Tottenham drew a blank against Stevenage at The Lamex Stadium on Sunday, as the League One outfit held their Premier League opponents to a 0-0 draw.
The north London side fielded a strong side that included Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe and Scott Parker, but could but not break down the stubborn hosts.
Harry Redknapp admitted that his side found the going tough after the match, and that his men resorted to playing long balls due to the pitch.
“I expected it to be tough, honestly,” the Spurs manager told Sky Sports.
“I knew how hard it was going to be. The pitch was bumpy and the ball was bobbling everywhere, it was a difficult game to play football.
“We have all been here. I have been here so many times in the past, nothing surprises me.
“We started thumping it didn’t we? That wasn’t part of the plan.
“I think the lads weren’t comfortable with passing the ball that much. We ended up going long, which wasn’t what we wanted to do,” he concluded.
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The fifth round replay will be played at White Hart Lane on Wednesday 7th March, with the winner set to play Bolton in the quarter finals.
Sandro, the 22 year-old Brazilian midfielder, scored his first goal in England last weekend, a 30-yard belter at Stamford Bridge, the opener in Tottenham’s eventual 2-1 defeat to Chelsea. His manager, Harry Redknapp, reserved praise for his young talent until Spurs’ disappointment was completed, having remonstrated with the goal-scorer immediately after he had given his side the lead. Redknapp was frustrated that Sandro was allowing Frank Lampard too much freedom in the middle of the park, but the Brazilian neglected Lampard to foray forward and lash an unstoppable shot past Petr Cech, an incident that Redknapp was unable to appreciate at the time.
“It was a fantastic goal, a great strike,” Redknapp told the club’s official website following the game. “He really covered some ground at Chelsea, he worked his socks off for us in there.” Sandro, whose protracted transfer to White Hart Lane was eventually completed last August, was purchased as a defensive midfielder with a commanding presence and robust approach, rather than for his goal scoring proficiency. He has was selected as one of 7 reserves for Dunga’s World Cup squad last summer, and follows Brazil’s former manager in a long line of Brazilian defensive midfielders who break the common perception of South American flair.
Gilberto Silva announced himself on a universal stage some nine years ago at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan and forged a successful career in the Premier League with Arsenal, winning the league once and the FA Cup twice. The World Cup winner is no longer available for his country, and Felipe Melo and Ramires have failed to perform anywhere near the standard set by Gilberto, so Sandro may provide the defensive cover Brazil have required in every recent team. This role is not necessarily a new phenomenon but the South American country appear to value its worth highly, and have exported a number of players in this mould, particularly to the Premiership, in recent seasons.
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Although Lucas Leiva failed to fulfil his early promise, having signed for Liverpool as Brazil under-20s captain, he has proved a dependable member of the Reds first team and developed effectively over the past 18 months. Ramires similarly found it difficult adapting to life at the summit of the Premier League having signed for Chelsea last summer, but this is his first season in England, and he has shown flashes of quality which will encourage Carlo Ancelotti moving in to the next campaign. Denilson was branded with similar expectations when he signed for Arsenal in 2006 and has also struggled to break in to the Gunners’ first team regularly, but has performed acceptably over the course of his 151 games in English football.
The perception of Brazilian football on the continent is changing, and the five-time World Cup winning nation are producing more defensive-minded players in order to maintain pace with the changing nature of the sport. David Luiz has proved an inspired signing at Stamford Bridge having joined from Benfica in January and epitomises both a solid physical presence and technical ability on the ball. Sandro is beginning to acclimatise to the rigours of the Premiership well, and if he forces his way in to Harry Redknapp’s first-team thoughts for next season, we may be witnessing a Gilberto pretender that can actually deliver.
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Listen to the latest episode of our award nominee podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and King Jacks! Don’t forget to help Razor and O’Reilly become award winners in the 2011 EPL Awards
Manchester United’s veteran manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed in August that he believed a fully fit Everton squad had an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League this season.
Despite the pre-season optimism, three defeats out of six, to Blackburn, Aston Villa and Newcastle, have left Everton winless and propping up the bottom of the Barclays Premier League. To make matters worse, The Toffees were also embarrassingly knocked out of the Carling Cup by Brentford at Griffin Park last week, currently the bottom side in League One.
David Moyes and his men were booed off the pitch following their last home game at Goodison Park, a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Newcastle. That shambolic display was symptomatic of the club’s inconsistency so far this season. It seemed Everton had turned a corner following their dramatic injury-time comeback against Manchester United in early September. However it soon proved to be another false dawn following two draws and a defeat since that epic two-minute double salvo from Mikel Artea and Tim Cahill. It remains the worst start to a season for the Blues in 16 years and Moyes admits he is worried by the current state of affairs.
Moyes said: “We started the season with the belief, coming off two defeats in 24 last year, that we would start the season well. It didn’t happen and that affects your confidence.
“It’s disappointing because I didn’t expect this. We expected to start better after the good run we had last year.
“We want to do better and nobody cares more than the players, I can see that by their attitude and the way they are training.”
Everton’s players showed some of that training ground commitment and desire down beside the River Thames last Saturday as they battled their way to a spirited 0-0 draw against Fulham. The Blues didn’t look like a side bottom of the table as they played with confidence and adventure. You could even argue they were unlucky not to grab all three points against their unbeaten South West London opponents.
Everton finished eighth last season despite a catalogue of injuries to key first-team players, which included defensive rock Phil Jagielka and playmaker Arteta missing a large chunk of the season. The injury curse has continued into this season with defender Jack Rodwell and striking duo Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe suffering long-term injuries inside the opening weeks of the new campaign.
The fixture list does not get any easier for The Toffees over the next few weeks, starting with an away trip to Birmingham on Saturday. Alex McLeish’s side are unbeaten at St Andrew’s in over a year and will not provide the best recovery tonic for a side struggling with form. This is followed by a Merseyside Derby against rivals Liverpool and a trip to Tottenham the week after.
Despite the club’s current position and difficult upcoming fixtures, Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright still believes the club can make it into Europe. He said:
“I can only say as a fellow fan I don’t believe we will be down there for much longer.
“The name of the game isn’t to get out of relegation trouble, believe me, but to get up towards the European places and I know that’s what everyone, especially the manager, is aiming for.”
Everton have too good a squad, as well as one of the best managers in the league in Moyes, to remain in the bottom three for much longer. Despite a woeful start, Everton showed enough grit and fight in their last game to get out of their current predicament and still fulfil that early season promise.
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Liverpool was once again frustrated at Anfield as they failed to breakdown the most resolute of Stoke defences. It wasn’t a vintage performance from Liverpool and you do sense that a few players were a little leggy from their mid-week exploits in the Carling Cup semi-final.
At FFC this week it’s there has been plenty of Liverpool blogs that include Adam bagging himself a beauty; the Reds fall victim to bandwagon journalism, while it is time to cash in on Dirk Kuyt.
We also look at other Liverpool articles from around the Web:
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The key ingredient in Dalglish’s recipe for success
WAG Weekly – Charlie Adam bags himself a beauty!
Liverpool fall victim to band-wagon journalism
Do Liverpool provide the big move he deserves?
Footballing Heroes holding back their clubs?
The complete frustration of bias punditry
Time for Liverpool to cash in?
Transfer dealings at Liverpool FC?
Dalglish’s worst bit of transfer business to date?
Dalglish and Villas-Boas looking to add some Latin flair this January
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Have the Reds wasted £100million? – Live4Liverpool
The Suarez Decision: LFC Grounds for Appeal? – Tomkins Times
Liverpool – Mid-Term Statistical Report – Anfield Index
King Kenny’s Return – A Year On – This is Anfield
3 Options Liverpool have to get past the Suarez ban – Our Kop
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Click on Balotelli’s NEW Flame below to see her in all her glory
Mirror Football is reporting that Chelsea is set for a summer clearout in order to get the best out of Fernando Torres and no longer build the squad around Didier Drogba. This squad changes are expected to be made irrespective of the identity of the Chelsea coach next season. Carlo Ancelotti is still waiting official confirmation on whetever he will be sacked or will be allowed to see out the final year of his contract.
Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka look set to head the exit the door – but defenders Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa and Yuri Zhirkov also look set for the cull. The future of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba remains unclear.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is ready to sanction the next stage of the re-building plans, after Chelsea lost out in the title race due to their ageing players and lack of squad depth. Malouda has been criticised for going missing for significant periods this season and Anelka had a very poor game against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final.
New signings have been earmarked in the shape of Spurs winger Gareth Bale and Ajax right-back Gregory Van Der Wiel and a central midfield playmaker is also being targeted. The summer recruitment policy will be that to bring in players between the ages of 21 and 28 – that will be established internationals.
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It is nigh on impossible to remember a transfer deadline day which did not feature a veritable flurry of activity. Sky Sports News advertises their programming for this day way in advance, safe in the knowledge that there will be last minute drama. Cue television crews and reporters camped outside training grounds hoping to talk with a manager, player or owner. Fans text and email these reporters to say that their friend has just seen Marcus Bent alight a taxi near Molineaux or that Eidur Gudjohnson has been spotted at motorway service station. This year’s final day of the window may have been missing the dramatic events of previous years but still featured Ryan Babel lost over London in a helicopter and Tottenham’s deadline pushing capture of Rafael van der Vaart. But is the inevitable scramble to do business at the final hour to the detriment of sensible transfer activity?
Two of the more memorable deadline day transfers in recent years have been Robinho’s switch from Real Madrid to Manchester City and the unexpected arrival of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez at Upton Park in 2006. Manchester City fans would surely concede that Robinho’s expensive transfer was erroneous. The transfer had more to do with the newly wealthy club flexing their financial muscles. The Sky Blues were also after Dimitar Berbatov but signed the unsettled, troubled Brazilian who coincidentally departed for AC Milan on Tuesday. Despite the transfer of the two Argentines eventually costing nearly as much as Robinho’s British transfer record fee, Hammers fans believe it was well worth it.
Conducting business on deadline day invariably smacks of frenetic panic buying but the reality is a more mixed picture. The appearance of a late frenzy is tempered by the views of Ian Holloway who was said to be exasperated and frustrated for long parts of the summer when recruiting players. Moves for players do not come much later than Tottenham’s successful acquisition of van der Vaart. Two hours before the close of the window they place an £8 million bid for the Dutch ace. “The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close,” said Harry Redknapp. This is open to debate according to Real Madrid but seems excellent business for Spurs. He is an experienced midfield playmaker who passes well, strikes the ball excellently and is dangerous from set plays.
Reluctant to lose their star striker Asamoah Gyan, Sunderland were forced to pay in excess of £13 million to Rennes. After selling Kenwyne Jones and Frazier Campbell’s unfortunate injury the Black Cats felt they had to break their transfer record to sign the Black Star’s forward who was widely valued at £7 million earlier in the summer. Gyan, however, is strong, quick, has an eye for goal and is an extremely hard worker. West Ham have had a busy summer but had failed once again to find a suitable right-back. Running out of options the east London side moved for Lars Jacobson on Tuesday. The Dane featured at the World Cup but fell behind Michel Salgado and Pascal Chimbonda in the pecking order at Ewood Park.
Following a busy day in the Potteries Stoke City will be pleased with their late transfer dealings. Tony Pulis had been seeking to recruit players capable of offering a new dimension to the team, building on their top flight progression. Both Gudjohnson and Jermaine Pennant were brought to the Britannia on loan. Birmingham City were also industrious and astute to bring in Alexander Hleb, Martin Jiranek and Jean Beausejour.
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By waiting to the final day of the window some clubs argue they can force down the price of players while others desperate to buy will pay exorbitant fees to reluctant sellers. Moreover Roberto Martinez has blamed the window for unsettling his players during the early stages of the new season. Given the option most clubs would wish to conclude their business sooner but this often requires plenty of money. Manchester City could avoid last minute signings by having clear targets and deep pockets. For the rest of us it is probably wise to try enjoying the drama and hope a faulty fax machine can be blamed if your club submit their paperwork late.
Newcastle fans have been debating a summer swoop for Martin Skrtel, as reports in Turkey claimed the Magpies could sign the former Liverpool man.
According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Skrtel this summer.
The former Liverpool hard man joined Fenerbahce in 2016, but with his contract running down is looking to move back to the Premier League.
The report from Turkey claimed new Rangers boss Steven Gerrard would like to bring his former teammate up North, but the Slovakian’s wage demands are “four or five times” what Rangers could offer, according to his agent.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Newcastle fans are desperate for the club to break their transfer record this summer, but it seems they would be okay with the cheap option at the back, as they already have an established partnership in the heart of defence.
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Skrtel, 33, has Premier League experience, but would not dislodge Jamaal Lascelles or the impressive Florian Lejeune. He would however provide excellent cover for the pair, and may even teach them a trick or two.
Despite fans on Twitter going against the links last week, 68 per cent of Newcastle fans said the 97-cap defender would be a shrewd a acquisition, and you can find the full poll results down below…
According to reports in The Times, Tottenham Hotspur are still in discussions to sign £45m-rated Bordeaux winger Malcom even though they are closing in on a £25m deal to bring Lucas Moura to Wembley from Paris Saint-Germain.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Times says that Spurs are confident of completing a move for the 25-year-old before the January transfer window slams shut on Wednesday, with the north London outfit willing to give the Brazilian a four-and-a-half year contract.
However, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are also in talks to bring another wide player in Malcom to the club, as they look to win the race to sign the in demand 20-year-old, valued at £45m by his club according to the Daily Mail.
How has Malcom done this season?
He has been excellent.
The Brazilian has scored seven goals and provided a further five assists in 21 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term, and he has become renowned for cutting in from the right and scoring from long range with his left foot.
According to WhoScored.com, the winger has successfully completed 56 of the 84 dribbles he has attempted in the French top flight during the current campaign, while he has made 50 key passes.
Would he be a good signing for Tottenham?
He certainly would be.
The 20-year-old looks to have a massive future ahead of him, and his style should mean that he is ideally suited to the Premier League.
Spurs are lacking pace and decent wide options right now, and if they could bring Lucas Moura and his Brazilian compatriot to the north London either this month or in the summer, Pochettino would be very pleased.
Will they get him?
A summer deal is looking more likely, but with former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet now in charge of Bordeaux, the north London outfit may hope to agree a deal that sees them buy the Brazilian before loaning him back to the Ligue 1 outfit for the rest of the campaign.
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After another average performance at home, Newcastle fans are starting to turn against manager Alan Pardew but is it really all his fault?
Mike Ashley has made error after error in charge of the Toon and although supporters also want him to leave, the view from the outside is that more pressure is being put on boss Pardew who is already overachieving with the squad he has.
Even thinking back to Andy Carroll, Alan Pardew seems to have players sold without his consent and even after guiding the club to the Europa League people are not convinced.
Here are three reasons why Newcastle should stick by their man.
Able to succeed on small budget
At every club he has been at, Alan Pardew has had to work on a tight budget and that is something some people may forget.
It was 13 months ago that Pardew signed a number of players, all relatively bargains for foreign players who he could now sell at an inflated price if he or Ashley decided.
He has had players such as Andy Carroll, Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye sold without his consent yet he still has the team in the top half and competing.
Ability to persuade players to sign
The majority of Newcastle’s signings over the past few years have been highly rates, sought-after players that have chosen to join Newcastle.
Admittedly the size of the club and its history may have had effect, but the likes of Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko and Mathieu Debuchy had plenty of other clubs looking at them but Pardew was a big force behind them joining the Toon.
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Pardew had the same effect at other clubs signing the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano when at West Ham and this shouldn’t be underestimated.
Already nearly a quarter of the way through the Premier League season, it’s time to assess what we’ve learnt about Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.
The Wearsiders have tasted defeat and victory just once and a poor quality of pitch means they’re a game short on 18 of their rivals. I’d give Sunderland a D in terms of progress this year, but here’s a closer look at the good and bad revelations since August.
The Black Cats are still one of the most enigmatic teams in the league. Few sides beat them easily, but then they rarely dominate and win comfortably themselves. Transfer policy is also an interesting topic in the North East, a £10 million player who looked a bargain is struggling. While a much maligned £12 million man can’t stop scoring.
From Danny Rose to Lee Cattermole, this is an extensive guide to what has and hasn’t worked in the Premier League for Sunderland this year.
Click on Simon Mignolet to see the ten things we’ve learnt about the Black Cats so far this season
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If any Sunderland fans are heading to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night, then don’t forget to download the FREE Screach App and vote for your ‘Man of the Match’