Posts Tagged ‘tottenham’

Scott Parker: Looking to help Tottenham to a top-four finish in the Premier League

Scott Parker admits Tottenham went into Saturday’s goalless draw with Sunderland expecting the hosts to offer more to the contest.

A forgettable encounter at the Stadium of Light saw Spurs dominate possession without threatening to break the deadlock.

Sunderland were prepared to sit back, soak up pressure and try to hurt the visitors on the counter, but they too offered little as an attacking force.

Parker admits the game never really got going, but feels the Black Cats’ approach did not help proceedings.

He told Sky Sports: “It was quite a slow game. I think we dominated possession, particularly first half. I think it was down to the way Sunderland set up, they got men behind the ball and let us have it.

“It proved to be a difficult afternoon and we couldn’t get the goal we were searching for. We will take a 0-0 and go back and get ready for the game on Monday (against Norwich).”

Surprised

The England international added: “We were probably a bit surprised by the way they set up, we expected them to come at us a little bit more, which they didn’t.

“I think we are disappointed that we haven’t got the three points, but we will take the draw and move on.”

A point was enough to see Tottenham back into third place in the Premier League, but they remain locked in a top-of-the-table tussle that sees four sides battling it out for two remaining places in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

On that scrap, Parker said: “At the end of the day, we have to concentrate on what we can do. We need to go and win as many games as we can. We have got six games left and we need to keep picking up points.

“You have to just worry about yourselves. If we win our games, we are fine. We need to concentrate.

“We know how good this league is and Newcastle have done fantastic along with Chelsea and Arsenal. It’s all to play for but it’s in our hands, and that’s where you want it to be.”

Mark Hughes: Remains confident that QPR will earn enough points to survive, despite an imposing fixture list

QPR boss Mark Hughes believes it will be difficult for his side to reach the magical 40-point mark that should ensure Premier League survival but is still confident they can stay up.

The Loftus Road outfit currently have 28 points from their 31 games so far and climbed out of the relegation zone last week with an impressive 2-1 win over Arsenal.

That victory over the Gunners was their second home win in succession following their come-from-behind 3-2 win against Liverpool in March, raising hopes of a successful battle against the drop.

However, only goal difference separates them from 18th-placed Blackburn and 19th-placed Wigan in what is a congested bottom six.

Their run-in is also arguably the toughest among the relegation strugglers with Sunday’s trip to Manchester United preceding games against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Hughes concedes that it will be difficult for his side to reach 40 points – the total often deemed good enough to ensure survival – but still feels they can get enough points from their remaining games to stay up.

“It is difficult to say what it will be, but I think the lowest point total has been something like 34,” he said.

Mid-mark

“I don’t think it will be as low as that but it won’t be as high as 40. I think it will be the mid-mark of those two points.

“We would like to think we can get to 40 still. There is still a possibility of doing that as there is enough points on offer.

“But we’re realistic in terms of the opposition that we’re going up against that it may be difficult to do that but we will give it our best shot.”

Brad Friedel: Seems to be getting better with age at Tottenham

Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel is not planning on retiring and wants to continue to play for as long as possible.

The American turns 41 in May, but is only getting better with age after a series of impressive performances for the White Hart Lane club.

Former Aston Villa player Friedel, an inspired free signing by Harry Redknapp last summer, could be forgiven for wanting to call it a day at the end of this season.

But with the possibility of Tottenham returning to the UEFA Champions League in the next campaign, he plans to play on for as long as he is wanted.

“How long can I play? Until no manager in the world wants to take me on,” said Friedel, who at the end of next season would be 42 and a year short of John Burridge’s Premier League age record, in The Times.

Do the business

“At 35, I probably would not have expected to be playing at 40. There is no secret [except to] eat well, [have] discipline and work hard.

“I take football very seriously. I do my utmost to win, be as good as I can. I am very disappointed if I lose or make mistakes, but there is no sense in playing if you don’t enjoy it.”

Friedel will be a part of the Tottenham team who on Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Sunderland and he wants to be sure there are no slip ups.

Spurs are level on points with North London rivals Arsenal in their fight for third place in the league and the goalkeeper wants to put pressure on Arsene Wenger’s side, who on Sunday host title-chasing Manchester City.

“We will be disappointed if we don’t qualify for the Champions League now,” said Friedel.

“If we do the business on Saturday, the pressure is on Arsenal, who have a really difficult game with City. We need to win. It will be like that for every fixture.”

Darren Bent: Injury frustration put in perspective by Stiliyan Petrov and Fabrice Muamba

Darren Bent hopes to take part in the Olympics if he misses out on Euro 2012 but admits his injury frustration has been put into perspective by Fabrice Muamba and Stiliyan Petrov’s health problems.

Bent has been sidelined since February with ankle ligament damage and is battling to regain fitness before the end of the season to give himself a chance of playing for England in Poland and Ukraine.

But he admits he has no right to complain when other Premier League players are showing such strength of character in fighting for their lives.

Bolton midfielder Muamba is doing well in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at Tottenham, while Bent’s Aston Villa team-mate Petrov has vowed to beat acute leukaemia after being diagnosed last week.

Bent has been impressed by the way both men have faced up to their troubles and hopes they can make full recoveries.

“It certainly puts everything into perspective for me,” he said in The Sun.

“I’m sitting here worrying if I’m going to be back playing again in eight weeks’ time while Stan and Fabrice are fighting for their lives.

“How can I get all beat up about my problems when those guys are fighting tooth and nail to survive?

“That’s why I’m praying every day they are on the mend again very soon.”

Bent added: “We are all so used to football fans being criticised. But so many have come together and are supporting the two lads.

“I must admit it’s all brought a lump to my throat.”

Back-up plan

While Bent insisted earlier this week that he is ‘on the mend‘ and would still love to play at Euro 2012, he has a back-up target to be involved in the Olympics.

“Of course I want to be out there helping but it doesn’t look like I’ll play again this season,” he said.

“That means I’ll probably be missing the Euros too, so it’s a big blow.

“The time-frame for the injury takes me to 16th May by which time the ankle will be fully healed and my rehab completed.

“I’d just say to the new England manager, whoever it is, give me a chance.

“Then it will be down to whether he does take a chance on me, at least in one of the warm-ups.”

Bent added: “If Euro 2012 doesn’t happen for me I’m definitely up for playing in the Olympic Games.

“It’s a massive event and it doesn’t come to your home town but once in a lifetime. It would be ridiculous to give up the opportunity.”

Owen Coyle has revealed the astonishing progress made by Fabrice Muamba as the Bolton man continues to recover from a cardiac arrest.

Muamba collapsed during Bolton’s FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on 17th March and it took 78 minutes for the 23-year-old midfielder’s heart to start beating again.

It was feared that if oxygen could not get to his brain in this time then permanent damage would be done to his health.

But Muamba has defied the odds and Bolton boss Coyle has now revealed the staggering extent of the former Arsenal player’s improving condition.

“When I went to see him last week, he was able to walk around his room,” Coyle told The Daily Telegraph.

“He’s come out the bed and sat in the chair. That was a week ago. And bit by bit the improvements are coming. God willing he gets back to a high standard.

“He’s getting better day by day. It’s truly remarkable, given where he’s come from, when his heart stopped for over an hour and a half.

Concern

“There was a concern about the lack of oxygen during that period, but where he is now is terrific. He’s still got a long way to go. He’s stable. But he’s still in intensive care.

“The specialists were fantastic, kept us informed every step of the way. They were astonished by his progress. Even by the Monday, they just weren’t expecting that to happen.

“It’s been a continual progress. He’s such a physically strong guy. But I have no doubt all that energy that came from all the good wishes have played a part.

“What they did in those initial stages – to be honest, with this stuff I’m out my comfort zone – they did a cooling off, brought the body temperature right down, then stabilised it and brought the temperature back up so that the heart could kick in of its own accord.

“That was the critical moment. The concern they had was the oxygen to the brain. But the reaction he has had has eased that worry. He’s going the right way.”

Lift

And Bolton team-mate Sam Ricketts feels Muamba’s dramatic recovery has lifted the entire club.

“When Fabrice started to get better there was just a new buoyancy around the place,” the 30-year-old full-back told The Sun.

“It brought everybody together again because we see that he is making a remarkable recovery.”

With winnable home matches against Fulham and Swansea either side of a trip to Newcastle, the Trotters are hopeful of moving clear of the drop zone.

Ricketts added: “We’ve got two home games in the next week or so and we’ll be looking to win those.”

Steven Caulker: Has impressed at Swansea and could be set for an extended stay

Brendan Rodgers has spoken to Harry Redknapp about bringing on-loan Tottenham defender Steven Caulker back to Swansea next season.

The 20-year-old centre-back has made a big impact at the Liberty Stadium this season, adapting well to Swansea’s style of play and forming a strong partnership with Ashley Williams at the heart of the defence.

And while Spurs are unlikely to want to sell the England Under-21 international, Rodgers is hopeful of securing an extension to the player’s loan spell with the Swans.

Rodgers said: “I spoke to Harry at length (following last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane), and just generally he understands Steven has had a fantastic season and it will be between now and the end of the season before they determine where he will go, it will depend on the club and where they are at.

“He has made a massive jump in his career through playing games here, and it’s down to where they see him fitting in there next season.

“He will be going back to Tottenham for pre-season, it will then depend on whether he is seen as one who will be part of their squad, whether he is going to play or whether he needs more games.

Great asset

“For me, he is a young player, he is 20 years of age, who the more he can play the better he will become, and he will become a great asset for Tottenham I am sure.

“He could well come back on loan next season whether it will be here will be another question, but that will be nothing that will be answered until they bring him back in, have a look at the squad they have got and take it from there.”

Caulker himself is continuing to focus on his short-term goal – picking up points with Swansea.

“We aren’t mathematically safe yet, so we still want to get a few more points on the board, but after that we’d like to finish as high as possible,” he said.

“If we can do that, then it would be a great end to the season and a successful campaign overall as well.”

Watching brief

Caulker had a watching brief for Sunday’s game between Spurs and Swansea at White Hart Lane, as he was unable to play against his parent club.

But the youngster felt the visitors did themselves justice, as he added: “Obviously, it was a difficult game for the lads and my loyalties were split, but I thought that it was a good game for the neutrals too and at 1-1 it could have gone either way.

“I think that a large part of our success has been defensively as well because we’ve managed to keep 12 clean sheets this season.

“Not only have we kept the ball and attacked well, but we’ve managed to keep it steady at the back too.

“I played against Swansea last season and they were strong both on and off the ball then as well, which has continued this year in the Premier League.”

Ryo Miyaichi: Has received praise from Theo Walcott for what he has done at Bolton

Theo Walcott has tipped Ryo Miyaichi to become an important player for Arsenal after watching the Japanese youngster perform well during a loan spell with Bolton.

Miyaichi was allowed to link up with the Trotters in January on a deal until the end of the season and has taken his chance to shine by producing a series of eye-catching displays.

The 19-year-old has been at Bolton during a difficult period – he was on the pitch when Fabrice Muamba collapsed against Tottenham – and Walcott thinks his club-mate has coped well in the circumstances.

Walcott believes Miyaichi will be ready to push for a place in the Arsenal team next season and could develop into one of the league’s most dangerous wingers.

No fear

“Ryo has done very well at Bolton,” he told Arsenal’s official website.

“It is hard for such a young kid to go there and do what he is doing, showing no fear with everything that happened at Tottenham [with Muamba]. It is hard and it has probably hit him definitely.

“He will be a better person for it, a better player and I can see him coming back here next year and playing a lot more regularly.

“The way he is playing, there are full-backs out there now who are thinking, ‘I don’t want to play against him this week’.”

Emmanuel Adebayor: Tottenham’s striker has yet to win a cup medal during his time in England

Emmanuel Adebayor is confident Tottenham can end the season with a bang after rediscovering some momentum in the battle for a place in the Premier League’s top four.

Adebayor on Sunday bagged two vital late goals as Spurs ended their seven-week wait for a top-flight victory by beating Swansea 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Previous defeats to Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal had put the club in danger of dropping out of the top four, but they are now level with the Gunners and five points clear of Chelsea and Newcastle with seven games remaining.

Tottenham also have an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea to look forward to later in April and Adebayor, who has never clinched a cup winner’s medal, believes his team have again found form.

“For me, my target before coming to join Tottenham was to get in to the top four and we are in a good position to do that now,” the 28-year-old, who arrived at White Hart Lane on a season-long loan from Manchester City, told Spurs TV Online.

“We are in the FA Cup semi-final as well. We just have to give it a go, try to give everything and finish in the top four, and why not win the FA Cup as well?”

Despite keeping pace with the leaders for most of the season, Tottenham’s campaign started to fade away in February and the 12-point lead they had over Arsenal evaporated with alarming speed.

Character & personality

Many had claimed Spurs were cracking under the pressure of being in such a lofty position, but Adebayor thinks last weekend’s win proves that Harry Redknapp’s squad are mentally tough enough to cope with the position they find themselves in.

“When Swansea pulled it back to 1-1, it was quite difficult, but in the head we have a good squad, we have belief,” added the striker.

“We knew in our heads that we could change it around. We showed character and personality by winning right at the end.

“Now we have closed the gap on Arsenal and have maintained a gap over Chelsea and Newcastle.

“It was very important for everyone, for the players and the fans, and hopefully now we will go on a good run until the end of the season.”

Tottenham are yet to come to an agreement with City over making Adebayor’s move to White Hart Lane permanent.

The player himself wants to stay in London, but has hinted that he would be unwilling to take a pay cut from the £170,000-a-week he is reported to earn at the Etihad Stadium.