Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Level: Professional/20 minutes/-1 Game Speed
Mid Season Standings
Arsenal 45
Chelsea 39
Villa 32
Fulham 32
Spurs are locking down the 9th position in the table with 27 points after closing out the first half with 3 straight wins in league play. The last being a come from behind win at Man City on Keane's 87th minute goal to defeat City 2-1.
EPL first half season wrap up
The Spurs started the 2010campaign slowly dropping their first three EPL matches to Stoke City, Wigan, and Liverpool.
After the 0-3 start the Spurs shocked Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. A 3-0 win at Blackpool followed and a third straight win in league play over Bolton had the Spurs poised for a good run for the remainder of the first half.
Defoe Injury
The optimism was short lived however when potent ST Jermaine Defoe went to the sidelines for the next four weeks with an injury. The lack of speed and finishing up front led to shut out losses at Sunderland and to hated rival Arsenal.
Defoe back for Chelsea
The timing could not have been better for the return of Jermain Defoe. After the loss to Arsenal the Spurs used the week off to get healthy before a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
With the match tied at 1 in the 81st minute Defoe took a pass from Crouch on the left side of the box and finessed a shot to the top right corner for the game winner.
The Spurs then defeated West Ham, lost 2-0 at Everton, and drew with Newcastle at St. James Park 0-0.
The final home match of the first half of the season saw West Bromwich Albion take a 2-0 lead inside of the first 20 minutes.
With the White Hart Lane crowd stunned in disbelief Robbie Keane answered just before halftime to make the score 2-1 at the break.
Keane didn't waste time in the second half and tied the game in the 50th minute.
Rafael Van De Vaart finally showed his worth by scoring 2 goals in 4 minutes to put the Spurs ahead 4-2. They would win the game 4-3.
UEFA Champions League
Tottenham's road to the European Championship had them qualifying with a 2 leg tie against Dynamo Kiev.
After a shocking draw at White Hart Line in the first leg the Spurs rallied to tie the game at 2 and advance to the Group stage on away goals.
The draw was not friendly to the North London side as they were entered in a group with European powerhouses AC Milan and Real Madrid. AJ Auxerre from Ligue 1 rounded out the group.
Results
Spurs 1 Auxerre 0
Real Madrid 1 Spurs 0
Spurs 3 AC Milan 2
AC Milan 2 Spurs 0
Auxerre 1 Spurs 0
Real Madrid 3 Spurs 0
Spirits were low for the Spurs after the 1-0 loss at Auxerre on a controversial penalty. The loss all but guaranteed that the Spurs would not advance to the knockout stage.
The final 16 for the UEFA Champions League title.
Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Shaktar Donetsk, Valencia, Olympiacos, Lyon, Copenhagen, Marseille, Sevilla, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.
By securing 3rd place in the group stage the Spurs advance to the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup to face Italian Serie A side Palermo.
Transfer News
The Winter Transfer market saw many key players moving on from their current teams.
The biggest signings had Barcelona sending Carlos Puyol to Manchester United, FC Porto acquiring Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, and Sevilla signing Pique from Barcelona
Bayern Munich also very active in the winter transfer market secured the services of 95 overall rated CB Vandebuurd. At 20 years of age he will provide Bayern with solid defense for many years.
Bayern Munich wasn't finished however as they brought in long time Juventus striker and free kick specialist Alessandro Del Piero. Juventus countered that move by signing German World Cup hero Klose.
FC Porto was not finished after the Fabregas signing as they aggressively pursued and signed Lassana Diarra from Real Madrid, and Louis Saha.
Liverpool signed Ashley Cole
Lille signed Michael Owen
Lyon signed Adrian Mutu
Roma signed Darren Bent
Arsenal signed Julio Baptista
Athletico Madrid signed Pipo Inzaghi
Real Madrid signed Fabio Grosso and Flourent Malouda
Although the Spurs were very active in the market there were no significant signings. The most disappointing news came when Ashley Cole opted for Anfield instead of White Hart Lane. A significant change indeed for the long time Chelsea LB.
The transfer market saw the departure for several players on Tottenham
Kranjcar-AC Milan
Crouch-Sampdoria
Bassong-Celtic
Kaboul-FC Twente
Promising young defender Naughton was moved to Athletico Madrid on a 6 month loan.
The Spurs also received offers from multiple clubs for the services of William Gallas, Gareth Bale, and Rafael VanDeVaart. All negotiations were promptly shut down for those players.
We will continue to try acquire top level talent. Negotiations have been unsuccessful this year for the following players:
Van Persie
Cambiasso
Kompany
Ashley Cole
Srna
Maggio
Essien
Currently Scouting
David Silva/Manchester City
Gourcuff/Lyon
Kaka/Madrid
Vermaelen/Arsenal
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Level: Professional/20 minutes/-1 Game Speed
Mid Season Standings
Arsenal 45
Chelsea 39
Villa 32
Fulham 32
Spurs are locking down the 9th position in the table with 27 points after closing out the first half with 3 straight wins in league play. The last being a come from behind win at Man City on Keane's 87th minute goal to defeat City 2-1.
EPL first half season wrap up
The Spurs started the 2010campaign slowly dropping their first three EPL matches to Stoke City, Wigan, and Liverpool.
After the 0-3 start the Spurs shocked Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. A 3-0 win at Blackpool followed and a third straight win in league play over Bolton had the Spurs poised for a good run for the remainder of the first half.
Defoe Injury
The optimism was short lived however when potent ST Jermaine Defoe went to the sidelines for the next four weeks with an injury. The lack of speed and finishing up front led to shut out losses at Sunderland and to hated rival Arsenal.
Defoe back for Chelsea
The timing could not have been better for the return of Jermain Defoe. After the loss to Arsenal the Spurs used the week off to get healthy before a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
With the match tied at 1 in the 81st minute Defoe took a pass from Crouch on the left side of the box and finessed a shot to the top right corner for the game winner.
The Spurs then defeated West Ham, lost 2-0 at Everton, and drew with Newcastle at St. James Park 0-0.
The final home match of the first half of the season saw West Bromwich Albion take a 2-0 lead inside of the first 20 minutes.
With the White Hart Lane crowd stunned in disbelief Robbie Keane answered just before halftime to make the score 2-1 at the break.
Keane didn't waste time in the second half and tied the game in the 50th minute.
Rafael Van De Vaart finally showed his worth by scoring 2 goals in 4 minutes to put the Spurs ahead 4-2. They would win the game 4-3.
UEFA Champions League
Tottenham's road to the European Championship had them qualifying with a 2 leg tie against Dynamo Kiev.
After a shocking draw at White Hart Line in the first leg the Spurs rallied to tie the game at 2 and advance to the Group stage on away goals.
The draw was not friendly to the North London side as they were entered in a group with European powerhouses AC Milan and Real Madrid. AJ Auxerre from Ligue 1 rounded out the group.
Results
Spurs 1 Auxerre 0
Real Madrid 1 Spurs 0
Spurs 3 AC Milan 2
AC Milan 2 Spurs 0
Auxerre 1 Spurs 0
Real Madrid 3 Spurs 0
Spirits were low for the Spurs after the 1-0 loss at Auxerre on a controversial penalty. The loss all but guaranteed that the Spurs would not advance to the knockout stage.
The final 16 for the UEFA Champions League title.
Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Shaktar Donetsk, Valencia, Olympiacos, Lyon, Copenhagen, Marseille, Sevilla, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.
By securing 3rd place in the group stage the Spurs advance to the Round of 32 in the UEFA Cup to face Italian Serie A side Palermo.
Transfer News
The Winter Transfer market saw many key players moving on from their current teams.
The biggest signings had Barcelona sending Carlos Puyol to Manchester United, FC Porto acquiring Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, and Sevilla signing Pique from Barcelona
Bayern Munich also very active in the winter transfer market secured the services of 95 overall rated CB Vandebuurd. At 20 years of age he will provide Bayern with solid defense for many years.
Bayern Munich wasn't finished however as they brought in long time Juventus striker and free kick specialist Alessandro Del Piero. Juventus countered that move by signing German World Cup hero Klose.
FC Porto was not finished after the Fabregas signing as they aggressively pursued and signed Lassana Diarra from Real Madrid, and Louis Saha.
Liverpool signed Ashley Cole
Lille signed Michael Owen
Lyon signed Adrian Mutu
Roma signed Darren Bent
Arsenal signed Julio Baptista
Athletico Madrid signed Pipo Inzaghi
Real Madrid signed Fabio Grosso and Flourent Malouda
Although the Spurs were very active in the market there were no significant signings. The most disappointing news came when Ashley Cole opted for Anfield instead of White Hart Lane. A significant change indeed for the long time Chelsea LB.
The transfer market saw the departure for several players on Tottenham
Kranjcar-AC Milan
Crouch-Sampdoria
Bassong-Celtic
Kaboul-FC Twente
Promising young defender Naughton was moved to Athletico Madrid on a 6 month loan.
The Spurs also received offers from multiple clubs for the services of William Gallas, Gareth Bale, and Rafael VanDeVaart. All negotiations were promptly shut down for those players.
We will continue to try acquire top level talent. Negotiations have been unsuccessful this year for the following players:
Van Persie
Cambiasso
Kompany
Ashley Cole
Srna
Maggio
Essien
Currently Scouting
David Silva/Manchester City
Gourcuff/Lyon
Kaka/Madrid
Vermaelen/Arsenal
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