Manchester City 1 :Tottenham 2

Finally, we are out of the relegation zone! Yeah!
After their most dreadful start to this seasons campaign, Tottenham hotspur are finally out of the relegation zone, number 16 to be precise. As unexpected as this was, it was nonetheless not shocking. With a total of 10 points out of a possible 12 from four games, Redknapp really has done a number on all the opponents he's faced with the lilywhites winning three games against Bolton, Liverpool and Manchester City and managing an impressive 4:4 draw at the emirates. Spurs who are having a dream start since Harry replaced Juande can only hope for more goals, more great football and more wins and who knows maybe they can finally crack the top four.

Fighting Spirit: Spurtans 2 Liverpool 1

Roman Pavlyuchenko fired a dramatic injury-time winner to make it a dream first week in charge at Spurs for Harry Redknapp and inflict on Liverpool a first league defeat of the season.
After beating Bolton in his first game in charge and seeing his side produce a miraculous comeback to snatch a point against arch rivals Arsenal, Redknapp weaved his magic again to steer his side to a memorable victory over the league leaders.
Despite falling behind to an early strike from Dirk Kuyt, Tottenham showed all their fighting qualities in the second half and an own goal from Jamie Carragher and a late strike from Pavlyuchenko helped them move off the bottom of the table
Redknapp might be planning changes in the January transfer window, but there is no question he has already installed a fighting spirit which can see his team move away from the bottom three.
Tottenham fans made their feelings known towards Robbie Keane who was making his first appearance back in north London since making a £20million move to Anfield during the summer.
The boo-boys were quickly silenced as Keane played an instrumental role in helping Liverpool get off to a dream start on three minutes.
Keane turned Ledley King inside the box and laid the ball in to Kuyt, who smashed a right-foot shot past Heurelho Gomes into the roof of the net.
The league leaders could have doubled their lead on five minutes. Steven Gerrard's inswinging corner caused all kinds of problems for Darren Bent standing on the goal-line and he luckily deflected his shot on to the post.
Redknapp believes Luka Modric can become the new hero at White Hart Lane and the Croatian star finally burst into action on 40 minutes.
The ball fell to the talented midfielder on the edge of the box and he somehow managed to squeeze his shot through the Liverpool defence, which forced a fine save from Pepe Reina, who held on to the ball at the second attempt.
Disgruntled Tottenham fans were making their feelings known towards Redknapp before the break and were once again calling for the return of Jermain Defoe to the club.
The Spurs manager was clearly unhappy with his team's first-half display and made a double substitution at half-time bringing on Alan Hutton and Pavlyuchenko.
The move paid off straight away as Pavlyuchenko almost got his side back on level terms within the opening 60 seconds of the second half, when he drilled a low shot just past the post.
But Liverpool always looked dangerous on the counter-attack and had two golden chances to add a second early in the second half.
Gerrard's shot deflected off King's elbow and Gomes did well to tip the ball on to the post on 49 minutes.
The woodwork came to Tottenham's rescue once again on 52 minutes. Gomes produced yet another howler when his weak pass to King was intercepted by Keane who laid the ball to Gerrard.
The England midfielder only had one thing on his mind but saw his shot bounce off the top of the bar.
Liverpool were dominating the proceedings and came close again on 57 minutes.
Gerrard's free-kick picked out Xabi Alonso who was totally unmarked at the far post, but he somehow directed his close-range effort the wrong side of the post.
Liverpool were made to pay for all their missed opportunities when Tottenham snatched an equaliser on 68 minutes.
David Bentley's corner caused all kinds of problems for the Liverpool defence as King rose with Carragher, but it was the Liverpool defender who turned the ball past his own keeper.
Tottenham fans would have settled for a point at that stage, but the evening was to get even better for the home supporters as Pavlyuchenko snatched an unlikely victory right at the death.
Bentley's shot was saved by Reina, before Darren Bent cut the ball back for Pavlyuchenko to slide the ball into the back of the net from close range.

Tottenham 2 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

At last! After eight league games, the worst start in the club's history, doom, gloom, and despair, we've got a win!. Well, finally today, I did see Tottenham win in the Premier League. Thank God!
Of course, all the talk prior to the game was about the managerial change. Correction - changes.
It was widely accepted that it was only a matter of time before the changes would take effect. Fans beginning to publicly voice their discontent after the Udinese game, and not just with the customary booing. One player after another expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation.
All of a sudden, with Harry Redknapp appointed, there was no doubt in my mind we'd win.
Having read that Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe were to take charge, it came as a bit of a surprise to see Redknapp taking a seat in the dugout. A good sign though. Clearly not the sort of person who wanted to sit high up in the stands and watch from afar.
Also surprising, and even more so, Ledley King starting. Hang on a second..... I thought he could only play once every ten days? Now here he is starting his second in three days. Beggars belief. Should he turn out against Arsenal and/or Liverpool in the next week the questions over what on Earth was going on behind the scenes with the previous regime will be most perplexing.
Sadly it seemed that we were opting for one up front again, this time with Pavlyuchenko starting. With Bale out, BAE filled in at left back, and Huddlestone started, sitting just in front of the back four.
When we won an early corner top quality delivery! Didn't come to anything, but finally, finally a hint of the quality he displayed at Blackburn.
We didn't have to wait too much longer for another Bentley ball. This time from open play in a pretty deep position on the right wing. Inch perfect and who should happen to be on the end of it but our sole centre forward. GOAL!
It looked almost like slow motion. For a minute I wondered whether Pav had been offside, but no queries over the finish. Easily beating the defender to the ball - probably helped by the amount of time Bolton afforded him - and directing the header in off the post.
Unreal. Spurs a goal up in the Premier League! How long since that happened?
While we dominated the half we weren't without our own shocks at the back. A terrible lobbed back pass from BAE who appeared not to be looking at who was around him, neatly over the head of King, dropping short of Gomes, and somehow we escaped. No doubt the commentators will go on about the dodgy keeping. I reckon they've got it in for Gomes and in time it wouldn't come as a surprise to see one of two things happen.Real positives in the first half were (leaving aside the fact we were ahead and had dominated possesion) that Bentley was delivering decent service (although he did overhit a few as well), Modric was playing where he should and beginning to pull some strings, and, wait for it, even BAE was having a good game! Yes, you read that right, even BAE was having a good game!
So when we went in a goal to the good there were no complaints. Roll on the second half.
Ten minutes in, a red card. Just like on Thursday night, but this time not for Spurs! A really poor tackle by Gavin McCann on Huddlestone and a second yellow following the one he picked up in the first half for hauling back David Bentley. Actually, there should've been a second yellow for Bolton in that first half for a foul on Hutton during the same passage of play as well!
Ten men to play against and a good half hour or more to go, surely there was no way we were going to let this one slide?
With twenty minutes or so to go Pav was withdrawn and Bent sent on in his place, soon followed by Lennon, who took up a position on the left wing.
Lennon and Bent had good chances to double our lead. Lennon's was a long range attempted curler that went well wide, although I suspect he was actually offside. Bent showed his pace and a decent first touch to push the ball down the left channel of the box before getting a shot off that Jaaskelainen turned over the bar, possibly with his head! Particular credit for the Bent chance must go to Modric. An excellent piece of play with an overhead as he faced his own goal, a quick turn, a bit of pace, and good touch and a great ball into the channel for Bent.
Modric then helped create the second. Another Spurs attack culminating in the ball dropping to Modric on the edge of the Bolton box, knocking it up for himself on the half volley before firing it goalward. A good save by Jaaskelainen, but instead of turning it wide he succeeded only in keeping it on the pitch and Bent showed an excellent turn of pace to beat both keeper and defender when starting a yard behind both. He was clearly clipped by Jaaskelainen and a penalty was duly awarded.
Surely not? A red card for the opposition and we've been awarded a penalty?!
Bent picked himself up and converted, firing low and hard to Jaaskelainen's right. Two-nil! Game, for all intents and purposes, over.
Real positives in the first half were (leaving aside the fact we were ahead and had dominated possesion) that Bentley was delivering decent service (although he did overhit a fair few as well), Modric was playing where he should and beginning to pull some strings, and, wait for it, even BAE was having a good game! Yes, you read that right, even BAE was having a good game!
So when we went in a goal to the good there were no complaints. Roll on the second half.
Ten minutes in, a red card. Just like on Thursday night, but this time not for Spurs! A really poor tackle by Gavin McCann on Huddlestone and a second yellow following the one he picked up in the first half for hauling back David Bentley. Actually, there should've been a second yellow for Bolton in that first half for a foul on Hutton during the same passage of play as well!
Ten men to play against and a good half hour or more to go, surely there was no way we were going to let this one slide?
With twenty minutes or so to go Pav was withdrawn and Bent sent on in his place, soon followed by Lennon, who took up a position on the left wing.
Lennon and Bent had good chances to double our lead. Lennon's was a long range attempted curler that went well wide, although I suspect he was actually offside. Bent showed his pace and a decent first touch to push the ball down the left channel of the box before getting a shot off that Jaaskelainen turned over the bar, possibly with his head! Particular credit for the Bent chance must go to Modric. An excellent piece of play with an overhead as he faced his own goal, a quick turn, a bit of pace, and good touch and a great ball into the channel for Bent.
Modric then helped create the second. Another Spurs attack culminating in the ball dropping to Modric on the edge of the Bolton box, knocking it up for himself on the half volley before firing it goalward. A good save by Jaaskelainen, but instead of turning it wide he succeeded only in keeping it on the pitch and Bent showed an excellent turn of pace to beat both keeper and defender when starting a yard behind both. He was clearly clipped by Jaaskelainen and a penalty was duly awarded.
Surely not? A red card for the opposition and we've been awarded a penalty?!
Bent picked himself up and converted, firing low and hard to Jaaskelainen's right. Two-nil! Game, for all intents and purposes, over!

Tottenham Sack Ramos,Gus and Comolli

Well its about time!

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked coach Juande Ramos and sporting director Damien Comolli and are set to appoint Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp.
Spurs have agreed a compensation package of £5m with Portsmouth, according to the 61-year-old Redknapp.
The North London club also parted company with first team coaches Gus Poyet and Marcos Alvarez following their worst ever start to a season.
"It's a great opportunity. Spurs are a big club," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"I love Portsmouth and I loved my time there, we had some fantastic success and I'd never been happier.
"But it's a great deal for Portsmouth, £5m for me, and it's a chance for me to get on and see what I can do.
"Once Tottenham came in and once the offer was made it was difficult for the club to turn down a £5m offer for a manager.
"The club were pleased to take it and hopefully people will remember what I've done there."
Redknapp revealed Spurs contacted Portsmouth on Friday morning, and after discussions between Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, it was agreed he could talk to the London club.
Redknapp expects the official announcement to come from White Hart Lane in the morning.
"It will all be sorted out and by tomorrow morning I should be in place," he said.
Clive Allen, development squad coach, and Alex Inglethorpe, youth team manager will take charge of Sunday's game against Bolton, while Redknapp expects to be at White Hart Lane to address the players before the match.
Spurs are four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League after taking just two points from their opening eight matches this season.
Ramos' last game in charge was Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Udinese in the Uefa Cup.
The 54-year-old Spaniard joined Spurs from Sevilla on 27 October 2007 after Martin Jol was sacked.
Ramos had back-to-back Uefa Cup triumphs with Sevilla and guided Tottenham to the League Cup in Feburary - the club's first trophy since 1999.
Source : www.bbc.co.uk

Rock Bottom

Tottenham remain rock bottom of the Premier League after their 1-0 defeat to Hull, during which their fans chanted 'You don't know what you're doing' at manager Ramos.
The fans frustration is understandable with the side collecting just two points from the opening seven games of the season, and now it is clear that people are losing patience with the Spaniard.
That left Tottenham rock bottom and looking more likely to be involved in a relegation battle than one chasing for a place in European Competition.
It was at this stage last season that Martin Jol, who had guided the side to two fifth place league finishes was sacked after and indifferent start to the campaign. Ramos arrived in a blaze of glory and was seen as the man who could finally break into the illusive top four, and finally bring Champions League Football to White Hart Lane. The signs were promising, with Spurs beating Chelsea to lift the League Cup Final, shortly followed by intense transfer speculation.
The summer spending in sued, in came David Bentley from Blackburn, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric from Dynamo Zagreb and Giovani Dos Santos from Barcelona. However despite the new arrivals, much of the news surrounded the future of want away striker Dimitar Berbatov, who had his sights set on a transfer to Manchester United. Amongst that speculation, Ramos continued to move players from his squad including Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque and Robbie Keane.
With Berbatov all but a Man United player, Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko arrived from Spartak Moscow to ease the fans worries having already seen Robbie Keane and Jermaine DeFoe leave the club. As part of the transfer which saw Berbatov join Man United, young striker Frazier Campbell was captured on loan for the season.
The season started with surprise defeats at Middlesbrough and then at home to Sunderland, before earning a respectable 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Since that result though, there have been no real evidence of the side improving, with many now believing that Juande Ramos' tactics are not suitable for the Premiership.
In Ramos' defence he has been unable to field what would be considered to be his strongest eleven on a regular basis, with Ledley King unable to shake off persistent injuries and Luka Modric so far struggling to deal with the pace of the Premiership. Many though are questioning why Jermaine Jenas, who was dropped from the side has been reinstated as captain, or why David Bentley, who enjoyed superb seasons at Blackburn is currently looking half the player of last term.
Scoring goals has also been a problem, with many criticising the decision to sell Keane, DeFoe and Berbatov in the space of a few months, replacing them with the unproven Pavlyuchenko and Frazier Campbell, leaving Darren Bent, who struggled in front of goal last season, his only striking options.
Despite Ramos reporting to the press that he was not hurt by the comments and insisted he does not think his job is under threat, a defeat in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, followed by a negative result against Hull on Saturday may well begin to signal the end of his reign.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Hull City

96 years! I've never seen anything this bad..... its been 96 years since we last had a start to the season as bad as this. Every week it gets worse. Another couple of winless performances and we'll be looking at having set a new record for the worst start ever to a league campaign.
All is not well at Tottenham Hotspur. That is plain to see. After ten games in all competition we have only two wins - neither of which has come in the Premier League. The last four games in the top flight have ended with a scoreline of "Tottenahm Hotspur nil". And still we remain rooted to the foot of the table. Its October! What the hell is going on?!
The statistics make for truly shocking reading.
The line-up for the match was more balanced than we've seen for a long while. Bale and Gunther in the full back positions, King dropped (no surprises there) with Corluka filling in..... Jenas and Zokora in the middle, Lennon starting on the right, Modric also in the starting eleven, and Campbell partnering Pavlyuchenko.
The start was promising, but within five minutes Hull had carved out a great opportunity with Geovanni coasting into the box, slipping past Woodgate and firing over the bar when he really should have hit the target. Redemption came soon after though. What I thought was a dodgy free-kick, awarded for a tackle from behind that clearly won the ball, and we were a goal down with less than ten minutes on the clock.

Gomes spent an age lining-up the wall, but in the end he could only remain fixed to his spot on the line as Geovanni curled the most precise and exquisite free kick into the top corner. No doubt there will be plenty of people questioning the keeper's positioning, okay. The only way to keep that out would be to have two keepers. The positioning was so good that the goal has to count as one of the best free kicks of the season. Top drawer.
Modric finally got into something more closely resembling his stride yesterday, making himself available to receive the ball and pass on quickly. Its worrying to think that he wasn't able to take his time on the ball and create, but if he can position himself correctly to receive and if we can provide the outlets for him to offload then he can still come good.
Jenas had a reasonable game. There was more commitment but still a lack of end product. Zokora was OK. Lennon played better when starting yesterday than he had on Thursday, and even Bentley managed to deliver some decent balls.
At the back, while Corluka's pace is totally missing, his composure on the ball is to be applauded. Although the Hull strikers posed a few problems for the centre halves - Woodgate having a more dubious game than for a while - we were acceptably OK at the back.

Portsmouth 2 - 0 Spur-tans

Ramos Sort it out...........Disgusting

The Match Reports are already all too familiar in tone this season. I can't remember the last time I've seen a sequence of six matches in the league without a win to show for it. So bad a start is this, in fact, that I gather you have to go back 53 years (count 'em, fifty-three!) for a worse start to a season.

This is truly shocking.
Granted, coming to Fratton Park tends not to be that easy - last season aside when their form at home was awful - but another defeat just serves to raise the level of depression and desperation even more.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Wigan Athletic

Right, that's it, I've had enough. Five games in, the league table all official, and we are rooted to the bottom.
A side incapable of creating. Formations and tactics that boggle the mind. A club hell bent on wringing every conceivable penny out of the transfer market. The most shocking of starts to the season. Supporters built-up to an - again - unrealistic level of optimism. And, most damning perhaps, a set of displays as inept as I've had the displeasure to watch for a good long time.
These are troubled, troubled times at White Hart Lane. Make no mistake.
This latest no score bore against what was a Wigan side much poorer than I'd expected did nothing to inspire confidence that the corner is about to be turned.
This match was so devoid of entertainment and excitement I feel obliged to spend more time commenting on what has gone wrong.
I should, though, spend some time documenting my thoughts on this latest encounter. Who'd have thought a draw at home to Wigan totally devoid of goals would end up doubling our points tally for the season?
The omens were not great. A strange sort of selection again with BAE at left back, Bale pushed up to left wing, but worst of the lot, Zokora playing right back again. Clearly his worst position, even on this season's rare showings.
In a first half lacking much in the way of good football, Bent created one for himself by harrying the defender, but Kirkland smothered easily. At the other end Gomes saved at full stretch from a long range half-volley.
An insipid first half performance from Bentley did for him as he was soon replaced by Lennon, while Campbell's exploits from the UEFA Cup encounter had already been rewarded with a second half substitution for Pavlyuchenko.
Between the two of them they created our most effective attacks of the second half. Lennon gave us the running and pace we had totally lacked in the first half, and while not called upon to cross, he did have one very notable appeal for a penalty turned out. Looked cast iron to me.
Certainly this cannot have been the vision when Martin Jol was replaced a year ago. Perhaps a reminder is required for Daniel Levy and co? The business of a football club is football. Not merchandising, not transfer window brinkmanship, not clever media snippits, not clever management structures. Football.

Chelsea 1 - 1 Tottenham

Real shocker! Even the most optimistic of Spurs fans can't have expected that. Be honest, you just can't have! I certainly didn't, and going into the international break we finally have our first points on the board and we're not bottom of the pile!

I was pleased to hear that Gunther would start and with Gio on the left and Lennon on the bench, Bentley would finally play on the right side. Not to mention Zokora would not be penned in at right back. About time too. Unsurprisingly no Berbatov. Evidently he didn't even travel. I was one of his staunchest supporters of course. Always saying we should forgive him his apparent lack of effort because of what he offered overall. Now I just can't wait to see the back of him. Indeed, it would come as something of a disappointment if he's still here come Tuesday! Really never thought I'd say that.

Welcome

I would like to welcome all you Spur-tans out there to this new blog, the brainchild of the biggest Tottenham fan in history.
Club History

Tottenham Hotspur is an English professional football club which currently plays in the Premier League. Commonly referred to as Spurs, the club's home stadium is White Hart Lane, Tottenham, in the London Borough of Haringey (N17).

Tottenham Hotspur were the first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup Double, winning both competitions in the 1960–61 season. In 1963, Spurs became the first British club to win a major European trophy - the European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1980s, Spurs won several trophies: the FA Cup twice, FA Community Shield and the UEFA Cup 1983–84. In addition, they are the current Football League Cup holders, beating Chelsea 2–1 in extra time. This victory means that Tottenham have won a trophy in each of the last six decades - an achievement only matched by Manchester United.

The club's Latin motto is Audere est Facere (lit: "To Dare Is to Do"), and its emblem is a cockerel standing upon a football. The club has a long-standing rivalry with near neighbours Arsenal and matches between the two teams are known as the North London derby.