Mirror Football

Follow all of Tuesday's games LIVE

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:03:39 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of tonight's games

Redknapp hits back at critics

Pa Sports — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:11:04 GMT

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has hit back at claims his side rely on Peter Crouch's height and has branded accusations of long-ball football as "rubbish". Stoke players commented on Spurs going route one when they won at White Hart Lane earlier in the season and at the weekend Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel responded to terrace chants of his team being boring by highlighting the use of long balls to Crouch. The Spurs boss, responding to suggestions his side favour long balls, said: "Tha...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, February 9

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:00:10 GMT

Almost hometime, and here we are again with another selection of good stuff we've found on the web...1) Pantywaist popsters Savage Garden were a disgrace to the barbies/tinnies/sports/Sheilas reputation of the Australian nation and none of their crimes against music were as egregious as Truly Madly Deeply - which happened to be named after the most appalling British film of the 1980s. But when you hear it like this, in a clever Valentines viral video from Puma... actually no, it's still horri...

Why Tottenham's players need to show as much ambition as their manager

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:28:16 GMT

One win in their last five Premier League games and just three goals since the start of 2010.Tottenham have missed the chance to take advantage of Liverpool’s problems to cement fourth place.Now the players have to start justifying the faith Harry Redknapp has in them. You will seldom get the Spurs boss criticising his men, despite the run of form which has seen them pick up just four wins from 13 games this season against teams in the top ten.But now is the time for the men in white to start...

Gazza arrested for second time in two days

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:07:07 GMT

Ex-England star questioned on suspicion of a public order offence

On your marks, get set, go... the race is on for the Premier League finish line - Martin Lipton's big lunchtime read

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:19:14 GMT

The run-in begins now, the fight to the finish, all or nothing at both ends.And while nobody would try to claim this has been a vintage Premier League season, the last third of the campaign could yet make it one of the most exciting ever - at both ends of the table.The weekend set of fixtures will not, of course, be decisive - how could they be in the second week of February?But up and down the country, from Fratton Park to Eastlands, the Emirates to Villa Park and Goodison, this is the oppor...

King targets the Champions League

Darren Lewis — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:53 GMT

Tottenham star aiming to become regular top four challengers

Crouch: 'Liverpool are favourites for fourth spot'

Darren Lewis — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Tottenham striker insists the Reds are still the team to beat

Crouch eyeing fourth place

Pa Sports — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:51:05 GMT

Peter Crouch admits Tottenham missed an opportunity to pull away from Liverpool earlier in the season and now need to prove again that they have the ability to keep pace with his former club.Rafael Benitez's men last suffered defeat in the Barclays Premier League before Christmas, and their run has taken them back into the top four. Spurs led the race among the challengers for the final Champions League place during Liverpool's slump, but they also suffered home defeats to Stoke and Wolves as...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Monday, February 8

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:00:50 GMT

Every start of the week is a Happy Monday at Mirror Football. That's because we're fatter than Shaun Ryder and more vacant than Bez. So without further melon-twisting ado, let's tuck into our daily choice of football videos we've found on the interweb.

Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa: The Daily Mirror match report

Darren Lewis — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:23 GMT

Ledley King aiming for belated Champions League chance

Redknapp: King deserves England spot

Pa Sports — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:01:01 GMT

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists Ledley King can still play a part in Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Capello recalled the 29-year-old last season, but a chronic knee condition means the centre-back cannot play matches in quick succession and it led to him returning to Spurs. King has never announced his retirement from international football and his club manager believes he would be perfect cover for Capello's first-choice pairing of John Ter...

Dunne delighted with penalty escape

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:41 GMT

Villa star admits Spurs should have won a spot-kick after Jermain Defoe was tripped by Stiliyan Petrov

Keane spot on as Celtic book quarter-final place

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:36 GMT

On-loan Spurs striker scores first goal for club in 4-2 win over Dunfermline

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:48:15 GMT

From today's Sunday Mirror:Arsenal set to offer Fabregas £30million contract to ward off Barcelona and RealSunderland line up £10million move for Celtic star McGeadyLiverpool, Everton and Spurs to battle it out for Hull starletBegovic snubbed Spurs after seeing rival goalkeeperFulham move for Beattie was scuppered by wage demandsChelsea eyeing summer swoop for Serbian starFrom today's other papers:Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants Everton star Jack Rodwell to come to Old Traff...

Begovic snubbed Spurs after seeing rival goalkeeper

Bill Mills — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:42 GMT

New Stoke stopper turned down Tottenham move after bumping into Stipe Pletikosa at the London club’s training ground

Gudjohnsen: I'll prove I was right to snub West Ham

Marc Isaacs — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:24 GMT

Striker desperate to be a success at White Hart Lane after rejecting move to Upton Park

Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa: The Sunday Mirror match report

Steve Stammers — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:44:27 GMT

Spurs blow chance to stake serious top four claim

Friedel impresses in Spurs draw

Pa Sports — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:41:04 GMT

Tottenham could not find a way past Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel as two of this season's top-four hopefuls in the Barclays Premier League cancelled each other out as they recorded a goalless draw.Visiting goalkeepers have enjoyed the limelight at White Hart Lane this season and Friedel was at his dependable best, denying Ledley King with his best save.Spurs thought they could have had a last-gasp penalty when Jermain Defoe was challenged by Stiliyan Petrov - but it remained goalless.Fr...

Tottenham snap up former Portsmouth and QPR boss

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:22:49 GMT

Harry Redknapp reunited with former colleague Paul Hart

Follow all of Saturday's games LIVE

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:33:16 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of today's games

Transfer news, gossip and rumours from Saturday's papers

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:54:21 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Fabregas: I will return to Barcelona one day Villa midfielder agrees QPR loan move Saha commits to Everton Billy Davies left furious as Forest transfer panel fail to land single player Boro new boys are shout of this world, says Strachan From today's other papers:Franck Ribery has refused to rule out a move to Manchester United or Chelsea (The Sun)Liverpool are confident of beating AC Milan and Valencia to the signature of Milan Jovanovic (Daily Mail) Milan Jovan...

O'Neill backs Villa ace Gabby to win World Cup call

MirrorFootball — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:00:49 GMT

Villa boss reckons striker should be on the plane to South Africa

Redknapp: Spurs can still finish above Arsenal

Neil McLeman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:00:39 GMT

Tottenham chief: "Arsenal are favourites but it is not impossible for anyone to catch them"

Bentley can win back his England place, plus Moyes can capitalise on nervy Liverpool

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:00:04 GMT

David Bentley has always had the talent - and now he seems to have got his attitude back as well.There was probably an element of Bentley going to Spurs, thinking he’d made it and forgetting to do what had got him into the England team at Blackburn.But Bentley has the raw materials - a great crosser, excellent at dead balls and can also lay on a final pass.Bentley knows now what he stands to lose and won’t make that mistake again. He has the ability to get to the very top again.**Eveton boss ...

O'Neill: Spurs slip up could cost Villa top four place

MirrorFootball — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:23:11 GMT

Defeat for Villa would leave them five points adrift of Tottenham in chase for Champions League spot

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Friday February 5

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:55:29 GMT

It's almost beer o'clock on Friday and, to be honest, the temptation just to put this pant-wettingly funny video up three times and nick off early down the boozer was almost too much to bear.But, no - professionals to the end, here's three more equally brilliant things we've found on the web today:1) More genius from Brazil, although this time in the form of another of that nation's figures of fun, Robinho. Who Ate All The Pies? dug up this amazing footage from a bygone era when Robbi was sti...

Redknapp: We must back Capello

Pa Sports — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:31:03 GMT

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes the country must give England the best possible chance of winning the World Cup by backing whatever decision Fabio Capello makes over John Terry's captaincy. Terry's role has been put in question after allegations in his private life, with boss Capello alone deciding whether the 29-year-old Chelsea centre-back will retain the armband for this summer's tournament in South Africa. Redknapp said: "It's up to Mr Capello to make a decision. It's his call and ...

Watch hilarious Brazilian football commentators video

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:14:20 GMT

We were going to save this brilliant, brilliant clip for our daily 3pm Extra best of the web round-up but, frankly, it's far too funny to sit on for another couple of hours, so here you go.

As Dennis 'It'll Be Alright On The Night' Norden might have said, keep an eye on the bloke on the right...

Redknapp: we must back Capello's captaincy decision for sake of World Cup chances

Neil McLeman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:07:54 GMT

Spurs boss also looks forward to weekend's Aston Villa clash

Why it's normal for an Irishman like Robbie Keane to support both Celtic and Liverpool

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:31:13 GMT

Quite a few digs have been aimed at Robbie Keane's claims to have been both a Celtic and Liverpool fan in his younger days.The insinuation from disbelieving English observers appears appears to be that Keane was trying to pull the wool over the eyes of either the Anfield or Parkhead punters.Those claims are a nonsense and show an ignorance of club loyalties in the Republic of Ireland.The relatively poor standard of the League of Ireland and the power of British television created large fan ba...

Transfer news, gossip and rumours from Friday's papers

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:35:56 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror: Wenger takes a shine to Silva Keeper James cuts own wages to help skint Pompey Chelsea ready for summer spree on Aguero and Ribery after transfer ban is lifted Chelsea pay Lens £2.6million to drop Kakuta case Man City eye up Argentine ace as Robinho replacement - Exclusive Fergie will let Vidic go in summer Fellaini: I'm in the best form of my life and staying at Everton Babel handed Anfield lifeline by Benitez Birmingham set for summer clear-out Dickov chased...

The day I gave David Bentley an England call-up, plus Bruce will turn Sunderland around and how Johnson and Moses can make it in the Prem

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:02:05 GMT

David Bentley could force his way back into the England reckoning... and it's a little-known fact that I gave him one of his first caps.When my former Blackburn team-mate first broke into the international reckoning he was full of himself in the Rovers dressing room and told us how Sven Goran Eriksson himself had phoned him to break the news.So shortly before the next England match I rang Bents early in the morning, put on an accent, and told him I was one of Sven's assistants and that he'd w...

Spurs mates tip Defoe for World Cup glory

Mike Walters — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:00:59 GMT

Tottenham star backed to be Wayne Rooney's strike partner in South Africa

Crouch: FA Cup a 'priority'

Pa Sports — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:51:05 GMT

Peter Crouch knows Tottenham may never have a better chance to pick up silverware than this season's FA Cup.Spurs made it through to a fifth-round tie at Bolton with a 3-1 win in their replay at Leeds on Wednesday night and with only Chelsea of the traditional big four left in the competition, a Wembley final is a realistic target for Harry Redknapp's men."We're not stupid," said Crouch. "We know a lot of the big teams have been knocked out and it's a great chance for someone to do well, get ...

Crouch: FA Cup a 'priority'

Pa Sports — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:31:01 GMT

3PM Extra - The best things we've found on the internet today - Thursday, February 4

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:12:29 GMT

Come on, you can do it, the weekend's nearly here. Just one more day to go...But if you're struggling under the weight of another miserable working week, then allow us to cheer you up. We're smiling 'cos we've been watching a saucy video of Abbey Clancy all morning and, because we're nice guys, we've decided to share it with you.So there you go... don't say we never give you anything...1) It's not the money that matters, it's the trophies right? Well, what about when the trophy is worth a bar...

David Bentley could yet complete the greatest right wing comeback since John Major in 1992

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:41:15 GMT

Jermain Defoe took all the plaudits at Elland Road as Spurs held firm against the fervour of West Yorkshire to claim their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.But while the England striker was claiming his third hat-trick of the season, the really interesting story was taking place wide on the Tottenham right.David Bentley's career at White Hart Lane has resembled a car crash - and not just when the winger was behind the wheel after a pop concert.Signed as the man who would make the difference...

Cheer up football fans! Here's a sneaky peek at Abbey Clancy's new FHM photoshoot

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:16:55 GMT

The New Year blues have an iron fisted grip on the footballing world at the moment.Clubs are in financial crisis, players aren't getting paid and sex scandals have exposed a darker side to the millionaire playboys and their sordid off-field antics.But there is one footballer who is smiling amidst the lingering winter blues and that's Peter Crouch... and no bloomin' wonder!Crouchie's missus, Abbey Clancy, has posed for her fifth FHM shoot - this time aboard a yacht just off the island of Forme...

Defoe could have had six - Redknapp

Pa Sports — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:21:03 GMT

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was not at all surprised by Jermain Defoe's match-winning hat-trick that sunk Leeds in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at Elland Road.Defoe's third treble of the season clinched the visitors a 3-1 win and a date at Bolton in the fifth round on the weekend of February 13-14. It also kept Spurs on course for their first FA Cup final since 1991. Redknapp, who tasted FA Cup glory with Portsmouth in 2008, said: "It was nice to see him get his hat-trick. He could h...

Redknapp: Hat-trick hero Defoe as good as Rooney

Simon Bird — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:55:30 GMT

Tottenham boss hails treble Cup hero

David Bentley, like Leeds, is on his way back

Simon Bird — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:15:27 GMT

FA Cup clash shows Spurs winger is in sparkling form

Leeds 1-3Tottenham: The Daily Mirror match report

Mike Walters — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:30:17 GMT

Jermain Defoe hat-trick sinks Leeds

Defoe sends Spurs through

Pa Sports — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:01:06 GMT

Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick to end Leeds' FA Cup run and send Tottenham into a fifth-round clash at Bolton following a 3-1 win.Just like in the first game at White Hart Lane the Barclays Premier League side were made to work, with Luciano Becchio striking in first-half stoppage-time to cancel out Defoe's opener to the delight of a packed Elland Road. The England man could have had a sackful even by then, but he duly grabbed a second in the 73rd minute from David Bentley's cross before co...

Woodgate: I will make full injury recovery

Jeremy Butler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:18:05 GMT

Spurs star denies 'ready to quit' report

Top 10 fastest hat-tricks of all-time

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:02:03 GMT

Crystal Palace defender-cum-striker Danny Butterfield had a night to remember on Tuesday when he bagged a remarkable seven minute hat-trick to knock Wolves out of the FA Cup. Not at all bad for a man who had previously managed seven goals in eight years!But where does his treble feat leave him in the pantheon of hat-trick bolters...10) Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham v Wigan, November 22, 2009)Butterfield's feat was matched earlier this season by Jermain Defoe, who scored the second fastest hat-tri...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Wednesday February 3

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:19:19 GMT

So, you've laughed at our John Terry gags and checked out our hilarious Top 10 Funniest football Twitter imposters. Still need something to while away the hours until hometime? Well, you're in luck: here's today's 3pm Extra.

1) Just when you thought it couldn't get much worse for England's Brave Lovecheat John Terry, he's now been spoofed in song. Take a bow David Henson, for this rather good take on the Michael Jackson standard Beat It called, yes, Cheated...

Top 10 Funniest football Twitter imposters

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:42:18 GMT

Ever the trendsetters, top flight footballers have now found a whole new high-tech way of causing controversy and getting themselves into trouble.The likes of Darren Bent and Ryan Babel have already found themselves in hot water over revelations they have given to the world on Twitter.Manchester United have banned their players from even using the site, which is probably a blessing since they've all been media trained to within an inch of their lives and would simply be posting banal entries ...

Redknapp tips Beckford for summer switch

Pa Sports — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:21:04 GMT

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp reckons Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford would be a "good gamble" for a Barclays Premier League side to take.Beckford took his tally for the season to 24 with a brace against League One promotion rivals Colchester last weekend and, although the frontman may have withdrawn his transfer request, he is out of contract at the end of the season, and Redknapp would not be surprised to see a club make their move in the summer."He did well and would be a good gamble for s...

Redknapp backs Beckford to be a Premier League star

Mike Walters — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:50:33 GMT

Tottenham boss expects Leeds ace to join the big time this summer