By Ryan Fleming
Their moves back to the Premier League are more than to keep their fitness up. Their moves now pin supporters’ hopes on the backs of these once greats. Theirry Henry and Robbie Keane are in their own respects, two different players with more things in common than one would think.
By Ryan Fleming
There’s been a lot said already in the days that have passed since Robbie Keane’s move to LA Galaxy became official. There have been words of malice spewed at him from every angle.
Claims that the Ireland international has taken the easy way out, that he simply plays for money and not the love of the game, and has come to America where we are a “universe where football is nothing,” is a choice that Keane made simply for his benefit.
I say, obviously.
By Ryan Fleming
Obviously it isn’t true. Each team wants to win each game, be the best in its division and play in Europe next season. It’s pretty simple. What’s also just as easy, is watching Tottenham and Arsenal and how they both seemingly don’t want to do well. Of course, both of the North London clubs have aspirations to succeed and it has shown earlier this year (ie: Totts’ run in the Champions League and Arsenal’s impressive Dec/Jan run).
As of late, though, acting like their in cahoots, both clubs are playing down to to their competition, refusing to be the bullies, and instead getting picked on themselves. Arsenal’s downfall is basically lack of experience and, at least in my eyes, a definite lack of motivation and emotion. In the Gunners’ case, at least their manager owed up to the club’s seemingly two-month downfall.
By Michael King
Effectively, Tottenham’s Champions League hopes have ended; for both this year and next. The Spurs gambled on making a deep run in the competition would out-weigh failure to qualify for next year’s tournament via a Top 4 English Premier League finish.
And now they have little to show for it.
It’s perhaps unfair to argue this position with the ability of hindsight in light of Tuesday’s dreadful performance against Real Madrid. The 4-0 loss in Spain during the first quarterfinal leg puts the London team in an insurmountable hole. Overcoming a four-goal deficit on aggregate is beyond the capability of this team, especially given its most recent performances.
This was not the same Tottenham team that twice appeared the better side against Inter Milan in the CL group stages and defeated AC Milan last month in Italy.
Harry Redknapp has Tottenham challenging for its first European Cup since the Spur's won the 1984 UEFA Cup. Tottenham advanced in the Champions League after beating Serie A side AC Milan. (Courtesy Wikicommons)
By Ryan Fleming
If you’re an Arsenal fan you have to grimace, knowing all in well that the team you utterly despise more than all, Tottenham, has advanced farther than you in the Champions League. Not only do you have to be sadden, even frustrated, you have to be utterly embarrassed.
It might be a strong word to use, but for a team that wasn’t supposed to advance past the qualifying stages in the first place, to move to the next round while you sit at home has to be rather, well, embarrassing. Sure, you can point to the absolute fact that you had to face a harder opponent and one that is up for the “World’s Best Club Team Ever” award. But in Spurs’ perspective, you didn’t and they did.
Much of the plaudits have to be toward Peter Crouch (despite his silly play that certainly cost Spurs a goal on Wednesday). Crouch, like every team knows, when on the field is the focus of attention, yes, even more so than the spiky-haired Gareth Bale. The lanky, often seemingly unathetlic-looking forward, scored the lone Tottenham goal that saw them off to the next round. One goal you say? Where’s the credit for the Spurs defense? I was getting to that.
Robbie Keane will join West Ham on laon until the end of the season with an option for a permanent move. The Ireland international is trying to save his career. (Courtesy Oliver Mallich)
By Ryan Fleming
The downfall of Robbie Keane shouldn’t be a topic to write about, discuss or even mention in any pub, street or avenue. It never should have happened. Plain and simple. For such a talent to end up with almost zero playing time while being threatened to lose its place in the national team is disgraceful.
The story of Robbie Keane is one that has gone terribly wrong.
It is hard to exactly pinpoint the downfall of such a skilled and entertaining player and see where the wheels stopped turning. Currently, Keane is moving from one part of London to another for the rest of the season and maybe more if he can help them stave off relegation. If Keane can’t save the Hammers, he will have to move back to Tottenham, a club he truly doesn’t belong to anymore.
Jack Wilshere (right) believes Arsenal can catch Manchester United at the top of the English Premier League. If the Gunners are to catch the Red Devils, the team will need Andrei Arshaven (left) to step up. (Courtesy Jonathan Ross)
By Ryan Fleming
It’s been a while since I thought a handful of teams were actually capable of pushing by the often-fortuitous Manchester United or the pesky Chelsea to reach the top of the English Premier League. This season it all seems to be rather perplexing. The Red Devils are currently in the top spot, but with Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and the loose-spending Manchester City all struggling to maintain momentum through any part of the season, the league’s title might just go to the team that screws up the least.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere told The Guardian that he believes United can be caught and his club can surpass them. I’ll go along with the youngster’s statement. After watching countless United games and being absolutely unimpressed with almost all of them, one has to wonder why the Red Devils are in first place to begin with.
Yes, they lead the league in goals scored and are second in goals allowed, but if not aided by the timely, yet completely random out burst of Dimitar Berbatov’s five-goal effort at the hands of Blackburn back on Nov. 27th, the Red Devils would be back closer to the rest of the league. Their performance as of late is of a mind-changing manner. Despite going 2-0-1 in their last three games, United have seemed rather lethargic and have made a rarity of awe-inspiring wins – often playing down to their competition.
David Beckham said he would never play for any other English Premier League other than Manchester United when he left for Real Madrid. It looks like he may going back on that word as Tottenham's manager Harry Redknapp claims loan talks with Beckham are in advance stages and the former Red Devil could join Spurs sooner rather than later on loan. (Courtesy Ramsey Mohsen)
By Ryan Fleming
Just the other day the infamous David Beckham was linked to not AC Milan, the Serie A giant that Becks has spent a brief time the last couple years, but with English Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur.
Now, if you thought similar to how I did, then you would have found this as a complete surprise. Not as surprising or rather absurd as the recent link of Spurs midfielder Luka Modric to Chelsea, but alarming nonetheless.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told the media that Becks will act as a sort of mentor for younger players, more specifically Aaron Lennon. I’ll go along with the idea that the former Manchester United midfielder could show the pacey, but often wasteful Lennon a thing or two, but for what Becks demands (at least £100,000 a week), is it really worth it?
For one thing, I cannot see the England international getting the playing time that would be truly beneficial to him and the club which he belongs, the LA Galaxy. Loan moves are often to develop a younger player attributes, or to give a player an opportunity for more playing time that he wouldn’t necessarily receive at the club to which loaned him. For Becks, the move to North London couldn’t be called beneficial, but more silly, perhaps more like a rainy holiday away from the sun and warmth of Los Angeles.
Samir Nasri has been on top form in the last few weeks for Arsenal. The Frenchman will need to keep up his current form if Arsenal wants to beat Manchester United tomorrow. (Courtesy Ronnie Macdonlad)
By Jonathan Gold
Arsenal may not win the league, but the United game won’t tell us either way
I’ll admit it, it still makes me grin a little bit each time I think about the fact that Arsenal lead the English Premier League. That happiness is tarnished only a little, however, to know that by the time most of you read this, they might not be any more.
There’s a certain sense of fatalism among Arsenal fans when Manchester United comes to London. While Fergie’s mob haven’t had it all their own way, there haven’t been too many occasions in recent seasons for wild celebrating among the Gooner faithful.
Given how evenly matched the teams are on paper, it’s difficult not to come away with the impression there’s just a little bit more steel and composure about Ferguson’s teams, which frequently shades the fact that Arsenal is a bit more talented most of the time. It’s still awfully close, of course. Age probably has something to do with it.
Jermaine Defoe came off of Tottenham's bench after Rafael Van der Vaart picked up in an injury in the 11th minute. Defoe has been moved to the bench since the arrival of the Dutchman, strenghthening the Spurs bench. (Courtesy Darren Walters)
By Ryan Fleming
Even when not at their best, they continue to find ways to win, putting the struggles in the match behind them. Essentially, Tottenham Hotspur always look forward.
When Rafael Van Der Vaart left Sunday’s 2-1 win over Liverpool in the 11th minute, the Spurs lost a real talent. Since the Dutchman’s arrival at White Hart Lane, the midfielder rose to the platform of one of Spurs’ best players, some say the best. Instead of panicking, Tottenham, along with Van Der Vaart’s substitute Jermain Defoe, continued to press deep into the Liverpool showing their opposition that even without one of their best players, they still field a quality side.
Only 25 minutes later Younes Kaboul picked up a knock and was substituted off for Sebastien Bassong. Last weekend’s hero, Kaboul gave Spurs the go-ahead goal, completing a miracle, two-goal comeback in the season’s first North London Derby with Arsenal at the Emirates.
