Training Ground Bust-up at Spurs
Rumours have surfaced that Harry Redknapp and a number of players had a training ground fall-out last week. It is reported that the manager was critical of striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, who got angry at this and as a result the manager has stated that Adebayor will not play again while he is at the club. It is suggested that three other players were also involved, Younes Kaboul, Aaron Lennon and and PFA 'Young Player of the Year', Kyle Walker.
This may explain the absence of Adebayor and Kaboul from Saturday's squad and Redknapp's reluctance to give details of who was injured at his pre-match press conference at the end of last week. While it was assumed that Kaboul was injured, someone at Tottenham is reported to have said that Kaboul was not injured.
Since these rumours have surfaced, sources have come forward to play them down stating that there is no truth in them while others claim that while there may have been an issue that it was not as serious as is being suggested and that it is hoped that Adebayor will be fit to play against Blackburn Rovers next weekend.
Another suggestion is that the players have grown tired of the training ground routines that they follow each day, with the 'old guard' coaching staff of Redknapp, Kevin Bond, Joe Jordan and Clive Allen failing to introduce anything new and failing to be aware of any modern thinking in training methods.
All of this adds to the uncertainty at the club which has not been helped by the speculation that Harry Redknapp is England manager-elect come the end of the season. Since Harry Redknapp was cleared in his court case at the end of February and the subsequent departure of Fabio Capello, it has been taken as a given that Redknapp would be the new manager. Since then Spurs results have taken a dramatic downward turn.
There has always been and always will be fall-outs at football clubs during training, such is the competitive nature of the players and Manchester City have shown that this season. Looking at the Spurs situation from both sides, however, the rumours could well explain the performance of the team on Saturday and the demeanour of the individual players.
A group of players who were very united and who showed great commitment in the early part of the season in fighting performances which won points at Fulham and West Bromwich Albion has now slipped to a new low with only one win in nine Premier League games.
The defeat at Loftus Road was uncharacteristic for the demeanour of the players with many showing annoyance with each other. Brad Friedel who had brought a composure to what had been often been a frantic Tottenham defence with Heurelho Gomnes in goal, was uncertain on Saturday with his distribution which unnerved the defence. The question, however, has to be asked if the defenders were taking up positions to allow him to play it out to them as he would have done previously. He was also absolutely livid that the players in the defensive wall didn't jump at the free-kick which gifted QPR their goal. Later in the first half there was an occasion when William Gallas and Benoit Assou-Ekotto had a shouting match during play - something that wouldn't have happened earlier in the season.
On the other hand, however, it is often when a club is going through a bad spell that rumours of disagreements and strife within a club appear.
Whatever the truth and we, the supporters, will probably never know, this latest episode just adds to the rich tapestry of life that is Tottenham Hotspur as they continue on their roller coaster of a season. The only question that remains is will the downward spiral take a dramatic final upward shot towards the stars and a Champions League place.
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