Manchester Utd yoof, Spurs targets and The Project (Part II)

For Part I click here.

Part II

Spooky - Okay, enough of the boring off the field shenanigans and boardroom politics. Let's talk a bit of football. Does it get boring winning everything, you silverware-hugging show-off you?

Scott - Honestly? No. You hear our players talking about it and I think it reflects the fans' opinion too. The more you win, the more you want to win. You get greedy for it. You win the league title, and whether that's the first time for a few years or the third time in a row, it feels f***ing brilliant. I can't claim that the last time we won the league in 2009 made me feel the same way a City fan would feel if they won the league this year, because I imagine being used to winning things takes the edge of it a bit, but no, never boring.

Spooky - What's the gut feeling for this season then? Plenty of suggestions in the world of blogs and forums that United are over-extending themselves, masking over the cracks with one or two bacon-saving individual performances. It would be unwise to write you off considering that if currently United are considered off-key, you're still top 4 early season. Are you perhaps worried that there's not enough genuine balls deep world class quality in your side to really push Chelsea? Do you accept that you wont win the title?

Scott - I think we're going to win the league every year. We're not looking great right now but we haven't really got going yet. Nani and Berbatov have definitely stepped up to the plate, but players like Fletch and Evra who have been so important in years gone by, have gone off the boil. United tend to do well after a World Cup but it's looking to have a negative effect this time around. If we don't win the league, it's because Chelsea do, but I can't see Arsenal or City finishing ahead of us.

Spooky - So, in that case, you don't face a battle on your hands to finish in the top 4?

Scott - No.

Spooky - Do United fans prefer having to fight tooth and nail for the League with Chelsea or whomever, or do you prefer the 90s when you won everything at a canter, more or less?

Scott - Oh it's far more exciting having to fight for it. Winning the league by a point on the last day feels so much better than wrapping it up a few weeks before the end of the season. I wouldn't say we won things at a canter in the 90s though. You look at 99 and 96, with our squad spread across winning other trophies, and we just scraped through at the end.

Spooky - What do you think the fans reactions would be if you finished just outside the Top 4 and SAF was another year nearer retirement?

Scott - Devastation, I suppose. How would the fans react if we got relegated? How would the fans react if we won nothing for 10 years? I dunno. It's too hard to answer a question about a scenario you just can't imagine happening.

Spooky - Talking of which - who do the fans feel is likely to take over as Manager after SAF's retirement?

Scott - Erm, Mourinho is desperate for the job. I would rather Laurent Blanc or Pep Guardiola, and have battled long and hard against Mourinho getting the job, based on his dreadful personality and the job he did at Chelsea. He spent a f**k load of money but the team he left them with was inferior to the one he inherited. It's hard to argue with what he's achieved at Inter and is achieving at Real Madrid, playing the attacking football we require.

Spooky - Concerned about City? If not this season, next?

Scott - No. If anyone will f**k this up, City will. This is the 3rd year of The Project (TM) and they're not nailed on for anything. They've got less points this season than they did with the same games played under Hughes a couple of months before he got the sack, their best player is repeatedly talking of his unhappiness and wanting to retire, and as every transfer window passes they seem to make it their challenge to bring in a player with an even bigger ego than the ones the window before, to try and battle it out with Mancini's massive ego. They will implode sooner or later because all these stars who joined with the promise of lots of money and trophies will soon get bored of lots of money and no trophies. I think Robinho put it best at the start of this season: "When I arrived, the directors at City told me that, in a couple of years, we would overtake United, but the time has passed and nothing has changed."

Spooky - United have harvested a lot of young talent from around the world, sometimes at eyebrow raising expense (Bebe, Mame Diouf, Obertan, Tosic, Smalling). Are Utd fans concerned that very few of these appear to be worth the money paid? I know it's subjective, but it's a question birthed from the curiosity of other fans assuming United fans are scratching their heads.

Scott - All of those players are 21 or younger, so I don't know how you can say whether they're worth the money or not. Diouf has scored a hat trick at Blackburn this season, as well as scoring against Arsenal, Bebe has scored for Portugal's U-21, Smalling is doing well for England U-21 and has scored for them, Obertan is a fans' favourite. Tosic is the only one of those that didn't make the grade but we got our money back for him, so no biggie.

If we start writing players off when they're 21, we're in trouble. Ronaldo scored 9 league goals in 33 games for us when he was 21. He was a one trick pony, a waste of money at £12m.

Spooky - On a similar note, who is the best of the home-grown Utd talent (i.e. Cleverley, King, Drinkwater, James etc etc)? Have United still got a stranglehold on the best of the country's youth?

Scott - Cleverley looks to be the business. Ravel Morrison is the next one for the future. Corry Evans (Jonny's bro) looks good, Will Keane too, and James Chester. Our youth set up is really impressive and Solskjaer helped the Reserves to be crowned champions of England last season.

Spooky - Are you worried that you have VDS, Rio, Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Berbatov, Owen, Hargreaves etc to replace in the next 2-3 years but have (i) no cash and (ii) a lot fewer decent young players making it into the first team squad than historically?

Scott - Neville, Hargreaves and Owen hardly play, so that's not such a worry. The idea is that Cleverley can fill Scholes' boots (nobody can fill Scholes' boots, he's the best midfielder the Prem has seen, but he'll give it a good crack), Chicharito, Macheda and hopefully Welbeck are options for up front, Bebe/Obertan to fill the gap on the wing. The only position that hasn't already got plans is the goalkeeper, which I imagine the club will take very seriously after the farce we endured once Schmeichel retired. There will be some money to spend though, if the players who have been earmarked for these positions aren't up to scratch.

Spooky - Berbatov and Rooney should be the strike partnership to end all strike partnerships. Why isn't it?
 

The casual guide to feeding squirrels by Dimitar Berbatov

Scott - Who knows? The manager can't get the best out of them and they never seem to hit form at the same time. Berbatov and Chicharito is a far more potent combination.

Spooky - Will you stop attempting to tap up and steal our players now you are so poor?

Scott - We should really take a leaf out of Spurs' book. Levy and Redknapp never attempt to tap up and steal players.

Spooky - Steady now. Our Daniel writes letters of an apologetic nature to the fans. He can't possibly be underhanded. What with all the donations to the Tottenham foundation. I might as well ask this so we can all prep ourselves for the inevitable knocking of the door...What do United fans think of the current Spurs squad? Which of our Lilywhites would you want at United and why? How many Utd players do you think would get into a combined Utd/Spurs side?

Scott - I remember towards the end of last season and we were still in the race, and Spurs came to Old Trafford. As the players and subs were read out over the speaker, it really hit me how many top class players you have. Probably the best squad to come to Old Trafford last season, no exaggeration. I mean, you didn't play well, but there's loads of great players at Spurs.

I like Dawson, Modric, Van der Vaart, Bale and Palacios but working out a best XI is difficult. Bale and Nani on the wings, and Modric and Van der Vaart in the centre of the park alongside Fletch (he isn't playing well this season though :S) or Palacios. Berbatov as a lone striker? I'd have Van der Sar over Gomes (WBA mistake aside), Rio and Vida over Dawson and King (even when they're not on the treatment table), Evra at left back and right back? Well, we've played O'Shea there more often than not this season, so I'd have Hutton over him. I like Rafael though.

Spooky - Bale, Modric, vdV…all linked already. Honestly, hand on heart. Can you see yet another one of those Levy complaint letters doing the rounds on the official site next summer?

Scott - It wouldn't surprise me if Bale and Modric came to United. I can't see Spurs doing well in Europe AND retaining top 4. Something has to give. Fergie is a fan of both and I imagine both would be interested in coming. But maybe Levy won't be so f***ing retarded as to send them on a plane to Manchester though.

Spooky - You're breaking my heart over here. And finally, we might as well mention Utd v Spurs. History tells us United will win. Regardless of Howard Webb or lack of goal line technology. We tend to implode up at Old Trafford. I'm sort of confident that we could get a point or even do the impossible and win away from home against a 'Sky Sports Top 4' side for the first time in 400 years. Thoughts on the game? You've not been amazing thus far, but neither have we. In fact, we have both dug deep to win games. So, close game? Dare you predict?

Scott - Given the strengths of your squad, this should be a game to make us worry, but like you say, you don't tend to do very well against us. You'll score against us, because everyone does, but I fancy a United win. 2-1.

Spooky - I fancy a Spurs 2-1. Ooh. It's going to be a corker. Cheers mate. I guess all that's left for me to say is - pleasure as always. And make sure you d*ck City at the very least. Ta.

Scott - Only if you make sure you do the same.

And they both lived happily ever after. Well, only one of them. To find out which, watch the game on Saturday.

The End.

Mancunia chats Rooney, Glazers and Spurs (Part I)

Once more we stand at the gates of hell staring into the devils eyes.

We have no fear.

Say it louder.

We have no fear.

Okay, look, standing there shaking like a leaf and stuttering the words isn't exactly going to work. Believe the words you speak. Live the words. And then follow it through rather than capitulate and implode.

Now onwards, Harry and soldiers of fortune. Onwards into the pits of hell itself...

Yes. It's that time of the season when we visit the Theatre of Howard Webb. We've not done badly in spurts against United in recent years. Taking the lead, bossing it, but then proceeding to fall back, bending over for them to all the deliver of their seasonal thrusts of hurt. United are not on top of their game at the moment and if we hold our nerve...Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see. Would dearly like us to finally win away to one of the traditional Top 4 sides for the first time in 60+ games. Letter to Santa posted.

So for the tradition of pre-match banter I thought I'd return the seasonal favour (no, no, not thrusts) and this time interview the Red over at the majestic Republik of Mancunia blog, rather than have him ask me the questions. It's the polite thing to do.

So warm welcome to Scott the Red losing his DML cherry. I promise to be gentle.

With thanks to the army of anti-United fans over at Glory Glory for their suggestions for questions. So enjoy. It's a good read. One or two fallacies about the Manc club we love to hate placed to bed. 

 

Spooky - First up, let's get Wayne Rooney out of the way. All a bit of a mess, no? What went down exactly? Stretford choking money out of United for his client? Ploy by Fergie and Wayne to get the Glazars to promise funds for the war chest? Surely it's not been done to maximise a potential future fee off the back of the five year contract signed? What's the feeling with how events unfolded in and amongst the United faithful?

Scott - We know football is dominated by mercenaries and I suppose United fans feel foolish for believing Rooney is any different. He'd kiss our badge, bang out about how he wanted to be like Giggsy and Scholes and spend his career with United, that he loved the club etc. And we believed him. So of course, it's disappointing to learn you've been conned.

It isn't just that he's money led though but that he was prepared to leave us for City. The deal was done but he bottled it after the reaction from the manager, the media and the fans. I think he figured out there would be a bit of fuss, some booing when he came back to Old Trafford and that would be that. I don't for one moment think he instigated it all, that would be former vacuum salesman Stretford, but Rooney is accountable for his own actions and shouldn't choose to associate with such a ****.

Still on the upside, it now looks we'll bring in top players, which is great. It also means we're in complete control of where Rooney goes and for how much. Before he signed the contract, we would have had to ship him off in January to whomever was prepared to pay the most, but that's not the case now.

Spooky - So, will you be accepting Wayne 'once a red always a red' Rooney back with open arms or accepting that he's royally mugged off the club and fans for a bumper pay packet always with that option to still move away?

Scott - He's completely ruined the relationship he had with the fans. There will be some who will revert to how it was the moment he starts scoring important goals, but for me personally, that's that now. I'll celebrate the goals he scores and I'll hope he does well, because he's a United player and I want the club to do well, but I'll never feel for him what I did. I suppose it's similar to the Robbie Keane situation, although Rooney hasn't gone around kissing someone else's badge saying it's a dream come true.

Spooky - And Fergie's quote about the cows?

Scott - Yeh, weird wasn't it.

Spooky -  Do you think there's any chance at all that Rooney would have agreed that Man Utd had an acceptable level of ambition and trust in Ferguson if an angry mob hadn't turned up at his house in the middle of the night threatening to kill him if he joined City?

Scott - You think Rooney agreed a five year deal with a club because 30 lads in black showed up at his gates and couldn't get in? Be serious. I don't think Rooney was fearing for his life.

Spooky - Thirty lads? I heard it was Robbo, Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside, all loaded with booze and waving broken bottles. Or perhaps not. Regardless, it all smells a bit funny to me. Just doesn't sit right. Rooney's form hasn't been anywhere near decent for a while. Would be disturbing if he played out of his skin when he returns to first team action. So is he genuinely injured?

Scott - Rooney has been injured since March when he did his ankle against Bayern. He was rushed back for the second leg, for the away game at City, with us wanting him around for the vital games at the end of the season. Had there been no World Cup he'd have been having treatment most of the summer. But obviously there was the World Cup and he carried his injury through the summer until the start of the new season. That's what was so bizarre about Rooney's claims that he'd never been injured. We'd all seen him sitting on the bench icing his ankle at the Reebok after being subbed off after an hour the week before, so who did he think he was kidding? The fact that he's been waiting for the wh*re story to come out and a deal with City to be finalised probably hasn't helped his state of mind though.

Spooky - Ah City. What is it with City fans and their obsessions with getting tattoos of players they've not (and don't) sign?

Scott - They're giddy. They've been waiting their whole lives to compete with United (think about it, a City fan would have to be at least 40-years-old to even have vague memories of his team winning something) and so desperately cling on to anything that seems like glory or success.

Spooky - Talking of the enemy, what about those pesky Glazers? It's good spin for them, no? Responding, supposedly to Fergie and Rooney's 'demands'? Perhaps a spin worthy of an ounce of respect from the dark depths of your soul?

Scott - Ha! The Glazers could come up with a cure for cancer, United fans still wouldn't have any time for them. You know, Forbes magazine this year said we're the most valuable sports franchise in the world... more so than the New York Yankees, Real Madrid, all that, so should we not be holding on to players like Rooney? Contrary to what the papers quote as his salary, which includes image rights and bonuses, Rooney has signed for £160k a week. Obviously that's an insane amount of money for normal people, but when you compare it to what Tevez, Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Adebayor earn, it's not great. When it comes to signing players and paying players, money should be no object to a club like ours, but it obviously is. The fact that the Glazers have managed to keep Rooney (I assume our season ticket prices won't be frozen for next season!) is standard, not something they should be praised for.

Spooky - On the subject of Yanks, considering the success Liverpool have had ousting their bogus owners don't you think as fans you have been a failure in ousting the Glazers? If that's been the attempt. Some would argue - the problem at OT - is practically the same as the one at Liverpool but at a far slower and less chaotic pace. Is it because there are too many glory hunters that are not hardcore enough that don't understand the situation? Many whinge bitterly about the Glazers, yet continue to hand money over to them every week by going to games - thus giving them their main source of revenue to pay the interest on the debt they've attached to the club.

Scott - Liverpool cost £300m. United cost £1b. Our problem is finding someone to pay that amount of money for us. If it was just a case of finding someone prepared to pay £300m, this would have been resolved years ago.

I renewed my season ticket this season and for the first time really considered not doing so. I had read stuff from MUST saying that since 2005, something like 50,000 people had given up their season tickets, and they'll be thousands more on top of that who didn't have season tickets but have stopped by match day tickets. But Old Trafford has 75,000 every home game, despite the fact that many people or more have boycotted the ground. Whilst I still believe that my seat will be filled by someone else, who doesn't sing, who views the ticket as a nice day out, I won't give up my seat. That's selfish on my part and it doesn't sit right with me, but if you give up your seat to get rid of the Glazers, and you do get rid of the Glazers, you don't get your seat back.

Spooky - How 'realistic' was the Red Knight's alleged bid?

Scott - Well, the Red Knights could be viewed in a similar way to NESV. A group of people who couldn't individually afford the club, but collectively could. You have to be wary that you're not just jumping out of the frying pan and in to the fire, but anyone who claims to have the fans best interest at heart is surely better than owners who refer to the fans as 'customers'. MUST gave their backing and the RK ship hasn't sailed just yet, but who knows what will happen.

Spooky - So are the yellow and green brigade fighting a losing battle?

Scott - The g&g was about raising awareness and putting on pressure. We went 5 years with limited media coverage and with the Glazers not feeling the heat at all. But a few months in to the campaign you have David Beckham joining in and the Red Knights talking about buying is, two things that never happened before. Maybe g&g is over now, I dunno, I still wear my scarf, but it has served a purpose.

Spooky - I guess wearing Norwich City scarfs is highly unlikely to scare off the Glazers. Perhaps pigs heads thrown onto the pitch will be far more effective? Or if possible a scooter?

Scott - It was never about scaring them. It was about getting worldwide recognition of our plight in hope of putting pressure on the Glazers to leave. We're not there yet. We could have saved the pig's head for Wastelands if Rooney had gone.

Spooky - Betty's hot-pots? Would be easy to smuggle into the ground and you could get a fair distance when throwing them? Err…anyways, moving on but remaining on the subject of the Glazers and scarfs, I've always scoffed at the irony of wearing the green & gold scarf then draping it around an AIG logo. It's akin to Spurs fans during the dark days throwing their season tickets onto the pitch in disgust…on the final day of the season.

Scott - Yeh and traipsing in to the Megastore to buy their United bedspread and lampshade and whatever else.

Spooky - You mentioned season ticket renewal. I'm assuming then that the 100k season ticket waiting list is a fallacy. People have alleged that getting tickets is relatively easy although the impression off the back of what some would call propaganda in terms of how hard it's perpetuated to get tickets.

Scott - Well, we know there is no waiting list now because they put the season tickets on general sale this year. If someone had told me ten years ago a United season ticket would go on general sale, I'd think we must have gone down to the Conference! But that waiting list has been whittled away year on year. We've got 52,000 season ticket holders now and over 50,000 people who have already given up their season ticket.

Continued in Part II

Rooney (off-topic)

So, basically one of three things:

1) All this was a ploy orchestrated by Fergie and aided by Rooney to get more money and promises from the Glazers in relation to transfers etc

2) Rooney signs a contract meaning that if sold in Jan or the summer, United can now demand a massive fee, rather than losing him for nothing

3) Rooney held the club to ransom and got what he wanted. What a hero.

Let's look on the bright side. At least all the ridiculous stories linking us with him can be placed to bed once and for all so we can now concentrate on signing Rivaldo.

The Premier League is swaying like a drunk smashed out of his skull

Morning. I know this is off topic, but hey, I pay the bills so I can do as I wish. Everyone see the legend that is the anti-hero Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City and Togo) sitting being interviewed wearing an Arsenal training top? It was on SSN yesterday and I'm sure you've all seen the photo by now. It's almost as funny as Judas turning out for the scum's reserves last night. Best place for him. The cesspool was missing a swamp thing, but let's not get side-tracked with the man who was obviously created as part of a dark experiment from the DNA of Benedict Arnold and Judas Iscariot.

I sent out the screen-grab of Ade to some work mates who had not seen this gem of a tv appearance. And got a response back from a Manchester Utd fan that made me smile. Seems the photo inspired him to rant (well, side-track the discussion thread) about Utd's biggest rivals. That's City by the way. According to City fans.

I guess we all hate United, you know, cause they've always got the ref on their side (cough) and always dick us but everyone likes to hate City. And why not? There is plenty of hate to go round and their Chelseaesque manner of progression is unnerving to most. In fact, not to spend too much time praising Chelsea, at least they were almost knocking on the door prior to Roman buying them up. City have practically puked £££ all over football in the hope greed wins the day and contracts are signed.

Not all of their fans are to be scoffed at. Definitely not the fans who feel they've been left soulless by the money poured into the club. More so the other twats who seem to be...well, rather than have it all repeated, I think the Utd fan covered it in his email perfectly:

Well, he’s at the right club now for such a despicable character! (in reference to Adebayor).

Getting sick of reading City fans updates on Facebook. They truly believe that they ‘stole’ Tevez from us and think he went to City for ‘footballing’ reasons and that United are a club in real trouble and likely to do a Leeds.

2 things

a) Tevez didn’t want to play for us – so he can f**k right off, along with anyone else who doesn’t - and didn’t fit in our system very well, too similar to Rooney. Suits their system well hence why he’s doing better. Although Berba isn’t hitting the heights, his touch is infinitely better than Tevez’s. His strengths are coming from deep with the ball at his feet – a la Rooney. Also – he’s not the first (or last I doubt) player to leave United and do better. Forlan left and was the Liga’s top scorer FFS!!!

b) United, like Liverpool, have too much history and hence too much support worldwide to ‘do a Leeds’. There will always be someone who would come in to buy them if things got really sticky as they are established brands and this is business (unfortunately). If the oil heads leave City they’re far more likely to ‘do a Leeds’ – seeing as their fan base stretches from Didsbury all the way to……Stockport.

To be honest, I’d quite like United to have a sustained period of underachievement and drop a division. Get rid of all the plastic fans and get tickets for reasonable prices again.

Rant over. Good night.

I don't mind seeing Utd struggle. If the definition of struggling is to be sat in the position they are sat now whilst competing in the Champions League. And in some ways its great that fans of other clubs (those pesky Sky Sports Top 4 clubs) are taking the time to look behind and notice the likes of us and City and the rest catching up as they slow down. It almost feels like the Premier League is swaying like a drunk smashed out of his skull. A little push and he'll fall, but if you just leave him, he might just fall over anyway. An Arsenal ticket season holder (sitting opposite me) was saying how his team looked completely disinterested against Everton. He doesn't buy the hype about his clubs ambitions either. It's the media hyping up who they consider to be worth hyping up that has everyone confused. In fact nobody is looking worthy at the minute, which means their is a huge (massive Jamie Redknapp would say) possibility that something epically unexpected might happen this season. Unless one of the usual suspects has a mug of strong black coffee and sobers up quick sharp.

I LOL'ed plenty the other morning when the press all claimed they could win the title (in with a shout at the very least). What, after beating Blackburn Rovers? I guess our 3-0 win over them doesn't matter because it was under Mark Hughes and not under their new messiah. You know, the one that wears a City scarf because he believes in The Project©. We are one point behind City. Are we also title challengers? Like I said I know some City fans are unhappy that success might come in this fashion (Arab billions). The others are too busy having tattoos of Messi done on their backs in preparation for his arrival this summer.

I hate Utd. But I like Utd's hatred of City. Mainly because of the way some of their fans have been giving it, vocally. Delusions of grandeur. It's a tag that is usually associated with us. Perhaps I'm as bitter as the Utd fan above who ranted, because we sort of know that thanks to the cracks that have appeared at the top, someone like City is actually that bit closer to their dream. And if they're intolerable now, God forbid how they'll be if they actually won it.

Oh, and the world would implode if we ever got our hands on it. But we all know for all the money we've spent, we've never got close. Nowhere near. But at least our souls, those overly abused tired souls thanks to years of transitional seasons, remain intact. Just about.

Off-topic over and out.

Back later with an update on Spurs. If there are any worthy news items to chat about. Other than the usual Sandro nonsense. And the stories that have us wondering if Harry is about to be pulled into a long running court case that would make his position as manager...ah, let's not even go there.

Morning Spurs fans...

Morning. Good weekend? Can't believe Christmas is over and I'm back to the grind. Guess that rings true for our wee club, as the up and coming fixtures will be (drum roll) season defining. In fact most of what happens this month will be imperative to us continuing 2010 in the same vein as we finished 2009: In form and hungry for more. Shades of 2006 no doubt and a flashback to how easy it is to get too complacent allowing others to catch up. It's not actually quite 2006 though and there are plenty of other clubs very close to us and a poor run of three games can see us looking up at them rather than how things stand at the moment.

I was neither at the FA Cup game over the weekend or managed to catch any extended (downloaded) highlights, if they do in fact exist. I was too busy hitting the bottle. Metaphorically speaking. I was actually choosing bottles, opting for Tommee Tippee over Dr Browns. An afternoon spent with Mrs Spooky rather than anywhere near a radio/tv/turnstile. I did manage to catch ITV's breathtaking highlights show, and the majestic 45 seconds of Spurs highlights. We looked comfortable didn't we? Cracking 45 seconds of footage, four goals tightly squeezed in. When I heard/read reports about Defoe's goal (described in some quarters as a tap in), I was pleasantly surprised when I witnessed our boy guide the ball past the keeper into the far corner, off the side of his boot, all this faced away from the goal. Easy. I guess if he was wearing a red shirt it would lauded over as an exquisite masterful nonchalant touch. Was JD wearing red colours when he scored? No? Then it was a tap in.

I heard Danny Rose was lively when he came on and that we more or less dominated, which is nice to see. Bale also impressing (yeah, okay, it's Posh and not Prem). Modric and Niko starting in the same line-up with it appearing to work balance wise. Might be different against top quality opposition. Another clean sheet (5th on the trot) but a couple of injury concerns. Bassong out for the Liverpool game (last I read), but I think Defoe just has cramp so should be fit. I'd hazard a guess and say Lennon is out for the 14 days he was pencilled to sit out for.

The fact we played a fairly strong side makes me think we are taking this seriously. Which we'll need to do when we face Dirty Leeds at the Lane in the next round. That's the very same Leeds that defeated a God awful Manchester United at Old Trafford. They were complete shit in fact.

Am I the only one laughing at the conspiracy-laced irony that followed during the cup draw for the next round? You know what I'm talking about. We didn't get Manchester United in the 4th round, we got the team that knocked them out - and the ball, initially picked up, was dropped which meant we could have faced an away tie. Didn't work out for you this time did it, Football Association?

Finally, special mention to the News of the World who posted a non-event of a story concerning Spurs (and West Ham players) at a club on a Monday night enjoying drinks. Laughable attempt at trying to stir things up, shot down by Redknapp faster than he can twitch. Suddenly its became almost impossible for players to go out without the hacks jumping all over us.

Keep on bringing it.

Would you swap Modric for Carrick?

It hasn't taken long for the rumourwhores and ITK's to start suggesting that Man Utd are after Luka Modric. The maths here is easy. Harry mentions Fergie rates him, Harry mentions he has no problem re-signing ex-Spurs players and Carrick is left out of the squad for Utd's last game and therefore that quite obviously equates to a Utd bid of £10M + Carrick (28 at his peak), for our little Croatian magician (23 nowhere near his peak).

This has already been picked up by a journo. Although not sure I've seen the story hit the major tabloids just yet. Although most would ignore this as bollocks, other's would point out that life outside the Top 4 usually results in feeding the likes of Utd because players - lacking commitment to a contract they've signed - tend to know that jumping ship when the opportunity arises is impossible for them to reject (because staying at a club longer than 2 years and become part of a side building towards sustaining a challenge is far too long of a project time wise). Silverware within a season is something that cannot be ignored. The bigger get bigger the slightly less big continue to slim down to an unheathly size.

If you allowed your imagination to run wild, you might conclude that Ferguson has already began his game playing, looking to unsettle a team brimming with confidence (ok, that's just me taking the piss, because I doubt he's worried about us being a threat just because we've won 3 games on the trot). Drag it out over the course of the season, flirting in the media about the target (remember the Berbatov saga?) and then swoop in with a bid knowing full well that even if we reject the bid, it won't be long before the player agrees personal terms leaving the club threatening legal action which results in a charity donation to complete the deal. The side-effect is that a key player has gone, meaning other key players would consider doing the same which leaves us in a position of uncertainty and (Jesus wept) another transition.

With thanks to yid-soldier over at GG.co.uk for the visual

The irony is, some Spurs fans are actually hoping this rumour is based on fact. Personally, I can't see Michael making a move back down to Spurs from Champs League considering he left us for that in the first place. He's won three titles there and the biggest prize of them all. He left Spurs because he had no faith in us challenging for 4th spot. The Redknapp factor might play a part in swaying his opinion but isn't the whole point to retain some form of consistency? Carrick is excellent. But how would you go about replacing Modric? Huddlestone will once more stagnate. And let's face it, if we have aspirations for the Top 4 - and Carrick is a Top 4 player, then would Utd really let him go considering (away from the hype of the Ronaldo's of this world) how vital he's been for them since moving up there? Nothing fits, other than subjective chitter-chatter that may well come back to bite (me) us in the backside if we slump and finish 10th.

Only way to banish this would be to finish in the Top 4 and then maybe we can tap up Carrick, with the offer of Champs League and the bright(er) lights of London.

Don't you just love football? Now where's that bottle of Absinthe?

Modric to Utd?

Get a grip. It won't happen. Although one or two Spurs fans are worried that Fergie, rather than do the obvious and spend most of the Ronaldo windfall on a 'superstar' signing like Augero or Ribery or the lad from Lyon, Benzema - he'd prefer to spend a little less on proven Premiership quality such as Valencia and possibly Modric. More for your money sort of ethic rather than replacing one £80M player with a £60M one, which is what Ribery may cost, thanks to the mad mad footballing world we live in - completely detached from the reality of the economic crisis the world sits in.

Ironically, the dawn of the new Galacticos at Madrid means that every next best thing is going to be valued at an even more ridiculous price, leading to chaos and probable melt-down at a later date. Or maybe not.

Zidane was probably worth the £45M or so paid out by that zany Pérez. But even that was an incredible figure to part with but Real made the money back in silverware and shirt sales. Is Kaka worth £59M? Is Ronaldo worth more than both of them in a direct comparison? How much would Messi go for?

I guess these type of transfers will remain isolated in that it's always Madrid who do the buying, and in desperation are able to sign anyone for the most inflated of prices simply because they can.

So with the £80M set to burn a pretty hefty hole in his pocket (or sitting in a shoe box under the Glazers bed) one or two seem to suspect that Utd might look across to White Hart Lane once more to see what bargain they can pick up.

Modric and Lennon for £40M? <insert tumbleweed here>

The £30M spent on a certain moody Bulgarian has burnt Fergies fingers a little which will hopefully have him turning towards Germany and Ribery.

In all seriousness, our Modric isn't quite at the level that would have Utd knocking at our door. They've lost a superstar, so they need to draft in someone with the same sort of status.

Man Utd are one of the biggest clubs in the world with a small fortune at their mercy. The last place they're going to turn up at with a cheque book is N17. They want to win the league again, not finish 4th.

Fergie would do well in pinching Sneijder from Madrid. Quality player without the Hollywood hype.

United away? Easy peasy...

Manchester United away on Saturday. If I told you I wasn’t nervous, would you believe me? Not that we ever go to OT confident of winning there (even when we do beat them we only return to London with a point) and I’m not for a second suggesting that just because they’ve not been playing at the same fearsome tempo and pace of prior months they’ve suddenly become a soft touch. It’s United. Even a patched up side is dangerous to most opponents.

They appeared casual yesterday evening against Pompey. But still won. They are doing just enough and it’s more than enough. When we make trips up there, we usually give a plucky performance only to then be out-done, usually by a wonder-goal. Sometimes, we follow this up by falling to pieces allowing Utd to run rampant. It’s textbook stuff, Utd always take points off us with relative ease up there. They do the same down south (although the last two home games at the Lane have bucked the trend and had us gutted for not claiming all the points).

This season we are unbeaten against the Sky Sports Four© in the Prem and we’re not afraid to have a go against any of them. And with our safety assured along with a flirtatious swagger towards 7^th spot, there’s no harm in trying to win at OT – even if the odds are still stacked against us, based on history and the fact that the game is far more important to Utd than to us. Its three points closer to a title for Fergie. With us, if we do happen to finish up in a European spot it will be nothing more than a surprising bonus. So Utd don’t need to be told how important another solid home performance would be for them.

But we have no idea what United will turn up. And we can’t go second guessing (tbf, we have no idea what Spurs will turn up either). Add to the mix Giggs 800^th United appearance and the signs are the game is set up to be a joyous one for the home support. If we can gatecrash and party-poop and possibly take back those two points left behind in January 2005, I’ll be more than happy.

We should push forward with impunity. I’m not suggesting we turn up in yellow jerseys and samba our way around the park. We should just give it a go. A proper one at that. We all know they will. Last night, for all the casual running and effort made they still played some wonderful slick football. Sitting back is not an option. No need for a defensive display and one point. We are not desperate for points and Utd are not flying. What I’m desperate for is a little glory. Enough to sit in my back pocket for a week so I can float to work and back.

In the past, trying to out play Utd at Old Trafford hasn’t worked. But I don’t think we need to concern ourselves with anything other than the present. We are playing well. Both defensively and in midfield. Failing to score more than a goal a game is our Achilles heel. But with the pressures of relegation banished, the players and manager have the chance to press ahead with the development of a re-born Spurs (not trying to be overly dramatic by suggesting a new dawn is upon us, just mean that it’s nice we have a winning mentality and cohesive team structure with players understanding their responsibilities).

It’s test time. Palacios Vs Mr '600' Scholes. King (hopefully) and Woodgate standing tall against Ronaldo and Rooney. It ought to be daunting, but it’s not. It’s also far from being a rabbit in the headlights scenario. More like a rabbit smoking a joint.

Neville and O’Shea are both out injured and Wes Brown is set for a possible return to first team action if he gets through a reserve team unscathed. I repeat, Wes Brown. Shudder. Though I’d prefer O’Shea to have been available, as the bloke is a liability. We might even be treated to Berbatov on Saturday. I won't say anything more in case I jinx it. Utd also have to take into consideration the little matter of a Champs League game next week.

As for us?

BAE has been consistent since Harry’s arrival. Corluka has had the odd lapse, but works great in partnership with Lennon. There are solid partnerships throughout our side. I'm hoping Jenas is fit as we'll need his box to box energy as Utd always work their socks off, and we'll have to match them. Pav scored a beaut up at OT in the Cup, but missed sitters in the Cup final. Bent scores, regardless of doing very little else. If Pav is fully fit, will he get the nod? I hope so. We need some of our players to sharpen up their game for this weekend (Keane, Lennon, Bent) and others to excel as per usual (Palacios, Modric, King, Woody). And just hope that Utd don’t do the same. Something tells me Bent will start, and Spurs will look to counter making the most of the one ability Darren has.

Of course, we all half expected a miracle when we played them at OT in the FA Cup, and what we got was a performance of tragedy. Should have had a right go at them and we didn’t. But then we had the distraction of possible relegation hanging over our heads, and Harry was still tweaking around with the balance and confidence of the side leaving our tactics some what muddled and confused.

So on Saturday, I’d rather us not play for a point but go for all three and if we end up with nothing so be it. I wouldn’t shake my head despondently at a point. I’d just like to see us shake things up at the top.

The key is whether we can stick away a second if we get a first. It’s like the Cup final. Nobody took their chances and it was settled on penalties. If it’s a similar type of game with chances at both ends, then anyone can win it (otherwise we end up with another no score draw).

No pens this time round. The heartbreak that partners defeat would be more evident if it happened to the reds more than if the whites tasted it.