White Hot Lines  

   Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has left Spurs on a free transfer to join LA Galaxy.
   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Gareth Bale will miss the game with a one match suspension for picking up five bookings.  Better news for Spurs is that Benoit Assou-Ekotto may make the bench for the match and Clint Dempsey may also start there, with Gylfi Sigurdsson filling Bale's position on the left.  Andros Townsend has been suffering with illness and Younes Kaboul is still out after knee surgery.
   READING TEAM NEWS : -   The Royals will be without Alex McCarthy, who has a shoulder injury and he may be joined by Jason Roberts, whose hip injury might rule him out of the game.  New signing Daniel Carrico will not be with the club in time to play in this game.
   For a preview of the game against Reading, click here.

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   The Sunday Mirror reckon Daniel Levy will ask for £60 million from Real Madrid if they want to sign Gareth Bale.
   The paper also claims that Tottenham will make a £7.5 million bid for Demba Ba of Newcastle United as they might be priced out of buying Fernando Llorente from Athletic Bilbao.
   Spurs are amongst a number of clubs interested in signing German midfielder Lewis Holtby, who currently plays for Schalke 04 but is looking to move to the Premier League.
   Nani is still wanted by Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, despite interest in him from Arsenal, Spurs and Juventus.
   Danny Rose is too valuable to Tottenham to be allowed to join Sunderland on a permanent deal, as the club expect big things from him in the future, according to the Daily Mail.
   Reading may look to take Tom Huddlestone on loan in the January transfer window until the end of the season.

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   Tottenham beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Keith Hill was today sacked as Barnsley manager ... 

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Spurs could welcome back Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker, who may both play a part in the game at Sunderland tomorrow.  Tom Huddlestone has recovered from a knee injury and Clint Dempsey might be available after a groin strain, while Mousa Dembele is not affected by the knock he picked up on Boxing Day.  Therefore, the only player definitely out is Younes Kaboul, who has not got a return date after knee surgery.
   SUNDERLAND TEAM NEWS : -   John O'Shea is doubtful after being sick over Christmas, while knee injuries have ruled out Lee Cattermole and Wes Brown for some time.  Also unavailable is Danny Rose, who cannot play against his parent club while on loan to Sunderland.
   For a preview of the Sunderland game, click here.
   Former Spurs winger Mark Robson has been released form his position as Head Coach at Barnet and former Spurs midfielder Edgar Davids who was brought in to share the responsibilities for the first team will now be the new Head Coach on his own.

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... No action will be taken against Alex Ferguson who today had a heated exchange with his milkman, who left him skimmed instead of semi-skimmed milk.

   No real news about Spurs today.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Blackburn Rovers sack manager Henning Berg after 57 days in charge ... Nottingham Forest name Alex McLeish as their new manager ...

   Tottenham beat Aston Villa 4-0 at Villa Park this evening.  For a match report, click here.
   Brad Friedel has signed a new one year deal that will keep him at Spurs until July 2014.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Nottingham Forest sack manager Sean O'Driscoll ... 

   HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL !!
   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Spurs are still without Younes Kaboul (knee) and he is joined by Clint Dempsey, who has a groin injury.  On the other side of the coin, Benoit Assou-Ekotto may be fit to be included in the match day eighteen and Scott Parker might make the starting eleven now he is back to full match fitness.
  ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS : -  Villa will have late checks on three injured players – Ron Vlaar (calf) , Gabriel Agbonlahor (thigh) and Charles N’Zogbia (knee) – to see if they are ready to play against Spurs.  Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent will miss out with a hamstring injury.  Midfielder Gary Gardner is out for the season with knee ligament damage, Stilian Petrov’s career is on hold while he battles Leukaemia and Richard Dunne has been out since the start of the season with a groin condition.
   For a preview of the Boxing Day match with Aston Villa, click here.

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   Spurs hope to persuade goalkeeper Brad Friedel to stay at White Hart Lane with the offer of a one year contract to ward off efforts by his former club Blackburn Rovers to take him back to Ewood Park, says the Daily Mirror.

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   The Sunday Mirror claims that Spurs are to be offered £5 million by Chelsea for Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... Towards the end of the 0-8 defeat at Stamford Bridge today, Aston Villa were taking the ball into the corners to waste time.

   Tottenham drew 0-0 with Stoke City at White Hart Lane this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.
   The Daily Mail claims that Spurs might make a £10 million January move for Montpelier bad boy midfielder, 20 year old Younes Balhanda, who was French Young Player of the Year last season.

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   The kick off times for the Round of 32 matches with Olympique Lyonnais have been announced.  The first leg at White Hart Lane on Thursday 14th February will kick off at 20:05, with the second leg in the Stade Gerland on Thursday 21st February will have a 18:00 (UK time) kick off [19:00 local time].
   STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS : -  Ryan Shotton returns after a one match suspension, but Charlie Adam misses the match after the death of his father, Michael Owen has a hamstring injury, Marc Wilson misses out with a broken leg and Rory Delap has a hernia.

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   CRIME WATCH ... Spanish club Malaga have been banned by UEFA  for one season in European competition over the next four seasons because of unpaid bills ... 

   Spurs have been drawn at home to Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of the Round of 32 in the Europa League.  The game will be played on 14th February 2013 and the return in the Stade Gerland will be played on 21st February 2013.  Should Tottenham progress, they will meet the winner of the Internazionale v FC Cluj tie in the Round of 16.
   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Spurs will be buoyed by the return of Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale to the squad, with Scott Parker also regaining his match fitness.  Younes Kaboul is still out with his knee injury.
   For a preview of Saturday's game at home to Stoke City, click here.
   The Daily Telegraph claims Andre Villas-Boas had had a meeting with the defenders at the club about the late goals the team have been conceding.

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   The Sun claim that Daniel Sturridge will prefer to move to Liverpool over Tottenham when Chelsea sell him in January.
   In the Daily Star, it reckons Newcastle United and Spurs will try to hijack Liverpool's attempt to re-sign Thomas Ince from Blackpool.
   A Spanish website claims Spurs and Arsenal are both keen on brining David Villa to England from Barcelona, where he is getting fed up with the little playing time he is getting.

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   Spurs Youth beat Cheltenham Town Youth at Whaddon Road 1-0 this evening with Shaquille Coulthirst scoring the only goal of the game.  This puts Spurs through to the Fourth Round, where they will playa way at West Ham United on 19th January 2013.

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   Spurs Under-21s beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Villa Park tonight with goals from Ryan Mason, Scott Parker and Souleymane Coulibaly.  The team finished top of their group that included Manchester United, Newcastle United and Villa and go into the next stage of the Premier League Academy U21competition.

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   OTHER NEWS ... John Ward has taken charge of Bristol Rovers until the end of the season ... 

   CRIME WATCH ... Marouna Fellaini has received a three match ban for his head butt on Ryan Shawcross on Saturday ... 

   Tottenham beat Swansea City 1-0 at White Hart Lane today.  For a match report, click here.

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   The  London evening Standard claim that Spurs are thinking over a £20 million move for Ajax's Danish 20 year old midfielder Christian Eriksen.
   In the Daily Mirror they report that Andre Villas-Boas and Gareth Bale have met Premier League referee Andre Marriner to talk about the reputation the player is developing for diving.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Bristol Rovers sacked their manager Mark McGhee today ... 

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : - Spurs may play Scott Parker and Michael Dawson at some stage during the game on Sunday with Swansea City, as they both make their comebacks after Achilles and hamstring problems respectively.  Younes Kaboul's knee injury will mean he is out until after Christmas and Gareth Bale (hamstring) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are also out.
   SWANSEA CITY TEAM NEWS : -  Pablo Hernandez is suffering from a hamstring strain and Michel Vorm's groin injury keeps him side-lined, along with Neil Taylor's who broke an ankle early on in the season.  Skipper Ashley Williams is able to play after serving a one match ban.
   For a preview of the game against Swansea City on Sunday, click here.
   Gareth Bale could fetch Spurs £56 million as Real Madrid are planning a swoop for him in the next two transfer windows, according to the Metro, who quote Marca, the Spanish football paper.

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   Ludicrously, Steven Caulker has been banned by UEFA for two games for his part in the England Under-21 game in Serbia that ended in racist abuse and the players being physically beaten.  The FA intend to appeal against the ban, with another appeal against the punishment handed out to the Serbian FA, of one Under-21 game to be played behind closed doors, while four players have been banned for two to three games and two coaches banned from all football for two years.  UEFA also gave the Serbian FA a £65,000 fine.
   Tottenham's NextGen team lost 0-2 to Anderlecht at Hotspur Way this afternoon.
   Jordan Archer's loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers has been extended until the end of April.

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   Harry Redknapp is supposed to be keen on taking Jake Livermore on loan to QPR in the January transfer widow for the remainder of the season.

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   CRIME WATCH ... the Serbian FA have been fined by UEFA around £4,000 for their crowd's behaviour in a World Cup qualifying home match against Wales, which they won 6-1.  The verdict of the England U21 game which ended in racist chants and a mass brawl is expected on Thursday ... 

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   MEHSTG's no-spin story ... West Ham United have been featured in an episode of the cartoon series "The Simpsons".  Make up your own jokes about that one !!

   Defender Adam Smith is talking to Millwall about extending his loan until the end of the season according to the Daily Star.

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   MEHSTG's no-spin story ... Bradford City reach the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time with a 3-2 penalties win after the game finished 1-1 at 90 minutes and the end of extra time against Arsenal.

   Spurs Under-21s, including Scott Parker as an over-age player, lost 1-2 to Sunderland at the Academy of Light this afternoon.  Cristian Ceballos scored Tottenham's goal.

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   Tottenham lost 1-2 to Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.
   The Sunday Mirror claim that Spurs are ready to make a £7 million bid for contract rebel Fernando Llorente, who looks set to leave Athletic Bilbao.  The 27 year old striker may be sold in January as he could leave for free next summer.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Lionel Messi scores both goals in their 2-1 win over Real Betis to break the 40 year old goal-scoring record in a calendar year by reaching 86 goals and going past Bayern Munich and Germany striker Gerd Muller's previous all time high ...  There was a pitch invasion, coin throwing and racially aggravated incidents at today's Manchester derby at the Etihad stadium this afternoon ...

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -   Spurs go into the match at Goodison Park without Scott Parker (Achilles), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee), Younes Kaboul (knee), Michael Dawson (hamstring) and Gareth Bale (hamstring).  With no midweek match next week, expect Hugo Lloris and Mousa Dembele to return to the side.
   EVERTON TEAM NEWS : -  Everton host Spurs, but will be without Phil Neville (knee) and Victor Anichebe (hamstring), while they have concerns over the availability of Kevin Mirralis (hamstring) and Sean Coleman (knock). 
   For a match preview ahead of the Goodison Park match, click here.
   The Spurs Under-18s beat Sunderland U18 4-0 at Hotspur Way in the FA Premier Academy League.  The goals came from a Shaquile Coulthirst hat trick and Roman Michael-Percil.

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   MEHSTG's no-spin story ... Despite only having been in place for two weeks, Harry Redknapp is setting records with QPR, who today became the Premier League team who have gone the longest without a win from the start of the season - 16 games.

   TalkSport claim that Spurs and Fulham target  Anderlecht and DR Congo striker Dieumerci Mbokani, will not be leaving the Belgian club in January.

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   Tottenham beat Panathinaikos of Greece 3-1 at White Hart Lane in their last Group J Europa League match tonight.  For a match report, click here.
   Rumours are circulating in the Press that Andre Villas-Boas may be considering a January move for Joao Moutinho of FC Porto, with £24 million being quoted as the price Spurs are willing to pay for the Portuguese midfielder they couldn't agree a deal for in the summer.  AVB was at the Paris St. Germain v FC Porto match in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Graham Alexander has been appointed as the new manager of Fleetwood Town ... 

   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : -  Tottenham will be without Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale, who both succumbed to hamstring injuries at Fulham on Saturday, so will miss the game along with Younes Kaboul (knee), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Scott Parker (Achilles).  Emmanuel Adebayor will be available to play after missing three Premier League games through suspension.

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   The FA Cup Third Round tie against Coventry City will be played at White Hart Lane on Saturday 5th January 2013 with the game kicking off at 15:00.
   Tottenham's fixtures for February have been mucked about with by the TV companies and the following games have moved from their original slots.
West Bromwich Albion (A) - originally scheduled for Saturday 2nd February 2013 - will now be played on Sunday 3rd February 2013, kicking off at 13:30 (Sky TV)
Newcastle United (H) - will still be played on Saturday 9th February 2013 but will now kicking off at 12:45 (Sky TV)
West Ham United (A) - originally scheduled for Saturday 23rd February 2013 - will now be played on Monday 25th February 2013, kicking off at 20:00 (Sky TV)
   For a preview of Thursday's Europa League match with Panathinaikos, click here.

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   Emmanuel Adebayor may not be heading off to the African Cup of Nations in January, after he threatened to quit international football as Togo have not played their players for taking part in a friendly match recently.

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   Spurs have been drawn against Coventry City at home in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  The tie will be played on the weekend starting Friday 4th January 2013.
   The Scottish Sunday Mail claims Spurs may beat Glasgow Celtic to the signing of the teenage Polish striker Arkuduisz Milik who plays for Gornik Zabrze and has scored 10 goals already this season.

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   Tottenham beat Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage this afternoon.  Click here for a match report.

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   OTHER NEWS ... Fleetwood Town sacked their manager Micky Mellon after today's FA Cup exit at the hands of Aldershot, with the club in the play-off places in League Two ... 

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   MEHSTG's spin story ... .