Tottenham Hotspur has always been good at linking themselves with hundreds of players. When I was at school they were linked with Rivaldo and Guardiola and when they signed Edgar Davids I suddenly started believing that every rumour was an actual possibility – if only that had been the case this January. The signings of Yago Falque, Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen brought hardly set the football world alight, but Harry Redknapp is renowned for making shrewd moves and we will be hoping that he has pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat with these deals.
Here I have compiled a team based entirely on linked players, and it’s quite an eleven which at least shows that they’re chasing good players, unfortunately, it really is chasing.
In a way this list is born out of frustration; a month of rumours has left us with very little in a way of progress but let’s just hope that Messrs Saha and Nelsen will give us enough to get over the line. I have adopted a 3-5-2 formation and to be fair it is a decent team in its own right.
Click on Ganso to unveil the Tottenham XI that we were rumoured to sign in January
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While the FIFA disputes continue to rumble on in the background, the attention now moves on to Wembley’s showpiece between Barcelona and Manchester United. UEFA believe it will be the most watched game of all time as arguably the two biggest teams in Europe go head to head for the biggest prize in club football.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Bin Hammam goes on the defensive; Stuart Pearce hits out at Wenger over Wilshere, while Billy Davies moves into the frame to takeover at West Ham United.
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‘If I’m guilty, so is Blatter,’ declares Bin Hammam – Guardian
Arnesen’s legacy at Chelsea open to debate – Daily Telegraph
England Under 21 manager Pearce hits out at Wenger over Wilshere U-turn – Daily Mail
Graphic: Ferguson’s Plan B – Daily Telegraph
FA hands Touré six-month suspension – Guardian
Billy Davies in frame for West Ham job – Mirror
Ray: I’ll never go back to Chelsea – Sun
It’s a Downing dilemma as Arsenal urge contract rebel Nasri to decide on future – Daily Mail
Valenica: The boss saved me – Sun
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Falcao linked with Arsenal and Spurs – Guardian
Adam set to leave Blackpool so Scot can stay in the Premier League – Daily Mail
United-Barca will be most-watched club game ever say UEFA – Mirror
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The sale of Liverpool Football Club to New England Sports Ventures is "nearly there" according to chairman Martin Broughton.
American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett lost a High Court battle to block the sale of the club to the owners of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday evening.
Hicks and Gillett are scheduled to have another court hearing in Texas at 1300 BST on Friday, but Broughton is optimistic that the drawn out takeover saga is beginning to move to a conclusion.
Judge Christopher Floyd ruled that the US injunction obtained by Hicks and Gillett attempting to block the sale to NESV held no validity in England.
"We're nearly there," said Broughton. "We've still got to take away the restraining order."
A statement issued on behalf of the board following the decision read:"The independent directors of Liverpool Football Club are delighted with the verdict of Mr Justice Floyd in the High Court which now requires Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett to withdraw their Texas restraining order by 1600 BST on Friday.
"We are glad to have taken another important step towards completing the sale process."
Broughton now believes that NESV frontman John W Henry could be in attendance at Sunday's Merseyside derby with Everton.
"Mr Henry is very committed," he added. "My guess is we'll have it done and he'll be there, but we've got to get rid of this order first."
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Broughton and NESV are now hoping the deal can be concluded before Friday's deadline with major creditor the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Liverpool could still be placed into administration and would be docked nine Premier League points should they fail to meet the bank's deadline to repay a £200million loan.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
As much as people hate to admit it, we all love the January transfer window. It may have started slow this year but with a £10million new signing at Newcastle, Gary Cahill arriving in West London and Thierry Henry’s return to Arsenal; it is really starting to heat up.
There is no way that this month will see the same amount of money spent as this time last year, but the more days that go by , the more clubs that will get involved, with all 20 Premier League clubs wanting to do something before February 1st. The January transfer window is unique, in that players do not have a pre season to get to know their team mates and if they are fit, they will be thrown straight into the side. Deals seem to happen so fast as in a matter of days a player could have played for two separate clubs in the same division.
Come deadline day, every football fan will be engrossed in the internet and the TV to see if their club can do any last minute business. But for now, here is my top ten best aspects of the January transfer window.
Click on Gary Cahill to unveil the top 10
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What do you love about the January window? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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The Express and Star has reported that Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster, who has recently made himself unavailable for international fooball, is wanted by Tottenham Hostspur. The North London outfit are also said to be willing to offer Roman Pavlyuchenko in cash plus player deal but Birmingham are said to be keener on Jermaine Defoe.
Redknapp is believed to have run out of patience with goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, after recent high profile gaffes against Chelsea and Blackpool. The Spurs manager is has been a long term admirer of the former Manchester United goalkeeper, who has enjoyed an impressive season with the Carling Cup winners, playing in all 36 Premier League games so far, making 157 saves in the process.
The one sticking point for the former Portsmouth manager is Foster’s reluctance leave after finally securing regular first team football after years behind Edwin Van Der Sar at Old Trafford.
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Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs is set to be sidelined for around a fortnight after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers.
Giggs was forced from the field early on in the second half at the Reebok Stadium, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirming a minor setback after the final whistle.
He told ESPN: "It is a hamstring and I am afraid he will be out for a couple of weeks."
Better news about Wayne Rooney came from number two Mike Phelan, with the England striker's ankle knock nothing to worry about.
Phelan added:"Wayne Rooney had a bit of a knock. He has a little issue with his ankle, we don't know how serious.
"We will have a look in the morning but we think he will be okay for Wednesday.
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"He has been playing with it for a couple of weeks now and during the game we decided he wasn't getting into the areas we wanted and he wasn't getting chances, so we had to change it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
As the Premier League season passes the half way stage, managers up and down the table will now hopefully know what their best XI is and what style of the play they use is the most effective. With the table now taking shape, some teams will be pleased with how things are going and some won’t and I can see a definite trend in the teams that are performing well thus far in the 2011-12 season.
Obviously the big spenders Manchester City have ample talent throughout their squad and so rotation is possible for Roberto Mancini without a worry. But obviously the rest of the league does not have that sort of luxury. Two teams that have perhaps ‘overachieved’ so far this season are Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
I feel the reason of the early success for the two clubs are down to the managers building a strong spine to their side that are the catalyst to their success. Take a look at Spurs who have been able to use a constant spine with Friedel, Kaboul, Modric/Parker and Adebayor. The regular fitness and form of these players have enabled Harry Redknapp to build the side around them, which he has done fantastically. Spurs have been slightly fortuitous with a lack of long term injuries to key players (minus Lennon and Dawson) but they must be praised for trying to keep their best XI fit for each league game which has been a complete success. One or two squad players may need to improve or arrive at the club to give them a real strength in depth to be able to compete with the likes of City and United on a long term basis but the sky is the limit for Redknapp and his squad. A victory tonight will see them go level on points with Manchester United and leave them just three behind leaders City.
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Newcastle United have been the surprise package under Alan Pardew in the past five months or so and that has drawn much interest in their top players in the January transfer window. Pardew didn’t spend big in the summer but still put together a terrific side that have earned points home and away against the odds and sit comfortably in the top half. Again, a strong, consistent spine has been the strength that the Magpies have needed to keep up their fine form, with Krul, Coloccini, Cabaye/Tiote and Ba staying fit and putting in top performances week-in-week-out to keep impressing at the Sports Direct Arena.
Midfield maestro Tiote has been hampered by injuries so far this season and will join top scorer and the Premier League signing of the season Ba at the African Cup of Nations for the next month or so which could dramatically damage the Toon’s form. With two players from their spine missing, will Newcastle be in the same position as they are now in five weeks time?
So it has been a good season for Spurs and Newcastle, with their spines dominating their opponents but one side that has struggled with form throughout the campaign is Chelsea. Yes they still sit in the Champions League spots, just above Arsenal, and are through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but you can’t help but feel something has not yet clicked at Stamford Bridge.
I feel the problem at the Bridge has been the reverse of what has happened at White Hart Lane and the Sports Direct Arena. With their consistent spines, the before-mentioned clubs have been successful but Chelsea have failed to keep the same XI on the pitch game after game which has not gone unnoticed. It seems AVB is yet to find his best side with Drogba and Torres taking it in turns up front and Frank Lampard now regularly on the bench, joined off the field by influential Michael Essien , who is nearing a return from injury. John Terry’s off the field problems have hampered his performances and the defender that can’t defend, David Luiz has not been much help.
This has resulted in the Blues spine becoming irregular and chopping and changing regularly which has become a problem for the West London club who sit 11 points behind the leaders City as the new year gets under way. The first four or five names on the manager’s team sheet are crucial and a consistency behind that could well be the difference between success and failure, especially over the course of a whole season.
Is your spine at your club strong enough? Who would be the perfect players to play there? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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Marseille boss Didier Deschamps paid tribute to his players’ fighting spirit after they became the first side to win the Coupe de la Ligue two years running.Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo scored the only goal of the game with 10 minutes remaining in an often spiteful match at the Stade de France to give Marseille a 1-0 victory.
Deschamps said he was delighted with the win, adding that his players had shown tremendous character to emerge victorious.
“It was a complicated, well-contested match,” Deschamps said. “It was a heated match. We created many chances and my players showed character.”
“There was lots of character and courage. It’s great that the players are rewarded, and also all our supporters.”
“A lot of people will be delighted in Marseille tonight.”
Montpellier manager Rene Girard said he was proud of the efforts of his men but rued some sloppy defending that allowed Taiwo to score.
“We were made to pay for a lapse,” Girard said. “They scored from a set-piece and we knew it would make the difference tonight.”
“I’m a bit disappointed but I’m proud of the boys, they gave all they had.”
Ghana head coach Milovan Rajevac says that Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has decided to take a break from international football to concentrate on regaining top fitness.
The 27-year-old missed the World Cup finals earlier this year due to a serious knee injury, but has returned to the fold for the Blues at the start of the new domestic season.
However, he asked Rajevac to omit him from the Black Stars' plans for the opening games of their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Rajevac told reporters:"He contacted me and wanted to ask for permission to be excused for a while.
"I understood his thoughts and, of course, I wanted to help him to get into his old form, to start playing regularly and I gave that permission.
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"I'm sure that after some time he will come back to the national team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has stated that if Carlos Tevez has any ambition he will choose the Serie A giants above his other suitors.
The Scudetto holders are keen to sign the Argentina international after one to many controversies has Manchester City keen to see the back of the controversial forward.
Massimiliano Allegri’s team have offered to take Tevez on loan, but City have rejected this as they want to sell the striker and be done with him.
With big-spending Paris Saint Germain also admitting their interest in the South American, Berlusconi has stated that Tevez has a choice to make.
“AC Milan is a solution of prestige,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“Tevez has to choose between the prestige that AC Milan represents, with the possibility of playing in one of the biggest clubs in the world and perhaps to win the Golden Ball, or the money of the Paris Saint Germain, led by Sheikh of Qatar.”
Meanwhile, a report in The Daily Mail indicated that Tottenham could emerge as surprise bidders for Tevez come January.
However Harry Redknapp has been quick to distance himself from a move for the South American.
“He is a special player, the type of player who could make the difference, but I wouldn’t think that’s a real possibility,” the Spurs boss admitted.
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Finally, The Guardian indicate that Juventus have entered the bidding for Tevez’s signature, and are ready to offer £21 million to Manchester City for his services.