Feb 01

Alan Hutton joins Sunderland on loan from Tottenham until end of season

• Bruce delighted to add right-back to leaky Sunderland defence
• Hutton has only started one league game this season

Sunderland have bolstered their defence by signing the Tottenham right-back Alan Hutton on loan until the end of the season. Hutton has been out of favour at White Hart Lane this season and has only started one game in the Premier League.

Hutton, who moved to Tottenham in a £9m deal from Rangers two years ago, will not be available for Sunderland’s game against Stoke City tonight, but should improve a back four that recently conceded seven goals at Chelsea. The Scotland international is expected to make his debut against Wigan Athletic on Saturday,.

“We have been particularly short of defensive options of late so Alan will come in at a very opportune time and will provide us with vital reinforcements,” said Sunderland’s manager Steve Bruce :

“We have tracked him for some time so we’re delighted to have brought him here until the end of the season. I’m sure he will have a big part to play between now and May.”

Hutton’s capped a busy day for Bruce, who also allowed striker David Healy to go on loan to Ipswich Town and defender Nyron Noswrothy to join Sheffield United on loan.

SunderlandTransfer windowTottenham HotspurPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Jan 11

Arsène Wenger voices fear as top clubs face fixture pile-up

• Re-arranging fixtures ‘a nightmare’, says Wenger
• Liverpool and Tottenham face major congestion

Arsène Wenger can sometimes appear a lone voice in the world of the Premier League manager, and not only because of his non-interest in horse-racing and the post-match drink. Yet the Arsenal manager spoke for the majority, and certainly those of his colleagues with a European interest in the second half of the season, when he assessed the impact of the bleak mid-winter weather.

“The fixtures are a nightmare,” said the Arsenal manager, as he looked ahead to the inevitable pile-up. “To find reasonable dates in the season is difficult. We tried everything to play last Wednesday against Bolton [when the match was snowed off] and we were glad to play on Saturday against Everton because it’s difficult to find the dates.”. All of the so-called Big Four face unenviable work-loads as they juggle the demands of domestic and European competition while Fulham and Everton, too, have progressed into the knock-out phase of the Europa League. The snow and ice, however, has ratcheted up the pressure on everyone, particularly as the domestic season is scheduled to finish early to allow Fabio Capello’s England squad extra time to prepare for the World Cup finals. The question of how to squeeze in postponed matches is vexing.

“I think the Premier League will extend the season for an extra week or so,” said the Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan, whose club have been forced to postpone home games against Aston Villa and Bolton during the cold snap. “I think it is an absolute must, because games are piling up for everybody. Some of these teams are also still in the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and also in Europe and it’s going to be a nightmare for them if they don’t look to extend the season.”

Liverpool and Tottenham may rearrange their Premier League fixture at Anfield, which was postponed on Sunday, for either Tuesday or Wednesday night of next week. No final decision has yet been taken but the case is representative of the general problem. If the clubs, and the Premier League, confirm either date, it would mean Liverpool, starting with tomorrow night’s FA Cup third round replay against Reading, would face a sequence of six matches in 17 days while Tottenham would have five in 14.

“We have seen it many times when teams suddenly end up having these kind of runs and it gets difficult towards the end of the season,” said the Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp. “It can make or break their season.”

Although the Premier League would consider accommodating domestic games on Uefa match nights, it may have reason to dread its leading clubs being involved in FA Cup replays or merely making the latter stages of the competition; the FA Cup quarter- and semi-finals clash with Premier League dates.

It was revealing to note Wenger’s reaction to Manchester United’s FA Cup third round defeat to Leeds. He remarked that at least it meant they would have a free weekend before the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Milan. Finding the space to breathe has become an obsession.

Arsène WengerArsenalHarry RedknappTottenham HotspurPremier LeagueDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Dec 23

Squad sheets: Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur

Teams are increasingly viewing trips to Craven Cottage with dread. Tottenham must attempt to avoid the fate that has befallen the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to maintain their pursuit of the top four at a ground where they have not prevailed in the Premier League in seven years. Roy Hodgson’s resurgent side are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and unbeaten at home since September, with their former Spurs Bobby Zamora and Danny Murphy ticking over impressively at present. It says everything about the Cottagers’ progress this term that they are only three points off Manchester City, a side who have spent in excess of £200m and entertain serious hopes of breaking into the Champions League positions. Dominic Fifield

Venue Craven Cottage

Tickets £45-60 (0870 442 1234)

Last season Fulham 2 Tottenham 1

Referee S Bennett

This season’s matches 13 Y55, R2, 4.38 cards per game

sportingbet odds Fulham 17-10 Tottenham 27-20 Draw 9-4

Fulham

Subs from Zuberbühler, Stockdale, Kelly, Smalling, Teymourian, Riise, Etuhu, Davies, Seol, Greening, Nevland, Dikgacoi, E Johnson, Elm

Doubtful Davies (calf), Seol (knee)

Injured A Johnson (groin, 2 Jan), Kamara (knee, 2 Jan)

Suspended None

Form guide WDWDWL

Disciplinary record Y21 R1

Leading scorer Zamora 6

Tottenham

Subs from Alnwick, Naughton, Bale, Hutton, King, Jenas, Bentley, Modric, Rose, Giovani, Pavlyuchenko, Keane

Doubtful Bentley (calf), King (knee/hamstring), Modric (ankle)

Injured Woodgate (groin, Jan), Cudicini (wrists/pelvis, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WWLDDW

Disciplinary record Y30 R1

Leading scorer Defoe 13

Match pointers

• This is the third year in a row that these sides have faced each other on Boxing Day

• Tottenham have scored 99 goals away from home in Premier League London derbies

• Fulham have picked up the fewest cards so far this season (21 yellow, one red) and are also the only side not to have conceded a penalty

• Tottenham have not won at Fulham in a league encounter since March 2002

• Fulham have taken 16 of a possible 18 points at Craven Cottage since their last home defeat (to Arsenal on 26 September)

FulhamTottenham HotspurPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

No Comments | Tags: , , , ,
« Previous Page Next Page »