Muamba hangs up his boots

Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba has announced his retirement from football.
 The decision was made on the recommendations of his medical team, after extensive consultations with leading cardiologists in the UK and Europe. Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during and FA cup match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane in March. Muamba's heart stopped for 78 minutes after he collapsed. Millions of people around the world watched as the medical teams of both clubs as well as a heart specialist rushed to the pitch to keep the Bolton star alive.  Muamba said: "Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again. "As part of my on-going recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist. "But the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football. "Football has been my life since I was a teenage boy and it has given me so many opportunities."Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level. "While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for."I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me." Fabrice Muamba and his family fled a war torn Democratic Republic of Congo to seek asylum in England. And despite Muamba arriving in London at the age of 11 and unable to speak English, he went on to achieve 10 GCSE's (General Certificate of Secondary Education, which is an academic qualification for a specified subject) and 3 A levels.
He then joined Arsenal's youth academy in 2002 and later signed professional terms with the North London club. He moved to Birmingham in 2006 on loan and in 2007 made his loan deal permanent. And in 2008 he signed for Bolton Wanderers. Sad to see such a young and talented player with a bright future ahead of him retire.

Muamba plays again

Fabrice Muamba reveled that he played football again, just two months after he collapsed during a game.

Muamba collapsed on the pitch due to a heart attack during an FA Cup match against Tottenham in March.

The Bolton Wanderers player has now revealed that he has played football again during his holiday in Dubai in May. Muamba said: "I was on holiday and I was staying in a hotel and there were quite a few footballers in the hotel as well. The staff usually play against the visitors so I was by the pool and I heard they were playing football..."

He continued to say that he told everyone that he wants to play and that he played for about 20 - 25 minutes. He also said that it was just like normal and that he felt great and really enjoyed it.

Although it wasn't anything serious its great to hear that Fabrice Muamba has played some sort of football again and it would be great to see him playing in the Premier League again in the near future!
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Pienaar rejoins The Toffees

South African midfielder, Steven Pienaar, has rejoined Everton after an unhappy spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

Pienaar has completed a £4.5 million deal that sees him rejoin Everton, 18 months after he joined Tottenham in a deal worth £3 million.

The midfielder joined Everton from German club Borussia Dortmund in 2007 and spent three extremely successful seasons with the Toffees before making the switch to White Hart Lane.

The South African midfielder, who is now 30, has signed a four year deal at Goodison Park after a hugely successful loan spell during the second half of the season.

Pienaar said: "It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton,".

He continued to say that he had no doubts that he would be back at Everton and that he had told the manager how he felt and that he is happy that he's back at the club.

Last season Pienaar played only five Premier League games for Tottenham before he moved back to Everton on loan, where he played 14 Premier League games.

Everton manager David Moyes made the move to bolster his attacking options after Tim Cahill completed his move last week to MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

Spurs fine Modric due to absence



Modric fined by Spurs



Spurs playmaker, Luka Modric, has been fined for refusing to train as well as his absence from the club's preseason tour of the US.

The Croatian who wants to join La Liga champions Real Madrid, did not report for training last week and was not on the plane that left for the US on Saturday.

He did, however, train at Tottenham's Essex base on Monday and is expected to report daily for training there.

He was fined two weeks wages which is around £80, 000. Modric, who has four years left on his current contract, openly stated his desire to move to Chelsea last season but Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy refused to let one of the club's star players to leave.

Now it looks more likely that Levy will let Modric leave but only for the right price.

Spurs are looking at a figure closer to £40 million for the Croatian midfielder but the best offer Real Madrid have come up with at this stage is £27 million plus a couple players that the Spanish champions are looking to get rid of.

The big spending Paris Saint-Germain have been monitoring the situation and can definitely match Tottenham's asking price for the player. The club will play games against New York Red Bulls, Liverpool and LA Galaxy while Luka Modric reports to the clubs training ground.

New Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas expressed his anger at Modric on Sunday saying that he is wrong and only worsening his situation.

Though Villas-Boas did acknowledge the fact that Modric will be a major loss to the club.

Modric's representatives held talks with Real Madrid today to discuss the deal, though Modric may hand in another formal transfer request if the situation is not resolved quickly.

Ledley King retires!

The King steps down!

Tottenham Hotspur and former England defender Ledley King has announced his retirement from football due to persistent and chronic knee injuries.
The naturally gifted English centre back has struggled throughout his career with injuries and had even been unable to train on a daily basis.

He will now stay at Spurs in an ambassadorial role. He told the club's website that he's saddened by the fact that he's injuries have hindered his training and cut his career short but is pleased to be continuing to work with the club. Ledley King spent his entire career at the North London club after joining as a trainee and made his debut in 1999 and went on to make 264 league appearances, winning the Carling Cup in 2008, and was club captain.

He also represented England 21 times and was selected to represent England at the 2010 World Cup Squad in South Africa, making his last appearance against the United States.

Speaking on his career at the club he said that he's been at the club since he was a child and that th club is like a second home to him. He continued to say that he's always considered Tottenham his club and would find it hard to wear the shirt of another club. He went on to thank everyone at the club and all the fans and for all of their support and patience through the years and all his difficult periods at the club.

Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy praised Ledley King's character and how he managed to sustain such high standards of performance on the pitch while still being a fine leader. Spurs have announced that a testimonial will take place at the end of the 2012-13 season for King.

In my opinion Ledley King was arguably the most gifted players pull on a Spurs shirt and probably one of the most gifted centre backs in the game and its sad to see a player of his quality to be retiring at only 30.

Adebayor to join Spurs!

Lol yet again another post concerning Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have agreed a deal for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor for an undisclosed fee. Manchester City could now be ready to make a move for want away Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie once Adebayor completes his move to Spurs.

The 28 year old Togolese striker spent a successful loan spell at White Hart Lane last season scoring 18 goals in 37 appearances and also contributing with 12 assists.
Adebayor will become Spurs third signing, after already completing deals for Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, as the AVB revolution at White Hart Lane continues. Adebayor moved to Manchester City from Arsenal after £25 million deal in July 2009, scoring 15 goals in 34 appearances in his first season.

Although he fell out of favor under Roberto Mancini and joined La Liga side Real Madrid on loan in January 2011 but Madrid chose not to make Adebayor's move permanent.

Last season he helped Spurs finish in fourth place and this week Villas-Boas said that the club are extremely willing to have Adebayor at the club. Adebayor moved to Arsenal from Monaco in January 2006 and scored 46 goals in 105 appearances for the club.

AVB revolution continues...

The AVB revolution at White Hart Lane continued today as Tottenham finalised a deal for defender Jan Vertonghen from Ajax Amsterdam. Vertongghen is AVB's second signing following the arrival of Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Although, Spurs have not disclosed how much they have agreed to pay for the Belgium defender, who had 12 months left on his contract with Ajax Amsterdam.
It was a case of third time lucky as Spurs had seen two bids rejected as the Dutch club wanted a fee of £12 million for the central defender who made 220 appearances for the Dutch club. Spurs had been tracking the Belgium defender, who captained Ajax to a second successive Eredivisie title last season, for some time.

He won the 2011 - 2012 Dutch player of the year award as well as Ajax's player of season award and scored 10 times in 37 games last season. Vertonghen will offer Andre Villas-Boas more defensive options with Ryan Nelson moving to QPR and Ledley King's future still uncertain.

Modric set to make big money move to Real Madrid

According to reports from Croatia, Luka Modric is close to agreeing a £28 million pound deal from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid. It is said that the transfer is currently at an advanced stage, although Spurs are pushing for a figure in the region of £35 million. Last season. Modric made it clear that he wanted to leave White Hart Lane and had his sights set on a move to Chelsea, but chairman Daniel Levy persuaded the Croatian to stay for atleast another season. Manchester United, Paris St Germain as well as Chelsea were all said to be interested in making a move for the Croatian playmaker. Its said that PSG put in a bigger bid than Madrid but that Modric would prefer a move to the Spanish champions.

AVB appointed new Spurs manager



Welcome to White Hart Lane

 Andre Villas-Boas has been unveiled as the new Spurs manager after signing a three year contract just weeks after Harry Redknapp. But his appointment drew criticism from former Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle who did not think Spurs would go in this direction and believes AVB should gone away from English football to reinvent himself. Though Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy believes he has found the man to take them forward and who has a shared vision for the future of the North London club and is prepared to open the chequebook to help Villas-Boas add to an already strong team and reaffirm his position as one the best coaches in Europe. As head coach Villas-Boas will have total control over the transfer policy at the club and has wasted no time by completing an £8 million deal for Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi  Sigurdsson with a deal for Ajax's Belgium defender, Jan Vertonghen, likely to follow. He has a also made it a priority to sign atleast one big name striker, with Spurs exploring the possibility of making a permanent move for Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor after a successful loan spell at White Hart Lane last season. Though, it looks as he is resigned to losing his midfield maestro, Luka Modric, who looks set for a move to either Real Madrid or Chelsea after indicating that he wants to leave. He also has concerns over his two goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Heurelho Gomes as well as the future of club captain Ledley King who has battled a troublesome knee injury. Villas-Boas certainly has a lot to do and a lot to prove, especially after his failure to succeed at Chelsea, but only time will tell if he succeeds or not.