Tottenham fringe player Heurelho Gomes has admitted that he is glad that Harry Redknapp was sacked from his position as he limited the goalkeeper’s chances.
The Brazil international has found himself behind Brad Friedel and Carlo Cudicini at White Hart Lane, and the South American has confessed that he was not sad to see Redknapp leave the club.
“Redknapp barely talked to me. I was playing really well when he hired Friedel. So I was really surprised and decided to ask him about that,” Gomes told The Sun.
“Redknapp asked me to be calm, because I was his goalkeeper and he trusted me, as he told me. But that didn’t happen.
“In the 2010-11 season, I made only two mistakes but I didn’t give them so much importance and I didn’t think I was going to be sacked from the team because of that.
“I asked Redknapp to let me go, but he said no to three offers for me. QPR, CSKA Moscow and Atletico Mineiro wanted me.
“I was close to CSKA because they wanted me only for four months and I was going to play the Champions League, but Redknapp didn’t allow me to leave.
“I’m sure that Andre Villas-Boas’ arrival is going to help me. He is great and he wants to do the best for Tottenham. I’m sure he will achieve many things here. I hope I could play in his team until 2014.
“I have two more years under contract at Spurs and I intend to fulfil them. But I’m tired of Europe, I have reached my limit here.
“I’m 31 years old and I’m thinking about moving back to Brazil.
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“Atletico Mineiro wanted me, but Tottenham asked them to pay a fortune of £8million for me and the negotiation finished,” he revealed.
The rumour mill is a viscious and tireless beast, but it does provide excellent opportunities to consider other futures that may never come to pass. One new murmur cropping up nowadays is Carlo Ancelotti to Tottenham. This is not a mean, Martin Jol-Juande Ramos, behind-the-back job but a consequence of Redknapp’s constant lip-licking and eyeballing of the England job. In the not-too-distant future Fabio Capello will relinquish his post, leaving a headless England team even more headless. The press know this and have generously thought of who Tottenham should bring in to replace the country’s gaffer in waiting.
The two names topping this very forward thinking list are David Moyes and Carlo Ancelotti, (both great managers to have in the frame). Redknapp himself apparently backs Moyes, (I’m not quite sure how the press extracted that information from him) but I can’t help feeling that Ancelotti may be more suited to the Tottenham tradition.
The real question is, would he be an upgrade on Redknapp himself?
Redknapp has taken Tottenham further faster than most would have predicted. Drafted in to halt the great depression of 2008, Harry had previously built himself a reputation as a relegation-dodging specialist but this skill has never been called upon at Spurs. His impact was instant and he now has a great squad performing consistently. He has achieved Champions league qualification and has a team that can challenge for fourth every year. Could Spurs ask for much more?
If Redknapp has a weakness, it is as a strategist. There is a suspicion that he lacks the tactical finesse to take Tottenham any further. Redknapp comes under fire for two reasons. The first is his inability to come up with a satisfactory plan B. When Spurs struggle, far too often they resort to hoofing the ball long to the big man, formerly a very isolated Peter Crouch, (on their worst days they started matches doing this, a very poor plan A), rather than sticking to their strengths of using the pace on the wings and maintaining possession. Redknapp’s second tactical weakness was, and still is, his Football Manager technique of whacking all his best players into his starting eleven and going for it. Last season he squeezed Rafael van der Vaart into a free role at the cost of a more productive 4-4-2 formation, which Spurs flourished in the year before.
At the moment Spurs fans can have little complaint with Redknapp but it’s still worth considering Ancelotti.
Tottenham’s craving for attractive, flowing football would be well met by the Italian. His Chelsea side were free-scoring in their double-winning 2009/10 season and continued into the next with an attacking 4-3-3 formation. He has a tactical fluidity and inventiveness (he claims the Christmas tree as his own masterpiece) that gets the best out of his players and believes in building the formation to fit the qualities of his players rather than jamming the players into a set shape. This may not sound revolutionary but Redknapp rarely thinks this way.
Tottenham currently have a squad full of players with both the ability and inclination to play flair football, with Modric, Van der Vaart, Bale, Adebayor and Lennon there are numerous attacking possibilities and it is a team full of entertainers.
Ancelotti’s track record as both a player and a manager make him an exciting and flattering possibility for Spurs. With the current squad and Ancelotti’s focus on attacking, possession football it could be a great match.
He has an autobiography entitled: The Beautiful Games of an Ordinary Genius, it would be great for some of those beautiful games and some of that genius to be at Tottenham (and those eyebrows).
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A late double from defender Robert Huth helped Stoke City come from behind to earn all three points against visiting Sunderland 3-2.
The away side scored with their first attack of the game. As the ball was fired into the box Asamoah Gyan attempted a shot but missed the ball, however it bounced favourably for in-form Kieran Richardson who netted his fourth goal in his last three matches.
Huth had two golden chances to equalise when Rory Delap’s long throw found him in a crowded area but he fired his first shot straight at Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal. The ball then rebounded back to Huth off the keeper’s chest, but given a second chance, he blasted over the bar from just five yards.
Midway through the first half, another Stoke set-piece almost ended with their first goal, but Danny Higginbotham put his shot into the side-netting.
Eventually the home side’s persistence paid off. Delap sent in another long throw which caused problems for Gordon and his defence. John Carew, despite appearing to be in an offside position, toe poked the ball into the back of the net to score his first goal for his new club.
Sunderland scored their second just three minutes after the break. Gyan ran onto a ball lofted deep into Stoke territory and held off Huth before making enough room for himself to fire past Asmir Begovic in goal.
Tony Pulis’ men looked at their most threatening from set plays, and Phil Bardsley and Anton Ferdinand made important headed clearances to maintain Sunderland’s lead.
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But they finally caved in when Jermaine Pennant whipped in a cross that was nodded on by Carew then edged into the goal by Huth from close range.
Another in-swinging cross from Pennant in injury time found Huth who had made the run and prodded his side’s late winner under Begovic.
Pre-season is now well underway and managers should be looking to finalise their squads for the new season. Not many big money Premier League moves have taken place so far, with Chelsea proving to be the frontrunners in bringing in big names for big fees. Other clubs are looking to be more prudent with the UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations looming large that will make it more difficult to start throwing around the expensive wages that have taken the English game by storm.
Although most of the Bosman signings have been snapped up by clubs, there are plenty of bargains out there still to be had. Fans love a good bargain, a player signed for peanuts who goes on to prove his worth in the most satisfactory way. The scouts of all 20 teams should be in overdrive at this point in the summer, working to see who would provide best value for money ahead of the new season. To help them out, we’ve assembled a list of 20 names who would prove to be bargain signings for certain Premier League clubs.
Click on Defoe below to see the 20 bargains to be had
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has stated that despite no longer being an automatic selection in Fabio Capello’s England side, he will fight for a first team place.
The 33-year-old had to watch The Three Lions’ 3-0 win away to Bulgaria on Friday from the bench, as Gareth Barry and Scott Parker were preferred to start in central midfield.
However, Lampard feels as long as he can still contribute to the nation’s success, he will not turn his back on his country.
“People like to give off the idea that players are expecting to play every game and we’ve never been like that. We’re all professionals and driven, and our egos are only our desire to succeed individually and as a group, and we haven’t quite done that for England,” he told reporters.
“It should be competitive and I’ve had phases before where I’ve sat on the bench for England. The furore, I tried to stay away from this week and just tried to keep my head down and concentrate. I don’t mind. I’m very proud to play and I’ll play as long as I can contribute for England – and I feel I can do that,” he continued.
Even though the crop of younger players emerging in the England squad may endanger his place in the starting line-up, Lampard is happy to see the younger players progressing.
“It’s very good to see. It’s good to see the Ashley Youngs’ – I know he’s not completely a young player, but he’s really blossoming at the minute. Stewart Downing, the same, on the other side. [Jack] Wilshere’s injured now but, with the squad we’ve got now, there’s some real attacking options, which in great to see,” he concluded.
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Lampard will be 34 by the time Euro 2012 comes round, but looks keen to be involved in one last international tournament.
It promises to be an anxious wait at Tottenham as Daniel Levy awaits the news as to whether Spurs will be granted permission to move into the Olympic Stadium. Opinion is certainly mixed among supporters, with many seeing it as sacrilege that the club could even consider leaving N17.
At FFC we have seen a mixed bag of articles which includes a Spurs deal that shows the power is shifting; Tottenham need a transfer splash and will Pienaar’s arrival pave the way for White Hart Lane exit.
We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.
The Top TEN Premier League Games of the 90s…well I think so!
A Tottenham DEAL that shows the power is shifting
Time ‘loyalty’ was added to striker’s long list of attributes
Liverpool or Spurs – who represents the best move?
Hart Break Lane? Or football at its finest?
Manchester v London – where does the future of the Premier League lie?
United and Tottenham pairing leaves Capello with cause for concern
Pienaar’s arrival set to pave the way for Tottenham exit?
A welcome addition to WHL, or trouble we could do without?
Why Tottenham need to make a transfer splash
David Beckham for Tottenham is pure showbiz
Few can blame Tottenham, given the parameters laid out by LOCOG
*Best of WEB*
Strikers on strike. – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
Pienaar Butter Jelly Time – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
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Dear Mr Tottenham supporter, regarding Stratford… – Dear Mr Levy
Transport Myths & The Old Legacy Sketch- Harry Hotspur
Stratford Decision Day Looms: No One Bothers To Ask The Fans – Tottenham On My Mind
Fenway Sports’ Group (FSG) rode into Merseyside like the fairytale prince, bolstered by the trusty steed of financial security back in October 2010, vanquishing the evil duo of George Gillett and Tom Hicks in the process. The club was saved at the eleventh hour, they were just a day away from financial ruin and administration and for that, the club’s fans will always be eternally grateful. However, after a difficult year in the league last season and a disappointing end to the campaign in terms of not only results but performances, it’s time to analyse where it all went wrong – one point worth exploring, though, is the investment that FSG have made since taking over the club, is it enough for the club to deliver on its undoubted potential?
In the period between October 2011 and 1st July 2012, Liverpool endured a huge turnover of players. Under FSG’s ownership, from the January window of 2011 to the present day, they have so far spent £114.4m on 11 players and recouped £77.8m from the sale of 10 players, not including loan deals and free transfers that have left the club in that time. That leaves a net spend of £36.6m when you take out the deals Roy Hodgson conducted under the previous Hicks and Gillett administration.
Net spend became a watchword of the Rafa Benitez reign, with his supporters passionately defending the image of a club that spent money freely with little regard when compared to their competitors. It doesn’t appeal to everyone, the topic that is, but it’s a fair barometer when tracking the overall feel of a club’s transfer activity.
For instance, between 2007-8 to 2011-12, Liverpool came third with regards to net spend in the entire top flight, spending a total of £99.25m. Manchester United spent £47.25m, Tottenham £49.4m, Manchester City £430.77m and Chelsea £159.7m. Arsenal ran an especially tight ship bringing in £31.3m more than they spent over that time to reinforce the feeling that they are a selling club, while Newcastle did the same, recouping £30.25m more than they spent with the Carroll transfer again pivotal in that figure.
However, net spend-wise, Liverpool have spent just £36.6m in two seasons and four transfer windows which comes in at an average of just £9.15m. It’s hardly small potatoes and a lot of clubs, local rivals Everton especially, would kill for the opportunity for that sort of money to spend per transfer window, but it’s far from the perception of extravangance often linked to the FSG regime. Rafa Benitez spent £63m net spend during his six-year tenure, which comes in at £7.875m per transfer window, after the transfer window was first introduced in 2008 during the middle of his reign. Not a massive difference in expenditure it has to be said, but crucially, the perception is completely different.
Christian Purslow, the former managing director at the club and the man responsible for brokering the deal that saw John Henry and New England Sports Ventures (NESV) purchase the club, made this astonishingly terrifying statement back in May: “People have short memories, it’s only 15-16 months ago we were a day away from being in administration. We are now stable financially. It’s year one of what they (Fenway) said when they bought the club would be a long journey.”
NESV bought the club for £300m, clearing the club’s £200m debts that were run up by Hicks and Gillett in the process and reducing the club’s debt servicing obligations from £25m-£30m a year to £2m-£3m. So behind the scenes, initially at least, the investment was on an absolutely huge scale, but there’s been little to back that up in the transfer market since, as the aforementioned figures show.
Brendan Rodgers arrived this summer after negotiating a £7m compensation deal with Swansea, while Kenny Dalglish respectfully waived any severance pay from his dismissal such is his regard for the club, but it will be interesting to see what sort of operating budget Rodgers is given this summer, I can’t see it being over £20m personally, if we are to follow the fiscally conservative example set by FSG so far.
The club is clearly on a much more secure financial footing than before, so criticism of the club’s transfer expenditure, to an extent, may seem a bit like sour grapes and a touch ungrateful, biting the hand that feeds you so to speak. However, where FSG do deserve scrutiny is the way that they have consistently dithered over the issue of a new stadium for the club, and they’ve shown a lack of leadership since taking control of the club about the matter.
John Henry stated last month a preference to redevelop Anfield which would make sense considering how they redeveloped Fenway Park for the The Boston Red Sox (who they also own) stating: “A long-term myth has existed about the financial impact of a new stadium for Liverpool.”A belief has grown that Liverpool FC must have a new stadium to compete with (Manchester) United, Arsenal and others. No-one has ever addressed whether or not a new stadium is rational. New stadiums that are publicly-financed make sense for clubs – I’ve never heard of a club turning down a publicly-financed stadium. Building new or refurbishing Anfield is going to lead to an increase from £40million of match-day revenue to perhaps £60-70m if you don’t factor in debt service” before acknowledging that the club may have to sell the naming rights should a move to Stanley Park or a new site ever take place.
While the reasoning is certainly understandable, the sheer amount of time it’s taken them to come to such a conclusion is troubling and the supporters patience is wearing thin. Purslow (hardly revered by many sections of the Anfield faithful now) had this to say on the stadium topic: “If I am disappointed about one thing under this new ownership is that they’ve got nowhere on the new stadium. It’s critical. If you look at Chelsea’s news in the last few days, Arsenal have already stolen a march on us. If Chelsea get that stadium up and running then it’s another team that’s ahead of us in the queue.”
FSG, formerly NESV, have done Liverpool a great service so far and that should not be forgotten, but the time has come for significant investment on the pitch, particularly in light of the clear lack of direction over the stadium issue. The club is caught in a stagnant position, neither willing to spend on or off the pitch at the moment.
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This is not a call for silly money to be spent, far from it, caution is always a positive when discussing transfers, but when caution gives way to indecisiveness, that’s when clubs begin to stand still. Under a new managerial regime, it’s time for FSG to put their money where their mouth is, good intentions so far have gleaned a degree of goodwill from the terraces, now it’s time to capitalise or risk the club going backwards.
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas trained with his teammates on Thursday as speculation on his future continued.Fabregas, 24, is the subject of much interest from Barcelona and the Spanish midfielder has stated his desire to join the Catalan giants at one stage in his career.
But the English Premier League star is also in high demand at Arsenal, and although all the speculation ruled him out of making an appearance in the Emirates Cup last weekend, Fabregas appeared at the club’s members day and trained with the other members of Arsene Wenger’s first-team squad.
The issue should be resolved in less than a fortnight, with Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League play-off sure to decide Fabregas’ future.
If he features in that match, he would be unable to feature for another side in the continental competition, potentially ruling him out of a move to Barcelona.
The midfielder’s appearance lifted the mood at the fans’ gathering with Arsenal attempting to break a trophy drought that stretches back to 2005.
“We know that but we are ready, well-prepared and determined to have a strong start,” Wenger said at the training session.
“We’ll give absolutely everything to do it. Let’s focus and believe that we can do it.”
“We had a good preparation and, I think, good team bonding. Overall, we are very happy and confident. We feel we were very, very close last year and we want to do it this year.”
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery on an Achilles problem on Tuesday which will sideline him for another month.Vermaelen, 25, first injured his Achilles on international duty with Belgium in September and was originally scheduled to miss just a week.
But it has been four months since he played for Arsenal, with three unsuccessful comebacks forcing him to go under the knife in Sweden.
“I have already tried to come back three times, but the pain proved too much on each occasion,” Vermaelen told the Daily Mail.
“Recent tests showed a minor problem next to the Achilles tendon has been causing the pain. That’s why I’ll undergo surgery.”
“I knew I had a problem at the beginning of September, when I was preparing for Belgium’s games against Germany and Turkey. I didn’t want to miss them, but after the game in Turkey, the pain became too great.”
The news is a big blow to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will be without one of his first-choice defenders for at least the first leg of his side’s Round of 16 Champions League clash with Barcelona.
But there is better news for Wenger, with midfielder Tomas Rosicky set to return to action against Leeds United on Wednesday.
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The Czech midfielder missed Saturday’s 3-0 away win at West Ham due to illness but is likely to play in Arsenal’s third-round FA Cup replay at Elland Road.
“He was sick but had normal training on Saturday. He should be okay for Wednesday,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.
Alan Pardew couldn’t have asked for a harder start to his Newcastle campaign with the visit of Tottenham followed by a tricky away game down at Stamford Bridge. It promises to be a big season for the Magpies, following the exploits in last year’s campaign, and there will be a huge weight of expectation on Tyneside next season.
August
18 Tottenham (H)
25 Chelsea (A)
September
1 Aston Villa (H)
15 Everton (A)
22 Norwich (H)
29 Reading (A)
October
6 Manchester United (H)
20 Sunderland (A)
27 West Brom (H)
November
3 Liverpool (A)
10 West Ham (H)
17 Swansea (H)
24 Southampton (A)
27 Stoke (A)
December
1 Wigan (H)
8 Fulham (A)
15 Man City (H)
22 QPR (H)
26 Manchester United (A)
29 Arsenal (A)
January
1 Everton (H)
12 Norwich (A)
19 Reading (H)
29 Aston Villa (A)
February
2 Chelsea (H)
9 Tottenham (A)
23 Southampton (H)
March
2 Swansea (A)
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