How annoying! Just got a fax through from Geoff Scott saying that Gareth Bale will be rule out for up to four motnhs! He had to come off against Fulham last week because he had a problem with his calf, and he said to me as he limped off that "its just a little twinge but he couldn't play on" But it turns out that its actually a poxy torn calf muscle which is a nasty injury. I feel sorry for the man as me and the the boys know how much he enjoys playing football for Tottenham Hotspur. He is such a fundemental player aswell, ill probably be looking for Niko to fill in for him, as he can play left wing, Niko is also a class player and if he plays like I know he can then there is no reason why he can't make that his spot. You can expect to see him around January/Febuary time.
Next Day ....
Its time for the Champions League draw for the Group stages ! Really looking forward to this, I don't mind who we are drawn with as we are going to have to play all the best teams if we want to win this competiton. Barcelona are definatley favourites to win along with Manchester United and Real Madrid. But I believe with the sqiad we have that we can go somewhere in this competition, I dont mean win it but I think that we are more than capable of winning our group depending on the teams we are drawn with. We are 3rd seeded for the draw...
Group G !
Yes! we got Barcelona, really pleased we got such a big team because firstly it will rake in the cash for the club when we are at home and secondly it gets us prepared if we get through because were gonna have to face the big boys. Im really confident that we can get out of that group because we can definatley beat Sampordia at home and give Barca a go at home and we will beat Omonia home and away. Im hoping for at least 10 points out of these six games, we will be facing Omonai first, on the 15th of September.
*****
I invited Carlos, Joe and Alex Inglethorpe round for dinner last night and a few beers. Thankfully, they all turned up, the reason I invited them round was because we haven't actually had the chance to look over the squad and ***** it, so thats what we did, we had a few laughs though especially when Carlos choked on a meatball, Hilarious! Anyway this is the squad report we put together:
Goalkeepers
Gomes - Top class goalkeeper and definately our number 1 for the next few seasons. Main Strenghts are his reflexes, shotstopping and aerial ability.
Carlo Cudicini - Very experienced goalkeeper and is a very good proffesional, a really good No.2 for the time being, but will have to be replaced shortly, because he has plans to retire.
Ben Alnwick - An Okay goalkeeper, but we decided to let Pletisoka go, so he is now our No.3, but he is out of contract in the summer and we don't have any plans to renew it.
Defenders
Michael Dawson - A quality defender and a great Captain. He has took over my role really well and is willing and determined to succeed. His main strengths are his work rate, heading and bravery, an old fashioned centre half.
Vedran Corluka - Definately our best ball playing defender and I have decided to retrain him into a Centre back because we think thats were he plays best.
Alan Hutton - Our 1st choice wing back, very good attacking and not a bad defender either, he has got the whole package and is a top bloke aswell.
Benoit Assou Ekotto - Good solid wingback, he reminds me of fellow cameroon international Timme Atouba, However, Alex Sandro is very quickly developing so he needs to watch his space.
Jonathan Woodgate - A top lad and player. He has so many injuries which is really annoying but thats not something he can help, but he is very good backup for Dawson.
William Gallas - A class player, but he is getting old and slower. His contratc runs out at the end of the season, so he will be leaving soon. But good backup.
Pablo Zabaleta - Extremely good cover for Hutton, I rotate them a lot, so if he impresses that wing back spot is his. He is also really good with the youth.
Sebastian Bassong - Very good player to have in your sqaud as he can play all across the back line, so he is great back up.Very quick and strong which is somehting that is key for defenders, he reminds me of myself.
Sergio Garcia Garcia - This kid is going to be something special. He is only 16 and he is nearly as good as the rest of the defenders already, he ois currently learning from Gallas and will probably be in the first team in a couple of seasons He is one to watch.
Alex Sandro - This man is also a quality player and has bags of potential and is challenging Ekotto for that first team spot already also a really top lad aswell.
Midfielders
Van Der Vaart - A quality player, he is the best player if seen in a Tottenham shirt, the technical ability he has is stunning, great passer and playmaker for the team. I have no intentions of selling this boy.
Niko Kranjcar - Also, a top player he provides great cover all across the midfield area. He is dead ball specialist and pops up with the odd screamer now and then and a fine man.
Gareth Bale - One of the sqauds best players, he enjoys his football so much and is always a massive threat to the opposition, he is a great winger with bags of talent.
Wilson Palacios - A quality bal winning midfielder and he provides great back up for Huddlestone, isnt the most creative player but can retain possesion for the side extremely quickly.
Sandro - Very simlar player to Wilson but he can be better than him. He has more creative play than him and he is a great worker and will never stop running for the side.
Luka Modric - Another quality player in the team, him and VDV work extremly well together in the middle of the midfield, provide great support the the forwards, he is very hard working aswell and a top bloke.
Tom Huddlestone - This boy is Tottenham through and through, he has it all, creative, ball winner and stamina. He is any managers dream of a midfielder and were lucky to have him.
Steven Pienaar - He provides great back up for Modric, Bale etc. Can play all across the midfield and is willing to play anywhere as long as he can play footie.
Lucas Gaucho - This boy is certainly a "wonderkid" He is only 18 and has played a few games for the first team and has cored for us aswell. Has bags of potential.
Aaron Lennon - He is a top top man and works so hard in training. He is so quick! defences are scared of him, he has made a great start to the season and full deserves all the credit he is getting.
Mate Simao - Very much like Wilson. He is good back up for the midfield and is willing to fit in anywhere. He has become part of the squad very qucikly and is good mates with me aswell.
Forwards
Jermain Defoe - He is our first choice striker, because he scores goals for fun, and tries really hard for the team. He has made a great start to the season aswell.
Welliton - He is a great player and is so quick. I often rotate him and Jermain during game's, he will eventually make his way into the team.
Roman Pavlychenko - A top proffesional, very quiet and gets on with his job, he has great strength and can hold off defenders easily.
Peter Crouch - Crouchy is a diamond. He loves a laugh, his height is so effective against teams, he can get his head on the end of anything, and will always give 100%
*****
Were facing a tough Newcastle side today, who are a big threat in set pieces. Considering starting Peter today, so they don't find it o easy in the air.
Newcastle 0 - 1 Tottenham
Good win today! Really hard to get a win at St.James park, really proud of them, Lennon used his pace effectively and got past Enrique to slot home a cross from Ekotto.
*****
Our first group stage game in Europe. Im expecting a win today as they are not very good, I dont care how we win, we just need to. Fielding a weakeaned team though.
Tottenham 1 - 0 Omonoia
We got the win, Job done! Not our best performance but thats 3 points on the board. And a massive boost is that Barcelona lost to Sampordia 1 - 0.
"We can win champions League"
Geoff Shreves: "Hey rafeal how are you settling in?"
VDV: "Im settling in really well thanks, im just lucky that ive got such a great group of friends at the club, they have helped me so much but the main person who has helped me is Ledley King, our manager"...
GS: "Is Ledley a good manager, Can he take this club forward?"
VDV: "Yes he is a quality manager which is surprising at its only his first time, He is definatley the man to take this club forward and me and the boys have complete faith in Ledders"...
GS:" Are you confident you can win trophies this season?"
VDV: "Ermm. Yes We are in all competitons, so why not? I think we can win the champions league, but it will take a lot of hard work. Ive just got this gut feeling that we can."
GS: "Your ceratinly optimistic Raefel, good luck in the future mate.."
VDV: " Cheers Geoff, appriciate it"
*****
Its the big day today, the north London derby, Tottenhma vs Arsenal. I used to look forward to this game as a player, I never forget when I scored to equalise against them back in 2006. Me and Carlos have agreed on a team to face Arsenal, irs more physical than normal as they are very good on the ball but not strong.
Gomes
Hutton - Dawson - Corluka - Assou Ekotto
Huddlestone
Modric - Van Der Vaart
Lennon -------------------------Kranjcar
Defoe
Tottenham 1 - 1 Arsenal
Im pleased with that result! They played really well and kept the ball, and it annoyed us but we did take the lead from a fine pass to Defoe who camly put it home, they equalised seconds after with a Van persie tap in, leaving us stunned. Nevertheless, it was a great spectacle for a neutral. Well done boys!
*****
League Cup 3rd round today! we face fellow premiership team West Brom. I am playing a weaker side and giving the first team a rest as we are playing Blackpool in just three days time in the league.
Tottenham 2 - 0 West Brom
Bassong (17)
Pienaar (79)
Were through! great performance from the lads today, truthfully it should have been more than two goals, but as long as were through, thats all that matters, were facing Liverpool (A) in the fourth round, which is a tough ask.
*****
Today, I had a 1 0n 1 training session with Sergio Garcia Garcia, and I tell you what, that boy is something specail and will soon be the world's best Centre half, im sure of it. Recently, he has been developing so quickly! I played him in the West Brom cup game and he was superb which was really good. I think that was a great signing by the club for £1.4m, he made me look like a mug in training, he is definatley one to watch in the footballing world. I tip him to be the next Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer. Im really excited about his potential.
*****
Were travelling to newly promoted Blackpool today. Im confident we can win this one, Ive already told Tom that he must stay touch tight to Charlie Adam all the time, as he is a quality player.
Blackpool 0 - 3 Tottenham
Welliton (15)
Pienaar (34)
Kranjcar (54)
Really good win from the lads today, were on a role recently, looking confident on the ball and when we haven't got it we make sure we get it back as soon as possible, Pienaar was outstanding today, turning Evatt inside out.
We face a tough Sampordia side tonight, they are very qucik and good on the ball, luck for us they no longer have Cassano or Pazzini. Im staying optimistic about today but deep down im not feeling confident...
Sampordia 2 - 2 Tottenham
Krancjar (19)
Welliton (84)
Really pleased with that result, thought we was going to get beat. Welliton made such a difference when I brang him on in the 75th minute, his pace frightened the tired italian defence. 4/6 points in the group now!
*****
Its been a fabulous month for Tottenham, we have managed to go unbeaten. All of the squad played fantasticly and we will be looking for a similair month in October were we face Everton at home first. There were so many good performances this month but the candidates for this months player of the month are:
Niko Kranjcar
Welliton
Aaron Lennon
Gomes
The winner is:
Niko Krancjar
Have been really impressed with Niko this month has filled Bale's absence really well and has been as good as him, Keep up the good work Niko.