Tottenham Hotspur

[100%cypriot]

Four-midable!



Darren Bent was the headline act in a resounding 5-1 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Monday night - contributing four of the goals.

As it happened, he was the only Spurs player on the scoresheet as our opener was courtesy of an own goal. If the first half was a bit sluggish in terms of precision play, the second was a different ball game and almost reached showboating proportions. Norwich were chasing shadows.

It was a night that marked a first game for Luka Modric, plus returns for Gareth Bale and Ledley King.

With the game being played at a fairly frantic pace, both teams struggled to get into their stride on a humid Norfolk evening in front of a full-house. Norwich gave us a nudge in the right direction when Dejan Stefanovic clipped the ball into his own net on 10 minutes.

It was the trickery of Giovani dos Santos down the right flank that put the home side in a spin and the finish applied to his low centre by the central defender would have made a centre forward marvel. David Marshall was left suitably bemused.

The lead did not last long though - just six minutes - and it was Ledley King of all people who eased the route to goal of scorer Jamie Cureton. Lee Croft attempted a threaded pass and it looked like the skipper would mop up, but he slipped and the striker advanced and calmly slotted past Heurelho Gomes.

There were promising early raids from Chris Gunter during a first period where the football became more incisive as the half progressed, with Luka Modric growing into the game in his first appearance in a Spurs shirt.

There was a blow on 25 minutes when Michael Dawson suffered a cut eye in a challenge with Wes Hoolahan and was replaced by Tom Huddlestone, who entered the midfield fray with Didier Zokora retreating to centre half.

Just before the break Jamie O'Hara weaved his way through some defensive traffic and prodded into the path of Darren Bent, who drilled low past Marshall to give us a half-time lead.

Dos Santos forced a fine save from Marshall just after the re-start following more strong running and productive play from Gunter, the new boy from Barcelona moments later forcing Marshall into more smart work.

Bent doubled his tally on 56 minutes when substitute Benoit Assou-Ekotto teased in a cross from the left and the frontman allowed it to bounce once before plunging his head onto the ball and powering past Marshall.

[100%cypriot]

Seven up for Darren



Darren Bent completed a second hat-trick in as many friendly matches as we made it 10 goals in a week by beating Leyton Orient 5-1 on Wednesday night.

The striker picked up where he left off at Norwich City on Monday to make it seven goals in two matches as we repeated the winning scoreline from Carrow Road.

This time, it was all about the second half as we trailed 1-0 at the break to Jason Demetriou's curler before rattling in four goals inside 15 minutes to completely change the course of the game.

Bent rounded it off with the fifth in the 77th minute to make it seven goals in his last two games and nine so far in pre-season.

There was a tale of the unexpected after just four minutes when Demetriou picked up the ball around five yards outside of the area to the left. After ambling forward in a non-threatening fashion he looked up before planting a curler of the highest quality into the top left hand corner.

Young Oscar Jansson in goal could do nothing about it and the majority of a full house at Brisbane Road were given some early cheer by their side.

Gareth Bale made his first start of the pre-season campaign in left midfield ahead of Gilberto, while Adel Taarabt and Aaron Lennon were operating behind Darren Bent in attack, with Tom Huddlestone and Luka Modric patrolling central midfield.

On 18 minutes a Spurs player was carried off on a stretcher, albeit one wearing the colours of the home side. Stiker Simon Dawkins appeared to suffer an ankle injury following a collision with Huddlestone. We hope the injury is not a serious one and wish him a speedy recovery.

After a period defending without suffering too many alerts, Orient could have doubled their lead just after the half hour mark when Tamika Mkandawire forced a route through on goal.

Jansson did well to close him down and force the ball wide for a corner.

Glenn Morris made a brave block to foil Bent after Taarabt played him through on goal, but chances were not coming thick and fast.

Chris Gunter, Gilberto and Taarabt made way at half-time for Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Jermaine Jenas and Giovani dos Santos.

[100%cypriot]

Spurs 2, Celtic 0



David Bentley scored on his first Spurs appearance as we began the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament with a 2-0 win over Celtic in Rotterdam.

The England midfielder, who joined us from Blackburn Rovers during the week, made it a day to remember as he tapped in at the back post 11 minutes from time to seal a comfortable win over the Scottish champions.

Darren Bent had earlier opened the goalscoring with his ninth goal in four pre-season friendlies this summer.

Our first chance came when Lennon began to tease his marker and released Bent into space ahead of him down the right flank. The striker delivered a decent cross but Jenas couldn't quite get enough purchase on his header to trouble Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal.

But it was a Celtic slip that opened the gates on 25 minutes when Paul Hartley weakly attempted back pass was seized on by Bent, who proceeded to round Boruc and once again his execution was precise.

He could have added to this tally three minutes before the break after Modric slipped a clever pass beyond Celtic's defensive line. Quick as a flash Bent was bearing down on goal and only a fortunate block by Boruc prevented him extending the lead.

Bentley entered the fray at half-time and was joined by Gareth Bale, with Woodgate and Lennon making way.

He showed his range of passing straight away with a deep ball that proved just a little too powerful for Berbatov, before Modric probed and played through Bent, but the forward was shouldered off the ball on approach to goal.

The clever feet of Berbatov provided Modric with a chance to add to his pre-season tally following a smart low cross from Bent, but the little Croatian just lost his footing at the crucial moment. One thing is clear, this squad does not look like it will be lacking in creativity as we head into the new season.

[100%cypriot]

Spurs 3-0 Dortmund



A century of Feyenoord was duly marked with Spurs making it two wins out of two and taking home the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament trophy.

Darren Bent made it ten goals in five pre-season games, with Giovani dos Santos and Jamie O'Hara topping up the advantage after the break against Borussia Dortmund.

Having been rarely troubled in our opening match of the competition against Celtic on Friday, the Germans came out to attack from the off and made a bright start.

A quick counter-attack on four minutes set a few alarm bells ringing when Mladen Petric sped down the left flank against the retreating Didier Zokora, but Heurelho Gomes ended up being untroubled with the shot being dragged wide of his left-hand upright.

But the short-lived deadlock was broken on nine minutes when a Gilberto ball in from the left was capitalised on by Jermaine Jenas and steered into the feet of Bent, who turned and slotted into the net past Roman Weidenfeller in the Dortmund goal.

A Jenas throughball offered Bent the opportunity for another dart on goal nine minutes later and he had pace to spare in dealing with his first marker before cutting inside a second and just failed to pick out the advancing Giovani, who was homing in at the far post.

Petric flashed a free-kick just over the bar as Dortmund sought to respond as we approached the half hour mark. The danger signals increased four minutes before half-time when a ball over the top was controlled with aplomb by Nelson Valdez and a goal looked on the cards. Fortunately, his effort was rolled just beyond the post.

Dos Santos found himself in a similar position just after the break with a similar outcome, the 19-year-old now in tandem with Dimitar Berbatov who was a half-time swap for Bent. Gareth Bale also made way for Aaron Lennon.

The Mexican weaved a little magic to provide David Bentley with a chance to target the top corner but Weidenfeller reacted well. At the other end, there was nothing wrong with Gomes' reactions when he was in place to thwart at the feet of Valdez six minutes into the half. He stretched out a long arm to clutch the ball from the feet of the Paraguayan.

But Dos Santos doubled the advantage on 54 minutes when a perfectly measured threaded throughball from Jenas was seized upon by the diminutive attacker and, a skip past his marker later, he executed a perfect finish into the bottom right hand corner.

Substitute Diego Klimowicz stung the palms of Gomes as Dortmund attempted to mount a comeback. Chris Gunter was introduced in place of Bentley, before young Adam Smith came on for Jenas. Smith slotted in at right back, with Zokora taking up Jenas' slot in midfield.

Smith, a 17-year-old product of our Academy, has looked totally unfazed on his introduction to first-team football, and played a key part in our third goal.

Lennon broke down the right-hand side and played in the overlapping youngster, and his inch-perfect cross was tapped home by O'Hara to round off a splendid afternoon for the Club.

[100%cypriot]

Spurs 5, AS Roma 0



AS Roma were put to the sword in our final pre-season friendly of 2008, with the boys recording a 5-0 ahead of the new season.

Darren Bent continued his goalscoring run with a further two, while David Bentley introduced himself with a double - Aaron Lennon also finding the net.

It was the day that Heurelho Gomes, Luka Modric, Giovani dos Santos and Bentley took to the White Hart Lane stage for the first time in a Spurs shirt.

Just two minutes were on the clock when Bentley took the opportunity to fizz in a free-kick from deep on the left flank. He actually did a bit more than that and his set piece took one bounce in front of Artur, completely deceived the keeper and flew into the back of the net.

Bentley set off on a charge up the touchline in front of the East Stand to celebrate making his mark at the Lane.

The atmosphere was charged anyway and the decibel levels only increased two minutes later when a Gomes clearance was not dealt with by the Roma rearguard and Bent stole in to place the ball through the legs of Artur to make it two and his 11th goal in six games.

A Benoit Assou-Ekotto cross was nodded goalwards by Dimitar Berbatov, allowing Artur to make a rare save, as the half progressed with sustained pressure from the team in black - the boys sporting our new third kit for the afternoon. Jermaine Jenas later flashed a shot over from an acute angle that bounced on the roof of the net.




Alberto Aquilani provided Gomes with his first test on 37 minutes, which the keeper passed with flying colours, before making another more routine stop from Mirko Vucinic a couple of minutes later.

Right on half-time Roma surrendered possession and Bentley picked up the ball before advancing to about 20 yards and arrowing past Artur into the bottom right hand corner to make it 3-0.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon were introduced at half-time in place of Assou-Ekotto and Berbatov as the second period continued in much the same fashion as the first - Spurs pouring forward.

The advantage was increased even further on 49 minutes when Bentley - now operating down the left - combined with Giovani and the speedy and skilful Mexican international skipped past his marker before dispatching a powerful low cut-back to where Lennon was waiting to fire past Artur.

It was five on 53 minutes when a Bentley corner was curled in the direction of Jonathan Woodgate, who applied something of a knockdown, with Bent waiting in front of goal to turn and smash into the top corner for his 12th goal six games.



He could have notched a hat-trick moments later but Artur clutched onto his low drive after good work from Modric.

Just before the hour mark, Ledley King and Tom Huddlestone took to the pitch in place of Michael Dawson and Modric. Chris Gunter replaced Didier Zokora on 63 minutes after the Ivory Coast international became involved in a scuffle with Marco Cassetti that led to the pair being booked.

The changes continued with Jamie O'Hara and Gilberto taking the place of Jenas and Bentley, before Gomes made way for young Oscar Jansson.

The final action of note was a double yellow card - and therefore red - for Roma's Aquilani, for successive fous on Lennon.


It turned out to be more than an entertaining afternoon - and an amazing 35,841 fans turned out to witness it.

[Crash Test Dummy]

berb made the line up for tomorrow.....interesting

[100%cypriot]

he was booed at the game on sat ,,,when he was warming up and then when he come on
judas

[100%cypriot]

Boro 2, Spurs 1



Two second half goals saw to it that Middlesbrough claimed the points in our first Premier League outing of season 2008-09.

Once again it was not a happy away day on day one as David Wheater and former Spur Mido netted the goals that sent the home fans home happy. It was a Boro head that contributed our injury time consolation.

The sun was out to welcome in the new season in the north east on a humid afternoon in front of close to a full house at the Riverside Stadium. The Spurs thousands were grouped behind the goal defended by Heurelho Gomes in the first half - clearly the noisiest area of the stadium.

It was the team sporting white shirts that made the more enterprising beginning, with Luka Modric and Giovani dos Santos dipping their toes in Premier League waters for the first time, while David Bentley and Heurelho Gomes were also making competitive first starts.

The more cohesive football was coming from Spurs in the opening ten minutes or so before Boro asserted themselves a little and began to rouse their bumper opening day crowd, with Afonso Alves attempting to impose himself.

The nimble feet of Giovani were dancing to their own beat at the other end, the Mexican international - also of Brazilian stock - was probing for creative openings and twice early on provided Bentley with half-chances that were pinged wide.

There were gasps of disbelief from the Boro fans 18 minutes in when Tuncay cleverly lofted the ball over Benoit Assou-Ekotto and darted into the area before unselfishly squaring to the unmarked Alves in front of goal. The Riverside was ready to rock to their celebratory tune before Assou-Ekotto propelled himself in front of the Brazilian striker, doing enough to deflect over the bar.

There was a bigger scare just after the half hour point when a Stewart Downing corner was powerfully headed into the net by David Wheater. There was a bit of tugging between him and Michael Dawson, but it was hard to tell why referee Mr Atkinson ruled out the effort.




Downing and Alves combined moments later as Middlesbrough established themselves as the game's aggressors, the England man's low centre being fizzed just over by the tall striker.

The team needed a shot in the arm and no doubt a few wise words were imparted at the break, where there were no changes made on the day when the choice from seven substitutes was available to managers for the first time in the Premier League.

A swirling shot from Bentley tested Brad Jones via a deflection after the re-start, Aaron Lennon and Giovani persisted in trying to pick a way through Boro's defences before Alves sprinted away on the counter-attack and Assou-Ekotto rode to the rescue once again.

Jonathan Woodgate threw himself in the way of a Tuncay blast just after the hour, which proved the cue for changes and the entry of Dimitar Berbatov and Gareth Bale. Giovani and Lennon made way.

Berbatov made an impact straight away by playing Jenas through, but Jones advanced and blocked the captain's effort when a lead looked almost inevitable.




The balance of power in the game remained difficult to detect until Boro struck with 20 minutes left on the clock. A low centre from Downing was diverted onto goal by Alves, which bought out a superb reaction from Gomes, but the the ball flew up onto the bar and landed at the feet of Wheater, who joyfully slammed home.

Darren Bent flashed a shot narrowly wide as the response was mounted, before third sub Jamie O'Hara attempted to capitalise on hesitation between Wheater and the goalkeeper - hurting himself in the process.

Four minutes from time defeat was confirmed when Mido was on hand to re-direct a miscued shot from Didier Digard past Gomes to make it 2-0.

Robert Huth reduced the deficit via an own goal from Bentley's free-kick in stoppage time, but it was too late to affect the destination of the points.

[100%cypriot]

Spurs 1-2 Sunderland



Djibril Cisse's 82nd minute winner means Juande Ramos' men are still looking for their first points of the new season after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sunderland at The Lane.

An evenly-matched and an at times exciting encounter could have gone either way, but the former Liverpool striker came off the bench to grab victory after we had come back from a goal down.

Kieran Richardson had given Roy Keane's side the lead 10 minutes after half-time, but we worked hard to get ourselves back into the game and were rewarded by Jermaine Jenas' 72nd minute equaliser.

But it wasn't to be, and we go into next weekend's London derby with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge desperate to kick-start our 2008/09 campaign.

Spurs had the better of the early exchanges with much of their threat coming from wide areas during the first half.

Didier Zokora and Aaron Lennon on the right, with Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto on the left kept a constant flow of good delivery coming into Sunderland's box.

Add to that the threat of David Bentley from set-pieces, and big Black Cats centre-halves Nyron Nosworthy and Danny Collins had their work cut out for them.

Nosworthy in particular had to be at his best on 18 minutes when turning a hanging Lennon cross away from the lurking Darren Bent. Just prior to this, a teasing Bentley corner had just evaded Bale and Jonathan Woodgate in the box.

The visitors began to impose themselves later in the half, and arguably ended it the stronger side after Steed Malbranque's 25-yard shot struck Heurelho Gomes' right-hand post on 38 minutes.




It was a sign of things to come, but the first action of the second half came on 48 minutes when Bale missed a great chance to give us the lead, heading a Bentley corner over unmarked from six yards.

Then came a Sunderland onslaught that resulted in them taking the lead. First, Daryl Murphy put a free header over our bar from Andy Reid's free-kick, and the Irish striker was denied by Gomes moments later after getting on the end of El-Hadj Diouf's cross.

But on 54 minutes, we failed to clear our lines on the edge of the box, and former Manchester United midfielder Richardson let fly with an unstoppable 25-yard shot straight into the top corner.

It was a real hammer blow, but the Head Coach responded in positive fashion, bringing both Tom Huddlestone and Giovani Dos Santos off the bench. A flurry of Spurs chances followed.

On the hour, Bentley's in-swinging free-kick from the left took a wicked deflection and was well saved by Craig Gordon, but between them, Bale and Woodgate just couldn't force in the rebound.

The following minute, Jenas headed over a Huddlestone cross and Bent hit the side-netting of Gordon's goal just after that having been released by Bentley.

On 70 minutes, it was Bentley who turned poacher with an excellent 25-yard effort that was well tipped over by the Scottish goalkeeper.

But it was only a matter of time, and two minutes later, a persistent run and shot from Luka Modric forced another save from Gordon, only for Jenas to tap home the rebound and put Spurs back on level terms.




At this point, it looked as if we were favourites to go on and take all three points, with Bentley again forcing Gordan to dive full-stretch to his left and keep out a 30-yard-free-kick.

But in our determination to look for the winner, we left ourselves exposed at the back, and Sunderland took advantage eight minutes from time.

Murphy's cross from the left was headed home by Cisse at the back post to make it a dream debut for the French striker, who arrived on a season-long loan from Marseilles during the week.

With our energy spent, there was no coming back from this, and a hard week's work lays ahead for the team in preparation for what has become a massive game next weekend.

Spurs (4-2-3-1) Gomes; Zokora, Woodgate, King (c), Assou-Ekotto (Huddlestone, 55); Jenas, Modric; Lennon (Giovani, 55), Bentley, Bale; Bent
Subs: Cesar, Gunter, Dawson, Gilberto, O'Hara

Sunderland (4-4-2) Gordon; Bardsley, Nosworthy, Collins, Higginbotham; Malbranque, Whitehead (c), Richardson (Cisse, 65), Reid; Diouf, Murphy
Subs: Ward, Leadbitter, Miller, Chopra, Healy, Stokes

[Crash Test Dummy]

we are such a joke.

I feel sorry as that £700 you spent on your ticket is non-refundable

[100%cypriot]

i feel sorry for me as well !! and it was £750 and i got a share of another ticket ,,,lot of money to watch a load of rubbish

[100%cypriot]

Chelsea 1, Spurs 1



A first point of the season was recorded at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Darren Bent's first goal of the new campaign.

The striker struck on the stroke of half-time with a clinical finish in response to Juliano Belletti's opening.

It was a hard fought point and in no way undeserved. The team were spirited and resolute in equal measure and competitive in every department against Luiz Felipe Scolari's side. It was a point won and point made against last season's Premier League runners up.

There were two changes to the starting line-up from last week's reverse against Sunderland, with Chris Gunter slotting in at right-back and Giovani dos Santos returning to the first XI fold.

Luka Modric tucked in behind Darren Bent in attack, Giovani to the left of midfield, while Didier Zokora was restored to central midfield duties.

Five minutes in Heurelho Gomes got caught in no-man's land on the edge of his six-yard box when Frank Lampard was shaping to shoot from outside the area, the England man floating in a dipping that the Brazilian did brilliantly to stoop back and tip over. At the other end a Giovani cutback was diverted towards goal by Bent, but a deflection sent the ball wide of Petr Cech's goal.

The signs were encouraging possession-wise, but goalmouth activity at either end was of a premium before, on 25 minutes, a sumptious ball from Juliano Belletti saw Nicolas Anelka steal in behind Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, although the pair troubled him enough to force a shot over the bar.



Michael Essien then rattled the crossbar and the deadlock was broken with 28 minutes on the clock. A Deco corner was connected with by the unmarked Belletti who reacted smartly to steer past Gomes.

The game became a little disjointed following the goal with attacking intent stumbling at the last third and Chelsea also not making a further impression after the little purple patch that saw them take the lead.

Then, just before half-time, Lampard made a hash of an attempted clearance from his rearguard and helped the ball back into the danger zone. It fell kindly for Bent, who zipped in on goal and placed a perfect finish past Cech to level the score with his first of the season.

The creation might have been fortunate, but the execution was precise and a foothold was placed firmly back in the game ahead of the second 45 minutes.

Ashley Cole fired across goal in the first salvo of the half after a clever leave from Lampard and the latter also chipped over with Gomes in retreat, as the tempo increased from the somewhat pedestrian nature of the first half exchanges.

Just before the hour Aaron Lennon was introduced in place of Giovani and Tom Huddlestone was also called upon, with Gunter making way after a strong performance at the back. Jermaine Jenas dropped in at right-back with Huddlestone moving in alongside Zokora in the heart of midfield.

Superb link up play between Huddlestone and Bent led to the midfielder having a powerful drive deflected wide of the post.



The balance of power was in the balance and this was reflected in the subdued atmosphere inside the stadium as we approached the final third of the half with neither side making significant in-roads into opposition territory.

Huddlestone was making an impact and adding a greater presence in central areas, with Lennon tasked with getting up in support of Bent in a speedier fashion. Jamie O'Hara by this point had been added to the mix, with Bentley withdrawn.

The energy levels of the team in white cranked up ten or so per cent in the final ten minutes and it took a crude trip to halt a lung-busting run from Bale as he closed in on goal. The seconds ticked by and the furstrations of the home crowd were becoming more and more audible. The words of the excitable on-pitch announcer at the start when he proclaimed 'welcome to the top of the league' were sounding a little hollow, not to mention it being far too early to be reading into league positions.

[Crash Test Dummy]

Quite an evenful transfer window.

[100%cypriot]

same shit different season re , we are becoming the feeder club of north london ,,,unbelieveable situation ,,,we can forget top 4 this season or the next season ,,,we aint going nowhere till some Billionaire buy's us from enic

[100%cypriot]

Spurs 1 Villa 2



Juande Ramos' men are still looking for their first victory of the season after a third defeat of the campaign, this time at the hands of Aston Villa.

An early strike from Nigel Reo-Coker was doubled by Ashley Young in the second half, sending the Midlands side home with all three points despite Darren Bent's late consolation.

Transfer window signings Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko were handed their Spurs debuts, but the visitors had by far the better of the first half and they started as they meant to go on.

Good work down the left from Young set up Gabriel Agonlahor for the cross, which fizzed across the face of goal and was touched on towards the back post where Reo-Coker was on-hand to side-foot home after just four minutes.

Beyond this, much praise must go to Heurelho Gomes for keeping the scores at 1-0 until half-time came.

Reo-Coker was again involved on 22 minutes when his cross was met by Gareth Barry at the back post, and although the Brazilian stopper appeared to be wrong-footed with the ball rolling in, he somehow managed to scramble back and claw the ball to safety.



Just a moment later, Gomes came to the rescue again. Having punched clear Ashley Young's in-swinging corner, the former PSV man had to track back and make a spectacular save from a goal-bound Agbonlahor header after Nicky Shorey had helped the ball back into the danger zone.

To their credit, Juande Ramos' side had a relatively strong finish to the half, but it wasn't until the 35th minute that Brad Friedel was finally tested by a 30-yard Tom Huddlestone effort.

Aside from this, Pavlyuchenko was looking lively on his Spurs debut, and had a goal-bound effort blocked by the head of Curtis Davies on 21 minutes.

As the second half began, it looked as though we were going to take some of the impetus forward, especially when Aaron Lennon forced Friedel into a wonderful save to deny his 20-yard effort on 49 minutes.

But it wasn't to be, and four minutes later Villa were 2-0 up. England midfielder Young ran at our defence and hit a speculative 25-yard effort straight at Gomes. But unfortunately for the Brazilian, the ball slipped beneath him and into the net in a real horror moment.

Substitutes David Bentley and Giovani Dos Santos, along with Lennon and Bent, all had efforts on goal before the latter finally deflected home Jermaine Jenas' effort four minutes from time.



JJ was instrumental at the other end to keep the scores down in the dying seconds, making a brave block to deny Marlon Harewood with the goal gaping.

But despite a late rally, we now go into Thursday's UEFA Cup opener with Wisla Krakow at The Lane desperately needing to kick-start our campaign.

Spurs (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson (Giovani, 61), Woodgate, Bale; Lennon, Zokora (Bentley, 45), Huddlestone, Modric (Jenas, 29); Pavlyuchenko, Bent
Subs not used: Cesar, Gilberto, O'Hara, Campbell

Villa (4-4-2): Friedel; L Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey (Gardner, 87); Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, A Young; Agbonlahor (Harewood, 84), Carew (Milner, 62)
Subs not used: Guzan, Knight, Cuellar, Routledge