White Hot Lines  

   Tottenham made an announcement today denying that there had been any contact with Ajax concerning their Head Coach Frank de Boer.
   Andros Townsend will miss the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury on Saturday at Stoke that will require surgery and keep him out of action for 10 weeks.
   Spurs are supposedly interested in signing 27 year old Cagliari defender Davide Astori in the summer.
   The Metro claims that Paulinho will join Chelsea in the summer.

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... Stoke City have written to the Premier League to inform them of their unhappiness at not taking three points against Spurs on Saturday.  It is the numerous time that their team has performed poorly and their manager had made bad decisions and it's just not fair.

   Tottenham have approached Ajax to be allowed to talk to Head Coach Frank de Boer with a view to taking over at Tottenham in the summer.
   Spurs Under-18s finished top of their group with a 7-2 away win against Chelsea at Cobham today.  Shayon Harrison netted four times, with the other goals coming from Lloyd Ross and two from Joshua Onomah.

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   MEHSTG's no-spin story ... West Ham United fans will be torn on Saturday, having the choice of a win over Spurs or losing and the club sacking manager Sam Allardyce  #toughdecision

   The Daily Mirror speculate that Spurs have made Mauricio Pocchetino their main target to take over from Tim Sherwood in the summer.  However, other reports claim that a move for Ajax Head Coach Frank de Boer may be more likely.
   Internazionale are being linked with a move for Jan Vertonghen in the summer.
   AFC Wimbledon have been docked three points for fielding former Spurs winger Jake Nicholson, who had not been properly cleared after leaving Morton in Scotland.

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   CRIME WATCH ... Swindon Town striker Nile Ranger has been charged with assault on a woman in Swindon and criminal damage ... Manchester City and Paris St. Germain are among a group of clubs who have failed to comply with the Financial Fair Play rules ...

   Spurs Under-21s with Jan Vertonghen and Etienne Capoue coming back from injury, beat Reading Under-21 4-2 at Stevenage FC this afternoon.  Nabil Bentaleb scored from the penalty spot and another spot-kick from Ruben Lameiras put Tottenham 2-0 up before Bentaleb was dismissed for retaliation.  Reading pulled the score back to 2-2 before late goals from Lameiras and Kenneth McEvoy wrapped up the victory.
   Spurs and Arsenal are expected to contend for the signing of AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who will be offered for sale in the summer.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Chesterfield won promotion to League One this afternoon ... 

   Tottenham beat Stoke City 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.
   Manchester City are willing to offer goalkeeper Joe Hart to Spurs, as long as Hugo Lloris moves the other way to the Etihad.
   Tottenham's Under-18s were held to a 2-2 draw by Everton at Hotspur Way this morning.  Harry Winks with a penalty and a goal from Cameron Carter-Vickers saw Spurs come back from 0-2 down.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Rochdale and Scunthorpe United were today promoted from League Two, with Torquay United dropping out of the League, despite a 3--1 win over Mansfield Town (with one of the goals from Shaquile Coulthirst) ... Barnsley were relegated from the Championship this afternoon ... Shrewsbury Town were relegated to League Two this afternoon ...

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Tottenham will still be without Kyle Walker (hip), Etienne Capoue (ankle), Erik Lamela (back) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle).  There is a doubt over Mousa Dembele (ankle), but Michael Dawson has overcome a hamstring injury to be included in the squad.
   STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS : -  Eric Pieters is fit to come back in at full back after getting over a bout of illness, but Matthew Etherington (back) and Robert Huth (knee) will not be available to Mark Hughes.
   For a preview of the game at Stoke City tomorrow, click here.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Former Barcelona coach Tito Villanova has died aged 45 after suffering with cancer for a number of years.  MEHSTG's thoughts go out to his family and friends ... Yeovil Town were relegated from the Championship tonight ...

   Many sources link David Moyes with the potentially vacant manager's job at Tottenham in the summer, with no real substance to their stories other than he is out of a job and wants to get back into one quickly.
   The Daily Mirror claims that Spurs players might snub Charlie Adam in the Premier League handshake before Saturday's game at Stoke City after a catalogue of incidents the Scottish hod carrier has been involved in during matches against Tottenham.

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   Rumours that Jan Vertonghen has met officials from AS Roma at the Savoy hotel in London are circulating, but counter rumours link him with a move to Barcelona.
   AS Roma are also involved in a rumour about their former winger Erik Lamela, who was seen at their training ground today.
   Tottenham are showing interest in Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul, in case Hugo Lloris leaves in the summer.  The Dutch goalie is stalling on a new contract at the North-East club.
   Juventus appear keen on Christian Eriksen according to the internet today, with a €18 million price tag quoted.
   Spurs are alleged to be giving a trial to 16 year old Belgian defender Axel Frix.  The youngster is currently with OH Leuven - a club in his homeland.
   Tottenham's Under-15s won 4-2 at Portman Road against Ipswich U15s tonight in a showcase match.  Goals from David Ajiboye, Kazaiah Stirling, Jack Roles and Aramie Oteh won the game for Spurs.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Following Chelsea's 1-2 home defeat by Sunderland on Saturday, Jose Mourinho has been charged by the FA with insulting/abusive comments about referee Mike Dean and ref's supremo Mike Riley,  coach Jose Faria with abusing the referee and failing to leave the touchline when dismissed and midfielder Ramires for violent conduct in an off the ball incident with Seb Larsson  ... 

   With David Moyes being sacked as Manchester United manager, the media re claiming that Louis van Gaal is now eyeing that job rather than the one at White Hart Lane, if Tim Sherwood is not invited to carry on in the Head Coach's position, while some sources are saying Daniel Levy might make the move for Moyes, which is very worrying.
   Former Jake Nicholson is at the centre of an ineligible player row at AFC Wimbledon.  The winger was signed from Morton, but it appears that he played in the Dons' 4-3 win over Cheltenham Town when not registered.  The FA have paid a charge at Wimbledon's door and they will face a hearing for this misdemeanour for the second time in recent years.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Manchester United sacked David Moyes as their manager today ... 

   CRIME WATCH ... Yannick Sagbo of Hull City was today fined £18,000 after pleading guilty for his support of the use of the quenelle gesture by Nicolas Anelka ... 

   Next to no solid Spurs news as Easter Bank Holiday comes to a close.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Burnley will be playing in the Premier League next season having won promotion with a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic ... Wolverhampton Wanderers were crowned Champions of League One after thy beat Leyton Orient and Brentford drew with MK Dons today ... Stevenage were relegated to League Two this afternoon ...

   The Sunday Mirror worryingly links Daniel Levy with having an interest in Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck as he searches for "a top striker."  Being top of the transfer wanted list and costing £20 million, I am not sure that this would be money well spent.
   The same paper reckons Norwich City will ask Tim Sherwood to return to Carrow Road should he be asked to leave Tottenham in the summer to take over the post from which Chris Hughton was sacked.
   Also in the Mirror, they say that the advisors of Romelu Lukaku have said he will only move to a club with Champions League football, so his current loan club Everton are more likely to sign him than Spurs.

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   Tottenham beat Fulham 3-1 at White Hart Lane this afternoon.  Click here for a match report..

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... Chelsea lost their record of not losing at home under Jose Mourinho, with the man I saw referred to as "the Special Whine" bemoaning the fact that it wasn't fair to anyone who could be bothered to listen.

   Massimiliano Allegri, the former coach of AC Milan, has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane to take over from Tim Sherwood in the summer, but this appears to have been denied in some quarters.
   The Italian press is touting a move for Paulinho to AS Roma in the summer.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford were promoted to the Championship today ... 

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -   Mousa Dembele is fit again and available for selection, while Michael Dawson and Roberto Soldado have returned to training.  Erik Lamela will miss the rest of the season with his back injury and also out are Kyle Walker (hip), Etienne Capoue (ankle) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle).
   FULHAM TEAM NEWS : -  Striker Kostas Mitroglou is out with a knee injury and he is joined on the sidelines by Damien Duff who has a similar injury.  Lewis Holtby is not able to play against Spurs while on loan at Fulham because of Premier League rules
   For a match preview of our meeting with Fulham, click here.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Cardiff City's solicitors have written to the Premier League claiming that Crystal Palace's 3-0 victory over them should be wiped out, as the South London club were gaining information on the Welsh club's team for the game ... 

   Nathan Oduwa made the first goal and played 87 minutes of England Under-18s 2-1 win over Germany tonight at Rotherham  United FC, with Harry Winks coming on as a 66th minute substitute to score the winner.  Will Miller was also a sub, coming on in the 87th minute.
   Midfielder Tom Carroll has said that he wants to return to Tottenham after his loan season at Queens Park Rangers and is keen to make it at White Hart Lane.
   Tottenham are reported to be making a final attempt to sign Werder Bremen's 27 year old midfielder Aaron Hunt, but Besiktas are favourites to snap up the German international, who has American parentage.
   West Ham United and Stoke City might rival Hull City for the £6 million signing of Jake Livermore in the summer, with Spurs expected to accept an offer of around that figure.
   Spurs may make a summer transfer bid for Napoli midfielder Gokhan Inler, with Liverpool also interested.

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   Depending on which paper you read, Spurs are either after Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund or Rafa Benitez of Napoli as the manager to take over from Tim Sherwood.  Even Laurent Blanc of Paris St. Germain is being linked with Tottenham, as the recent results are not pleasing the board apparently, while the players are in a state of unrest in the dressing room (or was it a state of undress in the resting room ?).
   Former Spurs defender Ian Culverhouse has been suspended by Aston Villa from his position of Assistant Manager of the club.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Luton Town have been promoted to League Two from the Vauxhall Conference Premier League after Cambridge United lost tonight ... 

   Tottenham's Under-21s lost 0-1 to Manchester United U21 at White Hart Lane tonight.  Mousa Dembele, Zeki Fryers and Nabil Bentaleb were among the starters for Spurs..

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   The Daily Mirror reckons Spurs will move for West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster if Hugo Lloris moves from White Hart Lane in the summer.
   Spurs might be keen on QPR striker Loic Remy and Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku, but they will be joined in the chase for these players by Manchester City and Paris St. Germain respectively according to media reports.
   Spurs are also very keen on recruiting Ezekiel Garay from Benfica to either play alongside or instead of B, should the Belgian leave.

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   Tottenham drew 3-3 with West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.
   Spurs Under-18s lost 0-1 away at Manchester United this morning.

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   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : - There is nothing new on the injury front and Erik Lamela (back), Mousa Dembele (knee), Jan Vertonghen (ankle), Roberto Soldado (hamstring), Michael Dawson (hamstring) and Etienne Capoue (ankle) are the long term casualties.
   WEST BROMWICH ALBION TEAM NEWS : -   Midfielder James Morrison may be missing with an ankle injury, but Chris Brunt and Claudio Yacob are due to return to the side after injuries.  Zoltan Gera will miss the game with a hamstring injury.
   For a West Bromwich Albion match preview, click here.

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   Tottenham and Arsenal have been alerted to the possible availability of M'Baye Niang, a 19 year old striker who plays for AC Milan, but is on loan at Montpellier this season, but the French side cannot afford to make the deal permanent.
   Rumours are circulating from the Italian Press to the Essex Chronicle that Sporting Director Franco Baldini will be paid off at the end of the season and that the manager may take a bigger part in signing new players from next season.

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   More speculation over the new Spurs boss when Tim Sherwood gets the sack, which it was reported in the Mirror that he was told on Monday by Daniel Levy and Franco Baldini.  Spurs can negotiate with Louis van Gaal, but need to seal the deal by 7th May before he goes away to the World Cup finals with Holland, but Mauricio Pochettino is stalling on contract talks, as he waits to see if Tottenham will come in for him, with some Spurs players keen on him according to the Daily Telegraph.
  Other stories claim Tim Sherwood would be offered his old role as Development coach, but he won't accept an assistant's role to the new manager and may well wish to leave the club if not retained as Head Coach.  West Bromwich Albion are watching the situation in case they need to replace Pepe Mel at the end of the season.
   Swiss Under-21 full back Loris Benito of FC Zurich, who was recommended by former defender Ramon Vega, is attracting Tottenham's keen attention, as he may be available for as little as £3 million, but Juventus are also interested in the 20 year old.
   Spurs are said to be leading the chase to sign striker Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers in the summer.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Ronnie Moore was sacked as manager of Tranmere Rovers today after pleading guilty to FA charges of betting while in charge of the League One club ... 

   The Daily Telegraph claim that Mauricio Pochettino is Tottenham's number one managerial target to replace Tim Sherwood at the end of the season.  The report says Sherwood may be offered a position in the new management team, while if the Southampton boss gets the job, there is a hope that they might be able to persuade Adam Lallana to join Spurs, as the South Coast Big Club need to sell players to balance their books.  The report also says that Louis van Gaal is another manager Spurs are looking at.
   There are reports in the media claiming Tottenham are interested in Benfica central defender Ezequiel Garay.

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... A quote from Louis van Gaal has been reported in Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: "After two years I'm totally sick of being national coach."  Well, he should be just right for Tottenham then, as most of our managers don't last that long.

   Tottenham beat Sunderland 5-1 at White Hart Lane tonight.  Click here for a match report.
   The Spurs Under-21s lost 0-3 away at Sunderland tonight.
   It was reported tonight on Sky Sports News, that "sources" claimed that Tim Sherwood would be sacked at the end of the season.  There were no quotes or any indication as to who the "sources" were.

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   With Louis van Gaal apparently having made his transfer targets clear to Daniel Levy, Paris St. Germain's winger from Brazil, Lucas Moura will be high on the list of potential signings.
   Spurs have been linked with a move for Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall should Hugo Lloris leave in the summer, but Tim Sherwood said that would take a bid of £100 million.
   For a preview of tomorrow night's game against Sunderland, click here.
   Former Spurs defender and assistant manager Chris Hughton has been sacked as manager of Norwich City.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Neil Adams, the Norwich City youth team manager, has been chosen to replace Chris Hughton as first team manager at the Canaries ... 

   Tottenham's Under-18s beat Wolverhampton Wanders U18 5-1 at Hotspur Way this morning.  The Spurs scorers were Daniel Akindayini 3, Kyle Walker-Peters and Anton Walkes.
   There is interest in the media today from both Zenit St. Petersburg (managed by Andre Villas-Boas) and Borussia Dortmund for Tottenham's Belgian international defender Jan Vertonghen.
   Former Tottenham defender of the late 1970s/early 1980s, Gordon Smith has died after suffering with an illness.  MEHSTG sends their condolences to his family and friends.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League today despite not playing.  Other results conspired to ensure that the Foxes will go up at the end of the season ... 

   Ledley King has been granted a testimonial on Monday 12th May.  A Ledley King Guest XI will play the current first team with the kick off at 20:00 p.m.
   Tottenham's away match at West Ham United has had the kick off time moved to 12:45 p.m. on Saturday 3rd May 2014 for live TV coverage on BT Sport.
   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  With Jan Vertonghen (ankle) and Roberto Soldado (hamstring) picking up injuries at Anfield which will rule them out of the Sunderland game on Monday night, Spurs are happy to welcome the return of Vlad Chiriches and Emmanuel Adebayor.  Erik Lamela (back) and Kyle Walker (pelvis) are still missing from the Tottenham squad.
   Spurs Under-21s will take on Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Monday 14th April with the Academy League match kicking off at 19:00 p.m.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Stuart Pearce has been confirmed as the new Nottingham Forest manager, but he will not take over until after the World Cup, as he is working for TalkSport at the tournament ... 

   According to Romelu Lukaku's agent, his striker client is in talks with Spurs and Everton about a move from Chelsea in the summer.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Seven Football League players have been arrested in connection with spot betting ... Sunderland have been fined for playing an unregistered player -Ji Dong-Won - in four Premier league fixtures earlier this season ... 

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... .

   Tottenham announced a £1.5 million profit after tax for the year to 30th June 2013, which is an improvement on the £4.3 million loss in 2012. 
   Further to the profit announcement, Spurs announced that they should be ready to move into their new stadium by the start of the 2017-18 season.  There were stories saying that they wanted to move into Upton Park when West Ham United moved out, but the Irons would not allow this, so Tottenham may look to play games at Wembley when White Hart Lane is not available.
   The Under-18 team won 3-1 away to Arsenal at London Colney this afternoon, with goals from Shayon Harrison, Daniel Akindayini and Nathan Oduwa.

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   Tottenham have announced that there will be a historical twist in all the Spurs shirts for next season, in that they will contain fibres from the original shirts from the 1908 inaugural league season.
   Benoit-Assou Ekotto faces a ban after being charged by the FA, along with Yannick Sagbo of Hull City, for posting messages of support on Twitter concerning the use of the quenelle gesture by Nicola Anelka.

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   OTHER NEWS ... R.I.P. Frankie Knuckles ... 

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... Among the April Fool's jokes today were the story in the Express about Spurs moving in to share Arsenal's ground with them and one in a number of papers claiming  Liverpool are going to win the league.