in the summer. Liverpool apparently are wanting £5/6m plus Kranjcar whilst Spurs are trying to do a straight swap. Irrespective of whether you think Johnson is any better defensively than Hutton, the fact is that Kranjcar cost £2m and we're now trying to do a deal for Johnson who cost Liverpool £17.5m.

Arsenal have £16.9m bid rejected for 2 Dinamo Zagreb youngsters Dinamo Zagreb claim they have rejected an offer from Arsenal for prized assets Sime Vrsaljko and Mateo Kovacic. Full-back Vrsaljko, 18, is considered one of the best defensive prospects in European football and has most of the Premier League and Europe's elite chasing him. 16-year-old Kovacic is a highly-rated midfielder, and Dinamo have revealed that Arsenal sent a delegation to Croatia to try and do a deal for the pair earlier this month. But club vice-president Zdvravko Mamic has stated that he has shunned a €20million (£16.9million) offer from Arsenal. "Ten days ago we had an special visit in Zagreb," Mamic told Sportski Zurnal. "Here were people from Arsenal and they were ready to pay 20 million Euros for Vrsaljko and Kovacic. "But they are to stay in Dinamo, Arsenal just wanted to buy them for the future. But my answer was sharp, I said 'no' in one second." Mamic admits he is gambling on the pair becoming even more valuable in the future. "While I have space and no problems at our bank account I can take a risk," he continued. "Yes, I know I'm playing with luck but so far I am winning. I believe it will be the same in the future." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6526667,00.html

Would have been a top signing for any Championship team with aspirations to make the jump to the PL.

Quite possibly. Hudd still maintains that it was accidental but there's no reason he couldn't have been putting that defence to an FA disciplinary committee panel.

Surprised it wasn't judged as a frivolous appeal tbh.

was wondering about your backup when i saw that this morning, are the wheels likely to come off harry's wagon? Well seeing that Dawson, King, Woody, Corluka, Bale, Huddlestone, and Van Der Vaart are out, tonights team will hopefully be... --------------------------------Gomes------------------------------ Hutton-----------Kaboul---------------Gallas-----------Ekotto Lennon---------Jenas----------------Modric------------Kranjcar --------------------Defoe--------------Crouch------------------- Subs : Cudicini , Bassong, Bentley, Sandro, Palacios, Keane, Pavlychenko. Lennon is out for tonight, Won't be seeing Sandro either, he isn't even registered for the group stages of the CL. Wouldn't be surprised to see Modric on the bench, give him a break if possible. Werder's problems seem to be even worse than ours. From the Guardian.................. The manager, Thomas Schaaf, has nine players out injured and a 10th, the veteran midfielder Torsten Frings, unavailable through suspension. Schaaf joked that he would enjoy the shopping and sightseeing in London.He has been forced to name seven reserves in his travelling party and two of them, the defender Dominik Schmidt and the attacking midfielder Felix Kroos, the brother of Bayern Munich's Toni, are tipped to start. They have not yet kicked a ball for Werder's first team. Edit.... Sounds like Lennon will be on the bench. Never like the idea of playing someone who is half fit, that's why we have a squad.

He's only been charged as it stands, which he's denied. He hasn't actually been banned yet so there isn't anything to appeal. The charge is effectively the ban, which he can either accept or deny - which he has - running the possible risk of a 4 match ban. It doesn't work like that as far as I know. If they find him guilty tomorrow, he then has the option of appealing the ban handed out to him, which is when the ban can be extended. Wullie has got it right, the charge attracts a 3 match ban, the player can accept the ban or contest it. If he contests it and is found guilty, the FA may or may not make it a 4 match ban for a 'frivolous appeal'. If the ban is increased to 4 matches, the player can appeal against the addition of the extra match ban. If that appeal is unsuccessful, the ban could be further increased to 5 matches. There is no right to appeal after that.

As a Spurs fan I'd be delighted if they sacked Wenger, he has faults but no one should doubt that he is very astute. Unbelievably, on Arse Mania some are keen to get rid of him. They've no idea when they're well off. http://arsenal-mania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=112162&start=720

I presume you enjoyed your schooldays then?

Don't think Levy won't be buying anybody until Redknapp offloads Bentley, Keane etc, all the rumours seem to be loans with options to buy in the summer. Being widely reported that Benzema is the #1 option, I can't see it happening personally. Mourinho has already said Benzema is going nowhere and is becoming an important player for him, cant see Spurs(or anyone for that matter) getting him in the next 18 months minimum tbh. Redknapp at the Press Conference today that he's not interested in signing Benzema and that no enquiries have been made. If Redknapp says that, it must be true. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has refuted reports suggesting he is looking to sign Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in January. The 22-year-old France international has made only one start in La Liga for Jose Mourinho's side so far this season, but Redknapp has said that rumours linking Benzelma with a transfer to White Hart Lane are wide of the mark. "There's nothing in that," he said. "He's a good player, I like him, he looks a real talent. But certainly we haven't made any enquires at all for him. There's definitely nothing going on there at the moment.

Nor could I to be honest but most fans think it is increasingly likely. Not surprising but splitting the fans into 2 camps, stay in Tottenham with huge debt or move to Stratford with £150m more in the bank. Tough decision to make, what is obvious is that to stay as we are at WHL will slowly but surely take us backwards.

Is he denying it because he genuinely believes it or is it an opportunity to stagger the suspensions so that there will be one of the main CB's available for most of the coming matches? Still can't think that the FA will come up with anything other than a guilty verdict, the only question being would it be a 3 match ban or 4.

Do you think it makes sense in any way though? Seems to me that Spurs are just trying to add credibility to a bid that was clearly designed to intimidate the council into allowing their original new stadium plans. I think that Spurs are doing what they can to remove the clauses that Haringey Council, TFL (Transport for London), English Heritage and others are trying to add on to the total cost. The extras that they want for easing the process (others would call it blackmail) is currently reckoned to be something between £40-70m. It's not necessarily about getting the original new stadium plans back, it's the extras that are being added on. Haringey have approved the plans and yesterday approved the Compulsory Purchase Orders, the package is now with the Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, who is due to give his decision on 25th November. The Olympic Park legacy company make their preferred option public in March. Even the majority on West Ham's forums reckon Spurs with AEG have got a stronger package that West Ham with Newham Council. It really depends on whether the legacy company select Spurs and whether Haringey have made any concessions on funding. My gut feeling is that we'll wind up in Stratford, can't see Haringey offering enough back to turn Levy's head.

Any word on the local grapevine as to who that might be ? Keane and Dos Santos are near enough certainties to go in January and i think Kranjcar will probably be allowed to leave too. No one wants to go close to Keane's wages and Keane doesn't want to take a cut so it might be easier said than done.

Quotes from Sir Keith Mills, who led the 2012 Olympic bid, is on the advisory board for the 2018 World Cup bid and is also a Tottenham director...................... “If the Olympic Park legacy company decides our bid is the preferred one, then we'll put all our efforts behind trying to move there,” he says. “If we get a 60,000-seat stadium in the Olympic Park at a lower cost than we can in Haringey, the club will have less debt. Fans would never forgive us for landing the club with so much debt that we can't go and buy players.” He accepts the downside of moving away from the original home of Tottenham but says there are upsides. “We'll be moving to a part of London that is 100 per cent more accessible; we'll generate more revenue; it's closer to Canary Wharf and to the City; and it'll attract more sponsorship,” he says. Only confirming what has been obvious for some time . http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/interviews/article-23900185-sir-keith-mills-i-know-why-tv-probe-will-not-kill-our-2018-bid.do

Totally agree but it will never happen. Fergie wouldn't allow it.

This is the big joke, spot on man. Barton, Williamson and Colo were all loons to do what they did, but they all got punished for it and 2 of them didn't get seen by the ref. De Jong did it in view of the ref and got a double fracture of his leg and 6 months out of the game. De Jong get s some bad press, but no punishment at all. Totally wrong.

Huddlestone gets nowt after stamping on Elmander. Confirms Spurs entrance into the elite clique at the top. Hudd is adamant he didn't do it intentionally. The video suggests that it could go either way, only Hudd really knows if he meant it or not. De Jong's challenge was far worse, no doubt about it. I think that shows Citeh's elevation to the elite, money talks. There was a case to answer, which should have been investigated properly rather than swept under the carpet. That's where the inconsistency lies. Wouldn't dispute that for a moment. The fact that Hudd says it wasn't deliberate doesn't make it something that shouldn't have been investigated. I don't get any enjoyment out of watching players kicking chunks out of each other, irrespective of which shirt they're wearing. Pity the FA don't have the same mindset.

Don't think Levy won't be buying anybody until Redknapp offloads Bentley, Keane etc, all the rumours seem to be loans with options to buy in the summer. Being widely reported that Benzema is the #1 option, I can't see it happening personally. Mourinho has already said Benzema is going nowhere and is becoming an important player for him, cant see Spurs(or anyone for that matter) getting him in the next 18 months minimum tbh. Spurs have a pretty good relationship with Real and Mourinho was a guest at Levy's last birthday bash. Phil McNulty is saying on Twitter that the deal to take Lukaku to Real Madrid will be done in January. McNulty tends to give it out when he's confident that it will happen and I think Mourinho would see Lukaku as a young Drogba than Benzema. Maybe Benzema will become available, Redknapp would certainly be trying to get him if he did. Highly likely that he will go elsewhere though, probably Man Utd as Fergie is a self confessed admirer but I wouldn't have thought Spurs would get Van der Vaart for £8m either. Think Bentley is near certain to go to Fulham on loan. Was it any good? Cheese and chutney sandwiches were excellent so I hear

Huddlestone gets nowt after stamping on Elmander. Confirms Spurs entrance into the elite clique at the top. Hudd is adamant he didn't do it intentionally. The video suggests that it could go either way, only Hudd really knows if he meant it or not. De Jong's challenge was far worse, no doubt about it. I think that shows Citeh's elevation to the elite, money talks.