GUNTER FIRST IN

The Club has confirmed that we will complete the signing of Wales defender Chris Gunter from Cardiff when the transfer window opens in January. The Welsh international thus becomes Juande Ramos' first signing at Spurs.

The 18-year-old full-back has made 33 first-team appearances and won three Wales caps since breaking into the Bluebirds first team in August last year.
The two clubs reached agreement over what is reported to be a £2million deal last week and the player underwent a medical over the weekend.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones admits there was no way the club "could stand in the way" of Chris Gunter's dream move to Barclays Premier League side Tottenham.

Despite only making 33 appearances for the Bluebirds, Gunter has established himself as one of the most exciting players outside the top flight - a belief backed up by the fact he has already won three caps for Wales.

While Cardiff will sorely miss his presence on the right flank, Jones concedes they had no option but to allow him a move to White Hart Lane.
"He is a young prospect - we wish him all the best," Jones told Sky Sports News.
"You can't deny the lad the opportunity, he's done really well and broken into the full international team.
"We're sad to see him go but there is no way we could have kept hold of him or stood in his way.
"What we said to him was go and prove to everybody the potential we all thought you had.
"He's a very raw boy, he's still got a lot to learn.
"If he breaks into Tottenham's first team this season it would be fantastic for the kid."

Jones believes Juande Ramos has signed a player every bit as promising as Bale, who joined from Coca-Cola Championship side Southampton in the summer.
He added: "He's very athletic, he's got great pace and can pick out a pass. He will get stronger and stronger.
"He's still not fully developed and I think Tottenham know they've bought somebody who they're going to have to nature along, just like we were trying to do here.
"Maybe they will have to be a little bit patient with him, because he is still learning his trade.
"I feel they've bought another good prospect like Gareth Bale - he's just as good and capable on the right-hand side."

CHRIS GUNTER PROFILE

Chris Gunter (born July 21, 1989 in Newport, Wales) is a Welsh footballer, currently playing for Cardiff City and has played for the Wales national team. He is the youngest Cardiff City player ever to play for the full Welsh team.

Gunter started life as a striker when he played for Durham Colts and Albion Rovers. But switched to full-back at a young age and signed for the Cardiff City youth side at the age of eight. He signed his first professional contract with the club on 1 August 2006 along with fellow Cardiff academy graduate Darcy Blake.
Primarily a right-sided defender, Gunter made his debut for Cardiff City on the 22 August 2006 against Barnet in the League Cup.
In March 2007 he won the Football League's Apprentice of the Year award after impressing in the first team squad due to injuries to some regular players and during the summer of 2007, Gunter was the subject of two bids from Premiership club Everton. Both, however, were rejected.[1]
Gunter is tipped to be a huge star in the Future, He is a Cardiff City fan and is happy to pull on the clubs colours, He has stated he would love to play in the Premiership and hopes to achieve that with Cardiff.

He started his Wales career in 2003-2004, making four appearances for the schools under-15 development squad before moving up to the Welsh Schools under-16 squad and played in a friendly against Republic of Ireland plus three Victory Shield internationals. He then made 11 appearances at Wales under-17 level during 2005-2006, playing in two rounds of the Uefa Championships as Wales qualified from the opening group to reach the elite stage. His next step was playing for the Wales U19 squad in the Milk Cup.[4]
Gunter, 17 years old, then became the second youngest player to play for the Wales Under-21 team when he played against Cyprus Under-21 at the age of 16 years and 299 days.
He eventually made his full international debut for Wales in a friendly match against New Zealand on 26 May 2007 at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham; in doing so he became the youngest ever Cardiff City player to play for the senior Wales team. Gunter started as a left-back in a young and inexperienced Wales team in the teams Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Germany giving very impressive performances in the games which ended 2-2 and 0-0.

CARLING CUP SEMI FINAL DATES

After our 2-0 win against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium, Spurs travel to Arsenal for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday January 9, kick-off 8.45pm.
The return leg at White Hart Lane will take place on Tuesday January 22, kicking-off at 9pm.

The other semi-final is between Chelsea and Everton.

SOME PICS FROM OUR LATEST VISIT TO SPURS

We were there for the 3-2 win over Aalborg and the 3-2 defeat against Birmingham. Losing to Birmingham was not a very nice experience but meeting Mr Ramos and the lads more than made up for it!

"THE TIMES" ARTICLE ABOUT RAMOS' FIRST DAY AT SPURS LODGE

Tottenham Hotspur’s players were dragged into the era of Juande Ramos with a double training session yesterday. Arriving first and leaving last, the head coach put his charges through their paces for the first time, with a warm-down in the morning and a practice match in the afternoon.

Only on a few occasions since pre-season have the players been asked to do a double session, which are used to accelerate fitness levels. Ramos also wanted to use the extra time to get to know the players, but it was a first contrast with the regime of Martin Jol, the former manager. The Dutchman used to have the players do one session of light training on the day after a match.

During a meeting with the squad, Ramos explained his football philosophy, theory and tactics, emphasising the positives from their spirited display in the 2-1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane on Sunday. He will drip-feed some of his ideas over the next few days but did not want to suffocate the players with too much information so soon before they play Blackpool at home in the fourth round of the Carling Cup tomorrow. Ramos is expected to play a full-strength team in a competition that offers a place in Europe that could be beyond Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League.

The Spaniard will leave nothing to chance at the club’s training ground in Chigwell, Essex. One of his former players once put sticky tape over his mouth in protest at the severity of pre-season training. At Seville, where he was coach for two years until last week, he employed a psychologist to establish belief among the team and the Tottenham players can also expect a new diet regime. The Seville players drank vegetable smoothies at half-time.

“He came into the dressing-room for one minute,” Radek Cerny, the goalkeeper, said. “It was good to see as everyone was very disappointed after the match. He went around the room and said, ‘Come on guys, heads up, you have to play for not 60 or 70 minutes but 90 minutes.’ It is important he comes in and does something straight away, gets the confidence across to the players, because there’s not a lot wrong right now, apart from maybe a few things at the back.”

Ramos was assisted yesterday by Gustavo Poyet after compensation was agreed with Leeds United for their former assistant manager. Poyet, a Uruguayan, will be charged with translating some of the more complicated tactics from Spanish while Ramos improves his English. Poyet retired in 2004 as a player after three years at White Hart Lane and became an assistant at Swindon Town before joining Leeds.

The pair will want to address some of the gaping deficiencies in the Tottenham team: the slack, unconnected central defensive partnership and the lack of combative and creative midfield players.

Any additions may not come from Seville, however, after Ramos was given a hands-off warning about his former players. “Seville does not want to sell any of its stars,” José MarÍa del Nido, the Seville president, said. “The English clubs, who look at our players, should know that when we want to keep our players, we do. Tottenham will get the response they deserve. I doubt they have the money to buy [Daniel] Alves and [Frédéric] Kanouté.”

Del Nido claims that Tottenham have offered only £200,000 in compensation. “I can assure you that we will pour all of our energy and all of our force into making sure that Tottenham pay the consequences of this situation,” he said. “This is a situation that they have illegitimately provoked. We will do everything in our power and use all the means at our disposal to make sure of that.”

KANOUTE PRAISE FOR RAMOS

FORMER Tottenham Hotspur striker Fredi Kanoute has praised Juande Ramos.

Kanoute worked under Ramos during their time together at Sevilla, where Kanoute flourised after being given a confidence boost by his former boss.

"He just gave me confidence since I've been here," Kanoute told Revista de la Liga.

"He has always given me the confidence I needed and that's it. He just said to me that I have to play how I know my best.

"He gave me quite a lot of freedom on the pitch also to do whatever I want."

He added: "Maybe this is someone who is on the pitch, who works on the pitch every day.

"He's there to give advice. He's very serious in his job and he's not the kind of man who likes to speak a lot about his job, but he's doing it well."

GUS MAKES LANE RETURN

Tottenham have confirmed Leeds assistant manager Gus Poyet will move to White Hart Lane as first team coach.
The 39-year-old former Spurs midfielder will be one of two first team coaches with Marcos Alvarez, working under new head coach Juande Ramos.
Poyet has left Elland Road with the club's best wishes after Leeds agreed an undisclosed compensation package with Tottenham.
Leeds granted the London club permission to speak to their assistant manager yesterday morning following an official approach for the Uruguayan.
A Leeds statement read: "The club would like to thank Gus for his efforts over the past 12 months and wishes him every success in his new role.
"He leaves with the best wishes of everyone connected with the club."
Poyet arrived at Leeds in October 2006 as number two to former Chelsea team-mate Dennis Wise.
The pair had forged a managerial partnership the previous summer at Swindon where they had steered the Robins to the top of Coca-Cola League Two.
Former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Poyet, who retired as a player after three years at White Hart Lane in 2004, has been an integral part of Leeds' unbeaten start to the season as the Yorkshire club look to challenge for promotion despite being hit by a 15-point deduction for financial irregularities.

JUANDE RAMOS REPLACES JOL AT THE HELM

Juande Ramos has signed a four-year deal to become the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, replacing Martin Jol who was sacked on Thursday.
Ramos, 53, resigned as Sevilla coach on Friday and Spurs have asked Leeds if they can invite Gus Poyet to work as Ramos's assistant.

Ramos said: "It is a squad any coach would be excited to work with. There is the potential to achieve great things."

Newspaper reports suggest he will be paid up to £6m a year by Spurs.

Ramos will be at White Hart Lane for Sunday's Premiership clash with Blackburn and will take charge of Spurs for the first time for Wednesday's Carling Cup visit of Blackpool.

Tottenham must now negotiate a pay-off to Jol and a compensation package for Sevilla.

Ramos led Sevilla to the Uefa Cup title in each of the last two seasons and into the Champions League for the first time after they finished a close third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona last year.

He also won a European Super Cup, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup for the Andalusian club.

"This has been the hardest decision of my life," he said after leaving the Spanish club.

"My time at Sevilla has been the most important period of my life personally and professionally. I will be eternally grateful."

And in a statement released through the Tottenham website, he added: "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work as head coach at Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a great tradition and history.

"Ever since I started my coaching career I have wanted to work in England. It is my sincere hope that I can repay the faith the Spurs board has shown in me.

"I am looking forward to meeting the players.

"I was hugely impressed with the Spurs fans both home and away when Sevilla played Spurs last season and it will be a privilege to be the coach of this club with the huge support it enjoys both at White Hart Lane and throughout the world."

Marcos Alvarez, 36, who worked with Ramos at Sevilla, will also join the Tottenham coaching staff.

Ramos's contract with Sevilla had been due to expire at the end of this season and Manolo Jimenez has been promoted from youth team coach to replace Ramos until the end of the season.

Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli said: "Juande's arrival is great news for Tottenham Hotspur.

"He brings with him a wealth of experience, a proven track record and a winning pedigree.

"Now is the time for us to regroup and look to deliver the results and performances that everyone associated with the club wants to see."

Ramos's appointment brings to an end a lengthy pursuit by Spurs.

They were revealed to be interested in recruiting the Spaniard in the first week of the season when officials met him at the Alfonso XIII hotel in Sevilla.

He steps into the vacancy left by Jol, who was sacked following a disappointing start to the season which has left Spurs third from bottom.

RAMOS FACTFILE
Full name:
Juan de la Cruz Ramos Cano
Age: 53
Managerial career:
Alcoyano (1993-94)
Levante (1994-95)
Logrones (1995-96)
Barcelona B (1996-97)
Lleida (1997-98)
Rayo Vallecano (1998-01)
Real Betis (2001-02)
Espanyol (2002)
Malaga (2003-04)
Sevilla (2005-07)
Trophies: Uefa Cup (2005, 2006)
Super Cup (2006)
Copa del Rey (2007)
Spanish Supercopa (2007)

SPURS ANNOUNCE RECORD PROFITS

Stadium plans in advanced stage, Kemsley resigns

Tottenham Hotspur have announced record turnover and profit for the last financial year.
Last year's UEFA Cup campaign, when Martin Jol's side reached the quarter-final stage, and successive fifth-placed Premier League finishes, led to the club posting a turnover of £103.1million for the year ending June 30 2007, up £29million on the 2006 figures.

Operating profit before football trading and depreciation increased from £4.6million to £32million while operating profit before training totalled £29.7million from £2.4million for the previous year.

The club's profit before tax increased massively to £27.7million from £600,000 with retained profit for the year £18.9million.

Chairman Daniel Levy insists the club will continue to prioritise investment in team personnel plus stadium and training facilities.

"All parts of the business have continued to perform well to produce record revenues and profits," he said in his chairman's statement.

"Cash generation has been strong. Our priorities for the club are focused on continued development of the first team where we have built an exceptionally talented squad, progressing our state-of-the-art training centre and the development of an improved, larger stadium."

Here we reproduce the whole part of Levy's speech regarding the training facilities and the stadium:

There is no doubt that our two key capital projects, the Football Training Centre (First Team and Academy) and the Stadium are fundamental features of our future plans for the Club.

A new planning application has been submitted for the Football Training Centre at Bull's Cross, Enfield. The recent purchase of Whitewebbs Sports Club has provided the opportunity to significantly remodel the layout and design of the site, leading to a positive planning balance, a better proposal, one which will have less impact on the Green Belt land, with only 3% comprising of buildings.

In light of this, we have withdrawn our appeal of the previous application and are currently seeking the support of all our stakeholders for the new proposal. The Centre will be important in sustaining the Club’s position in domestic and European competition, developing home grown talent, which in turn benefits the national team, and in extending the benefits associated with professional football to the wider community through an extensive and innovative community outreach programme to be delivered by The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.

The Planning Committee of the London Borough of Enfield will meet to discuss this application in November 2007. Our hope is that we are able to achieve consent at local level for this facility, which is not only in the interest of the Club but addresses local and national agendas as well as providing a potential training facility for the Olympics.

Our review of Stadium options is now substantially complete. I can report that a limited number of potential sites have been identified in the London Boroughs of Enfield and Haringey including the expansion possibilities of the existing stadium. These obviously remain highly sensitive on commercial grounds, but we are now working to a timetable that will see us commit to one option during the first half of 2008.

I am delighted to announce that Tony Winterbottom, who worked for the Mayor of London as the Executive Director of Regeneration and Development at the London Development Agency, joins a team which is headed by myself, supported by your Finance Director, along with a multi-disciplinary group of architects, transport consultants, heritage specialists, planning consultants and a host of other experts to bring this project to fruition.

The team will work in conjunction with The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation with respect to community affairs. In addition we are in discussion with Council bodies, the LDA, Transport for London, the GLA, the Mayor’s office and local and central government officials. There has been initial consultation with supporters and their representative groups and this will be an ongoing process".

Meanwhile, Tottenham have confirmed vice-chairman Paul Kemsley has left the club. The Chairman revealed Kemsley has resigned from his position as non-executive chairman to focus on his business interests in the United States.

"It is with regret that I announce the resignation of Paul Kemsley as non-executive vice chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football & Athletic Co Ltd with effect from this year's forthcoming general meeting.

"Paul has recently expanded his property business interests in the United States and feels that inevitably his time spent overseas will impact upon his ability to fulfil his role with the club. Paul has worked with me for the past six years at the club and I thank him for his advice and counsel during this period."

Mr Levy had this to say about matters on the pitch:

"Player movements in the latter half of the year have been far less than in previous years, an indication that much of the rebuilding of the squad has been achieved. Last season saw us integrate a number of new players who have since settled well and now embark on a second season in European competition.

The following players have joined since we last reported: Darren Bent, Gareth Bale, Younes Kaboul and Kevin-Prince Boateng for the First Team; Adel Taarabt’s loan became a permanent move; Hossam Ahmed Mido joined and departed. Exciting younger players to join our Academy included Yuri Berchiche, Danny Rose and Dean Parrett.

Danny Murphy, Reto Ziegler, Mark Yeates and Emil Hallfredsson left the Club and Rodrigo Defendi, Rob Burch and Charlie Lee were released. We wish them all well.

I am pleased to report that, during the year, sixteen of our First Team professional players were called up to represent their respective national teams and this reinforces the continued quality of our current squad of players.

Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas were both offered and signed new, extended contracts. We very much hope Jermain Defoe will also extend his contract with the Club. We have progressively introduced an increased element of performance related remuneration into player contracts designed to reward success.

Our Academy re-structuring continues to produce excellent results. During last season five graduates from the Academy moved to professional contracts as third year, full-time players. A further seven moved to the Development Team under Clive Allen at the end of the season. The same period saw eight Academy scholars called up for international duty, along with six of our schoolboys. Most notably Thomas Pekhart who at 18 has played for the Czech Republic in the U20 World Cup in Canada.

The Academy participated in four international youth competitions and was successful in winning the prestigious Verona tournament. During the pre season our U18s won the Eurofoot tournament, this age group being a flagship group for the Academy with players showing potential for the First Team.

Our pre-season tour of South Africa was a great success. We enjoy strong historical support, enhanced by the previous tour in 2003 when we supported the South African bid to host the 2010 World Cup. The team returned from the tour victorious in the Vodacom Challenge. The players undertook several corporate social responsibility visits and were congratulated on their contribution throughout the tour. Their behaviour and conduct made them a credit to our Club.

An extended association was established with South Africa with the announcement of our partnership with SuperSport United, a Premier Soccer League (PSL) team owned by SuperSport, that will see the Clubs’ academies working together. It represents an excellent opportunity for coaching exchanges and the development of talent both for ourselves and also for the benefit of the South African game. SuperSport is one of the largest broadcasters in Africa, broadcasting to 57 countries and the relationship will result in extensive coverage of both the Club and the joint academy throughout the continent."

UEFA CUP DRAW

We have been drawn against Anderlecht, Getafe, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Aalborg BK in Group G of the UEFA Cup.

We will open our UEFA Cup Group Stage campaign with a home fixture against Getafe on Thursday October 25 (8.45pm Malta Time).

This will be followed by a trip to Tel Aviv to take on Hapoel on Thursday November 8 before Match day three brings the visit of Aalborg to the Lane on Thursday November 29 (8.45pm Malta Time).

For our last group game we travel to Belgium for the encounter with Anderlecht on either Wednesday December 5 or Thursday December 6.

PHIL IFIL JOINS SAINTS ON LOAN

Southampton have signed Tottenham Hotspur right-back Phil Ifil on a three-month loan deal.
Saints boss George Burley has been busy boosting his defensive options in the last seven days, having also brought in Christian Dailly and Lucien Mettomo.

The 20-year-old has made only a handful of first-team appearances for Spurs, having been loaned out to Millwall the season before last. Burley told the club's official website: "Phil is a young defender with a lot of potential and he wants first-team football.

"He will add to our defensive options. That is an area where we need to be stronger and he is certainly a player I like.

"He has a good pedigree. He has quality on the ball, good energy and he is very quick."

ALNWICK LOANED TO LUTON

Luton have completed the signing of Tottenham goalkeeper Ben Alnwick on a three-month loan.
The 20-year-old goes straight into Kevin Blackwell’s squad for Saturday’s League One clash against Huddersfield.
Alnwick joined Spurs from Sunderland in January 2007 in a move that could net his former club a total of £1.3 million.
He has yet to make an appearance for us but in the summer was named in England Under-21s’ squad for the European Championships in Holland.

TAARABT SPEAKS TO THE "DAILY MAIL"

The street fighter who wows the White Hart Lane crowds - is this the next Zidane?
By DANNY GRIFFITHS

Adel Taraabt has revealed he wants to become the new Zinedine Zidane by hitting the heights with Tottenham.

The skilful French teenager has already sent pulses racing on the White Hart Lane terraces with his entertaining cameo performances
And he has promised to carefully nurture and develop the abilities which have marked him out as a special player since he was a boy.
"I love getting the ball and running at people," Taarabt told the Hotspur magazine. "It started when I was playing in the streets in Marseilles, I have always attacked.
"The supporters love it and that's what I try to do when I come on. I wasn't nervous playing when I played against Chelsea. I was stunned and excited. I got given a nice welcome when Claude Makelele made his first tackle on me."
Taraabt can play across midfield but believes his best position is attacking just behind the two strikers. "It's not my position on the left," he added.
"But if the coach asks me to play there then I will give 100 per cent. I think I've got good technique. I play with both feet but my heading skills are not the greatest. I am not too keen on defending but my strongest point is dribbling and taking people on.
"I have to please the fans, otherwise I am in trouble. Playing with the team always helps improve your confidence and now it's up to me to show that I am worth a starting place."
Taarabt joined Spurs on a permanent move from Lens in the summer after being with the French club since he was 11.
"I didn't know much about this club, but I did know Spurs were one of the top five teams in England," said Taarabt, who has represented France at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level.
"I had heard of Damien Comolli, who contacted me. I spoke to Chelsea and Manchester United, but I am realistic. I thought I could develop quicker at Spurs. In France, it is like a chess game, with far more tactics, but here it is more open, very fast."
And he said of the suggestions he can become the new Zidane, who also grew up learning his unique football skills on the streets of Marseilles: "I am hoping to become that but it is my agent's opinion. Other people have said this as well. I just want to reach that level."

LEVY REACTS TO SPECULATION ABOUT MARTIN JOL

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has slammed the constant speculation over Martin Jol's White Hart Lane future.

Following reports that Jol had already quit, arranged a £4m pay-off and was even managing on a match-by-match basis, Levy has acted to put an end to the stories.

Jol had already rubbished claims that he was going, insisting his relationship with Levy is good.

The club yesterday denied there was an emergency board meeting to discuss Jol's successor but Levy has today taken the unprecedented step of putting the blame for all the speculation purely on the media.

He said: "There has been no board meeting, let alone any emergency board meeting, and reports that we have agreed a compensation package with Martin are wholly inaccurate - we have not even discussed the subject and there is no reason to do so.
"We will not allow ourselves to be side-tracked or undermined by external agendas or media hype. Our focus is on winning games."

KABOUL IN MALTA

France will be playing an U/21 friendly match vs Malta on Wednesday 12 September.

We took up the opportunity to meet up with Younes Kaboul during a training session at Ta' Qali National Stadium

Dean Parrett scores v N Ireland

YOUNG LIONS

Andros Townsend and Dean Parrett made their mark for England Under-17s in the 2007 International U17 Tournament.

Both of our youngsters scored in the tournament as England faced Northern Ireland, Turkey and Italy.

They kicked-off in style with a 6-1 demolition of Northern Ireland with Andros scoring twice and Dean, on as a second half substitute, adding the fifth goal at Brentford's Griffin Park.

The second of the three matches saw a 1-1 draw against Turkey at Wycombe. Dean started this time and set up an effort that hit the crossbar but it needed Chelsea's Adam Phillip to secure the draw. Andros was a late substitute in the second half.

The final game resulted in a fine 3-0 win against Italy at Luton's Kenilworth Road on Sunday. Andros started again this time and opened the scoring after 20 minutes, lunging in at the far post to net from a cross from Manchester United's Cameron Stewart. Dean didn't feature in this final fixture.

Andros Townsend vs Italy

CARLING CUP DATE ANNOUNCED

Tottenham Hotspur will face Middlesbrough in the third round of the Carling Cup on Wednesday 26 September at 9.00pm (Malta time).

The match which takes place at White Hart Lane, will be settled on the night by extra time and penalties, if required.

Boro beat Northampton Town 2-0 in the last round

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA FIRST UP IN EUROPE

Following Friday’s UEFA Cup 1st Round draw, we will be playing Anorthosis Famagusta at home in the 1st Leg of the tie on Thursday September 20, kick-off 9pm. This is a season ticket inclusive match. Tickets will be on sale to One Hotspur members from Wednesday September 5 at 9.30am.
The 2nd Leg of the tie will take place in Larnaca, Cyprus, on Thursday October 4. This match will kick-off at 8pm Malta time.

Anorthosis Famagusta have now confirmed that the match will be played in the Antonis Papadopolous stadium which has a capacity of 9,600.

Under UEFA Cup competition rules, Spurs are entitled to an allocation of 5% of the stadium capacity. This allocation will be used to meet all of the Club’s ticket requirements. Priority will be given to One Hotspur Platinum members, subject to ticket availability.

ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA INFO:

Anorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and a volleyball club which comes from Famagusta. It was founded in January 30 1911. After the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, Anorthosis became a refugee team and is temporarily based in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. Anorthosis Home Stadium in occupied Famagusta is G.S.E. (Gymnastic Club Evagoras) which is abandoned and in bad condition since 1974.

Anorthosis won 12 championship titles, their last in season 2004-2005. They have won the Cyprus Cup 10 times (1949, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1971, 1975, 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2007). Additionally, they have won the Super Cup trophy 7 times.

The current president of the team is Andreas Panteli and the current coach is former Georgian International Timur Ketsbaia, who was also a player in the team.

On 26 July 2005 they achieved one of the greatest results in Cypriot football history when they beat the Turkish team Trabzonspor 3-1 in the first leg of their second round Champions League qualifying match. They lost the second leg 1-0 in Turkey, but progressed 3-2 on aggregate. In the third-round qualifying tie against the Scottish team Rangers, Anorthosis lost the first leg 2-1, and the second leg 2-0, so dropped into the first round of the UEFA Cup. They were then defeated 6-1 on aggregate by the Italian team Palermo.

THE STADIUM:

Anorthosis and the other team of Famagusta, Nea Salamis FC used to play until 1974 in GSE Stadium in Famagusta. After Anorthosis became a refugee team, because of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, which resulted in Famagusta, the town that Anorthosis is based in- to fall under the Turkish occupation. The team used several stadiums like Dasaki Stadium in Dasaki Achnas, old and new GSZ Stadium in Larnaca and Tsirion Stadium in Limassol.

Finally in 1986 the team built its own stadium in Larnaca named Antonis Papadopoulos. The initial capacity of the stadium was about 6,000 but gradually increased during the years to 13,000. After a major recondition in 1997, capacity reduced to 9,319 (all seated).

In 2005 the east stand named "Quality Stand" in favor of the club's main sponsor was opened. "Quality Stand" is a two story stand which holds the newly-build VIP Boxes (upper story), Press Room, Dress Rooms, Bar etc.

In 2006 the stadium went through another recondition including the build of VIP Boxes in the upper section of west stand, the launching of the automatic ticketing issue and entrance system, the replacing of metal front fence with clear acrylic glass for security reasons and for maximized field view. Also some other facilities are offered in the west stand such as new restrooms, bar, fan's shop etc.

The stadium also is approved by UEFA for European games. It has hosted some matches of the Cyprus national football team. In that stadium, Cyprus national team achieved its greatest success against Spain by a score 3-2. On May 16, 1992, the stadium hosted the 1992 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship Third position final between Italy and Portugal, where Italy won 1-0.

BARNARD JOINS CREWE ON LOAN

Crewe have completed the signing of striker Lee Barnard on loan until January.
The 23-year-old's arrival at Gresty Road was delayed by a hamstring injury, but he will go straight into the squad for the visit to Swindon on Saturday.
Barnard has made three substitute appearances for Spurs in the Premiership and had previous loan spells at Exeter, Stevenage, Leyton Orient and Northampton.

JENAS SIGNS NEW CONTRACT

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2012.
Jenas, who cost £7m when he signed from Newcastle in 2005, enjoyed a good campaign last year, scoring eight goals despite two months out through injury.
The 24-year-old told tottenhamhotspur.com: "Spurs have the calibre of squad that any player would want to be part of.
"The spirit in the squad is terrific, the club is ambitious and undoubtedly moving forward."

Jenas, capped 17 times by England, added: "I feel I still have a lot of potential to develop further and playing alongside team-mates of this quality will help me do that.
"I am very happy here and would love to stay at Tottenham for the rest of my career."

Martin Jol added: "JJ has made a big contribution over the last two seasons and he is improving as a player all the time.
"His goals from midfield are a vital ingredient for us and he is already off the mark this season.
"I am delighted he has committed his future to the Club because JJ has so much talent and is such a positive player.
"He always wants to learn and that is the right mentality to have, he wants to prove that he is a top player and the sky is the limit for him."

O'HARA LOANED OUT

Jamie O'Hara has joined Millwall on a month's loan. Jamie was in the first team squad a number of times last season and featured again in pre-season friendlies this summer, including the Vodacom Challenge in South Africa. He previously enjoyed a successful loan spell at Chesterfield, again in League One, when he scored five goals in 19 appearances between January and May, 2006

The following article (in Maltese) by Mark Mizzi (the blogger) was published on L-Orizzont on Thursday 23 August 2007. Since part of the article is aboput the Martin Jol situation, we decided to publish it on this blog as well.

MANIGERS FIL-PERIKLU

Ninsabu dehlin fit-tielet gurnata tal-Kampjonat Premier fl-Ingilterra u f’dan l-istadju bikri tal-istagun hemm min diga qed jipprova jbassar x’se jigri, jew ahjar, jaqta’ l-verdetti fuq dak li gara sa issa fejn il-bicca l-kbira tat-timijiet laghabu tlett loghobiet biss u ohrajn laghabu tnejn. Il-Malti jghid li l-gurnata minn fil-ghodu turik izda dan mhux dejjem jghodd ghal-loghoba tal-futbol. Fl-ewwel stadji tal-kampjonat it-timijiet ikun ghadhom qed joqghodu u l-plejers il-godda jkun ghadhom qed jidraw lil shabhom. Plejers li jkunu gew minn barra l-Premier League ikun ghadhom qed jidraw ir-ritmu ta’ dan il-kampjonat u l-klabbs promossi jkun ghadhom qed igawdu minn certu entuzjazmu tal-promozzjoni. Minhabba dan kollu ir-rizultati tal-ewwel loghobiet mhux bil-fors ikunu indikattivi ghal kumplament tal-istagun.

Wara biss tlett loghobiet diga qed jissemmew ukoll il-manigers li jistghu jitilfu posthom. Minkejja li ghadna kwazi ma rajna xejn mill-potenzjal veru tat-timijiet diga hemm manigers li qed jilghabu man-nar u dan jixhed il-pressjoni li jghixu fiha dawn il-manigers fejn kollox jiddependi mir-rizultati. L-aktar zewg ismijiet li qed jissemmew f’dan ir-rigward huma Sammy Lee ta’ Bolton u Martin Jol ta’ Tottenham.

Sammy Lee ha f’idejh it-tim ta’ Bolton wara Sam Allardyce u mill-ewwel kien jidher car li se tkun difficli ghalih biex ikompli fejn halla ta’ qablu. Sam Allardayce kien kollox ghal Bolton. Huwa kien il-bniedem li ta r-ruh lil dan il-klabb u l-persuna li gieghlet lill-istess klabb jemmen aktar fih innifsu u jikber. Allardyce kien kapaci jhajjar plejers ta’ certu kwalita jinghaqdu ma’ Bolton li minghajru it-Trotters qatt ma kienu jimmaginaw li jistghu jakkwistaw.

Allardyce irnexxielu wkoll jiehu l-ahjar minn plejers kwazi skartati minn timijiet ohra. Dan il-maniger ikkonvincihom li ghad baqghalhom x’jaghtu lil futbol u permezz taghhom tella’ lil Bolton f’livelli li ma kinux joholmu bihom qabel.

Izda wiehed mill-akbar attribwiti ta’ Allardyce kien il-pratticita u l-versatilita tieghu. Allardyce kien konxju mill-fatt li l-iskwadra ma setghetx tikkompara ma’ dik tal-klabbs il-kbar izda huwa dejjem laghab loghoba li taqbel ghall-plejers tieghu u li setghet iggiblu r-rizultati. Kontra timijiet komparabbli ma’ Bolton Allardyce qatt ma’ beza jilghab il-futbol mal-art u loghoba offensiva izda kontra timijiet ferm akbar minn Bolton Allardyce dejjem laghab loghoba fejn il-priorita kienet li ma jaqilghux il-gowl u uza l-element tas-sahha fizika li ddejjaq mhux ftit lil plejers li jibbazaw il-loghoba taghhom fuq it-teknika.

Din il-karrateristika tohloq l-akbar kuntrast mal-maniger il-gdid Sammy Lee. Ic-cirkostanzi jkunu dejjem difficli meta maniger jiehu post maniger iehor li jkun ilu ghal hafna snin fil-kariga u jkun gab certu success lill-klabb. Huwa naturali li kull ma jaghmel il-maniger il-gdid se jigi mqabbel ma’ dak li ghamel ta’ qablu u dan ikun ta’ toqol psikologiku kbir fuq il-maniger il-gdid. Lee qed jaghmel minn kollox biex johrog mid-dell ta’ Allardyce u qed jipprova jaghti t-timbru personali tieghu lit-tim biex donnu jaghmel dikjarazzjoni li dan huwa t-tim tieghu u mhux ta’ Allardyce.

Biex jaghmel dan Lee qed jinsa l-principji ta’ pratticita u efficcjenza li permezz taghhom kienu jigu r-rizultati. Lee qed jipprova jilghab futbol aktar attrattiv u pozittiv izda biex jaghmel hekk qed ihalli d-difiza esposta u r-rizultati li gab kemm ilu li ha t-tim f’idejh jikkonfermaw dan. Dak li qed jipprova jaghmel Lee isir aktar gravi meta wiehed jiftakar li matul dan is-Sajf il-klabb tilef lill-aqwa difensur li kellu meta l-Izraeljan Ben Haim inghaqad ma’ Chelsea bi free transfer.

Id-differenza bejn Allardyce u Lee u l-incertezza li qed tirrenja fost il-plejers ta’ Bolton giet mikxufa minn kummenti li ghadda l-kaptin tat-tim Kevin Nolan, li qed jigi milghub f’pozizzjoni aktar avanzata minn qabel. Nolan qal li bhalissa hu stess ma jafx f’liema pozizzjoni qed jilghab. Wara li nbidel fil-loghoba kontra Portsmouth l-istess Nolan qal li ma jafx ghal xhiex inbidel u ta x’wiehed jifhem li m’hemmx pjan car u sens ta’ direzzjoni fit-tim. Il-girjiet ta’ Nolan minn nofs il-grawnd spiccaw minhabba l-fatt li dan qieghed prattikament jilghab bhala t-tielet attakkant.

B’Ben Haim ihalli l-klabb, Diouf jiddikkjara li jrid jitlaq u l-kaptin jghid li ma jafx fejn qed jilghab jidher car li l-ambjent fi hdan Bolton huwa ferm differenti minn dak ta’ zmien Allardyce u se jkun ferm difficli ghal Lee li jerga’ jghaqqad it-tim u jibda jgib ir-rizultati.

F’dan kollu hemm l-id tac-cermen ta’ Bolton Phil Gartside. Kien in-nuqqas ta’ sapport tieghu lejn Allardyce li wassal lil dan tal-ahhar biex jitlaq. Gartside ma kienx wara Allardyce kemm biex jiffinanzja aktar akkwisti u kemm fil-kaz tal-bungs li fihom issemma’ Allardyce. Gartside sahansitra qal ukoll li l-partitarji kienu ddejjqu bil-futbol negattiv ta’ Allardyce. Gartside ghadda dawn il-kummenti wara li Allardyce telaq u qatt ma’ qal xejn meta Bolton kkwalifikaw ghat-Tazza UEFA. Il-partitarji zgur huma aktar imdejjqin bir-rizultati li qed jinkisbu fil-prezent milli bis-sistema ta’ Allardyce.

Il-kummenti ta’ Gartside huma biss skuza biex jiggusitfika it-tluq ta’ Allardyce u l-hatra ta’ Sammy Lee. Lee m’ghandux il-kredenzjali, il-kapacita u fuq kollox il-personalita biex ikompli b’fejn halla Allardyce. Izda forsi n-nuqqas ta’ personalita ta’ Lee kienet il-kriterju principali li fuqu Gartside iddecieda li jahtru maniger. B’Lee fit-tmun Gartside zgur jista’ jkollu aktar influenza u sahha fid-decizjonijiet li jirrigwardaw it-tim milli jista’ qatt ikollu b’maniger bil-personalita ta’ Allardyce.

L-izball dwar Lee sar meta nhatar. L-izball dwar il-maniger l-iehor fil-periklu jista’ jsir fil-gimghat li gejjin meta, jekk il-pronostici jsiru realta, jitnehha minn postu.

Tottenham bdew dan l-istagun bil-pretensjoni li jistghu jiggieldu ghall-wiehed mill-ewwel erba’ postijiet tal-kampjonat izda ma’ setax kellhom bidu aghar wara li sofrew telfa kontra t-tim promoss ta’ Sunderland u ohra kontra Everton f’darhom. Ir-rebha gta’ 4-0 fuq Derby County m’ghamlet xejn biex tnehhi l-pressjoni minn fuq il-maniger Martin Jol u hemm min ghadu jinsisti li dawn huma l-ahhar gimghat ghall-maniger Olandiz f’Londra.

Il-fjammi tal-ispekulazzjoni dwar Jol komplew jissahhu hekk kif gurnal Spanjol ippubblika ritratti ta’ dirigenti ta’ Tottenham jitkellmu mal-kowc prezenti ta’ Sevilla Juande Ramos u l-agent tieghu Alvaro Torres. Ramos cahad din l-ispekulazzjoni u qal li l-laqgha kienet wahda privata. Tottenham qalu li s-segretarju tal-klabb John Alexander kien Spanja ghal-laqgha privata ma’ Torres izda ma qalu xejn dwar il-fatt li ghall-istess laqgha kienu prezenti wkoll Ramos u l-vici-cerman tal-klabb Paul Kemsley. Ic-cahdiet ufficcjali ma kkonvincewx u x-xnieghat li Ramos jista’ jiehu post Jol qed jissahhu.

X’jigri fil-futur huwa kwazi irrelevanti u, irrispettivament minn kemm hemm verita f’dawn l-istejjer, Martin Jol zgur li m’ghadux ihossu komdu fil-pozizzjoni tieghu. Il-fatt li Tottenham ma rnexxielhomx ixejjnu din l-ispejulazzjoni b’certu sahha jitfghu lill-kowc Olandiz f’incertezza kbira u dan mhux se jghin lit-tim jilhaq il-miri tieghu

Id-dirigenti ta’ Tottenham qed jitfghu pressjoni enormi fuq Jol minhabba l-investiment li ghamlu fit-tim. Minkejja dan l-investiment Tottenham xorta ma solvewx il-problemi li kellhom qabel. In-nuqqas ta’ winger fuq ix-xellug ilu jinhass sentejn u n-nuqqas ta’ midfielder difensiv ilu ovvju minn meta telaq Michael Carrick. Jekk Jol talab plejers f’dawn il-pozizzjonjiiet u l-klabb naqas li jakkwistohom allura l-klabb ghandu jerfa’ r-responsabbilita ta’ dak li qed jigri u mhux jitfaghha fuq il-maniger.

Barra minhekk, l-investiment kbir li ghamel il-klabb ftit li xejn jista jaghti l-frott tieghu meta Jol jinsab imxekkel b’numru rekord ta’ plejers imwegga’. Bid-difiza kollha nieqsa flimkien ma’ plejers bhal Aaron Lennon, Jol ftit li xejn jista’ jisfrutta l-potenzjal tal-iskwadra tieghu. Meta fl-istagun li ghadda Chelsea tilfu numru ta’ punti fin-nuqqas ta’ John Terry kulhadd qabel li n-nuqqas tad-difensur centrali Ingliz kien il-kagun tat-telf ta’ dawn il-punti. Tottenham tilfu zewg loghobiet bid-difiza kolha nieqsa u l-htija qed tintefa’ fuq il-maniger!

Meta Martin Jol ha t-tim f’idejh huwa, flimkien mal-klabb, nieda pjan ta’ hames snin u fl-ahhar zewg staguni irnexxielu jispicca fil-hames post. Din hija pozizzjoni aljena ghal Spurs fl-ahhar snin u Jol ghandu jinghata l-mertu li wassal lil Tottenham sa hawn wara staguni fil-medjokrita ta’ nofs il-klassifika. Jol issa ghandu jinghata c-cans iwassal il-pjan tieghu fi tmiemu u ghandu jigi gudikat meta jkollu l-ahjar plejers ghad-dizpozizzjoni tieghu. Fuq kollox hu ghandu jigi gudikat waqt li jithalla jahdem fil-kalma u mhux f’ambjent fejn, kif qal huwa stess, qed ihossu jigi mminnat minn xi persuni fil-klabb stess.

Il-bdil ta’ kowc kull perjodu qasir ta’ zmien mhux ricetta ghas-success. Fil-klabb irid ikun hemm certu konsistnza u stabbilita. Zewg telfiet b’nofs tim wara zewg staguni fil-hames post m’ghandhomx ihassru x-xoghol li sar sa issa biex kollox jerga’ jibda mill-gdid. Jekk jninhatar maniger gdid issa dan se jghid li huwa ghandu bzonn iz-zmien izda jinsab kunfidenti li fi zmien hames snin Tottenham ikunu qed jiggieldu ghall-unuri. U hekk jerga’ jibda ciklu gdid li probabbli flok hames snin jerga jdum biss tlett snin u l-klabb jibqa’ fejn ikun.

Barra minn hekk, li tawtorizza l-kowc jonfoq mal-40 miljun lira sterlina u mbaghad tibdlu wara l-ewwel gimghat tal-istagun mhux xhieda ta’ tmexxija serja u ghaqlija. Minghajr ma nidhol fil-mertu ta jekk Jol jistax iwassal lil Tottenham sal-quccata jew le, id-decizjoni, jekk kellha tittiehed, kellha tittiehed matul is-Sajf u mhux fil-bidu tal-istagun.

Id-decizjoni dwar Jol, meta u jekk tittiehed, ma tkunx tirrigwarda biss il-futbol izda wkoll il-politika interna tal-klabb. Martin Jol kien inghaqad mal-klabb bhala assistent ta’ Jacques Santini li rrezenja wara ftit xhur b’Jol jehodlu postu. Meta saru l-hatriet originali kien deher ovvju li l-hatra ta’ Santini kienet gejja mic-cerman tal-klabb Daniel Levy fil-waqt li dik ta’ Jol kienet stigata mid-direttur tal-futbol ta’ dak iz-zmien l-Olandiz Frank Arnesen. Illum Arnesen m’ghadux mal-klabb u effettivament Tottenham ghandhom maniger li mhux bil-fors huwa l-ewwel ghazla tac-cermen.

Wara t-tluq ta Arnesen, Levy hatar lil-Franciz Comolli bhala Direttur tal-Futbol u dan, ovvjament, ma’ kellu l-ebda sehem fl-ghazla ta’ Jol. Tottenham qed juzaw sistema kontinentali li fiha il-kowc ikollu x’jaqsam mal-ewwel tim fil-waqt li d-direttur tal-futbol huwa responsabbli tal-oqsma kollha tal-klabb inkluzi t-trasferimenti u hatriet importanti. Din il-kariga ghanda hafna sahha fil-klabb u bhalissa tezisti sitwazzjoni fejn fiha hemm persuna maghzula mic-cermen fil-waqt li l-kowc qieghed hemm fuq l-insistenza ta’ direttur tal-futbol li llum qieghed ma’ Chelsea.

Kif diga semmejna dan kollu jista’ jkun spekulazzjoni. Izda x-xnieghat huma persistenti wisq u hemm numru kbir ta’ sorsi differenti li qed jaqblu li Tottenham qed jikkunsidraw bis-serjeta il-futur ta’ Jol. Il-qazba ma caqcaqx ghal xejn u jekk Tottenham ma jirnexxielhomx ixejjnu din l-ispekulazzjoni malajr, Jol jista’ jhoss li ma jistax izomm il-pozizzjoni tieghu u d-decizjoni jista’ jehodha hu stess.

NOTA- L-ARTIKLU INKITEB QABEL IL-LAQGHA BEJN IL-BORD TAD-DIRETTURI TA' SPURS U JOL FEJN DAN GIE MGHARRAF LI SE JIBQA' FIL-KARIGA BIL-PATT LI TOTTENHAM JIKKWALIFIKAW GHAC-CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. PRATTIKAMENT A STAY OF EXECUTION U JOL JISTA' JITLEF POSTU JEW JITLAQ HEKK KIF IR-RIZULTATI JIBDEW JINDIKAW LI DAN L-GHAN MA JISTAX JINTLAHAQ. IC-CHAIRMAN TA' TOTTENHAM DANIEL LEVY QAL LI L-KLABB NEFAQ HAFNA FLUS U JISTENNA LI JISPICCA MAL-EWWEL ERBGHA. LI MA QALX LEVY HU LI MINKEJJA LI NEFAQ HAFNA FLUS, IL-PROBLEMI TA' HOLDING MIDFIELDER U LEFT WINGER BAQGHU MA GEWX INDIRIZZATI.