Martin Lol

Sounds like Appiah will be signing for Spurs in time for the match against Wigan. Also being said that Downing is digging his heels in to get the move he wants. Exactly what he could do I'm not sure, apart from going on strike, so i think he'll still be with Boro at the end of the month.

Hugely impressive at training today, far better than our existing by all accounts. Wants £70k pw but apparently being offered £30k + bonuses for staying fit.

Steven Appiah training at Spurs with a view to securing a contract.

That's the point isn't it. I've watched Villa for over 30 years now, and even now when I go to the match, I think about the generations and generations of my family (right back to when the club moved there) who stood and watched us play on that exact same patch of grass. The oldest stand in the ground wasn't even built when I started going, but even given that, take the club away from there and you break something which you cant fix again. I don't care if Aston is a gun ridden ghetto miles away from where I live, I don't care if the area is deprived and struggling, I don't care if the public transport network makes it hard to get to, i don't care about any of it, that's the card we were dealt, that's where the club belongs, and that rectangle of grass is where we should be playing our matches. Clubs who move to identikit stadia on ring roads want their f***ing heads looking at. The Baseball Ground was an incredibly intimidating place to go to, as was Ayresome Park, as was Roker Park at times. Look at the history Bolton had at their old ground. All pissed away so middle class twonks can get to matches with the same ease they'd use for an afternoon at IKEA. I'm no class warrior (I'm middle class myself, by any definition), but it really does break your heart. The problem from Spurs' point of view was that there wasn't any scope to increase capacity further at WHL without the extra seats having to be in corporate boxes to fund the development. In short, a new stadium is the only option. The computer graphics of the exterior are similar to the Emirates but as both Levy and the Architects are saying that proximity of the fans to the pitch is the #1 priority and seating will be 15' closer to the pitch than the Emirates, I'm happy to defer judgement on whether it will be good or bad. Most Spurs fans don't want an Emirates replica but Levy doesn't want that either. Speaking of the Emirates, it was recorded in the Council Minutes that Arsenal said at the Islington Planning Committee meeting in October that approval for the Queensland Road project (providing 700+ residential flats + assorted shops and offices) needed to be granted in December to avoid potential financial cashflow problems. The Planning Committee Meeting for 15th December was postponed as more consultation is required, the next meeting is in February and it's unlikely a decision will be made then either. The rumour is that it will bring a Russian takeover and the return of David Dein ever closer.

John Bostock is the youngest player at 16 years and 295 days, somebody f*cked up with with copy and pasting. Attendance was just under 33k

Word. There was a lot to be encouraged about, a couple of things that need to change if performances are to be turned into points, but overall, 'Arry has transformed the atmosphere. Should also be more good news today.

Spurs' failure to get the best out of the DoF system was ultimately down the individuals, not the system. There was too much of 'who is available' and not enough 'who do we need', the lack of a defensive MF being the obvious shout, but another striker and another CD who have the confidence of the coach were others. Comolli bought Rocha, Ramos didnt rate Rocha, Redknapp (apparently) does rate him. It's obvious that the wheels will fall off if the DoF buys a player and the coach won't play him. Levy isn't exempt from criticism either. Quibbling over £2m for Arshavin when Keane was going/gone was lunacy though he can't be criticised much regarding Berbatov. Up to transfer deadline day, Manu's offer was £20m. It went up to £30.75m but Comolli had let slip the options they had to replace Berbatov. So, after trying to sign Kevin Doyle from Reading at 10.30pm to replace Berbatov(!), Spurs had no option but to take Campbell on loan. Comolli was a dead man walking from the end of the window. As Baggio said, both Keane and Berbatov had said they wanted away, Berbatov even saying that he wouldn't try in some matches. They both had to go, simple as that. Spurs' big mistake was not replacing either of them. Redknapp now has total control, which is probably best whilst Spurs are in the mess they're in, Bond in, Sherwood probably, Les Ferdinand possibly, he does seem to be getting on with it. Also being suggested that he'll have a pot of £20m plus the Berbatov and Keane money with Diarra and Defoe the obvious targets.

There aren't many days when I don't visit this forum, which I still think is the best NUFC forum around. I still feel almost as passionately about Newcastle getting out of the mess they are in as I do Spurs, sad that some thought I only came here to have a gloat when nothing could be further from the truth and when, tbh, Spurs have nothing to gloat about. FWIW, I think Newcastle are genuine contenders for relegation until a permanent manager is appointed and Ashley is gone. I thought Spurs would suffer the same fate whilst Ramos was in charge and Bent 'Arry is the best possible appointment in our current situation. That said, I still believe the DoF system is the best way forward provided the DoF is good enough. Berbatov and Keane had to go but the last window proved that Comolli is no Arnesen. Stoke, Bolton and WBA for relegation............. fingers crossed.

The press are often quoted as being anti Newcastle. Maybe they are, maybe they are this time just perpetuating a story for their own benefit, but at least the Mirror has this time come up with a reasoned argument backed up with evidence for saying that KK has been hard done by.

God no. Name that's cropped up from a mate of Paul Kemsley, which is close enough for me. I've wasted £20 on that premise. Oh I hope you're not going to finance yet another holiday with a s*** Newcastle manager appointment. Better option than Poyet at the present time. And yes, if Fatih Terim does get the job it will pay for another holiday!

Not many fans are complaining about the quality of the players that Wise has brought in. And although you comment on his inexperience, he's actually part of quite an experienced recruitment team, with Jiminiez and Vitere. Jeff Vitere's qualities are well known and also longstanding. Jiminez's experience as a mate of Matthew Harding who used to sponsor some Chelsea matches and became close to Wise is a bit more tenuous. I accept that he has a lot of connections but experience is more about what you know rather than who you know.

Brand new puppet being made to replace KK. So he is calling half the continental teams with a DOF etc, managers, puppets? ZOMG Mourinho is a puppet! You think Gepetto made Mourinho??

Brand new puppet being made to replace KK.

Couldn't agree more. The statement from the club is embarrassing. The fact that the entire scenario should have been completely avoidable simply makes the Club's statement even more pathetic.

Interesting that SBR isn't suggesting that the structure is wrong, just the personnel and their location. Wise is simply hanging on to Ashley's and Jiminez's coat tails, but it is impossible for him to hide the fact that his experience does not make him anything like qualified for the job. If there had been a properly qualified DoF in sitting in his office within SJP there is no doubt in my mind that KK would still be there as well.

Apparently, they were both too ratarsed to remember what happened during the night, let alone what happened to the bar bill. Kemsley might be ruthless but he wouldn't stitch up Ashley. Also, they were apparently celebrating the completion of a deal to build a casino, not KK's departure as the Sun suggested.

I would generally agree with that view. Poyet has already turned down the opportunity to be Fergie's #2 at Old Trafford, and whilst there is a difference between being a First Team Coach (as he is now) and being the Head Coach (as he would be at Newcastle), the ultimate power would still be with Wise. In addition to that, one person known to be fairly close to him is saying that for private reasons it would be highly unlikely for Poyet to move. Not definitely, but highly unlikely. When he turned down Utd Poyet said "I want to stay at Spurs, I want to stay with this manager, this group of players and this club because I'm very happy". "When you are in England and you are lucky enough to be with one of the big teams you are always going to get speculation." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article4337916.ece

How legit? No idea tbh. I've been told by someone who's a mate of Paul Kemsley that Newcastle are seriously interested in appointing Fatih Terim. And that is about it. Don't know if he is your #1 choice or whether he is at all interested in taking over, but if he says that Newcastle are interested, then I believe that, hence my £20. FWIW, I don't think Newcastle under the current regime deserve a good manager. How they treated KK is about as shabby as it gets. Cheers for the info. Regarding your last point, Newcastle always deserve a good manager because the fans deserve one, thank you very much. We can't exacltly help who is in charge of our club, so why should we suffer for it? Besides I am of the opinion that KK wasn't totally blameless in all of this, but we've moved on from that anyway. In a way I could see why they might want someone like Terim. He has a ridiculously strong presence and personality, and would be able to deal with the current climate. He would also be able to pull the players together and get them re-focused quite quickly. We shall see I suppose. OK, I'll put it another way. The fans deserve better than what they've got. From where I am, I get the impression that KK has been very reasonable in all this. I won't argue if you think he's not blameless, you're far closer than I am.

With a DoF in place, you're right, all you need is a head coach. It shouldn't stop the two talking and agreeing on the players to be brought in though and that seemed to be the factor missing with KK and DW. KK produced a list of options and the midget didn't want to know.

How legit? No idea tbh. I've been told by someone who's a mate of Paul Kemsley that Newcastle are seriously interested in appointing Fatih Terim. And that is about it. Don't know if he is your #1 choice or whether he is at all interested in taking over, but if he says that Newcastle are interested, then I believe that, hence my £20. FWIW, I don't think Newcastle under the current regime deserve a good manager. How they treated KK is about as shabby as it gets.

your kidding arent you? Manager of Newcastle with his best mate upstairs? His first full time managers position being a premiership club with some top top players. i know a lot of people would knock it back, but not the likes of Poyet. With 52000 locals calling for his blood before he set foot in the place? I don't know that he doesn't want it, but I would be surprised if he did. There's no whispers going around that Poyet has been offered it or that he would want it if it was. The only rumour circulating currently is that Wet Spam could soon be near identical to Man City. The Bingo Club awash with money? Doesn't bear thinking about!

God no. Name that's cropped up from a mate of Paul Kemsley, which is close enough for me. I've wasted £20 on that premise.

Fatih Terim

With the announcement of the Spurs squad numbers, Ramos wielded the axe. Adel Taarabt, Ricardo Rocha, Lee Yuong-Puo, Paul Stalteri, Kevin Prince Boateng and Hossam Ghaly have all vanished. No longer in the first team squad, no mention of them in the reserve squad, not been allocated numbers, the player profiles have gone as well. Just vanished. Quite ruthless really even if they aren't up to much.

Impressed Ramos. Made him vice captain.