After Sunday’s disappointment - with Tottenham missing out on the last Champions League spot - boss Andre Villas-Boas has been told he will given major backing in the summer transfer window.
Villas-Boas, frustrated on previous occasions to sign Joao Moutinho, will make the Porto star his main target with a host of other names on the manager’s wishlist.
For this rumor and the rest of today’s transfer gossip, click here.
Photo: Action Images
By Jamie Trecker
LONDON, ENGLAND
Last night Gareth Bale completed his sweep of the awards circuit by collecting the Football Writer’s Player of the Year Award here at a posh hotel off Kensington Gardens. It is the most prestigious of the awards, and a throwback to the days when the relationship between the media and the players was very different than it is today.
It is one of the few times of the year that the people who play the game and the people who cover it get together and act chummy. Most of it’s off the record, a lot of it is fueled by alcohol. In years past the, the gala was notorious for its punch-ups and the sheer volume of hangovers it could produce. It’s a very English event: several hundred unwashed scribes poured into the cleanest possible suits, all with exactly the same rep tie. The aim is not to stand out (advice ignored by the American, who was put into his suit by his partner and foolishly wore a bow tie) to avoid embarrassment and then get pissed.
There’s lots of back-slapping. Glasses of lager are sloshed, and it’s a badge of honor to get the next round. If you’re unwary, you can end up holding six pints inside five minutes. The players and managers walk about freely. Rafa Benitez was eagerly explaining, well, something, to anyone in earshot. Andre Villas-Boas was extremely polite. I ended in the urinal next to Roy Hodgson.
Gareth Bale has filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark the heart-shaped hand gesture that he throws up to the camera after pretty much every single goal he scores.
It seems clear that Bale will try to put the logo on merchandise for fans to snatch up (the application mentions jewelry, leather goods and clothing).
One thing we’d like to know: What if Bale screws up his own trademark in the heat of the moment? Does the placement of the other fingers matter? That would be embarrassing.
And perhaps we’re reading into this too much, but the “11” in the middle means Bale won’t want to change his kit number. Maybe it’s a signal he isn’t planning on leaving Tottenham any time soon — a change in club often means a change in number.
Well, unless it’s to Real Madrid. Number 11 is held by Ricardo Carvalho. His contract is up this summer…
Manchester United is keen to flex its muscles in the transfer market, with Sir Alex Ferguson setting his sights on newly crowned PFA Player of the Year - Gareth Bale. Fergie missed out on signing the winger when he moved from Southampton to Spurs - will he miss out for a second time? For more rumors about this and Jose Mourinho’s future click here.
Real Madrid are targeting a £50 Million swoop for Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and their manager Andre Villas-Boas.
For this rumor and the rest of today’s transfer gossip, click here.
Kick It Around with the Match Day gang! The crew talks Bale, Europa League and much, much more.
Gareth Bale’s superb strike earned Tottenham victory over 10-man West Brom at the Hawthorns - and closed the gap to third-placed Chelsea to one point in the Barclays Premier League.
The Wales international struck his 11th league goal of the campaign mid-way through the second half to end a run of three successive draws for Andre Villas-Boas’ team.
Albion played the final 42 minutes with 10 men after defender Goran Popov was sent off for spitting in the direction of Spurs defender Kyle Walker.
To read the full match report click here.
Now that’s when you dive! Check out Gareth Bale taking a turn as goalkeeper during a Spurs training session this last week. Quite a save out of the young winger!
If you’re a fan of Man vs. Food, you know Adam Richman can take in pretty much anything and everything without the bat of an eyelash.
What you may not know about the Food Network star is that he’s an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, so passionate in fact, that he broke down and cried when visiting White Hart Lane for the first time (around 1:30 mark)!
This video of Tottenham Hotspur players performing an a cappella version of “Stand By Me” was recently brought to our attention. It may be from last year, but it’s still a gem. And if we’re being honest, these guys are actually quite good.
And now that the Spurs have added Clint Dempsey to their roster, one can only imagine the possibilities. If you don’t already know, the American — also known as ‘Deuce’ — dabbles in rapping from time to time. In case you’ve somehow never seen it, here’s “Don’t Tread,” from way back in 2006. And even if you have watched it before, you know it’s worth another look:
Now, with their powers combined, what can Tottenham and Deuce come up with? We wait anxiously for the next behind-the-scenes karaoke video from Spurs.
