Footy Mental

First team at the training ground – Pictures

Jon — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:13:16 +0000

Check our our exclusive gallery of images from London Colney

Birmingham City: Twitter pays tribute to Nathan Redmond

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:16:00 +0000

After Nathan Redmond’s sensational late winner against Portsmouth, Twitter was quick to lavish the youngster with praise.

Blues To Face Blackpool

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:10:29 +0000

Everton will play Blackpool in the FA Cup 5th Round after the Seasiders overcame Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 on Tuesday night.A replay was required after the sides drew 1-1 at Bloomfield Road in the initi…

Blackpool match rearranged

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:45:00 +0000

West Ham United’s match with Blackpool will now take place on Tuesday 21 February

Amos aims to realise dream

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Keeper Ben has the belief and ambition to build on his first Barclays Premier League game last week.

Amos aims to realise dream

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Keeper Ben has the belief and ambition to build on his first Barclays Premier League game last week.

Stoke City lose appeal over defender Robert Huth’s red card

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:14:13 +0000

Stoke City lose their appeal to the Football Association over Robert Huth’s red card against Sunderland.

Peterborough United to sign Fulham’s Matthew Briggs

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:46:32 +0000

Peterborough United agree to sign Fulham defender Matthew Briggs on a one-month loan deal.

Peterborough United to sign Fulham’s Matthew Briggs

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:46:32 +0000

Peterborough United agree to sign Fulham defender Matthew Briggs on a one-month loan deal.

Behind the scenes: Edin Dzeko

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Our popular Bosnian striker in focus.

Monthly awards – January

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:48:00 +0000

As always, we’ll take votes from your emails via here on Xtra, our official fan page on Facebook – where there is a poll set-up for Goal of the Month – and @SpursOfficial on Twitter.

GOAL OF THE MONTH CONTENDERS

We’ve kept it simple for January – it’s a two-horse race between two cracking goals.

A – Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s 30-yard thunderbolt against Everton at White Hart Lane on January 11. Vote for Benni’s goal via email by CLICKING HERE…

B – Gareth Bale’s fine curler into the top corner from 25 yards at Manchester City on January 22. Vote for Gareth’s goal via email by CLICKING HERE…

PLAYER OF THE MONTH

It was another excellent month with wins against West Brom, Everton and Wigan in the Premier League, Cheltenham and Watford in the FA Cup. We also drew against Wolves and lost that memorable encounter at City.

There are plenty of contenders for Player of the Month and it’s an open vote, so have your say via email by CLICKING HERE…

Suarez makes return but Liverpool continue to misfire

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:05:56 +0000

At Anfield Harry Redknapp could not make it but Fabio Capello did. Luis Suarez, the man all Liverpool supporters came to see, arrived late but still had enough time for another brush with authority and headlines. The stories and sub-plots…

PAT NEVIN: SWEET AND SOUR

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

After a game like the one at the weekend, there is no shortage of food for thought for former Chelsea star Pat Nevin to sink his teeth into in this week’s column…

Liverpool 0-0 Spurs – Lads earn point at Anfield

Jon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:13:00 +0000

They are not the words that would first spring to mind when describing this excellent season in the Premier League, but the characteristics needed on a night like this.

Led by another stand-out display from Scott Parker, the team stood firm as Liverpool, willed on by the noisy Kop, got on top in the latter stages.

Liverpool had chances – notably when Andy Carroll lashed over and Luiz Suarez headed straight at Brad Friedel – but we could have grabbed all three points five minutes from time.

Niko Kranjcar picked out Gareth Bale’s run and as the home side looked for a flag, the Welsh flyer sprinted clear. Pepe Reina stood between him and another famous goal but the goalkeeper won this duel, saving low to his left.

A point was more than satisfactory though as we made it just two defeats in our last 22 matches in the Premier League, maintaining third place.

The team saw two changes from the win against Wigan with Dawson back for the injured Younes Kaboul and Jake Livermore in for Rafa van der Vaart.

Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Sandro and William Gallas were also out of action.

Chances were at a premium in the first half.

Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy hit free-kicks into the wall and Kranjcar tested Reina from 25 yards.

There were two quickfire chances for both teams in the final five minutes of the half.

Friedel turned away Johnson’s inswinging cross and then blocked the same player’s 20-yarder with his feet.

In-between, Bale did well to turn Kyle Walker’s cross on target and the full-back then burst between Johnson and Bellamy, but his shot was deflected wide.

The second half followed a similar pattern before really taking off on the hour.

Friedel was at full stretch to palm away Martin Kelly’s piledriver before Carroll met Gerrard’s corner but could only head straight at Friedel.

Suarez was soon into the fray, lifting the noise levels up a decible.

Bale, popping up all over the pitch, fired a snapshot? wide in the 72nd minute and then another chance for Carroll, his best, as Skrtel failed to connect with Kelly’s cross, the striker controlled but lashed over from 10 yards.

Bale’s chance followed with five minutes left and we were almost left to rue it three minutes from time. The script was written for Suarez, who met Gerrard’s free-kick 10 yards out – but headed straight at Friedel.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Reina; Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Kelly; Adam, Gerrard, Spearing; Bellamy (Downing, 73), Carroll, Kuyt (Suarez, 66). Unused subs – Doni, Aurelio, Carragher, Coates, Henderson.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Friedel; Walker, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto; Livermore, Parker; Kranjcar (Rose, 87), Modric, Bale; Adebayor (Saha, 72). Unused subs – Cudicini, Khumalo, Nelsen, Luongo, Lancaster.

Attendance: 44,461.

Referee: Mr M Oliver.

Player: Talking Tactics with Stewart Robson

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:12:19 +0000

Weekly feature continues with analysis of the Blackburn game

Suarez return ‘fantastic’ for Liverpool – Kenny Dalglish

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:53:29 +0000

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says he is “delighted” to see the return of Luis Suarez after he served an eight-game suspension and the Uruguayan “should never have been away”.

Arsenal’s on-loan Wolves midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong out for season

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:24:28 +0000

On-loan Wolves midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong returns to Arsenal after being ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Exclusive Etihad discounts for City fans this month

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:23:00 +0000

As proud partner of Manchester City FC, Etihad Airways is delighted to offer all City fans the lowest guaranteed fares on all flights booked during February.

Your chance to quiz Maynard

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Nicky Maynard will be taking part in an exclusive Facebook interview this week

Stoke City lodge appeal against Robert Huth’s red card

Jon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:08:03 +0000

Stoke City lodge an appeal against defender Robert Huth’s red card in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League home defeat by Sunderland.