[K3V0]

craguuscool, on May 24 2008, 11:42 AM, said:

You might say Keane was fantastic but this story is fantastic, I know I've used that word a lot in stories but it's true. The standard of stories on this forum is great and you are no exception Irish

Cheers bud ..... I am hoping to see more of your Scotland story :yes:

And i bought an external hardrive today so my saved game will always be backed up so i never have to go through the heartbrake i did last night.... I was going to drop my pc down the stairs then I realised my fm08 disc was inside lol

This post has been edited by Irish: 24 May 2008 - 10:50 AM

[K3V0]

25th July 2007

Manchester United centre back Johnny Evans has joined Tottenham on a year long loan deal. The promising centre back from Belfast in Northern Ireland is said to be rated very highly by Hancock and it is reported that Spurs had a seven million pound offer rejected by United. With Ledly King and Michael Dawson suffering from injuries of late it was no surprise that Hancock would invest in another centre back although most of the media expected the Irishman to go for a long term solution rather then a loan move which sees Evans spend another year away from Old Trafford. Evans was a crucial part of former Manchester United player Roy Keanes Sunderland side last year as they stormed to the Championship title after sitting twenty third in the league before Keanes arrival. Evans is said to be happy to work with Hancock at White Hart Lane.

High flying Evans a Spur

[K3V0]

31st July 2007

Pre Season Friendly

Ciutat de Valencia Stadium

Levante 2 - 0 Tottenham

Tottenham suffered their first defeat under Kevin Hancock in tonights pre season game against Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium. In a very even game which could have swung either way Tottenham just didnt have luck on their side as a dubious goal that might have been offside gave Levante the lead and a strike deep into second half injury time killed the game off as Tottenham went all out to try and grab an equaliser with time ticking away.


It was Levante striker Savio that broke the deadlock in the fiftieth minute with a header from a Jesuli cross but it seemed that Savio had more space then a striker usually should have in such situations and Tottenham players protested to the linesmen that Savio was indeed in an offside position when the ball was played. Their protests where in vein as referee David Miranda Torres gave the goal and ordered the Spurs players back to the centre circle to resume play.


After the goal Levante sat back and invited Hancocks men onto them but Spurs couldnt find a way through as the Levante defence frustrated Berbatov and Keane at every oppourtunity and they limited Tottenham to long distance shots which keeper Marco Storari dealt with comfortably and as time ticked away and Tottenham poured forward they where caught on the counter attack by former Deportivo midfielder Emilio Jose Viqueira who tapped home a swift move which started in the Levante half and took seven seconds to get to Tottenhams goal.

A frustrated Berbatov against Levante

This post has been edited by Irish: 24 May 2008 - 12:23 PM

[Keano.]

A good read so far, but I think you should try and make some of the images a little smaller.

[K3V0]

1st August 2007

Tottenham Hotspur will go into a North London derby on the opening day of the season in Kevin Hancocks first game in charge after the English Premier League released the fixtures for the season ahead. In the month of August Spurs will play Arsenal at the Emirates, Newcastle at home, Reading away and Derby at White Hart Lane.

11th August (A) Arsenal

15th August (H) Newcastle United

18th August (A) Reading

25th August (H) Derby County

[craguuscool]

Tough defeat against Levante but a good signing in Evans and starting with Arsenal will be tough, keep it up!

[K3V0]

2nd August 2007

John Bostock has become Kevin Hancocks latest signing. The young fifteen year old from London cost Spurs 180,000 pounds. It is believed that Manchester United and Chelsea where keen to snatch the young lad from the grasp of Hancock but it was Bostocks love of London and the chance to play with his favourite player Jermaine Jenas which made him sign for Tottenham and the fans are loving it. His full time contract will start on his sixteenth birthday in 2008.

One for the future

[K3V0]

6th August 2007

Celtics Gary Caldwell has passed a medical today at White Hart Lane and is to sign a four year deal worth eleven thousand pound a week. It is believed that Caldwells services have cost Tottenham around two and a half million pounds. The Scottish international is to report for training with his new teammates in the morning and could well be in line to make his debut in the North London Derby this Saturday against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.


Caldwell only spent one season at Celtic after joining from Hibernian on a free transfer and the solid defenders departure is sure to upset many Celtic supporters who had warmed to Caldwells heart on his sleeve performances. He made twenty one appearances for the Glasgow giants but failed to score in his time at Celtic Park.

Gary Caldwell has joined Spurs

[K3V0]

7th August 2007

Australian Harry Kewell has joined Tottenham Hotspurs for a reported two million pounds. Kewell becomes Hancocks fifth permanent signing since his arrival in July. Kewell who joined Liverpool in 2003 has been plauged by injury which restricted him to only eighty three performances in four years scoring twelve goals.

Harry Kewell to strut his stuff at White Hart Lane

Quote

Harry Kewell coming to Tottenham shows that we mean business. Its a bargain the price we paid for him and hopefully he can stay injury free and be a key member of the squad. We want to push for European football and to do that you need to make sure that you have enough players to cover injuries and the amount of games you will play over the season. Their would be nothing worse then the candle burning itself out and missing out because we didnt add to the squad when we could have. Kewell can play on the wing, up front or through the middle and he gives us that little bit more. ''Spurs manager Kevin Hancock''

In other news Adel Taarabt and Leigh Mills have both joined Coca Cola League One side Leyton Orient on year long loan deals in search of first team football.

This post has been edited by Irish: 25 May 2008 - 05:10 AM

[K3V0]

11th August 2007

English Premier League

Emirates Stadium

Arsenal 5 - 1 Tottenham

Arsenal fans all over London celebrated as Emmanuel Adebayor and fit again Robin Van Persie led Arsenal to a emphatic victory over North London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium earlier today. It was Kevin Hancocks first competitive game in charge of Spurs and it went terribly wrong from the start. If the Irishman was hoping to win the fans over with a derby day win he was brought back to earth three minutes after kick off.


Zokora lost the ball in midfield to Francesc Fabregas and the Spaniard had the vision to pick out Hleb out wide, the ball finding the Belarus international in space out on the right. Hleb took Gareth Bale on and turned him inside out before whipping the ball into the box. Younes Kaboul on his debut got his head to the ball and had seemed to have cleared the danger until Robin Van Persie shaped up to shoot from over thirty yards out. The Dutchman did shot and a good shot it was stinging the hands of Paul Robinson who couldnt handle it at the first attempt and seconds later he would have been glad to have been sitting on the bench in Radek Cernys place as Adebayor reacted quickest and tapped home from seven yards out to give Arsenal a one nil lead and signal Tottenhams demise on a cold London Saturday.


To Tottenhams credit they rallied after the goal, Dimitar Berbatov of note was outstanding winning every header and controlling every high ball with technical brilliance but after Jenas and Bent both had shots palmed away desperatley by Jens Lehmann, Arsenal once again took their chance.


A long ball forward by William Gallas saw Gary Caldwell win a header easily against Van Persie but his clearance fell straight to Fabregas. Unmarked the Spaniard released Adebayor straight through the middle of the defence with a brilliant pass. With Kaboul claiming offside Adebayor raced away to face Robinson in a one on one contest and Togo striker had no trouble in slotting the ball low and hard past Robinson to double Arsenals lead and his tally for the evening.


At two nil Tottenham could have gotten back into the game but when Robin Van Persie made it three their was little or no hope of a Tottenham revival. Their was two major factors in the third Arsenal goal. The first was the absolute first class ball from Hleb which travelled over sixty yards before reaching Van Persie and two the strikers classy control and deadly finish high into the left hand corner which left Robinson with no chance and had Arsene Wenger punching the air in delight.


Arsenal then made it four nil twenty minutes after the restart through substitute Nicklas Bendtner. The tall Dane tapping home his first senior goal for the Gunners after a clever piece of play by William Gallas and Fabregas and resulted in Van Persie out wide threading the perfect ball across the box for Bendtner to tap home and give the fans another classy goal to cheer about.


Tottenham did get some consolation back in the eighty sixth minute when Robbie Keane scored a stunning goal from thirty yards out. Kevin Prince Boateng was released down the right hand side by Darron Gibson who won the ball back with a stunning challenge on Gilberto Silva. Boateng then raced down the flank before passing the ball to Keane who took one touch to set himself and released a curling shot which started well outside the post but swerved into the top right corner with Lehmanns attempts to reach it powerless to stop such a sweet strike.


With time ticking away Van Persie made sure Arsenal had the last laugh when he ran onto a Gilberto pass and powered home his second and Arsenals fifth to seal the coffin well and truly shut on Tottenham in a dissapointing North London Derby for the men in white.


Kevin Hancock and his players avoided the media after the game and the Irishman will be hoping for a better performance and luck when Newcastle come to visit on Wednesday night at White Hart Lane.

Arsene Wenger celebrates his North London Derby triumph

[stryju]

Hard times after Arsenal game ... story good so far

[K3V0]

14th August 2007

English Premier League

White Hart Lane

Tottenham 1 - 1 Newcastle United

Dimitar Berbatov struck deep into injury time at White Hart Lane as Tottenham salvaged a point against Newcastle United and gave Kevin Hancock his first point as manager of Tottenham since he was appointed.


Still reeling from their five one mauling at the Emirates Stadium, Hancock made five changes to his starting eleven. Johnny Evans made his debut in place of Pascal Chimbonda, Ricardo Rocha came in for Gareth Bale who dropped to the bench, Steed Malbranque and Didier Zokora where dropped from the sixteen for Kevin Prince Boateng and Darron Gibson and Darren Bent dropped to the bench for Tottenhams goalscorer against Arsenal Robbie Keane.


Tottenham started brightly with Boateng looking good wide out on the right. In the thirteenth minute Berbatov had Harper scrambling to his left to tip over a deflected free kick, ten minutes later Keane flashed a shot wide of the post. Hancock was forced into a substitution as the impressive Boateng picked up a head knock and was replaced by Tom Huddlestone. Just past the half hour mark Michael Owen spurned the best chance of the game when he fired a shot straight at Robinson from three yards out after some clever work from James Milner had given him a half chance. Just before half time thou Newcastle made Tottenham pay for a laspe in concentration.


With half time coming thick and fast Newcastle won a throw in after Jenas had put the ball out just before the half way line. Jose Enrique took a quick throw releasing Nicky Butt who played the ball out wide to N'Zogbia who skipped inside and without any close attention released a stinging shot from just outside the box which crept in after striking the inside of the post. Newcastle went in at half time in front.


At half time Hancock replaced Caldwell who was at some degree of fault for N'Zogbias goal with Gareth Bale and Bale nearly levelled matters with a shot two minutes after the restart but his shot just rose at the last second to lift slighty over the bar. The game then became slightly scrappy with both sides unable to build any real momentum mainly due to Newcastles stellar midfield trio Nicky Butt, Geremi and Robbie Savage who went about braking up every Tottenham move before it had even started.


With fifteen minutes to go Hancock threw on Bent for Rocha and switched to a three four three formation in an attempt to break down a resillient Newcastle defence. With everything that Tottenham threw at Newcastle they where equal to it, Harper saved with his feet from Keane and then parried away a Huddlestone drive five minutes from time. Taylor then cleared a Gibson header off the line. With time ticking away it looked likely that Newcastle would survive and N'Zogbias goal just before half time would give the Magpies all three points.


When fourth official Steve Bennet showed White Hart Lane the four minutes of additional stoppage time to be added on the home ground let a mighty roar out in the hope that it would give their players that extra drive to try and create a chance and maybe just maybe take it. Just fourteen seconds from the end White Hart Lane erupted.


Tom Huddlestone picked up the ball at the half way line, everybody but himself and Robinson where in the box for Tottenham. As he floated the ball in towards the bunch of players it seemed that Robbie Savage was all over Younes Kaboul, as Kaboul hit the ground Savage won the header. Tottenham players appealed to referee Jim Price but they where waved away. While all this was happening the ball had been picked back up by Huddlestone who again delivered a dangerous ball into the box this time Newcastle paid the price. Dimitar Berbatov rose highest and flicked a header back towards goal. It went in. Harper couldnt reach it. Tottenham had scored with their final venture forward and the fans went wild. Kevin Hancock ran to celebrate with his players in the corner flag as Tottenham had rescued a point and kick started their Premier League campaign.


Tottenham will now travel to Reading to face Steve Coppels men who beat Birgmingham City three nil in their only game also at the Madejski Stadium on the opening day of the season. Kick off at the Madejski Stadium is at three.

Berbatov shows his delight as he grabbed the equaliser deep into stoppage time

[K3V0]

18th August 2007

English Premier League

Madejski Stadium

Reading 5 - 1 Tottenham

Tottenham put in another shocking performance and where hit for five for the second time this season. Steve Coppels Reading where mercieless as they beat Spurs from pillar to post with a five one drubbing. Man of the Match Leroy Lita scored two, made two and gave the Tottenham defence a nightmare day.


Tottenham buoyed by their late draw against Newcastle came into the game as favourites but it was Reading who started the brigther with Doyle and Harper having shots pushed away by Robinson. Robinson seemed on form but their was nothing he could have done to prevent Reading taking the lead in the ninth minute as Leroy Lita stormed through the defence before slotting his shot low and hard to give Reading a fantastic start.


Just eleven minutes later and Kevin Doyle doubled Readings advantage with a twenty yard thunderbolt which left Robinson with his hands on his hips. Thats how it finished at half time and Hancock had all the work to do to try and salvage something for Tottenham.


Rocha,Huddlestone and Bent came on at half time for Kaboul, Gibson and Keane in a triple substitution but it was Reading who once again made the best of starts. Leroy Lita once again was able to get in behind the Tottenham defence and cooly placed his shot just over Robinsons head to give Reading a three nil lead and end any hope of a comeback.


Two minutes later Stephen Hunt was set up by a Lita cross and the Irishman never looked like missing as he headed home from seven yards out to make it four nil and send the Reading fans into party mode. They weren't finished there as James Harper who supports Arsenal popped up with a shot from the edge of the box laid up by a Lita knockdown which took a deflection of Bale and sent it in the opposite direction to which Robinson had gone.


Tottenham grabbed themselves a late consolation through a Steed Malbranque free kick but it was little or no use as Tottenham where embarressed for the second time in three games and Kevin Hancocks future at Tottenham looks like it will be very short lived on this form.


Tottenham will entertain Premiership newboys Derby County in a week at White Hart Lane. The rams are currently sitting in sixteenth place after a two two draw with Manchester City at Pride Park, a one nil defeat at Birmingham City and a two nil defeat at home to Liverpool.

Harper an Arsenal supporter celebrates his goal against arch enemy Tottenham in Readings 5-1 win

[K3V0]

25th August 2007

English Premier League

White Hart Lane

Tottenham 0 - 1 Derby County

Kenny Miller celebrates his first goal for Derby in their 1-0 win over Tottenham

Another game, another defeat for Tottenham under Kevin Hancock, this the most embarressing. At home to Premiership newcomers Derby County Tottenham fans would have been expecting their first win under Hancocks era but a fifth minute goal from former Rangers and Celtic striker Kenny Miller extinguished those hopes. It was Millers first goal of the season and for Derby County after his four million pound move from Celtic after the Rams secured promotion via the Championship playoffs last year.


Their wasnt much to say about the game, Tottenham had many chances and didnt take them. They spurned chance after chance. Bent,Keane and Berbatov where frustrated continuously by man of the match Stephen Bywater and Derby secured their first win of the season. Bent hit the bar and Keane had a shot cleared of the line but maybe the most controversial moment was when on loan Arsenal player Justin Hoyte wrestled Stephen Quinn to the ground, referee Jim Price waving play on with irrate Tottenham players chasing after him.


Tottenham are now second from bottom with four games played and are already five points of a european qualification spot. Things do not get any easier as Tottenham now travel to Fratton Park in a weeks time to play Portsmouth who have won one and lost two. Portsmouth play Arsenal tomorrow at home and it will be interesting to see if Kevin Hancock attends the game.

Barclays English Premier League 2007/2008

25th August 2007

[K3V0]

27th August 2007

WE HAVE BEEN sh*tE

Tottenham manager Kevin Hancock has finally broken his silence about Tottenhams poor performances after their one nil defeat to Derby County at White Hart Lane last Saturday.


Following Middelsboroughs draw yesterday at the Riverside, Tottenham are now rock bottom of the pile in the English Premier League.


Hancocks men have been terrible in three of their four outtings so far with a 5-1 drubbing at the Emirates Stadium to arch rivals Arsenal, followed by a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle thanks to a ninety third minute equaliser by Dimitar Berbatov. Then came the horrific 5-1 defeat at the Madejski Stadium at the hands of Reading which has been topped by the dissapointing 1-0 lose to Derby County at home.

Quote

It is simple, we have been playing sh*t. Lets not sugarcoat it, lets not find excuses, lets not say we are missing Ledley King, Michael Dawson or Aaron Lennon lets put it out their and say that the players that are fit have let themselves, the fans, the club and myself down. Every club has their injury worries and they deal with it.

At the moment we are shocking.

We arent scoring goals and we are leaking goals at the back like San Marino against Germany. Its appauling. The fans are fed up and im fed up.

If players are thinking we just need to turn up and play half decent or play for twenty minutes and we will win they have it wrong. This is the English Premier League, you need to turn up every week , week in and week out or you will be sitting in those three red spots which means relegation. Lets not shy away from the truth that we as a team have been sh*te this past month.

This post has been edited by Irish: 25 May 2008 - 11:14 AM

[Napoli4life]

A bad start to the season but I'm sure you will pull through.

[K3V0]

Napoli4life, on May 25 2008, 12:04 PM, said:

A bad start to the season but I'm sure you will pull through.

I hope so... or Levy will be given me the boot :paranoid:

[Zog]

Irish, on May 25 2008, 11:51 AM, said:

27th August 2007

WE HAVE BEEN sh*tE

I loled

[stryju]

How can you lose with Derby ??? :clap:

[K3V0]

The Zog, on May 26 2008, 09:44 AM, said:

I loled

That was the reaction I was looking for. basically 2 be blunt we have been sh*te. lucky to get that point against Newcastle to.

Thanks for reading bud :thup:

stryju, on May 26 2008, 09:51 AM, said:

How can you lose with Derby ??? :clap:

Lost cause we played piss poor upfront, didnt bang a goal in and once again my lovely defence was a shambles.. cannot wait till King and Dawson are fit.