Transfer Talk

Finally, the transfer window is starting close - making squeaky noises of high activity as it slowly shuts. In principle I like it, prefer it to having transfers happening all the time. Sometimes I even ponder the interesting sporting challenge if transfers where only allowed once a year, in the summer. Regardless of what happened in terms of injuries or in-fighting a manager would have to make do with his squad. This, of course, is an experiment currently being conducted with some success at Newcastle United, who have only made a loan deal for a defender so far - despite the fact that the amount of players out for injury at the moment would fill a small hospital. Anyway, it's probably not practical as a rule...

What is, however, driving me to a brink of exasperation usually reserved for, say, playing Arsenal away, is transfer rumours. And the amount of space they are allowed to occupy in the papers. Because I still read everything, only to realise after a long piece that it hasn't actually supplied me with any actual information. I have to read, with mounting terror, that Mourinho may have an interest in Aaron Lennon only to next day find out that thankfully our wonder of wonders has signed a new contract with the club. Being a football fan is enough of an emotional rollercoaster without this sort of crap as well!

Our actual transfers have been as few as the situation has merited, really. At the game against Southend on Saturday a fan in the pub said - as we were watching an elegant move by Ricardo Rocha - 'anyone missing Davenport?'. And I suppose it's fair to say that we sort of didn't. After the recent developments in midfield, and the depths and variations in the squad, perhaps we haven't missed Davids as much as we could have either. The legend is going back to where he began as a legend and will hopefully get more work to do than we could provide him with.

So, Rocha in; Davenport and Davids out. Welcoming Ricardo does not seem to pose an obstacle, he seems just the thing - especially while Ledley is struggling with his foot. But even if we technically won't miss our dear departed much I will still miss them a little bit. As one has to do.

All transfers (so far, there are a few hours left of the window...)
Ricardo Rocha in from Benfica
Adel Taarabt in from RC Lens
Ben Alnwick in from Sunderland

Edgar Davids out to Ajax
Calum Davenport out to West Ham
Marton Fulop out to Sunderland

FA cup 5th Round Draw

...and so we get the pleasure of another visit to Craven Cottage. Not sure the bruises the lads sustained last time have healed yet. Fulham away certainly wasn't on my wish list, but it could have been worse, of course. This will be another opportunity to show that we can get something other than exhausting draws out of them this season, and perhaps an opportunity for Malbranque to score - in bold defiance of the atrocious booing.

In a rather dull and predictable twist of fate (is there such a thing?) the 'biggies' have all landed home ties against 'lesser' teams. Well, I hope Reading give Man U a good run for their money - and I'm sure they will, bless them; Arsenal are, lets not forget, not even there yet - Bolton looked good yesterday; and Chelsea... well, I suppose this way even Shevchenko might score again.

Chelsea v Blackpool or Norwich
Watford v Ipswich
Preston v Man City
Plymouth v Derby County
Man Utd v Reading
Arsenal or Bolton v Blackburn
Bristol City or Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion
Fulham v Tottenham

Tottenham 3 - 1 Southend

Rainy day today, but I'm still happy about the classy performance the lads put in yesterday. A very pleasant afternoon and essentially the kind of football that allowed for unusually comfortable watching. At least in retrospect...

Kevin Mitchell in The Observer call the line-up 'virtually a Spurs second team' before lauding their brilliance. Second team seems off the mark, certainly in terms of performance, but I have to say that I missed the strike-force that is Berbatov and Defoe up front. In an afternoon of excellent mid-field action (especially by the dazzling Lennon), full of great crosses to the front two, their finishing touches were at times somewhat feeble. Against a tougher opposition midfield it might have looked quite different, but there seems to be a development in the right direction and a depth and variety in the squad which looks promising.
Jenas had a great first game back, and 5 day old signing Ricardo Rocha revealed himself to be a classy player who seems set to quickly get into the English game. Cerny did well with what little work he had to do; the penalty was a very well taken one, so no fault of his. Zokora was also very active and made some excellent runs. I've run out of adjectives for Lennon in general and his performance yesterday in particular, but a suggestion that he sometimes outruns opposition players because they are simply stunned does not seem far off the mark.
The lads kept Southend under pressure and played lovely passing football, which the opposition found it hard to intercept. Our cup runs continue to impress, even if the prospect of Wednesday is already daunting, considering the experiences of Wednesday last. Danny Kelly wrote in The Times about his childishly irrational fear of Arsenal, comparing the sensation to watching Dr Who as a child: 'The current Arsenal side are my Daleks.' I have to concur. And outclassing Southend at the Lane is not to be compared with coming up against the French foreign legion of Daleks at the Emirates.

Goals: Keane (12), Jenas (50), Mido (76) // Eastwood (69, pen)

Tottenham
Radek Cerny, Michael Dawson, Young-Pyo Lee, Ricardo Rocha, Paul Stalteri, Hossam Ghaly (Steed Malbranque), Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Didier Zokora, Robbie Keane (Jermain Defoe), Ahmed Hossam Mido (Tom Huddlestone)
Southend
Darryl Flahavan, Adam Barrett, Peter Clarke, Lewis Hunt, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Mark Gower (Gary Hooper), Steven Hammell, Kevin Maher, Alan McCormack (Luke Guttridge), Lee Bradbury (Matt Harrold), Freddy Eastwood

Beginnings

Taking a first step into this new blog - more to follow.