Afternoon:
10°c
King gives Tottenham a boost for Euro clash
Andrew Hodgson, Evening Standard30 Sep 2008
Tottenham captain Ledley King is expected to face Wisla Krakow in Poland and help Juande Ramos turn around the club's disastrous start to the campaign.
King has featured in Spurs' two wins this season, but his recovery from knee surgery has prevented him from playing twice in quick succession and the centre-back was rested for the defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend.
With Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka ineligible to face Wisla, head coach Ramos will have only 19 senior players to fill his 18-man squad — and that's if Gareth Bale recovers from a minor foot injury.
"Pavlyuchenko and Corluka can't play in Europe, Ledley King can't play in every match, Gareth Bale is injured, we have small injuries each week and I need to change three or four players every match," said the Spaniard, whose side lead 2-1 from the first leg.
King has endured two years of injury problems but has been involved in Spurs' significant victories during that time, including the Carling Cup win against Chelsea in February.
The 27-year-old spent time in Barcelona to get himself right for the new season, although he is still used sparingly by Ramos, who admits the injury has to be monitored after each appearance.
At stake in Krakow is a place in the UEFA Cup group stages and the guaranteed income that another four European matches brings, before Spurs concentrate on getting league points against Hull and Stoke.
The inquest into Tottenham's worst league start in 53 years will continue if they fail to kick-start their season, with former Spurs boss Terry Venables blaming it partly on the failure to land Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin.
Venables views Arshavin as the perfect foil for Russia team-mate Pavlyuchenko, while Spurs' staff claim Darren Bent is too similar to the club's 13.8million signing from Spartak Moscow.
"I believe they were relying heavily on pairing Pavlyuchenko with Andrei Arshavin," said Venables in The Sun.
"No doubt they would have transfered their international success to the Premier League.
"But Spurs completely misread the Russians' resolve to get top dollar for him. This was a massive managerial blunder by Spurs, especially when they allowed Robbie Keane to leave."
Reader views (9)
It seems really odd to save Ledley for UEFA Cup games when we could do with him in Premiership matches. Our opponents tomorrow were very poor at White Hart Lane, so we should be able to progress without Ledley & keep him for Sundays game against Hull.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London, 01/10/2008 08:24
Report abuse
Maybe in the near future a certain Mr Ashley could be tempted to get involved in Spurs... He knows how to make his mark. Only joking. I genuinely feel sorry for you lot actually, losing players in close season like you did, didnt help matters. Maybe your coach is struggling as he's under the microscope at the moment. Hopefully the players can turn it round... 
- Voiceofreason, London, 30/09/2008 18:22
Report abuse
It is quite simple we need to role our sleeves up, keep with a 4 - 4 - 2 system, and if pavlyuchenko is so tired and complaining already for getting substituted then go with bent ansd campbell up front instead. Play players in their positions and stop changing things every 5 minutes. Players will gain confidence from consistency. Sack Comolli, give player buying powers to Ramos and Levy needs to have a good look at himself too.
- Steven, WICKFORD, 30/09/2008 17:29
Report abuse
Not the best of comments is it {poyet} that your two strikers can not play together.Then again look at drogba and anelka like two peas in a pod,how the hell has commoli kept his job his errors cost jol his job and he is still there
- Guy Cable, Barnstaple ,uk, 30/09/2008 16:31
Report abuse
Ramos is a great manager??? On what is that statement based, he inherited a well set-up club and a useful team from the previous incumbent, one of the additions he made to the squad was freddie Kanute, I rest my case M'lud.
- Paxton, N17, 30/09/2008 15:49
Report abuse
Shame Our director should watch Spurs games, how can you make a blunder like that, buy a player you already have?
Alot of people at Spurs need to look at themselves, Levy, Camolli and Ramos. Juande good coach, why change the formation? We beat Geordies, but then changed the whole team, if it aint broke, why fix it?
Camolli, we let go Teemu, Chimbonda and Malbranque, they are not star studded names, but they do a job? Why is Jenas in the 1st team? He has gone missing! We need some Spurs youngsters coming through look at Man City.
Levy, 20 million looks good in the financial section, but poor in the premiership, which is important. We never kept Keane to his word, should of held onto him for another year. Berbatov replacement should of been done in January.
Ramos too many cooks spoil the broth, 22 players in 6 games..
Why take Campbell is we wont play him? Why play 1 up front, when we need to score goals?
- Adrian, London, 30/09/2008 15:18
Report abuse
every time I pick up a paper, they are blaming berbatov or Keane or Arshavin for Spurs' poor form. I like Spurs. last year they played some crisp football; but frankly, getting rid of Keane, sulky Berbabytov and Defoe without replacing them with someone who knows where the goal is, is the dumbest thing. On top of that the team seem to have lost heart and all ideas, they are the new Newcastle. Poor lennard doesn't know whether he's coming or going, Woodgate - usually one of my favourite defenders looks suddenly lost and the entire midfield look a yard off the pace and totally disinterested. It's like they have forgotten how to play.
- Paul Kerton, Cape Town , SA. (But British), 30/09/2008 14:57
Report abuse
Of course its a cause of making a mess of the last transfer window. Keane went first Arshavin should have been HIS replacement and Pavlyuchenko the replacement for Berba. Have we not learnt from the last time? Remember we bought Rebrov without Shevchenko, its like Tom without Jerry or Morcombe without Wise (not Denis by the way!)and looked what happened to Rebrov. Trouble is were in such a mess now would Arshevin even want to join us in the window anyway? What a mess were in - looked promising until we actually started to play competitive matches and now were relying on the next window for rebuilding rather than just for tweaking the squad.
- Rick 4evaspurs, Belfast, 30/09/2008 13:20
Report abuse
Ramos is a great Manager and Spurs should stick with him and continue their buy young, buy unknown, buy expensive policy. They'll soon break into the top four....of the championship.
Chelsea Fan
- Amir, London, 30/09/2008 11:41
Report abuse
