Spurs in History - 3rd January

3rd January, 1970

Bradford City 2 Spurs 2 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

At the beginning of the year F.A.Cup 3rd Round ties are the order of the day and Spurs had been given a difficult match away at Third Division, Bradford City watched by 23,000 spectators.
Spurs took a two nil lead through goals from Jimmy Greaves and Roger Morgan but Bradford pulled the two goals back to earn a 2 – 2 draw and a replay at White Hart Lane the following Wednesday.

Jimmy Greaves

Spurs won the replay 5 - 0 with goals from Greaves (2), Pearce (2) and Morgan. At the time no-one realised that they were witnessing the last Cup goals to be scored by Jimmy Greaves, Spurs greatest goalscorer.




Team: Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Mullery, England, Beal, Johnson (Pearce), Greaves, Gilzean, Perryman, Morgan.

In the next round Spurs had been drawn at home to Crystal Palace, whom they had defeated twice in the League.



3rd January, 1981

A scoreless draw at Loftus Road against Queen's Park Rangers set Spurs off on a Cup run that would eventually lead to them winning the FA Cup for the sixth time, Manchester City being their opponents in the 100th FA Cup Final and all the memories of Ricky Villa's winning goal.

Spurs' New Signings

Spurs Sign Taarabt and Alnwick

Adel Taarabt

With the January transfer window open Spurs have announced the signing of two young players.

They have reached agreement with Lens for the loan of French midfielder Adel Taarabt. He is 17 years old and will register with Spurs when his International Transfer Certificate has been received from the French Football Federation.

Taarabt is an attacking midfield player who can also play as a second striker and is able to play on either wing. He has represented France at U-16, U-17 and U-18 level and made his first team debut with Lens earlier in the season.

Taarabt is regarded as one of the best talents in Europe for his age group and it is reported that a number of other Premiership clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea, were interested in signing him.

Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick has been signed from Sunderland with Marton Fulop moving in the opposite direction. Alnwick who is 20-years old broke into the Sunderland team during their Championship winning campaign of 2004-05 and then made seven Premiership appearances the following season - including playing at White Hart Lane when he saved a penalty from Robbie Keane. The initial fee will be £900,00.

He made a total of 22 first team appearances for Sunderland and has played for England at Under-17, U18, and U19 level. He was in the Under-21 squad for the game against Moldova last August.

Marton Fulop joined Spurs from MTK Hungaria in May 2004 and had loan spells at Chesterfield and Coventry. The Hungarian international played a number of pre-season friendlies but was third choice at White Hart lane behind Robinson and Cerny. He joined Sunderland on loan in November and his move now becomes permanent for a fee of £500,000.

Spurs are continuing their policy of signing young players with an eye to them developing into Premiership players with further experience.

Spurs in History - 2nd January

2nd January, 1982
Spurs 1 Arsenal 0 (FA Cup 3rd Round)

As F.A.Cup holders, the defence of the trophy started with a home tie against North London rivals, Arsenal.

A crowd of 38,421 watched what was only the second F.A. Cup tie between the two clubs, Arsenal having won 3-0 in a 3rd Round game at Highbury in 1949.

This match was settled by a Garth Crooks (Pic.) goal which went under the body of our former hero, Pat Jennings. That unusual mistake set Spurs on their way to retaining the trophy in a season that saw them striving for trophies in four competitions but eventually having to settle for a seventh F.A.Cup victory in a replay against Queen’s Park Rangers at Wembley.

Further misery for Jennings came with an injury which saw him substituted and out of the game for a number of weeks.

Team: Clemence, Perryman, Hughton, Villa, Roberts, Miller, Ardiles, Falco, Galvin, Hoddle, Crooks.


On this day in 1993 Spurs were drawn against non-League Marlow Town in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. The game should have been at Marlow but the club agreed to play at White Hart Lane to increase their financial wind-fall from the 26,636 spectators in attendance.

Marlow performed well but were beaten by goals from Barmby (2), Samways (2) and Sheringham.

However, the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for the Marlow Town scorer who got his team's thoroughly deserved consolation goal a few minutes from the end.

On 2nd January, 1995 Spurs got the New Year off to a perfest start when a goal from Popescu gave them a home Premiership win over Arsenal.

On This Day - 1st January, 2007

Portsmouth 1 Spurs 1 (Premiership)

Steed Malbranque's second goal for Spurs earned his team a deserved point in a hard-fought game at Fratton Park.

Spurs had started brightly but couldn't manage to score and Portsmouth increased the pressure without really troubling Robinson. Portsmouth took the lead after half an hour with a shot that took a deflection off Calum Davenport. That was not the sort of birthday present Davenport would have been hoping for and later he was booked.

Spurs responded well and put the home team under greater pressure as half-time approached but it was early in the second half that Berbatov created space on the left and gave the ball to Murphy on the edge of the penalty area. His cross was headed home by Malbranque.

Both teams went for the win but while Portsmouth mounted pressure from set-pieces, Spurs had the better opportunities, especially a shot from Davenport which James saved well.

Spurs took four points from the twelve available over the Christmas/New Year period and now find themselves in 7th position having overtaken Everton again but four points behind Portsmouth and with an increasing gap of 8 points between them and Liverpool in third.

Team: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Davenport, Lee, Ghaly (Murphy), Huddlestone, Tainio, Malbranque (Gardiner), Berbatov, Defoe.

[King, Lennon, Keane, Jenas remain injured but Robbie Keane could be available for the next game]

Next Match: Sunday, 7th January - Cardiff City (a) FA Cup (3rd Round)

Spurs in History - 1st January

1st January, 1996

Spurs 4 Manchester United 1 (1st Division)

What a way to start a new year - live on television and convincingly defeating the League leaders and eventual Champions.

It was probably one of the best results during Gerry Francis’ managerial reign. Teddy Sheringham scored the first and although United equalised, Sol Campbell scored before half-time and then two goals from Chris Armstrong sealed Spurs victory.

Both teams had injury problems but Spurs overcame them much better although United’s keeper Schmeichel was injured in the warm up and had to be taken off at half-time.

Team: Walker, Austin, Edinburgh, Nethercott, Calderwood, Campbell, Caskey, Dumitrescu (McMahon), Armstrong, Sheringham, Rosenthal.

Another memorable win was at Highbury on New Year's Day, 1985.

Arsenal 1 Spurs 2 (1st Division)

Goals from Mark Falco and Garth Crooks gave Spurs a win which kept them challenging for the 1st Division title. It was Peter Shreeves' first season as manager but a poor series of results from mid-March through to the end of April saw Spurs lose out on the title to finish behind both Liverpool clubs. Injuries late in the season didn't help Spurs cause plus losing a number of crucial home games to their closest rivals.

Team: Clemence, Stevens, Mabbutt, Roberts, Miller, Perryman, Chiedozie, Falco, Galvin, Hoddle (Allen), Crooks.

Spurs' last game on this day was a visit to Southampton in 2003 and resulted in a one nil defeat.

Spurs' most recent wins on this day were a 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at White Hart Lane in 2002. The goal was scored by Dean Richards but Blackburn got ample revenge by defeating Spurs in the final of the Worthington Cup at Cardiff at the end of February.

And in 2005 when Spurs had a comprehensive 5-2 victory over Everton. The goals were scored by Dean Marney (2), Mendes, Ziegler and Keane.

Portsmouth Preview

Berbatov is vital for Spurs at Portsmouth

Meeting Old Friends

Portsmouth: L W W D W D

Tottenham: L W L W W W

A visit to Portsmouth on New Year’s Day will be like meeting old acquaintances with Mendes, Campbell, Davis and Paramot making a very worthwhile contribution to the club’s season which sees them comfortable in 6th place, four points ahead of Spurs. Both clubs lost ground on the top European spots with defeats on Saturday, so will be hoping to start 2007 on a more positive note. Defeat for either side but especially Spurs, will leave them with a lot of leeway to make up on the top six.

Spurs have won the last four games against Portsmouth – 3-1 at White Hart Lane in February, 2005 (Mido’s debut), last season opened with a 2-0 victory at Fratton Park and two fairly fortuitous home victories followed – 3-1 in December, 2005 in Harry Redknapp’s first game back as manager and then 2-1 in October. Prior to this success, Spurs’ previous win at Portsmouth had been in 1956 although Pompey had spent most of that time in lower divisions.

Spurs full away League record against Portsmouth:
P 16 W 4 D 5 L 7 For 16 Ag 25

Spurs have been badly hit by injuries with important players missing and Berbatov’s presence for the last half hour against Liverpool showed just how important he is to the team – until that point nothing much had come off for Spurs against a solid, well-marshalled defence but with his appearance they became unsettled and under considerable pressure. Spurs need him if they are to get anything from this game. Ledley King will still be absent so added pressure will be on Robinson, Dawson and Davenport to defend strongly especially from set-pieces where Portsmouth have been so strong of late with goals coming from Primus (2), Paramot and Campbell in recent games. Midfielder Matthew Taylor has scored six goals this season and Spurs need to be alert to long-range efforts from him and Mendes. David James has done much this season to set aside his ‘Calamity’ tag but a mistake on Saturday contributed to Bolton’s win. Spurs would appreciate more of the same on Monday.

Spurs’ win at Portsmouth on the opening day of the 2005-06 season, against a very different team, set them off on the right way for the season, hopefully a win on the first day of 2007 can set them up for an exciting and successful year. Following the disappointment of losing their long unbeaten home record, it would be good if Spurs could immediately turn it around with a win to improve their poor away record. It would boost Spurs’ confidence and put a dent in Portsmouth’s ambitions. A win is possible but only if individual errors are removed from Spurs’ play and they show the sort of ambition that accompanied their second half performance against Liverpool.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Spurs in History - 23rd November

23rd November, 1983

Bayern Munich 1 Spurs 0 UEFA Cup 3rd Round (1st Leg)

The previous season a weakened Spurs side had crashed out of the European Cup Winners’ Cup competition on a fog-bound night against Bayern, when no-one could see the pitch.

However, on this occasion, in freezing conditions (-5C), Spurs gave a good account of themselves defensively, only conceding the goal in the final five minutes, thus giving themselves a good chance with the return leg to be played at White Hart Lane.

Match Preview UEFA Cup

UEFA CUP Group Stages (Round 3)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Tottenham Hotspur

(L W D W L L ) - - - (D W W W L D)

After the champagne and caviar that were the wins over Brugge and Chelsea we’ve had to stomach the warm, flat beer of the performances and results against Reading and Blackburn.

Spurs are facing German opposition for the thirteenth time in European competition, although the official UEFA records will suggest it’s the fourteenth as they have included the farce that was the Intertoto competition. Spurs’ record of seven wins, one draw and four defeats has given them four aggregate wins in the six ties.

It will be Spurs’ first competitive match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen who drew 1-1 at Brugge in their only game in the group stages of the UEFA Cup. They qualified for this stage by defeating Sion of Switzerland 3-1 on aggregate after a scoreless draw in the first leg.

Last season Leverkusen finished in fifth place in the Bundesliga to qualify for the UEFA Cup but they have also played Champions League football and were beaten finalists in 2002, losing to Real Madrid having knocked out both Liverpool and Manchester United on the way to the final. This made them the first side to reach the final without winning their national championship.

They have played 122 European games, with 52 wins and 38 defeats but against English teams they have only won once, a 4-2 defeat of Liverpool in the quarter finals, while they neat United on away goals after two draws.

Their record against English teams is P 12 W 1 D 3 L 8.

Leverkusen are currently 12th in the eighteen team German Bundesliga, having lost their last two games 2-3 at Nurnberg last weekend and at home to Bayern Munich the previous week. In the game against Nurnberg having drawn level at 2-2 with twenty minutes to go, they conceded a goal with five minutes left. It was two late goals conceded in three minutes that led to their demise against Bayern having gone 2-1 ahead with ten minutes remaining. Their last two wins were away to two teams below them in the Bundesliga.

Their domestic record this season is: P 13 W 4 D 3 L 6 For 21 Ag 21 Pts 15

In the UEFA Cup their performance against Brugge probably merited more that a draw as the home goalkeeper put up an excellent performance.

Leverkusen are a team with great experience and probably the best known of the players is the German international midfielder Bernd Schneider who played in last summer’s World Cup and has scored twice in this season’s UEFA Cup – the goal against Brugge from over thirty yards – you’ve been warned Spurs. In their league competitions four players have each scored three goals – Ukraine striker Andrily Voronin, defenders Gonzalo Castro from seven starts and Ahmed Reda Madouni. They are also well served from midfield with Sergei Barbarez also scoring three and Carsten Ramelow two.

With squad rotation and players rested for important games it is always difficult to predict who will be playing but the Leverkusen team against Brugge was:

Butt, Stenman, Juan, Haggui, Madouni, Schneider, Barnetta, Barbarez, Rolfes, Ramelow, Kiessling

Dimitar Berbatov is the connection between the two clubs. He was the Leverkusen leading goalscorer last season with 21 goals before signing for Spurs in the summer. His quality has been most evident in the UEFA Cup and he will want to impress against his former club. Spurs go into the game knowing that a win will guarantee qualification for the knock out stages and that a draw will almost certainly secure it, so they have sufficient incentive to raise their game from the last two mundane performances. Martin Jol will be hoping that some of the injured players will recover in time to allow him to play as many as possible of what he must consider to be his strongest team with Keane as partner for Berbatov. He must find a balance in midfield which will be strong and competitive but also create opportunities for the strikers to have a chance on goal.

Are Spurs saving their best for Europe?

It has happened in previous seasons and certainly, on the evidence to date, the team have raised their game considerably for the European matches and played with a greater freedom. Hopefully they will again shake off their indifferent away League form and make the trip to Germany one to remember for all who are travelling over to support them.

Spurs in History - 22nd November

22nd November, 1986

Oxford United 2 Spurs 4 (1st Division)

Do successful teams come about through careful planning or due to some good fortune?

That question could be asked after this game which is regarded as the first occasion that Spurs played with five players in midfield and Clive Allen as the lone striker. The five midfield players were to support Allen who was having an exceptional goal scoring season. With twelve League goals before this game he added two more in the first half as Spurs came back from an early goal scored by former player David Leworthy to end Oxford’s unbeaten home run. Chris Waddle scored the other goals, his first of the season.

Belgium International Nico Claesen was the player to miss out with the introduction of this new system which proved very effective although it didn’t lead to any silverware adorning the Boardroom at White Hart Lane, missing out in all competitions - Spurs ‘Nearly’ team under David Pleat.

Clive Allen finished the season with a record breaking total of 49 goals in all competitions. [League – 33, Littlewoods Cup – 12, F.A.Cup – 4]

Spurs in History - 21st November

21st November, 1931

Spurs 9 Port Vale 3 (2nd Division)

The first time that Spurs scored nine goals in a League game, something they have only done on a further two occasions.

Spurs had just missed out on promotion at the end of the previous season but the new season was proving a big disappointment although they had won their previous home game by 6-2 against Swansea.

Prior to the game Port Vale were above Spurs in the League table but Spurs ran out convincing winners.

Centre forward George Hunt scored twice and the rest of the goals came from the right side of the team. Right winger Willie Davies scored a hat-trick, inside right Jimmy Brain claimed two, while right half Dave Colquhoun and right back Albert Lyons scored one each, Lyons with a penalty.

Spurs in History - 20th November

Joe Kinnear's mistake led to Arsenal's late winner

20th November, 1968

Arsenal 1 Spurs 0 Football League Cup Semi-Final (1stLeg)

This was only the second occasion that Spurs had played Arsenal in a Cup competition. The previous time was in the FA Cup in 1949 when Spurs lost 0-3 at Highbury.

Spurs had reached their first League Cup semi-final in only the second year that they entered the competition by overcoming Aston Villa, Exeter, Peterborough and Southampton. The Arsenal goal came in injury time as Joe Kinnear attempted to head the ball back to Pat Jennings but his header was too weak and was cut out by the Arsenal striker who scored.

This set up an intriguing match for the second leg at White Hart Lane but made it that bit more difficult for Spurs.

Spurs in History - 19th November

19th November, 1887

Spurs 2 Woolwich Arsenal 1 (Friendly)

The Start of Spurs' Rivalry with Arsenal

The first game played against the team who were to become the club’s near neighbours and greatest rivals. The match was played at Tottenham Marshes, one of the last games Spurs played at their original home.

The visitors were based in south London, their place of origin, before their re-location to north of the river.

The match started late due to the visitor’s late arrival and had to be abandoned with fifteen minutes remaining because of bad light. Spurs were leading 2-1 when the game came to an early conclusion but the goal scorers and the team for this first win over Arsenal are unknown, no records having been kept.

19th November, 1994

Gerry Francis' first game as manager saw them lose 3-4 to Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

Teddy Sheringham, Klinsmann (pen) and an o.g. provided Spurs' goalsbu they maintained their poor record following the sacking of Ossie Ardiles.

Pic: Gross is weclomed by Alan Sugar

Ironically, exactly three years later Christian Gross was appointed as manager to replace Francis. Gross was an unknown manager from Switzerland who was constantly ridiculed by the media, was unpopular with many of the players who were unaccustomed to his methods and was never accepted by the fans.

The media constantly referred to his arrival waving an Underground ticket he had used to make his way to Tottenham.

Not surprisingly his tenure as manager was brief. However, on his return to Switzerland he achieved success in League and European competition.

Spurs in History - 18th November

18th November, 1950

Spurs 7 Newcastle United 0 (1st Division)

An exhibition of ‘Push and Run’ football at its very best.

Arthur Rowe’s team produced one of the finest displays ever seen at White Hart Lane. Spurs were newly promoted and Newcastle came into the game in second place in the League, while Spurs were fourth having won their previous seven matches.

The highest crowd of the season, 70,336, watched the game which saw Spurs three ahead at half-time. The opening goal came from Les Bennett, Eddie Baily added a second and Les Medley scored the third.

In the second half Medley scored the fourth, Sonny Walters got the fifth while Medley completed his hat-trick for the sixth. The final goal was scored by Alf Ramsey from the penalty spot.

Newcastle were not as outplayed as the scoreline suggests but Spurs took their opportunities and played exceptionally well.

True to Tottenham form, a week later they went to Huddersfield, a team near the bottom of the League, and lost 2-3. Typical Spurs!

18th November, 1995

Spurs 2 Arsenal 1 (Premier League)

The departure of Klinsmann, Popescu and Dimitrescu the previous summer had made life more difficult for Spurs. They had only two home games although were unbeaten away from White Hart Lane but two of the summer signings, Ruel Fox and Chris Armstrong were to play a major role in this defeat of Arsenal.

Spurs' previous game had seen them win at Coventry but they found themselves a goal down following arsenal's early domination. However, Spurs showed determination and made a comeback in the second half led by Ruel Fox. His runs from the Spurs' half put the Arsenal defence under constant pressure and he set up the equaliser for Teddy Sheringham.

Spurs continued in a similar vein and Sheringham fed Chris Armstrong who got between two defenders to score the winner.

The Sunday Times headline read:

'Arsenal Fall to Frantic Fox Hunt'

Manager Gerry Francis described Spurs' second half performance - 'as good as anything since he began managing the club.'

18th November, 1965

Spurs 4 Hungarian Select XI 0 (Friendly)

Spurs had a comfortable win but at a cost. 'Double' winning centre half, Maurice Norman broke his leg in five places and eventually had to retire from fotball following a two year battle to regain full fitness.

Spurs goals were scored by Dave Mackay (p) and a hat-trick from Alan Gilzean.

18th November, 1967

Spurs 2 Chelsea 0 (1st Division)

Alan Gilzean and Cliff Jones scored for Spurs.

Spurs in History - 17th November

17th November, 2001

(Pic: Gus Poyet - the Hero of the Hour)

Spurs 1 Arsenal 1 (Premiership)

The North London derby occurs quite frequently in the month of November but in this case the match was of secondary importance.

This was Glenn Hoddle’s first home derby in charge and the team came into the game in a good vein of form in spite of losing their previous game at Leeds.

However, the main focus of attention was the return of Sol Campbell

(Sol Campbell - the Villain of the peace)

who had defected to the other team in North London during the summer on a Bosman deal, having let his contract run out. The atmosphere was hostile as Spurs fans vented their anger against their former captain.

Spurs played well with Ledley King outstanding but it was Arsenal who took the lead late in the second half and looked like holding on to take the three points until the final moments when Gus Poyet equalised with a volley that slipped through the goalkeeper’s fingers.

Salute Willie Hall

On 18th November, 1938 Spurs' inside forward, Willie Hall scored five goals for England against Northern Ireland in Manchester, including a hat-trick in three and a half minutes. He became only the fourth England player to score as many as five goals in an international.

Hall signed for Spurs from Notts County in December, 1932 to replace George Greenfield who had broken his leg. He made his Spurs debut against his old club, a game Spurs lost 0-3. However, in spite of that set-back Spurs went on to win promotion to the 1st Division. Withinh a year of joiningSpurs he had won his first England cap and Spurs had to pay a further £500 to Notts County as part of the transfer settlement. However, it was another four years before he won his next England cap.

in those four years he had been troubled by injury and Spurs' relegation to the 2nd Division. Hall was a clever dribbler and an accurate passer of the ball. He made a further eight appearances for England and in total played 375 games for Spurs, scoring 45 goals.

Sadly, a serious leg injury forced him to retire in 1944 and he later had the lower part of both legs amputated.

For a time he was coach and then manager of Clapham Orient but found his disabilities too much and resigned.

He ran a pub in east London for many years.

Spurs in History - 16th November

Gary Lineker scored twice

16th November, 1991

Spurs 4 Luton Town 1 (1st Division)

Spurs were a goal behind in the second half and looked likely to lose this game when the floodlights failed.

However, on the resumption after a break of fifteen minutes, Spurs were revitalised and went on to win, scoring four goals in the last quarter of the game. Substitute Scott Houghton equalised, scoring his first goal for Spurs. Houghton scored a second and Gary Lineker also scored twice as Spurs ran out comfortable winners against the team who were to be relegated at the end of the season.

16th November, 1968

Spurs 5 Sunderland 1 (1st Division)

'Greaves for England'

Jimmy Greaves had rediscovered his goal scoring touch and people were starting to call for his return to the England team.

Jimmy had already scored three hat-tricks in the first three months of the season against Burnley and Leicester City in the League and against Exeter City in the League Cup. This gave him a goal tally for the season, to date, of 19.

However, against Sunderland he went one better and scored four with Mike England scoring the other goal.

Although Jimmy maintained his goalscoring record Sir Alf Ramsay didn't recall him to the England team.

Spurs in History - 15th November

15th November, 1994

Gerry Francis appointed as Manager.

Following the sacking of Ossie Ardiles, Alan Sugar used the break for the Internationals to search for a replacement. Steve Perryman had been put in temporary charge for the next game and as usual there was considerable press speculation as to who would be appointed.

Gerry Francis had resigned as manager of Queen’s Park Rangers on a point of principle when the Board tried to appoint Rodney Marsh as Chief Executive but failed to tell Francis.

Following discussions Spurs announced his appointment along with his own coaching staff meaning that Perryman would be leaving White Hart Lane. Francis was the third Spurs' manager in two years.

Spurs in History - 14th November

14th November, 1998

Arsenal 0 Spurs 0 (Premiership)

This was the occasion of George Graham’s first visit to Highbury with a Tottenham team.

After only four League games in charge, Graham went to Highbury with an uninspiring record, one win, one draw and two defeats in the League. Spurs started the game in the lower half of the League and Graham used his usual defensive techniques to organise the team and restrict Arsenal.

Goalkeeper Espen Baardsen was outstanding along with the three central defenders as Spurs earned a hard-fought draw.

As one report put it ‘Graham had managed to turn those players with a reputation for lacking spirit, fight and resolve under previous managers into a team knowing the meaning of hard work and respect for their boss.’

Spurs in History - 13th November

13th November, 1920

Oldham Athletic 2 Spurs 5 (1st Division)

In those days teams met home and away in successive weeks. Newly promoted from the Second Division Spurs were having a mixed season. They had lost home and away to Aston Villa and Burnley but had won home and away against Manchester United (1-0 & 4-1) and Chelsea (5-0 & 4-0).

Spurs had beaten Oldham 5-1 at White Hart Lane seven days earlier and a full strength side showing just one change completed an emphatic double over them. Jimmy Seed scored twice, just as he had done in the home game, centre forward Charlie Wilson also scored two and Bert Bliss scored once as he had done the previous week.

Spurs went on to finish sixth in the League but the team will be remembered for their Cup Final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Newspaper Rumour

The Mail on Sunday reports that Chelsea and Barcelona are preparing to do battle for the signature of Spurs captain, Ledley King, in the summer with the starting price quoted as £25 million.

King has been the lynchpin of Spurs defence since the departure of Sol Campbell and he has matured into an excellent player and but for injury would surely have won more caps for England. He has developed an excellent understanding with Michael Dawson who is growing in stature with every game and both could feature in England's international match against Holland on Wednesday evening.
Spurs would not want to lose such an important player, especially to another Premiership team as happened with Michael Carrick and his transfer to Manchester United last summer. Such rumours increase the pressure on Martin Jol to ensure that the team finishes in a high enough League position to guarantee European football next year and preferrably Champions League games so as to encourage his star players to remain at White Hart Lane.

Other news suggests that Portsmouth are still interested in signing Jermain Defoe who has struggled to establish himself in the Spurs team and is having to rotate with Robbie Keane, although Keane seems to b eJol's preference for the 'big' games, having played against both Brugge and Chelsea last week. Defoe started aginst Port Vale in the Carling Cup and also against MK Dons, scoring three goals in the two games. It is thought that Keane wil return for today's Premiership game at Reading, a game that Spurs must win to maintain their progress up the League table towards a European place.