Martin Lol

2-0 to the Toon I reckon. More news on the Spurs front. Paul Kemsley is resigning as Vice Chaiman. Was a rumour that he was going to do a Dein and team up with Mike Ashley (when he sold NUFC), Philip Green (billionaire boss of BHS, Topshop etc) and Richard Caring (billionaire owner of Wentworth Golf Club amongst other interests with a views to buy out Levy. The likelihood of that happening seems to be just about nil. Probably more accurate is that Kemsley's nose is out of joint right now, not getting enough recognition for what he's done with the redevelopment of WHL (nothing!), sorting out the new Academy (Planning application submitted) and excellent Annual Accounts (being released tomorrow). I still think Levy will be selling up before the end of this season, but not to Kemsley.

We have stood by him, paid his wages and all the operations he has had. Would be nice to think he would show some sort of loyalty. Very few footballers could spell loyalty, even fewer could say what it means and footballers showing loyalty are almost extinct.

Came from Portugal to be fair to him unless he took the scenic route. Came from Portugal to be fair to him unless he took the scenic route. Came from Portugal to be fair to him unless he took the scenic route. :lol: He had to go there to pick up a passport. :lol:

Just seen your post. The main point is that the manager doesn't mention new signings. In fact, Spurs don't have a manager. Jol is the Head Coach, responsible for 1st team squad and their results. Of course he does have a say in identifying potential signings and does have the ultimate veto if he doesn't want a particular player in the squad, but it is Comolli's job to find the right person for a position. The problems arise when Comolli is overruled by Levy. My understanding of Bent's signing is that Jol, Comolli and Levy were all agreed that Spurs should sign Bent. Comolli agreed a deal with Charlton for £8m rising to £10m. West Ham blew agreement out of the water when they offered £17m and Charlton said he could only come to Spurs if we matched the Spanners' bid. Comolli said no, Bent refused to talk to West Ham and went on holiday, Charlton said no talking to Bent until you offer £17m. Jol said he still wanted Bent, Comolli said no more than £12m in his opinion so wanted to drop out and sign Anelka instead and Levy wanted Bent (as a young Englishman fitting in with our main buying strategy) but didn't want to pay that much. In the end Levy agreed to pay £15.5 rising to £16.5m very much against Comolli's recommendation. The Chairman's prerogative I suppose . Levy knew he was paying over the odds but was getting a young English international whose value would appreciate in time and had the capability of stepping into Berbatov's boots if Man Utd eventually made a bid that couldn't be refused. What Levy didn't know was that the price tag would be like a lead weight around Bent's neck. In hindsight, Comolli was right, Levy and Jol were wrong. It sounds to me like dividing the playing responsibility between two men allows the Chairman / Owner to exercise too much power. Divide and rule. You and Chelsea are paying the price for that. Maybe, but the Chairman has the ultimate say no matter what, he's the man that signs the cheques at the end of the day. Buying young and British is the philosophy introduced by Arnesen, and on every subsequent player sold Spurs have made a profit (in Carrick's case a huge one) so Levy won't deviate from that strategy until he makes a thumping loss. Bent may be in time the one, we'll have to wait and see.

Just seen your post. The main point is that the manager doesn't mention new signings. In fact, Spurs don't have a manager. Jol is the Head Coach, responsible for 1st team squad and their results. Of course he does have a say in identifying potential signings and does have the ultimate veto if he doesn't want a particular player in the squad, but it is Comolli's job to find the right person for a position. The problems arise when Comolli is overruled by Levy. My understanding of Bent's signing is that Jol, Comolli and Levy were all agreed that Spurs should sign Bent. Comolli agreed a deal with Charlton for £8m rising to £10m. West Ham blew agreement out of the water when they offered £17m and Charlton said he could only come to Spurs if we matched the Spanners' bid. Comolli said no, Bent refused to talk to West Ham and went on holiday, Charlton said no talking to Bent until you offer £17m. Jol said he still wanted Bent, Comolli said no more than £12m in his opinion so wanted to drop out and sign Anelka instead and Levy wanted Bent (as a young Englishman fitting in with our main buying strategy) but didn't want to pay that much. In the end Levy agreed to pay £15.5 rising to £16.5m very much against Comolli's recommendation. The Chairman's prerogative I suppose . Levy knew he was paying over the odds but was getting a young English international whose value would appreciate in time and had the capability of stepping into Berbatov's boots if Man Utd eventually made a bid that couldn't be refused. What Levy didn't know was that the price tag would be like a lead weight around Bent's neck. In hindsight, Comolli was right, Levy and Jol were wrong.

FWIW Spurs are close to agreeing a deal for Russian captain Andrei Arshavin. Comolli flies to Russia tomorrow to finalise details. Don't know how their transfer window impacts on ours, the Russian season ends in a months time (11th November) and their window is then open.

is being inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame on 15 November at Old Trafford. Other inductees include, Billy Meredith, Glenn Hoddle, Terry Venables, Dennis Bergkamp, Graeme Souness, Mark Hughes and Nobby Stiles. :clap: :clap: Please note the honour reflects their playing days, not their managerial capabilities!

I wouldn't put any player into the first team, irrespective of the competition, unless I thought he had the ability to cope with being at that level. Edgar got his opportunity as did Ramage and Taylor before him, but I think it would be foolhardy to put a youngster in before he was ready, fans aren't the most considerate if a player starts playing poorly. Arsenal can get away with it because their fans are extremely tolerant with their youngsters coming through, the players are more technically gifted and 7 or 8 all going together in the Carling Cup keeps the team spirit built up in the Academy and reserves. Even then, development can be speeded up by putting players out on long term loan, Johan Djourou, Kerrea Gilbert at Southend and Carlos Vela at Osasuna are three that readily come to mind. yes. very true! however we have some youngsters who already have had theyr debuts in friendly matches! why should it hurt them so much to be tryed out in a game? i acually belive that troisi could do some better stuff than milner at certain areas! so im still hoping he will get a match or two this season Spurs have had players who promised a bit, got into the first team or on the bench, then spiralled downwards to depart soon after. Dean Marney as an attacking MF scored 2 against Everton, made the England u21 squad, then a season long loan to Norwich followed by a permantent move to Hull. Mark Yeates played a couple of times before going on loan to Swindon, Colchester and Leicester before making the move to Colchester permanent. I could mention Phil Ifil, Jamie Slabber, Lee Barnard and Jamie O'Hara who have all gone down (or are going down) a similar route. I can't recall that I've seen Troisi play anywhere so I don't know, but I would be staggered if he could offer something better than Milner with his 5years experience, his u21 credentials and not ignoring the fact that he must now be very close to making the full England squad.

Spurs have Getafe H, Hapoel A, Aalborg H and finally Anderlecht A. Happy with that.

The systems in Holland, France and Portugal produce plenty of able talented players and I doubt they would want their production lines damaged by taking on board the best of the rest from England. I think the English obsession with leagues/success at Academy level contributes to the failure to get players to progress through to the first team. The obsession should be centred around ability and technique. There is no logic in having promotion and relegation at youth levels as you suggested. A good bunch of kids get prmotion to be replaced by a less talented bunch at that age group. They get well beaten each week and their progress is seriously damaged because of it. In Holland the kids don't even play on full sized pitches until they are about 14, up to that stage it is all about ball control, technique, etc. I'm glad you mentioned that because that's one of the major things I noticed about Arsenal's youth setup. Yes they are winning now, but it doesn't seem like winning is the priority. Their U16s and U18s play reserves football. And the guys who would normally play reserves football at any other club actually get games in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. Last season their reserves team made up of mostly players from the FA Youth Cup team (except for the very old keeper Poom who they got rid of so that he could be replaced currently with a 19 year old and his 17 year old backup) and they were losing left and right. Their coaches didn't care just kept saying that these 16 and 17 year olds who were getting tonked by older and stronger players would be better for it. This season their reserves team is acquitting themselves much better even though they are still younger than everyone else and the U18s/16s are still excellent. Spot on! It also helps when their coach is Liam Brady who was perhaps the most naturally talented midfielder I've seen, on a par with Hoddle, better than Gazza (imho).

I wouldn't put any player into the first team, irrespective of the competition, unless I thought he had the ability to cope with being at that level. Edgar got his opportunity as did Ramage and Taylor before him, but I think it would be foolhardy to put a youngster in before he was ready, fans aren't the most considerate if a player starts playing poorly. Arsenal can get away with it because their fans are extremely tolerant with their youngsters coming through, the players are more technically gifted and 7 or 8 all going together in the Carling Cup keeps the team spirit built up in the Academy and reserves. Even then, development can be speeded up by putting players out on long term loan, Johan Djourou, Kerrea Gilbert at Southend and Carlos Vela at Osasuna are three that readily come to mind.

Fair enough about Bale, when they signed him I didn't know he would be playing left wing. Think how far that money could have gone in other areas of the team though. Up front was arguably where they were already strongest. It's not like we're all talking with the benefit of hindsight either, the signing seemed mad at the time and still does. I'm not going to defend Bent's fee but the need for another tall striker was obvious when Man Utd were sniffing around Berbatov all summer and I reckon he is 90% certain to go to Old Trafford next summer. The failure to buy experience for the MF was due to the lack of suitable players who were happy to go to a non CL team, we got close to Yaya Toure until Barca declared an interest and that was the end of that. It wasn't as if all the transfer money was spent, there was a further £24m or so available if the players had been available and the good set of accounts coming out in the next 2/3 weeks will significantly increase that figure. Bale and Kaboul are sound buys, even at £5m rising to £10m and £8m respectively, Boateng will be once he has adjusted to the pace of the Premier League, the physical nature of the game isn't a problem for him. Maybe signings as shrewd could be Adel Taraabt, Danny Rose and Dean Parrett who cost a total of £4.3m. Another goalkeeper wasn't an option, nor is there need, the problem is who gets the job in the team. Every man and his dog can see that Robinson needs to be pulled out and replaced by Cerny, who was the Czech Replublic's keeper until Cech came to prominence. He's a solid keeper still, Comolli and Levy want Cerny in but Jol is the one who makes the decisions. Lives by the sword, will probably die by it tbh.

:lol: This thread could die a quick death though apathy for the People's comments..........................or could be a 5 page thread in no time flat!

The systems in Holland, France and Portugal produce plenty of able talented players and I doubt they would want their production lines damaged by taking on board the best of the rest from England. I think the English obsession with leagues/success at Academy level contributes to the failure to get players to progress through to the first team. The obsession should be centred around ability and technique. There is no logic in having promotion and relegation at youth levels as you suggested. A good bunch of kids get prmotion to be replaced by a less talented bunch at that age group. They get well beaten each week and their progress is seriously damaged because of it. In Holland the kids don't even play on full sized pitches until they are about 14, up to that stage it is all about ball control, technique, etc.

Sure, Arsenal have suffered setbacks in some results but I wouldn't see that as a failure of their adopted system. Almost all of my scum mates look at the Carling Cup as being a slightly more senior version of the FA Youth Cup, they expect to see their kids thrown in to see whether they sink or swim. If they fail, there will be another promising batch coming through to put in the following season. It is true they do give their kids a fair chance to show their abilities at that level but, say, for example, Alladiere, as you mentioned him, was good enough to be sold for £3m although not good enough for Arsenal. Patrice Muamba is now in the England u21 squad having moved on to Birmingham, Seb Larsson also went to Brum, Bentley to Blackburn via Norwich, Sidwell to Chelsea via Reading. That is the difference between Arsenal and every other team in the Premier League, they sell the kids who don't come up to their standard whilst everyone else usually simply releases them to clubs in lower divisions. I would dispute that this has occurred in just the past 3/4 years, historically they have always produced more than decent players, even Dickov and Andy Cole started their footballing lives at Highbury. Maybe the more worrying thing is that when I saw their reserves against Spurs a week or so ago, they turned out basically their Academy team and were very respectable against our development squad who were unbeaten at that time. The squads were: Spurs: Forecast, Riley, Hughton, Livermore, Mills, Archibald-Henville, Barcham, Maghoma, Pekhart, Dawkins, Hutton (Obika, 60). Subs: Dalton, C Butcher, Berchiche, Hutchin. Arsenal: Mannone (Szczesny, 46), Ogogo, Steer, Dunne, Hoyte, Rodgers, Barazite, Thomas, Van Den Berg (Eastmond, 63), Merida Perez, Watt. Subs: Cruise, Eastmond, Ayling. I would think 1 or 2 Spurs players could feature for the Spurs first team in time with another 4/5 being good for the Championship. For Arsenal, of those that played, I would say 4 or 5 would be good enough for the Premiership (though not necessarily Arsenal) and there wasn't one that didn't look capable of playing at Championship level in the future.

The fact that Offiong is at Hamilton Accies rather suggests that although he may have had promise as a youngster, he never progressed. That isn't necessarily a problem with the coaching setup, more often than not there isn't the ability at the necessary level needed to cut it at Premier League level. A look at the England u20 squad of 2 years ago shows how many can make a decent living from football without being capable in the top flight: Gary Borrowdale Crystal Palace Gary Cahill Aston Villa Richard Chaplow West Bromwich Albion Martin Cranie Southampton Scott Flinders Barnsley Danny Graham Middlesbrough Ian Henderson Norwich City Phil Ifil Millwall (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) Dexter Blackstock Southampton Grant Leabitter Rotherham United (on loan from Sunderland) Neil Kilkenny Birmingham City Lee Croft Manchester City David Martin MK Dons James Morrison Middlesbrough Matthew Bates Middlesbrough David Raven Liverpool Ryan Smith Arsenal Will Hoskins Rotherham United The reason why Arsenal can keep producing youngsters in the Carling Cup is the simple fact that they have more high quality youngsters than any other team and the competition to succeed is far greater. In the current England u16 and u17 squads Newcastle have just one player (Ryan Donaldson), Spurs have 2. Arsenal have 6. When you consider that the best of Arsenal's youngsters generally come from France/Spain etc it is hardly surprising that the youngsters can go into the Carling Cup and dispose of Liverpool, Everton, Spurs and Newcastle just since the start of last season. If the young Lua Lua fails to make the grade, I would be fairly certain that the reason has been not being up to the required standard, not that the coaching has been wrong.

He might be up against a reinvigorated team. If Jol is toast by then (which seems inevitable) it's being openly said that Hughton and Segers will be out the door with him and Clive Allen and Steve Clarke will be caretakers till the end of the season. Allen has done a fine job for the development group, Clarke would only mean one thing for the summer. There again, reinvigorated or not, 3-0 is still the most popular predicted scoreline.

I'll give you a clue.......................

But that's my point. I never in a milion years expected us to outplay Arsenal with silky skill. I did expect us to send out a team which would stop them playing so fluently. Since this has always been Allardyce's ethos, it's the one thing I thought we would do well. And please, before anyone starts on about me getting after the manager, it's far too early days for anyone in their right mind to do that. I haven't seen the game, but personally speaking if I was aiming to frustrate the opposition, I wouldn't play two forwards in midfield. If ever there was a game where it was justifiable to play both Butt and Geremi, this was the one. In the event neither played. Far easier said than done though. Newcastle found this season what Liverpool and Spurs learnt last season, this is a superbly talented bunch of youngsters (though it pains me to say it) which will only be improved when those currently out on loan return. The Arsenal squad players, if they were allowed to play in their own right in the Premeiership, would comfortably achieve a top 6 finish. Perhaps just as scary is the fact that having seen their current Academy team play this season, I would say it is a significant improvement on what they had there last season.

Also hints they'll just give the Manager title to Clark short-term as a work around. Grant will then be given study leave and come back fully qualified to be Roman's Chief Puppet from next season onwards. Ironic, considering that they may not make it to the CL next year under the new regime. Tottenham it is then. Would be very happy with that but sounds like Levy won't wait till the end of the season before doing anything. Talk of giving Jol 5 or 6 games seems to be pie in the sky. I wouldn't guarantee him being at WHL at the start of October, let alone at the end of it. Bascially if Jol's confidence isn't blown by all the shannanigans he must be made of steel. Jol's confidence hasn't been dented, he's incredibly resilient. But he is severely pissed off with the board (he can't be blamed for that!) and wants out asap. I think we'll be seeing some very strange team selections if Levy doesn't act sooner than later. Defoe, Huddlestone and Bale not in the squad for Bolton, Lennon on the bench, I hear that Berbatov might be next. I agree, I don't think he will go to Spurs anytime soon and I still feel inclined to think what I said on page 8, it'll be long odds on Mourinho going to Spurs in the summer either. The fact that Comolli was in Spain on Saturday watching Barca v. Sevilla suggests to me that Ramos is still the preferred option. Probably because he'd come cheaper!!

Also hints they'll just give the Manager title to Clark short-term as a work around. Grant will then be given study leave and come back fully qualified to be Roman's Chief Puppet from next season onwards. Ironic, considering that they may not make it to the CL next year under the new regime. Tottenham it is then. Would be very happy with that but sounds like Levy won't wait till the end of the season before doing anything. Talk of giving Jol 5 or 6 games seems to be pie in the sky. I wouldn't guarantee him being at WHL at the start of October, let alone at the end of it.

Seems a fairly strong no. And yet, it's being reported that Spurs tried contacting him five times. No idea whether they tried to make contact 5 times before actually speaking but it wouldn't surprise me bearing in mind the enthusiasm the board have for getting rid of Jol. Maybe the way Defoe keeps getting blanked isn't helping, I hear he's back on the bench for Bolton. Hasn't started a game this season. Not as though Keane has been in worldbeating form.

I agree. Would be ironic if he went to Juve at Ranieri's expense!

That sounds pretty much like a bid to get the guy in to me. Sounding out his availability rather than a bid, though not much doubt in my mind a bid would have followed if he had been available. Personally, I don't think Levy will wait for Mourinho to become available to hopefully sign him before cutting Jol loose. MJ's toast imo.

I am liverpool fan btw. I think Benitez was being truthful here. He did not want to be seen as a hypocrite after his relationship with Jose.This was what he said "You know my relationship with him, it is better that I do not say anything.At the moment I am more worried about Birmingham boss Steve Bruce." I honestly dont see anything wrong with that. To be fair I think the media coverage has been a bit over the top with the spokesman for the Prime Minister reading a statement. What the hell was that. He was a great manager , agreed. It is not like he died or anything. He is gonna walk into one of the top jobs in Europe in a years time. As for Sam and Rafa, they have a bit of a tiff going on from the Bolton days. This is just a continuation of that. Danny B ... I wish you would not resort to name calling. We are guest here and behave the same way. Whilst I understand your point, I think Benitez's comments come across to a neutral as one bearing a grudge over past events. Benitez could have followed the stance of Wenger, who having been likened to a voyeur by Mourinho in the past has as much reason as Benitez to dislike Mourinho. Wenger's comment though ........“It is basically sad because I feel Mourinho is a manager of quality. We didn’t get on the best, but that does not hide the fact I respected what he did and the quality of his work." Maybe Benitez feels the same way as Wenger but imo Wenger comes over far more sincere than Benitez.