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The game against Real Madrid last Wednesday evening for Tottenham Hotspur was a strange one. Although they were 4-0 down from the 1st leg which would’ve had a major disadvantage on their mental preparation, the Spurs players seemed to give the Madrid players too much respect. But the Spurs crowd were incredible, making White Hart Lane a boombox of momentum that seemed to give the Tottenham players a kick up the backside in order to at least try and score a few goals.

Perhaps there was too much damage done from the previous leg, 4 goals down against superior opposition meant that a 5-0 victory was too much to ask for and it looked like most of the Tottenham players believed this. Now their Champions League honeymoon is officially over, the questions are starting to be asked if they will date Europe’s premier competition again next season?

Currently 5th in the Premier League, 3 points behind 4th placed Manchester City, there are a few anxieties over whether this Tottenham team can qualify for the Champions League, especially if they want to progress into Europe’s elite competitors.

Having the weekend off should do the Spurs players some good, giving them time to rest and reflect on the Madrid games whilst also giving them more time to prepare for the North London derby against Arsenal on Wednesday evening. A victory would see them level on 56 points with City, but despite keeping them 5th on goal difference, the fixture against the Manchester club in May should see the 4th place decided much like last season.

However, a defeat to their rivals on Wednesday would see Spurs’ Champions League ambitions take a huge blow and more people will be wondering where the future lies if the club fail to finish in the top four come the end of the season.

Chairman, Daniel Levy, made comments about streamlining the Tottenham squad in last year’s half-year accounts that went up to the 31st December 2010. His main concern was that the club have had one of the largest squads in the Premier League and it had contributed to the club making a substantial growth in costs. Will the squad be depleted if they finish 5th after game 38 this season?

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With Gareth Bale’s impressive performances, especially the hat-trick at the San Siro against Inter Milan, he has now made a name for himself on the world stage. Despite signing a new contract until 2015, even manager Harry Redknapp said that a record breaking transfer bid would make the club consider selling him, but keeping Bale would be essential to the club progressing.

Although the streamlining relates to squad size, rather than the need to sell their best players, could the players themselves want to leave if there is no Champions League football next season? Despite the likes of Bale, and other impressive stars like Luka Modric gaining their first real experience of the competition, they do possess the personality types that would want to leave at the first sign of failure.

However, despite Spurs finishing 4th last season and their impressive performances in Europe this season, whilst also staying in the fight for a top four spot this year, it’s been made clear that the side need to improve the squad. Manager Harry Redknapp has stressed that the squad needs more depth but failed to make any signings in January other than Steven Pienaar from Everton.

But with the comments made by Levy in last year’s accounts, would Harry be given a chance to improve the squad with no Champions League income next season? He may have to do it on the cheap and make the shrewd signings like the one that took William Gallas to White Hart Lane on a free transfer.

A more extreme option would be to cash in on the likes of Gareth Bale or Luka Modric and use the transfer money to increase the squad depth, however this option sounds improbable given the current climate of the transfer market in world football. Finding a bargain buy is harder than ever, even Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson and Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger have commented on how over valued players are in football today.

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If Spurs do finish 4th then the talks of streamlining the squad will be thrown by the wayside, with the income the illustrious competition brings in, Harry Redknapp will be allowed to sell any deadwood in the squad and make additions that will make them stronger for the likes of Real Madrid next year.

However, if they don’t make it into the top four then Harry will have a tough time ahead. Especially if Manchester City qualify in their place and are likely to improve their squad in the summer, along with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, finishing in the top four in years to come will harder than it ever has been.

Back Spurs in the north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham…

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Yaya Toure scored the only goal as Manchester City won their first trophy for 35 years after deservedly overcoming Stoke City at Wembley.Roberto Mancini’s side went into the game as firm favourites against Stoke, who had never reached the final before, and it appeared they would regret failing to make the most of numerous first-half chances.

But Ivorian Toure, who scored the winner in City’s semi-final victory over local rivals Manchester United, blasted home when a loose ball fell to him with just 16 minutes left to give City the win that their performance merited.

Both managers fielded their strongest line-ups as Carlos Tevez came through a late fitness test for City, as did Matthew Etherington and Robert Huth for Tony Pulis’ Stoke.

And it was the favourites who started the stronger.

Tevez took just five minutes before he tested Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal with a low drive, with Ryan Shawcross was fortunate not to score an own goal as he deflected a low Aleksander Kolarov cross into the side netting.

It was all City in the opening half-hour as Toure fired a shot inches wide from 35 yards, before Sorensen produced a sensational save, somehow pushing Mario Balotelli’s curling effort past the far post when it appeared the Italian had surely scored from just inside the area.

Yet City should have taken the lead after 35 minutes.

Tevez started the move, playing the ball over the top for Balotelli to chase, and when the Italian was denied by Sorensen it seemed David Silva had to score, only for the Spaniard to volley the ball into the ground and watch in horror as it bounced over the unguarded net from just seven yards out.

It was a poor miss, and City must have wondered if they were going to regret their profligacy, especially when Silva failed to even have a shot at goal when Tevez played him through on goal early in the second-half.

Stoke were much improved, though, and City were indebted to Joe Hart for saving well when Kenwyne Jones had a shot from six yards out after chasing a long ball and getting the better of Joleon Lescott.

It appeared certain that the game was going to go into extra-time as neither side was able to make any real impression going forward as full-time drew near.

But with 16 minutes left, City made the breakthrough.

It was a scrappy goal in truth – not that City will mind – as Silva looked to combine with Tevez down the left.

When the ball was played into the box Balotelli’s effort hit Marc Wilson and fell perfectly for Toure to run on and smash a left-footed effort past Sorensen from eight yards.

The goal sparked scenes of wild celebration in the City end and appeared to knock the wind out of Stoke, who never looked likely to recover as Mancini’s men hung on to claim the first trophy of the Sheikh Mansour era.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that Danny Graham and Billy Sharp are likely to be in demand in the summer and both players have had £2.5m price tags put on them. Graham and Sharp have both had fine seasons in the Championship scoring 24 Championship goals and 15 Championship goals respectably and their clubs will be keen to hold on to them.

At this time it is not known which clubs will be in for Graham – but it is expected there will be several interested parties in the Championships leading goal-scorer. Ipswich Town are believed to have shown an interest in Billy Sharp. Sharp has done well to score 15 league goals considering he has spent some time out injured. In fact he has managed to score those 15 goals in only 27 starts.

Ipswich’s interest is not a surprise – because they have been short of fire power this season with their top scoring being David Norris with 11 goals in all competitions. It is believed that Sharp is now looking to leave Doncaster after their disappointing performance in the league this season. If he does move on Doncaster are adamant that it won’t be for less than £2.5m – but Ipswich will not be the only interested party in the summer.

Like these rumours? Follow me on Twitter

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Lille have all but wrapped up the Ligue 1 title after a 1-0 win over Sochaux on Wednesday put them six points clear at the top of the table.With two games remaining and a superior goal-difference over the chasing Marseille, Lille would have to suffer two hefty defeats to throw away the title.

Ivory Coast attacker Gervinho scored the only goal of the game on 53 minutes after an assist from Moussa Sow.

It was enough to extend Lille’s unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games, while defeat leaves Sochaux in sixth.

Paris Saint-Germain missed their chance to move into third after they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bordeaux.

Mali attacker Cheick Diabate hit a sixth-minute penalty to move Bordeaux into eighth.

PSG, who are fourth, could have moved into Lyon’s UEFA Champions League spot with a win but instead remain two points behind.

They also need to hold off fifth-placed Stade Rennes, who are two points behind them.

M

anchester United are the latest club to be linked with Udinese attacker Alexis Sanchez as the race hots up for the 22-year old, according to Mirror Football.

Sanchez first moved to Italy for £2 million in the summer of 2006 but returned to South America on loan for the following two seasons. He has since made 108 appearances for the club, scoring 21 goals on the way and has become one of the hottest talents in European football.

Manchester City and Chelsea were first linked with the player but have now been joined by Manchester United and European Champions Barcelona. Inter Milan and Juventus also registered an interest in Sanchez but he is reported to favour a move abroad.

Udinese are set to demand £30 million for the Chilean, who has 36 caps to his name and his currently preparing for the Copa America.

United had hoped to offer £25 million for the player whilst Barcelona are believed to favour a part-exchange deal including strikers Jeffren and Bojan Krkic.

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With Manchester City seemingly exploring other alternatives, London club Chelsea could be the most likely club to meet Udinese’s valuation of the player.

The barren run of the Colorado Rapids continued on Sunday, as the reigning MLS champions were held 0-0 at home by Houston Dynamo.A frustrating match for the Rapids was summed up by a red card showed to substitute forward Quincy Amarikwa after the final whistle, ensuring Colorado have now won just one of their past 10 fixtures.

The Rapids – missing first-choice striker Conor Casey through suspension – had six shots on target from 14 efforts, while Dynamo failed to test Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens in three of their own.

But the points were to be shared at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall claiming man-of-the-match honours for second-half saves from Drew Moor and Amarikwa.

Amarikwa’s match only got worse when he was handed two yellow cards in a minute, talking his way into a red for animated protestations to referee Baldomero Toledo.

The result keeps the Rapids in fifth on the Western Conference table, and they will bid to overturn their woeful run of form on Wednesday at Sporting Kansas City.

Houston move to fourth in the Easter Conference, with Toronto to visit John O’Quinn Field on Saturday.

English Premier League club Chelsea have reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Spanish defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.Romeu, 19, will be in Colombia competing at the Under-20 World Cup for Spain until August 20 at the latest, meaning the deal is not expected to be finalised next month.

With Michael Essien ruled out for up to six months after undergoing knee surgery, Romeu could provide cover in central midfield for the English Premier League side.

“He’s one of the most interesting, bright young players in the number six position, as we like to call it,” Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said.

“And hopefully we can agree personal terms with the player and hopefully he will pass a medical. Oriol is a player, of course with a bright future, he still has to evolve as a player and prove himself as a player.”

Romeu made his full Barcelona debut in May, after featuring for the reserve team 49 times.

Villas-Boas also discussed the future of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The 19-year-old joined Chelsea from Belgian club Racing Genk earlier this month, but was already set to join Atletico Madrid on loan as Chelsea look to further his development.

“Regarding Cortois, it is also a question of time and of deciding where we think it is better for him to evolve as a player, in Spain or in another country,” Villas-Boas said.

“Of course, the Spanish League is extremely competitive and Atletico is a great club to be at, but it is not decided yet.”

Courtois also had the option of returning to Genk next season, but has since passed a medical with Atletico and will spend the 2011/12 campaign at the La Liga club.

Chelsea will play a Thailand Premier League All-Stars XI in Bangkok on Sunday.

Runners-up to Manchester United last season, they begin their latest Premier League title challenge on August 14 with a trip to Stoke City.

There are very few clubs in modern football that are afforded the time to see through a team-building project. The combination of ambitious players and the necessity for immediate results makes a nurturing, progressive environment a rarity.

At the top end of the spectrum you have Real Madrid and Chelsea, frontrunners in impatience and disruption. The pressure on results is so great that there is no time for rebuilding. There is time for tweaks, but not for projects. There is just about time to explain a philosophy, attempt to implement it and see if it works.

In contrast to these clubs you have Manchester United and Barcelona, both clubs have been allowed time to build teams. Ferguson went through six seasons of team building before his first title and has bought time for further rebuilds through his successes. Barcelona too, have been allowed to develop this team over time, with Rijkaard’s team developing into that of Guardiola’s. These clubs are currently devoid of the pressures because they are successful.

At any level below the very top, the players become a problem. Even at a club of Arsenal’s stature, the players’ heads are turned by the lure of glory elsewhere. Wenger’s previous successes have allowed him time to build, but his failure to win trophies is prompting his players to abandon his project before the chairman does.

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Attracted by the bright lights of the big clubs, loyalty and commitment are disappointingly scarce. Consider the transfers of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing this summer, both players were hugely important to Aston Villa. They were players to build a team around, along with Darren Bent. Villa may have money now, but their teambuilding begins again.

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Further down the pecking order the manager does not even control when his team will be torn apart. Steve Bruce always complained bitterly about the disruptive effect of the January transfer window on his squad when he was Wigan manager. The top clubs swooped in to pick at his assets, (such as Heskey and Palacios in 2009) and left him to work with what was left for the second half of the season.

What are the conditions that allow a club time to build? A lack of expectation has allowed Borussia Dortmund time to build and take people by surprise. Previous success bought Rafael Benitez time at Liverpool and supreme sums of money allow Manchester City to build. These are certainly all factors, but they are conditions that are rare nowadays. Are chairmen in such a rush they’d rather buy than build? And do players have the loyalty to try and help a club improve or is it just every man for himself now?

This weekend’s opening day of the season was not one of the most exciting, in terms of goals and entertainment, which I can remember. However there were still important results for Wolves who won away at Blackburn and Bolton who stuffed newly-promoted QPR 4-0 at Loftus Road. While watching this weekend’s football I was questioning whether or not the opening weekend ever gives a clear indication what is to take place for the coming season. Looking back at the history of the Premier League there are cases where it does both.

The problem is that teams and their managers are still trying to find the best combination for selection and tactics and they are still recovering from a hard pre-season. While the supporters like to see potential for the new season, the mangers know that there are still many games left in the season.

Back in 1995, Manchester United took on Aston Villa in the first match of the season after selling Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes during the summer. They lost 3-1 to the Villa which led Match of the Day pundit, Alan Hansen to infamously exclaim that they ‘couldn’t win anything with kids’. United went on to win six of their next eight Premier League titles, two FA Cups plus a Champions League with a similar side to one that lost to Villa (although they did add the likes of Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel, Andy Cole and Jaap Stam during the season.) This proves that the first game of the season may not be as important as first thought.

Another example comes at the start of the 2009 season. Arsenal were heavily tipped to miss out on the top four with Everton meant to be their main source of competition. However the season didn’t exactly start to plan as Everton faced Arsenal but the Toffees were 3-0 down by half time before eventually losing 6-1 in an truly awful performance. However it didn’t mean that much for the new season as Arsenal went onto to finish third with Everton in 8th.

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Importantly with the transfer window not closing until the end of August, after the season has started, clubs can still strengthen and can finish the season with a very different team to one that they started with. This makes it hard to say if it gives an indication, I suppose the only way we will see is in the final table at the end of the season.

New Arsenal signing Mikel Arteta has stated that the chance to move to North London and compete in the Champions League was too good to turn down.

Arsene Wenger signed the Spaniard from Everton in a last-gasp £10 million deal on transfer deadline day, with the 29-year-old earmarked as a potential replacement for outgoing Cesc Fabregas.

“It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it. It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League,” he is reported to have said in The Telegraph.

The manner in which the playmaker left Goodison Park may disappoint Toffees fans, but Arteta feels he has been a loyal servant to the Merseyside outfit.

“I am 29 years old so I haven’t got much time left to take a chance like this one. I think I have done my best for Everton.

“I always try hard, I have been as professional as I could and I was grateful for the support and the love that the club and the fans showed me. It is very difficult to say goodbye. I still can’t believe it but at the same time I think it is the right moment for everyone.

“Obviously I am never going to forget what I have done here and what the people and this club have done for me,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Per Mertesacker, who also joined the Gunners on Wednesday in a £9 million move from Werder Bremen, is excited about the challenge ahead.

“Arsenal have this ability to play good football and to have Arsene Wenger on top of that as coach is unbelievable. I have wanted this for so long. It is a challenging task which I will tackle because I will also develop further as a player,” the Germany international told the club’s official website.

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The pair may make their Arsenal debuts in the side’s next Premier League match, which is against Swansea at the Emirates on September 10th.

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