Lilywhite & Blue

Oh yes, yes, yes. Exciting stuff. Lilywhite & Blue, The History Of Tottenham's Famous Shirt by Jeff Maysh is now an interactive digital book for the iPad. Spurs + retina screen = glorious and gorgeous.

If you've ever worn a Spurs shirt, this book is for you. Lilywhite & Blue is a visual history of every glorious shirt design since the team was founded. For this unique project, memorabilia collectors have opened the doors to their private collections, to bring together the rarest match-worn Spurs shirts of all time: Klinsmann's famous debut shirt; Cup Final kits from the glorious 1960s, muddy match strips from every Premiership season, and the shirts that even THFC don't have in their archives.

This exclusive 2012 digital edition of the top-selling book celebrates the colourful history of Tottenham Hotspur's shirt, and now features video, extra content and includes the latest Under Armour kits. This 100% unofficial book is for serious Spurs obsessives only. That's obviously all of you because were all a bit obsessed.

It's available for sale on the ‘iBook store’ today and the digital version now features exclusive video content, interactive galleries, quick quizzes, and even more photos of Tottenham’s iconic shirts, updated to include 2012’s Under Armour kits.

Click here for more images and info and links on how and where to purchase it.

Also, listen out for Jeff on The Fighting Cock podcast soon.

Norwich at the Lane, the afternoon after the night before

The season starts here. There's nowhere else for it to hide now. Second home game of the season against beatable opposition (we've heard that before this season and last) and we need a win to compete a triple (to go alongside the loss and draw). Not that I'm counting points. Had we held on last weekend we'd still have posed the odd question about the side's overall performance and the strange substitutions - which illustrated the gaps that the transfer window filled in. Well, almost filled in. We have no João Moutinho. Not that he would have been signed in time for Norwich at the Lane. But clearly, based on the lack of obvious midfield creativity, we lack that spark. So no pressure Mousa Dembélé. Hope those shoulders are nice and strong. Welcome to the world famous home of the Spurs. We promise to smile, chant your name and get behind the team.

Chris Hughton is back with a Norwich team that were deserving of the win here last season. The same result today and those smiles and chants will take on a more sinister feel. If we play as well as we did against WBA in the first hour and take our chances, we'll be dancing a merry jig in the stands and on the touchline. Have to be ruthless in front of goal. That's it. There's no requirement for any major reshuffle tactically to the way we set out last week. The issues became apparent the longer the game went on allowing WBA to push forward more and trouble us with the physicality of Lukaku, who battered us every time he came forward. We have to be the ones that do the bullying and the punishing. Options will improve further when Clint Dempsey is available, but for now Dembélé and his dynamism and hopefully a fitter Adebayor will have to provide the punch and Bale and Lennon in improving supporting roles.

To tie all this in with Daniel Levy and the transfer window, utterly bored of this 'early points will cost us Champions League' argument which seems to bask in hindsight that some seem to enjoy citing. Dropping six points last season in the opening two games was unavoidable in some ways thanks to two yet to be signed players and Redknapp's selection with the way the midfield lined-up. The points that truly cost us came after the fact, later in the season, when form had been hit and defeat pulled us back down to earth with failure to recover. These very early games can be sacrificed to transition with the real tests coming when pressure to retain success on the pitch is prominent to all concerned. Still flexing those muscles.

Still, flexing or no flexing, points (in a bundle of three) on the board and a good solid performance will go a long way in settling things down and sending us on our way in the right direction. Outside pressures, we have no control of. But pressures from within can do far more long term damage. Three points and no booing.

The season starts here.

Run-down of 'first team' squad

(Keepers)

Lloris - Could see a similar situation to David de Gea as he settles into life in the Prem, which I hope we don't, mainly because we don't quite handle the fragility of some our goalkeepers very well. Massive signing though. Sweeper-keeper, a vital ingredient in VB's plans.
Friedel - Knows his role, understands he's long in the tooth but aside from not attacking the ball more often he remains reliable. Aside from when staying on his line and not attacking the ball.
Cudicini - Back up.
Gomes - Forgotten about.

(Centre-backs)

Vertonghen - Not just a class in defence but brings the ball out of it and into midfield and forward positions, with an eye for goal. Will lead by example from the back, can see him being very inspirational as the season drags on.
Caulker - Sparky form for Swansea, if King was The Legend, Caulker is The Future.
Kaboul - Out for 4 months.
Gallas - Question marks on fitness, age, experience not in doubt but perhaps desire is.
Dawson - Not considered a fit in Villas-Boas model (too slow, immobile) but with Kaboul out, he might be called upon to do a job.

(Full-backs)

Assou-Ekotto - Positional concentration important and rotation paramount to retaining form.
Walker - Improvements on defending as he has no trouble going forward.
Naughton - Lack of experience in Prem, signed new contract, has to step up and make the grade.
Smith - As above with making the grade..

(Wingers)

Lennon - Big season for the little man with the new contract. That fiery pulsating Aaron running at opposing back fours with speed, cutting in and out, is a sight to behold. Needs to impact games and pressure full-backs (especially at home) and needs to do it consistently. No cover here. We wanted something extra here, to aid VB and his 433.
Bale - Massive season after last season's erratic one. Was allowed to roam under Redknapp. Has to be controlled this time round. From the left, has to deliver the type of crosses he's capable of and hopefully our forward(s) and midfielders attack the box with intent to get on the end of them.

(Defensive/Holding midfield)

Sandro - Should be key this season marshalling the midfield.
Parker - Post-injury recovery, will be interesting to see if he gets in the side ahead of Sandro. Older legs so doubt we'll see the burn out Redknapp was responsible for last season. Rotation.
Livermore - Has proven he can do a job for us. Young, hungry to impress and promoted from within. We've got the DM position covered well.

(Attacking midfield)

Dembele - Box to box beasting. Can work the ball around, keep things ticking over and get involved with the less glamourous work. Dynamic. Will link up well with Dempsey.
Dempsey - Goals from midfield, from out wide or deputising up front. If he can replicate the form he had for Fulham last season then he'll be the one to grab those vital points in tight situations.
Sigurdsson - Another high up the pitch attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. His development and influence under Villas-Boas is something I'm waiting to see play out. We're not short of goals in midfield, with Rafa gone. Not short on strength and agility either. It's craft and guile that we need to be comforted with. 433 is dependent on that playmaker. Dembele might just cover that.

(You tell me)

Jenas - Almost went to Sunderland on loan.
Huddlestone - Needs to regain fitness, possibly doesn't fit into Villas-Boas model due to lack of pace.
Townsend - Could provide cover on flanks if given the chance.
Carroll - Too light-weight?
Bentley - Not a clue.

(Attack)

Defoe - Impact sub. Can't lead the line in one-man attacking formation.
Adebayor - Links up play with midfield, drops to channels/wings. Not an out and out striker but can lead the line. Harry Kane is on loan to Norwich. One injury away from a breakdown. Bare bones anyone?

Midfield looks great, really does. Even the 'benched' players could do a job in covering in early cup matches. They have to be involved more often than not but considering the 'first team' options available, (who will have first dibs in that rotation pool) they might be surplus to requirements after all.

Attacking midfield can cover flanks in 443 formation. So versatility is there. Bale and Dempsey can play in forward positions if required. Dembele is the key for the time being to keep the ball moving forward with lack of a more obvious playmaker. You feel VB won't be able to fulfil his ambitions until we sign one. Can't ignore how much this will potentially impact our fluidity and movement in midfield. He'll have to adjust our evolution here.

Full-backs? Injuries aside, pressure on Walker and Benny again to perform across the season but we'll need to rest them so that means we might have to call upon the young lads to cover.

Centre-backs are fine. Would be perfect if Kaboul wasn't recovering from surgery. Have to hope this won't be a reoccurring theme. Dawson stays for now but get the feeling he's behind Gallas in pecking order.

Brad to retain his number one jersey, but Lloris to own it in time. Brad already well aware (due to age) that he might have take a step back. As for Hugo, not expecting him to be boss from the off. All dependent on how quickly VB wants to push him into first team action.

Onwards.

The Levy holds firm in stormy weathers

Blimey. That (deadline day) was just a little exciting. So okay, Jim White once more failed to explode on live television and Moutinho failed to materialise in the end, but all things considering, it’s been a good window. No doubt perception of what defines good will differ amongst the majority, splintering into a variety of groups ranging from the happy to the content to the disappointed. Review time.

Thoughts

Joào Moutinho was a vital ingredient to the plan. I firmly believe he’s the key to ‘replacing’ the departed Luka Modric in terms of midfield creativity, an outlet of control for a system that will be based on fluidity, pace and strength. Long term, we’ll have to revisit this particular deal. Sounds like we worked until the bitter end to get it done, so the fact it didn't happen does make me feel empty. Four months we'll have to wait so the hope is we start up on the 1st of January and not on the last day. As for Dempsey he's a fantastic addition to the squad. Not comparable, the two of them. The latter is versatile and scores goals. Not quite as creative as Rafa van der Vaart but fitter and a better fit into VB’s plans.

So why wasn’t the attempt to sign Moutinho kick-started earlier?

I don’t know. There’s no definitive answer unless you work alongside Levy. Some will blame the chairman for brinkmanship and others will point to the culture of transfer negotiations, with clubs (selling clubs) also waiting until the last minute to do business in order to pressure the interested party into paying over the odds. Seems a couple of chairman in this window have had their egos bruised by little Daniel. It might have been down to the player wanting the ilk of wages we simply cannot afford. With regards to Lyon and the hissy fit thrown by them in the aftermath of the transfer of Lloris to Spurs, one or two seem to point and shout at Levy for taking massive risks, changing his mind and playing games. But that’s how he operates. He's always operated like this. It's not going to change. In the end the fee and personal terms might have been agreed. The third-party ownership of the player the stumbling block.

The player (Lloris) signed in the end and probably signed for the fee we were willing and happy to spend on him. Levy does what he does for a reason. We want it to be purely about the football but he’s a business man, the money spent is an investment in the club which is part of ENIC’s investment. It’s why he’s so shrewd and perhaps sometimes willing to sacrifice for the sake of making a stand or refusing to be bullied or paying a penny more. Doesn’t always work. But he’s been relatively successful in this window, probably because he’s able to work with a manager who has a clear strategy in what is required.

Hate to say this, but if we had CL, some of our other targets (strikers included) might have been easier to sign as well. We’re aiming high. Too high perhaps. In fact so high that our backup plan for a striker was Remy, and that failed to get past agreeing a fee. Leandro, Llorente...perhaps not possible now for several reasons but possible in the future. Although I’ll like to point out (before you do) that both links have been ever present for the past few windows and nothing has happened. Not sure we’ve ever really bid for Llorente. If we’ve got our hearts set on someone and it’s for £20M or so then maybe we won’t want to spend that amount on someone we don’t really want. I don’t know, I’m trying to rationalise again on this. Spoke about this in my last blog about our summer targets and it does seem that wages + lack of Champions League is holding us back. What is frustrating is how there’s no apparent cheaper options out there. But then would you be happy with one?

Might not be as bad as it looks here (with Adebayor, Defoe). Dempsey can play in forward positions. Only need one up front, midfield/flanks will be important in how we attack and create. We’ll have to use width to compensate for lack of deep-lying movement from central positions. Midfield currently more robust and direct than reliant on scheming and ghosting. For now anyway.

Replacing Modric was never going to be easy. Catch 22. Sell Luka early in the window, get less money, then perhaps struggle to attain targets or sell him late on and give yourself less time to sign replacement. Then again, ground work would have been worked on throughout the summer. Some of the complexities of transfers breaking down are not always discussed in the public domain because we’re not privy to the details. Although the Porto chairman is also having a dig at Levy and his negotiations. Again, it's funny ha-ha how some are quick to just lay the blame on someone representing THFC.

Key player movement (or lack of) + reminders

Lloris in will have Villas-Boas smiling. Sweeper-keeper. I actually gave up on this one happening until the new year so the fact we went back in to negotiate shows us how important a player he is to aid the new template of player positioning, starting with man between the sticks. Upper body strength will need to be worked on.

Moutinho. The one that got away. I'm fixated on this. We’ve relied heavily on a play maker. Modric was special. Moutinho also has that edge, able to defend but also craft and create and attack the box. The player wants to leave Porto. We all thought he would if Hulk failed to move on. Neither have departed. Yet. Hoping this will be resurrected in four months time. We’ll have to sit back and watch how the side will set out to retain possession and attack from deep/counter attack. Either we’ll compensate or Villas-Boas has plans to mould Dembele into an emergency ‘playmaker’.

Talking of which, Dembele is a steal. Quality player who has gone from strength to strength under Jol at Fulham. He’s not in the same class at Luka and it’s unwise to expect the same type of movement and play from him but he brings something different. Dynamic, beastly, box to box. Strength and skill.

Dempsey might be perceived us some as a fall back plan but let’s think of this without the pressures of alternative signings. He’s Prem experienced. He’s cut throat in front of goal and scores a fair few. He can play in midfield, on the flanks and up front. He scores goals <-- hello. I mentioned that already but it’s worth repeating. If Bale steps up this season and improves his tally then playing with one striker might not impact us if the midfield are sharing the load. Rafa got a fair few for us in the past two seasons. We need to retain or improve on that form. Also, he’s another strong player. We’re turning into a very mobile, versatile side (on paper).

Remy was the player we got linked to a few times and had bids rejected for. I think at one point we were balls deep, but it didn’t happen. He’s not in the same class as some of our other prospective signings but then the other ones are Llorente and Leandro, to name just a couple. What player would sit in the tier below Remy? Seems our quest here for an out and out striker (which ironically is not what Remy is) will continue into yet another window.

Jenas. Turned down a move to Sunderland. Still with us. I guess along with Huddlestone (who doesn’t appear to fit into the mobile fit that VB is aiming for) we have a fair few options to cover us for the cup games. Midfield is looking very busy. What will be of interest here is how VB handles squad rotation. Redknapp didn’t. Our benchers we’re exactly that. Afterthoughts. Never called upon to do a job and when they were, they struggled.

dos santos has finally gone. I’m sure he’ll look good in La Liga. He looks good in anything other than a Lilywhite shirt.

Rose to Sunderland will allow him to develop and for us to see if he will ever get to the required level  to return and play for us.

Kane to Norwich. As above. We'll see how he does coming up against Prem opposition from one week to the next.

Bentley hasn’t gone anywhere. It staggers me how his career has just disappeared like a ball landing in a skip with noone willing to recover from all the rubbish. Haven’t got a clue what kind of shape he’s in, physically or mentally. Would love for him to come good but not sure how he’ll fit into the team as he has no pace.

Gomes not moving on is surprising. Thought someone might come in for him. Seems to be a millions light years away from the first team.

Kaboul out for four months. So Dawson stays. Caulker is willing and able so centre-back wise we’re doing fine. Full-backs? Let’s hope for no injuries or loss of form.

Easy to forget Bale signed a new contract. His progression and new improve instructions on the left (and when to roam) in the hands of the coach. Could bring a completely new dimension to the side (or an old and working one if he stays on the flank).

Defoe’s contract is business, IMO. Say for example, we sign Leandro in January, we get to sell JD for extra pennies in the same window. Can't see him being anything more than an impact sub as he lacks the movement and patience to truly lead the line on his own.

Kranjcar, Corluka, Pienaar, Bassong also shifted on earlier in the window along with short-term players Saha and Nelsen and other lesser squad members with very little impact to our plans. None of them close to first team action.

Conclusions

Not too shabby for a team punching above its weight financially, signing (some) players good enough for CL and retaining strength in squad. Best to remember how far away we are from the likes of Man City and Chelsea in terms of finances and yet how close we are on the pitch. And without CL it makes it doubly hard to compete for certain signatures. Levy has shown he can work with the coach – although not disputing some of his methods and ideology isn’t always agreeable with some quarters. But then in a modern game plighted by over-spending, we continue to compete and plan for the future.

We've got better depth in squad but perhaps not quite a better first team although it’s unfair to discuss this until after we start winning games and seeing a visible distinction between this side and last seasons.

Also, some of the changes made were simply impossible to avoid. Ledley King retiring and Luka Modric wanting out. Selling Rafa van der Vaart is one of sadness, but sentiments aside, he was continually subbed off last season. Not fit enough under Redknapp so not a chance he could fit into VB’s plans. Not just about the fitness, but his style would see him relegated to the bench and Rafa is not productive out on the wings and shouldn't be wasted on the bench. A brilliant player, one that truly galvanised us. Had a winners mentality and will never be forgotten for his form against the scum. Was one of my favourite players before he signed for us, had to pinch myself when he did. Good luck back in Germany. I’ll be keen to see how often he plays and how many games he finishes on the pitch.

We’ve made more in transfers out then spent on transfers in. That will no doubt turn the chairman on. I’m fairly excited myself. But more so in getting behind the team (easy tiger) and watching us gradually transform into a new variant one that hopefully retains the beautiful football of recent years but with more guile and mental strength.

Levy might not be everyone's cup of tea and his ideas of what is best for the club differs from some of ours but by doing the best for himself he does actually do quite well for the club in the end. Opposing chairman crying their eyes out? Bless them. They probably expect to push us over and don't like it when they come up against someone that bites back. All fair in love and war. The work now shifts from boardroom to training pitch and the league.

A very good window. It could have been majestic with Joào. I will ignore the scenario that would play out if Adebayor picked up an injury. For now.

Positive thinking.

Gylfi Sigurdsson
Jan Vertonghen
Emmanuel Adebayor
Moussa Dembele
Hugo Lloris
Clint Dempsey

COYS.

Fortune favours the bald

Let's see if I've got this.

Lloris.

Dembele.

M'Vila.

Remy.

Willian.

Kaka.

Moutinho.

All popular buzz words in a transfer window which promised so much early on then fell into stasis until Luka Modric's move to Real Madrid was finalised, for it to now come back to life. Although whether life here is a reawakening or something more akin to the zombie undead remains to be seen. And seen it will in the next...three days. That's three days to conduct more high end business in one window than we've conducted for years. In three days. All the missing ingredients for Villas-Boas to be armed and ready for battle, all the key areas that need strengthening will need to be strengthened in...three days. Sounds fairly ridiculous doesn't it? More so if you're already pessimistic and cite prior windows and lack of decisiveness display. But then most of the proposed deals have been long running, if you choose to believe the relentless media coverage this summer has blessed us with.

Yes, we've signed players in the past, of course we have. But we've been restrained in part, because of the uncertainty with the way business has been handles. Say, for example, the lack of a forward and the ongoing sagas pertaining to it. The reasons for this can either be blamed on the lack of apparent unity between Levy and Redknapp or perhaps the complexities of our finances. Just how much money do we have and how much of it can be spent on players? I believe there's money there. Quite obviously. We do well and we've already spent on quality this summer. But it seems it's a controlled budget accompanied by penny pinching. Which doesn't necessarily mean we're being tight. We're not bidding £25M for a player, because we probably can't afford to and if we do so it changes the bids we can afford to make on other targets.

Sure, our scouting system hasn't produced any surprise 'cheap' yet potential superstar acquisitions, aside from some of the broken youth players we pick up, mostly as an afterthought and not anywhere near first team cover. Perhaps the days of picking up a Modric or a Berbatov have gone what with the manner City sign players that in the past would have been shared across several top tier sides. It's all skewered and messed up. Something you can tag the transfer window with being thanks to it's culture of patience and kidology completed centered around it closing. And the fact clubs appear to be scared, for the most part, to do business well before that deadline.

Levy has to back Villas-Boas. The coach would not have taken the job if he believed our hands were tied financially to the point of head shaking despondency at not being able to bring in more players. Which means the nature of the transfer window has Levy playing his usual shrewd calculated tactics based on the fact that we haven't got money to spend over valuation. I've cited this already so I'm running with it. Although what exactly defines valuation is anyone's guess. We played hard ball with Madrid so other clubs are in their right to do the same with us. And what is market value? Are the supporters, the oracle of football, the ones that decide what constitutes value for money? I'm trolling. Clubs will pay and sell at what they believe to be fair where as others will accept gleefully stupid amounts of money because it's being offered to them. There is no balance or common sense most of the time. I guess the bargains are picked up from clubs that are desperate to sell because of debt.

And what of these other clubs? Porto wont sell Moutinho (who wants out) for anything less than their valuation which is more than we can afford. But are they reliant on seeing money come into the club this summer? Is it their preference to sell Hulk instead (who also wants out) to aid their finances and not take a hit to the style of play they are accustomed too? If Hulk doesn't move on because nobody wants him, Moutinho would because Spurs want him. And it favours Levy if Porto suddenly have to sell. It's not always about us holding back, the opposing club has it's own strategy and squad development to cater for. Which is why it builds up into a frenzy towards deadline day when the domino falls and everything ahead does the same.

In the past, under Redknapp, arguably there was no common ground found on targets. This time round, I don't expect the same under a new coach that is hungry to be successful and won't be able to achieve it without purchasing the right players for his system. So if Villas-Boas wants Moutinho and the club are 'talking' to Porto it's only wise we're doing the same with say Fulham over Dembele (I'm just going on hearsay with all this). Two deals ongoing, can't commit to either until that point in the window when a final decision just has to be made. Risky, isn't it? Not all targets can be signed with comfort early on. The ones we did had no obstacles in the way to delay getting that pen to paper. Even though Vert took an age to sign. But he wanted to sign and his club wanted to sell. Other things stopped it from happening. But even in a deal that was on course to happen, it still managed to stutter all the way till the end. Siggy was a far easier deal to conclude.

It's headache inducing and yet it can't really work in any other fashion. If there was no window players would hand in transfers requests during the course of the season. One thing we can all agree on is perhaps having the window close before the season starts rids the debate about 'dropped points'. Why it has to drag to the end of August I don't know, but then that's just a selfish standpoint thanks to the nervous disposition we all experience as the clock tick tocks away.

What also manages to not help is the 'in the know' culture of sharing supposedly inside information with thousands of people on the internet that feeds into websites, blogs and esteemed (and not so esteemed) newspapers as back page news. Most want to sell a story and need to match it with a headline that will draw more attention to it. So just because X journalist says something about X player we all assume 'it must be true'. Credibility; it's all very much mixed and fused with attention seeking and untruths. Some might have info, some exaggerate it. Fact is, with so many people involved (players, clubs, commercial agencies, agents) everyone involved is playing a game so there's never any guarantee the ones proclaiming the truth to outsiders are telling the truth. This adds to the frustration because you're not really sure if we've bid for a player or not, so when the player denies it you instantly feel deflated that we've missed out. Even if you're never seen the player play you're gutted. All you have left to comfort you is the five minute You Tube highlights reel.

I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't be attempting to rationalise any of this. At the end of the day the responsibility is with the club and if we're short of fire-power or midfield craft then we'll be left behind once September dawns on us. If it's all a consequence of surviving within our means as we work towards the new stadium, then our reality and our perception of it will have to adapt a little so that we can live through it with a smile on our face. Doesn't mean I won't be left scratching my head in amazement if we fail. New era, new coach, new training ground. Seems a shame not maximise all the potential there. I've been very optimistic about this so soon enough I'll find out if my faith has been misplaced.

So, what of the popular transfer targets I mentioned at the start of this blog?

Lloris.

Luka goes, then in we go for Hugo again, offering a little bit more than last time and having our offer accepted. Supposedly done. We're only confident because Lyon were the ones that revealed that it was now down to the player to agree personal terms. With Brad not the type to run off his line, Lloris fits the bill as a sweeper-keeper in the fabled high-line tactic that Spurs might gradually shift towards. A Villas-Boas 'signing'.

Dembele.

Hardly the same class as Modric but he's already in the Premiership and might be substantially cheaper than Moutinho although will still cost a packet as we know prices in England are always at a premium. Attack minded and from what I've seen of him could adapt as a player in a more deeper position than say Sigurdsson who is better placed in a more forward role. How a player adapts is going to be down to the coaching. We witnessed Luka and his shift from advanced left (cutting in) to a more central position before making the regista role his own at Spurs. Although he was always really a central midfielder. If I'm honest, I think Dembele is more of a van der Vaart than he is a Modric and expecting deep play-making from him might be beyond his abilities. Which means we could resign ourselves to the fact our style of play might rely on a different ilk of forward thinking. If he signs.

M'Vila.

Defensive midfielder. Do we need one? Sandro, Parker, Livermore already in our ranks. The latter would possibly suffer the most if we signed the Rennes man. If we do, would it impact the signing of a more creative player? Does VB plan to play with two holding midfielders with the likes of Sigurdsson and perhaps Bale taking more central and direct responsibility to carve out chances? Surely we need someone to own possession in the middle, allow us to flow with flash fluidity? M'Vila would not bring that particular dimension. But he'd give us extraordinary depth in strength in central midfield and perhaps with Parker's age and Livermore's youth, we need another beast to stand next to Sandro. We've got a long bruising season ahead of us. The more warriors the more blood the opposition will bled.

Remy.

Adebayor signed. Kane far too inexperienced. Defoe off to Arsenal. Yeah, sorry about that last one. It's one of the more humourous moments this window has thrown up. Literally, thrown up. We need another striker. A genuine goal scorer, one with guile and intelligence. Adebayor gives us that link up play, that work ethic through the channels but JD is an impact player at best. A smash it and see specialist. This is the one story arc that has run and run and sadly the ball has never been passed to the back of the net, just sent flying over on occasions but mostly the boot had struck a divot and the stands sigh. The likes of Llorente remains a dream. Perhaps one far too expensive to waste time window shopping on. Same with Leandro (for now). So the second tier of players consist of...Remy. Dzeko might have been an option if he was still in Germany. One of the Newcastle strikers if we wanted to aim closer to home. There are other players out there but thanks to the mere interest of a Chelsea or a City, they are deemed as redundant thanks to the hefty price tag hanging off their shirts. Remy would be a risk, but let's be honest. Any player would be. Including players of the moment like Ba and Cisse back home. We do need another forward. I'd love to refer back to this on Saturday with the word sensational signing!

Willian.

This type of player, positionally, would be superb. Anyone that can cover the flanks (or a flank) and play centrally means they offer that little bit more. Would also mean signing someone like this might make one of the other potential midfield captures unnecessary. If Willian is left-sided then it still leaves the right wing, so perhaps Townsend might get a chance there (unless someone tells me he's gone out on loan). As things stand, we have to bid more. Not getting a healthy vibe from this particular story. Don't think it will happen. But that's just based on Shakhtar laughing off our first bid. The player, apparently, wants to join us. That's got to count for something. Yeah?

Kaka.

We might as well throw his name into the big olde hat. Partnership deal announced with Madrid. Not in time to take Sahin on it would seem, so why not a former great that isn't that great (thanks to injuries) but still greater than most. I'd prefer we got the man below.

Moutinho.

You just know this is the key player. The one Villas-Boas wants. A true replacement for Modric, not a direct one in comparison pound for pound but one that can own that midfield like Luka did and dictate play. Again, that same tune is being whistled. The one that that tells the ditty about how the selling club want more money that the interested club are willing to pay. Willing or able. He can create, set the tempo but equally can defend much like Luka was capable of doing from deeper positions. A massive yes please from me.

So, what does all this mean? It means I know as little as you do and all we can do is guess and hope. It's fairly certain we have several bids in, some of which we won't see out till the end because one of those other bids might get accepted. It's a game of cat and mouse simply because of what's at stake for so many of the players involved. And by players I also refer to chairman, clubs and agents along with the footballers.

I'm thankful that I'm travelling Wednesday. Not back home till Friday, possibly just after 9pm. So I'll witness the last couple of hours of the window play out in full technicolor as the veins in Jim White's forehead start to burst the closer we get to 11pm. I'll be on Twitter when I can be, which is hardly the best way to enjoy (suffer) the transfer coverage thanks to the variety of extreme opinions social media is blessed with. If you haven't played with Twitter and you're not sure how to get the best (and worst) out of it, follow me @spooky23 then follow everyone I follow. You'll get more than a decent stream of Spurs chat and journalism (from the pros) along with other dramatics. Which might well put you off it for life.

Lloris. Remy. Moutinho. Ideally.

Lloris. Dembele. Probably.

Lloris. Remy. Moutinho. M'Vila. In fantasy world. With Kaka to warm the bench.

Be safe people.

Modric gone

From the official Spurs website:

CLUB ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH REAL MADRID AND TRANSFER OF LUKA MODRIC

The Club can announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with Real Madrid FC and reached agreement for the transfer of Luka Modric, subject to medical, to the Spanish club.

The partnership agreement will see the two Clubs working together in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships.

Real Madrid FC President, Florentino Perez Rodriguez, said, "The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric. We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years."

Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, commented, "Luka has been a terrific player for us and, whilst we preferred not to part with him, we are pleased that it is to Real Madrid, a club with which we now look forward to sharing a long and productive partnership."

Luka made 160 appearances for the Club, scoring 17 goals after joining from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2008.

We wish him well for the future.

I do love how the partnership gets top billing ahead of the fact we've finally sold Luka Modric. Will be interesting to see exactly what this entails even though they cite players/coaching/commercial as the basis of the partnership. Working closely with Tottenham in the coming years sounds like we're going to go through further protracted long running transfer sagas. Barca will be gutted, looks like Bale has a moved pencilled in to Madrid next summer. Sorry United, but your days of signing are best players are over. Feeder club? Loan deals? Or another relationship similar to the rather confusing one we have Internacional? Hopefully they (Madrid) will be supportive in terms of aiding us when purchasing South American players (what with the complexities of visa approvals). Otherwise, you'd think this was clearly a one-sided relationship. Madrid will always seek to sign our best players, we'll always end up with their young players/loan deals/unwanted ones. We'll see.

Does beg the question that this 'saga' hasn't been half as dramatic behind closed doors compared to the manner it's been covered in the media. Deal probably agreed a while back, hence the lack of crying from Luka/agent. With money in the bank, I assume it means the replacement is done and dusted. So imminent arrivals to the Lane, I expect.

Onwards. Good bye and good luck Luka. You were a wonderful player, a truly gifted one. Hope you don't warm the bench in Madrid but set the pitch on fire.

Not literally of course, that would be hazardous. And a red card offence.

Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated

Spurs 1 WBA 1

I guess our season doesn’t kick start until after the summer transfer window closes. Points dropped again, not too dissimilar to last season (one point better placed, are you counting?) with key signings yet to be finalised. The most definitive knee-jerk has been the gentle nod of disapproval at our lack of decisive business before the opening game away to Newcastle. Then again, had Harry Redknapp not ballsed up the last ten games or so we’d have found things a tad more comfortable in perhaps ushering in new blood during the summer months as opposed to what we appear to be doing now. Working hard to sign someone, anyone before it shuts up till the new year.

At the end of last season I cited we would need to get things sorted asap. We did in parts. New coach, couple of new signings. Negotiations for another signing that dragged on (Adebayor) and an outgoing one that bored us to near death (Modric). The essence of the knee-jerk is to proclaim we’ve started with a stutter because we’ve not targeted and signed more than what we’ve got and therefore it’s costing us.

Sure. Okay, I’d agree with that. But new players in might have still produced the same outcome. It’s hardly a criminal act of neglect. It’s not anywhere near as important or costly as some seem to believe it is. For a start, we were in a rut at the back end of last season. Our form wasn’t convincing at all. Neither was our transfer strategy that came before it. That much maligned lack of communication and agreement between the coach and chairman. So is the expectation truly one that would have seen our coach begin with a complete squad with points bestowed on us for certainty? Had we achieved all transfers, and still dropped points, another angle of complaint would still be mounted and humped ragged by the angry mob. Its perception, its conjecture it’s whatever you make it to be. Despair if you’re a commentator that wants to over dramatise events. Disastrous if you’re a supporter of a nervous disposition distracted and concerned by what others think of your team. Is football now an imprisonment with every single day chalked on the wall? I guess it's whatever you make it. It's your team, you can support them to any degree of fanaticism as you so wish.

My perception? It’s a new era not error and if you’re counting points already then its best you take a sabbatical and return when things have settled down. I’m fascinated by some of the insight and how paradoxical it all is. If he (Villas-Boas) doesn’t change a thing we'll still have a reminisce of what Redknapp left behind, a side capable of so much but faltering when it matters most. If he does makes changes then he’s tampering too quickly, making the same mistake twice. Players that are being pushed out are suddenly vital to the squad when reality nods and shrugs without care. It’s still only two competitive games. What happened at Chelsea is completely of no relevance to us. There has to be a period of transition, be it one that shouldn’t impact us substantially enough to scrap any ambitions for a top four challenge. That reminisce, good and bad, is still with us and will be slowly and surely pushed aside and replaced with something more accomplished but still complementary of what it's replaced.

We played well at Newcastle, struck the woodwork, shaped up with backbone and grace. Lost the point thanks to a clumsy moment of madness, an error that sits solitary with the players that gave the penalty away.

At home to WBA we caught a further glimpse of that transition. The same little annoyances that plagued performances last season welcomed themselves ominously back into the fold, although perhaps for one final encore. Initially, it didn’t look like they’d gatecrash the stage. When they did, no standing ovation was forthcoming. Not for our star performers that forgot their lines in the rousing climax.

We started off  so well. Good early tempo, pace when working the ball towards the penalty area. It was lively. Early possession was dominated by Lilywhite. Tasty one touch football, it flowed and the flankers were effective with movement and involvement. There was even creativity from the middle. But alas, no cutting edge. No ruthlessness. Just rusty and rueful.

Lennon, Bale, van der Vaart, Vertonghen...we looked good. But not great where it mattered most. Now you can blame it on bad luck or lack of composure or perhaps the fact that Leandro/Remy or Adebayor (who we’ve actually signed) wasn’t in the starting line up. Much like someone can blame the lack of transfer activity to the dropping of points, I can lay claim that the fact individuals got themselves into goal scoring opportunities and failed to capitalise as the reason we were not home and dry at half time. I know, amazing punditry there. You can really talk yourself into rationalising anything by either making excuses or suggestion an alternative which in your head would have been more productive. But it’s still men kicking a ball about. On this occasion, not that well in and around the opposition goal.

Same old Spurs? In parts, sure, it’s practically the same old players. Players that will take time to adjust to new instructions. Our coach has been employed to fix up the mistakes we were guilty of last time out. I can’t see that happening over night. Can you see it happening in just two games? The fact he’s inherited a solid team, is it unforgivable if he wanted to slowly slowly mould it into his vision, one that isn’t anchored down with comparisons to you know who, who can do no wrong? Time and patience. Neither equate to sacrificing to the extent of wallowing in self-pity trapped in mid-table. I’m not fragile. Hope you’re not. Some of those problems that need fixing obviously are. That's what the training pitch is for. And unlike pre-season, that's what the early few games are for also thanks to the importance and pressure of the league as opposed to friendly games out in the USA.

At half time, we created without creating clear cut chances (in terms of testing their keeper) but did get ourselves in positions of promise. Work-rate was impressive. Defence coped well. But no genuine genius, no Luka Modric to pull the strings and conduct proceedings. Scratch of the head perhaps with selection? Sandro and Livermore in the middle, could we have afforded Sigurdsson in the mix along side Rafa? The fact remains, we had ten efforts to WBA’s one and over 60% possession. A loaded gun with a trigger that wasn't working and the lack of fortitude to pistol whip our opponent on the back of the head.

If half time itself belonged to Ledley King. The second half belonged to the visitors.

Defoe worked hard but his lack of intelligent movement, his insistence to always shoot and physicality was once more telling. Telling Adebayor to warm up. We had our first shot on target and saved just after the fifty minute mark. Kept pressing but still lacked that extra aggression to browse West Brom. Rafa went off, Adebayor (hasn’t had a pre-season in terms of match practice) came on. WBA, unconvincing for most of the game made a substitution with Lukaku who terrorised our back-line, if anything to add some extra weight for Sunday’s match reports in the tabloids. Did you know Villas-Boas didn’t take much notice of him at Chelsea? Not sure that has been shared enough in recent days.

They began to test us. The game opened up. No grip in midfield, a loss of control with the pace of the game. There was no stamp of authority from anyone in our side, no leadership. He was sat in the stands watching on. Friedel was called into action once or twice before Assou-Ekotto scored with a deflected effort from around twenty-five yards out. I’ll take that. I took it, punched the air with delight. For all our endeavour, a slice of luck might just allow for a steadier platform to consolidate all three points with another goal.

As if.

The footballing Gods mock us once more.

We seemed to invite WBA to attack. Tactics, formation...as witnessed in the opening forty-five, only account for a percentage of the success on the pitch. If you don’t have the quality in the right area(s) then stutter you will. In the second half, the stutter saw our shape wash away. Even though we crafted some chances, the equaliser was fairly dreadful. That fabled final ten minutes of pressure the opposing side always enjoy was evident again. Another reoccurring historical quirk that will need to be ironed out. Bossing the closing minutes has to be imperative at home. Friedel’s lack of assertiveness, the foul/non-foul involving Vertonghen, the almost slow-mo movement and lack of urgency. And yet at 1-0 we’d have probably said ‘good work, job done, hard day at office, need new players’. The exact same thing applies with the draw. Season won't be defined by these two games.

Frustrated? Yes. Disappointed. Yes. We seemed to counter attack but clearly if you don’t have that one true playmaker to dictate the ball and its movement you’ll struggle to own the midfield and create from deeper positions with better effect. What Villas-Boas does here, if we intend to replace Luka Modric, remains to be seen and we’ll know within the week how the team will set itself up for the season. Then the real work then begins and our style of play will be allowed to settle and evolve.

I can’t talk for you, everything I write is my own opinion, my own perception and therapy. Do I have an agenda? Probably. It’s one that involves wanting Spurs to swagger. Wanting the very best. Add to that, I do attempt to remain balanced in discussion. I think we have, for quite a while now, been a very good side. We've suffered dips, but rarely are we calamitous in comparison to the dead end sides of the 90's and early 00's. We've lacked an edge to our game and the appointment of a new coach allows us to refresh, reboot. Pre-season will get players up to scratch with fitness. The first few games are the ones that can set foundations for the future. There’s still no damning evidence of anything other than us starting a little slowly. We've shown glimpses already of some positive play. The distractions off the pitch, the uncertainty, will continue to deflect up to the end of the month. It's the nature of the game and it's petulance to stamp feet and demand to have something yesterday when it won't, can't happen until some time later.

If you want to blame the chairman for that, surely you should blame yourself. If he’s going after the very best targets then he retains consistency in our ambitions to compete with the very best - something we all want. If that means not settling for second best at the cost of having to sign said players after the season starts, so be it. Fact is, we have no power or control over the transfer activity. Just hope, hope that Villas-Boas is content with our business once September begins. He’ll only be able to build if he has all the bricks. And a cement mixer. The one we've currently got is in transit to Madrid.

We’re going to rationalise either way it's how we cope with results. Whether you’re criticising or just sitting back and waiting to see how it all pans out. Depends whether you think we’re meant to be managed as a continuation of what has come before or that there’s acceptance that change means exactly that, with some bumps along the way. I’ve not changed my outlook, it’s the same as it was before we played Newcastle and after we played Newcastle. I won't be told what to think by pundits and hacks. Equally so, I refuse to sit in a corner and rock back and forth foaming at the mouth. I had confidence after the opening two games last season and in the end was let down by the coach. This season will be defined by the run we go on and how we handle defeat after prolonged success and pick ourselves up and pick up form again and how we handle the run-in. It's the games you win to build on the wins that came before it which define you.

The media, idiotic fans that boo Jenas, Redknapp sympathisers...your expectations are skewered. Each to your own. Whatever makes you happy.

Things I want to see from Spurs this season (#2)

#2

Fortress White Hart Lane

We've got more than a decent home record. Have done for a fair few years. Sure, Utd always turn up and dick us. City will never be easy. But it's far more disappointing losing games we expect to be victorious in, except it's these very games we fear and end up tripping over ourselves in limp displays of effort. Bottom half of the table, relegation dog-fighters. They turn up, they park the bus, they defend deep, they suck up the attacks then counter and score with their only chance. It's what makes Fortress WHL penetrable for those plucky enough to believe their discipline can ensure a successful invasion. We too need to retain discipline to counter their plan. Arguably we've struggled to break these teams down. Not enough guile, just plenty of kitchen sink throwing. We've had to rely on some magic, occasionally last minute, to save us blushes but it's always felt like we've made it difficult when it shouldn't be. Hence the lack of gob-smacking shock at the final whistle. You can sometimes see these types of games play out ominously as the minutes tick away. You just know in your gut it's not going to happen.

Villas-Boas is much touted as being tactically astute. Redknapp was much maligned for his reliance on players individuality creating something out of nothing rather than formational and tactical switches to force the issue and force the opposition to perhaps react in a way that would allow us to take advantage. We're going to need that guile and aggression to find a way through when it's not made easy for us. Discipline accompanied by patience and the most important weapon of defence - ruthless finishing in front of goal. Nothing more frustrating than drawing at home when the game is there for the taking. Aside from defeat. Both should warrant the same air of unacceptability.

#1

Aggression

I forgot to write up a 10,000 word preview of the game. So, I guess I should say something poignant in it's place. I don't have anything poignant to share. So I'll just think of something ad-hoc and hope it brightens up your bandwidth, although you're probably better spent clicking on a more enticing headline selling you the latest ITK.

Did Villas-Boas say 'aggressive' in his post-match interviews on Friday relating to the 433 morphing into a more balanced 4231? I love that world. Aggressive. I love seeing teams play with aggression. Bullying and slapping the opposition with an essence of suitably humiliation. Hey, if it works for the American porn industry then why should football be any different? Let them get choked up. Too much right?

We are still without a truly creative playmaker but we have Sigurdsson and we have van der Vaart and sacrificing one of our holding midfielders (that's you Jake) to accommodate the both of them might just give us enough spark to carve open WBA. We're at home. Adebayor is back. Ledley is making an appearance at half time. Villas-Boas home début. Sing up, sing up. Love the shirt and the swashbuckle.

Get it done, then with any luck we'll be welcoming three new players before the window closes giving us that extra shine of quality to push on.

That's it. I'll be a little more creative and detailed in the match report.

Chill

It's the calm before the storm. The perfect storm. Our manager denying transfer talk, suggesting we're not in for another striker. I scratch my chin then laugh out loud. Surely misdirection, mind games? Deflect attention away from us then BANG official announcement to reveal our new forward? Although all the conjecture only serves to attract more attention, mostly of the knee-jerk variety. We all have a lust to know something before it happens, something we have no control over yet simply can't wait to see it play out. One or two of our tribe appear to be rather fragile at the moment. Which in turn is then echoed and exaggerated by the media and other fans. Levy placing business ahead of football, sacrificing early points. Villas-Boas wanting to move on stench Lilywhite players. Sentimentally blinding most. Why anyone gives a sh*t about the bullsh*t being stirred by non-Spurs I don't know. Haters will hate no matter what. No reason to lose our swagger. No reason to panic.

Squad depth is being highlighted as an issue. Sorry, is this season 2012 again? We had squad issues last season. Same supporters, same complaints. We all have our own perceptions of how the club and the team should be managed. That lack of depth cost us not only thanks to lack of rotation but also because the players we did have in reserve were not called upon often enough. Benched players have now been sold off. Players that have spent a couple of seasons injured and will not figure in the first team this season are being shifted out also, on loan and permanently. This is the job of the coach, it's why we pay him. It's why he's been employed. He has to be left to fix things and he's not answerable to me or you, not yet, not this early in his tenure. It's ridiculous to even talk about it, yet here I am talking about it.

He respects our traditions and the ambitions we have at the club. He's been very respectful in how he's carried himself since becoming our head coach. He's been respectful to us. Can we just sit back and trust the bloke to do his job instead of swimming neck high in pessimisms after one sodding game? Is football  so highly strung these days that people fear the very idea of failure so assume it's happening when it isn't? Bit melodramatic for you? Not for some.

I guess the brilliance of all the nervous dispositions is when you compare us to last season, the fact that chairman and coach did not see eye to eye on transfer strategy and selection was based on players rather than formation and tactics. And mistakes made on the pitch were not magnified thanks to agendas. Not that playing your best players in their best positions isn't a decent starting point, but it's limited if alternative preparation and planning is never truly considered.

Fact is, we're shaping up to being far more professional without the circus of sound-bites anchored to us. But it doesn't help if the benefit of the doubt given to Redknapp isn't awarded in the shape of patience to Villas-Boas. If Spurs was a boxer, we'd be a little raw, flash and dancing away with fancy footwork but running out of steam in the latter rounds, TKO'ed. We need to fight, we need to box, we need to know when to defend and when to attack and most of all we need to take each opponent and compete with intelligence and craft, as well as graft. Full distance and the odd KO in our favour the outlook we should be embracing.

The less time spent trying to validate how not getting our business done earlier is costing us points the better. You'd need to believe in the assumption that we're half arsed about signing players and if that was true then best we lower our expectations. That's not really a good place to be is it?

When Redknapp arrived at Spurs did you consider him the right man for the job? Probably not. I didn't. So settle down people please. Let's reserve our frustrations and theories post-deadline day if we fail to cement key areas in the build up to deadline day. Watch negativity turn to positivity off the back of a couple of transfers. Then hear the cries of 'fickle' echo through social media like a Kraken baying for blood. For now, sing, sing for the shirt.

If I'm wrong, I'll dust off the effigy and you can take it down the Lane.

Hello Goodbye

Like a hellmouth erupting in Sunnydale, it's all kicking off. Except there's no Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Just a bald headed bloke armed with a shrewd grin on his face and some pound notes stuffed in his pockets. Stakes are high. Everyone is holding their hands up to their beating hearts. It's not all done and dusted just yet.

Bassong to Norwich. Not unexpected. A player that cost us £8M and has gone for considerably less. Did not have the best of times at Spurs. Started well, faded, didn't really get a look in. Not a shocker his career in Lilywhite amounted to cameo appearance and grunts of frustration. Marginalised and now gone.

Dawson leaving for QPR (bid accepted) for £5.5M / £7.5M / £9M (depending on source) is one that leaves me with a heavy heart. I love big Daws. His smile, his endeavour. The way he played so majestically alongside Ledley King. Not so great alongside others. A confidence player that many of us wanted to see cement that centre-back position and armband. He came close.

The fact he was the make-weight in the deal that saw Andy Reid sign for us is wonderfully ironic. A great servant to the club, I know that's a cliché, but he was. Struggled with injuries, not the quickest player but one with heart and effort and a player that wore the shirt with pride and celebrated like a supporter when we won. I will miss the bloke dearly. He lives local to me. Last time I saw him in my local Boots I just gave him a knowing glance. Next time, I'll risk a restraining order and hug the big lug. Good luck Michael. Loyal to Spurs. Shame we're not as loyal to him as he has been to us. I guess with Vert, Kaboul and Caulker (and the experience of Gallas) along with the high line pacey tactic, he doesn't fit into the new system. Villas-Boas putting the team first, sacrificing sentimentality for progress. Which is a good thing, but equally a little sad. I said good luck already, I'll say it again. Let's hope we're covered then, what with 38 league games and Europa League and domestic cups. That good luck stretches to Villas-Boas also.

Moving on...

Adebayor finally signs. Yes, it's not a dream. It's happened. He even tweeted about it. Unless his account was hacked again. But no, it's done. For £5M. With City set to fork out the same amount in wages to the player. Modern football is very confusing and very expensive. For some. Levy seems to enjoy the game. It means we have strength up top for WBA on Saturday. Adebayor gave us assists and goals last season. We'll have to wait and see if VB was serious about having Harry Kane as his 3rd choice. If so, then we have our three strikers for the season. Except when you look at them, it still feels weak in depth. We need another forward. A striker, a more robust intelligent poacher. Okay, so now I might be dreaming.

As for midfielders, Huddlestone and Jenas linked with loan moves away although these persisted as rumours with no follow up after the 'stories' broke. Luka Modric mean while first made an appearance in Spanish football newspaper Marca, only to then be revealed as a three year old photograph that had been photo-shopped. Then an appearance on the Madrid official website, hidden away but discovered before being removed. Image below (courtesy of Sibs who was quick to screen-grab it):

We await for official confirmation. Then the only thing that matters. Movement for a replacement.

Good day for the chairman. Good window in fact if you add up the money so far which you hope goes back towards supporting the coach as an ample war chest - Corluka £5M, Niko £4M, Pienaar £4.5M, Bassong £6M, Daws £9M (tbc) and Modric, £35M with any luck.

A step forward for the club, moving closer to fixing up the squad but still plenty of question marks. All to be resolved, answered with time.

Ten days time. Tick tock.

1882: Spurs v Barca, NextGen

Update.

Further to the announcement of the 1882 movement, The Fighting Cock are delighted to confirm that the club have allocated us two blocks (15-16) in the West Lower for the NextGen games against Barcelona. That’s about 600 seats. It would be amazing to sell them all, which would easily do the 250 we took to the Charlton youth game back in March.

For those that want to meet before the game we will be in the Bricklayers pub from about 5pm. They know we’re coming.

Ticket info:

This is the email we received from Spurs:

We have had an internal meeting and I can confirm that we have reserved off 2 blocks for the NextGen series fixture against Barcelona on Thursday 13th September.

The blocks that have been allocated to you are blocks 15 and 16 which are located in the West Lower. Tickets are priced at adults £5, One Hotspur adult members can purchase tickets at £3 and Junior and Senior Citizen tickets will be priced at £1.00.

To book tickets please contact the ticket office on 0844 844 0102 and select option 2. When booking tickets we ask that your members quote the name of your group ’1882′ as this way you will all be located together. All the staff in the ticket office have been made aware of your group and the reserved area for this fixture.

I have spoken to our safety officer who has informed me that banners and large flags are not permitted in the ground however standard sized flags are allowed and will not be confiscated.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Barcelona in the NextGen Series. Thursday 13th September, KO 7pm. Call the ticket office on 0844 844 0102 and quote ’1882′ Meet before the game in the Bricklayers pub around 5pm.