Tottenham free up money for new players
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino tried to remain calm as his side lost their third match in a week. When Leicester City’s James Maddision fired in the winner at the weekend, I could see Pochettino’s shoulders drop because he knew that even Leicester are now above Spurs in the league table and his side are eighth and already ten points behind leaders Liverpool. More humiliation followed after being beaten by Colchester in the Carabao Cup - a team three divisions lower than Spurs! I have also been told that all is not well in the dressing room with players arguing amongst themselves, blaming each other and dividing into two camps. Combine that disharmony with news which reached me this week that Real Madrid are going to ask Christian Eriksen to sign a pre-contract stating that he would join them when he becomes available for free next summer. To make matters even worse, the Spanish giants might sack manager Zinedine Zidan and move for Mauricio Pochettino despite his contract which runs until 2023. Last week I wrote and told you of the philosophy behind Spurs not buying any new players because of their investment in the new stateof-art White Hart Lane stadium. Following the 2-1 loss to Leicester and previously surrendering a two goal lead to Greek side Olympiacos in the Champions League, Pochettino was reflecting that he got three new players during the summer, Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessognon and loan signing Giovani Lo Celso but he had actually asked for six new signings. Because of Pochettino’s disappointment and Spurs poor start to the season, Chief Executive Daniel Levy has told his manager that he will have money to spend on new talent when the January transfer window opens. The new stadium cost a staggering £1.2billion and Spurs borrowed £637million to pay for it. However, Levy met with American investors this week and has renegotiated the loan by turning it into bonds which raised £525m.
Crisis never seems far away from Manchester United these days and despite manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s impressive start to his career at Old Trafford everything seems to be turning against him. Since the epic 3-1 win against PSG in the Champions League, Solkjaer’s managerial record reads win 5, draw 4 and losses 10. And in the Premier League this season the record is W4, D4, L7 which are almost relegation figures. In the 2-0 loss to West Ham the Hammer’s fans were singing at Solskjaer “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and a Twitter video went viral as someone spotted United defender Phil Jones in the executive box and he appeared to be muttering those words himself ! United Executive Chairman Ed Woodward was furious, turned around and glared at Jones and appeared to shout, “Stop! We’re on camera.”
Over the last 12 years Phil Jagielka has been an excellent servant to Everton. He made 385 appearances and scored 19 goals from the full back position. Together with Leighton Baines they were probably the best full back partnership in the league for some years. On his last day at the club he could not face going to the training ground to empty his locker. He rang the Everton staff kitman and asked him to collect up his boots and training kit and to meet him at the ground entrance. The kitman, Tony Sage, met Phil as arranged and handed over a big black rubbish bin bag stuffed with his playing kit and personal possessions. For 37 year-old Jagielka it was a sad way to leave a club where he had been a hero but at his age he was lucky that Premier League side Sheffield United signed him and last Saturday, by a strange coincidence, it was Everton who were playing his new team at Goodison Park. When Jagielka ran onto the pitch Everton fans erupted in applause as they clapped a true giant of the club. Sheffield United are in fact the team that Jagielka supported as a boy and were always his first love and what happened? The record books will always record that Sheffield won 2-0 so Phil came home a winner and was cheered by both sets of fans.
It is amazing how older retired players can influence the cream of the young talent if they join the training staff after hanging up their playing boots. Arsenal’s new teen sensation Bukayo Saka is currently following all the advice that Gunner’s legend Freddie Ljungberg can give him. Saka who is only18 years-old, was introduced to the first team in the Europa League win over German side Eintracht Frankfurt and he scored and provided two assists. Immediately the game had finished Bukayo phoned his father and told him it is all down to Ljunberg’s help. He said, “The advice and information that Freddie gives to me is vital because he played in the same position as me. He helps me a lot every day. He also told me to always remember to stay humble even when I do some amazing things on the pitch and in training. He keeps me working hard and he has been with me since I was 15 and I believe he has made me what I am. He also helps me communicate better with the manager because his English language is easier for me to understand.”
Playing under manager Claude Puel, Leicester striker Jamie Vardy struggled. Last year he went to the World Cup with England but preference was given to Harry Kane and Vardy started only once. Because of that he withdrew from playing international football to concentrate on his Leicester career. Under new manager Brendan Rogers he is thriving and with the Baggies third in the table the Leicester fans daring to believe they can give the big teams in the Premier League tough competition. Rogers said this week, “I wouldn’t swap Jamie. I don’t think there is any doubt he is up there with Harry Kane. I wouldn’t say Kane is any better than Jamie. They are just different types with different qualities. Jamie provides a different threat and different penetration. His pace is frightening and he is a joy to work with. His hunger and appetite for goals is incredible and his speed can stretch any defence in the world. He is incredible at pressing forward and his reading the game is remarkable because he is very tactically aware. I am lucky to have such a high quality player.” In 2015 Vardy’s speed was tested on a machine and again this year. At 32 years of age he is quicker now than
four years ago! of