JERMAINE IS BACK

Jermain Defoe returned to White Hart Lane on Tuesday night then saw his former team respond to a half-time rollicking from Harry Redknapp to move within sight of a second Wembley appearance in 12 months.

Defoe milked the applause of the White Hart Lane faithful and admitted, on his return to Tottenham, that he never wanted to leave. Defoe was introduced to the crowd before last night's 4-1 win over Burnley and was taken aback by the response.
"It's great to be back," he said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's hard to put it in words – it's brilliant. I had been looking forward to it all day.
"A number of things made me return. Obviously everyone knows the manager was a major factor; my family still live in London and the fans were a factor, too – you can tell by the reception I got.
"I never wanted to leave, but as a professional there comes a time when you think you need to move on. I did, in order to improve my England career. But I didn't want to go in the first place."

WELCOME BACK YIDDO !!!!!

VIEW FROM THE PARK LANE

by Mark Mizzi

This article will be published in the next edition of "The Cockerel"

In my first article of this series Spurs were in deep crisis, had collected just two points and the future did not look good at all. In that piece I wrote that the Club should give Ramos more time to turn it round.

I am writing this article on Christmas day. Ramos was given some more time but results did not improve. He was sacked and Harry Redknapp was installed in his place. I got the news from our Secretary Alex Cilia who texted me at 6.30am!

Though I always advocate consistency, I don’t think the Club had an alternative. Ramos is a top coach but the simple fact is that it was not working for him in the Premiership. Yes he won us the League Cup, but league results were nothing to write home about.

It was crystal clear that Ramos had lost the dressing room and the players wanted a change. His message was not coming across and the players were baffled by some of the tactical decisions. The language barrier did not help and it was not that easy for Ramos to change things during games. His lack of fluent English prevented one to one communication with the players and man management was inexistent.

Redknapp is known to be a very good man manager and a great motivator. In a few weeks he has instilled confidence and belief in our players and results have changed. The transformation of error prone Heurelho Gomes and Michael Dawson from accidents waiting to happen to strong and reliable players exemplifies Redknapp’s man management skills.

The players are happier, they know their roles and want to play for the new gaffer. As one journalist once said, it’s doesn’t matter whether you are a great coach or not. What matters is that you make your players want to play for you. Harry has certainly achieved this and more.

At the time of writing we are still in the middle of a relegation battle and the team is still prone to mistakes that cost vital points. Gomes’ error against Fulham, the soft goal conceded against Everton at the Lane and the last minute undeserved defeat against Newcastle show that we are still work in progress. But progress there has been. Just ask Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United fans.

I was at the Park Lane for the Blackburn and Everton games. We won one and lost the other but the experience was still great. Harry is turning it around in the League, we are in the semi-final of the League Cup and in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup while the Club has announced plans for a new stadium. The Academy is also doing very well and some of the boys have had the chance to be in the first squad.

A disastrous season may still turn out to be a positive one. Much depends on the January transfer window. Our attack is still very weak and with a proven striker we will be challenging in the top half of the table.

Redknapp has also got to strengthen the defence. Ledley King is a fantastic player but he is chronically injured, does not train between games and every match is touch and go for him. I am not saying we should discard Ledley. He will always be the King of the Lane but top drawer cover is needed very urgently.

I have been saying that we need a top class holding midfielder for about three years. Redknapp has come in and the first thing he said was that the squad is not balanced and the team lacks strength in midfield.. Let’s hope that the Club listens to Harry and this post- Michael Carrick problem is solved once and for all.

In closing I want to say a couple of words about the new stadium. A round of applause to Daniel Levy for deciding to stay in the same area. I always believed that the area is the heart and soul of any club and moving away is just not right. Tottenham Hotspur FC would not be the same out of Tottenham. If anything, the new stadium will be closer to Northumberland Park and Tottenham Marshes where our beloved Spurs started gracing English football.

The new stadium will be adjacent to White Hart Lane. The location and designs will ensure that the Club is able to remain in the area even during construction. The change from the old to the new stadium will take place over the course of one season and at no stage will capacity be less than that of the current stadium.

Architecturally the stadium design looks fantastic. Being a traditionalist I have to say I am a bit sceptic about its general bowl shape. Square stadiums are the hallmark of English football but sadly they are disappearing. What encourages me is that, according to the Chairman and the design company, the stands will be distinct from each other. We have not seen any interior projections yet but what I am hoping for is a modern trendy stadium on the outside and an English traditional “squarish” stadium on the inside.

Till next time…Come On You Spurs

Mark Mizzi- 25 December 2008
maltayid1882@gmail.com
www.spursmalta.blogspot.com

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR ANNOUNCE NEW STADIUM PLANS

The Club has recently announced plans for a new 60,000 seater stadium next to White Hart Lane. Here we reproduce excerpts from the official announcement as it appeared on the Club's official website

The Club is delighted to announce that, having concluded an extensive review of suitable sites and viable alternatives, its preferred stadium option is to remain at the Club's spiritual home in Tottenham - the option known to be the fans' favourite.

The existing 36,000 capacity stadium has remained unchanged for over a decade and the club is currently in the position of having 70,000 registered club members and a waiting list for season tickets of around 22,000 people.

The Club is preparing plans for a world class scheme incorporating a new stadium, Club museum, shops and homes, new facilities for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and important public space. The plans will enable the team to remain at the current site throughout construction.

Daniel Levy, Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club said:
"The Northumberland Development Project would deliver a world class scheme and substantial new investment for Haringey and our supporters. It represents a significant step in the growth of the Club, with a proposed stadium capacity of 60,000 and would provide state-of-the-art facilities, important public space, new jobs and homes and a significant boost for the local economy.
"It would also enable us to provide a new base for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation so that its award winning programmes can continue and have an even greater impact in the local community.
"Tottenham Hotspur is proud of its roots in Haringey. We have been in the Borough for 126 years and the Club is inextricably linked with this part of London. We believe that this scheme has the potential to create a truly inspirational environment for the Club and the community as well as acting as the catalyst for the uplift of the wider area.
"We are at an early stage of what is part of our long term plans for the Club and now we want the views of local people and our fans. I hope people will take the time to look at our plans and let us have their comments."

Councillor George Meehan, Leader of Haringey Council, said:
"I am delighted that Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed its commitment to remain in our borough.
"We have always regarded Spurs as one of Haringey's prime assets. They bring major economic benefits to our borough and carry out some excellent community work through the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
"But more than anything, Spurs has played an integral role in giving a sense of identity to the area it calls home. Tottenham would not be Tottenham without its football club.
"We have been working extremely hard to regenerate the Tottenham area, which suffered so much from industrial decline. Real progress is being made, and it is extremely pleasing that Spurs has demonstrated that they share our commitment to this continuing regeneration.
"But, as always, we will consider very carefully any plans that are submitted to us, as we strive to ensure that a new stadium delivers real benefits for all who live and work in the area."

The plans, which will be unveiled at the first public exhibition later this month, cover an area of around 20 acres including the site of the current ground and the adjacent industrial estate. The new stadium would be sited largely to the North of the existing one.

In policy terms, the area is within the 'Tottenham High Road Regeneration Corridor' and identified in the Haringey Unitary Development Plan (UDP) as a "major site for potential redevelopment" to act as a "catalyst for prime regeneration".

The transport infrastructure around the stadium is already in place, with 4 stations (White Hart Lane, Northumberland Park, Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale) and over 100 buses an hour serving the stadium area. Together these deliver a total capacity in excess of 90,000 passengers an hour.

On Friday 14 November, the Club will launch a special section of the website dedicated to our future plans. Please visit it at www.tottenhamhotspur.com/futureplans to see the emerging plans and to let us have your comments.

Whilst we are at the beginning of a long process, should we receive the necessary planning permissions, preference will be given to existing season ticket holders and corporate customers to retain their status in a new stadium. Priority for any new season tickets will go to our One Hotspur Bronze members, who make up our season ticket waiting list. Any current season ticket holders who are interested in obtaining additional tickets for friends and/or family members in a new stadium will therefore need to ensure those individuals are signed up to the One Hotspur Bronze membership scheme.

HARRY REDKNAPP FLOK JUANDE RAMOS

Dan l-artiklu gie pubblikat fuq "L-Orizzont" tal-Hamis 30 ta' Ottubru 2008

Fil-gimghat li ghaddew tkellimna dwar il-krizi ta’ Tottenham Hotspur. Dakinhar kont ghidt li l-aghar haga li setghu jaghmlu Tottenham kienet li jkeccu l-maniger u jergghu jibdew mil-gdid. Izda minn dakinhar ‘l hawn is-sitwazzjoni ggravat u fl-anniversarju tat-tkeccija ta’ Martin Jol u l-hatra ta’ Ramos, l-istess Ramos sab ruhu bla xoghol.

Il-partitarji ta’ Tottenham kienu qed jistennew xi haga ssehh. Is-sitwazzjoni kienet saret tali li l-affarijiet ma setghux jibqghu sejrin kif kienu. Kritici, gurnalisti u partitarji stennew li il-mannara kienet se taqa’ fuq ras id-Direttur tal-Futbol Damien Comolli. Comolli kien fil-mira tal-partitarji minhabba l-percezzjoni generali li dan falla fis-suq tat-trasferimenti u m’akkwistax dawk il-plejers mitluba minn Ramos.

Il-loghoba tal-Hadd li ghadda kontra Bolton kella tkun immarkata minn protesta tal-partitarji kontra c-cermen ta’ Tottenham Daniel Levy b’wiehed mill-appelli ppjanati jkun propju it-tkeccija ta’ Comolli. It-tkeccija ta’ Comolli ma kienet se tbiddel xejn fil-grawnd u dan Levy gharfu tajjeb. Huwa gharaf ukoll kif inehhi t-tapit minn taht saqajn il-partitarji billi bejn is-Sibt u l-Hadd mhux biss nehha lil Comolli izda wkoll lill-maniger Juande Ramos u l-assistenti tieghu Gus Poyet u Marcos Alvarez. Fil-ghodu il-partitarji ta’ Tottenham sebhu bl-ahbar li Harry Redknapp kien inhatar maniger gdid.

Levy ma waqafx hawn. Mal-hatra ta’ Redknapp huwa habbar li l-klabb kien se jmur lura lejn sistema tradizzjonali ta’ maniger Ingliz li jkun ukoll inkarigat mit-trasferimenti u hekk se jabbanduna s-sistema ta’ Direttur tal-Futbol li tant gabet antipatija mill-partitarji.

B’dawn id-decizjonjiet Levy laqat zewg ghasafar b’gebla wahda. Fuq naha agixxa b’mod li halla l-partitarji minghajr ebda skop jew lok ta’ protesta ghax tahom li riedu u fl-istess hin rega’ gibed is-simpatija tal-midja Ingliza li tant attakkat u kkritikat ‘il klabb taht it-tmexxija tieghu.

Ic-cermen ta’ Tottenham tkellem ukoll dwar it-trasferimenti u ammetta r-responsabbilita tal-klabb li ma rnexxielux jakkwista sostituti ta’ Keane u Berbatov

Levy nizel minn fuq il-pedestal tieghu u ghamel dak li riedu n-nies. Barra minn hekk lill-partitarji tahom maniger tan-nies. Redknapp huwa maniger li, f’sens metaforiku, jitkellem l-istess lingwa li jitkellmu l-partitarji u r-relazzjoni tieghu mal-midja hija wahda tajba. Bid-decizjonijiet tieghu Levy mar lura lejn il-bazi u se jerga’ jaghti laqta’ Ingliza lill-klabb li, bhal f’hafna klabbs ohra, kienet sparixxiet. Minn mira tal-kritici Levy sar bniedem li qed jerga’ jaghti cans lill-klassi tal-manigers Inglizi fi klabb ambizzjuz.

Izda x’wassal ghad-decizjoni ta’ Levy u shabu id-dirigenti ta’ Tottenham li sena biss wara li kkommettew ruhhom ghal wiehed mill-akbar kuntratti manigerjali fl-Ingilterra jiddeciedu li jnehhu lill-istess maniger u t-tim tekniku tieghu biex minfloku jahtru lil Redknapp? Hawn ta’ min jibda biex jghid li jekk il-hatra ta’ Redknapp kienet sorpriza ghal kulhadd, mhux hekk kienet ghall-istess Levy li fl-ewwel kummenti tieghu, qal li kien vicin li jakkwista l-firma ta’ Redknapp darbtejn ohra.

Il-karriera tal-manigers hija marbuta mar-rizultati u r-rizultati ghal Tottenham ma gewx. Fl-ewwel stagun tieghu ma’ Tottenham Ramos rebah il-League Cup izda l-forma fil-kampjonat ma tjiebet xejn minn dik li beda l-ahhar stagun tieghu ma’ Spurs Martin Jol. Mir-rebh tal-League Cup lil hawn Ramos rebah biss tlett loghobiet tal-kampjonat u dan ir-rekord negattiv ma setax iregi fi klabb li l-ambizzjoni tieghu hi li jiccalingja lill-ewwel erba’ timijiet.

Ir-ragunijiet ghal dawn ir-rizultati negattivi jistghu ikunu hafna. Wiehed irid jaghmilha cara li dan ma jfissirx li Ramos huwa maniger hazin. Bhal hafna ohrajn kont fahhart il-hatra ta’ Ramos ma’ Tottenham ghax il-kwalitajiet ta’ dan il-maniger huma indiskutibbli. Ramos huwa kowc b’kapacitajiet kbar imma l-avventura tieghu fl-Ingilterra ma hadmitx.

Kif qal Levy, dan ma kienx tort ta’ xi individwu izda tort kollettiv. Madanakollu fl-ahhar mill-ahhar il-maniger huwa responsabbli tar-rizultati. L-ideali hu li zzomm l-istess maniger, taghtih aktar zmien u thallih jasal fejn irid. Il-problema ta’ Tottenham hi li ma kellhomx aktar zmien, Tottenham ga tilfu punti prezzjuzi kontra timijiet li suppost qed jiggieldu kontra r-relegazzjoni u d-dirigenti ma setghux jibqghu b’idejhom fuq zaqqhom.

Il-kunfidenza tal-plejers ta’ Tottenham sparixxiet u l-plejers kellhom bzonn bidla biex almenu psikologikament jibdew pagna gdida. Din ma kinitx l-uniku problema. Bil-vantagg tar-retrospettiva kien car li l-plejers ma kinux kuntenti taht Ramos. Tajjeb kemm hu tajjeb Ramos, il-plejers ma riduhx u fl-ahhar mill-ahhar ghaddiet taghhom. Huma l-plejers li jaghmlu jew ikissru maniger. Bil od il-mod qed johrog car li uhud mill-plejers ta’ Tottenham imminnaw lil Ramos u anki tkellmu kontrih mad-dirigenza tal-klabb.

Kummenti ta’ plejers bhal David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas u Jonathan Woodgate hargu fil-berah dak li kienu qed jahsbu l-plejers ta’ Tottenham fid-dressing room. Il-messagg ta’ Ramos ma kienx qed jasal u tattikament hadd ma kien cert mir-rwol tieghu. Id-decizjonijiet ta’ Ramos li jaghmel bidliet numeruzi f’kull loghoba kemm fil-plejers u kemm fil-pozizzjonijiet taghhom kienu bdew jaghtu l-impressjoni li ma kienx jafx x’inhu l-ahjar tim tieghu u dan kompla hawwad il-plejers u ghaqqadhom kontrieh.

Dan kollu gie kkonfermat mill-atteggjament tal-assistent ta’ Ramos Gus Poyet li kellu l-inkarigu li jkun il-pont bejn il-maniger u l-plejers. Ghall-ewwel din is-sistema kienet qed tahdem izda meta l-plejers bdew iressqu l-ilmenti taghhom ma’ Poyet u dan ma kienx qed ikollu rispons pozittiv minghand Ramos, sab ruhu f’sitwazzjoni difficli. F’ghajnejn Ramos Poyet seta’ deher li qed imur kontrieh fil-waqt li f’ghajenjn il-plejers deher li mhux qed jaqdi dmiru u jwassal il-messagg taghhom lill-maniger.

Id-differenza fl-atteggjament ta’ Poyet kienet cara. Fejn qabel dejjem kien jitkellem b’mod li jidher spalla ma’ spalla ma’ Ramos, fl-ahhar gimghat beda joqghod lura u donnu ried juri li hu ma kienx parti mid-decizjonijiet li ma kinux qed jinzlu tajjeb mal-plejers.

Il-lingwa lanqas ghinet lil Ramos iwassal il-messagg tieghu kif xtaq. Ghalkemm Ramos kien imexxi t-tahrig bl-Ingliz hu ma kellux il-kmand tal-lingwa biex jwassal il-messagg li jrid b’kunfidenza u b’awtorita. Dan id-difett kien jidher aktar meta jkun irid ibiddel xi haga waqt il-loghobiet u sar aktar gravi meta Poyet beda jzomm pass lura anki fuq it-touchline biex ikompli jiskolpa ruhu mid-decizjonijiet ta’ Ramos. Dan kollu naqqas l-awtorita ta’ Ramos fuq il-plejers u, kif deher fl-ahhar gimghat, tellfu d-dressing room.

Il-mitstoqsija l-kbira issa hi fejn se jmorru Tottenham b’Redknapp. Bhal kollox l-ghazla ta’ Levy ghandha l-pozittiv u n-negattiv. F’dawn l-ahhar snin Tottenham kellhom plejers zghazagh li kulhadd stenna li se jsiru stilel kbar. Dawn mhux biss m’ghamlux progress izda uhud minnhom ghamlu rigress. Plejers bhal Lennon, Huddlestone, Bale, Zokora u Jenas m’ghamlu ebda progress notevoli fil-waqt li plejers bhal Michael Dawson u Paul Robinson ghamlu marru lura.

Min-naha l-ohra Harry Redknapp huwa maghruf li jiehu l-ahjar mill-plejers tieghu u jaf jizviluppa l-plejers. Il-paraguni huma odjuzi imma m’hemmx ezempju ahjar minn paragaun bejn Paul Robinson u David James li nghaqad ma’ Portsmouth u rega rebah il-flokk numru wiehed tat-tim nazzjonali Ngliz.

Harry Redknapp ghandu wkoll esperjenza kbira f’kull livell tal-futbol Ingliz u huwa motivatur kbir. Fis-sitwazzjoni kritika li jinsabu fiha fil-mument Spurs zgur li ghandhom bzonn kemm lil xi hadd li jaf tajjeb il-loghoba Ingliza u kif ukoll lil xi hadd li jista’ jgholli l-moral u jimmotiva l-plejers. Kien ovvju li Ramos, kemm minhabba n-nuqqas ta’ kmand komdu tal-lingwa u kemm minhabba li kien qed jigi imminat min-numru ta’ plejers, dan ma setax jaghmlu.

L-ammissjoni ta’ Ledley King li taht Redknapp il-plejers kien qishom nehhew balla minn fuq l-istonku u s-sodisfazzjoi tieghu ghax il-klabb hatar maniger Ingliz tghid kollox fuq kif kienu qed iharsu lejn Ramos il-plejers fl-ahhar gimghat.

Il-lingwa u l-konoxxenza tieghu tal-ambjent tal-futbol Ingliz tghin lil Redknapp ikun ahjar f’dak li huwa man management. Tghinu aktar ikun qrib il-plejers u jikkomunika ahjar maghhom biex b’hekk jiehu l-ahjar minnhom u jtihom il-kunfidenza li ghandhom bzonn. Ramos bata hafna f’dan l-aspett. Dan ix-xoghol pprova jaghmlu Poyet izda s-sistema ma hadmitx. Il-plejers iridu maniger biex ikellimhom direttament, jispirahom u jimmotivohom. Meta dan ix-xoghol jithalla f’idejn haddiehor l-awtorita u r-rispett jintilfu.

Redknapp se jgawdi wkoll mill-abbandun tas-sistema tad-Direttur tal-Football . Kif kelli l-okkazjoni nghid drabi ohra is-sistema ta’ Direttur tal-Futbol mhix wahda hazina izda wiehed irid joqghod attent hafan kif ihaddimha. Fil-klabb ta’ Tottenham tant ma hadmitx li fl-ahhar transfer window kien qed ikun Levy nnifsu li jmexxi l-parti l-kbira ta’ negozjati mal-plejers fil-waqt li Comolli thalla fil-genb. Comolli ngab ma’ Tottenham taht l-impressjoni li kien parti mportanti mit-tim ta’ nies li skoprew it-talenti zghazagh fi hdan il-klabb ta’ Arsenal izda wara kien sar maghruf li kemm dam ma’ Arsenal, l-uniku skoperta notevoli li kien ghamel kien Gael Clichy.

Minkejja dawn il-punti pozittivi il-hatra ta’ Redknapp tibqa’ riskjuza. Redknapp kellu success ma’ kull klabb li kien izda l-aspetattivi ta’ dawn il-klabbs qatt ma kienu kbar daqs dawk ta’ Tottenham. L-oghla objettivi li qatt kellu Redknapp kienu li jistabilixxi klabb fil-parti ta’ fuq tal-klassifika tal-Premiership. Minkejja li dan l-istagun huwa prattikament mitluf, il-miri ta’ Tottenham huma ferm oghla u l-pressjoni hija akbar ukoll.

Redknapp dejjem kien is-suggett tad-diskussjoni dwar jekk hux tajjeb biex imexxi klabb kbir jew le. Hemm min sahansitra xtaqu jmexxi t-tim nazzjonali Ngliz fil-waqt li ohrajn jahsbu li s-successi ta’ Redknapp huma relattivi ghax gew ma’ klabbs fejn l-ambizzjonijiet m’humiex kbar, il-bagit huwa limitat u l-pressjoni hi minima. Il-kritici jiddubitaw kemm dan il-maniger jista’ jaghmilha ma’ klabb kbir u kemm jista’ jkollu success ma’ plejers ta’ profil gholi.

Min naha tieghu Redknapp qal li ma setax jirrifjuta dan ic-cans. Huwa qal li ma’ Portsmouth il-finanzi kienu limitati wisq u hu ma setax iwassal ‘il klabb aktar minn fejn wasslu. Redknapp kompla li, minkejja l-pozizzjoni prekarja fil-klassifika, Tottenham huwa klabb kbir bi stejdjum kbir, bagit konsiderevoli u set up bhal tal-klabbs il-kbar. Fl-eta ta’ 61 sena dan kien l-ahhar cans ghal Redknapp biex jipprova lilu nnifsu fl-oghla livell. Ghalih it-test jibda issa.

FAREWELL TEEMU

Finnish midfield battler Teemu Tainio has left us to join Sunderland.
The Finnish international, 28, has penned a three-year contract and is Roy Keane's first summer signing.
"Teemu has showed versatility, playing in different midfield positions for both Tottenham and his previous club, Auxerre," said Black Cats boss Keane.
"But his experience in particular and the fact he has played more than 40 international games shows he has a lot to offer Sunderland."
Keane is also interested in adding three more Spurs players to his squad.
Steed Malbranque, Younes Kaboul and Pascal Chimbonda have all spoken to the former Manchester United captain after a fee for all players was agreed with the Club.
Tainio joined us in 2005 and played in 83 League and Cup matches in his three seasons at White Hart Lane.

Good luck Teemu and thanks for the memories