Harry Redknapp Lifts The FA Cup with Portsmouth

Following the club’s poor form since the Carling Cup win in February the board have decided to remove the coaching team of Manager Juande Ramos, Assistant Manager Gustavo Poyet, Coach Marcos Alvarez, and Sporting Director Damien Comolli.

Ramos, Poyet, and Alvarez had only been at the club for a year following the departure or Martin Jol and his coaching team following a similarly bad spell in the league. Ramos previously tasted success with Sevilla where he won back to back UEFA Cups aswell as leading the team to a victory in the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Super Cup.

Poyet was a former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder who made 82 appearances for the club scoring 18 goals. He had previously worked alongside Dennis Wise at Swindon Town and Leeds United as Assistant Manager.

Damien Comolli joined Spurs in 2005 to replace Frank Arnesen as Director of Football, he was previously the head of Arsenal’s European scouting network. He has come under heavy criticism from fans for some time as many blame him for the signing of unpopular players such as Younes Kaboul, Kevin Prince-Boateng, and Gilberto. When Ramos was hired Daniel Levy warned that Ramos was Comolli’s choice and there his responsibility if the appointment did not succeed.

The club have moved quickly to replace Ramos by bringing in Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth. Redknapp has led Pompey into the Premiership and earlier this year took the team to FA Cup victory over Cardiff City at Wembley. Redknapp was heavily linked with the job a year ago when Martin Jol left the club.

Spurs have also completed the protracted purchase of Manchester City defender Vedran Corluka. Spurs had an offer accepted by City earlier in the transfer window, Corluka agreed terms with Spurs and even took a training session with the squad before having the transfer called off by City. The deal is now completed for a fee of around ?8.5million.

Corluka is a versatile defender who can play at right back, central defence or as a defensive midfielder. He is an international teammate of fellow Croatian Luka Modric.

Corluka said: “I am delighted to be here because I am coming to a big club with great players, great ambition and also my best friend [Luka Modric] is here so it is a very happy day for me.”

Join the forum discussion on this post

The new look Vectis Spurs website finally goes interactive with the addition of the all-new Vectis Spurs forums. Accessible via the menu at the top of the site the forums have an area to discuss anything related to our beloved Spurs as well as a forum for discussion of all other topics that may come to mind.

If you haven’t yet registered an account on the new site do it now and make your introduction on the forums. Let the debate begin!

David Bentley Playing For England

England right winger David Bentley has completed a ?15million move to White Hart Lane to fulfill his dream of playing for the team he supported as a youngster. The transfer has been rumoured since Mark Hughes left Blackburn in June and Bentley first began to hint at his desire to move on.

Bentley started his career at Arsenal, his chances there were limited but he did score a memorable first goal in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough. He later went on loan to Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers before making the Blackburn move permanent in January 2006.

Bentley scored 13 league goals and 16 assists in 88 appearances for Blackburn and is highly rated as a future star of the England team. He has made six appearances for the England senior team.

Defender Anthony Gardner

It’s a busy day at White Hart Lane as the move of Robbie Keane to Liverpool looks set to have a domino effect on the comings and goings at the club.

Defender Anthony Gardner has agreed a five month loan deal which will see him move to Premiership new boys Hull City. The former England International will join on loan to January with a view to a permanent move valued around ?2.5million.

Gardner joined us from Port Vale in January 2000 and has gone on to make 144 appearances and scored three goals (including our first of the season against Bolton last year) despite many long term injury problems.

He has made one appearance for the England team as a substitute for Gareth Southgate in 2004.

The next big bit of business is the transfer of Steed Malbranque to Sunderland, where he will join Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda. Malbranque was one of the stars of the Tottenham team last season but seems aware that he will play a bit part role at best this year.

Malbranque joined us from Fulham on August 31st 2006 for a fee of around ?2million. He has made 96 appearances for us, scoring 12 goals. Capable of playing across the midfield he has made of his appearances for us on the left wing.

Younes Kaboul also looked set to follow Malbranque, Tainio, and Chimbonda to Sunderland but his agent now says the French defender has set his heart on a move to Portsmouth.

Dawson Extends Contract To 2013

And finally two of Spurs English contingent have extend their contracts to see them remain at the club until 2013. Defender Michael Dawson and Mindfielder Jermaine Jenas have both signed one year extensions to their current deals which were set to expire at the end of the 2011/2012 season.

Jenas joined us from Newcastle in August 2005 for a fee which eventually became ?9million. He has made 111 appearances and scored 21 goals including a cracking free-kick against Manchester United in his first season. His form frequently goes through patchy periods but he has remained a mainstay in midfield and saw a resurgence of his form when Juande Ramos first took over.

Defender Dawson joined us from Nottingham Forest in an ?8million joint deal which also saw Irish winger Andy Reid join us. He has made 136 appearances for us and formed a good partnership alongside Ledley King. He had an indifferent season last year but this new contract signals Ramos’ faith in him as cover for King and Woodgate.

Farewell Robbie Keane

Irish Striker Robbie Keane has comleted a move to his boyhood club Liverpool which is splitting Spurs fans down the middle. Liverpool have paid Tottenham ?19million upfront with a further ?1.3million dependant on future appearances and trophies.

Liverpool’s interest in Keane first become obvious when the official Liverpool website reported quotes from manager Rafa Benitez, something that caused Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to file a formal complaint with the Premier League. Upon hearing of the interest, Liverpool fan Keane handed in a transfer request which forced Levy’s hand.

Levy has blasted this move saying it is not a transfer and is a forced sale.

Many Spurs fans will wish Robbie well after six years of service from Irish record goal scorer, but most will be angered following his comments only 3 months ago when he stated he loved the club and wanted to retire as a Spurs player.

Keane has issued the following statement. “I would like to place on record my thanks to the board, players and fans of Tottenham for the past six years, which were the best and most enjoyable of my career to date.

“I will never forget them. I would specifically like to thank chairman Daniel Levy for understanding, that, as a fan, joining Liverpool is a lifelong dream of mine and one I couldn’t let pass me by.

“I hope one day the Spurs fans, who have been brilliant to me, can understand this too.

“I have only good things to say about my time at Tottenham and expect them to go from strength to strength under Juande Ramos and Daniel Levy.”

Chimbonda In Sunderland Shirt

Full-back Pascal Chimbonda has completed his move to Sunderland, making him the second player to swap White Hart Lane for the Stadium Of Light within a week. The French defender has signed a three year contract with the transfer fee rumoured to be around ?5million.

Pascal joined us from Wigan for ?4.5million in 2006 after one season at the JJB. Previously he played for? Bastia and Le Havre. He has been capped once for his country.

Chimbonda has been subject to criticism on occasions over his professionalism. He handed in his transfer request at Wigan immediately after coming off the pitch for the last game of the season. He also angered Spurs fans when he stormed down the tunnel when subbed during the Carling Cup Final.

Robinson moved to Spurs from Leeds United following their relegation and showed some brilliant shot-stopping skills that quickly made him the first choice for the national team, but a series of high profile blunders seemed to knock his confidence and he has failed to hit a good run of form for the past two seasons.

Robbo was a well loved player at the Lane and one I’m sure we will all miss.

Teemu Tainio

Midfielder Teemu Tainio has agreed a move to Roy Keane’s Sunderland after three years at White Hart Lane. The Finland international has played as a utility player for Tottenham all across midfield and as a full-back. He scored three goals for Spurs, his most notable against West Ham in the 4-3 victory on the 4th of March 2007.

The move is for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be in the region of ?5million and is the first of four potential transfers from Tottenham to Sunderland.

Bids have also been accepted for Younes Kaboul, Pascal Chimbonda, and Steed Malbranque. Kaboul has agreed personal terms and is due to have a medical this morning.