Audere est Facere

Tough result to take against Hannover but beating rivals Arsenal and so late on you cant complain! great reports as always!

Yeah it was a bit disappointing to lose considering we played so well but it didn't matter because we'd already secured top spot in the group. Win over Arsenal was fantastic, very nail biting affair and was delighted when Huddlestone scored the late winner!!

12 December 2012
Last updated at 21:46 GMT


Tottenham Hotspur showed everybody tonight at Stamford Bridge that they could be genuine contenders for the Premier League title this season as Jan Vertonghen scored the only goal of a game that saw Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas triumph over his former assistant Roberto Di Matteo.

Spurs confirmed themselves as genuine title contenders tonight at Stamford Bridge as they outplayed and beat Chelsea courtesy of Jan Vertonghen's second half header, the result ensuring that Spurs moved into the top three as Chelsea dropped to fourth, the Blues now a point behind tonight's opponents having played two games more.

The build up to this game had been frosty given Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas had been axed without mercy by Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich last season and replaced by the Portuguese then assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo who led the Blues all the way to the Champions League final in Munich were they triumphed on penalties over Bayern Munich, that result securing Champions League football for Chelsea whilst Spurs were forced into the Europa League despite finishing fourth in the Premier League last season under Harry Redknapp.

This clash was a fiery one as referee Anthony Taylor handed out five yellow cards, England international Ashley Cole shown a mandatory red card by Taylor after receiving two yellow cards in second half injury time, the defender now set to miss the Blues next Premier League game against Southampton on Sunday.

In the opening stages of the game Spurs created the first chance as midfielder Sandro fired wide from the edge of the box, that early effort matched by Chelsea who saw Stevan Jovetic also fire wide of the target. Spurs settled earlier than the hosts and could have been in front when Mousa Dembele left Chelsea skipper John Terry and Oriel Romeu for dead with some fine dribbling, the Belgians effort striking the post after Petr Cech had got his fingertips on the ball, the visitors looking dangerous every time they ventured forward.

The Chelsea goalkeeper was again called on just perform the half hour mark when he blocked Jermain Defoe's stinging effort, although there was nothing he could do moments later when Gylfi Sigurdsson, who had been labelled as dangerous by Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo, skimmed the outside of the post with a curling effort.

As the first half moved towards the half time interval the hosts began to exert themselves more as Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris was forced into action as Juan Mata, Oscar and Jovetic all registered efforts on target, the French international however easily dealing with the efforts, the game locked at 0-0 at the half time break.

Prior to the second half beginning Spanish striker Fernando Torres was brought on to replace Oscar, the young Brazilian believed to have picked up a slight groin strain in the closing moments of the first half.

The opening minutes of the second half passed without incident until Ramires became the first player booked, the battling midfielder shown a yellow card after he dragged Sigurdsson to the ground when space had opened up in front of the Icelandic international, referee Anthony Taylor left with no option but to book the Brazilian.

Spurs then took the lead just moments later when Jermain Defoe who was due to be replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor won a corner off the legs of Ashley Cole, the subsequent corner by Sigurdsson to the back post was headed back across goal by Dembele and Vertonghen was brave as he launched himself at the ball, the Belgian arriving before the boot of Branislav Ivanovic and his headed effort flew beyond a helpless Petr Cech.

There was a flurry of late bookings as tensions rose at Stamford Bridge and Ashley Cole received two yellow cards in quick succession in injury time, the left back sent off as Chelsea suffered a second consecutive defeat in the Premier League as Spurs recorded their fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League to move into third spot.

13 December 2012
Last updated at 13:33 GMT


Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen believes the North London club can surprise everybody this season and win the Premier League title for the first time in their history after they beat bitter rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in back to back Premier League fixtures away from White Hart Lane.

Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League with the best defence in the top flight and the centre back partnership between Jan Vertonghen and captain Michael Dawson has been fantastic for the North London club.

Following back to back victories over Arsenal and Chelsea confidence is growing amongst Spurs fans.

Some believe the North London club could win the Premier League title, although it still remains to be seen if Spurs can challenge Manchester United and current champions Manchester City over the course of the season.

The North London club currently sit nine points behind United and a further point behind City but have three games in hand, the gap at the top of the table potentially just a point if Spurs can win those three games in hand.

Jan Vertonghen believes the club can win the Premier League title this season although he admits it will be difficult as the squad at White Hart Lane has no experience of a title race in the top flight, the Belgian conceding that both Manchester clubs hold an advantage should the race for the Premier League crown go down to the wire.

"We can compete for the Premier League title this season, I don't doubt our ability and I think we could go all the way if we keep performing at our very best. We have plenty of fantastic players in this squad and we believe we can beat anybody, so far this season we've been playing good football consistently and we've lost just once in the Premier League," said Vertonghen.

"It will be tough because the two Manchester clubs have experience in what it takes and that can help if things get really close, they know how to handle the pressure because they've done it all before, so we might need to learn to do that very quickly. Obviously the two Manchester clubs have an advantage having been there and I accept that, however we're hungry and very optimistic about our chances, we can beat anybody when we're at our best and it isn't unrealistic to believe we can win the Premier League title," added the Belgian.

The Belgian scored the only goal last night as Spurs beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and the 25 year old defender admits it was a great feeling to score his first goal for the North London club since he left Ajax during the summer in a deal that cost Spurs a transfer fee of £10 million.

"Scoring my first goal was a great feeling and I hope to feel it again in the future," said Vertonghen.

"It's something I'll never forget and it was great celebrating with my team-mates and our fantastic supporters. I'm loving my time at the club and I'm very happy with my performances so far, although I'm still looking to improve every time I train and play, so I can improve in the future if I work hard," added the 25 year old defender.

Vertonghen has made 12 Premier League appearances for Spurs this season scoring once.

The Belgian international has surprisingly made just one appearance for Spurs in the Europa League as manager Andre Villas-Boas has rotated his defenders, the North London club still topping their group that consisted of AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Moscow and Hannover 96, winning five games and losing just once in Group H.

14 December 2012
Last updated at 18:28 GMT


Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Scott Parker says the players at the North London club must remain focussed and take things game by game as they look to challenge for the Premier League title.

Spurs midfielder Scott Parker has agreed with comments made by teammate Jan Vertonghen yesterday after the Belgian international claimed that the North London club could challenge Manchester United and Manchester City for the Premier League title after a fine start to the season under Portuguese boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Parker, 32, however urged his White Hart Lane teammates to remain focussed on the next task at hand in the Premier League, a tricky fixture against a relegation threatened Aston Villa side on Saturday.

"We can win the Premier League this season, we're good enough to do it and I agree with recent comments made by Jan Vertonghen. We definitely have the players in the squad to do it and we'll work hard to try achieve that.

"I mean it will be difficult because Manchester United and Manchester City are massive clubs, they're the favourites for a reason, but we've got a chance and we believe we can do it," said Parker speaking to ESPN.

"We need to remain focussed though and not think ahead to much. We just need to take it game by game and treat every side with respect because you don't pick up easy points in the Premier League," added the midfielder.

The midfielder has found his game time limited so far this season after he missed the opening few months of the season after injuring his Achilles tendon at Euro 2012 during the summer representing England.

Parker has made just two Premier League appearances so far this season yet despite the limited playing time the 32 year old says he remains committed to the cause at White Hart Lane.

"I've had a setback or two this season and every player has them from time to time. I'm committed to Spurs until the end of my contract and wouldn't mind extending that. The manager has been great and I know as the season goes on I'll get more opportunities to play, it's a long season and we'll be playing a lot of games," said Parker.

Fantastic results against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Great reports

Cheers pal.

15 December 2012
Last updated at 17:39 GMT


Tottenham Hotspur made it five wins in a row in the Premier League this afternoon as they saw off a brave relegation threatened Aston Villa side who hung on for large majorities of this clash at White Hart Lane.

Don't let the 2-1 full time score fool you, Aston Villa were outplayed and out of their depth at White Hart Lane this afternoon, the frame of Brad Guzan's goal the only thing saving them from an embarrassing mauling at the hands of Spurs, the hosts hitting the woodwork an incredible four times in a game they dominated from start to finish.

It took Spurs just seven minutes to find a way past Villa, midfielder Mousa Dembele curling an effort into the top corner to give the hosts the perfect start, the midfielder netting his third Premier League goal of the season.

Aston Villa boss Malky Mackay was far from happy with his sides start to the game and after remonstrating with his players on the sideline his charges soon found a way to level proceedings although the goal came with a large slice of fortune attached to it as Brett Holman's mishit cross sent Hugo Lloris backpedalling and the French international was left embarrassed when he dropped the ball over his line.

Spurs responded immediately after that setback and when Gareth Bale got on the end of a cross from Emmanuel Adebayor everybody inside White Hart Lane thought the home sides lead had been restored, the Welsh international unfortunate to see his effort smash the post and go wide.

The hosts would hit the woodwork on two more occasions in the final five minutes of the first half as Clint Dempsey first headed against the woodwork before Gareth Bale smashed a right foot volley against the bar.

When the second half resumed it began just as the first had finished with Spurs on top and Aston Villa desperately clinging on and Gylfi Sigurdsson added his name to the frustrated list of players who had hit the woodwork when his free kick smashed against the post with Guzan beaten, the home supporters beginning to fear that it simply wouldn't be their day as chance after chance went by without Spurs taking advantage.

In the end the visitors couldn't hold on as Emmanuel Adebayor got himself on the end of a cross from Bale, the Togolese international cleverley lifting the ball over the onrushing Guzan to give Spurs the lead.

The victory cemented the North London clubs spot in the top three as they kept pace with both Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League table, the visitors relegation fears deepened as they lost their fifth game in their last six Premier League outings, the task of saving Aston Villa from relegation a big one for new manager Malky Mackay who replaced the sacked Paul Lambert a week ago today.

16 December 2012
Last updated at 11:50 GMT


Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor says he's delighted his goal against Aston Villa yesterday at White Hart Lane helped the club beat the relegation threatened side 2-1 in their Premier League clash.

Great win against both Chelsea and Villa! 5 on the bounce in the league prove your title credentials!

Certainly a good run for us at the moment.

Made all the better considering it's December and the teams we've played.

Great results against Arsenal, Chelsea and Villa. This is also a great story, keep up the great work.

Cheers mate!!

Just letting everybody know I'll be taking a break from this save and writing reports because it does take some time. I've still got the save and will come back to this when I've bit more time to play FM and write detailed reports, I'm pretty busy with work so hope you'll all understand.

In the meantime I may start a story with a Championship club with yearly updates but I think it's more likely I'll try the Nationalist challenge, something different, fun and won't take up to much of my time.