Spur-ing On through the Cointinent

Gareth Bale and Rafeal Van Der Vaart have played a crucial part in Spurs Champions League heroics

Cast your mind back to October 2008, Tottenham lie rooted to the bottom of the league like a ship anchor, recording two points from their opening eight games of the campaign, their worst start ever to a league season and a far cry from challenging for a top four place as they had done so under Martin Jol in 2005 and 2006 (who himself 12 months earlier had been sacked after another poor start).Harry Redknapp was swiftly brought in to replace Jols under fire successor Ramos and turn around the clubs fortunes, and do that and so much more he has most certainly done, for little could have predicted that in just over two years time that Spurs would be celebrating a place in the last sixteen of Europe's elite club competition,beating arguably teams with more depth in quality though undoubtedly more depth in money.

The latest chapter in this fairytale story was written on Wednsday night

with Spurs win against Werder Bremen confirming their progression, but according to old 'arry himself, theres more to come.The Spurs boss insists it is "not impossible" for his side to go all the way but admitted it was "unlikely" they would beat the cream of European football to its biggest prize."Not impossible" by any measure of imagination, Liverpool and Arsenal have both reached the final of the competetion with sides of lesser quality, particularly Liverpool's 2005 winning side which finished only fifth domestically,and the lads from north London managed to wipe off a few smirks of the many faces who laughed at Redknapps claims his side could challenge for the domestic title with a 3-2 win at the emirates over their neighbours Arsenal.

The addition of Rafeal Van Der Vaart has become a revelation amongst the White Hart lane faithful, Roman Pavlyuchenko has shrugged off his "flop" tag to become a prolific scorer while Gareth Bale's star continues to rise drastically as he showed the rest of Europe of his talents with his second half hat trick at the San siro against no less, the current Champions league champions.

Club Captain William Gallas has boldly claimed the side can go on to win "everything" this season with their attacking style of play.“With the squad we have, we can do everything”.“After we beat Arsenal, the players know we can do something this season,” said Gallas.There is no question Spurs have proved they have the capacity to do damage in the knockout games although the big problem may come when opponents of the highest quality attempt to inflict damage on them.Nevertheless, exciting times at White Hart Lane lie ahead and long may it last as for one thing, it proves that success can be achieved through positive tactics,good management and without a billionaire owner willing to throw twenty million at the drop of a hat.

5 Shocking Injuries

5. Henrik Larsson

Celtic striker Henrik Larsson suffered a devastating leg injury which resulted in his leg was broken in two places in a UEFA Cup game in 1999 against Lyon. Larsson was off the pitch for eight months but was able to return as a sub in the final match of the Scottish Premier League of that season.

4. Edgar Andrade

In a attempt to block an incoming cross in 2007, Cruz Azul midfielder stuck his leg out, deflected the ball, but his foot was stuck in the ground. He fractured his leg and his ankle was twisted in the opposite direction.After several months of rehab he was finally able to get on the field once more.

3. David Busst

In 1996, Coventry defender David Busst was involved in a collision with Man Utd defender Denis Irwin which resulted in one of the most horrific injuries ever as  a piece of the bone pierced his skin and the game was forced to momentarily be stopped to remove the blood he left behind on the field.The injury resulted in a  fracture of both his tibia and fibula which resulted in Vusst never again being able to play Perhaps the fact that demonstrates just how bad this wasinjury is the fact that Manchester goalie, Peter Schmeichel  required mental counseling to cope with what he saw that day.

2. Ewald Lienen

Lienan is unique that although his injury was horrific, he did not break a single bone.In 1981, Lienen was playing a match versus Werder Bremen when Bremen defender Norbert Siegmann slid in with studs up. Siegmann caught the side of Lienen's thigh and cause a deep open cut that measured about 10 inches (25cm) or so.Somehow he was able to get up, run to the opposing coach to show what his player had done. His injury required 23 stitches but Ewald was able to come back and begin practicing less than three weeks after.

1. Luc Nilis

Playing for Aston Villa in 2000, Nilis began his career in 1984 in his home country Belgium for 10 years before enjoying a successful spell at PSV and then becoming a big summer deal for Aston Villa.However his dream was short lived when during just his third game for Aston Villa,he collided with Ipswich goalkeeper Richard Wright in the opening minuits of the game which resulting in a leg injury he was never to overcome.

Woeful Ireland must learn lessons

Instead of spending forty euro on decent food, a few pints,or some necessities for the flat,whatever  ive been on this week i decided to splash out on a ticket for the game in the Aviva. Its hard to pick out what was the bigger disgrace about the night itself, the shocking attendance (25,000) that allowed any one who bothered to attend the game the liberty to almost hand pick the best seats they could find from the 25,000 that were vacant,that allowed to one of the worst atmospheres in football i have ever experienced first hand, a night at a half empty Finn Park where my local league of ireland team Finn Harps ply their trade (and let it be noted that the ground is regularly slated for its lack of attendance and atmosphere in the ground) would be better. The hugely disappointing display and lack of experimental football (where was coleman?) or the result, the very thing i thought i could rely coming home with a convincing result.

All the talk and build up had been on one player in the run-up to the game. I was horrified that one of the most in form youngsters, not to mention irish players in the Premier League,who is fast making waves, made great start to his irish international career with 0 minutes, and 0 seconds on the pitch. England may have not had a great night themselves against France last night, but at least Capello used the opportunity to blood some potential future stars such as Gibbs, Carroll and Henderson. Trap had promised to not let the test go past without bringing in some blood, but where in gods name was it?, i heard after the game the manager had used the excuse he did not want the players to be exposed to a losing atmosphere on their first appearance for the national side, so stop if im wrong, but was it not until the dying minuets of the game that we were actually behind?. Trapttonni must change his methods quick or we will soon be changing our plans for summer 2012.

Iker Casillas showing off his reflex talents by catching a paper missile thrown from the crowd at Sundays game at Sporting Gijon.If you were going to throw a paper missile at any goalkeeper in the world, the last one to choose would probably be this man, great stuff.

Second Time Unlucky?



“Second Season Syndrome” - one of football’s oddest quirks in recent years, is apparently taking effect once more on the Premier league again this season if the table is anything to be believed, now a third of the way into the season. For those uninformed individuals whom, at this stage, haven’t a clue what this condition is all about, don’t worry, its not some terminal disease ready to kill off the entire Liverpool defence (although you would be forgiven for thinking Roy Hodgson is quietly hoping some form of virus makes its way into the team in order to clear the vast amount of deadwood talent at his disposal.) It is the now-common phrase that is used to describe a downturn in fortunes for a football club two seasons after its promotion to the Premier League.

We have all heard and experienced the same, familiar story. Newly promoted team defies the odds and excels in their first season in the Premier League only to fall recklessly apart in year two. In the past Bradford exceeded expectations by beating the drop before being relegated as early as the following March. Ipswich Town heavily tipped for relegation in their first season back at the highest level; finished fifth to gain UEFA Cup Qualification, only to crash and burn 12 months on achieving this feat. In 2007 Wigan and West Ham who were promoted together in 2005 and both achieved top ten finishes and cup final appearances the following season, found themselves in a bitter relegation battle, both prevailing to the cost of Sheffield United. Fans at the Madejski Stadium are no strangers to such phenomena, relegated themselves just 12 months after finishing seventh in their debut Premiership season. Even more recently, Hull City, who went as far as topping the table in November of their debut season, amid a sudden crash mid-season leading to it turning into a relegation battle in which they won, were relegated in the summer, such evidence is enough to give Mick McCarthy and Alex McLeish sleepless nights as both sides find themselves in the bottom three after successful first seasons after promotion.

The 2009/10 campaign saw the Blues manage a top-half finish, primarily because of their solid back five. On only on four occasions last term did they concede more than two goals in the league, a record in which by no means is close is being carried on this season if the opening thirteen games is anything to go by, the blues clearly missing the safe hands of Joe Hart as Ben Foster further fails to prove himself as a credible goal-stopper. At the end of last season it was widely regarded that Wolves needed to do something to improve the goals scored to conceded ratio and although individual errors can account for some of the goals in which we have seen so far this season, I do feel it is the lack of firepower on offer in the wolves midfield to control a game that puts the back 4 under pressure, particularly when teams are pushing for goals late on to rescue or win a game. Both sides find themselves under immense pressure over Christmas, that presuming both managers retain their posts that long, to bring out the chequebook to avoid falling down the same path as those who have went before them.

Stars Of the Future

As we look towards Irelands friendly against Norway On Wednesday Night,i feel it is necessary to look a bit further down the road to future of Irish Football, to those who are shining very brightly and though noted one of our chosen players has made his debut in the national team and by Wednesday night one or two of our subjects may be added to that illustrious list,it is time to gaze into the crystal ball at the future stars of our National Team.

Greg Cunnigham Age : 19 Club : Man City  


Greg Cunningham played his first senior international match for Ireland when he contributed to the 3-0 win over Algeria at the RDS, Dublin, on May 28, 2010. Calm and collected on his debut,it was truly remarkable that it was in fact Cunninghams first game,starring in an Irish defence that afforded the World Cup finalists precious few scoring chances.Greg, from Galway, impressed Ireland's manager Giovanni Trapattoni in training and showed a maturity beyond his years when he played for Ireland after just three games for Manchester City in the 2009/'10 season. 


Seamus Coleman  Age : 22 Club : Everton 


The Donegal Native was quickly snapped up by Sligo Rovers' manager Sean Connor from Donegal Premier Division Side St. Catherine's Of Killybegs. Impressive form led to former Sligo boss Willie McStay tipping off David Moyes, and Coleman moved to Everton in January 2009. On loan at Blackpool at the tail end of last season,he played a major part in helping them to clinch promotion to the Premier League. The FAI U21 Player of the Year signed a new four year deal with Everton and has impressed since his return to the Toffees.David Moyes was quoted recently as saying that Coleman would be the ideal successor to Phil Neville in the Right back position at the club when the stalwart finally retires.


Ciaran Clark Age : 21 Club : Aston Villa

Born In Harrow, London, Clark is eligible to play for Ireland due to his Irish mother and paternal grandparents.A product of Villa's renowned academy system,he captained the U-17 Aston Villa Academy side to the 2008 Academy Premier League. The  Defender has proved on numerous occasions that indeed he is a star in the making.Clark also lead England out on many occasions in the under-19 ranks.Proving himself this season as more than an able central midfielder as well as his natural role as a central defender.In October 2010 Clark declared himself for the Irish National Team and is due to make his debut this coming Wednesday night at the Aviva.

Conor Clifford Age : 19 Club : Chelsea 

Conor joined Chelsea from Dublin District Schoolboys League Crumlin United In 2007,and played in the Chelsea youth team.The midfielder, 19, captained the Chelsea FA Youth Cup side last season, and smashed home the winner against Aston Villa in the final with a fantastic long range strike.An unused substitute for Chelsea's Carling Cup game against Newcastle.This Highly Rated Dubliner is on a one-month loan to League One outfit Plymouth Argyle Until November 19 and has made his debut with the Devon Club.

Mancini : On His Way Out?

It doesn’t seem that long in which the names in which we were all squabbling over to be the first manager to be sacked were those of Roy Hodgson, David Moyes and Avram Grant, after desperately poor starts from their respective teams since the dawn of the new campaign, all three now seem relatively safe for now, at least. While Moyes has moved quick to change things around at Goodison Park with some solid performance, the board at Upton Park and the new hierarchy at Anfeild are more than happy to re-issue their every confidence in their manager to turn things around, for the near future anyway.

In Recent Days, A new name has come to the fore of this speculated race that a few weeks ago would seem nothing short of absurd. A strong start to the season saw Man City brush aside Liverpool and Chelsea, seemingly looking like serious challengers to the crown at last with the apparent New England number one between the posts in Joe Hart. However, stories of rifts in the dressing room, unhappy players and poor performances are starting to prove costly to Mancini as he feels the pressure of a club in desperate need of a trophy after 34 long years of suffering. After being shown up by Arsenal in front of their own fans, woeful performances against a Wolves side which had yet to record another win since the opening game of the season and Unknowns Lech Poznan in the Europa League On Thursday Night have turned the heat up on Mancini as impatient fans (not to mention the club owner Sheikh Mansour , remember this man infamously sacked Mark Hughes despite the club lying sixth in the league table and on course for a Europa League spot before he was surprisingly given his marching orders) are soon becoming impatient with Mancini coaching styles, a view in which mancini will need to move quick in which to extinguish, or he may indeed find himself back to Italy and back to the job centre.