This article will appear on the next issue of "The Cockerel"

VIEW FROM THE PARK LANE... by Mark Mizzi

Deflated is an understatement. I am penning this piece the day after our first defeat of the season which came against champions Manchester United and I am not in the happiest of moods.

A series of 5 wins out of five in all competitions came to a shuddering halt at the Lane as the Red Devils came from behind to beat us 3-1 even though they had Paul Scholes sent off in the second half.

By the time you read this we will have also played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and that is definitely going to be another tough test. Stamford Bridge is not the happiest of hunting grounds for us and Chelsea are really on song at the moment. If you ask me, Ancelotti's side is even more difficult to beat than Manchester United.

But back to the Manchester United game. Was it that bad? A defeat is a defeat and there is nothing good about it. But should we panic? I don't think so. We started the game on a high and that Defoe opener will be contender for goal of the month, if not the season.

If there was a bad thing about that goal it was that it came too early. Manchester United being Manchester United, they clawed their way back into the game and equalised trough a marvelous Ryan Giggs freekick.

A half clearance from our defence found its way to Anderson's feet and he fired a rasping shot which beat Cudicini. I think the Italian goalkeeper did not have a good view of the ball and I am convinced that had his sight not been obstructed, he would have saved it.

At 2-1 down we did come back into the game and Jenas coming on for Palacios gave us a new thrust. Ben Foster performed a top notch save on Jermaine while Crouchy was denied by the cross bar. At that point Manchester United were with 10 men but, as so often happens, this made it more difficult for us to find a way through their crowded defence.

Their third goal was no surprise really. With Spurs desperately searching for an equaliser and our defence exposed, the ground for Rooney to score one of his trademark goals was fertile.

Put this way it does not seem that bad does it? But it does not mean that there are no problems to be addressed. Losing the flair and creativity of Luka Modric is one of them. But we cannot do anything about that except pray for a quick recovery.

The Manchester United game also showed that, despite all the talk of a big squad and strength in depth, we are very dependent on one player and I am not referring to Modric. This player is Wilson Palacios. Against Manchester United he was a shadow of his usual self. Maybe his travels to fulfill his international commitments with Honduras had something to do with it but the fact is that the midfield battle was lost.

On the other hand Tom Huddlestone is one of our most skilful players but everybody knows he is not fast. Yes he has made great progress under Harry's guidance but he is still not up there and he was found out against Sir Alex's boys.

Hindsight is a commodity Harry did not enjoy before the game. But I think if this game made one thing clear it was that Keane is not a winger. Maybe he can fill in there against mid-to-bottom teams but surely not against the top four.

Maybe Harry's plan was for Keane to help the midfield and attack with Ekotto covering the wing. But this was Manchester United and every time Keane left the wing Ekotto was exposed. Keane ended up uncertain of what to do and slowly but surely became anonymous.

With Crouch in attack I think Modric's role should have been given to a proper winger. Maybe David Bentley should have been given the chance to claw himself back into Harry’s reckoning. That would have at least given us another source of creativity. In my opinion Jermaine Jenas should also have been considered for that role. Ok he is not a proper winger but neither is Keane. Jenas would have at least helped Huddlestone and Palacios against the overwhelming United midfield

Lennon was wisely cut out of the game by Fergie and that meant that we had no outlet of creativity. With Ekotto not free to attack at will, Keane ineffective, and Lennon marked by three players, it is fair to say that our opportunities ratio was reduced by 75%.

Jenas, Gomes, Dawson and Woodgate are back to full fitness now and this will give us more strength in depth. But Modric's problem is still there. For it to be solved, creativity has to be replaced by creativity. A winger should be replaced by a winger. Avoiding square pegs in round holes will go a long way towards alleviating, if not solving, the problem.

On a positive note, having successfully completed all of the pre-development conditions and preparatory works, Spurs announced that works to build a world-class facility in Enfield to house our first team, development and academy squads have started.

Let's hope that this project will prove to be another step towards returning Tottenham Hotspur FC to its' former glories.

Mark Mizzi
13 September 2009
www.spursmalta.blogspot.com
(Look out for Spurs Malta on Facebook)

Ossie Ardiles meets the President of Malta Dr George Abela

Wednesday 5 August 2009

ARDILES IN MALTA

Tottenham Hotspur Malta are proud to announce that World Cup winner, and Argentina and Tottenham Hotspur legend Osvaldo Ardiles will be in Malta in August.

On the initiative of Ms Carly Barnes and Tottenham Hotspur Malta, and with the support of Air Malta, Ramla Bay Hotel, Herbies, Jewellery and Wembley’s Car Hire Service Ardiles will be in Malta between the 3rd and 10th of August.

Ossie, as he is affectionately known by Spurs fans worldwide, won the 1978 World Cup with Argentina and became a cult hero in England, along with Glenn Hoddle and compatriot Ricardo Villa with Tottenham Hotspur.

As a youngster, Ardiles played football in the streets and was given the nickname "Pitón" (python) by his brother because of his snake-like dribbling skills. He began his professional career in Argentina with Instituto de Córdoba, playing also for Club Atlético Belgrano and Huracán.

After the 1978 World Cup he joined Tottenham where he spent four seasons.
He helped Spurs win the FA Cup in his third season (1980-81) and collaborated with pop duo Chas and Dave as well as the rest of the Tottenham players for a song - "Ossie's Dream" - in which he famously pronounced Tottenham as "Tottingham".

He played a big part in another FA Cup triumph the following year, but did not play in the final. He also helped Tottenham win the UEFA Cup in 1984, leaving shortly afterwards to sign for Paris Saint Germain in France

After just one season in Paris, he returned to Tottenham, where he stayed until 1988. In the autumn of 1987, he was caretaker manager of Tottenham between the resignation of David Pleat and the appointment of Terry Venables He then played for Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town, before being appointed as manager of Swindon Town in July 1989.

He returned to Spurs as manager between 1993 and 1994 where he famously played several matches utilizing a formation that had five forwards, a formation that hadn't been used in English football since the 1950’s.

On 7 February 2008 Ossie Ardiles, along with his fellow countryman Ricky Villa, was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame

Tottenham Hotspur Malta will be organising a number of activities for the Spurs supporters and football followers. A bar-b-q is planned for Friday 7th August at Ramla Bay Hotel while a visit to Gozo is scheduled for Saturday 8th August. On Sunday 9th August Ardiles will visit the premises of Tottenham Hotspur Malta in St. Frederick Street, Valletta to meet the Members and supporters.

A charity event will take place on Thursday 6th August. The former Spurs hero will attend the screening of the epic movie “Escape to Victory” in which he stars along with other football icons such as Pele and Bobby Moore.

All proceeds will go to Inspire Foundation

A short interview and a presentation will precede the screening. This event is being made possible through the help of KRS and Warner Brothers, Embassy Cinema Complex, Tottenham Hotspur Malta and Kick Off.

More details about the Ossie Ardiles’ visit to Malta will be published next month.

SPURS IN BARCLAYS ASIA TROPHY

Tottenham Hotspur will participate in this summer's Barclays Asia Trophy in Beijing, China, along with West Ham United, Hull City and Beijing Guoan.

The four-team knock-out tournament will take place over two match days with a final to determine the winner and a play-off to decide third place.

Spurs kick off proceedings against West Ham United on Wednesday July 29, kick off 11am (7pm Malta time), followed by Hull City against Beijing Guoan, kick off 1.30pm (9.30pm Malta time).

The winners of each fixture will contest the final on Friday, July 31, kick-off 1.30pm (9.30pm Malta time) immediately after the third and fourth play-off, kick off 11am (7pm Malta time).

All games will take place at the Workers Stadium, one of the sites used for football matches at the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Barclays Asia Trophy, which began in 2003, is held every two years in Asia and contested between three Premier League clubs and a local team from the host nation.

INTERVISTA MA' HARRY REDKNAPP

Din l-intervista ta' Mark Mizzi ma' Harry Redknapp saret wara r-rebha ta' 1-0 fuq WBA f'White Hart Lane u giet pubblikata f' L-Orizzont il-Hamis 7 ta' Mejju 2009

Fil-jiem li ghaddew attendejt ghal-loghoba tal-Premier League bejn Tottenham u West Bromich Albion f’White Hart Lane. Ma kinitx xi loghoba klassika u ecitanti. West Bromich Albion riedu l-punti biex jippruvaw jevitaw ir-relegazzjoni filwaqt li Tottenham ghadhom bic-cans li jispiccaw fis-7 post u hekk jikkwalifikaw ghall-Europa Cup li se tiehu post it-Tazza UEFA.

Izda matul id-90 minuta deher car fejn kienet l-akbar motivazzjoni. Tottenham, minkejja li rebhu b’gowl wahdani ta’ Jermaine Jenas, laqtu l-lasta u kellhom gowl imhassar ghal offside dubjuz, fl-ebda hin ma wrew xi entuzjazmu specjali.

Min naha taghhom WBA ghamlu dak kollu li setghu biex jiehdu l-punti u wiehed jista’ jghid li kienu sfortunati li ma hadu xejn mil-loghoba. Wahda mir-ragunijiet li zammet lil WBA milli jiehdu xi haga kienet bla dubju ta’ xejn il-wirja brillanti tal-gowlkiper Brazilan ta’ Tottenham Heurelho Gomes. Wara bidu inkonsisatenti u mimli paprati, dan il-gowlkiper qed juri l-potenzjal veru tieghu.

Propju ftit wara li ntemmet il-loghoba, grazzi ghall-agent tal-futbol Carly Barnes, gejt mistieden biex niltaqa’ mal-maniger ta’ Tottenham Harry Redknapp u nehodlu xi kummenti.
Mal-wasla tieghu fid-dressing-room fejn iltqajna Redknapp laqatni ghal kemm hu "approachable" u kemm hu facli titkellem mieghu. Redknapp huwa maniger li jmur tajjeb hafna mal-midja u fil-hin li ltqajt mieghu ikkonfermajt dan. Ma jiddejjaqx jitkellem, fl-ebda hin ma jtik l-impressjoni li jixtieq qieghed x’imkien iehor u kultant donnu ma jiddejjaqx jisvela affarijiet li manigers ohra jiddejqu jkitkellmu dwarhom.

Tkellimna dwar id-decizioni tieghu li jhalli lil Portsmouth biex jinghaqad ma’ Tottenham. Qabel mar Londra huwa kellu offerta minghand Newcastle li rrifjuta. Dakinhar kien qal li ma hassx li kellu jhalli lil Portsmouth anki b'rispett lejn il-plejers li hu kien ikkonvinca jiffirmaw ma' Pompey. Ma' Tottenham mexa b'mod differenti u l-offerta giet accettata.

"Tottenham huwa klabb specjali. Meta giet l-opportunita ma stajtx inhalliha tghaddi. Ghalija kien difficli hafna nhalli lil Portsmouth pero din kienet l-okkazjoni ta' hajjti...naf l-istorja tal-klabb, kont naf uhud mill-plejers...kien prattikament impossibbli nirrifjuta".

Staqsejtu jekk id-decizjoni tieghu tfissirx li ghalih Tottenham ghandom potenzjal akbar minn Newcastle. Qbilna li Newcastle huwa klabb kbir, izda ghal Redknapp, ir-risposta qieghda fil-klassifika.

"Jekk tara fejn qeghdin Tottenham illum u fejn qeghdin Newcastle, ir-risposta hija ovvja. Newcastle qeghdin f'inkwiet kbir". Redknapp jahseb li finalment ha l-ahjar decizjoni. "Irrifjutajt lil Newcastle u bqajt ma' Portsmouth fejn irbaht l-FA Cup. Imbaghad hassejt li wassalt lil Portsmouth sa fejn nista' nwassalhom. Kien wasal iz-zmien li niccaqlaq".

Min jaf kieku Redknapp ma qalx le lil Magpeis is-sitwazzjoni kinitx tkun bil-kontra?

Taht Redknapp ir-rizultati ta' Tottenham tjiebu mil-lejl ghan-nhar. Bhal f'hafna kazijiet ohra fejn kien hemm bidla fil-maniger hafna kritici ikkumentaw li l-bidla fir-rizultati kienet sempliciment rizultat tal-bidla tal-maniger infisha. Donnu l-maniger il-gdid ma jkollu ebda mertu hlief il-fatt li hu gdid. Ghamiltha cara li ma naqbilx ma’ din it-teorija u nemmen li la r-rizultati jkunu nbidlu, xi haga differenti tkun qed issir.

Redknapp qal li l-kunfidenza tilghab parti importanti hafna fl-andament tat-tim. Huwa stqarr li meta ha t-tim f'idejh sab grupp ta' plejers b'moral baxx u minghajr ebda kunfidenza fihom infushom.

Biex dahhlilhom il-fiducja fihom infushom ghamel xi haga li tista' tidher semplici u elementari. "Naf li tinstema' stupida izda hafna plejers ma kienux qed jilghabu fil-pozizzjoni taghhom. Tottenham kienu tim mimli plejers jilghabu f'pozizzjonijiet li m'humiex komdi fihom. Minhabba f'hekk qatt ma setghu ikunu kunfidenti u jaghtu l-ahjar taghhom. Tkellimt maghhom u biddilt il-pozizzjonijiet ta' certu plejers. Dawn mill-ewwwel irrispondew u r-rizultati bdew gejjin".

Redknapp qal ukoll li t-tim kien zbilancjat u hu hadem biex jirranga din il-problema. Dan il-bilanc wassal ghal aktar konsistenza u meta r-rizultati jibdew gejjin tibda gejja wkoll il-kunfidenza. "Dahhalt lil Lennon fit-tim, Modric beda jilghab ahjar u Ledley King irritorna minn injury. Meta jilghab King rari nitilfu. Sfortunatament ghandu l-problema ta' rkopptu izda meta ma laghabx emmint f'Dawson u dan irrisponda b'wirjiet kbar"

Ledley King ibati minn injuru f'irkopptu li ma thalliehx jilghab aktar minn loghoba wahda f'gimgha. Fil-fatt dan rari jittrenja u jghaddi l-granet bejn loghoba u ohra fil-pool, fis-sala tat-terapija u fil-gym. Il-mistoqsija fuq mohh kull partitarju ta' Tottenham hija jekk dan jistax jerga' lura ghan-normal.

Skond Redknapp dan mhux se jsehh. "Le. King qatt m'hu se jkun jista' jittrenja regolarment. Il-bierah (lejlet il-loghoba) kienet l-ewwel darba li rajnieh din il-gimgha. Meta johrog fit-training grawnd ikun jista' biss jaghmel fti jogging, stretching u affarijiet zghar ohra". Redknapp spjega kif ikun biss lejlet il-loghoba li jkun jaf jekk King hux se jkun tajjeb ghal-loghob, "...u wara kull loghoba rkopptu tkun id-doppju ta' li hi".

Id-diskors waqa' fuq iz-zewg plejers ta' Tottenham Robbie Keane u Luka Modric. Tkellimna kif dawn jibdlu l-pozizzjoni taghhom kontinwament waqt il-loghoba u kemm huma mportanti ghat-tim.

Redknapp qal li dawn huma, "...zewg plejers intelligenti hafna, jafu l-importanza tal-moviment bla ballun u jikkaverjaw hafna lil xulxin. Emmint li dawn iz-zewg plejers ikunu tajba hafna flimkien u qed ituni ragun".

Minn din id-diskussjoni fuq it-tattika tkellimna dwar il-manigers in generali u esprimejt id-dizappunt tieghi ghal kif il-midja tipprogetta lill-manigers barranin bhala tatticisti kbar fil-waqt li tpoggi lil manigers Inglizi f'qoffa wahda taht it-timbru ta' motivaturi. Hafna drabi il-manigers Inglizi jigu mpingija li jibbazaw il-loghoba fuq il-passjonin aktar milli fuq l-intelligenza tattika.

Redknapp ma jaqbel xejn ma dan u din il-generalizazzjoni ddejqu. Huwa jemmen li hemm hafna manigers Inglizi tajbin filwaqt li fil-parti l-kbira il-manigers barranin kienu fortunati.
"Hafna manigers barranin gew imexxu lit-tmijiet il-kbar li jispiccaw regolarment fl-ewwel erba’ postijiet. Dan jaghmlilhom il-hajja aktar facli. Kieku l-istess manigers titfaghhom fis-sitwazzjoni ta' West Bromich Albion nahseb isibuha difficli hafna u r-rizultati ma jkunux l-istess. Intenni li hawn hafna manigers Inglizi jew Brittanici tajbin u nixtieq li xi darba dawn il-manigers jinghataw cans mal-klabbs il-kbar"

La semmejna l-klabbs il-kbar staqsejtu x'jahseb li jonqoshom Tottenham biex ikunu tassew jistghu jiccalingjaw ghal post ma' ta' fuq. Redknapp jemmen li Tottenham ghandhom bzonn tnejn jew tlett plejers ohra fis-Sajf biex ikunu tassew tim tajjeb.

"Iridu jkunu plejers tajbin. Plejers li jinsabu fl-ahjar taghhom u mhux plejers b'potenzjal. Naf liema setturi irrid insahhah u naf lil min irrid". Bi tbissima Redknapp kompla, "...izda mhux se nghidlek min huma ghax lanqas lic-Chairman ghadni ma ghidt".

Redknapp rega' tkellem dwar il-bilanc fit-tim u qal li din il-problema indirizzaha bl-akkwsit ta' Wilson Palacios minghand Wigan. "Palacios jaghti kollox ghal flokk, huwa f'sahhtu, aggressiv u fl-istess hin kapaci jilghab il-ballun. Ghandu kollox u l-partitarji jhobbuh ghax jarawh jistinka".

Staqsejtu jekk Tottenham ghandhomx jistennew plejers ohra tast-tip ta' Palacios izda r-risposta kienet wahd diplomatika. "Hemm zewg setturi li rrid insahhah. Naf liema huma imma mhux iz-zmien li nisvelahom".

Minn Palacios Redknap mexa ghal plejers ohra u qalli kif fl-opinjoni tieghu il-progress li ghamel id-difensur laterali Assou Ekotto kien, "...inkredibbli... jaf li nemmen fih, nahdem mieghu kuljum, jaf li jekk jaghmel zball mhux bilfors se jitlef postu ghax nemmen fih...dan kollu mlieh bil-kunfidenza u l-fiducja fih innifsu. Ghal plejer m'hemm xejn aghar mill-fatt li jilghab bil-biza' li jekk jaghmel zball se jitlef postu" Redknapp qal ukoll li Ekotto qed jigi meghjun mil-pozizzjoni ta'Modric fuq il-linja.

Redknapp ghalaq billi kkummenta wkoll dwar il-gowlkiper Heurelho Gomes u kif dan rega' ghall-ahjar tieghu. Apparti l-kunfidenza Redknapp attribwixxa hafna mill-mertu lil Tony Parks li gie ngaggat bhala kowc tal-gowlkipers mill-istess Redknapp.

"Tony Parks ghamel bicca xoghol kbira. Jahdem ma' Gomes kuljum, jitkellem mieghu u jibnilu l-fiducja fih innifsu. Ir-rizultati qed jidhru". Il-forma ta' Gomes qed thalli lil Carlo Cudicini fuq il-bank. Redknapp qal li Cudicini mhux kuntent fuq il-bank u hu jiddispjacih hafna ghal dan il-gowlkiper. Izda l-wasla tal-gowlkiper Taljan ma’ Tottenham gabet il-kompetizzjoni ghal Gomes u, ironikament, Cudicini stess ghin lil Gomes isib il-forma tieghu u jzommu barra mit-tim.

Qabel hallejt lil Redknapp jitlaq ghal impenji ohra ma stajtx ma nsemmilux lil Michael Mifsud. Naf li Redknapp kien interessat li jiehu lill-internazzjonali Malti ma' Portsmouth u staqsejtu x'jahseb mic-cansijiet li xi darba naraw lil Mifsud fil-Premier League.

"Huwa plejer tajjeb hafna. Segwejtu meta kien ma' Coventry u nahseb li hu plejer ecitanti. Huwa plejer ta' talent kbir u ghandu l-velocita favur tieghu. Issa ghandu bzonn jghaddi minn fazi ta' konsistenza u minn hemm inkunu nistghu nibdew nitkellmu dwar il-Premier League. Nahseb jista' jghmilha. Kull ma jrid hu li tigi l-opportunita"

U b'dik il-laqta lokali ghalaqna d-diskussjoni taghna u Harry telaq ghal aktar laqghat. Min jaf? Forsi mar jitkellem mac-cermen ta' Tottenham biex itarraflu dawk l-ismijiet li s'issa zamm mistura.