Hands up if you're bored of this transfer window

I’m about to disappear for a week and hope that all our transfer dealings take place when I’m away so that I have something substantial to write about when I get back. News Now has been littered with stories and rumours and suggestions in this past week, with no end in sight. And I’ve grown a little weary of summing up the latest rotten ITK info falling from the grapevine. However, at the time of writing, this is the latest hack news:

Young to Spurs. Or Chelsea.

Bent to Villa. Bentley to City.

KJH is still a target.

Vieira practically signed.

Robben still being flitered with.

Negredo a done deal for £13M.

Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker allegedly doneth and dustedeth.

Medical for Young today apparently, yet that appears to have been quashed by Martin O’Neill who has stated he is not going anywhere. Bent and Bentley have been eternally linked with moves away yet other than Sunderland (who are now looking at Crouch) there is no other movement for the two unloved stars. Robben won’t happen. If it does I’ll happily eat humble pie, but I just can’t see it. His ego, his wage demands, his dad. Nope, won’t happen. As for Vieira, that’s cooled a little mainly because everyone is talking about Negredo being a done deal and Klass-Jan Huntelaar apparently taking time-out to decide between us and Stuttgart.

It’s all very muddled. Defoe is obviously going nowhere. Bent must be. Pav is an uncertainty. And Keane also remains a mystery. If we do sign two strikers then that can only spell the end of the three mentioned above, with Jermain remaining a Lilywhite. Do you see why I’m weary? Theorising over the much criticised ITK leaked info and tabloid exclusives is a redundant idea considering there is no real way of knowing who it is we are aiming to sign until said player has been signed. Practically all of the ITK whispers have been reactive to what you may have read already. The papers mention Robben, suddenly there are several pieces of leaked info relating to ‘talks’ with the player. All signed off with the usual textbook, don’t shoot the messenger get out clause.

As for the Sheffield United pair, apparently we've stolen them from the grasp of Everton for a peachy £8M. If this has happened, there's a fair chance both players will remain at United for another season. If they joined us and did not return to Sheffield on loan, then what that means for Gunter and Hutton and Chimbonda is another wonderful conundrum, as our right-back collection grows and grows. Some fetish.

Damn it, I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Summarising.

I’ll be following the latest by browsing the back pages of the English newspapers whilst I sun it and hope that my consistent record of being abroad when Spurs open the transfer floodgates continues.

Only other thing I want to mention before signing off is our 3-0 win against Exeter last night. Defoe, Modric, Lennon and Huddlestone all looked sharp. Pav and Bent were solid and Dervitte (our young French centre-back) wasn’t too shabby alongside Corluka. Bentley also did well and The Prince lined up impressively with Palacios in the second half. At least in his head he did. He looks the part, but just don’t think he plays the part. Pre-season should allow Harry to decide whether he is adequate cover for the central midfield.

Danny Rose played ok. I expect the young lad to play some part in the season ahead, a cameo here a cameo there. Shame there was no Adel. Not sure whether this is due to injury, but that’s wishful thinking.

Gio not present, but that might have to do with International duty. Keane wasn’t all there. Still looking a little broken after his Liverpool mis-adventure.

But let’s chill out, it was Exeter and it was our first pre-season game. It’s going to be interesting to see who plays a part as the week’s progress. I guess we can start talking about breaking the Top 4 after we thrash Barca 5-0 at Wembley.

Anyways, see you on the other side. By the end of next week here’s to an England Ashes victory and one or two brand spanking new players unveiled at the Lane.

COYS.

Orlando Pirates v Spurs

2-1 win, which included a goal from our pre-season gem, Wayne Routledge, once more showing the kind of eye for goal that results with Martin Jol farming him out to an average Premiership side for a season.

Sublime 50-yard pass from Huddlestone to set up Bent who notched up another pre-season goal.

Again, I'm not going to dissect the team and players performance. Its a friendly. Yes, its partly competitive but its still a friendly.

Though special mention to Cerny in goal who looked very comfortable and saved a spot-kick twice, before the rather daft ref asked for it to be taken a 3rd time (no stopping it). His movement looked perfectly legal to me. Strange decision but inconsequential.

General Round-Up

Berbatov

Remains a class act. Some quotes from a recent interview:

“Look, last summer when Spurs told me they were willing to pay £11m for me, I asked them if they were off their heads. Now the word seems to be that my value is £40m and that’s simply an abnormal sum of money.”

“With regards to the whole Manchester United business, I just have to say that I’m very happy at Spurs. Even more importantly, I recognise that Tottenham has given me everything in order to make my time in the Premier League a success and I feel stupendously grateful to them. So I’m happy where I am.”

“The atmosphere at Tottenham right now is absolutely unbeatable.”

“The fact I feel adored by the fans and I’m feted by the media hasn’t changed me and it will not do so. I’m the same guy. I rest and lead a simple life off the pitch"

How wonderfully beautiful it is to see a player with such modesty and eloquent class. And a player who appears set to remain at Spurs, rather than take the easy route out to a 'Top 4' club. The rest of the players have to focus the same way he does with each game and challenge. Anything less is an insult IMO.

Spurs beat St.Pats 1-0

Kaboul looked good. Bale didnt. Bent scored. Taarbat looking lively again. Thats it. I can't be arsed with friendly games. Get the players fit, get the new players to fit into the system. And thats it.

Transfer Rumours

No word on Boateng. Though historically, Spurs take 120% longer than any other club to sign a player.

I've noticed we have been linked to Freddy Adu, who was previously linked with Wigan. Not sure about signing this 36 year old MLS reject. Yes, he has wonderful wonderful stats in FM2007, but the reality is far less exciting. He's American.

Bent scores on debut

A 3-1 away win at the mighty Stevenage, included a Darren Bent goal. No content for this blog other than the below picture (taken from Tottenhamhotspur.com) that includes a rather dapper looking Sopranoesque Martin Jol. I don't take note of friendlies, unless a player gets injured, which usually results in a shit-in-the-box being sent to the club on account of risking big players in small games. Apparently its 'illegal' and 'disturbing' to have such packages delivered to the training ground or the manager or chairman's home. Its 1984 all over, just without the UEFA Cup

Dapper Jol and some randoms