INT Tottenham Hotspur

[TXT]

Dawson: Game was not dirty

Tottenham captain Michael Dawson insisted the 0-0 draw with leaders Manchester United was not a dirty one.

Seven yellow cards were shown in the Premier League clash at White Hart Lane, while Manchester United full-back Rafael was sent off in the second half.

''Not at all,'' Dawson told Sky Sports 1 when asked if the game had been played in the wrong spirit. ''There were two sets of players that gave everything, I wouldn't say it was a dirty game.

''When they went down to 10 we thought we could go on and win the game but it wasn't to be. We got the clean sheet. When you're a defender you always like to get a clean sheet and credit to them, and to our lads.''

Midfielder Luka Modric was disappointed that Spurs could not take all three points.

He added: ''The game was very tight and there wasn't much space but we played a good game. We are disappointed, especially when they went to 10 men, that we didn't score. It's a fair result.

''It's a sign of the times that we're disappointed with a draw against such a big team.''

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to comment on Rafael's red card.

''I don't need to discuss that, you can see for yourself,'' he said. ''I don't need to discuss the referee.''

Ferguson went on to praise his defenders, adding: ''I think they were particularly good. It could be a really thrilling end to the season. Tottenham are not out of it. It's about winning games and keeping your nerve and today, defensively, we kept our nerve.''

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp agreed with Ferguson`s assessment that the two defences had prevailed.

He said: ''Both teams defended well, especially the two central defenders on their side and Dawson and (William) Gallas on ours. They were fantastic, did their jobs and made it difficult.

''Chances were few and far between. I thought we edged the game without creating too many clear-cut chances. They (Manchester United) are a Champions League winning team, they`ve played big games and defended for their lives in Europe. They came here and were difficult to beat.

''When they went to 10 men we couldn`t have been more open. We were as open as a barn door going for it.''

 

[TXT]

Van der Vaart keen on Van Bommel

Rafael van der Vaart believes Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel would be a fine addition to the Tottenham team.

Van Bommel, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a number of clubs around Europe including Spurs, AC Milan and Aston Villa, and Van der Vaart feels his Netherlands team-mate would be a strong signing.

"He is a super player with lots of experience, who would help any team," he told Sport Bild. "Tottenham want to take the next step to get to the same level as our local rivals Arsenal.

"I think that is possible. Therefore we can use good players."

Van der Vaart, 27, also reiterated his desire to remain at White Hart Lane long-term after ending a miserable two-year spell with Real Madrid in the summer.

"After my time at Real Madrid, which was not a very happy one, I have rediscovered my love for the game at Tottenham," he said. "My heart is now at Tottenham. It is not a huge club but rather a real traditional club, like I have already learned to love at Hamburg or Ajax.

"The changes should now come to an end. Also for my family. My son speaks four languages by now. That's enough. I feel settled in London and would like to play here for many years."

 

[TXT]

Keane: Birmingham bid a publicity stunt

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has questioned whether Birmingham ever had any intention of signing him, claiming that the club's failed attempt to buy him last week was "for a bit of publicity".

Keane, 30, appeared set to join Birmingham but the club pulled out of a move to sign him in a £6 million deal after he failed to agree personal terms.

But the Ireland captain has placed the blame for the move breaking down squarely on Birmingham, and believes their offer was never serious.

"It was never going to happen,'' said Keane, who also insisted he knew nothing about reports linking him to West Ham. "I haven't heard anything at the moment but we will just see what happens.

"But like I said, that Birmingham stuff yesterday was a bit bizarre with a statement coming out from them, which I found very strange.

"A deal was never really on the table, so I just think that Birmingham was looking for a bit of publicity really.''

Keane, who joined Celtic on loan this time last year, admitted he did not know whether he would still be be at Spurs by the end of the transfer window.

"I'm not too sure - we will have to see what happens," he told Sky Sports News. "There are still a couple of weeks left, so I'm sure we'll find out by then.''

 

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'Bale could play for Real or Barca'

Gareth Bale has taken the Premier League and Europe by storm and his Tottenham team-mate Rafael van der Vaart claims the Welshman is good enough to play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Van der Vaart has proved to be a superb signing for Tottenham, with the Dutchman slotting in seamlessly into Harry Redknapp's plans following his move from Real Madrid. But the Dutchman has arguably been overshadowed by the form of Bale.

The winger has tormented European champions Inter Milan on two occasions this season and Van der Vaart is convinced Bale's cavalier approach to the game would enable him to flourish in Spain.

"I think that in three or four years he could play for [Real] Madrid or Barcelona," Van der Vaart said in an interview with Spanish newspaper Sport. "He is a very young player, very fast, physical and has a lot of quality.

"However, it goes without saying that I want him to stay here [at Tottenham] because he is very important for us."

 

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Modric condemns reports of Spurs exit

Luka Modric has pledged his future to Tottenham Hotspur and expressed frustration at rumours linking him with a move away from White Hart Lane.

The 25-year-old is the creative lynchpin of Spurs' team, leading many commentators to describe him as the perfect heir to Paul Scholes at Old Trafford. Reports have also suggested that Chelsea and Barcelona are poised to make a move for the Croatia international.

But Modric, who signed a new six-year deal last summer, insists he has no interest in an approach from any of these clubs.

"There's no truth in all these rumours," he told Sportskenovosti. "The only truth is that I'm a Tottenham player and I'm happy to be where I am. I'm fully focused on my job.

"Following my arrival in 2008 every transfer window is the same. Newspapers are always talking about me moving away. The story is always the same. Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and so on. Every time it's the same stories - and I even saw them last June when I signed my new contract with Tottenham.

"My future? Who knows what the future will bring, but I'm a Tottenham player and I'm happy to be at White Hart Lane."

 

[bukitAping]

x sabo nak tgk pienaar main...

 

[TXT]

x sabo nak tgk pienaar main...

jenuh pienaar nk berebut tmpt ngan modric n bale

 

[antudegil]

kalau game kena attacking mentality bley la bawak masok mamat ni. bley main all MF position. babai la lepas ni jenas. itu o'hara pun bley jual. dos santos pon same. sarjen pon bley kira2 nak jual ganti lassana. mmg tradition btul spurs ni beli borong jual pon borong

 

[bukitAping]

itu bentley pun da kena loan... sian

 

[Zul34]

slain mu, spurs ni aku suka jgk

mmg nmpk improve btul musim ni

good luck