not official yet so we can hope for good news, would love to have him get 2 weeks off and be back for the Chelsea game, and then even after that give him another 2 weeks off and he can miss blackpool away
Sat. 4 10:00 AM ET Birmingham v Tottenham Hotspur St Andrews Stadium English Premier League
Tue. 7 2:45 PM ET Twente Enschede v Tottenham Hotspur Arke Stadion UEFA Champions League
Sun. 12 11:00 AM ET Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea White Hart Lane English Premier League
Sat. 18 10:00 AM ET Blackpool v Tottenham Hotspur Bloomfield Road English Premier League
Sun. 26 12:30 PM ET Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Villa Park English Premier League
Tue. 28 10:00 AM ET Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United White Hart Lane English Premier League
Sat. 1 10:00 AM ET Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham White Hart Lane English Premier League
so say he misses 4 weeks, outside of Chelsea at home (and with the way they are playing maybe not even them) it's certainly one of the easier runs of the season
good news though on the defensive front, Dawson is training and should be back soon, would feel very comfortable rotating Dawson/King/Gallas with Kaboul the 4th man and playing some at RB
and Harry said Woodgate is finally healthy and going through his "pre-season" training at this point, and should be back in January, if he can stay healthy it would be massive
now just get a striker and a new DM in the transfer window, get rid of some un-needed players (looking at you Robbie Keane) and make a push in January in the league and have a deep team for the CL KO stages in February, hopefully with a kind draw as well
although I think he probably finally ends up at Villa, or maybe Fulham, or if Celtic actually has any money he goes there
of those 4 you listed I hope Niko stays, he is a good player he just happens to be playing at a position where the club is stacked at with Bale, Modric, and Van der Vaart all ahead of him. Hopefully he can get some games in the next month if Van der Vaart is out
Bentley is probably gone, Gio as well, same with O'Hara
Tottenham optimistic Rafael van der Vaart could return from injury earlier than expected but Younes Kaboul ruled out for two weeks
Dutchman's hamstring tear not as serious as initially thought
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Rafael van der Vaart could return to action earlier than expected despite tearing a hamstring during Tottenham’s victory over Liverpool, Goal.com UK can reveal.
The Dutch playmaker had a scan on Tuesday on his hamstring, an injury which would typically rule a player out for three to four weeks.
But Spurs are hopeful that the injury is less serious than initially feared. They have not set a date on van der Vaart’s return and will continue to monitor his progress.
Although he will almost certainly miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Birmingham and next Tuesday’s Champions League tie against FC Twente, the club are not discounting the possibility he could return for the mouth-watering derby clash against Chelsea on Sunday week.
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Meanwhile, Younes Kaboul, who also limped off in the first half of the Liverpool win last Sunday, has been ruled out for a fortnight with a hip injury.
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The French defender joins Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate on the sidelines but manager Harry Redknapp will be heartened that Michael Dawson is edging closer to a first-team return after three months out with a knee injury.
Dawson was due to take part in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Charlton on Tuesday but it was postponed because of the big freeze.
Nevertheless, the England international could be named in the squad for Saturday’s game alongside the only two fit centre-backs, Gallas and Sebastien Bassong.
Inter's Wesley Sneijder Confident Of Making Ballon D'Or Podium
Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder is confident that he'll make it to the final three of the FIFA Ballon D'Or election.
By Stefan Coerts
Dec 6, 2010 9:26:00 AM
Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder has taken the time to react to rumours that have suggested he will miss out on a podium spot in the FIFA Ballon D'Or election.
According to a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will scoop up the trophy on January 10, with team-mates Xavi and Lionel Messi occupying the remaining two podium spots.
"I've heard that I'll miss out on a podium spot, but this seems kind of strange to me. How would that be possible bearing in mind that I've won Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League," said Sneijder to De Telegraaf.
"Additionally, I finished runner-up at the 2010 World Cup, was joint top scorer in South Africa and I can still win the Club World Cup.
"It looks like it's all about the World Cup if the report is true. That would mean that someone like Gareth Bale will never win the Ballon D'Or though.
"I'm still hopeful of winning the trophy, but I expect to win at least a podium spot following my performances this term."
thought it was cool he mentioned Bale specifically, shows how much he rates him
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has dealt Spurs fans a blow by declaring the club will not be splashing the cash during the January transfer window, despite the club battling on two fronts for major honours.
However, there was good news as Levy warned off Gareth Bale’s potential suitors by insisting the Welsh winger is not for sale – at any price.
The north London club enter the New Year in fine form, sitting just seven points off the pace at the top of the table and through to the knockout phase of the Champions League having qualified as group winners ahead of holders Inter.
But the north London club are dealing with long-term injuries to Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, along with an extended absence for Tom Huddlestone, and fans had been hoping to see the squad bolstered.
Levy refuted the claim that Spurs are a selling club, but offered little hope of new faces arriving in January.
“The January transfer window is again upon us," Levy said at the club's AGM. "We currently have the largest squad in the Premier League.
“We shall look to rationalise… Overall, we do not anticipate a busy transfer window.”
However, good news came in the form a forthright defence of the club’s selling policy and a no-nonsense reply to suggestion that Bale could be leaving in the summer.
The Wales international has been linked with a number of Europe’s football elite following his stunning displays in domestic and European competition but Levy rubbished claims Bale’s departure was inevitable.
Levy said: “I’ve never deemed us to be a selling club, if you look at the big transfers which have taken place since I’ve been chairman.
“Both Berbatov and Michael Carrick had two years left on their contract, both players wanted to go and that was the reason they were sold.
“But in the case of Gareth he’s got a long contract and I can assure you he will not be sold.”
Boss Harry Redknapp has transformed the club from relegation fodder into genuine contenders for Europe’s top prize.
But there was, however, no denial that if England came knocking for boss Redknapp, the club could stop their manager from walking away.
“Harry is on a long-term contract. If and when they contact us we will have to deal with it accordingly,” said the chairman.
Inevitably, the situation surrounding the development of the current site in Tottenham or the Olympic stadium in Stratford, but the board remained tight-lipped about which plan they favoured.
Levy denied he and the club have ignored the sentiments of the fans, dismissing the claim that the vast majority are dead set against a move to east London.
And he reiterated just how crucial selling the naming rights to any potential new stadium is to the whole process, be it at White Hart Lane or in Stratford.
He said: “I'm a fan, I have lots of friends who are fans and I have lots of interaction with fans everyday.
“I do talk to people and have feedback so without any surveys I can tell you I have a pretty good feel as to what the mood is.
“But as far as funding a project of this size it will be a substantial naming rights transaction.
That’s what’s happened in America and for any of the new stadia recently built in this country.”
I have no problems with the King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul foursome and Bassong playing sparely
but with an elite striker the amount of chances the midfield creates would lead to a lot more goals, just against Chelsea they should have had 2 or 3 goals in the first half
I have no problems with the King, Gallas, Dawson, Kaboul foursome and Bassong playing sparely
but with an elite striker the amount of chances the midfield creates would lead to a lot more goals, just against Chelsea they should have had 2 or 3 goals in the first half
Not only that but a real target man would retain possession so much better that it would take pressure off the back four and midfield.
which I can't decided whether I hate or love, in theory he should be exactly the right player. Good in the area, can hold the ball up, and a good goal scoring rate on his own.
But something to me just seems like it wouldn't work out at all
might not be that expensive though if it's a swap deal with someone like Bentley
also loving that we are 2 weeks or maybe a little more from no more Robbie Keane ever
I do, he would come in knowing he is a backup to Lennon and Bentley is likely gone at least on loan this month
he could teach Lennon how to cross, he is known for his hard work in training and that can only help by rubbing off on others, and most importantly he will sell a ton of jerseys which gives the club more money to buy new players/help fund the stadium
