The Banter Thread

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RAFAEL VAN DER VAART reckons Harry Redknapp is the Special One - not Jose Mourinho.


The former Real Madrid star claims life at the Bernabeu under Mourinho was 'boring'.
But he says Redknapp's laid-back approach at White Hart Lane makes his new boss very special.

Van der Vaart, 27, insists he has rediscovered not just his form at Tottenham but also his love for the game.


The Dutch playmaker said: "Harry is a very special man, that's why I already feel at home at Spurs. It feels like I'm back on the street.

"There are no long and boring speeches about tactics, like I was used to at Real Madrid.

"There is a clipboard in our dressing room but Harry doesn't write anything on it!

"It's very relaxed. The gaffer gives us the line-up 20 minutes before we go out to do our warm-up.

"And the only words he speaks to me are 'You play left or right, work hard, have fun and show the fans your best'.

"Then the defenders get an instruction about who to mark at corners and free-kicks - and that's it."

The Dutch Master, who has hit seven goals already this season, says training at Tottenham is equally low-key.


He added: "It's not that we do nothing - but it's close to that.

"For instance, last weekend Gareth Bale scored a header against Blackburn from my corner.

"But we didn't train one minute on it, it was pure luck. Good kicking, good heading, nothing more.

"And our win at home over Champions League winners Inter Milan was a clear example of playing on intuition. You can't train the goal I scored in that game.

"Of course the players need to have the qualities to end in the good position and the gaffer has to select the best squad.

"But in the end, it's all about feeling and that's what I have right now at Spurs.

"I try to give the best assist possible and guys like Bale try to score a goal out of it. That's our tactic!"


No wonder Van der Vaart cannot stop scoring and cannot stop smiling. He insisted: "Playing in the Premier League was a long-time dream not just for me, but also for my wife.

"She loves England and London and we've been talking for years about how nice it would be to play and live in this fantastic country.

"I have been dreaming about the Premier League since I was a kid. Now I'm finally there and I love it."
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Never thought I'd see the day...



Source: Sky Sports

Redknapp hints Spurs stopper will keep armband.

William Gallas appears set to remain as Tottenham captain after guiding his new side to their first win at Arsenal in 17 years.

Gallas was controversially given the armband by Harry Redknapp for Saturday's Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium, which saw Spurs complete one of the most astounding comebacks in north London derby history to win 3-2.

Redknapp was so impressed by man-of-the-match Gallas, who became one of the most divisive signings of recent years when he crossed the north London divide in the summer, that he is ready to retain him as skipper.

Luka Modric wore the armband last weekend, with regular skipper Ledley King and understudies Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone all sidelined with injury.

Captain

But Redknapp said: "William should be captain in all honesty.

"Luka is a quiet little guy. He just gets on with his own job.

"I made Tom captain, he's been in great form. But he is a quiet boy.

"William has captained teams before, so there is every chance we'll look at that."

Explaining his reasons for turning to former Gunners man Gallas for the derby, Redknapp added: "I made him captain because he was coming back to Arsenal and it was a good gesture.

"I thought he deserved that, the way he's played. He led by example; he responded well.

"When I gave him the armband, he just said, 'Good'. He doesn't say a lot; he's a quiet guy off the pitch."

Fight

Redknapp revealed how he had to "fight my corner" to bring Gallas to White Hart Lane, despite the France international being a free agent.

He said: "I went out on a limb with everybody - the fans, chairman and everybody else.

"No-one wanted me to sign him - only me and William."
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has moved to reassure supporters that the club have no intention of selling Gareth Bale.

The Wales international has become one of the most in-demand players in the Premier League after a series of scintillating displays this season.

The 21-year-old scored a hat-trick in Spurs' 4-3 defeat by Inter Milan in Italy, before running the European champions ragged as Rafa Benitez's men were beaten at White Hart Lane.

That has led to speculation that Bale could be on his way to pastures new, but Levy insists that is not the case.

Levy told the club's AGM: "I've never deemed us to be a selling club, if you look at the big transfers which have taken place since I've been chairman.

"Both (Dimitar) Berbatov and Michael Carrick had two years left on their contract, both players wanted to go and that was the reason they were sold.

"But in the case of Gareth he's got a long contract and I can assure you he will not be sold."

The transfer window opens again on 1st January, but Levy has admitted that there is unlikely to be much business done by the White Hart Lane club.

Redknapp

Levy added: "The January transfer window is again upon us. We currently have the largest squad in the Premier League.

"We shall look to rationalise... Overall, we do not anticipate a busy transfer window."

Manager Harry Redknapp has also been linked with a move from White Hart Lane when the England job becomes available following Fabio Capello's reign.

And Levy conceded that is a bridge the club may well have to cross if the Football Association come calling.

"Harry is on a long-term contract. If and when they contact us we will have to deal with it accordingly," Levy added.

As for the prospect of the club itself moving from White Hart Lane to the 2012 Olympic stadium, Levy insisted he was aware of the mood of the fans.

Many fans favour redeveloping the current site but Levy added: "I'm a fan, I have lots of friends who are fans, and I have lots of interaction with fans everyday.

"I do talk to people and have feedback so without any surveys I can tell you I have a pretty good feel as to what the mood is."
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Open letter from Daniel Levy on the Spurs site.

Jist of it is that the final bid for the Olympic Stadium site was submitted at Noon today, a new stadium will be built in its place based on the design for the WHL revamp, and they refuse to keep a track in the stadium to the poor spectator experience it causes. The OS stands will be 45m from the pitch. The proposed design will be 8m.


No word on any forced name change from the move though. I know that there could be some issues that arise from using Tottenham if we move.
 
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