Jim White's head set to explode. Don't forget to tune in.

Another deadline transfer day. Another opportunity for us all to witness the explosion of Jim White's head on Sky Sports News. We live in hope, however Jim's head appears to be explosion-proof. Unless it explodes off camera after the deadline closes shut. Perhaps Sky have cloned him or in fact he might be an android, which might explain the over the top euphoric emotions when explaining to viewers that someone, possibly of Earth origin, has been seen walking in and around the Chigwell area. Does Jim dream of Harry in a Range Rover?

Still, those of us with the privilege will tune into SSN regardless of the disdain that is sometimes shown towards their passion for yellow-ticking the most mundane content (low-key Prem player is injured for four weeks...let's stick 'breaking news' on the top left-hand corner of the screen and proceed to bang on about it for three hours). Don't forget the massive wide-screen touch-screen that not only displays all  the current ITK nonsense doing the rounds but can also display the Surf Report, if 1 foot waves on the coasts of England and Wales is your thang.

Just pretend it's satirical. It turns instantly to genius.

However, today, I'll accept in terms of pure entertainment...they capture the scatter-gun madness of the count-down brilliantly. Reporters outside all the expected-to-be-busy clubs/training facilities, dramatic high voices (go Jim go!), special guest commentators in the studio to give their invaluable predictions and Harry Redknapp in a helicopter (because it's quicker to collect the pizza than it is to wait for the bloke on the delivery moped).

It's epic. It's ridiculous. It's brinkmanship. It's panic. And that's without Sky Sports. With it, parts of your brain might haemorrhage with the overload of anticipation. Mostly always much ado about nothing because we know that sometimes the anticipation is far greater than the pleasure. I mean come on, Sky actually call it 'Deadline Day' like its box office movie. It's in HD and sh*ts gonna happen, Yippee-ki-yay Daniel Levy! Everything is Hollywood baby.

Cue frenzied vocals and snazzy on-screen graphics...

"...right now let's go to Loftus Road, shall we, breaking news, QPR, let's get the latest...Rachel Brookes..."

"Right, well, I can confirm QPR are interested in Craig Bellamy..."

Hmm...Okay then. That's an actual direct quote from this morning.

Talking of breaking news, Harry has already been at it first thing, arriving at The Lodge, leaning out of the window, mic in face. Confirming Modric is not going (1,000,000%) and that Crouchie might be the one to shift out because he's the one in demand. Cahill also on the radar. Hot. Off. Press.

The bad news is, I'm tragically not going to witness the hopeful explosion of Jim White's head this evening. In fact, from around 5pm till gone 10pm I'm going to have to rely on my 3G connection and Twitter. Travelling up to Manchester (to kidknap Adam Johnson). No guarantee that I'll see anything when checking into the hotel either due to commitments. Might well be offline for most of Thursday also unless I can sneak in some interweb time on the sly. I'm sure Twitter will rescue me. Although judging by the way journalists and fans (and Tom Huddlestone and Danny Rose) are currently sharing/discussing protracted transfers, its an even bigger mess of hype than Sky Sports News.

I guess, it's not that important what happens leading up to it, in the build up because it's what happens right at the end that matters most. Hold on, why am I talking about sex?

So what of the transfers?

I guess brinkmanship is the reason so many clubs wait until the final day. The selling club hoping for that extra million or two from the panicking buying club and the buying club hoping the selling club panic and sell on the cheap. We can only guess that the reason we've waited until the last minute to sign Scott Parker is because we've spent the best part of a month and a half attempting to sign Diarra. Hardly decisive, are we? Seems every player we lust after requires a minimum 6 weeks of flirting before we know whether we're going to capture their signature or not. If we were talking about sex, Tottenham would last all night making gentle love, but never reaching a climax. Here's hoping Daniel Levy is good with his hands.

When using the fax machine. I'm talking football again.

Parker, Cahill + one other player (another forward or perhaps one that can double up and play right-wing/midfield, you know, like that Ruiz fella who has signed for Fulham) would be a good solid final day. When our injured warriors are back, we'll have a beastly team. The question at that point will be whether Harry works out a consistent cohesive formation for them to fit into. Let's not forget, we've signed Adebayor. He'll make a monumental difference up front.

Parker, bless him, handing in a transfer request just for show to appease the Green Street faithful (Big Sam preferring Nolan, porn barons not wanting too lose too much face). He'll fix one issue (engine in midfield, leadership). Although he has plenty to prove once he wears the Lilywhite. Still worry that he excels in average teams and struggles in decent ones...on hold up, he'll be perfect for us then! lolololol and so on.

Other targets? Diarra is still being linked. Bellamy (he's being linked to everyone). Leandro Damião da Silva dos Santos? Not a chance in this window. Yossi Benayoun? Joe Cole? I hope not. Gignac
is being linked to Fulham. Cheeky bid? And Mario Ballotelli's profile has been removed from Man City's official player profile page, so nailed on medical at The Lodge due in 3...2...1...

Everyone wants a van der Vaart Part II last second special from the chairman. You know, just without the excess weight and injury plights.

As for players out? Other than Crouch, Pav is whoring himself again. Jenas to QPR is much touted but would be shocked to see it happen. Bentley won't move on as nobody will pay the £30M Levy wants for him. Hutton, you'd hope someone would take the plunge. As for Gomes, do not believe we'd be stupid enough to loan him out. Bassong might form part of a swap deal for Cahill (do swap deals still happen?). Anyone want to save Niko from central midfield? One thing looks certain at the time of writing, dos Santos looks to be anchored to us once again.

Hold onto ya hats then.

It's a massive day for Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy. Today will define just how good of a squad Tottenham Hotspur will have in Football Manager 2012.

COYS.

Love the shirt.

Join me on Twitter @Spooky23

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Back him or sack him?

Guest-blog from @therealflannerz

This time last year everything at Tottenham was triffic. We qualified for the Champions League and all we needed was a striker to improve the squad. Fast forward a year and it’s all looking completely un-triffic. We’ve lost both our opening games; have a goal difference of -7 after going behind in both matches and capitulating. Also, there’s the minor fact that our best player is whoring himself to Chelsea and his ‘head isn’t right’. As well as all this, there are lots of other factors that haven’t been right for a while and I believe these have a significant effect on the squad and are causing me to seriously question Harry Redknapp.

I’m not one of the fans who has never taken to Redknapp. I was very happy when he was appointed and thought he was the right man for the job. However, even in the season we got fourth place, I was concerned that we struggled to breakdown teams that parked the bus. That only got worse last season, causing us to draw nine games at home, which ultimately cost us fourth place. The arrival of van der Vaart was supposed to help us unlock these defences, but he faded after a good start, which leads me to my next point.

In some ways it’s like being a Spurs fan in the 90s (not quite, but...) again because of our horrendous injury list. Not only do our players keep getting injured, but players are being rushed back from injury and are playing when they are not fit. It also seems that our players are not as fit as they could be. van der Vaart for instance, faded after an hour during most games last season.

Redknapp has been credited with reviving Gareth Bale, but Bale’s form has dropped off since the Inter game. He was always going to get more attention, but the coaching staff don’t seem to have helped him work out how to cope with getting doubled up on. He also seems to stand by the touchline expecting the ball, instead of running behind the defenders and using his pace off the ball. Our other flying winger, Aaron Lennon doesn’t seem to have the confidence he has had in the past, and doesn’t roast the opposition full back like he used to.

These aren’t knee-jerk points, these are all concerns that I have had for some time. Against Man City, Bale and Lennon should have destroyed their fullbacks. Zabaleta got a yellow card in the first half and Lennon has torn Clichy a new hole in previous encounters. Instead of being run ragged, the City full backs had an easy time of it.

Because of injuries we have started the season with a severely depleted squad, especially in midfield. You can't ignore this fact. When I saw our line-up I instantly knew we would lose. A central midfield of Modric and Kranjaer was always going to get opened up time and time again (visions of Katie Price opening her legs). Why didn’t he try Corluka in central midfield? Football Manager says he can play there! On a serious note, we needed someone in there who could win the ball. Instead of admitting he was wrong, he has tried to blame Modric. Redknapp likes to deflect attention away from his shortcomings. He doesn’t want to miss out on the England job next year does he? (I won’t go into his constant comments in the media about Modric).

With all of this, I am seriously starting to question whether Redknapp is the right man for the job any more. With the possibility of a court case and the England job, surely the board have contingency plans? Will we have a new man in charge sooner than we think? The board are already unhappy at finishing 5^th last season. Levy would be annihilated by the media if he did give Redknapp the Spanish archer, but he’s not afraid to make tough decisions.

Back him or sack him?

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Knee-jerk

Spurs 1 City 5

Absolute rubbish. All of them a disgrace to the shirt for basically allowing City to tip tap the ball around White Hart Lane like we'd agree to submit to them before the start like a slick choreographed wrestling match between a contender for the belt and a jobber.

You want proof that Harry Redknapp's tenure has entered the fatal end game? Here it is. Look up at the score again. We've been poor for 15+ games now in the league. Harry struggled to manage the squad last season, never quite working out a consistent game plan domestically with fitting the epically over-rated Rafa van der Vaart into the side and thus causing unmitigated damage in the forward positions resulting with a lack of cutting edge.

But that's just part of the problem. Levy and ENIC quite obviously self-absorbed by the NDP and Olympic Stadium because they need to make sure they don't miss their roadmap objectives in terms of building a new stadium for the club so that they can then look to sell it and make all the shareholders gleeful. Leaving the footballing issues to the next set of mugs to buy in.

We have shown no decisive nature in the transfer window since it opened. If...and it's a big if we actually bid for the players we were heavily linked with in the past window or two then surely the chairman and manager would be wise to the fact that they would need to discuss realistic targets BEFORE the current window opened up.

Target. Bid. Sign.

Instead of constant dithering and inquires and conflicting messages being sent out leading to scatter-gun desperation on the last day.

Crouch to Stoke apparently. But there he is starting against City. Two questions. Why? He's set to be sold. Second question. Why? He's simply not good enough to lead the front-line. It's obvious Levy wants shot of him because Harry more or less stated this in his post-match interview, blaming our form on our lack of direction in the window and the fact Peter is heavily linked with a move away. Another suggestion made being the classic 'we need to sell before we sign'. It's groundhog day with zombies stuck in a room with no doors with nothing to eat except for each other.

Manager and chairman are not bestest friends. Which means either Levy can't control Harry or Harry believes he has lost all control and simply wants to make sure his position has been made unattainable because of the chairman so that he has ample blame to fire at when he leaves/gets the sack.

Utter mess.

Losing isn't that big of a shock, is it? Defeats against two teams managed better than us on and off the pitch. No shocker. The true shock is the fact that we qualified for the CL and then failed to consolidate, Levy preferring to fall back onto one of his own soundbites about how qualifying for the elite competition every season is not possible due to the nature of modern football. Great fighting talk there. More or less set the foundations for us to get dicked today two years ago.

Our best player has been a forty year old in goal and he's still managed to concede a whole heap of beautys and uglys. Sums it up. To dare is to do, so we do nothing.

Dawson, Kaboul - not good enough. The latter is a better midfielder than he is a defender. Bale hasn't been decent for nine months. With any luck he'll give birth to a bouncing baby Bale. More chance of it looking dangerous than Gareth has at the moment. Niko only good enough for mid to lower table opposition. Rafa is more trouble than he's worth. Injury prone and creates imbalance to the side when playing and sulks like a b*tch. He's the Dutch Robbie Keane without the cartwheel. Lennon, too comfortable and without competition. Defoe showed glimpses when he came on, I'll give him that.  Probably his lot for the season now. Peaked.

As for Modric, get rid of him now. If only so that we can be left with £40M in our pockets and no time to spend it, just to rub further salt into our wounds. Considering what happened with Berbatov, did our esteemed chairman not have the foresight that this would play out to yet another gut-wrenching conclusion?

But alas our chairman doesn't want to sell him and by the very nature of our reluctance to compete and sign players we are more or less stating with transparency we are a selling club because why the heck would Modric want to stay when we're signing third rate players? At some point, we wont be able to hold onto someone who does not want to wear the shirt. Not selling him to prove a point to everyone that we cant be bullied is detrimental to the club when it causes so much aggravation.

But we've hold onto him long enough to now have a player that will spend the months leading up to Christmas crying his eyes out about how unfair his six year contract is before being sold for £22M in January.

How to fix all this mess before we get ourselves into a relegation battle?

Levy - sack Redknapp or at the very least start looking for a replacement. He'll be fine. He's more interested in brokering a deal for little Luka Modric to Chelsea than he is with sorting out our first eleven so perhaps he can spend the rest of the season as a football agent. Sell Bale while you're at it before his valuation plummets so low that we'll be paying Nottingham Forest to take him on loan.

But it's too late for any of that. We are truly shafted.

We have missed the boat because we have the blessing of ENIC that owns the club that possesses no balls to push this us forward with the same aggression and fortitude others are doing. What statement do we make signing damaged youth players and an ex-gooner striker on loan and from the looks of it an over-rated work-horse from a relegated club? Could have been worse, hey Harry? We could have signed that waste of space Suarez.

Pathetic.

Nine points adrift of the top already. Didn't show up for Everton. Went home early against Man Utd. Fell asleep against City. Don't expect us to get more than a point at Wolves and Liverpool of old are back so I make that zero points from four games.

Stick that on a t-shirt.

Played 2. Won 0. Drawn 0. Lost 2. GF 1. GA. 8 GD -7. Position: 20th. Bottom of the table and going down with the Arsenal.

There used to be a football club here.

Negative

Spurs 1 City 5

Two games, zero points, seven goals against. We are simply not good enough to compete for the top four this season because Levy will not spend big and from the looks of it is hardly seeing eye-to-eye with Harry Redknapp if you take note of Harry's constant whining to the media and anyone else who will listen. Moaning and complaining about everything and never taking responsibility.

We were shocking. Midfield was weak, Bale disappointing and Crouch completely redundant. van der Vaart's inclusion forces Redknapp to play the one man upfront and yet still manages to select the wrong man. Was he making a point playing Crouch there what with Stoke interested in the player? Was he hoping Peter would pick up a knock or score a brace - just to prove a point? Arrogance from the manager, especially with his weak centre-midfield pairing. Another point being made there? Levy holding back on Parker? Sort it out the pair of you, ffs.

Post-match Harry complained about it being the worst pre-season ever and that we've been distracted by the Modric transfer saga. Hey Harry, guess what...along with Sky Sports you're the one that's keeps that saga running, constantly talking up scenarios about what ifs and Luka's mindset and Chelsea. Every time you open your mouth, its another headline birthed and yet more unnecessary coverage of this protracted transfer. It's the worst pre-season ever. After two defeats. No trouble or complaints before. Just post 5-1 spanking. Nice work Harry, insightful.

Does Levy not talk to Redknapp? Does he not outline company policy and ask for his manager to echo the chairman's stance? Why are there so many contradictions? Why the constant commentary and soundbiting? Why the blame game?

If there are problems with transfer targets because we are aiming too high or do not have the money or simply because Levy does not want to spend big (for whatever reason) then there is clearly a relationship break-down if Redknapp continues to use the lack of activity as a reason for the troubles we've had on the pitch. Even though I question the fact that the set of players are the same set that gained us CL qualification. Lost your mojo Harry? Been found out? Everyone bored of you?

Saying that Modric came to him two hours before kick-off to state he did not want to play is completely leftfield of what we were told the other day that the player had cleared things up with the Levy and was available. What possible good will it do if the player remains at the club past the transfer window closing? Redknapp leaves you wondering if Levy is actually considering selling the player or wanted the player sold much earlier. Its the perfect advert for miscommunication.

Modric plays, he gets subbed...we have ourselves a scapegoat. It's all Luka's fault. If the players head is still not right, then wait until AFTER the window shuts, then stick him in the team. Or was this simply about him making sure he gets to go off on International break with his country?

Luka did not exactly look disinterested. He looked frustrated at times, which is usually someone playing with professionalism and pride. But no, the 5-1 is basically down to the fact that our really decent squad of players are suddenly playing like ketmaine induced rabbits because we've not brought in a crate of nice fresh carrots. Sure, we are missing players. But come on, at the very least show some tactical nous. Inspire the team. Same goes for the ones pulling on the shirt. Where is the love for the shirt?

Scott Parker can't sign quick enough. Hate myself for saying that. Joey Barton would have got us a grip today also. No leadership and a distinct lack of belief with the additional bonus (ha!) of a manager more interested in deflecting attention away from his misgivings and tagging our on field hiccups with off field story arcs.

If we don't sign a few more players to sort out the current issues we have then we're in trouble of finishing 5th or 6th. But that might be the position that equates to our standard. The standard being one that has been crafted out of mismanagement by chairman and manager.

The chairman, too stubborn to act quickly, accepting the consequences more easily and the paying punters. The manager far too interested in his own agenda and brand name to really care about 'them' Tottenham.

Best we accept ourselves to be good enough for Europa League and nothing more. Less chance of being dissatisfied then.

Positive

Spurs 1 City 5

Okay, so some perspective. We lined up with no defensive midfielders and started with Peter Crouch upfront and then found ourselves out numbered in the middle and final third quicker than you can say 'tactics'. Once again, there was an element of the disjointed and perhaps even a touch of the stubborn (what with Crouch supposedly on his way to Stoke City yet in the starting line-up - perhaps a message from gaffer to chairman forming yet another twist in their alleged damaged relationship).

Placing aside in-house disagreements, we lined up not only with a team not shaped to contain City but a team that lacked the belief they could do that and anything more. But that's not to say it was a chaotic calamity filled 90 minutes of football. At 2-0, it flattered City some what. After that, they deserved to ruin our afternoon at will and with ease. We let them with no reply of our own. Once more, apologetic.

There is no excuse for losing 5-1 at home. But it was the most passive 5-1 defeat you're likely to witness. City simply picked us off with clinical football. Confident in themselves, each other and their formation and confident in front of goal. Even though they were not completely fluid (expected considering their new players - makes it even more bitter a pill to swallow for us).

They were enjoying their day and their football. How ironic considering at the start of last season it was them containing us whilst we swashbuckled down the flanks and through the middle, with only Hart stopping us from running away with it.

City have grown with the aid of several million pounds and no wage cap. We've stagnated if you take a look at the back end of last season and how we stopped performing. But preparation for this one has hardly been great considering we appear reluctant to compete at the top end of the transfer market. Perhaps because fiscally, we can't. Ambitious targets beyond our reach. Still, you would have hoped for decisive action by chairman and manager. Instead we have suggestions they don't quite see eye to eye and once more, transfers will need to take place in the final couple of days or so.

The visitors have found their groove. We've lost ours.

Again, injuries don't help but if we look weak in key areas pre-match then you'd want admittance from Redknapp that perhaps we need to be shrewd, cunning in our formation and our strategy. Not the Tottenham way. Not what I previewed yesterday. But it looked to me like the manager believed we could perhaps play them and match them pound for pound when the reality was they were far too polished whilst we simply did not work as a unit and had various degradations of form from individuals.

Modric played. But his productivity hardly outstanding because the players around him were distinctively average. But he played okay. Not sure why he was subbed. Didn't make a difference either way in the end. Player not looking at the manager or applauding the fans when walking off the field of play. Disgruntled.

The goals (most of them) we conceded were not defended well at all. Embarrassing stuff, lack of any apparent focus. We had chances, but how many times do we have to sigh in despondence when said chances are not taken? It was City playing with intent and us presenting them with the red carpet. Never red, indeed. Red with anger today.

Nasri, Aguero and Silva. Stick them in our team then watch how different the result would have been. Hard knock life. We still have quality in abundance. We need to shake off the rust from last season's disappointing finish and reclaim that grit and spine we had so famously in 2010. Think back, we had injuries then too. Perhaps not so many issues with central midfield as we do now.

We've played two games and lost two. Arguably against the two strongest sides in the country. Our problems have been illustrated in quite a humiliating manner with regards to the scoreline for all to analyse and discuss. It's obvious what we need in terms of signings. We've got us a striker. We need DM cover. We could do with a centre-back. We could still do with a right-sided forward to compete with Lennon and give us options when playing two up front.

Adebayor will bring us that much needed cutting edge. Rafa will have a far better forward to play off if Harry continues with the current formation. Only takes one moment, once slice of luck or inspiration to completely change the course of season and set us on our way.

Criss? The fact we are even discussing avoidance of a 'crisis' after two games...well, its over the top. It hurts, but we might have to admit that the likes of Utd and City are in a far more comfortable place than us. We've lost direction, perhaps because of the Modric saga and the in-house disagreements (assumptions). We have to show unity once more.

More importantly, we need the players and the manager to get a grip and to remind themselves they are capable of much much more. We got it very wrong today and were duly and deservedly spanked for it. If Harry is keen on self-preservation of his brand name, then he has work to do. Levy has to support him in doing so. And Harry has to respect the chairman at all times.

Losing to a good team is one thing. Losing to a good team and making them look great is another. Losing badly to a good team that don't even manage to shift into a more aggressive gear is simply shambolic.

Not a good day at all. But with both Manc games out of our system, we can just look forward now. Redknapp, the players - they have a lot to answer for and a lot to give back to the club in the next couple of games to avoid any dramatic twists that might well cause us to unravel further and crisis isn't the only 'c' word quoted by the fans.

This Modric stuff is beyond ridiculous now and Redknapp constantly citing him as the root of all evil when in the past he's actually called him a model professional is almost touching comedy, the ilk that few will laugh at.

Onwards with pride Tottenham. I want to hear the cockerel crow.

We'll improve. I still believe we'll compete for the top four. Arsenal are having their own problems and Liverpool still have to prove their longevity and how they react to loss of form.

Not defending our teams performance today (it was poor), just trying to anchor myself to something to avoid drowning in depression.

Luka necessary for eclipsing the blue moon

I'm comfortably numb at the minute. After the Spurs v Man City game concludes the season will have started proper. Two games against Hearts and a dicking at Old Trafford hasn't warranted much in the way of botheredness thus far, from me. Probably because the transfer window continues to consume all of us whilst we crawl towards its closure.

This evening (Saturday when I wrote this piece), Palacios and Crouch have signed for Stoke (Wilson photographed with Stoke fan, confirming that along with Peter they are new arrivals to the club - sort of pre-official announcement ITK). That's going out, coming in - Scott Parker is meant to be done and dusted in that the player really wants to join and West Ham have agreed to sell, so its all down to the nitty gritty of contract agreements. Bellamy also re-linked. Hopefully we've heard the last of Joe Cole.

Deadline transfer day closure can not come quick enough even if it was a teenage boy losing his virginity to a MILF.

Other players who have been perpetually linked with escapes from their White Hart hell (Hutton, Bentley, dos Santos et al) will probably hopefully move before September waves hello. We'll be tighter for it, squad wise and fiscally. Not a clue about Diarra. Not a clue about Leandro. Although the latter is no stranger to a Tottenham link considering he plays for a club we have a relationship with (appreciative nod for Sandro). Internacional unlikely to let him go now, not for cheap, mainly because he recently signed a new contract (insurance) and the fact he's on form. Perhaps we have first refusal for a later point in the calendar?

If Crouch does go, you would think perhaps someone has to be lined up to retain our cover up top. Wouldn't be a shocker if we didn't replace him. Step up Harry Kane?

So comfortably numb I am. Ignoring Hearts altogether, as mentioned post-United defeat, it would have been better had the Everton game been played. Forces outside of football influencing matters beyond our control and placing it all into perspective, its something we all expected to happen. But it has obviously affected us. Didn't think we looked sharp or at the top of our fitness at Old Trafford. Even though we did showboat with confidence in Edinburgh.

It's almost got a feeling about it that our season actually begins at the Lane against City.

On Sunday afternoon, I'll be hugely disappointed if we don't see a repeat of the effort we stuck into City last season at the Lane - minus a Hart supershow. Things have changed a touch since that game. For one, City have so much depth its embarrassing. If a player like Adebayor is surplus to requirements it means they hardly lack options. It irks me that Adam Johnson has to make appearances off the bench. Its irks me even more that they can have Tevez coming off that same bench.

Harry might underplay it all (I'll ignore his 'we can win the title' comment and just hold back with his 'we can't compete with City' one) but he knows the soundbites are just for the benefit of the media and tv.  Spurs might not have that depth in riches but we're hardly left begging in the streets.

We've been a team, a unit, for a good solid two years. City are still finding their groove. We do, however need to rediscover ours.

Amazingly, Luka Modric...the much maligned and to be fair deservedly so much maligned deep-lying playmaker needs to dig deep and prove his worth to the shirt. Do not underestimate his value to the side. It might appear we are fragmented or 'in crisis' from the outside looking in - but every player seems to echo unity on the training pitch and dressing room. No one has a problem with Luka. No one but the fans in the stands. So best to simply support the team and ignore individual mishaps that have tormented us off the pitch.

It's what you do on it Luka that will define you.

At the time of writing, yet more rumours of an imminent £40M Chelsea bid off the back of Levy's supposed 'forget about it' call to Chelsea HQ. Levy runs game, look at the OS/NDP saga. But his words in the case of Luka Modric contain no ambiguity. Unless we're meant to read between the invisible lines and side with his strategy to engineer and invite a £40M bid by making it seem like nothing but a massive offer would turn our heads to the direction Luka has been facing all summer long.

If that is the case, then the ethos of not selling our top players collapses. Hence why I continue to side with the argument  that the chairman wants to retain the player. £50M or equalivant of? Then my head might turn for the first time.

If he's sold in this window, placing aside the plaudits for what a great chairman we have for earning us £40M we probably wont spend...we may as well broker a deal for Bale now for next summer.

Back to the game...

We've got to put on a show. Again, to be philosophical about it all, if we are out-played or beaten because they simply have more match-winners or they deserve it...so be it. I'll accept most outcomes (of the fair variety) as long as we turn up. But then I know, if we turn up we've got a good chance to turn them over.

I dislike City, the embarrassment that is the Poznan, their mannerisms (Cook) and the whole ethos of the club as it stands presently. It's hardly unlikely for such a project to fail. A false eleven that will find the back of the net with the shouts for offside ignored. Nothing would give me more pleasure (currently) to beat them. Would also shut up certain mainstream media outlets who have already decided who will compete and finish in the top four and elevate us back into positivity.

There is no doubting we are the ones not expected to be slotting the three points into our back pocket at the final whistle.

Early season marker needs to be placed down. With all the obsessive transfer speculation causing bi-polar off the pitch, we need to be crowing as one for what's being played on it.

Love the shirt.

Related articles:

It's not actually a bad thing being a Spurs fan (my guest blog on Cartilage Free Captain)

Modern Football. It's not that great...discuss

Spurs v Man City preview (via thfc1882.com)

-

The Fighting Cock is a brand new THFC podcast. You can stream it or download it here on DML (make sure you have a Quicktime plug-in installed).

Love the Shirt.

Flav, tehTrunk, Spooky, Ricky, Chicago Dan.

The FC Podcast group on Facebook.

Also listen to The Fighting Cock via:

iTunes
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Tottenham transfers...make 'em stop, please make 'em all stop

Transfer window has gone loopy. Adebayor signed and confirmed yesterday along with the unknown entity from Juventus (Yago Falque). Today, we've had Sky Sports via West Ham confirm we're in talks with the Championship side for the champion midfielder, Scott Parker. I guess/assume off the back of Diarra's attempt to get more money from Spurs (according to Real Madrid) by telling everyone yesterday that no deal was in place for a move to WHL.

Spurs obviously shifting onto the next in-line (sadly ignoring the sad lonely face of Joey Barton who sits in the back of his chauffeured car tweeting and contemplating whether QPR is a better place than Newcastle Utd. Of course it is Joey, of course it is. But neither clubs are Tottenham Hotspur).

photo-shop by Johnny72a

Harry Redknapp has released via his PR (Harry Redknapp) that "It's up to the chairman. Hopefully he can get a deal done". Perhaps one or two fringe players will go the other way.

In the mean time, it's going to once more kick off about whether this signing is a good one and if it will cause headaches of a selection kind once Sandro is back and everyone else is fit and able.

Barton is probably on his way to QPR (think its more or less confirmed at time of writing). Don't like him much, he'll get red cards, but he would bring that evil ilk of leadership we need. Parker, will probably do the same for us, just in a more calm controlled and gallant way. I worry about Barton's temperament, but equally concerned how Parker will fit into a 'bigger' club as he only ever excels in smaller ones. If this is a fallacy, then I hope to be proved wrong.

He'll bring an engine. Let's see if he can spur on players of better quality at half-time. If...if this deal happens. We've been here before. Got to be either one or the other re: Parker and Diarra and not both. Right?

While we're at it, how about a cheeky £7M bid for Cahill. Gazump Wenger? Worth a punt.

Elsewhere, jokes. Absolutely sh*t bricks when Nathan Thompson tweeted he was signing for Spurs. Nathan who? A kid, right-back, plays for Swindon. Well, he's played for Swindon. Once or twice. Seems one of his mates tweeted the sensational news whilst Nathan was in the shower. LOLZ. Here's me thinking this would mean Hutton is finally on his way. Because we can't sell a right-back until we sign a new one (Spurs Directive 112: The first team squad must include at least seven right-backs or players capable of playing in the right-back position at any given time).

Elsewhere, we've drawn against Russia's Rubin Kazan, PAOK from Greece and Irish team Shamrock Rovers for the glamorous Europa League group stages. Neither the group of death or the group of sexy beasts. Just a group of teary looking men dreaming of that other group stage in that other competition. Regardless. It's Europe. Don't make me throw that Nicholson quote at you.

Almost forgot, there's one more signing to confirm. Young lad, Croatian. Can play out on the left and cut in or as a deep-lying midfield playmaker. Hoping to see him on Sunday versus Man City. Go easy on the kid, what with it being his début.

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Rejoice! We've signed two players. Well, sort of...

Good to see the likes of Harry Kane and Tom Carroll playing in Lilywhite. Not exactly a show-piece occasion (empty seats, lack of home support atmosphere, bit boring). Felt like a reserve team run-out punctured with misfiring first teamers, but pretty much irrelevant with the tie over in the first leg - other than blooding the young. Shame Harry didn't stick the pen away. Next time son. Guaranteed both players along with Fredericks, Livermore and Townsend will feature in the group stage. Far cry this from the Champions League glory nights of last season.

Chin up, it's what we need to work towards once more. Spirit of 2010.

I guess the big news tonight is that we've signed Yago Falque. That and Adebayors' two month medical was finally concluded this evening. Not only officially announced by the club before Harry Redknapp knew about it (yeah, whatever) but also Big Ade managed to blag a seat behind Levy in the directors box.

Season long loan, on both accounts.

I guess we need to wait and see if we actually part with money and buy someone before we start scratching our heads about whether the money isn't there (NDP, new training ground the priorities) or that Levy simply doesn't want to spend when the manager might not be here in the long term (unlikely IMO, we need to challenge this season).

Falque is apparently more of an attacking midfielder than a winger although the suggestion is he will play out right and be competition for Lennon. Read this article if you want some background on the player from a Juventus fan (obviously, take it any which way you wish). Hardly inspiring (have you read the linked article?), but regardless - welcome to the Lane Yago. Ceballos has a new friend. Hopefully we'll see more of the gifted than the fragile (from both kids).

The lunacy of the situation that some of you have already noted is that we're signing a kid on loan and still waiting to rid ourselves of David '£16M' Bentley. I guess perhaps the logic here works. Why risk another near £20M on someone when you can sign a player for nothing? It's rhetorical. Don't answer. But you sort of get the point. Spending big money in the past has left us burnt. But in comparison to say City, it's an epic canyon size difference. We shouldn't complain until we see how the squad sets up in the next week or so. Still shouldn't complain after that either (now I'm looking for us to sign a miracle).

Still, strange that there are no other more permanent (and affordable) seasoned options out there. One thing is for certain, there's only one David Bentley so we can't go making that mistake again. Our scouts must have seen something special with Falque, so you have to have faith in it. Well, you don't have to.

As for Big Bad Ade. He has something to prove. This will work for us. He's better than anything we currently have. I have more than faith in this signing. I have certainty. Football being football, we might discover that he alongside JD equals magic. Have to wait and see.

Moving on...

If you watched the game on TV, did you note Harry Redknapp in the pre-match interview? Observations:

Redknapp saying he had no idea Adebayor was at the Lane and stating he thought he was still having a medical. Is it just me or was Harry being facetious? Then he talks about the loan deal (great signing) and contradicts his earlier stance. He knew, obviously he knew. But I guess wanted to dig at Levy who has no doubt instructed him to ease off the dramatics when being interviewed. Good Luka soundbites though, saving the day.

Talking of Luka, SSN suggesting the meeting between Luka/advisors and Levy went well and the player is staying. Sky obviously providing refreshments and making notes. Even though the player was always staying and at no point during this tiresome draining process has the player been in a position of power to influence or engineer a successful move away. I can half imagine the conversation in Levy's office...

Luka: "So, you promise in January you will let me go to Chelsea? As long as I play 100% with heart for Spurs between now and then?"
Levy: "Yes"
Luka: "You promise?"
Levy: "I promise"
Luka: "How do I believe you are telling me the truth?"
Levy: "I am"
Luka: "I need more than that"
Levy: "Okay. Let's shake hands"
Luka: "Shake hands?"
Levy: "Sure, yes. Shake hands. We can call it a gentleman's agreement"
Luka: "Okay, okay. Gentleman's agreement. I shake your hand"
Levy: "Good lad"
Luka: "You promise now?"
Levy: "Did we shake hands?"
Luka: "Yes"
Levy: "Then it's as good as a contract"
Luka: "I'm very happy. I play for Spurs now"
Levy: "I know"

Modric in the starting line-up versus City? Scores a goal? Kisses the badge? Come on, it could happen.

Regarding the post-match interview:

Looks like Levy is in for a couple of players. So says Harry. None of which are Joe Cole. So says Harry, sort of indirectly by banging on about the 'kid' Cole with his usual affection.

Conclusions?

Levy does what he thinks is right with transfers, and rejects ones he believes are of risk and not value for money (Cole and probably Parker too). Harry is not in agreement with most of the decision making and is powerless. Levy has told Harry to keep his mouth as shut as possible. And when it's opened to be pro-Levy stance on Luka.

It's all very cagey and uncomfortable.

The sooner this window shuts, the sooner the conspiracies end and the sooner we can all just support the team (players and manager). Everyone is nervous, concerned, frustrated and impatient. We're all feeding off each other. Damn you social networking.

Here's hoping the next two signings 'in' unite us all. Anyone would think we're a club in crisis.

-

The Fighting Cock is a brand new THFC podcast. You can stream it or download it here on DML (make sure you have a Quicktime plug-in installed).

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Haven't we already signed a fragile but gifted player?

With thanks to Chris King (@NorthernWrites) for this some what depressing information on yet another alleged 'new signing' of yoof - Iago Falque. Haven't we already signed a fragile but gifted player this summer? THFC, safe house for the lost and rejected.

Just a quickie about this "highly rated" Juve player we are picking up on loan.

Here are a couple of tweets from a fella who does a lot of press/translation in Italian football and is a massive Juve fan - came on the back of this initial tweet:

@skysportspeteo: Tottenham reportedly poised to sign highly-rated Juventus winger Iago Falque on loan.

"Winger' a bit misleading, more of an attacking midfielder, did well at Villarreal B last season"
"He signed a 4 year deal with Juve in 2008 & hasn't really improved too much."
"Not in Juve's plans at all, never really has been. Odd move for club & player from the outset IMO"

So this really talented player that Juve signed from Barcelona B, who was signed by Juventus - farmed out to Bari where he only played for their youth team. Then sent to play for Villarreal B before being sent back to Juve and now on to us. Juve's midfield is very patchy at the moment. If he can't get in to their side, why on earth do we think he is worth a shot in ours?

If someone at Spurs has seen something that no one in Spain or Italy has, then what exactly are they looking at?

Here's a further comment from a Spanish football writer:

"Little info on IF: Been absolutely cursed with injuries, and that's hindered his promise. Very fragile player, but gifted."

Rejoice and COYS. Heads up.

Modern football. It's not that great. Discuss.

It's all very cheery this. An email conversation between myself and a Manchester United fan. Make sure there are no razor blades in reaching distance. Bitterness, it consumes as all. Damn you green-eyed monster, stop feasting on my rotting flesh!

Utd fan: thanks to your boys for doing the usual put up a fight until we score then roll over routine that you’ve near perfected at OT!!

You NEED a striker!

spooky: Limp performance wasn't it. Adebayor to be announced soon.

Utd fan: Happy with Adebayor? He represents pretty much everything I hate about football, well, he did when he went to City. Guess he realises it’s not just about money, it’s actually good to play once in a while!

spooky: Will do as a loan deal, imo. He'll want to impress to bag yet another move next season. So it might benefit us - because we simply have to finish top 4 (well, that would be the clubs ambition in terms of keeping players etc).

City repulse me.

Utd fan: Indeed. I know that squad depth is important these days but the situation at City realistically is that the English players, that once showed so much promise, are going to disappear. Johnson (both of them, though the other is farmed out on load now at least), Barry, Milner, SWP. They will be the ones to fall down the pecking order, obviously not the new signings. Not that I actually rate any of them, except maybe A Johnson, but these are all players who have worn the England shirt and probably won’t wear it for that much longer.

They will win this year, or next at the latest and then what? Buy more players? At least Abramovich saw some sense and realised that spunking money isn’t actually that fun, especially when your team still can’t win the CL and play boring unattractive possession football. Worrying thing is that City’s Sheiks are way way way more rich then Abramovich and only the Financial Fair Play rules can slow them down (note, not stop them!).

I’m expecting a City dominated league for the next few years to be honest, maybe even a decade of dominance. I’m somewhat apathetic to the whole situation though. I should be fearing it, but it’s the way football is going. Rich owners have bought Malaga and PSG this year too. More will follow next year and even more the year after. Players will get even less loyal, TV deals will get even more lucrative so that players wages can keep going up despite the Financial Fair Play rules – which are too little too late in my opinion. At the same time we have a crooked, corrupt, clueless, out of touch maniac at the head of football who is obviously against technology in football as he can probably only just manage a text message on his mobile phone!

I’ve said for a while that football is heading in to a black hole, bursting at the seams and will implode soon. I just hope the splatters of real football left are enough to regain something meaningful!

spooky: Regarding what you cited about English/British players - completely agree, they will be marginalised and they will equally cost a bomb to sign. I personally don't get how City fans can (with a straight face) be proud of any progress or achievements.

Players are signing for them for the money and because of the quality of players being signed, the advantage is - they will win silverware. It's win win for them. Take the money away and there is no 'project'. There's no genuine build up to success.

Look at Utd as the perfect example of how it should work.

Chelsea were just as bad. They had build up, mind. They were progressing, but to make that final step they bought in Jose and spent untold millions.

Utd fan: I’ve said it before that you’re one of only a few people I can have a ‘real’ discussion about football with. My United mates are too biased and too success driven to see the bigger picture and my City mates, well, they are mostly exactly as you say, not at all shamed by the way in which they are going to end up winning – beat United at all costs seems to be their only mantra. I do understand to it to a degree, but that empty, slightly hollow feeling that they’ll have when they see <insert captain> lift the Prem trophy can never be filled be their ruthless approach to winning at any cost.

The Ageuro signing almost went by unnoticed – can you imagine that being the case 3, even 2 years ago? We’ve already come to expect it as normal, which is almost as scary as them winning the title!

We are a good example but I’m not going to deny that we had a helping hand (float on the stock exchange, aggressive business marketing thus sucking the soul out of the club, and we were one of the forerunners of corporate hospitality – all things I despise about football). Though whilst we did break a few transfer records along the way (something my City fans love to point out) we maintained a rigid wage structure with a sensible ceiling. This actually prevented us from signing lots of players through the years (if rumours are to be believed anyway, it’s the reason why Kluivert and Batistuta didn’t sign). City don’t have that in place. Their wage bill is bigger then most smaller countries GDP I reckon!

It’s only 2 games old (1 in your case) and already I am starting to feel sorry for Arsenal (urgh!!) and have handed City the title in my head (double urgh!).

If you can keep Modric and sort his head out and get in Adebayor and Diarra (obvious a replacement for the disappointing Palacios) I reckon you can easily squeeze Arsenal out of that 4th spot and you might be able to challenge Chelsea. I saw enough in your performance at OT to warrant that. You played some lovely pass and move football and found lots of space (though our defence is probably the youngest you’ll ever face!) but just lacked that cutting edge. Think RvdV needs a certain type of player to play off. Not sure that player is necessarily Adebayor, but he is certainly better then Crouch or Defoe, and Pavlyuchenko is way too inconsistent.

Your defence looked unbeatable for the most part at OT, some great interceptions/interventions particularly in the first half! On a side note, are Fulham now your second team?

spooky: I'm actually doing my best to detach myself from the entire mess and just fall back in love, without complications, with football at its purest level. Just supporting Spurs, loving the shirt, loving the players that want to pull on the shirt. Singing, getting drunk and applauding and joyfully celebrating moments of vibrant brilliance. And any success that is attached to that, I obviously welcome as another slice of history to be placed proudly in amongst our rich tapestry of tradition.

The reality is, I still find myself thinking that Top 4 is essential because otherwise we might find ourselves stuck in this perpetual game of catch-up, selling players who want to move to CL teams, buying new ones, then going through the same thing again. We spent so long dreaming of competition for top four and the CL that now we've achieved it, going a step back would be gut wrenching. Such is the way modern football works, CL is has devalued cup wins. Even though, if we are all brutally honest, winning a trophy (domestically) in terms of a cup might not be the same as it was in the 80s and before but it still retains a certain undeniable quality. You can't ever take a way a Wembley win. Its there, black and white, in history and its silverware. Even if its not respected as it once was. Finishing 4th is hardly what dreams are made of.

But finishing 4th consistently is the only way to ever become equipped for a title push.

Wish things were far more simple. Don't think football will implode either. Not yet. Only way is for the likes of Spurs and even Arsenal to push out the likes of City and Chelsea.

Its a little like asking Norman Wisdom to inform Godzilla he can't be knocking down any buildings.

Utd fan: I promised myself I would do that last season but the babies really put a stop to it but I’m going to try again this season I reckon.

You are right, there is still much to enjoy, much to love about football and this implosion won’t happen for a while (too many people making too much money at the moment). I intend to get to more pubs to watch matches this season and the occasional outing to OT when the chance arises!

spooky: Onwards.

I'd rather Barton than Cole. Admit it, you would too...

Morning.

Okay, so what do I need to blog about today? The Judicial Review. Levy telling Chelsea 'to f**k off' re: Modric. Ade and Diarra practically done (for the 3rd week on the trot). Joe Cole. Hearts 'preview'. Being linked with Parker again. And Joey Barton. Here we go...

High Court drama

It would appear Levy was correct in fighting this with the judge yesterday granting us permission (along with Orient) for our application for a judicial review of the decision to give Olympic stadium to West Ham United. That's a review of the process leading up to the decision that saw us get spanked 14-0. The rather unfair process, that Levy won't let go of. Again, whether this is a case of us proving a point or attempting to claim back money spent or perhaps also gain as much leverage as possible - we don't know. As the chairman pointed out during the OS bid, there are certain things that have to be held back.

As one or two have already pointed out, its only leverage if nobody actually perceives it as that. So when is enough, enough?

Running parallel to this all day yesterday was the suggestion that the Mayor of London was in deep talks with the club relating to support for the NDP and the Tottenham area. What some expected was for Spurs to drop the court case and accept (finally) the money/deal/compromise that would be offered. But for now the 'game' continues.

One thing is for certain though. All of this does not look good for the Olympic Committee and the image of the games being held in England along with the fact that the recent riots (shown across the world) was hardly a great advertisement. N17 needs help. The Olympic Games do not need the adverse publicity. The NDP needs a helping hand.

It's still all very political and Machiavellian. It's still all bluffs and threats. We'll have to wait and see who stands down first.

Levy: You shall not pass

So via Harry (where else would you expect to hear it from?), Levy has instructed Chelsea to give up on Luka not bother with any more bids or pressure via media outlets as the player (as stated countless countless times) is simply not available and will not be sold. In other words, regardless of the cheap ITK headlines news feeds are polluted with from one day to the next, there has been no change in stance by chairman since his very first public announcement/statement.

Player might want to leave. Player might not be completely right in the head either. But as I've said before, Luka's head has not been right since it was turned during the start of the summer. He's obviously injured (carrying a knock) and that's being used as an escape to avoid first time action whilst he sulks and comes to terms with the fact he will have to pull on the Lilywhite shirt again.

Redknapp has probably had to tell him to get his sh*t together. Hence the 'his head aint right' comment.

I don't think he's on strike or even contemplating it. Also think Harry's comment was just Harry being not so articulate with his words as there was nothing much wrong with the rest of his comments when clearly stating 'he's not going to be sold'. He could have just stated Modric was injured and left it at that. We do not need to disclose everything from within the club. But then this is Redknapp we're talking about.

You might want Luka out for the disrespect he's shown to the shirt. I hardly want to hug the bloke myself. But my opinion still remains the same. Honour the contract. The club have to make sure he does just that. If a contract is simply a tool of insurance to gain as much transfer fee money as possible then here's some advice for footballers and their agents. Don't sign massive 6 year contracts and accept the money on offer.

Adebayor and Diarra

I still believe the Adebayor deal was 'done and dusted' a week or two back. Just formalities to be sorted. Just a gut feeling that Levy wants to bundle together all the signings and then reveal all (ooh) at a snazzy press conference. Ade was spotted and photographed with BAE, so there's no doubting he's back in London. The questions surround whether this will be a loan deal or a permanent one.

The other questions (this morning) concern Diarra. Yesterday the Madrid press said the deal was practically done. Now the player himself is saying he isn't moving.

"The information about my departure is a lie. There's no agreement with Tottenham and I don't think there will be"  - Diarra

Cheeky Arsenal bid? There is some logic in perhaps not worrying too much if he decided to reject us. One being the fact he tends to throw a hissy fit if not selected and when Sandro is fit, Sandro will be number one choice (at least you hope that's the case - I'm trying to ignore Harry's favouritism here).

Controversially, I'd just offer Joey Barton a contract. Non-believers, embrace Barton. I'd have him sitting in the middle of the pitch tweeting. He wouldn't even have to play football.

Yes. I did just say that. I've changed my mind on this. I'm easily influenced by Twitter. We need an absolute **** in the midfield to anger up the players and at times embarrass them into fighting rather than falling asleep on the ground sucking thumbs.

I did clearly say controversially, so stop screaming at your monitor.

I doubt West Ham would look to do business with us re: Parker. And to be honest, I dislike Parker more than I dislike Barton. Parker 'the Spurs fan' who rejected Spurs 2/3 times. Top bloke.

Having said all this, perhaps Diarra has simply been instructed to say what he has said. Either by agent or by Spurs. We'll find out soon enough. Tick tock tick tock.

Joe Cole

Don't be so f**king silly.

Breaking the Hearts of Scotland

Luka might play. In fact, the git should be forced to play if he's fit. We'll need someone in the middle to allow the game to flow and possession to be kept as Harry looks to start 'the yoof'. 

Enter...

Harry Kane. Goal getter.
Tom Carroll. Cultured versatile midfielder (deep-lying midfielder...the English Luka?)
Lewis Hamilton. Energetic winger.

Bookmark Windys blog for all the info you'll ever need on our kids.

Should be a good game, if anything, because Hearts will (should) offer a stern test (more so than what they offered up North) and look to reclaim some pride after their thrashing on home turf. And we finally get to see Kane, a big prospect, show us if he has the touch and maturity to perhaps feature in more games this season rather than just a cameo.

What does remain a massive positive is the fact that we are finally seeing some of these youth players break into first team action. Livermore at Old Trafford did himself proud. Townsend always looks bright, so Kane and Carroll...over to you. No pressure. Seriously, no pressure. If you're at the game this evening, sing up sing up. This is what it's about. Tottenham yoof coming through the academy and wearing the shirt.

Love it.

-

The Fighting Cock is a brand new THFC podcast. You can stream it or download it here on DML (make sure you have a Quicktime plug-in installed).

Love the Shirt.

Flav, tehTrunk, Spooky, Ricky, Chicago Dan.

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Tweets from the High Court

Confusion and conspiracy still dominates Spurs and the High Court. The suggestion has been that we would drop the legal fight off the back of a promise (you would assume/guess/hope) from Boris Johnson to support Tottenham and the NDP, with Boris himself alluding to this, stating that it was 'very likely' we'd drop the case. A caveat best included here to highlight that plenty of reading between the lines is necessary.

The BBC firstly reported we'd be letting it go then updated their story to say it was still going ahead. Hence the confusion. The conspiracy part remains why Daniel Levy wishes to persist with it. Perhaps because we do in fact have a case? Or that the chairman wants to get money back spent on the premise that we were invited to bid in the first place only to then find ourselves nothing more than a chess piece. Or maybe the OS and this entire process is a chess piece Levy continues to move around the board, brining us back to the question of public funding.

Considering recent events in N17 and the state of the place post-riots, there is government pressure to act regardless.

Follow Don Roan on Twitter (@danroan) for updates from the court room. Below, the ones he's sent thus far.

Off to the High Court later for latest round of Spurs' legal fight over the Olympic Stadium - or am I? @BBCLdnOlympics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14641254

On way to High Court as Spurs appeal against rejection of application for judicial review into decision to give 2012 stadium to West Ham...

..but could be end of road for Spurs if appeal rejected or their lawyers advise abandonment- If case heard will start at 10.30 - updates here

Spurs' QC Dinah Rose arrives at High Court. Suggests club's judicial review appeal into Olympic Stadium decision will go ahead at 10.30

Latest round of Spurs' & Orient's High Court fight v decision to award Olympic stadium to West Ham goes ahead despite last - minute talks

OPLC Ch Exec Andrew Altman in High Court to hear argument of Spurs QC Dinah Rose as club bids for judicial review into 2012 stadium decision

Spurs QC Dinah Rose says Newham loan to West Ham for Oly Stadium was a "distortion of competition" & decision in favour of WHam "unlawful"

So the Mayor says it looks 'very likely' that Spurs will drop legal challenge re stadium decision - it's going ahead right now in Court 2!

Spurs QC arguing that the £40m loan Newham granted WestHam for stadium wouldn't have been available via private bank & was thus "state-aid"

Spurs are effectively arguing that the Newham loan to West Ham constituted state-aid, & was therefore illegal under EU law

Interesting developments in High Court. Judge says Spurs' case is "arguable" (ie has some merit) and refers to "confusion" in Newham case

Adam Lewis QC for Leyton Orient (also seeking judicial review) say PL's decision to permit WH to leave Upton Park compromised by relegation

Judge asks Leyton Orient's QC what club's gate is and what league they play in. Justice Collins clearly not a regular at Brisbane Road

Despite their court hearing appearing to go well, Spurs talks with Mayor re agreement for them to drop legal fight in return for help on ...

...move to Northumberland Park stadium are progressing well - announcement unlikely today but possible.

Judge stresses if he allows judicial review "doesn't mean the case will succeed". Appears to be gearing up to find in favour of Spurs/Orient

To be clear best Spurs can hope for today is that the stadium decision subject to full hearing in future. Would mean uncertainty continuing

2012 stadium judicial review hearing rumbles on. OPLC's counsel Richard Gordon QC on his feet - says Spurs case is "baseless".

Regardless of result of hearing, today has done little for reputation of WestHam/Newham partnership - key to making 2012 stadium viable...

...and if Spurs/Orient do win it casts doubt on London's chance of winning right to host '17 World Athletics Champs, lots at stake in Court2

Breaking: Judge grants permission for Spurs/Orient application for judicial review of decision to give Olympic stadium to West Ham