My Transfer Predictions for 2007/08

I hope we see more signings of the calibre of Bale in the closed season. We don't need to0 many additions, another centre back and an attacking (creative) midfielder would suffice. Whoever joins though needs to be real quality. We have shown, with two 5th place finishes in succession that we are aiming high, but that has to be proved by more signings of Berbatovs quality.

Centre Back Younes Kaboul has already been linked with the club, but I would rather see us continue the British theme by signing Curtis Davies from West Brom, although surely that would rest on the result of the playoff on Monday. With transfer fees of similar values, Davies would be the safer signing with regards to adapting to the Premiership.

The midfield area is tricky to predict. Spurs are thankfully always quiet about their targets, but it makes it hard to know where they want to strengthen. Jenas, when fit, is undoubtedly a goal scoring midfielder, but too often we were found wanting in that department when he was missing. The link to Nani from sporting would be great should it turn out to be true. He would provide competition for Jenas and offer options when the game needs some extra magic.

Probably unlikely to happen, I would love to see us move for Diego from Werder Bremen. He has been a revelation this season and has provided the creative edge to the side and weighed in with some vital goals. Bremen just missed out on the league title, and with Klose possibly leaving, some players might think twice about their chances for success next year.

Darren Bent is obviously on most of the newspaper gossip lists when they want to write a Spurs rumour story. I have to admit to being torn over his possible signing. To score 13 league goals in a relegation season beset with injuries is an impressive achievement, not forgetting the previous season's achievements to. I just wonder if it will hurt our attack. Defoe and Keane already rotate as Berbatovs strike partner and the addition of another stiker of their quality might make it a tricky situation to handle for all involved. Someone needs to replace Mido though. I would rather Lee Barnard got his chance to shine. He frequently tops the Reserve league scoring charts and has looked sharp when given Premier League chances.

It will be interesting to see who leaves the club this year. Murphy will almost certainly leave for one of the promoted clubs, Routledge will either go out on loan again or end up at a Championship club. Ghaly will stay, despite his shirt throwing antics. I expect Philip Ifil to finally leave after years of waiting for a chance, and now Young Pyo could play on the right Stalteri will also move clubs, probably back to Germany with a side like Nurnberg.

Bale Signs!

Finally, after months of speculation Gareth Bale has signed for Spurs!

Continuing our recent tradition of signing the best of young British talent, Bale adds to an impressive group of players including Lennon, Dawson and Huddlestone.

Comfortable on the left side of midfield as well as his regular left back slot, Bale should add some much needed bite to our attack, removing the need to play Lennon out of position. His crossing ability is apparently exceptional (not hard by Premiership standards) and he has a good range of passing, so will fit well into the current setup.

Whether or not the reported interest of Arsenal was 'paper talk' or not, it was great to see Spurs win a battle for a player against a team of the calibre of ManYoo.

I am sure that this will signal the end of Young Pyo playing at left back, hopefully ending our somewhat unusual tradition of buying right-footed left backs. I always wondered why we played him there as he plays right-back for South Korea.

Stormy night sky

Taken post storm from our balcony in Prenzlauerberg, Berlin

Posh snaps up Charlie Lee

Peterborough have completed the signing of young defender Charlie Lee from Tottenham.

The 20-year-old centre-half has signed a three-year deal.

"I'm pleased Charlie has agreed to sign for us, he's a winner and that is the sort of player we want at this club," said Ferguson.

"I've seen him play on a number of occasions, he can play at the back or in midfield and I'm delighted he is on board."

Lee did not manage a first-team appearance at White Hart Lane, but he spent a month on loan at League One Millwall earlier this season.

Nani on his way to WHL?

The Times reports that Spurs are in negotiations over £13.5m-rated Nani.

Two potential stumbling blocks to this move:

1) He was recently quoted as saying he will only leave Portugal for a club like United (if he meant Newcastle we could be in with a shout).

2) He apparently just signed a new 6-year with a €30Million release clause, although this has not been confirmed by Sporting Lisbons website.

Given our record with Portuguesers I only hope it would be different under Jol.

48 hours and counting

'Wales left-back Bale, 17, will sign at White Hart Lane within 48 hours'

Source - The Sun (and just about everyone else).

Berbatov to ManYoo?

Apparently ManYoo will offer Spurs £27.5m in cash - nearly three times what we paid for Berbatov last summer - as well as throwing in Louis Saha.

To be fair, this came from The Sun, so who knows if it's not just a slow day in the office. Worryingly though they report that 'Yesterday, Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev refused to confirm the player would be at White Hart Lane next season,' reports the rag.

'Dantchev said: "In football you do not know what will happen tomorrow."

'Spurs are trying to get Berbatov to sign a new six-year contract, doubling his £22,000-a-week deal. United could more than treble it to £70,000 a week.'

That'll teach him...

'A man trying to kill his girlfriend by stopping a car in front of an approaching train was himself killed Monday when the train hit the vehicle and launched it into him as he tried to flee, police said.

'The girlfriend survived.'

Source - Press Association

Is Bale close to agreement?

Latest rumours have Bale at White Hart Lane for contract discussions.

Could this be our answer to the Left Back problems that dogged us all season?

8 New design hotels Members!

design hotels AG -authors of the design hotels YEARBOOK- today announced the signing of eight new hotels to the group. Independent hotels that are "united by progressive design" can join the group, which has its headquarters in Berlin.

In the first quarter of this year, eight hotels signed up to become official Design Hotels, including four newly opened hotels. The Chedi Milan (Indonesia meets Italy) and the Santa Teresa Resort (pictured) in Sicily joined up in March, and London's new Haymarket Hotel opened up last April.

You can check out all eight new editions here

Interesting "opening soon" hotels in the design hotels group include the Avalon Hotel in Gothenburg, Sweden, with its "rough-hewn lodge-like feel", and the Lanchid Hotel in Budapest. The Lanchid is named after the city's famous chain bridge over the Danube and includes an ultra-modern lighting design combined with stunning views.

Oh Teddy, Teddy...

Where was Teddy Sheringham during West Ham's do-or-die fight to avoid relegation?

A West Ham insider claims he knows (c/o PopBitch). The story goes that on Alan Curbishley's first away game as manager Sheringham sat on the team bus playing cards for money with some of the younger members of the team. He cleaned most of them out, one for at least 20 grand. Curbishley is said to have told Teddy to cancel all the bets, or he'd never play for the Hammers again. Looking at the young, lippy, Bentley-owning, non-entities...Sheringham refused.

Saints deny agreeing fee with Spurs

So that can only mean one thing...Bale is on his way to Spurs. As normally happens, a club in denial are either trying to pursuade the player to stay or holding out for another offer, in this case from ManYoo.

Never has a Supermarket looked so interesting

Source - unaesthetic.net

Burley: Resist ManU & Spurs

George Burley has urged Gareth Bale to resist the lure of Tottenham and Manchester United and stay at Southampton for one more season. He may have a point after being proved correct over Walcotts transfer to Arsenal didn't quite go as the youngster planned.

I am sure that if Bale decided to move to Old Trafford he will face competition from Patrice Evra and Mikael Silvestre for a first-team place, with Heinze more than likely being dumped in June after his poor FA Cup Final.

I am sure he would get a regular spot at White Hart Lane, where Martin Jol has an as yet unproven Frenchman or our right footed Korean to choose from. Just not sure he is worth the reported 10M GBP that was being touted around. Maybe now that Southampton are consigned to the Championship for another season he might not command such a large fee.

Surprise, surprise, Mido wants a move

Not entirely surprising though, given his frequent changes of clubs over the years. Despite being saved from reserve football at Roma (where most fans hated him and didn't want to see the lazy Egyptian play for them again) and saved from joining Man City Nil by Jol in January, he still has the balls to critise the club.

As quoted of Football365.com:

"I would be lying if I said that I am happy at Spurs. Any player who doesn't play will not feel happy. The hard times started with me making the wrong decision. I made a big mistake when I signed permanently for Spurs. I know that this could result in problems but it is the truth."

Obviously he also suffered some form of brain injury in addition to the countless calf and back problems that kept him out of the side this season. When Jol did play him he failed to look like he wanted to play for the club. I say good riddance to him and I hope that he enjoys his relegation scrap at Wigan next season.

Note to Martin Jol - please don't waste any cash generated by his sale on Darren Bent.

Lee and Burch Released

Spurs confirmed today that two members of the reserve team that took us to the 2005/06 Reserve League Championship, Charlie Lee and Robert Burch, have been released by the club.

The official story can be found here:
Spurs Official Site

Mattsadler.co.uk

If you like images of motorsport, muscians or fashion, check out my mate Matt's website.

Mattsadler.co.uk

LOOP @ ACUD in Mitte, Saturday 26 May 22:00

Check out LOOP on Saturday - aka Leigh Evans and Band - at ACUD Kunstverein in Mitte.

Here is a link to Leigh's myspace page so you can preview their music:
LOOP - Leigh Evans

Here is a link to the ACUD site:
ACUD Kunstverein

Arndstrasse in Berlin

As seen at 8am while trying to get my daughter to sleep.