Leaving? We're sad, but.....

For the past few days I have been inundated with news on Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov leaving.

If they do leave, Spurs would have lost another few iconic players of recent times. For Robbie Keane, since his move from troubled Leeds back in 2002, he has remained popular with the fans at White Hart Lane, securing Spurs' Player of the Year 3 times.

Berbatov, though he is relatively new, has also captured the Spurs faithfuls' hearts. Since arriving in 2006, the Bulgarian proved to be a good goalscorer, and one of the factors of Spurs being touted as "the team to replace one of the big four".

As a fan, it is sad to see them go, but hey, it's a fact of football life. We were sad then to see Jurgen Klinsmann go (not once, but twice, even though the 2nd time he was on loan), David Ginola, Teddy Sheringham, etc. After all, all football fans around the world have experienced sadness at their fave players leaving, but at the same time welcoming new changes (for better or for worse, that's another issue). For the players themselves, probably they need a new environment where they could advance their footballing careers even more.

All I would say is, we would treasure their existence and contribution in the past, but let us now focus on the future of the club.

Spurs fans! Let's join ranks and move on!

Audere est Facere - To Dare is To Do!

What is Modric up to...

For those players that were not involved in Euro 2008, training camp has started and the coaches are putting them through the paces.



But IF you have been granted rest from the magnificent efforts at Euro 08, you get to do this for a little while longer....enjoy yourself Modric!

Transfer News - Rumours, News or Half-Truths?

It is the best time for shopping, so they say.

And no, I am not talking about the Great Singapore Sale. Rather, it is the Great Spending Spree by clubs all over Europe.

And with Euro 2008 behind us, it is now a mad scramble for the players of choice, where clubs, not just the EPL's, are participating.

You may be subscribing to your fave sports newsfeeds or reading up sports websites to catch hold of who is going where. However, with the influx of information, some of them conflicting, or even propagating what others might have said, it is difficult to discern whether that someone will be going or coming to somewhere.

Imagine this - you have read the news that so and so is going somewhere and it is likely confirmed, you go out with your football buddies to discuss on the latest stuff 3 hours later. And when you say the news, one of your buddies will say, "Eh? I thought he denies it!" Then you may ask, "When you got this?" And he replied, "Just an hour ago, on my RSS feed in my mobile!".

While a true blue football fan will chase after every lead, whether false, rumour, speculation or even the truth pertaining to his/her club, even if he/she is "disconnected" from such news in even a day, he/she would be labelled as "outdated". I got caught a few times and was being called "outdated" during those few times. :)

And especially during this time, where it is just weeks away from the opening of the EPL, such news will be flying hot and fast all over the internet.

So, if you are a football fan but find it a hassle to chase after rumours, news or even half-truths, I'd say you could just relax, wait for the EPL to start, and see those players perform.

After saying this, I think I'd better go for a vacation....

Logjam in the midfield - Spurs

With the Euro 08 competition in the books, the transfer market will start to heat up.  No surprise that Spurs continue to be in the transfer news every summer.  We've added Luka Modric and Dos Santos, with strong rumors that David Bentley has cleared his medical early this week. 

 

Luka Modric	Dos Santos

   

At current count, it looks like we have too many midfielders so some have to go for sure.  Ramos loves to attack via speedy wingers which explains his signing of Dos Santos and pursuit of David Bentley.  With Tom Huddlestone signed to a new 5 year deal, looks like the following may be wondering where they will be come August:

1. Didier Zokora
2. Teemu Tanio
3. Kevin Prince Boateng - Stuttgart?
4. Steed Malbranque
5. Hossam Ghaly - Brums?
6. Aaron Lennon - Keagan calling?
7. Adel Taarabt

I think Jenas is probably safe and O'hara also signed a 3 year deal till 2011.  So where will the rest be?

The EPL - Some Trivia

Hi all, 

I am honoured to be part of this blog, and to be part of this blog means I have to write something on it.

Although the 08/09 season is still a month plus away, and we are beginning to get some cold turkey from the lack of football, I would like to take this opportunity to post some trivia on the EPL, or the English Premier League in full.

• The EPL was formed on 20 Feb 1992, with the main aim of bringing in more revenue.
• It is a corporation, and its shareholders are the 20 clubs it contains in any season.
• The FA (Football Association) does not involve itself in the daily operations of the EPL, but it is considered a "special shareholder" with veto powers on matters concerning the election of the chairperson and chief executive of the EPL, and on rules adoption in the EPL.
• The sponsors are: Carling (1993 - 2001), Barclaycard (2001 - 2004) and Barclays (2004 - 2010).
• The founding clubs of the EPL, and those who stayed in every season, are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Season 2008/2009

Ok folks. New season new beginning. As such, I will give an outline what will be featured on this blog.

• Match Outlooks - We will cover every match that the Man U or Spurs are involved in. There will not be a standard format as each writer has his individual writing style which is a good idea as it showcases a wider variety.
  
  
• Prediction Leagues - Same format as what you have seen in Euro 2008 Prediction League over at RedHalfOfManchester.
  
  The picks entry will be handled by ihawk while the tabulation and publishing of the results will be handled (as usual) by JayWalk. C.O.O.L will be fighting tooth and nail to try to defend the title.
  
  
• Beer-Fund Picks - Just a section for some of us punters to keep score of how well we have done over the season. The picks will apply to the EPL, Serie A and Primera Liga but there may be the odd itchy-hand occasion where we may dabble in the various European campaigns.
  
  
• Other Stuff - Don't know what they are at this point but we will throw in new and interesting stuff if they come our way.